We’ve been busy…
Mat is out in the woods all day and night boiling the last of this years sap to make some excellent maple syrup. My boys and I occupied ourselves with a new project today and needed some vegan and gluten free treats.
First, I found this:
Healthier Peanut Butter Balls
Second, I found this:
The Ultimate Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
My boys and I made the peanut butter balls and cut the sugar in half, as I do with most recipes. It turned out not as yummy as I thought it should be. Then we made the cookies. I didn’t cut the sugar in half because of my peanut butter ball mistake. I wish I had (a good excuse to make them again). They did turn out rather yummy, so I wanted to share what I did for all my gluten free loved ones…
Directions: Coat pecans in tiny amount of oil, a touch of maple syrup and a sprinkle of salt. Toast pecans on a baking pan for 10 minutes. Let them cool. Put in a blender until coarsely chopped (put only half in at a time if you have a small blender). Combine flour, baking soda, 1 cup oats, cinnamon, and sugar. Add the nuts to the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, melt the coconut oil, then add maple syrup, almond milk, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. Stir in the remaining 1 cup of oats and the raisins. Make a ball with the dough, put it on the cookie sheet and flatten it. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes before putting on a cooling rack. This made about 26 medium sized cookies.
This follows the original recipe quite closely, so much thanks to ohsheglows.com, a website I plan to visit again.
It hit the 55 degrees mark today. That means we pull out the shorts and T-shirt and go BBQ in Minnesota, don’t ‘cha know. Now that spring might poke its buds out, I’m thinking of warm weather food.
This is one of my favorite snacks. It doesn’t require baking and is stored in the fridge. That makes it perfect for those stuffy hot days. Enjoy!
Click here to see the recipe
What a great afternoon on the farm. Four eager fellow homeschool kids and there dad packed onto the four wheeler with Peter and made their way to the sugarbush to collect sap, chop up trees, talk about science projects, and watch Mat boil down maple syrup. Mat enjoyed the company in the lonely woods.
A few hours after the kids headed home, it was our turn to go help. The best way to get the trailer, pans, buckets, etc was to bring the four wheeler back to the sugarbush, so I decided the three boys and I would try to save Mat some time and bring it to him. A beginner on the ATV, I wasn’t sure I could drive with one hand and hold a baby in the other. We got up the 1/4 mile wet and sloppy driveway just fine, then I saw the field all covered in snow where Mat drove into a four foot plus snow bank just a week before and had to abandon for a few days until rain came. I told the boys, “I don’t think I can do this. Maybe we should just leave it here for daddy.” Silas and Peter said, “You can do it Mommy!” They had no doubts. What an encouragement! As I look back on that moment and the feeling it gave me to try, though I was certain I would fail, I am so proud of my boys.
Well, we made it without getting stuck. I still can’t believe it considering the muddy holes and ridges of snow. I even got to see the pit Mat sunk into, though it is only three feet high now.
My body is tired, yet I’m so energized at the accomplishment of today. It’s like jumping that next highest hurdle. All the while hearing, “You can do it Mommy.”
May we be encouragers. My little boys, made in the image of God, were able to encourage in one small phrase. What a beautiful feeling they gave me in just a few words.
At last the chickens get some sunshine!
Finally we have some open ground for the chickens to get out on. We were hoping Continue reading
It is not February 23, though it does look like it outside. I’m glad I didn’t realize I was reading the wrong devotional. This is what I read this morning:
“The gospel gap doesn’t stay empty. If we do not live with a gospel-shaped, Christ-confident, and change-committed Christianity, that hole will get filled with other things… Whenever we are missing the message of Christ’s indwelling work to progressively transform us, the hole will be filled by a Christian lifestyle that focuses more on externals than the heart.”
Written by Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp quoted from Heart of the Matter, a great devotional book. Find it on page 54 if you have it.
It was 4 degrees when I woke up this morning. Needless to say, I’ve been trying to heat up the house with some baked goods. We have an abundance of apples for some reason. No worries because we all seem to love them. I thought it would be fun to try some baked to see if the kids like them.
I haven’t made them more than a few times and can’t remember the last time I ate one. What a surprise when my tummy felt warm and satisfied. Have you ever gotten that hearty, healthy, satisfied feeling from food? Mmm. These were good.
Righteous Oaks Farm 