2013!

Party tonight! Off to finish party prep!

~ Hanunyah

The last couple days

Monday I awoke to hearing that my brother had got his first deer. I made 4 batches of granola bars (which came out to be 40 bars) for my brother that left to CA yesterday morning. I also made candied almonds (recipe coming soon, Lord willing). We did the animal chores and waited for a load of 37 goats and a couple sheep to arrive. We then went to the neighbor's for dinner.

We got up earlier than usual yesterday morning to say bye to my brother - with his ice-chest packed with fruit and nut granola bars, oranges and a couple jars of dressing. After doing the animals, it was nice to see that one of the does we just got had kidded to a big boy. A chilly afternoon of dancing out in the cold (winter has arrived!) with my wild family a run with two of my sisters. Last night my sister tried out a new recipe for oatmeal biscuits and I made a pan of brownies.

After all, the busier time of the year (and the new year!) is fast approaching. I'm planning on stocking up on some kitchen goodies, and hopefully I'll be back with a recipe or two.

~ Hanunyah

P.S. Wondering why my family and I don't celebrate Christmas? This explains it: http://www.atruechurch.info/christmas.html

Secret Ingredient Milk-Free Chocolate Pudding

The cat's out of the bag . . . on my Facebook page. But the somewhat neglected blog should have an update ;).

In the very beginning of this month, it was quite warm. Now, it's chilly. Winter time! Many layers of clothes, frozen water buckets, and kids. Kids! 3 were born this morning. (You know I'm talking about goats, right? No, I don't have 3 more siblings [though I wish]) :). They're all doelings!  Little girls, and a big mama - who we'd been waiting to have babies for months . . . we don't like unknown due dates. Ya know what else is unknown about this goat deal here? The dad was supposed to be a boer. Yeah, right. These babies: Loud screamers, they've got color and they're small - I think a Nigerian is the sire. So, 3 cute mutt babies!

Oh, the pudding! If you're not a "goat person" then I may have lost you :). Creamy, good ol' chocolate pudding. Made no-cook, fast, easy and milk-free - no dairy, coconut or almond milk, which makes this dairy and nut-free. No, gluten, corn or soy. Grain and Refined-sugar free!

The con about this recipe: It's not egg-free or vegan. For those who can't have eggs - sorry, this recipe simply won't work without eggs. But, something probably could be substituted for the honey.

An egg-based, not egg-taste recipe. Chocolate pudding! My sister also made a YouTube video showing how to make this simple chocolate pudding, but I'm also putting it below.

Surprise Ingredient Chocolate Pudding
Adapted from Snacks
(Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free, Soy-free, Corn-free, Grain-free, Refined Sugar-free)

1/2 cup honey*
1 cup water
4-5 tablespoons cocoa powder
6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled

In a vita-mix or blender, add the honey and water and blend. Add the cocoa and hard-boiled eggs and blend until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes at the most. The pudding can be served immediately, but it thickens more if chilled.

Notes:
*The honey can be adjusted by personal preference. You may also try using a different sweetener.

Did you watch that video? Yep, she's a little weirdo :). A great sister, tho. I think her fav song right now is "A joyful heart is good medicine" - haha! She likes to "be weird" and make people laugh. The second oldest of my 6 lovely sisters :).

~ Hanunyah

Link Parties:
Allergy-Free Wednesdays @ The Tasty Alternative
Gluten-free Fridays @ Vegetarian Mama and 2 other blogs
Gluten-Free Wednesdays @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker
The WCFS Award Show @ Will Cook for Smiles
Food on Friday @ Carole's Chatter

Amazing Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies! Delicious cookies, fun to decorate! Sugar cookies can be made for a party anytime of the year, since they can be frosted and decorated in many ways.

These (gluten-free) cookies that my sister, Suriyah, makes are a roll-out cookie - that way the surface is flat and easy to frost and decorate. The dough is nice, a pleasure to work with and they stay together well.

Need a little extra somethin' to spice up your party? These are perfect!

Amazing Sugar Cookies
Adapted from 
(Gluten-free, Dairy-free, can be made Corn-free*)

1 cup lard
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking powder*
2 3/4 cups gluten-free flour (we use fine rice flour)

Cream fat & sugar. Add egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Add to the sugar mixture. Roll out to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut either with cookie cutters into shapes or use a canning jar band (large or small, whatever size you want). Bake at 350 for 7 to 10 minutes.

Notes:
*To make this corn-free, substitute 1 teaspoon baking soda + 1 teaspoon cream of tartar in place of the baking powder.

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving! I did with my family. Today? We're having another party very soon! Friends are coming home, a friend's birthday is today and a 2nd Thanksgiving.

"I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving." Ps. 69:30
"giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," Eph. 5:20

~ Hanunyah

Link Parties:
Gluten-Free Wednesdays @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker
Allergy-Free Wednesdays @ The Tasty Alternative
Gluten-Free Fridays @ Vegetarian Mama

Thanksgiving 2012!

Thanksgiving already? Yep, 2 days! This year we're going to our Grandma's. She's making the meal, but she's not making it allergy-friendly . . . so we have to make a meal for those of us who don't eat that. Which is fine, but it's contamination we're concerned about. Thankfully, we're bringing the desserts so that should make it a bit easier.

We (my sisters and I) made a list of desserts we plan on making:

Super Simple and Good Fudge Brownies - a little chocolate is good at every party, right?
Pumpkin Pie is a yummy classic to the Thanksgiving table, even without a crust. For plenty more pumpkin dessert options, see my Pumpkin Sweets Recipe Round-Up.
Oatmeal Creme Pies are like spiced up oatmeal cookies!
Pear and Apple Pies . . . Sorry no recipe up! Just in case I don't get to posting tomorrow: It's really simple. Basically mix up 1 cup sugar, a few cups of the fruit, a teaspoon or 2 of cinnamon, pour that into an unbaked pie shell and bake for about 40 to 50 minutes. I made some pear pies the other day, didn't really measure (although, probably should've) and they were gone!
Peanut Butter Cookies - more yummy cookies for the party!
Turkey Cookies - Nicole @ Gluten-Free on a Shoestring posted a great idea, and we like it! This can be part of a school project and Thanksgiving!
GAPS variations of pumpkin and apple pies (basically honey instead of sugar, and almond flour for rice flour).

~ Hanunyah

Link Parties:
Gluten-Free Fridays @ Vegetarian Mama & 1 other blog