When you can't decide what to cook............

I recently missed an important doctors appointment. I received a phone call Thursday afternoon to reschedule my follow up visit from my stomach surgery, it was on Monday and I had forgotten. After being put to sleep I never remember anything, not that I did before either. We call my palm my brain because if it's not in there it usually doesn't happen! The appointment never made it on my palm so I didn't show up.

I have had a hard time deciding what to cook lately; meal preparation has become a true chore. I use to watch Food Network all the time but quit because all I wanted to do was cook and eat. The cooking wasn't so bad but I was gaining weight because of the eating. So today I turned Food Network back on and watched several episodes then got up and cook a delicious supper. I had a roast seasoned with salt and pepper only baking in the crock-pot for my meat (pictured above). To go with it I melted 1/2 stick of butter in a baking dish and tossed in potatoes and carrots with salt, pepper and parsley for seasoning. I baked this until good and tender and then baked biscuits and made fried apples (recipe below) to go with them. I'm thankful for Food Network and I know Steve and the kids are too. If you ever have a hard time deciding what to cook just turn on Food Network, you will be inspired!

When you read this I'll be packed up and leaving for the Delta. We are moving equipment to begin harvest there this next week. I am traveling along in my car so that I can come home when I need to. My Dad and I plan to attend a family reunion in Alabama on Labor Day.

Fried Apples

Ingredients:
¼ c. butter
5 lg. granny smith apples; peeled, cored & sliced (or the apple of your choice here I used some leftover Fuji's and they were great)
1 c. sugar ( I didn't use this much sugar, it's your decision)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

Instructions:
Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Saute 15 to 20 minutes or until apples are tender.

A Great Big THANKS to all my Avon Customers!

I have made the final decision to stop selling Avon as of September 23 and Lena (Gauntt) Dawkins will be taking over my customers. This came after MUCH thinking and prayers because Avon does not fit in my future plans. For those of you I have serviced through the years THANK YOU! It has been fun.

Enough Harmful Stuff to Kill Me!

Ashia and I at her shower.


In my last blog I said I would share more about Ashia's recent shower in Jackson. It was given by her step-mother and attended by her family on her Dad's side and it was very nice. We appreciate the acts of kindness from all the family members. She received many wonderful items that will be used and treasured for years to come. If you attended or had any part in this a big thanks to you!

I am especially thankful that I was able to attend and see many family members that I have not seen in years!!! WOW what a blessing!! We laughed and talked about the old days. It's funny I look back to years ago before I was diagnosed with Celiac, the Lord was merciful because I ate enough harmful stuff to kill me. Not that I didn't suffer but I'm still here! Ashia's aunts and I were talking we use to stand at the bar in the kitchen, never mind sitting down we couldn't fill our plates fast enough that way, so we would stand and eat constantly. No wonder I eventually had a weight problem and had to go on a diet.

Here are a few photos that I wanted to share with you.




Ashia with the food, I really appreciated the fruit tray and dip!



Ashia holding a print of Austin that her step-mother framed for her and the frame matches Austin's room.



I thought this was cute, Ashia is trying out the burp cloths. I guess to see if they will fit her shoulder?


Ashia asked me to take photos with her camera, never mind that I've never used it before. When I made that comment she said that I needed to practice because I'm going to take photos when the baby comes. Do you know how upset my daughter will be if I mess up all the photos of her baby's birth? So this was the first photo that I took, not bad huh? After this one the others were all blurred until she put it on auto, sorry Ash maybe I do need practice.



To see all of the photos from Ashia's shower go to http://ashiacole.blogspot.com/

I have had a sinus headache for days. I don't know just what's going on out there but every time I go out my head starts hurting and sometimes hurts way into the night. Some nights I get very little sleep due to the intense sinus pain, so I am reaalllyyyy tired and ready for a break!

I can't believe how fast time flies the older I get the faster it passes by. It will soon be fall and our summer will be over. I enjoy reading about your summers, it makes me feel like I've gone on vacation with you. I am more excited about this fall than normal because it means the birth of Austin then our baby in Indiana. I've got to give Mary a call and see if baby George has a name? I call him baby George because his Dad's name is George and until this he is the only male in their small family unit!

About eating gluten-free, ok let's see if I can make an excuse. Due to being really busy, lazy, or let's just say uninterested I haven't cooked anything new or worth blogging this week. I made spaghetti but thanks to Great Value's Gluten-Fee Spaghetti Sauce I made a quick version. Really I have been gone daily until late in the afternoon and it's hard for me to run in and cook a gourmet meal, so we've ate simple this week.

Please continue to watch my blog because I promise to give recipes and hints on how to live Gracefully Gluten-Free.

Love to you friend!

Easy Gluten Free Hamburger Steak

Hey friends, I tried something new this week and it was easy and good, my favorite combination. I wanted a chicken fried steak but thicker like hamburger steak. So I took my hamburger and patted it out in hamburger steak like patties then pressed it into "Bob Mills Gluten Free All Purpose Flour. In the past I've used a combination of flours but this time I only used this one seasoned with a good bit of salt and pepper. They turned out brown and crunchy outside with a soft juicy inside. Due to calories we ate them plain instead of with gravy and I served them with creamed potatoes and green peas. They were wonderful and we ate every single one before I realized I had not taken a photo. Sorry, just picture what I am talking about.

While I was in Florence for Ashia's baby shower I ran across these in my computer case. I had forgotten that Mary had given them to me, but not anymore they are framed and up in our living room. I'm looking forward to our new babies, but I love my big girls!!!

This was taken at school right after Alayna's bicycle accident in the Spring.

Emma's pre-kinder photo.

Emma's graduation from pre-kinder photo. I hate we missed it, we were planning to be there. :( Maybe we can be there for her next graduation!

 

Samuel David Prystupa

On the way to Florence we stopped by my cousins to borrow a cradle for Ashia to use when Austin first gets here. Sam was not impressed with the cradle at all so maybe Austin will like it. I have seen Sam and heard over facebook how wonderful he is to cuddle and I was able to experience this first hand. After he ate and played for a while he nuzzled his head into the side of my neck and went sound asleep. He is so funny he has to have his face completely buried in something to sleep, if I moved him from my neck he tried to get under my arm. I decided the neck was the better of the two, so with sweat on my neck and his face Sam took a nap.

It is hard for Dad to cook for me, he can't get use to what I can and can not have, and I think he just looks forward to eating out so when I'm there we do a lot of it.

Sunday morning I was going to attend church and lunch with my Dad then pick up Ashia from her Dad's and head home. Wrong again! Ashia woke up Sunday morning feeling bad, I think she was overtired, and so her Dad and step-mom brought her to meet me and we headed home. Spending time with my Dad and seeing some of the Thompson's after all these years was fun, but it's great to be back with Steve on the farm again.

Ashia will be blogging about the baby shower soon and I will probably include some of the photos next time. Until then try to eat Gracefully Gluten Free!!!

At It Again!!!

I have had a great week. Life is Good!




This is my girls first day of school. For those of you who are not friends with Mary and have not see this photo. Emma (on the left) started Kindergarten. Alayna (on the right) started second grade. They are growing up really fast and making room for a new baby brother in December! YEAH!!!!




Ben and Ashia ate supper with us and Ashia got up from the table and started baking. She, Ben and Steve enjoyed the "Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting". I enjoyed my chocolate ice cream. :(

Ben, Ashia and I went to see what Austin is going to look like. I really think her strongest features are from Ben, but then when watching the video after we got home I saw some of Ashia in her also. If you would like to view some of the photos click here. It pays to follow Ashia's blog she will keep you posted on her progress.




Ashia had another Doctor's appointment the next day and we made time to do a little shopping. Here are two more outfits that I have bought Baby George. (our Indiana baby) Aren't they cute?



They even came with matching wooden hangers, as you see over this onsie. I was hoping that I could find something with Grandpa on it but Grandma will have to do for now. I'm still looking though, I know I can get a Grandpa something at John Deere!

Ashia has her first baby shower this weekend in Jackson so keep up with her blog I'm sure she'll post photos.

Gluten-Free Oven Barbacue Baked Ribs & Southern Fried Okra

We are home from the Delta once again. I get confused because there are dear people in both of these communities so home for me truly is where the heart is and that's Macon/Inverness! Steve has been irrigating beans and cleaning up around the place and I cleaned up inside our castle (camper). I enjoyed updating everything on the internet that I needed to, my connection there was super fast and I miss it sooo much. They must have added a tower to the Inverness area or something, really guys I thought I was in a big city and I was sitting in a camper on our farm! :)


While in Inverness we frequently visit our favorite restaurant, "Hometown" not to mention it is the ONLY restaurant in the area! This trip Steve bought me a t-shirt that I will enjoy wearing in the days to come. Don't judge me until you have been there! It is like eating in the comforts of our own home, except for Steve won't allow me to wear my pajamas. Lol

Before we left Macon my Dad was visiting and he brought me some fresh vegetables out of his garden. I have listed two of the recipes below that I think you may be interested in, they were wonderful!

I cook these ribs pretty often and EVERYONE loves them This works with beef ribs as well as pork.




Oven Barbecued Ribs

Ingredients:
3-4 lbs. country style pork ribs
1 ½ cups water
1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1 tbs. chilli powder
½ tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. hot pepper sauce optional
2 TBLS. brown sugar optional
2 TBLS. cider vinegar optional
1 TBLS corn syrup optional

Instructions:
Place ribs in a greased roasting pan. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; cook for 1-minute. Drain ribs. Spoon sauce over top. Cover and bake for 1-1/2 hours. Uncover, bake 30 minutes longer, basting once with more sauce.



Southern Fried Okra
Ingredients:

Okra
buttermilk; sprinkle a small amount on Okra to moisten
all purpose flour (I use Bob Mills)
plain corn meal
Canola oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Wash and cut up the okra, let drain in a colander. Add oil to deep pan measure according to how much you are going to fry. You want enough to cover the okra. Put on medium to high heat. Mix dry ingredients well. Sprinkle okra with just enough buttermilk to give some moisture, don't put to much or it will be gummy, mix well. Sprinkle moist okra with dry mixture and toss to coat then spoon into hot oil. Fry until golden brown and ENJOY!!!!

This was so good, Ashia was there while I was cooking it and we snacked until I had to hide it so I would have enough for supper.

I hope there is something in this post you enjoy. Leave me a comment so I will know that you read it! Plleeaassee

A Birthday and Baby Celebration!

First things first, Ashia and I recently went shopping and I was able to look at the baby boy clothes. I have been looking for a while but agreed with Mary that I wouldn't buy until we knew the sex of the baby. I was sooo excited and determined to find SOMETHING to purchase. This may have been harder for me than most because I have this theory that if it's not on sale it's not meant for me to buy it. Just so happened Gymboree had two clearance racks of little boy clothes and this is what I ended up buying. Isn't it the cutest? I bought it in a 6 to 12 month so that he can wear it next summer! Of course Ashia bought a few things for Austin as well, oh how I love a good sale!!!!





We celebrated Steve's birthday with my Dad who came for a short visit. I made the apple pie I told you about and have listed the recipe below. Ben and Ashia bought the ingredients and made homemade peanut butter ice cream. They also cooked large juicy hamburgers out on the grill and I made crispy oven fries. Everything was wonderful and we ate way too much!

Steve enjoyed everything about his birthday. As a birthday and new baby celebration I gave him this book. It is very large with large print and has a lot of the classic nursery rhymes as well as short stories. This is something he can share with all of his grandchildren for many years, no matter how bad the eyes get. LoL I bet you have never given your husband a nursery rhyme book for his birthday! Classic





Ben and Steve, with Sydney. She is so jealous of Steve she'll do anything to make sure she gets all the attention.




And she did!!!!!

This years birthday would only have been better if Mary and Sarah and their families could have been with us. We miss all of them at times like this although Steve enjoyed their cards and phone calls! We love you kids!!!!!

Grace's Gluten-Free Apple Pie

Servings: 8

Ingredients:
5-8 cooking apples; peeled and thinly sliced
1-¼ c. sugar
2 Tbs. corn starch
1 or 1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. nutmeg, opt.
1/8 tsp. salt
3 Tbs. butter or margarine
2 gluten-free pie crust (I use "Gluten Free Pantry"
Perfect Pie Crust mix)

Instructions:
Combine sugar, corn starch, cinnamon and salt. Coat apples well with dry mixture and dot with margarine. Put apple mixture into the deep dish pie crust. Cover with second crust. Cut slits in top of crust to allow steam to escape. Place on cookie sheet and back at 350 degrees oven for 50 minutes or until done. Cool slightly before cutting to retain some of the pie's juices.
(I'm sorry I forgot to take a photo!)


The pie lasted only two days so I guess it was good!

Coming soon recipe for my "Oven Barbecued Ribs". Be sure and keep up with what is going on in our lives and my easy gluten-free recipes!

Never Doubt the Intuition of a Mother!

God has blessed me with a great friend and companion and this weekend is his birthday! I am planning a small celebration and will be baking him an Apple pie, Steve's favorite. Since it's his birthday and not mine I'll use regular pie crust and not gluten-free ones. Read my next blog for photos of the celebration and a recipe of my Gluten-Free Apple pie


Mary called her Dad with a wonderful birthday gift, she is going to have a baby boy, it is due in December! This will be our first grandson and I don't know about the others but I'm ecstatic and I know grandpa is too! I'm sure we'll buy MANY a John Deere toy in the future, what am I thinking we bought them for our girls too. The boy will just enjoy playing with them more!!!! For those new blog readers Mary is our oldest daughter who lives in Southern Indiana. Her and her husband George already have two girls.

It is so weird because all along I have told the family to get ready this was going to be a boy. I just had that feeling deep down inside of me, a Mother's intuition I guess. In the past I have visioned Ben and Ashia or Eric and Sarah with a boy but never George and Mary!

I was recently sick all night with a migraine thank the Lord I had medicine on hand so I made it through the night but could not get rid of the headache. After two days of suffering I went to the Doctor. She seems to think it's all because of my allergies so she gave me some medicine and a shot, I sure hope I feel better soon.

Harvest has began and we are picking or shelling corn in Macon now. This means long days because when the corn is ready we pick regardless of what's going on. We take time off for church on Sunday and that's about it. Harvest should be over sometimes in October just in time for the arrival of Austin Rivers, I hope. Maybe I'll have photos to post of our harvesting at a later date!

Enjoy your week-end I know I'll enjoy mine!!!!

Pamela's Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies at Wal-mart!

I am beginning to feel better after my last surgery procedure, thank the Lord. There is so much going on in my life right now that my head is spinning but life goes on.

Mary and Ashia continue to do well. Ashia is big enough with Austin now that she is miserable. She goes back to the doctor for a 3-D sonogram in a few weeks and we're excited to be able to see more of our precious little one. Mary should know whether she is having a boy or girl in a few weeks also. When I count the weeks I can't believe how soon our two blessings will arrive! I know it does't seem so soon for the mothers.

I have been selling Avon for over a year now but I am seriously considering giving it up. I love Avon products and use MANY of them but I'm just too busy and I feel there will soon be many changes in my life, that don't include selling Avon. So, if you order from me or need something give me a call now so that we can get it done before I decide to quit.

Harvest on the farms is right around the corner and we will be busy as always. I don't know why I'm thinking about it we're always busy on the farm so harvest is just another day in paradise.

Now to get on with some gluten free info......



Sunday I had to run by wal-mart after church to pick up a few items. I was on the cookie isle and noticed that they now have "Pamela's Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies" and they also have a ginger snap that is good but I've forgotten the brand name. I'm sorry those things happen to me Thank you Wal-mart and please feel free to stock other Pamela products they are some of the best!

It is amazing how you notice things. I never notice anything and I can walk by something glute-free and it's like it jumps out at me. I know I miss a lot but I notice a whole lot too.




I am a General Mills type of girl. They are the only company that I know of making cereal that are catering to the gluten free community. I enjoy the different Chex cereals and wish I could find the new Cookie Crisp that is gluten free also.

Check this web page out http://glutenfreefoodreviews.com/ it is a great source of information on restaurants and food in general.

If you are not gluten sensitive or do not have celiac feel free to purchase any of these foods, we would appreciate your support!!!!