Food Allergies
Stevia
I am a fairly new fan of Stevia, which is an all-natural sweetener made from the leaves of a South American herb. Stevia does not cause any change in your blood glucose levels; its glycemic index is zero. Therefore, stevia is suitable for... »
Real Food for Rookies
If you have read my blog for long, you know that I have a great appreciation for Sally Fallon and her ground-breaking cookbook, Nourishing Traditions. I refer to it often as I cook in my own kitchen. It truly is a cookbook that one must read from cover to cover. If you are not sure or don't remember what the... »
Ranch Dressing and Dip
Before Jake was tested for allergies, he had a reaction to Hidden Valley Ranch dressing. A welpy rash appeared all around his mouth. I read the ingredients and assumed the problem was milk related. Isaac had already been diagnosed with several allergies, one of which was milk. During the allergy testing process, Jake had no food allergies. However, he was very... »
Two Layer Brownie Cake
Processed foods are not ideal, but I do rely on them in a pinch. One of the items I almost always have on hand is Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Brownie Mix. It is delicious and gluten-free. You never know when someone might drop by or when you might need to bring a dessert... »
An At-Home Grain Mill
When I was engaged to my husband many years ago, we agreed that he would never purchase a gift for me that plugged in unless I specifically asked for it. We knew a couple who struggled at gift-giving time. The husband loved gadgets, which he also loved purchasing... »
A Day of Cooking
In the book, Little House in the Big Woods, Caroline Ingalls used to say, "Wash on Monday, Iron on Tuesday, Mend on Wednesday, Churn on Thursday, Clean on Friday, Bake on Saturday, Rest on Sunday." They had a day in which to tackle a big chore. Some days it feels as if all I do is stay in the kitchen. I... »
Addicted to Coke
I have a confession to make. I am addicted to soft drinks. In Texas we call them coke, regardless of the brand. In Oklahoma, they call them pop. My grandmother used to call them soda water. It doesn't matter what you call them; I like to drink them even though I know how bad they are for me. Since high school,... »
F-Y-I Sale on Cookbook
If you have always wanted to order my Texas Homesteader Wheat-Free Cookbook, but just have not sat down to order it, then now is the time. The publishing company is offering a discount on any orders of my book until June 30, 2010. This brings the price down 10 percent, which comes to $17.95. To receive the coupon for the discount,... »
Purple Lips and Purple Thumbs
If you have purple lips and purple thumbs as well as scratches on your hands and ankles, then what have you been doing all morning? Can you guess? That's right, picking berries. The dewberries are ripe! They taste good fresh. They freeze well. Dewberry jam is absolutely delicious. It brings the taste... »
Gluten-Free Passover
This week is a special one to Christians and Jews alike. From Palm Sunday to the celebration of Easter, the week is full of events. Honestly, this week has never meant so much to me until this year. Why? What makes this year so special? Well, this is the year when my family decided to celebrate the Biblical holidays. Therefore,... »
Alternative to Perfume
I may have a soft spot for chocolate, but when it comes to scents that I like vanilla wins by a landslide. I never have been a heavy perfume wearer. I remember one time when I was in 9th grade. I got dressed to go to my mom's one woman art show at a fancy gallery in Houston. I was all... »
St. Patrick’s Day
Top 'o the morn', to you! It is St. Patrick's Day. Now, I am not Irish. Ethnically, I am more Scottish than anything else, but I love an opportunity to have fun and celebrate a culture. If I needed a reason to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, it could be in honor... »
Valentine’s Day Cookies
I used to love making cookies with my mom and brother for Christmas. We would make a big batch of dough and roll it out. We used all different shaped cookie cutters to create our cookies. We had the state of Texas shape. We had the classic snowman and gingerbread man. We used... »
Applied Kinesiology
If you are like me the first time you ever heard the words, "Applied Kinesiology," you pictured high school coaches or college students seeking a degree in kinesiology. Kinesiology is the study of the way a human body moves. If that is what you thought, do not be embarrassed. If it was not for my good friend, Marjorie, I would... »
Building the Alphabet One Letter at a Time
Two of my children were recently diagnosed with dyslexia. I immediately went to work researching, talking to experts, and reading on the subject. My favorite source so far is The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald Davis. Mr. Davis gives practical step-by-step instructions for helping someone with dyslexia. One of the first... »
