Gluten Free Vegan Blondies

It's one of those mornings. I am procrastinating the chores that I have to do outside. It's -8 out, and for us, up in the hills, that is soooo cold! I will have to put on my carhart overalls, a brand name I'd never heard of till I met my husband, and brave the cold to feed the chickens and haul in some fire wood.  I'm by our warm fire, my two younger children, who don't have school, are bothering me to entertain them. The sun is lazily making it's rising appearance (it's 9:30) and I am content to just sit and type.

This year I am making all the presents that we are going to give for Xmas. It's a first. I have completed 2 of the 7 blankets that I am gifting to only close family. I have made various cowls, mittens, and hats for the few outskirts of friends that I feel to give to. In the past I have gotten carried away with trying to buy the perfect gift.....for everyone. I no longer feel that fits me. It's strange to look back and see how much one can change. In the past name brand gifts made me squeal...now, not so much. I'm content to watch my kids open a few gifts, while I sip some warm tea by the fire, with my husband.

This year we are also blessed enough to get to spend the Xmas and New Year holiday season with my bother in law and sister in law, and their mob! My mother in law and father in law will fly down with us and the kids and we will all be together. That is the extent of our Xmas spending. We are all super excited to leave the dark cold and spend it with people we really like, who happen to also be family. There will be 12 children, and I can't help but wonder where our two little girls are. I am praying a lot, as I wait on two countries to answer my paperwork. And it also makes me wonder what next year will be like. Sigh.

On to some recipes

Ever since I first discovered blondies, I became a huge fan! You can bake them in a glass dish, spread the dough, layer with jelly, chocolate chips and then add a little bit of the batter on top....but,  I prefer them in bite size mini muffin tins. It's much easier to ration your portion, or tell yourself..."it's just a little bite".... Oh, but what a bite! (be careful those bites do add up and before you know it....someone ate them all!!)


The batter will harden the more time that it is exposed, so you want to try to add the jelly as quickly as you can. Finding some really good organic jam/jelly and mini chocolate chips is important to this treat. I was using the cascadian farm raspberry jam, but learned that they spent money supporting the fight for Americans to not have Gmo's labelled (proposition 37 in California), so I am promptly moving on to another source. I'll let you know what I find.

Blondies!

Preheat oven to 340 and prepare your pan of mini muffin tray with liners
first your dry ingredients....

1/2c of garbanzo/fava bean mixture (I grind my own and mix 3/4 c fava/1c garb) you can use bob's
1/3c buckwheat flour
1/3c quinoa flour (If you wanted to make this grainless, you could simply mix 1/2c of buckwheat and quinoa, instead of the 1/3c ratios)...ahh! I just saw how expensive this is!! it costs about what I pay for a 25lb bag of quinoa! read below!
1/3c millet flour (again, I buy all these grains, and grind in my vita mix, saves LOTS of money!)
2/3c of coconut palm sugar
1/2t salt
2t of baking powder
1/2t baking soda
1/4c of ground flax or chia (chia is much kinder to the digestive tract)
 --mix all--

add your wet ingredients...
1/3c of applesauce
2T of vanilla extract
1/3c oil (coconut, or whatever you prefer)

 Once you have your batter, you will scoop to the 2/3 of the tins with batter and using a butter knife I put dabs of jam on top followed by a few chocolate chips (4?) and then I add another touch of the batter to top it off and sprinkle a few more chocolate chips

If you're using a baking glass dish, the same would apply...spread the batter on the bottom of the dish, saving some of the batter to plop on top....layer with jam, and chocolate chips...followed by remaining batter and more chocolate chips...bake in the over about 15 minutes..... depending on your oven....when they come out, they will be mushy, so let them cool down before attempting your bite, or cutting into the dish......mmmm!


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Grain-less, Gluten Free, Vegan, Uh-maze-ing Scones

this cracks me up! Big shout out to my friend Kristine who I got this from....

Oh Happy Halloween everybody! I must be candid....this is my least liked of all the holidays. I know, I know.... I have a whole lot of people that enjoy dressing up, and getting candy. But I remember being terrified as a child. It seemed frightening to me that grown ups dress up and try to scare kids. As a child, I hated that it was dark out, and going to stranger's houses, but I did like the candy! Halloween is not celebrated in Romania we celebrated the day of the dead, I have some hazy memories of the day. Massive amounts of people would migrate to cemeteries and put flowers and candles around the graves of loved ones. Though the roots of the holiday are just as creepy, as a child, seeing all those hundreds of candles in the dark, and remembering our elders, hearing stories of who they were.....well, it was way less scary.

My displeasure with the massive amounts of candy given to my children on this day, has increased every year. So this year, instead of trick-or-treating, we did a family party. What's a family party? Well, we sort of made it up. I got the kids each a small toy (legos for the boys and some fairy figurine for Bella) along with a chocolate bar (I love enjoy life's)and an organic lollipop. The all had to perform for Grandma Mary, Toby, and I. We set up a stage, complete with a microphone and speaker. We had a blast, and still got too much sugar! I made some donuts (yes, I'll post the recipe sometime) and we ended it with us all dancing. Much better than trick or treating. It will be a tradition. I decided to wear the very same costume, this year, that I wore 11 years ago, the first day that Toby referred to me as "his girlfriend". It still fits :)

Mommy the school girl (there's a sentimental story to that), Bella the purple princes, Zaya the little ninja, Isaac Darth Vader, and Daddy the big ninja!

I make scones once in a while. They have vegetable shortening, so it is more of a treat than something that I consider healthy. Nonetheless, it's super easy to have handy on those morning when we are running late. And my oldest, and the most difficult to feed, Isaac likes the chocolate chip version, so I make em from time to time.

What I love about these scones is that I can make them with anything. It is the great thing about scones! add fruit to the batter or chocolate chips....or lemon shaving and poppy seeds. The different flavors are a very long list. I also use a scone tray it's cast iron with a coat of non stick (yes, I know). I find it helpful in gluten free baking to have a mold, because often times the batter is runny.

This recipe has no xanthan gum, which i prefer. I made this one with thinly sliced apples that I poured some lemon juice and mixed some coconut crystals with cinnamon powder and then just topped it off on the scone before putting it in the oven, I also sprinkle more coconut palm sugar on top (same thing as the coconut crystals)....because I believe in using less sugar in the batter, and just sprinkling on top. You taste it better.

Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Scones!

Preheat oven to 400
prepare scone dish (or baking pan)

dry ingredients
1/2 c of garbonzo/fava bean flour (you can use bob's, but I like to mill and mix my own with my vita mix 1c garbonzo to 3/4 c fava)
1/2 c of quinoa flour (grinding your own, saves lots of money)
1/2 c of buckwheat flour (read above)
1/4 c of ground chia seeds (I grind mine in our coffee grinder)
2t of baking powder
1t of baking soda
a dash of salt
1/2c of coconut crystals
1T of vanilla extract (I like to make my own)

mix thoroughly and set aside 1c of coconut milk mixed with 1T of apple cider vinegar (this will curdle)

add 1/2c of vegetable shortening mix with a mixer until there are little crumbles
add the 1c of curdled  and add 3/4 c of chocolate chips.... Put in pan and sprinkle with coconut sugar on top...

this happens to be thinly sliced apples with sprinkled coconut crystals on top

bake for 20-25 minutes (I need 22 minutes in my oven)

Once done, they will be soft, so let them sit for 5 minutes before removing....place on wire rack and let them cool all the way down...they will harden....Enjoy!!!

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Grain-less, Vegan, Gluten free, Double Chocolate Chip Cupcake/Muffins

It seems like summer came and left in a very short and abrupt manner. Usually by the time that winter rolls close, I'm ready to switch gears, to inside activities and blazing fires to keep the viscous weather amusing to watch out my window. And not terrifying because the threat it may bring. In the middle of -50 weather, I am always aware of how brutal the elements can be to us vulnerable humans, when I'm in my home staring out my windows as warmth from my oven and fireplace fill my house. But this year, I'm not quite ready.  Currently I'm typing away, as I see the pounding fall wind, have it's way with my kale, chard, and the few other items that remain from my constant months of cutting.  I will miss my garden. The carrots and potatoes are still needing to be harvested. And the tomatoes are still giving me sweet treats to munch on, freeze, or to juice. Tomatoes from a grocery story are a terrible representation of what the fruit actually tastes like. I grew my garden with organic heirloom seeds and tested my tomatoes with two kinds of seed view...the hybrids (done through regular, selective breeding, not gmo, but organic) and heirloom (seeds from varieties that have been around for a long time).....there are two sides debating the quantity and quality of each. I will no longer grow anything but the heirloom! It has been such fun seeing colors and odd shapes, plants I never find at that grocery store place that I'm dreading having to go to during the winter :(

my bounty

But onward and upward I strive to climb. My children have all been in school almost 3 weeks! Yaye!! Except that I still haven't felt that freedom, yet, that comes from having some free time. Why? Well because I have had to go and deal with behavior issues from my oldest and youngest kids...my boys. Parenting is a humbling, humbling, job. I was way better at it when I didn't have children and I saw how other people "where doing it wrong". How hard can it be? I'd think, watching a child throw a fit, and wishing the parent would just pick up the child and spank. Needless to say, I'm eating massive amounts of Humble Pie, and I think it has gluten and casein in it, cause I constantly feel crazy and sick. 

I have also started school...I am studying online through this college....I am beginning with the nutritional consultant program. I spent several hours last night studying all the different parasites and yeast overgrowth that can and often does occur in the gut, that goes undiagnosed, and untreated in America....I am pretty convinced I have all of them! (yep, I think that way). The amount of material and information I need to absorb is overwhelming. But what really overwhelms me is the research documents/case studies that I'll have to put together. In case you, the reader, haven't noticed...punctuality, and sentence structure...is not my strong suit....what can I say? I love dots!

So I've been dabbling in tinctures. I grew echinacea this spring, and the plant just has been happy and growing, so I will post what I'm doing with it, soon.

In the meantime I will divulge the recipe you came for. I have been trying to bake just the right chocolate muffin....for years!!! (I think I'm going to use this recipe for brownies, if anyone beats me to it, let me know how they come out) I came up with this recipe tonight, so that I could have something to stick in my children's lunches tomorrow (I know, right?!). But since I have a great amount of zucchini, I feel good about this judgement call. No zantham gum or starch flours, because, I just don't think either is great for your body (I have deep suspicions about where zantham gum is grown)

Side note, I'm still trying to figure out, why my first cupcake had a piece of glass in it? I may never know the answer to the disturbing mystery, but it happened. I bit in the cupcake and a hard piece was in my gooey middle experience....I was confident that it was an isolated peice of glass...but where did it come from?

Double Chocolatey Goodness Muffins, oh wait, Cupcakes?

So here's what I did... set oven to 350 and set aside 1 1/4c of coconut milk (I used So Deliscious) and add a Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, the milk will curdle,  (voila, vegan "buttermilk", without puss or blood:) set aside.

Dry ingredients to mix

1/3c of garbanzo/fava bean flour mix (you can use Bob's mill brand) but I simply ground full beans in my vitamix and have a 3/4c of fava to 1c of garbanzo bean mixture, waiting for me in the fridge

1/3c of buckwheat flour (again I grind mine in the vitamix)

1/3c of quinoa flour (it really saves you money to grind your own)

1/4c of ground chia seeds or ground flax (again I recomend grinding your own in a coffee grinder)

1/2c of cocoa powder

1/2c of coconut palm sugar/crystals (low glycemic)

1t of baking soda (aluminum free)

2t of baking powder (see above)

1/2t of salt
mix your dry ingredients nicely....then add

1T of vanilla extract (I make my own...sooo easy, I'll post how with the echinacea tincture blog)

1/2c of coconut oil melted (you can use olive, if you don't have coconut)

now grab a blender (or a grater) and mix some of the curdled milk with a half a medium sized zucchini....(I tend to use about a cup cubed size).... once all blended...add to the batter and mix thoroughly....

scoop up in tins and bake for 22 minutes (fill tins about 3/4 full, they will rise)... this batter made me 15 muffins (be sure to fill the spots without batter, with water, so the heat distribute evenly) ...shout out to my friend, Tiffany Seale for that great tip! 

It's been a full day, good night

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Gluten free Vegan Sweet Potato Waffles with strawberries from my garden...

Today we were able to do something that we've waited over a year to do. We were able to go outside and pick enough strawberries from our strawberry patch, to put on waffles!!! Well, we decided to do waffles over pancakes after the picking was done. There is nothing more fulfilling than going outside and getting your food from your garden...nothing.

We have been juicing from the garden every morning. Typically Toby and I prefer to wake up to a glass of freshly juiced greens. Now, we have been able to get it from our garden, and let me tell you, I feel like I can fly! The energy and cleansing power is impossible to explain, you just have to experience it.

A few days ago, I juiced some greens for my oldest son, who has gut issues. I haven't juiced for him for a while, and I was wondering why.....Well, on the second morning, his whole body detoxed. He spent some time on the toilet in the afternoon, went to bed later in the afternoon, woke up with a slight fever...watched TV for an hour, then promptly went back to bed, sleeping over 12 hours. He woke up fine, and clear headed. He is able to express himself and his needs so much clearer. I am a huge advocate of juicing. I think it's an amazing gift to the body....but back to my waffles...side note, the coconut sauce should be made at least 6 hours before using, because it needs time to set

You will need a good waffle iron. I have mine, and it's used a few times a year....but it does fulfill my kitchen gadget addiction (I'm pretty sure I have one). I have a list of needs, wheat-grass manual juicer, food processor (nope, I don't have one), a canning pot, etc.....I bought a yam/sweet potato (I don't think there's a difference) a few days ago.... poked a few holes in the skins and baked about an hour and voila! no need for canned anything!

 MMWAFFLES

dry ingredients
1 1/2 c of quinoa flour
1 1/2 c of buckwheat flour (i strongly suggest using a mill to grind fresh grains, I use my vitamix)
3t of baking powder
1t of baking soda
3T of ground chia (I use my coffee grinder)
mix well, then add wet
2T of oil
1-2T of agave, of coconut nectar  (love this)
3c of coconut milk mixed with 3T of organic apple cider vinegar (this will cause the "milk" to curdle and turn into "buttermilk")
about 1/2 c of sweet potato mixed with a dash of coconut milk, in a blender (i use this to make a creamy mixture
mix all ingredients well, you want a nice runny medium thick batter.

spray waffle iron with oil, and dump about 1/2 c of batter.....

now, I had some coconut frosting left in the fridge, from another dessert project I made earlier this week...it is a great cream recipe because it keeps for a long time in the fridge (1 month in the fridge)...and, it uses very little sweetener....you can find this great recipe, among many other wonderful treats! in this book..... in a vita mix, or blender....

Vanilla frosting/vanilla sauce

1 1/2c of coconut milk
3/4c of dry rice milk powder (they have this at sunshines, locally)
1/4c of agave, or the coconut nectar
1T vanilla extract
1 1/2 c of melted coconut oil
2T fresh lemon juice

mix first 4 ingredients and slowly add half the coconut oil, then half the lemon, the rest of the coconut oil then the remaining lemon juice....keep in an air tight container in the fridge.....

Enjoy!!

This is a delphinium from my garden.....the picture cannot match the beauty of this flower in reality....it is iridescent and luminous. It glistens several shades of color. The middle of the blossom looks like a bumble bee.....I went outside and cut some blooms, stuck them in a vase, and now.....it makes me happy to look at them....

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Gluten-free Graham Crackers

i spent my entire morning in the kitchen today....i neglected my much needed shower and completely ignored the dirtiness moving and sweeping across my house...room to room.....all was forsaken, for the kitchen.... i get up every morning around 6, give or take (actually rarely is it take) a few minutes...i pray myself out of bed (God please help me up...some mornings it's a louder plea than others) and get everyone's lunches packed and breakfasts made....bella is out the door by 7:20 and i drive isaac to school an hour later (i have two kids in two different schools, isaac is waiting for a spot to open at our Montessori school that bella currently goes to, i am excited at the thought of having them both there!!) after i drop him off, i have only one little 4 year old who wants my attention....so while i wait for food to come out of the oven, we play board games....

today i did my routine after which i began with soaking some cashew, looking at the garbanzo beans that had been soaking for almost 24 hours.and hoisting some chevre cheese to drain the whey, and checking out some recipes online to get an idea of what else i should do for baking today.

this is what my morning produced a raw lemon cream cheesecake (tdf!), hummus (with and without jalapenos), and i decided to bake another cheesecake with my fresh chevre tomorrow....so i needed to make some gluten free graham crackers today....

short story...we went camping a few times with just our children this summer and decided to have some smores.....since gluten is not very nice to isaac or myself, often the rest of the family just gets gluten free options too (i have begun to not trust anything that comes in a box and is found in a grocery store)....i found some gluten free graham crackers at my local health food store and thought i scored.....YUK! seriously? it was just like cardboard....gluten free prepackaged really doesn't work out, in my humble opinion.....so when i came across this recipe in my favorite book.. it's from the classics versions (i couldn't be a bigger erin mckenna fan!!!). this recipe is hers. if you don't do bean flours, an alternative to bob's is a 2c brown rice, 3/4c potato starch, 1/3 c arrowroot premix works sufficiantly well....it is also completely stolen from erin's book, as well....i have used both and they both work well.... the bob's is a slightly more soft graham cracker

Gluten Free Graham Crackers
preheat oven to 325

1c sugar (i use coconut crystals, but succanat works great)
3T of ground cinnamon
1 1/2c  of rice flour
1 1/2c of bob's red mill
2t ground ginger
1t xanthan gum
1t salt
-mix dry ingredients-

-add the next two ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula-
3/4c melted coconut oil or canola oil
1/4c of agave
1T vanilla extract

-slowly add the cold water-
1/2c cold water

when batter is sticky cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes


rolling out the batter is the tricky part....i know there's the whole dust with brown rice and dust on the rolling pin....but it has never worked for me....i use two parchment papers and roll out that way with a touch of brown rice flour on each side....

mix 1/2c of sweetener with 1/2T of cinnamon and sprinkle on top...i also use a fork to create that waffle look....cut out the shapes you want before you stick them in the oven

bake for 15 minutes

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