Product Review - Gluten Free Pantry Chocolate Chip Cookie & Cake Mix

Daddy was out last Saturday morning sealing the deal on a new to us vehicle and trading in our older one.  Son and I stayed home.  It was our first rainy day in a long time, and playing in doors seems foreign now.  Son had the brilliant idea to do some baking.  First he asked for Snowballs, so we whipped those up.  But that didn't take very long. So then he said he wanted to make cookies. Normally I would set out to make them from scratch. However, our kitchen was somewhat of a disaster already so the thought of creating a million more dishes didn't intrigue me.  So I rooted under the counter until I found a cookie mix.  We like the Gluten Free Pantry Mixes in our house. I prefer to cook and bake from scratch, but when the occasion arises that this is not feasible, Gluten Free Pantry works for me.

All that is needed is the mix, 2 eggs, butter (or coconut oil for a dairy free version), and 2 tsp vanilla.

Son mixed it all together and then abandoned me when it came to forming the balls.  The mix made 26 large cookies.  They passed Son's taste test....and Daddy's...and mine.

I Can Sew Do This

My summer wardrobe is looking a bit sad again this year and is needing a bit of a 'pick-me-up'.  The boys seem to be set for the season, but my closet is still lacking. So my solution involves a bit of sewing. I was in a fabric store recently and bought some end of the roll material (denim) and some 40% off cotton and jersey knit.  Walking through the store I felt the need to touch the fabrics and was pulled from this brightly coloured bolt to that fabulous textured one. I was filled of visions of what I could make. I realized I had become my mother, and also that I was feeling like a type 2 in that moment (Carol Tuttle - Energy Profiling). The fabrics I was drawn to were ones that were soft and comfortable (type 2) and yet the colours were a more bold (type 4).

Mother is an excellent seamstress. She sewed every prom dress I ever wore and even sewed Sister's wedding dress.  I can't say that I'm up to anything as complicated as a dress, but I knew that if I tried I could put my "Merry Christmas Me" Singer machine to work and create a decent skirt. And so sew I did. I created said 'decent' skirt from the $4 remnant denim. No pattern.  I laid out the fabric and placed one of my favourite skirts on top. I didn't even trace and boldly cut around my skirt while crossing my fingers in my head. I have done some sewing, and know how to use a sewing machine but have never endevoured to make a piece of clothing. When I was finished, I found that I was impressed with myself, and my new skirt.

With my wardrobe up in count by one work appropriate item and my confidence slightly inflated, I set to work last night to create a pair of capris. This one wasn't from scratch.  I bought a pair of pants a few years ago that turned out to be too short.  Feeling it would be such a waste to get rid of them, I never did.  Last night those flood pants were transformed into a great pair of capris shorts.  Knowing that I have at least one more pair of too short pants in my closet, there will be more home sewn capris in my future.  As well, there are a couple more new skirts in my future. I have the 40% off fabric ready and waiting.

Each of these projects took me less than an hour to create - which is less time than it would take me to go shopping for new clothes, and cost me a whole lot less as well. Oh yes, and my Singer is so nice and quiet that I was able to pull it all together while Son slept soundly in his bed.

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Pizza Crust Recipe

Spring finally seems to be here. This means that we are busier than ever. We are back to the season where we spend most of our waking moments outdoors.  There are remnants of fall leaves to rake, gardens to turn, holes to dig, soccer balls to kick, and seasonal toys to be brought out from their winter hibernation spots.  

Our patio set has made it to the front of our house again, and from this point until frost starts sending us indoors in the fall, the majority of our meals will be eaten outside.  I love spring.

I love spring, but with this season also comes less time to prepare meals. I find it difficult to supervise the fun outside while cooking meals inside. This means we're back to salad season and the easy to prepare meals that don't require a lot of prep time.

This pizza crust recipe is perfect for that.  I have made is several times now.  I got the recipe from Sister, but she got it from a pinner on Pinterest.  It's dairy free, gluten free, soy free and awesome.

2 cups almond flour 
1 cup daiya cheese
1 tsp. sea salt 
2 eggs
1Tbsp olive oil. 

Bake for 15 mins @ 350 
Add sauce and toppings and broil.
Serve and enjoy.