Chicken Pot Pie

Confession of these Picture Free Posts....I take pictures of my delicious treats but the lighting in my kitchen is very "soft"....we have these beautiful stained glass lights but they offer too much of a golden glow to give me good pictures! I am working on this issue with a friend of mine who is a "professional" and hopefully she will be able to get me straight before next week!

Chicken Pot Pie....mmmm good!

1-2 chicken breasts (or leftover chicken roaster...this is what I use most)
Chicken stock
1 medium onion - chopped
3-4 carrots - peeled and sliced into "coins"
Frozen Vegetables: Corn, Peas
Frozen pie crust (2) or....you can make your own if you like
1 can of cream of chicken (celery or mushroom) soup...or you can make a white sauce, this is what I do.
Salt/Pepper
Assorted spices of your choice...Parsley, Oregano, Herbs de Provence
Dash of cooking sherry..optional

We cut down on the carbs of this comfy classic by not putting a crust on the bottom and using more chicken stock than cream or milk. **If your looking to be "economical" as well, you can purchase 2 chickens at your local Sams club and roast them at the same time, cut them up and store the meat in the fridge or freezer.**

Chop your chicken into bite size pieces and set aside. Chop your onions, and slice your carrots. Saute them in a large pot with a little bit of butter. Brown the onions and soften the carrots, add the peas and corn cook briefly just to warm them through.

Use a large casserole dish, spray with a non-stick spray and pour the vegetables right into the pan. Add the chicken on top. We use LOTS of vegetables and chicken...no skimping here!

Using the same pot that your sauteed the vegetables in, melt 4 tablespoons of butter, then add 1/2 cup of flour. Cook the flour until it is golden brown and smells nutty....add 1 cup of chicken stock, whisking together until smooth. I add salt, pepper, parsley and granulated garlic at this point. You can use whatever spices you like...Herbs de Provence are wonderful in this sauce! Then add  1/2 cup of milk and cook until thickened. Stirring constantly. At the very end, add a dash of sherry. This really makes a nice addition!

Now pour the sauce directly over the vegetables and chicken. Place two pie crusts over the top. Depending on your casserole dish you might need to trim the crust to fit better.

Bake in the oven until golden brown at 350 degrees.

We serve this with a nice big salad and everyone is Happy! Hope you enjoy!

Hearty chili

It is FREEZING and Windy here right now. This is one of my favorite cold weather recipes. Hayden loves this chili because it is something that he can eat a ton of...it is packed with proteins and very low in the carb department.

1 pound of Turkey (ground)
1 large onion chopped
1 pepper of your color choice
3-4 cloves of garlic
Chili powder (2Tbsp or your preference)
ground Cumin (1 Tbsp)
dried oregano (Mexican preferred) 1tsp
Salt/Pepper
1 Chipolte pepper (remember I said I keep a container in my fridge with these in it..I use them often)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 large can of crushed tomatoes (or stewed tomatoes thrown into the food processor)
1 small can/container of chicken stock
Frozen corn or a can - your choice
2-3 cans of beans - rinsed and drained - we use black, light kidney and dark kidney

Chop your pepper, and onion coarsely. Saute them in a little bit of oil or butter until lightly golden brown, add Turkey, chili powder and cumin, Salt/Pepper. Cook through.

Add diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth and 1 Chipolte. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add corn and beans, return to a simmer and cook for another 30 minutes. Stir occasionally...

Serve with shredded cheese or a nice crumbled Queso Fresco.

My husband likes his over rice...half of us eat it plain (Hayden, myself and Lily) the other half like the rice.

Chicken Tortilla soup

This is one of the easiest soups I have ever made...and we make a LOT of soup here in the winter. Hayden loves this soup and it is so low in Carbohydrates that we usually pair it up with a Quesadilla or Taquitos from my favorite...Trader Joe's ...

I start with a purchased Rotisserie chicken....and premade low sodium chicken stock. This is not one of my "from scratch" recipes, this is one of my Quickie recipes, but it is SO yummy!

You will need:
1 Rotisserie Chicken - Cut the meat up into small pieces
8 cups of  Chicken stock (or 2 of the big containers)
1 large onion
Garlic 6-8 cloves depending on how much you like
1-2 chipoltes (mince them if you get them from the can)
1 lg can crushed tomatoes
1 can of diced tomatoes (you can use the ones that have diced chiles in it for a little extra kick)
frozen corn (1/2 bag) or can of corn
1 tsp of dried oregano (Mexican if you have it)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Juice of 1 lime
Tortilla chips or corn tortillas which you can fry or bake
Avacado (how many you need depends on how many people in your family like them :) )
Monterey Jack cheese or Queso Fresco for topping

Chop and then saute the onion and garlic until golden brown, add the diced tomatoes and Oregano, let them heat together for a few minutes. Add the chicken stock and crushed tomatoes and chipoltes. Salt and pepper lightly. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 -30 minutes, let it get nice and reduced....then add the chicken and corn to heat through. About..10 minutes. Add the juice of the lime and removed the Chipoltes.

Spoon into bowls and top with cheese and tortilla strips!

SOOO Yummy!...And the soup usually has a nice Red color to it, so perfect for Christmas...haha...

Oatmeal Cookie Breakfast Bar - Holiday version

Similar to an Oatmeal Cookie...but I cut all the sugar in half and use a combination of whole wheat flour and white flour. I find that when I use all wheat they are a bit too dense...if you want to increase the sugar just double what I have listed here. For the Holidays I change up the "additions" a bit...I add more dried fruits ~ which basically means I just grab whatever is looking good to me at Trader Joe's that day!

2 sticks of Butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup white flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

*2tsp Benefiber* totally optional, but it works for us!

1 tsp cinnamon (I exclude this because I am allergic...)

3 cups oats (either quick cooking or old fashioned)

THEN, add...

1 cup walnuts

1 cup cranberries

1 cup dried apples (chopped)

OR:

1 cup almonds

1 cup golden raisins

1 cup dried cherries

OR:

ANY combination of dried fruits and nuts....it is that easy!

I use a regular size ice cream scoop and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. I use silpat sheets to prevent sticking and then store in an airtight container with wax paper between the layers. They normally don't last long enough to go stale!

Enjoy!

Holiday cooking ~ Hayden Style

I am going to dedicate this month ~ and this blog to Christmas/Holiday cooking with recipes that are a bit lighter in the sugar department.

I will also offer a few FOOD gifts to go along with my Handmade Holiday pledge!

Fun and maybe not so Fattening!!

Lets start tomorrow with My Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies Holiday version...

I will give you 3 Recipes a week...2 Holiday recipes and 1 Gift idea! Please feel free to share with me!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours...we have more blessings than the day can hold, and we hope that you do too!

Giving Thanks ~ Part 3

Today I want to show my gratitude to

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ~ aka CHOP

Their reputation is amazing..you don't see commercials like you do for other Children's hospitals, but the work that they do for Children is AWESOME!

We have driven the 2.5 hour drive there countless times. I think I am now on autopilot when we go...but every time we are there, they make my child feel like he is #1 to them.

We live in the DC area, there are several hospitals well within a 45 minute drive. We bypass them and continue to Philadelphia.

Hayden has been going to the hospital for over 9 years now and when we head to CHOP he doesn't sweat it. He enjoys it there - as much as you can enjoy a hospital - and feels comfortable there. This is huge for a mom.

Today, I offer a BIG ~ HUGE ~ Heartfelt THANK YOU to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia!!

Giving Thanks ~ Part 2

I am not going to lie...I love a Double Cheeseburger, French Fries and a Diet coke from McDonald's....I know, it is NOT the best burger in town, but I do love one every once in a while.

More than that...I love their Ronald McDonald House! As I mentioned on my other blog, not all blessings come in sparkly packages or from joyous moments. Sometimes we have to find those blessings in the rubble.


This is one of those blessings. Please take a moment to check out their Facebook page or their website. You might be surprised by what you find.


If you feel so inclined...throw some extra change their way.

Giving Thanks

I am very Thankful for many reasons, but one in particular is that Hayden continues to grow and be strong and healthy.

90% of his maintenance is diet related. High protein, low carb diet...

Good food can be expensive! We are fortunate to be able to buy what we need, but not everyone is so fortunate!

There are people in our own country who can not afford to feed their families. Please take a moment to visit the Share Our Strength website to see how you can help. $1 can make a difference!

Give Thanks!

Growing

That beautiful Blue eyed boy of mine is growing SO STRONG I can hardly believe it! He weighs 70+ pounds right now and that is something that I never thought I would be saying. He has lived in the 50th/25th % for so long that this is truly a record breaker for us!

I almost dropped more than my jaw when he got on the scale for his last physical. So happy! Glucose numbers have been SO stable that I am almost afraid to say that out loud.

Grades are great, Growth is great....this has been an amazing year so far. Can't wait to see how it progresses...."Progress" being the optimal word here!

Bowl full of sunshine

What does your bedtime snack look like??

This is what Hayden's looks like, it is one of his favorites! Eggs and Orange peppers, with a little bit of cheese. MMmmm..good!

I think most kids would prefer some Milk and Cookies, but whatever works, right??

A new favorite

Grilled Burgers wrapped in a tortilla and stuffed with veggies! YUMMY!!

This has become a fast favorite of ours, low carb..high fat...high protein....great flavor, and very filling!! The burgers are very simple but I swear they were the best burgers I have had in a long time! There is Avocado, sauteed onions and red peppers, garden fresh lettuce and tomatoes all wrapped up in there. DEEEE-LISH!! The squash is also from our garden and was so filling. Throw in some fresh fruit and our meal was complete.

We also make this wrapped in a lettuce wrapper, flavored with a Tex-Mex flavor...also very filling and delicious!

365 Days ago...

The past couple of days have brought me to a point of reflection, not dwelling but reflecting. 365 Days ago there was an incident that makes today an anniversary.... Not one filled with laughter and good times, but one that was scary and treacherous and one I never want to go through again.

Last year on this day we went in for a series of routine procedures to "check" on what was going on internally with Hayden when there was an "equipment malfunction" and we became another statistic. You see we are where we are today, because of "surgical side effects" from 7 years ago....

He looked at me and asked me if he was going to die. My auto-pilot told him NO immediately, but my heart and my brain were screaming inside of me that I didn't know!

It was a 1 in 100+ case statistic that what actually happened - would happen, so how could they say for sure that he wouldn't. And no lie, I had a customer in my Mary Kay days who actually did die from a ruptured esophagus....try getting that nugget of info out of your brain when a doctor comes out and tells you that they have just "perforated" the first layer - possibly the second layer of your son's esophagus.

The days that followed were horrible, scary, emotionally draining and filled with so many questions. I can still "feel" what I felt that day. I don't like it....

This past week I have been thinking about how that experience changed us, altered us a little bit more. How it added one more sentence in our "definition". I was so angry with God for allowing something more to happen to this sweet boy, and I was terrified to say it out loud. My belief in our doctors was so shattered, and I was once again completely helpless in protecting my son. How it took a significant amount of time for Hayden to fully recover - emotionally and some days I think he hasn't. I have been remembering how scared I was and how it doesn't matter how much education a Doctor has behind him, he isn't perfect. He doesn't know everything...he knows a whole hell of a lot, but not everything.

And most ironically, we continue to live "behind the curtain". The curtain that we are "fine"...that everything is OK. I don't like pity and I don't like the feeling of the whispered...did you hear what happened??? Sometimes I peak from behind the curtain and share my real feelings about our situation but I always feel that it is hard to relate to our circumstances and therefor people don't get it. After all, he looks just like every other boy his age.

My guy has been home with me for the past several days with a case of the Chicken Pox and the Croup. He didn't remember what today was, and I didn't feel the need to remind him. He is such an amazing kid, his stamina and strength are unbelievable! He doesn't need to be brought back to that day...I don't really want to be here myself.

If I could blow out a candle today and make a wish for him, I would wish that he never have to go through any of this. That tomorrow he could wake up and never have to deal with daily struggles again.

365 days from today, I hope that I can not remember exactly how I felt 365 days ago.

Where are we??

I have not posted here in quite a long time!! I really wanted to have this blog be a fun place for recipes that are healthy and yummy, but also a place where loved one's could follow what is going on with my man Hayden.

I was somewhat stuck on how to proceed because Hayden has such complex dietary requirements...follow the ADA diet, add fiber, give him plenty of good fats....on and on....that who else can benefit from those types of recipes???

And along with that, there is the frustration of "dealing" with this type of illness or condition because not many people can relate. Hayden's condition is the result of a surgery...a type of surgery that we were told was necessary at the time to control his reflux. Now, who knows?? Have you ever heard of "Post-Prandial Hypoglycemia, Secondary to Dumping Syndrome"?? Probably not. And if you have it is probably the result of Gastric Bypass Surgery in an adult. Not

I try to keep everything "Cheery" and try to only share my frustrations with my husband or at times my favorite Doctor. I love her... I have a blog that is fun! I share fun projects that I am working on, great thrift store finds, and wacky stories of my childhood....which I have come to determine was not "normal"...but in a good way! Quite frankly it is not in my character to share all the info about Hayden, it is too confusing for most to understand and then they just think we are crazy. It is confusing for us...and sometimes we think we are crazy!

Today however I am particularly frustrated because Hayden has been having chronic stomach pain for weeks...not every day, maybe two, three or four days a week...every week! It is happening enough that it slows him down, and if you know Hayden you know that he isn't the "slow down" type of kid. He feels like he is passing a kidney stone - again - and to top it off...he is trying to exert "control" over his body and is fighting me tooth and nail about the basics. On every detail!

Maybe I am going to be talking to myself, maybe I will just be keeping a record of what each day brings and I can reflect on it another day. But whichever it is, this is going to be a place for me record those thoughts and the regular changes to his medical needs. No whining, or complaining, just straight talking.

So here we are....a Mom and Dad who tried to do the best thing for their kid, and a kid who has been forever altered because of a "necessary" surgery that now-a-days isn't so necessary? Real people dealing with the real BS of the medical world, dealing with the real life effects that chronic illness brings to the family dynamic, and of course lets not forget the ever popular comments..."Now,.... what is wrong with him??" with the perplexed confused look on their face. And of course that is only what they are willing to say to our face, we have heard some of the things that they say behind our back...and they should be ashamed.


If your friend, family or other, I hope that this will keep you up to date. And where are we today?? We are 10 days underway after taking the NG tube out (the feeding tube that runs through his nose into his belly). We are trying to find out if having the tube helps with the dumping (the intense/immediate need to poop right after eating...within 15 minutes of starting to eat). Having the tube put on weight really fast in the first 4 weeks and then the second 8 weeks not much....so a little frustration there. Plus it didn't help with the dumping, only helped to get some guaranteed nutrition.

Superman Smells Like a Sugar Cookie!

If you know me, you know that I always call my little man "Superman" . Well, now when I cuddle with my little guy he smells like a GIANT Sugar Cookie!!! Because of the Pediasure that he gets through his feeding tube, that is all you can smell....Sugar Cookie!! This has not been one of my favorite smells in the past, I am more of a citrus smell person, but now that I smell it everyday on one of my favorite people, Ive had to make it one of my favorites.

I am not going to run out and buy a candle or anything...but I will make the best of it while we have to.

In other news, the real benefit to go along with the sweet smell is that he is gaining weight and having much fewer Hypoglycemic lows now that he has been having overnight feeds! Almost 10 pounds since July....that is awesome!!! And we haven't had one instance of "lows" in the past two months...THAT is really awesome!

We are going to experiment this week with a Reduced/Sugar-Free Pumpkin Pie. Wish me luck! This and Apple are two of his favorites so I am going to attempt....I am thinking that apple would be much easier.

Looking for a Quick-Fix for a Sweet Treat?? This is a simple little snack that always hits the spot. Hayden prefers his with a little Peanut Butter (which adds more protein..which is good for him) THIS IS NOT ONE OF MY "SUGAR-FREE" TREATS! BUT - WITH ONLY 9 GRAMS OF SUGAR/CARBS IN THE FLUFF, YOU GET BIG SWEET IN A LITTLE AMOUNT!

No-Burn S'Mores
Graham Crackers (whatever variety you like)
Marshmallow Fluff
Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup

Lay your Graham Crackers out in single layers.
Spread a small (or large if you choose) amount of Fluff on.
Drizzle small amount of Chocolate Syrup over

We like them open-face...you can close them up for a more authentic S'more effect.
Hayden also likes to add Peanut Butter to his!

We Cheated!!

Sometimes you want a quick treat without all the fuss of making it from scratch! Well, when you can't have any Sugar, Sugar that can be a little hard!! So we cheated this time.....started with a store bought cake mix and I added a little extra fiber - well, a lot of extra fiber! Gotta love this stuff, you can add it to just about anything and nobody is the wiser! Shhhh, don't tell anyone...they thought they got good old, yellow cupcakes!! NOT!

The icing still presents a challenge for us because as I am sure you know, icing is nothing but sugar, and sugar and more sugar. Oh yeah....and butter....and a little milk. So, with this one we used less sugar but the normal amount of butter and cocoa powder. They turned out great, and with only a tablespoon of icing all was well in the land of Glucose testing!!

The Princess enjoyed these more than anyone....

We did make some really yummy Muffins the other morning, I will post the recipe for them. They were ULTRA healthy, full of fiber, yogurt, real fruit flavors and barely any sugar! Good stuff!!!

Yummy Purple Monster's!!

These cupcakes are really YUMMY - and you won't BELIEVE the list of ingredients!!! They are Super High in Fiber, Low Carb, and Basically Sugar Free!! You can either make them the way I have or you can tweek them to your preference!! I will say, they "stuck" a little to the paper liners which I think is because I removed the oil from the recipe and replace it with the Purple Power puree. I DID NOT TELL MY KIDS THAT THEY HAD SPINACH OR THAT THEY WERE SUGAR FREE AND THEY GOBBLED THEM UP!! I also waited until I was done the puree process before getting my little helpers involved. They love to cook, and I love to get Hayden involved in his nutrition...and what better way than hands on!

Here is your list of ingredients...directions below.

• 1/2 C. Organic Agave Sweetener (if you choose to use regular sugar use only 1C to keep the sugar down)




• 1 C. Whole Wheat Pasty Flour




• 3/4 White Cake flour (you can all whole wheat flour if you want)




• 3/4 C. Hershey's cocoa




• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder




• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda




• 1 tsp salt




• 2 eggs




• 1 C. milk




• 1/2 C. Purple Power****see below for how to make this!




• 2 tsp. Vanilla extract




• 1 C. Boiling Water

Combine all your dry ingredients in a large bowl, add eggs, milk, vanilla, purple power & beat on Medium speed for 2 minutes. Slowly add the Agave sweetener while beating the liquid ingredients in. Now stir in the boiling water. Add to your cupcake liners. Bake for 20 minutes at 325. IF you choose to use regular sugar, change your oven temp to 350 and bake for 25 minutes.

• Your Purple Power Potion!! I did NOT dream this up, I found it in a great magazine and incorporated into this recipe. It was really easy! Easier than I thought when I first read it....the food processor brings back nightmares of having to make my own baby food for the fourth little beauty!
• 3 C. Raw baby spinach leaves (organic)




• 1 1/2 C. Fresh or unsweetened frozen blueberries




• 1 tsp. lemon juice




• 2-4 Tbs. water

Boil the spinach for two minutes (in water...it took me a minute on this one??). Drain the spinach and add it to a food processor with the blueberries and lemon juice. Add the water as needed to thin it out. **I actually used a combination of blueberries/raspberries and blackberries..too seedy!!**

NOW...I must confess that I totally baled on the icing and used a "store bought" reduced sugar icing. It was very yummy and much less sugar. My guy doesn't even like the icing any more..makes him sick!! YUCK....So we sometimes use a sprinkle of powdered sugar in place, adds just enough "sweet" to the cupcake.

We decorated them with fun Purple Icing, and those cute little toppers my daughter made "On the fly"...no pun intended!! When she saw me taking pictures of the food, her craft ADD kicked in!! Off to the craft room she went and came back down with the punch in hand...

These cupcakes are FILLED with Fiber and pretty nutritious for being a dessert! Give them a try!

Enjoy...

Who is hungry??

This blog will be dedicated to Healthy - Kid Friendly recipes that are also great for Adults too! My son has a very unique condition that requires him to follow a High Fiber, Low Carb, Sugar free diet. No, he is not diabetic, no he is not a member of the "childhood obesity" statistics.



As a mom, it is always a challenge to feed our kids healthy foods that they will actually eat! I am hoping that this blog will give you a few new treats to add to your recipe book.

I make no claims to be a Nutritionist, or Dietary expert. I have NO medical training other than the "Mommy Badge" that I have earned through 4 kids over the past 12 years.