Normandy's Prayer

I am so grateful that my family has developed the habit of daily scripture study and family prayer. It never fails that when I'm finding it hard to find strength that one of my kids inspires me. Today in her prayer Normandy said, "We're thankful for parents so that we can learn from their mistakes." Nothing gets past these guys.
Most times I feel like I could be such a better parent but I know this is exactly what I should be doing and I'm grateful for this opportunity to raise these kids.

Hood River

We are home visiting the Hood. This is the view from my parent's back yard. It truly is amazing.
We are home visiting my parents. The kids and I are staying in the house I grew up in. It is so nice to be home. I loved attending church yesterday. It felt like putting on an old sweatshirt. I am so grateful for the folks in Hood River. When my family was struggling and tired, we came to Hood River reluctantly. We were greeting with open arms. We were loved and taken care of. We healed here. I am so amazed that these folks who really knew me (some since birth) still loved me, warts and all.
It is bittersweet because we know we will leave soon. But we will try to soak in all the HR loveliness that we can before heading back to Zion.

Fearless Thou Shalt Be

Fearless, Thou Shalt Be 

 

In the wake of yawning decadence,
In the arms of dreadful pestilence
In the eyes of hopeless impudence,
Fearless Thou shalt be!
When the time is ripe to cast the sword
When the time is prime to spread the word,
When evil’s ugly head is reared,
Fearless Thou shalt be!
When it’s time to do the best things right,
When it’s time to hold your stance and fight
When you don’t look back to dread your plight,
Fearless Thou shalt be!
When evil’s deed is unvanquished
When all good seems to have perished
When good almighty’s left ravished
Fearless Thou shalt be!
For darkness comes before the light
Victory comes as the hero’s right
Tarry not, Stand up and fight!
Fearless Thou shalt be!

Pineapple Fried Rice

When you are living a gluten-free lifestyle, it's hard to find places to go out to eat. I found that even dishes that I assumed were safe would cause a reaction in Cash or Trav. I also found that I would take my whole family out to eat, spend $40-50, referee the whole time, waste tons of food and come away saying let's never do that again. Here is a dish that is gluten-free and tastes like a restaurant would serve. It's also cheap and easy to make. Enjoy!

• Pineapple Fried Rice

  8	oz pineapple chunks, drained or fresh (I actually like canned better for this dish)
  3	cups cooked rice (keep it on the dry side)
  1/2	cup onions, thinly sliced
  3	cloves garlic, finely chopped
  1/2	can of diced green chilis
  1	egg
  1	can of peas or 12 oz frozen
  1	small carrot, grated (about 1/4 cup)
  1/4	cup raisins
  1/2	cup raw cashews
  3	scallions, finely sliced
  1/3	cup fresh cilantro
  2	tbsp fish sauce
  2	tsp. curry powder

  Directions
  1. Drizzle 1-2 Tbsp. oil in a wok/large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, and chili, cook for about a minute.
  2. Spread veggies to sides of pan. Crack egg in middle of  wok and stir quickly to cook (like making scrambled eggs).
  3. 1. 1. 1. 1. Add the carrot (if using), peas, cashews. Stir-fry 1 minute in the same way, adding more stock if needed.
  4. Now add the rice, pineapple chunks, and raisins. Add the fish/soy sauce and  curry powder and mix well. Gently stir-fry to combine over medium-high to high heat until the rice "dances" (begins to make popping sounds) - about 3 minutes.
  5. Top with cilantro and green onions.
     
     

Gluten Free Bread

This is the loaf that I just pulled out of the oven. Can you believe gluten free bread that turns out so high? I had to raise the upper rack because the loaf raised so much. This is from the recipe that I posted in March. I used tapioca flour, soy flour and cornstarch. All bought at Winco in their bulk section. I also used Shelf Reliance powdered milk. I'm super excited for Cash to see this. He has been asking for days for Gluten-Free bread. Yay!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

1/2  c hot water
1/2 c cocoa powder
1/2 c softened butter
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2/3 c each of 3 different gf flours
1 large package chocolate pudding
1 1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 c milk (your choice)
1 T vinegar
Mix water and cocoa and set aside. Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and beat all together. Add cocoa mix and vanilla and blend. Add dry ingredients. Mix. Add milk and vinegar and mix. Blend just until smooth. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes (may take longer for gf).

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

(Recipe adapted from Gayle Ferguson's)
3 c grated carrots
2/3 c each of 3 different gluten free flours
1 large package vanilla pudding
2 c sugar
4 eggs
2 t baking powder
2 t baking soda
2 t cinnamon
1 1/2 c oil
1/2 t salt
1 c chopped pecans
1 t vanilla
Mix sugar and oil. Add carrot and eggs and mix well. Add dry ingredients, nuts and vanilla. Mix well. Bake at 350 degrees for  45-60 minutes (longer for gf). Top with cream cheese frosting.

My son, Thor

I stayed awake for hours last night worrying about the future and what it holds for my family.

I learned two lessons from my son Thor in about 10 minutes this morning.

Thor gave the prayer after scripture study. The first thing that struck me was, "We're thankful for our challenges so we can be perfect when we get to heaven." I'm sad he's learning it early, but what a wonderful testimony. It makes me feel like maybe I'm succeeding in being optimistic when I still feel like crawling back in bed.

Then he said, "We're thankful for the day and the night so that we don't have just one lo-ong day." We can always find things to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for Thor. He has been a joy from day one. Heavenly Father sent him to me when I needed him most. I've always been so grateful for the mellow, snuggly baby (so unlike my others) that nourished my soul when it so badly needed to heal almost 9 years ago. 

God is good.

Grandma's Tollhouse Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe that I've adapted was the recipe of my mom's best friend's Grandmother. Joan Pratt was an amazingly kind, intelligent, wonderful woman who lost her battle with cancer last summer. We feel her loss and hope her family will recover from losing their mother and friend.
I get told all the time that these are the best cookies EVER. I never even told them they were gluten-free. Every time I bake them I think of Joan.

1/4 c each of 3 different gluten free flours (I use cornstarch, sorghum flour and white rice flour.)
1/2 t salt
1/2 c butter flavored shortening
1/3 c brown sugar
1/3 c sugar
1 egg
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t hot water
1 c quick oats (must be quick, whole oats make it runny)
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 c pecans (for me, these make the cookies)
1 c chocolate chips
Cream together shortening, sugars, eggs, and soda dissolved in water. Add the flours, pudding mix and salt. Mix. Add nuts, chocolate chips. vanilla and oatmeal. Drop by rounded teaspoons (I love my pampered chef cookie scoop) onto cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Kisses

I have used the chocolate kisses with the easy recipe that I posted previously for peanut butter cookies. But this cookie recipe that I've adapted has a better texture.

1/2 c butter softened  (I alternate with butter-flavored shortening depending on what I have on hand)
1/2 c peanut butter (I use chunky)
3/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1/4 t salt
2/3 c each  of 3 different gf flours (I use white rice flour, tapioca flour, and cornstarch.)
1 small package of vanilla pudding
1 t baking soda
3 T sugar
40 chocolate kisses, unwrapped.
In mixing bowl, beat together butter, peanut butter, sugars, egg, vanilla and salt until light and fluffy. Add flour, vanilla, and soda; mixing until thoroughly blended. Shade dough into 40-45 balls. Roll balls in 3 T sugar. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until light golden. Immediately top each cook with a candy kiss. Press down till cookie spreads out but doesn't separate. Remove from cookie sheet and put on rack to cool.

Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

I took these cookies to a Christmas Party so that Trav and Cash would have a dessert. Little did I know that the desserts were being judged. There were things like cakes, pies, decorated cookies, etc. But these little babies that took me 5 minutes to put together tied for 1st place.

1 c sugar
1c peanut butter (I almost always use chunky in baking)
1 egg
1 t vanilla
1 c chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make into small balls. Press with fork. Bake for 10 minutes.