I love the Lord and my big crazy family. My husband and I have been together for 44 years.
I am a mother of two grown children and a grandmother to four biological grandchildren and 5 others. Many sites have been sold or did upgrades which messed up back links, if you find a broken link let me know and I will fix it.I have written online articles for Bubblews, Seekyt, TopicSpotter and Triond. You may still find some of my articles on Ehow/Demand Studio.
Deviled Eggs or Angel Eggs as our family calls them are a
favorite side dish for a carry in meal. However, I never liked them. I thought
it was a good way to ruin an egg, the reason being, I do not like mayonnaise or
mustard.
This holiday season I wanted to try my hand at making guacamole-deviled
eggs, however, the recipes all differed far too much. I remembered mom making
standard deviled eggs and just adding mayonnaise and mustard to the egg yolk
left extra filling in the bowl. So taking four eggs and adding two avocados and
other ingredients I knew there would be way too much filling for the eggs.
Keeping this in mind, I thought I would simply make my guacamole recipe using avocados, cumin, garlic powder, sweet onion, tomato, jalapeno
peppers, lime juice and salt and pepper. Normally I would have used a red or
orange sweet pepper for the guacamole; I simply did not have any.
After boiling a dozen eggs, peeling and cutting them in ½,
making the guacamole, I took an egg and did a trial run. I popped out the egg
yolk then added the same amount of guacamole and mashed it all together. I then
filled the egg halves and tasted. It was an oh my goodness moment. The taste of
this deviled egg was one that I could enjoy.
Since I made a large batch of guacamole, I could enjoy guacamole
deviled eggs as well as dip and eat chips and crackers.
Gluten-Free living has become more popular as people become more aware of Celiac Disease or Gluten intolerance. It is challenging eating gluten-free, however not impossible or without desserts. The most important part is to read the label. If you are not sure about the gluten, call the 800 number for the manufacturer. After you learn what to buy or what not to buy, most of the work is done. This is a tried and true gluten-free cookie recipe.
Ingredients needed to make soft and chewy gluten-free
chocolate chip cookies:
1-cup of butter
1-cup Olive oil
1 1/2 -cup (gluten-free) brown
sugar
1 ½ -cup coconut sugar
4 large eggs
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pure vanilla
2 tsp xanthan gum; Bob Red Mills Corn Free
3 cups tapioca flour
2 1/2 cups Bob Red Mills
All-purpose flour (gluten-free) or the 1 to 1 blend
1 Package
Nestles or Hershey’s (gluten-free)
chocolate chips
Cookie sheets
Parchment baking sheets
I do not believe in wasting
time or dishes, one bowl will suffice.
Instructions to make gluten-free chocolate chip cookies:
Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 20-30 minutes.
Combine in a mixing bowl, the
oils, eggs and sugar.
Add the soda, salt and
vanilla and beat.
Setting the mixer on low, add
little by little the tapioca and the gluten free all purpose flour until it is mixed thoroughly.
Using a wooden spoon, stir in
the chocolate chips.
Drop cookie dough a
teaspoonful at a time on the cookie sheets. Bake 12minutes. Remove cookies from the cookie sheets after they have
cooled.
Warning, not unlike chocolate
chip cookies made with flour these gluten-free cookies with get crispy if
left in the oven too long.
You can use any Gluten-Free
all-purpose you choose, however, I have found Bob Red Mills to work and
taste great.
If you do not have
Gluten-Free brown sugar you can use all white granulated sugar, they will
just be lighter in color.
It is extremely
important when cooking or baking for people with Celiac Disease to use clean
pans and spatulas so they do not become cross-contaminated with any
gluten.
**** Revised recipe in 2016 after being taken off gluten, oatmeal, corn and peanuts. I needed a really good recipe I could eat and the family would enjoy.
Does your family eat doughnuts for breakfast? Is the reason because they make a quick meal
or because the doughnuts are delicious? Sweet potato cake doughnuts can be
quick, vitamin packed and delicious. According to, The Worlds Healthiest Food,
“One difficulty in describing the health benefits of sweet potatoes is knowing
where to begin. There are a surprising number of nutrient categories
responsible for the health benefits of this underappreciated tuber. Among these
categories are antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients, and blood
sugar-regulating nutrients.” Making your family fresh homemade doughnuts, not
only are you eliminating any preservatives but also you are adding vitamins A,
C and B6 in a tasty way.
Ingredients for Sweet Potato Doughnut Recipe:
2 whole sweet potatoes/2 cups mashed sweet potato
saucepan
2 tbsp butter/margarine, melted
Mixing bowl
3 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup milk
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Electric mixer
7 cups flour
3 inch round doughnut cutter
Olive oil
Deep fryer/electric skillet
Tongs or slotted spatula
Paper towel
Instructions to make Sweet Potato Doughnut Recipe:
Wash, peel and cut up the sweet potatoes. Place them in a saucepan, cover with
water and bring to a boil. Cook the sweet potatoes until soft enough to mash.
Melt the butter/margarine and set aside to cool before
using. In a mixing bowl, combine melted butter/margarine, baking powder, salt,
milk, eggs, sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon.
Mix until it is all blended.
Add and mix the flour in one cup at a time, until you get
soft dough. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for one hour.
Using ½ the dough at one time, pour onto a floured surface.
Sprinkle a little flour on top of the dough and pat into the thickness desired.
½ inch to ¾ inch recommended. Using the doughnut cutter dipped in flour, so the
dough does not stick, cut out the doughnuts.
Separate and place your doughnuts on floured surface, such
as counter top or cookie sheet, as you cut them. With your finger, poke a hole
in the center of the doughnut, using a circular motion to enlarge the hole.
Repeat process until all the dough is used.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer or an electric skillet to 375
degrees Fahrenheit and carefully drop doughnuts in a couple at a time. Brown on
one side, flip over and brown the other side. With tongs or slotted spatula, remove
the doughnuts from the oil and place on the paper towel to drain. Continue
until all doughnuts are fried.
Tips:
If you do not have a doughnut cutter, use any 3-inch
diameter, canning ring or drinking glass.
You can use a Dutch oven on the stove top, but use a
thermometer to keep your oil from overheating as your doughnuts will brown to
quickly on the outside and not be done in the center.
You can top your doughnuts with frosting, cinnamon/sugar or
powdered sugar.
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God".
The recipe for gluten-free sage dressing bread was born with my love of my moms sage bread dressing. Now that I am eating gluten-free, it seemed silly to buy an expensive loaf of bread just to add some herbs and vegetables.Using my revised gluten-free sandwich bread recipe from Bob Red Mill, I then added what it would take to make sage dressing.
Ingredients to make Gluten-Free Sage Dressing Bread Recipe:
3-1/2 tsp Bob Red Mill's xanthan gum
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tbsp of almond milk
1 tbsp yeast
3 1/2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour; I prefer Bob Red Mills
1 or 2-cups
celery; chopped
1
large onion; chopped
2 tbsp
sage
2 eggs
1-4 cups turkey broth; enough to make moist but not mushy
1 tsp garlic; dried chopped or
powder
1 tsp onion; dried or
powder
Salt
and black pepper; to taste
turkey; chopped for added flavor
****Now in 2021, attempting to make a tasty bread became too expensive. I now buy bread and use it. Your choice of gluten free bread, just use one loaf, cube and dry a day before making dressing. I typically don't measure; sorry I learned that from my mom, just add the amount of celery, onion and spices to suit your taste. I did learn the hard way, you can add too much ground sage, so be careful 😉
Instruction to make Gluten-Free Sage Dressing Bread Recipe:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Without wasting time or dishes, add in your mixing bowl, all the ingredients in the order listed and mix until blended.
Pour into a greased 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan, smooth out the top and pop into the oven.
Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes or until the top is browned.
I made fresh
applesauce from our neighbor’s un-sprayed apple trees to take to a family
gathering. When the gathering was postponed, I wasn’t quite sure what to do
with it all, it was far too much for me to eat by myself, therefore,
Gluten-Free Applesauce Bread was made.
I had used Taste
of Home recipe for applesauce bread before, however, now that I need gluten
free things as well as many family members, I adapted this recipe to suit all
the no dairy, no gluten ingredients needed in the families diet and have been
told it was fantastic.
Ingredients to make Gluten-Free Applesauce Bread
2/3 cup coconut
oil; softened
2 cup
sugar
2 egg
2 ½cups unsweetened applesauce
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon
baking powder
1 teaspoon
Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon
ground nutmeg
1/4
teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons of xanthan gum or ground flax seed
3 cups
All-purpose gluten-free flour; I use Bob Red Mills
1 cup
raisins; optional
1 cup
chopped walnuts; optional
Directions to make Gluten-Free Applesauce Bread
Preheat the oven at 350
degrees.
In a large bowl add ingredients as listed, mixing
well adding flour a little bit as a time until combined thoroughly. If using raisins and nuts fold them in.
Pour the batter into 2 greased 8-in. x 4-in.
loaf pans. Bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the
center comes out clean.
Cool before removing from pan, slicing and
enjoying.
Christmas season is nearly here. If you are like me, you like to have homemade ornaments on the Christmas tree. And Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments not only add the homemade touch, but a great smell.
I will give you the instructions to make Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments but you will have to pick out your shapes. Be creative, design your Christmas Tree to suit your family
Supplies needed to make Cinnamon Applesauce
Christmas Tree Ornaments:
1/2 cup Cinnamon
1/2 cup Applesauce
Wax paper
Cookie Cutters
Toothpick
Ribbon/String
Bowl
Spoon
Glitter (optional)
Instructions
to make Cinnamon Applesauce Christmas Tree Ornaments:
In bowl, mix together the cinnamon
and applesauce. When it becomes to stiff to stir with spoon you can use
your hands to finish making a dough ball.
On the waxed paper, start
flattening out the dough ball with your fingers.
Put a second sheet of waxed
paper over the dough and roll it out until it is approximately 1/8-inch
thick.
Now be creative, take cookie
cutters, ring to a canning jar or freehand cut your shapes.
Place on a waxed paper covered
baking sheet. Take a toothpick or straw and poke a hole in the top where
you will put your ribbon or string.
Let your shapes air dry for
at least 24 hours or until completely hard.
***The
Youtube recipe is different than the one we used, you may want to try both.
This summer after having an abundance of zucchini and
yellow squash; and using them in every conceivable way. I looked in my moms recipe box and found my aunt's zucchini pie recipe and adapted it to make Gluten-Free Sweet Yellow Squash Custard.
Eating gluten-free can be a tad challenging but not impossible. I hadn't found a gluten-free pie crust and I really did not need any extra calories, therefore, I decided baking it in glass baking dish was a much better idea.
Using Blue Diamond vanilla almond cashew milk instead of vanilla extract and Mil-not was another change. If I were making it for my niece I would have used coconut oil instead of butter too. Do not be afraid to play with recipes.
Ingredients for Gluten-Free Sweet Yellow Squash Custard
2 Cups yellow squash; cooked peeling seeds and all
1 1/2-2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
2 Cups vanilla almond cashew milk
4 tbsp Tapioca flour
3 tbsp butter or coconut oil
Instructions on making Gluten-Free Sweet Yellow Squash Custard
After cooking the squash, drain the excess water, and pour it in a blender. Mix it until a nice smooth consistency.
Add the rest of the ingredients and continue to blend it all together.
Pour into a 9-in X 13-in baking dish and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes, reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the center is done and does not jiggle.
Baking gluten-free was once something I only did for my sisters and nieces, however, after seeing an herbalist to help get healthier I was placed on a no peanut, wheat, rye, barley oat and corn diet. I am actually finding the no corn part to be the hardest as it is in everything, however, this recipe for gluten-free zucchini brownies is delicious and fits the bill.
Ingredients
for the Zucchini Brownies:
½ cup cacao powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1
teaspoon Himalayan salt
½ cup coconut oil/olive oil; your choice
1 ½ cups coconut sugar
2
teaspoons real vanilla
2 cups garden fresh zucchini; shredded
2 cups
all-purpose gluten-free flour; I prefer Bob Red Mills all-purpose gluten-free flour
3-5
tablespoons water; only if needed
1/2 cup
chopped walnuts; optional
Ingredients for the chocolate frosting:
3
tablespoons cocoa powder
¼ cup butter or coconut oil; melted
2 cups
powdered sugar
¼ cup almond or cashew milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
extract
Pinch of
salt
Instructions to make the Zucchini Brownie:
Preheat
your oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit. Using a 9-inch x13-inch glass baking
pan and spray it
with cooking spray.
In your mixing
bowl, (I do not believe in using more than one bowl); therefore, add the ingredients
in the order listed adding the water last to make a thicker batter. The water you use is determined by the moisture in your
zucchini. Do not add too much water
or it will be more like cake than a brownie. ***I made the Gluten-Free Zucchini Brownies without any added water.
Spread
the batter into the prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes until the brownies
spring back when gently touched or a toothpick inserted into the center
comes out clean.
While
the brownie is baking, whip up the frosting. Spread the frosting on the
brownies after they have cooled a little. I prefer to frost the brownies
while slightly warm; however, you can do as you like and wait until they
are completely cooled.
Cut
into squares and watch the Gluten-Free zucchini brownies disappear.
The calendar tells us that April 9, 2016 is spring; however,
looking out the window this morning, it looked as if winter had returned in
full force.
Not looking at the clock, I am trying to remember, approximately
1 pm or so the sky was blue, the snow had stopped and it looked as if all was
OK. I am glad I did not hold my breathe as only a short time later, the snow
had started falling hard once again. It did that several times throughout the
morning.
By 4 pm the sky was indeed blue, most of the snow melted,
even at a mere 30 degrees, and I was outside taking photographs of the lovely
spring flowers.
The hyacinths look and smell fantastic, however, the
daffodils little heads were drooping from the cold rain, ice/sleet and snow
they had endured this week. The still look lovely and I am hoping the sun that
is now shining and is to shine tomorrow will perk them up.
April 9th in Northern
Indiana has been quite interesting, how is the weather in your
neighborhood?
When researching
Easter bible passages, we also need to consider without the birth of Christ
there would be no Easter bible passages. Christmas and Easter go hand-in-hand.
We also need to
think about how we are saved by grace through faith. You can find that passage in Ephesians 2:8-10
Easter Bible Passages:
Now lets’ start
researching Easter passages, go back and start with the week before. We refer
to that Sunday as Palm Sunday. Why, because Jesus road on a young donkey into
the town as they took palm branches and hailed him King.
John
12:12-13 “The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept
through the city. A huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm
branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Bless
the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!””
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
Now fast forward
one week and all had changed for Jesus the Christ. Jesus shared a meal and communion with his 12
disciples, commonly known as the Last Supper, after which Jesus went into the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Jesus being born of
a virgin and raised as a carpenters’ son, was fully aware he was born to die on
the cross for our sins; therefore, he chose to retreat to the garden to pray to
his heavenly father.
Matthew
26:36-46 Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go on
ahead to pray.”He took Peter and
Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish
and deep distress. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the
point of death. Stay here and watch with me.” He went on a little farther
and fell face down on the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible,
let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not
mine.” Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to
Peter, “Couldn’t you stay awake and watch with me even one hour?
Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For
though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!” Again he left them
and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it,
your will be done.” He returned to them again and found them
sleeping, for they just couldn’t keep their eyes open. So he went
back to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to
the disciples and said, “Still sleeping? Still resting? Look, the time has
come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up,
let’s be going. See, my betrayer is here!”
Judas Iscariot,
one of the 12 disciples, betrayed Jesus in the garden. Not only did he betray
Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, he did it in a prearranged way to the Jewish
officials. In order for them to make the arrest of the right man, Judas did it
by giving Jesus a kiss.
You can read this
story in Matthew 26:46-49
Jesus Arrested
After they arrested Jesus,
they tortured and beat him until he was unrecognizable.They spit in his face and even mocked with a
crown of thorns. Recorded in Isaiah 50:6, you can read where they even pulled
out his beard.
oMatthew 27: 29; NLT, They
made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they placed a
stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery,
yelling, “Hail! King of the Jews!”
Easter Bible Passages
about The Death of Jesus:
If you have the impression Jesus, the son of God,
did not suffer, you are wrong. He suffered tremendously, he was the son of God
yet human just like you and I. The only difference was, he was perfect and he
never sinned, yet paid for our sins with his life.
oMatthew 27: 35-37; NLT, After they had nailed
him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then
they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. A signboard was fastened
to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read:
“This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
Yes, the Bible states they nailed Jesus to the cross;
the soldiers drove stakes into his hands and pierced his side.To Thomas, often known as doubting Thomas,
Jesus directly tells him to touch his hand and side to feel the wounds.
oJohn 20: 26-27 “Jesus was standing among them. He
said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and
see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any
longer. Believe!””
In John 19: 32-37 you can read where they told the
soldiers to break his legs, like the thieves, to speed up the death and pierced
his side. However, by not breaking his bones it fulfilled the prophecy in,
Psalms 34:19-20; KJV.
oIn Luke 23: 44-47 “It
was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the
afternoon,for the sun stopped shining. And
the curtain of the temple was torn in two.Jesus
called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I
commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he
breathed his last.The centurion, seeing what
had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”
Praise God the story does not end there; the tomb is
empty as Jesus rose from the dead and still lives today. He is the only reason
for the Easter Bible Passages: Saved by Grace through Faith.
Reducing stress in ones life is not an easy thing to do. With rising prices
on everything, especially the essential things in life, the money simply does
not go as far, which then, creates more stress. Therefore, it is one vicious
cycle, however, to avoid an eye stroke or a full stroke it is
a necessary thing to do.
For the last 2-years, I have experienced more stress as never before.
Unfortunately, my current stress was more than likely caused by a higher than
normal blood pressure induced by stress; however, this is just an opinion, as
the eye doctor did not know what caused the eye stroke and
further tests were ran.
After the eye doctors tests, I was sent to my
local general practitioner and from there to the hospital for tests. After the
Echo test determining my heart to be fine, the carotid arteries in my neck were
scanned for blockage. Again, everything looked OK, and still the confusion of
what caused the eye stroke remained unanswered.
Do not be Anxious
I went to the eye doctor in the middle of May with a clean bill of health, 3
weeks later my left eye started acting up, however, not having any major health
issues I thought it was just the he allergies in my eyes flaring up.
After hearing the news about having suffered an eye stroke,
which has lead to loss of peripheral vision in my left eye, I was more upset
and stressed than ever. Our daughter reminded me about the passage in
Philippians.
Philippians 4:6-7; (NIV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
What is an Eye Stroke
I could attempt to describe what a stoke to the eye is, however, it was
easier to search Bing than to try to remember what the eye doctor and general
practitioner had explained to me while I was stressed out.
According to diseasesymptomdiagnosis.com, “An Eye Stroke,
is an ischemia of the anterior optic neuropathy, it’s a detrimental state in
which the blood supply either becomes reduced or blocked to the membranes of
the front position of the optic nerve. If the occlusion occurs as the blood
vessel comes forward of the optic nerve and on the retina, it is termed as
branch or central retinal artery blockage.”
In my case, the artery to the retina, which provides the blood supply,
collapsed, therefore, the loss of peripheral vision in my left eye. Nearly two
years later there are days when the vision is worse than other days. The
pressure from reading or writing too long creating issues.
Conclusion
Therefore, reduce the stress in your life so you do not suffer the same
consequences, an eye stroke or any vision complications is
something you do not want to experience first hand. Instead of the prescribed
cholesterol medication, which created more issues for me, I take Red Rice Yeast
and a low-dose aspirin; however, heed your doctor’s advice.
If you find yourself in a stressful job search out the herb St John Wort. It can be
found in stores such as Kmart or Wal-mart, you can purchase it from CVS or Walgreen,
online stores like Swanson Vitamins or even through Amazon.
****Originally posted on the Seekyt in 2015 after Tyler sold it to James and then the new cheating owners lost it and my profile in transferring over the site.
Toddler flower girl dresses can interpreted two ways, are
you looking for toddler flower girl dresses for a wedding or a lovely flower
print for your toddler?
If you are looking for toddler flower girl dresses for a
wedding, select one for a dress maker in your area, online stores, J.C.
Penny’s, Kohl’s or even Target, there is no need to spend a fortune. After you
have purchased your dress and the bridesmaid dresses, you can think about the
toddler flower girl dresses. You may want it patterned after the bride or you
may want the flower girl to look like a miniature bridesmaid. However, you may
choose to go a completely different direction using the colors of the wedding
to co-ordinate the dresses. Keep in mind this will be a toddler and should not
really look like a grown up. Dress her up in frills or ruffles but not a off
the shoulder or strapless number, you want to protect her innocence.
Material for toddler flower girl dresses:
Toddler flower girl dresses can be made of cotton, satin,
taffeta or even velvet if you are having a late fall or winter wedding. Just as
the flowers for a December wedding can be unique, so can the toddler flower
girl dresses. A beautiful deep red or maroon velvet dress would look lovely
while she's holding onto a basket of rose petals and tossing them down the
aisle. If you were already using those colors for the bridesmaid dresses at
Christmas time, using an opposing color of a dark green velvet dress would look
great too. If you are having a spring or summer wedding, the toddler flower
girl dresses may be more of a sundress style. There are no hard rules when it
comes to weddings; it is the brides’ day to do as she wishes.
Sundresses:
The best toddler flower girl dresses for the summer, are
sundresses. Toddlers are on the go and need to be comfortable. With flowered
sundresses, you can change the look for the toddler by slipping on a pair of
plain shorts or leggings. In the evening when the sun goes down and it might
get chilly for the toddler, slip on a pair of jeans.
Toddler flower girl dresses do not need to expensive to be
nice. With toddlers, think practical.
**Previously posted on Seekyt until they lost my profile and posts in the 2015 changeover.