Gluten-Free Coffee Cake

Yumm...I am working on using glutenous recipes and changing them to gluten-free recipes...rather than trying to find everything I want gluten-free. So here is a new and improved recipe.

The original recipe "Blueberry Coffee Cake" was found in the Bethel Lutheran Community Cookbook published in 1999 and submitted by Elsie M. Hildebrandt.

Peach Coffee Cake

1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 cups gluten free flour mix
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking powder

1 can peach pie filling

Mix first six ingredients together. Pour half in a greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Spread peach pie filling on top and dollop the rest of the batter on top of that. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon and bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Drizzle with powdered sugar frosting (powder sugar, a bit of vanilla, enough water to get to the consistency you desire). Enjoy!!


My gluten-free flour mix: 2 parts rice flour, 2 parts potato starch, 1 part tapioca flour.

Mama's Day Off

Kevin took the girls to see his aunt and cousin today and I stayed at home. I finished reading my book, washed a few of the dishes, folded a couple clothes, remembered to eat lunch, and SEWED!! It was a very relaxing, enjoyable day. I, finally, after two years, took a "know your serger" class at the store from which I bought my serger. Yeah!! I was a little nervous, but it went very well. Apparently, there is a continuation of the class, and I am eagerly awaiting the announcement as to its date!

My picture from class:
I wanted to remember the settings for the narrow overlock stitch. I ended up not even needing this picture today, because I also wrote down a few notes on the page in my manual. I used that stitch as well as other fun things I learned to make semi-professional looking attire for my daughters and their friend H.

My first project is the long skirt shown above. I was gifted a large bag of material from a friend who was cleaning out her stock. The waist-band looks better coordinated in person...although it is a wacky coordination...meant mainly for little girls. :) The little skirt I made last with the leftovers from the first.

Next, I used the top half of a 3T polka-dot shirt (it had a few stains on the front) and attached some fun fabric to the bottom. This I found at a rummage sale last summer. It looked somewhat like a nightgown, so I added to it...

In some round about way I found a sight called:
Thank you, Me Sew Crazy!
And they had a fun belt that I thought I would try. I was actually going to try the dress itself first, but the belt seemed to go with this particular dress. With, of course, a few adjustments, I came up with this:

So, here is my little beauty, Kj. Her daddy thought maybe she could wear it to church tomorrow...Nope, too cold!!

My next project will be making a much liked long sleeve shirt into a cardigan...it is the only way I could come up with to still use the shirt, although it was stained! I started some of the cutting, so I can serge again soon!!

*I have decided to try to add the buttons of the reference sites, if they have one...we'll see how that goes.

Happy Valentine's Day

My idea came from: Martha Stewart by way of: Three Sneaky Bugs... for the above Valentine. Then we just had a great time; all 4 of us! We made lots of Valentine cheer to send around.

Au Jus Sauce

I had never heard of "Au Jus" before two weeks ago. My friend made a piece of wonderfully tasting meat in a crock pot. When I did my big grocery shopping outing yesterday, I forgot to look for a seasoning packet. So, to the internet I went.

Starting with this recipe for Simple Au Jus Gravy:
3 cups water
4 teaspoons beef bouillon (or 4 cubes)
1 teaspoon soy sauce
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper
I made a roast in the crock pot today. Mmmm...was it good!! My recipe:

*4 beef bouillon packets
*approx. 2 T Worcestershire sauce (since I don't yet have Gluten Free soy sauce)
*garlic granules (however much you like!!)

*(1/2 on bottom of crock pot, 1/2 on top of roast)

carrots - cut in big pieces...
potatoes - 1 inch cubed
celery - chopped

roast (on top of veggies)
3 cups water

Cook on low for 5 hours or so. Yumm!!

Hot Pockets in Progress

Using a combination of ideas and recipes, I am trying to make Hot Pockets.

Crust (with some changes in the flours)
Directions (parts)
Idea (sort of)

The crust needed a bit more flour while I tried to mash it out. I used mozzarella, cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, pepperoni, hot Italian sausage, red pepper, smoked turkey lunch meat, and a random marinara sauce concoction. There is extra sauce for dipping, and if this turns out I will actually have to write down some directions to keep. Smells wonderful!

Modification

I bought L a new winter jacket. It was on clearance and the jackets she had didn't fit quite right. The hood that came with this new jacket was more of a wind catcher rather than a wind resister...so, I modified.

Food and Craft

I modified a Almond Bark Cookie recipe today. Mmm...Chocolate, peanut butter, marshmallows, peanuts, Chex! Next time: sprinkle with coconut!


While browsing the Smashed Peas and Carrots I found a pattern for a cowl. I thought it looked like fun and decided as usual to take the pattern and modify it. Instead of knitting, I crocheted using the "bushy stitch" I found Reader's Digests Complete Guide to Needlework. I ran out of yarn before I got to the 50 inches in length mark... Instead of starting over and narrowing it a bit, I decided to just end and finish. It was a quick project and while it didn't turn out exactly as I wanted...I quite enjoyed it. I might try again with another yarn.


I forgot to mention that Kj asked if I could make her one too...we'll see!

Thank you, Smashed Peas and Carrots!