Muffin Tin Frittata {Naturally Gluten Free}

Ever since learning about simplyrecipes.com I have been obsessed.  It doesn't hurt that recipe creator and master food blogger lives probably within 30 miles of me and I have met her at a few California Food Literacy Center events.

Now, whenever I need inspiration for a recipe I know I can start there.  I LOVE supporting local talent.

Oh, and did I mention her recipe library is insane?

So, as you can imagine, I got the recipe and inspiration from here and tweaked it to create the delightful little Muffin Tin Frittata for Christmas morning.

Ingredients

12 eggs
1 cup chopped spinach
1/2 cup chopped onion*
3/4 cup quartered mushrooms*
1 clove garlic (or more - to taste)
1 cup Quattro Formaggio shredded cheese blend from Trader Joe's (or similar)
Italian seasoning
Salt
Pepper
Olive Oil

*Any veggies you would put in an omelet would work here!  Be creative!

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a muffin tin (butter, olive oil, or coconut oil will work)

Saute your vegetables in the olive oil and add the Italian seasoning to taste for 5-7 minutes (until they are soft but still recognizable!).

Beat your eggs in a bowl and add salt and pepper to taste.

Fill muffin tin wells halfway with beat eggs.  Add sauteed veggies to each one,  generously sprinkle stinky cheese (that's what The Bear calls it in our house!) nnd then fill the rest of the way with remaining egg.

Cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes making sure the egg is thoroughly cooked!

Notes:   When adding spices, vegetables and cheese be very generous!  I thought I was OVER-seasoning and when I tasted them, they could have used more!

Now go get your booty in the kitchen and warm it up! CHEERS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Gluten Free Eating through the Holidays {10 Tips to Not Get Glutened!}

Are you a holiday partier?  Do you eat gluten free? Peruse the tips below to prepare yourself for the impending holiday food overload and how NOT to get GLUTENED!

Below, I will steer you to keep your gluten-free eating in check while still celebrating the season with parties, potlucks and family-style meals WITHOUT being a huge pain in the butt.

In an effort to keep this concise and give you bite-sized pieces as your take-away, I have broken this topic down into ten delectable tips.

10 Tips to Not Get Glutened

1.  Eat before you go. If you are certain that you won't be able to avoid gluten at a prospective potluck, eat something substantial before you go so you are not starving.  Then, hang around the pickled platter!

2.  Bring the gluten dishes. If you are concerned that the proposed meal may have some hidden gluten, offer to prepare that dish! Hosts are often grateful for you to take something off their plate.  If you know the host and know the potential recipe calls for a gluten-laden product, offer to bring over the gluten free substitute before they start cooking!

3. Chat up your chef. Hang out in the kitchen while your host is putting finishing touches on their meal.  Ask questions about ingredients of potential gluten dishes.  This is usually not a problem for me since I am usually genuinely curious about the ingredients in a recipe.

4. Steer clear of sauces, dressings, and gravies.  This tip can be a challenge because these are some of my favorite things!  They also are common culprits of hidden gluten.

5. Keep your drinks simple.  Fancy drink mixes can also trick you.  Having a simple glass of wine or cider is a safe route.

6. Host the meal at your house. This one is the most work but if you are a party planner it should be a piece of gluten free cake! Naturally, you will prepare most of the food.

7. When in doubt, don't risk it.  Everyone's gluten sensitivities or intolerances are different but most everyone who doesn't eat it are trying to steer clear of unpleasant symptoms as a result.  Play it safe and return to Tip #1 of you are worried!

8. G-Free themes.  Suggest themes that are more likely to be naturally gluten free (not Italian! :).

9. Read labels.  This seems like a no-brainer but often I have been duped by clever marketing (or, more likely, I didn't ready the full ingredient list). One hundred percent rice crackers could have added soy sauce for flavor (not that I would know...)!

10. Be gracious.  Respect that many people do not know how or want to cook gluten free and be okay with that (i.e. don't expect gluten free versions of dishes).  The good news is more and more people are becoming aware of what gluten is and what foods it is in!

Cheers and Happy Holidays!!

Pinecone Projek: The Bear's Glitter & Pinecone Project

The Bear has been collecting pinecones.... well, as long as I can remember.  My mom passed on her love for them to him. 

He collects them for her. 

He collects them for himself. 

He collects them for general piling-in-the-front-yard purposes.

Whenever we can, we include pinecones into art projects.  The latest is aptly named by The Bear: "My Pinecone Projek"

We got the glue. We bought the glitter, and lord knows we have the pinecones!

Here it is and yes, you should try this at home.  Kids and adults alike can make some pretty gorgeous pinecones for fun, for gifts, for centerpieces, for the mantle... you understand!

NOTE TO SELF: Never use glitter with a toddler again. Ever.

Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers {Gluten Free} {Low Carb}

I was stumped on what to name this rich concoction. It is not simply a stuffed bell pepper. It has spice. It has kick. It has the inside of a taco as its stuffing. And, as it turns out, they were more open-faced than "stuffed" per se.  You'll catch my drift as we go along. 

Simply put: these are easy, delicious, and you can actually switch up the spices and toppings to create any style meal. 

Taco Stuffed Bell Pepper

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/3 chopped onion 

3 cloves chopped garlic

1 pound ground beef, turkey, or chicken

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon paprika

3 bell peppers (remove stem, membrane and seeds and cut in half)

7 sliced white mushrooms

1 quartered and sliced zucchini

(add any other vegetables that you may have on hand that will fit the style of stuffed pepper you're making)

1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, jack or pepper jack work great)

avocado

salsa

sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Saute olive oil, garlic, and onions on low to medium heat for a few minutes (until someone in the house says it smells soooo good in the kitchen!). Add meat and spices and cook until meat is almost thoroughly cooked. Add vegetables (except bells!) and cook until slightly soft but not soggy.

Place bell pepper halves on their backs on a baking sheet. Scoop meat mixture with a slotted spoon into heaping mounds into bells. Place in preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and add generous amounts of shredded cheese to the top and cook for 3-5 more minutes (until cheese is melted).

Remove from oven and place on serving dish.  Add additional cold toppings (avo, salsa, sour cream to preference).  

I added a green salad to the side with a little balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.  After we cut into the bells and the ingredients co-mingled it was divine.

Note: I sliced the bells in half for easier filling AND more square-inchage for shredded cheese!

Variations:  

Add rice and/or black beans for a heartier meal.

Change up the seasonings and veggies for a different flare.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies {Gluten Free}

The Bear and I were looking through a magazine and saw a version of these lovelies (Hershey's has named them Peanut Butter Blossoms) and we ripped it out to make for the holidays.  We even remembered to buy the Hershey's kisses on our next Target trip. As life would have it the recipe which was secured to the fridge via magnetic letters has gone missing.  I imagine it was from either a dog tail whipping by or some sticky toddler hands rearranging things as they do. 

Regardless, we were determined to taste these and as serendipity would have it there was a recipe directly on the bag of red, silver and green kisses. I have made many a peanut butter cookie but never one as decadent and and rich as these.

Kid Bonus:  While you make the batter, have your bears and birds unwrap kisses under your watchful eye! They told me they only ate one each!  Also, when they come out of the oven the big bears can assist in plopping the kisses on the warm cookies!

So, here is the recipe directly from the bag. I must say, while totally out of character, I followed the recipe measurement for measurement! Yay me!  

3 Swaps I Made: 

Real butter for shortening.

All Natural Creamy Peanut Butter for the Reese's Brand 

Trader Joe's All-Purpose Baking Mix for all-purpose flour

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies {Gluten Free}

Ingredients

• 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Additional granulated sugar

Directions:

1. 1
   Heat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates. 
2. 2
   Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. 
3. 3
   Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet. 
4. 4
   Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each 
   cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. 
   Makes about 48 cookies.
5. 
   

Eat it and weep.

Breakfast Casserole Fit for Bees

My wonderful Bee-in-laws will be hosting Thanksgiving this year at their home up in beautiful wine country. DaveBee's mama always makes a wonderful spread and she is ultra-conscious of not using gluten ingredients which can be no easy task especially when cooking a large meal like Thanksgiving! She does delectable gluten-free versions of the traditional stuffing and gravy! I am a lucky girl.

I am making a few things to help lighten the meal load!

This breakfast casserole is a first for me.  Two of my sister-in-laws and my mother-in-law make versions of it so here's to hoping it lives up.  Mine is currently in the freezer ready to heat up on Black Friday morning while we are cozily tucked in up in the Sierra Nevada foothills.  If smell is an indicator I think it will be good. With these simple ingredients how can you go wrong?

Simple Breakfast Casserole {Naturally Gluten Free}

3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 bag of frozen Tater Tots (Trader Joe's has some with simply ingredients)
1 pound of Breakfast Sausage (out of the casing)

10 ounces shredded cheese (I used a mexican blend but cheddar or jack would do)

8 eggs

1/3 cup of Milk

Seasoning (Salt, pepper, garlic powder)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook up your breakfast sausage in a frying pan until the are not pink and it is crumbly. Remember to remove casing if there is any.  While cooking up the sausage, layer the bottom of a casserole dish with frozen tater tots. Drizzle evenly and generously with olive oil. Season with salt. Stick in preheating oven to lightly toast while sausage is cooking and oven is preheating.

Beat the eggs in a bowl and add milk and any seasonings you like.

When the sausage is done, pull the tater tots out of the oven and layer the sausage on top.  Next, layer the shredded cheese over the sausage. Lastly, pour the egg mixture over the cheese layer. Place in the oven for 40-45 minutes.  You will know it is done when the top is lightly browned and there is no more liquid egg mixture.

Cool and serve with salsa or hot sauce! (We always have hot sauce with anything with eggs!)

Elfs and Bird Wirds

Ever since watching the movie Polar Express The Bear's wheels have been turning about the North Pole, elves, and everything magical in general.

Today in the car he asked:
"How do elfs make toys?"

I replied that they had a HUGE workshop with any tools they could ever want.

After a long moment of silence:
"I wish I'ma elf."

----------------------------------------

Latest Bird Wirds:

"doh" - no
"plo" - pillow
"thee" - smoothie
"sssssss" - nursie
"shhhhh" - fish
"blahktpthpt" - blanket
"moooo" - moon
deep, gutteral, hoarse growl - sound for every animal
"bee" - bee, fly, spider
{She also thinks spiders are everywhere.  She is not scared but she points to black dots everywhere and says "bee" and I have to go through the list of insects that mean bee.  It is usually spider and the black dot is usually just that, a black dot!)

-----------------------------------------
Bonus: {this is a text I sent my mom the other night when it took about 2 hours to get The Bear to sleep... he is in a scared of the dark and stretch out bedtime as long as possible phase}

Geez...It is always something! "Im scared, sooooooo sooo so so scared.. I'm hungry...just feel my empty body! My peepee hurts...I need some cream!!!"

{He knows all the things to say that I cannot just dismiss!}

If you are a parent, did your kids ever work you at bedtime?

Some Ideas

DaveBee has got to be the most patient father in the world.  I have a pretty strict two book policy when reading before bedtime.  Often I read or sing to The Bird, give her a lil nightcap, tuck her in, and take a shower only to come out to find DaveBee still sweetly reading to The Bear.  Often, they are dissecting a bug book or finding hidden items on a page of his High-Five magazine for the bazillionth time.  Pretty cool stuff.

---------------------------

While I was out of town for the weekend I called home during breakfast.

I spoke to The Bear.  I asked him what he was up to.

"I don't know but I have some ideas."

Sausage Kale Soup: Quick and Easy {Gluten Free}

I have eaten it. I have loved it. I needed to make it!

I googled the above recipe name, perused the various recipes, and came up with this winner.

My mom stopped by in rush hour traffic to try it, DaveBee wants it to enter our weekly rotation, and there is ONE small bowl left over.  This is a MUST make this week! Check it out:

Sausage Kale Soup

Ingredients
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Yellow Onion chopped
10 Small Potatoes chopped to about 1/2 inch pieces
2 - 32 oz. Boxes of Broth (chicken or vegetable, gluten free)
5-6 Italian Sausages (uncooked and gluten free)
1 Head of Kale chopped (or 3/4 bag of Trader Joe's organic cleaned and cut kale)
Red Pepper Flakes
Salt to taste

Directions
Saute 2/3 of chopped onion in olive oil at bottom of a dutch oven (can use a soup pot too!) on low-medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Add broth and potatoes.  Bring to boil then turn down to simmer.

Add red pepper flakes to pot.  Start light and you can always add more later if you want more of a kick.

While dutch oven simmers and soften potatoes, saute the rest of the onions and cook sausage in a separate frying pan.  When sausage is cooked, cut into 1/2 inch pieces.

Add sausage and contents of frying pan (optional) to the pot.

Add chopped kale.  Add salt and red pepper flakes to taste.

Stir it up and simmer until dinner time!!

So, go and make it.  Tell me your variations. And impress your loved ones. 

Colorful Bandaids: The Shifting of Sibling Rivalry in the Beehive

For a while there, it seemed like the kids would never be friends. Ever.

The Bear could not walk by The Bird without giving her the shoulder. Consequently, when he would get near her she would start yelling and crying whether he engaged or not.  

DaveBee and I felt like we were walking a tight rope teaching them compassion, empathy and right from "she's too little swing around by her arm!" We were so careful in choosing our words and sometimes we chose to say nothing and let them work it out and other times we had to intervene! 

"No, go pick her up and give her some love!"

"You need a break because that is the 27th time you have done that today!"

"Now, don't cry if he simply walks by you without touching you."

"Wait, get back here and help her up, first!"

"Wait, he's just trying to give you a hug!"

"She does love you she is just used to you knocking her over...that's why she doesn't want a hug."

UGH!

But, today something momentous happened. A series of things, really.  Some of these things definitely have occurred in the past but were usually fleeting.  I feel like an axis is tilting somewhere and balance is becoming restored in the Beehive!

---------------------------

The Bear and The Bird came in the big bed early for a snuggle.  Instead of The Bear sliding out of bed the moment The Bird arrives he actually stayed.  He reached over the sleepy lump that was me and caressed her sweet cheek and said "good morning, sugar plum."

I immediately put on my glasses to double check that it was truly The Bear in the bed!

The other awesome part of this is that The Bird received the caress with a sweet, sleepy smile instead of grunting in response. 

----------------------------

After shopping today The Bear held out his hand to The Bird when we started walking outside.  She gladly accepted.

These are the rare moments I just keep my mouth closed.

----------------------------

The Bird was upset about her mean 'ol mom not letting her roll down her window on the freeway. While she was crying The Bear said, "It's ok sissy, we can roll them down soon!"  The Bear then proceeded do something to make The Bird laugh out loud. 

 The gravity of this relationship formation starting hitting me fully when he jovially said to me: "Sissy is so silly.  She is so sweet and so silly."  

-----------------------------

When The Bird got up from her nap she had this unrelenting scowl because she had discovered this microscopic, ancient scab on her foot. 

I tried to no avail to distract her while The Bear simply went and got the colorful bandaids.  He gently put it on the scab and contentment was restored.

-----------------------------

This is not to say that between these gentle moments there wasn't discord 

but 

for a brief moment I could feel this new balance happening.  It may not be our parenting, it may be that their age difference is becoming less noticeable, or, who knows, it may even be because the actually like each other. I even had flash-forward of a beautiful friendship in their future.  Stranger things have happened.

Naps. 5 Things You Can Count on During Naptime.

Naps.  Where do I begin.  Naps are glorious.  Naps can also be detrimental to your psyche... especially when it comes to putting your own child or kids down for one.

You read the books.

You listen to your doctor.

You listen to your friends.

You listen to your mother.

There are things that they prepare you for and others that we must all experience for ourselves.

I think we might all agree that kids function better on a schedule or a rhythm or whatever you want to call it. Up until a certain age, part of most kid's schedule consists of naps, and eventually, a nap, and ultimately, no nap.

How our children go down for naps {breastfeeding to sleep, crying it out, driving around, etc.}, where they take their naps {crib, your bed, on the middle of the living room floor where they collapsed}, and nap duration {The Bear frequently treated me with 3 hour naps from age 0-3 while The Bird's maximum nap time has always been 2 hours.} vary so wildly.

Yet I think we all have encountered the wrath of Naps.  So, I give you:

5 Things You Can Count on During Naptime

1. The exact moment you FINALLY get said baby to sleep inevitably it is the exact moment your neighbor starts mowing their lawn, taking out their garbage cans or using this log splitter {yes, this happened}.

2. You put your baby to sleep, you sneak out of the room, and you begin madly attempting to complete every task you've been half-assing all day.  The moment you're done and you lay your head on a pillow to rest... they wake up.

3. You put your baby to sleep, you sneak out of the room and you step somewhere new on the floor that makes an excruciatingly loud creak and the baby wakes up. And you thought you knew every squeak and creak in that floor!

4. You put your baby to sleep and the neighborhood dogs go berserk over the mailman, utility worker, church group outreach, { enter your own  } milling the the neighborhood.

5. You put your baby to sleep. Then, you start your routine to put your big kid to sleep {milk, book, etc.} and then have to return them to their bed 1000 times.  Finally, they are both asleep.  You either lay down to catch up on some lost but not forgotten zzz's or sneak around the house doing chores.  Just when you're entering your REM cycle or have gotten knee deep in laundry... the baby wakes up.  Which,  in turn, wakes up your big kid.

Does this sound familiar?  Regardless of our parenting styles I think we have all been there.  For all of you with only one child and one on the way... just wait!

Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup and Spinach Salad: Simple Fall Feast {Gluten Free or Not!}

Soups have most definitely been on the menu in The Beehive lately.

Whether you are looking for a fresh dinner idea to add to your shopping list or simply need to be reminded of the soul-warming feelings a Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup conjure up here is the version I made. I know many gourmet recipes are at our fingertips but there is just something so reminiscent of comfort and youth when you bite into a tomato soup-soaked, melty cheddar cheese, and butter-toasted bread.

Read to the end to see my secret weapon for the recipe!

Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup and Spinach Salad {Gluten Free}

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

2 Slices Bread {Gluten Free or not}

3-4 thick slices of Cheddar Cheese {enough to cover surface of the bread}

Butter {enough to coat the pan twice}

Onion slices (optional)

Coat a frying pan* on low-medium heat with generous amount of butter.  Place one slice of bread in pan and add sliced cheese. Add onion slices if you are adventurous! Place second slice of bread on top.  Cover with a lid.  My trick is to cook them low and slow so the bread doesn't burn.  Once the cheese starts to melt ever so slightly, add more butter and flip it. When the cheese is melted all the way through, IT'S DONE!

*Note: Use two different frying pans if making both gluten free and regular sandwiches so you don't cross contaminate.

Tomato Soup

I cheat with my soup and use Trader Joe's boxed soup and add Italian spices {rosemary, sage, oregano} and Parmesan cheese while I warm it up in a medium pot on low-medium heat.

Spinach Salad

Spinach {about half a cup per person}

Cranberries

Nuts {I used candied walnuts or roasted sunflower seeds}

Dressing {a cheese based dressing or a simple homemade vinaigrette will do} 

On each plate I add spinach then simply sprinkle cranberries and nuts and drizzle with a bit of dressing.  Add warm sandwich and cup of soup! 

 I like the cold, healthy addition of the salad juxtaposed with the hearty sandwich and soup!

My secret weapon to ensuring this meal is a success is...

The Bird right by my side {quite literally}.  We got a new and larger food preparation area and she enjoys hanging out right on top!  

This dinner is a big hit with The Bear and The Bird, by the way!

Refreshing: Fall Cleaning

In the words of The Bird:

Oh, Wow!

I switched around a few things in the kitchen and living room and they both feel refreshed and BIGGER!

Our kitchen is really LONG because of the way that the original owners added on to the house.  Our counter space was limited so DaveBee and I bought some natural wood butcher block islands a few years back.

We used the smaller one for food prep next to the stove and the other one stored the microwave, toaster, coffeemaker and any other junk I needed to throw somewhere.

I switched the two and about tripled my food work space.  I feel like I was the recipient of a kitchen make-over! Giddy. And excited to get to cooking!

Our "cozy" livingroom was feeling dark and drab due to the dark brown curtains that hung from the main window.

I lightened it all up with some awesome soft blue/white statement curtains that actually tied the room together more than I anticipated.  The came in as almost a PERFECT match to the paint on the wall next to them and pull out hints of blue in the rug.

Note:  Sorry for the dimness of the pictures, our middle blinds broke and we are waiting for a replacement!

With two small changes...all is good in The Beehive and we are ready for fall.

Stealthy Finger Painting

It truly amazes me the activities that The Bear can get into when he is supposed to be taking a nap.

He is stealthy.

He is silent.

He is creative.

He is fingerpainting his wooden hammer without getting a drop on the carpet.

Notice his hands, pants and face.

Notice the paint neatly poured into the paint tray wells.

Notice the beautiful hammer.

Lastly, notice his accomplished face and his victorious stance as if to say, "Mom, watch out for me."

I say: World, watch out for him.

Super Moist Pumpkin Bread {Gluten-Free}

I found all of these ingredients in my cupboard already! No joke.  That is my favorite kind of baking.

It turned out delicious and moist!

Super Moist Pumpkin Bread {Gluten-Free}
2 Cups Gluten-Free Baking Flour (I used Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose Baking Flour.  Not my favorite blend of flours but I had it on-hand!)
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
3+ Tablespoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
1- 16 oz. Can Plain Pumpkin
1 Cube Softened Butter
2 Eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a bread pan with butter (I like to use a smaller casserole dish instead if the deep bread pan because the cooking time is less). Mix dry ingredients in one bowl. Add wet ingredients into the dry ingredients while stirring.  Mix just until all ingredients are combined.

Pour into buttered pan.  Cook for 30-35 minutes or until a fork stuck into the middle comes out clean!

Enjoy, folks and happy Fall!

Hiccups, Arting and More Shoes

The Bear:

"I don't liiiiike jicama. It gives me hiccups!"

"I am a good artist, sissy.  I am doing good arting."

The Bird:

"aye aye" and pointing to the DVD player translates to: The Bird would like to watch Baby Einstein* and have a blanket on her lap and her "Baby Tiny" doll in her arms uninterrupted, please.

She basically says like 17 new words a day... it's really becoming a problem keeping up!  Also, she can sort of say shoes now so we can start to understand the addiction!

Found these sweet gems at the bottom of my laundry basket.  Surprise, mom!

*Disclaimer: We have been massively sick for about two weeks.  These hand-me-down Baby Einstein DVD's saved my life!

Easy-Peasy Chicken Vegetable Soup

Well, even if you or someone you know isn't sick, this cooling weather is reason enough to make this soup.

It varies usually based on what I have in the fridge and freezer.

It is delightfully light yet hearty enough for a meal.  It's super comforting when a cold or flu hits your home, too.

Chicken Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

Water
Olive oil
1 Onion
Garlic (as much as you can handle)
1 bag of carrots
1 stalk of celery
5 - 7 chicken drumsticks
peas, corn, green beans, mushrooms or whatever vegetable you have on hand!


Directions
Coat bottom of a dutch oven or large soup pot with olive oil on medium heat.
Add chopped onion and garlic. Saute until onions are tender.
Add raw chicken drumsticks.
Season heavily with your favorite soup seasonings.  I use salt, pepper, garlic powder, simple Italian seasoning, and this:

New favorite all-purpose seasoning from TJ's

Add water to cover chicken, give it a stir and turn heat to high. Add chopped carrots, celery, and any other raw vegetables.  Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer.

Check to see if chicken is cooked.  Only after chicken is cooked, pull out one drumstick at a time and take meat off the bone.  Return only meat to the soup.

Taste broth and add anything that is needed.  I usually underseason until this point where I add more of just about everything including olive oil.

Let simmer for about 15 minutes.

Serve with a piece of warm gluten-free corn bread and butter.

Second Hand: Make it Fit

I was hesitant to divulge my secret...

For fear of initial judgement and because after you read this you will beat me to my favorite store and get the goods before I get there!

I will start at the beginning.

When I was in junior high grunge was in so hand-me-down torn Levi's and Mossimo shirts from my older brothers were totally legit (I thought so anyways).  High school was a different ball game filled with keeping up with the Jones' (most of whom got new cars on their 16th birthday).  I got a job and shopped at 5-7-9 and Susie's Deals and drove a '78 VW Bus.  I probably should have shopped second hand as the clothing might have lasted longer!

College was in a great hippie town in Nor Cal where second hand was not a problem...  The problem was not enough of them for the demand!

When I started a new career I was back to the new yet inexpensive favorites: Ross, Marshalls, and TJMaxx.

This brings us to the arrival of The Bear and The Bird.

When The Bear was born he was the first grandbaby on my side and first in a while on DaveBee's side. There weren't hand-me-downs at first and quite honestly, I don't think I would have had him wear them.  I wanted everything clean and pure just like him!

Well, about a year in a friend offered their boy's hand-me-downs and after 4 storage bins of FREE and ADORABLE clothes, I was hooked.

By the time The Bird came around I was lovingly accepting clothes from her two girl cousins and friends!

From birth through age three they grow out of things so rapidly that often these items are gently used (and other times not!) and I couldn't justify all new clothes for every growth spurt.

Also, I am freakishly anal about saving all the kid's clothes for their younger cousins.  I think sometimes they appease me and just take the bins! DaveBee has a hard time understanding the stacks of bins in the garage.  I keep assuring him that they will be gone when said cousin reaches this size or by this season!  He's a good sport!

As the kid's growth spurts slow down so do the frequency of the clothes sharing.  Recently, I discovered the weather getting cooler and the light jackets and pants I was putting on the kids looking like high waters and fat man in a little coat!

I am talking both of these kids have grown by leaps and bounds since last winter and we had nothing that fit (I should have taken a picture!).

I decided to hit up my favorite children's second-hand clothing store sooner than later while there were still options.

So here's what we got:

The Bear:
2 cotton hoodies
1 fleece pullover
1 awesome tractor sweater
3 pairs of pants
2 button down shirts

The Bird:
2 lightweight cotton hoodie jackets
1 fleece pullover
1 adorable flower-stitched hoodie jacket (might be my favorite item!)
4 pairs of leggings
2 pairs of skirt/leggings combo
1 Halloween shirt
3 long-sleeved cotton blouses
1 BEE COSTUME!

All of these items for a LOW, low total.  Prices ranged from $1.50 - $3.50 except for the Bee Costume at a whopping $4.50. Three of these garments still had tags on them.  I will still have to supplement here and there and I'm cool with that because I do love to shop.  Overall, I got some fall and winter basics and I didn't break the bank.  Oh, and I guarantee my kids will not look like they homeschool (Just kidding... my siblings and I homeschooled for a bit... I'll save that for another post.)

What do I look for when I shop second-hand:

• Shop around and find the best shop in your town.  Not all will have the same high standards.
• See if it looks old.  You can tell.
• Look for stains and holes. One got by me in this last batch!
• Smell test (warning: don't do while your pregnant): Smell it to make sure it doesn't have some funky stink that will haunt you, your car, and your kids drawer.
• That's it.

Now, go shopping... just not at my store.

Have you ever shopped second hand for yourself or your kids?  Thrift stores for furniture?  Vintage for a high pricetag? 

Taste-Testing Homemade Gluten Free Pancake Mix!

I was so thrilled to be asked to try out a dear friend's homemade, home-milled, gluten-free pancake mix!

I had great intentions to record the the making and trying of the first batch.  Unfortunately, I ate, shared it and never picked up a camera.

To my joy she gave me a second batch the next time I saw her!  I can give you the ingredients but not the recipe as it could be a best seller in progress!

Ingredients: Organic milled oats, organic short grain brown rice, buttermilk, sweetener, baking soda, baking powder, salt.

I added: Egg, milk, coconut oil

The result was delicious!! Generally, gluten free pancakes are thinner and these were no different but I love a thin pancake!

They have a wonderful wholesome, fresh taste.  They soak up butter and are totally family approved.

Please leave me a comment if you are interested in trying some out!

Smells and Pirates

"Why do some people smell and some people don't smell, mommy?"

The Bear inquisitively asked on a walk today.

The Bird has been unexpectedly intrigued by pirates lately...

Coconut Oil Salves

Looking for a sweet, natural night cap for relaxing sleep or just a calm hint of scent on your pulse points to get you through your day? Read on, my friends.

So,  I saw this recipe on FB and it had me at relaxation salve!  It was homemade, all-natural and looked easy enough to recreate!

 Coconut Lavender Relaxation Salve

And decided to give it a whirl...a couple times.

The first one I made I stayed close to the recipe with the exclusion of beeswax mostly because I couldn't find it.

It turned out dreamy and creamy and once you put it on you want to just curl up and pretend fall is here.

Then, The Bear gave me the idea to try and infuse my own with homegrown lavender and we also added his favorite smelling plant lemon geranium.

While his looks a bit more rustic and we only made a small amount (we did try and strain it!) the scent is to die for!  Recipe below.

Lavender Lemon Geranium Coconut Salve

2 tablespoons coconut oil
Handful of your favorite fragrant plants (make sure they are not poisonous to apply topically to skin!)

Melt coconut oil in a saucepan until clear on low. Finely chop up plants and add to pan.  Let all of the flavors and smells warmly meld together for about 30 minutes. Turn off heat.  Let cool slighty.  Pour contents of pan through a strainer to get bits of plant out.  Pour into a container with a lid!  Let solidify.

Note:  These are my first attempts and I would probably infuse more lavender or smelly plants next time!

Apple Cinnamon Muffins: Gluten Free, of course!

You would be so proud of me! I followed a recipe. And it came out delicious!

Trader Joe's has a new simple baking mix.  It is my new go-to and keep it on hand at all times.

I followed the directions on the bag for Apple Cinnamon Muffins and they are delish.

Here is the final product:
(Note: The Bird was dying to help but her molars crashing through her gums got the best of her.  Hers, bottom right, still look better than mine. Wink, wink.)

 
Note:  They are best warmed up and consumed within the first day or two!

Rounding out the Family: Adding a Second Child

I did not believe the ultrasound tech when she told DaveBee, The Bear and I that we were having a girl. While I did not a have a feeling either way on my second baby's gender... my brain told me it was going to be a boy...

"It's a girl!"

We could not have been happier. What a wonderful way to round out the little family.  From that moment on I wondered about TheBird and how she would fit in to our world.

Life has been so different since her arrival. It has been a total confidence-builder and also a foundation-shaker.  Read on to hear more about what has worked to help keep the peace and what has not after adding baby number two.

Prepare your First Child
Regardless of your first child's age, talk it out.  Over. And over.  Never assume they will get it the first time or remember.  When the baby is born there may be a honeymoon period where your first babe basks in all the attention from family and friends. Eventually, life starts to become somewhat back to normal for them with the exception of this new attention hog!  Keep talking to them.  They are experiencing changes as strongly as you are but they just may not be able to communicate their feelings as well.  If you and/or your significant other have to return to work... talk about that change as well. It cannot hurt to keep them updated on their little lives.

Allow them to help with the care of the REAL new baby is so key in bonding the siblings! Get your first child a play baby to care for while you care for your newbie. Get them a sling, a swaddle, a paci, etc.  The Bear was ravenous to touch, hold, kiss, and hug The Bird.  He loved helping so much and it would add on many minutes to the process but I think it helped him cope.

Scrape out some one-on-one time with your first babe.   Even if it is as little as a being his designated bedtime story-teller every night.  Also, time with other family and friends or play dates to help keep them happy and occupied for little bits of time keep them less laser-focused on parents cooing/rocking/feeding the new baby all day.

A great idea I learned from my cousin, Jana, was to have a series of gifts that are for your first babe from the new baby after the baby is born.  I think this is a great reminder to your first child that the baby loves them too.

Talk it Out
Did I mention the importance of talking with your first born about all the changes... oh, right, I did!  The same goes for the rest of the fam!  There will suddenly be this new being to care for as well as your # 1 babe, and the pets, the house, and the yard, and the meals.  It can and will be overwhelming.  Delegate duties.  Decide what is imperative and what can be neglected temporarily.  Communicate this with any adults in earshot.

After The Bear, DaveBee and I learned some awesome lessons about negotiating so that everyone is content and less stressed.  For DaveBee, his non-negotiables were a tidy house and doggies that got attention and mine were family bonding and nutritious food. So we found a way to make those things happen and some other things went by the wayside.

Other great sources of communicating or venting are moms, doulas, doctors, midwives, and people who have been there!  Reach out.  You may be surprised at your captive audience.

Ditch the Guilt
Accepting that you will be spending less time with your first love and pretty much inseparable from your new addition will help you to be more forgiving towards yourself.  I think there is a natural mourning or a sense of guilt that occurs. By no means ignore this but knowing that it is normal and that you are in the precipice of change should help you along.

What I have heard from most moms with more than one child is that there is no "magic" time to have a second baby.  There are the obvious pros and cons like having two in diapers at the same time but that they will be out of said diapers sooner than later!  Any guilt associated with having another "too soon" will be replaced with hope when they start playing and interacting.

Give it Time
Looking back over the last 16 months I remember chunks of time.  I remember The Bird's infancy and my leave at home with her FLYING by.  I remember The Bear loving the newness and attention in the beginning but then struggling when I went back to work.  I remember The Bird being an easy baby but has grown into this amazing human that has needs and wants just like her older brother.  She is learning to express those far earlier than her older brother because she has him to show her the way.

I can tell you after these chunks of time that IT GETS EASIER. You find your groove.  You get into a rhythm.  Give it time.

The last crucial bit of information I can give you is give yourself a break.  We hold ourselves to unreal and insane standards that leave us exhausted mentally, physically and spiritually.  Give yourself a break and accept that, especially now, with two kids, you may not be parent of the year but you were easy on yourself. Our kids can learn a lot from that.

Chicken Curry: Gluten Free with Garden-fresh Basil

The very first dinners I ever cooked DaveBee in college was tilapia fish and vegetables in a curry sauce with rice and garnished with avocado and orange slices. 

It was the first time I had cooked curry-anything.

It was one of those moments in my life where the planets aligned where the meal was smashing and I may have won over the love of my life!

Since then, he and I have consumed much curry and coconut milk together.  In fact, it usually makes its way into a weekly dinner as the days start to get shorter and cooler.

Here is the SUPER easy recipe I made recently to clean up some thai basil from the garden.

Chicken Curry: Gluten Free and Garden-Fresh Basil

This mild version is kiddo and toddler approved!

3 Chicken breasts (about 1 breast per person)

Curry powder (see label for amount as they vary)

Lots of Stir fry vegetables

1 Can Coconut Milk

Handful of fresh thai basil

Pan cook chicken breasts dusting each side of chicken with curry powder as you turn it.  Cook slow and low. When chicken is about 5 minutes out, simultaneously, saute the stir fry vegetables and a few sprigs of basil in some olive oil on high heat AND bring coconut milk with more curry powder to a simmer in a saucepan. 

Add curry coconut milk to vegetables and add some more fresh basil as the two pans of ingredients marry. Slice up chicken and add to the vegetables as well.  Serve!

Notes:

This is fantastic over rice as well. We have gotten many kinds of curry powders and pastes but if you are a beginner try any of the Thai Kitchen pastes!

Serves 2 adults and 2 kiddos