July Recipes: Pizza, Pie & Hash

Every weekend, I meal plan. Not only do we purchase everything we are going to eat for the week, but I try to make all of the food on the weekend so we can heat up the leftovers Monday through Friday. We have so little time between work and bedtimes that this system is the only way to stay sane! Seriously, I would have a melt down if we tried to actually make dinner on a work night.

On top of some major planning, we eat real/whole food meals and are moving slowly towards Paleo and Autoimmune Protocol meal plans.

This past week we had...


Bacon and Kale Pizza (Paleo, Autoimmune Protocol Friendly)

• So delicious...The pizza crust was made from plantain, which was weird but worked. The recipe calls for a "no-mato sauce" and left out the cheese. But since we are moving slowly towards another major diet change, we used tomato sauce and cheese. We kept the bacon and kale and even the kids loved it. I would have taken pictures, but we ate it too quickly!

Chicken Pot Pie (Paleo)

 

  

• There is something about pot pie that just makes you all warm in side. For this recipe, we used a local whole chicken that we roasted ahead of time. (Side note: We save the chicken bones to make broth that will go in the freezer to use another day.) We also added carrots, a winter squash, plantain (it seemed to have been a theme for the week), celery, and onions. We followed the recipe for everything else. The crust did not turn out as expected. It ended up being spooned on top. It did not survive rolling and transferring. Next time I would add more liquid. 

Home Fries with ground beef hash

• Who doesn't like potatoes?! We made these fried ones, cooked in lard, and added ground beef. We served these with steamed cauliflower. I think our downfall with fried potatoes is that we cook in cast iron skillets. The nice fried crust you get on the potatoes sticks to the bottom of the skillet and we end up with just a plate of mushed potatoes. Still yummy...just not what we expected. 

My life---The Stove

Do you ever think you can’t do it all? Maybe having children is what pushed me over the edge…or perhaps it happens when you get sick or have a full time job. I feel the overwhelming weight of life’s responsibilities on my shoulders looming over me every day. And I just have to walk away from it. Sometimes I take out a box, put the looming cloud inside, and throw the box out. This balancing act of person, parent, working-mom, housekeeper, wife, daughter, sister, friend...it is hard. And the GUILT when the juggling fails, or the guilt when the people around you finally call you out on it! It’s too much.  

I once read something by David Sedaris about a four burner stove that struck a cord with me: 

Pat was driving, and as we passed the turnoff for a shopping center she invited us to picture a four-burner stove. 

“Gas or electric?” Hugh asked, and she said that it didn’t matter. 

This was not a real stove but a symbolic one, used to prove a point at a management seminar she’d once attended. “One burner represents your family, one is your friends, the third is your health, and the fourth is your work.” The gist, she said, was that in order to be successful you have to cut off one of your burners. And in order to be really successful you have to cut off two.

From Laugh,Kookaburra, The New Yorker, August 24, 2009

Since I read this, I have this image of me looking down at a stove that is my life. On each burner is a pot filled with the various things I am trying to manage. Which burners am I turning on today and which ones am I turning off? And the greater question of life: What do I truly want to be successful at? 

Today, this week, this year, I am turning off my garden. I am turning off my idea of a perfectly clean and organized house or a professional groomed yard. And we are definitely not moving or having another child anytime soon. 

With much guilt, I know I have turned off my friends. I don’t call, I don’t see them. I ‘like’ facebook pictures and text occasionally. {guilt, guilt, guilt} 

My work burner is definitely on. It takes work to work, but it isn’t challenging in a mental or physical way. It just sucks up time. Precious, fleeting, never enough, time. 

My family pot is boiling over due to the amount of attention and energy that goes into raising a 1 and 2 year old. It is wonderful, hectic, fulfilling, stressful, and life-changing every.single.day. 

My health burner has been warming up since this past fall. Trying different diets, experimenting with recipes, seeing specialists, resting, taking medications…getting healthy, that is where my energy has been focused. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail, but I keep trying.

But, I KNOW I need to make my life more balanced while continuing to focus on my family and improve my health. I have decided to do that by creating easy, yearlong goals to help me identify and create a balanced life…baby steps. I am going to start with just three. 

My goals to ignite some heat in my life: 

1. Everyone loves their birthday, and everyone deserves to be remembered on their birthday. Goal: remember birthdays of my extended family and close friends…send a card, give a gift, or go out of your way to connect
2.  My husband does so much and I recognize maybe 1 out of the 50 things he does for me and our children. Goal: do one thing a month that is just for my husband…go on a date planned for him, give him a small thoughtful gift, thank him sincerely 
3. I need to nurture my adult, human side. I need friends…we all need friends! Goal: once a month, make time to see a friend in real life and do something fun with or without the children (I might need more friends.)

Do making these goals make my life better? No way. 

Can achieving these goals help achieve success? I am not sure. It might make things more stressful.

Will they help me find more balance in my life? Yes, the reminders and forced focus on life outside of work, children, and my health will encourage me to live more deeply. 

Does this stove analogy resonate with you? What do you take away from it?

Awesome Cheap/Easy Gifts My 1 Year Old

My daughter, Amelia, had her first birthday last week. We decided to opt out of a large birthday party (we don't have many local friends and our families live at least 1000 miles away) and just have some time dedicated to showering our little one with love. We did scrounge up some gifts that Amelia just loves and I wanted to share those ideas with you. If anything, I wanted to share the basic philosophy of think outside the box. You don't need to spend a lot of money or create a lot of waste to show your love.

 

 Painter's Tape...This is so much fun, and it doesn't leave any sticky stuff behind when you take it off. It is easy to unravel, interesting to touch, and lasts forever. You can find it at the dollar store. I originally purchased this roll for a plane ride as a last minute Hail Mary play, but we didn't need it. Madeline and I found it in a box when we were searching for things to give Amelia. They both loved it. But be aware that it can hurt coming off skin if you do it quickly, and it removes body hair! (Cheap at-home wax kit?)

The little beads on the white ribbon inside the painters tape? That is a necklace her sister made for Amelia.  We love necklaces in our house, as you will see later. And those stacking rings on the right? Those things have been floating around our house for a year now. This was not my idea, but Madeline, our toddler, had her mind made up that Amelia would get these for her birthday. I am not supporting the idea that you give kids the toys they already have...but it is a gentle reminder, literally wrapped in a bow, they have awesome things. There is probably a correlation to the age of your child to the success of this working in your favor. The graph would probably look like this: 

Moral: Re-gift at your own risk.

 

Match box cars can be found anywhere, are not costly, and fit perfectly in a toddler's hands. They roll as you crawl from place to place, make neat sounds when you bang them together, and taste delicious. They are a favorite. They do have small pieces and I'm sure contain a warning that states they are not intended for children under the age of 5. The baby is not left alone with these toys, unless they are hidden from our site, and we check the pieces that might break off.

 

Two words: bead.necklaces. Go to the dollar store, pick up a strand of a dozen beaded necklaces, give the nice cashier at the front your dollar, and celebrate! These are worth hours of entertainment. The first few hours was playing with the tag that held them all together. Then we explored the noises they made on each other and every surface. Then Amelia learned how to put them on---and it helps that her arms can now reach over her head! Currently, they are floating around in every room in our house. I put a clip on some of them to keep them together. Every day or so I will see Amelia with another necklace. I think they may multiply while we are at work.

I have about 5 old cell phones floating around my house from both my husband and I. The kids see us on our phones, so of course they want one of their own. The batteries and anything dangerous has been removed, so it's just the plastic left. This has become a fast favorite.

I hope these images have inspired you to find some everyday or simple objects to use as gifts for your kids. Save that money to buy some good food, put into a college fund, or take a day trip. Spend your time instead...uninterrupted, genuine, one-on-one time with your child.

Graves Disease 101: What is it?

Since I was diagnosed 8 months ago with Graves' Disease, I have been soaking up as much information as I can. What I know for sure is that this disease effects everyone differently. The intensity, the organs affected, and the reactions to the autoimmune response vary from person to person. In this information series I am labeling Graves Disease 101, I will share what I know and how I relate to it. I am just one person with this Disease, so if you have Graves' or a loved one that does, please share your experiences with me.

Now for the first lesson: What is Graves' Disease?

First, lets be clear, while a newly diagnosed individual may feel otherwise, it is not called Graves' because it sends you to the grave. This disease was first described by a doctor named Robert James Graves in the 1800's. I wonder how he felt to have a disease named after him? While I'd like my name to be carried on, I would not want it to be in the form of a disease people hate to have!

Graves' is an autoimmune disease---and like all autoimmune diseases, due to some bad body chemistry, the immune system actually starts to attack the body. In Graves' in particular, the immune system attacks the thyroid, but it can attack the eyes, skin, and other glands. Maybe your thinking, "What's the big deal? It only attacks the thyroid. That doesn't seem too bad." Obviously, you don't know what the thyroid does.

The thyroid is described as a butterfly gland on the front of your neck in front of your esophagus.

It regulates much of your body’s functions. If you think of your body as a series of roads and highways, your thyroid is controlling the speed limit and stop lights. When the immune system starts making your thyroid Enemy #1, your thyroid responds by revving up production. Imagine all of the speed limit signs increased to 150 miles an hour and every traffic light turned green—chaos! (Side note: the thyroid could also respond by slowing everything down and that disease is called Hashimoto’s.) I made a little chart to explain:

A normal thyroid…	What could happen when you have Graves’…
Regulates your metabolism—appetite and weight loss/gain	You have an increased appetite and can lose weight without even trying. I lost 20 pounds in two months while eating excessively.
Controls your body’s sensitivity to cold and heat	You are sensitive to heat and sweat easily. Summer weather is unbearable.
Regulates your heart beat. A normal, resting heart rate for a healthy adult is 60-100 beats per minute.	Your heartbeat is rapid, pounding, and sometimes irregular. Before being treated, my heart beat at rest was 120 bpm. I have heard of people having heart rates of 150 bpm or more. It’s scary to be short of breath and a heart pounding out of your chest just because you sat up on the couch.
Regulates your hormones	If you are a woman, you will have lighter and less frequent menstrual periods.
Helps all bodily systems maintain at a normal level	Bodily functions process much quicker. You will experience loose and frequent bowel movements and trembling hands and fingers.
Helps regulate mood	You will have anxiety and irritability in new areas of your everyday life.
Other symptoms:	Muscle weakness Trouble sleeping

Keep in mind everyone responds slightly differently. If you have Graves’, you are probably experiencing all of these things to some degree. If you have a few of these symptoms and have not been diagnosed, I urge you to see your doctor immediately and get blood work done.  If you do have Graves’, you must be seeking treatment if your symptoms are not under control---and that’s a can of worms to open in a whole other post. 

So, what do you think—

Do you have Graves’? What’s the worst symptom you are dealing with? For me, even with treatment, any change in my life or schedule creates an insurmountable stress that I can’t deal with.

Do you know someone with Graves’? What is it like watching that person deal with this disease? What is it like for you to deal with it? I’d love to know what it is like from the other side.

My favorite gluten free replacement foods

When I became gluten free, I knew I needed to change the whole way I approached my meal planning and diet. I admit at first I just used gluten free bread to replace my whole wheat loaf. The gluten free brick was not fit for a sandwich let alone my consumption. At that moment, I knew I needed to cut out wheat AND any product that resembled wheat.

But what do you eat with marinara if it isn't on noodles? And what vehicle can hold the cheesy pizza goodness I want to eat on Friday nights if it isn't pizza crust? It is a good exercise in changing eating patterns and finding new recipes. But, eventually, those noodles and pizza crusts win and you just have to eat them. I can smell the bubbling cheesy, noodle-y goodness now!

In a world of if-it-doesn't-taste-like-cardboard-it's-good, replacement gluten free foods are hard to find. Here are some delicious products I reach for every time:

Against the Grain
This Vermont based bakery has amazing, crusty, yet fluffy breads. And their pizza...image the cheesiest pizza you've ever had...now double it! It is one cheesy (and therefore delicious heavy) pizza! And it is the size of a traditional frozen pizza (what is that, 12 or 14 inches?). I would eat it even if I weren't gluten free.

Udi's
This brand is more main stream than Against the Grain, so it is easy to find in most towns. They make a million different things and most of them are great. Their frozen pizza is individual-sized and of the thin crust variety. While the texture of the bread can't be compared directly to their wheat-filled counterparts, I enjoy eating them all the same.

Tinkyada Rice Pasta
Gluten free pasta is easier to find now than ever. I have tried several brands and most of them have been edible. The problem is the mush factor. If you don't time them just right, your noodles remain too firm to eat or liquify under the sauce. I have had success with Tinkyada every time I cook them. They have both conventional and organic varieties. My family sticks with spirals and penne because it is easier for my little girls to eat.

King Arthur Flour
Every.single.thing I have made from an King Aurthur Flour mix has been amazing. From bread to cookies to pancakes, I am in stomach love <3. If you are familiar with them, you know Vermont based King Arthur has specialized in baking, so I am so happy they are in the gluten free world as well. They also have great gluten free recipes, tips, and tricks. There is a lot to learn from this company.

 

Nature's Path EnviroKidz
What can I say, I'm a kid at heart. I love me some cereal... All of the products I've had from this brand has been yummy. And my kids love it. There is a limited section at my grocery, but these puffs are great as a cereal or snack.

So that's my list as of today. Do you have any favorites? Please share!

I was not paid to mention these products. 

These are purely my opinions based on my taste buds and wallet. 

I have not tested nor researched any consumer reports stating the validity of the the label "gluten free" on these products. 

If you are aware of any information I am not, please let me know.