gluten free

15 Easter Candy Alternatives

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Tired of all the holiday candy? Here are 15 Easter Candy Alternatives -

Since we have so many children with gluten, dairy, and dye issues in our house candy and crunchy snacks are pretty much off limits for all holidays.

Here is a list to help you think outside of the box too;  

15 Easter Candy Alternatives

  1. Side walk chalk
  2. Stickers
  3. Glow sticks 
  4. Homemade finger paint
  5. Homemade play doh
  6. DIY puppet kit
  7. Crafts supplies 
  8. Outside toys – bubbles, bouncy balls, fishing pole/tackle box
  9. Inside toys- match box cars, Lego sets
  10. Books
  11. Nail polish
  12. Hair accessories
  13. Coloring Books and Crayons
  14. Paperdolls
  15. Movies

Dairy and Gluten Free Tomato Bisque

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It has been years since we have had tomato soup in our home. Visit 31 Days of Food Intolerance’s for the full story. Typically, various store brands contain gluten as a thickening agent and even in those instances where I do manage to find a “safe” gluten free option it inevitably contains dairy.

My solution like so many other food choices here at the homestead; make our own. This soup is a great option for this lenten season. Make it for dinner and enjoy the leftovers at lunch. 

Homestead Tomato Bisque 

This recipe is gluten and dairy free and a homestead staple. My kids request it almost weekly.


Ingredient List
Serving size 6-8 small/medium portions
  • 2 T butter /1 T grape-seed or EVOO (Extra-virgin olive oil)
  • 1 Small onion, diced
  • 2 slices of bacon, ham, or salami (finely chopped)….this can also easily be omitted
  • 2 T minced garlic
  • 3 T Gluten Free Flour
  • 4-6  Cups chicken broth (we use organic)/or chicken stock
  • 1 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes (with liquid)
  • 1 14-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 T Parsley 
    1 T Thyme
  • 1 Bay Leaf
    1 cup almond or rice milk
  • Salt and Pepper to taste


Instructions

  1. Heat the butter and oil in a large dutch oven/soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and saute for about 5 – 6 minutes or until the onion is translucent and soft in texture.
  2. Add the meat of choice and the minced garlic. Cook about 1-2 minutes longer.
  3. Whisk in the flour (it will get clumpy/ and cake like in appearance)
  4. Pour in the broth, milk, and tomatoes while continuing to stir vigorously. Whisk continuously until all the flour clumps are well blended and mixture is brought to a boil.
  5. Add remaining spices (parsley, thyme, bay, salt, and pepper) simmer 20-30 minutes
  6. Puree using an immersion blender (if you don’t have one….I highly, recommend it) It is such a great kitchen tool for soups and smoothies
  7. Lastly, dig in!

    (Click for a PRINTABLE version of this recipe)

     

Reflections of Grace

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It is November my friends; can you believe it? I hope you all enjoyed the 31days of Food Intolerance’s series (even though I missed a few…oops). I would love to hear from you; do you have any questions or want to learn more, please let me know.

This month I will be putting my family to some real life challenges and you are going to be journeying with us. It is the month of “Giving -Thanks”. I am very excited to share with you on Monday just how we will be putting things in motion.

Since Friday is my day of “rest” in a sense. I will be linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and some other friends (yes, they are real people…I officially met many of them in(RL) What a blessing it was to squeeze them and not have a screen between our words. Join me as we write for 5 minutes, unedited, on a given prompt. Today’s word; Grace

Go….

Being a Mom it can bring out the best in us and the worst. Our patience is tried in so many ways. We are pulled in every which direction between; meeting our families needs and seeing that our personal needs are met too.

We train.

We teach.

We learn.

We live.

We judge.

We fall short.

We stumble.

We fall.

But…we get back up. God is there with us always. He stands at the top of the mountain cheering for you when you might feel as though you don’t deserve it. His grace surrounds you and the door to forgiveness remains open for those times we are less that obedient. Keep true to yourself and who you were created to be. Know that there will be bumps in the road but there is always a hand on the other side waiting for you to reach out.