Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

This is an AMAZING pot pie recipe my mom found a few years ago and we have been ADDICTED ever since!! We modified it to fit our tastes and lifestyles and you can of course do the same! So yum!!

What you need:

1 rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, shredded and set aside (Vons has them for $5 on Fridays and Costco has them for $5 all the time!)

2 cups chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup self rising flour

1/2 tsp pepper

1 stick melted butter

1 cup buttermilk

(sometimes I add a cup of frozen veggies and sometimes not, up to you! You can also substitute the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom o you are a 'shroom type of person!)

What to do:
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Put the chicken that you already shredded up into a 2 qt. Casserole dish.

Combine the broth and soup in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, pour this over the chicken. ((if I were adding frozen veggies I would do that step now))

In a separate bowl, combine the flour and the pepper. Stir in the buttermilk and melted butter. Pour this over the casserole and just SMOOTH. DO NOT STIR!! The mixture should just lay right over the top.

Bake for 45 minutes or until brown and filling is hot and bubbly!! Yum!

Sunday Funday Football Food!!

This week's Sunday Funday football food is (excuse me while I drool lol!) Soft Pretzels!! Soft pretzels are that weakness I have when I literally don't even want anything to eat and I run to the mall and as SOON as I smell those darn things I am salivating, starving and have to run to the nearest soft pretzel stand!!! I love them all! Salt, cinnamon & sugar, dipped in cheese--you name it, I love it! For this week's recipe I am just making a basic soft pretzel with butter and salt and then we are gonna dip them in nacho cheese. Some of you saw the photos on Facebook of the last time I made these, but I will post recent photos when I make these on Sunday! Such a cheap and DELISH snack on Football day!! You will want to prepare these a bit ahead of time though, because the dough takes a while to prepare! This is the recipe I use:

What You Need:
1 1/2 C. warm water
1 1/8 tsp active dry yeast
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 1/8 tsp salt
1 C. bread flour (you can just use self-rising flour if you don't have bread flour)
3 C. regular flour
2 C. warm water
2 Tbsp baking soda
To taste, coarse salt
2 - 4 Tbsp butter (melted)


What To Do:
Warm water to a comfortable temperature, not too hot or you will kill the yeast, and not too cold or it won't activate...very picky this yeast! Sprinkle yeast into water in mixing bowl and stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise at least 1/2 hour.

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 tbsp baking soda. Continue to stir this often while the dough is rising.

After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. The thinner you make these ropes, the more like the 'mall pretzels' they will be :) Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzels to rise again for about 30 min. Bake in oven at 450 for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted butter and whatever else you like and ENJOY! YUMMY!!

Veggie Breakfast Wrap

So I was absolutely starving this morning and I am so SICK of yogurt and eggs!! I took a look at what else I had as my tummy rumbled and I had a TON of fresh veggies! And a pack of tortillas! I know the tortillas aren't 'good' for you, but you can always substitute for a whole wheat wrap, or skip the carb all together! I just immediately thought a wrap sounded good!! Plus, I am TOTALLY full and the whole meal was only 221 calories and contained 9 grams of protein!! Anyways, here is the recipe!!

What You Need:
ANY veggies you have on hand- about 1/4 cup of each veggie, less if you have a LOT of different kinds!
I used:
white onion, yellow squash, and baby spinach
about 1 tbsp of Olive Oil
and about 1 tbsp of finely chopped garlic
Optional: 1 tortilla, wrap, etc.

What To Do:
Heat the olive oil over medium heat
and saute the garlic. Be sure not to burn it; that's yucky!!!

Add in all of the veggies except the spinach and saute for 2-3 minutes.

Add in the spinach and stir until wilted.

Set veggie mixture aside and heat a tortilla.

Place the mixture in a tortilla and enjoy! YUM!

**Note: you could always add salsa, sour cream, greek yogurt, or cheese to it to give it an extra punch! :)

This Housewife goes HEALTHY!!!

Okay, so as many of you may know (or not know, lol) my husband and I are going to be trying to conceive again this winter! Since that is the case, I want to get my body in tip-top shape and start eating clean and healthy!! I decided to bust out my old 'healthy eating' cookbooks, blow the dust off, and get some yummy and nutritious meals from them like I should be doing! I haven't been feeding myself the best foods and have been going out a lot lately, but I am ready for a change!! Something else that is important to me is getting my husband to eat better as well. He literally has the palate of a 6 year old, so it is really difficult for me to get him to eat anything 'nutritious'! I usually have to find ways to mask these veggies and other healthy foods so he won't notice (I know, such a BABY!).

A big part of eating clean for me is planning my meals ahead of time. If I know in advance what I am going to be preparing and have the snacks on hand etc, I won't purchase the impulse 'junk' stuff. If I don't buy it, I can't eat it, right?

Here is my meal plan for the rest of this week, not sure for the weekend yet! (a lot of chicken because that is what I currently have in the freezer, LOL):

TUESDAY:
Chicken with Peach Salsa and Brown Rice- Pg. 116 "Big Book of Healthy Family Dinners"
Click Here for similar recipe.

WEDNESDAY:
Pasta Primavera with Chicken and Fresh Veggies- Pg. 119 "Big Book of Healthy Family Dinners"
Click Here for similar recipe, just add Grilled Chicken.

THURSDAY:
EZ Cheesy Lasagna- Pg. 232 "300 Recipes Under 300 Calories by Hungry Girl"
Click Here for exact recipe.

FRIDAY:
Crispy Cheeseburger Pizza- Pg. 270 "300 Recipes Under 300 Calories by Hungry Girl"
(I am using ground turkey rather than the soy ground 'beef' that she uses)
PER SERVING (entire pizza): 226 calories, 4.5g fat, 1,207mg sodium, 33g carbs, 15g fiber, 9g sugars, 27.5g protein -- POINTS® value 4* Make our quirky, burger-style pizza in the comfort of your own kitchen. It has fewer calories than ONE SLICE of CPK's version...
Ingredients:1 1/2 tbsp. ketchup
1/2 tbsp. fat-free mayonnaise
1 tsp. yellow mustard
1/2 cup frozen ground-beef-style soy crumbles (like the kind by Morningstar Farms or Boca), thawed
1 La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Low Carb High Fiber Large Tortilla
1/4 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
1 tbsp. chopped onion
3 tbsp. shredded lettuce
2 tbsp. chopped tomato
Optional toppings: hamburger dill pickle chips, additional ketchup
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a small dish, combine ketchup, mayo, and mustard, and mix until uniform. Add soy crumbles and toss to coat. Set aside.
Lightly spray a medium-large skillet with nonstick spray and bring to medium heat on the stove. Lay tortilla flat in the skillet and cook until slightly crispy, a few minutes on each side.
Transfer tortilla to a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick spray. Scoop soy crumble mixture into the center of the tortilla and spread it out evenly, leaving a 1/2-inch border around it. Evenly sprinkle with cheese and onion.
Bake in the oven for 11 - 13 minutes, until tortilla border browns and cheese melts.
Top with lettuce and tomato. If you like, add pickles and a squiggle of ketchup. Cut into slices and EAT!
MAKES 1 SERVING
HG Heads Up! We know this one's a bit high in sodium. You can save about 300mg sodium if you use no-salt-added ketchup, like the kind by Heinz.

Another score at 99 Cent Stores!!

For those of you who follow The Homemade Housewife of Facebook (if you don't, go do it now!!), you know that I scored big at 99 Cent Only stores this morning!!

I came home with an unbelievable amount of produce, name brand products from Athenos, Quaker, Almay, Jennie-o, Campbells and so much more! Even a Halloween costume for my dog, Sasha!! Here are some close ups of what I got for about $35.00!!!

Game Day Snack! Bacon Cheddar Jalapeno Poppers!

So I bought a bag of about 50 jalapenos at 99 cent Only Stores and needed to come up with a way to use all of these jalapenos before they go bad. Then I thought, what's better than some delish jalapeno poppers on Game Day?! I searched the internet for the perfect recipe and gathered various ideas to come up with my own recipe. The great thing is, they are baked rather than deep fried :) Here's the recipe I put together:

What You Need:

15 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise, stems, seeds removed
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar Cheese
1 lb bacon, cooked, cooled and crumbled into small bits (or just use bacon bits)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup panko crumbs, or fine dry breadcrumbs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
What To Do:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside.

In a bowl, cream together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and fold in bacon pieces.
In a small bowl, beat together the eggs and milk. In a shallow dish such as a pie pan, dump in your panko crumbs. In a third dish, dump in your flour. These will all be used for dredging. Spread about a tablespoon of the cheese mixture into the middle of each jalapeno half. One at a time, dredge in the flour, dip into the egg mixture, then in the panko crumbs, pressing to coat. If necessary, repeat the process so they are thoroughly coated. Place the coated peppers, cut side up, on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the filling is runny and the crust is golden, about 30 minutes. YUM!!!! This recipe is definitely a TOUCHDOWN!

Freebies for the Facebook Page!

Congrats! We reached 25 "likes" on Facebook!! Here are some freebies to get us through the weekend! The next goal is to hit 50 likes so keep sharing with your friends!!

FREEBIES!!

~FREE 2-year subscription to Shape Magazine! Click HERE

~FREE Movie Rental Codes for $1.00 movie rentals!

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 27KRVF6- exp 9/19

 54RMAQ6- exp 9/19

36MMKC4- exp 9/19

 39CHAH2- exp 9/19

ROCKNROLL- exp 10/9

~FREE Song Download off of Lady Footlocker!!  Just go "Like" their page on Facebook, select the song of your choice under the “Lady Radio” tab and enter this code ITSALADYTHING to get it for FREE!

New Facebook Page!

 Okay everyone, I made a Facebook page for my Homemade Housewife Blog! Go "like" it here: http://on.fb.me/r7yEpZ 

There is also a "Like" Button over there ------------------------>

I am super excited about this!! I am also going to start posting on a couple community sites, and will be posting to those here soon!! YAY!!! Tell all your friends!!

In the meantime, here is a little free movie coupon code just for supporting me :))

Blockbuster Express Promo Code: 73PGAR8

Home Made Dog Biscuits

I have been wanting to find a good recipe for making dog treats and came across this one. It is perfect for someone who wants to just use the stuff you have already in the kitchen!! Enjoy- These are bow-wow-wonderful according to Sasha! LOL

Chick N' Biscuits

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup cornmeal or cream of wheat
1 tablespoon soft butter

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine chicken, broth and butter and blend well.
Add flour and cornmeal (or cream of wheat). Knead dough into a ball and roll to 1/4 inch. Cut into one-inch sized cookies.
pieces and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Makes 18 dog treats.

Finger-licken-good BBQ Chicken Dinner :)

So, recently, I discovered boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Now yes I know they are a bit higher on the calorie count, however, they are packed with many more nutrients that breasts don't have and they are CHEAP. Literally, I found the pack for this recipe at Target in their new rad grocery section marked down to $2.69 from $6.99 for 6 thighs!! Anyway, this recipe will knock your socks off without burning a hole in your pocket!! Take a look!

What You Will Need for the Chicken:
1 package of 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (This will feed approx. 3 people, but if you have big eaters, pick up an extra package :)
1 bottle of Honey BBQ sauce (I use Sweet Baby Rays)
1 container of your favorite smokey mustard. Any brown mustard will do, or perhaps a dijon?
about a palm full of Brown Sugar

What to do for the Chicken:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
Squirt a layer of BBQ sauce into a large baking dish and line with the chicken thighs.

Sprinkle a palm full of brown sugar evenly over the top of the thighs. Layer a thick glaze of BBQ sauce over the top of the thighs, followed by a few dabs of the mustard. Use a brush to massage it in (your hands work too).

Place the dish in the oven for 20 minutes.
After the 20 minutes, grill for an additional 10 minutes to char the thighs. My husband and I have found through trial and error that baking the chicken first and then charring the outside seals in the juices and makes for a very tender, delicious meat. You can then glaze with additional BBQ sauce or mix the mustard and BBQ to make a yummy glaze!!

For the Rest of the Meal You Need:
1 pkg Frozen corn on the cob
1 onion (whatever is your favorite)
1 can basic pork and beans
1 pkg salad
2 pats of butter
basic seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic salt, parsley, anything else that sounds good

The Corn:
I absolutely HATED frozen corn until I figured out how to cook it. The trick of the trade is to UNDER cook it so it doesn't become soggy. You will want to prepare the corn while the Chicken is on the grill.

Get your water boiling and do not place the corn in the water until it is at a rapid boil. Place your corn into the pot.

Frozen corn is also known for being bland, so I add about a 1/2 tablespoon of sugar to the water.

Boil for about 5-6 minutes and remove to a strainer. Add a couple sprinkles of sugar and allow to rest.

I then usually pop the corn onto a baking sheet and cook it in the oven at 400 for about 10 min. Keep warm until serving, and slather with butter, salt, and whatever else your little heart desires :)

Grilled Onion: 
Slice up one onion of your choice into bite-sized pieces. I chopped some up for our salads.

Place onto a piece of foil and add your favorite seasonings. I did salt, pepper, garlic salt, parsley, and 2 pats of butter.

Place on the grill at the same time as the chicken.

Beans:
Open can. Pour in pot. Heat. LOL

Salad:
Just about any salad will do for this meal, so whatever you say goes :)

Hope you guys enjoy this meal!! Thanks for reading!!

This weeks deals and freebies!

Hi everyone!! Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend!! Here are some freebies and deals you might be interested in to brighten up the rest of your week! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter for EXCLUSIVE deals!! Twitter: AhousewifeLife

Freebies!


If you have a Pampers Gifts to Grow account, use this code to get 10 Free points: FAC911PTXD36Y6J! If you don't have an account, sign up and get 100 points for signing up!! Don't know what I'm talking about? Click HERE so you don't miss out!!

Need an energy boost? Get a FREE Kashi bar HERE!!

Get a FREE Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning pack! This goes to the first 3,000 people so HURRY!!  Click HERE!!

Deals!


Right now, get 200 digital prints FREE through Kodak for only $1.99 in shipping!! This deal is good through September 14th! Click HERE!

Alright guys, thats all I got for today! Hopefully I can find more tomorrow!!!

10 FREE Blockbuster Express Rentals!

Supposedly these can all be used more than once! Try them out and let me know!!

FREE Rental Code: GORACETRAC – (expires 8/31/11)
Blockbuster FREE Rental Code: 38JEAH9 – (expires 9/02/11)
FREE Rental Code: 43PBCG5- (expires 9/02/11)
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FREE Rental Code: 38RMAQ2 - (expires 9/05/11)
FREE Rental Code: 57TPLD3 – (expires 9/05/11)
FREE Rental Code: 711MOVIENIGHT – (expires 9/15/11) 7/11 stores only

New and Exciting Things!

Hi there everyone!

There are a lot of new and exciting things going on at The Homemade Housewife!!

I am going to start combing ALL of my social media networks into one: Twitter, Facebook, Blog, and YouTube! This is going to be a SERIOUS project, but I know I will be able to do it. Twitter has been my main outlet for posting freebies and deals because of the fact that it is so accessible and easy to use! But I will get it all taken care of here soon!

As of right now these are my networks should you want to follow.
Twitter: AhousewifeLife
YouTube: That Crazy Coupon Girl
This blog :)
and Facebook to come soon!!!

Please keep an eye out for what's to come ahead!!! :)

One More Freebie for Working Moms!!

Request a FREE subscription to Working Mother Magazine while supplies last! There’s nothing to join, no strings attached and no credit card required. Be sure to say “No Thanks” to any offers that pop up until you reach the confirmation page.

FREE pizza and other great deals!!

Freebies are so hard to come by since companies are so stingy (I mean that in only the sweetest way!), but when they do, it's worth setting the alarm, waking up early, or whatever it takes to get it!! Here are some freebies and great deals you need to get your hands on this week!!


FREE pizza slice!
---Tomorrow at 9:00am Pacific Standard Time, Freshetta will be giving out FREE pizza by the slice coupons! They will stop handing them out after they are all claimed (they say they are giving away tens of thousands of them!) So get on it!! http://www.freefreschetta.com/

FREE Degree deodorant at Wal-Mart
---with the July 31, 2011 coupon from Red Plum insert in Sunday's paper! Don't get the paper? GET IT! There is an option to get ONLY the Sunday paper which is where all the coupons are :)
Degree Deodorant, Travel Size | $0.97
$1/1 Degree Anti-perspirant, Deodorant, Body Mist 7/31/2011 RP Insert (exp 8/28/2011)
Final Price: FREE!

KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce | $1.99
- $0.55/1 KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce Vons MDA Coupon Booklet
Final Price: $0.99
*There is an in-ad coupon in the supplemental ad from the weekend for $0.88 that expires on 8/6. Use it to score BBQ sauce for FREE! 

Tide Laundry Detergent, 50-oz. | $5.99
- $2/1 Tide or Gain Powder Detergent 7/17/2011 Smart Source Insert (exp 8/31/2011)
OR – $1/1 Tide Detergent 7/31/2011 P&G Insert (exp 8/31/2011)
Final Price: as low as $3.99

Hope you guys enjoy!!

Pampers splashers deal!!!

It’s Back! Amazon is offering Pampers Splashers for as low as $5.48 shipped. Here’s how to get this deal:

- Sign up for Amazon Mom to save 15% – sign up here (its free!)
- Go here and select the size you need – then clip the $1.50 off coupon!
- Click on Subscribe & Save to the right – choose 6 months.
- TOTAL: Size 3 for $5.48, Size 5 for $6.54, Size 6 for $6.75

After your order ships go to Your Account and click on “Manage Subscribe & Save” to cancel future shipments if you would prefer to not receive anymore shipments.

Fun (and homemade/inexpensive) Activities for KIDS!

Hi Ladies!

So now that I have started somewhat of an 'in home daycare' for a full time 15 month old and a 3 month old to start soon, I am putting together a routine for inexpensive yet educational and fun activities to do! These are all activities which inspire cognitive learning, motor skills, and enhance play while keeping costs slim to none! These are obviously for the 15 month old and some are still in trial and error stage! Here goes!

Washable Finger Paint

What You Need:
2 Tbsp sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
2 cups cold water
1/4 cup liquid dish soap
Food coloring


What To Do:
In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and cornstarch. Whisk to combine. Gradually pour in the cold water and whisk. Set heat to medium and stir occasionally. Once the mixture begins to bubble, turn heat to low and whisk constantly until mixture is thickened and gel-like. Remove from heat and let cool completely, whisking occasionally.

Once cooled, stir in dish soap. Divide mixture into small airtight containers, one for each color you want to have. Add food coloring into each container and mix well. Use immediately or cover and use later.

Homemade Play-dough

What You Need:
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar
food coloring or your favorite kool-aid packet for scented play-dough!

What To Do:
Mix all of the ingredients together, and stir over low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes. When the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center, as shown below, remove the pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle.

IMPORTANT NOTE: if your play-dough is still sticky, you simply need to cook it longer!
Keep stirring and cooking until the dough is smooth and pliable. It's okay to have it be a tiny bit sticky, you can always add a little more flour to it. Knead your play-dough on a lightly floured surface while it's still warm. Store in a zip lock baggy or tupperware container and it lasts FOREVER!! :)

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

What You Need:
cardboard toilet paper tube
waxed paper
disposable empty container (an old 32 oz. yogurt container works well)
Plaster of Paris
liquid tempera paint
water
plastic spoons

What To Do:


Line the inside of your toilet paper tube with waxed paper. Set the tube upright on another piece of waxed paper. The easiest way to line the tube is to roll the waxed paper up tightly and insert it into the tube. Then, spread the waxed paper out with your fingers. Make sure your container and spoon are disposable because you'll want to throw them out after you're done. Don't ever pour Plaster of Paris down your drain because it will harden and clog your pipes! To make the plaster mixture, combine 1 and 1/4 cups Plaster of Paris and 1/2 cup water in your plastic container. Mix it together until it looks like cake batter. If it's too thick, add a small amount of water. If it's too runny, add more plaster one spoonful at a time. When the plaster no longer dissolves in the water, you've added enough. Quickly stir in two spoonfuls of liquid tempera paint. Mix it really well. Pour the mixture into the lined tube and tap gently to get rid of any air bubbles. Let the chalk dry overnight and then remove it from the tube. It will still be damp, so let it dry for a few more days. Once it's dry, you've got your homemade chalk!

Another FREE diaper sample!

Another FREE sample of Huggies snug and dry!! http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent.aspx?id=99795

Super deal!!

Hi There! If you are using my deals, PLEASE be respectful and actually subscribe to my blog! It takes quite a bit of work to discover these deals so just do me a favor and support support support!! :)) Thanks!!

Anywho- onto the awesome deal!

 FREE Mini Photobook from MyPublisher!! FREE Shipping too!
Go to MyPublisher and create an account
Then, click HERE and a coupon code for your FREE photobook will be sent! Easy Peasy!

Freebie Fun!!

I LOVE to live Frugally and want to share all my special finds with YOU! Check out today's Freebies!!

1. Get the FREE Cookouts Veggie Style for your Kindle HERE!! Don't have a Kindle? Download one of the Kindle reading applications HERE!!

2. FREE Hardcover Photo Book!

• Head over to Mixbook and click the “Photo Books” tab at the top of their website
• Select 11 x 8.5″ Classic Landscape Hardcover Photo Book.
• Uncheck the box that says “Give me a book that is almost done”
• Make sure your book is exactly 20 pages (that’s the only way it will be free)
• At checkout enter coupon code FREEBK
• Final Price: $0 + FREE Shipping! EXPIRED :(((

3. LAST DAY for FREE Amazon $2.00 Music Credit

Enter promo code CLOUDMP3 into your Amazon account HERE by end of day today, June 30th.

Pamper's Spasher Diapers only $5.48 + FREE Shipping!

Get this awesome deal NOW! Pamper's Splasher's size 3 24-count pack of water diapers only $5.48 +FREE shipping!!

Here's how to get it:

-Subscribe to my blog, "The Homemade Housewife"
-Create a Amazon Mom Account on Amazon.com
-Then go HERE and clip the $1.50 coupon which is found under where it says "In stock" under the price
- Click on "subscribe and save" at the right side of the product page and voila! Ships FREE too!

Enjoy!! <3

Photo Freebie!

Walgreens is offering a FREE 8 x 10 photo collage starting today using coupon code 1FREEBIE !! No purchase necessary! Head on over HERE to get your free collage! What an awesome Father's Day or birthday gift!! Hurry, it expires June 18th!

Gluten-Free Newbie

Well folks, I have been eating (trying, I should say) gluten-free for about 3 weeks now and literally just from doing that, I have lost about 5 lbs. When my best friend found out she had celiacs disease, it became a goal of mine to figure out what on earth gluten was, first of all, and why foods to not need the gluten to taste good. Making the switch is difficult, mostly because practically ALL foods contain gluten. Pastas, breads, snacks, salad dressing, sauces, white rice, you name it. So for the past few weeks I have been switching out my grocery list with gluten free varieties and have discovered that actually, the diet is not all that bad!



My Lunch Today: Slow cooked pork with seasonings (slow cooked it a few days ago in just water with various seasonings such as garlic, onion powder, and pepper), raw baby spinach with cherry tomatoes and gluten-free raspberry walnut vinaigrette, and 3 small yukon gold baked potatoes with a dollop of sour cream (which is gluten-free) and parsley.

So, What is gluten, exactly?

Definition from WiseGeek.com: Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley. Therefore, it is found in most types of cereals and in many types of bread. Not all foods from the grain family, however, contain gluten. Examples of grains that do not have gluten include wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, oats, soybeans, and sunflower seeds.

So there you have it. Cutting out carbs is not the simple solution to eating gluten-free because gluten is found in other foods as well. Websites such as glutenfree.com offer gluten-free options such as breads, cakes, bagels, and other foods that have been prepared gluten-free.I will be posting more information regarding gluten-free soon!

Pizza Making with Kids!

Okay, I know I have posted other pizza recipes on here, and they were good, but today while babysitting my 7 year-old brother, I figured the IDEAL recipe for homemade pizza dough/crust and homemade pizza sauce. Seriously, this is to DIE for. The crust is thin, crispy and flavorful, the sauce is savory and the best part, it's all SUPER cheap and easy to make! My brother is SUCH a picky eater and he ate 4 adult sized pieces!!!

What You Need For the Pizza Dough/Crust:

3 cups of flour
2/3 cup beer of your choice (We used Becks)
1 tsp dry yeast
1 tsp salt
1/3 cup of luke warm water (for activating yeast)
2 tbsp olive oil
Italian Seasonings of your choice (we used dried parsley, oregano, garlic salt, and onion powder)
Desired Toppings! We used homemade sauce (recipe below) parm and mozzarella cheeses, ham, and salami :)

What To Do to Make The Dough: (this can be done the night before if you wish)

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Combine all of the ingredients stated above (not the toppings) in a mixing bowl. Fold until thoroughly combined and in a ball. The amount of seasonings you use is totally up to you. I used them until they became aromatic and I could actually smell them in the dough.

Once ball is formed, leave dough to rise. Dampen a kitchen cloth and place over the top of the bowl for at least an hour. NOTE: If you are preparing this the night before, pat the outside of the ball with flour and place in a ziploc bag. Be sure to squeeze the air out of it. Place in the refrigerator over night.
Before:

 After:

Once the dough has finished rising, spinkle a baking sheet thoroughly with flour. 

Smooth the dough out and spread it thin to cover the whole baking sheet (well do the best you can...ours was lopsided haha!)

Place in the oven for 6 minutes at 425 degrees. Remove from the oven and let cool while you prepare your toppings.

What You Need to Make The Pizza Sauce:

1 can diced tomatoes

Italian seasoning to your taste (we used the same spices as we did in the crust)

What To Do:

Pour the can of tomatoes in a bowl. Smash the tomatoes up a bit.

Add in the seasonings to taste, stir :) That's it!

Once the sauce is prepared, it is time to load up the pizza. We first spread on the pizza sauce.

Then, we sprinkled a bit of Parmesan cheese, followed by the remainder of the toppings we wanted: ham, salami, and mozzarella cheese!

Once that is done, pop it back in the oven for an additional 16 minutes.

Cut, serve and enjoy!!!! (he ate 4 pieces and let me tell you, this kid is PICKY!)