Victory, Thy Name is Chuck!

The cook was down against EE, 5 to 498. Bedraggled, tired, bored and ill, she was at her wits end to come up with a plan that would assist her in the ultimate challenge: feeding herself a delicious meal. What was the poor young cook to do? All of her other attempts were washed out and overused, but something had to be done. In a desperate cry for help, she called out to her adoring mother, begging for inspiration. But alas! Poor Mum was out of ideas when such limited means were available. Heartbroken, the young cook had all but given up when Mum mentioned her plans for the rest of the clan: pot roast. In a flash of tactical genius, the cook dashed to the store to find the ingredients for adapting the recipe she had loved as a child. Surmounting her personal doubts, the young cook emerged seven hours later: victorious! The recipe had been perfected, and points were scored against the dragon that is EoE. Though still behind, the cook continues on, re-energized in her battle against the evil E.E.

I do enjoy a good story.

I really did find a wonderful adaption to one of my favorite recipes that my Grandparents always made when I was little: pot roast. Yes, it sounds somewhat boring and unappetizing, but I promise that it is flavorful and filling.

My latest and greatest: "Grandma Lynn's Pot Roast: E.E. style"

Ingredients:

• 1 Chuck Roast
• 5-8 Medium Carrots
• 4-7 Red Potatoes
• 1/2 White Onion
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Salt
• Onion Powder (optional)

Put some small amount of Grapeseed oil in the bottom of your crock-pot (just enough to wet the bottom - not too much) and place your chuck roast in the pot. Chop up all of your vegetables and dump them on and around the roast. Generously cover in salt, pepper and garlic salt. Pour in 1 glass of water (I adore precise measurements, don't you?) and make sure that everything is wet. Cover, turn on high for 6-8 hours or low for 8-10. Voila! The food is finished! I added extra salt and onion powder at the end to add an extra burst of flavor, but with or without these small additions: it is delicious.

Tips/Preferences:

• I like using a chuck roast, because it has good flavor and is a fattier cut. For sick children, you need as many good fats (like those found in good meats) as you can cram into a meal. It can be very difficult for E.E. patients (because of dietary restrictions) to keep enough fat in their diet. Ignore the social norm of buying leaner meats - you need the fat to keep healthy! Many people tend to view fat as bad - and in the way that most Americans consume it, this is entirely accurate. However, animal fat is good for you (in moderation; please don't be a glutton) and helps to put enough meat on your bones to keep yourself from appearing (and actually being) underweight. This will also help to ensure that metabolism and neural functions are working smoothly.
• Spend the few extra dollars to buy a good, big roast. It will give you more bang for your buck because of the extra meat, and you really need to use the antibiotic/hormone free/free range meats whenever possible. These are the meats/poultry that will really help to heal your digestive track.
• Remember, roast cooks differently - so the meat will still have a pinkish color when cooked. You'll know that the food is ready when the vegetables (particularly the carrots) are soft and the meat is easily pulled apart with a fork.
• If you accidentally add too much water, prop the lid open at the end of the cooking time and let it cook for approximately 30 extra minutes. The extra cooking time won't hurt the meal, and it will evaporate some of the water out so that the food is less like a stew and more like a roast.

The beautiful part about this recipe, is that it is the epitome of simple crock-pot cooking. It truly is as easy as chopping everything up and dumping it into the pot for several hours, with delicious results!

Tip(s) of the Day:

• Eat well. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it really can be difficult to force yourself to make the effort of cooking everything from scratch and cleaning the mess up afterwards. My roommates will be the first to tell you that oftentimes, I have to split the process up into two separate sessions to be able to handle the time and energy it can take. You will always feel better if you take the time (no matter how annoying) to make truly wholesome meals. Food is your medicine for your body; if you prepare wholesome things to put into your system, your body will thank and repay you tenfold. It's kind of like sleep...only I'm still working on, err....'perfecting' that part. :)
• Make a rainbow when you cook. You know that you are covering most of the basic nutritional needs your body has if your food is colorful. For example, a stir fry is most complete when it contains ingredients like: onions (white), red peppers (red), green beans (green), carrots (orange), garlic (because it is good for digestion), etc. Any sort of vegetable you can add to the color combination - do so!
• Use a buddy system for disciplinary/accountability purposes. It's hard to follow all the rules by yourself in most aspects of life, so make a pact with a friend or family member to hold each other accountable in your lifestyle.