Apple "Soup"

My daughter will be 3 in February (2017) and she is a very picky eater. She likes the strangest "foods". I say "foods" because she will stick her finger in ketchup..barbecue sauce..salad dressing - those types of things that aren't a food, but goes on foods or are used to dip. Yeah. She's that kind of kid. My brother is the same way, still to this day..maybe. We will see if she outgrows that or not.

But with a picky eater, she will almost always eat certain foods consistently. She LOVES pasta. So macaroni and cheese or just noodles with butter. Pretty simple kid. If my grandma makes chicken and dumplings - she will scarf that down too. If you eat salad with tomatoes, she will eat all of your tomatoes and try to steal your dressing.

Her latest thing is "soup". But to her, everything liquid is called "soup". If she's eating a fruit cup (peaches) the liquid is called soup. She will eat the peaches too - which is good, but she always wants to drink the "soup".

Sometimes it is hard to get her to finish what she is eating. Sometimes she just takes a few bites and that's it. Other times she's asking for more and actually eating it - which is rare lately..but with noodles and "soup" I've been lucky.

Today I made cinnamon apples. There's no real recipe. And it isn't really a "soup". It's more of a dessert apple or good on oatmeal. But I used apple juice to cook them in - added some brown sugar and cinnamon, then cooked them down until the liquid reduced a bit. The whole house smells like fall baking. Delish.

But she is eating her apple soup, apples and all..and I am happy about that.

Chicken Pot Pie Lasagna

I'm not a professional chef. And I am certainly not a professional blogger. I'm okay with that though.
Why? Because, I am confident that I can cook creative meals that I know my hubby will eat. The kid is still a little bit picky, though.

So how did I come up with this recipe?
 - A month or so ago we decided to take that shortcut and buy a frozen lasagna. We went with the veggie lasagna, with a white sauce. It was pretty good. My creative mind thought, "Hmm...it is missing chicken"...And then I thought...hmm that's close to a chicken pot pie. THEN I thought I could just plop a store bought crust on top and call it Chicken Pot Pie Lasagna. So, that's what I tried out tonight.

The ingredients can definitely be changed to your taste. If you don't like celery, leave it out. If you want to add in peas, toss them in before you bake (on top of the mixture in between layers). If you want to add cheese, then cheese it up! That's what I love about cooking.

You can also decide between cooking your lasagna noodles prior to assembly or buy the ones that bake in the oven. I found a box of the oven bake noodles at the Dollar Tree!
You can also turn this into a Pot Pie Casserole, just use any noodle you like and top with the crust.

*If you use dry noodles make sure the mixture is a bit runny. Wet enough to dampen the noodles so they cook thoroughly and to keep everything moist while it bakes so it doesn't turn out too dry.

The amount of liquid will depend on if the noodles are pre-cooked or dry (oven baked).
The amount of chicken also depends on how much meat you like. You can also use canned chicken, honestly if you really don't feel like dealing with raw chicken.


Here are the ingredients that I used for mine.

• 3 Chicken Breasts (use 2-3 small to medium ones, mine were large because that's what I had)
• 1 Package of pre-made pie crust. (There are 2 rolls to the package. We are just topping the pot pies with them. If you choose to line your baking pans with crust, you will need more. Also depending on the size of your pans, you may need another box. One box worked for 3 loaf pan pot pies)
• 1 can Cream of Chicken soup
• 1 can Cream of Celery soup (or use 2 Cream of Chicken soups if you don't like celery)
• 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of diced potatoes (fresh or frozen, add more if you prefer)
• 1/4 cup of diced carrots (fresh or frozen, peas and carrot mix works too)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup diced onion
• 3/4 to 1 cup of diced celery
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• Water or Stock/Broth of choice. I used Chicken stock. 1/2 cup to cook the veggies in. 2-3 cups for entire mix (more or less depending on your noodles!)
• 1 box of lasagna noodles. The oven baked kind or the kind you have to pre-cook first, up to you.
• 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of Poultry Seasoning
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Preheat your oven to 350F

First I boiled the chicken breasts until fully cooked. The time will depend on how large/thick your cuts of meat are. 20 to 30 minutes, be sure to check for pink. Cool off once done. Halfway through boiling your chicken would be when you'd want to boil your noodles if you are pre-cooking them. 

While the chicken was boiling I diced up some potatoes, carrots, celery and onion. I cooked them in about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chicken stock instead of using oil. I added a dash of the seasonings. When the veggies were tender I added in the 2 cans of soup. Added in more of the seasonings, more stock/liquid and when the chicken cooled I shredded/diced the meat and added to the mixture. 

I didn't have a big lasagna pan. Instead, all I could find were 3 loaf pans. It still worked!

I sprayed my pans with nonstick spray. I added a little bit of liquid mixture to the bottom of the pans and put in the first layer of noodles. 

Layer in until you are done with your pan, ending with the mixture on the top. Then you will roll out the crust and place it over the whole thing.

I used the oven bake noodles. So I baked my 3 pans for 45 to 50 minutes. Came out perfect! Not pretty, but just like chicken pot pie with some noodles added in.

Thanks for checking out this post! I hope you give it a try. Remember, you can add/subtract or substitute many of the ingredients. It would also work well with left over rotisserie chicken or Turkey. 

Changes

There have been some recent life changes and I feel it is time to plan some more. I've been working hard on some crochet baby sandals, which you can see here at TrueBrytt & Company, along with all the other things I have been making!

So with a toddler, hubby and crochet orders keeping me busy I have been feeling a bit off - especially since some other family matters have been going on. Schedules are a bit crazy. It's kind of been: Sleep when you can and Up when there's time. There really is no set schedule, which can be draining (at least it is for me, personally).

I've been doing some research here and there. Getting hubs to DR appointments. And thinking to myself: I need to get to a DR.

Years ago when I was 13-14 (I'm 24 now) I was diagnosed with PCOS (Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome), just click and read up on it if you're curious. I've never had a regular period. I've had 2-3 week long periods and would miss MONTHS in between. My daughter being conceived was actually a miracle because DRs said I wouldn't be able to have kids or it would be REALLY hard to conceive. But I did a little bit of Low Carb-ing and took a Multi-vitamin and BOOM, pregnant. << That's the short version of the whole PCOS mess.

The changes I have made so far, planning some meal ideas. I want to start making smoothies, especially with nutrient rich ingredients and fiber for my daughter since she sometimes has trouble pooping AND can be a picky eater (which is normal for kids). I have yet to find a multi-vitamin for myself. But I have been taking Magnesium daily (250 mg) which I have read can help with PCOS and since Insulin Resistance is linked to PCOS, low Magnesium has been linked to Insulin Resistance...so I hope I'm taking the right step forward to a healthier me.

In my past posts I had mentioned (but may have since deleted some if not all - I can't remember) that I wanted to start the Low Carb journey. I have not fully done that. Actually, the only thing Low Carb are my veggies with dinner. I use dry milk in my coffee - not much though, maybe 1/2 a teaspoon or a couple teaspoons. Usually I use sugar-free creamers or just heavy whipping cream or half&half.

I still have a LOT of adjustments to make. AND I want to start couponing. CRAZY, RIGHT? So I am in the market for a cheap/affordable printer with cheap/affordable ink. I'm making a list of items we usually buy that we can use coupons for (non-food items, for now) just to stretch a few bucks each month since we live on a fixed income - anything extra is from family or the occasional crochet shoe.

Did I mention I want to dye my hair, possibly? I'm thinking RoseGold. From Natural Redhead to RoseGold, oughta be fun. But it is still an up in the air thing.

Vitamins, PCOS control/treatment, diet, budget, hair. I feel like I'm missing something.

Even More Mommy Recommendations

If only there was a TimeHop for my posts. Almost a year ago my first couple of posts were about Mommy Recommendations. In those posts I gave you a list with links and pictures of items I thought were a life saver in my daughters first year of life. I'm sorry I haven't been more on top of the recommendations, but I am here to share a few more with you!

These ones I am super excited about. I have been waiting several months to talk about a cup! Yes, a CUP!
My daughter is 14 months old (turned 1 in February!) and I have been working to get her off of the bottle. She was formula fed until a year, but honestly I gave her watered down milk around 10 months old (when she started walking..no joke) and eating more solid foods - more so when we were at home and running low on formula. It helped us financially as well.

Okay, so on to these amazing cups (there are two brands that we have found). I don't really favor one brand over the other - they are just a convenient concept and they are WAY better than any bottle or sippy-cup. The perfect transition to a real cup.

Now WIC and doctors alike, like to suggest starting a real cup at 6 months old. To the mothers that have successfully done this, congratulations. But realistically...this was not easy. We tried the straw around 7 months old. We tried sips from the cup. We use a cup during bath time. She knows what a cup is. I guess that isn't a total fail.

Then we saw the 360 cup and scratched our heads at it a few times before we bought a couple to try. It looks so strange, so don't freak out too much. I also found that they come apart for easy cleaning - which was my first question (How in the world do you wash these things?). I have taken a few pictures for you all to see it apart in stages as well as together - all in one photo to save space.

First brand is Sassy

Sassy Grow Up Cup

Sassy brand has a screw top in the center and the spout can be removed for cleaning. Just pull the silicone spout away from the center!

Second brand is Munchkin

Munchkin Miracle 360 Cup

Munchkin brand has a different texture on the cup part, it isn't a slick plastic like the Sassy brand. And the lid screws on like - well a lid. The spout, however, can be popped off of the center. Just pull the spout back from the edges and pull it off. The lid part it attaches to underneath, honestly looks like a sink strainer. 

My daughter does VERY well with these cups and I am one proud Mommy! We are still weaning her off of the bottle, some days are easier than others, and honestly she only wants one when she is SUPER fussy-tired and sometimes when she first wakes up in the morning. Throughout the day though she will drink juice, milk or water from them with no problems. 

The BEST PART about these cups is...they don't spill - at least like a regular cup. Now if you throw them on the floor like a toddler, then yes they will drip. And if they are laying on their side for long periods of time, they will drip. But if you hold it upside down it won't soak your lap, floor or your toddler! Yay!

So, even if you are a mother-to-be or if you're child is still under a year old - I would recommend you run out and buy at least one of these types of cups! You won't regret it.

OH and one more thing...

We have also discovered a neat little snack cup, also by Munchkin that my daughter loves! She is at that stage right now where she loves putting her hand into the Puff snack containers or bags of Yogurt bites and pulling one out. These snack cups help her do just that! She hasn't pulled the top off yet (which is easily removed). The edges aren't sharp and the opening is flexible and soft for them to reach in and pull the snacks out. 

Munchkin Snack Catchers

New Direction

No one will really notice, but I deleted several posts from my blog because I have gone in a new direction with my life and this blog is here to stay. Usually when something changes I start ALL over and delete any hard work I may have worked up. But not this time. At least, I don't plan on starting over any time soon.

My most recent project has been mainly crochet. And my most popular item right now that I'm selling on Facebook (and I have a listing on Etsy!), are crochet baby sandals. They are the cutest thing! I have a few styles that I've worked up, my most recent being the most popular and honestly the cutest so far!

I was also asked if I could crochet a newborn Mermaid costume, and I did it! 

Put a pattern in front of me and most of the time I figure it out. Or I stare at the image long enough to figure it out in my own way if possible. I didn't expect much to come of it. I just thought it was a cute and fun idea. I have a ton of yarn to use up, and figured I would give it a try.

I make just about anything. Although I have yet to make stuffed animals (that will be on my Crochet Bucket list). I also have decent prices. I figure, any price is a good amount - especially when you don't have much. Anything helps. 

Maybe later on I will post everything I can make - although the list keeps growing every time I make something new. 

Baby Cereal Cookies

Infant Cereal Cookies 

(no added sugar & flour-free option) 

                                

With many moms on WIC (Women, Infants & Children), the accumulation of baby food can get a little bit overwhelming. Here in Ohio they offer infant cereals and jarred foods starting at 6 months of age. The cereals they allow are Gerber brand only (Rice, Oatmeal, Whole Wheat and MultiGrain). And a little goes a long way. Which means wasted or unwanted cereal. The picky stages of solid food feeding. My little Ems got teeth around 7 months and not long after that I tried more chunky foods with her, putting purées out of commission..mostly. And cereals until recently (before the cookie find). I would add whole milk and a fruit purée with a small dash of cinnamon in with her cereal and she seemed to love it.

----

So with that said...

Baby Ems has a crap ton of infant cereal (and jarred food). Since she eats more solid solids, the jarred Stage 2 variety have become unwanted, though I still try. Mainly I go the cereal and jarred fruit route + milk for the liquid, or to thicken some of her other foods.

I have been searching all over for some ways to use up some of the dozens of cereals and jars we have collected. I feel bad we have so many, but she can be picky, which is frustratingly normal.

I found two cookie recipes and made a few adjustments to each. I doubled each recipe and knocked out only one cereal container (which equals about 4 cups) and 3 jars of apples (equals about 1 cup). But even if I don't use even a quarter of them up by her first birthday (the end of February is around the corner) I will be donating them. I wanted to try these out and pass this along to anyone out there with these items collecting dust (not really)  in their pantries. 

I also adjusted the bake time and oven temperature according to my oven, but I will post links to the original versions.

Cookie #1 (not doubled) 

<< Original Recipe >> 

                                           

1 cup Infant cereal  -  (your choice, I used whole wheat)

1 cup flour -  (of your choice)

1/2 cup fruit or vegetable purée/mash -  (bananas, apples, sweet potato..etc.)

2 tsp coconut oil -  (or vegetable oil/substitute of your choice)

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg  -  (or any spice/herb of your choice that goes well with the fruit/vegetable you chose)

1/2 cup water -  (or milk)

>> Original oven temperature is 400*

>> Original bake time is about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

**Adjust according to your baby, especially if there are known/possible allergies.**

These cookies are firmer, but by no means a teething cookie (neither of these are hard enough in my opinion). They aren't as soft and moist as the 2nd cookie, so they take a bit more effort. I like that I don't have to add sugar. I don't care for the flour, unless I go with whole wheat or a nut flour. 

But little Emi seems to like them.

                                   

Cookie #2 (not doubled)

**My personal favorite**  

                            

<< The recipe I followed was written in the description from a pin here >>

(The image used for the pin is actually this cookie cereal recipe)

 >> Contains eggs <<

1 cup infant cereal 

2 mashed bananas

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 tbsp butter, unsalted (I used coconut oil)

>> Original oven temperature is 350*

>> Original bake time is 7-10 minutes

I liked these a lot better. More moist, almost muffin like, because of the egg and bananas. I added the same spices as the other recipe (cinnamon and nutmeg). Mommy and Daddy both thought these were yummy. And no added sugar! I ended up baking these in the bottom part of a cupcake tin, worked well to keep the size I wanted. 

                                            

2015

Finally a new year. And often times "a new me" follows those words.. I'm not one to make new years resolutions. I can set goals or get ideas (and according to Pinterest and past blogs I get lots of ideas). One day I will eventually live many of them out. In time, with motivation and in moderation I can start somewhere and soon. 

But..and there's always a but.. I like making lists. I like writing out my ideas. And usually thats where my ideas end up...on paper. Lost. Or on a blog post, lost in cyber space. 

I can easily blab and list all of my ideas, but I won't blab too much.

My main goal(s) for the years to come:

Have a happy and healthy family and self. One way to make this happen would be to get rid of as much negative as we possibly can and replace it with positive. A new focus. More hobbies. Do something more productive with our talents, time, money, words and effort. Learn new things. I want to self-educate myself more because while we are teaching our daughter new things everyday and watching her grow, I want more to offer her. I want to fuel my curiosity and fascination with military history, true crime and fun fiction. 

I also want to learn new recipes and excersizes. A new eating habit and make a healthier me from the inside out. But I have to start small. One thing at a time. Remove one thing and replace it with a healthier alternative. I have searched for many recipes on Pinterest (that magic 'P' word again). Low carb, vegan, vegetarian. You name it. Although low carb would suit me better because of my past diagnosis of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome ), it is hard to make the plunge AND feed a growing baby (almost toddler). 

I want to be more frugal. That's pretty much self explanitory in the times we live in now.

So be on the look out for craft posts, recipes, tips and things in the future because my other goal is to post more often on this blog.