February 2014 – Page 2 – SimpleSolutionsDiva.com

Simple Tips To Treat Cold Symptoms, Naturally

February 7, 2014 / Simple Ideas / 0 comment

Tis the season for sniffles, coughs and sneezes! For some people, treating cold symptoms include medications; for other, medicines are not an option due to medical issues (like high blood pressure). I thought I’d share some of my favorite tips to treat cold symptoms without medications. Now let me be clear, I am not a Doctor, but I am a “Doctor Mom”! Seek medical treatment if you are sick and it hangs on longer than a few days, or you have fever, vomiting, rash, growth of a third arm, or anything else out of the ordinary!

Tip # 1 – Hydrate – The key to getting rid of a cold is to keep yourself hydrated so the gunk can make it’s way out of your body! Drink lots of fluids – 8 to 10 8 oz. glasses of water will help a lot!

Tip # 2 – Blow Your Nose- You don’t want to sniff IN all the congestion, so blow it out. And did you know there is a proper way to blow your nose? Blow one side at a time: Place the tissue over your nose, then use one finger to press on a nostril to close it, then gently blow. Repeat on the other side.

Tip # 3 – Steam Heat – Take a warm shower or heat water on stove and breathe in! The warm, moist air will hydrate those mucus membranes and allow mucus to move.

Tip # 4 – Rinse it out – Nasal irrigation using non-medicated saline solution, whether using a netie pot or over the counter saline sprays, is one of the best ways to flush out excess mucus and even allergens or infections that settle in the sinuses. One of my favorite brands of nasal irrigation products is NeilMed – Click Here to see some of their products (you can find them in CVS, Walgreens, and other pharmacies). NOTE: When you mix up your own saline solution for use in the netie pot, the CDC recommends you use distilled or sterilized water.

Tip # 5 – Use a Humidifier – Keep your throat and nasal passages moisturized – it is key to relieving your congestion, drippy nose and dry, itchy throat. Leave it on in your bedroom as you sleep.

Tip # 6 – Drink Tea – Warm tea with lemon or honey will soothe a sore throat and help ease the pain. The small amount of caffeine in the tea will also give you a slight energy boost, at least making you feel a little better.

Thank you to WTLV-TV’s First Coast Living for inviting me on to share these tips!

Simple Poll Question: Have You Caught A Cold This Season?

February 6, 2014 / Simple Poll Question / 0 comment

online poll by Opinion Stage

Mom’s Natural Cold Remedy: Ginger Chicken Noodle Soup With Vegetables

February 5, 2014 / Simple Recipes / 0 comment

Ginger Chicken Soup With Vegetables, photo from Real Simple Magazine.

All the best “Dr. Moms” out there know there is nothing better for a cold than rest and a warm bowl of chicken soup! One of my favorite ways to alleviate cold symptoms is a soup recipe that also includes ginger, a natural way to increase circulation (to help ward off the chills) and help loosen the congestion of a cold. This yummy recipe for Ginger Chicken Noodle Soup With Vegetables is adapted from a recipe from Real Simple Magazine. It uses rotisserie chicken, so it is a really easy recipe to assemble.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red onion, thinly chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
2 32-ounce containers low-sodium chicken broth
2 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 medium turnip, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 cups egg noodles
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 2-to 2 1/2-pound rotisserie chicken
1/2 cup frozen peas
4 scallions, sliced

Preparation:

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the broth. Stir in the parsnips, carrots, celery, turnip, and ½ teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Add noodles and cook until al dente.
Meanwhile, using a fork or your fingers, shred the chicken meat, discarding the skin and bones.
Add the chicken, peas, and scallions to the saucepan and cook until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
Enjoy!

To see the original recipe on Real Simple Magazine, click HERE!

Simple Super Bowl Recipe: BBQ Chicken Pizza

February 1, 2014 / Simple Recipes, Simple Video / 0 comment

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:

1 Stonefire Authentic Flatbread Pizza Crust, reserve packet of pizza sauce that comes with crust
1/3 cup favorite BBQ sauce
4 tablespoons favorite BBQ sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (use as much as desired)
3/4 cup smoked gouda cheese, shredded (use as much as desired)
1.5 (approx. ) cups rotisserie chicken, cut into small pieces (use as much as desired)
1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced (use as much as desired)
Cilantro, chopped for garnish

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees (if using a pizza stone, place pizza stone in while preheating).

Take 2-4 tablespoons of BBQ sauce and toss with the chicken and set aside.

Place pizza crust on work surface. Mix 1/3 cup BBQ sauce with 2-3 tablespoons of the reserved packet of pizza sauce. Spread mixture all over pizza crust. Add all three cheeses, alternating layers. Add chicken to top of pizza, spreading out to cover. Sprinkle red onion and cilantro over pizza.

Place pizza in oven for 10-15 minutes (until cheese is melted and bubbly). Enjoy!

Simple Tip: For a crowd, make 2-3 of these, keep them in fridge until ready to cook!

Month: February 2014

BBQ Chicken Pizza