30 November 2009

Sewing Project




Some of the aprons I recently made.

29 November 2009

Knightly

"You ask of my companions. Hills, sir, and the sundown, and a dog as large as myself..." Emily Dickinson





Gluten Free Hot Dogs in a Blanket


Gluten Free Pizza Crust
From Special Diets for Special Kids by Lisa Lewis, Ph.D.
(half recipe - for 4 hot dogs or 1 pizza)

1 cup water
1/8 cup olive oil
3/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon garlic salt (we use sea salt)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon Xanthan gum
1 cup Beechnut Baby Rice cereal
1 cup rice flour

Combine first three ingredients. Set aside. Combine the remaining ingredients, and add them to the oil mixture. Mix until thoroughly combined.

Spread on sprayed pizza pan and bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven, add sauce and top as desired. Return to the oven and bake until light brown around the edges.

After baking, but before topping, the crust may be cooled and frozen for later use.

For hot dogs pat the dough between hands and form around hot dog. Place on greased baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

This dough is sticky. It helps a little to put shortening on your hands.

25 November 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted' for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

(signed) G. Washington

Apple Salsa


Apple Salsa


1 apple, diced

1 persimmon, diced
2-4 Tablespoons apple butter or apple sauce
chopped nuts, optional


15 November 2009

Two Meals

Using a boiled chicken and sauteed carrots, onions, potatoes and sweet potatoes we made two chicken pot pies and had extra chicken and vegetables to save for later. For the pot pie crust I used the recipe in the apple pie post under the dessert label. I pressed herbs into the bottom of the crust. We added canned green beans to the chicken and sauteed vegetables. For the sauce I used hemp milk, leftover water from boiling the chicken and arrowroot powder.
Then next day we added rice to the leftover chicken and vegetables along with a teriyaki sauce. Our favorite way to eat this is with potato chips. The sauce recipe is available at the following link www.cookusinterruptus.com/index.php?video_id=43 We used agave nectar rather than honey and left out the garlic.

This meal gets a thumb up from Matt and Ellie!

10 November 2009

USMC Birthday

Happy 234th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

The United States Marine Corps was founded at Tun Tavern on November 10th, 1775.

My Uncle Rene retired from the Marine Corps and my brother Matthew served four years as an active duty United States Marine.

Matthew wrote the following letter during that time.

"Dear Friends,

Hello, I'm writing from my seat on a Boeing 767 as I start anther great adventure in my life, Operation Iraqi Freedom III. In approximately 15-20 hours I will be in Kuwait, and then on up to Falluja, Iraq where I, part of the greatest fighting force in the world, will begin 'peace' operations. I say 'peace' knowing that it is no more than all out war. Cowboys vs. Indians, it has been part of the world since sin entered, and it will go on until Jesus comes back with the greatest fighting force, which I already am a part of, as well as all of you. I am proud to be able to claim that in the hardest battle man can know, the battle for his soul, my father, mother, sister, brother and friends stand shoulder to shoulder with me. In the war that matters most, WE have already won.

Love to all, Cpl. Potter, Charles M., United States Marine Corps"

"There is no better friend and no worse enemy than a United States Marine."


Happy Birthday and thank you to all who have served in the USMC! Thank you to all veterans and those serving in all branches of the military including my Grandpa Joe and my Uncle Randy who served in the Army and my brother Jacob who served in the Air National Guard.


"When you go home, tell them for us and say: 'For your tomorrows, we gave our today.'"
Fifth Division Graveyard Sign, Iwo Jima

07 November 2009

Sweet Tahini Tea Dunking Cookies

Flying Apron's Gluten - Free and Vegan Baking Book by Jennifer Katzinger arrived at my house a few days ago. I have been anticipating its release for some time. Yesterday my mom and I made the Sweet Tahinis. This morning we enjoyed them dunked in a cup of tea.

Sweet Tahinis
12 Cookies

2 cups brown rice flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup tahini
1/2 cup palm or coconut oil
1 cup organic whole cane sugar, plus more for sprinkling cookies
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup agave syrup

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine the brown rice flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium-size bowl. In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the tahini, palm oil, organic whole cane sugar and vanilla until well mixed. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture a little at a time until well mixed, about 3 minutes. Add the agave syrup and mix until well combined.
3. Scoop the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets with an ice cream scoop, dipping the scoop into water to avoid sticking. Indent each cookie with a fork mark and sprinkle with organic whole cane sugar. Bake until firm to the touch, about 17 minutes.

My notes ~ I used a hand mixer and that worked fine. Another time I will probably mix them by hand. It definitely helps to use parchment paper even on non-stick baking sheets. Gluten free items almost always still stick.