Franklin Mom Blog

Healthy School Lunch Ideas

I'm thinking already about getting backpacks, school supplies, and lunch boxes.  Also about what I will put in them!  I have old standards for lunches that are pretty healthy, and would love to hear other ideas that keep our picky little eaters downing the good stuff!

Mini pizzas-  I use homemade dough, and make 10 individual pizzas with each kids' fav toppings

Chicken pockets-  I use homemade dough, and roll out 10 circles.  Add chicken, broccoli, cheese, etc.

Veggies with nutbutter/hummus

Homemade trail mix- Make your own combination of dried fruit/nuts, and pack ahead in individual bags

Banana chips

Jello-  Can make at home with juice, honey, and Knox

Granola bars- I make homemade granola, and use it with peanut butter and honey to make bars

My friend Heather also told me about Gopicnic.com.  They make a much healthier version of a lunchable type box meal.  They have some gluten free too.  I may give them a try! 

Where have I been?

Just had a baby!!!  You could say I was a little under the weather during this pregnancy!  Needless to say I've been a little busy.  We had our little girl on March 21, her name is Anthem Gracelyn.  Her story is amazing, I am still in awe of the ways God has worked.  You can read all about her on Eric's blog:  ericnordhoff.com. 

Since Anthem was very colicky, I went off of dairy and then wheat.  Amazingly, my blood pressure dropped.  I've been off of medication for 2 months, and I'm doing great.  So is she.  I've just found that I have several food sensitivities that seem to affect my blood pressure. What great news!  I can do something about that!  Needless to say, the way I am eating has gotten a little more refined.  No more wheat, dairy, egg whites, yeast, tomato, watermelon, or gluten.  What can I eat again?

Let me know if you have any ideas.  I will also be posting some recipes soon!

Happy and healthy,

Krissy

Cooking with Honey

There are so many benefits to using honey!  Here are a few of my favorite:

-It's an antioxidant

-It absorbs more slowly into the digestive system than sugar

-It contains many natural minerals and vitamins

-Local, wild honey can help with allergies

I'm still trying to perfect using it in my cooking/baking, and I ran across some tips that I thought would be good to pass on to you.

-Honey tends to be 1 to 1 1/2 times sweeter than sugar.  When substituting honey for sugar, it's best to use about half of the amount called for in the recipe.

-When baking with honey, use about 1/2 tsp. of baking soda for each cup of honey used.

-Reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1/4  cup for each cup of honey used.

-Reduce the oven temp by 25 degrees to prevent over-browning.

Happy honeying!!!

Rosemary Baked Vegetables

This is one of our family favorites.  Many nights I make a double batch, and serve with roasted pine nut couscous for a meal.  Even the kids like it!

Rosemary Baked Vegetables

3 red potatoes, cleaned with spots removed, and cubed

12 baby carrots

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed

1 large or 2 small zucchini, washed and cubed

1 medium sweet onion, cut into eighths

1 garlic bulb, pointed end cut off

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp crused dried rosemary

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 400.  Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.  Spread out single layer on a baking sheet, placing garlic in the center, cut end up.  Bake for 45 minutes, turning once.  When finished, squeeze pulp from garlic bulb.  Mix together and serve.   

Starry Night Soup

This is a fairly new Christmas tradition in our home, mixed with a favorite family recipe.  The noodles in the soup are the creation of my great grandmother, Marion Rapa.  We've taken her recipe, and rather than rolling out the noodles and cutting them into strips, we've used a star shaped cookie cutter to make star noodles.  My boys then came up with lots of the other ingredients, and we talk about each one as we chop them up together.

Noodles: 

        1 cup flour
        1 egg
        1 tsp. salt
        4 Tbsp. milk

Mix together.  Roll out onto a well floured surface.  Cut into noodles.  Let dry overnight if possible on baking sheets and cover.  I usually make these a day ahead, and make 2 batches for the soup.

Soup:

        6 cups water (source of life)
        1 onion, chopped (purity)
        1/3 cup sweet red pepper chopped (the blood of Jesus)
        1/3 cup frozen corn (gold)
        2 cloves of garlic, diced (cleansing)
        3/4 cup carrots (what the donkey ate:)
        2 small heads of broccoli, flowers only (symbol of a tree-cross)
        1 tsp. salt (salt of the earth)
        3 rapunzel bullion cubes
        1/8 tsp. pepper 
        1/4 tsp. parsley
        1 1/2 tsp. basil (all herbs signify frankincense and myrrh)
        2 T olive oil (healing)

Prepare all ingredients as a family, and talk about the meaning of each one.  Throw them all into dutch oven, and bring to a boil.  Add noodles, and simmer about 20-30 minutes more or until noodles are soft.

Great to enjoy on Christmas Eve!!!! 

    

Krissy's Chicken Orzo

This dish is great on a cool night.  Very appropriate for the holidays, especially Christmas, with the pretty green and red colors. 

1/2 pkg. frozen square chopped spinach, drained and thawed

4 roma tomatoes, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

1 T basil

2 t oregano

1-2 cups cooked chicken, cubed

2 cups orzo

2 T coconut oil (or olive oil), divided

2 cups water

2 Rapunzel brand (no salt added vegetarian) bullion cubes

salt and pepper to taste

grated parmesan cheese

Place 1 T. coconut oil in a large frying pan on med heat until melted.  Add spinach, tomatoes, garlic, onion, basil, oregano, and chicken.  Stirfry until heated through.  Meanwhile, in a separate frying pan, melt the other 1 T. of coconut oil.  Add the orzo, and stirfry until lightly browned.  Then add water, Rapunzel cubes, salt and pepper.  Cover and boil for 12 minutes.  Add the spinach mixture to the orzo, and serve with parmesan cheese. 

FREE MOVIE ON LYME DISEASE

For those of you that know my story, you know how close this issue is to my heart.  For those of you that don't, I'll give you a brief overview. 

I got a tick bite at Cheekwood in Brentwood, TN when I was pregnant for my first son.  I was told if you don't get the rash, don't worry about it.  But, another baby and 3 1/2 years later, I began experiencing many neurological symptoms.  After many doctors here, and finally a trip to a specialist in Missouri, I was diagnosed with advanced stage lyme disease.  After 18 months of antibiotics, and little hope, I attended a healing service that changed my life.  God literally touched me, and within 2 months, I was back to normal.

I share this with you because of the importance of knowing how to handle tick bites, and what to watch for.  If the proper  treatment is given immediately with this disease, there is a great chance for recovery (although God can heal no matter what.)  Despite what we hear about lymes not being an  issue in Tennessee, I speak from experience that it is. 

On October 20th at 7:00 pm, there will be a free viewing of a new movie called Under Our Skin.  This film has already been shown to congress, and many others with raving reviews.  It really is helping in the fight to raise awareness about the importance of taking this disease seriously.  Come check it out, it will be worth your time!!!!!

For more info on the movie, visit  http://www.underourskin.com/

For more about my story, visit  www.krissynordhoff.com

You can check out my video of how God healed me.

Sweet Potatoes with Apples and Walnuts

This is a healthier version of the traditional sweet potato casserole.  A seasonal must!

4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup sweetener (I use maple syrup)

1/2 cup vegan margarine (Earth Balance)

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

1/4 t ginger

1/4 t cloves

1/4 t nutmeg

Blanch the sweet potatoes in salted boiling water for 5 minutes or until slightly tender, but not cooked through.  Rinse with cold water and drain thoroughly.  Place the sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl with the apples. 

In a frying pan, combine remaining ingredients, except walnuts.  Boil for at least 1 minute, then add walnuts.  Boil for at least another minute.  Pour mixture over potatoes and apples and mix well.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered. 

FAMILY FALL ACTIVITIES

I've pooled from several resources, and picked my favorties!  Let me know if you find something new!

Great for the weekends:

1. Gentry's Farm-  You can visit their website at www.gentryfarm.com.  Located in Franklin.  They have pumpkins, kids activities, hayrides, and a cornfield maze.  Open weekends Sept. 27-Oct.26.  Saturday 9-5, Sunday 1-5.  Cost is $6 per person, pumpkins are extra.

2. Rippavilla Plantation- Visit www.Rippavilla.org.  Located in Spring Hill.  Famous for their Cosmic Corn Maze.  Open 3-10 Thurs and Fri, 10-10 on Sat, and 12-6 on Sun.  Cost is $7 for 12 and older, $5 for children ages 6-11, and under 5 are free.

3. Apple Picking- Morning Glory Orchards in Nolensville.  For details call 395-4088. 

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Oct. 4- Home Depot kids' craft will be making a whistle firetruck.  9-12 am.

Oct. 11- Lowes kids' crafts will be making a glow in the dark skeleton 10-11am.

Oct. 15- Trick or treat crafts at Williamson Rec Center.  8:30-10 am, Cost is $30 plus an $8 supply fee.

Oct. 18- Seventh annual chili cook-off, noon-5 pm in Leiper's Fork.  For info check out www.leipersforkvillage.com.

Oct. 19- The Great Pumpkin Fair- at Owls Hill Nature Sanctuary.  Cost $12, 1-5 pm.  Call 370-4672 for reservations, or visit www.owlshill.org/programregistration.

Oct. 22- Howling and Prowling- Owls Hill Nature Sanctuary. 6-8:30 pm, cost $20.  See Oct. 19 for contact info.

Oct. 25- Lowes kids' crafts will be making pumpkins from 10-11 am.

Oct. 25- The Nashville Symphony will be presenting Happy Halloween.  This is a "Young People Concert."  Contact www.nashvillesymphony.org for details. 

Oct. 26- Fluff 'n' Stuff Trick or Treat- 1:30-2:30 at the Longview Recreation Complex in Spring Hill.  Cost is $8 plus a $10 supply fee and $5 to $15 for costumes.  Register by calling 302-0971, ext. 10.

Oct. 31- Halloween Cookies, Mom and Me- Williamson County Rec Center, from 9:30-10:30 am.  Cost $5.  To register, call 790-5719, ext.10. 

Nov. 1-  Home Depot's kids crafts are making a leaf press from 9-12 am.

Not So Scary School Party Snack Ideas

Here are a few of fun, healthy, non-sugary treats for your little spooker and their classmates!

PUMPKIN PIZZAS:

You can use any kind of pizza dough for this.  I make my own with fresh wheat in my bread machine.  Email me if you'd like that recipe!

pizza dough

orangish colored tomato sauce

white cheese sandwich singles

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Divide the dough into balls approximately 2 T in each.  Spray a cookie sheet with oil.  One at a time, place a ball on the sheet and then shape it into a pumpkin.  You may also add a little twist of dough at the top for the stem if desired.  Finish all pumpkins.  Spoon over some tomato sauce on each.  Cut the singles into 3 triangles for eyes and nose, and add the smile of your choice.  Bake about 15 minutes. 

HOMEMADE APPLE SAUCE:

3-4 lbs. apples (per quart desired)

water

Choose either Fuji, Yellow Delicious, Gala, or Rome varieties.  A mixture is recommended.  Wash and peel apples.  Chop into chunks, removing any seeds or hard parts.  Put into the bottom of a thick pan.  Add about 1 in of water.  Put the lid on , and turn the burner to high.  After it comes to a rapid boil, tur to medium high until soft.  Mash with a potato masher, or blend with a food processor.  Add cinnamon if desired.

FALL TRAIL MIX

Choose any or all of the following:

one box of regular cheddar bunnies

one large package of raisins

one package of white chips

one package of chocolate chips

one small package of pretzels

half a can of peanuts

Mix together and serve.