Teacher retires because of interstitial cystitis

I found an article on KenlyNews.com about a teacher who recently had to retire because of interstitial cystitis. She had to have her bladder removed and after a few months, the doctors were able to build her a new bladder. Unfortunately, the new bladder didn't help and her problems got worse forcing her to retire from teaching. Read the article below.

Glendale-Kenly elementary school teacher retires

After almost 33 years of teaching, decisions about her health have Glendale-Kenly Elementary School First grade teacher Cherri Stone entering her second retirement this past December.

Stone was diagnosed five years ago with a rare bladder disease, interstitial cystitis and two years ago the doctors had to remove her bladder. She retired but still wanted to return to teaching, and she did four and a half months later after doctor’s built her a new bladder. Recently she found her problems getting worse and made the hard decision to stop teaching...

Read full article here.

Blue Cheese Burger

For those of you who can handle aged cheese with no problem, I have a burger that you won't find at your traditional restaurant. These burgers are fun to make and the blue cheese adds a surprising compliment to the ground beef. This version of the blue cheese burger uses half blue cheese and half cream cheese. This lessens the amount of blue cheese, but doesn't lessen the bold flavor. Just be careful, these burgers can get pretty messy.


Blue Cheese Burgers
Serves 2

2 oz. cream cheese
2 oz. crumbled blue cheese
1/8 t. garlic powder
1 T. chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
4 burger patties
2 burger buns (try whole wheat)
Coarsely ground black pepper (optional)

• In a small bowl, mash together cream cheese and blue cheese then stir in the onion powder and parsley. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• To fill burgers, place a tablespoonful of cream cheese mixture in the center of each of two patties. Spread the filling out evenly to within half an inch of the edge of each patty. Place the remaining patties on top to form two filled burgers. Gently press the edges of each burger together.
• Sprinkle burgers liberally with coarsely ground black pepper.
• Cook the patties on a George Forman grill or on a cast iron skillet until meat is cooked all the way through.
• Once patties are cooked, place onto buns and serve.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

This is a simple casserole recipe that you can make on one of those nights when you just don't have the will power to go to the grocery store using just the ingredients that are commonly hidden away in your kitchen. Even the beginners will find this recipe a cinch. The hardest part of preparing this dish is waiting for it to get to come out of the oven!

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Serves 4-6

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 1/3 cups water

3/4 cup uncooked long-grain white rice

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

2 cups frozen mixed vegetables

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts halves

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

• Heat the oven to 375°F.
• Stir the soup, water, rice, garlic powder, black pepper and vegetables in a 2-quart shallow baking dish.
• Top with the chicken. Season the chicken as desired.
• Cover the baking dish.
• Bake for 50 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.
• Top with the cheese.
• Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes.
• Stir the rice before serving.

IC Diet Cheat Sheet

This is the interstitial cystitis diet list that I go by. I got this list from my doctor when I was diagnosed in April of 2008. After I got over my worst flares I started to experiment with a few things on the avoid list. The breads and dairy don't seem to bother me. Neither does tea. However, for the most part I strictly go by this list. Especially when I eat out; you never know what restaurants use to cook with. I hope this helps!

AVOID:

• Beverages: Alcoholic beverages, decaf and regular coffee, decaf and regular tea, soda, carbonated drinks such as mineral water, Kool-aid, Gatorade, and fruit punch, juice made from off-limit fruit AND all juices containing citric acid
• Fruit: Apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, cantaloupes, lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, cranberries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pineapples, plums, strawberries, pomegranates, watermelon, cherries, and nothing that contains these items such as jello, pastries, etc.
• Vegetables: Onions (including dried onion), green, red, yellow, jalapeno and Serrano peppers, tomatoes and all items containing tomatoes such as: tomato sauce, tomato soup, tomato paste, ketchup, barbecue sauce.
• Seasonings: all seasonings containing citric acid (lemon pepper, season all, Mrs. Dash), salad dressing, vinegar, condiments, all foods containing MSG and preservatives, soy sauce, miso, artificial sweetener (Equal, Splenda), cayenne pepper and spicy foods (Mexican, Indian, and Chinese).
• Meats: canned, aged, cured and processed meats (spam, bologna, salami, SAUSAGE), meats containing nitrates or nitrites, smoked meats/fish (including anything barbecued), corned beef, anchovies, caviar, chicken livers
• Nuts and Grains: rye and sour dough bread, fava beans, lima beans, soy beans and tofuMilk
• Dairy: aged cheeses, sour cream, egg yolks, yogurt, chocolate

OKAY ITEMS:

• Beverages: Bottled water, tap water, caffeine free herbal teas: mint, spearmint, chamomile, and peppermint (hot or cold with sugar or honey), milk (without hormones)
• Fruit: honeydew melon, pears, prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, coconut, papaya, mango, blueberry muffins, jelly containing only these fruits with no citric acid.
• Vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, peas, green beans, carrots, spinach, asparagus, potatoes, cabbage, leeks, corn, celery, lettuce, mushrooms, cucumber, eggplant, artichokes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and most beans (steamed, fried, baked, however be careful how you season them)
• Seasonings: salt/pepper, garlic salt or powder, fresh garlic, cinnamon, sugar, brown sugar, sage, cilantro, nutmeg, fresh herbs, can use olive oil as a salad dressing substitute
• Meats: chicken, fish, ground beef, steak meat, pork, turkey, beef or pork ribs, shellfish (be careful how it is seasoned)
• Nuts and Grains: pasta, white or brown rice, Mexican rice prepared with chicken broth, white or wheat bread, oatmeal, cereal, plain potato chips, white or corn tortillas, tortilla chips, plain crackers, almonds, cashews, pine nuts, bagels, bagel chips, peanut butter, pretzels
• Dairy: cottage cheese, butter/margarine, vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt, white chocolate, cream cheese, feta, ricotta, string cheeses, mozzarella, cheddar and American cheese, caramel, *eggs are okay if they are cooked in something (such as a cake)
• Miscellaneous okay items: beef/chicken broth, pudding, white or yellow cake, pancakes, maple syrup

Stir-Fried Asian Beef and Noodles

I looked through my recipes on my blog and realized I seem to only cook casseroles or Italian foods. Probably because I can find recipes with milder ingredients. Well I'm going to spice things up a bit with this delicious Asian stir-fry recipe. Enjoy!

Stir-Fried Asian beef and Noodles

Serves 6

1 lb beef boneless sirloin steak, cut into 2 X 1/4-inch strips

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. corn starch

1/2 tsp. Bragg's liquid aminos

1 package (6 oz.) rice stick noodles

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 Tbsp. ginger

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

1 bag frozen broccoli, carrots and sugar snap peas (or vegetables of your choice), thawed

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

3/4 cup beef broth

1/3 cup rice vinegar

1/3 cup honey

3 Tbsp. Bragg's liquid aminos

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 cup leaks, sliced

sesame seeds

• In a large bowl, toss beef, 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil, cornstarch and 1/2 tsp. Bragg's liquid aminos. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• In another large bowl, soak the noodles for 5 minutes in enough cold water to cover, drain
• Heat 12-inch skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Coat skillet with 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil.
• Add ginger and garlic; stir-fry 30 seconds. Add vegetables; stir-fry until crispy and tender. Remove from skillet.
• Add 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil to re-coat the skillet. Add beef; stir-fry for about 5 minutes or until brown. Remove from skillet.
• Add broth, vinegar, honey, 3 Tbsp. Bragg's liquid aminos and sesame oil to skillet. Stir in noodles and heat to boiling. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently until noodles are tender. Stir in beef, vegetables, onions and sesame seeds. Cook and stir for about 1 minute.

Spinach Chicken Lasagna

For those of you who long for your lasagna, I found a recipe that doesn't use tomatoes! This mouth-watering dish has even been said to be better than the traditional tomato version. I highly suggest trying this lasagna, it will not disappoint.

Spinach Chicken Lasagna

9 lasagna noodles
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup leeks, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups milk
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups ricotta cheese
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken meat
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the leeks and garlic in the butter until tender, stirring frequently.
• Stir in the flour and salt, and simmer until bubbly.
• Mix in the broth and milk, and boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
• Stir in 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Season with the basil, oregano, and ground black pepper. Remove from heat, and set aside.
• Spread 1/3 of the sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Layer with 1/3 of the noodles, the ricotta, and the chicken.
• Arrange 1/3 of the noodles over the chicken, and layer with 1/3 of the sauce mixture, spinach, and the remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Arrange remaining noodles over cheese, and spread remaining sauce evenly over noodles.
• Sprinkle with parsley and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes.

White Trash

This politically incorrect snack will keep bellies full and fingers out of the Christmas dinner. It's quick, easy, irresistible and best of all only uses a few ingredients.

White Trash

2 cups rice chex
1 cup pecan halves
2 cups pretzles
1 cup white chocolate, you can use chips or blocks

• On a large cookie sheet pour the rice chex, pecans and pretzles and mix together.
• Melt the white chocolate.
• Pour the melted white chocolate onto the mixture and mix together. I usually use my hands, but you have to becareful because the white chocolate gets very hot.
• Once the white chocolate is evenly mixed in, let cool.
• Once the white chocolate is hard, serve.