Phew. It has been a month hasn't it?! I won't pretend anyone is having it easy right now, and there are different categories of "not alright", but let me tell you: if you're a parent, and you're struggling right now, you are not alone. Whether you work or not, having a kid (or more than one) cooped up at home right now is bordering on agony for everyone. Cabin fever, exhaustion, no breaks, and boredom are starting to reach a critical mass. We are extremely fortunate that ... Read More about 106 Quarantine Activities for Toddlers and Young Kids
How to Move During a Global Pandemic ?
Well, this is a little off topic, isn't it? For those who don't follow me on Instagram, here is the background on this post: after selling our condo in December 2018, we have been on the house hunt for about a year. We found our house at the end of last year, but didn't plan to move in until the end of March. You know, right when the world was turned upside down by Coronavirus, and Illinois was under a shelter in place order? Yeah. That was fun. But, we pulled it ... Read More about How to Move During a Global Pandemic ?
How to Freeze Kale
Freezing vegetables is one of the easiest ways to reduce food waste, stretch your grocery bill, and save time. If you’re wondering how to freeze kale (or similar leafy greens like swiss chard, collard greens, or spinach), this post will teach you how, in just a few easy steps. Well, what a year the first two weeks of 2020 have been. If you follow me on Instagram, you know we’ve been dealing with quite a few toddler sleep issues the past several weeks. I’ve gotten dozens of ... Read More about How to Freeze Kale
Paleo Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies
With the holiday season upon us, these paleo and gluten free shortbread cookies make the perfect treat to top your cookie platter. Made with an almond and cassava flour blend and sweetened with maple sugar, these cookies contain a distinct buttery taste We’re mere days from Christmas and hours from Hanukkah (jaw drop), which means the holiday baking frenzy is completely underway at my house. In the past month, I tweaked a snickerdoodle recipe from the archives, perfected ... Read More about Paleo Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies
18 Gluten Free Christmas Cookies and Other Cookie Tray Favorites
This list of gluten free Christmas cookies (plus a few holiday-friendly cookie-alternatives) will please everyone on your list! From classics to surprise new favorites, they are all quick and easy to whip up and pure joy to devour! If your first thought upon seeing this post was that it is too late for holiday cookies, then you have it much (much!) more together than I do. Between the normal holiday rush and the unusually short turnaround time between Thanksgiving and Hanukkah/Christmas ... Read More about 18 Gluten Free Christmas Cookies and Other Cookie Tray Favorites
Thick & Chewy Paleo Gluten Free Snickerdoodles
This simple and family-friendly holiday classic is back! Just like the childhood classic you remember, these paleo and gluten free snickerdoodles are sweet, chewy, and utterly irresistible! This post was updated 12/11/19. This is a new version of a recipe I posted decades ago, or at least what feels like it, but was actually only, strangely, just over five years ago. Five years, in and of itself, isn't the strange part. It's what has happened in such a relatively short amount of ... Read More about Thick & Chewy Paleo Gluten Free Snickerdoodles
Gluten Free Skillet Cornbread
My all-time favorite Thanksgiving side dish is back, hold the gluten! This gluten free cornbread tastes just like you remember, but it's gluten free, dairy-free adaptable, and naturally sweetened. Plus, it's fast enough to whip up a batch Thanksgiving morning! I don't think that classic gluten free cornbread needs any introduction. We're 24 hours out from Thanksgiving, and everyone is scrambling to prep their menus, set their tables, and figure out a way to deflect that one ... Read More about Gluten Free Skillet Cornbread
Paleo & Gluten Free Apple Galette
Loosely translated, "galette" means "literally easier than pie" (ok VERY loosely translated), and that's just what this apple pastry is: a batch of pie crust is rolled out into a large disc, but instead of fussing with the pie plate, long cook time, and dreaded double crust, you simply turn out apple filling onto the crust, fold up the edges, and pop it in the oven. It impresses like pie with a fraction of the work! This fall, I found myself buried in apples. I’m talking up to my ... Read More about Paleo & Gluten Free Apple Galette
How to Freeze Potatoes – Plus, 5 Ways to Use Frozen Potatoes
Freezing potatoes in advance is an easy way to cut down on the holiday meal prep. When you’re ready to serve them, simply fry, boil, or microwave them until fork tender — without any need to thaw them. You’ll have mashed potatoes, french fries, or crispy roasted potatoes on the table in minutes. It snowed here, twice in the last 3 weeks, and I’m really not okay with it. Don’t get me wrong; I think snow is pretty, and my kid finds it delightful. But to have snow so early ... Read More about How to Freeze Potatoes – Plus, 5 Ways to Use Frozen Potatoes
Paleo & Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread with Maple Glaze
It's not fall without a perfect loaf of paleo & gluten free pumpkin bread! This naturally-sweetened version is ready in an hour or less! Fall is easily the most toddler-friendly time of year. No one can convince me otherwise. Or, maybe it's just the time of the year when I love having a toddler most. Summer's not bad, but apple picking? Pumpkin carving? Trick of treating? Tiny puffy vests? Forget it. Plus, I finally have a baking assistant and willing taste tester ... Read More about Paleo & Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread with Maple Glaze