Kids Natural Food Diet Is Fun Too!

Healthy Children Eat Real Food Ingredients

The Now We’re Cooking TV show episode “Growing Up Healthy” features children friendly natural food choices. Your kids can have fun food and still eat healthy too. Avoiding chemicals in your children’s diet is the best investment you can make in their future health. Teaching your kids to eat natural food diets will insure life long good health.

Healthy Kids = Happy Kids!

Barbecued Healthy Chicken Strips

8 oz. chicken breast-trim and cut into strips
4 oz. prepared barbecue sauce (made with quality ingredients)

NOTE: In order to find quality ingredients you must read the ingredients list. Buy barbecue sauce with only recognizable ingredients. Sugar or honey is OK, but fructose or corn syrup is not!! No chemicals or added fats.

1. Lightly spray non-stick skillet with olive oil.
2. Heat until hot and add chicken strips.
3. Sear on all sides and add barbecue sauce. Reduce heat and finish cooking about 3-4 minutes.

Herbed Chicken Strips

8 oz. chicken breast-trim and cut into strips
1 Tbs. Italian Seasoning Mix

1. Sprinkle chicken with herbs on all sides.
2. Lightly spray non-stick skillet with olive oil.
3. Heat until hot and add chicken strips. Sear on all sides and reduce heat and finish cooking about 3-4 minutes.

Chicken Alfredo

2 Tbs. butter
½ cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated cheese
½ lb. cooked whole grain pasta

1. Melt butter in non-stick skillet and add cream, heat till hot, stir in cheese. Heat till melted.
2. Stir in pasta and heat. Serve with herbed chicken strips on top.

Only Organic Stir-Fry

Note: Use only organic veggies for this recipe!!

1 tsp. dark sesame oil
1 medium onion-sliced
1 medium green-yellowish pepper-seeded and sliced
2 cloves slivered garlic
3 carrots-sliced
2 small zucchini-sliced
6 oz. mushrooms-sliced
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 Tbs. brown sugar
¼ cup soy sauce
Cooked brown rice

1. Heat wok or stir-fry skillet. Add oil and veggies in the order of theie listing.
2. Cook each addition for about one minute then move it out of the center and up the side to make room for the next ingredient to the center.
3. Continue until all the veggies are in.
4. After the mushrooms are added, add all other ingredients except rice.
5. Toss and cook for one minute.
   Serve over brown rice.

Take the time to make good food choices for your children so that they are not troubled with weight issues and struggling with weight loss diets all their life.  A natural food diet for your kids will keep them at their ideal weight.

What To Do With Turkey Left Overs, Healthy Recipes

Turkey Encore! Encore! Encore! that is the name of the Now We’re Cooking TV show episode that teaches some creative uses for turkey leftovers.  With Thanksgiving here we all have a lot to be grateful for including some terrific turkey left-overs.  Here are some fun, fast and healthy recipes for that leftover turkey with a new twist.

Leftover Turkey and Cantaloupe Stuffed Zucchini

2 cups turkey – shredded
2 small zucchini
1 cup diced cantaloupe
¼ cup diced celery
½ cup reduced fat mayonnaise
1 tsp. curry powder
½ cup chopped cashews-divided
salt and pepper

1. Cut zucchini length wise from end to end making 2 boats out of each zucchini and discarding a ½ inch strip from the center.
2. Strip the seeds out of the zucchini boats using a Parisian scoop.
3. Sear each boat in a hot skillet until brown. (cut edge only)
4. Combine all other ingredients, reserving some cashews for garnish.
5. Mix well. Fill boats with salad and top with cashews.

Healthy Turkey Pumpkin Split Pea Soup Recipe

2 qt. de-fatted turkey stock
1 lb. split peas
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
2 bay leaves
1 medium onion-diced
2 stick celery diced
3 cup butternut squash-diced
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. nutmeg

1. In a 4 qt. sauce pot combine stock, peas pepper and bay leaf. Heat to a bowl and simmer for 30 minutes.
2. Add diced onion and celery. Simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Add all other ingredients and simmer 10 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Serve with crusty whole grain bread.

Diet Solutions For Disabilities In The Kitchen

Positive Attitude Overcomes Obstacles

My Aunt Mimi was born with cerebral palsy.  At the time of her birth my grandparents were told that she would not live to age one.  Her parents would not accept that, and they became her strongest advocates.  She went on to live a long, fulfilled and healthy life in spite of many challenges.

Aunt Mimi (center) with Deb (baby) and Mimi

Her Dad, Daniel Desmond, insisted that she get a good education even if the school systems of the time looked at physical disabilities as if they were mental disabilities.  As a result of his constant love, devotion and creative solutions to obstacles, Aunt Mimi got her high school degree from the Fanny Farmer School Of Cooking.  This gave her a passion for cooking, and a style of cooking that took into consideration her palsy and physical disability.  Aunt Mimi went on after high school to get a master’s degree in English literature and become the English literature librarian at the University of Massachusetts. She was also  influential, working with government agencies during the Vietnam era to create better handicap access in public places.  Mimi is a good example of how positive attitude can change your life.

Healthy Diets Solve Many Health Issues

Aunt Mimi cooked almost entirely in the oven to avoid open flames.  The Now We’re Cooking episode “Aunt Mimi’s Baked Dinners” commemorates my Aunt Mimi, who passed away at age 78.  Her passion for good cooking and real food certainly played a role in her long life.  Aunt Mimi offers inspiration and solutions to cooking a healthy diet even when you have physical disabilities.  Healthy food, a passion for cooking and a natural diet will assist everyone in overcoming life’s challenges.

Special Needs Cooking – Wellness Classes

Deb offers specialty cooking classes for all challenges.  Gluten-free, physically or mentally challenged groups, ADHD classes and more.  Solutions for people with disabilities in the areas of food, cooking, diets and wellness are available. If you have a challenge or disability and would like to learn more about cooking or living healthy to assist you in reaching your potential, please contact Deb NOW using this form:

Mimi’s Chicken Casserole

1 roasting chicken
1 Tbs. each 3 different fresh herbs
1 cup celery-diced
½ cup green pepper-sliced
1 cup onion-minced
salt, pepper
1 (30 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 large sweet potato-washed and sliced
1 large baking potato-washed and sliced

1. Cut chicken into 8 parts. (or buy chicken already cut) Arrange in casserole dish.
2. Top with all other ingredients in the order listed and cover with casserole lid.
3. Bake for 1 hour at 375º.

Mimi’s Baked Cod Au Gratin

1 lb. cod fillets
½ cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
½ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. fresh herb
salt and pepper

1. Cut cod into four equal pieces, so that all portions are the same thickness and size. Arrange in baking dish or pan.
2. Combine all of the rest of the ingredients, mix well.
3. Smear the cheese goop evenly over the fish pieces.
4. Bake in a 375º oven for 25 minutes.

Oven Brown Potatoes

2 baking potatoes-washed and cut into spears
1 tsp. olive oil
salt and pepper
¼ tsp. Italian seasoning mix
1. Toss cut potatoes in olive oil and spices.
2. Arrange on baking stone and bake at 375º for 30 minutes.

Baked French Beans

1 bag frozen French style green beans
1 tbs. butter
1 tsp. seasoning mix of your choice
¼ cup pepper diamonds

Combine all ingredients in casserole dish. Cover and bake at 375º for 30 minutes.

Rice Pudding Made Easy

2 eggs
4 oz. egg white
2 Tbs. vanilla extract
1 Tbs. orange zest
½ orange-juiced
½ cup dried fruit of your choice
2 cups 1 % milk
2 cups cooked brown rice
1½ cups cookie crumbs

1. Combine first 7 ingredients in mixing bowl and mix well.
2. Add rice and mix well.
3. Place one cup cookie crumbs in bottom of stoneware casserole. Pour in rice mixture and top with remaining crumbs.
4. Bake at 350º for 45 minutes.