Ahh Plexus

What if a product that had all of those health benefits could help you feel better and lose weight?

Would you buy it?

Here is someone who did!!

 

Watch what it can also do for you!!

Head on over to my site. HERE

My journey with Candida

My journey to learn more about Candida came about when I suddenly gained 10 pounds in less than 6 months. My diet hadn't really changed and neither had my activity level. I was freaking out because here I was gaining weight. I also met a few people and talked about my experiences with Melaleuca oil and how I had an allergic reaction after using it for awhile for some toe nail fungus. The told me I could have Candida because that often happens after using Melaleuca for an extending period of time. So I started looking for answers on how to get rid of it and see if I had it.

Have you heard of Candida? Many people haven't! Yet we all have it in our bodies. In fact, about 80% of people have an overgrowth!!

And unfortunately some of us get and overgrowth of it. That can happen if we are doing a few things: taking antibiotics and eating sugar.

Some symptoms of Candida overgrowth are:

• Anxiety, depression, emotional problems, irrational fears, panic, quick anger, irritability, sleep disturbance, hyperactivity, low self-esteem.
• Asthma, coughs, sinus problems, sore throat, thrush, bad breath.
• Constipation, bloating, diarrhea, gas, gastritis, heartburn, indigestion, intestinal pain, nausea, food cravings or sensitivity, hypoglycemia, colic.
• Acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin infections, hives, rash athlete's foot, fingernail or toenail fungus, dandruff.
• Confusion, trouble concentrating, fuzzy thinking, memory loss or poor memory, headaches or migraines.
• PMS, cramps, sexual problems, vaginal yeast infections, cystitis, puffiness, infertility.
• Allergies, chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue, sore muscles, stiffness, swollen joints, gout, weight gain.

I know what you are thinking, that's EVERYTHING known to man!! I thought: I'm a mom so of course I have 80% of those symptoms. Hello!! Memory loss, sleep disturbances, panic, nausea, confusion, headaches, irritability, quick to anger and that's just the tip of the ice burg!! Seriously, when don't I have that? In fact, I got angry today because my kid couldn't find a hat that was on the floor right in front of her!!

So your thinking: I have some of those and why hasn't my doctor told me about Candida?
Truth? They may not know anything about it or thought about it as a solution.
Could killing the Candida stop some of your symptoms? Possibly. So why not try solving your symptoms naturally?

I'm going to share with you some of what I have done to help get rid of it and how it has affected me. I am not a doctor or of a medical profession so don't take me for gospel truth here.

I went through a Candida cleanse when I was in high school. I had no clue that's what I was doing at the time. I just thought I was trying to get rid of my asthma. My mom took me to my "uncle" who was a chiropractor and who practiced kinesiology. He ran a series of tests on me and put me through a dieting plan and on various other vitamins and such. The diet consisted of no sugar or yeast products whatsoever. I couldn't eat things with fructose either. I remember having the weirdest cravings while on it. I wanted Kool-Aide like nobodies business. The diet started out as a 2 week plan to clean my system out, but it ended up going for over a month and a half. I never finished cleaning my system out of the yeast because Christmas and Thanksgiving came around and made that diet too difficult. Some of the great things I remember from that time were: I felt great, I had more energy, and I lost A LOT of weight.

Now many moons later, I did some research on how to best get on a diet plan and kill the Candida. There was sooooooo much information out there and so many different ideas on what to do. I knew that I had to do what worked best for me as a busy mom and as a business owner. I started on a diet of no sugar or yeast. I did lose some weight at 1st and then family came to visit and I stopped. What I noticed afterward was CRAZY. I had diarrhea and migraines. I had never had one before and this time all I could do was lay there. I know that these 2 things happened because I started eating sugar again. My body was freaking out because of the sudden shift in diet.

So the second time I started I went for a month. I started on some essential oils that were to kill the Candida and then followed up with Probiotics. If you don't know what Probiotics are they are "good" bacteria that help your immune system keep the harmful bacteria at bay. Studies have shown that we have over 500 different bacteria in our digestive system. They help us stay healthy and digest food.
I found that when I was taking the Probiotic I wasn't craving bread or sugars.

So you  must be wondering what sorts of things I wasn't eating. I cut out anything that had sugar labeled in the ingredients and other forms of sugar (fructose, dextrose, etc.). I also cut out yeast products. Some Candida diets say you need to cut out fruit, bread, flour, and some vegetable. Well...if I was going to stay sane that just wasn't going to happen. I did find a sour dough bread that fit the requirement and enjoyed every second of eating that!! I also cut out dried fruits.

After doing this I found that I still have Candida and I have continued to take Probiotics regularly. Now you might be thinking that this is just too much for you. Think about how you feel, would it be worth it if you didn't have that headache, had more energy or weren't so tired when you woke up? For me it was.

The following are some other natural items that can help you decide if you have Candida and how to fight it.

This is the spit test. You can do this in the morning. Make sure you have a glass of water and you haven't eaten anything, kissed anyone, or drank anything. If your spit stays on the top of the water, you're good. If it starts to fall you have Candida.

 Some treatments:

1. Essential oils: Lemon, Melaleuca, Oregano, Clove, Cinnamon, and Thyme
2. Prescription Antifungals
3. Yeast Cleanses: S. Boulardii, Yeast Enzymes
4. Omega 3 vitamins
5. Fiber Supplements



My information came from here, here, and from other areas of study. I am not a doctor and I do not claim that these items will fix your health symptoms.

Homemade Hot Chocolate

I enjoy a good hot chocolate, since I don't drink coffee, so this is my true love! I don't like Starbucks hot chocolate, which may tell you something about me. :)
So I found a recipe online and have made some tweaks and here it is!

Hot Chocolate

1 T. of Cocoa
1 T. of Sugar (I use 3 packets of Stevia instead. You could also use honey.)
a mug of water or milk ( I use 1/2 Almond Milk and 1/2 water.)
1/4 t. of vanilla
a pinch of salt

Directions:
Put your mug in the microwave with the water. The cocoa mixes up easier with water 1st. After your water is nice and hot add your cocoa, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Mix it up. THEN add your milk, if you like.

Enjoy!!

Financial Freedom

I don't know about you but I LOVE hearing how others have changed their lives and were able to be independent! Below is a Plexus Testimonial on how someone was able to get off credit cards AND take care of their son WITHOUT child support.

Alicen shares her financial testimony~
No more credit cards for me!!! To think that only 2 1/2 years ago I was living off of credit cards....not just buying unnecessary stuff, BUYING FOOD and paying bills with them! I'm sure a lot of you can relate but I have never received child support, EVER! (my child is 6)! I've raised my baby boy on my own since day 1! It feels SO GOOD to not even need child support anymore because at one time I begged for help! Plexus is the first MLM company that I have ever been in. My dad put up my money for me to join the company! I loved the product and hoped that I could make enough money to cover my own... product because I could not afford it on my own! I am now 27 years old, I quit my job, my husband has quit his job, and I am now making THIRTEEN TIMES the annual income I was making before at my old 8-5 job! I LOVE being able to have lunch with my kid every week and being able to raise my 4 month old with my husband in our home.
No words can explain how blessed I feel! When I heard of people making big bucks in companies like this I always thought they weren't REAL people!!
I just want you to know that ANYONE can work this business and make it to the top! You don't have to have sales experience, come from money, or even have experience in network marketing....you just have to believe in our amazing products and share them with the world! This "job" is so fun that it definitely doesn't feel like work! It's more like a hobby with big girl pay If you want it bad you will be successful at this!

Deborah's Story!

Deborah says ~ *My story is mainly about mental illness and how Plexus helped me gain a new life! I wanted to put this at the top so anyone with similar issues don't skip this one.
My life began a downward spiral around 1990. I was diagnosed with depression, and as I began taking my first antidepressant, I didn't like how I felt, and found it difficult to get out of bed before noon each day. I struggled for a few years being very unhappy, and I left husband #3 because I felt so alone, and I was also raising 3 young daughters on my own. Fortunately, I managed to find a great guy and married one last time! I then spent the next 20 years on disability. I've had epileptic seizures since age 14, but about this time, began to have arthritis, fibromyalgia, anxiety disorder, constant migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, allergies, and was diagnosed as being bipolar. Most of my illnesses were considered mental, but with each of them working against the other, I couldn't handle stress and being in public often. I've always loved people, but I just didn't believe anyone loved me. I remember many nights wanting to just go to sleep and never wake up, I felt like I was in the way.
I had a few jobs through those "disabled" years. I would usually begin at the bottom and work my way to the top, becoming a manager. In time, the stress would cause a breakdown. My meds weren't really helping me, and the more I took, the more I needed. I wasn't who I wanted to be in life, but when I tried to better myself, I felt a tremendous amount of negativity from others, and I would just give up. I rarely went out into public, so when I did, it took me hours to get ready. I was afraid to face people for fear of disappointing them. I learned how to live this way, so it became routine and consumed my life.
On February 7, 2012, I decided to try a weight loss product I had seen some Facebook friends posting about, a new product called Plexus Slim. I saw the posts about various health issues that were being helped, but the weight loss part is what convinced me, because I KNEW my ailments could never be helped. I would just be happy to lose some weight. So I began the product, lost almost 20 lbs that very first month, signed up as a Plexus Ambassador the very next month to save money on my purchases. As time went by, I noticed I had energy I never felt before, I wanted to go outside more often, I didn't mind going out in public as much, and began to FIND a life, not GET it back, because in all reality, I don't feel I ever truly had one! I wasn't crying anymore, and wondering if this was IT for me, I was actually making PLANS! What could I do next? My anxiety attacks began to diminish, and totally disappeared. So did my other ailments!
I LOVED PLEXUS -- I never missed a day! I stayed consistent, and just I kept going. I soon saw the light at the end of the tunnel, until I came out of that dark, lonely tunnel!!! I eventually began taking all the products, Plexus Slim, ProBio5, BioCleanse, & the Accelerator. My constant pain began to go away from using Plexus Slim alone, but I kept the Fast Relief Capsules & Cream available for emergencies!
This miracle in my life took place in less than one year! I rarely get sick now, I am off ALL my medications, I've lost over 40 lbs so far, and my life is getting more amazing by the day.
I now realize that my life has a purpose, and I take better care of myself! I also use the XFactor Supplements to have even better health! Helping others is a very important part of my daily ritual. I still take all my products, I'm proud to say that my trying Plexus has helped hundreds of friends and family members decide to and improve the quality of their lives as well! I love talking about Plexus and what it has done for those using the products. I have 17 family members that have already lost over 500 lbs while using Plexus! What an amazing testimonial I have, and there are many more stories being shared, some that you may relate to as well! I know what Plexus has done for me, what can it do for YOU? You will never know if you don't give it a try! My life is worth it, and so is YOURS!!!
***results may vary and this is her personal journeySee More

Click HERE if you would like to order.

 

Losing it and David's results!!

It's not just for women. I know how hard dieting can be and I have seen my own husband struggle with his weight. He has roller coastered with his weight for the last 2 years. Below is David's testimony and his results may vary from others!

David says ~ I need to Thank my upline and our competitive nature. (j/k) I was 260 lbs, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Low Testosterone, and completely lethargic. My Dr. put me on Phentermine and while I did lose 20 pounds, my heart... was freaking out and I hated every minute of it. Il felt like garbage everyday and I stopped taking it. I started gaining weight back and I needed to something with my life and fast. I was utterly depressed. Thats when my upline and personal friend introduced me to Plexus. I started Plexus at roughly 245lbs and I just hit the 200 mark. My blood pressure is way down and although I still take medicince for it, I am on the lowest dosage. My cholesterol is awesome and I haven't taken a testosterone shot in over 2 months. I feel GREAT. Plexus saved my life atleast that is how I see it. Thank you Plexus.....

 

Contact me today and find out how you can have great results too! Email me here!

You can also check out my website here!

Where I come from and God's creation

I don't tell many people this and I think every woman or girl has felt this way. So, I don't feel like I am "different" or "special" because I once thought this or occasionally still do. But, I feel that sometimes saying it out loud may help another woman understand or feel comforted.

When I look in the mirror it's not what I thought I looked like. I always thought my skin was smoother or possibly less splotchy. My hair looked better or didn't curl in certain areas.

I remember how I once looked in the mirror at myself, I must have been 12 or so, and thought: "That can't be me. Who is this person looking back? Do mirrors really work?" Of course it was me but I didn't think I was pretty or that anyone else would think I was. Where did it come from? I'm not sure.

It could have come from my mom or my dad. It could have been society or just Satan being himself to me.

However, I do remember my dad referring to my mom as a whale, when she was trying to climb into our family's boat. I remember my dad telling me a woman was to "big" for him and thinking she was the same size I was. Or my dad saying he wanted a "No Fat Chicks" bumper sticker. I remember my mom being on endless diets. I remember her telling me she wasn't going to eat whatever meal we were having because she had a donut earlier that day. I recall being worried that my mom wasn't eating enough when she was pregnant with my youngest brother. Or my mom always telling me to suck in my gut. I also cringe when I think of how my aunt told me I was a heavy little girl growing up.

But the funny thing about all of those memories, I don't remember being worried about being fat or weighing too much. I just remember feeling like I wasn't pretty or enough.

And now that I am a mom I worry about my sweet little girl. One day I freaked when I told her she was skinny, me being worried she was too thin, and her smiling at me proudly and saying how happy she was skinny. Where did that come from? I thought she was perfect any way she was. Was I sharing the feeling that being skinny was the only way she was pretty? Maybe.

But as I think about it, I am telling her that because I am not proud of myself. Children know. I remember knowing, even without words, what was going on at home. My parents didn't need to say it straight out for me to understand.

And so now as my beautiful girl is growing up, I realize I must learn to love myself. No matter if my hair is going gray way too early, if my weight is a little too high for my liking, that I still have acne at age 34, or that my breasts aren't where I would like them to be.

I must remember to be proud of who I am for my boys, so they can look at women and see the beauty they have. Because heaven forbid, I don't want my son referring to someone they love as a "beached whale" or no being pretty enough.

So after my big poor me party here. I am going to pick myself up and remind myself that God loves me and created me. God doesn't want me looking at His creation and saying how horrible it is.

I pray you too will look at yourself and see what a God sees!

Newest love!

I found a new love. No not a new guy. I love my husband way tooooo much for any of that. Anyways...
We found some great new stuff and my husband is using it to help him have more energy and gain his weight loss goals. Have you heard of it? It's called Plexus.

The product was developed to help diabetics level out their blood sugars and in the mean time they found there were some other side effects. However, they were good ones. They found the test subjects not only lost weight, but also lowered their blood pressure AND cholesterol levels.

Do you know of someone with diabetes? Are they suffering because they can't seem to get their blood sugars under control?

Are you:

• Tired of dieting?
• Tried every diet or nutrition plan and struggle?
• Want to leave some weight behind?
• Too busy to diet?
• Too tired?

Plexus Slim can help you with all of these.
Just ask me how and I will be happy to help you figure out what will help you get to your health goals.

Hi again!

I am so sorry that I have been away for so long. Between school starting, business changes, and other life issues I have be lazy with this blog.
Though I am super excited to continue on with this and continue sharing fun recipes and my new loves.

Slow Cooker Chicken In Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Sauce

One thing that I love is how almost any recipe can be adapted to use a Shirley J product. I found this recipe on the Campbell Soup's website. It looks amazing and I also love that it is a Slow Cooker recipe. I LOVE my slow cooker.

Anyways, with just by substituting for Whisk Bliss I was able to cut about 500 calories, 6 grams of fat and 800 mg of sodium. Plus I improved the taste. What?! Have you ever eaten a condensed cream soup plain? It's not very appetizing. I do eat Whisk Bliss plain and I love it! So easy, so much healthier and it will improve you favorite recipes!

Don't believe me! Try it!

 

 

Slow Cooker Chicken In Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Sauce

1 cup of Whisk Bliss and 2 cups water
1 cup Chablis or other dry white wine
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pitted kalamata or oil-cured olives
2 tablespoons drained capers ...
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14 ounces) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup jarred sun-dried tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves (optional)
2 cups regular long-grain white rice, cooked according to package directions (about 6 cups)


How to Make It

1 Mix your Whisk Bliss and water and bring to a simmer on your stove.

2 Stir the soup, wine, olives, capers, garlic, artichokes and tomatoes in a 3 1/2-quart slow cooker. Add the chicken and turn to coat.

3 Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or until the chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle with the basil, if desired. Serve with the rice.
** adapted from Campbell Soups recipes

Crockpot Tater Tot Casserole

You guessed it, I saw this recipe and thought: "Crock pot?! Oh yeah!"
 I changed out an ingredient to make it lower in sodium and less calories and fat!! To do that, use Whisk Bliss from Shirley J!!

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef, browned
1 can RoTel, We used mild but you could easily use a hotter variety...
1 16oz package of frozen Tater Tots (I bought a 5 pound bag because they were cheaper and just covered the top of the crock pot with them)
1/2 c. Whisk Bliss
1 c. Water
1 small onion
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions
1. Brown beef and add in chopped onion and Rotel
2. Pour beef and onion mixture on the bottom of a greased Crock Pot
3. Mix Whisk Bliss and Water together and bring to a simmer. Then pour in Crock pot and mix.
4. Top mixture with tater tots across the top
5. Cook low for 2-3 hours.
6. 30 minutes before you are going to serve the Tater Tot Casserole top with shredded cheese.
This recipe was taken and adapted from tammileetips.com

**If you want to make this Gluten Free, use the Whisk Bliss Gluten Free and Ore Ida tater tots!

Crockpot Enchiladas

I was so excited to use this recipe. I got it from a friend and thought why not? I haven't made enchiladas in FOREVER. Why? It is very time consuming and my family doesn't always appreciate what I cook.
 To start off I stuck 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts in my crockpot and cooked on high for 4 to 6 hours. 
At about an hour before dinner I prepared the sauce and then layered the ingredients in my crockpot. What I found out about this recipe is that I had very little prep time, I used less ingredients than I would have with regular enchiladas and therefore I saved $$! Plus, I didn't have to turn on my oven to make a hot meal. That's a win/win situation for me!

Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas

3c. water
1 c. Whisk Bliss Original or Gluten Free
1 t. Shirley J's Chicken Bouillon
1 small bag of Velveeta's Mexican Style Cheese
1 or 2 small cans of chopped green chilies (I used one and it was enough for us)
1 to 2 c. cooked or caned chicken
12 tortillas (I used 4 and that seemed enough)

Directions:
Cook your chicken, if you need to. Mix and cook water, bouillon, and Whisk Bliss until thickened and smooth. Crumble Velveeta into mixture and cook until melted. Take the chicken and pour the green chilies and sprinkle in some cheese and mix until it holds together. Take sauce and spread it out onto the bottom of the crock pot. Then place a tortilla on top. Next spread some chicken and then repeat the layering. (I layered it 4 times and had a little sauce left over and  spread it on top and then placed some extra cheese on top!) Cook on high for an hour!

This is what the meat looked like after I added the chilies and the cheese. I couldn't find ANY Velveeta "Mexican Style" cheese and I went to 2 stores.

 The layering process!

 Now the sauce!

 Then another tortilla and then repeat! ENJOY!

Whisk Bliss as a Substitute

I love Pinterest and really enjoy finding new recipes. I feel that I get stuck in a cooking rut and need to get out and that is where Pinterest comes in.

Anyways...I found this recipe. I loved how I saw that it needed a roux. Why? Well...Whisk Bliss Original or Gluten free makes a great substitute that is better for you and is easier to make. When making Whisk Bliss there is no need to watch it constantly to make sure it won't burn.

As we were eating it my husband gave "the nod" that lets me know that I can make it again. Even my toddler ate it all!

While eating I noticed that it tasted very similar to my Creamy Chicken Enchiladas.

Let me know what you think!

Chicken and Green Chili Pasta

1 lb penne pasta

3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded with cumin and onion (2 cups)

2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack Cheese

3 Tbsp water

4 Tbsp Whisk Bliss

2 cups water

1 tsp. Chicken Bouillon

1 cup sour cream

4 oz diced green chilies

1. Cook pasta according to package, drain and set aside.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 9X13 cooking pan.

2.  In a mixing bowl, stir together chicken and cheese.

3. In a medium sauce pan, combine the water and Whisk Bliss.  Stir it in let bubble for 1 minute.  While that is bubbling, put 2 c. water in a sauce pan until boiling and then add the Chicken Bouillon. Slowly add in chicken broth and stir constantly.  Let bubble and thicken for 10-15 minutes.  Turn off heat and stir in sour cream and green chilies.  Stir until well combined.

4. In 9x13 baking dish, layer pasta, chicken and cheese mixture two times.  Then pour sauce over top.  Do not stir.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.

Shirley J's Mugging Mixes

These things are amazing! I know you have seen them on the internet: Make your own cookie mix, brownie mix, etc. to make in your mug! Well....we have done it and made it so simple.
All you need is water!

Here is a review of the Mugging too. It's from Booking Mama!

There are 8 different mixes to choose from. There is even a Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie Mix that is Super good! There is Quiche, Pumpkin Spice, Walnut Bread, Corn Bread, Cake & Cobbler, Chocolate Brownie, and No Pan Pancake!


 
 

This is the No Pan Pancake. Rest assured that it is over 52% whole grain.

 

Chocolate Brownie and doesn't this just look AMAZING?!

The Mugging allows you to make a dessert in your microwave. No need to heat up your kitchen or bake a 9 by 13 inch pan of cobbler, cake, corn bread, or brownie! Plus you can limit how much you eat. I don't know about you, but I always end up eating way to much of the pan of dessert!

You can get them in single packets for $3 or a pack of 5 for $12.95.  The great part is that you can also get a FREE mug is you purchase 3 of the 5 packs!

Just check out www.whiskblissme.com and find out more!!

 

Whisk Bliss and Me on TV

I got up super early today to share with my local area the great things about Shirley J and their products. It was so fun getting to know all the people on the set. They were so nice and helpful throughout the whole thing.

In this video I am showing how easy it is to make a cheese sauce that can become Mac & Cheese, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Nacho sauce, Cream of Cheese Soup, and so much more!

Unfortunately I wasn't able to finish the recipe. BUT!!! After we went on you just add cheese and macaroni for Mac & Cheese. Then add your cheese and broccoli for the soup!

Boston Creme Cupcakes

So I found a similar recipe online and thought, why not?

 

I really enjoyed making them because they were super easy and yep, delicious. I am not a huge crème filling fan, but these have changed my mind. They look super hard to make, but they aren't. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Ingredients:
Cake

 3 1/2 c. Shirley J Universal Muffin & Cake Mix(or 1-21 oz box)
1 1/2 c. Water
3 Eggs

Chocolate Glaze

4 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Chopped Fine
1/2 c. Heavy Cream (Not Whipping)
1 tsp Vanilla
Pinch Pinch Salt

Filling

 2 ea. Egg Yolk
1 tsp Vanilla
3/4 c. Shirley J Universal Dessert Creme(or 1-5 oz pouch) 1 3/4 c. Water

Directions:

 Cake:

Mix ingredients on low speed for 30 seconds. Switch to medium speed and blend for 2-3 minutes. Bake in cup cake tins. Remove cake from pans and place on a wire cooling rack . While cake is baking prepare filling below.

Custard filling:

In a sauce pan prepare one batch of dessert crème according to package directions using 1 ¾ c water instead of 2. Begin cooking over medium heat; while whisking vigorously drop egg yolks into pudding mixture. Bring mixture to boil, whisking constantly, add vanilla, stir and cool.

Assembly:

Cut small holes and dig out the middle of the cup cakes so that you have an indentation to put the crème in. Pour cooled custard mixture in each cupcake.

 

Chocolate Glaze:

Heat the chocolate, cream, salt and vanilla in a sauce pan over medium low heat, stirring until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Let mixture cool for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then carefully pour over the cupcakes. Smooth glaze with icing spatula if needed and allow glaze to drizzle down the sides. Refrigerate for minimum of 30 minutes before serving.

Interesting facts about Emergencies

I thought it interesting that over 50% of Americans have experienced an emergency, but only 12% have actually been prepared. I wish to change that and help you be better prepared!

Think about your children, could you honestly say that you wouldn't be sad if they went hungry because you didn't think about storing some extra food or water in your house. How about educating yourself? Do you have 20 minutes a week to read up about emergency preparedness? You do if you spend 5 minutes less on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc a day! It can be done!

I too need to do some preparing. I need to educate myself on cooking without electricity. How will I make bread? dinner? etc. Yeah I have a BBQ, but that's not enough for 14 days or more.
Let's get to work!

Source: movoto.com via Amy on Pinterest

Onion Baked Chicken

I like to try new recipes. I always feel like I am in a rut when it comes to cooking. We make a 2 weeks meal schedule and I always have the standbys: tacos, spaghetti, pizza, and alfredo. I love them and my family loves them, but come on....we need something new.

A few years back I purchased 101 things to do with Chicken and I never used it. So, I did this week.

The recipe calls for:
1 T of Onion Seasoning
3 T Butter
3 to 4 lbs of chicken
sliced onion (I used dehydrated onions from my food storage)

Directions: Place defrosted chicken in a baggie with the Onion Seasoning. Shake it up. Melt your butter. Place your chicken in a 9 by 13 inch pan. Pour your butter over the chicken. Lay the sliced onion on top of the chicken and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Simple, easy and it smelled and tasted sooooooo gooooooooddddd!

 

Let me tell you why I LOVE this seasoning so much! I love it because I am saving money! This little container replaces 30 Lipton Onion Soup Mixes. Yep! 30!! This container is only $8.95!! The average Lipton Soup Mix is $1 a packet! Also, I love it because it contains no Gluten! So if you have Celiac's you can consume this! Now just so you know, it isn't made in a Gluten Free environment so there could be some cross contamination. However, many Celiacs have no problem with it.

Food Storage, easy fix

See these cans above. I have no problem with them. I have used them in the past. I am just sharing with you an easy way to replace 22 of the cans above.

How you ask?

It's with Whisk Bliss Original and if you need Gluten Free you can replace them with Gluten Free Whisk Bliss.

Awesome right?

Plus, you can make soooooo many other recipes with Whisk Bliss.

The best part is: there are no preservatives, you just add water, no added MSGs, no transfat, no saturated fat, and no hydrogenated oils.

Read more here.

If you would like to try some please comment below and I will send you some to try!

Easy Rice Pudding

So, I thought it might be fun to do a dessert. I hate making desserts, cookies, anything that is sweat and fun in my house. Why you ask? I end up eating more that I should. Yep, I have little self control when it comes to sweats. Plus, I am trying to loose the little extra weight I gained after I stopped nursing my baby.

This recipe reminded me of my time in Houston. I had a lot of Arroz con Leche and this recipe reminded me of it.

Anyways....enough about me.

It took longer to cook the rice than it did to make the sauce. Super easy! Super delicious!

Ingredients:

1 package of Whisk Bliss Dessert Creme
1/4 t. cinnamon
1 t. vanilla
2 c. water
2 c. cooked rice
1/2 c. raisins


Directions:
Combine water, Dessert Creme, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed for two minutes. Add cooked rice, raisins, and cinnamon, stirring by hand to incorporate. Serve with sweetened whipped cream. (I didn't serve it with whipped cream and enjoyed it. I also ate it hot and cold.)

Ham & Cheese Ziti

Dinner tonight!

This is a modified recipe. The original recipe called for butter, flour, and milk. I was able to reduce the time it took to cook, the amount of calories (1065 calories!! That's a whole meal!), and the fat content just by using Whisk Bliss Original or Gluten Free.

Ingredients:

 

16oz packages ziti noodles

1 cup Whisk Bliss Original or Gluten Free

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 1/2 c. water

4 cups Colby cheese, shredded

8 oz cooked ham (deli style), cut into thin strips

3/4 cups Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions

Cook and drain pasta according to instructions (you may need to do it in two batches if your larges pot isn’t large enough.

This is what the cheese sauce looked like. Ignore the dirty stove, please!

In large saucepan mix water and Whisk Bliss and bring to a simmer, on the stove. Add garlic

Once simmering, allow to continue to thicken for 1 minute, then add mustard and Colby cheese. Continue stirring until cheese is melted. Add ham and pasta, stirring well. Pour over cooked ham and noodles.

You can bake this or freeze for later. I thought that after baking that there needed to be more sauce. Just a thought.

Garlic Pesto Chicken With Tomato Creme Penne

I made this dish last night and I have to say I wasn't very crazy about the chicken. I thought it was way too salty. My husband liked it though and my kids ate it without complaining. However, I really enjoyed the pasta. My baby ended up eating 3 helpings of this meal.

 Garlic Pesto Chicken With Tomato Creme Penne

1/2 bottle of lawrys Herb and Garlic Marinade
2 large spoonfuls of Pesto
2 boneless chicken breasts.

 

Cut chicken into one inch strips. Using same knife make slits into chicken. Pour lawrys marinade and pesto over chicken. Marinate over night (I did mine Sunday morning and cooked mine Monday evening so it marinated a while!!)

 

Sauce:
8 ounces of your choice of pasta (I used whole wheat penne)
2 tablespoons of olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
2 spoonfuls of pesto
1/2 cup of water with 1/4 t. of Shirley J's Chicken Bouillon
8 ounces of tomato sauce
1/4 c. Whisk bliss and 1 c. water (prepare in a sauce pan then add)

 

Boil water and start on noodles.

Pour entire batch of chicken, marinade and all, into skillet and cook chicken fully (the marinade will evaporate/cook down)

Heat olive oil, cook garlic. Add pesto. Simmer in chicken broth until half has cooked down. Add tomato sauce. Then add whisk bliss sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes. Toss pasta in. Add more Whisk Bliss (dry) if it needs to be thickened. Place chicken on top.

 

I found this recipe here.

This is the pasta.

This is the way the sauce, for the pasta, looked before I added the Whisk Bliss to it.

Chicken Cacciatore

Chicken Cacciatore

This is a freezable crockpot meal!! You can even make this Gluten Free!! Gotta love it!

I like to make double the amount and then take the left over and put it in a Ziplock baggie for another meal. Makes for a quick meal when you need one in less than 30 minutes!

 Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
15 oz can tomato or spaghetti sauce (I just used diced tomatoes)
4 oz. can sliced mushrooms, drained
1/2 c. water
1/2 t. Shirley J's Chicken Bouillon
1/2 t. Shirley J's Pizza & Pasta Seasoning

Directions: Place chicken in slow cooker. Pour on sauce, mushrooms, and water. Sprinkle on seasoning and Bouillon.
Cover and cook on High for 3-4 hours or Low for 6-8.
Serve over rice or noodles.

Emergency Preparedness: Clothing and Shelter

When deciding what is important with clothing and shelter you will need to consider: who you are preparing for, where, and what you can carry. Please know that these are suggestions and your needs are different from other's. You also need to think about your expenses. If you can only do some of the items, then that is a great start. Know that if you can't buy a tent, a tarp with rope will work just fine, except in extremely cold weather.

So, for Level 1 preparedness (which is minimal level) this is what you need to consider:
Do you have a minimum of one of the following for shelter?

• Plastic sheeting (ground cover, tenting, windbreak)
• Large (33-gal. or larger) plastic bags
• Mylar emergency "Space" blanket

 Twine or rope is needed no matter.

Do you have the following for personal protection?

• Large (33-gal. or larger) plastic bags (2 for and improvised sleeping bag or poncho)
• Mylar emergency "Space" blanket
• Change of clothing (needs to be appropriate for the season) for each person
• Large handkerchief or bandanna
• Hat

Level 2 Preparedness is all from Level 1 PLUS the following:

For Personal Protection add the following:

• Blanket (wool is preferred)
• Poncho
• Extra Shoes
• Gloves (for work and warmth)
• Goggles
• Dust/mist Respirator
• Sunglasses
• Work Boots
• Insect netting
• Extra large plastic bags

For Basic Shelter add the following:

• Rope
• Duct Tape
• Wire

Level 3 Preparedness is all of the above AND the following:

At least one of the following for each person:

• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping pad, foam or inflatable
• Plastic Ripstop Tarp ( min. 12'x12')
• Several changes of clothing

For longer emergencies:

• RV or Camper (not necessary but it would be nice)
• Dome/Family tent
• Ground cloth
• Camp stool/chair

Additional Preparedness:

• Instant hand/body warming pads
• Sturdy belt
• Sturdy work gloves

Additional Comfort (for extreme weather):

• Shorts
• Sunscreen
• Long pants and long-sleeved shirty
• Thermal underwear

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

I found this website on Pinterest and saw that they had freezable crock pot meals. I LOVE easy and dinners that I can take and freeze, especially when it's the end of the pay period and I don't have anything on the shelves. It's soooo nice.

Now these ingredients will make 2 meals. You each meal will feed around 6 to 7 adults. So you can make one for today and put the rest in a baggie and freeze for later. So nice, so easy!

So here are the ingredients:

12 new potatoes and cut into ¼ inch round slices or a large bag of frozen potatoes

1 c. Whisk Bliss Original or Gluten Free
2 c. of water
2 ham steaks, cubed--we used turkey ham
8 oz cheddar cheese
4 cups of broccoli
salt and pepper

Directions:  Whisk up your Whisk Bliss with the water before hand, make sure it starts to thicken. Don't bring it to a simmer. Divide everything evenly into two containers.  Cook on low for 8 hours. **I put my cheese on top the last 30 minutes of cooking. I have found that if you add it too soon it will curdle on you.

 

*EDIT* People have mentioned the potatoes turning black if frozen.  Mine didn't do that, but just to be safe, either use frozen potatoes or add potatoes the day of cooking.

This is what your Whisk Bliss sauce will look like.

 

And here is the final results, ready to freeze. This photo was taken from www.six-cents.com

Chicken and Dumplings and Pasta Salad

I really enjoyed this meal and I love it when I look over at my husband and he is shaking his head up and down, because I know that is a meal that he REALLY wants me to make again.

Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients:

3 c. chicken, cooked and shredded
1 - 16 oz. bag frozen mixed vegetables
4 c. water
2 c. Shirley J's Whisk Bliss
2 t. Chicken Bouillon

Dumplings
1 - 12 oz package Shirley J's Biscuit & Baking Mix
3/4 c. water

Directions:
In saucepan over medium heat, whisk together water and Whisk Bliss. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Add chicken, chicken bouillon, and frozen vegetables. Bring back to a boil and simmer again for 5 minutes. Pour into 9 x 13 baking dish. Mix up one batch of biscuit mix according to package directions. Spoon large spoonfuls of dough directly on top of the sauce and chicken mixture-making eight to ten, big biscuits. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

 

Vegetable and Pasta Salad

**I halved this recipe and you can see that there was a lot there.

 

Ingredients:

1 lb penne pasta

2 1/2 T Shirley J Pizza and Pasta Seasoning

1/4 c. white vinegar

2/3 c. canola oil

2 T water

2 carrots, shredded (I diced mine)

1 cucumber, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 green bell pepper, diced

1/3 red onion, diced

1 1/2 c. spinach, chopped

2/3 c. Parmesan cheese

1 c. feta

1/4 t. pepper

1/2 t. salt

 

Directions: Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse and drain. Mix Pizza & Pasta Seasoning with oil, vinegar, and water; shake well. Toss the pasta with dressing, vegetables, cheese, salt, and pepper.

 

And as always, let me know what you think!!

Preparedness - Sanitation

Sanitation can be one of the most important parts of being prepared. If things aren't properly sanitized people can become sick. It is one of the major ways that you can prevent disease.

So....again there are 3 levels of preparation.

Level 1 (Short-term)

Do you have...

1. Plastic bags and ties to dispose of sewage waste?
2. Personal hygiene supplies, including toothbrush/paste, toilet paper (one per person), soap?
3. Non-breakable containers of disinfectant?

Level 2 (Short-term but better prepared)

Do you have...

1. All of the above?
2. Ammonia?
3. Deodorant?
4. Paper cups & plates?
5. Plastic utensils, plastic gloves?
6. Aluminum foil?
7. Paper towels?
8. Feminine hygiene products?
9. Shampoo and conditioner?
10. Diapers, wipes and other baby supplies?
11. Water purification means?
12. Insect repellent?
13. Newspaper (absorption, insulation, wrapping)?
14. Dish soap?

Level 3 (Long-term)

Do you have...

Image taken from pgward.org/

1. All of the above?
2. Improvised toilet seat?
3. Portable camp toilet?
4. Small trash can or sturdy bucket with tightly fitted lid?
5. 10 gallon garbage can/waterproof container with tight lid?
6. Storage of large amounts of water?
7. Basic hygiene supplies in a handy to-go pack, in your vehicle, or at work?
8. First aid kit?
9. Mosquito netting/repellent?
10. Mouthwash, breath fresheners?
11. Hair supplies?
12. Hand sanitizers, moist towelettes?

Some tips:
Washing your clothing

Image taken from www.beprepared.com

This washer can be found at www.beprepared.com for $46.95. I also previously shared a way you come make your own washer.
Damaged water lines
Don't flush the toilet. Avoid digging holes.

Toilet is NOT Flushable
Remove all bowl water, line with heavy-duty plastic bag.

Homemade soil bags
Put one large grocery bag inside another, and a layer of shredded newspaper or other absorbent material between.

Disposing garbage
Old newspaper can be used for wrapping garbage and lining larger containers.http://pgward.org/ep/archives/category/sanitation

Washing your Clothing in an Emergency

I have looked for many different pictures to share with you, but I figured it would just be better to give you a video on how to make one. All of your supplies, for cleaning your clothing, can fit into the bucket. Happy cleaning!!

Supplies Needed:

• 5-gallon bucket with lid (cut hole in middle of lid for plunger handle to fit through)
• Toilet plunger (brand-new, clean)
• Store in bucket:
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Stain remover/stain stick
• Vinegar (add 1/2 cup to rinse water) helps remove soap
• Rope (for clothes line)
• Clothes pins

To Use:

1. Empty contents of bucket.
2. Place water, small amount of detergent, and clothes in bucket.
3. Move plunger up and down for a few minutes or until clothes are clean.
4. Remove soapy clothes and ring them out.
5. Dump out soapy water (on your garden or lawn.)
6. Place soapy clothes in bucket and fill with clear, clean water.
7. Add 1/2 cup vinegar to rinse water.
8. Move plunger up and down to rinse clothing.
9. Wring out clothes and hang to dry.

Conserve water - use rinse water for next load of laundry.
NOTE: You could store two 5-gallon buckets, stack one inside of the other. Use one bucket for the soapy water and the other for the rinse water. You may be able to wash and rinse a couple of batches of clothes without changing the soapy water depending on how dirty the clothes are.

information was found on: http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/

This website has a great how to on making one.
www.tacticalintelligence.net/blog/clothes-washing-in-a-grid-down-world.htm