DPP 2011 > Orange Fest!

A few days ago we had a huge bag of oranges harvested right off our citrus trees and I've been wanting to make candied orange peels as gifts for our neighbors and for a cookie party that I am hoping to go to... I will get to meet more missionary women and hopefully make a friend or two!


So, today we basically had an orange festival! Washing, cutting and peeling... but we only got half way through the bag! That's a lot of oranges! I am thinking I will zest the rest of them and dried the orange zest out. Great to have a jar of dried orange zest when you need it.


I will hopefully post a recipe for candied orange peels using raw sugar... SO easy! Great for those of you who have citrus trees giving too many oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit. Yep, you can use any peel of a citrus fruit to be candied... just make sure the skins aren't too thin or they will turn leathery after being candied. Not appealing.


What did I do with all the juicy, fleshly part of the oranges? Made fresh juice, of course!


Pictures from DDP 2009

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Celebration GIVEAWAY: Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free and Gluten-Free Cupcakes

Today is the first celebration giveaway for the month!


We are celebrating my mom's birthday today. I wish I could be at her house right now, whipping up a batch of cupcakes using coconut flour from Elana's awesome cookbook. I would probably make either the German Chocolate Cupcakes (already made this once for her.. so GOOD! This recipe actually inspired me to make an ice cream version) or Red Velvet Cupcakes or Cookie Surprise Cupcakes or... there's so many good recipes!

Before I get into the giveaway... let me tell you about my mom.


She is a beautiful woman of strong character and a generous giving heart. The Lord has given her many skills and gifts... music, writing and teaching being her three strongest skills/gifts. She has wrote many songs that the Lord has given her to bless those around her. I hope one day these songs will be sung to the world and I'm sure it will... if not here in this world, then for sure in heaven!


My mom has gone through a lot of pain since she was a child, but God is bringing her through a time of healing that is hard, yet amazing to watch.


Often, when I look at her and all that she's been through... I see that she is a beautiful mess that God is lovely and patiently cleaning through.


I've watched her live her life of daily renewing her mind and choosing to believe in God's grace & mercy through everything... God has taught me so much through her!


Even though she is imperfect in so many ways. She is a woman of integrity, faith and prayer... that's what makes her so beautiful. I love you & Happy Birthday Mommo!


Now, the giveaway!


To one winner, I am giving away 2 gluten-free books:

Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free contains over 180 recipes, 140 of which have never been published on Amy's blog, Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free. Her mouth-watering recipes can be made in 20 minutes or less... that's nice for those of you who lead busy lives! Here's a short bio about Amy:

Amy started the popular food blog Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free in May 2008 to share her passion for healthy living. She has abstained from refined sugars and wheat since 2004 and, as a result, is maintaining a 60-plus pound weight loss. Over the years, Amy has learned that eating healthier doesn’t equal deprivation.


In 2012, Amy is launching Nourished (with Jen Cafferty), the first gluten-free and allergen-friendly food blogger conference. Attendees will be able to learn and share with along with other professionals in their field.


In addition to owning a small business, Amy teaches local sugar-free, gluten-free cooking classes. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Education, both from The Ohio State University. Amy has also studied Baking & Pastry Arts at The Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Education at Collin College and spent many years working both the front and back of the house in restaurants. Previously, Amy taught elementary school and owned one of the premier pet care companies in the North Dallas area. She lives with her husband and four dogs in Dallas, Texas. If you are interested, you can read more about her here.

You all know how much I love baking with coconut flour. When I first learned that Elana was writing another cookbook using coconut flour... I was already in line to get my copy! Gluten-Free Cupcakes has beautiful photography and delicious recipes that are simple to make, yet look so elegant!

This fabulous book features:

• 50 gluten free recipes for cupcakes and savory treats
• 14 recipes for frostings, fillings and toppings
• 25 cupcake recipes that use coconut flour
• 9 cupcake recipes that use almond flour
• 4 flourless cupcake recipes
• 12 cupcake recipes that use both almond flour and coconut flour
• 41 dairy free cupcake recipes
• 8 dairy free frostings, fillings and toppings
• 5 vegan frostings, fillings and toppings
• 38 nut free recipes
• 10 cupcake recipes that use arrowroot powder 

If you are interested in more information, please read here. Like I said earlier, I've already tried her recipe for German Chocolate Cupcakes and they were simply luscious! Next I want to try the Cookie Surprise Cupcakes... oooh yummy. The only downside is not being able to get almond flour. So, I will have to compromise a little  ;o)

How to Enter

Just leave a comment below on what you did today! (1 entry)

To maximize your odds of winning, you can leave a comment every day! (one comment per day strictly enforced)

3 bonus entries:

Follow Amy's blog Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free (1 entry)

Follow Elana's blog Elana's Pantry (1 entry)

'Like' Just Making Noise on Babble (1 entry)

So, you can have a total of 4 entries today and one everyday until December 31st January 14th! This giveaway is only open to US residents and the winner will be selected via random.org at the end of this month. Winner will be contacted in January.

Also, don't forget you can purchase Just Making Ice Cream for a suggested donation of $8 through this month! That is $4 off the original suggested donation.

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Let's Celebrate!!

This is a busy, special month of celebrations for my family...

My mom's birthday is on the 10th

My little man will be 1 year old on the 14th

Christmas day is on the 25th

and...

My birthday is on the 29th

Please join us in these celebrations! On each special day I will be giving away gifts of cookbooks & DVDs that you will find essential in my home and kitchen. The final giveaway (my birthday!) will be a surprise and I hope a good one!


To start off the celebration, we will be asking for suggested donations of $8 a book. That's $4 off the original suggested donation!


Go and purchase your Just Making Ice Cream eBook and enjoy ice cream made of every kind of flavor you need year round!


When you make your order, simply change the total from $12 to $8.


Want to give more? You can change the total anywhere from $8 to $12 and beyond!


Remember, everything things goes towards supporting the ministry of RO4Y. Thank you!


Now keep a lookout for these giveaways! Winners will be announced in January.

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DPP 2011 > Who Wants A Cookie?

Oatmeal Chocolate Pecan Sourdough Cookies

and

Oatmeal Cranberry Orange Spiced Sourdough Cookies

So good! Especially the cranberry one... recipes coming soon!

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DPP 2011 > Learning In the Sunshine

It was a beautiful day out... warm breeze, hot sun and the smell of earth drew me outside.


"Wanna work on your writing outside?" I asked Naomi.


"Yeah!" Yelled Naomi, jumping up and down.


We gathered all the papers, books and crayons. I got an old pink sheet and spread it out in the breeze. We settle down and Naomi went right to work on her R's sheet. I started to read a chapter from "I Heard Good News Today" (GREAT book!).


After Noami finished her R sheet... we looked through the Children's Encyclopedia and learned about mountains & rivers.

Slowly and quietly... our animals came to us.


The dogs, always on the look out for attention and affection, laid down next to us.


The chickens, always watching for us to bring them scraps and food, pecked around us.


The horses, always curious (especially Nyssa, the filly) and looking for treats, snuffled through our things and gave us kisses.


The cat, always look for a hand to stroke him, laid on my lap.


Felt like heaven on earth at that moment.


"Mommy, this is nice. Can we do this again?"




DPP 2009 Picture

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DPP 2011 > A Plan & Purpose

Vivid red petals with golden drops of rain... the flower was made for me to enjoy its glory and beauty. To remind me that there is a Creator.


It didn't just happen... there was a plan and purpose for that flower. Just like there is a plan and purpose for you and me. It was planned for this flower to take root, grow and show off its vivid red glory for me to enjoy... for anybody who wants to take the time to enjoy its beauty.


The beauty that God surrounds us with is breath-taking.


Have you taken the time to stop, look around and admire the creation?


It was created for you and me... for our pleasure!


I can't tell you how many times I go through my days without taking a peep at the beauty outside my house.


I get busy and caught up on laundry, cooking and family... We all do.


What a difference it makes when I purposely take the time to stop, look and enjoy.


When I do that... I can feel the tension around my eyes fade away. My mind clears up. My lungs take in a deep refreshing breathe of air. My heart sings. My body feels restored.


I feel recharged and ready to finish the day with a song of praise in my heart... bursting out from my lips. I often noticed that my kids like hearing me sing, it relaxes them and it relaxes me.


Remember, enjoy what's around you... embrace the life you have... it will be gone in a moment.

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Mexican Chocolate Coconut Tres Leches Cake (Gluten-Free!)

I have a confession to make...

I've kept this recipe from you all for 2 years now...

Why? Well, life happened! Moved to Honduras, no internet for 9 months, pregnant with little man and a year of adjust to the cultural shock all rolled together in the last 2 years.

Will you all forgive me? Will you still love me?

Whew! Glad to get that out in the open. I am thrilled to finally get this yummy, moist, rich cake out of my secret files and share it with you all!  ;o)

So... yeah, I made this cake back in Christmas of 2009 when we were living in Costa Rica. I mentioned this cake back when I was doing the Heavenly Sugar giveaway and my friend Katie (who won the giveway) requested the recipe for this cake. So sorry it took this long, Katie! Thanks for understand ;o)

As most of you probably already know... Tres Leches is Three Milks Cake and is a very popular cake among the Latin Americans. I remember having my first taste of it back when we were missionaries at Rancho Sordo Mudo (located in Baja California).

It was sugary, soggy and milky... yeah, I didn't like it.

I would always try a bite whenever a family would bring their kid a Tres Leches Cake for their birthday... hoping there might be one that I would like. No luck.

So, when I got the Heavenly Sugar packet to review and saw the 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk in the box... I knew exactly what I was going to make.

I started looking around online for recipes, I did not see anything that interested me because I wanted to go for something more unique & healthy (of course!) with the flavor and ingredients.

Found NOTHING... well, I did find a couple gluten-free recipes, but they called for all these different kinds of flours that I don't use and weren't exactly healthy.

I started thinking... what about coconut flour?

The coconut flour is PERFECT because all the eggs it calls for creates a wonderful sponge to absorb the tres leches... YES!

That's how I came up with this unique & healthy Mexican Chocolate Coconut...

Chocolate Coconut Tres Leches Cake (Gluten-free!)

Chocolate Coconut Cake
3/4 cup coconut flour, sifted
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
10 eggs, separated
1 cup coconut oil or butter
1 cup raw honey
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp cinnamon


Set oven at 325 F. Greased a 9x13 pan and dust with coconut flour.


In a small bowl combine the flour, cocoa, sea salt and baking soda. In a large bowl blend together the egg yolks, oil, honey, vanilla and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients into the large bowl and blend together till smooth (very well combined). 


Put egg whites in a clean glass bowl, sprinkle some lemon juice and beat till stiff peaks form.
Fold egg whites into the batter and be careful not to over mix!


Pour mixture into 9x13 pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. Before taking it out, test it with a knife and if it comes out clean… it is done.


Remove cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely. If desired, turn the cake unto a large plate or keep it in the pan.




Tres Leches Sauce
8oz Heavenly Sugar sweetened condensed milk
1 14oz. coconut milk or evaporated milk
1 cup whole milk or cream


Pour milks into a large jar and mix very well. Pour over the cake slowly in sections. Do not pour it all at once!


Note: if the coconut milk is very thick, you will need to water it down till it is the same consistency as regular evaporated milk.




Mexican Chocolate Sauce/Frosting
1 cup dark chocolate
1/2 cup coconut oil or butter
1-3 Tbsp raw honey
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of sea salt
pinch or more of hot chile powder (optional)


In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate and coconut oil or butter. Stir in honey, cinnamon, vanilla, salt and optional chile. Let it cool. Heavily drizzle it over the cake (if desired) and serve!


If you want it more frosting-like… place the sauce in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Remove from the freezer and whip the frosting with a hand blender until fluffy and thick. Carefully frost the cake and serve!


Have a wonderful Merry Christmas! Please let me know if you make this... I do hope the recipe with give you the same success I've consistently had over the last 2 years.


My family raved over this cake and I will be making it again this year  ;o)

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