Food Allergies + Homemade Quaker granola bars!

Over the past few weeks there has been some changes in our household. Little B, who will be 2 next month and is not so little anymore, has been diagnosed with multiple food allergies. After a skin test and blood work it was confirmed that he was allergic to the "top 8"  foods in addition to cats and latex. Cats I had already suspected, but the foods was a bit of a shocker to my husband and I. Considering B ate these foods regularly, if not daily. Minus the fish & shellfish.  We have been doing our best at removing all these foods from his diet, and as for cats we luckily do not own one. Good thing since that is one of his highest allergies!

Cooking here as of late has been a bit of a challenge, but one I do not mind taking! I have already been adding more whole foods (unprocessed/unrefined), organic, and trying to completely take out refined sugars. 
Anyways my take on that last bit could take awhile so I just kept it short.

Here is a YUMMY recipe that I have tweaked a bit to my liking, and found that it tastes JUST like the Quaker Oat chocolate chip bars. So here it is a no bake delicious treat! It's not so unhealthy either! BONUS!

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Gluten, dairy, egg & soy free! 
Adapted from laurenslatest


2 Tbs. Coconut oil
2 Tbs. Earths Balance (dairy/soy free "butter") 
1/4 Cup Honey
1/3 cup Brown Sugar
2 Cups GF quick cooking oats 
1 Cup GF puffed rice cereal or GF Rice Krispies
1/2 Tsp. Vanilla 
2 Tbs Enjoy Life Chocolate chips  


Mix oats and rice cereal together in a large bowl. 

In a small pot melt the earths balance, honey and brown sugar together until it bubbles. Reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes. Add vanilla and stir. Pour hot mixture over the oat and rice cereal & mix well. In a lightly greased casserole dish pour the moist mixture and pack down into the dish, press fairly hard so it stays together well!! Sprinkle chocolate chips and press down lightly. Cool at room temp for a few hours before cutting into bars.  ENJOY!

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Easter

Happy Easter from my family to yours! 

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Garlic Monkey Bread

I have seen a few versions of the famous monkey breads floating around the web. Some with sugar and cinnamon and others with garlic and different cheeses. After trying a few out I whipped up my own version that I personally thought was delish! Most recipes I found called for 2 cans. You can add 2 with this recipe if you would like. I however enjoy lots of taste and less bread! This combo works well if you are like me :)

Mini Garlic Monkey Bread

1 (7.5 oz) Can Buttermilk Biscuits

4 Tbsp Butter or Margarine

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

3 Cloves Minced Garlic

2 Tbsp Dried Parsley Flakes

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

+ 2 Tbsp cheese for toppings

Chop each biscuit up into 4 or 6's depending on the bite size you want.

A pizza cutter works great for this part!

Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl minus the extra 2 Tbsp of parmesan.

Get your hands dirty and toss the mixture up until evenly coated.

In a GREASED regular size muffin tin add 6-8 pieces

per cup. Noticed I have yelled the greased muffin tin part because I failed to do this step and it was not fun getting these little monkeys out after they were cooked!

Sprinkle the additional 2 Tbsp of parmesan and pop in

oven @ 400 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

Grated Parmesan is best but the canned stuff will work also :)

Enjoy!

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Last Minute Valentines

LOVE is in the air! Head on over to The Dating Divas to print some some CUTE foodie last minute Valentines.

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Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011 was one busy and exciting year for my family and I! We purchased our first home, Blake turned one, Zoey started 1st grade! Hubby became a Paramedic! WOW, what a year. Anxious to see what 2012 will bring us. Here's to another great year, wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2012!

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Recipe - Pillsbury Grands Donuts!

Yes, You read that right. Pillsbury Grands Donuts!

There was a sale awhile back on Grands so I picked up a few. Eight to be exact.....

Anyways onto the donuts!

I used a wide mouth bottle to make the holes then with about and inch or so of heated up peanut oil I used some tongs and placed the "donuts" in the hot oil. Less then 2 minutes later or until golden brown you turn them over and fry up the other side. Once down put them on some paper towels.

For the vanilla icing I simply added 1 cup powered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. I also wanted chocolate icing so I did another bowl that consisted of 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk and 1/4 cup cocoa powder. I'm sure any donut icing recipe you have or find will work wonders too!

They turned out very fluffy and light. Not biscuity or dense like I expected. I have made donuts from scratch before, but after whipping up these I don't think I'm ever looking back again! These seriously took less then 20 minutes to make. The longest part was waiting for the oil to heat up! I added some orange food coloring to the vanilla icing though you can't see it with the color of the donuts. My 6 year old and I were going for a Halloween look. I also thought I had some orange and black sprinkles from cookies last time but sadly I did not. We improvised with green and yellow butterfly's from Easter! Hey, it works and the kids don't care :)

Enjoy!

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How do you like my wood?

I've been rather busy lately out in my garage. Which is now starting to get cold! It seems like my Arizona temperature went from 95 for 47 in a matter of days. Oh wait it did! Brrr!!

Here is just a quick share of what I've been up too!

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