Friday, July 30, 2010

hands of love #3...

Whew-- lots of cooking this week! With Marc out of town all week for RUF staff training in Atlanta, I made it my goal to "get ahead." So I focused mostly on foods where I could make a big ol' batch and stock up my freezer!

My top 2 crowning achievements of the week... (I know this may seem pathetic to some of you, but I have to admit, I'm quite proud of myself! When you're forced to cook with new, weird things like "xantham gum" & "quinoa flour," it calls for celebration when it actually turns out edible! ha!)


Gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, & egg-free blueberry muffins from scratch!


And a GF,DF,SF,EF (can I just abbreviate & spare myself the trouble?) lasagna! It was DELICIOUS!!! There is only one brand of cheese that I've found that is gluten, dairy, & soy free and melts just like the real stuff-- it's sold at Whole Foods. (which is over an hour away from my house, so we have to stock up on it when we can.) And we still had enough to freeze 4 big pieces for future meals for Caroline!


A GF,DF,SF chili in the crockpot. Again, perfect for freezing extras.


Some GF,DF,SF,EF FLOURLESS "peanut butter" cookies! (we used almond butter) After I baked them all, I put the rest in ziplock bags & into the freezer. (someone told me I could do this & they'd still be good... is it true??)


And we're still juicing our veggies & fruits! To be honest, this one wasn't all that yummy to ME (there wasn't enough fruit to cover over the "veggie" taste), but Caroline still loved it. (How many 2 yr. olds eat that in a day?? By the way, I know several of you have said you're interested in getting a juicer & trying it out. If so, be sure to drink the juice as fresh as possible-- if you let it sit in your fridge, it loses the nutrients & should be discarded after 24 hours.)

And even though it probably lost all of its nutritional value doing this, I took some of the remaining juice, poured them into freeze pop containers, & put 'em in the freezer so she can get a cold frozen "pop."


Baked pork chops, fresh green beans (her favorite veggie), & black beans. (this wasn't for freezing)


And I found this stuff at our regular grocery store-- it happens to be GF,DF,SF, etc. with no nitrates or MSG.


So it was easy to saute it over olive oil with fresh veggies and waa-lah- a meal! (also not for freezing)

These hands of love are tired!


But my daughter, YOU are worth it all.
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6 comments:

  1. Amy,
    Everything looks good enough to eat! (Ha) I'm glad Caroline is enjoying all that good delicious, nutritious food. One day she will be happy she has a mom that can cook so well.

    Hope all is going well. Love you all,

    Nanny & Papa

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  2. I don't know about freezing cookies. They never lasted long enough for that to be a consideration.

    Someday when Caroline's gut heals and you can add back in "regular" food, you are going to think
    cooking is a breeze.

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  3. Its true, you can freeze cookies and they are still good!

    This is from Anne Worthingtons blog, I thought you and Caroline would appreciate it.

    My Child,
    You may not know me,
    but I know everything about you.
    Psalm 139:1

    I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
    Psalm 139:2

    I am familiar with all your ways.
    Psalm 139:3

    Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
    Matthew 10:29-31

    For you were made in my image.
    Genesis 1:27

    In me you live and move and have your being.
    Acts 17:28

    For you are my offspring.
    Acts 17:28

    I knew you even before you were conceived.
    Jeremiah 1:4-5

    I chose you when I planned creation.
    Ephesians 1:11-12

    You were not a mistake,
    for all your days are written in my book.
    Psalm 139:15-16

    I determined the exact time of your birth
    and where you would live.
    Acts 17:26

    You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
    Psalm 139:14

    I knit you together in your mother's womb.
    Psalm 139:13

    And brought you forth on the day you were born.
    Psalm 71:6

    I have been misrepresented
    by those who don't know me.
    John 8:41-44

    I am not distant and angry,
    but am the complete expression of love.
    1 John 4:16

    And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
    1 John 3:1

    Simply because you are my child
    and I am your Father.
    1 John 3:1

    I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
    Matthew 7:11

    For I am the perfect father.
    Matthew 5:48

    Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
    James 1:17

    For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
    Matthew 6:31-33

    My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
    Jeremiah 29:11

    Because I love you with an everlasting love.
    Jeremiah 31:3

    My thoughts toward you are countless
    as the sand on the seashore.
    Psalms 139:17-18

    And I rejoice over you with singing.
    Zephaniah 3:17

    I will never stop doing good to you.
    Jeremiah 32:40

    For you are my treasured possession.
    Exodus 19:5

    I desire to establish you
    with all my heart and all my soul.
    Jeremiah 32:41

    And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
    Jeremiah 33:3

    If you seek me with all your heart,
    you will find me.
    Deuteronomy 4:29

    Delight in me and I will give you
    the desires of your heart.
    Psalm 37:4

    For it is I who gave you those desires.
    Philippians 2:13

    I am able to do more for you
    than you could possibly imagine.
    Ephesians 3:20

    For I am your greatest encourager.
    2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

    I am also the Father who comforts you
    in all your troubles.
    2 Corinthians 1:3-4

    When you are brokenhearted,
    I am close to you.
    Psalm 34:18

    As a shepherd carries a lamb,
    I have carried you close to my heart.
    Isaiah 40:11

    One day I will wipe away
    every tear from your eyes.
    Revelation 21:3-4

    And I'll take away all the pain
    you have suffered on this earth.
    Revelation 21:3-4

    I am your Father, and I love you
    even as I love my son, Jesus.
    John 17:23

    For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
    John 17:26

    He is the exact representation of my being.
    Hebrews 1:3

    He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
    not against you.
    Romans 8:31

    And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
    2 Corinthians 5:18-19

    Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
    2 Corinthians 5:18-19

    His death was the ultimate expression
    of my love for you.
    1 John 4:10

    I gave up everything I loved
    that I might gain your love.
    Romans 8:31-32

    If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
    you receive me.
    1 John 2:23

    And nothing will ever separate you
    from my love again.
    Romans 8:38-39

    Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
    heaven has ever seen.
    Luke 15:7

    I have always been Father,
    and will always be Father.
    Ephesians 3:14-15

    My question is…
    Will you be my child?
    John 1:12-13

    I am waiting for you.
    Luke 15:11-32

    Love, Your Dad
    Almighty God

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  4. We've frozen cookies since I was young and had them months later-and they still tasted quite good! We stored them in tins, just so you know.

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  5. I know an EXPERT baker here in Pitt, and she freezes almost everything she bakes (including cookies).

    I want a cookie.. (they looked sooo good!

    Cal

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