Vanilla Cupcakes

I love getting things in the mail.  Don't you?  Especially when it's a big package full of fun things like cookbooks and other baking items.  This past week my mom sent me 2 nice cookbooks, some coconut flour, coconut crystals (a good sugar replacement) and some other goodies.  Well, I didn't want to waste any time in using my new box of goodies!

One of the cookbooks she sent me was "Cooking with Coconut Flour" by Bruce Fife, N.D.  I absolutely love anything written by Bruce Fife, I have maybe 2 or 3 other books he has written about Coconut.  If you haven't read anything by him, do a quick search on the internet.  He is easy to read and knows his stuff about coconut!

So, to get back on the subject......I flipped through the book and found some yummy and unbelievably simple Vanilla Cupcakes.  Out came my favorite power-tool of the kitchen, my Kitchen Aide and my favorite helper,  Maggie and I started to whip up a batch of cupcakes.  The thing that I really liked about this recipe, besides the fact that it was super easy is that it makes 6 cupcakes!  I love cake, but I don't eat a lot.  Chris and Maggie don't like cake much, but can appreciate it in small doses, so this was perfect!

Yes, I know I said the recipe makes 6 and there are only 4 in the picture.  The two missing were the casualties of Chris and I, we couldn't wait to taste test!  I will definitely be making these again.  No doubt!  In fact, I may me making the chocolate version tomorrow.  I have already gotten the request!  So, if you want to make these yummy treats for your family, follow the recipe below!

3 Tablespoons butter, melted 

3 eggs 

1/3 cup sugar 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon vanilla 

1/4 cup sifted coconut flour 

1/4 teaspoon baking powder 

Blend together butter, eggs, sugar, salt, and vanilla.  Combine coconut flour with baking powder and whisk into batter until there are no lumps.  Pour batter into greased muffin cups.  Bake at 400 degrees F (205 C) for 15 minutes.  Top with frosting of your choice.  Makes 6 cupcakes.  Spiders optional.  :) 

Focusing on what you DO have

The last couple of months since we moved out of our house have been very hard.  I had high hopes, was full of excitement, plans and dreams.  But since we aren't in the new house yet, and not knowing when it's going to happen, it's really hard to be so positive.  Especially when you are in a place you don't want to be.  Don't get me wrong, I am thankful to have a roof over our heads, but it's not comfortable.  It's not "home".  Despite how we try to make it home, we all feel it.  It's just not. 

I have found myself being very negative lately.  It's so easy to focus on what you don't have.  It's easy to be bitter and angry.  I wish it wasn't so easy.  Even having these thoughts brings me down.  Don't get me wrong, I am not having these feeling just because we aren't in our house yet.  There are so many things right now that are going wrong.  It seems like we are a snowball rolling down a hill.  And the problems escalate and just get bigger and bigger.    Eventually that snowball has to get down the hill and when it does it will break open and things will get better.  It has to!

So, I have decided to try to turn my thinking around and think about the positive.  Think about what we DO have.  Every time a negative thought pops into my mind I have made a commitment to follow it up with two positive thoughts.  I figure eventually it's got to turn around, right?  See....it's already happening....that was pretty positive, right?  :)


I know I can't be the only person who goes through this. What do you do to turn around your thoughts when you get in a funk?  Do you purposely do something to change your thoughts or do you just ride it out?  I would love to hear what other people do to get through hard times.

And then they were gone.......

As you know, Maggie started school on Aug. 30th.  Something we never thought we would do in a million years!  I have to admit that I am so happy about our decision.  She has just blossomed and grown so much in the short few weeks she has been there.  But, I am not really posting about school.  Something big happened for Maggie and I wanted to share with you all!

On Maggie's third day of school we realized she had a loose bottom tooth.  Exciting times!  About 2 days after that we noticed the one next to it was wiggling as well.  Well, for those of you who know Maggie, then you already know that Maggie does things when she is ready.......and not a minute before!  We waited over 1 month for her to pull those teeth out.  I begged her to let me try, she did let me try twice, but the little buggers were too slippery.  After that she said no way, she was keeping them til she was ready to be done with them.  Every day I checked them.  Every day I tried to convince her, every day had the same answer as the day before.  Yep, you guessed it, she flat out said No. 
Then came the ONE day neither Chris or I checked.  In fact, at one point in the afternoon after picking her up from school I could have sworn I noticed them missing, but then didn't take a second look because of course when your child pulls a tooth they tell you.  Right?  Wrong.

A couple hours after being home, a little after dinner Maggie came to me and told me she had pulled out her teeth at school.  My jaw must have dropped to the floor.  Both Chris and I were so excited that these wiggly things were FINALLY out.  Chris was WAY happier than I was because, well, he has a weak stomach for things like loose teeth.  I think Maggie was partly keeping them in so she could do her "look dad, I can push my teeth with my tongue.  She enjoyed the look of horror on his face.  Admittedly, I did too.  :)  Kinda funny to see. 
Anyway.......the story of her pulling her teeth was different than any I have ever heard from a kid.  It really kind of melted my heart a bit.  I will tell it exactly as she told me.

"It was just after lunch and I was tired of them being in my mouth.  They were moving all over when I was trying to eat.  It was annoying.  So I went to the front yard and sat under the big tree.  I pulled out my teeth and then I buried them under the tree in a spot where there was good shade so the sun wouldn't make them too hot, and so the fox would come poop on them."

Everything made sense to us except the part about the fox.  Not sure where she got that from, there is no fox.  But I thought it was so sweet that she had this private little moment with herself.  She had a little ceremony of sorts for her baby teeth.  I was sad I missed it.

The next morning we were getting ready for school and she decided she would like to dig them up and bring them home.  Well, if this had all happened about 2 weeks before it would have been no problem.  See, the school had just had white/yellow crushed granite poured in that spot, and well, you guessed it, it ALL looks like little tiny baby teeth.  LOL 

So we don't have any baby tooth keepsakes, but we have a story that will forever be with me.  My baby girl is growing up. 

I'm still around!

WOW!  Our moving experience has been one wild ride......and unfortunately we are still on it!  No, we have not gotten into the house yet.    We are patiently waiting though and hoping to be in between now and the next 6 months. 

We moved to a lovely area, but unfortunately I can only get dial up for now.  I am having problems getting hooked up because my computer is too new and doesn't want to use dial up, but I think we have it figured out now!

Maggie started school in August and couldn't be happier.  Neither could I.  She has broken out her shell and has blossomed far more than I could have hoped for.  Last night we had a potluck at school and
Back to School night.  She got up with her classmates and sung the sweetest song, The Magic Penny.  Another parent took video so I am hoping to get a copy and share it with all of you.

The school is big on gardening and being outdoors, which is right up my alley.  We are starting a Garden to Table program.  I am on the Garden Committee and am excited about all the things planned.  I will share more when I get my computer up at home.

I just wanted to pop in real quick, I hope I haven't lost all my readers!  I should be back in full swing by next week!  YIPPEEE!!!