graham crackers

I have to say that I am thrilled with big C's school in the fact that they did not eat the tents they made in class on Wednesday because he could not have them. They were however having s'mores Friday and if I could bring some graham crackers so he could eat the same. Now, if you have ever tried store bough crackers you know the the similarities between them and regular crackers ends with the shape. Thus I started the quest to find a graham cracker that I would eat and so would the kids. I found this one from Living Without and wow are they amazing. I used guar gum instead of xanthan gum and a 1/2 tsp more vanilla and Earth's Best baking sticks instead of butter.  I couldn't keep the boys out of them!

2 ¼ cups gluten-free flour mix (see below)
½ cup packed brown sugar
1¾ teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
7 tablespoons butter or margarine, cut into pieces
3 tablespoons cold water
3 tablespoons honey or agave
1 teaspoon vanilla
1. Mix together gluten-free flour mix, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, xanthan gum, baking soda and salt.
2. Using your fingertips, work butter into dry ingredients.
3. Stir in 3 tablespoons cold water, honey and vanilla. If dough is too dry, add a little more cold water, a teaspoon at a time.
4. Gather dough into a soft ball. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet and line with parchment paper.
6. Cut two zip lock bags (gallon size) down each parallel side so that each opens out into one long sheet. Roll a piece of dough between the two sheets to about ⅛-inch thickness, depending on how thick you like your graham crackers. Cut into 2 x 3-inch pieces and prick lightly all over with a fork. Remove top zip lock sheet. Take remaining sheet with dough on it and turn it over. Lay it flat, rolled dough side down, onto prepared pan.
7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. If cookies spread and bake together, re-cut while still warm and loosen them. Let cookies cool slightly before transferring to cooling rack.

Gluten-Free Flour Blend

MAKES 4 ¾ cups

1 cup sorghum or chickpea flour
1 cup tapioca starch
1 cup potato starch, corn starch or arrowroot
½ cup amaranth, millet, quinoa or oat flour
½ cup fine brown rice flour
¾ cup sweet rice flour
Mix ingredients together until well blended. Keep refrigerated until used.

Giving up a dream

So I have been slowly working towards my teaching degree through on-line classes but I have come to realize that because of my RSD that this will have to be some dream I let go. I have had the RSD in my right arm for over a year now and it has not improved much to my dismay. I know it could be worse but it still makes it hard to quit on something that I have worked so hard for. I guess that I will just have to see what the future holds for me and take it all with a grain of salt.

Perfect treat

I have found the perfect treat for all those trick or treat's that will be coming you way with allergies. They are Florida's Natural au'some nuggets variety pack and not only are they gluten free and dairy free but they are also nut free, food coloring free and made with sixty six percent fruit. On top of all that they taste great. I got a box of eighty pouches for around ten dollars at my local Toys R Us. Added bonus is that they are made in the US. Check out their website for more info on their products. Au'some

D's party

I am lucky to have a great brother in law who has a birthday the day before little C. We threw him a small party with friends and family and I made for him my chocolate cup cakes. The first thing you need to realize is that 1.) D does not eat cake. 2.) these were gluten free and dairy free cup cakes and no food coloring 3.) no one knew.  I call that success. The boys also loved the fact that we had Star Wars party favors and that they could eat what everyone else could. It was a great party all around.

 They toppers are light sabers and rings off of Amazon. They made for really cute tops and they were fun to play with.

little C is 2!

Hard to believe that my baby is two already. We had a small party for him and he wanted a Thomas the train party again. This is the third or fourth thomas party that I have done but my first being gluten and dairy free. I made the cake, it is chocolate and used store bought icing since I have not found one that I like yet. It is all natural food coloring except the water, but no one was eating that. The rocks are also naturally colored but do have milk in them so I made sure little C did not eat any of them.

 The first part is the roundhouse which is yellow, green with a blue gray roof.

This part is also cake and there are cows back there much to his delight.