This is where we will put some sort of pithy, yet humble greeting to our visitors. Possibly something about how awesome we are, or how amazing we are together, but I'll leave it up to you.
Closet Rescue
14
May
2012
Pie Crusts
14
May
2012
So this isn’t an original. I took a few things that I liked from several different recipes and combined them to make this one. Feel free to do the same. (more…)
Chicken Pot Pie Images
14
May
2012
So, I can’t figure out how to add the pictures to the actual recipe below, but I wanted to share them anyway. They make me hungry just looking at them. Yum.
Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot PIE!
14
May
2012
| Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot PIE! |
Recipe type: Main
Author:
Serves: 8-16
This recipe makes 2 full sized pies. I like to mix it up and make a couple of different sizes, or even little mini pies, so just play with it, and do what works best for your household.
Ingredients
- 1 Whole Chicken
- Water
- 5 carrots (two whole, three chopped)
- 4 celery stalks (two whole, two chopped)
- 2 large yellow onions (one quartered, one chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 large zucchini (chopped)
- 1/2 t. black pepper
- 4 pie crusts
- 1/2 cup butter
- instant potato flakes OR
- 2-3 T. cornstarch
Instructions
- This is how I make mine, i realize that it takes TWO DAYS and that seems like a lot, but it really isn’t that bad and I think it’s worth it in the end. However, take any short cuts you want to make it work for you.
- Day One:
- Put your chicken in a stock pot and cover with water and boil for about 45 minutes until it’s cooked through.
- Remove the Chicken, reserve the broth.
- Once the chicken cools, remove all the meat (store in fridge), discard the skin, but return the rest of the “carcass” (ick!!) to the broth adding 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks and one onion.
- Simmer on low for several hours.
- Strain the broth, several times discarding anything “solid”, and then chill overnight in the fridge.
- When the chicken is cooking, I make my own pie crust. It makes 4 perfect crusts, but it needs to spend the night in the fridge to be perfect. You can make it, or you can just buy them already made. No shame.
- Day 2:
- Take your chilled broth and remove all the congealed fat on the top. Run through a fine mesh strainer again and set aside.
- Melt butter in large pan, and add the other onion (chopped), 3 carrots (chopped). 2 celery stalks (chopped), and garlic (chopped).
- Saute’ until veggies carrots just begin to get tender.
- Add enough water to your chicken stock to equal around 6 cups.
- Pour stock over veggies and add pepper, chopped zucchini, and all the chicken you cooked the day before.
- Bring to simmer and add thickener. (I use instant potatoes, and it makes it so rich and yummy. It also adds salt, which is why I don’t list salt as an ingredient. Add about 1/2 a cup and stir for a few minutes until it starts to thicken. Sometimes I have to add more to get a good “gravy like” consistency. You could also use cornstarch, just make a slurry with about 2 t. of cornstarch and 2 T. of water. Stir until completely dissolved and then add to chicken mixture. You’ll also want to add salt if you choose the cornstarch method.)
- Taste it and see if you need to season it more.
- Set the chicken mixture aside to cool a bit while you prepare crusts. Cover two deep dish pie plates with crusts. Pour in the chicken mixture and then top with the other two crusts.
- Seal the edges, vent the crust.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake each one at 350 until it’s bubbly ( about 40 minutes) then remove the foil (you may want to keep the edges covered to prevent burning) and cook until the to crust is fully cooked and golden.
- (If you have a convection oven, you can cook both at the same time, but in a regular convention oven, I wouldn’t suggest it. I usually freeze the extra one.)
- This is sooooo yummy!!!
So Blessed
07
May
2012
This morning I was typing away on Facebook, when my screen suddenly went blank. Jude has finally gotten tall enough to reach my laptop and he was unplugging everything from it. Since I use an external everything (mouse, speakers, keyboard, and monitor) this is a big problem. Especially since I have NO IDEA how to get it all hooked back up. I’ve always had my husband do it for me, since I’m really handicapped when it comes to technological. I use the other side of my brain or something. I’m one of those people who can sew my own clothes, build my own house, grow my own food, and memorize 1000′s of recipes, but give me a digital camera and I’m stumped. ( I literally still used my 35mm until I got an iPhone last year because I couldn’t figure out how to get pictures OFF of the nice digital one Justin bought me).
Eventually, I got it all plugged back in, and everything was working except for the monitor. No matter how may things I tried, I couldn’t get it back to the way it’s supposed to be. It ended up becoming worse after I accidentally messed up my laptop’s screen resolution. There was a very low moment where I felt extremely stupid and helpless. My computer is my only daily contact with outside world, and without it, I’d loose my mind. Without my husband around to fix it, I just didn’t know who to call who could help. Then I remembered my friend Josh who also works in some sort of computer field and told me to let him know if I ever needed help. He DID!!! He was able to talk me through everything I needed to do to get everything back into “visibility” and even gave me some resources to try next time I find myself in a computer crisis.
Even though it was such a little thing, it felt like so much more to me. These days the smallest little thing is enough to make me forget how blessed I am. Last week after I had washed my mattress cover, I couldn’t get it back on my bed. The elastic is so tight that it always takes 2 people, and my previous partner in bed restoration is now gone. I was determined to do it alone, and after 45 minutes of some amazing yoga like stretches across the bed, I got it. I was dripping in sweat, and probably burned tons of calories just making my bed, but I did it! And I only cried a little.
In another incident, I woke up with a migraine one morning last week. I was hurting so bad I felt sick and could barely move. Andy (My 7 year old son) was worried and asked me what he could do to help. I told him I needed 4 ibuprofen and described what the bottle looked like, “It’s white, and about the size of a can of coke, and says i-b-u-p-r-o-f-e-n on it.” He left and came back a while later with a big box. He said he couldn’t remember how that word was spelled so he just got every round shaped bottle of medicine we had. And did he ever!! That box was FULL. I took my meds, and eventually started feeling human again. My heart was so touched by his actions. He even put it all back up! ( I may not be able to find any of it again, but the thought was nice).
I have so many little stories like that. My friends and family have been phenomenally supportive and whenever I do start to get low, they are always there to lift me right back up and remind me of how loved and blessed I am.
Fancy Hair
07
May
2012
So you want to hear an example of how I can waste any entire afternoon by accident??
Well, here it is…
After trying for hours to get Jude to take a nap, so I could take a shower, I finally gave up and just brought him into the bathroom with me. He splashed and soaked the entire room and I had time to do a quick rinse off and wash my hair. Then as I was drying off, I started thinking…. “How do I want to wear my hair today?” I’m sort of getting tired of the same thing everyday and thought I’d do a quick web search for other styles I could do with this cut. Instead I found a cool prom pic of a girl with a similar hair cut, and a how-to video of how to get her look. So I watched it. And then decided I’d go try it myself. I carefully dried and gooed my hair all up. Then I made these rockin’ curls with my flat iron. It took a while but eventually I had some awesome looking hair. The problem was, my face was clean of make-up and shower fresh. You can’t really appreciate the fancy hair without the face to match so out comes the Sephora case and I did my BEST glam make-up. I looked good, except for the bathrobe….. So I go stand in front of my closet and look at the options… I have lots a pretty dresses. I have more “date” clothes than regular ones.
Then I remembered that I no longer have someone to go on “dates” with. And all those dresses with the tags still on them will just get pushed further and further to the back corner of my closet.
Then I realized that all this fancy hair and make-up don’t really mean anything if I don’t have anywhere fancy to wear them, and I don’t think a scout meeting counts.
Then I got all sad, cried, and ruined my make-up.
Then I brushed all the curls out of my hair and ended up with a frizzy mess that is going to just have to be washed again to get it to look right.
THEN I looked at the clock and realized 3 hours have passed since I was going to “just take a quick shower”, and I have gotten not ONE single productive thing accomplished and now I’m depressed on top of it all.
And through it all, Jude STILL hasn’t had a nap.
Easter Dress 2012
09
Apr
2012
SO a few weeks ago I was at Goodwill, and found this dress for $5.00.
It wasn’t at all my style shape-wise ( And like 3 sizes too big), but I LOVED the color, and polka dots. I knew I could alter it and make it just right for me. I wanted it to be modern with a vintage feel, or vintage with a modern feel… After browsing images online for days, I finally decided what shape I wanted. Then, with the help of my wonderful daughter, Nicole, I took it apart and cut it WAY down. (It was super big on me) Then we pinned, and sewed, and ripped out, and pinned and sewed and ripped out… ( I made sooo many mistakes on this one, but honestly, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and focusing on anything, even a rockin’ new dress was hard). Finally, yesterday morning about 20 minutes before church started, I finished it!! 
Here it is! And those are my sweet baby boys who just LOVE posing with mom for pictures….. lol… And while it looks like the dog is sniffing my butt, she wasn’t. She just wanted to get a closer look at my awesome shoes. They were so sexy I felt wrong wearing them to church….
Sugar Detox
09
Apr
2012
I haven’t posted a blog in weeks and I hate that. I’ve just been so BUSY!! First there was Spring Break, then there was Spring Cleaning, then Easter…. Things have been hectic and I have more on my plate than usual these days so blogging can only happen during Jude’s nap-time, or nighttime. And since I usually end up sleeping during both of these myself, not much has been happening blog-wise. Oh well.
Anyway….. Today, I’m starting another Sugar Detox. I’m borderline diabetic, and usually watch my diet closely to keep me on “my side of the border”. But holidays, stress, life….all of these things get in my way sometimes, and I start eating for convenience rather than my health. Recent events in my life had found me rooting for chocolate more times than I want to think about, and then there is my ultimate comfort food…. potatoes. I’ll eat them in any form I can find them. Love them, and they are so BAD for me. Plus, when you eat gluten free, potatoes are the easiest option at most restaurants. Needless to say, I’ve been a bad bad girl, and now it’s time to pay up.
Starting today, no sugar, processed carbohydrates, fruit, and fewer potatoes. This is never easy for me. My sugar stays so low for the first week that I can barely drag myself out of bed. This time I don’t have anyone to help me either, so it’s up to me to FORCE myself to get up and around. I won’t be exceptionally productive this week, but by week three I’m usually so full of energy that I make up for it. I also have to resist the urge to rely on caffeine or I’ll be doing a whole other detox next month and that one comes with HEADACHES.
Here’s a list of what has worked for me int he past, and I’m hoping will do so again:
- Artificial Sweeteners- Normally I would NEVER promote these and try to avoid them. But week 1 of a sugar detox has me craving sweets like a mad woman, and with some Sugar Free Ice Cream/Candy/Gum/Jell-O (the best thing for my gummy bear craving) I can trick it into thinking it’s getting what it wants for a short time. I usually only need to rely on them for about a week until my body gets used to the change and stops craving what it can’t have as often.
- Honey, Agave’ Nectar, Stevia, & Berries- Most of these have some sugar in them, but it’s either very little, or has a low enough glycemic load to effect my sugar levels when consumed sparingly. Usually after the first week, I can ditch all the artificial stuff and start turning to these safer options when I just want something sweet.
- Nuts- I eat a LOT of nuts when I get the munchies, and I can’t have candy or cookies. Sometimes I mix a cup of honey roasted nuts with a cup of raw nuts, and then I get a touch of sweet with each handful. Plus, the protein in the nuts help me keep up my energy and feel full.
- Meal Planning- If I have all my meals and snacks planned out, I’m much less likely to go “grazing” for nourishment.
- Removing Temptation- We usually don’t have a lot of sugary stuff around, but the day after Easter… well there is more chocolate in this house than is good for my sanity. Even now I see a package of Sixlets, and a package of Reese’s Pieces on the counter taunting me; not to mention all the yummy dinner rolls left over from yesterday’s family meal. Sigh. Time to start hiding everything up in tall cabinets where it will be forgotten until I’m looking for a cookie platter at Christmas and find sugary treasures instead!
Well, here’s to hoping a succeed this time because the alternative is me, fat and sickly, and hating myself again, which is completely unacceptable.
Meals This Week (March 25-31)
26
Mar
2012
I’m really trying to jump back on the meal planning wagon. For the last few months, the part of my brain that can come up with creative meals has been broken. However, this week it all came back! The hard part is that it’s just the boys and myself eating now, and sometimes my parents. I’m rarely hungry and could live off protein bars. The boys are both picky. Meal planning is not nearly as much fun when no one is here to actually EAT most of what I cook anymore. So I have to rework my whole system and find stuff that’s fast, easy, and kid friendly! Here we go.
Dinners for March 26-31
Monday: Crockpot Chicken Teriyaki w/ Brown Rice
Tuesday: Quesadillas (Beans and rice for me, chicken for Andy, plain cheese for Simon)
Wednesday: Lasagna Cupcakes and Caesar Salad
Thursday: Creamy Marinara Chicken with Penne and the rest of the Caesar Salad
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Sat: Leftovers!!!!
Sunday: Potluck at church! Oh the possibilities!!!!!
Allison is…. God’s.
14
Mar
2012
I’ve never known a time when I didn’t LOVE Jesus. I was raised in a Christian home and pretty much teethed on the back of the wooden pews of our little country church. I was taught as an infant that Jesus loved me, and I naturally loved him back. I was only 4 when I first asked Him into my heart, and I repeated that request many times as I grew up (just in case it didn’t “take” before). As a teenager, certain events happened that made God “real” to me, and my childhood belief became a grown-up understanding and true love. He stuck with me through HORRIBLE high school years, and both the good and bad seasons of college. He saw me through several heartbreaks before I met my real Prince, and he delivered him right to my inbox when the time was right. He listened to my vows at the alter on my wedding day, and blessed my marriage with 4 lovely children.
Even in the last few years, when I made mistake after mistake, and hid from Him in my shame, He stayed with me. He’s been waiting patiently for me to come back into his arms and let Him take care of me. And now I’m clinging to Him because He’s the only stable thing left in my life. Never in all this tragedy have I once thought to turn to God in anger, and ask Him how He could have let this happen. I know he’s hurting right along with me. Even more because He loves us so much more than we are capable of. For every tear I’ve cried, HE’s cried more. When the whole world goes awry, HE is my rock, and the strength I need each day to get out of bed and attend life. He sings over me in my sleep and protects me from anything I can’t handle. He’s my HOPE. I am God’s.