Kevin's Kitchen: Poor Man's Beef Wellington

A thyroidectomy requires a life change. That includes changing eating habits. The purpose of Kevin's Kitchen is to help those with no (or little) cooking skills to create great meals.

Today we are making Poor Man's Beef Wellington.

1. Season, brown, and drain the leanest hamburger you can find

2. Spoon a teaspoon of hamburger into a Pillsbury croissant. Optionally add cheese. Seal the hamburger into the croissant

3. Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden brown

Mmmmmm.....

Kevin's Kitchen: Chicken Spiedie

Your slow cooker is a quick road to dinner heaven!

A thyroidectomy requires a life change. That includes changing eating habits. The purpose of Kevin's Kitchen is to help those with no (or little) cooking skills to create great meals.

If your significant other does all the cooking, surprise him/her with a night off by using this easy recipe. These speidies aren't something scrawny guys wear to the beach, chicken speidies are one of live's few incredible joys. 

Dump a mess of pre-trimmed chicken breasts into a slow cooker (perhaps 5 pounds). 

Pour spiedie sauce over the top (it is something similar, but better than, Italian Dressing). Cook on low all day.

There are lots of ways to serve this dish up and none of them are wrong. Service it straight up - whole chicken breast. Or, cube it (before or after cooking), put it on a hoagie roll, and melt a piece of cheese over the top.  If you make this? You are going to be a hero!

Kevin's Kitchen: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Your slow cooker is a quick road to dinner heaven!

A thyroidectomy requires a life change. That includes changing eating habits. The purpose of Kevin's Kitchen is to help those with no (or little) cooking skills to create great meals.

This week we are going South of the Border to make some Chicken Tortilla Soup. This stuff is guaranteed to grow hair on your chest. It is a perfect recipe because it involves a lot of meat and dumping cans into a slow cooker - what could be easier? Don't tell anyone... but I hear this recipe is health too!

Start with 5 pounds of chicken breasts in the crockpot. Add 30oz Tomato Sauce, 1 1/2 cup of Salsa (get the Salsa that doesn't have sugar added), 3 cans of black beans, and 3 cans of Ro-tel Tomatoes. 

You can cube the chicken ahead of time, or shred it after cooking, or whatever works for you. Cook all day on low. Start it before work and you'll smell this incredible dish from the driveway when you get home! The neighbors will be, like, "What you got cookin' in there?"

Support Gourp: Vocal Chord Paralysis

I scour the support groups for some of the best questions and answers. Everyone's names are removed for privacy. Answers may be summarized and/or edited.

Question: Has anyone else developed vocal chord paralysis?

Answer:

• Yes. My left vocal cord was paralyzed. It is somewhat better after all this time.
• Yes- sounded different for about 6 months
• Yes, going on 2.5 months and still paralyzed but I have my full voice. Having another throat scope in March. Dr said the nerve will come back just takes time.
• 3.5 years later, I still don’t have my ‘high’ pitch voice, or my ‘low’ pitch..... thinking they’re gone forever.
• I used to sing, now I have no range and sound horrible.
• I have a severed vocal nerve as the tumor was wrapped around it.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nutritionist, nor personal trainer. Never take medical advice over the internet. Seek the advice of your doctor before following any of the recommendations made during this series.

Kevin's Kitchen: Chicken Ala King

Your slow cooker is a quick road to dinner heaven!

A thyroidectomy requires a life change. That includes changing eating habits. The purpose of Kevin's Kitchen is to help those with no (or little) cooking skills to create great meals.

You are the King of your Castle, so, why not make some Chicken Ala King? 

Just toss 6 pounds of pre trimmed chicken breasts in a slow cooker. 

Dump in 3 cans of mixed vegetables and 4 cans of cream of chicken soup. Cook on low all day. Before you eat, the chicken will easily shred using a fork. My mouth is watering just thinking about this meal!

Celebrity Workouts: Dwayne Johnson

Why can't we all look like a celebrity? You've probably seen a celebrity and was impressed with their physique. When that happens, I like to look at that actor or actress's workout routine. I always say, if you want to look like an athlete? You need to work out like one. The same is true for celebrities.

The 6'5" Dwayne Johnson, known for his amazing physique, is a box office mega star. He started his career in wrestling as The Rock, and has moved on to star in movies such as Fast and Furious, GI Joe, Jumanji, Disney's Moana, Pain& Gain, The Scorpion King, and many more.

Johnson hits the gym six days per week for almost two hours per day. The workout includes a 50 minute cardio session before hitting the weights, working on a different muscle group each day (shoulders, back, legs, arms, and chest). "Working out is my therapy, and it's cheaper than a shrink", Johnson explains. He mixes up dumb bells, cables, barbells, and machines. "I do 4 sets of 12 reps with a 60-90 second rest," he explains.

Johnson consumes 6000 calories per day to fuel his huge body. He eats five to seven meals throughout the day which include a lean protein (Cod or chicken), egg whites, vegetables, white rice, casein protein, and oatmeal. All the meals are measured out and prepackaged according to the goals he is trying to achieve.

"I love training when the sun is coming up because it allows me to put on my headphones and step off the crazy treadmill that is everyone's life. I have my headphones on and I'm listening to my music, and I'm 100 percent focused. There's no wasted time or effort when it comes to me and the weights."