Pardon Our Dust!!!

So I spent most of the day yesterday updating the look of the old blog homestead...

Quick story time:

  The lilies of the valley (white bell shaped flowers) remind me of my mom.  My grandmother grew them on the side of her house, and on the morning of my parents' wedding, there was my mom, picking them frantically to get them to the florist to be included in her bouquet. She had a morning wedding, by the way, so you can imagine how fast she was trying to work and still get herself ready for the big day!

These are heirloom lilies - my great-grandmother gave some extras to my grandmother when Grandma and Grandpa moved into their house.  Then, when my parents bought our old house, they took a clump with them.  When my mom passed, and my dad decided to sell that same house, a few clumps of the lilies moved to a special spot right outside my back door. They are actually blooming right now, and have the most amazing fragrance!

This turquoise-type blue is

one of my 2 favorite colors

(the other is denim).

And yes, my two favorite colors are

shades of blue.

My third favorite color is dirt.

But I digress...

Yes, I designed and created the background myself.  I used digital scrapbooking materials from CottageArts.net, and followed the directions I found here to make your own scrapbook background and here to make your own background in PowerPoint.

After a LOT of tweaking,

I think you'll agree,

it's turned out pretty well!

I'm still working on adjusting the sizes of buttons and gadgets, and I'm planning on adding my own social media icons.  I'm also working on drop down menus for some new tabs at the top, and  let's just say there are a few other surprises I have up my sleeve.  

Stay tuned for more of the new and improved Suburban Prairie Homemaker, and

a ***GIVEAWAY*** tomorrow!

My Gluten Free Pantry

How to stock a gluten free pantry...

***THIS IS NOT A COMPENSATED POST***

***ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN***

Let's face it - our lives are so hectic and frantic these days.  Between Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Venture Crew, 4H, church youth group, and other volunteer time, the Suburban Prairie Home sees its fair share of commotion, especially at dinner time.  It's so nice to be able to have staples on hand to cook with.

But when you stare down all those aisles at the store, how do you know what's safe for those with gluten issues and what's not?

With the literally thousands of items in any supermarket, it would take you a lifetime to read all those labels, check all the websites, and call all those companies.  Enter Triumph Dining.  For us, their books and other products have made a world of difference.

For example, The Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide lists products on any supermarket shelf that are safe.  And I do mean any supermarket - everywhere from Albertsons to WalMart!  This book allows me to walk in to our local stores, with a list of safe name-brand and store-brand items.  And, believe it or not, WalMart's store brand, Great Value(R), pops up pretty much in every category.  Last fall, when Princess wanted to try a recipe, one of the main ingredients was chili sauce.  This was a new ingredient to the Suburban Prairie Kitchen, and you can imagine how hesitant I was at first.  So, I looked up chili sauce in the book.  Sure enough, there it was, and it was Great Value(R) brand.  This allowed me to try a new product without breaking the bank.

Be sure to visit the website, and sign up for their newsletter.  It's got gluten free recipes and other goodies, too.

So what to keep on hand in your own gluten free pantry?  I made a master list yesterday of everything I keep stocked up on and the brands, and I'd like to share that with you.

Baking mixes:  Betty Crocker, Gluten Free Pantry, Gluten Free Bisquick, Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix, Breads by Anna

Hershey's cocoa (the baking cocoa) and baking chips

Heath (brand) toffee baking chips

Beans - canned (365 Organic brand) and dry

Rice, millet, amaranth, quinoa and salba; also Lundberg Organic Gluten Free Couscous (plain and savory herb)

Fruit - frozen (365 brand - organic when possible) and canned (store brand); also fresh when in season.  We almost always have fresh apples, bananas, oranges, and lemons on hand, and also orange juice.

Vegetables - same as the fruit; we almost always have fresh carrots, celery, potatoes and onions on hand.

Snacks - Smoreables graham crackers, Glutino pretzels and chocolate sandwich cookies, Kettle (brand) potato chips, Xochitl corn chips, Lara Bars; occasionally, we also have MnM's (R) and Butterfinger (R) bars.

Cereal:  Chex (rice, corn, honey, cinnamon) and Gluten Free Rice Krispies (R)

Pasta:  Annie Chun's Pad Thai Brown Rice Noodles

Tomato products:  Muir Glen salsa, pasta sauce, tomatoes and tomato paste

Annie's Naturals BBQ sauce (sweet & spicy and smoky maple)

Great Value chili sauce, mayonnaise, non-dairy creamer (french vanilla and plain), non-fat dry milk, corn syrup

Jello (brand) pudding and gelatin

Pacific Foods organic beef broth, organic free range chicken stock, organic cream of chicken soup

Gluten Free Cafe gluten free chicken noodle soup

Agave nectar, local honey, maple syrup, organic sugar

Smucker's (brand) ice cream toppings (butterscotch, hot fudge, and milk chocolate - in glass jars) - occasionally

Marshmallows (occasionally)

Breads:  Udi's (brand) white bread, whole grain, and millet chia;  Against the Grain baguettes and pizza crusts; Van's frozen gluten free waffles

Meats:  CSA share, Applegate Farms frozen chicken nuggets and tenders, lunch meats (ham and turkey)

Dairy/Non-Dairy: cheese (sliced and shredded), lactose free milk, half-n-half, heavy cream, frozen non-dairy whipped topping, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, butter, chocolate Silk(R), cream cheese

Frozen:  Udi's cheese pizzas, Amy's frozen meals (favorites in my house are the enchilada meals, tamale meals, and gluten free garden vegetable lasagna)

Condiments & Misc:  Organicville Ketchup, 365 Organic Dijon mustard, frosting, homemade jams and jellies, peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter,

I think that's everything.  Do I have every single item on hand every single day?  No.  We all run out of things, and if I'm not making certain recipes, then some of the items tend to be left at the store.  Some things go faster than others, especially with a teenage boy in the house.  I just wanted to give you an overview of what's possible.  You'll notice we have our fair share of convenience items and snack foods, just like any other household.

Hopefully, this will encourage you on your gluten free walk.  When folks tell you there's nothing to eat when you go gluten free, show them my list.  Better yet, show them your shopping cart full of groceries!

Have a great Wednesday!

Celiac Awareness Month

For May, I thought I'd focus more on eating and dining gluten free, complete with GREAT recipes.  Don't worry - Tea for Tuesday and One Yard Wednesday will be back in June, along with a new feature for Fridays.  As always, all the recipes featured here are gluten free or offer a gluten free alternative.  I'm busy baking today, and will be bringing these super yummy gluten free recipes starting tomorrow.  By the way, you'll want to click to continue reading!


Before I get started, let me just clarify that I'm a mom.  I'm not a doctor.  I'm not a nutritionist.  I don't even play one on TV.  Choices that you make regarding your health care are your responsibility, and should involve consulting your physician.  This is especially true if you suspect or have been diagnosed with celiac disease or other health issues.


May is National Celiac Awareness Month.  If you are newly diagnosed, or suspicious of your health issues, The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness is a great website to visit any time of the year.  This month, they have several online events planned as well as a sweepstakes for a gluten free pantry (donation required).

When you first hear the news about having to radically change your diet and lifestyle, it can be overwhelming.  There is so much information to go through - whether that info comes from a doctor, a nutritionist, online, or all of the above.  At the time we were told about Hubby's issues, I literally spent several hours a day for several days going through books, websites, and anything else I could get my hands on.  During all of this, I realized there had to be an easier way to break this down for the average person.

So where do you start when you have to go gluten free?  To make it easy, let's look at the My Plate graphic from the USDA.

SOURCE

Seems simple enough, right?  We'll take it piece by piece...

Fresh and frozen plain fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten free.  And let's face it - we all need to eat more of both of those.  Make these your go-to snacks.  Apples or celery with nut butter are a fantastic choice for after school.

The glass of dairy is pretty self-explanatory.  You can also have a cup of yogurt, or some cheese.  If you also have dairy issues, find a healthy non-dairy alternative, such as soy, almond, rice, etc.  Personally, I do a little of both.  Chocolate Silk(TM) is a favorite of mine for breakfast, and I like cheese on and in things.  The important thing here is finding a good source of calcium.  When you have any digestive issues, your body is not getting the nutrients it needs to be healthy, and calcium is so important for many things - not just your bones and teeth!  Make sure you are getting enough!

Other beverages that are safe:  plain coffee and tea, and fruit and/or vegie juice.  If you're a soda drinker, read the label or find nutritional info on the company's website.  Like those fancy coffee drinks?  Do the same.  Gluten can hide in many places in many forms!

This is where things start to get a bit more complicated.  For protein, think lean meats (beef, pork, chicken).  Avoid processed meats, like lunch meats, etc., because many brands have fillers.  Also, ham and turkey may have gluten in flavoring agents that can be injected.  If you're not absolutely sure, don't buy it.  We buy our meat from a local CSA farm and know for a fact that any sausages, hams, and turkeys are all safe for us.  As for breaded meats, Applegate Farms (brand) makes wicked good chicken nuggets and tenders - our family thinks they taste better than "the real thing"!  They also make really good lunch meat for sandwiches.  The bottom line here:  know what's in your food!  Read labels diligently, follow up on company websites, and don't be afraid to call and ask.

And now for the million dollar question:  what grains are safe?  Amaranth, millet, rice, buckwheat, teff, quinoa, and corn.  Not sure where to begin?  Start with rice.  The first week after Hubby's diagnosis, we ate chicken, broccoli, and rice for dinner.  And we probably ate it 4 out of the 7 nights.  Good thing my kids like broccoli!  Millet and quinoa make great side dishes, and kasha (roasted buckwheat) makes a wonderful hot breakfast cereal.  Teff is wonderful in gluten-free whole grain breads, such as Udi's (brand).

Want a sandwich?  Our new favorite bread is Udi's (brand) Millet-Chia bread.  It makes an awesome grilled cheese sandwich, and will hold its own either toasted with some homemade jelly or stacked with some turkey lunch meat.

You'll notice I did not say oatmeal.  Oats tend to be processed in the same facilities as wheat.  This means that they can easily become cross-contaminated with gluten.  There are many gluten free brands of oatmeal available.  I have found, for me at least, that I can no longer eat oatmeal - gluten free or not.  As much as I love a steaming bowl on a cold morning, I've had to switch to atole, which is made from amaranth.

So when you're making your menu plan for the week, start with a plain protein, like a chicken breast.  Add some vegies, and some rice.  Have some fruit and yogurt for dessert.  Maybe you'd prefer some baked pork chops, apple sauce and a salad sprinkled with some quinoa and almonds.  Steak, baked potatoes and green beans or fresh asparagus - another good combo.

It really isn't as hard as you may have believed.  For many of us, this challenge forces us to eat the healthier way we should be eating all the time.  And this is a good thing.

Remember, all the recipes you find here on this site are gluten free, or offer a gluten free option, and I've got some yummy treats coming up tomorrow!

Amaranth - It's What's for Breakfast!

Cinco de Mayo is coming up fast!  How 'bout some traditional Mexican cuisine?

Many Latin American food items are naturally gluten free - corn, amaranth, quinoa (KEE-nwah), and potatoes.  When you're first learning to go gluten free, cooking some of these can seem quite intimidating.  They seem just so foreign!

Well, let me tell you, they aren't as scary as you may believe.  We are all very familiar with corn, so let's start with amaranth.  Many traditional Mexican dishes are made with it.  You can buy it in any supermarket as a whole grain (cook like rice per package directions) or flour.  If your store doesn't carry it, or you don't have a Whole Foods near you (or the Whole Foods doesn't carry it), you can buy Bob's Red Mill brand through Amazon.

Amaranth is one of the many "supergrains", even though it's technically not a grain.  It's high in fiber and protein.  It's a good source of calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, copper, magnesium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B5 and Vitamin C.  Compared to wheat, it has 3 times more fiber and 5 times more iron, and it's 90% digestible.  Which is good news for anyone with digestive issues, those recovering from disease, and people coming off a fast.  It also has twice the calcium of milk - also good for those with dairy issues.

Today we are having Atole, a traditional Mexican breakfast beverage.  It's warm and creamy and rich.  And it's good for you, too.  My version is adapted from a recipe found here at the VersaGrain website.

SPH Atole
1 cup amaranth flour
4 cups water, milk or cream (I use half-and-half because I like mine really thick and creamy)
1/4 cup brown sugar (regular, demarara or turbinado)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped or vanilla extract to taste

In a medium saucepan, whisk liquid into flour.  Heat over medium heat until it begins to thicken, whisking gently but constantly.  Add brown  sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla bean and seeds (or vanilla).  Continue cooking and whisking until thickened and starting to bubble.  Serve hot.

You can even add grated chocolate to this.  I haven't tried that yet, but trust me, the day is coming!

This is like a hug in a mug.  Oh, is it rich and creamy!  Almost like a hot, liquid-y rice pudding. Mmmmm.

No amaranth flour?  Substitute finely ground white cornmeal or rice flour.  Like I said, I like mine really thick.  If you'd like (or need) yours thinner, add more liquid - either water or milk.  Use honey or maple syrup for the sweetener.  Maybe even some apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice instead of just cinnamon.  Add some applesauce or other pureed fruit.  Make this for your kids some chilly morning as a sweet treat.  Have a sick one at home?  Make it savory instead by using chicken stock for the water, and add some diced, cooked veggies (puree it if necessary).  Lots of possibilities here!

No matter how you choose to make it, just make it!  And enjoy!

Easy Dulce de Leche in a Slow Cooker

Lovely, sweet dulce de leche - a traditional Mexican sweet for Cinco de Mayo!

I've seen lots of recipes for this all over the internet.  Most cook the sweetened condensed milk in the can it comes in.  There are lots of problems with this.  First and foremost, if you forget to puncture some holes in the can, it will explode.  Yeah, that's a problem!  Also, most cans contain BPA, which is a questionable chemical.  This chemical can leach into your product.  Ick.

And then I came across this recipe from Simply Frugal Mom.  She put the milk into canning jars before putting them into a slow cooker.  Much safer on all counts!  And did I mention delicious?!

I did make two tweaks to the process, which I'll share with you in a minute.

Here's what you need:
2 cans of sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
3 8-oz. canning jars, NEW canning lids, and canning rings (all should be cleaned and sterilized)
boiling water (this is Tweak #1)
crock pot with crock large enough to hold all your jars

Divide the contents of the 2 cans of milk equally among the three jars.  Wipe the tops of the jars with a warm wet dish cloth to be sure they are clean.  Then, place a new lid on each jar, and screw on a ring to hand tightness.  Place jars into the crock part of your crock pot, and cover with boiling water.  You will need enough water to cover the jars by at least 1".  Turn the crock pot to HIGH (this is Tweak #2).  Allow the jars to cook on high, just until they start to turn a light caramel color, then switch to low.  The amount of time this takes will depend on your slow cooker.  Allow to cook on low about 4-6 hours more, or until desired thickness.  I like mine thick, because I can always melt it down if needed.  Usually, it gets stirred into hot coffee, so it melts on its own.  If you'd like to use it immediately for a caramel sauce, I'd go with a shorter cooking time.

When done, remove jars carefully with a jar lifter, and allow to cool to room temperature.  Tighten lids all the way, as tight as you can.  Store in the refrigerator.  I'd love to tell you it will store for a month, but it will probably be eaten by then.  I'll say it anyway, just in case.

The process can easily be doubled or tripled if you have to make something for a crowd.  If you don't have room for the multiple batches in your crock pot, leave the milk in its original can, and divide into the jars when you are ready to cook it.  This is also a great way to divide the time and labor into smaller, more manageable parts of a busy schedule.

This is a great neighbor gift at Christmas time, or thank you gift for someone who does a really nice favor for you (think "Thanks for being sweet" on the label).  And, like I said above, it is PHENOMENAL in your morning coffee, or melted and poured over ice cream.

Enjoy!

Easy Handmade Card Idea

I know that sometimes when we see those beautiful handcrafted cards, it seems very intimidating.  Just choosing which papers to use can be overwhelming!  Well, I'm here today to make this a lot less stressful...



For our project today, you will need cardstock in a base color, then assorted papers and cardstock colors to make the rectangles.  You will also need the adhesive of your choice (double-stick tape or tape runner) and either 3 brads or 3 stick-on gems of your choice.  Other embellishments will be up to you.

Let me start by showing you the inspiration card I found on Scrapbook.com made by user LREA.

I really liked the bright spring colors of the card, and how the different patterns made it so fun.  Plus, lots of clean, simple lines...

I made a rough sketch of the basic elements in PowerPoint.

Then, to get the exact sizes to cut my paper, I sketched it again with graph paper and pencil.  The finished card front will be 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", so I wanted to be sure I had the exact measurements I needed for the other pieces of paper and cardstock.

Here it is all colored in with colored pencil, so I knew what papers to cut how, in which specific sizes.

I based the colors on some papers I had on hand, specifically the pink with the flowers, which you'll see in just a moment.  The next step is all the cutting.

You can use a paper cutter, or just a ruler and some scissors.  Start by cutting the card base - take an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of cardstock, and cut it in half, so you have 2 pieces that are 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".   Fold the pieces in half.  Here's a stack of them I made for a card swap.

And here are all the pieces cut:

And here's the cutting list:
1 dark pink - 2" x 4 1/2"
1 dark pink - 1 1/2" x 3 3/4"
1 pink floral - 1 1/2" x 4"
1 dark brown - 1" x 3 1/4"
1 light brown (patterned paper or coordinating ribbon of your choice) - 1/2" x 4 1/4"

So let's make the card!  Here you can see all the pieces laid out, ready for assembly.

Start by assembling the vertical layers - the dark pink and pink floral.  Tape the pink floral onto the dark pink, then tape the dark pink to the card base.

Then, do the horizontal layers in the same way - dark pink first, then dark brown.  When those are on, add the thin brown paper/ribbon.

In the top right corner, I secured three pink self-adhesive pearls.  To keep them straight and even, you can use a ruler placed next to where you want to put your pearls.You can add ribbon and brads, like the inspiration card, or just ribbon, or just brads - whatever you'd like to do.

And there it is!  You can see that I didn't use all the elements from the original card.  You don't have to either.  Use what appeals to YOU!  Feel free to use the same colors as my card, or the inspiration card.  Ink the edges of your papers, or tear them, or both, or not.  Add a sentiment, or not.

See how easy this is?  Make a bunch - Mother's Day is coming up, so are graduations and Father's Day.  Use different papers and different colors to make baby cards, wedding cards - any card!  Once you try it, I know you'll be hooked!

Have fun!

Liebster Blog Award

I was so pleasantly surprised when Faith (Artistic31Mama) told me the honor the Liebster award for small blogs (under 200 followers) was mine. She was kind enough to pass along this award to me! Thank you so much, Faith - I am so honored!!

For me, blogging was a way to put knowledge in one place for family, friends, and anyone else who was interested in the "what I do all day". For a long time, I've had people ask "how do you do that?" and "would you show me?" and "can I have the recipe?".  This way, I can share information with anyone who wants or needs it, a one-stop-shop for those who are new to being gluten free, or who want to learn to craft or garden or can.


To be nominated for an award for doing what I love is simply icing on a gluten free cake!

As part of receiving the Liebster Award, I am delighted to pass it on to my favorite small blogs that I think you would absolutely love. :-) Be sure to stop by and say hello to them!

Michelle and Ashley - The Tattered Quilt Cottage
Kristina - Pioneer Woman at Heart
@llie - Freshly Completed
Amy - While Wearing Heels
Angell - Passionate and Creative Homemaking


Upon accepting this award bloggers are asked to: 

1) Post the award to their blog

2) Link back to the blogger who gave the award

3) Give the award to 5 blogs with less than 200 followers

4) Leave a comment for each blogger letting them know you have offered them the award.


So stop by for a visit and leave them some comment love!