Happy Halloween, I’m Back!

I’m not going to write a long post apologizing for being absent in the blogging world.
It’s simple. I was spending too much time on my laptop, and not getting things done. I had to ‘unplug’ (although not a full unplug…). I was feeling overwhelmed with everything I wanted to get done, and the reality of what wasn’t getting done.
Good news- things are getting done! I have been “crafting away” my stash slowly but surely, finding egg-free meals for my allergic toddlers, settling into a cleaning routine, spending time with family, and much, much more!
Here’s to new beginnings!

(These hats were crocheted using Jack and Mr. Boo patterns from achickwsticks.com. (Personal mods on both.)
Happy Halloween!

Egg-Free Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

I found this recipe at Don't Waste The Crumbs before we knew we had an egg allergy in the house. Let me tell you, these muffins are awesome. I am not very good at eating breakfast, when these were in the freezer- I had breakfast almost everyday until they were gone. They are that good!

They are also better in the nutrition department. Tiffany uses oat flour. She shows you how to make your own. Don't panic, its easy.

If you don't have an egg allergy in the house go try her recipe.

There are many (too many) substitutes for eggs. A common one for baking is apple sauce. Sometimes it works, sometimes your baked goods taste like crap. I was a little tired of having one out of three baking recipes tasting good, so I did not use applesauce this time.

For this recipe I tried the flax seed route. I'm not sure why, but I have been intimidated by flax seed. What is this stuff? I had the fear that everything would taste cardboard healthy.

I figured that since the muffins taste great with oat flour (not cardboard healthy), I should try ground flax seed as an egg substitute.

Its easy. First mix your egg substitute. 1 Tablespoon of ground flax seed and 3 Tablespoons of water for each egg. Mix it up. Let it sit for two to five minutes. While it is sitting I get out the rest of the ingredients. Then I start mixing, adding the flax seed mixture where the eggs are needed.

This recipe makes 18 muffins. Since I was making them for the littles, I made some mini-muffins. The recipe made 24 mini-muffins, and 9 regular muffins.

That's mama muffin, with her twin little muffins. (Maybe I need a nap.)

I let them cool completely, then put in a freezer bag and freeze. When we want a muffin, we pop one out and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds for a large muffin, and 15 for a mini-muffin.

The verdict:
These are wonderful! This is going to be an egg-free go-to favorite! My wheels are spinning. Maybe I could add cocoa powder, make them double chocolate. Maybe I could use zucchini instead of bananas. What about apples...

Have you discovered any egg-free secrets? I would love to hear them all!

Family Favorite Peanut Butter Pie

Are you busy?

Me too. Most of my cooking and baking as of late seems to be quick, easy, and cheap. On top of that, I am trying to become more educated and accomplished at egg-free cooking.

Want a yummy, quick, egg-free desert that your family will request over and over again? Try this peanut butter pie. (I found this recipe online a couple years back, and unfortunately didn't write down the source.)

The ingredient list is simple, I almost always have everything in my pantry or freezer.

Are you ready?

Peanut Butter Pie

1 graham cracker crust (I use chocolate)
1/2 cup peanut butter (usually I use crunchy, this time I used creamy so the twins could have some)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 block of cream cheese (4 ounces), softened
1 8 ounce tub of whipped topping (like Cool-Whip), thawed
handful of crushed chocolate chips (optional, I run mine through the food processor)


Combine peanut butter, powdered sugar, and cream cheese. Beat until creamy and well combined. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into crust. Top with crushed chocolate chips. Freeze for at least 12 hours. Slice up and serve.

I will not judge if you refrain from letting your family know what's in the freezer....

Linking up here.

Where Did Summer Go?

Summer has flown right on by! It seems like we are always busy. We have been enjoying the weather. I have been experimenting in the kitchen (trying my hand at egg-free cooking, successful recipes coming soon). Hubby finished the tree house. The boys are very efficient at walking, in fact they are almost running. And, I have been (slowly) plugging away at my to-dos.

Here's a little update on last month's goals:

1. Work on purging computer room. I had a very successful week with this last month. Plan to finish it this month.
2. Focus on daily cleaning habits. We started a chore chart for the kids, so some cleaning habits of mine were worked on too. Need much work in this area. Ongoing.
3. Make a 30 meal list. I wrote down some of our favorite meals. Tried some new ones. Now I need to compile them all in a binder to make meal planning a little easier.
4. Start journals. Nope, not yet.
5. Read to boys everyday. Overall I was pretty good at this.Ongoing.
6. Continue to get up early. Was good for a while, then started slacking. Needs work. Ongoing.
7. Sew, and crochet. I was very good at this last month. Ongoing.
8. Start etsy shop. Just need to take that leap, and list.
9. Make two Christmas presents. Nope, not yet.
10. Look for dress to make, start making. Did it (nap time dress). Would like to make another dress if time allows.

This month's goals:

1. Finish computer room.
2. Establish cleaning routines.
3. Complete meal binder.
4. Complete and write in journals.
5. Continue reading to boys everyday.
6. Establish regular wake time.
7. Continue to use up craft stash.
8. Make two Christmas presents. Find stocking pattern.
9. Start on boy's Halloween costumes.
10. List in etsy shop.

Does goal setting work for you? How do you manage those massive to-do lists?

Weekly

I have a confession...I get distracted easily.

What! You already knew that! Hmm...  As long as we are on the same page.

So where have I been and what have I been doing? I have been working on my to-dos. I have been experimenting in the kitchen (looking for egg-free recipes that taste good, so stay tuned). I have been sewing and crocheting. The cleaning (bare-minimum) has been getting done. The girls and I have been crafting. Whew, I'm exhausted!

Anyways, how did I do on my goals this week?

1. Resume!  This is a scratch off the list because it is not something that I have to do, and it just depresses me that I haven't done it yet.
2. Make journals for the men in my life. Well...I pulled out the notebooks, just have not wrote in them yet.
3. Find 7-10 meals for 30 meal list. Involve the family. I needed to start on this, so I started brainstorming (writing things down fast, then I may have misplaced my list...). I have a list of about 12 meals, and many more to jot down.
4. List items in etsy shop. Have not done this yet.
5. Finish computer room. I have not touched the computer room after my long session a couple of weeks ago.
6. Make journals for my men.  Oops, looks like I didn't proofread too well last week. Guess I get to scratch something off :)
7. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths. *Find dress to make. I cut a bunch of bibs and burp cloths out. I sewed about 4 or 5 of each. The girls wanted to make headbands, so I'm counting those too. And I made a dress! Not 100% from scratch, but I made it and I wear it!
8. Crochet 2 dishcloths. I crocheted 2 and a half. Just need to weave in ends. (Such an easy job yet I always put it off.) 
9. Continue reading to the boys everyday. Did not do too well this week.
10. Make 2 Christmas presents. I did not do any Christmas presents this week. We did work on my bead and fabric stash. I think crafting with the girls is a good excuse for not crossing something off my list. (And I gave them ideas of Christmas presents they can make.)

This weeks goals:

1. Write in journals.
2. Sew 2 headbands, 2 bibs, and 2 burp cloths.
3. Crochet 2 dishcloths.
4. Read to the boys everyday.
5. Work on meal list, and organizing recipes.
6. List something in etsy shop.
7. FINISH computer room.
8. Use up massive zucchini that were given to us. Document recipes that work.
9. Go through one shelf of bookshelf.
10. Get up by 6:30 each weekday morning.

Do you make weekly goals? Any tips for accomplishing them?

p.s. monthly checkup will be posted tomorrow

Egg-Free Peanut Butter Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Hubby has been asking for oatmeal raisin cookies, with peanut butter.

Lets make hubby his cookies, and go one step further- and make them egg-free for the boys. Keep in mind that egg-free is not my area of expertise yet, I'm still learning.

Here's the concoction (with my verdict following):

Egg-Free Peanut Butter Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1/2 cup butter, room temp.
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil (this is the egg substitute)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon (or more if you'd like)
1 1/2 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy (if for littles use smooth)
1 1/2 cup flour
4 cups oatmeal
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 375.
Mix together butter and sugar.
Add vegetable oil and vanilla.
Mix in baking soda, salt, cinnamon, peanut butter, and flour.
Stir in oatmeal.
Incorporate raisins.
Scoop out on ungreased cookie sheet. Smoosh with a fork (not necessary, but I love it!)Bake for 10-15 minutes. Until edges are golden.

Verdict: This is not a chewy cookie. I was expecting a chewy oatmeal raisin type of cookie. They were soft with good flavor; unless let in the oven too long. They crumbled. Pull these babies out as soon as the edges start to turn gold. Overall, these are pretty good (especially if you have egg allergies). I will be trying different substitutions; I would like to cut back the oil necessary.

*I am not a chef, baker, or professional recipe writer- just a mama who won't let allergies tie us down. If there are any mistakes in the recipe, please let me know so I can fix them.

Nap time Dress

Most of you mamas know. Once you have littles, you rarely sew, or craft, for yourself.

One of my 30 by 30 goals (#29) is to make a dress and wear it.

Well, I made a dress. I made a dress using what I had in my stash. (I may be a craft hoarder...)

I sorta followed this tutorial by Maggie of Smashed Peas and Carrots. If you looked at Maggie's and are wondering, no I'm not preggers (she made it as a maternity dress). I had this dress hanging out in my favorites since before my pregnancy with the boys. There are many dresses in Pinterest world similar to this one, but I figured 'I liked it two years ago- lets make this my first.'

Sorry, I don't have any in process pictures, or before pictures for that matter. Just follow the tute. Its pretty good.

The few things I did different:

• I skipped hemming the bottom of the top, and top of the bottom (confused yet?) before sewing to the elastic. I was trying to accomplish this during nap time, and since it was for me- I figured it would be okay.
• I used Marissa's tutorial for easy gathering. I AM SOLD! Every time I try to gather, I get so frustrated because my threads break. This girl is a genius!
• I made a sash, and tacked it on. I didn't care for the look of the white elastic (next time I'll dye it). I think it made me look fluffy. After I hemmed the bottom to the length I wanted, I used that strip to make a sash, and tacked it down in a couple of places. This seemed to tame down the midsection fluff.

Are you ready? Here it is:

What do you think? I'm hooked, I want to make more dresses. If you have any favorite 'nap time' dress tutorials, please share.