Spice of Life

So we have recently begun (loosely) following the Paleo diet.  We are not super hard core about it, but have eliminated many things from our diet and are definitely feeling the difference.  Anyway, yesterday I saw Almond Flour in the store and thought, let's give it a try!  I looked up some recipes and found this one that looked so good, I had to run back out to the store to get a few more things. Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Scones 2 cups blanched almond flour ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ cup dried cranberries ½ cup white chocolate chips 1 tablespoon orange zest 1 egg 2 tablespoons agave nectar In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, cranberries, chips and zest In a smaller bowl, combine egg and agave Mix wet ingredients into dry Knead dough with hands if necessary to ensure proper distribution of ingredients Form dough into 2 little circles so that each one is about ½-inch in thick Cut each circle like a pizza, ...

Normally when something tragic happens involving guns, I will post something on Facebook about what I think.  Today I'm writing it in my blog because I know people have their own opinions on this matter and if they take the time to read what I'm writing in here, they can't get all over my case because they could have chosen not to read it.  Having said that...what the fuck is wrong with America?  How many shootings need to take place before something changes with gun control?  Just a few days ago there was a shooting at an Oregon mall and now in Connecticut, 27 people, MOSTLY CHILDREN are dead because of another shooting.  This one has more casualties than Columbine, the school shooting that is most often talked about.  Again...what the fuck!?!  I'm sorry if you're offended by the swearing but I've already had a bad day, now to hear about this...I am fucking pissed off. You might be thinking, "people kill people" or whatever, but if we took away the ...

Wow, it has been way too long since I blogged!  So I got this gluten free bread at Costco a few days ago and it did NOT go over too well with the kids...I froze one bag but had to get rid of the other one, but just couldn't throw it away.  I thought to myself, what can I make with bread?  Bread Pudding!  So I looked up a GF bread pudding recipe...it had bourbon soaked raisins in it, so of course I had to use it.  It did have cream in it, and we're not doing cow milk, so I substituted Soy Nog.   We've been transitioning into the Paleo diet, and it's hard but we are definitely feeling the benefits.  However one thing I've been missing is baking, so this is very exciting for me.  :) Here is the recipe...instead of milk or cream, I used Soy Nog and I didn't put sugar in the milk mixture that goes in the bread (didn't need it). Ingredients: 1/3 cup raisins OR currants 2 tablespoons bourbon (or brandy or rum) 2 peeled, cored apples sl...

It's interesting how something can be brewing under the surface and you have no idea it's there until a tiny little thing sets you off into a full blown meltdown.  When Norm gets home from work just after 3, I have a few minutes to fill him in on what's going on here, like "there's stuff in the washer that needs to go in the dryer" and he has a few minutes to fill me in on what's going on at work, then I walk down.  Yes we are "ships passing in the night", but do not mistake this for complaining, it works for us.  Yesterday though, it was a bit hectic for the messages to get through and last night I found out there were still clothes in the washer.  At first I was like, "why the hell am I crying over wet clothes, I can just take care of it in the morning"...until I found myself sobbing almost uncontrollably and it hit me.  I am overwhelmed.  Everyday I try to make dinner while Zoe is napping and Kieren is watching a movie, so that Nor...

My mom has been making tofu enchiladas for years .  They're one of my fave's, so I decided to make them yesterday for "Meatless Monday".  I didn't have the recipe on hand, so I improvised and changed a few things.  Lately I have been limiting my intake of cow's milk.  I don't think I'm completely lactose intolerant, but I have been feeling better since I've cut back.  So I used cheddar and a hard goat cheese (normally we use cheddar and jack).  Here's the (rough) recipe I used yesterday... 1 pkg corn tortillas 1 pkg firm tofu green bell pepper onion garlic black olives 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp ancho chille powder 1 tsp chipotle chilli powder enchilada sauce (my mom makes it, this time I used the can) grated cheddar and hard goat cheese Saute the onion and garlic in oil.  Add diced bell pepper and olives.  Squeeze water out of tofu and add to pan.  Saute on low and add chilli powders, salt and pepper.  Pour some sauce into ...

I have always had a difficult and distant relationship with my father.  I won't go into it now, but over the last few months we have gone from talking about once a month to not at all.  I have written and emailed and he does not respond.  It's been very painful and confusing for me that my own father doesn't want to speak to me.  As a parent myself I have often wondered, how is that possible?  How do you just cut off your children and not communicate at all?  It will always be a mystery to me.  My reason for writing this however is not to get into all that, but to share a recent revelation.  Rather than focusing on what I am lacking in my life, I need to focus on what I HAVE.  I have an awesome mom, with whom I have a very good and healthy relationship.  It makes me so happy when I see the excitement in my kids when they get to see "Ahmo".  I have an amazing husband who loves me and our kids.  He is caring, patient, and I still...

When my son turned one, I made him a carob zucchini cake.  What is carob you ask?  It's the healthy version of chocolate, but doesn't taste like chocolate.  When my daughter turned one, I made her super fancy chocolate raspberry cupcakes.  This year I'm lazy, I admit it!  I made Zoe Pillsbury Strawberry cupcakes... Just look at that, it's horrible.  My hippie/health food side is SO ashamed of my lazy side right now.  Why am I even posting this?  I shouldn't have even looked at the ingredients...but just the fake pink color gives away how much crap is in there.  Have any of you mom's ever done this?  I usually feel very motivated to make something healthy and/or super tasty and homemade.  I don't know what happened to me this year.  Dear next year self, take note!  Don't do this again!  Oh well...it won't kill them this once.  So they'll be all hopped up on sugar and red dye #40.  It'll be fun, right?!?

Getting ready for Fall, my absolute favorite season.  I love the changing leaves, the crisper air and smells of cinnamon and spice.  I enjoy decorating here and there with whatever I have or can find that's cheap.  This Jack Skellington bobble head was something my mom got us a few years ago and it always comes out at this time! Our garden has been blooming and it's so exciting!  I can't take credit for it, other than occasionally watering.  It's Norm's baby and I'm so proud of him.  :)  We're still waiting on the pumpkins, but our zucchini has been doing great!  Here is Kieren, our 4 1/2 year old son.

This morning I felt like baking something for the kids so I found a recipe online for applesauce muffins. 1 1/2 c. flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp allspice 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp salt 2 eggs 1 c. brown sugar 1 stick plus 3 tbsp butter, melted 1 c. applesauce Topping 2 tbsp sugar 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp allspice 1/4 tsp nutmeg Preheat oven to 400 F.  Stir flour, baking powder and soda, spices and salt together.  Whisk eggs and brown sugar til smooth.  Add butter slowly and whisk til creamy.  Stir in applesauce.  Fold in flour mixture til just wet.  Add chopped walnuts or pecans if desired.  Fill muffin cups and sprinkle on topping.  Bake for 20 min. **These turned out good, but I found that 20 min was too long, 15 is better. Now the house smells of the spices of fall and I LOVE it!!  The kids loved them too, which is a plus.  :)

A couple days ago I was planning our meals and decided to make a roast chicken and then use what we didn't eat for chicken noodle soup, or as I like to call it "chickie noo noo".  I rinsed and dried the chicken and put it in the pan.   I tried "trussing" for my first time and I think it helped.  If you don't know what that is, look it up.  What I did differently this time was I didn't put any butter, oil or mayo on the chicken but instead just put seasoning on it.  I used salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and thyme (basically all the seasoning I had in the cupboard).  I put several cloves of garlic inside the chicken.  I then cut up carrots, onion, green, yellow and orange bell pepper, and red potatoes.  I put the same seasoning and olive oil on the veggie's and tossed them in the pan with the chicken.  I baked it at 400 F for 40 min.  At that point it wasn't up to temp (165) so I set the timer for 10 more min (several times).  O...