Recipe for Home Made Lip Balm

Here is the recipe my husband used to make a batch of lip balm as gifts for teachers and the like for Christmas.

Ingredients:
3 TSP of Beeswax (or .45 ounces)
4 TSP of Cocoa Butter (.40 ounces) you can use Cocoanut Butter as well
5 TSP of Sweet Almond Oil
2 TSP of Lanolin
1/2 TSP Honey
5 drops essential oils (I used Lemon Eucalyptus - but have used peppermint as well)

Melt Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, Almond Oil and Lanolin in a double boiler - stirring often. Once it is melted - add Honey and Essential oils. Keep Stirring while you add it to the container of your choice.

Done - Burt's Bee's for a lot less than the store! My triple batch made about 5 ounces of lip balm. Considering a Burt's bee's contains about .15 ounces at 6 dollars a tube - I am about 70 dollars ahead!

GF/CF Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Here's another baking recipe from my recent co-op veggie score. This is adapted from elanaspantry.com. If you haven't checked out her blog, you should!

1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/3 cup sorghum flour
1 large zucchini grated (about 3-4 cups not packed)
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 eggs
2 tbsp. flax meal
6 tbsp. hot water
1/2 cup mild flavored liquid oil (I used canola)
1/2 cup agave nectar or honey
1 cup dairy free chocolate chips (I used Guitttard)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix the hot water and flax meal in a small cup - set aside to gell. Mix the rest of the ingredients and then add the gelled flax. Line 2 dozen cupcake molds with liners. Fill each about 1/2 way with the muffin mix. Bake about 18-23 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Yummy!

GF/CF/SF Chocolate Pudding

This is a recipe I came upon and adapted after getting 3 very ripe avocados in my co-op box. My kids don't eat them, my husband likes them but wouldn't eat them quick enough, and that left just me. Anyway, I've been dying to find a good way to make pudding and this seemed like me opportunity to try the avocado version. It's delicious with a very rich dark chocolate flavor! It even fooled my kids and I was secretly doing a happy dance thinking of all the great nutrients they were getting on the sly. Woo hoo! Sneaky Mommy wins again...mwah ha ha ha ha ha.....

2 very ripe avocados
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2/3 cup local honey
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. instant coffee powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Blend it all up so no chunks of avocado remain (this would seriously blow your cover). Chill and serve with a smile :)

New Resources for Eating Local

Throughout this process, I've been learning more about what goes into our food in addition to how to cook it. I've read a couple of books lately that have inspired me to change not only what I eat but how I get what I eat. These titles are: "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "Coming Home to Eat". In response, I've been searching for local sources of my food - I want to know the people who bring it to my table. I've been privileged to locate a local co-op where I was able to get a HUGE box of organic produce at a very reasonable price. Here's a link to Kristina's site: www.rawfullyorganic.com. Not all the produce through this co-op is local but it is all organic and super tasty. If you're in the Houston area, check it out! Another local resource for local raw dairy products (cow and goat) and grass fed meat is http://gramenfarm.com/. My kids and I visited and enjoyed playing with the goats, chickens, and cows and then leaving with a big old bag of goodies. We haven't purchased meat yet from them - we're running our freezer low first. Also, I found a great local source for honey and pastured eggs. If you're interested and you're in the Houston area, e-mail me directly (moulenbelt@consolidated.net) and I'll pass the number along if the owner is OK with that. I'll post more as I find more. For now, I'm pretty excited about the steps we're taking to feed our family more responsibly.

Happy Eating!

GF/CF Lemon Sugar Cookies

I was lucky enough to receive some fresh lemons from a friend's tree. Since it's almost Christmas time, sugar cookies are on my brain so here you go!

1 cup blanched almond flour
1 1/2 cup fine brown rice flour (if yours is course, run it through a food processor for 20 seconds or so)
1 cup cold Earth's Balance margarine
1 tbsp. fresh lemon zest
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp xanthan or guar gum
1 /2 cup powdered sugar (I use organic since it is processed with tapioca starch instead of corn)
1 egg

I know there is meant to be an order to mixing the ingredients...let's say I just throw it all in my stand mixer and give it a whirl...literally. I'm not an orderly kind of gal but my cookies always turn out yummy anyway :) So, mix it up and drop in spoonfuls on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with your palm. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or so, or until the edges get golden brown. I sprinkled mine with white sugar sprinkles to make them look like "snowballs". I'd frost these with vanilla buttercream frosting too but I'm out of powdered sugar ;)

Happy snacking!

Pumpkin seeds

It is a Halloween tradition that goes way back to my childhood - the roasting of the seeds :) Here's the best recipe I've found. I hope you like it too!

1 1/2 Tbsp. margarine
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/8 tsp. garlic salt
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 cups raw, rinsed pumpkin seeds

Melt the margarine. Mix everything else together and spread out on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet so the seeds are 1 layer deep. Bake at 275 for an hour, stirring occasionally. Let cool a bit and chow down!

Perfect Pancakes - at last!!

So, I will admit, I'd given up on actually making good pancakes without a mix. And, in my mind, mixes are too expensive so I couldn't go there. In an example of how my mind twists, however, I would buy Van's frozen gluten free waffles at $2.50 for a box of 6...yeah, logic isn't my strength.. So, anyway, I finally figured out how to make real, actual, good pan cooked pancakes! And, better yet, the recipe is CHEAP! Enjoy!

1 cup rice flour (I used white - will try brown when I get some more)
3 Tbsp. tapioca flour or arrowroot powder
1/3 cup potato starch
1 packet stevia
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
2 eggs
3 tbsp. canola oil
2 cups non-dairy milk
1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Mix the milk and the lemon juice together - this creates a buttermilk substitute. Mix the rest of the stuff and pour in milk. Mix until the lumps are as gone as they can get. Heat a large, well oiled skillet or griddle over medium heat. It's ready when water dances on it :) Spoon or pour batter onto the pan and cook on one side until bubbles form throughout the pancake. Flip and continue to cook until golden brown on the bottom. Repeat and repeat...and repeat...until the batter is gone.

I let these cool on a rack and freeze them for later. To reheat, just pop them in the toaster oven for 4-5 minutes (or until heated through) and serve with your favorite toppings. I made at least a double batch of these because my boys can suck down massive quantities of pancakes.

Happy eating!!

Coupons!

OK, I don't think I'm going to end up with a reality TV show or anything but I'm trying out the "extreme couponing" thing...sounds like it should be on ESPN or something. Anyway, check out this web site: thekrazycouponlady.com. You can sign up for daily e-mails and this really helped us cut some costs at Kroger this past week. My husband did the coupons thing and, while we still went over budget, we saved a bunch of money and had some high ticket items on our list this week (i.e. razors, Halloween candy, etc.). I also clipped some good ones out of Sunday's paper - I'm thinking about Sunday only delivery so I don't have to make an extra trip out to buy a paper...because who really only gets a paper when they go to the store? ;)

Happy shopping!!

2nd Grocery Trip = Also fail...really??

So, I decided to take matters into my own hands this week. OK, really, it just so happened that Jason couldn't find the time to shop this week and I couldn't take another fresh produce free day so I did the shopping. Truly, I tried! I scoured the ads from Kroger, Randall's, and HEB to determine which store would be the better place to shop based on what we needed for the week. I didn't find any coupons but most of what we buy isn't coupon material. So, I had a list chock full of fresh produce, almond milk, a few snacks (greatly pared down), and a few other things. My budget was $65 (I had gotten some things at the Evil Empire aka Wal-Mart earlier in the week that are cheaper there than anywhere). What I spent = $106. What happened?? I got my produce, it was all on sale. I opted for the less expensive options (i.e. buying romaine lettuce instead of packaged salad, buying store brand, etc.), stuck to my list...except for a good deal on soy nuts..it was a GOOD deal!...compared prices, and eliminated a lot of things from what we normally buy. Instead of getting juice boxes, I am giving the kids water at lunch. Instead of getting microwave popcorn, I buy the regular stuff and use our microwave popper. Instead of buying separate chocolate milk, I'm making chocolate syrup from agave nectar. Despite all of that, I was still over budget. Granted, only about $40 over budget but still! I did have to buy fish oil (I rocked the BOGO of the store brand), contact solution, and razor blades which accounted for about $26 of the overage but I still don't feel satisfied with that trip.

I hear about these people who are "extreme couponers" and wonder if that is even a possibility for a family like ours who is on a special diet. I've googled a few sites but haven't actually printed anything yet. It seems like I've always bought store brand of what we can buy and fresh everything else - can coupons even help me? Maybe...I guess that will be the next step...you know, in all my spare time...;)

A Word about Language and Motor Skills

So, back in the later days of my pregnancy with Lambert, I read the book, Real Boys by William Pollack, PhD. One of the things that stuck with me was when he wrote that boys communicate their feelings better when engaged in some sort of gross motor activity. If my memory serves me, it was something like "if you want to get your boys to talk to you, go outside and shoot hoops" or something along those lines. Well, lo and behold, 7 years later, I have found that is, indeed, true for my Lambert. I like to run. It's my stress relief time, my kick ass time, my prayer time, and my mental/emotional processing time. Typically, this works better if I go alone. However, whenever Lambert seeks out my company, I pay attention and take when I can get. So, the first time he asked if he could go with me on my run, I was interested to see how that would shake out. He rode his bike and I tried to keep up with him. It was amazing. The words that flowed from his mouth about his day, what he did, who he talked to, who he played with, how he felt - all the things that are so difficult for him to express because of his ASD just poured out of him like it was natural. I ran faster than I ever have just to make sure I didn't miss a word. Who knew that best selling book might have some pearls of wisdom?? I can't speak to how this works with neurotypical boys but for my son with Autism, it's pure genius. Now, when Lambert wants to accompany me, I know I'll be in for not only a good workout but an actual conversation with my son. It only happens on the road so I'd better be fast...and leave the i-pod at home :)

Green Eggs and Ham

My Lambert adores Dr. Seuss. My Maxwell hates vegetables. So, here's what I came up with to try to make veggies fun and tie in literacy...SUCH a teacher...;)

6 eggs
1/2 10 oz bag of frozen chopped broccoli
4 oz of cubed ham
sprinkle of garlic salt
olive oil

Saute chopped broccoli in olive oil. Beat eggs with a whisk while the broccoli is cooking. Sprinkle eggs with garlic salt to taste. Once the broccoli is crisp tender, add eggs and ham. Stir continually until eggs are scrambled and firm. Voila - green eggs and ham!

Enjoy!

First Grocery Trip = Epic Fail

Ack! I made a teeny, tiny list. I was determined. I planned meals based on what I had. I gave my husband $30 in cash and confidently told him to "put any leftover cash into our money jar". So, yeah, anyway, I got a text at work that afternoon saying "$96. Call me." Ack! What happened?? My text in return started with those words "Ack! What happened? Did u freestyle??" So, what happened? Did my once frugal husband go grocery shopping hungry? Was he bodysnatched by some nuveau riche spendthrift? OK, so neither of these things. This incident was one more example of what the movie people like to call "failure to communicate". I was filled with righteous energy, ready to take control of our budget, finally on board with our Dave Ramseyian mode of spending. Jason, bless his heart, was trying to be helpful. He saw a lot of things he knows we usually buy and assumed I forgot to put them on the list - so he got them. So, heed this as a warning to anyone attempting to slash a grocery budget - TALK to the person who does the shopping ahead of time! Sounds simple, I know, but this is a step we married couples often forget. I know for myself, in the entirety of my 14 years of marriage, I still assume Jason can read my mind. Mind you, he has never done anything to remotely suggest he could do it in the first place but here I am, clinging to the notion that he just MUST know what is going on in there...really...really? OK, so, lesson learned. I think we've got the "just the list, nothing but the list" rule cemented between the two of us. Now, let's see what happens next week when we also introduce shopping at a new store and coupons...stay tuned!

GF/CF Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (from Bob's Red Mill)

This is the best oatmeal cookie recipe ever, according to my husband. He is a non-gf/cf eater, a cookie lover, and not an oatmeal cookie fan. Therefore, you know these are great!

1 1/2 C gluten free flour (I use 1 C sorghum or brown rice and 1/2 C tapioca flour)
3 C gluten free rolled oats
1 C Earth's Balance margarine
1 1/2 C evaporated cane juice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 large eggs (or flax gel*)
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1 C raisins

Mix it all together and bake in tbsp. size cookies at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Yummy!!

flax gel: Mix 3 tbsp. hot water with 1 tbsp. ground flaxseed for each egg the recipe calls for. Let this mixture set for about 5-10 minutes until it gels. Use as an egg substitute in your favorite baking recipes!

Slow Cooker Lentil and Ham Soup

It's a rainy day and the weather is cooling....and I have a pantry/fridge full of stuff that would make great soup. Remember that stock I made yesterday? Well, it's a great day to use it! This recipe mainly came from allrecipes.com. I find a lot of great recipes on that site for my crock pot and often modify the ones that don't fit my diet with great success.

4 cups stock
1 cup water
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup dried lentils
1 cup chopped celery (I was out - used the last of my celery in the stock :)
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 cups cooked diced ham
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried tarragon (recipe called for basil but I'm out so I substituted)
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste

Throw it all together and slow cook on high for 4-5 hours. I plan to serve this over rice to disguise it a casserole for my soup hater in the family. Oh, and I have one with the stomach virus today so it might be just rice for him today anyway. We'll see, that child loves his soup so he just might rally :)

Halloween Spaghetti

Here's a little something I whipped up with ingredients found tucked away in the freezer and pantry. Let me preface this by saying that my kids are not fans of squash so the spin doctor had to be in high gear to sell this to them in the first place. However, I had this lonely box of frozen pureed squash in the freezer that needed to go in quest for using the things we have on hand. And, come to find out, I'm the only person in this house that likes pureed butternut squash...imagine that...But, a little creative trickery and nobody knew the sauce was orange because of the dreaded squash.

2 bags of black rice soba noodles (found them at HEB...was intrigued)
1 box of frozen pureed winter squash
1 small onion
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 cup of almond milk (more if needed)
1 lb. ground italian chicken sausage or 1 lb. ground turkey
2 tbsp. olive oil

Put salted water on to boil for noodles. Saute onions in olive oil until transparent and add garlic. Then, brown the meat with the onion and garlic. Add thawed squash and stir until mixed. Add milk until about the consistency of thick tomato sauce. Salt and pepper to taste and keep on warm until noodles are finished. Add noodles to boiling water and cook for 4-5 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Serve orange colored sauce on black colored noodles and, voila, Halloween spaghetti!

I'll come clean, Mommy spin doctor got the kids to eat the spaghetti but they both said they wouldn't like to have it again. I used the sausage and their chief complaint was that it was too spicy. Therefore, if you have kids that don't like spice, use the turkey and it might go over better. My husband and I loved it, though :) He's a squash hater as well so, hey, that's one convert, right??

Stock on the Cheap

Buying organic chicken broth has been a big expense in our budget. It's the only stuff that I can guarantee is gluten free and has ingredients I can pronounce so that's what I buy. Until tonight. I made my own vegetable stock with some wilting stuff in my produce drawer that I might have otherwise thrown out. I'll freeze it and use it as my new base for soups and casseroles. Yay!

Homemade Vegetable Stock

1 large onion - peeled and cut into quarters
1 large bag of baby carrots that were slimy when I got them (I HATE that!)
1/2 bunch of organic celery, 1/2 wilted
*any other vegetables that are in questionable shape in your crisper
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. salt (OK, I used more because I'm not a low sodium kind of girl)
12 cups of water

Throw it all in the crock pot and cook on high for 4-5 hours. Strain and store in 2 cup measurements for easy use. Congratulate yourself for using all those vegetables that you bought in good faith but didn't actually eat in time.

Take THAT bill!

Declaration of WAR!

OK, this is it. My son was sick on Monday so I stayed home with him. Usually, my husband does the grocery shopping on Mondays since he works from home that day. This week, however, he was having minor surgery on his toe. So, I stayed home to watch Max and when my husband got home, I volunteered to do the grocery shopping. Let me preface this by saying that I have recently taken a new job. I love my job and am so much happier than I was at my last job. However, that happiness came at the cost of about $15000 a year in income -yep, that's a lot. So, there I was on Monday, mightily clinging to my high budget mindset, heading off to the grocery store. I picked up this, I picked up that, I stuck to my list....pretty much...and about lost my breakfast in the checkout line. $193.00. Yes, $193.00 for a WEEK'S worth of groceries (not including meat because that comes from a co-op). For a family of 4. I wish I could say that was anomalous but my I got a big glass of "I told you so!" when I got home. My eyes hath been opened...and it's freaking scary out there! Back when I stayed at home, before we started all this gluten free, casein free, corn free, blah blah blah free diet, I cut coupons, I planned meals, I kept a cooler in my trunk and shopped the ads at several grocery stores with a baby Lambert in tow. I spent $75/week to feed our little family of 3 (including diapers and formula). I know eating gf/cf is more expensive...but does it really have to be THAT much more expensive?? I don't think so. Therefore, I have hereby declared WAR on my GROCERY BILL!!!! That is the LAST time I spend $193 at a grocery store without having to strap food to the roof and cram it into every available space in my old car. No more, I say, no more.

So, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to cut that sucker in 1/2. I know that is feasible. I canceled my Amazon subscriptions and we're going on a grocery buying fast. I know I have enough food to feed us for the next three weeks so we should just have to re-purchase milk and fresh produce. We just stocked the freezer with meat from our co-op so we're good on meat for the next 2 months. I'll be posting cheap recipes and tips and tricks as I learn them. My husband made a deal with me. If I succeed, we will finally get a new bed to replace our 16 year old back breaker. I'm in. Let's go!!!

Macaroni and Cheese...with chicken and broccoli

OK, I can't help it! I have to add protein and vegetables to my kids meals or I feel somehow remiss. You can totally do this recipe without the chicken and the broccoli and have good old mac and cheese. If you, like me, can't hack it plain, make it with the extras.

Sauce:
2 tbsp. Earth's Balance margarine
2 tbsp. arrowroot powder
2 1/4 C plain almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
2 tsp. prepared yellow mustard
1/2 C Daiya cheddar flavor cheese
1 tbsp. minced onion flakes
salt and pepper to taste

Melt the margarine over medium heat and then add the arrowroot. Stir to mix. Slowly add the almond milk while whisking. Add minced onion, salt and pepper, and mustard and whisk to mix. Add Daiya and turn heat up to medium high. Continually whisk until the "cheese" is melted and the mixture is smooth (there will be little lumps from the onion). *note - the onion and mustard are to add more depth to the flavor. If you prefer to make it old school, skip those ingredients.

The rest:
1 lb chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups dry Tinkyada penne or macaroni pasta
1 10 oz. pkg frozen broccoli florets
Salt and pepper to taste

Prepare the pasta according to package directions. When the pasta is just about done, add the broccoli to the pot and cook until broccoli is heated through. Drain and return pasta and broccoli to the pot. While the pasta is cooking, and your whisking your sauce, brown your chicken in the olive oil until it's cooked through. Yes, you can do all three at once. Trust me.

When everything is cooked, mix it all together in the pasta pot. Season as desired with more salt and pepper and dig in.

Happy eating!!

Chocolate Nutbutter (aka "Eat my dirt Nutella)

If one can't have milk but still fantasizes about a certain chocolate hazelnut butter, there is still hope! See this recipe below - it's super easy, yummy, and as an added bonus my kids don't like it so there is more for me!

Chocolate Nutbutter

1 1/2 cups raw nuts (I used cashews)
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cups agave nectar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
couple of pinches of salt (or to taste)

Pour it all in the food processor and process until smooth.

I know it's counterintuitive but try spreading it on a lightly salted brown rice cake - sweet and crunchy. What's not to like??

Double Choclate Muffins (from Eating for Autism by Elizabeth Strickland)

This recipe is a favorite at home and amongst my non-gf/cf friends. If you're in a pinch, add some frosting on top and voila - cupcakes!

1/2 C brown rice flour
1/4 C sorghum flour
1/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 C canola oil
1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
1/2 C honey (I use agave nectar instead)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C gf/cf chocolate chips (Guittard and Ghirardelli semi-sweet are my favorites and currently gf/cf)

Mix it all together and bake in a lined muffin tin at 350 degrees for 17-21 minutes. Don't expect these to last long...

Applesauce Muffins (from Eating for Autism by Elizabeth Strickland)

The muffins in Elizabeth Strickland's book are all outstanding. This book is an excellent resource if you're considering special diet/nutrition therapy for your child!

1/2 C brown rice flour
1/2 C sorghum flour (aka jowar flour)
1/3 C canola oil
1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
1/2 C honey (I use agave nectar instead)
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp. vanilla (I typically use a full tsp. instead cause my LOVES vanilla :)
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. xanthan gum (or guar gum)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (I usually use a little extra)
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix it all together and bake in lined muffin tin for 15-18 minutes at 350.

This recipe is super versatile! You can add dried/fresh fruit and/or nuts. You can omit the cinnamon and add fresh or frozen blueberries or strawberries...or chocolate chips...whatever. Experiment and see what you like best!

Oatmeal Bars - from Living Without

If you spread a little buttercream frosting on these, they taste a LOT like cinnamon rolls!

2 C gluten free oats (not instant)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 C non-dairy milk
1 egg
1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
1/4 C raw sugar
1 1/4tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 C raisins

Mix it all together and bake in a greased 8x8 pan for 25-25 minutes at 350. Once it's cool, spread some buttercream frosting on top and have a happy breakfast!

GF/CF Chocolate Cake

And, again, the secret is in the mayo! See below for a basic cake recipe for your chocolate lovers :)

3 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup mayonnaise (I use Hellman's)
1 1/2 C white rice flour
3/4 C tapioca flour (starch)
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp xanthan gum
3/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C hot water

Mix on high to get rid of any unsightly tapioca lumps. Preheat oven to 350. This recipe makes 2 dozen cupcakes. 2 layers, or 1 9x13 cake. Cook 15-18 minutes for cupcakes, longer for cake. Enjoy!

amy

Oatmeal Carrot Cookies

This recipe was adapted from one on Cooks.com. Thank you Jennifer Ingram for the idea!

3/4 cup Earth's Balance margarine - softened
1 1/4 C organic sugar
1 3/4 C g/f flour (brown rice, sorghum, or an all purpose blend will work)
2 C g/f oats (I get mine from Bob's Red Mill)
1 egg
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C finely shredded carrots
1/2 C raisins

I throw it all in my Kitchenaid and mix until it's doughey (if you're going for technical, you're in the wrong place :). Plop spoonfuls onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake in an oven preheated to 375. Bake about 12-15 minutes, or until browned around the edges.

Hamburger/Hot Dog Buns, etc.

This recipe is directly from Lisa Lewis' Special Diets For Special Kids - it found on page 140 entitled Marci's Soft White Bread and Rolls. I changed a couple of things but not significantly - they are really, really good!

2 C white rice flour
2 C tapioca starch
3/8 C sugar (I use organic evaporated cane juice)
4 tsp. xanthan gum
2/3 C dry non-dairy milk (I use Vance's DariFree or Better Than Milk)
1 1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. sugar
1/2 C warm water
4 tsp. yeast

4 tbsp. margarine or oil
1 tsp. vinegar
1 1/2 C water (I made mine warm)
3 eggs

Combine 1st six ingredients in your mixing bowl.

Combine the next three ingredients in a small bowl or cup and mix to "proof" the yeast.

Once the yeast mixture has gotten frothy, mix all the ingredients together in your mixer bowl and set it somewhere warm to rise (optional). Once it's risen (or not if you're in a hurry), preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Form your bun shapes on the parchment paper. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown on the outside.

This recipe can be used for a myriad of things. I have used it for pizza crust in addition to the buns. It works great but I found Bob's Red Mill pizza mix a little easier to use. I do recommend it for the buns, however, it's the best recipe I've found :)

amy

Quinoa Salad

First of all, there is NO way my kids would consent to eat this. This is strictly a Mommy treat at my house. However, you may have kids that don't despise tomatoes and "green things" so use it if you think you can get it past them. If not, more for you!

Salad:
1 C uncooked quinoa
2 C organic broth (I use chicken)
1 container grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 C finely chopped fresh parsley
1 good sized cucumber, cut into small pieces
1 bunch of scallions, finely sliced
6 oz (or more) goat or sheep milk feta (I get mine cheap at Phoenicia)

Dressing:
1/4 C olive oil
1/4 C apple cider vinegar
Juice of 1 fresh lemon
1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Cook quinoa with broth according to package directions. When cooked, cool in the fridge for a couple of hours. Chop up all the vegetables, crumble the feta, and mix up the dressing ingredients. In a large bowl, mix it all together. You may want to let this sit for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to marry...or you can suck some down right away and let the rest sit and marry ;) The latter is the method my mother in law employed over the last two batches and it works just fine....yum!

Tuna Noodle Casserole

This is one of my very favorite comfort foods. I was pretty sure I was going to have to live without it until I stumbled across a recipe that I could adapt to my tastes. This is amazing - tastes like the real thing!

1 12 oz bag of Tinkyada brown rice macaroni - cooked
3 cans of light tuna - drained (not albacore - too much mercury)
1 10 oz bag of frozen peas and carrots - rinsed in hot water to thaw
3 tbsp Earth's Balance margarine
1/4 cup white rice flour
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup real mayonnaise
1 tbsp minced onion
1/2 tsp sea salt
pepper to taste

1 cup potato chip crumbs (or more if you like)

Mix the cooked macaroni, tuna and peas and carrots in a casserole dish. Make a roux over medium heat with the butter and white rice flour. Add broth slowly and whisk until smooth. Add minced onion and salt, keep whisking. Whisk in mayo and blend until smooth and the consistency of alfredo sauce. Pour sauce over noodle/tuna/vegetable mixture and mix thoroughly. Cover top with potato chip crumbs and bake 30 mins in a 350 degree oven. Enjoy!

More Discoveries for "On The Cheap"

It's been a while since I've posted. I have been very wrapped up in my little Mommy/Teacher/Wife world - it's busy these days! Anyway, I've discovered some more grocery items worth a look.

Amazon: I mentioned this subscription service in an earlier post but I have broadened my use of it and am even more in love than ever. This week, I discovered Arrowhead Mills Maple Buckwheat Flakes - thanks to my Fairy Grocerymother. Wow, super yummy, gluten free and relatively cheap for organic gf/cf cereal ($14.83 shipped for 6 boxes). Also, I now order my agave nectar through Amazon and get a better deal than Costco...I feel a little guilty for cheating on my beloved Costco...Anyway, also worth a mention is their prices on g/f pasta - no subscription service yet but still a good discount and free shipping.

Wal-Mart: Let me start this by saying that I HATE WAL-MART. However, they have Earth's Balance margerine and for me, it's way closer to go go there and buy 3 small tubs for the price of 1 large tub at Whole Food's. I fight the power and resist all the other cheapo merchandise so, in a sense, I'm sticking it to the man...at least that's what I tell myself so I can sleep at night with my ill gotten margarine.

Some new food discoveries:

Beanitos: These chips have saved mexican food for me! Seriously! I'm allergic to corn. The asthma attacks and itchy spots are not pretty so I don't eat it. When we go to mexican restaurants, I sit there hungry and resentful while the rest of my family sucks down copious portions of lovely fried corn chips. No more, I tell you! I whip out my new obsession, Beanitos, which are corn chip like but made from beans and rice. Not only are they delicious but are also loaded with fiber and protein (remember my obession over protein?). Yay! The red sauce at Los Cucos has no idea what hit it! Anway, they have Beanitos at HEB but it's much cheaper to buy a case at Whole Foods and get their case discount. Now, if only I'd remember the margarine while I'm there, I won't have to sneak into Wal-Mart...

Cashew Clusters and Triple Berry Crunch (Mrs. May's): These are super snacky items that even my kids love. This makes me happy because I would rather have them snack on these than chips. However, they are expensive, even on my beloved Amazon. This is where Costco shines - bags are 1/2 the price at Costco than anywhere else and just as delicious! And, here again is another victory in the protein war against my carb hungry children! Mwahahahahahaha.....

OK, the low battery sign is flashing at me so I guess this is it for now. Happy eating!