And now for something completely different...not really

OK, so if you are feeling left out by my last blog because I don't know you...Here is your blog for the day. Tonight I get to go out with my husband to a company party. It used to scare me to go anywhere because I was never sure what was in the food, so I would eat before I went and I would sip soda all night with no color in it.... boring!! Well, I am excited to go and I know exactly what I am eating because I have gone for so many years now and it is pretty much the same food. They serve salmon or steak and sometimes they have a pasta dish. I love the salmon and I love the steak, but I have learned to order the salmon because I sleep better at night. weird huh? So, when going to company parties year after year, pay attention and hopefully they will keep the menu relatively the same. We now get invites with our meal choices on them. How nice. I love going and am super excited. Just think, when you are nervous flip that coin, and on the other side is excitement!! Have a great day!!!

BYU Women's Conference

Hello friends.... Every year my Mom and sisters and I go to the BYU women's conference and it is a blast!! So, I was thinking it would be even more fun if friends came along too! The registration process starts in February around Valentines day. We always sit at our computers on the phone anxiously awaiting the time it appears on the web site. If you would like to come with us or meet us there...WOW we would have so much fun! e-mail me at kim81174@hotmail.com and I will send you more info. For now look at these pictures of years gone by...

Gluten free for beginners....

It has been shown through many researches that eating with less gluten is actually beneficial to your health. So, how do I start.??. Well, depending on how gluten free you want to be, there are certain flours and baking goods you will need. One that I use a lot is Bob's Red Mill- gluten free all purpose flour. The reason I use this one so much is because I can buy it in bulk and it costs less than if I buy a bunch of small bags of flour. (It is 35.50 for 25 lbs.) If I am getting creative I will buy Pamela's baking mix (I like this a lot for cookies) or I will get sweet rice flour for some recipes... It all depends on what I am trying to achieve. I am not a huge fan of rice flour because it is often very crunchy and doesn't offer a lot of nutrients. It also will fall apart when, with another flour, maybe it will glom together better.
Because I have Celiac disease I have to be very careful with what comes into my kitchen. I bleached everything that was glass or metal when I found out that I had to get rid of gluten. I chucked all my plastic everything, because plastic absorbs whatever you put in it. I bought a new vacuum, a new broom, a new mixer, new bread pans, you name it...I replaced it. I got better when I did this. I still will go out with my family and friends to restaurants, but I will only order if I know what is gluten free. If I have doubts, then I will eat when I get home. I often frustrate waiters and staff at unknowledgeable restaurants and I have been known to change my mind several times while ordering. It is totally against everything I was brought up to do, but people understand when I explain to them my condition. I even will ask for the ingredient lists for things I want to check myself. It took me a long time to be comfortable doing this!!!
Well, I hope this gives you a good start. Here is a yummy pie crust recipe for you all...enjoy!!

Pie crust

1 1/2 cups GF Flour (Bob's)
1 t salt
1/2 c shortening
1/4 + 2 T Ice water ( take any cubes out before you add this)

Sift flour & salt into a bowl
cut in shortening with a pastry blender until it is the size of cornmeal
sprinkle water onto flour a little at a time and stir together until it starts to cling together
gather dough and press gently into a ball
roll pastry Once in between two pieces of parchment paper until it is bigger than the pie plate
Fit dough to greased pie plate ( glass or stone only please)
Flute edges
Poke holes in the bottom with a fork
Bake @450* for 10-12 min.
Cool and fill
or fill with a pumpkin pie filling and bake until done

if this dough falls apart...and it will, just smash the pieces back together. It may not be beautiful, but it is delicious!!

School Daze...

Look at how cute my son is with one of his best buddies!! He is on the left, Buddie is on the right. Now, tell me, how can a sweet, loving boy turn into a monster at school? He obviously has a sweet side and can have friends...many in fact. Is it his sugar sweet teacher?Maybe his lack of self control or perhaps boredom. I have no idea, but if things don't change ...I will change them.!!! I am sick of the negative feedback I get on a daily basis. Let me know what to do....

Pizza Anyone??

Brownies
4 eggs
1 1/2 c apple sauce (sugar free)
2 c granulated sugar (or sugar substitute)
15 oz canned pumpkin
2 1/2 c GF flour
2 t ground cinnamon
1 t pumpkin pie spice
2 t baking soda
1 t salt

Combine all wet ingredients together and mix well. Mix dry ingredients separately then add to wet ingredients and mix until blended well.
Bake in an ungreased Texas sheet cake pan for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frosting
3 1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 t vanilla
1 8oz brick cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cups butter, softened

Mix together until creamy and smooth.

This is from another site...Thank you Audra and her friends...I just thought you should know if you have gluten free flour you can still make this gluten free. What a yummy treat!!
We had a yummy dinner last night. It was pizza!! Rice pizza. Now usually I don't really crave a whole lot of things, but I was craving pizza and this really hit the spot. It's also a good way to use leftover rice. Thank you Michelle!!

RICE PIZZA

2 Cups Cooked Rice

1/4 tsp. salt

1 Egg

8 oz. Mozzarella Cheese

1 Jar Gluten Free Pizza Sauce

Your favorite toppings

Preheat oven to 350. Shred Mozzarella cheese. Mix first four ingredients together using only 1 cup of the cheese. Press this mixture into a 12" solid pizza pan that has been coated with vegetable oil. Make the edge slightly thicker. Top with pizza sauce and add your favorite toppings. Bake for 25 minutes. Sprinkle the last cup of cheese on top. Bake 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. ENJOY ! ! !

Recipe from Amy K. Myler

I hope if you are craving something and are having a hard time getting it right, you will let me know. Happy cooking!!