No Bake Cookies-An easy, quick go-to cookie

In the past, people with gluten issues haven't been able to have Oatmeal. There is a new school of thought that  says oatmeal is fine. Oatmeal has properties similar to gluten, but not the same. They still worry a little about cross contamination. If you are new to this diet or very sensitive (like my nephew Wyatt) you want to make sure to get Gluten-Free oats. But we are old hats at this and even bulk oatmeal at Winco doesn't cause any reactions. Thank Goodness.
These cookies along with rice crispie Treats are a must-have in Gluten-Free household.
No-Bake Cookies
Combine
2 c sugar
1 cube butter
1 t vanilla
1/2 milk (I've used every type of milk out there.
4 T cocoa
Boil for 1 minute (set timer, if too short, cookies will be runny, if too long, cookies will be rock hard.)
Take off burner and add
1/2 c peanut butter (I've used almond butter or can omit)
3 c quick oats (must be quick or won't set up well)
1/2 c coconut
Mix together until blended.
Drop by teaspoonful on waxed paper.
Wait till set to eat (hard to do).

Utah

If you've ever been to Utah before, you know what I'm talking about when I talk about Utah moms. I don't know how they do it, but they go to the grocery store with full makeup, heels, and 5 kids in tow. It's quite amazing.
I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. I am an oregonian through and through. If you've been to Oregon, you know we wear sweats and tennies and beanies and vests. We are laid back and dressed for a barbecue all the time.

At first, I was a little intimidated. I thought maybe I should put my crocs away and bust out the boots. But that is so not me. Here I am with the kids at the BYU Museum of Art (Carl Bloch's exhibit-that will be another post. It was mind blowing. It really touched me.) I decided to be who I am. A loud and proud Oregonian. I may look like a tourist here but I'm trying to redefine being a Utah mom.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins

These muffins taste like you are biting into a cloud, they are so fluffy. I won a blue ribbon at the fair a couple of years ago with these.
1 cup each of 3 different gluten free flours (I use tapioca flour, white rice flour, and cornstarch.)
2 t baking soda
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
4 eggs
2 cups flour (I have used organic sugar, it turns out great.)
1 can (15 oz) pureed pumpkin
1 c oil
1 small package pudding mix (vanilla or pumpkin, I've used chocolate too)
1 c chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine wet ingredients. Add dry ingredients and combine just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake in greased muffin tins for 20-25 minutes.

Bragging Rights

I just wanted to brag a little about our Stake Women's Basketball. We totally won the regional tournament. What a great group of ball players. But even better than that, they are all wonderful women. Here are our victory poses. Not bad for a bunch of old moms.

My Dad

I knew we would be leaving Hood River soon when I took this picture of Steel and my dad. Dad was holding Steel when I realized that they looked very much alike. I always wanted a child that had eyes the color of my dad's. They are a deep, deep blue all the way through. They are mesmerizing. I think Steel probably looks exactly like Dad's baby pictures. I know he looked just like mine.

We miss Grandpa like crazy.

Whenever I bring up my dad in conversation, the people that know him always comment, "Your dad is so great." or "Your dad's awesome." Stuff like that. I kid you not. Every time. I can only say it's true. He is great. They just don't make men like him anymore.

We are so grateful to the Lord for letting us keep our Dad and Grandpa when he beat cancer 2 1/2 years ago. Interesting note: Dad called to say he had cancer the day that I found out that I was pregnant with Steel. When he called to say it was not the typical prostate cancer, but the "killer kind," that's the day that I got morning sickness and it lasted until 22 weeks.

How can anyone describe my dad?

He's definitely a good ole boy. He's as masculine as they come. When I was little, the only time he would cry was when he watched Little House on the Prairie.

My dad did it all. He worked tons of hours doing construction to pay for his 7 kids. He ran a little dairy farm for a while. We never had anyone come in to do any work around the house. He maintained all the cars, appliances, did all the remodeling, trimmed the horses hooves, you name it. He's a self-proclaimed, "Jack of all Trades, Master of None."

He's a friend to everyone he meets. I can't say that he likes everyone because he is a very good judge of character. But he doesn't pass judgement on people very often. Sometimes his redneck tendencies surface. {Seriously, my sister gave him a "You might be a redneck if...." calender for Christmas one year. It got to where it wasn't funny because they all fit Dad.}

The greatest thing I would like my sons to learn from their Grandpa Dennis is his love for his fellowmen. He lives to serve. He is never too tired, never too busy, never disinclined to help anyone in need. He always listens and only rarely gives advice when not asked.

My dad traveled all over the state of Oregon watching me play softball and then basketball. He coached all of us kids for years in either sport. He would take me to the gym and rebound forever or to the baseball diamond and hit grounders forever. Only a couple of time did he drill me during batting practice. ( I didn't realize it was on purpose until he couldn't control the giggles anymore.) He was always the best fan in the stands. I am grateful for the time he took to support me even if he was wearing a green turtleneck and red suspenders or an orange plaid shirt and rainbow suspenders. I could always pick him out in a crowd.

My dad has always been a lady killer. All my friends talked about how good looking he was. Wherever we went women flirted and he flirted back. But as kids, we always knew his loyalties lay with my mom and it was just good, clean fun.

But he wasn't only about sports, he stressed education for us. He expected us to be the smartest and to get the best grades. I always did because I didn't want to disappoint him.

My dad has a great voice. He sings bass in the choir. He is always asked to emcee church events and narrate programs. We dubbed it his "church voice" because it would drop an octave. We loved it.

My dad didn't come from a great, supportive family. He had a loving mom who did all she could to take care of her kids. He had always made sure we would never judge her. But his father was behaved atrociously towards him family. I am in awe that my dad could be raised like that and still give his children a stable home and a loving environment to grow up in with no cares in the world. Truly a testament to his character.

My dad has tons of sayings that he repeats repetitiously. He says things like, "age before beauty, but I got you beat both ways," when you talk about getting old, "better that the alternative." when you say what's up? "sun, moon, stars...." How are you doing? "About 5'9" (a lie, maybe in cowboy boots). "First I wished I could sing, then I wished you could." When he passes gas, "Works pretty good since I got it fixed." During pinochle when you don't know what to play, "this is where the cheese gets binding." "Diamonds are a gorilla's best friend (to tune)." The list goes on and on...

It has been hard for my family to be far away from Grandpa Dennis. Normandy, in particular, felt the loss the hardest. We love him and are grateful for getting the chance to have him as our family patriarch for as long as the Lord sees fit.

Best Gluten-free Bread

I have had this bread turn out for me every time. It's great. It actually looks like real bread.

GLUTEN-FREE Bread

just over 1 cup each of 3 different gluten-free Flours (I like cornstarch, soy flour, sorghum flour)

2/3 cup dry milk powder

1 Tablespoon xanthan gum

1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1 3/4 cups warm water

2 1/4 t yeast

2 Tablespoons oil (your choice, canola, olive oil, etc...)

2 large eggs

1. In a small bowl, combine water (water needs to be warm, not room temp and not hot) and yeast. Stir.
2. Add dry ingredients to mixing bowl, combine.
3. Add yeast mixture, oil and eggs.
4. Using an kitchen aid, mix dough with bread hook for five minutes on medium-high speed.
5. Lightly grease a bread pan.
6. Spread batter evenly into the pan.
7. Cover with dish towel and put in oven on warm for 1 hour.
8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
9. Bake dough for 55 minutes.
10. Allow to cool before cutting.

Timing

Almost the whole time that I have been I mother, I have been plagued with inner ear trouble.
For the majority of the time, I can successfully manage the demands of our family. But for months at a time, I cannot perform even the simplest tasks without waves of dizziness and vertigo. Although this is tough on me physically, I always fully recover. It is my emotional and mental state that takes a beating. I have gone through the gamut of emotions from betrayal, frustration, anger, anguish, you name it.
Last summer, when I was visiting my in-laws I came across a collection of essays by Dallin H. Oaks. I was significantly moved by his essay on Timing.
"Someone has said that life is what happens to us while we are making other plans. Because of things over which we have no control, we cannot plan and bring to pass everything we desire in our lives. Many important things will occur in our lives that we have not planned, and not all of them will be welcome. The tragic events of September 11th and their revolutionary consequences provide an obvious example. Even our most righteous desires may elude us, or come in different ways or at different times than we have sought to plan."
He talks about we need to not only say, "Thy will be done" by "Thy timing be done."
While we're waiting on the Lord...."So what should be done in the meantime? Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prepares us for whatever life brings. This kind of faith prepares us to deal with life's opportunities--to take advantage of those that are received and to persist through the disappointments of those that are lost. In the exercise of that faith we should commit ourselves to the priorities and standards we will follow on matters we do not control and persist faithfully in those commitments whatever happens to us because of the agency of others or the timing of the Lord. When we do this, we will have a constancy in our lives that will give us direction and peace. Whatever the circumstances beyond our control, our commitments and standards can be constant."
I truly believed that if I could muster up enough faith I would be healed of my afflictions. This has always been the case, but I wanted it NOW. How could I raise my family? How could I do my calling? How could I even go to church? I couldn't. And it didn't matter how much I pleaded and begged the Lord? He has a plan for me in mind. Mine is just to trust in him.
"Faith and trust in the Lord give us the strength to accept and persist, whatever happens in our lives. I did not know why I received a "no" answer to my prayers for the recovery of my wife of many years, but the Lord gave me a witness that this was His will, and He gave me the strength to accept it. Two years after her death, I met this wonderful woman who is now my wife for eternity. And I know that this also was the will of the Lord."
I decided that if these physical limitations are what the Lord has in mind for me, who am I to shun them. The very fact that Lord is refining me by fire means that I am worthwhile. It also means that I have a lot to learn. I am grateful that I can now say, "Let it be according to thy will."
" The most important principle of timing is to take the long view. Mortality is just a small slice of eternity, but how we conduct ourselves here--what we become by our actions and desires, confirmed by our covenants and the ordinances administered to us by proper authority--will shape our destiny for all eternity. As the prophet Amulek taught, "This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God" (Alma 34:32). That reality should help us take the long view--the timing of eternity."