GLUTEN-FREE FREE-FORM CHEESECAKE

I originally got this idea and recipe (with gluten) from the April Edition of Southern Living Magazine. Yes, I know I live in the North now...but the South cooks better. You are going to love this recipe. Complete with pictures per request from my SIL Amanda to strive to be the Pioneer Woman.

Start with these ingredients:

I used Strawberries and Raspberries for a mixture of flavor to top the cheesecake.

Chop fruit and top with 2 tbsp Powdered Sugar and mix well. Place in refrigerator to set.

Grate zest from 1 lime or 1 tsp of Zest, then squeeze the juice of 1 lime or 1 tbsp of lime juice

No comments about the lack of a microplane grater!

Stir together Cheesecake Filling, Lime Zest, Lime Juice, and 2 tbsp. Powdered Sugar. Mix well.

Serve immediately by scooping Cheesecake Mixture into a bowl, top with crumbled GF Cookies (I used Jo-Sef Gluten Free Vanilla Graham Crackers and loved them). Top with your favorite topping or berries.

This photo is from the Southern Living Website, due to lack of brains to take the photo of the finished product. I have a long way to go to catch up with the Pioneer Woman.

Gluten-Free Free-Form Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped
• 2 cups fresh raspberries, cut in half
  
• 4 tablespoons powdered sugar, divided
• 1 1/2 cups ready-to-eat cheesecake filling
• 1 teaspoon lime zest
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 6 crisp gourmet cookies, crumbled (Jo-Sef GF Vanilla Grahams)
  
• Garnishes: crisp gourmet cookies, lime slices

Preparation

1. Stir together strawberries, raspberries and 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar.

2. Stir together cheesecake filling, lime zest, lime juice, and remaining 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar.

3. Spoon cheesecake mixture into 6 (6-oz.) glasses or ramekins. Sprinkle with crumbled cookies. Top with strawberries. Garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used Philadelphia Ready-To-Eat Cheesecake Filling and Jos-Sef Vanilla GF cookies.

Southern Living, APRIL 2009-with a few slight GF Changes by (ME)
Courtney Morris

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE '09

Last Saturday, Jeff and I took the boys to the Ken-Ton Memorial Day Parade. We are definitely parade people. We usually park at my in-laws and walk to the parade. This year our friends Pete and Julia came with us and brought their son Bill. Also, my in-laws brought our niece Poppy. Marc and Amanda were out wine tasting.

Then Tucker wanted to cool off in the pool during our Memorial Day Picnic.

Gotta love the towel!

I HEART FACES SILHOUETTES

This week's theme on I Heart Faces is Silhouettes. This is my entry for the week. It was taken on the beach at Topsail Island, NC during sunrise.

Check out many other entries, contests, tutorials, and giveaways at I Heart Faces by clicking here.

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW GOODNESS

When you add chocolate and marshmallows together, you get nothing but sheer wonderfulness. Not to mention that it is Gluten Free! I made this for our play date yesterday and every one LOVED it.

Move over Pamela's Products Chocolate Cake Mix, you have been replaced. Welcome Gluten Free Pantry Decadent Chocolate Cake Mix into my life. It is the most wonderful, moist, chocolately, bit of heaven on earth that I have ever tasted.

Prepare Gluten Free Pantry Decadent Chocolate Cake Mix as directed on the package, but add 1 cup of Nestles Semi-Sweet Morsels to the batter before baking. Frost with icing of choice. Mine is Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting.

Domino's Confectioners Sugar Recipe for Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting:

1 - (1-lb.) pkg. Domino® Confectioners Sugar (approx. 3 3/4 cups)

1/2 cup - butter or margarine, softened

3 to 4 tablespoons - milk

1 teaspoon - vanilla

3 Tbs - Hershey's Cocoa Powder

I also substituted 1 tbs milk for 1 tbs fresh strawberry juice for a chocolate covered strawberry flavor.

For decorations, grab your kids and have fun with it. We chose to use strawberry and chocolate mini marshmallows.

Have fun with it and enjoy!

SUMMER TIME AND THE LIVINGS EASY!

Summer has arrived in Buffalo. The last few days have been in the 70's and 80's, and the sun has been shining. It's hard not to be in a good mood when you are getting so much Vitamin D. As you can see we have been eating up this sunshine and we have been very busy in the yard, clearing winter debris and breaking out lawn toys. The pool has been torn down, and the deck has been reconfigured. Our patio set has been cleaned and put on the deck, and 5 yards of topsoil have been spread. All of our hard work is paying off to be able to just sit back and relax. Relax...who am I kidding, don't forget I have two boys that run us ragged. Check out the munchkins this week.

Carter loves picking the dandelions!

Even the sand bucket made an appearance. Carter was happy as a clam.

My little Monkey-Man Tucker just "hanging" out in the sun.

Carter-Man opted to go for a drive around the yard.

We broke out the sprinkler today and as much as Carter loves water...he does not like sprinklers!!! Look at that face after he got hit with sprinkler, he was mad!!!

Had enough cuteness? Well, prepare yourself for some deliciousness tomorrow. Want a preview?

Can you guess what this is? Hint: It's Gluten Free. Would you have expected anything else?

HI HO HI HO, IT'S OFF TO WORK WE GO!

This past week has been filled with wonderful surprises for me. The tree that is a constant source of bird poop on my car, and the reason why we never fail to find sticks all over the roof of the garage, is gone. GONE!!! Jeff rented a lift and cut that thing down all by himself. Tucker thought that it was so cool. Jeff also took a half day off from work last Friday and surprised me by digging up my patch of the yard for my garden. Tucker and I are very excited to get started planting our veggies this coming weekend.

Last pose in front of the tree before it is gone!

Look at how big that sucker is!



Tucker begged Daddy to take him up in the lift. I was a nervous lift even though he only went up 5 feet.



Carter took time out from his popsicle to smile for me.



I think it was too cold...what a face!




On gardening day, Carter was nothing but serious.




He decided to help Daddy with the garden to loosen up a bit.




Finished! "I love it Daddy"



Who can resist a smile like that?

GLUTEN FREE ZUCCHINI BREAD-MORRIS STYLE

Gluten Free Zucchini Bread-Morris Style

1/2 c Plumped Raisins (optional)
- to plump raisins, boil raisins in 1/4 c water for one minute. Drain, but save the water.
1/2 c All Purpose Gluten Free Flour (may subs. for bean flour...I hate bean flour)
1/2 c Tapioca Flour
1/2 c White Rice Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Xanthun Gum
1/2 tsp Salt
1 3/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
1 Egg
1 c Shredded Zucchini (unpeeled)
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/3 c Cooking Oil
1 c Sugar

Sift together all of the flours, baking soda, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Put aside for later.

In a large bowl, beat the egg. Add zucchini. Gradually beat in vanilla, oil, sugar, and half of the flour mixture. Beat well. Add the raisins and the raisin water. (if you opted for raisin free bread-add 1/4 water and 1 tsp honey) Add the rest of the flour. Beat well.

Pour the batter into a greased 8 x 4 loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes. It is done when you insert a toothpick and it comes out clean.

Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes, remove from pan and cool completely before slicing.
(although I always sneak a little slice)

What else could you add...?

Chocolate Chips
Walnuts
Pecans

What could you top those yummy slices with...?

Butter
Cream Cheese (my favorite)
Icing

This recipe originally came from Gluten Free Foods for Kids Recipe Book. Through various other recipes that I have tried, I substituted several different ingredients (ie. bean flour). But, must give credit where credit is due. Check out this book online by clicking here.

I HEART FACES LAUGHTER

I haven't entered the I Heart Faces Contest in a long time. But this week's theme is Laughter! How could I pass this up. Head over to I Heart Faces by clicking here to check out all of this week's entries and other great contests.

This week's guest judge is Ree Drummond from the Pioneer Woman Blog. If you haven't checked out the Pioneer Woman yet, I suggest you do so. Her photography amazes me and her mom-meets interior decorator-meets hostess-meets gardener-meets cowgirl antics keep me laughing all day.

Here is my Kids Entry:

Here is my Adult Entry:

Remember to go to I Heart Faces website to view all entries!

CUTIE-PIES

Here are a couple of cute pictures from this past week...

Okay, take note that they are completely dressed alike. I kid you not, that was not planned. They are just so much alike. Jeans, orange shirt, and a camo hat...ridiculous or cute?



We often take the opportunity to snap a few shots while we wait for the bus in the morning.



I have no idea where that red hair came from. It is turning more blonde since the sun came out.



The boys decided that they had enough pictures. Bye for now!

This past week was our Niece Poppy's 2nd Birthday, it was also her Mom's 30th Birthday! Happy Birthday Girls!

Coming up....Gluten Free Zucchini Bread to die for!

GOD HAS A NEW ANGEL

My post is very late this week. There are no cute stories to share, no cute pictures to show you, only enough to ask you to pray.

Last Thursday, God called home our baby cousin Kaden. Kaden was two years old and suddenly died Thursday afternoon. His loving parents Adam and Jennifer have a very tough road ahead of them. I ask that you pray for their strength, love, and healing in this hard time. Pray that they will one day be reunited with Kaden.

While our tragedies are completely different, the outcome was still the same. Jeff and I had to say goodbye to 2 of our children. The hardest thing a parent will ever have to go through. Parker Bryant and Grace Lee grew wings on July 14, 2006. It is hard to understand and comprehend why horrific things happen to good people. But you have to have faith in God and believe that he had a plan.

God Bless Kaden, Parker, and Grace! We miss you and love you. While we may appear to be carrying on, our minds and hearts are always with you.

Hug your sweet children everyday. Never take for granted the 50 times you hear "Mommy" in one hour, the huge puddle of Apple Juice on the kitchen floor, or the hours of sleep that you lost last night. It can be gone in an instant...