Yummy Lunch!

Okay, so today I was starving and didn't know what to fix for lunch. I really wanted pizza, but I am out of one flour I need to make the dough (have to make it gluten-free) and let's face it.... it would just take too long to make the dough, bake the crust, put together the pizza and finish baking it. So I went scrounging around. SCORE! Here is what I found:

The end of my gluten-free loaf of bread (enough for a couple of slices)
Left-over spinach pesto from the pasta I made last night (thick enough to spread - YUM!)
Some cheese that had already been grated

So I decide to make a pizza-like lunch! I smeared some of the yummy spinach pesto over the lightly toasted slices of bread and topped with cheese. Put it back in the toaster over for about 7 minutes on 375 and then on broil for about a minute (or less) just to make the top brown. Oh my gravy. SOOO YUMMY!!!! I will be doing this again. A LOT!

Here is my spinach pesto "recipe" - (in quotes because I don't ever have measurements):

1 package frozen spinach, thawed
2 cloves (more or less) minced garlic - more if you like the garlic flavor
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese (maybe 1/3- 1/2 cup?)
A couple of tablespoons dried basil
Olive Oil (to consistency and taste) - at least 1/3 cup
Lemon juice (Oh, I don't know - maybe a tablespoon or so?)

And I do everything "to taste". Take a taste and if it needs something, smell some other ingredients while you have the flavor in your mouth. You will be able to "taste" all of them together through the smelling and will know if that is what you want or not. You could also put in pinenuts, almonds, walnuts..... Experiment and make it yours! You will love the outcome when you land a dish that is yummy and all your own.

Enjoy!

Kids and Meals

I have had the hardest time getting my sweet girls to actually sit through a meal at the table. They are all over the place! It is becoming a battle we dread every night. And we really love dinner time because we are finally all together and can talk about our day. Here are some things we have tried:

1) Sit or time-out. This doesn't work :-)
2) Sit or no dessert. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. Especially since they are smart enough to know that we don't always have dessert (actually don't most nights).
3) Separate their chairs - also to minimize the fighting. This worked for about a night or two.
4) Removal of plate with the assumption that they are finished since they are not at their seat. This has probably been the most effective for bringing them back to the table, but I want to keep them from actually leaving.

One things that someone suggested that I have not yet tried - a reward for staying in their seat the whole time (sticker, dessert, etc.). I think this is what I will try next.

Now I am fairly certain that this goes along with the age of the girls (2 and almost 4), but I am also fairly certain that there is a way to actually keep them at the table. I just haven't figured it out yet. Neither one of them can sit still for more than about 5, MAYBE 10, seconds, so I am on a mission to figure out how to calm them enough to be able to have some sort of attention span. Otherwise school will be near impossible.

Calling all moms! What has worked for you?

Gluten-Free, Where to Start

For many, the need to go gluten free is a medical issue. Doctors have confirmed a gluten sensitivity, allergy or otherwise. in this case, the need to go through cabinets, read labels and purge anything and everything that has a hint of gluten in it is a must. Anything with flour (unless it is pure rice flour, corn flour, potato flour or soy flour) , modified food starch, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vegetable protein, malt r malt flavoring, vegetable gum, soy sauce or soy sauce solids.... YIKES! This can seem like a very daunting task - all of this "stuff" is in everything we currently know to be "every-day foods". For the need to go cold turkey because of diagnosed medical reasons, my suggestion would be to go straight to the produce department or farmer's market and start there. Eat everything fresh to retrain your brain, pallet and give you time to regroup mentally. Let's face it. This is where we should all be shopping anyway. Anything processed or pre-made typically has too many unpronounceable ingredients anyway. Then you can slowly move into replacing traditional pastas with brown rice pastas (which are actually very tasty), eat more rice-inspired dishes and begin making your own breads and baked goods. I have a really good gluten-free bread recipe posted here on my site. Look at the items you CAN have, not the "can't" list. You will quickly see how much you really can eat on a gluten-free diet. Just make sure to read ALL labels, even those items that claim to be gluten free. They are not always 100% gluten free, but enough to claim the status.

Now there are also many people who want to experiment and try removing gluten to see if it makes a difference in how their body feels. Not a medically diagnosed need, but a personal want. In this case, here is what I would suggest. Make a list of all the wonderful things that do NOT have gluten in them and begin your shopping week on a happy note. There is so much to eat! Start by cutting out regular pasta and bread. Eat more rice-based or potato dishes. Then you can move to a brown rice pasta for those days that you really want a pasta dish. You can make a loaf of your own bread and have that on hand (again, there is a great recipe on this blog). Also focus on eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. Once you have adjusted to this way of thinking, begin reading labels of items in your pantry and make some notes as to what items have gluten in them. Set them in their own section in your pantry and try to focus on the large "can be used" section. You will quickly realize how much you really can eat and that it is not as difficult as you may have initially thought. Unless you eat out more than you eat at home. We never eat out, so it has been a fairly easy adjustment for us.

Once you get the idea of on-gluten items in your head, be creative! Use things like almonds (or any kind of nut) as a replacement for breadcrumbs in a recipe (run them through a food processor), or even gluten-free corn flakes. I have made Chicken Parmesan with corn flakes as the breading. DELICIOUS! And in a recipe I have on this blog, I used almonds for the breading on chicken fingers. You will be pleasantly surprised by the wonderful texture and flavor these items will add to your staple dishes. And you may never go back to the old ways. You can have delicious, flavorful meals without the gluten. Many people have made statements that say you can't eat anything or that there is no flavor in gluten-free cooking. SOOOOO not the case. I actually think the food I am now making has more flavor and texture than my old way of cooking. AND we don't have the digestive issues we had before.

Like anything, a change is an adjustment. Just make sure that you give yourself time to adjust, give yourself some room for error and know that yes, YOU CAN DO THIS. Check back for more recipes in the days and weeks to come! I have a pizza crust recipe that I will post soon. Yes, even pizza can be yummy and gluten-free.

Gluten-Free Multigrain Sandwich Bread

Hi everyone! Well, I have been hard at work creating the perfect recipe for a gluten-free, multigrain sandwich bread. Not an easy task! But it has been so much fun to play, experiment and EAT! Yes, you heard correctly. Eating these samples has been very enjoyable. Nice flavor, not like cardboard and the whole family loves it! I know I will tweak it just a bit more, but here is the recipe as is currently stands:

Gluten-Free Multigrain Sandwich Bread

3 Eggs (I use egg substitute) - room temp is best
3 1/2 Tbsp Canola oil

2/3 Cup Millet Flour
1/2 Cup Sorghum Flour
1/3 Cup Teff Flour *
1/2 Cup Cornstarch
1/2 Cup Potato Starch
1/2 Cup Tapioca Flour
2 1/4 tsp Xanthan Gum
3/4 tsp Salt
1 3/4 tsp Unflavored Gelatin
2 1/2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
1 packet Dry Active Yeast (2 1/4 tsp)

1 Cup Milk (I use Almond Milk) - warm, but not too hot
4 Tbsp Flax Seeds


* - if you don't have Teff Flour, just use 1 cup of the Millet Flour. I like the Teff as it adds a richer taste, reminiscent of whole wheat bread.

Whisk eggs and oil in a bowl and set aside.

Whisk all dry ingredients in a bowl (stand mixer) until well blended (except for the flax seeds). While mixer is on low, add egg/oil mixture and warm milk and mix until well blended. Scrape sides of bowl, then beat on medium-high for 4 minutes. Mix in flax seeds until well blended.

Pour dough into prepared 9" pan (I usually just grease well, but you can also dust with white corn meal) and spread evenly with spatula. Cover loosely with a light towel or plastic wrap (sprayed with cooking spray). Let rise is a warm, draft-free place for 40-45 minutes. Don't let it proof too long or it will likely fall after baking. While bread is rising, preheat oven to 350.

Place bread in preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes. Bread should feel fairly firm and sound hollow when tapped on the top and sides. If the bread is getting too dark on the top, you can set a piece of foil over it after 15 minutes of baking.

Pull bread out and let cool for about 15 minutes on a wire rack.

To store, cover well in aluminum foil while still warm. This will help keep the moisture in the bread. I then place the wrapped bread in a Ziplock. You can store it in the refrigerator or freezer. In my house, it doesn't last long enough to freeze! We actually just leave it out on the counter in the foil/ziplock since it only lasts about 3 days tops!

Enjoy!

School

Ok. I have been back and forth between do I homeschool, do I send the girls to preschool, can I actually homeschool ..... I found a preschool that I liked enough to visit. I visited with the girls and we all loved it. Small classes, Christian curriculum, sweet director and they will even take Amanda who is technically not quite old enough. Sounds great and perfect, right? Well.... when did it become so expensive to send children to school? The up-side is that I would be able to work part-time since I would have mornings free, but the down-side is that I would need to have a job in order to pay the fees. It is a catch-22.

I also don't think I would think any more about it except for 2 things: 1) Abi really wants to go to school. You have no idea. Have NEVER seen a child so excited to go to school. And if I'm honest, I think the environment would be wonderful for her. 2) I really feel like she is supposed to be there. It starts on Monday and right now it seems impossible. However, I know that God is bigger than any of this and if it is supposed to happen, it will. On time is soon enough.

So tonight I feel sad for Abi, but trust that God's plan is the best one. If Abi is to go, there will be a way. If God has another plan, that will also play out. All I can do is pray and trust, and that is a good place to be.

Gluten-Free Dinner

It seems many people who are discovering they are gluten-sensitive are finding it hard to locate recipes that make meals that don't taste like cardboard. Or are just plain flavorless. Especially bread! I do have a great bread recipe that I have just about tweaked, so I will post it as soon as I try out these last few adjustments. In the mean time, here is something I whipped up for tonight! I have no measurements, just eyeball and taste as you go (except anything that has been touched by the raw chicken). This is how I do most of my cooking. I get an idea, think through what flavors would be nice and go for it. Gluten-free cooking doesn't have to be any different from regular cooking, you just get to experiment with more exciting ingredients! So here is my loose "recipe" for this delicious dinner!

Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers

3 or so handfuls of sliced almonds

some freshly grated parmesan cheese

Seasoning of your choice (I used Morton Nature's Seasoning)

EVOO

Chicken tenderloins

Cover a cookie sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top of it. Spray the rack with cooking spray and set aside.

Put the almonds through a food processor until they are a breadcrumb consistency.

In one bowl, pour a little olive oil. In another, mix the processed almonds, parmesan cheese and seasoning (all to taste).

Dip chicken pieces (one at a time) in the olive oil, coating both sides. Then dip in the almond-crumb mixture, coating really well. Set on wire rack. Continue until all pieces are coated and on the rack.

Let chicken sit on rack for about 20 minutes or so just to set.

Heat oven to 450 and bake for 15-20 minutes (until chicken is cooked through). That's it!

Now forgive me that I don't have more pictures. I am not used to taking pictures as I go, and as soon as I pulled the chicken tenders out of the oven, They were being snatched off the rack! My 2 year old devoured them. I think it also helped that the girls helped make them. They helped with preparing the dry ingredients. If you have children, always look for ways they can help out in the kitchen. They LOVE IT! And they are more likely to at least try a food if they have had a hand in making it.

I served it with brown basmati rice, but I wanted to jazz it up a tiny bit since I was out of chicken stock to cook the rice in. So, I added a little bit of the same seasoning from the chicken and tossed in some of the sliced almonds. YUM! Just felt like it might work, so I tried it. not to mention it tied the meal together. Then I make some honey glazed carrots to go along side. OH! And I made a honey mustard dipping sauce, but it wasn't needed. Sure was good though!

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

1/4 - 1/3 cup honey

a couple of spoonfuls of Dijon mustard

Gluten-Free Mayo to taste.

YEP! That's it. You could add a little bit of lemon juice too if you wanted, and a little horseradish if you want a little kick. I wasn't sure if the horseradish here was gluten-free or not and since it didn't need it, I left it out.

So all of this to say that you don't need recipes, just a thought in your mind and to "taste" the flavors you would like to have. Nothing has to be difficult and hard to put together. And you don't have to have a recipe to cook. Experiment. Have fun with your food! There is so much great food out there and so many ways to pair them and create new things! Just make sure to read the labels.

Quiet Times and Time-Outs

I know it has been a while..... again. I have had lots of thoughts for blog posts and I am sure many of them will happen, but I have been trying to focus my time on how to better manage my time and the girls. I felt like I was yelling or disciplining ALL the time and had no time for fun with the girls. And because of that I have been a wreck. Now I don't yell all the time, I do not like to yell at my children. But let's face it, there are days when n one is listening and you feel like you are yelling to be heard all day long.

Then I found myself talking very softly, the same thing over and over, "If you can't hear me, you need to take a breath and try to calm down." And, "I will not talk over your screaming, so I will wait." Once they realize that I am not going to talk over their screams and they won't provoke a yell or frustration out of me, then they take a breath, calm down and are ready to listen. How many times do I scream and yell at the Lord (ok, maybe not scream and yell, but complain about the same thing over and over or ask the same thing over and over, and never feel like He is hearing me) and wonder why He doesn't answer or talk to me? Way too many times. I believe He is also saying, "Carrie, I will not talk over you. When you are ready to listen, I am hear to repeat what I have already told you. Open yourself up to listen." The still, quiet moments are when I hear most clearly and can focus on what the Lord has to say to me, to ask of me and to show me.

So then I began to think about my mommy time-outs - those times that I have always removed myself from the room to take a few moments to gather myself together and to pray. Why have I not tried this with my children too? And then I also began thinking about how I could revamp time-outs to try to make them more effective and meaningful. Hmmm....

Just about then, a time-out for Abi was in order. I decided to try a new approach. Here is how it went: "Abi, why did you continue to shake that pom-pom in Amanda's face after she used her nice words and asked you to stop, and I also asked you to respect her words and stop?"

Abi, in a sing-song, flippant response - "Ummmm..... I don't know!"

Mommy - "Well, I would like for you to take a time-out over there on the carpet and think about what you could have done differently."

Abi immediately went to the spot I pointed to, folder hands, closed her eyes and began to pray, "Dear God, please help me to know what I could have done and help me to know what to do." then she sat quietly for the rest of her time. Quite honestly, I think I did too!

Once that time-out was over and I asked her what she could have done differently, she told me a couple of things that would have helped her to avoid time-out. How she could have been more respectful. And then she followed it with, "Jesus helped me!!!!!" Yes, He did! This approach to time-outs has worked wonders for Abi! She now walks around singing, "I want to be like Jesus.....", she is sharing better, she is SO helpful around the house, she is becoming more and more obedient every day.... turn the focus upward. I am in the process of creating a time-out space for reflection, but I think even the current verbal is so effective.

Now I am working on a quiet-time space and routine. Prayer books, Bible stories, coloring books/crayons..... a specified time during the day when we all take some time to quietly work, create, read, pray.... I think it is so very important to establish a routine of daily quiet time early on. And to also establish a time of family devotions. So this piece is a work in process, but I will say there is a lot more prayer going on in our house from people of all ages and it is a much more peaceful place. Every time there is a bump or scrape, both girls are right there to pray healing over whomever got hurt! And they remember to ask later to see how that person is feeling. Even today, we went out in the rain to get a couple of groceries. As we were about to run back to the car, the rain stopped just long enough for the girls to get in (yes, I got soaked. But the girls and I laughed because it was pretty funny). As we were pulling into the driveway, Abi says, "We could ask the Lord to please stop the rain while we get inside." I answered, "Yes we can" and just then, the rain stopped! Abi said, "Look! HE stopped the rain for us!" And just as we all got inside, it picked back up. What a testimony of child-like faith.

Now you may have noticed that I haven't talked much about Amanda. Amanda is 2 and is testing about every boundary she can. She is very blatantly defiant, except when I tell her she needs to go to time-out. She screams and hollers all the way there and through out, but she goes! She will soon figure out that the obedience needs to come BEFORE I send her to time-out. I do give her a warning, so she will soon learn to heed that warning :-) She is sweet as can be though! Just REALLY testing mommy :-)

Well, our personal quiet time is up and Abi is kissing me to let me know, so I am going to go play Mickey Mouse Uno with her! Be blessed and remember to take those few precious moments to be with the Lord! Your day will be so much smoother and patience will be more abundant..... but also remember to ask for more patience :-)