What I've Missed the Most

The things I have missed the most  about Maine...

1. chipmunks - they're so cute and tiny. I love how they scurry about.
2. the sweet smell of the woods - after being in cities for several years I have forgotten how wonderful the country smells.  It's a beautiful thing!  There is actually a sweetness to the air.
3. green - it's green everywhere and I love it!
4. rocks - I love the huge rocks all over the place. And the kids love them too.  They're great for climbing on and playing on and laying on and posing on.  Now I feel like Dr. Seuss...
5. lakes - they're so pretty and clean.  That might sound lame, but if you've lived in Missouri or Texas you know that their lakes are just NOT. Add to that...the drinking water is just delicious here too.  
6. hard work - there's a lot of hard work to be done.  I believe that learning to work hard is a very important part of life.  In the city my children did not learn to do work that is as hard as work here is.  I love seeing them try and succeed.
7. NO poisonous critters, bugs, or snakes - In Texas we had brown recluse spiders, black widow spiders, scorpions, fire ants, water moccasins, and who knows what else...maybe an alligator in the lake. Haha!  There was talk of one in the town we lived in. EEEK!  I never felt safe to let my kids explore.  Especially in Texas.  But here in Maine, they have found frogs, a red spotted newt (which is so stinking cool!), and harmless spiders.  I even found a really weird leaf bug on the road one day. That was a little creepy but cool at the same time.
They can dig in the dirt and not get stung by fire ants. They can lay on the lawn and roll around if that floats their boat.  Although, Colin needs to be cautious of bees now.  He got stung over the weekend and swelled up quite nicely.  Ooops!
8. Wildlife - It's everywhere.  And it's gorgeous! One day Colin and I saw a white tailed deer in the woods just watching us.  It was beautiful.
9. The ocean - It's simply amazing to take the family to the ocean to swim in frigid water, find crabs and other sea creatures, walk on the rocks along the shore, collect shells and rocks, feel the salty breeze and breath the salty air.  It's soothing for the soul.
10. Friends - There's nothing like going to the store and running into a friend you haven't seen in years. Or just being able to visit with old friends and catch up.  It makes my heart happy.
11. Family - It's an added bonus to be able to live close by to family.  They are all a blessing in our lives!

Count your blessings today.  See how blessed you truly are.

Vaccinations

Perusing a Parents magazine that arrived in the mail today I came across an article about vaccines.  I brace myself just in case.  There are so many ways to look at vaccines.  You never know what that next person you meet will think or feel about giving their child shots. It can turn into quite an uncomfortable conversation filled with differing views and opinions.

 

Unfortunately this article turned into one of those that made me shake my head.  Really?  I find it interesting that people can be so closed minded in this day and age. 

This is what it all boils down to, People, you do what’s best for your child. 

NO ONE can make these decisions for you.  Do I vaccinate or don’t I?  Are they safe?  Will my child have adverse reactions to something that is supposed to be helpful?   

The best thing I have ever done for my children is to be prayerful about what is best for them.  I do my research.  I ask questions. I talk to doctors.  I read information.  And then I prayerfully make a decision. 

I find it interesting that people get so angry at others for their differing choices. Sometimes I’d like to shake them until their vision clears and the ignorance dissipates.  Being different is what makes the world go ‘round. 

If I allowed another person to make a decision regarding my child they wouldn’t have the knowledge they need to make the most informed and best choice.  We know our own children and their needs more than anyone else can. 

If you feel strongly that your children need to be vaccinated…then you should follow those feelings.  If you feel that your child should only get certain vaccinations or should get them on a slower schedule…follow your instincts.  If you feel impressed that your children should not receive any vaccinations…hold your ground….stick to it and be firm in your choice. 

No matter how you feel about it remember to allow others the right to make their own choices for their families. Be supportive of those choices. 

Be kind and love each other.

Happy New Year 2015

The new year began without much excitement or anything extra special.  We stayed at home and enjoyed some calm, peaceful, quiet time with the family simply watching a movie and eating treats. We munched on popcorn.  We scarfed down party mix.  We sipped hot cocoa.  We snuggled on the couch.  As midnight drew closer, my husband and I realized we hadn't planned anything for that moment when the new year began.  He quickly got online and pulled up a countdown timer for our time zone and we began the countdown.  He started at 1 minute and 30 seconds but he quickly realized that was too long.  With ten seconds to go we began the count down; 10, 9, 8, 7, ...3, 2, 1...Happy New Year. A quick New Year's kiss and some small snappers to throw and we were all off to bed.

I know.  Exciting right!

I think as I age I realize there are different perspectives to every aspect of life.  The New Year celebration just didn't seem all that important to me this year.  As I thought about it I realized that it's not just the ringing in of the new year that matters.  It's about traditions. It's about new beginnings.  It's about a fresh start.  It's about new perspectives.

I don't normally make any New Year's resolutions.  Many times I find them daunting.  What if I can't or don't complete the goal?  What if I say I'm going to do something wonderful and it just doesn't happen? I want to believe I can do ANYTHING I set my mind to. But let's face it, life happens.  Sometimes those plans we have or those goals we set don't come to be because of circumstances beyond our control.  Being the perfectionist that I am, it's hard for me to accept not meeting my goals.  It's terrifying to think that I might fail.

A friend of mine posted a list of 10 things she wanted to accomplish this year. As I read her simple but awesome list I realized that in the past I have been setting myself up for failure.  Right then and there I decided that I would make a list of things that I truly, deeply want to accomplish, but that are attainable for ME.

This list might change.  This list might grow.  But it will be a guideline for my year.

Here are the goals I have so far:
1.Get down to and stay at my goal weight
2. Get more fit
3. Read my scriptures every day
4. Pray daily
5. Go sugar free for 4 weeks at least 2 times during the year
6. Go on more dates with my husband
7. Write
8. Read more often
9. Serve more
10. Find balance in life
11. Love more

Tomato free Chili

I had practically written off making anything like chili once I had to get rid of tomatoes. Until I read some blogs and a suggestion was made. Then I decided to give it a try. Here is the recipe that I used as my starting point. And this is what I came up with:

Gluten free Dairy Free Tomato free Chili

2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
2 cans red kidney beans drained and rinsed or mild chili beans
2 cans great northern beans or white kidney beans drained and rinsed
1 15 oz can pumpkin
1 15 oz can carrots
1 15 oz can beets
40-48 oz chicken broth
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder or use fresh cloves
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp paprika

Put carrots, beets and pumpkin into blender and purée. Add a little chicken broth to make it easier. Set aside. In large pot brown meat. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Turn onto low. Cover. Simmer.  Enjoy with corn chips or corn bread!

Now go enjoy your delicious bowl of awesomeness!!  

The happy girl

The fat rain drops pounded on the ground.  It echoed through the chimney; plink, tink, plonk.  It gushed out of the gutters and onto the brown grass.  There was freshness in it as the drops poured from the gray cloud-filled sky.  I sat, looking out the window, as the rain drops hit the puddle that had formed in the folding chair. I have always felt a sadness that went along with rain.  And this time was no different. 

Cassie was happy today though.  There are so many days when she is just sad, grouchy, and angry and those days always seem to be followed by rainy days.  She can feel it coming, and it doesn't make her feel well.  I think, from what I can determine from her mood and actions that it down right hurts. 

When I was a teenage girl and I was babysitting, I loved the children I cared for…for the most part.  Having children looked fun and easy.  Now, as I am in my 17^th year of mothering/parenting, etc., I have found that the fairy tale only exists in pieces; small glimpses of wonderful-ness.

There are fairy tale moments, indeed.  There are glimpses of beauty in motherhood. And when they happen I pause and try to take in those precious pieces of my day. They don’t last, but THEY are what make parenting worth it…especially when many moments are filled with the day to day, and the hurts, trials and troubles of life. 

One of my struggles has always been in knowing what each child needs and finding a way to meet those needs.  Months ago we eliminated food dyes and other dyes from Cassie’s life followed by ridding her of gluten.  The change in her has been extremely significant. She is happier.  She talks more.  She actually talks to people outside of our house….sometimes. She is sweet and funny.  And when she has a bad day I find myself searching again for answers and ideas that could help her to be happy. 

As of late, the topic or thought on my mind has been trying to determine a cause for these hard days and then a solution. I haven’t found it yet, but I’m sure through prayer and pondering I will be led to the right information that will bless our lives as a whole.  

Gluten Free Flax Bread

I found this recipe for gluten free bread in my desperate search to replace bread made with wheat and white flour.  I don't eat a lot of bread but once in a while would like toast or a sandwich.  The kids eat bread a lot more than I do.  When I eat it I want it to taste as much like regular bread as possible.  While its extremely difficult to make a good gluten free bread I have found that it can be done.  Here are some great places to find good recipes:

"The Gluten Free Gourmet" by Bette Hagman
"The Gluten Free Gourmet Bakes Bread" by Bette Hagman
"Special Diets for Special Kids" by Lisa Lewis, PhD

I've used a few of the recipes from these books and from others.  Many times they are SO pricey to make that it's better if I just go purchase a loaf or two.  This recipe came out awesome the first time, no tricky techniques required.  I have even used different flour blends in it with good results.  The flaw with the recipe is that it makes too much for the normal loaf pan and it spills over the edges and all over the oven. The reviewers warned about this, but did I listen...nope.  I just HAD to try it myself.  Haha!

I decided to adjust the recipe to fit into a regular loaf pan so that I wouldn't have to go and purchase a new pan.  Below you will find my adjustments to the recipe.

Gluten Free Flax Bread

1 cup gluten free flour mix
3 Tbsp garbanzo bean/chick pea flour
6 Tbsp potato starch
3 Tbsp cornstarch
3 Tbsp flax seed meal
2 tsp. xanthan gum
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
3/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
3/4 cup water or almond milk or coconut milk (I do half water and half dairy free milk)
1 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
2 1/4 Tbsp honey
1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

Combine flours, flax, starches, gum, yeast, and salt in a large mixing bowl. In the mixer, combine wet ingredients together and then add the dry. Scrapes the sides of the bowl.  Mix on medium speed for 4-5 minutes.  Pour into 1 greased loaf pan.  Let rise to the top of the pan in a warm, but turned off oven for about 40-80 minutes. Bake at 350F for about 40 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool and slice.

Success!!

I have been trying to make a good gluten free cookie and knew that all it would take was the right recipe with the right ingredients.  Sounds easy until you try to find one.  I was SO frustrated. I almost gave up....a couple of times. BUT I decided to be relentless and I finally found what I was missing....the right flour mixture.

I searched and searched and finally found some helpful information and mix recipes on the Living Without website. They have a great list of substitutions too! Then I thought I hit the goldmine. I found this page with a recipe for chocolate chip cookies that looked promising.  LOL!  They were NOT good!  UGH!!  The kids ate them so they weren't a total waste.

But the page was NOT waste of time.  I found the awesome recipe for the flour mix that is amazing in cookies on that same page that had the not-so-tasty chocolate chip cookie recipe.  Look down at the bottom and you will find it.  :)

I was craving some lemon cookies the other day and decided, after much searching, that I would attempt to create my own recipe for these delicious cookies.  The second batch was BEAUTIFUL!  (I've also included the recipe using regular white flour below)

GF DF Lemon Cookies

½ cup all natural shortening

1 cup white sugar

1 ½ tsp lemon extract

1 egg

4 Tbsp lemon juice

1 cup gf  All Purpose flour mix (below)

¾ cup gf cookie flour mix (below)

½ tsp baking soda

1 ½ heaping tsp xanthan gum

¼ tsp salt

Cream together shortening, sugar, extract, egg and lemon juice until well blended. Place flours, soda, xanthan gum and salt on top.  Mix well.  Scoop onto cookie sheet or baking stone.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned on edges.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Cool on pan for about 5 minutes.  Move to cooling rack.  Enjoy!

 All-Purpose Flour Blend

Use this blend for all your gluten-free

baking.

1/2 cup rice flour

1/4 cup tapioca starch/flour

1/4 cup cornstarch or potato starch

All Purpose Gluten-Free Flour Blend (or GF Cookie Flour Mix as I called it)

Makes 9½ cups

2 cups super-fine brown rice flour

1½ cups sweet rice flour

2 cups cornstarch

1 cup chickpea or garfava flour

1 cup tapioca starch

2 cups sorghum flour

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate in an air-tight container until used.

For a cookie made with regular wheat/white flour see below:

Lemon Cookies 

½ cup all natural shortening

1 cup white sugar

1 ½ tsp lemon extract

1 egg

4 Tbsp lemon juice

1 ¾ cup flour

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

Cream together shortening, sugar, extract, egg and lemon juice until well blended. Place flours, soda, xanthan gum and salt on top.  Mix well.  Scoop onto cookie sheet or baking stone.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned on edges.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Cool on pan for about 5 minutes.  Move to cooling rack.  Enjoy!