Heart of Dixie...a little broken: #Helpful #Kitchen Hints....(and a couple of my favorite recipes) for #Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Beginning with one of my favorite blogs..The Pioneer Woman...love the way she cooks...down home, hungry-man food. Check out her pizza crust when you get a chance...it's easy and wonderful. I had never tried my hand at homemade pizza until I watched her. One of Ree's tips....always use block Mozzarella and grate it yourself. You need the moisture content instead of using packaged, grated type. And if you're thinking, "I don't want to go to all that trouble, here is my tip. Buy yourself the most wonderful kitchen gadget ever....a SALAD SHOOTER, by Presto (Professional size is a must, not any heavier than the regular). Most stores don't carry them any more, but you can get it on line. Takes seconds to grate cheese. I use it for everything.....I grate carrots, bell pepper, celery, onion, etc. directly into the pan for cooking. It's so easy and for those friends who have #Rheumatoid Arthritis, it is virtually PAIN FREE.

"The Pioneer Woman", Ree and her family

Here is Food Network link for #The Pioneer Woman pizza crust: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/basic-pepperoni-pizza-and-four-cheese-pizza-recipe/index.html

When you are afflicted with #RA, every movement is a chore. I do try to cook every night, but some days that's a difficult task. Most every day chore for someone with #Rheumatoid Arthritis is gut wrenching. I had to whittle down my kitchen tools to some degree. I cooked with a heavy set of Calphalon for years and now I find it's too heavy to handle easily. I gave it away and went to the cheaper version of cookware. You do what you have to do. On holidays, I have reverted to the disposal pans for casseroles, not too lovely, but it's all about flavor anyway. I think your guests won't complain when there is good food in a not-so-lovely container. Politically Correct doesn't fit into my vocabulary or my life anymore.

Keeping my KitchenAid stand mixer on the counter is a must. There is no lifting that heavy monster anymore so it sits proudly beside my toaster. They are so colorful now...great addition to the counter. Mine is 25 years old and the original "white".   I ordered vinyl red polka dots and it is really wild now.

A good set of knives is a must for RA patients. Trying to tackle chopping, slicing and dicing with a dull knife is a disaster waiting to happen.

A Mandolin is a must-have kitchen gadget. Easy to slice cabbage for cole slaw and for grating small amounts of cheese, spices, etc.

Opening jars...a real nightmare. I still haven't found a gadget that really works, except my husband!!
Even twist ties on bread are painful some days....Try the magnetic clips for chip bags....I use them on bread, crackers pasta, anything that is reused and opened frequently. I even use these on frozen vegetables. Life savers.

Rearranging kitchen cabinets is a must. You will definitely need help for this, but it makes a world of difference. Since I can't fall to my knees anymore rambling through a cabinet for a skillet, put the items you use every day up close and to the front. Try putting a 5 lb. bag of rice in a small, manageable container.   Keep baskets on your counter for onions and potatoes (they need the air circulation anyway) so they are easy to reach. It keeps your frustration level down.

The little, everyday things we always did without thinking are the chores that send me through the roof. Of course taking #Prednisone, everything sends you through the roof. Trying to be pleasant and taking that medicine don't go hand-in-hand. I now have to think before I pick up a skillet or pan or before walking up a step. Here is a tip I learned from a Physical Therapist...going up and down stairs.....if one of your knees is the worse than other...to go up steps lead with your good leg and down with your bad leg. Way to remember this "Up to Heaven....(with good leg)......down to Hell (with bad leg)...it makes a huge difference.

Living with #RA is difficult, depressing and scary. I wonder every day what part of my body will it affect. There is no simple explanation of this disease and if you tell someone you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, you know what's coming next....."well, I have arthritis in my knees, my grandmother had that, you need to exercise, and on and on").....they don't know a damn thing about it and neither do I for that matter. It is a blessing that there are new drugs to help, but it is sooo complicated and if you read or listen to the side effects, you wonder, which is worse?    I cry...

250 TIPS for making life easier living with RA....follow this link. It is a wonderful website, chocked full of information:

http://rawarrior.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-book-review/

Let's get to some food!

"Dot's" Spaghetti Sauce. My mother put a little twist on spaghetti sauce and it is a wonderful addition to your pasta dishes. Beware, I don't cook in small quantities. This sauce freezes well and is great the next day.

Ingredients:

3 pounds - ground chuck
1 - medium yellow onion
1 - green bell pepper
3 - large carrots
13 - T - Worcestershire Sauce
1 - T - Tabasco
1 1/2 cups - HEINZ (no substitutions) Ketchup
1 - small can Tomato Paste (7 oz)
5 or 6 cans cold water (it will cook down)
salt and pepper

PULL out the Salad Shooter!!

Brown ground chuck in a Dutch Oven....along with grated onion, bell pepper and carrots (all grated right into the pot with the Salad Shooter..add 1 T salt and 1 tsp pepper....drain off grease.

Add rest of ingredients...stir and let simmer for 30 minutes (taste test for salt and add more if necessary). Serve over al dente Vermicelli...delicious (Your kids eat vegetables without knowing)

I serve with my Grandmother's (no mayo) cole slaw

1 ---1/2 head of cabbage
1 - carrot
salt
canola oil
apple cider vinegar

USE SLICING BLADE on Mandolin and slice cabbage finely into glass bowl.
Use carrot peeler and peel carrot onto cabbage

Sprinkle 1 T salt (I know it's a lot of salt, but trust me on flavor)
This next step is key to flavor....3 heaping T Canola oil and 1 heaping T apple cider vinegar...stir and serve...The mixture of salt, oil, vinegar and carrots makes this cole slaw. It's chemistry!!!!