Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

SO. SIMPLE. It practically makes itself :) And need I mention it's WAY better than any canned soup you've EVER HAD!?!

I throw 2 chicken breasts in a crock pot and make shredded chicken to add to this soup. If you have leftover chicken, a rotisserie chicken, or even if you want to bake some and chop it- any of those options would work fine.

Ingredients:

2 quarts chicken broth

1.5 cups chicken (I prefer shredded)

2 celery stalks, chopped

3 carrots, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp dried thyme

8 oz noodles (I use brown rice noodles)

1 TBSP fresh parsley, chopped

** a handful of fresh spinach for some extra greens :)

Directions:

So, in your large soup pot, drizzle some Grape Seed Oil, garlic, and your celery, carrots, onion, thyme and S & P and let it saute for 5 minutes. Then add your chicken broth and uncooked noodles and let them cook for 5 minutes. Lastly, add your cooked chicken and parsley (and spinach if you want) and let it simmer for another 5- 10, by then your noodles should be fully cooked (use them as your guide to when the soup is done!) Then, it's ready to serve and it's umm, umm, UMM GOOD!

BOOST your Immune System!

Ok.... so this past 2 weeks, we have been FIGHTING the nasty cold virus that has been going around... and it made me think, "Gosh, I should really add some things to my blog about amping up your immune system to help you fight off these nasty bugs because chances are, you have them in your households too or you are being exposed to them as we speak!" So, here are some of the natural remedies I do (and that I do to my children!) during the winter season... take it or leave it, you choose- but I just know that I will try just about anything to fore go getting sick--- or worse, having sick (and miserable!) kids!!!! DO you have any favorite home remedies??? Share them with us!!!!

Garlic:

Garlic is the BOMB. Lots of uses for it. For starters, if I am not breastfeeding or going on a hot date- I will chop up a clove of garlic as finely as I can, put it on a spoon and swallow it all at the first sign of a cold. I usually have to have a big glass of water to swallow it down with, then I chase it with some juice.... I am not going to lie- it's gross, but the garlic kills just about anything that's starting to wreak havoc on you... try it. I usually do it before bed and make sure you have food in your tummy.

Garlic Drops:

I just tried these for the first time, but my sister uses them all the time on her son who gets ear infections frequently. I got my first ear infection this past week and wanted to fore go the antibiotic, so I tried this remedy, and low and behold- it worked! Does it work every time with every infection?? No. But, if the infection isn't horrible (with puss and ooz) and hasn't been around too long, I think it's worth a shot. You just drop a few drops of warm garlic oil (you can make your own or purchase it at a health food store) in your ear, lay down for 15 minutes so it has time to settle in your ear and repeat that 3 times a day. Mine cleared up in a day... glad I tried it.

Unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar:

We used this growing up, I have been a fan of it for a long time. There are different theories to it- some people just gargle it, other gargle and swallow, others just swallow. Look it up, read about it, choose what you prefer, but USE IT! I do this at the first tingle of a sore throat and it works like a charm. Add sleep to the concoction and you just might have a fighting chance to rid yourself of the sickies!

Sleep:

Honestly people, don't underestimate this "home remedy", it's the most important for a tired immune system!

Supplements to Take, especially during the winter months:

Vitamin D for adults and Children

VITAMIN D!!!

Did you know most of the population is deficient in Vitamin D, the vitamin from the sun?? Did you know that it is a key component in your immune system and the strength it has to fight off illness?? Did you know you can have your Vitamin D level tested (via blood work the next time you have lab work done) and then you can begin deciding how much you should supplement with. I personally use Carlson's Vitamin D drops and I give my daughter the Kids Version. We take them everyday, they have no flavor and no odor and you only need a drop or two per day. Read more about Vitamin D here- it is SO important to your long term HEALTH!

Echinacea:

We have been a big fan of this for a long time, I really believe in it, I think it's a great immune booster perfect for the winter months. Look into adding it to your supplement list if it's not already there. Also, you can purchase Echinacea and Elderberry together- that's a winning combination for fighting viruses!

Elderberry:

See my previous post, this stuff rocks.

Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, a herbalist, a pharmacist, a doctor, or an authorized person at all.... I am just a mom who tries a bunch of things, some work all the time, some don't- it just depends on what you've got... I am just passing on what I've tried and learned in hopes that it spurs you on to at least look into some different options. If we beef up our immune systems, it just might help us fight off the next gross thing that comes our way, or maybe it will just shorten the duration that it stays. Take it or leave it, just don't blame it on me :)

***Stay tuned for some homemade, hardy, healthy soups, great for a sick day or a repairing immune system!

Advent Calendar...

A Homemade Advent Calendar...

So this doesn't have much to do with food, but I am gonna be a rebel and put it on my food blog anyways because I love the idea and it's super simple to make- granted, I am posting it a little late, but you could hurry and put one together and just miss the first few days of the season.... but look on the bright side, it will be ready for next year!

So, this Pottery Barn Advent Calendar (above) inspired me to make my own (mostly because I didn't want to pay $300 bucks! and because I didn't have a place to hang their contraption), but I liked the simplicity of it and thought I would make a quick, easy version of it.

I made 25 cones from craft paper by googling "paper cone templates"

Then I numbered them and punched holes in the back and strung them on a piece of twine.

So that's my version. And in each "party hat" as my daughter calls it, is a different activity or way to love and serve each other and friends, things I can do with a 2 year old to help being "others focused" during a season that can easily become "us focused". Here are some examples of what's in our days ahead:

• Bake cookies and deliver them to our neighbors.
• Buy a fun new toy and drop it off at a Local Toy Drive.
• Make play dough and deliver it to a friend. (Stay TUNED for the recipe!!!)
• Mail 2 Christmas Letters to friends.
• Make Christmas Cards for our Grammies and Papa's with construction paper & glitter.

Then there are some fun family activities and crafts as well:

• Make a Christmas ornament and hang it on the tree.
• Rent a Christmas Cartoon and pop popcorn and watch it as a family.
• Drive around a look at Christmas Lights with a special treat of your choice.
• Read Christmas Books by the fire with Daddy.

... you get the idea.... make it personal to your family and age appropriate for your kids! Just wanted to share the Christmas love.... after all it is MY favorite time of the year!!

And I just found this blog that has some other great ideas as well as a darling homemade version of a similar advent calendar.

Shredded Chicken

Here's a quick post that I wanted to get make sure to add... it's perfect for busy days or seasons of life, so with the holidays nearing (and a new baby at our house!) we've been using it a lot! It's easy enough- thanks to the Crock pot!- to make it once a week and incorporate it into many different recipes. Take a look:

What to do... put 4 chicken breasts in the crock pot, add 1/4 cup water or chicken broth and cook on low for 8 hours. When it's done cooking, shred it and add some salt, pepper, and garlic powder and mix it well. Then I have a few staple meals I use this with, but feel free to get creative because the possibilities are endless! Here's a few examples to get you going:

Chicken Avocado Melts:

Cibata Rolls (I buy par-baked ones at Trader Joe's so that I can warm them up in the oven and they are toasted and crunchy.

Avocado, thinly sliced

Monterey Jack Cheese, thinly sliced

BBQ sauce

Shredded chicken

Simply toast your rolls, add some BBQ sauce, pile on the chicken and a few sliced of cheese, pop them back in your oven if you desire them thoroughly melted, then add the avocado and serve with a side salad. Makes for a simple dinner or a great left over lunch the next day.

Veggie Chop Salad with Shredded Chicken:

I go through just about every veggie in the drawer for this one. I chop romaine, brocholi, carrots, bell pepper, red cabbage or radicchio, cucumbers and avocado. Then I add some roasted slivered almonds, dried cranberries, a large scoop of shredded chicken and balsamic dressing. There is something extra flavorful about using the shredded chicken verses chopped- maybe because the shredded absorbs more of the dressing and disperses more evenly throughout the salad??? I don't know, but it sure is good- and GREEN! If you want to make it even hardier- add some kidney beans and hard boiled egg or serve it with a baked sweet potato... my personal favorite!

A few other recipes you could use it in, but there are tons out there:

• Salsa Crock Pot Burritos
• Tostada Pizza
• BBQ chicken Pizza
• Taco Salad: try it with chicken instead of beef!

Add a comment if there is something else you use it in!

Gluten-Free Flours....

So, lately- thanks to my sister and a few friends who eat (or are beginning to eat) "Gluten Free" because of health issues- I have become more curious about the option and the ways to incorporate a wheat free or "less wheat diet" into my own family's eating habits. If you talk around enough, you know that a lot of people (especially little kids) have allergies or intolerances to gluten. I also know, that a lot of diseases (especially autoimmunes) like Celiacs, Lupus, Leaky Gut, Crohn's and Hyperthyroidism do better on a "wheat free" diet.... all that to say, why not try to incorporate other options into our diets for a possible better physical feeling outcome. To me, the most important thing about my diet (and my new curiosity!) is that it is balanced and not extreme when it doesn't need to be. For me that means tons of fresh fruits and veggies, grains & legumes, clean meat, and limited processed foods (and of course my home baked goodies, cuz life would be boring without them!)... with an EMPHASIS on the Balanced PART! I want to enjoy life, eat healthy and not be a slave to my kitchen or my menu! Extremes have never been good for me and things seem to stick better when they are slowly incorporated and changed over time and not quickly overdone and forced.... but that's just me speaking. I'd like to be thinking that I would be continuing to grow and learn each year, eating better in 5 years than I am now... it's all a learning process :)

Here's a snip-it on what I have tried so far, and really, it's just a snip-it!

All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Flour

Oat Flour

Here are two of the products that have been recommended to me that I have just merley scrapped the surface with- I am not an expert in them at all! I have only tried baking a few things, but for what I have used it for, they have worked great for me and seem to be worth the switch. But I wanted to get your input! So, if you are avoiding gluten or wanting to incorporate other kinds of flour beside white and wheat into your diet, give us an update and tell us your findings- I would love to hear what you all use if you choose white or wheat alternatives! Please leave a comment and share with us your wisdom!!!

Update: Brownie Ice Cream Cupcakes...

So a few weeks past I posted a bunch of dessert recipes, "Scrumptious Desserts" for a week, and one thing I wanted to try was Joy the Baker's Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches. I ended up making them for a birthday party for a good buddy of mine from my growing up years- and they were a hit at the party.

Here's what I did:

I actually used the Williams Sonoma Brownie Mix (posted in the "Taste This" Column- and they were delicious! I filled my cupcake tins half full with brownie mix and cooked them per the package directions. Then I let them completely cool, I scooped vanilla ice cream (per the birthday boy's request) and topped the ice cream with crunched chocolate cookies (the cat cookies from Trader Joe's). We added some sprinkles for festivities and then I popped them into the freezer to harden. I even made mini ones for the kids :) Take them out a few minutes before serving so they can soften just enough to pop them out of the tins, I had to use a butter knife to loosen them, but then came out fairly easily! Enjoy and thanks to JOY of BAKING for the great idea!!!

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken...

Here's an updated post, an old faithful that we have been using a lot as this baby is getting near and my cooking days are are wanting to be done! My trusty Crock Pot has come to the rescue again!

Ingredients:

2-3 chicken breasts

1 jar salsa

1 can black beans, drained

Directions:

So simple... take your package of chicken breasts, wash them, put them in the crock pot, pour in a jar of salsa. I use Trader Joe's Chunky Salsa and cook it on low for 8 hours or until done (mine was sooner than that, so peek in on it to see). When it's done take 2 forks and shred it in the crock pot, stir it around to soak up a little more salsa goodness and add a can of drained black beans to add some extra hardiness and flavor. Leave it on warm until you are ready to serve it. How's that for easy???

You can use these for chicken soft tacos, tostada pizza, burritos, or enchiladas.... and much more! Enjoy!!!