Dairy-free, Soy-free, Peanut-free No-Bake Cookies!

So my little Peanut is allergic to peanuts. And dairy. And onions and potatoes and beans and ... Weird, I know. Well, poor kid - his mother is allergic to tartar control toothpaste and Neosporin. I guess we know where he gets it from!

Anyway, he loves to "help" me cook. I'm not sure I should if spilling flour and oats all over the floor and trying to pour water into the cookie mix is really helping, but we have a good time. I'm always looking for new baking recipes, well, any recipes that he can eat and enjoy. Since he loves (dairy-free, soy-free) chocolate, I thought we'd try making some no-bake cookies.

So, here we go:

2 C. sugar
3 T. cocoa powder
1/2 C. coconut oil
1/2 C. rice milk (or whatever variety you prefer!)

Put these in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once they come to a rolling boil, start timing for one minute. After one minute, remove from heat and add (in this order):

1 t. vanilla
1/2 C. Sunbutter (that's the only brand of sunflower butter I can find locally)
2 1/2 C. quick oats

Stir it all well and drop by the teaspoonful onto waxed paper. Let cool and enjoy! Now, don't expect them to taste the same as normal no-bakes because the Sunbutter definately has a distinctive flava. Next time I'm going to try almond butter - I bet it they would be heavenly!

For the first time ever, my little Salvador got to lick the spoon, and he was loving it. He devoured his cookie and shortly after I found him in the kitchen trying to sneak another. I think they were purty yummy, too!

If you try the recipe and like it, let me know!

Coming soon: Homemade (and dairy-free!) "Animal" Cracker recipe!

Finding peace in the craziness

It's been a long couple days. Both my boys have had a little cold this week. No biggie, but a bit more goopy and a bit less cheery than normal. My little Santiago is 6 months now and it's his first sickness. Poor baby. But he's so sweet; so smooshy and snuggly.

Salvador just turned three! He's certainly a big boy now, begging for crackers and fruit snacks and Dora, jumping off the furniture and driving his train and...me...pretty much crazy.

But at the end of the day, all he really wanted was to climb on my lap in the chair in his room and snuggle. Well, actually he really wanted a back scratch (he's a little back scratch addict like his mama). So we sat in his chair in the dark in his room. We didn't say anything, just sat. And he was calm and at peace.

And it reminded me that that is all I really need. To climb upon the lap of my heavenly Father and just sit. I don't need to say anything, and He doesn't either. I doubt He even minds if I fall asleep. I just need to sit, and know I am loved. To know that I am safe and all is well. I am not alone. I can feel loco all day and yet He still wants me to sit with Him. And that's all I really need.

Life is good. I am calm and at peace.

Potty Learning Victories!

So my big boy is moving beyond the set-backs caused by the flu and is doing pretty well with using the toilet. He had an accident in the night last night - poor guy was yelling for me from his room but I wash much too sleepy to hear right away and I arrived too late to get him to the toilet. But besides that he's had several dry days in a row. Almost no accidents! Yay!

He hasn't quite figured out that he can go without me, though. He always comes to me and waits for me to take him to the toilet. Sometimes he still waits for me to help with his pants and chones. Oh well, I'd rather do that than wash diapers!

And the smarty-pants. He's already figured out that these magic words: "My pee is going to come out!!!!!" will get him out of almost anything he doesn't want to do, like quiet time and bedtime.

Smart, smart, smart. That's my kid, alright!