Simple (Gluten Free) Chicken Nuggets~Try these even if your not GF, so easy!

My middle son, Weston, asked if I could make chicken nuggets. I'm not a fan of packaged food and rarely ever pay the high prices of packaged organic food, especially when I know I can make it at home. I looked up some gluten free nugget recipes and found a few but they weren't as easy as I wanted. I finally found a easy recipe that I could sway things around and make it my own.

In the recipe I found they were using corn flakes, and I didn't have those but I did happen to have a box of gluten free chex. Perfect! The chex was a great coating, better then I thought it would be. Evem if your not gluten free this is still an awesome recipe to make homemade chicken nuggets. Make a couple batches and freeze some, for a easy lunch. 

Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets

• 3 chicken breasts or thighs, cut up in 1 inch pieces
• 2 cups gluten free chex, I used the Rice kind
• 3 eggs
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder

First you will want to turn the oven to 350 degrees. Next cut up your chicken breast or thighs into 1 inch chunks. Using a gallon plastic bag, pour in two cups of rice chex. Use your hands and any helping little hands to crunch up all the chex. Add the garlic and onion powder into the crunched up chex.

 Next, put your eggs into a bowl and mix them up.

I put about 6-7 pieces of chicken in the bowl with the eggs and let them soak about 1 minute. Then, I coated the chicken pieces with the crunched up chex. I placed them on a nonstick cookie sheet. You can also put down parchment paper to help with clean up time. I usually do this but I ran out of my parchment paper. 

Lastly, place in oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until chicken is completely cooked. The chex coating should be browned as well. 

I made a BBQ ranch dip for mine but the boys just wanted some good old fashioned ketchup. We ate along with some garlicky green beans. If I would have had more time I would have made homemade french fries. 

I can't wait to make these again! The boys thought they were awesome! My husband also kept saying how delicious these were. I smiled and said "Good thing you married a chef". We giggled and it was a successful dinner!

Today's Encouragement:

Sick Kids! What Can You Do? 4 Quick Tips!! Great for Adults Too!!

*This is my personal advice, I'm not a doctor just an experienced mom.*

I hear this question so much, especially from new moms when their kids are sick, "I feel so helpless". I used feel this as a mom and sometimes you still do. I was so thankful to learn that we can do our part to help our sick kiddos. Our bodies have an amazing ability to heal themselves. If we give our bodies the right tools it can help it function and heal quickly.

You know when you go the doctor in the middle of the night because your child hasn't slept a wink and neither have you, and the doctor says its a virus and there's nothing we can do but wait it out. Well, there is not much the doc can do, BUT there is a ton you CAN DO!! I can feel the excitement on a new moms face to hear these words!

Here are some suggestions next time your feeling helpless. You can try all, just a few or just one, every little bit helps:

1. Garlic Toast

• Toast
• REAL Salt
• Fresh Garlic, OR Jarred
• Butter or (Healthy Balance for Non-Dairy 

This is so simple, and can be easily overlooked but it truly has helped my kids tremendously!! I will let you know the exact things I use, but you can use whatever you have on hand. I used Ezekiel Bread, preferably grass-fed butter, fresh garlic or jarred garlic, and a dash of REAL salt. For a gluten free version try Ezekiel gluten free bread, or another brand. Personally I steer clear of gluten most of the time BUT Ezekiel Organic Bread is made from a sprouted grain that is a complete protein. Its fair different than regular bread on the shelf. In fact you will only find Ezekiel Bread in the freezer section. Always store in freezer or fridge. My kids like this bread toasted. For Babies pureed garlic can be added to food.

Garlic is naturally antiviral, toast is gentle on the stomach, REAL salt helps to absorb the good nutrients and butter is for taste but if grass fed has wonderful healthy fats.

2. Epsom Salt and Ginger Baths (AKA Dirty Bath)
I learned this from my chiropractor back in Appleton at Appleton Chiropractic, Dr. Kristy Otto. She is wonderful, a great listener and amazing at what she does!

• Bathtub filled with safe level of water
• 2-3 drops doTERRA ginger oil, OR 1/2 cup Fresh Ginger, OR 1 Tsp Ginger Powder
• 1/2-1 Cup Epsom Salt

Fill up the bathtub, use doTERRA ginger oil, OR fresh ginger, OR ginger powder. Pour Epsom salt and let dissolve. Let kids soak for about 15-20 minutes and play :) **They will be sweaty after this bath and will need to drink fluids.**
Epsom salt helps to draw out toxins, relieves stress, helps muscle pain, and can relieve constipation! And much more. Here is a wonderful article for further reading Epsom Salt Uses and Benefits. Ginger contains anti-inflammatory properties, which is great for healing an ailing body. Here is more info on Ginger baths.

3. doTERRA Essential Oils (Use a little oil, often. One drop every hour or two for a couple days, even if symptoms seem better. Try oils like you would an antibiotic)

I thought this picture of Julian trying to get my oils was priceless, but I was to quick for him!

You can use:

• On Guard protective blend, 1 drop diluted with fractionated coconut oil, rub on feet. Rub on throat if its sore. 
• Lavender for calming/bedtime, 1 drop diluted with fractionated coconut oil, rub on feet, pillow
• Lemon Oil, one drop in 8fl oz of water.
• Breathe, one drop diluted with fractionated coconut oil, rub on back by lungs for help with breathing. 

This list could go on and on. There are SO many possibilities with oils and you just have to find what works well for your family. Consistency is key. If you have questions about essential oils please read Beginners Essential Oils and contact me for any questions, and possible samples.

4. Kids Cold Care Traditional Medicinal TEA

• One cup warm water
• one packet tea
• 1-2 TBSP honey for sweetener & health

Its very important to remember to get kids tea for kids and review the label for correct usage. Kids tea has the proper amounts of herbs suggested for children's use. I always put honey in my kids tea because they like the taste but also because honey has many great health properties. Honey is a great throat soother, and is packed with nutrients to help your body. Tea has antioxidants and offers a calming effect. My kids always feel great after drinking tea.

Don't feel helpless moms, dads, and even grandparents! We can help.

Here is today's Encouragement:

Monday Link Up with The Modest Mom Blog!

I decided to do a link up today! I have been seeing a lot of my favorite bloggers linking up and I thought it would be a great start to the week. I'm sorry I have not been writing, I have been busy with starting my business. I can't wait to share more about that on my blog in future posts.

I saw a link at The Modest Mom Blog and her Monday link up! I was excited to find this link up because modesty is important to me. Modesty is not just about the way you dress, its an entire attitude. When I first learned about modesty it was so foreign to me but with God's help the purpose and meaning grew in my heart and has taken a hold of me. I'm thankful God gave me this beautiful understanding and I'm still learning.

I decided to share some of my favorite modest outfits. I have really come to be fond of long skirts, pretty blouses, girly scarfs and hats. I used to purchase all my long skirts from Maurice's but they have recently stopped selling them. I was so sad, I wrote them and asked why they discontinued this item when SO many of us rely and purchase these long skirts. They had not one good answer. I simply told them I hoped they would reconsider in the future. For now I plan to just make my own skirts and search around at thrift stores.

A friend of mine, Casey, over at Simple Joy Crafting invited me over one day and taught me the wonderful skill of making my own skirts! What a helpful skill to acquire. I have made many skirts out of the old pants I used to wear. It was resourceful and a great way to recycle the old pants.

Here are a few of my recent outfits: (Sorry some are not my full outfit, I realized that I don't take many full body photos, probably because Mom is always taking pictures of everyone else and with the invention of selfies, you can't get the whole picture. I will work on that.)

This is a casual outfit for me. I would wear this going to the grocery store or meeting up for a play date. Its hard to dress down when you always wear a skirt! I remember one day talking to an older woman I respected and telling her how I missed the days I would run out in sweat pants and a t-shirt. Her reply has stuck with me and I doubt I'll forget it. She said "Remember that you are a representative of Jesus Christ". Wow! Its like if you were working for a company and they required dress coats and ties to represent the company in a professional way.

Hat: Target Clearance

Coat: Apt. 9 (Clothes Mentor Resale Shop)

Skirt: Maurice's

This was a Sunday before church. I have been trying different ways to wear head-coverings. I really like this head wrap and felt confident wearing it. The colors weren't too bright and blended well with my hair color.

Head Wrap: Walmart Scarf

Coat: Worthington (JCpenney)

This is my favorite hat. It easily matches almost anything and it has an adorable feminine bow on it. Its easy to just toss a hat on and roll my hair into a bun. I like styles that don't take me long to get ready. Especially with three little ones to help get ready in the morning, I need to be quick!

Hat: Target

Sweater: Target

Shirt: Old Navy (I really like to have some tanks, tees and extra shirts with a high neckline to use under shirts/clothes that may be more revealing. Old Navy has some great shirts for this in many colors.)

Skirt: Maurice

In the winter months I always wear leggings under my skirts to keep me warm. I don't miss that feeling of freezing jeans on my legs in the winter! I also like to wear boots to keep my feet and legs warm and dry. Next winter I need to invest in some better boots because while I was warm this winter, my feet did get wet.

This is one my favorite recent picture of mine. I'm wearing my favorite  hat of course because it matches easily. I am wear a beautiful blazer with lace in the back. I'll have to take another picture showing the pretty back. We had just got back from a long morning of library book hunting.

Hat: Target

Blazer: Cherry Pickers Resale Shop

Shirt: Old Navy

Julain is wearing a handsome button up from Old Navy and sporting a yellow care bear!!




I hope you enjoyed my Monday Link up with The Modest Mom Blog as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Encouragement for today!!