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FUN/DIY/ Holidays/Parties/ RECIPES/ Sweets

5 Minutes To Chocolate Sauce Heaven

A repost from the archives.  It deserves a repost..it is delicious!!  I plan on making a dairy-free version this weekend with earth balance spread instead of butter and serving it over coconut milk ice cream.  I will let you know how it turns out!
I’ve given this away as a gift and made it a few times for my own family.  It is one of those recipes that I  know I will be in the family for a very long time–it is SOOO good.  It is quick, it uses ingredients we usually have on hand, and it tastes WAY better than store bought chocolate sauce.  When I served it to my husband, he just kept grunting and saying “MMM”& “YUM” as he scraped his bowl clean.  I’m surprised he didn’t get his face in it and lick it clean!  Yes, it is that good.

Here is the recipe, it is from recipebzaar.com.  It was recommended by another blog, but I can’t remember which one, which I’m feeling pretty bad about because they deserve a big thanks from me!
Lee Lee’s Famous Chocolate Sauce For Ice Cream
2 min/1 minute prep time
Serves 4-6
1/2 cup sugar (I use whole cane sugar -rapadura)
2 Tablespoon Cocoa
1/8 tsp Salt
1 1/2-2 Tablespoon Butter
1/4 cup water (more or less, as needed to make a stirable consistency)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract (can’t beat 100% pure vanilla extract!)
1. Combine sugar, cocoa, and salt in a small saucepan.
2. Add enough water to make stirable consistency.
3. Add butter to cocoa mixture.
4. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly.
5. Allow to boil for 1 minute, stirring.
6. Remove from heat.
7. Add vanilla.
8. Serve warm over ice cream.

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RECIPES/ Sweets

Puppy Chow & Kitty Chow Snack

We eat healthy around here during the week, so when the weekend comes, sometimes I like to surprise my kids with a bit of a sugary snack.  I love the reactions I get when I do this, according to my girls I qualify for mom of the year when I make a surprise sugar snack.

When I do take the time to make something less healthy,  I want something easy and fun.  This puppy chow and kitty chow fit that description.  Kids think it is great fun to have 2 different shaped chow with fun names.  It is the perfect munching snack, especially for car trips!  What I love?  It is so good that it gets eaten up right away so when the new week comes we don’t have a bunch of tempting puppy & kitty chow laying around!

Puppy & Kitty Chow
1/2 cup butter ( I use Earth Balance)
1 cup peanut butter
12 ounces chocolate chips 
1 1b powdered sugar
1/2 box any Chex type cereal (for puppy chow)
1/2 box Kix cereal (for kitty chow)
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Mix butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips in a glass bowl.  Microwave until melted & stir.  Divide in half.  Add Chex to one half and Kix to the other.  Stir until coated.  In 2 brown paper bags, divide powdered sugar.  Add coated Chex to one and coated Kix to the other.  Shake until cereal is coated.

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Meals/ RECIPES/ Sweets

Peanut Butter Clouds – A No Recipe, Recipe

You are going to thank me over and over for this one.  No, seriously.  This little snack might just rock your world.  It rocks ours.
This Peanut Butter Cloud no recipe recipe is one of those special family recipes that has been handed down. My Grandma Thelma made it for my mom and her siblings, my mom made it for me and my siblings, and now I make it for my own kids.  The picture above was taken by my lovely sister from Beauty Divine Design.  She put it  on Facebook and the comments from aunts and cousins were fun to read, as they too were treated to peanut butter clouds by their moms.  Truly a family gem of a recipe!
Here is what you do:
~Toast a piece of bread
~Smear it with peanut butter
~Put marshmallows on top
~Place under broiler for just a minute.
~Watch as the marshmallows puff up and brown slightly (this part fascinated me as a kid!)
I’m telling you, you are now going to always remember me, for if you eat this once, you will have to make it again and again.  I think I just made myself famous…
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HEALTH/ How-Tos/ RECIPES

Easy Homemade Glass Cleaner That Smells Awesome!

I’ve made homemade glass cleaner before, which consisted of just water and vinegar.  It worked well, but I found myself missing a good scent when I cleaned.  I looked around Pinterest for a homemade glass cleaner and found this one.  It appealed to me because it uses essential oil to add scent.  I also liked that it used a drop of dish detergent, which I think adds a bit of shine to the glass compared to just using vinegar and water alone.

Homemade Glass Cleaner

1 cup distilled white vinegar

2 cups water

1/2 tsp dish soap

15 drops essential oils

Put all in a spray bottle and shake.

 

 

I chose Grapefruit essential oil as my scent.  I LOVE any citrus scent, especially grapefruit.  I got mine at my local health food store, but next time I will be ordering it from Organic Mountain Rose Herbs, where the price is much better!

I started making my own glass cleaner a couple years ago.  I have 2 glass tables, one in the dining room which is centrally located in our home, and one in the kitchen.  My youngest was struggling with asthma and allergies, and I read a book on how a mother got rid of spray chemical cleaners and it made a world of difference with her daughter’s allergies.  At that time I was the queen of the blue spray glass cleaner, spraying it numerous times a day in our home to get rid of fingerprints on our glass tables.  Little did I know that it was going right into my little ones sensitive lungs and causing an asthmatic reaction.  When I switched to organic cleaners, her asthma immediately got better.  She still struggles with it if she gets a cold or during spring allergies, but she is no longer on inhalers year round.  I was amazed at what a difference switching up cleaners made in her health!

I am on a roll in making homemade cleaners as I am tired of paying the prices of organic cleaners.  I wanted an easy way to label them, so I got my daughters alphabet stamp kit out and made a bunch of labels.  More cleaning recipes to come!

Between my cancer history and my daughter’s health issues, I am passionate about getting as many chemicals out of our home as possible.  Making my own cleaners is a super easy way to make a HUGE difference in cleaning up the air in our home.

What about you?  Have you ever made your own cleaners?  Would you ever consider it?  Do chemicals in your home environment concern you?

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GF, Vegan & Raw/ RECIPES/ Sides

Quinoa & Black Bean Salad

I love it when I find a recipe that after tasting it, I immediately know it will be a recipe that I will be making and enjoying often.  This is one of those recipes.  A staple.

It uses quinoa, a grain (a seed, actually) that is gluten free and high in protein.  Quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids making it a complete protein. The addition of beans in this recipe makes it super healthful and full of protein.  It is a great example of how plant foods can be filling and make a full meal.

Quinoa is super easy to prepare.  It is very much like making rice, 2 parts liquid to one part quinoa.  The only difference is that you need to rinse quinoa to avoid a slight bitter taste.

Quinoa is super mild in flavor, and ends up taking on whatever flavor you add to it, again, much like rice.

Quinoa & Black Bean Salad
Yield: 10 servings
1 teaspoon vegetable oil {I used coconut oil}
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa {I used red quinoa}
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro {I skipped this}
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add the onion and pepper, and saute until lightly browned.  Mix in the garlic and heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Stir in the quinoa, then pour in the vegetable broth.  Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.  Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Stir in the frozen corn and continue to simmer about 5 more minutes, until heated through.  Remove from the heat and stir in the black beans and cilantro.  Serve warm or cold.

This recipe can be eaten warm, at room temperature, or cold.  It makes the perfect pot luck dish, and a great grain salad to keep in the refrigerator for a quick and filling lunch.

I like to take it to go in a small mason jar, and eat it outside, sitting in the springtime sun while writing.

Try it!  Let me know what you think.

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Brunch/ Mothers Day/ RECIPES

A Mother’s Day Breakfast-Coconut Crusted French Toast

Mother’s Day is a pretty special day for me.  Not only do I have the honer of being a mom, but I have some pretty special ladies in my life that I get to celebrate.  I know this is a gift.  I know there are many of you out there reading who don’t have Mothers around to celebrate, or babes who call you “Mom.” My thoughts have been with you this week as I prepare celebrating my own.
Today I did just that, and had my mother-in-law, Kathy, over for breakfast.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have her in my home and just enjoy some great talk time and good food!  She is always having the family over to her house, and is really good at entertaining, so it was much fun to have her to mine and serve her for once!
She is a coconut lover, so when I found this recipe for Coconut Crusted French Toast on Pinterest, I knew immediately who I would be making it for.  
Let me tell you, it is GOOD!
If you are a coconut fan, this recipe is a must make!  It uses coconut milk, coconut extract and shredded coconut.  I made it in a jiffy, and had everything ready to go when she arrived.  
{Isn’t she a beauty? Inside and out.}
This french bread is from Trader Joes.  It was perfect for this recipe.

Eggs, coconut milk, coconut extract and vanilla extract with a bit of salt.  Whisk.
Shredded coconut on a plate.  
Dip bread in egg mixture.  Press into coconut.  
Then make cook it just like you would normal french toast. 
Easy!
I added a nut mix, strawberries, & oranges to the table, rounding out the meal.

I picked some fresh roses from our bush outside.

We drank coffee and of course, lemon water!
Coconut Crusted French Toast

3 large eggs
3/4 cup lite coconut milk (canned or fresh)
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup shredded coconut
6 slices french bread, 1/2 inch slices
Butter, maple syrup

In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, coconut milk, coconut extract, vanilla extract, and salt.  Place the shredded coconut on a plate.  Dip both sides of each slice of bread into the egg mixture.  Dip both sides of the coated bread into the shredded coconut.  Drizzle a little egg mixture on top of the coconut to  make it stick to the bread.

Meanwhile, heat a large non-stick griddle to medium heat.  Cook the slices of bread until golden brown on one side and then turn and cook the other side.  Serve immediately of keep French toast warm in a 250 degree oven.

Serve with butter & pure maple syrup.

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I’ve learned creating meaningful memories takes little effort.
It just takes a bit of thought and follow through.  
Thank you, Kathy, for always being the one who works to have us over and make the memories.  
We’ve made so many good ones, haven’t we?
Thank you for coming to my house for breakfast and making some more.
I love you, and I’m so very blessed to have you as my Mom-in-Law!

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Beauty/ Frugal/ HEALTH/ HOME/ How-Tos/ RECIPES

Homemade Organic Eye Makeup Remover–Only 2 Ingredients!

I have never really been one to use eye makeup remover.  I usually would just wash my face and slap on moisturizer, then use a tissue + whatever moisturizer was on my face to swipe away the smudges.  But, as I am getting older, I really want to be more gentle with the sensitive skin around my eyes, and scrubbing off smudges just is not gentle.

I was excited to have Pot Holes & Pantyhose link up her DIY Organic Eye Makeup Remover at Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.  It is a simple, 2- ingredient, super pure and healthy recipe.  I made it myself and I am loving it!  Not only does it remove my eye make up beautifully, but it moisturizes the fragile skin around my eyes with wonderful, gentle organic ingredients.  I LOVE IT!

I found this little bottle at my local heath food store.  Same with the Almond Oil.  I have been finding all kinds of fun DIY beauty recipes that I will be trying, so in the future I am planning on using Mountain Rose Herbs as my one stop shop for organic ingredients and containers.

Mountain Rose Herbs. A herbs, health and harmony c

They carry all kinds of essential oils and butters.  They also have almond oil.  They have a wonderful reputation, so I feel very confident sharing their store with you all!
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Homemade Organic Eye Makeup Remover
{recipe makes 3.5 ounces}

4 TBLS Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 TBLS Organic Almond Oil

Using a funnel, pour ingredients into a container of your choice.  Use a small amount on a tissue or cotton ball and wipe that makeup away!

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Potholes and Pantyhose has the breakdown of the cost of this.  Let’s just say it is super cheap, especially compared to similar products in the store.  I am excited to have Almond Oil on hand as I am stumbling upon some great recipes that use it.  More to come!

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