Oatmeal (for those who don't like it)

Okay, so I am not an oatmeal person.  I do not like the texture or the flavor, so the idea of eating it regularly to help keep up my milk supply while nursing is not too appealing to me.  Prior to this recipe, I only ate oatmeal in the form of cookies (not too good for my waistline).  In my honest opinion - this oatmeal tastes like warm oatmeal raisin cookie dough, just slightly creamer.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup Instant Oatmeal
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• cinnamon to taste (I use about 1/8 of a teaspoon)
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• raisins (I tend to put in 2 or 3 handfuls)

Directions

1. Add almond milk, water, and oatmeal to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Reduce the heat to medium - low and stir in applesauce and cinnamon.  Let simmer for 5 minutes (or until the oatmeal is at a good consistency for you). 
3. Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
4. Remove oatmeal from heat and add in raisins.
5. Enjoy!

Serves 1

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Our family celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday with a delicious fried turkey, but we are now stuck with turkey leftovers.  Last night we ate a repeat of Saturday's meal, yet didn't make a dent in our turkey pile.  So I began to think of ways I could help to use up our turkey.  Typically in the past I made Turkey Pot Pie; however, the standard recipes are loaded with milk or cream and occasionally eggs.  None of which I can eat now, but these leftovers left me with quite the craving.  So this morning I was determined to figure out how to make a dairy and egg free Turkey Pot Pie, and I did it!!

Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients 

• 3 cups chicken broth

• 2 large carrots, diced finely

• 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed finely

• 1 1/2 tablespoon flour

• olive oil, as needed

• 1 large onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1/2 cup peas

• 2 cups cooked turkey, cut into small pieces

• Pillsbury Pie Crust 

1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Heat chicken broth in a medium sized sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add carrots and potatoes. Add flour and stir continuously until dissolved.

2. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil and spices until soft and transparent. Add onion mix to the chicken broth mix, then fold in the peas. Simmer for 15 minute until the vegetables are soft and the broth is thick. Add turkey.

3. Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour chicken broth mixture over. Cover with top crust,  and seal edges. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.

4. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden.

5. Remove from oven, let stand for 10 minutes. Serve. 

Looks gross but was yummy!

So this is not as healthy as meals I like to make but it sure was delicious!  It was burger night in our house but last minute I realized that I didn't have any hamburger buns!  What's a girl to do?!!?  Luckily I did remember that I had some hot dog buns in the freezer so I grabbed those and put them in the toaster oven.  Then I made my burger patties.  Instead of traditional round patties, I made them into hotdog shape! 

We like to marinate our burger meat and that is what I want to share with you!  We use ground beef or sometimes ground turkey.  I throw the meat in a ziploc bag and pour in some McCormick's burger seasoning, about 2 teaspoons of minced garlic, and about 2 tablespoons of A-1 steak sauce.  I mix all of that and, if I'm on my game and get things done in advance, I like to marinate it overnight, but a few hours is sufficient.  Make patties and grill!

Above does have hotdog chili on it but that was because we had leftovers from a block party.  Typically my burgers are topped with either: 1) mustard, ketchup, onion, spinach OR 2) avocado and barbeque sauce!  MMMM MMMM GOOD!

My official diagnosis!

After almost 6 months of meeting with an allergist and having skin pricks and blood drawn several times, the allergist is finally ready to admit that I am an adult who has developed an egg allergy. :-(  He was very skeptical when I first came into the office, and even admitted that at my last appointment.  It is very rare to develop an egg allergy as an adult.  90% of children with an egg allergy grow out of it in a few years.  My odds are not so good.

The tests showed that my allergy is mostly as a result of egg whites but I did have a small reaction to egg yolk as well.  That explains why I was fine eating coleslaw and ranch dressing (mayo is made with egg yolk).  The allergist did suggest that I completely eliminate both egg yolk and egg whites from my diet because there is no way to completely separate the two. 

He gave me the number of a woman who is involved in food allergy desensitization shots at UNC Chapel Hill.  It is possible that I could be a party of the egg testing but I'm not sure if that is something I would like to do depending on the time it would require, since I don't live in that area.

So where do I go from here?  Avoid egg and live my life.  No future appointments with the allergist scheduled.  Seems I'll be a vegan who eats meat indefinitely!

The crock pot is my best friend!

I am in love with my crock pot.  And I'm slowly learning that it can pretty much be used to make ANYTHING!  One of our other favorite go-to meals, especially when we have company over, is tacos!  It is great because despite the fact that I am egg and dairy free, tacos allow those who 'need' dairy at every meal to be satisfied!

Easy-peasy recipe:
Crock pot Taco Chicken

Put 4 frozen chicken breasts in crock pot.
Sprinkle with about half a packet of taco seasoning.
Pour half a small jar of salsa on top. (More if you use more chicken)

Turn crock pot on high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
Shred the chicken and return to crock pot, stirring with the salsa.

Then set up your taco bar!  For my tacos I typically just use avocado, black olives, and onions.  And depending on my mood, either use soft whole wheat flour tortillas or hard corn taco shells.  (This recipe is gluten-free if you use the corn taco shells!) For company I put out cheese and sour cream as well.

It doesn't get much easier than this!