A Gift for You!

It has been a long time, since I really blogged about something other than food.  God has really been working in my life and on my heart!  In the last year, God has opened and healed more wounds than I even realized that I had.  I have felt God's love from amazing friends, family, and even from those that I barely know.  I have never felt so blessed in my entire life.....as I do right now!  It may be hard for many to understand what I am talking about, but I once felt so lost and abandoned.  And probably many of you had no idea or no clue that I ever felt that way.....but the cold hard truth is that, I did!  God has done something miraculous in my life and I want to share with each and every one of you the same opportunity that I have been given.    

God is constantly changing our path.  Once you think you finally have it figured out....watch out....it will change again.  Over the past year, I have come to realize that God's plans can go way beyond what you could imagine or dream.  The key to living a full life(from my eyes).....when you let go of what YOU want and put God in front of everyone and everything.  Amazing and crazy things happen.....sometimes, even things that seem totally not possible.  God has the ability to heal ALL wounds, fix ALL bad choices and completely turn your life around into something that is totally not imaginable.  I have watched God do this so many times in so many peoples lives.  My heart continues to believe without a shadow of doubt...that it is truly possible in ALL situations.

If you are reading this and wondering what in the world that I am talking about, well....it seems you have come to the right place.  God put each of us on this earth for a specific purpose.  We were each individually created to do something totally different than our friends and even other members of our family.  God has a specific plan for each person's life.  The goal for each of us should be to discover and uncover what that plan is.  "How in the world do we do this?"  Well, it isn't quite as complicated as it may seem.  When each of us were born, in our mind and our heart God puts things inside of us that we are passionate about.  This may seem trivial....but in reality....it really is a very important part of figuring out what that "Plan" is that God has for us.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  God doesn't want us to be miserable, he wants us to have an amazing future.  The very next verse(12) says, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."  Why is it important that we pray for things, when God knows us and what we want and need?  Well, it is important to pray, because God wants to hear from us and the only way to begin having a relationship with God is to pray(or talk) with God about your needs and desires.  In order to be blessed, YOU must seek God.  In the following verse(13), "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." When you seek God, you will desire to be obedient and listen to what He wants you to do.  Sometimes, in the beginning it may be difficult to discern what God is telling you.  Over time as you listen and are diligent to obey God, each step will lead you closer to the future that God has planned for you.  God does have amazing plans for each and every one of us.....but we have do our part by praying and seeking God in order to get to the plans that God has for us!

It is NEVER too late for anyone to come to Jesus and have a different life!  If you have made bad choices, or just really don't think that you deserve amazing happiness......well, think again.....every single person deserves and is offered God's love.....if only they are willing to accept and make the choice to change.  I have never met a perfect Christian.....we are all sinners in one way or another and we are all offered forgiveness!

Christmas is not a time to celebrate with gifts, but a time to reflect on the AMAZING gift that we were given on Christmas day...with the birth of our Lord and Savior....Jesus Christ!  Can you imagine a baby coming to this world and saving all of us from the terrible mistakes that we make?  It is true.  It really happened.  Jesus came to save each and EVERYONE of us!!!  Will you accept this gift today?  Or will you let another year go by believing that you don't deserve this type of happiness?  The time is now......don't let another day go by.....accept Jesus into your heart!  Start today.....

May the gift of Jesus be your heart's delight for 2012!!!

Merry Christmas!!!   

GF Drop Biscuits

This was my first attempt at changing a regular recipe into a GF recipe.  I think it worked out rather well.  My kids all agreed that they turned out yummy too!

Here is the Recipe:

3 Cups flour(I used my pre-mixed GF bread flour-stored in my frig)
2 Tb + 1 1/2 tsp baking powder(corn free)
1 Tb honey
3 tsp xanthan gum
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 C olive oil
1 1/4 C milk(used plain coconut milk)

Preheat oven to 450*F.  In a large bown combine the flour, baking powder, honey, salt, and cream of tartar.  I used my mixer to blend the olive oil until it was somewhat crumbly.  Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.  Add milk all at once.  I used the mixer to combine the milk with the flour mixture.

I used two spoons to drop the dough into 16 mounds onto a greased baking sheet.  Makes 16 biscuits.

My bread flour mixture:

1 1/2 Cups millet flour
1 1/2 Cups sorghum flour
2 C tapioca starch
1 C potato starch

Makes 6 cups.  This mixture comes from Cybele Pascal's recipe book 'The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook.'  I love this book!  This is the only gluten free cookbook that we own.  I have found many recipes online...but there is a wealth of great recipes for basic things in this book.  I love both her bread flour and basic flour mixture. We use both of these mixtures for a variety of things.

I am so excited about these biscuits!  I have been neglecting trying to adjust my own recipe in hopes that something else would turn out similar....but it just hadn't happened yet.  This recipe above was adjusted from the "Biscuits Supreme" recipe in the Better Homes and Garden's new Cook Book.

Enjoy! 

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie Cake

 

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie Cake

Double the recipe for cookie cake.....

1/2 C white rice flour

1/2 C brown rice flour

1/2 C + 2 tbsp potato starch

1/4 C tapioca starch

1 3/4 tsp xanthan gum

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 C shortening(Spectrum) or olive oil

1/2 C honey(organic)

1/2 C succanat

1 large egg

2 tbsp milk(vanilla coconut)

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 C smooth peanut butter(Earth Balance)

Preheat oven to 350*.  Use a pizza pan and spread olive oil on pan.  

Mix the ingredients, from white rice flour through the baking soda.  Set aside.  Beat the shortening/oil and honey and sucanat  with either a hand mixer or in a stand mixer, mixing until well blended.  Add egg, milk, and vanilla, scrapping down the bowl and as needed. Add peanut butter and beat again, scraping down one more time.  Add mixture to flour mixture.  Mix well.  

Spread mixture on pizza pan and press into place.  Bake for 20-25 minutes until edge is lightly browned.  Let cookie cake cool for at least 30 minutes so that it can become more firm.  If you try to move right away, it may crumble.  Enjoy!