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~

Freezer Pancakes

This is something I do anytime I make pancakes. My kids love them but like spaghetti I always make enough for the whole neighborhood ;-). So for mornings daddy's in charge or we are in a hurry or heck I just don't want to cook and clean. This is very handy!

After they have cooled a bit, I just label a freezer bag with date and instructions (heat 1 1/2 minutes wrapped in a paper towel) that's for 3, longer for more, less for less..you get it. Place them in the bag staggered and push as much air out you can without squishing them. Lay flat in freezer. They stay good for 3-4 months! 

      WARNING! iPhone photo... 

Enjoy the convince and not wasting! 

~Mrs. Milly~

Skillet Pork Chops

Quick, Flavorful and so Easy! What more can you ask for?!

▫️Heat cast iron skillet to medium heat. 

▫️While its heating up season one side of chops with garlic salt and black pepper.  

▫️Turn heat down to low, your pan will stay hot for a while. This will give them a nice crust but cook through too. 

▫️Season other side with onion powder, ️Season salt and a little curry seasoning. 

▫️Keep on low to get a well done pork chop or keep at medium to crust other side for more of a medium done chop. 

I served mine with mashed potatoes, a mix of green beans and sauteed eggplant from my neighbors garden. 

Enjoy! 

~Mrs. Milly~

Easy French Dip

Deli Roast beef is on sale $1.50 off and I need a quick meal. This is a go to the whole family loves! 

       (Excuse the iphone photo) 

You'll need: 

1lb sliced roast beef

4 hoagie rolls 

1/2 onion, sliced

Mushrooms, sliced 

1 package au jus mix 

Provolone cheese (or any cheese of your choice) 

Butter

Garlic salt 

How to:

Sauté onions and mushrooms in a little butter. In same pan add au jus mix with water as directed. Then add meat to heat it up. 

Butter rolls and sprinkle with garlic salt. Toast 1/2 way, mainly to melt butter. 

Put meat, drain as much liquid off as can to avoid soggy buns on bun with mushrooms and onions. Top with cheese and place under broiler till melted. Ladel juice in a dipping cup. 

Serve up and Enjoy! 

~Mrs. Milly~ 

Herb Set Up

Changed my herbs up so I could bring them inside. It's already getting HOT here and some of them even though I keep them watered and only get morning sun they don't like the heat. So I took an old party try and placed them in it, that simple. It catches the water, is easy to clean and looks cute. Of course I had to add my sons frog garden stone he made me. Now instead of being on my porch where bugs and heat can bother them they are inside getting sun from the windows behind my kitchen sink. Much more convient for cooking too. I have 3 types of basil, thyme, green onions (chives) and cilantro. I'm getting Rosemary so the frog stone may have to find a new home ;-). This whole set up cost me very little. I had the plastic try which was $2 back when I got it, I bought 2 of the herbs and got the 3 given to me from friends over growth and the chives are from what was left from ones I bought at the grocery store. See my post on how to regrow your green onions. 

~Mrs. Milly~

Cucumber Cups

Our friend has an amazing garden and brought me a bunch of delicious cucumbers! I was trying to think of what to do with them around lunch time and remembered a finger food I made for a bridal shower. I made it with store bought chicken salad; I know, I know I was in a hurry but this time I wanted to use tuna salad that I made. I never buy store made tuna and always buy the good albacore tuna in water not oil.

The cucumber cups are super easy, all you need is a melon ball scoop. The skinny cucumbers work better as bites. Just cut in 1/2 inch sections then scoop the middle out being careful not to go all the way through.

Tuna Salad: I didn't measure but this is what I used.
Mayo
Deli Mustard
Shredded carrots
Garlic Salt
Black pepper
Dill relish
Diced sweet onion 
Topped with a little green onion

I made these for my son with the extra salad and balls I scooped out

Enjoy!

~Mrs. Milly~