GD it's GFree {Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies}

I swear I have had this recipe on my blog planner since I made them in December. Then Christmas happened, then New Years, and oh I'll just push them another week. That's been my story for the past month or so. Then today, a mom of one of my Girl Scouts sent me a text that she needed a Gluten Free dessert recipe, and could I share the one for those wonderful gluten free cookies from the Christmas Party?

A non gluten free person asking for the recipe for the "wonderful gluten free cookies".

Of course I shared it with her, but it also prompted me to share it with all of you. I made these for our Girl Scout Christmas party and Caitlin's class party. Both times there were numerous gluten treats and both times this cookie was gone faster than the gluten treats. This fact makes me incredibly happy because it means that if I decide to take these gluten free cookies to another party at school or dance or again to Girl Scouts, the kids and parents will enjoy them just as much as my gluten free girl. Another bonus, no one will wonder who the hell baked the rocks at the end of the table. That's happened before, much to my embarrassment.

These Gluten Free Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies were inspired by this recipe. I was looking for something easy, since I was baking three different kinds of cookies for Caitlin's third grade Christmas Party. I know what you are thinking, and sometimes I am "that mom". For the record, Caitlin has another classmate that is gluten free and I wanted to make sure there were enough for the other kids to try. This is how I can gauge what to bring for other parties. The trick to this recipe is to use Pillsbury Gluten Free Funfetti Cake Mix, because it's closest in weight to regular cake mix. Betty Crocker has a killer chocolate cake mix as well, but it makes a smaller cake, therefore the weights aren't as close to a regular mix. I'm not a professional, so I didn't want to try this recipe and fudge my way through. I needed quick and easy cookies that could be made start to finish in about an hour. These pretty much fit the bill.

I hope you like these cookies as much as everyone in my house, at school, and at Girl Scouts. It didn't matter that they were gluten free, and most people were surprised when I told them! They are super easy to make and smell amazing when they are baking. They come out light and fluffy too, so they will never be confused for rocks. I promise.

Gluten Free Funfetti Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies
**Note: the link to Amazon for the GF Funfetti cake mix says it's out of stock. I've also found it at Walmart and Target in their baking aisle. You can also buy it at Walmart.com for a reasonable price. 

1 box GF Funfetti (Pillsbury)
1 egg lightly beaten
1 tub Cool Whip (just the small tub)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (I use the pre-cut sheets because they are perfect for lazy bakers like myself). In a large bowl combine the cake mix, Cool Whip, egg, and vanilla. Mix together, and don't freak out. The dough is super sticky. In a separate small bowl measure out your powdered sugar. Using a cookie scoop, scoop out dough and roll into a ball. I used a scoop that measures about 1.5 tablespoons. Then roll that ball into the powdered sugar and place on the cookie sheet. Half way through you will probably need to rinse your hands because the dough will be so sticky. That is normal, just so you know. Also don't place them too close together, gluten free cookies don't really spread, but it's better to be safe. Once you have filled a cookie sheet, take a fork or a small glass and flatten out the cookies. Again, this is because gluten free cookies don't really spread and you may end up with funky cookie balls. Bake for 12-15 minutes. I think mine were good at 13 minutes. Let them cool before removing them or they will fall apart... Not that I know from experience. Yield: about 2 dozen depending on size.

Enjoy!

Liking up with The Foley Fam for Sunday Funday!

I'm Gluten Free (but not an asshole)

You probably read the title of this post and rolled your eyes. It's possible you thought, "Oh Jeez, another post about how gluten is killing us all". I promise you this is not that kind of post. Although gluten will slowly kill me and my daughter, if you aren't intolerant or allergic, then you're safe. It won't kill you.

I went on a gluten free diet in 2002, which to most gluten free people, that is basically the stone age. Back then there were no such things as Gluten Free Menus, Gluten Free Girl Scout cookies, or even Gluten Free aisles in grocery stores. If I wanted a gluten free cookie or cake, I had to make it myself, and it usually was a disaster. In the stone age gluten free baking required seven different flour, things like xantham gum, and twenty five eggs. Okay, maybe not twenty five eggs, but pretty damn close. My point is, being gluten free back then was super hard. I took my food everywhere, which isn't really different than what I do today, but back then there were very few restaurants that I would eat at in fear of cross contamination.

In November, the Hubbs and I came to the conclusion that Caitlin needed to be put on a gluten free diet. After years of stomachaches and headaches, I knew we had to try it. I'm gluten intolerant and I have been my whole life, unfortunately I didn't realize it until I was a twenty four year old adult. I didn't want years of pain and anxiety for Caitlin, so with nothing to lose, we went gluten free. The transition wasn't incredibly hard for us, since I knew exactly what to buy and where to buy it, and now since gluten free has become a "mainstream allergy", you really can find gluten free items everywhere. Now most companies make it easy for gluten-free-ers and put big shiny labels on their years old products that say Gluten Free. Awesome right?

Super awesome until I've realized that even though we are out of the "stone age" with gluten free products, there is a dark cloud that hangs over the Gluten Free community. I read so many articles where I can hear the author rolling their eyes. Gluten Free is the new "fad" diet. It's the excuse to be "difficult" at restaurants. It's the new "fat free". And I totally get the bad vibe, when I read other articles by Gluten Free bloggers, that ask the gluten free community to petition things like Nascar Commercials and Food Companies who refuse to certify this thing or that. Sometimes us gluten free folk can look like a bunch of assholes.

Look. I'm not the organic gluten free mom. And if you are and you are reading this, awesome for you. My daughter and I are gluten intolerant. We are not Celiacs, but we can totally sympathize with them. That said, my kid eats Cheetos and Fritos, both gluten free, but also full of chemicals I can't pronounce. I buy Gluten Free mixes from both Betty Crocker and Krusteaze. I buy hot dogs and lunch meat that are marked gluten free, but aren't marked organic. So what? I'm feeding my kid. She likes it, and if I can find it at Walmart, well Amen to that. I can tell you that I am the mother who walks into Whole Foods with one kid eating a salad and the other toting in McDonald's chicken nuggets. I once told Caitlin I would buy her a GF cookie mix at Walmart in the baking aisle at Whole Foods and everyone turned around and stared at us as if we were on fire. And I just wanted to yell, RELAX ASSHOLES, this is America, and I can't afford your mixes at almost six dollars a box.

My point is, why are we acting like a bunch of assholes? What does it matter if we eat organic or gluten free or none of the above? It really doesn't. I guess I've just noticed that when I announce that I'm gluten free or my kid is gluten free I get this look like I'm the asshole. And I promise you I'm not.

I'll admit that having to eat around an allergy is hard. But we do it, because we aren't assholes. Birthday parties, school parties, dinner parties, and even Girl Scouts are hard when you have to take your own food, but we do it anyway. I would never expect that someone have something for me or Caitlin to eat. Why cater to the only person with a food allergy in the bunch. Maybe it's because I've been brown bagging it since I was a kid, but I'm always prepared with gluten free food or snacks wherever we go. Ask any of last year's Elevate attendees, I took both my lunch and my dinner, and it was no big deal, for any of us.

I'm not overly sensitive. I'm not offended by the Nascar commercial with Nick Offerman from the Office, who says that the Founding Fathers would hang their wigs in shame that we are a nation afraid of gluten. I thought the commercial was funny. Because I can laugh at myself, and my allergy. You have to be able to laugh at yourself when you spend five dollars for a box of gluten free cookies, or eleven dollars a pound for almond flour. It's also why I don't go to the Olive Garden and complain about things like cross contamination. I know better. You are going to get some gluten in a restaurant who's claim to fame is a never ending pasta tour. I don't expect the room mom or the teacher to provide gluten free snacks for the party, and I don't expect the cafeteria to serve gluten free food.

I do, however go to restaurants that I believe are "safe". Restaurants that I am familiar with, and know their menus pretty well. The family and I will try new restaurants that advertise fresh ingredients and I always talk to the manager if we are unsure of any menu items. I've been known to leave double the tip or triple if we have been extra difficult. I have open and honest conversations with servers and tell them our food allergies and ask for suggestions on what to order that will make every one's life easier. We double buy cake mixes and cookies and understand that at some birthday parties we will just ask for ice cream. So far this year I have bought a doughnut pan and a Twinkies pan, so that my kid can participate in the class parties. We get that we have to be our own advocates, and that we cannot expect to find gluten free everywhere we go. Although it is a little easier now, I won't be starting petitions any time soon. I get that "gluten free" seems like a fad, but is more of lifestyle for us now. And how can you be mad at a diet that will force you to eat French Fries and milk shakes at most restaurants that don't have gluten free menus?

I also educate my daughter on how to make decisions in my absence. I tell her that chocolate or vanilla ice cream is usually safe. French fries and baked potatoes are safe. That when in doubt, choose the Cheetos. I give her as much information as her seven year old gluten free brain can handle, because mom can't be everywhere all the time. And if my kid gets "glutened" it will suck, but we will deal with it. I'm not going to call the news channels or attempt to sue the school district.

Why? Because we are not assholes. We went Gluten Free because it was right for us and our health. Caitlin has had less headaches and stomachaches. Her attitude and anxiety have had a major overhaul. Do we still have mornings that are filled with tears? Yes. Are they fewer and farther between? Hell yes. And the greatest discovery since going gluten free? She sleeps better, in her own bed. At first we thought it was a coincidence, but after the few times she's been glutened, we realize that going gluten free has made it possible for her to get a good night sleep. That alone has been worth every five dollar loaf of gluten free bread.

I would never say that Gluten Free is the only way to be. I still buy Kraft Mac and Cheese for the gluten eaters in this house. We still go to restaurants that have questionable contamination standards. This year we will have two birthday cakes, one gluten filled and one gluten free. Because gluten free was our choice, and for us we chose well. It works for us. But that doesn't mean I expect it to work for everyone else.

So yes. I'm gluten free. My daughter is gluten free. We pay almost four dollars for Gluten Free Oreos. We pay almost five dollars for a doll sized loaf of bread. We spend half my pay check at Whole Foods some weeks, and I have been known to spend twenty dollars at Starbucks on protein packs and waters. But it was delicious and saved our "hangry" selves that day. I'm grateful that we are no longer in the stone age for gluten free snacks on the fly.

One day in the near future, no one will care that I order salad dressing on the side and burgers lettuce wrapped. They will just think I'm another dieter, watching my carbs. Which is fine, I'm always watching my carbs, but I swear, I'm not an asshole.

Get your lunch box ready {Paleo To Go}

People ask me all the time, "What is the hardest part about eating a Paleo diet?". The answer is simple, the food prep. When you can't eat grains, dairy, or sugar, you start to get desperate when you have to travel or pack your lunch. It's even harder if you have kiddos that have to live the Paleo/grain free way. I find what tends to happen is that I eat the same thing every day for months on end. Most likely because it's easier, I don't have to put much thought into it, and it saves time. It also gets very, very boring. I've been searching and pinning lunch ideas for almost a month, when I see the Paleo Parents on Instagram talking about their new book, Paleo To Go... They were also looking for people to review it... Hello, jackpot!

 
Paleo to Go is a fantastic book for those of us on Paleo who are out of ideas and stuck in a rut. It's also a real life saver and an invaluable tool for anyone who is new to the Paleo diet and trying to stick to it. I don't have any issue sticking to the diet because if I stray, I get really sick. But many folks follow the Paleo diet to better their health. If they get desperate one day, they will grab something off the diet. That's ok, but this book will help you so you never have to be forced into that corner again.

Let me tell you what I love about Paleo to Go, it has food lists for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks. It also has a sheet for kids to write out their favorite Paleo treats and meals so that you can post it to the fridge. That way packing lunches becomes so much easier. I'm not a kid, but those lists would make meal prep for me so much easier as well. They also list their favorite Paleo Legal convenience items (pictured above without links, sorry). This makes your life even easier when shopping, and takes the guess work out of ingredient list reading in the store. This is a life saver if you are new to the diet as well.

What I also love about Paleo To Go are the recipes. I'm always in the market for new delicious recipes and the Paleo Parents always deliver. I'm especially looking forward to making the Blueberry Breakfast cookie. What is the best part about well tested and top quality recipes provided by the Paleo Parents? The fact that your entire family will enjoy the results as well. They won't even realize that they are eating something that is good for them, let alone grain free, dairy free, and sugar free.

Right now you can get your digital copy of Paleo to Go and a copy of Three Phase Paleo (you can check out my review here) for 40% off, Click here to view more details. That's two amazing e-books for one amazing deal. Plus you can download them to your Kindle or iPad and have all the information at your fingertips no matter where you are. Let me tell you that even if you have been eating the Paleo way for awhile, you will want to invest in both books for the recipes alone. If you are someone who is still unsure about the Paleo diet, if you are looking for a way to eat a healthier lifestyle, or if you are like me and just about allergic to everything including the air... Buy these books. I promise you, these are the real deal and you feel better about yourself and you won't feel deprived for a second.
Still curious? Click here to view more details

If you are a gambling person, visit me on Instagram. I'm giving away a copy of Paleo To Go starting today. For an extra entry leave a comment here letting me know you visited the Paleo Parents and signed up for their newsletter.

Happy eating y'all.

The prettiest little Paleo muffin

This is not a sponsored post. This is just something I wanted to share.
I just love happy accidents when I bake. It's a lot better than the latter, and let's be honest, I have lots of accidents when I bake. Especially when I'm trying my hand at something grain free or Paleo. Working with nut flours or coconut flours can get really ugly if you don't have the right ingredients. Lucky for me, this time when I tried to substitute ingredients it worked out great.
I got Danielle Walker's Against All Grain cookbook for Christmas. My mom had bought it a few months before, and I had taken full advantage of borrowing it. I spent New Year's Night tagging the book on dishes and baked goods I wanted to try. I had already discovered that her Real Deal Chocolate Chip cookies are the real deal, so I was eager to try something else. Since it was the end of the holiday season, I had an extra can of pumpkin laying around, so I decided to make her pumpkin muffins (without the chocolate chips). They were good, and texture wise felt like honest to goodness baked good. Then I tried her banana bread and that was a disaster, I forgot baking soda, but added it at the end, then I didn't cook them long enough, then too long, and I was about to throw in the towel, when...
The Hubbs cleaned out our pantry and discovered four little cups of natural apple sauce. When he asked if he should toss them, I said no, checked the dates and decided to try the Against All Grain pumpkin muffins again, but this time with apple sauce. 

I was nervous, but Oh, Em, Gee, they were delicious. I tweaked the spices a little and by using apple sauce instead of pumpkin, they yielded the apple cinnamon combo I had missed all season. That is not to take away from my Mom's Paleo Apple Crumble, but there is just something about a muffin!
These only take twenty five minutes to bake and are delicious warm, especially if you can spread grass fed butter (paleo staple) on them.
I take zero credit for this recipe. This is just a happy little accident that I have been celebrating everyday. Ok, twice a day.


Apple Cinnamon Paleo Muffins sugar/dairy/grain free contains nuts **adapted from Spice Pumpkin Muffins/Against All Grain
Preheat oven to 350 Grease your muffin pan with coconut oil or use liners
2 cups blanched almond flour 3 TBL spoons coconut flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp salt 1 cup (8 oz) unsweetened applesauce 1/3 cup maple syrup 2 large eggs room temp 2 TBL spoons melted coconut oil 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional 2 TBL spoons chopped nuts)
Combine all your dry ingredients, whisk together, and set aside. Combine all your wet ingredients, making sure your melted coconut oil has cooled. Once your wet ingredients are well blended, add your dry ingredients, a little at a time until combined. Fill each cup of the muffin tin 2/3 of the way full. Bake 25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Notes: Depending on your brand of applesauce, you muffins could come out sweeter. I found that organic applesauce yielded sweeter muffins. If you are paleo but have no issue with soy, Coconut Spray can be used. You can find it at Whole Foods and it's like Pam but Coconut Oil.
These stay fresh for up to five days refrigerated. If they last that long. Both kids love these!

What I Eat Wednesday {Introducing 3 Phase Paleo}

**This post is sponsored by Paleo Parents, however the thoughts and opinions are all mine.  Paleo Parents are not medical professionals, and neither am I.  This is a post about a lifestyle that I follow, and a book written about that lifestyle.  Before starting any new health regimen, please consult your regular care physician.  Thanks.

I know this isn't your typical Wednesday post, but I get a lot of questions about what I eat.  For three years I have been eating food that is free of grains, sugar, dairy, and caffeine.  Crazy right?  So the question that pops up the most is, "what on earth do you eat?", and my simple answer is chicken and avocados.  But there is a lot more to my diet than that.  Today I'm going to share with you the Paleo Lifestyle.  I say life style because it's so much more than a diet, and with the help of a new ebook, 3 Phase Paleo, understanding and committing to the Paleo Lifestyle has never been easier.

Last fall I discovered Paleo Parents on Instagram, after following Danielle Walker.  The Paleo Parents are amazing and have written two cookbooks, Eat Like a Dinosaur for your celiac/paleo kid, and Beyond Bacon, which is literally filled with Bacon/Pork madness.  I bought it for my mom for Christmas and there is something in there called "Bacon Jam" that you can dip apples in... Hello!  Following them on Instagram is a lot of fun and very informational because their entire family eats paleo, even their young boys!  What started out as a mission for better health for Stacy, has turned into a lifestyle for the entire family. 

3 Phase Paleo

3 Phase Paleo is completely different from any other Paleo book I have purchased.  This book introduces you to the Paleo Lifestyle in a way that looks at whole health.  Do you or someone you know suffer from an autoimmune illness?  Do you suffer from seasonal allergies or food allergies?  Are you looking for a way to cut out unwanted chemicals and preservatives out of your family's life?  This book will give you information that can answer any and all of those questions.

3 Phase Paleo

But in addition to answering questions on the whys of the Paleo Lifestyle, 3 Phase Paleo takes it a step further by helping you transition into Paleo in three phases.  In Phase One you start by cutting out all gluten, refined sugars, and chemical laden and processed foods.  The book includes (printable) shopping lists, and a chart to show you just how to move from over processed foods to "paleo" foods.  For example you go from pancake syrup, to pure maple syrup, to grade B maple syrup.  You can move from regular cold cuts, to organic cold cuts, then finally to proteins made at home, cutting cold cuts out completely.  This information in Phase One is extremely valuable, especially if you'd like to move your entire family, kids included, over to a Paleo Lifestyle.

Phase Two includes cutting out grains all together, dairy, processed oils (corn, vegetable, soy, canola), and legumes.  They give you substitutions for each, and let you know where to find the recipes later in the book.  Cutting out all grains and processed oils is difficult, I know that for sure, but what this book does is give you clear guidelines, products they favor (and not because of endorsements), and ideas on how to eat a Paleo Lifestyle at home and on the go.  This includes a list and photo on how to stock a Paleo Pantry, and a guide on how to eat at some choice restaurants on the go.

Finally in Phase Three, you will get an introduction to healing foods, bone broth and fermented foods included.  As someone who suffers with a few autoimmune illnesses, this information is informative and invaluable.  I'm a firm believer that food can heal you from the inside out.  In Phase Three you will find out how to use healing foods to do just that and more.  This is a major part of the Paleo Lifestyle because many of us who follow it, rely on it to keep us healthy.

Now for my favorite part... The Recipes!

3 Phase Paleo

I'll be honest with you, going from a Gluten Free diet to a Grain Free, Sugar Free, Dairy Free diet was scary.  Three years ago I cried that I had to give up rice and my Starbucks Ventis.  Today, I grateful for the discovery that the majority of foods I was eating, while they were gluten free, were causing me major health problems.  In discovering that I was allergic to most grains, whether they were gluten free or not, I felt like I would never eat anything but chicken and avocados.  I couldn't have been more wrong, but it has take me three years to feel like I'm eating good food again, and not just rabbit food.  Recipes like these in 3 Phase Paleo make it easy and delicious to maintain my Paleo Lifestyle.  From the very basic, but delicious, Easy Peasy Pancakes, to the amazing Spaghetti Squash Alla Carbonara, you will not go hungry without free reign on fast food.  I promise.

What I liked about the recipe section were the easy to follow directions (since I'm not the best in the kitchen) and the beautiful pictures of food that made my mouth water.  Most of the recipes require ingredients that are easy to obtain, nothing crazy that you may or may not have to order on Amazon.  And many of them are kid friendly, or can be made that way, since this is a book for the entire family.

This book grabbed my attention immediately because it is a fool proof way to make a major lifestyle change.  Eating this way is not easy, it takes prep, it takes commitment, but with this book, you could be on your way to a chemical free, preservative free lifestyle in just three easy phases.  If you have been thinking of eating the Paleo way, or if you suffer from an autoimmune illness, take a moment and check out 3 Phase Paleo.  It's a great way to start out the year, to jump start your health, or make that change that you have been thinking about.

I'll admit that there are some days that I really wish I could just drive thru and order my dinner.  There are days when I wish I could just grab a bagel and a coffee and go.  But I can't, not without seriously getting sick.  I get that choosing a Paleo Lifestyle seems like a simple choice for me, and on most days it is.  But I'm grateful for finding a way to stay healthy, not just for me, but for my family.  I can't be mom if I'm sick and in pain, so I've committed myself to this lifestyle.  After reading this book, I'm even thinking about phasing my family into a more Paleo way of life.  If you have ever wondered what I eat, or why everyone is gaga for Paleo, this book will give you all the details.  Recipes included.

     

 

To purchase your copy of 3 PHASE PALEO click here.

**This post was sponsored by Paleo Parents

***Absolute Mommy is now a proud affiliate of Paleo Parents

 

Merica {happy 4th}

Happy 4th of July! Today is the day for food, family, and fireworks!
It's also the day to celebrate all the great things about being an American.
Like the ability to laugh and make fun of ourselves.
Here are some 4th of July Funnies

source via Pinterest

Apparently we are not eating enough hot dogs.  Their popularity is on the decline. So be sure to celebrate freedom, colonization, and taxes with a foot long covered in mustard!

source via Pinterest

I think this is the most genius shirt in the world. Let's wear it every time we go abroad!

source via Pinterest

Obviously America's hairstyle of choice!

source via Pinterest

American pick up lines.

source via Pinterest

For reals. And I just love saying 'Merica!
Happy Birthday America!   And to celebrate I'm making this fatty, fatty, 'merica the beautiful, Pinterest dessert!

source via Pinterest
Recipe HERE

That would be ice cream sandwiches covered in cool whip, caramel, and peanut  butter cups.  Then covered in more sandwiches, more cool whip, caramel and  peanut buttercups. 
'Merica. F*&K YEAH!

Just for the Halibut {Resolutions In Motion}

  I can't believe that this is the last Resolutions in Motions post. Has it really been six weeks and six recipes? I guess it has, because the announcement of the link up at Megan's place was a total surprise.   This week it's fish, just for the Halibut... Get it? Jokes aside, I have always had a fear of cooking fish. It just seemed too hard. I was always worried that I'd burn it and my house would forever smell of burnt fish. I worried that I wouldn't cook it right and we'd all get food poisoning! So since this was a resolutions challenge, I thought the best way to cap six weeks of new recipes was to go out on a limb and face my biggest cooking fears. FISH.  

The before picture.  I promise there is fish under there!

    Thanks to Parents Magazine, and a recipe from their June 2010 issue, I felt that I was in a good place to try and make some fish.  In parchment pockets. Yes, parchment paper pockets. Like a big girl.   Ingredients: 4- 2.5 oz white fish fillets (like halibut) 16 stalks of asparagus trimmed 8 small carrots halved lengthwise 1/2 tsp garlic herb seasoning (like Mrs. Dash) 4 thin orange slices, halved 1 roll of parchment (approx 4 12" pieces)   Preheat your oven to 400.  Cut your parchment into 4, 12" pieces and fold those in half.  Assemble your packets with 4 stalks of asparagus, 4 carrots and 1 portion of fillet on the crease side of the parchment.  Sprinkle with olive oil and seasoning.  Top with the orange slices.  Fold the paper over your fish and veggies and then fold up the sides to make a pocket.  Make sure it's wrapped up nicely, and then arrange on a baking sheet.  Bake for approx 12 minutes.  Check for doneness, fish should flake and veggies should be tender, but not soft.  When done, remove from parchment, plate, and enjoy.  Makes 4 servings.   *** I searched for the original recipe on Parents.com and Google. This link was the closest I could come up with. The link will also take you to an ebook available for purchase. I'm not blogging for Parents Magazine or the ebook. Just to be clear.  

The after.  Yum!

    Cooking notes:  I used about 5 oz of halibut, which I halved into 2 parchment packets.  I added the veggies and orange slices accordingly.  Since the fish was a larger portion I cooked it for 20 minutes total.  It was delicious, but I think that was because I had actually made fish.  Fish that was edible!   Joining Resolutions in Motion was a great start to the new year.  I'm hoping to keep it up, and still try one new recipe a week for the new year.  I pin tons of recipes.  I'm always cutting them out of magazines, but then I get too overwhelmed to try a single one.  Then when I do, I plan to cook a new recipe every day, and when one doesn't come out right, I quit.  I get discouraged, and resign myself to the fact that I'll never be a domestic goddess.  It doesn't have to be that way.  Start small, with just a single goal, and you may end your journey with baked fish in parchement, just for the halibut.     Linking up here!

 

Almost Perfect Tacos {Resolutions In Motion}

  Yes, almost perfect tacos. Because my hubby said they would be better if I skipped a step in the process. No bother. At least Caitlin liked them too. I planned on making them again this week, but life got away from me. Oh, well, maybe next week.   I got the inspiration for these tacos on Twitter via Ashlee. She said they were on her pinterest board, so I did a little pin-stalking. I proceeded to pin them, and make them, to ho-hum reviews. The idea for this recipe is genius. It's so easy and you can have dinner on the table in just under a half an hour. Ashlee said her family loved them. Guess my family is just picky.   Almost Perfect Tacos: Originally Oven Tacos  

source / pin

Check out the recipe at it's original home and you will be amazed how easy you are going to make dinner tonight.  The hubbs felt that by baking them, they got a little soggy.  I may, or may not have filled the shells a little too much.  Hence, possible sogginess.  Also, the picture above is just the beginning.  After they are baked to cheesy, melty, goodness, you can then fill them with your favorite taco toppings, like shredded lettuce, sour cream, salsa, and avocado.  Whatever makes you happy.  In the future, since the hubbs wasn't totally impressed, I will not bake them, but serve them right off the stove top.  If you skip the baking step, you can literally have dinner on the table in 15 minutes, provided that your taco toppings have been prepared in advanced.  Which in my house means, cutting some avocado, opening a tub of sour cream, a jar of salsa, and lettuce shreds out of a bag.  See, simple, easy, and delicious.         Linking up with my gal Kristine  

Lazy Breakfast and some Paleo Goodness {Resolutions in Motion} SundayFunday

  This post was supposed to be up this morning.  By like 2:30 am PST. Oh well. Yesterday was quite a day. Started out lazy, yielded into a sick kiddo with a fever, then into a last minute Target trip for a afternoon birthday party, and finally ended with one kid at Grandma's, one at home, and mom and dad sneaking in a movie. So yeah, no blogging happened.   Good thing for Sunday night.   Even better are Sunday mornings. When the family is together and gets to sleep in (hopefully). It's a time for everyone to eat breakfast at a normal pace. Maybe with the Sunday paper. Maybe with an extra cup of coffee or tea. Possibly even if you are mommy.   This weeks recipe is kind of a cheat. I made a breakfast dish instead of a dinner dish. I wouldn't have even thought to post it except when I posted a picture on Instagram,  it got a lot of inquiries.  So did the Paleo recipe I'm going to share. Both are totally appropriate for breakfast or brunch. Or if you're like me, a mid morning or late night snack.   Let's start with Baked Oatmeal.  

  From Pinterest of course.  You can find the original recipe here (or the pin here).  I followed the basics.  I did switch out raspberries for frozen strawberries, because it's what I had.  I'm convinced that fresh is probably better.  I say this, but I myself didn't try it because I can't have oatmeal (wink).  I also didn't use the entire amount of chocolate chips that the recipe called for because we were almost out of chocolate chips ( I know!).  I did, as the original recipe stated use GLUTEN FREE oatmeal, and no one noticed.  Except for my mother in law who said it looked like raw hamburger and made a face.  I can't really address that entire situation here, because there are not enough hours in a day.  Let's just say, I will never please her tastes.  On the upside, my cousin Kim, her boyfriend, and my hubby all agreed that it was delish!  The kids thought it was weird, but I made them try it anyway.  When chilled and cut into bars, I'm sure they would have like it better... Also according to Anthony (my cousin's boyfriend), the bananas are what made it heavenly.  I'll just say it must have been the extra brown sugar sprinkled over the top before baking!   Now on to Paleo German Pancakes Yes, Paleo.   If you have been reading this blog for the last year, then you may know that I'm 100% grain free.  It hasn't been as hard as I thought, and since I'm doing it for health reasons, I stick to it pretty consistently.  But every once in a while I want something cake or cookie like.  Pinterest has been a great resource for paleo and paleo food blogs.  I've found tons of recipes, including a chocolate cake that I'm thinking has to happen next month for my birthday.  But back to the pancakes!  

   Find the original recipe here (or the pin here).  I'm not going to lie to you.  These are "involved".  Not hard or impossible, just involved.  I did everything according to the recipe with the exception of the coconut oil.  In place of the coconut oil I used Earth Balance Coconut Spread.  I've also used it in paleo cookies too, it's great.  I cooked these in jumbo muffin pans, and those I greased with real coconut oil.  They were delish.  And the hold up well for a couple of days.  When they were cooled I wrapped them in wax paper and put them in a zip lock bag in my fridge.  The apples get a little soggy, but to me, who hasn't eaten a "muffin" over a year... Heaven sent!  Side note:  Earth Balance did not sponsor this post.  I'm just sharing info.  Side note two: mine pancakes look nothing like the pinned pancakes.    Now I'm on to my next Resolution in Motion recipe, Baked Tacos.  Sounds interesting right?   Meet me back here next Sunday. Or quite possibly Monday morning if Sunday's a little lazy.     Linking up with Kristine! It's her Bday!  Stop by and Link up!     Part of the Resolutions In Motion Series

Meat Cupcakes {Meatloaf Muffins}

  This was the ploy to my children.  That it was indeed a cupcake, just of the meat variety.  One tried it, the other not so much.  So this weeks Resolution in Motion is a half success.   I'm really trying to get my kids to eat a variety of foods.  I'm tired of them wanting the old stand by of chicken nuggets and chicken nuggets.  So why not put something in a muffin pan?  I'm convinced that when you put something in a muffin pan or cup cake liner, your kids will agree to try it.  It has to be something about cupcakes and miniatures.  Kids go crazy for both.   I found this meatloaf recipe on Pinterest, and with 4 ingredients I just knew it was a match made in kitchen novice heaven.  I'm not good with bread crumbs (I forget to buy them), or the torn day old bread (what does that even mean).  So when I saw that this was a box of stuffing I was sold on the idea.  Just four ingredients, a muffin tin, and 35 minutes to perfection.  

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  The original recipe says nothing of a muffin tin.  That was my idea.  I also used turkey as the entire house is on a mission to eat better.  Baby steps right.  Caitlin didn't want to try them at first because I added a sauce to the top.  The sauce I used is from The Gluten-free Gourmet Cooks Fast and Healthy.  It's 1/4 cup ketchup; 2 tsp. brown sugar; 1/2 tsp mustard: mix and pour over the top.  John and I love the glaze.  Caitlin not so much.  No big.  I promised next time I'll leave the sauce on the side.  Also this recipe is NOT GF, just the glaze.  If you are looking for a GF meatloaf, leave me your email in the comments and I'll happily share.   Not a bad dinner when served with Mac and Cheese, steamed broccoli, and slice apples.       Recipes for Resolution in motion are now going to be a Sunday thing. That way I can link up with my gal Kristine. Check out her Sunday Funday linkup and link up!

Kitchen Success/Kitchen Disaster {In the same week}

  I've said that this is not a cooking blog.  Now I know it will never be.  In the span of one week, I had a kitchen success and a kitchen disaster.  What makes the disaster worse is that it was in my grandma's kitchen.  During the Niner game on Sunday.  I guess I was really involved in watching the game and not the oven.  More on that later!   The Kitchen Success: In keeping with my Resolutions in Motion, I made chili two Sunday's ago.  What makes this a true success is that it's 100% grain free. That means that I made something that I could eat, and somthing the hubby liked as well.  Usually when I cook for me it's bland and borning.  Not this chili.  It was perfect for the wintery weather we were having.  The hubbs topped his with cheese and chips.  I ate mine as it, but in the future will try it over a baked potato. This chili is also gluten free, so if you are looking for something that doesn't require a packaged spice mix, this is your lucky day!   I'm going to type the recipe in it's entirety here, but then I will tell you what I did or didn't do.  Like I didn't cut any onions.  I haven't got over that fear just yet.  Also I didn't let this chili simmer for the designated 2 hours.  One, ain't nobody got time for that, and two, I failed to read the recipe all the way through.  We were hungry.  I'll explain later.   Vickie's Kick-It-Right Chili Family Circle Magazine 2009 2 TBL olive oil 1 lb ground beef 1 onion peeled and chopped 1 green pepper finely chopped 3 cloves garlic finely chopped 1 can (15.5oz) red kidney beans drained and rinsed 1 can (15.5 oz) black beans drained and rinsed 1 can (14.5oz) stewed tomatoes 1/4 cup tomato paste 1/4 cup honey 1 TBL chili powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp dried oregano 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp hot sauce   In a large Dutch oven, heath the oil over medium high heat.  Add the ground beef and break it up with a spoon.  Cook for 5 minutes or until browned.  Add the onion, green pepper and garlic cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft.  Add the beans, tomatoes, 1 cup water, the tomato paste, honey, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and hot sauce.  Simmer, covered, for 2 hours on medium low heat.  Stir occasionally.  Serve with your favorite chili toppings.   It was totally easy.  I used ground turkey instead of ground beef.  I made it even easier by omitting the chopped green pepper and chopped onion and garlic.  Instead I used dried spices like minced garlic and minced onion by McCormick.  I also omitted the hot sauce all together since I'm not big on hot sauce, and I took the chili powder down to one TEASPOON.  Finally I traded black beans for pintos, because I prefer pintos.  I promise it was totally easy, so easy in fact that I'm going to do it all over again this weekend.    Now for my recipe disaster:  

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  The Cheddar Bacon Pull Apart.  It's lovely and fatty and perfect for football watching.  Since the 49ers were in the playoffs and we are and always have been die hard 49er fans, this was perfect.  It was easy to put together, easy as slicing bread.  So I put it together with plans to cook it at my grandma's house.  Cook it being the key words here.  What I did do was BURN the bread and almost BURN her house down.  Embarrassed?  Absolutely.  To say I burned it, it putting it lightly.  I torched it.  The top was black, like charred.  The funny thing is, when the charred part was scrapped off, my family ate every last bite of this bread.  Moral of the story:  Don't broil a fatty, cheesy bread bowl, while watching your team in a playoff game.  I'm planning on making this for Super Bowl.  This time ahead of kick off so I don't burn the house down.       This is the 2nd recipe for Resolutions in Motion. For more info visit Megan's blog.

A Roasted Chicken {not as planned}

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Last week I wrote about joining Resolutions In Motion.  My goal, or resolution if you will is to make one new recipe a week for 6 weeks.  Seems doable, right?  I am totally and completely capable of really cooking, real food with actual ingredients.  It's a big job considering my cooking usually consists of boxes, cans, and frozen items.  So why start off with a bang and try something as advantageous as a roasted chicken?  Because I'm me, and I never, ever, do things as planned.

 

I picked a roast chicken because it's something I've always wanted to do.  Isn't that like the badge of honor for first time cooks?  Roasting some kind of protein without burning the house down?  Plus I had seen a recipe in an issue of Real Simple Family, 2 years ago, and have wanted to try it since.  I just never felt like I had enough time, or was too intimidated to do it.  So here was my chance.  New year, new resolutions.

 

As part of my "resolution in motion", my plan was to tackle a new recipe on a Sunday.  Because we are all usually home on Sunday, no work or school, I can start early, and we can all sit down and have a stress free dinner, no problem.  Let me start by saying that my first goal should have been to buy the ingredients the day before... Which I tried to do, except my grocer was all out of chickens.  Who runs out of chickens?  So Sunday afternoon I went to a different grocer, to buy a nice whole chicken.  No biggie, it was easy, and I got that little birdie home and wouldn't you know it, it was frozen solid in the middle. 

 

Enter a Google search on the safest way to defrost a chicken, which included running under cold water, leaving in the fridge overnight, and the microwave.  Of course it was already going on 4 o'clock.  So with the time spent defrosting, I was moving into "dangerous late" for dinner territory.  So as disappointed as I was, I rinsed the chicken, zipped in an extra large zip lock and put her in the fridge for a Monday roasting.  I ate left overs, the hubbs and the kids had fish sticks and Mac and Cheese.  Pretty typical Sunday night fare.

 

Monday morning, after breakfast and while Caity was at school, I roasted my chicken.  I was nervous.  I had to use things like cotton twine and a meat thermometer.  I also had to dig giblets out of a "cavity" which is a an experience all its own. I cut up my veggies, used my roasting pan that was a wedding gift (almost 8 years ago) for the 2nd time, and put it all in the oven.

 

 

 

I almost got this one right this time.  I over cooked the chicken just a little, but the veggies were amazing.  I have gotten over my fear of roasting a chicken.  It wasn't so bad, and now that I know what to do, I'll totally do it again.  The big plus was that I used all Grain Free, Dairy Free, ingredients with a little tweaking of the recipe.  That means I was able to cook one meal, with alternate sides (broccoli, cut apples for the kiddos).  That's a huge win because most nights I make two dinners, one for me and one for the bunch.

 

 Since this is not a cooking blog, or a blog that ever does prize winning DIYs, you can find the recipe HERE.  As an editors note:  I used olive oil instead of butter, I used half a bag of precut baby carrots, and in the future I would cut the lemons in half before placing them in the chicken "cavity".  Let me know if you make this or get inspired to do some roasting of your own.  It wasn't as bad or complicated as I thought, and has inspired me to roast some more!

 

      PS: Are you a no-reply commenter? Do you even know what that means? Well check out Kristine's post here. And for those of you just activating your Google+ check out Kristina's post here.