Gluten Free Oat Muffins

 I made some gluten free oat muffins using this recipe. I used zucchini instead of apple and I also added flax seed and chia seed. I've made them twice using different sweeteners and a different veggie or fruit. (First time was pumpkin) It's fun to experiment with this base. Although they don't rise quite as well as gluten muffins I still think they're delicious. Plus, I don't have to get any expensive or different gluten free flours to make them! I've been going gluten free for three weeks now. I hope to tell you more about it soon. It's been a neat journey.

Do you have any fun, healthy recipes to share?

S'mores...

 I love s'mores. Especially toasted on a campfire. But sometimes weather, mess, and hassle can not permit such a treat.
There are of course other alternatives. Here are a few very simple tips for s'mores.
-You can bake them in the oven or in a toaster oven.
-Chocolate chips can be used in place of chocolate bars.
-You must smoosh both sides of the graham cracker together to fully enjoy your s'more. ;-)
-They taste great when cooled, too. You can even keep them in an air tight container and eat at your leisure.

As you can see this sophisticated treat is quite unique. You can't go wrong with chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers!

How do you like your s'mores?

Coffee Cake

  Saturday mornings would not be complete with out a yummy, filling, breakfast...

This morning my Mom and I made coffee cake. The best way to kick off a productive Saturday! 

I thought I'd share the recipe we you all:

Cake ingredients 

4 cups freshly milled flour               

2 Tbs. baking powder                       

1 tsp. salt                                            

2 eggs

2 cups milk                                                

1 cup oil

1/2 cup honey

Topping ingredients  

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup sucanat (or white sugar)

8 Tbs. butter

3 tsp. cinnamon

 Stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center. 

Add egg, milk, oil, and honey. Stir just until well mixed. Spread batter evenly in a greased 9x13 pan. Combine walnuts, sucanat, melted butter, and cinnamon; spread over batter.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until it comes clean with a toothpick. 

Shield with foil if getting too brown. 

Altered from The Bread Becker's recipe.

Hope your having a beautiful Saturday!

                                What did you have for breakfast?

Strawberry Shortcake

After my Mom found a sale on strawberries, and bought 8 pounds, she asked if I'd make strawberry shortcake. I have never made a cake from scratch. (Only the occasional cake mix)
I looked up shortcake recipes on this website  and found THIS recipe and decided to try it.

It was not as difficult as I thought it would be, but still some what of a challenge. I am not what you would call an experienced baker and cook. :-) It was a fairly simple recipe and very yummy.

It is even better with a more than generous amount of strawberries and whipped cream.

The cake was consumed and only one piece remained after all my family had their fill.

 It is somewhat healthy...right? It does have strawberries!
Okay, okay.
Not that healthy.
But a recipe that is definitely worth a try.
 My sweet tooth was content with the semi-healthiness of it.

Do you like strawberry shortcake?

Crustless Quiche

 This delicious meal is easy and simple to make and very yummy. There are so many meals I'd like to share with y'all and this recipe is only one of my favorites.

Crustless quiche

-Six eggs
 -1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
-1/2 cup minced onion
-1/2 minced green pepper
-generous amount of cheddar cheese
 (salt, pepper & basil sprinkled to taste)

Grease a 9 in. round casserole with butter. Cover bottom of dish generously with cheddar. Break 6 large eggs into a bowl add parmesan, onion, green pepper and mix. Combine egg mixture into 9 in. dish.
Add salt, pepper and basil to taste. Sprinkle top with cheddar. Bake at 350 degrees, for 20 minutes or until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean.

And a side note once again the pictures don't do the meal justice. I am not a very experienced food photographer. ;-)


Have a blessed day!

Heath Bars

                               Chocolate, peanut butter, saltine crackers.

                                                           :::                                    :::

                          Butter and... Sugar....

 I know that many people are participating in Annie's sugar free challenge. I am not....
I didn't think I had the will power when I heard that Annie was having the challenge and I was in fact correct. I have been pigging out on so many sweets! With Thanksgiving, so many tempting recipes, and my grandma visiting the Hershey store and bringing back chocolate, I have failed with just trying to cut down on sweets! On the other hand, I have been enjoying myself....
Up top our pictures of a some very yummy heath bars (Not health bars, heath bars) that I made with this recipe.
I apologize to those who are doing the challenge. I might be making you struggle, but these bars are good!
The holidays are a time to eat lots of sweets. Right? Okay, so I am trying make myself feel better.

I hope you all have a sweet Christmas season, sugar or not...!

"Fall" out there

I have been simply loving fall. I am all out there when it comes to anything autumn-y!
I decided to write a whole seasonal post.

I took these leaf photos by spinning them around.

With my sister spinning, we captured some unique pictures.

Here are a couple of poems that the season has inspired me to write...

 Autumn
It whispers with the leaves,
It talks through the breeze,
I hear it shouting with the gusts of wind.
It's icy breath touching my neck and arms.
Painting colors on the trees,
making music on bird's wings.
Soaring high and whirling low.
Sweet and sharp, like a harp:
 Jesus Christ's art.

Leaves
Streaked with color,splashed with detail,

vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow.

Dancing and swirling, frolicking with the wind,

whispering good byes, for it is summers end.

::Pumpkin cookies::

Here is a very tasty pumpkin recipe that I tried baking today... They are so yummy!
They seem to be more cakey than the classic cookie, but I can't stop eating them.
Click here for the recipe! They're like biting into an autumn breeze... almost. :-)

                                     In the oven.

                                         They contain cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, vanilla and pumpkin.

                                     Many ingredients that taste like fall.

                                  My grandma got three pretty orange roses.

                                

God blesses us richly with beauty all around...it makes me happy when a new season arrives.
                                    
                   What have you been up to?...

Homemade Iced Mint Tea

         
 Lately I have been making my own mint tea, with our home grown mint...It is so easy to make. I got the general recipe from homestead blessings videos. It is an imprecise recipe.

You will need:

~Fresh mint about 15 stems
~A Bowl
~Gallon -or so-of water
~Sweetner (Sugar,honey,etc)
~Cheese cloth, or some kind of fine strainer
~ A container for the tea

Wash your fresh mint before starting...

You need to take out about 7 stalks and pull the leaves off into a bowl.

Put the stems aside. ( I compost mine.) 

Have about a gallon of water measured out...

Pour about a quart of water into your bowl.

 Squeeze, rip, and crunch, the mint leaves into your water. ( Your trying to get all the juice into your water.I usually squeeze with both hands. But I was taking the picture.)

Depending upon how strong you want your mint, squeeze until your water has a brown coloring.

Take a good amount of your mint out of your bowl, and set aside, for the moment.

Choose your container and cover it with a cheese cloth or fine strainer.

Carefully pour the water into the other container trying to keep as many leaves off the top of the cloth as possible.(You may want to have two people at this point.)

Repeat steps above until desired amount of water has been diverted into tea or until gallon of water has been used up. Just add more mint, ( Including what was set aside.) water, squeeze, strain, and it's as easy as that.

You may sweeten to taste.(with sugar, honey, etc) You can refrigerate to cool or use ice cubes.

Yum, a refreshing drink on a hot day!

God bless you...

Rambles and A Recipe......

Busy, busy,.... I apologize for my lack of creative posts. You could say I have writer's block.
I have been busy as usual lately. :) I have been driving more frequently and I drove in our neighborhood on Sunday! FUN! :) I had another sewing class on Wednesday. (Maggie and I.) Very enjoyable as well. We have some home work. Fun homework that is.

Hey look! I don't even have to look at the road! Just kidding! The car is in park. :D ( This was just before I started driving in our neighborhood. I was a little nervous.)

My sisters and I are going to be in a recital two Sundays from now.
My friend and I are working on a duet. We almost have it done. Just a few touches and it will be ready for Sunday! I always feel nervous for recitals... really nervous. My body reacts and right as it is my turn to be on stage, all eyes on me, my whole body shakes. Thankfully with piano my fingers don't shake. But it is annoying. My heart races. Shiver. I wish it didn't happen. But that is part of who I am. I am a nervous person. :)

Well, I am sure I could go on and on and on and on........... ( I know I am a blabber mouth when writing or typing. ) but I will spare you and get to the point.
As I promised.... A recipe!

~Buttermilk Biscuits~

...Recipe from Homestead blessings

~ 2 cups soft white flour
~2 cups unbleached white flour
~ 8 tsp. baking powder
~1 tsp. salt
~ approx. 1 cup lard or coconut oil
~ approx. 1 1/2 cups buttermilk


Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl. Add small amount of lard or oil- mix with hands until mixture is crumbly. Stir in enough butter to moisten. Knead briefly. Roll out on floured surface. Cut out biscuits and place on baking sheet. Bake at 400 for 12- 15 minutes or until lightly brown on top.

Enjoy!! Another idea for any type of biscuit is to lay the batter on top of chicken pot pie before baking. We did it with some of these biscuits and it looked cute with all the shapes we had.

Another recipe coming up and tutorial for a craft, that I want to share, will hopefully be in the making soon! :)

Off to Joann's craft store! :D Write to you later. ;)

Oatmeal Cookies

Here is a yummy, healthy, recipe that my mom made a couple days ago that I would like to share. I baked them but she actually made them. :)

Great Grandma's Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
The name says it all. :)

You need:

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup shortening or (3/4 cup oil)

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 small tsp. soda mixed with a 1 table spoon of warm water.

2 cups sifted flour

3 cups oatmeal

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 tsp. salt


Scoop small balls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake 325 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.

This recipe can as many cookies as you see from the picture. :)


( I hope to have a post about the art class we attended, so check back soon!)


~Blessings on this lovely Spring day!!!~

Cabbage and Hamburger Bake

This simple, easy, and delicious meal, is perfect for busy families.

My mother makes this meal quite often and I cooked it two nights ago.
It is straight forward, southern cooking. Home style with out the style. :)
Here is the recipe, and unfortunately I didn't take any photos of this yummy casserole, that did it justice.


1 head cabbage, shredded

1 lb. hamburger

1 green pepper, diced

1 medium onion, sliced

2 cups cooked rice

1 quart tomato sauce

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Steam cabbage until limp; drain.

Fry hamburger until brown. Drain off
excessive grease, then add green pep-per,
onion, and cabbage. Fry lightly.
Place rice on bottom of ungreased
casserole, then add cabbage/hamburger mix.
Pour tomato sauce over it and press down to cover with
the sauce. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes, add cheese,
then bake for another 10 minutes.



Hope you enjoy~!!!


Have a lovely evening!


Recipe credited to Back wood Homes Magazine.

Rich Peanut Butter Bars

Here is the recipe for "Rich Peanut Butter Bars" that I promised!



Rich Peanut Butter Bars

1/2 cup peanut butter ---------------------1 cup freshly milled flour
1/2 cup butter ------------------------------1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cup Sucanat --------------------------1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs ----------------------------------------1 tsp. vanilla

Melt butter and peanut butter together. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until well blended. Press into a greased 9"x 13" pan. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 25-30 minutes. Cool and cut squares. Makes about 2 dozen.

My tip for this recipe: * chocolate chips* It would not be half as yummy without them.





Have a blessed Sunday!

Ideas To Keep Warm and Busy

My very odd combination of socks. :) I will do anything to keep warm! Today it was 51 degrees outside! Brr!


Here are 5 ways to keep warm and keep busy inside.

1. Wear socks and sweaters. It is fun to mix- match colors when your staying home and no ones going to be seeing you. ;)


2. Five Minute Chocolate mug cake




1 regular size coffee mug
4 tablespoons flour ( Plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
some nuts ( optional)
small splash vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well.
Add egg and mix thoroughly. Pour milk and oil-mix well.
Add chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla-mix well again.
Put mug in microwave and cook 3 min. on high.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug. Don't be alarmed.
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
This will serve two depending on person. Enjoy!!!

*Some advice on recipe*
I would add a bit more milk and put it in for more like 2 and a half minutes. It gets a bit dry other wise. I shared this with my sisters. In my opinion it is way too much for one person. Also it took me a little more time than five minutes to make it.


3. Drink hot cocoa and curl up with a good book. Here are two suggestions of books.

Educational and Biblical Book
~Lies young woman believe~ By Nancy Leigh Demoss and Dannah Gresh

Entertaining and good literature
~ Understood Betsy~ By Dorthy Canfield Fisher


4. Write a poem about Autumn or Winter. For inspiration you might want to write it outside or look at pictures of nature or Draw a winter scene, knit a scarve, while listening to seasonal music or while watching a winter movie.


5. Make decorations out of fall leaves, pine cones, and pumpkins for your front door or porch.



Do you have any special things you do this time of year to keep busy and warm?

Have a blessed day!!