Home Made Baby Food

A co-worker of mine is pregnant and is due in July.  Her 4 year old son has many food allergies and so she is concerned on what to do about feeding the baby once it's able to start eating baby food.  i said it was simple, make your own.

By making your own baby food you know exactly what is in it.  And quite honestly, it's really easy to do!

Baby Fruit - I found you could either use a little bit of breast milk, formula or even water to do this, your preference.  Pick youlr own fruit!  Bananas, apples, peaches, strawberries, kiwi, whatever!  When you first begin to feed your infant it must be very smooth, so here you go:

In a blender add your fruit, then your liquid (a few ounces at a time).  Place your blender on "Puree" and turn it on.  You may need to add additional liquid to thin it out, play with it until you find the right combination that is best for YOUR baby! At first, pour your food into ice cube trays, cover with plastic wrap and freeze.  Be sure to keep some out for that first meal.  When feeding time comes, just pop out a cube, and defrost it in the microwave for just a few seconds.  Voila!  Healthy food with little effort and less expensive then the jar food in the stores!

As your child gets older, do the same with vegetables.  You can eventually add meat and make your own "dinners" - chicken, vegetables and potatoes - all blended in your own blender.  Also as they grow and are ready for more chunky food, just change the setting on your blender.  You can purchase small containers and pour your food into those also, as larger portions are needed.

When I would make my families dinner, I would simply pull a small portion to the side and make my baby's dinner - quick and easy.  It made a very easy transition to table food also, they were already accustomed to what they were eating.

If you would like more information please hit me up!

Chicken and Dumplings

I LOVE to cook!  Every night I do my best to cook a home made meal for my kids.  My one Grandmother being Sicilian and my other German, yeah, there was always something cooking in the kitchen, and if you were a female, no matter what age, you were helping stirring a pot, bowl, or whatever, you were in there.  I was taught the longer a meal took to make, the more love was put into it. 

I admit, from times, yes, we have a pizza night or a "free choice/fend for yourself" night, I'm not Wonder Woman, though I like to think I am at times.  But most of the time there is something simmering in the kitchen.  I have those recipes that I have to start the night before, or morning of to ensure just the right taste and quality of the meal.  Some are quick skillet meals.  I am constantly looking for new ways to prepare the same old chicken breast, pork chops, and even chop meat (that's ground beef for you non-northerners, lol).  Below I would like to share a Chicken and Dumplings recipe that I was given by a friend.  I have made it several times, it's fast, easy and the kids and their friends love it!  Enjoy!

  

Chicken and Dumplings Casserole

2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (this takes the most time)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 stick butter
2 cups Bisquick
2 cups whole milk
1 can cream of chicken soup (herbed one is best)
3 teaspoons of chicken granules (Wylers makes this, it's with the boulion cubes)
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Layer 1 - in 9 x 13 casserole dish, melt 1/2 stick of butter.  Spread shredded chicken over the butter.  Sprinkle pepper and dried sage on top.  DO NOT MIX

Layer 2 - In small bowl, mix milk, and Bisquick.  Slowly pouir all over chicken.  DO NOT MIX

Layer 3 - In medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups of chicken broth, chicken granules and soup.  Once well blended pour slowly over the Bisquick layer.  DO NOT MIX

Bake casserole for 30-40 minutes or until the top is a nice golden brown.

Enjoy!

If you make this, please leave your comments, tell me what you think!

Boston Marathon... :(

Patriots Day - Boston Marathon - they go together like wine and cheese, well I personally don't care for wine with my cheese, but you get what I"m saying.  Like everyone else, I had forgotten that yesterday was the Boston Marathon.  I don't live there, I'm not a marathon runner, quite honestly if I had to run 26 miles it better be for my life - someone or something will be after me and if I stop, I'm dead.  That would probably be the only reason I would run 26 freaking miles.  I'm sorry I have a car, or public transportation, either one works great for me...

Back to the Boston Marathon - I was as shocked as everyone to discover that bombs had gone off near the finish line.  At first I was just like, uh, what?  Huh?  Then people started talking about it, Skyping, Tweeting, Facebooking, so I turned on the news.  The footage that was being shown was appalling to say the least.  I felt like I was watching a movie, or footage from the Military Channel, not Fox News.  Then to find out that the bombs were specifically created to cause the physical damage to the spectators, innocent people!!!!  Not just blow up and BOOM, but to throw shrapnel into the air, causing such an amount of physical harm, was sickening.

I have much, much, much to say about this.  I can go on, and on.  But, all of this would simply be my opinions.  Do I think it was an act of terrorism against our country?  HELL YES!!!!  I only pray that those who are held responsible for such an evil act of violence will pay for the crime that they have committed against our nation, the greatest nation, the United States of America.

If you would like to donate to help the victims the American Red Cross is a great place to start!

www.armericanredcross.com

Also for accurate information, up to date info, videos, etc. visit The Boston Herald:

www.bostonherald.com

Pollen - it "Blows"

I don't know where you are at, but I'm here in NC.  The pollen here is HORRIBLE, hate it!!!  Totally disgusting, yellow green dust everywhere.  You can actually see it blowing in the wind, UCK!

I had spent nearly 4 hours washing, detailing and waxing my white car this past weekend only to wake up to a yellow car.  When you turn the wipers on to clear the windshield you need to use the fluid since its so thick, then you are stuck with a disgusting sludge on the edges of your window.  At least you aren't the only one though, every one has it.

This nasty stuff gets EVERYWHERE!!!  Even if you don't have your windows open it's in the house.  It gets brought in on you, your family, pets, and yes even through your air conditioning.  Best thing to do is, unfortunately, constantly dust, swiffer, and or vacuum your house.  This will help keep the inside clean.  Also, use your garden hose to wash off the sidewalk and front door porch.  By spraying down your windows and doors this too, will help with pollen getting inside your home.  If you can, turn down your AC as much as you can bare it and use your ceiling fans to cool the house.  Your pets, if you use a damp rag or towel to wipe them down as they come in, it will take a lot of the pollen off their fur, be sure to wipe the paws :)

I have lived in all parts of the country, and I can honestly say that this is the worst when it comes to pollen.

Allergies are killers with this stuff too.  If you need to take something to survive this season, then do so.  Don't try and tough it out!  A simple sniffle from your allergies can lead to sinus infections, strep throat, bronchitis, etc.  Be sure to talk to your doctor about what is the best treatment for you!!!!

For more information check out this site:

www.webmd.com/allergies/features/plagued-by-pollen?page=2

     

Raising Money for Chief McCaskill's Family

Sorry to bother all of you again with the lose of CMSgt Nick McCaskill - we are currently trying to raise money for his wife and two children.  Here are two places you can go to donate:

www.thatothersmaylive.org

www.facebook.com/greenfeetbrewing?fref=ts

During Angel Thunder, now through 20 April, Green Feet Brewing is donating all profits from sales of their sand T-shirts to a fund for CMSgt Nick McCaskill's family.
Shirts are $20, and shipping is $3.50 if you are not in the Tucson area. Sizes currently on hand M / L/ XL, backorders will be available as long as the order is placed by the 20th. (Women's tan fitted T's will not be available.
For further ordering information message Green Feet Brewing on Facebook and use the subject "XX Sand" for priority shipping.

Rest In Peace...

Just a little tidbit about myself; I do write - I write screenplays - one is about the USAF Pararescuemen - PJs.  National Geographic recently did a show on them entitled "Inside Combat Rescue"
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/inside-combat-rescue/videos/audience-reaction-to-inside-combat-rescue/


I have become very close with the PJ community, and am honored to be apart of such a small tight knit group of unsung heroes.  I received some news over this past weekend, and would like to share it with you all...

Rest In Peace...

Sadnees sweeps across the Pararescue community - this past weekend in Afghanistan, as a result of a suicide bomber, USAF CMSgt Nick McCaskill, Pararescueman, was killed.  He is survivied by his wife and two young children. 

May you rest in Peace Chief!  Your sacrifices throughout your career as a Pararescueman will not be forgotten, but will live on in the lives that you have rescued and those around them.  A true hero, with no cape or emblem upon his chest.  Chief McCaskill lived by his PJ creed... and died by it. 

"9 Line" is dedicated to our fallen "Guardian Angels" - one more name, to be added...  show us your support so we can prove to the non-beievers how important this film truly is.

"That Others May Live"

If you would like to donate or help Chief McCaskill's family please visit the "That Others May Live" website at:

www.thatothersmaylive.org

Korea - What the Heck...

Many people have come to me and asked me my opinion on the events that are taking place in North Korea.  Apparently being that I was stationed at Kunsan AB South Korea for a year, back in 90-91 it makes me some kind of expert on what the Koreans may be thinking.  LoL.

Well, here's my opinion:

North Korea likes to stir the pot.  They want people to realize that they are a power of some sort and that they can cause a war.  Yes, they are a threat.  However, when you consider their allies, China and Russia, and what they would have to lose by going to war against the United States, I personally do not believe that they would want to take that risk.  They would lose to much trade, and business by going against us.

Also, we have multiple bases in South Korea, Guam and Japan, to say the least.  If a war was to break out, I believe that our military strength would quickly bring them down with simply the air strikes that could take place.  It would be over before it began.

As I stated, this is all my opinion, I am no expert, I do not claim to be, but hell, I did live there 20 + years ago, so that has to mean something!

BTW - if your not careful they will serve you dog - yes I said DOG!  They passed it off to myself and 3 of my fellow Airmen while we were downtown enjoying the local cuisine.  The "meat" was white like chicken, kind of smelled like chicken, but it was flaky like fish, and just tasted different.  I asked the little boy who was standing near our table if it was dog, he started laughing and happily replied "yes".  I vomitted in my mouth and left....