Why Homeschooling?

Besides following what was in my heart, the biggest reason we began homeschooling was so that we can experience life--together.  There are so many moments every day I am so grateful to share with my family.

My husband works so much right now, we try to make it special when he comes home for lunch. 

My boys are cultivating and nourishing the most important friendship they'll ever have--with each other. 

They have time to learn about their interests, too.  My oldest is taking piano lessons during the day, when he is most receptive. 

It is a joy teaching my oldest how to read and helping him practice writing, exploring his creativity, nurturing his imagination.  We try to speak Spanish one day/week at home--we are all learning (except my fluent husband, of course!).

We get to go on field trips.  We get to explore nature, our world.  We plan to travel as often as we can--especially to Mexico.  Hopefully, someday to Poland, Germany and Ireland--my heritage. 

I feel good about homeschooling every day.  I pray that we can continue to experience life together--making mistakes, finding our way, enjoying every minute.

Forgiveness

I am on a journey.  I have often felt it is hardest to forgive myself for mistakes, misgivings and wrongdoings.  But, right now, I am struggling with forgiving a family member for things I did not even know still hurt.

During this process, I am not being very nice or respectful.  And, I am in a cycle.  Not stuck, exactly...but, I am finding it hard to forgive myself for how I am treating this person right now because of the things they did long ago (that I am still working to forgive and FORGET!).  Forgetting is really the key.  You can't truly forgive, until you forget, I have found.  You can't forget until you work through and come to terms with all the feelings you have!

I am grateful to be on this journey with some support.  I have my church that provides a community that explores all kinds of questions, answers and hypotheses.  I have my husband.  I have my friends that listen.  I have my sister.  I have my aunts.  This support helps to keep me from getting wrapped up in my head.  It's a journey.

Now, Two Cars, Two ipods

From November 2010 through June 2011, we were a one-car family.  It did not seem hard while we were doing it; but, with my dad living with us since July, we are so grateful to have two cars again.  We are most grateful to have friends that offered to sell us their used car.  It has worked out well.

We had also been a one-ipod family for a few years now.  But, our second CD player broke and I could not listen to any of my music without a lot of hassle.  So, we now have 2 ipods, too.  And, I love having my music on my own ipod!

We still have just one computer, though...and, that takes some juggling (with my husband who often uses it for work, with my kids who are becoming more computer literate, and with my household needs and desire to write).  But, I don't see us getting another computer for awhile yet.

We are grateful for the things we have; but, the more things we have, the more responsibility.  So, I am happy with our "assets" right now but, more so, with our life.

Imagination

Do you know who said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge"?

Albert Einstein.

I totally believe that because I see in my children that their imagination is the foundation for everything they want to learn.  Einstein's quote is my inspiration for homeschooling.

My 5-year-old just went through an intense period of learning (because he wanted to learn everything he could and did so voraciously) about all the planets in the solar system.  He also "discovered" the "Magic Planet" and the country, "Bigland", in his imagination.  I have encouraged him to start a journal with all of his amazing stories about this planet (and, I wish I had written more of his awesome stories down in the moment!).

He is still writing about "his" planet, the "10th" one, farther than Pluto, but bigger than even Jupiter.  I am nearly convinced it really exists!  But, his "new" interest is the human body.  He loves reading about ailments and diseases and now he is trying to figure out how everything works.  The imagination is a beautiful thing.

I've Got Stuff, Too!

People have often told me that they are surprised (but, grateful...er, not in a bad way at all) to hear that I have difficulties/problems in my family life. Here are some of the things my life/immediate family includes: incarcerated family member (at one time), homeless family member (at one time), drug-addicted family member, poverty, estranged family member/s, divorced parents and grandparents, depression, violence, police. And, that just scratches the surface.

People are grateful to hear these things about my life because they have stuff, too!

I am grateful to have come to a place in my life where I am not ashamed of the things that make up my life. I am more grateful to know that I am not perfect at all and I don't try to pretend to be.  I am most grateful to share my "stuff" with others and to continuously heal from it all (because it never goes away...and, it is good to recognize our feelings about all of it).

I feel stronger and ever-more-so "normal" (I hate that word, but it totally applies here) to share my life and all the gory details with others...because everyone has "stuff".

Buying Time

I was thinking about the kitchen faucet my husband is fixing for the fifth (?) time since we bought it 3 years ago. We bought it because the much older faucet was not repairable and we did not want to buy a really nice one because we still have to replace our sink (and our cabinets, wall and floor...sigh...did I mention our house was built in the 1890s and stood empty for 40ish years?). Anyway, the faucet was totally not worth it. The time fixing it could have been spent on more industrious pursuits! Had we purchased a better quality one, we would not have to spend time repairing it. OR, if we had more money, we could hire a plumber...or a professional to redo our kitchen, HELLO! Imagine!

Along the same lines, we have a very old bathroom (everything needs to be replaced, including the plumbing and the plaster...even parts of the outside walls!) and a very new bathroom (that my husband and I are near finishing after starting it when I was pregnant with our first). And, I spend a total of 10 minutes cleaning the new bathroom from top to bottom (tile, floor, bathtub, sink, toilet) every other week or so (with touch-ups in between). But, I spend 25 minutes cleaning the old bathroom every week, scrubbing the tub and it still doesn't look clean (and, there is no tile because the tub sits in front of a window...and, right now, there isn't even a sink!). Ugh.

We don't want or need luxury items--just simple, nice-looking, good quality (i.e. well-made) products that aren't made to fall apart! We look forward to spending less time cleaning and fixing things...in due time.

Open to Interpretation

I sometimes disagree with my pastor's teachings (gasp!) and I do not agree with many of the fundamental bible teachings I learned as a child (double gasp!). But, I don't feel like the people teaching me are wrong. I just don't agree with them. I respect and honor their interpretations of His word. I also find them intriguing and seek to understand why that is what they believe.

I have intelligent, deeply spiritual friends who do not believe in God. That is what they believe; so, I don't think they are wrong. This doesn't even make sense to me as I write it. But, this is how I feel. I don't believe anyone who listens to their heart to find their way through this world can be wrong.

Having said that, I don't believe in violence; so, when someone believes there is a God who wants them to hurt or kill someone, I think they are wrong. This is the only exception I have.

I believe God resides within every one of us. I believe he is all around us--omniscient, omnipresent. I believe he is always waiting for us to listen to Him. I believe he reveals Himself in loving acts, and of course, in miracles. I believe He loves us unconditionally. I believe He created the earth for us to live for all eternity (I don't believe that I will live forever; but, people and animals and nature will, through constant change and renewal). I believe He made everything and everyone to live and to die, for that is the only way we can live on earth for all eternity...to die...to renew. Dirt to dirt. Dust to dust.

I don't believe anyone has been "chosen". I believe God created every one of us as equals. Every person is important and loved by Him, no matter what...no matter what we believe (even the ones who believe He would want them to hurt someone). Go ahead, disagree. Listen to YOUR heart.

Fair to Middlin

My father used to frequently answer, "fair to middlin" whenever he was asked how he was doing. I don't remember him ever saying anything else. Or, maybe it was just because people were momentarily silenced contemplating the meaning of his answer...and, I noticed and remembered that. Not sure.

What I do know is even though "fair to middlin" generally means "mediocre" or "so-so" (I think he said that, too!), I miss it. I miss the dad I remember. Now, all I get is a "good" or "pretty good". That's good, I guess. But, from my German and Irish dad who always used to say "goodnight" or "goodbye" in many languages, I miss it. (tears are shedding)

My dad has lived with us for nearly four months now and I have only gotten two variations, one "arrivederci (goodbye)" and one "buenas noches (goodnight)".

For those of you who do not know, my dad had a stroke in November 2008 (at that time, I was pregnant with my youngest). He has gained back almost 100% of his physical abilities; but, he has stroke-induced dementia symptoms. So, the dad I know is not often fully present and his short term memory is very poor. But, being here with us, he seems to be doing better and we are able to care for him better (than when he was living in assisted living). For that, I am grateful. I'll have to try to get him to ask me how I'm doing so that I can answer, "fair to middlin".

Our Wedding Vows

It is almost a month since our eighth wedding anniversary. In the wake of a friend's inspiring wedding and in contemplation of our present and where our life (and our family) is now, I took out our wedding vows. I love the words we wrote and promised to each other on our wedding day and I am happy to share them (they still pass muster!).

Today, as we become one, I vow to walk with you
through the journey of life and support you
through all of our sorrows, all of our joys,
all of our failures and all of our triumphs.

My heart will be your shelter
in times of pain or sadness.
My arms will hold you tight and
never let you fall.

I vow to provide you with the warmth that I feel
when you smile--the warmth that shines from
your heart and through your eyes.

I vow to always strive to rediscover you as our
love changes and as we change as individuals.
In doing so, I vow to always seek to understand
you through words of truth and love.

On this day, I give you all of me,
I open my heart and my mind to you.
I vow to help you to be your best and
to give my best to you.

I vow to be faithful to you all the days of my life.

You are the love of my life and my best friend.
Today, it is my solemn vow to fulfill our destiny
and love and care for you for all eternity.


The theme for our wedding was, "love grows." So true. So true. Just writing these vows down brought me through emotions that can best be dispensed as "happy tears." I love you, my sweet husband. It all started with you. The "real" me started with you (more about that another time).

Conscious Choices

Say that ten times, fast.

I have been (slowly) realizing that I cannot get everything done (that I would like to do) in a day. So, each time I have a moment to do something, I have to stop and ask myself, "what do I most want to do right now?" and, "what will make me the happiest?" I have been making an effort to do this (not always, but I try) the past couple of months and it really helps me to be more accepting of the things I can not get to.

I used to think I was pretty good at prioritizing tasks...but, not with two young boys, my father, my husband and my home to tend. Our health and happiness are the two most important things to me; so, most of the time my choices are to that end.

I have surprised myself sometimes, too. If I have some "quiet" time because my youngest is asleep and my oldest is occupied, I have chosen washing dishes over reading (one of my favorite things!) because having a clean kitchen would make me happier (in that moment).

I am grateful for each time I have a moment to choose what will make me happiest...it really works.

Sweet Vacation Sweet

Now, we are Home Sweet Home. I missed my home. It seemed foreign when we came in the door after being away from our responsibilities for a week in Door County. I loved spending time with my husband and my sons without a clock to check or a schedule to worry about. We just loved being together.

We are grateful to our nephew for caring for my father in our stead. We are grateful to my sister and her fiancee for staying with our boys in Milwaukee while we attended a friend's wedding there at the end of our week. We are grateful for so many things.

Before we left, I gave my 5-year-old an assignment, "write 10 things you would like to do on vacation". I am still impressed with what he wrote. I am happy to report that we accomplished all six that we wrote (technically).

1. swim with daddy and mommy (my sister and her fiancee took him swimming)
2. play a lot outside with my family
3. i want to have adventures (yes, he spelled it right...now, ask me about our bicycle ride!)
4. sit with my family without "grampa" and with my brother
5. play at beach with mommy and daddy and my brother (we weren't in swimsuits; but, we did play at the beach!)
6. be with my family

I love my family and I can't wait for our next vacation!

Gluten Free Update

Whew! I am back to baking most things instead of buying pre-packaged gluten-free waffles, bread and more. I missed it. I don't know what kept me away...maybe it seemed too probable that making my own bread could cost more than the $5/loaf for gluten-free bread (because of the high cost of the gluten-free ingredients)...but, I was wrong! Thankfully wrong!

I don't know why I did not think to reopen my "Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day" cookbook to check out the gluten-free section. But, I finally did. I can make 2-4 loaves of bread, pizza crust, crackers--even cinnamon rolls--from one batch of my gluten-free dough! It tastes good. It is healthy. I am grateful. But, I still need to try those cinnamon rolls!

And, the bigger news on this update is that my whole household is now eating primarily gluten-free and noticing (and enjoying!) the benefits of doing so! My husband told me when he has a sandwich now, he notices the dip in his energy, more like afternoon fatigue (even with whole grain bread!).

The next thing I am inspired to make (from a recipe I saw at, http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2011/08/gluten-free-chocolate-chip-zucchini.html) is gluten-free zucchini brownies! I am grateful to have my baking "bug" back! Enjoy!

Wash Your Hands!

We wash our hands all the time. After a long bout of illness last fall (we all had a form of pneumonia/bronchitis that lasted about 2 months as it ran through our family), I decided that we did not wash our hands enough. We were letting too many germs in our house.

So, now we wash our hands:
when we come into the house from outside;
when we use the bathroom;
before and after we eat (always at home and ESPECIALLY when at restaurants);
and, any time we think we may have; but, can't really remember.

We also make a conscious effort to:
cough into our elbows (preventing germs from spreading to/from our hands);
avoid touching our eyes, nose and mouth with our hands (we use our shirt if necessary);
and, we use sanitizer if there is no place to wash our hands.

We also lather our hands "long enough to get the germs off" (20 seconds by medical standards) and then rinse.

Of course, at first (and sometimes still), it was a "pain"; but, once my husband bought into it and saw the benefit of this simple action, it keeps getting easier!

I am grateful that since we started our new (even more frequent!) handwashing regimen, that we have not been sick very often (I can't remember the last time)! I know we will still get sick; but, we are trying harder not to and that feels good! Just wash your hands!

Out of the Mouths...

My 5-year-old son has started to tell me, "God's earth is like a toy". He then thinks of a million things he can "play" in nature. It is beautiful. I love the things that my children think and say. They amaze me every day.

In his words, here are some of the reasons "God's earth is like a toy":

there are fresh berries we can pick and eat
we can use rocks like chalk
there are trees and bushes to climb
mud is like glue
there are sidewalks to draw on like my easel
we can find pictures in the clouds
mud is a home for animals in the ground for us to find
we can swim in the water
we can climb the rocks and jump off
we can make castles in the sand
there are flowers to pick
there are plants and trees to get the bugs from (lately, cicada skins)

My 2-year-old always reminds us, "We forgot to pray!" So, "Dear God, for all these things, we are grateful. We love you. Amen."

God is in This

As a child, I recall not ever wanting to talk about God in school. I felt awkward enough, why talk about my beliefs that probably differed from everyone else's? However, I relished the opportunities I had to talk about the Bible and God with my congregation (at the time). Then, an unfortunate series of events took me far away from the church and faith in which I was raised.

During my teenage years, I accompanied my mother and friends to different houses of worship, only to realize that the teachings were so similar and the people just as wonderful (as in my former congregation) in every single one. That left me questioning everything I had ever learned.

Today, when I have the opportunity to discuss God with friends, I have quite a lot to say. I still have a lot of questions; but, I feel strongly about my beliefs and I am comfortable openly discussing them. I feel spiritually grounded and for that, I am grateful. It has been quite a journey.

I realized recently when I told a friend "not to leave God out of his work", that I had not even included Him in my blog. That ends today. He is ever present in my family's minds, hearts and throughout our days; and, from this day forward, He will be in my blog.

Gluten Free Waffles!

When I was a kid, my mom loved to make heart-shaped waffles (she is crazy about hearts). But, she had a recipe that I was finally able to replicate...they were so good, I had to! The only waffles that have come close to these (that I have not been able to make gluten-free) was a recipe from my sister-in-law, using a sourdough starter. I found a recipe for "Norwegian Sour Cream Waffles" that was close to my mom's, added my gluten-free ingredients and, voila!

This morning, for the first time since going gluten-free, I made waffles for my family.

Gluten-Free Norwegian Waffles

5 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. gluten free flour blend (I use 2 parts organic brown rice flour and 1 part tapioca flour)
1 t. ground cardamom or ginger or lemon zest (I used cardamom for the first time ever this morning; but, my mom's way is with lemon zest...I love them both!)
1 c. sour cream (this morning, I had some part-skim ricotta I need to use up...worked great!)
4 T. unsalted butter, melted

Beat the eggs and sugar together for 5-10 minutes (I throw it in my stand mixer and wait until they are super-frothy and thick). With a rubber spatula, fold in half the flour, cardamom (or ginger or lemon zest) and sour cream (or ricotta cheese), and then the remaining flour/s.. Lightly stir in the melted butter and set the batter aside for 10 minutes. Heat waffle iron. Pour about 3/4 c. of the batter in the center (I used the belgian waffle side this morning because I did not feel like turning them around) and close the lid to cook for 5 minutes. Serve with jam (they suggested lingonberry in the recipe; but, we used strawberry jam that was just sweetened with fruit juice). Enjoy!

My Changing Consumerism

I can't remember the last time I went shopping without a purpose. I always have a list, whether I am going to the grocery store, the mall or downtown.

There once was a time when I would just "go shopping", spending my hard-earned money (all of it, I might add) on things I thought were "cute" or "cool" or "a good deal".

I cannot pinpoint exactly the moment that I made a change to more purposeful, more conscious (in many ways!) shopping. I feel like it started before I got married; and, it must've been a gradual process. It could have been when we started shopping for furniture. It could have been that I began to have more important things to do and think about!

Also, the year we were married, we were both laid off from our jobs, we moved from Chicago to a small town (Ottawa, IL) and we bought a house. Did I mention it was the year we were married? So, juggling our wedding budget (we paid for it all ourselves), our budget for buying a house, getting appliances, and making sure we had enough to live on (and still getaway for our honeymoon) may have inspired me to do more mindful shopping. I was (and am) not only concerned about the cost and the appearance of things, but also the impact on the environment. Research, research, research. Hello, mindful shopping.

Next came tracking our expenses in order to be more mindful of EVERYTHING. After tracking our expenses for a few months, I put together a household budget. I still track ALL of our expenses. I know exactly when grocery prices go up because little pennies add up to big dollars each month; so, I have to constantly figure out where to cut back. Now that we have kids, being mindful has become even more important.

There are not only changes in prices, but in how things are made. I continue to check ingredient lists, consumer research sites and environmental sites to make sure the things I like are still the same quality. It feels good to buy the things I need and like and to stay within our budget. Try it!
P.S. I still go "window shopping", whether online or on the street. It is always nice to dream!

Each Purchase, One Vote

The main reason that I make an effort to buy responsibly-produced food and products for my family is to do everything I can to ensure my family is (gratefully) healthy. The other reason is to make a difference. Every choice I make at the store is a vote for what I, the consumer, want; and, therefore, what they, the companies, should be selling (sometimes, more important is also, "how" the food is raised/products are made--fair wages, ethical, etc.).

I went to our local butcher shop because I heard they get their pork from a small farm in Wisconsin. I heard wrong. I am so surprised that the owners of this great butcher shop know everything about their meat except the farm on which it was raised. To me, that would be the ultimate piece of information. To know the source. To know the animals are treated humanely. To know what they are fed. That is how you know your meat!

I have a friend who raises cows. Guess where I get my beef? Does anyone know a pig farmer? I also know where my chickens are raised. I buy wild salmon and responsibly farmed tilapia fish (mainly). I get the most amazing eggs from a friend of a friend's free-range chickens! I love buying things straight from the source at the local farmers' market (I had the good fortune of setting the standards for the market and I know the farmers and which ones use pesticides and which ones do not, as it takes much time and money to be certified organic!).

Everyone of us wields a very powerful thing called INFLUENCE. You have the power to make a difference today--choose wisely! Find out where and how your food is grown. Find out if the products you buy are responsibly produced. If you find out something negative about a company or product, then find a company you do like and buy their products instead! Make a DIFFERENCE! Let's create a new "norm"--fair wages, fair labor practices, ethical standards, natural products, and much, much more to make our world a little better each day! Let's make our world the way we want it, a little at a time (each purchase, one vote...for your world)!

Some of my Favorite Things...

Not being able to enjoy whatever I want, whenever I want, is tough! (I really did/do eat well...I just also love to treat myself!) Having previously avoided many pre-packaged foods (in favor of homemade), there are a few gluten-free "treats" I have come to enjoy!

For example, this morning my family and I tried Kinnikinick Gluten-Free Donuts, Cinnamon Sugar (in the freezer section). They were delicious! Just the tiniest difference from the "real thing".

I also finally found a bread that I love! I mean it! In the gluten-free section at a nearby Jewel, I found Schar Gluten-Free Sourdough Bread. This bread is made in Europe and the company has been making gluten-free products for decades; so, practice must make (almost) perfect! Please note that I have so far only made grilled cheese; but the flavor and texture far surpass any other gluten-free breads we have tried. Toasting or grilling gluten-free breads is probably going to give you the best results.

My whole family also loves Udi's Gluten-Free Pizza Crust. I just found some in the "soon to expire" bin at our grocery store and I was even more excited to pay half price! These range from $4.99 to $6.99 for 2 single-serve (double for us) pizza crusts; but, they are delicious and still less than a restaurant, which I can't eat anymore anyway.

What I have found (from being in the practice of always reading ingredient lists) is most gluten-free products are also made with wholesome, healthy ingredients and very few (rarely any) preservatives. Hmmm...

Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

These muffins are fantastic! You would never know they are gluten-free! I modified a recipe from the blog, http://iamglutenfree.blogspot.com. The blogger got her recipe from the cookbook, "Gluten-Free Baking Classics", by Annalise Roberts. I have made these a couple of times and I found it was very easy to make substitutions! Enjoy my version or yours!

Heavenly Blueberry Muffins

2 c. brown rice flour mix (I used 1 part tapioca flour to 2 parts brown rice flour; but, the original author/chef recommended 2 c. brown rice flour, 2/3 c. potato starch and 1/3 c. tapioca flour)

2/3 c. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
3/4 t. xanthan gum
1/4 t. sea salt
1/4 t. nutmeg
1 1/2 c. unsweetened blueberries (I used frozen organic blueberries)
1/2 c. milk (I have used coconut milk and regular milk; the blogger used vanilla almond milk)
1/2 c. canola oil (I prefer melted coconut oil. I have also used melted unsalted butter)
2 large eggs
1/2 t. vanilla extract

Streusel Topping
1/2 c. brown rice flour mix (see above)
1/3 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. xanthan gum
3 T. unsalted butter, melted (I want to try coconut oil, but I haven't yet)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Position rack in center of oven. Grease muffin tins.

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, salt and nutmeg in large mixing bowl. Add blueberries and stir to coat evenly.

Combine milk and oil/butter in a small bowl; remove 1 T. of combined liquid and discard it (I did not do this the second time and it was totallly fine). Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add liquids to blueberry mixture and stir until just blended.

Fill muffin pans 2/3 full. Sprinkle with streusel topping. Bake 18-25 minutes until lightly golden (and spring back from touch). Remove muffins from pan and serve or cool on rack. Enjoy!!!

One Car, One Computer

We have had one laptop computer for a couple of years. Just one. My husband uses it a lot for work, even taking it with him to his office at times. I use it for our household needs and for fun.

Our computer serves as a source of entertainment because we also don't have cable television. So, we watch hulu.com or network websites to catch up on our favorite shows. There have been a few times when I have felt frustrated because I want or need the computer when my husband needs it. But, thankfully, those times are few and far between.

Last November, we sold our old second car. We knew it still had a lot of life left in it (to be able to sell it) and we also knew that we would not be using it much in the winter, as we were away in Mexico for a month. So, we went down to one car at that time. Did I mention we do not have any public transportation to speak of in Ottawa, IL (I think a Trailways bus comes through a couple of times a day)? So, this seemed harder than it actually is turning out to be.

I actually (most of the time) ENJOY only having one car. I enjoy not having to maintain two cars, keeping track of stickers, oil changes, even gas! I do wish that our car was more fuel efficient; but, we do need the space (in our Honda Pilot) for the third row for the car seats and my dad and his walker! Having one car does enable us to be more efficient overall-we combine trips and errands whenever we can. We also have become more active as my youngest is approaching 2 years old-we ride our bicycles around town more and my husband even jogs home from the office when we have the car!

I'd say that having one computer has taught us to better manage our time and to share (yes, even us grown-ups need some lessons every now and again) and that having one car has enabled us to be healthier and more efficient! Less really IS more!

Safe Personal Care Products

In my inbox this morning, I had an email from the Environmental Working Group (a wonderful resource!) about how to choose safe personal care products, for ourselves and for our children. http://www.ewg.org/healthyhometips/ingredientsinpersonalcareproducts I knew the importance of "paraben-free"; but, this article takes it a few steps further, highlighting all of the ingredients to avoid (just a few) and are so, so important to remember. Because, as the article points out, our government does not require testing on personal care products. So, companies can label their products, "natural" or "hypo-allergenic" or anything else that appeals to consumers so they can sell their product. It is up to us to educate ourselves on what is good for our bodies (and what is bad!).

Gluten Free Flour Substitutes

A few months in to my gluten-free life, I have been tampering with more recipes and finding my favorite substitutes.

I have tried Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour and I don't like the flavor very much (most likely the bean flours). In most of my recipes (my scones, my chocolate chip cookies, my oatmeal cookies and my pancakes to name a few), a substitution of half rice flour and half oat flour (along with some xantham gum) works the best.

I purchased a 4-pack of Bob's Red Mill Organic Brown Rice Flour on Amazon.com for a few dollars less than I could've gotten it at the grocery store (if they even carry it).

I have also found that rice flour works just as well in my roux for cream sauces and soups.

I have tried quinoa flour (not bad, but expensive!) and I will also try making some bread with it.

I have tried corn flour which I have had before and I may try with some other combinations.

I have also tried sorghum flour and millet flour (as part of a bread mix) and I find them both a little too sweet.

I will keep working on combinations; but, my favorite "go to" flour is definitely brown rice flour.

"No, Gracias"

Before we left for Mexico, we had spoken a little Spanish at home; but, not enough for the boys to be drawn in. When we returned, they had both learned some phrases that stuck.

My 22-month-old knows that "Gracias" and "De nada" are "Thank you" and "Your welcome"; so, when I say "Thank you", he says, "Gracias". His favorite phrase right now is, "No, Gracias". So, when I say, "Sweetie, Do you want some cereal?", his response is, "No, Gracias".

I don't recall actually saying that phrase. I have often said, "No, Thank you"...but, I think it is cool that he learned to say it in Spanish. He also loves to say, "Buenas noches" (good night).

My boys both bonded with their grandparents (and cousins and aunts and uncles) in Mexico. But, there were moments when my Spanish-speaking in laws and my 22-month-old clearly understood each other. That was really cool.

Welcome Back, Pasta

Rice pasta, that is. I have tried a couple of different varieties. Let me just say I need to remember to do due diligence and continue to check ingredients! Some "gluten free" pastas have ingredients I try to avoid--namely, mono and di-glycerides and high fructose corn syrup!

One that I really like is Hodgson Mill Gluten Free All Natural Brown Rice Pasta Penne (with Golden Milled Flax Seed). Ingredients: Brown Rice, Golden Milled Flax Seed. Verdict: good flavor, good texture, and overall, I did not notice a difference. It was very good! I will be buying this one again!

I always liked rice noodles at Asian restaurants; but, I had not had any luck trying rice pasta that is supposed to have more of the "tooth" of traditional semolina pasta. Thank you, Hodgson Mill!

Hello Quinoa!

I was intimidated to buy quinoa (naturally gluten free "super" grain) and even more intimidated to cook it. I finally bought some (on sale) and it was in my cabinet for more than a couple of months...until this week!

I was determined to use what I had to prepare our meals this week. So, out came the quinoa (with a recipe from "Super Natural Cooking" by Heidi Swanson). After rinsing it thoroughly, it took about 30 minutes to cook, using the following recipe. The results? Deeelicious! My 21 month old loved it, I loved it, my husband loved it and my 4 1/2 year old took more than 2 bites! Woo Hoo! Enjoy!


Quinoa and Crescenza with Sauteed Mushrooms

Rinse quinoa thoroughly, running under water for about 1 minute, with a fine mesh strainer.

6 T clarified butter or olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
2 c. quinoa (any variety), rinsed
1 c. good quality white wine (the author noted this could be replaced by a light tasting vegetable broth, which is what I used)
1 t. fine grain sea salt, plus more as needed to taste
2 c. water
2 big pinches of red pepper flakes (I omitted this for my boys)
1 pound mushrooms, sliced 1/4" thick (I had white button mushrooms on hand; but, I am sure that any variety would be delicious)
freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 - 4 oz. Crescenza cheese (the author noted this could be replaced by gruyere, which is what I had on hand to use, or another melting cheese)

Heat 3 T of the butter or olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the garlic and onion and saute for 5 minutes or until the onion softens and becomes translucent. Add the quinoa, wine and 1 t. salt, bring to a boil, and continue boiling for 3-4 minutes, until the liquid has reduced a bit.

Add the water, return to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 25 minutes, or until the quinoa opens up, revealing a little spiral, and is soft and pleasant to chew. (I followed this and had to add extra broth and water at the end because it was starting to burn and seemed too dry...I added about 1 1/2 c. more and it was just right...it may have been my pan or the level of heat).

Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a skillet over medium high heat, along with the red pepper flakes and a few pinches of salt. Stir in the mushrooms and cook without stirring for a few minutes, until they've begun to brown and release their juices. Then shake the skillet every few minutes until the mushrooms are evenly browned, about 4 more minutes. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Once the quinoa is perfectly tender yet textured, drain off any excess liquid and stir in the cheese. Ladle into bowls and top with the mushrooms. Like I said, "deeeeelicious"!

Heidi Swanson also blogs at www.101cookbooks.com

Next up from this cookbook, Quinoa and Corn Flour Crepes...stay tuned!

Gluten Free Cake Mix Nixed

So, I was really excited about a cookbook I got from the library called, "The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten-Free". I looked through some of the delicious recipes and saw a lot of ingredients I would use. I wanted to "doctor" a yellow or chocolate cake mix as soon as possible!

This is written in the past tense because I then went to the store. To my astonishment, the gluten-free cake mixes (for one cake) where $6-$8/each! Ummm...no. I can't pay that much.

I have, however, taken the gluten out of my family's favorite chocolate cake recipe! It was delicious on the first try; but, it needs some "doctoring" to get it exactly right. It is homemade and it costs less than $8 for ALL the ingredients!

Peligroso! Dangerous!

Well, it is a good thing playgrounds are few and far between in Mexico. Truly, I wish there were a lot more; but, only if they were made safer!

Picture this: metal everywhere...metal swings (yes, the seats, too), metal slides (ouch, they had those when I was a kid), metal monkey bars of all shapes and sizes, dangerous (long and sharp) metal see-saws, and much more - metal!

We chose not to go to the slide and swing set placed about 10 feet from the road and about 5 feet from the river. Instead we went to the enclosed playground inside the fence of the DIF building (this is the equivalent of a Department of Children and Family Services in the U.S.) with no shade trees (remember, it is all metal). ahem. Fun.

We also went to the beautiful Lake Chapala (the largest lake in Mexico!), next to which is the equivalent of a state park/playground/picnic area. You pay a small entrance fee to spend the day picnicking and the like. It was at this location, much to our horror, where my nephew's beautiful daughter was struck in the eye by one of those awful metal swings! "Dangerous" doesn't begin to describe it.

Unfortunately, there are much more important things that people are working to change--like cleaning up the pollution (in the air and water) and making sure the roads are safer, to name just two.

Economic Differences

I was confounded by how inexpensive it is to purchase food, clothing and household staples in Mexico. It was great, really! What I was confounded by was why EVERYTHING ("todo" in Spanish) is so expensive in the U.S.!

In Mexico, almost everything was "hecho en Mexico" (made in Mexico). If it was not made in Mexico, it was much more expensive (at least double, sometimes more).

I have not researched this; so, I can only offer my theory as to why U.S. prices are generally "competitive" across the board (with only what seems to me is a slight difference in imported vs. American-made products). I don't know if there are regulations that guide this phenomenon; but, I don't feel they work effectively.

My theory is that with "American" companies creating parts and product lines in factories in other countries and vice versa, the lines get blurry. So, this enables the companies to offer pricing that competes with other products, whether they are made in this country or not.

What I am thinking is that companies that make products in the U.S. have a bigger profit margin for the products they make that compete with imported products. I have no proof for this, only my impression based on the "real price" of goods. I would love to find out exactly why our cost of living is SO MUCH MORE than in Mexico. Anyone know?

Month in Mexico

My sons and I just returned from a month-long stay in Mexico. We were staying with my husband's sister in El Salto, Jalisco, near Guadalajara. We made many observations about the culture, lifestyle, food and language.

We never quite matched their rhythym. We had to eat when we woke up; we could not wait until the normal 10am breakfast time in their household (after the trip to the "mercado"). We also could not wait until 4pm for lunch nor eat dinner at 9pm (my boys were usually asleep by 8).

What did we eat? My oldest did not like the fresh cheeses; so, we went to Wal-Mart (yes, Wal-Mart!) to buy one of his favorite cheeses--non-smoked provolone (and sliced whole wheat bread, whole wheat crackers and a few other staples that are not readily available).

Eating gluten free was not too difficult. So many amazing foods are made with corn flour instead of wheat. I did miss out on the fresh flour tortillas at Los Burritos, though (they melt in your mouth). But, tamales, gorditas, and more were so, so, so delicious. As were the FRESHEST fruits and vegetables I have ever had.

We loved making trips to the market (mercado). I liked exposing my boys to the differences (and practicing our Spanish). I look forward to writing more about our experiences. Hasta pronto!