Gluten Free, Dairy Free Strawberry Ice Cream

Looking for easy dairy-free alternatives this summer? Here is a strawberry ice cream recipe from Living Without that substitutes coconut milk for cream.

Living Without

The Resource for Those Living With Food Allergies

After my son was recently diagnosed with a myriad of food allergies, I have enjoyed Living Without, an online web site and weekly free recipe email. Wether your house is a dairy free, gluten free, wheat free or soy free zone (or all the above) this is the place for everything from cooking tips to reading nutrition labels.

Blueberry Cake

Enjoy this seasonal treat as a breakfast cake or as an after dinner dessert! (Amounts in parenthesis are for 9x12 inch pan.)

For wheat free, gluten free or dairy free recipe -
substitute with Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Baking and soy or rice milk. Add 1/2 teas. of xanthan gum for best results.

2 eggs separated (3)
1 c. sugar (1 1/2 c. )
1/4 teas. salt (1/2 teas. )
1/2 c. shortening (3/4 c. )
1 teas. vanilla (1 1/2 teas. )
1 1/2 c. flour (2 1/4 c. )
1 teas. baking powder (1 1/2 teas. )
1/3 c. milk (1/2 c. )
1 1/2 c. blueberries (2 1/4 c. )

Beat egg whites until stiff and foamy. Add 1/4 cup sugar to keep stiff. Set aside.

Cream shortening. Add salt and vanilla. Add the rest of the sugar gradually. Add unbeaten egg yolks. Beat until creamy. Sift dry ingredients. Add alternately with milk. Fold in egg whites. Fold in lightly floured blueberries. Pour into 8x8 pan. (Use 9x12 pan for the amounts in parenthesis.) Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

Kids Say... WHAT?!!

While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, 'Are you a cop?'
'Yes,' I answered and continued writing the report.
'My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?'
'Yes, that's right,' I told her.
'Well, then,' she said as she extended her foot toward me, 'would you please tie my shoe?'

***

It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me.
'Is that a dog you got back there?' he asked.
'It sure is,' I replied.
Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van.
Finally he said, 'What'd he do?'

Kid's Say... WHAT?!!

A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, 'What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?'

Kid's Say... WHAT?

A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.
'Mama, look what I found,' the boy called out.
'What have you got there, dear?'
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, 'I think it's Adam's underwear!'

Things To Celebrate...7/26/10 Through 8/1/10

Monday the 26th~All or Nothing Day, Aunt & Uncle Day
Tuesday the 27th~National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, Bugs Bunny's Birthday (1940)
Wednesday the 28th~National Milk Chocolate Day, Beatrix Potter's Birthday (1866)
Thursday the 29th~Lasagna Day
Friday the 30th~Father-In-Law Day, National Cheesecake Day
Saturday the 31st~Cotton Candy Day
Sunday the 1st~Friendship Day, International Forgiveness Day, MTV debuted on this day in 1981

Celebrate with your children, and then share with us in the comment section. :-)

~Dawn

Holidays!

Okay, I am a huge holiday lover. Both the big holidays, like Christmas and Valentine's Day, and the little holidays, like S'mores Day and Best Friends Day. I know many people don't celebrate S'mores Day, and that is perfectly fine. Honestly, there are what my husband calls "made up holidays" everyday of the year, and we can't possibly celebrate every single one, but let me tell you why I think we moms should celebrate them more often.

First of all, they are fun! Who doesn't like S'mores? I know my kids sure do, and they enjoy celebrating all of these silly holidays with me. Taking a bubble bath is nice, but taking one on Bubble Bath Day, which is January 8th, is even more special. Honestly, I never give my kids a bubble bath, so if it weren't for a day like this, they may never experience this truly relaxing indulgence.

Secondly, these random, but fun, holidays create memories that will last a lifetime. Surely your children will look back on some of these days fondly. They may not remember that it was International Talk Like A Pirate Day, but they are likely to remember mommy talking like a goofball pirate. It's also possible that they will remember the wonderful talk you had at Dunkin Donuts on a rainy day when they were 8, but they probably won't remember that the talk happened on National Donut Day. That is quite alright.

My favorite reason, however, is that these days can be used to teach your children many different things. On Say Something Nice Day you can teach your children the importance of speaking kindly to others. Space Day can be used to read an informational, albeit age appropriate, book to your children about the planets. When National Cake Day rolls around, you can teach your child how to make your grandmother's Cinnamon Pound Cake, but I can promise that won't be the only thing you teach that day. You will also teach that family is important and fractions are useful.

I could go on and on about why you should celebrate these silly, random, and sometimes bizarre holidays with your children. I am very passionate about holidays, if you couldn't tell. I do hope that I have convinced at least one, okay two, of you to start celebrating. Your kids are ready to have some fun and possibly new experiences, create some memories, and learn something new. I can promise you that! Throughout the month I will post holidays that are coming up, so check back often.

~Dawn

Spiritual Morning

I desperately needed a quiet moment alone with Jesus. My daughter was ill through the night, and I spent several hours sleeping in our recliner. I woke early, determined to get in a few minutes of devotions before trying to head sleep-deprived into my day. I was hungry, angry, and beyond tired.

I was not glad to hear the pattering of my son's little feet. I muttered a heartfelt, but cynical prayer to God, “Well thanks. This is exactly what I don't need.”

I determined to read my Bible anyway, hoping my son would play quietly at my feet or go upstairs and bug his dad. He chattered about the good dreams he had last night and the train he was making with his Lego's. I hissed back, “Mommy needs time with Jesus.”

I sarcastically added, “You wanna hear what the Bible says?” True to his enthusiastic nature, my son nearly screamed, “YES!” I scanned the first chapter of John for something that would be four-year-old friendly. “God is light,” I said. “That means everything that is good is from Him. If you ever want to know where God is, look for things that are good.”

My son ran with the idea, verbally 'chewing' on the concept of God's goodness and physically getting more and more excited. He started pacing. “OK, so God is light and the sun is light and stars and everything. And He made 'em. And my dream last night was good so that's [from] God.”

“And Jesus says whenever you talk about Him with someone else, He comes too.” I added sleepily.

“So He's here?” As soon as my son said the words, I sensed the presence of God.

“Yes, honey. He's here.” I couldn't help but smile. The God of the Universe was hanging out with a sleep-deprived mom and an energetic young boy in the wee hours of the morning. Immanuel. God with us.

Help and Hope for Your Marriage

Ladies, here is the marriage encouragement you are looking for!
Search Family Life Ministries web page for everything from sex and romance, spiritual growth, mommy exhaustion, better parenting, communication tips, and marriage retreats. Sign up for e-newsletters and blogs.

(An example of The Family Room newsletter.)