A friend gave me this recipe and I tried them out the other day and they were wonderful! I substituted for the egg and used agave syrup for the sugar. They were super easy. I wouldn't really call them blondies. Maybe like a cookie bar. They are so delicious! Enjoy.
White Bean Blondies
One 15.5 ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas) drained and rinsed
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. Canola oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup gluten free old fashion oats
3/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Pre heat oven to 350
Grease 9 by 9 pan.
Place garbanzo beans in food processor blend till smooth and creamy
Add eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Process till smooth. Add chips and oats and pulse till blended
Pour into pan and bake for 35-40 min
Let stand 20 min
Store left overs in fridge.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Bad food decisions
Monday through Wednesday, I made bad decisions diet-wise. Monday I went to Applebee's. There was no gluten-free menu. I got a salad, but I know I got trace amounts of gluten probably from the dressing and I got some crunchies. I don't think I had much of a reaction. Tuesday I went to lunch at Maggiano's and they have a great gluten free menu and were extremely friendly about it. However, there was a sprinkling of parm and then I had a coupon for a free dessert so my Dad and I split a creme brulee. Bad. That did a little more. But then yesterday, I got to see my little old cajun lady. I had so much stuff I shouldn't have had. It tore me up something awful. I've behaved myself today. At least I know it's no biggie if I get a tiny amount of something.
Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of my Grandaddy's death. I took him a gardenia from his yard. I can't believe it's been that long.
I have Southwest Chicken Soup in the crockpot. It's smells delicious. I love that it's cold!
Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of my Grandaddy's death. I took him a gardenia from his yard. I can't believe it's been that long.
I have Southwest Chicken Soup in the crockpot. It's smells delicious. I love that it's cold!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Allergen-free Porkchops (except nuts)
I have been playing around with recipes. Got some pork chops the other day that were on manager's special at Kroger and was trying to decide how to do them up. They turned out absolutely delicious, so I thought I would share what I did.
I put some almond flour on a plate, sprinkled some Tony Chachere's and parsley flakes on it and stirred it around. I pressed the meat in to the mixture and pan fried it, then stuck it in the oven to complete cooking. So simple and SO good!
Hope someone can enjoy this!
I put some almond flour on a plate, sprinkled some Tony Chachere's and parsley flakes on it and stirred it around. I pressed the meat in to the mixture and pan fried it, then stuck it in the oven to complete cooking. So simple and SO good!
Hope someone can enjoy this!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Basket of Goodies
What a nice weekend we spent with Derek and Sarah! I am so glad they came to visit. They enjoyed the fair. It was Sarah's first time. Can't believe she had never been before. Wish I had been able to go with them, but I had rehearsal and I had known about it for quite a while. Our concert is tonight!
I got to pick up my goodies today. There are some neat thing's in there, but some stuff I could've done without. The good side is I was able to make a basket of some of the more interesting thing's for my MIL's Christmas gift. Brent helped me pick thing's out. There was a certificate for a free Which Wich and a huge shampoo that had wheat in it that went to Brent. He's excited about the sandwich and is almost out of shampoo, so it works. There are a bunch of bows that really aren't my taste, so I will probably save them to put on gifts and so on, few handmade cards, a freaky book that I don't know what to think about. Some jewelry I am trying to figure out if I even like. There's a cloth diaper kit that I will save for the next baby. I don't know the first thing about cloth diapering, and I am about to start potty training Audrey so I don't want to start. There's some Scentsy hand sanitizer and a scent bar, but no warmer. I'll have to go get a warmer now. I have several friends who sell Scentsy, but can't remember who so I put up a FB post and whoever puts her site up first, gets my business. There are a few cute thing's for Audrey's stocking like a kids music CD. So there was a ton of stuff. Not sure if it was worth $500, but oh well. More than what I put down for the tickets (6 for $5) so I did well :)
I got to pick up my goodies today. There are some neat thing's in there, but some stuff I could've done without. The good side is I was able to make a basket of some of the more interesting thing's for my MIL's Christmas gift. Brent helped me pick thing's out. There was a certificate for a free Which Wich and a huge shampoo that had wheat in it that went to Brent. He's excited about the sandwich and is almost out of shampoo, so it works. There are a bunch of bows that really aren't my taste, so I will probably save them to put on gifts and so on, few handmade cards, a freaky book that I don't know what to think about. Some jewelry I am trying to figure out if I even like. There's a cloth diaper kit that I will save for the next baby. I don't know the first thing about cloth diapering, and I am about to start potty training Audrey so I don't want to start. There's some Scentsy hand sanitizer and a scent bar, but no warmer. I'll have to go get a warmer now. I have several friends who sell Scentsy, but can't remember who so I put up a FB post and whoever puts her site up first, gets my business. There are a few cute thing's for Audrey's stocking like a kids music CD. So there was a ton of stuff. Not sure if it was worth $500, but oh well. More than what I put down for the tickets (6 for $5) so I did well :)
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Day got better
So yesterday was just a rotten day until after dinner when Brent, Audrey and I went on a walk. I felt almost immediately better. Brent and I get these amazing talks in when we go on walks and Audrey gets to play at the park, so everyone is happy. When we got back, I noticed I got an email and it was the organizer of the holistic families expo last weekend saying that I won the $500 gift basket! I forget what all is in it, but how cool is that?! My mom joked that now maybe I am on a roll and I will win the Toyota Sienna from the Fair. That would be AWESOME! I want a minivan so badly, as has been previously stated. Derek and Sarah got in last night, not quite as late as we thought they were, so we were able to visit some last night. So it did turn out to be a pretty awesome day!!
Friday, October 21, 2011
State Fair of Texas!
Audrey and I went to the Fair yesterday with my folks. My dad volunteers at the butterfly house on Thursday's and gets free tickets. It's also Senior day, so my folks get in free anyway. So I got a free ticket, we got to park for free, Audrey of course is free and my folks are old so they are free! Woot! It's a good thing too, because everything is soooooo expensive. I finally found a place that sold turkey legs for 14 tickets instead of 18 (that's $7 vs. $9!). Audrey really enjoyed it. She loved the calf at the Borden exhibit, but Elsie sort of freaked her out. She got some free ice cream and didn't protest too much. She loved the butterfly exhibit, especially with GrandBink there.
Enjoying her fair muffin
Beaureguard the calf
Audrey tried to crawl in with him :)
The bees were kinda cool
She loves her GrandBink
Following Grandmomma
Picked a flower and put a sticker on it
Looking at a butterfly
Missing DRD
Since I'm already cranking, I thought I would write about something that has been bothering me a good long while now. That way my last entry will be my happy one :)
I miss David. He truly was a music MINISTER. He cared about each and every person in the choir. He took the time to contact you personally if he hadn't heard from you in a while. He was such an encourager. There was no doubt that he had a close personal relationship with Christ. He left our church right after Granddaddy died, then a few years he lost his battle to stomach cancer. It's around the 2nd anniversary of his death so I guess that's why I'm thinking about him.
And choir now just isn't the same. I try not to compare, but something has been eating at me. It seems like our director is "weeding" those of us out that aren't professional singers and bringing in more and more paid soloists. The size is no where near what it used to be and I notice new members being quickly chased off. What? You don't know Latin?! You must be an idiot! That is seriously how I feel each and every rehearsal, then I remind myself that it IS a volunteer choir and God does love a joyful noise, even if I or anyone else makes a "dumb" mistake. I come from a family of musicians, so I feel like I have a right to say this, but musicians can seriously be the most snotty group of people. I seriously want to punch some of these "professionals" in the face when they start laughing at someone's mistake. Are you freaking kidding me?! At times I feel like quitting, but I like to sing unto God. I don't have the most lovely of voices. I could use training, true. You wanna pay for it? But I imagine God as Father loving the sounds of His children's voices no matter what. Sort of like how Audrey has taken up singing lately. Does she have correct pitch and always singing the right words? No! But it's sweeter than any other sound, because it's her. She's singing to momma with all her heart and she's so happy and puts her whole self into it. And so, to me, it's beautiful.
That's all there is to say about that. Peace.
I miss David. He truly was a music MINISTER. He cared about each and every person in the choir. He took the time to contact you personally if he hadn't heard from you in a while. He was such an encourager. There was no doubt that he had a close personal relationship with Christ. He left our church right after Granddaddy died, then a few years he lost his battle to stomach cancer. It's around the 2nd anniversary of his death so I guess that's why I'm thinking about him.
And choir now just isn't the same. I try not to compare, but something has been eating at me. It seems like our director is "weeding" those of us out that aren't professional singers and bringing in more and more paid soloists. The size is no where near what it used to be and I notice new members being quickly chased off. What? You don't know Latin?! You must be an idiot! That is seriously how I feel each and every rehearsal, then I remind myself that it IS a volunteer choir and God does love a joyful noise, even if I or anyone else makes a "dumb" mistake. I come from a family of musicians, so I feel like I have a right to say this, but musicians can seriously be the most snotty group of people. I seriously want to punch some of these "professionals" in the face when they start laughing at someone's mistake. Are you freaking kidding me?! At times I feel like quitting, but I like to sing unto God. I don't have the most lovely of voices. I could use training, true. You wanna pay for it? But I imagine God as Father loving the sounds of His children's voices no matter what. Sort of like how Audrey has taken up singing lately. Does she have correct pitch and always singing the right words? No! But it's sweeter than any other sound, because it's her. She's singing to momma with all her heart and she's so happy and puts her whole self into it. And so, to me, it's beautiful.
That's all there is to say about that. Peace.
Lagging on my entries!
I can already think of 3 entries today. Can you tell I've had my coffee??? Part of it is because I haven't been posting as well as I thought I would be so thing's I would've blogged about have come and gone. Some thing's I haven't blogged about because of concern about who would see them. I am about to throw caution to the wind in 2 of my posts today, including this one.
It's one of those days today. I have been crying on and off since waking. Just feeling down. I am on my period, so that doesn't help. Almost everyone in our families are on my bad side. Those that I don't have issues with, just let me think about it for a while and I will think of one. Yes, that is just how I am feeling today. Sorry to any family reading this. I love you all, but lately I have felt like taking Brent and Audrey to an undisclosed location and starting fresh. Right now, I don't think I would care if I ever see other family members ever again. Again, this is just how I feel right now. I will probably take this back in the next hour. I know I am horrible for even thinking this, but I am sick of being looked down on for various things by various family members. Both our sides are guilty of this. BAD. And I'm pissed. There. I said it. Phew, that does feel better!
Brent is my sweetie though. I could tell he hated leaving me when he went in to work and I was sobbing over not having a car. While I was sniffling later on and cleaning up the kitchen, I saw that he had made some coffee for me. It's the little gestures of love. God has truly blessed me. Audrey is being real sweet today too. She is pretty much entertaining herself and not being whiney. I think she is enjoying staying at home today since we had been doing so much. She loves playing with her toy cars. That's what I'm watching her playing with while I am typing all of this out. She'll be getting pizza or a quesadilla for lunch. She is so flippin' cute and excited to see her Uncle Derek and Aunt Sarah this weekend!
It's one of those days today. I have been crying on and off since waking. Just feeling down. I am on my period, so that doesn't help. Almost everyone in our families are on my bad side. Those that I don't have issues with, just let me think about it for a while and I will think of one. Yes, that is just how I am feeling today. Sorry to any family reading this. I love you all, but lately I have felt like taking Brent and Audrey to an undisclosed location and starting fresh. Right now, I don't think I would care if I ever see other family members ever again. Again, this is just how I feel right now. I will probably take this back in the next hour. I know I am horrible for even thinking this, but I am sick of being looked down on for various things by various family members. Both our sides are guilty of this. BAD. And I'm pissed. There. I said it. Phew, that does feel better!
Brent is my sweetie though. I could tell he hated leaving me when he went in to work and I was sobbing over not having a car. While I was sniffling later on and cleaning up the kitchen, I saw that he had made some coffee for me. It's the little gestures of love. God has truly blessed me. Audrey is being real sweet today too. She is pretty much entertaining herself and not being whiney. I think she is enjoying staying at home today since we had been doing so much. She loves playing with her toy cars. That's what I'm watching her playing with while I am typing all of this out. She'll be getting pizza or a quesadilla for lunch. She is so flippin' cute and excited to see her Uncle Derek and Aunt Sarah this weekend!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Joyful Baby Planning
Yesterday, my good friend Kristina asked me to help her man her booth at a natural family expo here in town. She just started up a business called Joyful Baby Planning. I say just started up, but she's been doing this sort of thing for years now. She has this wealth of knowledge and you're "go-to" gal for all things baby. Anyway, thought I would send a shout out there in cyber space. Check her website out at www.joyfulbabyplanning.com! :)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
We'll take the rain!
Texas has been suffering. Finally we are getting some rain! When it hasn't in so long, it kicks up all sorts of thing's though. None of us feel great. I've started wanting to go to bed at 6 since Thursday. Not a great feeling, but we need this rain and the cooler weather is fantastic so I will try not to complain.
Christmas is coming up! I have almost all of my Christmas shopping done. Just need to get one of my SIL's, MIL's, FIL's and my youngest BIL, not to mention all of Audrey's. Audrey will be the most fun to shop for, so I am not worried about it. FIL and BIL, DH gets to be in charge of and I am pretty sure what to get MIL. I love that I do my shopping through the year. I am usually always done by the end of October. I am waiting on Audrey to see if her tastes changes. So it might end up being later, so we'll see.
I have to make my list for the IL's. I have so far thought of a cook book. I thought of a bunch of books, so I may just ask for the cheapest Kindle and that's it. Oh well, I still have time.
Audrey has been singing along to her shows more. I have been hearing her saying more and more. I attempted to trim her bangs yesterday by myself for the first time. Trim fail. Oh well, at least it grows!
Christmas is coming up! I have almost all of my Christmas shopping done. Just need to get one of my SIL's, MIL's, FIL's and my youngest BIL, not to mention all of Audrey's. Audrey will be the most fun to shop for, so I am not worried about it. FIL and BIL, DH gets to be in charge of and I am pretty sure what to get MIL. I love that I do my shopping through the year. I am usually always done by the end of October. I am waiting on Audrey to see if her tastes changes. So it might end up being later, so we'll see.
I have to make my list for the IL's. I have so far thought of a cook book. I thought of a bunch of books, so I may just ask for the cheapest Kindle and that's it. Oh well, I still have time.
Audrey has been singing along to her shows more. I have been hearing her saying more and more. I attempted to trim her bangs yesterday by myself for the first time. Trim fail. Oh well, at least it grows!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Full Weekend
October weekend's end up being crazy-busy. Why is that? This last weekend, we had a choir "retreat". I put it in quotations, because it isn't what it sounds like. It's more of a workshop and is very tiring. After it, I think I just stared at the wall for an hour in shock. I don't recall that afternoon....
Brent's parent's came in this weekend. Audrey LOVED it! She was sooooo mad when they left last night. Total devastation. Poor baby. When someone gives you a chocolate shake, you are pretty sure you never want to see them leave (she is her mommy's girl after all!). They took her shopping yesterday while Brent and I took a nap and she had such a good time. Of course she's good for Grammie and Gramps and also the fact they were shopping for her.
We finally got much needed rain. I think it's messing with my allergies, but we need it so bad. It is also nice and cool because of it. Feels like Fall finally.
Might go to the fair Thursday. Or wait until next Thursday. Why Thursday? Because my Dad volunteers then and I can get in for free :)
Brent's parent's came in this weekend. Audrey LOVED it! She was sooooo mad when they left last night. Total devastation. Poor baby. When someone gives you a chocolate shake, you are pretty sure you never want to see them leave (she is her mommy's girl after all!). They took her shopping yesterday while Brent and I took a nap and she had such a good time. Of course she's good for Grammie and Gramps and also the fact they were shopping for her.
We finally got much needed rain. I think it's messing with my allergies, but we need it so bad. It is also nice and cool because of it. Feels like Fall finally.
Might go to the fair Thursday. Or wait until next Thursday. Why Thursday? Because my Dad volunteers then and I can get in for free :)
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
My Parent's 40th Wedding Anniversary
My siblings and I threw an anniversary party for my mom and dad in honor of their 40th anniversary on Saturday afternoon. I think it was really nice and although my parent's knew about it, they didn't know who was coming. I think it was a nice surprise for them.
I made my first "wedding" cake. It turned out ok. The first 2 layers were allergen free and they turned out fine. A little on the dry side, but pretty tasty. I really don't have any leftovers, so I guess that's a good sign :)
I made my first "wedding" cake. It turned out ok. The first 2 layers were allergen free and they turned out fine. A little on the dry side, but pretty tasty. I really don't have any leftovers, so I guess that's a good sign :)
Monday, October 3, 2011
Gluten & Allergen Free Expo
I am so glad that I talked myself in to going to the Gluten and Allergen Free Expo this past weekend. I found thing's I definitely want to try and thing's that I definitely want to stay away from. It can be tricky cooking this type of food and often times these products can taste like the unholy spawn of cardboard and sand. Eww.
3 brands I had never heard of and fell in love with were Kettle Cuisine, AllergyFree Foods and Hail Merry. Kettle Cuisine soups were amazing. I tried the Thai Curry Chicken Soup and wasn't expecting much, but oh my. Delicious. My sister tried the angus beef steak chili with beans and she went on and on about that one as well. I have to find it in the stores now. Great for those days I don't feel like cooking or if Brent is out to dinner. AllergyFree Foods was pretty much just chicken products. Best chicken tenders ever. I have no idea what goes in to these, but they are the bomb diggity and you can't tell that they are missing anything. They just taste like really good chicken tenders. Having a hard time finding these. I may have to beg for my local grocery stores to carry them. I'm on my knees here, people!! Now the wonderful Hail Merry. Heavenly. Everything they threw at me was divine. Pure bliss. Couldn't tell I was "missing out" on anything. Not only are they completely allergen free, they are also vegan and raw, which is pretty amazing. All their yummy treats are cholesterol free as well and have all sorts of added benefits. Even if you took away those bonuses, these treats are amazing anyway. Their macaroons melt in your mouth and come in both blonde and chocolate varieties. I can't chose a favorite. The chocolate torte....sigh.... No words. I could eat my weight in those. Maple vanilla almonds?! Yes please! I found some of their thing's at Natural Grocers today, but ordered their sampler box online. I want to work for them. Even if it's just doing grunt work for them. I don't care. They are an amazing company and I have never believed in a product as much as I do theirs. Every one I meet will know about Hail Merry.
3 brands I had never heard of and fell in love with were Kettle Cuisine, AllergyFree Foods and Hail Merry. Kettle Cuisine soups were amazing. I tried the Thai Curry Chicken Soup and wasn't expecting much, but oh my. Delicious. My sister tried the angus beef steak chili with beans and she went on and on about that one as well. I have to find it in the stores now. Great for those days I don't feel like cooking or if Brent is out to dinner. AllergyFree Foods was pretty much just chicken products. Best chicken tenders ever. I have no idea what goes in to these, but they are the bomb diggity and you can't tell that they are missing anything. They just taste like really good chicken tenders. Having a hard time finding these. I may have to beg for my local grocery stores to carry them. I'm on my knees here, people!! Now the wonderful Hail Merry. Heavenly. Everything they threw at me was divine. Pure bliss. Couldn't tell I was "missing out" on anything. Not only are they completely allergen free, they are also vegan and raw, which is pretty amazing. All their yummy treats are cholesterol free as well and have all sorts of added benefits. Even if you took away those bonuses, these treats are amazing anyway. Their macaroons melt in your mouth and come in both blonde and chocolate varieties. I can't chose a favorite. The chocolate torte....sigh.... No words. I could eat my weight in those. Maple vanilla almonds?! Yes please! I found some of their thing's at Natural Grocers today, but ordered their sampler box online. I want to work for them. Even if it's just doing grunt work for them. I don't care. They are an amazing company and I have never believed in a product as much as I do theirs. Every one I meet will know about Hail Merry.
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