Allergy Friendly: Cinnamon Rolls - Dough prepped in Bread Machine

Here it is! An allergy friendly version of my cinnamon rolls! The dough is prepped in a bread machine.

*Dairy Free
*Soy Free
*Egg Free
*Rice Free
*Barley Free

*No nuts, with the exception of Almond Milk. (Almonds tend to be in their own category as far as nuts go and the only nut my son isn't allergic to)

I may try this again with coconut milk and see if that is another substitute that will work well.

Dough

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of Almond milk
3 tablespoons of canola oil
2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed meal, mixed with 6 tablespoons of warm water (to replace eggs)
1/2 cup of sugar
4 cups plus 2 tablespoons of organic (without barley) flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons rapid rise yeast



Filling

4 tablespoons of melted Earth Balance *Soy Free* Natural Buttery Spread
1/4 cup of sugar
2 - 4 tablespoons of cinnamon
*I honestly don't measure the cinnamon and sugar, I just sprinkle it until it looks good to me.



Icing

3 teaspoons of Almond milk
1 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar
4 tablespoons of melted Earth Balance *Soy Free* Natural Buttery Spread
1 teaspoon of vanilla
*Adjust milk if it's too thick to fully mix well.



Put the dough ingredients in the bread machine in the order that they are listed above and run on the dough cycle. After the dough is finished, roll it out into a large rectangle. Spread the melted butter substitute over the rolled out dough and sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar evenly over it.

Roll the dough and cut into roughly 1 1/2 inch sections. I get 12 out of this. Lightly grease the pan with Palm Oil Shortening. Place cut cinnamon rolls onto the baking sheet, close together, but with enough space for them to expand. Bake at 325 for about 24 minutes (remember that ovens vary. So watch them and take them out when they begin to get a light golden brown.) Spread the icing on as soon as they come out of the oven.


**The Earth Balance *Soy Free* Natural Buttery Spread is a little bit of a pain to find locally for me, so we usually get a few containers at a time when we find it.

Today...

I am so sad about what happened in Boston today. 

Wordless Wednesday - My World

♥

via Instagram

The Steubenville Rape Case - Yes, I'm Blogging About It

I generally prefer not to blog about things in the media, however I feel as if it's my responsibility as a woman and a mother, to speak up.

If you have not heard about this horrifying case, a quick Google search will give you endless results to brush up on it, if you wish.

I'd like to start this with stating my disgust with CNN reporters for how they expressed sympathy for the 2 rapists after they had been sentenced a couple of days ago. I know I'm not alone with this feeling of disgust. I've seen many other people expressing a degree of sympathy for the rapists. People have talked about how their lives are ruined, how they were promising football stars, how hard it must be for them etc. How about the victim? The girl who while incapacitated was raped, urinated on, dragged around and photographed. That girl will have to deal with this in one way or another, for the rest of her life. With the support of her friends and family, she will get stronger, she will get better, she will move on and have a good life. But nothing will make that event go away. The emotional and mental toll that this type of thing has on a person is tremendous. 

There is NO EXCUSE for the actions of those two rapists that night. There is NO EXCUSE for the teens who took photographs and videos. There is NO EXCUSE for all of the witnesses who watched and did nothing. There is NO EXCUSE for the authorities who attempted to sweep the case under the rug.

Kudos to Anonymous for being an advocate for the victim and getting this story out there. And also to the blogger who captured screenshots of the twitter conversations about the event.

In regards to the sentencing, I have read many things that have said something along the lines of, What difference would a harsher sentence/more time really make? A harsher sentence would drive home the fact that what they did is absolutely inexcusable. Not only for Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond, but for everyone. Furthermore, it would give a more profound sense of justice to the victim. That justice is just another piece in the healing process. People stress the fact that they will have to register as sex offenders. Of course they will! They ARE sex offenders! They earned that title all on their own.

Lets not forget, not only did Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond digitally rape, urinate on and photograph this girl, they also joked and bragged about it on twitter, as well as shared the images of the girl after the fact. Many other witnesses discussed the event as well, all negative toward the victim. Even other teen girls. They called it rape, they KNEW it was wrong.

There is an enormous problem here. This problem goes beyond just these teens lacking basic compassion and morals. This is an issue with the football culture there in Steubenville, where the "stars" are regarded as above the law. This is an issue with lack of parental involvement where it matters. This is an issue with society. There is so much that urgently needs to be addressed and the Steubenville Rape Case has brought it to light. Things MUST change.

We're in 2013 and it astounds me that victim blaming in rape cases is still so prevalent. There is absolutely no excuse for rape. No. Excuse.

The sentencing in this case was a slap on the wrist. Just look at it all together. Go read the tweets. Go watch the video.

EDIT: Friday, March 22, 2013
I watched the Steubenville special on ABC's 20/20 tonight. I am so deeply disappointed in the clear sympathy garnering for the rapists and the little compassion expressed for the victim. Comparing Ma'lik and his past to "The Blind Side"? Come on now ABC, that was in poor taste and if I were Michael Oher, I'd be furious.

The thing I am much, MUCH more disappointed about is what I saw while following the #ABC2020 hashtag discussion on twitter. I think sickened by, is probably more accurate actually. Women were calling the victim a "Ho" and other names along those lines. Both men and women were blaming the victim.

We need to teach our children better. We NEED to. This needs to be a discussion with your teens. We need to raise our younger children knowing better than this teen generation does right now. There is another similar case going on in CT right now.

The victim blaming mentality too many people have toward this type of situation is just unacceptable. The perpetrators need to be held fully responsible for their actions. No excuses.

Dear Moms

Dear Moms who think I am an over achiever. Moms who think I am crazy. Moms who think I do things the way I do, to try to be better than you or make you feel less than.

I don't cook most things from scratch to be better than you. I don't keep my home the way I do, just to make you feel bad about yours. I don't homeschool and think you're bad if you don't. I don't do anything at all to be better than you or to "out mother" you. Nothing I do for my family is about you at all.

I'm a mother, just like you. I'm a mother to 6 children and we have 2 dogs. I'm a mother who homeschools. I'm a mother who is just doing her best, just like you. I'm the mother of a child with a long list of severe food allergies.

The truth is, I cook the way I do, because I have no choice. Of course I'm happy that my kids are eating healthy to go along with that, but I would love if I could heat them some frozen nuggets now and then or order a pizza on a night where I just really don't want to cook. But, I can't do those things without risking my son's life. I don't share new things I make just to bother you, I share them for those interested.

I keep my home organized and clean because I have trouble getting through my day successfully otherwise. It makes my day run more smoothly with the kids and homeschooling and I feel less stressed out. Keeping the floors clean sure does help when the baby has dropped his cheese stick on the floor for the 20th time and I don't have to throw it away because of dirt or dog fur. The five second rule totally applies here. Some of my kids and myself also have environmental allergies, so keeping everything dusted and vacuumed makes us all less uncomfortable. Unless my feet are getting stuck to your floor or my kids come home filthy from just sitting on your couch, I don't notice how clean your home is or isn't, so quit thinking I am going to judge you.

I homeschool because it's right for us. Between the moving and food allergies, right now, it works for my family. It's not for everyone and I don't ever think otherwise.

Cloth diapers.... breastfeeding... those are also things I choose for my family. I don't care if you choose them for yours or not. If I share a link now and then, take it or leave it. I'm only sharing for those interested, not to offend those who aren't.

I share things I do, sometimes because I'm excited that I came up with another allergy free recipe and other times because I do have friends who are genuinely interested. Never do I share pictures, recipes, details about my day or anything else like that, to offend/upset/annoy/bother/judge you.

And one last thing. Keeping a clean home does not mean I am neglecting to spend quality time with my children. My entire life is devoted to my children. A clean home is not a sign that I must be pushing them aside to achieve it.

At the end of the day, I am no different than you. I'm a mom, just like you. I'm tired, just like you. I'm doing my best, just like you. I love my children, just like you. We all do things differently and that's ok.

How to take little kids out to play in the snow - AKA "slow torture"

Moms and Dads, any of you who have bundled up kids, especially toddlers and young children to go play in the snow... you all know what I'm talking about here.

Lets begin...

First, if you're so lucky to have thought ahead and have all of the snow pants, jackets and gloves together and readily available, then this part isn't so bad. Otherwise, you must go frantically searching the house/garage/vehicle, while the kids whine to go out, looking for everything. Tell everyone to go pee! Even if they do, they will need to again once they are dressed, don't worry.

Once you get everything together, now it's time to bundle them up. Oh this part is fun. You begin to break a sweat as you struggle to get their boots on and the snow pants on properly, so that snow doesn't get up in their pants or down into their boots. "Mommy! My socks feel funny!" "My pants are twisted!"

Then the gloves and jacket are equally as fun. You also want these on properly to keep their hands and arms warm and dry. "My sleeve in bunched up! Ahhhhhhhhh!" "My fingers are in the same hole!" "Heeeeelp!"

Lets not forget the hat and hood! You need to keep those heads and necks warm and dry too! "My hair feels funny!" "You buttoned the hood too tight!" "I can't see!" "I'm hot!"

Finally! They are dressed and ready to go out into the snow!!!

"I have to pee!" Take them pee... and start over again.


Ok NOW, an hour later, they are ready to go outside!

Yay! They are having fun! They are diving through the snow and laughing and happy! Oh. Em. Gee... This was so worth all of the trouble! Woohoo!

About 2 minutes later, the youngest will begin to cry because it's too cold. The only thing to do, is to hold him, in his 50 lbs of snow gear, so you can watch the rest of the kids have fun. But then the other toddler is pissed that she can't walk through the snow because it's too deep, so you have the little toddler on one hip (but it really feels like you are toting around a grown man with all of the damn snow gear) while using your other hand to lift her tiny body with the 65 lbs of snow gear through the snow.

Within minutes, a kid is crying that their hands are cold, another gets snow up their sleeve, another falls face first into the snow... 15 blissful minutes in the snow and the little ones are saying screw this, I want to go inside.

The undressing process, while stressful, is much easier than getting them dressed. "Come on guys, you look like you're ready for a nap!"

"Did you have fun!? I bet you did! SNOW IS SO FUN!!!!!"


Well, Mom and/or Dad, you just had one hell of a workout, go eat some chocolate. Seriously, go eat some before you hurt someone.


                                                          Don't they look THRILLED?

When do we get stationed in the South again?

Vegetable/Vegetarian Lasagna

This is my healthier spin on Lasagna that my family loves! Even my meat loving husband (That sounded bad didn't it?). It's obviously not a diet recipe, but it has some good stuff in it. However, it's not allergy friendly for my 8 year old :/.

I like to make this ahead of time and have it in the fridge ready to bake a couple of hours-ish before dinner.

Ingredients

- 1 box of Whole Wheat Lasagna Noodles.

- 3 24oz jars of marinara sauce (or roughly 72ozs of homemade etc.)

- 1 2lb container of Ricotta Cheese.

- 6 cups of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese.

- 1 1/2 cups of Grated Parmesan Cheese.

- 3 cups of fresh Spinach.

- 2 medium size Zucchini.

- 2 medium size Summer Squash.

- Olive Oil

- Salt, Pepper, Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Oregano (dry or fresh, finely chopped) and Basil (dry or fresh, finely chopped).

- Large Deep Lasagna Pan

Preparation

Thinly slice the zucchini and summer squash. Half or quarter the slices depending on the girth of the vegetables (heehee). Saute with roughly a tablespoon of Olive Oil until soft.

While sauteing the zucchini and squash, finely chop the fresh Spinach leaves (I use a Pampered Chef slap chopper thinger) and cook the Lasagna Noodles.

Tip: After draining the lasagna noodles, rinse and lay them out flat so they don't stick together and tear while assembling the lasagna!

Combine the container of Ricotta, 4 cups of Mozzarella, 1 cup of Grated Parmesan and the chopped spinach in a large bowl. Season to taste (we all like things a little different!) with salt, pepper, italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano and basil. Mix together thoroughly.

Assembly

Preheat oven to 350.

Use the large deep lasagna pan.

Pour a layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of the pan before laying out your first layer of noodles.

After the first layer of noodles is down, using half of the cheese mixture, spread it over the entire bottom layer of noodles. Liberally poor marinara on top of the cheese (more or less depending on your preference), Lightly sprinkle some shredded mozzarella on top of the cheese and sauce.

Lay out another layer of lasagna noodles, this time laying them in the opposite direction of the first layer (You'll need to cut the noodles for the short direction of the pan). Take all of the cooked zucchini and squash and spread it over the entire second layer of noodles. Pour sauce over the zucchini sauce. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.

For the third layer, repeat the first, exactly. Top it off with a final layer of noodles. On top of that final layer, pour a good amount of marinara and then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan. Just remember to alternate the direction of the noodles with each layer you put down. It makes the lasagna more stable.

Cover with foil and bake for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before cutting.

It's hard for us too - Opening up

Miscarriage. 

I've started and abandoned this post many times. Here goes.

I am opening up about a subject that has been very sensitive for me. The more children I have had, the harder it is for me to talk about the miscarriages. Because of the number of children I have, some people are very insensitive about the subject at this point. "Maybe God is telling you that you have enough.", "You've probably hurt your body having so many already." (The fact is, I'm healthy and there is no reason I can't have more.), "You have so many already. You probably should just stop anyway.", "At least you have a bunch of kids already." on and on and on... Then of course there are the people who disagree with you having a large family to begin with, that like to twist the knife.

The reality is, it's hard for us too. It's hard, even when you already have children. It's hard, even when you have several children. When you really want another child and you lose a pregnancy, it hurts. Period.

I've been SO fortunate to have the children that I do. I love them more than anything and they are my entire world. I know how lucky I am. I know there are women who ache for even one child and I hurt for them.

My husband and I want more children. I'm not saying we want 20 of them, but I know we want at least 1 or 2 more. Over the years we have had a few miscarriages. They were all early, so I have been very fortunate to not experience late term miscarriages. I imagine they are harder to deal with for many reasons. They still take a toll emotionally, though. It's still so sad to see those positive tests, to be excited and starts thinking about names and all of the exciting things that come with a new baby... and then lose that baby. It's so sad

My last miscarriage was almost a year ago. A year ago today, I got the first set of positive pregnancy tests. I got positives for a few more days after and then I started bleeding. We have been wanting another baby and despite it being early, it was still sad. I didn't tell anyone at all, at first. Then I told a few family members and friends after a while. My husband never told anyone. While I was experiencing the miscarriage, 2 women who I had thought were "friends", were publicly harassing me over my desire to have more children. They are nasty people and I'll never forget how much worse they made me feel.

I was sad. I'm still sad. I think it's harder to "get over" when you keep it to yourself like it's a dirty secret. 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, so why does is still have such a stigma? Why does it have an even bigger stigma when you already have a few children? I think opening up about it is the only way for it to get better. It's hard going through it with no support. It feels lonely.

It's hard for us too. Even those of us with 6 children.

"I have to go to work, Baby Girl"

My kids often do or say things that are just SO sweet and remind me how innocent they are, or how much they really look up to and love my husband and I.

Earlier this afternoon, Annabella was playing with her Princess Duplo Legos. She was saying that her Cinderella lego figure was her. I was quietly watching and listening to her play. She walked over to our Navy teddy bear, that is dressed in a uniform that resembles the NWU's (Navy Working Uniform) who the kids call "Daddy Bear". She made her princess run and hug the bear while calling out Daddy. Then the little exchange between the 2 toys was just so sweet.

Cinderella Lego aka Annabella:  "Come on Daddy, lets go play!" 

Daddy Bear aka Daddy:  "Aw I can't." 

Cinderella Lego aka Annabella:  "Come on Daddy!" 

Daddy Bear aka Daddy:  "I have to go to work, Baby Girl. *Squeeeeeze* (She made the Daddy Bear pick up her little princess lego and squeeze [hug] it)  I love you!" 

Cinderella Lego aka Annabella:  "Ok, I love you Daddy. Miss you!" 

If she is awake when my husband leaves for work, he picks her up, gives her a big hug (or "squeeze") and says "I have to go to work, Baby Girl. I love you!" This is obviously something that really sticks with her and almost brings tears to my eyes, realizing how much it means to her. She loves her Daddy.

When she was done playing, this is how she left them. So sweet.

Sharing My Labrador's Story

Our beautiful Silver Labrador, Stormy, now has no pretty tail to wag. I know I have some animal lover followers out there.

I wanted to share the whole ordeal she went through because, while losing her tail was unavoidable in her case, the suffering she went through afterwards, WAS avoidable.

Stormy had a pretty well known Labrador problem called "Happy Tail". We have had her since she was 9 weeks old, she had never had any issues with her tail until we moved here, into military housing in CT. This house is much smaller and crowded than where we were previously living, so her tail would hit things all of the time as she walked around. Very soon after moving here, she began cutting open the end of her tail from it smacking off of things. This happened several times and it was always a stressful healing process. Trying to keep it covered and keep it from hitting things long enough to heal etc. 

At the end of the summer, her tail became cut yet again. This time I was so frustrated I told my husband to bring her to the vet so that they could do something to help it heal faster. I couldn't deal with the month worth of dealing with it again. Well, $180 later, they sent her home with it bandaged, exactly how I had done all along, except they shaved the area. After several weeks, it finally healed. She didn't need to bandage anymore and all was right with the world. Or so I thought. 

We went out for a couple hours on a weekend and came home to blood EVERYWHERE. She had chewed a couple inch section on her tail where the fur was growing back and I assume was making it itchy (She had NEVER chewed her tail before). I began the bandaging and cleaning care of it, as I always did. This time as the days went on, I realized something wasn't right. The last few inches of her tail, all of the fur fell out and it began to change color and shrivel. One morning, when the bandage fell off and I got a good look at it, I knew she needed to see the vet. I KNEW the end of her tail had died form all of the trauma. 

My husband took her to the vet (A different vet a friend suggested) that afternoon and what I already knew, was confirmed. The end of her tail had died from the repeated trauma. The vet reassured my husband that there wasn't anything we could have done to prevent it, we didn't do anything wrong and cared for it right and he said he was surprised it hadn't happened already with how many times she has injured it. 

Our options were to do a partial amputation or a full amputation. The vet suggested a full amputation, because with a partial, it was likely to happen again and she'd need another surgery later. We talked it over and agreed to do a full amputation of her tail. She's not even 5 years old yet and still has a lot of life ahead of her. She had the surgery that night and was sent home the next day, with it all bandaged up and pain pills.

Stormy, the afternoon she came home from the vet hospital.

I questioned her being sent home with only pain pills and no antibiotic. The vet who had done the surgery, said they were not necessary. I didn't feel good with that answer, but I ignored my gut because he was the Vet and I figured he must have given her a super dose of antibiotics right before or after the surgery. That evening she had peed herself and just laid there in her urine until I took her out, cleaned her up etc. I called the vet, asked about it and they changed her pain pills, figuring it had something to do with them.

Over the next 2 days, she was completely not herself, very VERY skiddish, could barely get her up to go out to pee or eat etc. Both my husband and I chalked it up to her being in some pain and maybe even a little depressed over losing her tail.

But then, the bandage on her tail started leaking puss onto the floor. We knew that was bad and brought her back to the vet hospital right away. She saw a different vet, at the same animal hospital. This vet looked at her and told my husband she could NOT go home and he had to keep her there. He looked at her file and saw she had been administered no antibiotics whatsoever. Not before or after. NONE. He basically told us, in not so many words, that the other vet made a boo boo. She was very sick, but at the time, we didn't realize quite how bad.

She was treated at this animal hospital for a MONTH. This new vet, made her his personal project. He cared for her himself each day and he gave us updates on her each day. She spent a good portion of that time on an IV and the rest of the time, she received antibiotic injections as well as bandage changes, irrigation etc. of the wound every of couple hours, around the clock. A big area, below where the actual incision and stitches were, had opened up from infection and flesh in that spot had started to die, like the end of her tail had died. The only problem this time is she only had a little nub left. If they removed that, she would likely lose her sphincter control. This vet was determined to cut away the dead tissue as he had to, get control of the infection and get her well on her way to being healthy. That is just what he did.

After a month of being cared for by this vet and the staff at this animal hospital, Stormy came home, well on her way to recovery. The wound had made huge progress in healing and we were only left to administer oral antibiotics for a little while longer and spray it with a special spray a few times a day. That is when the vet told my husband that when we first brought her in, he wasn't sure she was even going to make it, but didn't want to tell us that at the time. She was so sick, that he didn't know if he could save her. Thankfully he did. This vet practice decided not to charge us for any of the stay, food or supplies. We just had to pay for the antibiotics that she needed. In the end, between the surgery, pain pills and antibiotics, we still walked away dropping about $1,000. Much better than it could have been though.

The day she came home, she was happy and herself again! It was like she had never been gone, never got sick, never had her tail amputated, nothing! She has since completely healed, her fur has almost fully grown back and she is showing no signs at all of being traumatized over the whole thing. We are very lucky and happy that we still have her!

Stormy being her normal LAZY self!

Stormy with her sock monkey :)

I wish I had went with my gut feeling and pushed the issue more about the antibiotics. Perhaps had she been given them 2 days earlier, we could have avoided this whole grueling ordeal.