The kitchen tool every caregiver should have
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Energy efficiency – for YOU!
Yay – it’s Daylight Savings Day, the official END of Daylight Savings, which means we all get ONE MORE HOUR of sleep – remember: ‘fall back.’ For that reason November is an awesome month! It is also National Family Caregivers month.
I believe some of that focus is awareness on making sure caregivers are taking care of THEMSELVES! Sometimes that means figuring out ways to make our daily tasks – easier & more streamlined. Just think, we all get an extra hour – AND – you can become more efficient. Stay with me on this one…
A few weeks ago we talked about dental and oral hygiene and why it can be crucial for some elders.
Courtesy: Getty Images/JGI/Tom Grill
The bottom line? If our teeth don’t hold up as we age, it can lead to poor nutrition, simply because we can’t properly chew or, we are limited to what kinds of food we can eat. Which leads me to this…
For this episode of Keeping it REAL Caregiving, we are taking our chat into the kitchen!
Yes, folks, we’re taking a break from the hard-core issues and sometimes overwhelming thoughts about the realities of caregiving and instead, wrapping our minds, hearts and stomachs – around some comfort food. Yum!
You see, every elder is different. And every caregiver experience is different. In the case of caring for my mother, I had to adapt my recipes and meals to not only fit mom’s changing tastes, but also prepare food that was soft enough for her to chew. Sadly, a lifetime of inadequate dental care resulted in only a few remaining teeth and damaged and painful gums.
Once I became a full-time caregiver and mom lived with me, I made a new best friend with a kitchen appliance: the crock pot!
My crock pot selection
I should say, I love to cook and over the years have been known to host dinner parties and gatherings for friends and family.
But somehow, the crock pot had never been part of my culinary arsenal. All I can say is, ‘what was I thinking??’
Home Cooked Thanksgiving Meal & Family Gathering/South Florida 2013
Keep it simple
I’d like to share a quick and easy solution I found to help mom have foods she could manage and allow me to stay a little ahead of the curve with care needs.
One of my favorite (and quick) meal solutions was to always have chicken thighs in the freezer and a variety of salsas, soups or pasta sauces handy. I’d like to share a super simple way to get a meal going that can make your life a little easier.
Chicken Salsa
1 pound skinless chicken thighs – defrosted
1 fresh lime
2 Tbs Olive Oil
1 14oz jar of favorite salsa (red or green – regular or mild)
1/4 Tsp Oregano
1/4 Tsp Cumin
1/4 Tsp garlic powder (or fresh – chopped)
Salt/Pepper to taste
Fresh Cilantro
(alter amounts of spices to your liking and tastes – there are NO rules!)
Place the chicken 🍗 in the crock pot. Slice the lime and squeeze the fresh juice over the chicken.
This is a trick learned from a professional chef. The acidity of the lime juice helps break down the chicken, making it tender. I find limes work much better than lemons, which can sometimes alter the taste ‘too’ much
Drizzle olive oil over chicken. Sprinkle in the Oregano, Cumin and Garlic Powder (these can be adjusted to your personal tastes).
Easy ingredients for caregiving meals
Pop open the jar of your favorite salsa and pour over the chicken. (I liked to mix half red and half green salsa – as it gave the chicken a unique flavor, but play around to see what works best for your tastes).
Cover with lid, set the crock pot to LOW – and let it do it’s thing!
Now, as a caregiver you have time to handle any other task awaiting you AND you know that lunch or dinner is being prepared.
A few hours later – when you check on the food, you’ll find a warm, flavorful and SOFT serving of chicken.
You can then use that chicken to shred and place inside a soft, warm tortilla. Of course, some chopped cilantro to top it off just adds a new level of – YUM!
Courtesy: Getty Images/Istetiana
Sometimes I would scoop the chicken and salsa out as a soup, and pour it over mashed potatoes, making something more like a stew.
Other times I would spoon some of the chicken over finely chopped salad greens, add some sliced tomato and avocado – and BAM – again, a filling meal but something soft and easy to eat.
There are lots of options. And you don’t have to use salsa. Take this same approach with your favorite flavors of soup. (I liked using gumbo or cream of mushroom).
So, if you don’t already have one in your kitchen arsenal, consider making a new best friend with a crock pot (or two, or three)! You’ll be glad you did. Hope this little nugget helps shave some time from your busy schedule!
Do you have a favorite, easy and time-efficient recipe to help other caregivers? Would love to hear from you – join the discussion!
Until next time~
Julia
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