Gluten Free Bread!!!!

This bread far exceeded my expectations of a gluten free bread. I baked mine on lightly greased foil on top of a baking sheet, and it came out with a lovely crispy crust and a soft airy inside. My loaf did not rise as much as hers did. Next time I am going to bake it in a bread pan and see if that helps it maintain a more vertical shape. Remember to put a pan of water in the oven! A humid oven is how you develop that wonderful artisan crispy crust.

http://abakinglife.blogspot.com/2010/01/good-loaf.html

WF GF Grahm Cracker Recipe

I made these this afternoon, and they are half gone! My picky child loved these, and that is saying something. Roll thinly to get crispier crackers, and thicker for an almost cookie-like cracker. I think I will back off on the sugar next time. They are quite sweet. I ran out of honey so I did 2 TBSP honey, and 1 TBSP molasses. I also just rolled it out right on the cookie sheet, but had to let it cool down slightly for me to roll out the second batch. This recipe is also egg free, and can be dairy free if dairy free margarine is used. Enjoy!

http://www.livingwithout.com/recipes/gluten_free_graham_crackers-1793-1.html

Sweet Potato and Chicken Soup

I made up this recipe last winter from what I had on hand. I thought it was pretty yummy. I think I will make it soon with all this cold weather upon us! I might leave out the chicken and see if I like it that way. It seems I eat less and less meat these days.

Sweet Potato and Chicken Soup

1 onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic. cut up very small(or 2 if you like garlic)

Now put all this in your big soup pot and cook until tender. Then add:

several sliced carrots
a large sweet potato, peeled and cut up
a couple stalks of celery, chopped- some leaves are good chopped up in there too

Cook this for a bit then add:

about 8-9 cups chicken stock
a bunch of salt to taste
a bunch of pepper to taste
shake in a bunch of ground coriander to taste(this is what made the soup!)
I can't remember if I added a bay leaf or not, but you could

Then bring to a boil and let simmer for about 20-30 minutes or so until the carrots and potatoes are fuly cooked. Then add:

about a cup to 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken( I cooked mine in the crock pot with a bay leaf, salt and pepper, a little fresh basil, and some dried oregano with a squeeze of lemon over the top)

Then you just cook this until the chicken is warmed up and devour!

Wheat Free/Gluten Free Breadmaking Success!

I have recently given up wheat for health/weight loss reasons, and am totally stoked about all the gluten free blogs out there! So many amazing recipes, so little time! Today I made gluten free artisian bread and I am very impressed! I was expecting a grainy, rubbery, dense brick, but instead I got a lovely flat loaf with a pleasant taste and texture. It had a slight aftertaste, but hardly noticeable with something on it. I am also very excited about some GF graham crackers that are in the works this very moment! Pictures and recipe links soon to come!

New Year, New Start!

Well it is once again a new year, and I find myself looking back on the past year. At a glance it seems that I have not accomplished much. But on closer inspection, I realized I have! Early 2010 I lost, and have kept off, 30lbs! That is pretty good! Not all the baby weight, but most of it.

The end of last year I potty trained Andrew, which has been a longer process than I had thought it would be, but he is potty trained! He still wears diapers at night and nap time. He had very few full blown accidents in the whole process and I think this is due to him being older and really ready.

I started doing preschool at home with Andrew in the fall. He LOVES it! I am not as far as I would like to be, but he is only 3, so I figure we have plenty of time to get him where he needs to be. He loves learning the sounds that go with the letters he already knows and counting and playing the fun learning games. I love snuggling on the couch with him reading our library books of the week.

I started reading The Book of Mormon with my little boys. Such a special time together! I read to them at lunch while they nibble away, and it really brings the Holy Spirit into our home. I have noticed on the days we read, I am a better, more patient mommy. Although they do not fully understand what is being read, I can see a love of the scriptures growing in my sweet boys! It brings me so much joy!

So a new year brings a new start to my old goals, and gives birth to some new ones. I am glad that tomorrow is always a new day, and that I can always try again! Happy belated New Year!