The Magical Baby Girl and The Brokenhearted Woman

This is the story I tell my daughter every year about her birth story, the essence of the story is true, my hubby and I waited nearly a decade for the promise of parenthood to be fulfilled. 2 & 1/2 years before Kissi was born we suffered the loss of 3 babies consecutively and the heartache and loss nearly swept us away. It was only the loving hands of our Lord that kept us intact and the lessons we learned during those lean years still aid us in our walk today....

Fantasy Makeup...Having Fun with make-up and your kids!!

I had such a fun time these past 2 years at our community Fall Family Fun Day. The area park system sets up a hay ride, a bon-fire, a treat trail where the families learn about animals in the area in their natural habitat and get to receive treats along the way,  painting pumpkins, games, face painting...

Now I know I can apply make up I have done so for my chosen profession for 20+ years so I knew i could watch a few You-Tube Videos and learn some tricks...

The first year, my daughter 

was very into Avatar, 

plus she loves dinosaurs & princesses....

so we did a combo...

Medicine Cabinet in your Pantry Thursdays: MYO Cough Syrup

PIC CREDIT

IT'S that time again....COLD & FLU season!! The hacking and coughing upper respiratory junk has hit my household this morning with a vengeance! So I pull out my YUMMY Cough/Sore Throat Syrup Ingredients and whip this up!



 It contains only 5 ingredients and we all pretty much keep these on hand

Recipe Wed: Pain Perdu...'HOOD Style!!

 MMMmmm....MMmmm...

MMMMmm!!!!!

This is soooooo Flippity-Flappity GOOD!! If you use your favorite search engine you can find a ton of "Pain Perdu"recipes, I believe mine would rival any one you could find... 

Even the kids were begging me 

to hurry up and cook them.

What sets mine apart from the others, is vanilla sugar, 

GOOD homemade vanilla bean extract, left over rich eggy, slightly sweet dinner rolls, coconut & eggnog...

Then- HURRAY!

My plan is all coming together...

muahahahaha!!!

Eggnog & Coconut Pain Perdu

• 2 Jumbo Local Farm Fresh Pasture Raised Organic Eggs (Large reg white commercial eggs ok if that is all you have)
• 2 T Homemade Organic Vanilla Raw Sugar (Or reg. granulated sugar)
• 2 t Homemade Organic Vanilla Bean extract (Or GOOD Pure Vanilla Extract)
• 1/2Cup Grass Fed Organic Half & Half (Or  pasteurized Whole Milk)
• 1/4 C Organic Eggnog
• Pinch of Sea Salt
• 2 T Unbleached All Purpose Organic Flour
• 1/2 C of Organic Shredded Coconut
• 15- ICE BOX YEASTY DINNER ROLLS* day old & sliced into 3rds (or 4 pieces of dense rich egg bread like Brioche, or Challah 3/4" thick)
• Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (EVCO) 
• Butter

*I will post the Ice Box Dinner Rolls later this month, This is a round #2 recipe, a great way to repurpose a dish and make it just as good if not better than the original use!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Preheat oven to 250
2. Place Sliced rolls or Brioche on a rack and allow to dry out for about 15-20 min.
3. In a shallow dish large enough to hold the Rolls or Brioche in a single layer, whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt, then whisk in the milk and flour. Add the brioche to the dish and turn to coat, then let the brioche soak for 3-4 minutes. 
4. Place Shredded Coconut in a shallow dish and dip each bread slice on both sides, evenly coat.
5. Over Medium heat add butter and EVCO. Cook egg bread for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. (While you're cooking each batch, add more bread to the egg mixture to soak.)
6. Place the cooked bread on a baking sheet and keep it warm in the oven. 
7. Wipe out the pan with a dry paper towel, add more butter and oil, and continue to fry the remaining soaked bread until they're all cooked. (This is important as the coconut will get bitter if overly browned)

I serve as, I am don't like soggy bread so I don't add any syrups, but a Caramel-Vanilla Syrup would be nice, or the addition of ripe strawberries or blueberries would be delicious too!! 

We eat this for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, or dessert. Either way you choose to eat it, your family will love it and it freezes beautifully. Make a huge batch and freeze the extras for unexpected company, they will feel so special! 
 



 


 

Teach Me Tuesday: How to MYO Garlic Olive Oil Remedy

You know the symptoms:

• Ear pain, fever, fullness in the ear, hearing problems, or malaise {A general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to identify.} 

AHHHH man, I think I am getting something....

Photo Credit

These are some of the common signs of an ear infection & unfortunately ear infections are often ignored at the onset as adults we expect them to wane with time. And as is the case with my toddler son who can't tell me what he is feeling I can usually tell by observation he is tugging at his ear, it is red, he is emotional, listless-then I know something is going on with his ears and grab the TNT remedies in my house...GARLIC & Olive Oil....crazy? 

If you have read my "Teach Me Tuesdays" posts you will remember my many posts on this, here are the links of some I mention Garlic Olive Oil: Onion-Garlic-Ginger Poultice, Garlic Oil for Ear Aches, When to Say When,  & Medicine Cabinet in Your Fridge/Pantry. And as often as I have sited the benefits of Garlic Infused Olive Oil- I have yet to post the remedy I use for ears...

GARLIC OLIVE OIL

I have often wondered the science behind the remedy and read this here "It has been used as a natural analgesic for ear infections for centuries. It works by soothing the walls of the outer ear and providing a layer of protection against bacterial infections."

Analgesic Garlic Olive Ear Ache OIl:

Sterilize the dropper bottle and the dropper by boiling in water for 15 minutes. Remove and allow to air dry.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/276872-how-to-heal-an-ear-infection-with-garlic-oil/#ixzz2D4iT18aL

• Peel & smash 4-6 cloves garlic and place in pan with 1/2 C Olive Oil. 
• Heat olive oil for 5-7 minutes over low heat. You do not have to cook the garlic; the purpose of heating it is to mix the garlic oil with olive oil. 
• Sterilize glass jar in boiling water for 10-15 min and allow to dry thoroughly 
• Cool oil to room temp, at this point you can garlic & oil allow to sit at room temp for one week to make a stronger infusion.
• Pour and strain the infused oil into a small glass container. 
• Label with date & store in fridge

* I keep for no longer than 8 weeks-- if it is close to expiration date I will cook with it.

-------------------------------------

How I use the oil:

1. Heat a pan of water and place jar of Garlic oil in water to heat gently. Check on wrist never use warmer than body temp, this just takes the chill of from being in fridge.
2. With a sterilized ear dropper,  drop a few drops of this oil into the sore ear. 
3. Massage with lymphatic drainage movements found in this post
4. After a few minutes, plug the ear with a cotton ball. 
5. The next morning, cleanse the ear with hydrogen peroxide. 
6. Keep the cotton in your ear for the entire day, and repeat the oil treatment at night. 

This ear remedy provides immediate comfort and heals ear infections in a day or two. If garlic is not readily available, you can also use onion juice or cinnamon infused olive oil.

* Disclaimer I am not officially trained in homeopathic remedies or the medical profession, just a mom trying to keep my family healthy and use natural & non-chemical options as much as possible. All posts are my family's journey into the natural remedies use at own discretion- caution and common sense should be applied when trying any natural alternatives.

 **If ear has pus, bloody discharge, or has fever over 102 seek professional help immediately.

Recipe Wednesday: SERIOUSLY, THE BEST Chicken Pot Pie!!

I am not playing, this is  

 SERIOUSLY THE BEST EVER 

chicken pot pie recipe! 

Mmmm Mmmm GOOD!!

This recipe starts with caramelized onions rendered in butter & bacon drippings....yeah that should be enough said, however what makes this dish even more decadent, is when succulent & savory poultry meet crisp tender veggies in a creamy, bubbly, and rich bath of chicken stock, dry vermouth, and heavy cream all wrapped in a flaky, golden, delicious puff pastry blanket. 

This recipe is HUMUNGOUS! I just have a hard time not doubling my efforts and make extras to freeze when making recipes that are involved and use more than one pan.  

This recipe has many possibilities- It is enough for many combos like: 

• 3 regular 8" pies, 2 DEEP DISH 9" pies, 6 ramekins {Think mini pies} & one 8" pie, (Some for now& some for freezer stash!!) or you can make one 8"X11" pan, like a sheet pie :-) and one filling you can freeze and use when you feel like.  

If you want to make just one pie half the ingredients up to the pastry/crust and contiue with recipe.

I made this for my dad for his birthday and he was floored,& kept saying, 

"This is pot pie? But this is Pot pie & it's GREAT! I mean this is just pot pie, but it's not "just pot pie"- it tastes really, really fantastic...

What makes this so good?"

Phewww!!!  What a mouthful! Enough with the dialog bring on the recipe:

• 4-6 C chopped, cooked poultry- turkey/chicken or (*3 whole/6 split chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade- {or about one box of Kitchen Basics Chicken Stock}
• 1 C dry vermouth, dry white wine or an additional cup of stock
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes or 2-4 T chicken soup base
• 8 tablespoons (1 sticks) unsalted butter
• 4 T Bacon drippings or 4 T unsalted Butter
• 2 cups yellow onions, chopped (2 onions)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 C finely diced celery
• 2-3 cloves garlic minced
• 1/3 cup finely-diced carrots
• 1/3 C frozen peas, thawed 
• 1/4 C frozen green beans, thawed
• 2 cups frozen corn, thawed
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley leaves or 3 -4 T dried parsley
• 1/4 C fresh dill or 2 T dried dill
• 1 (17.3 oz)package puff pastry  {IS what I use!} OR Pie Crust recipe of choice or frozen prepared crust -enough for a double crust 
• 1 large farm fresh brown egg (Or whatever you have on hand)

---------------------------------------------
* START HERE if you are cooking poultry from scratch:
{Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. for baking chicken}
 Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cooked through. Set aside until cool enough to handle, then remove the meat from the bones and discard the skin. Cut the chicken into large dice. You will have 4 to 6 cups of cubed chicken.}
-----------------------------------------------
Start here if you have 4-6 Cups left over chicken/turkey
{Pre heat oven to 375 for pie crust/pastry}

1. In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the bouillon cubes in the stock. 
2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and bacon drippings saute the onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. 
3. Add carrots, celery, & garlic- cook an additional 2-4 minutes  DO NOT LET GARLIC BROWN, WILL BECOME BITTER!
4. Add the flour to the same lg pot veggies were cooked in and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
5. Combine the hot chicken stock to the sauce. 
6. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. 
7. Add 2 teaspoons salt or to taste, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and heavy cream. 
8. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, green beans, dill, and parsley. Mix well.
9. Taste sauce and again and adjust seasoning as needed

------------------
For Pastry: {I use puff pastry, use what you like best home made pie dough or pre-made}

1. Roll each pastry sheet into a 12- x 10-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. 
2. Fit 1 sheet into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate; spoon chicken mixture into pastry. 
3. Place remaining pastry sheet over filling in opposite direction of bottom sheet; fold edges under, and press with tines of a fork, sealing to bottom crust. 
4. Whisk together egg and 1 Tbsp. water, and brush over top of pie with egg wash. 
5. Make 3 slits in the top. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot.

Bake at 375° on lower oven rack 55 to 60 minutes or until browned. Let stand 15 minutes.

Chicken Pot pie is a freezer favorite in my family! 

  LINKED TO WEEKEND POTLUCK

Breakfast Banana Kabobs

What do you do when you have a ton of cereal boxes opened 

but not enough 

in one box 

to make a decent bowl for breakfast???

Make Kabobs!!

In our childhood years my sisters and I would take bananas and use it to pick up cereal from our bowls before we added the milk- we thought we were so smart!

When I had kids I showed them our little banana trick & they loved the novelty of it! Then one day in my inbox I noticed that I-Village e-mailed me breakfast ideas and I saw this pic...

 

Add caption

What an updated idea & the kids loved it even more  when I expanded the idea further by allowing them to prepare these tasty treats with little intervention from me! 

I allow them to:

• Prepare the Banana- {Peel & place on skewers}
• Dip bananas in yogurt or*other ingredient to roll bananas in

They feel so proud of themselves and grown up when they make these kabobs, especially when I "let" them make me breakfast, LOL!

I altered the recipe to fit our family, we dip the bananas in:

• Honey, Vanilla yogurt, Peanut butter that I have slightly warmed in microwave to thin

Then Roll Banana Kabob with whatever we have on hand:

• Left over cereal, Granola, chocolate chips, almond slivers, Coconut flakes...

Breakfast Banana Kabobs:

• 4 - Small Bananas
• Yogurt, Honey,  or Peanut Butter that has been heated up to thin
• Choice of Cereal-(We use that last cup or so or cereal left in box), *Almond slivers, Chocolate Chips, Cocout Flakes, or Granola...
• 4 wooden skewers, pointed ends dulled down

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Peel bananas and insert wooden skewers in center
2. Place yogurt, warmed p.nut, butter or honey in deep enough bowl to fit bananas or heat peanut butter to thin enough to brush on bananas
3. Pour cereal/granola/coconut flakes or other ingredients* on plate
4. Roll banana kabob in cereal, granola, or coconut flakes 

linked to weeked potluck

TEACH ME TUESDAY: When it's time to say WHEN!

(RETRO POST FROM MARCH 2012)-

WOW, what a crazy 10 days it was been! Kids have been super sick, all my ambitions have been laid aside and my mommy's intuition and home remedy know how put to the test as well as my nerve to actually use it....

I am willing to try alternative "crunchy" ideas and recipes when it comes to foods, house cleaning products, beauty/body care items, my pet, my health, but when it has come to the health of my pregnancies and my children...ERRRRRRRRR (that is the sound of breaks being pressed the floor and the break pads smoking!)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet, when my daughter woke up screaming and writhing in pain holding her ear, I remember all to well the many times my momma would hold my head on her lap 

and drop warmed "sweet oil" aka olive oil in my ear and run a blow dryer over it and 

"AHHHHH" the relief I felt...

I went to the pantry and to grab my EVOO,  then I remembered I had made garlic infused EVOO and had it in my fridge, 24 oz to be exact... 

pic from this site

I heated up a mug of water then placed a smaller cup inside w/a small amount of garlic infused EVOO, when it got to a nice temp I tested it on the inner part of my wrist. 

Using a dropper I placed 1-2 drops it in my daughter's ear and did a lymphatic drainage massage 

• within 5 minutes she was calm and wanted to sit up on my lap, 
• within 10 min she was asking for some water to drink...
• within 20 she was up and playing with her dollies...

So began my first steps towards using alternative practices to help me kids

Lymphatic Drainage massage in for earaches:

1. First, have the person lay on his or her side with the aching ear facing upward.
2. Next put the ear drops (garlic oil, onion juice, colloidal silver, etc.) in the ear. 
3. Grasp the lower part of the ear and begin stretching and massaging it. This helps the remedy reach the eardrum and begins the process of lymphatic drainage.
4. Finally, after a few minutes of massaging the ear, begin using a "milking" technique to increase lymphatic drainage in the neck and throat. 
5.  Place your finger in the indentation just under the ear and behind the jawbone. 
6. Gently stroke the neck downward from this point. 
7. Gently massage the lymph nodes in the throat area, too. 
8. You'll know what they are because you'll feel hardened, lumpy areas in the neck and throat. These movements will dramatically increase the flow of lymph moving away from the ear.
9. If the first round of this procedure doesn't completely relieve the pain, be patient. Just keep repeating the same process once every hour or so.

Within that hour my son wakes up SCREAMING his left ear red as ruby on fire. 2 days before he had the beginnings of pink eye, he typically gets this ever other month bc of a tear duct issue, he will get it lanced as soon as he is breathing freely enough to tolerate the anesthesia, I drained the ducts as I usually do and make sure it stays gunk free...

Then his temp spikes to nearly *105/106...scary!! *{DON'T ALLOW YOUR CHILD'S FEVER TO GET THIS, HIGH IMMEDIATLY GET MEDICAL ATTENTION IF TEMP SPIKES THIS HIGH!!} I remember reading in one of my old home remedy books I downloaded from amazon to my kindle originally published in the 1700/1800's:

"...  the feet are ice cold and the head raging with a fever to wrap the feet in a thin cloth soaked in apple cider vinegar and rub the feet until they were warm... "

by the time his feet were warm his temp was down to 102, then within 5-10 min he was in the 99 range...

Since then I have heard several other remedies:

• To place a cut potato cut side down on forehead to draw fever
• Slice an onion and place on soles of clean feet and put on clean socks-by the time onion turns brown fever is gone- don't know if I would do this to my young children, but I would try it with me and hubby 
• To use cloth soaked in egg whites on forehead and on feet as well as a burn soother/healer and purportedly will prevent scaring
• Cool bath, which i remember with some ice being done to me as a young child.

Then I read a site that included nearly all the remedies on EHow

• 4 eggs
• 1 small white onion
• 1 tbs. of apple cider vinegar
• Socks
• 2 washcloths or handkerchiefs- I used old diapers I only used for burp clothes not prefolds but the thin ones you would have to fold into prefolds, perfect texture for lintness clothes

1- Separate the yokes from the egg whites carefully and discard the yoke.  

2- Chop the white onion finely and mix the pieces into the egg whites.  

3- Add 1 tbs. of apple cider vinegar and stir gently.  

4- Soak the handkerchiefs or washcloths in the mixture. While a bit messy, you want the cloth to be dripping with the liquid allowing plenty of absorption into the skin. Be sure some of the onion pieces remain on one side of the washcloths or handkerchiefs.  

5- Wrap the washcloths or handkerchiefs around your feet with the onion touching the skin and place socks over the cloths. This natural remedy will quickly pull the temperature down to your feet, where it can do no bodily harm, naturally relieving a fever.

Monitor the fever carefully to watch for changes. Reapply the soaked cloths to the feet if the fever begins to return.

Tips & Warnings

• Egg whites are also a natural and helpful way to reduce pain and scarring from burns. Coat the affected area with a light layer of egg whites, and reapply once dry. You will feel instant relieve from the heat of the burn.
• If the fever reaches above 104 degrees Fahrenheit and does not break, see a doctor.
• I would coat the foot in light neutral oil to protect a child's skin before I applied the mixture and wrap in plastic wrap to further press the cloth into skin and help with the mess a bit, 
• Plus lay a towel under the feet to protect from egg white contamination issues even with socks on I would still lay a towel under the feet...

WHAT I have learned:

1. Before seeking medical attention, it is good to give a child a cool bath, to try to bring down the body's temperature along with the poultices. The water should be lukewarm; not cold, and they should respond by telling you it feels good to them. However, if after the bath their temperature begins to rise again, it is time to seek medical attention.
2. A temperature of over 104 degrees F is usually considered very high. You should also seek medical attention if you experience confusion, painful urination, a stiff neck, convulsions, trouble breathing, or severe vomiting or diarrhea.
3. Fevers as high as 103-104 degrees should be dealt with immediately by a medical professional. If this event occurs during the night, the child should be taken to the emergency room. At the hospital, a doctor will evaluate your child visually, and will often perform various tests to make sure they are not suffering from a more dangerous illness, such as meningitis. They may take a urine sample to make sure they do not have an infection, or a strep screen, to make sure tonsillitis or strep throat is not the issue. 
4. Never treat a child's fever with aspirin. It can trigger a rare but potentially fatal disorder known as Reye's syndrome.
5. If your child is not able to keep liquids or solids down and is vomiting, this is not a good sign. They are in danger of dehydration, especially when they are not able to urinate or defecate.
6. If they experience difficulty breathing, or their heart rate becomes unusually fast, this is also a symptom of a dangerously high fever.
7. A rash on parts or all of their body, or "blotches", which is also in response to a fever.
8. In some rare cases if the fever is very high, a child may experience what is called "a febrile seizure" or convulsion; which can be extremely dangerous.
9. At the hospital, a doctor will evaluate your child visually, and will often perform various tests to make sure they are not suffering from a more dangerous illness, such as meningitis. They may take a urine sample to make sure they do not have an infection, or a strep screen, to make sure tonsillitis or strep throat is not the issue.
10. Some infections to not appear right away, and may be difficult to detect. It is important to watch your child carefully and return to the doctor or emergency room if their symptoms return.

I don't think I will EVER allow my children especially mini-moose with the CCM issues to have a fever this high again, it could have triggered the above mentioned " febrile seizure" or convulsion; which could have be extremely dangerous & life threatening especially to him.

We didn't go to hospital, his temp was reduced within minutes with the ACV soaked litness cloths, I would be willing to try the above mentioned remedy plus use the cut potato on forehead...
Plus good to know about the egg whites for burns...will file that one away for reference. But I doubt I will ever allow his temp to go that high again.

I feel like the bacteria went from his eyes to ears to  his ears 

it took 2 applications of the oil to calm him.

I dropped the oil in his ears, he was still inconsolable 

so it took him 2 more applications and about 60 min to calm him down 

and remove the red from his ears, 

I think point 10 mentioned about was what we saw happen in Izak.

All weekend I have been using onion,garlic, and ginger poultices on the children,

PIC From this site

1. Applying a light coating of EVOO on backs, chests, and feet. to protect delicate preschooler/toddler skin. 
2. I sliced an onion, smashed up 3 cloves of fresh garlic, and grated 3 T fresh ginger 
3. Placed in pan with a little water.
4. Saute on low until veg starts to steam and very warm--do NOT over-cook, only open up juices and enzymes, really heating up a light simmer.
5. Then I placed the mixture in a thin cotton cloth (old dipes not ever used as dipes, the old fashioned kind you had to fold into a prefold shape)
6. Wrapping like a burrito.

I placed on back for up to 10-15 min as long as Kissi-cat let me, checking skin every 2min garlic can cause burns. I placed other poultices on chest and foot I placed a qt size freezer bag over to hold in place. Mini-moose wouldn't allow me longer than 2 min of application.

-------------------

Kissi-cat still has lingering cough, but sounds a lot better. Mini-moose was so bad I had to to admit...

WHEN IT WAS TIME TO SAY WHEN  

and take him to doctor.

I could feel the rattling in his chest as I held him that past few nights as he miserably moaned and groaned and gasped...I was so torn, my gumption wants to hold out for the poultice to draw the mucus out as it has for Kissi-cat, but I can hear the weak cough tinged with the mucus, non-productive cough that surrenders in defeat.

The pediatrician heard the rattling in his chest and now Mini-moose is on breathing treatments, within one treatment his breathing improved and for the first time in 8 nights we have a quiet night, no one is hacking, coughing or gasping. {We did this for  one  month and has yet to need another treatment}

Kissi-cat is still phlegmy so as I read her night time story 

I applied the "Why does it smell like Garlic in here?" poultice as we call it now-a-days in my house.

 It is working for her, so...

I have learned sometimes u have to use your intuition and go ahead and use what you know and sometimes you have to know when seek help.

RECIPE WED # 12: CheeseBurg & Tator Cups

Nice little Cheeseburg Cups in a cheesey sauce layered with all the trimmings. Can even save the garnish & Tator-Tots for later and freeze the baked cups for a quick heat and eat lunch or snack.

Looks Similar to the cups @ community.tasteofhome.com

• 1-C Ground Beef, cooked {Can be left overs from night before or even ground turkey/chicken
• 1-C Shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 Can Golden Mushroom soup Or French Onion Soup & 1/2 Can Cheddar Cheese Soup
• Dollop of dill pickle relish, mustard & ketchup, 
• 8 Oz or so Tator-Tots
• 1-2 Tubes of (Basic) Buttermilk Biscuits Dough (Not Grands or layers, just basic)
• Dash of Worcestershire Sauce

IF desired- For Garnish: chopped tomatoes, Shredded lettuce & Cheddar Cheese, chopped dill pickle slices, cooked crisp Tator -Tots

1. Cook Tator-Tots Crispy, according to package and set aside
2. Set oven to temp suggested on Biscuit Package
3. Spray regular muffin pan with cooking spray or grease REALLY well and unroll biscuit dough.
4. Place biscuits into each pan, pressing the biscuits down and up sides, can use small melon baller to shape the inside of the biscuit to make a "bowl
5. In a med bowl pour Soups, 1/2 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese, Dill Pickle Relish, Ketchup, Mustard, Worcestershire Sauce & Ground Beef. Mix together.
6. Place 2 T of ground beef mixture inside of  each biscuit cup Top with 1/4 C of shredded cheddar
7. Bake according to package directions.
8. Garnish if desired with shredded lettuce, cooked tator-tots, diced fresh tomatoes, pickle slices, shredded Cheddar cheese

Teach Me Tuesday: When Ambition takes the backseat to LIFE...

{Found this draft from back in March 2012, I just hadn't posted it} 

I had so many ambitions, as last week was so chock full of appointments, tests, and procedures- I was looking forward to catching up on household chores, Kissi-cat's homeschooling, mini-moose' therapy and more ambitious whole foods cooking. It really takes time to, planning, and prep to cook more traditionally and I look forward to the process of it {Just NOT the clean up}

Then it all came to a screeching halt as I heard the rumblings  & rattlings & hacking & coughing, sure signs of upper respiratory inflammation starting up in Kissi-cat. Mini-moose has had congestion and sinus issues since last Wed, didn't know if they would precede with his MRI since he had to be sedated, but they were able to work out a good situation for him. But now his nose is draining like a faucet down his face and Kiss-cat is draining down her throat.

There comes a time, when you have to choose to allow somethings to go undone when you are needed by children or situations happen outside of your control. It kills me to not reach my goals for the day even if that just means washing the dishes, I LOVE my children, it might sound the opposite because I am giving myself permission to hold a sick child versus doing chores. Yet, I had to mentally give myself permission to leave somethings undone,  so we had store bought egg noodles instead my homemade version. I usually keep some in the pantry just in case, now this might be a cop out, if I didn't have it I wouldn't rely on it? Perhaps, I am not that hard core though, and there are times when life happens and ambition takes the backseat, you know? I hope to make homemade pasta when I make Spaghetti Bolaganse this weekend, but we will see, I do have store bought pasta in my pantry-some shapes you just can't make or roll thin enough.

In the past we would rush to the doctor who would say the same thing, use Vick's Vapor Rub on chest, back and bottoms of feet, use humidifier, elevate her pillows, elevate her bed, restrict dairy and phlegm causing food.  IF they get all croupy take outside for them to catch their breath, or turn the shower on full blast and all hot to get extreme steam to help clear the air ways...

All drainage is clear so I am not going to rush them to the doctor's and risk them getting some other bug... This time I am mustering up my courage and tapping into my mother's intuition, instead of allowing fear of ridicule from others keep me from making choices I know are right for my family. In any case the doctor would not offer much else than I have all ready heard dozens of time before.

I have been interested in alternative medicine for as long as I can remember &  have made a "lung butter" or a salve like the "Vick's" only not synthetic ingredients and petroleum to get ingested into their developing systems along with the trace amounts of essential oils. So this time I utilized my years of research and applied what I have learned. Below is some remedies I have used time and time again and some new ones I have had in my files for years but only used recently:

Here is a list of Essential oils and the medicinal effects or issues they work best for:

• Asthma: clary sage, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense and marjoram.
• Chesty cough: Cedarwood, clary sage, eucalyptus, ginger, myrrh, pine and tea tree.
• Hay fever: chamomile, eucalyptus, pine and rose otto.
• Sinusitis/catarrh: cajeput, Cedarwood, eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary and tea tree.
• Headaches: chamomile, lavender and peppermint.
• Insomnia: chamomile, lavender, jasmine and ylang ylang.

* DIY Vick's Vapor Rub:
Adapted this recipe from An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants, by Mary Bove, N.D. page 286.

• Pour 1 ounces of almond or olive oil into a small bowl or cup.
• Add 1/2 Ounce Melted Coconut oil
• Add 1/2 ounce whipped unrefined shea butter-can omit and just use 1 oz melted coconut oil, I just like the softer texture of whipped unrefined shea butter
• Add 20 drops of essential oil {You want to use 10 drops TOTAL of oil per 2 ounces if you are using this on small children and infants} – choose eucalyptus, hyssop, thyme, peppermint,  basil, or rosemary.
• {I use 5 drops of tea tree, 4 drops hyssop, 4 drops peppermint, 3 drops lavender, & 3 Drops rosemary plus 1/8t of myrrh powder. This formula works well on my children, 10 drops didn't seem to do enough and 20 was too strong for Kissi-cat's sensitive skin}

Transfer to clean sanitized tin and allow to cool, apply to chest, feet and back you normally would.

 I also have been giving Kiss-cat & Mini-Moose some tea, this tea is soo good and as long Kissi-cat doesn't see the grated ginger, pulp of lemons, and it is sweet she will gladly drink it- Mini-moose is a crap-shoot. Here is the Ginger-Lemon Tea recipe:

* Ginger Lemon Tea w/Raw Honey: This is my version of a tea I enjoyed drinking when I was fighting extreme nausea during some fertility treatments. I found out later the other medicinal qualities of the ingredients and we drink this when we are starting to feel under the weather- 

• Ginger is another traditional cold and flu remedy, & works well for that rattly cough that lingers because it  contains at least a dozen antiviral compounds. You can use fresh or powdered ginger for this recipe- I really don't think the compounds are as vital when they u purchase the dried, unless u have a reliable source, PLEASE NOTE:  Fresh ginger has higher levels of gingerol {If you want to know what gingerol is: chemically, gingerol is a relative of capsaicin and piperine, the compounds which give chilli peppers and black pepper their respective spiciness, this is LOST when using dried version!} as well as FRESH ginger’s active protease (it's anti-inflammatory compound) than using dried verions-FRESH IS ALWAYS BEST!!
• Lemon is a traditional sore throat soother, essential from all that hacking and coughing- so I steep the lemon slices, or if I have rinds in freezer I add them

To make the tea:
Add 1 heaping teaspoon of grated fresh ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon powdered),
3 slices of organic lemons,
To 1 cup of boiling water. 
Allow to steep COVERED for ten minutes
Strain {OR add the above to a tea ball and just remove at the end of 10 min}
Add Raw Honey to taste-then drink. 

If I am fortunate enough to have Licorice Root or Wild Cherry Bark I will add to my tea ball. They work well as a medicinal tea:

• 1t of dried licorice root- a natural throat coat, an expectorant to help keep your lungs clear and a booster to your energy when you are tired from coughing.
• 1t wild cherry bark- for irritating cough from bronchitis, croup, asthma and whooping cough b/c of it's Anti-spasmodic; Sedative; Anti-tussive; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD ), Expectorant, Supports lung and respiratory function, Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Sedative, &  Stomach Tonic.

Onion-Garlic-Ginger Poultice: WHY USE  onion, garlic and Ginger?
* Onion is filled with phytochemical and quercetin which assist the body by moving and breaking up the mucus in the head and chest. The powerful odor causes the eyes to tear and the nose to run is the affect that stimulates the immune system to fight the virus or bacterial infection. This is helping your body shed the virus and reduce the inflammation from congestion.
*Garlic is known to have strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties… and there are no known side effects (other than smelling like garlic!), getting kids to eat this raw or adults for that matter is impossible, so using it as poultice works for my family.
*Ginger has antiviral and anti-inflammatory compounds as listed above

• Crush 1/2 of a small onion, 3-6 cloves of garlic in a mortar and pestle  or with knife to get all juicy 
• Grate or slice thinly 2 T FRESH ginger.  
• Place in a thin material, cheese cloth, old t-shirt, I use the thin cloth diapers I used as burb clothes on kids when they were babies (these are the perfect thinness) and fold like a burrito
• lay in a deep medium bowl
• And pour Very Warm-Hot'ish water, NOT BOILING
• Allow to Steep until comfortably warm.

I rub a neutral oil, like sweet almond seed, jojoba on the skin prior to poultice as a protector of the natural secretions check often because garlic and ginger can be very warm to skin and will cause a "burn". 

I apply the poultice to the foot of my young children. The foot is a great receptor of natural remedies and the healing properties enter their systems fast. I will sometimes wrap a plastic bag over the foot to aid in keeping the poultice in place, checking every 2 min for skin irritations or hot spots. I will also apply to back and chest alternating up to 20 min, some people will suggest up to 60 min, since my kids are so young we don't apply this longer than 20 min.

Additional Remedies I found online and lost the resources but this we recently tried and I am liking the way it is seems to help soothe my throat: 
 

* Sore Throat Gargle with Hyssop or Sage:
Sage & Hyssop are traditionally calming herbs & known for their 
anti-inflammatory properties

• One cup of distilled water 
• 20 Drops sage or hyssop essential oil 
• Add 1/8 teaspoon of salt
• 2 t Food Grade Vegetable glycerin {My family won't use this without the sweetened taste glycerin gives the gargle solution, plus it helps preserve it longer}

 Store in the refrigerator for two to three days, gargling whenever you need some relief from your sore throat. [Not sure where I got this recipe, but have been using it and adapting to my family's tastes for years-kids haven't been able to gargle without swallowing so primarily this is for adults]

* Lemon Throat Spray:  is a traditional sore throat soother, and you can put into a spray bottle of any size (look for travel-size spray bottles to take some with you when you're on the go) and stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Combine:

• 15 drops lemon essential oil
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 2 t food grade vegetable glycerin (again my family won't use this if it's not sweetened, so this is a must, it slightly sweetens and helps the taste)

[Found this in my files a few months back, not sure of where I got this, but we have been using this and it is very soothing.]

RECIPE WED: 7- PB & J Breakfast Bars

Found this on Angie's Big Love of Food,  

I have tried several of her recipes and I really like them ALL... 

I bet this one will be a great one too! Gonna try this for one of my freeze sessions breakfast edition! 

Does this LOOK Fabulous or WHAT??

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats 
• 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 

PB Filling:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 C creamy peanut butter
• pinch of salt
• 1 large egg, beaten 
• Top with 1/2 C Blackberry Jam

Preheat oven to 350F.  Line & spray an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper (nonstick foil).

Prepare crust: 

1. In a mixing bowl, stir together add oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add melted butter and stir together til crumbly.  
2. Reserve 1/2 cup crumb mixture for topping.  
3. Place remaining mixture firmly in the bottom of a parchment lined dish. Place pan in oven for approximately 12 minutes, until crust sets.  

Prepare peanut butter filling: 

1. In bowl, add cream cheese, peanut butter, egg, salt and beat til incorporated
2. I swirled mine in 
3. just slightly or you could microwave it for a few seconds to make it easier to spread.  Top with remaining crumb mixture.  

To Bake:

1. Place it the oven for 30 minutes until top is browned.  
2. Allow this to cool.  
3. Once cool, place in fridge for about an hour to let it completely set up before serving.  
4. Lift it out of the pan by the ends of the parchment paper & place it on a cutting board. 
5. Best served at room temperature.

Makes up to 16 bars

Encouragement Thursdays...# 2: Encouraging our Kids to be GOOD playmates

How to encourage our kids to be 

GOOD playmates...

I never thought I would have to deal with "mean girls" at  4 years of  age and I am so shocked I had to soothe my sweet baby girl after an older child on the playground told her to go away & that she didn't want to play with her.  Seeing her sweet little face streaked with tears and heart broken that someone didn't want to play with her, was heart rendering for me to witness, it still evokes emotion within me writing this.

Pic credits from this site

I don't know if I handled the situation on the playground as well as I should have, all I could do was:

• Calm my baby girl down 
• Tell her know she did nothing wrong  
• she was not the one with the problem
• The other little girls were the ones who had a problem.  
• THEY were missing out on the all fun by not choosing to play with her. 

I calmly told her she was a fun little girl and we were going to have fun playing together, that if I was a little girl I would always choose to play with her.

What a tough concept for a 4 year old to grasp and this was NOT the first time something like this has happened, it is the first time she noticed other children being intentionally mean and excluding her.

I can remember my volleyball coach being furious with us if we didn't practice as hard as we played matches. She would make us run "suicides" or do "maniacs" if she caught us being lackadaisical and yell the whole time,

"You will play like you practice!" 

over and over again. I have often gone back to that phrase & applied it to many life situations and now that I am a mother I see it still applies and it is no different with my kids.

With those words in my mind, my daughter and I were playing and as imaginative as she is that day she was pretending we were lions on the pride lands and she started acting out the "situation" on the playground.  I acted out what I would like for her to say and how I would like for her to respond when she was pretending she was mean, as she told her imaginary friend to "GO AWAY!"

I responded, "I am sorry you feel that way. I will play over here and if you change your mind &  say NICE things to me and play NICELY with me I would love to play with you."

She went on and played out other mean things, each time I would respond,

"I am sorry you feel that way, I will play over here and if you change your mind and would like to say NICE things to me and play NICELY with me I would love to play with you."

After a time we switched places and I was the mean child, only I decided I wanted to play with her after she told me my "I am sorry you feel that way", speech. We did this for quite some time, she really got into it and was so gracious when I changed my mind and wanted to play with her.

My biggest hope is that this kind of role play, "PRACTICING LIKE WE WILL PLAY", better equips her to to handle "mean girls", I don't want her to be a doormat nor do I want her to be a bully or just be mean back.  

Giving the other kids a chance to change their mind allows room for change and hopefully allows my children to be gracious and generous as well as firm as to how they will ALLOW others to treat them.

Linked to Better Mom Link & Growing Home