Peanut Butter Blossoms

I went looking for this recipe today, I made these cookies at Christmas time and couldn't find where I put the recipe. I am blogging about it so I never lose it again!!

~48 Chocolate Dollops (we use 65% dark chocolate dollops from Tierra Farms)

1/2 cup organic vegetable shortening

3/4 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup sugar (plus a little extra for rolling them in at end)

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

2 T milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour (1/2 c millet, 1/2 c sorghum, 1/2 c garbanzo bean flour)

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt.

Beat shortening and peanut butter. Add sugars and beat til fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to peanut butter mixture.

Shape into 1 inch balls, roll into sugar, place on parchment paper or ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 min until light brown. Immediately push chocolate disc into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Cool completely if you can wait that long.

These didn't last long around our house so you might need more or less of the chocolate discs I am unsure how many cookies this recipe made. I will try to remember for next time.

Orange Tooth Soap

Today I made Orange Tooth Soap from a recipe I found somewhere (probably on Pinterest again)...

Recipe is:

4tsp Dr Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap (We did Citrus)

1/2 Cup Unrefined Coconut Oil

2 tsp of Stevia or Xylitol (we used Xlylitol this time)

20-30 drops of Essential Oil of choice (We used Sweet Orange EO)

I made an orange one but you can sub peppermint soap and peppermint EO but my children can't have mint since they take homeopathic remedies that will negate with mint.

I also made half of this today to make sure we liked it. Both kids and I tried it. D likes the tooth powder we make better, M likes this orange tooth soap, and I like both. I will prob take turns and use orange tooth soap in the am and cinnamon tooth powder at night. My teeth felt great after using this just once!

Crafts

My children LOVE crafts (and so do I to an extent) so over the course of a week we bake, paint, draw, cut out flowers and make cards, and well make a mess....

Painting rocks for V Day. Object paint something that will make someone smile and then leave them around town. We painted them but the kids want to keep them. So maybe we will try again at some point.

We also made Gluten Free Heart shaped cutouts!! YUM... Recipes are http://www.andreaskitchen.net/2011/02/chocolate-cutout-cookies-recipes/

and GF Gingerbread cutouts:

Cleaning is something I have trouble staying on top of so... I live with the mantra as long as everyone is happy its okay to have little pieces of paper on the floor and art stuff strewn, flour on the lovely carpeted kitchen about ITS OKAY!! If you don't want to see OUR messiness than don't come over and have some delicious cookies.

~Melanie

Pinterest

I try with all my will power to stay off Pinterest but always end up there at night before I go to bed... So I have started picking away and trying to do one craft/recipe daily or at least 4 a week.

Today we tried a hummus recipe and I kind of used to pins to make one recipe. I wanted so bad for a hummus recipe my kids would enjoy and I think I accomplished it. Next time I will add more garlic but its yummy no less.

I also printed out a sheet I pinned that is 10 Ways to Play in January... I posted to wall and kids can suggest something when they are at their bored part of the day. Some fun things... upside down drawing, blow cotton balls with straw (races), freeze dance (which we did this am to Pandora Music).

So there is 2 for today. ~ and a blog post....

"The few wonders of the world only exist while there are those with the sight to see them." Charles de Lint


Yesterday I went to the store to get paint since we were almost out of almost every color. As soon as we got home guess what we did.. PAINTED. I love watching my children paint. They are so different in the colors they pick and how their final paintin comes out. Even though there is an age separation, I see the difference from when M was 3 and D's artwork at the age of 3. I wish I knew then to take pictures of their artwork a few times a year at least. I think I saved it somewhere but to dig it out... nah another time. Today we had so much snow we accomplished a lot art wise... painting again, drawing on our new chalkboards we made, make shapes in the snow with our feet. They love all aspects of art!! When they are fighting or arguing I always suggest we paint and then talk about what was going on because it calms them. Art helps them let go.





“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” ~Picasso



I love this Quote by Picasso because its so true. I think as we get older its harder to hold onto the artist in us. I used to LOVE to draw whatever came to mind. I wasn't a great artist but i still liked it. Now to empty my mind to draw/color/paint its difficult. Us as parents have SO many responsibilities, how do we shut them off and take time out to let go??


I struggle with that every day and every day I hope I make it a little closer to being able to let go of the big things and enjoy the little things as well....

Painting and lunch with a friend

Today we went to a friends house with painting and lunch in mind for us and the kids. We started by painting the tops of our mason jars lids with chalkboard paint so we can mark and change the contents of our jars easily without labels. (Another brilliant Pinterest idea!!)

Next we painted some repurposed trays my friend found cheap at a second hand store...instant (well almost) chalkboards for the kids.

Next we setup the kids station for bubble painting the younger 2 boys decided to go outside instead of paint but Mekayla tried it and liked it.....

When the boys came in to see what we were doing... well they changed their minds and decided to help make a mess. I think they enjoyed blowing bubbles and paint everywhere more than the painting part. =)

And how can I forget to include a picture of our yummy lunch....

Pasta Dempstera

1 1/2 packages of Tinkyada GF Pasta (cooked and drained)

6 eggs scrambled in coconut oil or butter

frozen veggies of choice (peas, or mixed veg, or broc)

8 oz Shredded Cheese (Use preference) We used smoked Mozz but sometimes use cheddar as well....

I usually put some butter in bottom of pan, layer pasta, eggs, veggies, cheese, sprinkle with seasonings of choice (garlic salt or All season salt) and bake for about 20 minutes @ 350

This was a huge hit with the kids and adults alike... We have been making at least once a week.