Berry Crumble Muffins - THM(S) Gluten Free/Sugar Free/Paleo

Need a fool proof favorite the entire family will love?  This is it!

Berry crumble muffins.
Absolutely perfect! THM (S)
2c almond flour
1c flax meal
1 c truvia or 2/3 C THM Sweet Blend
2t baking powder
1t vanilla
4 tbs butter /coconut oil
4 eggs
1/2 c almond milk
4 packets true lemon or lemon juice (optional)
1/2 t salt
1-2 cups frozen berries (I used mixed berries and cranberries)

Mix together and fold the berries in last.
Bake 350* until firm (25-30 min) makes 24 muffins they freeze wonderfully.
 *note* if you use liners they are easier to take our of the pan

 

Healthy Rice and Berry Rhubarb Sauce... Childhood Memories - Helthified. THM (E)

I don't know about you but I struggle with finding a meal that the whole family enjoys.  This recipe received a 7/8 approval (which is a winner in my book).  For breakfast I heat up the griddle and allow 1 hour of heating time so everyone can make (help me make) their own special order.
This was this morning:
- 2 eggs cooked MW(add salt and pepper), 2 pieces of toast with(visible) butter, Jam and bacon if its available. (this is a standing morning order for my hubby that seems never to grow old, even after  9.5 years!)
- Cheesy Egg sandwich
- cheesy egg sandwich with bacon and extra cheese
- Cheesy Eggs with buttered toast on the side
- Egg Sandwich with only no cheese and bacon
- 3 cheesy eggs  (no toast or bacon)
- 3 pieces of toast of toast with lots of jam

I like how that last little person still submits that order day after day and it has yet be filled - we have a 1 egg minimum and  1pc toast maximum in this household for the kiddos.

Ok. my point is that we have semi-picky eaters and I try hard to feed the kids healthy food and when I find a recipe that works, it feels like a major victory. 

As a child, I have very fond memories of my mother making a delicious dish which we called 'Rice and Sauce', some of the ingredients included: White rice, sweetened condensed milk, C&H Sugar, Jello, cornstarch & strawberries.  I still remember peeking in the pot with anticipation waiting the long  20 minutes for the rice to cook. My mother started making the dish with brown rice instead of white in effort to make it a but more healthy - my (THM) brain started ticking and I came up with this THM-ified version of this childhood favorite. 

Rice and Berry Sauce THM (E)
Ingredients:

Brown Rice
Salt
Sweetener
Unsweetened Almond Milk
Swanson's Protein Powder (optional)
Berries
Rhubarb
Glucomannan(optional)

Combine 1 cup rice, 3 cups almond milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cover and cook on HIGH 5 minutes or until boiling.

Reduce setting to MEDIUM and cook 30 minutes. Sweeten to taste.

I like to add a scoop of protein powder to mine just before serving to add some protein

 Boil 1c water 1c Rhubarb boil for 5-10 minutes until rhubarb is done and 2 c berries and let simmer for a few more minutes. Sweeten to taste.

I like to add a teaspoon of glucomannan to thicken up the sauce a bit.  This can be added after the sauce has been removed from heat. 

 

Scoop the berry sauce on to of a the sweetened rice and top with a few fresh berries. ENJOY!

 

*note* I sometimes use unsweetened cinnamon applesauce instead of the sauce for a quick  THM E lunch. 
 

Cocoa Covered Almonds Sugar Free/ Low Carb/THM (S) Snack

Looking for a Nutty, Chocolaty, Healthy, Sugar free snack that is great for any Mama on the go?  Here it is.  I came up with this simple recipe this morning when my friend, who was taking a long trip across country, mentioned how yummy chocolate covered almonds were..

Here it is:
8 oz Almonds
2 TBS Buttah
1/2c Xylitol
4 "donks" THM pure Stevia  (can be purchased here)
1T Vanilla
1/4c Cocoa
1/4c Swanson Vanilla Protein Powder
Slotted Spoon

In a bowl Combine Cocoa powder, Protein Powder, and THM Stevia until well incorporated.

 

Melt the butter on medium heat and add the almonds:



Toast the almonds for a few minutes and then add the xylitol and stir until the xylitol is melted into the butter:

Remove from heat and add vanilla
With a slotted spoon remove the almonds from the pot and toss them in the cocoa mixture until the almonds are coated: there will be a bit of syrup left on the bottom of the pot. 

Let dry on parchment paper:

Store in an Airtight container and Enjoy!

And here is a random picture of my almond tree I planted yesterday.  I can hardly wait for it to start producing... Yum!

 

Pajama Breakfast Tea Party...

At first when my 8 year old asked if she can have breakfast tea party outside my entire body tensed up as I images of blankets, tea party dishes, dozen little hands and food all covered in with my pure maple syrup. I simply have too much to do!
I have to
- milk the goat,
- make N breakfast,
- toss a load(or three) of laundry
- change Lil N crib bedding
- Scrub the pots from dinner last night that are still sitting in the sink
- run to town to pick up my weekly vegetable order
 all before noon...
'I seriously can not deal with any monkey business this morning' I replied in haste to her.  Then it hit me - why not? Because I am too busy?  I am always busy.  I told her if they worked together and cleaned up the mess I would make breakfast that they could take outside. 

There you have it.  A breakfast pajama tea party  that was much less painless than I imagined.  (we were conveniently out of maple syrup *wink*)  Why do I make little things a big deal in my head? End result: Giggling girls and a pile of laundry that got put off a little while longer.  I am trying harder to be more of a 'Yes' mom when it is possible.  Lord help me to enjoy every day and not pass up opportunities to hear giggles. 

Amazing Love...

I was thinking how amazing that love is.  A mothers love to her children, and our Fathers love for us.  Having children puts the unconditional love into a different light.  Nate and I were talking about how as soon as a child is born the mother will do everything in her power to protect that child. That child did nothing (besides ten months of discomfort) to deserve a mothers unconditional love.  At that moment she, without hesitation, would lay down her life for her offspring. Hmm... Is this is the way the Lord feels towards us?

Our Father in heaven gave his own Son so that we may be His forever.  Jesus was the "fulness of the Godhead bodily". (Col 2:6) That He loved us so unconditionally that he would do anything to keep and protect us from our inevitable fate.  Death.  So he Himself died for us. What did I do to deserve this love?  Nothing.  All I can give him is thankfulness and praise. 

~*~ Thank you Father Almighty for redeeming me and bringing me into your everlasting kingdom. There is nothing I did to deserve this gift from you - but I thank you.  I don't know what path your leading this family on, but we will follow your lead.  I don't know how this life is going to work out, lead this family to peace that passes all understanding, lead us closer to you.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen~*~

Faith, Hope, Charity

...And the greatest of these is Charity.  What better way is there to practice charity than being a mother and wife?  Sometimes I think it is easier being charitable to strangers and friends than it is your children and husband.  Why or why can't I be the same person to my family than I am to complete strangers!   I would never dream of grumbling at changing yet another messy diaper, or huffing about cleaning up a cup of spilled milk.  Charity (love) begins in the heart, right?  Then my heart needs a little work.   I want my children to know the love of God because they see it in their mother. 

~*~ Oh Lord, our wonderful Creator.  You are the sovereign King of my life and I will worship you forever.  Please guide me, open my eyes and show my how I can be a better mother and wife today. I don't want to be the same tomorrow, I want to grow by your grace.  Thank you for being who the same yesterday, today and forever.  Thank you for manifesting your love to us through your Son, Jesus.   In His most perfect name.  Amen~*~