Where do 6 years go?

2017. How did this happen?  I really thought that blogging would be a consistent hobby for me way back when.  It would be a way to communicate with others besides my little people.   I am not sure if it is because of my personality type of getting excited for something and then moving on, or my kid's activities just overtook my life, but I just never continued.  Until two days ago, I completely forgot that I had even started this blog.  Talk about distracted,

So, where did almost 6 years bring me?   Things are still busy.  Life is still hard.  God is still in control, but much of the time I forget to let him lead.

I am not sure what the reason for blogging for such a short time was all of those years ago was.  I know why I am going to attempt to blog again this time.  Reflection.  Sharing of the good and bad.  Journaling and sorting through my thoughts.  Trying to learn who I am and who I want to become.

Where does God want me to spend my time? What talents has He given me that He wants me to use?  How can I be a blessing to others?  How can I feel fulfilled as someone in all of the roles that I have?

I struggle daily with effective use of my time.  I will share more on all of this in the coming days weeks and months.  I have many topics that I want to explore. Today, my purpose was to start.  To start.

He is Risen! and Easter Eggs

Today is the most important day in our Christian calendar.  If you don't believe in the resurrection and the significance of this to your eternal life, you are missing the importance of the celebration of Easter.  I love Easter, it signifies our new life in Christ.  It also is a time for looking forward to the flowers blooming and the birds chirping.  We look forward to growing our own food and enjoying the sun that nourishes our garden and our own health.

I have always looked forward to decorating Easter Eggs, but I do not have any artificial food dyes in my home, so it makes decorating easter eggs a challenge.  Last year, I tried using natural food juices to color my eggs.  It did not work.  This year, I thought that I would try the India Tree Food dyes and follow the regular instructions of vinegar, water and dye.  Again, failure.  Just before I was about to give up, I decided to finger paint the food dye onto the egg.  It worked!  My son and I had a ball painting these eggs.  My other two children said, too messy!

Have a blessed Easter!

Hubby's Birthday and Banana Cake

Pre Carter, my husband's birthday was a priority.  Now that it is 2 days later, we have had two different types of cake (cherry and chocolate cupcakes), and I am all caked out.  Almost.  I asked my husband what type of cake he would like for his birthday.  His initial reply was none.  I said, "we have to celebrate your birthday, for the kids,".  So, he blurts out pretty quickly, "banana cake with banana frosting".  Okay?  I have made a ton of banana bread/cake in my lifetime, but not gluten free.  Once again, I pulled out my old favorite standby banana bread recipe and deglutened it.  Here goes:

Gluten Free Banana Cake Recipe

1/2 cup organic butter softened
3/4 cup sucanat (organic sugar is fine)
2 pastured eggs
2 mashed ripened bananas
3/4 cup sorghum flour
3/4 white rice flour
1/4 heaping tsp guar gum or xantham gum
1/2 tsp salt

Cream butter and sucanat.  Add eggs and beat well.  Add bananas and mix.  Add dry ingredients and mix until well blended.  Pour into greased pan (loaf, pie, muffin).  Bake at 325.  This is a glass pie plate and I baked for 25 minutes. 

Banana Frosting (first time ever)

1/4 stick softened butter
1 medium ripe banana
1 1/2 cup organic powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla

Cream butter and banana.  Add sugar.  Mix well. Add vanilla and mix. 

Cake time and Spongebob...Again

Carter always struggles on picking his birthday party theme.  He has picked Spongebob at least 3 times.  The next struggle comes with what flavor of cake.  This morning it was vanilla.  Tomorrow is his party for his friends and he is having flourless chocolate cupcakes, so he didn't want chocolate.  I haven't made a vanilla gluten free cupcake yet, so I asked him if he would like a cherry cake.  I have a fabulous cherry bread recipe that my mother in law gave me years ago.  Of course, it was made with white flour.  I would make it every Christmas for Christmas morning breakfast. It was always the first thing to go, even over cookies. When we went gluten free, there were a few things that we were going to miss and this was one of them.  I challenged myself to modify the existing recipe, because a long internet search did not help me to replace it.  I am happy to report that I did it, and it is FABULOUS!

Gluten Free Cherry Cake (or muffins or quick bread)

Preheat oven to 325.

1 - 8 ounce cream cheese (I used Organic.  You can use regular or low fat)
1 cup butter
1.5 cups of sugar (I used less than this and Organic cane sugar)
1.5 tsp vanilla
4 pastured eggs
1 cup white rice flour (I used Arrowhead organic)
1 1/4 cup brown rice flour (same brand)
1/2 tsp of guar gum or xantham gum
3/4 cup of chopped and drained maraschino cherries (I used Tillmen farms with no artifiical dyes)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional - I do not use nuts due to a nut allergy)

Mix together softened cream cheese and softened butter.  Add sugar and vanilla.  Mix well.  Add eggs.   Add dry ingredients and mix well.  Fold in cherries.  Pour batter into greased pan of choice.  Bake at 325.

Estimated times:  cupcakes 25 minutes, 9X11 cake pan 30 minutes, loaf pans 60 minutes

Frost with a cream cheese or buttercream frosting.  My daughter did all of the decorating on this one.  Natural food coloring (no artificial dyes), chocolate chunks, cinnamon sugar, natural colored sugar, mints, and a dried strawberry.  Enjoy!

Coconut Flour Pancakes and Double Digits!

Today is my 2nd child's 10th birthday.  He has hit double digits.  Where has the time gone?  As I look back on his life, I see so much joy.  I have read to him at bedtime since he was little.  I love his quirky behaviors and his cute dimples.  I remember the mornings (every single one) that he would crawl into bed with my husband and I at 4am.  I now enjoy listening to him sing in church and perform in musicals.  I wonder what the next 10 years will bring.

This morning, I asked Carter what he would like for breakfast.  Pancakes, bacon and a smoothie is what he answered.  We are gluten free, so I have several gluten free pancakes that I make him.  This is the one that he asked for.

Gluten Free Coconut Flour Pancakes

3 pastured eggs (I used Tropical Traditions eggs)
3 T. water or fruit juice (I used organic orange juice)
2 T. olive oil
2 T. organic maple syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
dash cinnamon (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla (optional)
1/4 c. coconut flour (I use Tropical Traditions)

Preheat cast iron skillet. Whisk together eggs, water, oil, maple syrup, salt, baking soda. If desired add cinnamon and vanilla for a sweeter more flavorful waffle. Add flour and whisk until there are no lumps. Generously oil preheated pan and make delicious pancakes. 



"Thanks, Mom" he says.  No.  Thank you Carter for 10 fun, interesting, challenging, wonderful, and amazing years!  Love you!  

Where do I begin?

I have been wanting to do a blog for so long, but I honestly didn't know how or where to begin. Now that I have one, I don't know what to say first.  I guess this will be a quick post about me.  I am 42 years old, I have 3 wonderful children, a Godly husband of almost 13 years, and 4 cats.  All in all, I have no complaints, except something is missing.  A purpose.  I had a career in the pharmaceutical industry for 15 years.  About 5 years ago, I decided to leave my career and stay at home.  Honestly, I don't know where the 5 years have gone.  They have gone quickly.  At first I had one child at home most of the day while the other two were in school.  But now, they are all in school.  What do I do all day?  I love to research health and wellness.  I believe in natural foods and medicines, so I research those.  I attend a bible study with a wonderful group of women.   I love to cook and search for recipes.  Oh, and I do the normal things like shopping and laundry and cleaning and playing with the cats.  I also like to exercise, so I walk and do strength training.  So to be short and sweet in my first post, what will this blog be about?  It will be about God, health, food, books, products.  I guess a little bit of everything.

Blessings,

Deidre