DPP > Happy Birthday Tobias!

Happy Birthday little man!


Here he is... eating a banana cupcake made with coconut flour and sweetened with bananas, stevia & dates. So simple & good! The recipe came from Elana's Gluten-Free Cupcakes. The only thing that was missing was whipping cream... didn't have enough cream to make any, BUT I made homemade ice cream (maple cinnamon), of course!   ;o)


He LOVED his cupcake, but found the ice cream too cold. LOL!


I know I said I would share the birth story today, but it was a full day for me and I ran out of time.  So, l'll have to do it later! Thanks for your patience!

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Celebration GIVEAWAY: Bones & Fat Cookbooks

Well, today we are celebrating my little man's birthday! I know every mom says this, but... I seriously can not believe he is already 1 year old. Time just flies faster and faster with each kid!

It is my goal to share the birth story later today in honor of Tobias' birthday. I have to tell you! It is an amazing story of faith, trust and... well, I get to that later  :o)


Before I get to the giveaway... let me share a few highlights of Tobias' first year of life.


Everybody fell in love with this little guy... my girls are especially crazy about him. How can they not be?! I am SO grateful that there has been no jealousy issues between my girls and this little guy. None at all.


He has proven to be a very strong-will little guy... my third strong-will child *sigh*. Life is sure very loud and noisy in the Beard household! All 3 of my kids have very strong spirits and lungs. People often ask me if it is hard for me to hear them... my answer is always, "Ha! No, God has blessed me with very loud children. If I think they are loud... can't imagine how loud they are to you!"

He began to crawl around 9 months old, but started walking before he was 10 months old! He loves following my girls around and doesn't let them push him around. Almost everyday I often see him do things and say, "He is SUCH a BOY!". Seriously, after having two girls... I am amazed just how different Tobi is and it sometimes feels like he is my first child.


Tobi has had more bumps, bruises & cuts on his head and face then both my girls combined when they were babies! Thankfully he isn't much of a crier and gets right back in the action after a few minutes in mama's arms  ;o)


It has been an awesome year with this little man and I am so blessed! Thank you Lord! Happy Birthday Tobias!


Now, the second giveaway!

To one winner, I am giving away 2 delicious & savory cookbooks:

 

These two cookbooks are deliciously amazing... just reading through the recipes and look at the pictures make me feel nourished and well-fed! LOL!

Jennifer McLagan has done a wonderful job of explaining everything you need to know to appreciate the benefits of eating wholesome bones and fat. I love her witty sense of humor thrown in at just the right places. You can read Jennifer's bio here.

These two books are vital in my kitchen these days! I just love how there is so much you can learn and do with just bones and fat.... and still thrive in good health. Here's a simple write up on Fat cookbook (taken from Amazon.com): 

For all of history, minus the last thirty years, fat has been at the center of human diets and cultures. When scientists theorized a link between saturated fat and heart disease, industry, media, and government joined forces to label fat a greasy killer, best avoided. But according to Jennifer McLagan, not only is our fat phobia overwrought, it also hasn’t benefited us in any way. Instead it has driven us into the arms of trans fats and refined carbohydrates, and fostered punitive, dreary attitudes toward food–that wellspring of life and pleasure.


In Fat, McLagan sets out with equal parts passion, scholarship, and appetite to win us back to a healthy relationship with animal fats. She starts by defusing fat’s bad rap, both reminding us of what we already know–that fat is fundamental to the flavor of our food–and enlightening us with the many ways fat (yes, even animal fat) is indispensable to our health.


Mostly, though, Fat is about pleasures–the satisfactions of handling good ingredients skillfully, learning the cultural associations of these primal foodstuffs, recollecting and creating personal memories of beloved dishes, and gratifying the palate and the soul with fat’s irreplaceable savor. Fat lavishes the reader with more than 100 recipes from simple to intricate, classic to contemporary, including:


• Butter-Poached Scallops • Homemade Butter • Carnitas • Duck Confit • Sautéed Foie Gras with Gingered Vanilla Quince • Prosciutto-Wrapped Halibut with Sage Butter • Steak and Kidney Pie • Lamb Fat and Spinach Chapati • Bacon Spice • Cookies • Salted Butter Tart 


Observing that though we now know everything about olive oil, we may not know what to do with lard or bone marrow, McLagan offers extensive guidance on sourcing, rendering, flavoring, using, and storing animal fats, whether butter or bacon, schmaltz or suet. Stories, lore, quotations, and tips touching on fat’s place in the kitchen and in the larger culture round out this rich and unapologetic celebration of food at its very best.

The one thing I learned from her Fat cookbook is chicken fat is delicious used for frying up corn tortillas! Oh my!


Next is the Bones cookbook (again, taken from Amazon.com):

Top food stylist and food writer Jennifer McLagan has a bone to pick: too often, people opt for boneless chicken breasts, fish fillets, and cutlets, when good cooks know that anything cooked on the bone has more flavor -- from chicken or spareribs to a rib roast or a whole fish. In Bones, Jennifer offers a collection of recipes for cooking beef, veal, pork, lamb, poultry, fish, and game on their bones.


Chicken, steak, and fish all taste better when cooked on the bone, but we've sacrificed flavor for speed and convenience, forgetting how bones can enhance the taste, texture, and presentation of good food -- think of rack of lamb, T-bone steak, chicken noodle soup, and baked ham. In her simple, bare-bones style, Jennifer teaches home cooks the secrets to cooking with bones.


Each chapter of Bones includes stocks, soups, ribs, legs, and extremities (except for whole fish -- they don't have any). Many of the recipes are simple, with the inherent flavors of the bones doing most of the work. There are traditional, elegant dishes, such as Roasted Marrow Bones with Parsley Salad, Olive-Crusted Lamb Racks, and Crown Roast of Pork, as well as new takes on homestyle favorites, such as Maple Tomato Glazed Ribs, Coconut Chicken Curry, and Halibut Steaks with Orange Cream Sauce. Stunning, full-color photographs of dishes like Rabbit in Saffron Sauce with Spring Vegetables; Grilled Quail with Sage Butter; and Duck Legs with Cumin, Turnips, and Green Olives are sure to inspire. 


In addition to the recipes, Bones includes a wealth of information on a wide range of bone-related topics, including the differences among cuts of meat, as well as the history and lore of bones.


Pretty awesome, huh? Now, she recently released a new cookbook called "Odd Bits: How to Cook the Rest of the Animal". I've got my eye on that and will most likely get a copy soon!


The one think I've grown to appreciate about living in Central America is how much people here appreciate the WHOLE animal. They use everything! Tongue, stomach, heart, hoof, head, tail and so on. I love grinding heart in with my ground beef... adds such a nice flavor. Oh and tongue is simply delicious... once you get past the weird feeling that you are "french kissing" the cow. LOL!! Using calf's hoof in my homemade beef broth has made a big difference in flavor... so rich!


There are a few butchers in the town next to us that often hang a whole cow in their station and will not close down until every piece of that cow has sold. Nothing goes to waste... talk about being frugal and smart!


How to Enter

Just leave a comment below sharing your favorite Christmas memory! (1 entry)

To maximize your odds of winning, you can leave a comment every day! (one comment per day strictly enforced)

3 bonus entries:

Follow Jennifer's blog (1 entry)

Follow my blog (1 entry)

'Like' Just Making Noise on Babble (1 entry)

So, you can have a total of 4 entries today and one everyday until December 31st January 14th! This giveaway is only open to US residents and the winner will be selected via random.org at the end of this month. Winner will be contacted in January.

Also, don't forget you can purchase Just Making Ice Cream for a suggested donation of $8 through this month! That is $4 off the original suggested donation.

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Celebration GIVEAWAY: Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free and Gluten-Free Cupcakes

Today is the first celebration giveaway for the month!


We are celebrating my mom's birthday today. I wish I could be at her house right now, whipping up a batch of cupcakes using coconut flour from Elana's awesome cookbook. I would probably make either the German Chocolate Cupcakes (already made this once for her.. so GOOD! This recipe actually inspired me to make an ice cream version) or Red Velvet Cupcakes or Cookie Surprise Cupcakes or... there's so many good recipes!

Before I get into the giveaway... let me tell you about my mom.


She is a beautiful woman of strong character and a generous giving heart. The Lord has given her many skills and gifts... music, writing and teaching being her three strongest skills/gifts. She has wrote many songs that the Lord has given her to bless those around her. I hope one day these songs will be sung to the world and I'm sure it will... if not here in this world, then for sure in heaven!


My mom has gone through a lot of pain since she was a child, but God is bringing her through a time of healing that is hard, yet amazing to watch.


Often, when I look at her and all that she's been through... I see that she is a beautiful mess that God is lovely and patiently cleaning through.


I've watched her live her life of daily renewing her mind and choosing to believe in God's grace & mercy through everything... God has taught me so much through her!


Even though she is imperfect in so many ways. She is a woman of integrity, faith and prayer... that's what makes her so beautiful. I love you & Happy Birthday Mommo!


Now, the giveaway!


To one winner, I am giving away 2 gluten-free books:

Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free contains over 180 recipes, 140 of which have never been published on Amy's blog, Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free. Her mouth-watering recipes can be made in 20 minutes or less... that's nice for those of you who lead busy lives! Here's a short bio about Amy:

Amy started the popular food blog Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free in May 2008 to share her passion for healthy living. She has abstained from refined sugars and wheat since 2004 and, as a result, is maintaining a 60-plus pound weight loss. Over the years, Amy has learned that eating healthier doesn’t equal deprivation.


In 2012, Amy is launching Nourished (with Jen Cafferty), the first gluten-free and allergen-friendly food blogger conference. Attendees will be able to learn and share with along with other professionals in their field.


In addition to owning a small business, Amy teaches local sugar-free, gluten-free cooking classes. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Education, both from The Ohio State University. Amy has also studied Baking & Pastry Arts at The Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Education at Collin College and spent many years working both the front and back of the house in restaurants. Previously, Amy taught elementary school and owned one of the premier pet care companies in the North Dallas area. She lives with her husband and four dogs in Dallas, Texas. If you are interested, you can read more about her here.

You all know how much I love baking with coconut flour. When I first learned that Elana was writing another cookbook using coconut flour... I was already in line to get my copy! Gluten-Free Cupcakes has beautiful photography and delicious recipes that are simple to make, yet look so elegant!

This fabulous book features:

• 50 gluten free recipes for cupcakes and savory treats
• 14 recipes for frostings, fillings and toppings
• 25 cupcake recipes that use coconut flour
• 9 cupcake recipes that use almond flour
• 4 flourless cupcake recipes
• 12 cupcake recipes that use both almond flour and coconut flour
• 41 dairy free cupcake recipes
• 8 dairy free frostings, fillings and toppings
• 5 vegan frostings, fillings and toppings
• 38 nut free recipes
• 10 cupcake recipes that use arrowroot powder 

If you are interested in more information, please read here. Like I said earlier, I've already tried her recipe for German Chocolate Cupcakes and they were simply luscious! Next I want to try the Cookie Surprise Cupcakes... oooh yummy. The only downside is not being able to get almond flour. So, I will have to compromise a little  ;o)

How to Enter

Just leave a comment below on what you did today! (1 entry)

To maximize your odds of winning, you can leave a comment every day! (one comment per day strictly enforced)

3 bonus entries:

Follow Amy's blog Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free (1 entry)

Follow Elana's blog Elana's Pantry (1 entry)

'Like' Just Making Noise on Babble (1 entry)

So, you can have a total of 4 entries today and one everyday until December 31st January 14th! This giveaway is only open to US residents and the winner will be selected via random.org at the end of this month. Winner will be contacted in January.

Also, don't forget you can purchase Just Making Ice Cream for a suggested donation of $8 through this month! That is $4 off the original suggested donation.

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Foodista Best of Food Blogs Cookbook

Good news everybody! I've been invited to submit several of my recipes for the Foodista Best of Food Blogs Cookbook... these are the recipes I've submitted so far, but I might be adding a few more to the list till the contest is closed (February 28th, 2010). Everybody is invited to submit their recipes & photos... so go and give your best!

But before you do that, please take a few minutes and vote your favorites below. Simply click on the widgets above each photo and it will take you to the Foodista site where the recipe & photo is located. Click on the stars on the upper left corner and you are done! Thank you!

Spicy Cilantro Pesto

Mexican Fiesta Salad w/ Garlic Cilantro Dressing

Tangy & Savory Mexican Soup

Brushetta Stuffed Potatoes

Maple Cinnamon Pecan Ice Cream

Eggplant & Artichoke Heart Galettes

Double Chocolate Velvet Pancakes w/ Banana Love Sauce

Mango Cranberry Sherbet

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Giveaway: The Spunky Coconut Cookbook

Thank you Kelly for this awesome giveaway!

Thank you everybody for your shouts! This giveaway is now close.

The Spunky Coconut Cookbook: Gluten Free, Casein Free, Sugar Free

Hello everybody! Today is December 1st! I have to say that December and January are my favorite months because it's my birthday, Christmas & New Year all rolled in together. I am pleased to start off this month a cookbook giveaway. Kelly over at The Spunky Coconut is letting me giveaway one signed copy of her cookbook: The Spunky Coconut Cookbook: Gluten Free, Casein Free, Sugar Free By Kelly Brozyna.

Kelly is a sweet, spunky gal and I'm so glad I found her site. She has a lot of delicious looking recipes that are gluten-free, casein-free, sugar-free & she even has some great coconut flour recipes too! You might be wondering what her story is and why she created this cookbook... so did I. Here's her respond when I asked:

When our first daughter began eating food, at around 1 year old, she became sickly, and violent.

Then our second was born and had a near death vaccine reaction. I went to an old friend, who is a naturopath and nutritionist, for help. She changed my diet for my breast milk, and said that she thought I was celiac.

Rather than test myself first, we tested our older daughter (who was sickly and violent). We did a stool and genetic test on Zoe, through enterolab, and found out she was gluten and dairy intolerant. She was an easy fix. Within a couple weeks on the diet she gained weight and became the sweetest little thing.

The youngest, Ashley, was much more difficult. The seizures and toxins she experienced from her vaccine reaction caused swelling in her brain, and she completely stopped developing. She began to experience symptoms of autism around 1 year old: head banging, screeching, flapping, repetitive actions (opening and closing the drawer for hours).

To make a long story short :-) Ashley has recovered mostly from autism through biomedical treatments: diet, supplements, detox (chelation). Now she is only quite delayed.

During all of this, my husband and I were having problems too. He had "ADD" and I was still undiagnosed celiac. We both did enterolab as well, and found out he was intolerant and I was celiac.

Between the girls, my husband and I, we had to eat this way :-) I decided years ago, that I was going to study and experiment, and make food that we could eat, that would be so good, that people who were not on our diet would never even know.

Thus, The Spunky Coconut Cookbook was born. It has 115 recipes free of gluten, dairy, sugar, peanut, corn and soy. 30+ raw inspired recipes. 65 color photographs. Natural alternatives like honey, stevia and xylitol.

I really hope you will enjoy this cookbook!

Thank you Kelly for this giveaway!

Now, everybody... simply leave a comment for a chance to win this cookbook. If you want an extra entry... go to Kelly's blog and start following her, then come back and leave a comment telling me you did. So, you can have a total of 2 entries!

The giveaway ends on December 6th and I will choose the winner via random.org! Thanks so much for joining in and have a good week.

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