Vanilla bean ice cream | Vegan, Gluten Free, Sugar free, Dairy free

A healthy and delicious spring time treat.

~Lizzy

~Mexican Tortilla Soup~

Today was a cold and dreary day, and what better to eat than a comforting bowl of soup?
Some of our friends came over today to have a "Planting Party" and so three of us girls got in the kitchen and made lunch for the elder sisters and moms......A day of delightful fellowship, and Delicious dining! ;-)








Mexican Tortilla Soup~

4 Cups Carrots-Chopped
2 Cups Celery-Chopped
2 TB. Crushed or minced Garlic
1/4 Cup Chopped Onion
2 TB. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 28 oz. can Fire Roasted Tomatoes
1 14.5 oz. can of Adobo Seasoned Tomatoes
1 TB. Chili Powder
1 Tsp. Cumin Powder
1 Tsp. Onion Powder
1/2 Tsp. Garlic Powder
4 Cups Cooked Brown Rice
3 1/2 Cups Pinto Beans
8-10 Cups Pure Water
2 TB. Salt --or to taste
1-2 Cups Tortilla Chips
Cilantro for garnishing


Saute the crushed garlic and olive oil. Add Carrot, Celery, and Onion and saute till the veggies are tender. Stir in the Chili powder, Onion powder, Garlic powder, salt, and cumin. Pour in the Tomato sauce and water, and stir. Simmer on the stove for about 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Add the cooked Pinto beans and cooked brown rice and cook until heated through. Garnish with cilantro and tortilla chips and serve!


Enjoy your soup!

Christ's Blessings,

Miss Lizzy

Country food just tastes a whole lot better......

Care to know what our little hands have been making? ;-)
(sorry, no pictures yet!) :(

Our top favorite creation was the Double Chocolate Orange Torte From Elanas Pantry....let's just say...Divine, Melt in your mouth goodness that only took a few gobbles to finish! By far the best Gluten Free, homemade desert we've ever made. (We did substitute oat flour, and we used our homemade chocolate chips...)

If you'd like this recipe, click HERE and your on your way to decadence!


Another favorite was the country breakfast's we fixed! Or....more Brunchs....but so delicious!
We made potato hash browns sauteed with GF spinach and feta sausage, green peppers, and onions. YUM and served that with Laura's homemade biscuits with our home-canned raspberry jam and honey. (of course she made me a tasty batch of GF biscuits that I still argue were better than theirs...**grins**) I had mine with applesauce, and so finished a delightful meal.

Another favorite has been the Salads! :-) We made a spinach/red leaf lettuce salad with colorful peppers, salmon, brown rice, cucumbers and drizzled in a yummy garlic balsamic vinegar dressing. SO good!

And last but not least, Laura made a very creative mexican casserole which was layered with:
Corn tortillas
Mexican cheese
Spicy tomato sauce
Bell peppers
Zucchini
Mushrooms
Spinach

She baked that in the oven until the cheese was nice and melted, and it sure didn't last very long! :-)


Those were the highlight meals, and I hope more will follow!

Happy eating, and Christ's Blessings,

Miss Lizzy

Oops!

I almost forgot one of my favorite blogs! Here it is~


http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/

This has super yummy recipes your sure to enjoy! :D :D : D


Christ's Blessings,

Miss Lizzy

Top 5 Gluten Free Blog Countdown~

5. http://glutenfreemommy.com/

4. http://holdthegluten.net/

3. http://gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com/

2. http://simplygluten-free.blogspot.com/

1. http://www.elanaspantry.com/


Hope you check out these wonderful Gluten Free Blogs!! :D :D :D


Christ's Blessings,

Miss Lizzy

Homemade Tea~~

Many a time I peep into our tea drawer, and we are either out of our favorite kind, or I just want something different. So.....I began experimenting with herbs etc.... and happened upon these three recipes~


Have any of your heard about the Homestead Blessings dvd's? Well, we've bought every single one of them, and they are just wonderful! In their herbal dvd, they make a wonderful mint tea that is perfect either hot or cold! Go HERE to read more/buy it.

They have a little "promo" clip of it, and it just happens to be on the mint tea! So if you would like to watch that, go HERE.


Also, another favorite is the Lemon Honey Ginger tea! It almost tastes like a hot lemonade.

2 TB. Ginger (Just take of two knobs and peel.......do not shred/etc.... you want the pieces to be a good size.
5-6 Cups Water

Boil this mixture in a pot until the water starts to turn a yellowish color. When it comes to this stage~

Get about 5 mugs/teacups and spoon into each, a mixture of:

3 TB. Lemon Juice
2 TB. Honey

Then just mix, and pour your ginger water into your 5 mugs!

Note...This has a tendency to cool quickly! So drink fast! :D :D :D


And my 3rd recipe is--

My version of good tea: ;-)

Make yourself a nice mug of either earl grey or black tea, and add to it:

3 TB. Milk (Non dairy milks may be used instead)
1 TB. Honey
1/8 tsp. Vanilla extract (optional)

This is SO yummy!!


Have fun making teas!

Christ's Blessings,

Miss Lizzy

Sweet Smoothies~

Valentines day is almost here! And with it brings lots of sweet stuff! :D :D :D And i'm not just talking about the candy...

Here's a pink and pretty smoothie that will look well in any glass, (well....if you omitted the cocoa....) and better yet, it will taste amazing~


I :heart: Smoothie

1 Frozen Banana
1 C. Frozen Strawberries
1 C. Almond or rice milk
1 TB. cocoa powder
1 soaked date-pitted
1 tsp. vanilla extract


Blend until smooth, and garnish with either some fresh strawberries, or even yummier: Some good Green and Blacks Chocolate!

Enjoy!

Miss Lizzy