Happy New Year 2014!

Our party tonight is 80's themed, the decorations (and people) are pretty wild lookin'! Have a fun night, more later Lord willing :)!

~ Hanunyah

Laua *Party*!

Vanilla Orange layer cake with a Hibiscus flower I drew on it (I used a stencil :) )

Saturday we had a hawaiian themed party. Several of my friends and family have birthdays in the month of May, plus it was Mother's Day weekend and so we rolled it all up into one big party! It was a really great party, we all had fun. Coconut race, singing, candle dance, banana pass, dancing, etc.

"Hairy", the coconut, was not someone to mess with! If you were caught with him when the music was randomly stopped, you'd get water, ice, banana, orange juice or whipped cream in your face! :)

As usual, there was tons of desserts. Here's just a few more pictures of the cake I made. I couldn't find any of the other desserts (my sisters made cookies, cakes, bars and fudge).

I hope you all had a good mother's day! I made some Black Gold Cookies for Grandma, she always appreciates them and I hadn't made them in awhile for some reason. 

Well, sorry this wasn't a long post . . . I am pretty tuckered out. We had a late night last night also, we had 2 does kid. That was quite eventful. Let me just say we had 6 kids out and were in bed by 2am :).

~ Hanunyah

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

31 for 21: Chocolate Syrup

Another animal picture because I don't have a picture for this recipe.

Basically this is just an idea. Just mix honey and cocoa together (equal parts or to taste) for a quick, refined sugar-free chocolate syrup. You can add this to milk (warm or cold), pour on ice-cream, etc.

~ Hanunyah

31 for 21 is a blog challenge to raise Down Syndrome awareness 1 blog at a time. The challenge is to blog everyday the whole month of October (31 days) to raise awareness for Down Syndrome (aka Trisomy 21). This is the 6th Annual 31 for 21 Challenge.

Link Parties
Wheat-Free Wednesday @ Anne-Marie Cain
Gluten-Free Wednesdays @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker
Allergy-Free Wednesdays @ The Tasty Alternative and 6 other blogs
Gluten-Free Fridays @ Vegetarian Mama and 2 other blogs

31 for 21: Pumpkin Sweets Recipe Round-Up

Hello, Fall! I know you got here on September 22, but I'm just getting up to date on things. I mean like, I just got a Facebook account. And I just started blogging on a regular basis again. I'm glad for 31 for 21, because it makes it so that I HAVE to blog everyday.

So to jump start the fall baking goodness, here are my favorite pumpkin recipes - and they're sweet ones, of course, 'cause that's how I roll. Hey, sugar is fun to play with! (and eat, unless you're like me and and don't eat it anyway . . . I make it for my family, including that sweet little boy I told you about a couple days ago. He has food allergies, so I make treats for him.)

Pumpkin Bread is a classic. This is a very good family recipe, moist and sweet. Let me tell you, tho, this recipe doesn't make pretty looking bread, but that doesn't matter really. I all goes the same way, right?
Pumpkin Buckle has some funky layer things going on here, but it bakes up to a hit with the family. It's a custard-like thing.
Pumpkin Butter would be good on pumpkin bread, or if you want just eat it with a spoon! Hey, guess what? It's a crockpot (slow cooker) recipe! Can't be much easier than that! Don't let any of that pumpkin go to waste.
Pumpkin Carrot Spice Muffins with Orange Glaze were some nice muffins. They turned out fluffy and stayed together even though they're made with mostly oat flour.
Pumpkin Impossible Pie is a crustless pie, that's what "impossible" means here. Whatcha do is add some flour to the pie batter, and bake to perfection! For that crunch, just add some nuts to the top.

Pumpkin Marshmallows are fluffy, sweet and spicy while being free of eggs, corn syrup and other allergens. Good for hot cocoa, toasting and fun!

Pumpkin Pudding for some spicy, thick and creamy goodness. Eat it warm or cold, in a bowl or a pie shell, for breakfast or dessert - your choice!
PumpkinSnap Cookies is what happened when I crossed gingersnaps and pumpkin. Crispy, crunchy, snappy bottom-of-a-glass spice cookies. These are not the typical soft pumpkin cookies.
Pumpkin Spice Fudge was nice and smooth. That's one you probably haven't hear of, huh? I probably should re-do that recipe, though, to see if I could eliminate the corn syrup.

Remember these recipes when the pumpkin goes on sale! All 9 of them - bread, buckle, butter, muffins, pie, marshmallows, pudding, cookies and fudge - have real pumpkin in them.

Alrighty, I hope you enjoyed reading this and I hope fall baking and creating is a success for you!

~ Hanunyah

31 for 21 is a blog challenge to raise Down Syndrome awareness 1 blog at a time. The challenge is to blog everyday the whole month of October (31 days) to raise awareness for Down Syndrome (aka Trisomy 21). This is the 6th Annual 31 for 31 Challenge.

Link Parties:
Gluten-Free Wednesdays @ The Gluten-Free Homemaker
Unwasted Homemaking @ Don't Waste Your Homemaking
Tempt My Tummy @ Blessed With Grace
Wheat-Free Wednesdays @ Anne-Marie Cain
Allergy-Free Wednesdays @ The Tasty Alternative & 6 other blogs
Gluten Free Fridays @ Vegetarian Mamma

Chocolate Chunk Cookies, GRAIN & SUGAR FREE

Oops! I sort of forgot about the Chocolate Chunk Cookies I mentioned in one of my last posts . . . sorry ;). I'm still here, we've been busy with kidding/lambing season here.

Well, when people think of chocolate it is usually somehow linked with sugar. But it's this simple: cocoa powder does not have sugar in it. It's that simple. Add some good fat and a touch of honey to that powder. Let it set.

Chewy cookies with a touch of the sweetness of honey, add some . . . sugar-free chocolate. You got it.

The chocolate chunks actually have the taste and texture of chocolate, nice and smooth. My sugar-free friend - who really likes chocolate - was so excited that I made her something chocolate. And when she tasted it? Yep, it was a success.

Now, I'm not exactly sure if these are GAPS legal because of the cocoa. Some say "yes", others say "no". I didn't do extensive research about it, but you may decide for yourself, if you're on the GAPS diet.

Chocolate Chunk Cookies (Grain, Gluten, Dairy, Sugar, Corn, Soy, Gum, etc. FREE)
Ideas from Whole New Mom and Nourished and Nurtured

1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons honey, to taste

2 cups almond meal/flour

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 egg
2 tablespoons coconut oil

1/4 cup honey

1. In a small saucepan combine the first 3 ingredients. Melt together over medium heat, stirring constantly - be careful not to burn this mixture. Pour into a small bowl or dish. Place in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes.

2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine all the remaining ingredients to form a dough. Remove the chocolate mixture from the freezer and chop into small pieces. Stir the chocolate chunks into the cookie dough.

3. Drop the dough by a spoon onto a cookie sheet greased with coconut oil. Bake for 7 to 12 minutes, depending on size and shape of the cookies. Remove from oven and let cool on the cookie sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack (or your mouth ;) ) to cool completely.


~ Hanunyah

Linked to:

Tuesdays At The Table

Temp My Tummy Tuesdays

Home and Family Friday

Link Party @ the space between

Sugar & Spice by Seven Thirty Three

creative juices @ momnivore's dilemma

Happy 25 Anniversary to my Parents and GAPS Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Yesterday, the 17th, was my parent's 25 anniversary. You probably already guessed: we had a party (again) and I made cake. Just another reason for a party, as my dad (Abba, as we call him - means dad in Hebrew) said.

I made 2 cakes - one GAPS one, since Abba is on the GAPS diet, and one chocolate cake. I'm sure you can tell which one is the GAPS cake ;).

Raisins and freshly roasted peanuts on top of a egg white/honey frosting.

Chocolate chips on the same fluffy stuff. I counted 104 chocolate chips, just incase you are wondering :).

Here's the GAPS cake recipe. It is a cinnamon raisin bread, but I doubled it and baked in a round baking pan for the cake above. It is actually fluffy and pretty yummy - it uses a lot of eggs - 10 for the cake above! A big thanks goes to Nourished and Nurtured for the recipe that we adapted - go check out her GAPS recipes, they're awesome!
      So, here it is - this is the recipe not doubled.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread (GAPS legal, Grain, Sugar, Gluten, Dairy, Corn, Soy-Free)
Adapted from Nourished and Nurtured

5 eggs
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup honey, or to taste
3/4 cup almond meal/flour*
1/2 cup raisins**

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease pans (see note below) with coconut oil or other GAPS legal fat.

2. Beat together the eggs, soda, cinnamon and honey to taste. Stir in the almond flour. Fold in the raisins.

3. Bake at 325 degrees F for about 25-35 minutes, until the middle is set and the top is golden brown. (see note below).

Notes:
*The recipe used 1/3 cup coconut flour and 1/4 cup almond flour, but we use just almond.
**You may substitute safe nuts for the raisins or omit the raisins all together, if desired.

Here are a few of Sarah's notes and tips:
"I used loaf pans that were 7.5X3.75X2.25 inch.  Although the batter would all fit into a larger loaf pan, it will cook better as two smaller loaves so that the coconut flour will not be overcooked before the middle is set."
"I like to cook this bread for a few minutes past when the middle is set so that the bread will be nice and dry for toasting."
"Store in the fridge or freezer.  I like to use a good bread knife to cut each loaf into many slices.  I then place a small square of parchment paper between each slice, wrap it all in plastic wrap, and store it in the freezer.  The parchment paper ensures that I can easily pull out just one slice at a time.  This bread freezes very well, and makes great toast!"

One more thing . . . while I was experimenting with GAPS recipes (which is not very common for me), I remembered a friend who is on a diet for her Lyme disease. She really likes chocolate. So, I created a grain and sugar free recipe for CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES! She was sooooo excited! They are yummy . . . recipe later, Lord willing ;). The base for the recipe for these yummy, chewy cookies can be found at Nourished and Nurtured (I told you she has great recipes!).

~ Hanunyah


Linked to Show and Tell Saturday by Be Different Act Normal

Dark Chocolate & Strawberry Cream Cake for Hannah

The 10th of this month (a week ago) was a good friend's 17th birthday. We totally surprised her several times - it was great!

Anyway, this is the cake I made. They said it was good (she gave me a "thumbs up") with a nice fruity flavor from the strawberries. They also said it looked fancy, and it was even asked if it was store-bought (no, of course ;) ).

So, here's how it went . . .

Doubled the Oat Flour Chocolate Cake, using dark cocoa powder and not exact measuring ;) - I think it turned out better that most times!

Make some cool, fluffy stuff - beat some sugar syrup, egg whites and vanilla together. I was aiming for a marshmallow cream type thing, but that needs a little more work. So, add some chopped fresh, juicy strawberries to some of that . . . 

and cover it in the rest of the fluffy stuff. Yeah, and add some more chocolate if you want, just to make it a little more fancy.

Go outside to take a picture,

then remember that you had leftover chocolate glaze from the Tunnel of Fudge Cake that you made last week, and take it a step further.

Take it to the birthday girl's house (it survived the bumpy roads).

And watch it dissapear . . . 

in minutes . . . 

until you have a clean plate to take home.

~ Hanunyah

"3 Musketeers" - sneak preview

So, would you like to have "sneak previews" to my cookbook? Well, I am writing the cookbook. I'm hoping to have several candy bar recipes in there. For now, if you want a little candy bar fun, you may see my recipe for Coconut Candy Bars. And don't worry - I'll still post recipes for you, Lord willing.

Homemade candy bars. Chewy nougat covered in chocolate. Like 3 Musketeers candy bars - only much simpler and better-tasting. These are really rich. Easy to make. No corn-syrup, of course (because it's easier without). The recipe makes . . . 32 candy bars (gasp!) that are roughly 1 inch by 2 inches I'd say.
      If you're on any kind of a diet, you're probably glad I'm not passing out the recipe right now. But surely my family is not on a diet (besides the gluten-free lifestyle). Because there's no reason to go on a diet. This time of the year is the same to us as any other time.

~ Hanunyah

Hey, Hey, It's A New Year!

A "Happy New Year 2012" cake I made.

It's another cool winter day. It's the beginning of January.

There's new life.

New Year's day kids.

It's 2012.

Welcome to the new year ~ I hope you had a good one! Here are some pictures from our party.

The platter that HAD 3 dozen peanut butter cups.

Bean dip.

Coconut Candy Bars

~ Hanunyah

Bit O' Cocoa Cookies

One last recipe for 2011. Little cookies with a bit o' cocoa, they are just perfect for winter. Accompanied by some hot cocoa, a extra bit o' cocoa could just brighten one's day coming in from the chilly winter morning. Plus, being easy with only 5 basic ingredients, you can whip these up quick.
     Although, we have had a SUPER mild winter . . . very warm. It was over 60 degrees F when we went ice-skating the other day! - as opposed to our winter (here in OK) last year - we already had snow in November. Though the winter is not over yet - it could get cold here on us hard and fast.

     So, to the recipe . . . I wanted a chocolate cookie that didn't spread much and would hold together really well - for ice-cream sandwiches. Solution - don't use leavening, little lard, and use several eggs because they do wonders for holding things together. It was first-time success.

Bit O' Cocoa Cookies (Gluten, Dairy, Corn, Gum-free)
Hanunyah Creation

1/4 cup lard
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
3 eggs
1/2 cup oat flour
1 1/2 cups rice flour (or other GF flour)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Beat together the lard, sugar, cocoa and eggs. Add the flours.

3. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls on greased cookie sheets, or for more uniform cookies roll into balls (flouring your hands), and flatten out a little.

4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until set and the edges start to lightly brown.


~ Hanunyah

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Yesterday was my younger sister's birthday. I baked all day and made 3 dozen vanilla cupcakes, a strawberry jello poke cake and orange cooked frosting (triple recipe). For the cake and cupcakes, I doubled this recipe. I also added a few chocolate chips to the cupcakes and cake.

Of course, the funnest part was decorating the cupcakes. We had got a frosting dispenser from somewhere, and I just put it in the cupboard and forgot about it until yesterday. So, I pulled it out and figured it out - it turned out to be very easy to use and clean - it worked great! There are several tips with it, too.

So, here are the pictures ~ I thought they turned out pretty good for my first time try using this deal ;).

This is what happens when different colors meet ;).

Rainbow!

And lastly, the poke cake - very yummy and moist! (I'll post the recipe soon, Lord willing).

Love ya, sis!


~ Hanunyah


Link Parties:
Take-a-Look Tuesday @ Sugar Bee Crafts


Sugar and Spice at seven thirty three











Food on Friday @ Carole's Chatter