Chicken vs KitchenAid

The most under-used appliance in my kitchen...

I realized the other day the only way we eat chicken is in casseroles, enchiladas, chicken salad, soups, etc.  We occasionally eat BBQ chicken breasts or legs.  But almost every time I cook with chicken I will bake or poach the needed amount for the recipe and shred it.  There had to be a more efficient way.

Enter the internet...more specifically, Pinterest...

I ran across a site where the blogger used a KitchenAid mixer to shred chicken breasts.  Hmmmmm...why hadn't I thought of that??? So...I purchased chicken this week and decided to try this method.  I poached 12 pounds (yes, TWELVE POUNDS) of chicken breasts.

The blogger said she shredded in batches...well, yeah, that would be a no-brainer for the amount I was working with.  She also said she played "chicken wrangler" because of escaped chicken flying around the kitchen.  I had to laugh at that...

When I put my first batch in the mixing bowl and turned the mixer on low (using the flat paddle) , I quickly turned it off.  I could totally see how chicken could take flight!  So I put the plastic thingy pouring shield on the bowl.  It worked like a charm.  No flying chicken for this girl!

It took two batches and this is what I ended up with:

Winner winner chicken dinner!!!  With very little effort, I had two turkey platters full of beautiful, shredded chicken goodness.  After it cooled, I bagged 4 cups per quart freezer bag (which is typically what I use per recipe).  I now have 9 bags in the freezer.  So I am golden for the next 9 chicken recipes.

I was so excited this worked!  Hubby and J laughed at my excitement.  It doesn't take much, OK?  :)

Now...back to Pinterest to find the dinner roll recipe Pioneer Woman posted on facebook this morning!  Mmmmmmm!

Transylvania 6-5000

"You wouldn't hit a bat with glasses, would you?"

 Bugs Bunny in Transylvania 6-5000

Today, I donated blood for the first time in over 20 years.  Our church was having a blood drive along with a craft fair, bake sale, and ministry fair.

I ate a late breakfast, but didn't drink much water before I donated.  Mistake #1.

I felt fine while donating (yay!) and felt fine afterward.  The donation paperwork stated to drink a lot of fluids following donation.  Mistake #2.

...and eat a good meal following...Mistake #3. Yeah, this isn't looking real good for the rest of the day.

I started feeling light-headed about an hour later.  By the time the event at the church was over, I was a very tired, light-headed mess.  Jimmy was driving (thank goodness), and we went by Chick-Fil-A then home to eat a late lunch.  After eating, I took a 2 hour nap.

After resting, I thought I was feeling better...until I stood up.  Not so good...

I started thinking back over the day and realized my mistakes.  The "Instructions After Donating Blood" section of the paperwork are NOT suggestions.  I will remember that next time I donate.

Donating blood helps so many people!  The Red Cross website states:

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• More than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day.
• A total of 30 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.
• The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 pints.
• The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.
• The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.
• Sickle cell disease affects more than 70,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives.
• More than 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer last year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

If you are able to donate blood, please do.  You just may save someone's life!

Still not feeling 100%, but I am drinking a lot of water!

What? Not Every Girl Has a Tennis Ball in Her Purse???

Yes, I do have a tennis ball in my purse.  I have frozen shoulder syndrome, also known as adhesive capsulitis.  What is that, you ask?  Let's just say that I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.  My shoulder decided it didn't want to cooperate with the rest of my body.  Can't reach up, out, or back.  And it is very painful for every muscle group attached to my shoulder.

I think it started when I fell off a ladder in May.  Klutz...ummm...yeah...that is me.  Anyway, I have been doing physical therapy for 2 weeks.  I am making some progress.  On Monday, my PT decided "P" stands for "pain" and "T" stands for "torture".  Usually, therapy starts with a warm compress and some warm-up exercises, progresses to a pulley contraption, and then goes to more exercises.  

That is how Monday started, however, we flew through the normal and went on to passive motions where the PT stretches my arm in many directions. When I grimace in pain, she stops and moves to another position. She has been sympathetic up until now.  Monday, she showed me no mercy.  I grimaced...she kept applying pressure.  Thirty long, torturous minutes of it. 

When I started PT, Jimmy told me I would cry like a baby.  He has had therapy on his shoulder.  He has a high pain tolerance.  I do not.  I have fared pretty well but I still have two more weeks until a re-evaluation.  I am wondering what other types of Pain and Torture she will do to me before then.

Oh...the tennis ball...  The PT gave me the ball to massage the muscles in my arm and back. You just rub it around applying pressure to the muscles.  I do not go ANYWHERE without it!  If you have never tried it, it works really well.

My Bible verse during this trial:  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)