Too many cucumbers = pickles

I am absolutely NOT a pickle fan...

but my family is (go-figure). Well, basically for me it is the dill that drives me away. APPARENTLY, I ate a few too many dill pickles as a 4 year old and well, now I can't even stand the smell of dill. *blush*

Anyhow, I decided to make pickles out of all these cukes we were blessed with...but not dill. I typically don't even attempt to eat pickles without dill because, well, the thought never occurred to me before yesterday *duh*. So, i sliced up 2 cups of Red Onions (cuz i like them) and chopped 2 cloves garlic (cuz i like them too) and then washed and sliced (the long way) one ice cream pail of cukes. I dumped the onions, garlic and cukes all into a large glass bowl. I then took out a stainless medium sized pot and began to concoct my "vinegar" -- this is basically the same recipe as refridgerator pickles.

I used:
6 cups vinegar
3 cups sugar
3 T sea salt

I stirred it until the sugar was mostly dissolved and brought it to a boil for about 10 minutes and promptly poured it over my fresh veggies, making sure that the "juice" came over the top of the veggies. I let them all cool on the counter then dumped the whole mess into the ice cream bucket, covered and popped into the fridge. I did steal some onions and thought they were awesome.

Today, before breakfast *blush* I ate one... guess what-- I liked it :)
Hope you do too!

Crockpotting 365

Oh my! This blog is absolutely a crockpotter's paradise!

Stephanie of Crockpot 365 has vowed to use her crockpot every day for A WHOLE YEAR! And the best part of the whole deal.... she is GLUTEN FREE!! Which makes this fish a happy happy momma!

See, I am gluten free and I LOVE my crockpot. So, by default Stephanie and I should just be the very bestest friends -- she totally makes you feel that way when you read her blog. She not only gives you an awesome recipe to try, but also posts the "verdict" of her cooking as well. It ROCKS!

I already use my crock probably 3-4 days of the week, because I enjoy coming home and not stressing over getting dinner ready. Since I work from 2-5pm 5 days a week plus the 20 minute drive, Crockpot is simply... the way to go! I have gotten a lot of GREAT ideas from Crockpot 365 and for this I say, "Thank You Stephanie!!! My new bestest friend " LOL

My only problem now is that I need to buy another crockpot, one just does not seem to be enough!

A new Gluten Free Resource!

I just have to share a very cool new site Gluten Free Network. It is a lot of fun and is a great resource for gluten free friends, recipes, ingredients, finding recipes and more!!

This new Gluten Free community is even throwing a contest in order to get noticed. Just by writing a simple review like this one you are entered in the contest to win 2 new gluten free cookbooks they are giving away!

So, give em a visit and blog about the site to earn yourself a coupla' cool cookbooks — FULL OF GF RECIPES!!

Hot Chocolate, Math and Peanut Butter Cookies

What on earth does math have to do with baking cookies?

In our house....everything.

Thursday's math lesson was a lesson in doubling fractions - sorta. Momma had to get some baking done and well, who is best to assist with this feat than the 3 little guppies?

Today's entry is about cookies. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip to be exact. OH Beloved, I can honestly say that I have never in my recently gluten free life experienced cookies like these. All this time my favorite was a simple flour less peanut butter cookie recipe, but that has all changed--well, sort of. Mary Frances' hubby, John of Gluten Free Cooking School, has taken these cookies to a whole new level!

Feast your eyes on these -- don't they look simply amazing?!?! And the best part of it all is that they are gluten free, dairy free and can also be made egg free - wooot!

and these

3 1/2 dozen of deliciousness! (I doubled the recipe and used a tablespoon to measure *winks*)

After baking all the cookies, we decided that they absolutely MUST be partnered with Hot Chocolate for our midmorning Math break ;) We studied fractions while baking and then continued with our regular math lesson from Miquon

See the happy smiles.

And after the first bite delight!

The Taste Testers give them 3 smiles!

Hot Chocolate and cookies

First follow Mary Frances' Recipe for John's Peanut Butter cookies - You won't regret it! We had many hands to assist in measuring, doubling the amounts and finding the ingredients.

Second, Cool cookies while working on math and momma makes the hot chocolate.

1/2 c. sugar

1/4c. baking cocoa

dash of sea salt

1/3 c. warm water

Bring these ingredients to boil, reduce heat and add:

4c. Milk - we used goat milk today, but have used soy and rice milks as well.

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

Third, Stir well, do not boil. Serve when hot with Mary Frances' cookies and SMILE WITH DELIGHT!

Welcome to Fishie's Fishbowl

Howdy ya'll!!
While there are so many things to share with you...I thought it best we begin with introductions?

As much as I dislike introductions where you have to go and say your name (Theresa Fisher aka fishie) followed by where are you from (Minnesota,USA) the names and ages of your children (step-son Devan 17, Collin 7, and twins Emma and Elijah age 4 1/2) and maybe a little about yourself (I am a homeschooling mom who follows the Charlotte Mason Method. I enjoy good living books especially the "good book". I am in love with Jesus , the lover of my soul and also a man who has stolen my heart, Todd. Our family lives with a few chronic diseases, like Diabetes and Crohn's disease, so we live gluten free, dairy free, casein free, and low carb but we don't let it get us down. We actually enjoy sharing what we find and what makes us well with others. Hence,I have a few *lol* websites - Healthyfishies - a web 2.0 environmentally friendly community of like minded individuals seeking to live a more healthy and exuberant lifestyle.) I feel that the introductions are the best way to get to know one another.... SO- stop in and introduce yourself by leaving a comment!

Nice to meet you ;)