Simple DF Ranch Dressing (otherwise known as 'The Reason My Kids Eat Raw Vegetables')

This recipe was given to me by my friend, Eileen (thanks, Eileen!!!). I keep a container of it in the fridge, alongside containers of cut-up broccoli, thinly sliced carrot sticks & sliced cucumbers. The kids pack their own lunches, and they never "forget" to add vegetables if this dip is on hand.

Combine and whisk:
2 cups mayo (Best foods or Costco's Kirkland Brand)
Juice of 1 large lemon 
6-8 cloves of garlic, pressed through garlic press
4 tablespoons finely chopped onion (I'm pretty generous with the onion & don't measure)
1/2 to 1 teaspoons of salt to taste
pepper to taste (1/2 teaspoon) 
a pinch of cayenne (I've put this in and left it out - kids ate it either way)

You will need to add a bit of liquid at this point to thin it to your desired consistency. Things I've used in the past:
    - squeeze another lemon (or half) into it
    - add some milk, milk alternative or cream, a bit at a time, whisk 
    -  use a food processor to process your onion instead of finely chopping so it releases more juice. A good alternative if your kids won't be receptive to finely chopped onion in the dip.

Eileen's recipe also called for 4 teaspoons dill, but I don't add that because I have two very picky tasters. For them, simpler is better.

You may want to 1/2 this recipe if you have a smaller family.

Can you think of other tasty ways to thin it? Let me know in the comments. 

Gluten Free Pancakes - pretty delicious

I am making a double batch of these this morning: 
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2011/08/karinas-gluten-free-pancakes.html

My daughter, Emi, says these are the best pancakes ever, and I agree. They don't fall apart or get soggy in syrup like some gf pancakes can.

And for the wheat kids, I am trying out a pancake recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook.

I make a bunch, freeze them, and the kids have fresh toaster pancakes for a couple of weeks.

Dessert for Breakfast - Cinnamon Doughnut Muffins

I made wheat muffins for some high schoolers this morning, and then adapted this recipe for my kid's breakfast. These are a treat...not healthy enough for every day. I'll end up making them more healthy for everyday eating, but if you are looking for a treat you can whip up with pantry ingredients, this is a good one. 

Preheat your oven to 375.

Combine:
1/2 cup liquid oil (melted butter or earthbalance, vegetable oil or olive oil)
1 c sugar (I reduced this to 3/4 cup, but some gf flours taste funny without enough sugar)
1.5 t nutmeg
1 egg (could leave this out if you need to)

Mix in:
1 c milk (I used 1/2 almond milk & 1/2 heavy whipping cream :D because Emilie tolerates the cream)

Mix in:
2 cups flour (I used 1 c brown rice flour, 1/2 c sorghum flour, 1/2 c tapioca starch & 1/2 c potato starch)
1 teaspoon xantham gum
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt (could leave this out if making with wheat flour)

Bake at 375 for 17 minutes till toothpick comes out clean.

Melt butter or df margarine (1/4 to 1/2 cup).

Dip muffin tops in butter, then in cinnamon sugar (1 c sugar to 2 teaspoons cinnamon)

Enjoy! (my kids sure did:)

Notes: Next time I will use all almond milk & replace some sugar with something else (not sure what yet), and replace the tapioca and potato starches with brown rice flour to see if I can make it more healthy but still delicious.

Goings On

Look at this almost full-grown person! Hard to believe. Taylor's in choir (where they have attractive well-fitting choir uniforms! a first.) It was a great concert - full of folk songs - and we got to sing along on many. It was pretty fun, except for the jazz choir, where the girls were dressed in, well, not much. I'd have taken a picture, but this is a family site. What in the world?!

Here is my mama's bruised face from when she got ran over by a car. It looks much better, but you can see she hit pretty much one whole side of her face on the concrete.

 Emi is taking cello - loves it.

Dennis & I having some alone time.

Saturday Farmer's Market in Edmonds with the girls.

At Bite of Broadview. Rides, some fair food, music, friends, all 5 minutes from our house. Our version of the fair this year.

 Dennis is ready to go home. :) 

 Tyson's favorite ride. He likes to go fast.