Elise friendly blueberry muffins!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup soy or rice milk
2 cups fresh blueberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Line muffin cups with paper liners or spray with nonstick spray.
3. Mix all ingredients together until moistened.
4. Divide batter evenly among the muffin cups (each should be filled 3/4 full).
5. Bake 35 minutes or until the tops are firm. Cool on a wire rack.

http://www.meatoutmondays.org/7days.htm#blueberry

How To Make Whipped Cream from a Can of Coconut Milk

This trick is simple: Chill a can of coconut milk, then scoop out the coconut fat that separates out and solidifies (leaving the watery liquid behind), and whip it just like whipped cream.

What You Need:

Ingredients
One 15-ounce can full-fat coconut milk
1 tablespoon sugar or more to taste (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla or more to taste (optional)
Equipment
Large bowl
Hand beaters or a stand mixer

Instructions

1. Place the can of coconut milk in the refrigerator and leave it there until well-chilled; I left mine in overnight.
2. Open the can of coconut milk. There will be a firm, waxy layer on top.
3. Scoop out this firm layer coconut cream that has solidified at the top of the can.
4. Stop as soon as you reach the water at the bottom of the can; don't include anything but the solid cream. (You can use the water in smoothies, or just drink it straight.)
5. Place this cream in the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large bowl.
6. Turn your mixer or hand beaters to high speed, and whip the coconut cream for 3 to 5 minutes.
7. Whip until it becomes fluffy and light, with soft peaks. Mix in sugar or vanilla, if using.
8. Serve with fresh fruit, pie, or cobbler.
Additional Notes:
• I found that this lasted well in the refrigerator for several days.

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/how-to/how-to-make-whipped-cream-from-a-can-of-coconut-milk-152490

Mmmm Mmmmm... more goodies for Elise (and all of us)

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup plain, unsweetened soy milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup non-dairy semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted walnuts
Directions:
Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle; coat an 8-by-8-inch square baking dish with vegetable oil; set aside.
Place the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to aerate and combine.
Place the applesauce, maple syrup, soy or nondairy milk, measured oil, and vanilla in a large bowl and whisk to combine; add the flour mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until just combined (do not over mix); fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts, if using; scrape the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth out the top.
Bake in the oven until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes; place the pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
If not serving right away, cool completely, cover tightly, and store at room temperature; these brownies taste best if eaten within a day or two.

recipes@meatoutmondays.org

Greenwood Hills Block Party 2011

We had a great day yesterday.  We had our annual block party and holy buckets was it HOT!  The kids had so much fun.  We had sprinklers, sidewalk chalk, water balloon fights, a parade, good food and great company!  I have such a wonderful group of neighbors.  We all have so much fun together.

The kids were getting tattoos from Katrina Davis.

The kids decorated their bikes and scooters... some walked too for the parade.  It was hilarious!

 Let the water balloon fight begin.... it felt really good to get wet.

Even Eric got in on the fun!

 Lauren Wood, Nathan and Jayden Davis, Gabbi Grimes, Natalie Freundl and Elise having dinner.

We had asked the Johnston Fire Department to come out and visit us for the party and the kids went CRAZY when they showed up.

These men were so good to the kids.  They got to look in the ambulence and the fire truck... pretty cool!

 Giada Grimes, Natalie Freundl, Elise, Lauren, Caroline and Ella Murphy

Jes and Olivia Freundl

 Lauren Wood and Lauren Kay as we say!

As you can see... we have a LOT of girls in the neighborhood... this was their "country club"... and I believe Elise told me she was the leader so she got to boss everyone around.  :)

 The guys were tossing the football and it got stuck in the tree, so then they started throwing basketballs and other footballs to knock it loose and they all got stuck!

 What to do, what to do?

Connall Murphy climbed the tree and tried to get them out.. I think the football is still in there somewhere!  We ended our day with a night swim over at the Freundls.  They put an inground pool in this summer so it felt wonderful to jump in the pool after a long hot day... we were pooped!

Girls Day Out

 We had our "annual" girls day out to go school shopping with Grandma Hubbard.  We started at Wal-Mart then on to Target and finished our day with lunch at Biaggi's.  This place rocks because they make everything from scratch and are VERY accommodating with food allergies.  It's so nice to have a place to go that will take care of Elise.

 Before we left Biaggi's Lauren said she wanted rainbow ice cream... I thought yeah right, but when we got there... they had rainbow ice cream so she topped it off with colorful sprinkles!

Elise had the strawberry kiwi sorbet topped with gummy bears... a great way to end the day!