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Wellness Strategist & LifeStyle Mentor – let’s plan your next steps!

Turkey Bone Broth White Chili Recipe

Many of you asked – so here I share one of our favorite nutritious recipes using our Turkey Bone Broth. (Download the “updated & complete” recipe on our website landing page here: www.elizabethanthonygronert.com )

After the bone broth is completed and before making any soups, we fill two old fashioned ice cube trays with the bone broth and put in the freezer. We use these cubes when boiling potatoes, cooking rice or the water when cooking/steaming vegetables! This adds wonderful flavor and loads of nutrition to the meal.

Turkey Bone Broth White Chili Recipe (using Elizabeth’s Turkey Bone Broth)

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 pounds organic ground turkey (I use organic turkey meat from carcass)
  • 2 (4 ounce) cans canned organic green chili peppers, chopped
  • 1-2 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1-2 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 tsp Salt
  • ground cayenne pepper to taste (1/2-1 tsp)
  • ground white pepper to taste (1 tsp) (I do ½ black, ½ white)
  • typically, I use 3 beans: cannellini, navy beans, Great Northern white bean 2-3 lbs (soak beans while cooking down the turkey carcass for bone broth)
  • Turkey bone broth from cooking Turkey carcass for 10 hours with vegetables
  • Organic Carrots – food processor
  • Organic Celery – food processor
  • Organic Parsley – chopped/food processor

Follow Turkey Bone Broth directions (download here https://elizabethanthonygronert.com/ ) After removing the carcass and “cook down veggies”, after making the trays described at the top of this post; I usually divide the broth into 2 pots – half for this turkey bone broth white chili recipe and half for turkey bone broth vegetable soup recipe.

Drain the soaked beans. Then cover the beans with the turkey broth – the beans should have 1/3 to ½ more liquid in the pot than beans (liquid to cover additional veggies, and meat.) If you want thicker soup, puree some of the beans with broth to make the soup thicker and creamier. I food process the green chilies, too. Add the processed parsley, carrots, celery and any other veggies you want to the soup (my family prefers just the carrots and celery.) Cook them to the almost desired doneness. Add the reserved turkey meat and seasonings.  Cook for a few minutes to let the flavors brew. Taste and add more seasoning if needed – lately I have been adding in some powdered garlic. This dish always seems to taste best after a day of rest in the refrigerator.

Making this soup is a 2 day process for me – bone broth and soak beans on the first day. Then making the soup and storing on the second day.

Enjoy! Let us know how this dish blesses your family! We are here bringing your comfort for life! Kris and Elizabeth Gronert (847) 502-8394 elizabeth@elizabethanthonygronert.com

Turkey Bone Broth – More than “Just Soup!”

(Full “updated” recipe available for free download on our website landing page – download here: https://elizabethanthonygronert.com/)

Thanks to our wellness friends, our soup making skills have moved up a few notches in our home. Grateful for the experience and generosity of my friend Tiffany Hinton, GF Mom Certified. Tiffany has been a valuable health coach and resource for our family. She has introduced me to the world where “food is medicine”. Particularly grateful for learning about Dr. Terry Wahls. I found Dr. Wahls book easy to read and have applied her wisdom to the way we shop and cook for our family’s health.

As a result, it’s not just great soup! We make incredibly nourishing, healing bone broth soups. Bone broth soups help reduce inflammation – an important every day therapy! This tutorial is for our “after Thanksgiving” Turkey Bone Broth Soup. Being an artist – I enjoy instructions so much more if there is a visual to go along. Therefore, photos have been taken at each step of this cooking adventure.

Thanksgiving day we smoked a turkey, baked a turkey and grilled a turkey breast (with the bones of course!) In this photo you will see the start of our Turkey Bone Broth. Here are the three carcasses covered by filtered water.

1128160954 My husband, Kris, installed a grow light by our sliding glass doors. Therefore, we are able to continue to have herbs, greens and tomatoes growing indoors. From this garden, I have added freshly picked organic parsley, thyme, sage along with some chopped garlic, sea salt and organic pepper to the pot.

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Whenever possible, we invest in organic produce. If I see any starting to go soft, where it may not be enjoyed fresh anymore, I place in a freezer bag. In addition, I have collected stems, leaves and even the roots of some of the organic plants we had in our outdoor garden this summer before it got cold and froze them. I use these vegetables in the “cook down” of the carcasses. We add these vegetable right away to enhance the flavor of the remaining meat on the bones. Some may prefer to wait till after the meat is collected (after 2 hours of cooking) which does make the process easier. We feel the flavor and nutrition added to the meat, is worth the extra work later when collecting the meat.

1128161050Because we still have organic Brussel sprout plants outdoors, decided to add some greens. Snipped off the top and added the leaves and stems with some tiny Brussel Sprouts! (I love these fresh leaves cooked in ghee with garlic too!)

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Let everything cook for about two hours.

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At two hours the meat should be starting to fall off the bone. Time to use tongs to grab the carcasses, loose meat and bones to glean the usable meat. I have a plate to collect the cook down veggies, cartilage, skin and bones that will go back into the soup pot to continue cooking for an additional 8 hours.

Most people don’t realize how much meat they throw away with the carcass! Look at all the meat recovered from the turkey carcasses! Place the recovered usable meat (I do not like any fat or chewy meat in my soup!) in a container in the refrigerator to add to the completed soups tomorrow. All scraps, cartilage, bones and cook down veggies go back into the developing broth to cook down for another eight hours. I personally do not cook longer. The broth gets a unique smell after cooking twelve hours. So we stop around ten hours. We love the taste, smell and nutrition after 10 hours of cooking!

Finally, after the eight hours (ten hours total) of cooking has passed, we will prepare to get the wonderful bone broth. You may wish to let the hot pot cool for a bit. Place an empty large pot in the sink with a colander on top. Then pour the contents through the strainer – the remaining bones, meat and vegetable parts will be caught by the colander with the nutrient dense bone broth going through into the pot. Throw the bones and leftover meat and veggies away in a safe container that animals cannot get into. Poultry bones are very dangerous to pets and wild animals!

Refrigerate the pot of bone broth overnight. Most broths when refrigerated get a layer of heavy fat at the top  – it is especially thick with turkey bone broth. I remove most of this really goopy fat from the broth before continuing.

This turkey bone broth is ready to use for sauces, gravies, cooking vegetables, potatoes, rice or making soups. I made 2 different soups from this pot of broth plus a tray of cubes to use for cooking veggies, potatoes, etc. to boost nutrition! The first soup was a turkey white chili and the second was turkey vegetable! My family raved about both – they keep getting tastier and more nutritious every year!

My goal is to have at least a cup of bone broth soup every day! So nourishing and I can really feel the benefits! Let me know what you think of this tutorial….happy to share the soup recipes with you!

Let’s connect if we haven’t already! Send us an email at elizabeth@elizabethanthonygronert.com or call/text at (847) 502-8394. Elizabeth & Kris Gronert bringing you Comfort For Life!

Tips for a Gluten & Allergy Free Trade Show

Life has been a whirlwind of meeting new people, savoring time with friends, sharing valuable information and tools! Spent this last weekend in Atlanta with our friends, the Domanicos, while attending the Gluten Free Allergy Free Expo at the Cobb Galleria. I love these events – I always come away with lots of new knowledge plus contentment knowing I have served people by helping them connect with valuable and money-saving resources!

The next GFAF Expo will be in Schaumburg Illinois – my stomping grounds. Excited to “host” many VIP’s to the area that have become friends and associates over the last year since I started attending these events. Here’s my list of Tips for Successfully Attending a Gluten & Allergy Free Trade Show:

value-of-tradeshows

  1. Wear layers of comfortable clothing. Temperatures can run the gamut – some places are hot outside and inside – so have layers that you can easily remove and stow in a tote. Even when it is cold outside, it can be brutally warm inside. I found this true when I was in Texas a few months ago. They are not used to cold or icy weather, so the heat in the hall was high to accommodate the locals but about boiled this Chicago, menopausal girl! Then half way through the show, the hall became cold since many complained about the heat and I had to go find a jacket…. The reverse can be true – brutal hot outside and a refrigerator in the hall inside… so be prepared by wearing layers.
  2. Comfy, supportive shoes ideally with a sock or liner to protect skin – an emphasis on supportive – you have only two feet to make it through your whole life. Take care of them with shoes that are not only comfortable but have support built in to preserve the integrity and health of your foot. Socks prevent blisters and uncomfortable chafing. I have learned that when I have to stand or walk for long periods it helps to have a second pair of shoes to change into. I know this sounds like a pain but when my feet hurt, I hurt all over!
  3. You need high protein snacks and a baggie of veggies/fruit. There are usually lots of carbs to taste at the gluten and allergy free expos so your body will be craving protein and natural fibers for balance;-) Bringing a water bottle you can refill is a good idea. Most of the trade shows I have attended have limited if any access to a snack bar or concessions.
  4. Be prepared to wait in lines – I encourage you to bring and use your strollers, wheel chair, walker or cane-seat.
  5. You will have the opportunity to purchase “deals” from some of the vendors and many give out samples, coupons, magazines, etc. Bring a couple reusable tote bags that you can pull out as you accumulate goodies. Some who have challenges carrying may want to bring a rolling bag or suitcase to stow things instead of lugging them around on your shoulder.
  6. If you are local and can carry a lot of things home, plan to be at the expo at the end of the last day and have bags to fill. Many vendors choose to give away display product rather than pack and ship back home.
  7. Attend the speakers’ presentations. You will learn so much from those who have traveled the path you are on – useful information for your journey or valuable information to share with someone you care about. Plus you get to know the speaker/author/blogger and will find the ones you want to sign up for their emails/online events or purchase their books.
  8. Be considerate of those with fragrance sensitivities. Many who attend have severe allergies and your favorite perfume or bath spray could ruin their whole day or week.
  9. Really VISIT each booth and talk to the people that are there. Many have a story to share that may help you along your path. Some booths are there just to “sell” or may have “hired” help with no knowledge of our industry….but if you take the time (and full advantage of your ticket price) to look each person you meet in the eye, most of the people that have traveled to this conference have a lot to offer you and you will be much richer for taking the time to find it…and have many more friends/resources to reach out to when you have questions or need help.
  10. Get on the email lists for the people and events that resonate with you. Most will have valuable resources that they continue to share throughout the year. Plus savings for the next time the conference returns to town.

If you found this helpful, please let me know. Send me an email to Liz@elizabethanthonygronert.com or call/text at (847) 502-8394. Elizabeth & Kris Gronert bringing you Comfort For Life!

Crazy Busy Is The New Normal

woman-working-at-home-with-kids

In the last few years, I have been noticing that most people have gone from busy to CRAZY BUSY. We are scheduled tightly from morning to night with an abundance of important activities. The busiest people seem to be parents, especially working moms. When working with families, I find that crazy busy is the new normal….that people are struggling to keep up….which is stressful. It also makes it tough to eat right, exercise and get enough sleep.

What to do? Well, I will admit to feeling overwhelmed on a regular basis – especially since my health has been a bit compromised since a car accident last year….here are some strategies that have calmed me and may work for you too! One thing my husband does is if he sees me doing something that may not be a top priority, he gently asks if that is really the most important thing on my list. At first it used to irk me but after a while, even when he is not around I can hear Kris’ voice in my head as I ask myself if I am working on the most urgent or have I become distracted…..follow the steps below to strategize and then stick to the plan;-)

First – Write it Down on a Calendar! Put the non-negotiables on your calendar and TIME BLOCK! This means mark out the required amount of time on the calendar. Helps us to be realistic about what we really can get done each day. For me this includes the times I want to work since I am self-employed. Next, add in the appointments/commitments for yourself and the family.  Some families create a family calendar so everybody knows where the others will be and/or if they are available. This can be done on a big calendar on a wall or on something like Google Calendar on everyone’s phone. I put my exercise on my calendar. To stay healthy or in my case keep working towards feeling better, exercise has become a non-negotiable. I also mark out times for meal prep, meals, quiet time and walking the dog!

Second – Prioritize – List what is most urgent each day – read Stephen Covey’s Book on 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I know I am due a reread!! He has a great system on how to label each task so you know what order they need to be completed. I make myself do the projects that are the most difficult first – otherwise I will procrastinate. Many times I build a reward into getting certain things done I don’t enjoy…or maybe you need to reward yourself when you get to the gym 3 times a week. I reward myself with a manicure every other week – keeps me on track….and I don’t have to fuss with my nails – one less thing for me to do and it makes me happy. The reward has to be something you want in order for it to work!

Which brings us to – Third – what can you delegate or get help with? It was hard for my husband to understand that I would rather take another appointment than clean our house. Cleaning the house also exhausted me and generally I was doing it at warp speed before a meeting in our home that I needed to be energized and prepared for. After a few of those meetings where I was fatigued instead of jazzed for my team, I learned that it makes great sense to have help cleaning my home! I also have had help cooking meals, walking the dog, and shopping for about everything we purchase. I am a small business owner so I always look for another small business to shop or have services from. I employ small business people who are affordable and offer awesome customer service. Nothing like having items delivered to your door. Many people think these services will cost more from the local business person than the “Big Box” stores but in most cases, you will save money….and more important to most of us, SAVE TIME! Plus the bonus of supporting people in your network and neighborhood.

Buy From Mom & Pop Biz

I found this picture on Facebook and post it whenever I can to help remind everyone to shop with their family member, friend, neighbor before going to the mall. Now one more step before running out to “the store” – CALL ME! I have people that Kris and I Know, Like and TRUST who will serve you! Reliable, personable and affordable professionals who will help you shop, cook amazing meals plus can help/have expertise with dietary concerns, clean your home, do your hair/nails, massage therapists to relieve stress, plan special events, take pictures, help you with scrapbooks, fix your computer, teach you how to use your phone, coach you how to effectively exercise for lasting results, share how to sleep better; it is quite an extensive directory of services and products to help you fight the fact that crazy busy is the new normal. Please leverage our resources to simplify your life!

Call Elizabeth & Kris Gronert at (847) 502-8394, email at Liz@elizabethanthonygronert.com or message on Facebook. Let us share how to have more Comfort For Life!

Gluten Free is not a “Fad Diet”

Been a busy few months meeting many experts and every day people who are navigating the Gluten and Allergy Free Life Style. Really enjoyed attending the Chicago and then Atlanta GFAF Expos.  We have learned so much and can’t wait to share!

My son and I have always had lots of allergies. We are the difficult ones when you invite us to dinner that we have to check the menu for those things that will make us sick. Last year, we learned that many people experience a reduction in inflammation when removing Gluten from their diet. Going Gluten Free made sense…..and within a few weeks we both agreed it made a difference in how we felt. So we are now living the “Gluten Free Lifestyle.” Stephen and I have Ankylosing Spondylitis – a hereditary rheumatological and psoriatic arthritis that I watched my mother struggle with all the years I knew her. My son also suffers from Fibromyalgia and  Tactile Allodynia.

As I asked for a Gluten Free menu at a restaurant last week, the gentleman next to me at the bar made a remark about how many people were doing this new “fad” diet of Gluten Free….he compared it to something like the South Beach Diet. I chose my words carefully and educated him on how the person next to me would be sick for days as a Celiac and how I had just met a number of people who were so allergic to Gluten that they could die since their response to Gluten was anaphylactic shock. Then I shared that I was one who did make a choice to go Gluten Free but that I did have a medical reason – to reduce chronic inflammation. I felt good after that short conversation – first because I knew how to simply educate this person and second that he seemed to really get it (he even said thanks!!)

One of the things you realize shortly after striving to be SAFELY Gluten Free is that you are cooking a lot more at home. I was introduced to Tiffany Hinton a little before Christmas last year. She has authored Gluten Free Cookbooks that you want in your library…..I gave them for Christmas Gifts since we enjoyed her experience and wisdom so much. Over the last few months I have had the pleasure of getting to know Tiffany, her husband Will and family very well. They truly have a story that you will want to learn…..they have 3 children under the age of 3 so Tiffany now is not the only gluten intolerant one in the family. They are also lactose, peanut, nightshades and dairy free.

Hinton Family 2014

Take advantage of all their hard work translating our old fave recipes to Gluten Free Recipes that work and taste great! They just released a new cookbook that Tiffany and Will wrote together sharing their journey, family history and best of all their favorite family recipes all reworked into tasty Gluten Free!!

Hinton Heritage Cookbook

Their mission is to be advocates for the Gluten and Allergy Free world – they have an abundance of experience and wisdom they generously share. Please check out their offerings here:

www.gfmomcertified.com/affiliates/shopping44

Be sure to sign up for Tiffany’s weekly Gluten & Allergy Free Recipes!!

They have been such a help to us and friends! I know they will bless you too!

Let’s talk soon! Elizabeth and Kris Gronert bringing you and your family Comfort For Life. Call or text (847) 502-8394 or email at elizabeth@elizabethanthonygronert.com

 

 

Ideas to Help “Hot” Sleepers or During Menopause Sleep More Comfortable

Man Waking to Alarm Clock

I don’t know who was suffering from my menopause more – Kris or me? I was waking up every hour to two hours kicking off covers from being warm and then waking up shivering and covering up. I rarely had more than 2 hours of sleep at a time…..We both would wake up in the morning exhausted. We were plain old fashioned sleep deprived with poor Kris constantly being disturbed by me. I am so glad we met 10 years ago before all this “old lady nonsense!”

For immediate help for those who tend to perspire or “flash” while sleeping ( I know many people who are not in menopause but perspire when they sleep who will benefit from these suggestions), let’s look at the bedding first – the layers on your bed DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! On top of our mattress we have a featherbed – I had always thought that I was allergic to feathers and down….but have learned that today’s products (bought from a reputable resource and paying a reasonable price) are super clean….I had been staying at Westin Hotels – asking for a fiber-filled pillow but sleeping on the rest of the “Heavenly” bed down & feather layers…..with no symptoms. I now sleep on a down pillow and a featherbed….which allows air to circulate underneath me. The down actually “breathes”….it pulls the heat away from my body (and if you are cold, it will warm you up…a featherbed will help two people with different body temperatures sleep together successfully. Sounds hard to believe but now we have helped dozens of couples “enjoy” sleeping together again!) If you truly have a feather allergy, there are many synthetic products being made available today that will circulate air around and under the body. The way down and these other products support and cradle your body is very comforting. It definitely helps me “get to sleep.” Next, invest in high -quality Bamboo Sheets and Pajamas (more Bamboo fabric content than cotton is what you are looking for)…or find one of the many “cool” fabrics available now in bedding and sleeping apparel. (An up and coming fabric is being made from Eucalyptus!) These fabrics were originally developed for people to work out in and then people realized that these fabrics were fabulous for those who perspire while sleeping! You won’t believe how much better you will feel!

For additional immediate help, I experimented with top quality, pure essential oils. I have found that rubbing Vetiver Oil on the soles of my feet, then a custom blend of oils that encourages deep relaxation on my wrists before crawling under the covers helps me relax and get to sleep. Some mist their pillowcase or bedding with Lavender or other relaxing essential oil or natural essences to promote sleep. I also have a natural supplement for relaxation that I take if I happen to wake up around 3-4 AM and feel like I may not go back to sleep. The product I use is all natural and it helps me get relax back to sleep for a few more hours….and able to wake up refreshed in the morning! (Beware of synthetic supplements or essential oils – they are not good for you! May even have toxic effects!)

For those going through menopause, the sleep issues may be helped by a visit to your doctor. There are prescriptions and natural supplements that do help! I encourage you to consult with your doctor before adding any supplements into your routine, especially if you are taking other prescriptions, under a doctor’s care or have medical issues. I chose the natural supplement route….and it did take some time to build up and have an effect in my body. I added a menopausal support supplement as recommended (one in the morning, one at dinner)…..as I started the second bottle (month) I wondered if I would feel any benefit. You can tell how patient I am, huh!

As usual, patience is a virtue and five weeks after taking this supplement as recommended, I slept 6 hours straight through the night. When I woke up Kris and I looked at each other! He asked me in amazement “is this the first time you have woken up?” Yes it was…..and I have continued to sleep soundly ever since that night. No more flashes. No more tossing and turning. I feel so much better and so lucky to have found this relief……Kris is thrilled too;-) Nothing like a good night’s sleep!

This was a good reminder that sometimes it takes more than just a week or two for a supplement, good nutrition and/or essential oils to help! Commitment and consistency is important in all we value!

If you found this information helpful, let us know! If you have any medical conditions, please consult your medical professional before following any of my suggestions here.

Questions, thoughts? You can call/text at (847) 502-8394, email at Liz@elizabethanthonygronert.com or find me on Facebook (Elizabeth Anthony Gronert). We look forward to helping you and your family have Comfort For Life! Elizabeth & Kris Gronert

Still bringing you Comfort For Life!

September is almost gone and I am wondering where did the time disappear to? Are you feeling the same way? My last post was in June before we went on our 17 day trip right after starting a new business….that was fun and stressful! After the trip, we jumped right back into the “sea of busyness” and are slowly reaching out to all the wonderful people we know to share all the changes we have experienced. Can’t wait to connect if we haven’t already……It really has given us time to be grateful and in awe of the contacts we have developed over the years. And with Facebook we are able to still interact with so many who we don’t see on a regular basis!

Some of you still don’t know that Private Quarters has closed their doors as of June 1, 2012. At first this was quite a shock but as most of us “mature folk” have learned (I think they call that wisdom!) that when a door closes, it gives us an opportunity to take a close look at that “wish list” we keep….and act on it. Kris and I spent a lovely evening in the hot tub with a great bottle of wine to determine what was important to our family now (that list was in my June 2012 post) and I am happy to report that we have found a simpler, very rewarding way to create security for our family and help the people we care about!

Our business partner is a “direct to you” store for safe, non-toxic, eco-friendly and made-in-the-USA products. These products combined with the skills I have acquired over the last 35 years, will create a fine blend of new services we can offer our customers. I continue to speak on Visual Presence, Dress for Success, Put Your Best Foot Forward, How To Sleep More Restoratively….but now will also offer appointments/will speak on topics relating to my Nail Technician, Cosmetology, Esthetician and Makeup Artist Licenses and Experience.

We look forward to helping you or someone you know…continuing our adventure of helping you and yours have Comfort For Life! Please contact us for upcoming events and more information at (847) 502-8394 or Liz@elizabethanthonygronert.com

Elizabeth & Kris Gronert bringing you new ideas each month for your family’s Comfort For Life.

Stay tuned as our website evolves – we promise it will be a fun adventure!