The DO IT ALL Personality

Hi my name is Ashley and I am about to get really raw with you all. I am a "do it all" personality. What I mean by this is I want to be able to do it all NOW but I can't which causes anxiety, depression, anger and self doubt because I try to do it all anyway. By "all" for me I mean, I want to be a stay at home mom and homemaker, I want to work and bring in an income, I want to be able to enjoy every aspect of my 4 children's childhood including school activities and such, I want to have time to spend with my friends, I want to clean and organize the house but I also want to spend time with my family, I want to volunteer and be more involved with our church, I want to homeschool, I want to travel, I want to get my real estate license, I want my Arbonne business to be further along then it is (even though I just started and it is actually doing better then the average person who started just 3 months ago), and so on. You get the picture, I have big wants, goals and dreams... with little patience.

This is something I always knew about myself but am just now really realizing because the people who mean the most to me are starting to suffer because I am spread so thin. I am get snippy easily, I am sad a lot, I blame others and it's just not pretty and its not me. I think part of it being so bad lately is because for the first time in years I actually have energy and feel good. I am motivated to get things done and better myself and my families lives. The thing is I realized I can not do it all, at least not all at once! That it is okay to have goals and dreams but I need to focus on one thing at a time and what I need to do to get me there. What is priority and what can wait. I needed to remember that God is in charge, not me. That I need to breath and pray and figure out what is the most important to me. I made a list of what is most important and a reasonable time frame. Having it in black and white not just in my head helped. I am not sure why I felt the need to write this, maybe someone out there needs to know they are not the only "do it all" out there and that it's time to step back and let God take control. Whatever the reason, here it is.

Oh The Life of Crohn's - Septic Shock and Bowel Resection Surgery

As most of my readers know I have this lovely thing called Crohns Disease (insert heavy sarcasm). I found out I had Crohns in November of 2013, almost 6 years ago. Boy oh boy what a roller coaster it has been! Multiple medications, SO MANY scans I am not sure how I am not glowing, researching like crazy, diet changes, flare after flare, fatigued to the point of depression because I just wanted a normal life! It's one of those things that just when I think I am doing better BAM I am knocked back down.

Well fast forward to August 2018, random high fevers but felt okay when they would break and no other symptoms. I powered through for 3 days and the night of day 3 it got the best of me. After very busy day of popping Advil to try and get through I spiked fever again and couldn't get it to break. I was nursing my 5 week old baby in the parking lot of the restaurant we were at and couldn't stop shaking and my breathing got very heavy. My husband got to the car and said he was taking me to the ER as I was turning blue. All of my kids in the car seeing me like this. I passed out on the way but some how managed to come to and walk myself in the ER because the kids were in the car and someone had to stay with them, at least that is how my mom brain and power kicked in and thought. They rushed me to a room. I was told my heart rate was 190 and I was in septic shock. I was in and out of consciousness but I remember my husband never leaving my side, the nurses trying to keep me conscious, telling my husband to make sure my kids know how much I love them and how much I love him, to tell my parents I love them and praying so hard to the Lord to please give me another chance here on earth because I knew I was dying but I was FIGHTING! My body may of been giving up but my mind was not! Guess what here I am today to talk about it!!!!! It still makes it hard to breath remembering it, but I also am reminded God kept me here for a reason and I truly believe that reason is my family. My kids and husband were all I could think about and that is what helped pull me though! That mom power I call it! So while recovering in ICU they tell me it was an infection that was Crohns related.

Well now we are at March 2019, I've started a great job just a month ago and start having a ton of pain and super bloated when I eat. I go to the ER they tell me Im just constipated. Well my GI orders an MRI that shows I have a bad stricture and partial bowel obstruction and I need emergency surgery the nurse says. We opted to wait on a colorectal surgeon since thats what they do... that was a mistake as he was awful during my recovery, but its over with now. 12 days of a liquid diet and I finally had my surgery. All went well and I was sent home 2 days later. Well 2 weeks to my surgery day I was doubled over in pain, I get sent to the ER and I am full of infection and abscess. They should of been drained according to every other doctor but my surgeon would not admit that I had infection and said I needed to be tougher when he removed my bandages and sent me home. I got a second opinion and they agreed with the ER but I was already on 2 very strong antibiotics so they waited to see if that would help which it did, after 2 rounds of them. I was still having a lot of issues after surgery but I made my way back to some what of a normal life eventually.

I was tired of still feeling the way I did before surgery minus the pain so I finally decided to try a clean eating program my friend told me about, even though I thought I already ate pretty well. To my surprise it actually worked! Like it helped A LOT! This is now my new lifestyle and I use these products and the understanding of food it taught me daily! If you would like more information check out this Video . You can order the products here . Everyone with Crohns is different and this is my opinion. What helps one may not help the other but I figure its worth a try for others because if you don't make time for you wellness you'll have to make time for you illness.

I am now doing really well, I am still on Stelara a biologic medication for Crohn's but I hope to get off of it soon and just continue my new healthy lifestyle thats actually been the thing to help me! A biologic lowers your immune system and has very scary side affects but the doctors want me on it for a year but can not really give me a reason other then to make sure I don't end up back in surgery sicne my Crohns was active when I had the surgery. See most doctors have told me for the past 5 years "diet has no affect on Crohn's Disease" well myself and MANY others including a doctor I see will disagree. The only time I started feeling better and got a quality of life back what when I started putting good stuff in!

I wanted to write this so others can understand what Crohn's Disease can do to a person. To help raise awareness and maybe let others see they are not alone and there is hope out there! That just because someone doesn't look sick on the outside doesn't mean they are not fighting a battle on the inside.

SHE'S BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!!!!

WOW! It has been a LONG time since I've been on here!!! So many things have changed... where to start without this being super long winded?!

First, I've had 2 more babies a girl who is now 2 and another boy who is 1. They are 15 months apart and I'm not going to lie, that is HARD! They are just what we didn't know we needed though. They keep life busy and interesting that is for sure! If you lost count that makes a total of 4 kids, 9 and under, 1 potty training and 1 still fully in diapers.... we need a stiff drink most days (HAHAHA) but seriously, send white claws, yep that just happened. 

Second, I went back to work full time. It was a HUGE adjustment for the whole family and I did not adjust as quickly as I thought I would, but we are in a groove now. If a groove is a family of squirrels let loose in a nut factory but we are making it work.

Third, a few month before I started work I went in to septic shock and almost died. Then not long after I started work my Crohns flared up BAD to the point I had to have emergency surgery, bowel resection. I was out of work at my new month old job for almost 6 weeks... it was rough! Stress related, 100% in my opinion but was bound to happen anyway at some point they said. The recovery was the worse part as I got infection and abscess. Then I developed blood clots in my portal vein causing PVT. Its been a heck of a ride with my health but I am back on track now! I am much more aware of what I am eating and how I am living my life because of all of this also.

Fourth, I am back on track because of a company called Arbonne. My friend told me about it for MONTHS and I was scared try try something new as it may make my crohns worse. I finally tried their skin care and loved it then NOTHING was helping me still after surgery so I said what the heck and tried their nutrition line. Y'ALL in just a week I was feeling better and in just 2 weeks I was back to what I could remember before Crohns. I was BLOWN AWAY that this actually worked! I have now been using the nutrition daily for 2 months and feel like a normal person again and have such a better quality of life. Now do I still have to watch what I eat, yes but the 30 days program with Arbonne taught me how to do that!  Because of so much success (for my whole family) with their products, the QUALITY of the products and what they stand for I decided I others needed to know and I wanted to share it with them so I became an Independent Consultant with Arbonne. That is job number 2 for me... just a to add to my busy life. I love it though! Helping others live a healthier and better life is such a passion of mine and I feel my calling I have found out! It doesn't even feel like work to me. Link to a healthier life!

Lastly, this blog! I am back and changing it up. It is no longer Cooking with Mrs. Milly but Cooking up LIFE with Mrs. Milly. I will still be posting recipes, most healthier then the past but also all about life as a family of 6, my business, mom, wife and kid related posts and more! I am super excited to start sharing with you all again!

Mrs. Milly's Homemade Chicken N' Dumplings

It was always a battle in my house over chicken and dumplings. My mom made it a little thinner with Bisquick drop dumplings and chunky carrots, celery, onion and chicken breast.
My Papa made it with noodle type dumplings, thicker, more of a shredded dark meat chicken and small diced celery and onion so that's how my dad liked it.

Now I like it both ways, one is also lower fat but we are talking southern winter food here so lets not try to kid anyone. When I think of good ol' southern chicken n' dumplings it is how my Papa made it, sorry mom...  Now my Papa did cheat and use frozen dumplings and I know that's not how his mama taught him but we let it slide ;-) I wish I had my Grandmas recipe for dumplings because I hear she was a great cook, but I don't. So I was determined to make awesome homemade dumplings and I did it! It was 2 thumbs up and full tummies all around!
  

As you see I added some yellow carrots going with my moms theme but was not a fan, its all preference though.

Chicken and Broth:
5 Chicken Quaters
1 tsp Dried Thyme
1 tbsp Onion Powder
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
1 tbsp Black Pepper Corns
2 Bay Leafs
1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
2 Tbsp Salt

- Add all in a big pot, just barely cover with water and boil until chicken is cooked through. 
***Save Broth*** This is your base and you'll use some in the dumplings also.

- As chicken is cooling to pick, dice 2 Stalks of Celery and 1/2 an Onion 
- Strain out water you cooked the chicken in and keep the clean broth
- Put a little more then half the broth back in pot with celery and onion, salt and pepper to taste and bring back to a boil. I didn't measure, you can always add more in if it gets too thick
- Pick chicken and add to pot
- Last cook dumplings right in the pot 

Dumplings:
2 cups Flour
1 tsp Shorting
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 cup Chicken Broth
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

- In your mixer add dry ingredients and shorting, mix
- Put on dough hook and add in wet ingredients and mix until it starts to pull from sides and form a dough ball
- Flour surface very well 
- Flour top of dumplings very well, cant have too much flour here. It will keep it from sticking and help thicken your broth.
- Roll out to 1/4-1/2 inch thick depending on how you like them, cut in strips with pizza cutter
- Bring broth back up to boil and drop in till they all float to the top. 


Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~




Mrs. Milly's 2cents: Making things homemade is so much better tasting and better for you than store bought items full of preservatives and unneeded ingredients. Anytime you can use organic products it makes it that much cleaner and healthy for you. Enjoy the satisfaction in doing it your self!
            This was also easy on my stomach but each person with IBD is different. Please use caution     and consult your doctor before trying anything new. 

 

Mrs. Milly's BBQ Shrimp

My husband has asked me to make this for a year now. We got a bunch of shrimp right off the dock and the first thing I thought after the Shrimp n' Grits I make was to finally make this for him. As soon as I found the recipe he gave me a year ago I thought, is this name right? and I'm changing this up for sure! I am glad I did because it was a HUGE hit and has been requested to be made again and again.

Why oh why is it called barbecue shrimp??? Beats the heck out of me because it has nothing to do with BBQ. I do know it was started by an Italian restaurant in New Orleans long ago and is now a staple in New Orleans. I am not a fan of the name and wanted to call it something different but, it is what it is... and it is DELICIOUS! There are many different versions of BBQ Shrimp out there. Mine is the best of course ;-). It is less spicy since my kids eat it and well, I'm a wimp. You can make it with more heat very easily though.


Mrs. Milly's BBQ Shrimp:

•  2lbs. 16 Count Shrimp, still in shell but headed

• 2 1/2 Sticks of Butter

• 2tbsp Coconut Oil

• 3 Cloves of Garlic, minced 

• 1/4-1/2 cup Sweet Onion, diced small

• About 6 shakes of Worcestershire Sauce

• 1/4 cup Chicken broth

• 1 Green Onion

• 2tbsp Louisiana Brand Seafood Boil (powder not liquid)

• 1/4tsp Thyme

• 2 Bay Leaves 

• 1 Lemon, juice and save peel to add in pot

• 1tsp Apple Cider Vinegar 

• 1/4tsp Ground Cayenne Red Pepper - *This is were you can add more heat. Use more and add some red pepper flakes if you want too.

How To:

1. Melt Butter and oil in a large skillet. 
2. Add sweet onion and garlic. Cook for 3 minutes. 
3. Mix in all other ingredients, but shrimp.
4. Once to a medium low heat add shrimp right in pot
5. Once shrimp is cooked thru serve up with some warm French or Italian bread for dipping.

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~

See the Juice down in there?! That's the good stuff!

Easy Beef Stew

This is perfect for those cold nights! I have posted another stew recipe, Hunt Camp Stew that my husband told me about which is similar to this but I think this one is my favorite. My friend Chris told me the secret to this, if your a Bloody Mary drinker and never thought of this your going wonder why. It is so full of flavor and so simple!

-1+ lb of stew meat, I used 1.18lbs of top round steak and cut in to bite size pieces. Get what ever is on sale.
-1/2 an onion, diced
-1 clove of garlic, minced
-1tsp coconut oil
-1tsp butter
-1 bag of frozen vegetable soup mix
-2 cups beef broth
-1 1/2 cups zing zang (or your favorite brand) of bloody mary mix. Yep, that why didn't I think of that moment just hit. This is the secret that makes it so flavorful. Add more for a richer flavor and less broth. I don't like to much tomato in mine. 
-Salt and Pepper

1. In a dutch oven or heavy duty pot brown salt and peppered beef in the oil and butter. 
2. Keep fat but take meat out of pot.
3. Put onions and garlic in fat and cook for about 3 minutes.
4. Add the frozen veggies and meat in the pot. 
5. Cover almost all the way, the vegetables will make more liquid, with broth and bloody mary mix.
6. Salt and Pepper to taste.
7. Cook at a simmer for an hour or more. The longer it cooks the more tender gets but so do the vegetables so it all depends on how you like it. 
8. Serve over rice. 

ENJOY!
~Mrs. Milly~

Super Easy Angel Food Cake Pineapple Muffins

My boys were begging for dessert so I got to looking at what I had for a quick fix. I had a box of Angel Food Cake mix in the pantry and a bowl of fresh cut pineapple in the fridge. I thought I bet those go good together and they do!!!!

I used my mini muffin pan so the bake time was quick with two little ones pacing in the kitchen. I mixed the angle food cake as directed, add water, easy enough. Then a piece of pineapple in the bottom of each muffin spot. They cook fast this way so you have to keep an eye out, it took about 8 minutes.

For the topping I took the rest of the pineapple, about a cup worth and half of a container of whipped cream and blended them together then placed in the freezer to firm up some.

When I say these were good, that is an understatement. They were gone so fast! DELICIOUS!!!!

I'll be making these for our next get together too! 

*You could really use almost any fruit for these*

 (I turned a few upside down so you could see the pineapple)

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~

THE BEST Buttermilk Pancakes

If you follow my blog you know pancakes are popular in our house. Why I never made buttermilk pancakes until recently is beyond me because these are my FAVORITE now!!! They are so fluffy and delicious! Make a big batch and freeze the leftovers for a quick week day breakfast is my suggestion.

Buttermilk Pancakes:

2 cups AP Flour
1/4 cup Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
2 cups Buttermilk
1/4 cup Melted Butter -Cooled
1/4 cup Water
1 tbsp Vanilla

Mix all dry and all wet in 2 bowls, then mix together. Let sit while your pan heats up, make sure you do this part, its science ;-)
Heat pan to medium / medium low and flip when there are bubbles all over.

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~

A Look in the Life of Mrs. Milly

HELLO READERS!

First, I want to say THANK YOU for reading my blog!!! If it's your first visit WELCOME and I hope you enjoy it. Second, I am not a writer so please excuse any grammar mistakes, rambling and don't expect too much ;-). Finally, I am so excited about my blog in 2016 and on!

I started this blog in 2013 as a way to keep track of and share my recipes with anyone who wanted to read them. Then I wanted to make it more but as much as I wanted to life kept getting in the way and I am sorry for that! My life now consist of taking care of my home, 2 young boys 5 & 2 years old and my amazing, hard working husband. I work out of my home watching other kids 3-4 days a week. I am involved in my church and help with their kids program when I can and my sons partake. My 5 year old plays t-ball so I am also a baseball mom 8 months out of the year. I also have Crohn's Disease (my story here) but at all cost I try not to let that affect my life, even though it wins at times and knocks me down, I always get back up! To say the least, I stay BUSY! Having kids around all the time doesn't make it easy to keep track of what you are cooking or sit down at the computer and tell others about it. I am not letting that slow me down this year though!!!! As a matter of fact I have a sink full of dishes and the TV is babysitting my boys right now ;-). I'll make it happen, it may only be once a week but you WILL be seeing more post this year and some videos (if I can figure it out).

Please comment on the blog with any questions, tips or thoughts. I need your help and want to hear from you. If you try a recipe or idea I post about PLEASE TELL ME, how it turned out and what you thought!

You can also follow me on my facebook at Cooking With Mrs. Milly or my Instagram at MrsMillyCooks

I am so excited to share with you and hear from you!

~Mrs. Milly~

 This is Me and The Men in my Life

 

Sorry for being a Slacker...

My life has been crazy lately and my health has been so-so. I just haven't been in the cooking mood till now! Crazy I know but when you cant eat it or are SO tired you just don't want to get crazy in the kitchen. Something clicked the other day though and I am back! I have BIG plans for the blog coming the new year I PROMISE you will see more post and maybe even some video =).

In the mean time, check out my Christmas cookie recipes:
Confetti Cookies w/ Cream Cheese Icing
Red Velvet Mint Cookies
Also a good Christmas morning breakfast you can make the night before!
Breakfast Casserole

These are oldies but goodies

Sorry for being such a Slacker!

I wish all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!!


~Mrs. Milly~

HOMEMADE PUMPKIN SPICE CREAMER

Tomorrow is the first day of Fall, the perfect day for this I feel. I love fall, football, bonfires, Halloween, Thanksgiving, outside all the time, and PUMPKIN SPICE is back in the coffee shops! Now that I am eating more clean I knew I needed to make my own creamer to go in my coffee at home, plus it saves me so much money! I have made creamer before, and it is so easy and yummy. 


Pumpkin Spice Creamer:

1 14oz Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 Cups Milk
1 tsp Vanilla 
3 tbsp Pumpkin Spice Mix

Yep, that's it!
                                        
                                           This is what is looks like if you do it in order

                                          Shake Shake Shake Shake Shake Really Good!!!

**You will need to shake it up before each use, date with milk expire date.

Enjoy in your favorite Coffee! If you're still in the high 80's like Florida make it iced coffee =)

~Mrs. Milly~

Pumpkin Spice Seasoning

I could feel a touch of fall in the air here in North Florida early this morning and even though I love summer I am ready for the nice cooler weather. Something that screams fall to me is pumpkin and pumpkin spice. Here is my mixture I keep on hand this time of year to add to many recipes, one of my all time favoriate is Bakery Style Pumpkin Muffins

                 I saved baby food jars from when my boys were little for things like this.


PUMPKIN SPICE:

• 4 tbsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp Allspice
• 1/4 tsp Ground Clove
• 1/4 tsp Ground Ginger 

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~ 

Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot

This is something you can season up so many ways and can eat on its own, make in to sandwiches, or make a gravy and put it over rice or pasta.

I have always roasted my whole chickens in the oven and they turn out great. It was Labor Day when I made this and here in Florida it is still HOT and having my oven on was not something I wanted to do plus we were going to be at the pool most of the day. So I thought lets try the crock pot, I am not big on chicken in the crock pot because I feel you can over cook it too easily. Being a whole chicken and since I was going to use the crock pot after for bone broth anyway I gave it a try and glad I did.

How I did my Chicken:

• I put big cuts of onion, carrots and celery and garlic cloves in the bottom of the pot for the chicken to sit on top of.

 Seasoned it with:

• 1/4 tsp Curry Powder
• 1/4 tsp Cayenne Red Pepper
• 1/4 tsp Celery Salt
• 1/4 tsp Dried Parsley
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 tbsp Salt

I mixed all the seasoning in with coconut oil and rubbed it all over the chicken and under the skin.
Placed breast side down and cooked on low for 6 hours. Do not add liquid it will make enough on its own.

It fell off the bone, was so flavorful and tender! We had friends over for dinner and I got a thumbs up from all the full mouths! My husband was the only one who wasn't a big fan but he doesn't like shredded or pulled chicken though said the flavor was good.

Don't forget to save the bones for Bone Broth

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~

This was a little rich for me and my sensitive tummy or it could of been I had garlic potatoes with it... But just made my stomach talk to me a little, didn't upset it or anything and was so tasty I was fine with a little grumble. ;-)


*Disclaimer: With any IBD, each person is different and what doesn't bother my system might bother yours. Always consult with your doctor if you are unsure and take caution when eating anything new. 

Bone Broth Recipe

This like The Story That Starts My Journey  is a bit longer of a post than I normally do. I am in no way a writer so I apologize for any rambling or mistakes. I normally give a little blip about the recipe and the recipe but I felt this needed more explaining.

During my hospital stay I did a lot of research about foods good for the gut. I stumbled across bone broth. I had to read it to see what this was all about because I always make my own broth/stock, but what was BONE broth?!

It has been a healing aid for many years, your great grandparents most likely used it. Like a lot of things is just now coming back to popularity though. They even have Bone Restaurants / Bars in some areas and celebrities and athletes swear by it. It helps with a list of things because you are pulling all the good stuff out of the bones. With that said you want to make sure you are using good organic or high quality meat bones. You cook it for a LONG time, I'm talking 12-24 hours. This simmering causes the bones and ligaments to release healing compounds like collagen, proline, glycine, and glutamine that have the power to transform your health.

A few benefits of Bone Broth (There are many more too):

1. Heal your gut. Which we all know is a big one for me with my Crohn's.

2. Protect your joints. Another big one because of the medication I am on. It has a bad side affect of giving me bad joint pain.

3. Look younger and decrease cellulite. Well hello beautiful, who wouldn't want that?!

4. Sleep better. Um, no brainier there!
 
5. Immune support. Another big one for me with the medication I am on it suppresses my immune system on top of Crohn's doing it for me so I get colds so easily. 

6. Stronger bones. Who wants a brittle bones???

7. More energy. PLEASE, I always say if I could just have a tiny bit of my kids energy I'd be good.
 
8. It’s very economical! So your saying I can make something good for me and my family with the bones I was just going to throw away?!

So I set out to make this magical broth. I used a whole organic chicken and seasoned it up and cooked it in the crock pot for dinner. (Chicken Recipe) I put all the bones back in the crock pot with any juice and seasonings left added carrot, celery, garlic and green onions. Also 2tsp apple cider vinegar, this helps pull all the good gelatin out of the bones you want and no you will not taste it. Put it on low and let it cook all night, about 9 hours I kicked it up to high when I woke up for anther 4 hours for a total of 13 hours cooking. I then strained it and jarred it up. One big jar to use it for soup that I froze for when it gets a bit cooler and one small jar to sip on through out the next few days. I also had to have a fresh glass to try it then, it was delicious! If you like soup, you'll like this. 

I want to do another test with it when I am not on a steroid medication to see the true side affects but I will say I have had not many tummy troubles all week. I actually wanted to go out to eat last night and was telling my husband how good I feel. Is it the broth, maybe... Its not hurting me I can say that much! I will be doing another post on this in a few months to see the longer benefits it gives me and to see how it helps once off some of these medications.


Here is a link from the Today Show talking about it as a new trend but really is has been around for many years. (Today Show)

Enjoy and Feel Good!

~Mrs. Milly~

*Disclaimer: With any IBD, each person is different and what doesn't bother my system might bother yours. Always consult with your doctor if you are unsure and take caution when eating anything new.  

Pumpkin Pancakes

Summer is now behind us, school is in full swing and fall can't get here fast enough. To end summer and celebrate Labor Day I made pumpkin pancakes. So yummy and I made a big batch so I could freeze the left overs for school mornings. My kids loved them and even my husband who isn't a pumpkin freak like me ;-) or a big pancake fan either said they were good! 

Pumpkin Pancakes:

• 1-15oz can 100% Pumpkin
• 1 1/2 cups Milk
• 1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 tsp Vanilla 
• 2 Eggs
• 1/2 cup Cane Sugar
• 2 1/2 cups AP Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• Pinch of salt 
• 1 tbsp Cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp Allspice 
• 1/2 tsp Ground Ginger

HOW TO:

1. Heat Pan with oil on medium heat.
2. Mix wet ingredients together.
3. Mix dry ingredients together.
4. Mix wet and dry ingredients together.
5. These take a little longer to cook than regular pancakes. You will see the edges turning brown before you need to flip. 
6. Top with a dust of powdered sugar. 
7. Serve with honey or real maple syrup.

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~ 

These settled just fine on my stomach too. I ate very slowly and didn't use much syrup.

*Disclaimer: With any IBD, each person is different and what doesn't bother my system might bother yours. Always consult with your doctor if you are unsure and take caution when eating anything new.

Homemade Chicken Taquitos

This is a very kid friendly recipe that is good for them! It can also be good for a finger food for football parties, just cut in to bite size pieces with a toothpick in them and serve with the dips.

My kids LOVE those nasty frozen taquitos that are full of who knows what. Now I am transitioning to a clean eating life style I am dragging my husband and kids along for the ride, they will thank me later ;-).

I had boiled chicken thighs the day before and was thinking of something to make with the picked chicken for the kids dinner. Since I am still eating very light and limited as my body heals I needed something different for them, easy yet good for them. I have been CRAVING Mexican style food so I figured if I can't have it at least they can. Of course I had to quality check and they turned out perfect and I didn't suffer form, well a big bite... or 2. 

Taquitos: What you will need-
3 cups Shredded Cooked Chicken 
1 tbsp Butter
2 tbsp (adjust to your taste) Mexican Seasoning Mix
1/2 can Diced Tomatoes with the juice
2 Carrots, Shredded 
<--how I sneak in veggies-->
1/2 cup Onion, diced small 
2 cups Shredded Cheese, I used Monterey Jack because that's what I had.
Tortillas, The smaller taco ones would be best, mine were a little big but had no complainers about it. 
Cooking Spray 
Dips such as sour cream and salsa 

1. In a medium pot on medium heat add butter, onions and carrots. Cook till onions start to sweet. 
2. Add cooked chicken, tomatoes and mexican seasoning mix. 
3. Cook till heated through, stirring frequently. If need add a tablespoon of water or 2 but you dont want it too wet. 
4. Assemble cheese and meat in middle of tortilla and roll up putting seam side down on greased pan.
5. Spray top with cooking spray, I use coconut oil spray. 
6. Bake 350 for 15-20 min or till golden brown. 
7. Serve with dippers.

The kids loved them! 

I froze the left overs in a freezer bag for another day.

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~

Mexican Seasoning Mix

My family loves Mexican style dishes. I can only eat them sometimes with light seasoning, but do enjoy them myself also. You can always buy a package of taco seasoning but it has so many preservatives and ingredients that I am not sure of in it. So whats the point when you can make your own so easily?!

I just used an old seasoning container, but any air tight container to jar will work just fine. It doesnt have to be fancy.

Mexican Seasoning:  
4 tbsp Chili Powder
2 tbsp Cumin
1 tbsp Dried Oregano
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
1 tbsp Onion Powder
1 tbsp Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp (more if you like more spice) Ground Cayenne Red Pepper 

See not fancy at all ;-)

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~

*Disclaimer: With any IBD, each person is different and what doesn't bother my system might bother yours. Always consult with your doctor if you are unsure and take caution when eating anything new. 

Carrot Ginger Soup

This soup is perfect for cooler weather! It not only warms you up but it is good for you and easy on your digestive system. Most of the benefits of carrots can be attributed to their beta carotene and fiber content. This root vegetable is also a good source of antioxidant agents. Furthermore, carrots are rich in vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, vitamin B8, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese.

It is very simple to make as well. I whipped it up for lunch while feeding 2 toddlers. 

Carrot Ginger Soup: 

12 Carrots, peeled and rough chopped

32 oz Chicken Broth 

1 tbsp Coconut Oil 

1/2 Sweet Onion, rough chopped 

2-3 Cloves of Garlic, smashed and halved

1/2 inch Chuck Ginger, peeled and diced 

A pinch of each dried Basil, Oregano and Thyme.   

1 tbsp Sea Salt 

1 tsp Black Pepper

Greek Yogurt, to top

Toast, on the side

-Put chicken and broth in pot together, bring to boil, turn off heat and cover till boiling stops or till fork tender. Broth should cover carrots. 

-In separate pan heat oil, add onions garlic and ginger and cook till onions are transparent. 

-Add ALL ingredients to blender and blend to smooth finish or you can add them to pot of carrots and use your immersion blender. I have a really nice blended I think dose a better job. 

-Top with a little plain Greek yogurt and serve with sourdough toast.

It is so tasty!! 

Enjoy! 

~Mrs. Milly~ 

*Disclaimer: With any IBD, each person is different and what doesn't bother my system might bother yours. Always consult with your doctor if you are unsure and take caution when eating anything new. 

The Story That Starts My Journey

I have been back and fourth about writing about this. I do not like people feeling sorry for me and talking about the not so good things in my life. Awareness needs to be raised about this topic though, so here is my story. My life changed at the end of 2013, I was diagnosed with Crohns Disease. What is crohns disease you ask? I had no clue either, but quickly found out. It’s an Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) that I will have for life. I was in shock! "but I don't get upset stomach really its just PAIN, crazy pain" I said. Well, I was made aware everyone is different and all tests point to Crohns, but its something I can get under control with medication. So it starts, my journey with Crohn's. 


Here is a link that explains Crohn's INFO LINK.   


So after a long road of denial, research, changes of meds 4 times, FINALLY I found a medication that worked and I was back to normal and in remission!!!!! I beat this, I can eat anything again, and I’m STRONG! I was living life with just a hick-up here and there that I could take a little pill to fix it and was going on with life like "normal" for almost a year.  Then it hit me one day; my little pill didn't fix it this time, what was happening? NO! I cannot go through this again! So I took 2 pills and that did it, next time it was 3 pills and that was the max I could take, I started watching what I ate, kind of. My doctors just said if it bothers you don't eat it; they never gave me a specific diet to follow. Now we are over a year in this game of can I eat that and I am doing good again so I eat what I want to a point, I love food, I love cooking it was so hard to avoid certain things. I hit another wall just before my 30th birthday, go for a bunch of testing, get put on a low residue diet and am told it is worse so lets add this new oral medication to the injections you are already on. Also that I am very iron anemic and B-12 deficient due to my Crohns being mainly in my small intestines I am not absorbing all the nutrients I need from food alone. Well CRAP! That’s all I can think, I get to feeling a bit better for about 2 months then my life REALLY CHANGED.


A week ago from writing this 8/20/2015 I called my GYN doctor because I am having such bad pain but it is very low like lady parts or my bladder. I didn't think it was my GI issues at all. My husband tried to take me to the ER but I said no I’m fine, I wasn't. I go to my appointment and the doctor tells me all my lady parts and bladder are fine BUT he sees something in the sonogram that worried him and I need to go straight to the ER. I was in shock; I could feel the tears well up I didn't know what to think. Well hours of being in the ER latter I am admitted for 4 days to the hospital with a major Crohns flare treated by morphine (that was weird lol), steroids and 2 antibiotics all through an IV. I was scared, confused and cold. Why is it so dang cold in hospitals?! The 4 days and 3 nights I lay in a hospital bed, being fed nothing but broth and jello (insert vomit sound). I really did my research and did a lot of thinking. Time for a change. I will do my best to never be in this position again. The doctor says I need to get infusion therapy now. I say the food I put in my body has to be a big change also!!! The past week my family has been eating food brought by family and church members as I slowly add solids back in my diet. My GI system is still calming down and from now on what I put in it will only be what’s good for it!

I will still be cooking yummy meals, blogging and keeping up all my old recipes I’ve already posted. I hope you are patient with me as I get going and will join me in my new food journey to health!


Health and Happiness!


~Mrs. Milly~

Pear Tart

My husband's Granny has 2 pear trees and towards the end summer each year they are ready to be picked. We took the kids out there (to the country) and made a day of visiting, fishing and pear picking. The kids loved it and my oldest was eager to help me make something out of them. I did my research trying to figure out what I was going to make and kept going back to a tart. I have never made one before, also had to look up what was different between a tart and pie, and if you follow me you know baking and I do not always get along. Well I did it and it turned out great!!!

Crust

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 8 Tbsp butter
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 Tbsp cold water, or more if needed

-Mix together dry ingredients.
-Cut in butter.
-Mix in egg yolk and water.
-It should be a stiff but workable dough ball.
 -Roll out to about 9 inches and place in tart pan.
-With fingertips, press dough evenly up the sides of the tart pan and fold if needed .
-Chill dough in freezer while slicing the pears.

Filling

• 5 pears
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon

-Peel and slice pears. I cored them and used my mandolin to slice them.
-Toss them in the cinnamon. 
-Remove crust from freezer and arrange pears in an overlapping pattern.
-Mix remaining flour and sugar and butter in a small bowl.

-Cover the pears with filling.
-You may not use all of the filling.
-Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 35 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly.

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~