.4leafClever

What my toddler eats

2011-10-15T14:37:00.001-07:00

So I haven't found an amazing place for snacks for the little babe soo...

I have some fun snacks/meals that we like so I thought I'd share.

If you can't tell already he has gluten problems which in turn made me gluten free and I'll probably never go back! So these are all gluten free.

1. Quinoa flakes (Keenwa) Ever heard of these?? They are very similar to oatmeal but jam packed with nutrients! I make just like oatmeal and add a tsp-tbs of honey with cinnamon and he loves it.

2. Banana rolls similar to this . Ethan loves banana and almond butter but peanut butter would be MMM too!

3. Crackers. Gluten free crackers are way too expensive for me and making them doesn't take much hassle. We loved this recipe!

4. Graham crackers with marshmellows! We took these camping with us. SO good! Get the recipe here and here

5. Make your own crispy bar. These are yummy! I take rice crispies(or any cereal) and add a little bit of honey and almond butter to it. Stir is up and enjoy. E loves these! If you make a big batch and stick in a pan they will harden together and rice crispy treats. I never measure the honey and butter but you can't really mess it up!

6. Cinnamon rolls. The recipe I use is grain free and oh so delish. Check it out here!

7. Oatmeal cookies- recipe to come! These are soo good. Are you getting the vibe that babe likes all the same food as mommy :)

8. Pudding. This is simple but good! Take an avocado and banana and mix in a blender and you have pudding. Add some cocoa powder and you have chocolate pudding. Talk about good food for the littles!
Take a look at my pudding:

9. Rice cakes. These are good on their own but I've found by adding almond butter and honey(we love this stuff :) that they make a fantastic treat/snack.

10. Fruit roll ups. These are so easy to make at home. Blend some fruit and pop in your dehydrator and you have a yummy car ride snack. Feeling adventurous? Look at these!!!

11. Kale chips. YUM! I saw these everywhere before making them. My first thought, ya ya ya whatever. But really they are so good! Trust me. Take some kale and add some oil and whatever else you want. Salt is good or cheese or chili powder or... And get them in your oven/dehydrator. They are soo crunchy I feel like I'm eating a chip. E goes crazy over them.

12. This one might sound weird but for whatever reason I crave this. Oatmeal and applesauce. So simple but boy is it good!

Ok I think that's it for now..
I would love some more ideas! Have any??

<3

Gluten Free Breakfast burrito

2011-09-01T14:30:00.001-07:00

I am Alive!!!

I've been a little MIA but it was much needed! I've regained my confidence and am a new person!

So here's my breakfast today. MMMM was it good!!! This was my first time using sorghum flour so I was quite excited and pleased with the results!

*One thing you can do is put honey on top and serve as is. It was so good like that too! The babe gobbled it up! Such a great fast snack or meal on the go!

The recipe is oh so simple:

2 cups flour-I used sorghum and 1/4 cup starch

1 tbs oil-coconut oil

2 cups milk or water(I used water)

Wisk together. Batter is quite thin. I actually used more like 3/4 cup of water but do as you please.

Place on skillet-cast iron is what I used with some olive oil. Pour the batter and spread across the pan. Wait a few minutes and flip. The longer you wait the more 'stiff' it became which was good for tortillas!

So from there I cooked up some eggs from my backyard.- Thank you chickens!!!

And added cheese cause I was craving it :)

Best Breakfast to date!!! I seriously want this every single morning now!
I def think the hubs is going to get this Saturday morning to brighten his morning since he's watching the babe and I'm canning 20 lbs of apples!! Wish my luck!

So this whole blog thing is going to be updated more... AND with crafts too! I am feeling the craft itch again(Finally!)

Goulash with a twist

2011-04-30T23:02:00.000-07:00

So this recipe was an experiment. I had meat, I had veggies and this is what turned out. It was really good and we will be having it again! Super easy.

You need:
1/2 pound of meat (That's what I had)
1 green pepper
3 medium size tomatoes
1 tsp +Chili powder (Depending on taste you can add more or less)
Salt to taste (I did about 1 tsp ish)
Pepper

Brown your meat in a skillet. While meat is cooking cut your veggies. I did little pieces.
Once meat is cooked add your pepper and tomato. Let cook for a bit. About 5-7 min.
Add your chili powder, salt and pepper. Let cook on medium heat for 10 or so min.
Serve on top of rice.

Black Bean Jalapeno soup

2011-04-17T22:26:00.000-07:00

This dinner was delish! My husband had 2 bowl fulls and that says alot :)

I adapted from this recipe.

Here is my take:
2-3 cups of beans soaked overnight and cooked
2 cups of water
1 tbsp salt
1 onion
1 tomato chopped
2 cups of cooked rice
3 jalapeños

And thats it!

Directions: Take a cup of your cooked beans and blend. Saute your onions with a little oil. Add salt in your beans and put into crockpot with your pureed beans. Add your onions once cooked with 2 cups of water, rice, tomato and jalapeños. I put my crockpot on high for 30ish min and set to low for another 2 and a half hours.
voila!
I love the spice but the tomatoes add alot to the soup. I wanted to eat the whole thing!

Accidental Granola

2011-04-15T22:44:00.000-07:00

So I was making my cracker/bread to go in the dehydrator and I lessened up the flax ratio and it came out as granola. Yummy and super easy!!!

1 cup of almonds
2 apples
1/4 cup flax
1/4 cup chia seeds

Blend/process almonds to desired texture. Then process apples separately. Combine with flax and chia seeds by hand and put in dehydrator for 9 or so hours. I do at bedtime and have cereal in the morning.

Enjoy!

Sweet potato stir fry

2011-04-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Yes I am on a stir fry kick!

Sweet potato's are so good and this is a recipe I crave!

2 large sweet potato's shredded and in a pan with a little olive oil, grapeseed oil or coconut oil. They don't need to be in the pan too long just enough to soften them up. I'd say about 5 min.

Add 1 tsp of dried ginger and 1-2 tbs of soy sauce. We are soy free so I used coconut sauce which is very similar to soy sauce.

Add some rice and you have yourself a filling nutritious meal!

When I saw ginger I wasn't too excited but seriously the combo is so good!

You be the judge! I'm sure you won't regret it ;)

Hamburger stir fry

2011-04-12T14:05:00.001-07:00

So this is a different kind of stir fry. It all started with my babies:

This is my FIRST garden! Who knew it was so easy???? I was so scared but she is coming along well!

Anyways back to the food. Well see those lettuce heads on the bottom right? Those babies are ready for eating and I need more greens in my diet so that is where my dinner comes in.

What you do is take the lettuce and put whatever your having on top of it and it is delicious!

Example:

Rice

Beef and broccoli stir fry. It was so good! So it seems super simple but yet so good!

I roll the lettuce with some the rice and 'stuffing' and your good to go!

Need more greens??? How about cabbage, green beans, and squash with shredded carrots.

I love veggies! I never thought I would say that in a million years but veggies are the chicken in my book :)

This was posted to: http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/

Awesome Finds

2011-04-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

So I am in love with this color and this boy too!
Top: Target $4.98
Belt: DI $.50
Roxy Pants: Savers $7.99
Birthday Boy: Priceless!

My baby is one and I can not believe what a year has done to me!!! I cook and want to. I clean because I have to :) And I get to play all day long with an awesome dude! Life is sweet <3

Chocolate Banana Milkshake

2011-03-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

So as I am trying to find my 'place' in this blog, I have decided after much thought that I will make this a craft, cooking and mom blog. As those are the things that I am these days.
I can't craft all day everyday and feel this blog needs more attention so here it goes!

This milkshake is to die for! I was in on cloud 9 for approximately an hour plus :]
I was making a banana drink I often had when I was younger. Though I believe she put sugar. I didn't think it was necessary as I used ripe banana's and it was fine. So I was mixing and a light bulb went off....Add chocolate!!! And my face lit up.

This is My version

Chocolate Banana Milkshake

2 cups of coconut milk (You can do any milk)
2 small banana's frozen or not
1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder (I used Trader Joe's, Its cheap!!!!)

Blend all together and you have happiness in a cup!!!

Enjoy. This is so easy and yummy I love it.

Next post will explain what challenges we have and the reason I have found my love for cooking.
Stay tuned...

Can I just brag for a minute??

2011-03-18T15:50:00.001-07:00

My son is to die for!!! He is so stinkin cute I really don't know how I was so lucky ;] Ok, ok I'll stop already!

Hope all had a Happy St. Patrick's Day <3

Shirt says: Mommy's Lucky Charm

Lace Letter M

2011-02-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

I bought this letter at Michael's a while back on clearance. I liked it but I felt like it needed some sprucing up. I immediately thought lace! I love lace, who doesn't? To be honest though, I was nervous oddly. I didn't know how it would turn out but I love it! It gives a new feeling to the letter M!

Start with a letter:

Find some old lace hanging around:

Tie knots:

Scatter colors:

And you have a cute lace letter to hang on your wall or in my case on my little picture table.

I think I am gong to add a fabric flower as well!

Enjoy :]

Feel Quiet Book

2011-01-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

I have made a few quiet books in the past and wanted to do a feel book like the ones you see in the store. Well I was thinking of doing it with a circle of the 'fur' but it didn't fly so well so I did the whole cut out. (It will make sense with pics!)

Its not perfect but its why I love it! I took images online and just printed and cut them out. Super easy! Google bear vinyl or something and print one you want! For the material, I scored at a rummage sale that had lots of different fabrics. I love a good sale! :) But be creative, stuffed animals work great and random fabric from hats, wallets ect!

I took 2 piece of the felt and sewed the edges. I hot glued the cut outs because I did not want to sew them all. I made 3 books and my hand thanked me!!!
Once I was finished with the book, I sewed all of the pages together!
Simple simple simple! It didn't take much time and I know my little guy will love it when he gets a bit older!

Enjoy <3

The Lioin is not finished. Its why it has taken me so long to post this! I still am not finished but you get the idea :)

I love these feathers!!!

I hope this has inspired someone! My next quiet book will be for church! I have done one page to date and its been on the back burn so hopefully I finish it by the end of the year ;)

Ho Ho Ho

2010-12-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

I am such a slacker this year! I had so many plans and had great intentions and I am not sure where the time went to. Well, actually the time went to my little man!

Its been a crazy month! I told my husband that Thanksgiving was yesterday. I have just been busy with other things that I have not been able to craft and my heart wants to!

I am here and here to stay! :) Just hopefully no more excuses. Sadly my Christmas ideas will have to wait til next year...

But and that is a big but! I will have some tutes and fun stuff coming in the next week I promise!

For now I leave you with this :

Merry Christmas and a Happy Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Pearl Candles

2010-12-05T21:12:00.001-07:00

Christmas Gift number 3
So my sister and I for my wedding made these and I keep thinking of them. They are super easy to make and such a great gift or decoration!

What you need:
candles
pearl pins

If you don't want to get pearl pins, I am sure you can take pins and glue on some little pearls to the ends. And I am sure it's cheaper that way too!

Enjoy!!

Thrift store Saturday

2010-12-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

So I am in Love and I mean love with this find!
I don't think I need to say more, She speaks for her self.
Oh she was a whopping $50 bucks, Half off day at a thrift store is better than a candy store :)

Fabric Picture Frame

2010-11-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

Homemade Christmas gift #2

So I had this wonderful idea to make a fabric frame. It was such a random thought but I love when I have visions. I dont have many hehe

I Love love LOVE how it turned out!

The best part??? Total of the project: Maybe 75 cents!

So I bought a wood picture frame at a garage sale for $.50

I took really Really wrinkled fabric I found at a rummage sale( a bag as much as you can stuff for $2,(SCORE!)

I cut it the size of the frame but gave it an extra inch or two.No need to be precise!

I then made a square for the middle. Again, no worry to be perfect.

I cute the 4 corners so I could fold them over the frame and to fit nicely.

This is what it looked like.

And then glued the outside of the frame and cutting the extra fabric left over so it wouldn't

hang over.

Took some coordinating fabric and made some fabric roses and finished it off with

some pearl beads and a cute button.

I made it creased a little because I liked the look of it! I also made another frame and made it even more creased or draped looking.
I put this in the frame but a family photo or anything would be cute.

By the way, I have been slacking on the blog as of late But I promise I have been bippity boppity boo to a lot of things!! Hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful and relaxing as mine!

Homemade Key Chain Tutorial

2010-11-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

The season of giving: Gift number 1!

This old $.50 Thrift Store find

Became this!!!

So I have a new love for taking something from the thrift store and transforming it into something pretty!

This idea came to me as I am in a mommy's group and we are doing a Christmas gift exchange. I was trying to think of something to make for her and this came to mind! She is from Canada and loves the color red hence the Canadian maple lead and red ribbon.

My intention for making this was to be a key chain but once it was finished I thought, it totally works for an ornament or hanging on your little mirror in your car!

This is what you need:

I used an old glasses case you could use anything really!

An image

Some pins to pin image on the case

Scissors

Fabric glue or a glue gun

Needle and thread(preferably thicker)

Here is what I did:

I took the Canada flag and cut it out and it was a little long so I took the glasses case inside out and trimmed the seams and unfolded it and the image fit on it!

I pinned the image on the case.

And ended up with 2 little leafs

I took my fabric glue and glued them together, I didn't want to use my glue gun but maybe wish I had but I was thinking of my needle going through it and wasn't sure how hard it would be!

Here it is glued together

I took my dollar store hole puncher and punched a hole where I wanted it

(I was amazed it punched through it)

I took some thicker thread and went around the leaf. I also went around the loop hole to prevent it from breaking.

Viola! Super simple but such a great gift! I can not wait to send this baby out. I seriously want to keep it for myself but the feeling of giving something especially something made by Muah is much more satisfaction :)

Ribbon frame

2010-11-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

So this is a super late project. My son was born 7 months ago and I finally did something with it! Oh well, its not like he knows anyways..

So I bought these wooden animals at Walmart on clearance before he was born and prior to that I bought the frame on clearance at Kmart. (Clearance is awesome!)

Well I wanted to use both of these in his room and this is what I did:

I took the matte from the picture frame and started adding ribbon. I tied them in a know and went on to the next tie.

And this is what the end result was! I was thinking if I really wanted to be creative to do brown ribbon on the sides for tree's maybe and green on the bottom for the grass and blue on top for sky but I still like how it turned out!

Here is a closer look

Tada! I couldn't fit the glass in but I love it!! You can put a family picture or anything really!

Hope you enjoyed!

Gobble Gobble Turkey

2010-11-07T21:19:00.002-07:00

I have a wonderful aunt who is seriously amazing! Well she was so nice to give me some beads that she wasn't going to use. Cha Ching!!!! I was trying to do a Thanksgiving craft and it came to me to use beads to make the turkey! So fun to do with the kids.

What you need:
heavy fabric
glue gun
some ribbon for cuteness
beads

This project is versatile. You wanna use big chunky beads go for it! You want to use a poster board, do it!
I'll tell you some tricks that I found as I was doing it to help you out to ; )

I first took my fabric and laid out my plan with colors and such. I ended up mixing the beads to give it a different effect.

I penciled my turkey and got to work with the gun spreading the beads over and pushing down a bit for the beads to stick to the glue better. I found if I didn't do that the beads fell off easier.

This is the middle of the action.^

Silly me forgot to do the head of the turkey! Good thing it was easy to take off and redo :)

And this is what you end up with! It was a little messy but such a fun and easy project! It took me 30 min.

Thankful #1 I am thankful for my family, My husband is amazing and works hard and bubba is the shine in my day!

What are you thankful for????

Thrift store Saturday

2010-11-06T20:17:00.001-07:00

I designate today as thrift store Sat because I am friends with the man upstairs and he said its ok. Ok j/k but I think designating a day is fun so, so be it!

Here is my finds!

This little friend was way WAY too cute to pass up! And a buck was worth every penny!!

And he had to have a friend. He is brass and $4 buckeroos but I think he was worth it too!

I might be crushing on owls! But shhh...Don't tell!!!!

$.14 and a future project I am excited about!!

25 cents and also a future project I am stocked about! Muhahahaha!

I hope I inspired you to check out your local thrift store!

Braid Bracelet

2010-11-05T23:25:00.001-07:00

I have a tutorial and an easy one too! Let's not forget that it is so cute!

Materials:

3 strips of fabric about 3inches wide (I used cotton)

glue gun

Lets get started!!

Take your 2 strips of fabric and tie a knot to one end.

Now this was the fun part for me, braid the strips and it should look like this!

Side note: I used my mouth to braid :)

Then once you have the right length for your wrist, I braided it a bit through the other end to kind of tie it together if that makes sense.

Cut your ends off and take your glue gun and glue to ends down as best as you can. Mine was still a little puffy but no sweat!

And admire your easy, and cheap bracelet

Add a fabric rose if you would like or make 2 and wear them together! There is so many possibilities!

Hope you enjoy my first ever post and tutorial. Many more to come!!!