Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

 I like to make cookies, but I really like eating them!  I am always looking for new recipes to try. This one sounded interesting and most importantly...easy.  I was a bit skeptical at first because there isn't flour in them, but they have turned out and are delicious every time. It is Gluten Free and also has a Vegan Option. 

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

• 3/4 c white sugar
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• 1 c peanut butter
• 1 egg (to replace the egg, combine 1T ground flax seeds + 3T warm water in a small bowl and stir.  Allow a "jelly" to form after a few minutes, and use this as your "egg")
• 1/2 t vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir by hand with a spoon. Form into 1" balls, I used a cookie scoop but sometimes I roll them in my hands, then place them on a cookie sheet.  With a fork, lightly press and make a criss-cross pattern, then sprinkle the tops with a little brown and white sugar.
Optional: you can roll them in a mixture of white and brown sugar instead of sprinkling just the tops.

GF Peanut Butter Cookies

Bake 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, until barely browned.  I take them out while they still look a little shiny and look like they aren't quite done. Then take them out of the oven and allow them to cool on the cookie sheet.  I get about 15-18 cookies.

~Simply Angie

This recipe adapted from loveveggiesandyoga.com

Cleaning Products

If you are new to natural products it can seem overwhelming at first. Here are some basic things you can start with.  As my sister and I discovered, this is a process and doesn't happen overnight. You can start small, and gradually make more of your own products to replace the expensive, commercial products. 

Here are some cheap and easy things to get you started with some basic cleaning products.

• vinegar and baking soda

Mix water and vinegar 50/50 in a spray bottle, I found spray bottles at the dollar store but you can find them just about anywhere.  Pour some baking soda in a shaker bottle, I use a glass sugar shaker I got at Wal-mart for .97.  (You can also re-purpose an empty Parmesan cheese shaker.) You can sprinkle this on any hard surface, toilet, counter tops, bathroom sink etc. You can either scrub with a sponge or rag with a little water or spray your vinegar mixture and rinse.  You can add essential oils to this if you don't like the vinegar smell, but once it dries the vinegar won't smell.

• Castile soap

We like Dr. Bronner's but there are others. Target has this in the cosmetics area, on a bottom shelf but grocery stores have it also and can be ordered online too. There are many uses for this, including hair and body soap, but that will be a blog another day.  You don't need to use much, it is very concentrated.  It comes in bars or liquid and comes in several different scents and also unscented.  Fill a spray bottle with water and add a few squirts of soap.  Now you have a multipurpose cleaner.  If you buy the unscented soap you can add a little Tea Tree oil, this is a great disinfectant usually found in the vitamin aisle at most  stores.  * Note: Don't mix vinegar with the castile soap; they don't mix well. 

• Essential oils, these can be ordered online or found in most stores.  They come in lots of scents so pick what you like. Tea Tree is a good one to have on hand, it is also used as a disinfectant.  I also use sweet orange, lemon and peppermint a lot.  You can add these to your homemade dish soap, laundry soap and cleaning sprays.

We will have more ideas and products to make coming soon, but this will start you on your way to a more Simple Homemade life!

 Angie

Some ideas adapted from liverenewed.com

Clementine Muffins

I bought a bunch of clementines when they were on sale but after eating several of them, I had about 10 left and found an interesting recipe adapted from smittenkitchen.com that I wanted to try. Boil the clementines whole, in their skins, covered in water about an hour...I know.. I really didn't believe it until I did it. Don't forget to remove stems and stickers. Drain and puree in a food processor or blender. I got about 3 cups; I froze 2 and saved 1 to use in the clementine muffins.

Here's the recipe:

In a medium bowl mix:

• 1 c of puree
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 c milk
• 2/3 c sugar
• 4 T melted butter
• 2 T canola oil, you could also just use all butter
• 1 t vanilla

In a large bowl sift together:

• 2 c flour
• 1T baking powder
• 1 t. salt

Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients, mix together just until the dry ingredients are moistened.  You will have some lumps. Fill 12 muffin cups.  Bake 400 degrees about 14-20 minutes depending on your oven.  A toothpick should come out clean when they are done.

Enjoy!

~Simply Angie

Burritos

On those nights when I don't really feel like cooking I make burritos. Sometimes we put the mixture in tortillas. Many of the ingredients are optional it just depends on what you like.

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked rice
3 T lime juice
Chopped cilantro or about 1/4 cup (more or less to your taste)

* If you use chicken, beef or buffalo, cook them your favorite way or use leftovers. I sometimes use chicken leftovers after we have had roasted chicken the night before. Then on the third day I make chicken soup (and freeze some of the stock for next time!)  Sorry I started rambling!

Seasoning:
1 garlic clove, cut into small pieces
2 T finely chopped onion
3 T chili powder
1 tsp oregano
salt and pepper to taste

1 cup cooked black beans or 1 (15 oz) can black beans (rinsed and drained)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or your favorite cheese
1 diced tomato
shredded lettuce
1/4 cup black olives (sliced)
Salsa
Plain yogurt or sour cream

Mix the seasoning with your meat selection in a pan or if you aren't using meat, mix with the black beans and simmer for about 15 minutes; I usually add about 1/4 cup water. We layer our on plates starting with the cilantro rice. Then we add the beans and meat, and choose our other garnishes, the cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and olives. I like to top mine with salsa and plain yogurt.

Love and peace,
Tammi