November 16, 2024

Summer Fruit Crisp (Gluten Free)

August 5, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes. We are continuing our series of summer recipes featuring in-season produce. Our featured ingredient(s) this week are peaches and cherries!!!  Here are a couple of links to the  nutritional value along with some incredible health benefits  of these delicious fruits (peaches and cherries)—besides the fact that they are just yummy!

Nothing says summer to me more than the fruits that are available just during this season!  My most favorite is cherries; I just love cherries!  They are not in season for very long so indulge while you can!  We are!

2013-08-02 09.21.43

Summer Fruit Crisp

Ingredients:2013-08-02 09.52.20
3 large peaches, sliced
1 cup (18-20) cherries, pitted* and halved
1/2 cup raspberries (optional)
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3/4  cup oats
3/4 cup almond flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375.
Cube up the butter and place in refrigerator until ready for it.
In a baking dish or pie plate, toss the cut-up fruit with 1 tablespoon of the sugar and the almond extract; set aside.
Place the oats, 1/4 cup sugar, almond flour, cinnamon and salt into the large bowl of a food processor.  Pulse a couple of times to combine.  Add the cold butter, pulsing just until it comes together and forms clumps.  (Of course, you can mix this by hand, too!)
Mound the oat mixture on top of the prepared fruit.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
Serve warm or cold; a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream completes this!  Enjoy!

*  Here is how I pitted the cherries—with a drinking straw.  Yes, ma’am!  2013-08-02 09.01.35Now I am a girl who l-o-v-e-s her gadgets!  And, of course, you can go out and buy a cherry pitter.  But sometimes simple is the better answer.  And besides, then one can save her pennies to buy an incredible kitchen tool!  😉   Just do it like this:
Remove the stem from a cherry.
Place the end of the straw over the indentation of the cherry.
Firmly, but gently wiggle the straw straight through the cherry; the pit will pop right out!  Easy-peasy!

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥   (Don’t ever forget that!)

coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this series, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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“I AM” Chapter 4 – Day 5: I AM the Resurrection

August 2, 2013 by

GFCHmemverse2

This week in our study, we have been learning about Jesus’ character from someone who knew Him very well—His chosen disciple, and friend, John.  Throughout the gospel written by John, we learn much about Jesus.  We come to understand, know, and love Him through

  • The 7 ‘I AM’ statements
  • His relationship with His Father
  • His promises
  • His incredible love for His followers
  • His prayers and intercession for them (and us!)

It is this deep love and tender care for His followers that I would like to focus on today.  With all that we have come to understand and know about our Lord as He walked this earth, should it surprise us at all that He had great relationships?  His love…unconditional.  His forgiveness…just amazing.  His patience…looooong-suffering (think about the manner in which the Pharisees seemingly were constantly looking to snare Him).  His grace, His mercy…just amazing!

In today’s lesson, Teresa wrote about Jesus identifying Himself as ‘I AM – The Resurrection.’  And she shared the record from John chapter 11 about Jesus’ dear friend, Lazarus’ death…and Jesus raising him from the dead.  I always love reading the account of Jesus dealing with Mary and Martha’s deep grief.  He loved these three siblings very much!  (You can read the full account here.)

Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the same spot where Martha had met Him.  When the Jews who were sitting with her in the house and consoling her saw how hastily Mary had risen and gone out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to pour out her grief there.  When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she dropped down at His feet, saying to Him, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.  When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who came with her [also] sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  And He said, Where have you laid him? They said to Him, Lord, come and see.  Jesus wept.  The Jews said, See how [tenderly] He loved him!

(verses 30-36)

What a true Friend, and how tender, gentle, compassionate Jesus was to these two sisters!  This record gives us the opportunity to know more about our Lord and Savior.  We know from the Scriptures that ‘…we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning’ (Hebrews 4:15).

But He knew there was a purpose and plan in the waiting.  He told them that their brother would be made alive again.

Jesus said to her (Martha), Your brother shall rise again. (verse 23)

Can you imagine how hard it must have been for Jesus to not run immediately to them when He first heard that Lazarus was sick!  But He—Who was always busy about His Father’s will—denied His own desires to bring glory to God!

Then Jesus said “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said,
“Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  I knew that You always hear Me,
but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here,
that they may believe that You sent Me.”
(verses 40-42)

This great care and concern for others was supremely evident all throughout His life; we could talk about time after time after time after time when He loved to the utmost…even up until the very end.  As He hung on the Cross, His very life dripping out of His Body, He made sure that His mother, Mary, was taken care of.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her,  “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple,  “Here is your mother.”  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
John 19:25-27

This same love, care, and compassionate concern that our Lord had for those who lived and walked this earth with Him—He also has for us!  Nothing less!  The worries, the burdens, the cries of our hearts…all are known by our Lord.  He intercedes for us as He reigns at God Almighty’s right hand.  There is not a moment of our lives that Jesus is not watching over us.  There is not a need we have that He is not providing for.  There is not a tear that falls that He is unaware of.  There is not a burden that threatens to overwhelm us that He is not willing to help us carry.  And so we must do the following.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, we come before the Almighty’s throne of grace and mercy acknowledging Your perfect provision of everything we need!  We love You, Lord, and we are so thankful for the privilege of learning and knowing more about You, our Precious Savior!  May we speak and shout to the world about You, Lord Jesus, helping them to know the Truth that we know—YES!  Our Jesus cares!  He cares for You!  We pray, Lord, for each life we reach out to and each heart that we speak life and peace and truth into…by Your grace may they be drawn into a relationship with You—You Who are The Way, The Truth, and The Life!  By Your grace!  We love You, Lord…and pray and ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen

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Caprese Quiche with Hash Brown Crust

July 29, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  We continue our series of summer recipes featuring in-season ingredients.  Our featured ingredient this week is grape tomatoes!  Oh, I love tiny tomatoes…do you?  They are just so sweet!  Here’s a link  to some great info on the incredible benefits of these beautiful little orbs!

In today’s blog, I am sharing a recipe for a filling, nutritious, delicious quiche.  Included along with our feature ingredient is another in-season vegetable: fresh spinach.  (Baby spinach would be awesome here!)   Also, here is a link to a recipe posted previously on our At Home with GCH blog for Caprese Salad.  Both recipes meet our standard for healthy but oh-so-yummy!  Enjoy!

 

Caprese Quiche with Hash Brown Crust

IMG_0189

Crust:

Ingredients:
3 cups frozen hash browns, thawed
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 425.
  • Thaw hash brown potatoes, and blot between paper towels to remove excess moisture.
  • Combine in mixing bowl with melted butter, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings.
  • Lightly grease 9″  glass pie plate.
  • Pour potato mixture into pie plate and press firmly onto bottom and up sides of pie plate…go all the way up to the rim.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned; do not let burn!
  • When done, remove from oven.  Place on a cooling rack and allow to cool slightly while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.  Reduce oven temp to 350.

Filling:

Ingredients:
1 medium sweet onion, diced
2 teaspoons olive oil
good-sized handful (12-14 grape tomatoes), chopped
1/2-3/4 cup fresh spinach leaves, sliced 1/4″ slices
1 heaping tablespoon chopped garlic (I use jarred)

Directions

  • Heat olive oil in medium-sized saute pan over medium heat.
  • Add diced onions and cook for 6-7 minutes until softened but just slightly browned.
  • While onions are cooking, chop tomatoes (drain away any excess juice).
  • To slice spinach, stack a number of leaves, and then just carefully slice down through them into 1/4″ slices; repeat until all spinach is sliced.
  • When onions are ready, add tomatoes, spinach, and garlic.  Saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until spinach has wilted.
  • Remove from stovetop and allow to cool.

Egg Custard:

Ingredients:
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup 2% milk
1/2 cup ricotta
dash of Kosher salt
1/2-1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup breadcrumbs (I used gluten free)

1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, rough chopped

Directions
To the lightly beaten eggs, add the milk, ricotta, seasonings, and breadcrumbs; whisk together until smooth.

To assemble: Once baked crust has cooled slightly, layer in filling ingredients.  To make this spill-proof, I then put the pieplate on the oven rack and then pour the custard on top.  Add chopped cheese and swirl with fork to evenly distribute ingredients over the crust. Bake until eggs are set and cheese is slightly browned, approximately 30 minutes or so.  Let stand for 10 minutes to set up and finish cooking.  Cut into four – six wedges.

Here are a few other great ways to do caprese:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelysanders/delicious-ways-to-eat-caprese

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥ coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this series, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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“I AM” Week 3 – Day 5: Malachi: The Bridge

July 26, 2013 by

Memory Verse

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;  

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, 

he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:19

____________________________

We have been so very inspired (perhaps revived?) as we have spent the past three weeks considering the character of the Great I AM as He has made Himself known throughout the Old Testament.  How AWEsome is He!

The Great I AM deserves our all—our love, our obedience, our worship, our devotion, our service, our focus, our praise, our whole heart, our everything.  Actually, He requires our all.

When Moses gave the Law to the Israelites, he said:

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe…so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:1-4 (excerpts)

The prophet Jeremiah was given a compelling message to send to the exiled Israelites who had been carried into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar and his army.  Think about how comforted they might have been hearing God’s Words!

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,
thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil,
to give you hope in your final outcome.

Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord….
Jeremiah 29:11-14

Our Lord also gave this same convicting message to His followers.

And one of the scribes came up…and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”  Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-32

We know from the Scriptures that God desires us to–

  • Trust Him with all of our heart (Proverbs 3:5 and 6)
  • Work heartily as if for Him with all of our heart (Colossians 3:23)
  • Seek Him with all your heart (Deuteronomy 4:29 and 30)
  • Serve Him with your whole heart (1st Chronicles 28:9)
  • Love Him with all our heart (Matthew 22:37)

Our author, Teresa, asks the following question today in our study…

What would it take for you to give service “your all?”
Go “all in?”  Be “sold out” for God?

Have you answered that question yet?  Would you share your answer (below in the comments) with all of us?

Friends, whether the anointed words of this song—this prayer—cause you to throw your hands in the air raised in praise, or fall on your face in humble submission, may you voice your commitment to the Great I AM with all your heart!  <3

Praying for each of you!

♥  coleen

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, You have heard the cry of our hearts…we each do SO want to love You with all our hearts; to serve You with our whole heart; to obey You with our whole heart; to seek You with all our heart; to trust You, and You alone, with all our heart!  We choose You, Lord…You are the Great I AM Who deserves our love with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength!  May our words accompanied by our strong conviction, and commitment be pleasing to You!

Amen.

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Blueberry Frozen Dessert

July 22, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Mondays are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  We continue our series of summer recipes featuring in-season ingredients.  Our featured ingredient this week is blueberries!  Check out just some of the healthy benefits of this tiny but powerful fruit!  Today’s recipe is for a blueberry frozen dessert—not quite ice cream but it fits perfectly into our ‘healthy but oh-so-yummy’ category!

2013-07-18 22.09.43

Here in the NorthEast, we are in the midst of berry season.  Blueberries are so plentiful that I have six four pints sitting in my refrigerator.  A few weeks ago, we had a recipe for Blueberry Almond Muffins.  But we are also in the midst of a heatwave; so I went looking for a recipe for a frozen treat to make for Robert.  Oh, I found m-a-n-y recipes for blueberry ice cream, sorbet, sherbert, and frozen smoothies…and they all looked so good!  However, I really wanted to keep it light, simple, and healthy but oh-so-yummy!  Over on Amy Green’s website, simplysugarandglutenfree, I found a quite easy recipe that I have tweaked just a bit.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:2013-07-18 21.01.21

1/2 very ripe banana, cut into 1/2″ slices and frozen
1/2 cup blueberries, frozen
1/2 cup ricotta
1 teaspoon maple syrup, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Toppings:
1 tablespoon sliced almonds
1-2 dollops whipped cream
Additional blueberries

Directions:

  • First things first: if you haven’t already…place the cut-up banana and blueberries in the freezer for a couple of hours.
  • Put the frozen fruit into the small bowl of a food processor or blender. Process just until it’s in small chunks.
  • Add the ricotta and flavorings; process until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as necessary.
  • Put your “ice cream” in a bowl and top with chopped nuts, whipped cream, and additional (non-frozen) blueberries.  Best if eaten immediately as a ‘soft-serve’ type dessert!

Substitutions:
For the blueberries – almost any flavorful summer fruit (I am going to try peaches tonight!)
For the ricotta – cottage cheese
For the maple syrup – agave nectar or honey
For the almonds – any of your favorite nuts

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blog post, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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Watermelon – Arugula Salad

July 15, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Mondays are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  Starting today we are beginning a series on summer salads featuring in-season ingredients.  Our featured ingredient is watermelon and today’s recipe is for a Watermelon – Arugula – Feta Salad. This salad has such a range of flavors—citrusy vinaigrette, sweet watermelon, salty cheese, and peppery arugula—and it is so refreshing!  Almost everyone I know enjoys watermelon…how about you?  Watermelon is available throughout the summer nationwide.  In addition to being oh-so-yummy (a requirement here, y’know!), watermelon is loaded with healthy benefits.  This salad is a nice side dish to something on the grill…chicken, burgers, or fish.  Enjoy!

2013-07-10 18.36.29

Ingredients:

Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup grapefruit or orange juice
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup good olive oil

Salad:
1/4 cup finely diced vidalia onion
6 cups baby arugula
3-4 cups seedless watermelon, (about 2# with rind)
8 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1 ounce pine nuts

Directions:

For the vinaigrette: Pour all of the ingredients (except olive oil) into a bowl, and slowly whisk in the olive oil.  Set aside.

For the salad: Using a melon baller, scoop out watermelon balls into a bowl.  Place arugula and onion into a large salad bowl. Toss with approximately 1/2 of the vinaigrette.  Add watermelon balls, cheese, and nuts.  Toss again.  Serve immediately, offering the rest of the vinaigrette to add to taste.

Substitutions:
For the feta cheese, you could substitute ricotta salata or another salty cheese.
For the pine nuts, sliced almonds would be a wonderful alternative.

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blog post, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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“I AM” Chapter 1 – Day 5 The Great I AM’s Character

July 12, 2013 by

Who I am—Coleen—can be described by many names: wife, mom, gramma, daughter, sister, friend, worshipper, singer, baker, writer, pray-er, crafter, lover, listener, etc.  The Great I AM has described Himself throughout the Scriptures with many names—Yahweh (YHWH), ELohim, Adonai, LORD, Jehovah, JAH, EL Shaddai….  I believe He has used these (and additional) names to graciously help us to understand more of His character.  The Great I AM makes Himself known to us through the words of His Word, as well as through His Creation, through His Spirit, through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, through the words of the prophets—in oh so many ways!

One of my most favorite characteristics of I AM is that He IS God Almighty…El Shaddai.  Hearing this name brings comfort and peace to my heart!  The fact and truth that Almighty God/El Shaddai loves me (and you, too!) and perfectly provides His care, provision, protection, supply of my (your!) needs is so thrilling my soul!  The most common understanding of the title El Shaddai is “God Who is Almighty.”  There are 48 times in the Scriptures where God calls Himself by the name El Shaddai.  Let’s look at just a couple of these records.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I AM the Almighty God <El Shaddai>; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect.

Genesis 17:1

This is the very first record in the Scriptures where I AM identifies Himself in this way.  God Almighty/El Shaddai was about to reveal to Abram a part of the covenant He was making with him.  And this is where He promises the 99 year old Abram that he and his 90 year old wife, Sarai, would be having a son!!!  This is such a beautiful record!  (You can read the complete record here.)  Only El Shaddai could have made such an eternal covenant.  Only El Shaddai could have made a deadened womb to nurture life and bring forth a baby.  Only El Shaddai…God Almighty!

Another example where the Great I AM is called by the title El Shaddai is in Psalm 91.  The psalmist declares,

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty <El Shaddai>.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my Refuge and my Fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalm 91: 1-2

Perhaps you, too, rejoice in your heart of hearts that El Shaddai, Who is the Great I AM, loves and cares for you in the very same ways He has always cared for His people.  He is God and does not change. 

Would you share here in the comments about this or a different characteristic of the Great I AM that is important to you?  I would love to hear about it! 

El Shaddai, El Shaddai, El-Elyon na Adonai,
Age to age You’re still the same, by the power of the Name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai, Erkamka na Adonai,
I will praise you ’till I die, El Shaddai.

Erkamka na, Adonai! …translated… I love You, Lord!

 

Praying for each of you!

♥  coleen

Let’s Pray:

Almighty God,  our El Shaddai, we praise You and thank You and love You with our whole hearts!   You always show Yourself mighty on behalf of Your children!  You are our Refuge and our Fortress—our God in Whom we trust!   May we always be cognizant of Who You are…the Great I AM.  May we be excited to read of and to remember Your awesome acts and works that are recorded in the Scriptures.  May they encourage us to never doubt You, El Shaddai,  and the fact that You never change!  ‘Erkamka na, Adonai!’  Praying in Your Son, Jesus’ name. 

Amen. 

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Flourless Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies (Gluten Free)

July 8, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  As promised, we have been sharing some gluten free treats that you can bring to all of your summer festivities: bbqs, camping trips, picnics, hoedowns, and block parties.  This week we are making  Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies.  You can include the add-ins that your loved ones enjoy such as chocolate chips, craisins, chopped walnuts, etc.

2013-07-05 10.39.13

Ingredients:

1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 teaspoons baking soda2013-07-05 09.16.32
4+1/2 cups rolled oats
1+1/2 cups peanut butter (or crunchy peanut butter!)
1/2 cup coconut oil, or butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup coconut sugar, or white sugar
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips
optional (suggested!) 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

In a medium sized bowl, mix together the oats, baking soda, and dried cranberries; set aside.  Using a stand mixer, cream the peanut butter, other ‘butter,’ and sugars together ‘til light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, and also the vanilla.  Mix to blend well.  Slowly pour in the dry ingredients, mixing just until everything is combined.  By hand, stir in  the chocolate chips, and walnuts (if including), too.  Place in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to firm up.  Preheat the oven to 350.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Using a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon, scoop the cookie batter and drop it onto lined cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.  Bake for 9 to 12 minutes until light golden brown and just getting firm. (If you enjoy your cookies a little on the softer side, underbake by one minute.)   Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.

Note: this dough is sticky because of the peanut butter, so I strongly suggest using your hands as little as possible.  Cooling the dough in the refrigerator is a great help here!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blog post, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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Blueberry Almond Muffins (Gluten Free)

July 1, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Monday’s are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  As promised, for the next few weeks I am sharing some gluten free treats that you can bring to your bbq’s, picnics, hoedowns, and block parties.  Perhaps your family loves to hike or go backpacking—this recipe is perfect for you!  

2013-06-25 16.18.01

Today’s recipe is for gluten free Blueberry Almond Muffins.  These are full of protein, contain no refined sugars, and have no added fat (except the 1 tablespoon used for the topping).   Also, a nice substitution for the blueberries would be raspberries…don’t forget to see the tip about freezing them!

Blueberry Almond Muffins

makes 10 muffins

Ingredients2013-06-25 15.23.16
• 2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 cup honey, agave nectar or maple syrup
• 12 drops liquid vanilla stevia (or additional sweetener of your choice)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup blueberries, frozen*

Topping Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon coconut sugar

Directions

  1. Put blueberries into freezer
  2. Preheat oven to 350. Put liners into muffin tin
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together almond flour, coconut flour, salt and baking powder
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs; then add honey, stevia, and extracts
  5. Stir liquid ingredients into dry ingredients and blend thoroughly
  6. Gently fold in frozen blueberries*
  7. Spoon batter into lined muffin cups
  8. Lightly pat tops down into rounded heaps; use a pastry brush to dab with butter and sprinkle with coconut sugar
  9. Bake for 22-25 minutes; the tops should be springy yet firm when they are done
  10. Remove from muffin tin immediately and let cool on a rack
  11. Keep in the refrigerator, or place into freezer storage bags or a container

* The purpose of freezing (or using pre-frozen) blueberries is that this batter is very thick; if you used non-frozen berries, they would smoosh. 🙂

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blog post, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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I Need Thee Every Hour

June 29, 2013 by

I received an email the other day from Dear Friend who was checking in to see how I am doing and sharing about the current joys in her heart and life.  ‘Why an email’ <you might be thinking>, ‘when she could connect with me much quicker with a Facebook message?’  Yes, I surely understand your query…I mean if she did that…my iPad would sound out that I had a message and, perhaps, I would run right over and check it out…plop down in my chair…and immediately respond to her!  (Been there?  Done that?  Me, too…many, many, many times over!)  But, see, right now I am having a mutiny against the excess of media in my life.  So, I am severely limiting my Facebook time which includes messaging as well as cutting out any texting along with eliminating other media influence (television, radio, iPad apps, Pinterest, online games).

May I share with you what I wrote to Dear Friend?

“To answer your query about how I am doing…well, this is quite the ride!  Just sayin’!  Oh, the things that God is choosing to unearth…oh my.  He is showing me a thing or two (or twelve or twenty!) about some issues in my little heart.  Like what I do—or at least am tempted to do—when my little heart is distressed.  It appears that I try to assuage those feelings. Not good…. It has been brought to my attention that I do NOT consistently run to Him with my worries, my fears, my doubts, my hurts, and my pain.”

Yes…there it is.  This is where God has really gotten my attention!  He has unveiled my eyes to see that I allow other things to take His place as my Father, Provider, Protector, Healer.  He has promised to be my Stronghold, to help me, to deliver me, to save me…if I take refuge in Him—rather than trying to deal with it on my own.

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
Over the man who carries out evil devices!
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them
from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.
Psalms 37:1-9, 39 and 40

There is a word I used in my note to Dear Friend—‘assuage.’  And when I wrote it I wasn’t quite sure it communicated just what the Lord had been reproving and correcting me about.  So I checked the dictionary (yes…online) and here’s what I found:

assuage, verb
pronunciation: [uh-sweyj]
definition: soothe, relieve
synonyms: allay, alleviate, appease, calm, compose, conciliate,
ease, fill, lessen, lighten, lull, make nice, mitigate, moderate,
mollify, pacify, palliate, placate, pour oil on, propitiate,
quench, quiet, sate, satisfy, soften, still, surfeit, sweeten,
take the edge off, take the sting out, temper, tranquilize

Ouch!  Wow!  Did that ever set me back in my seat!  And then the tears came…and I repented.  Because I surely do NOT ever want to be taking over where my heavenly Father wants to take care of me!  He is so much better at it than I; His care is perfect and meets my every need!

Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all the faithful pray to You while You may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.’
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in Him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalms 32:5-11

AND, I must be honest, this has not all been light and easy!  But some good and encouraging things have surfaced, too!  One thing, for example, I realize that I am disciplined and not easily tempted ALL of the time.  Like my morning quiet time…just no way that I am allowing ‘you-know-who’ (satan) to steal that from me and my God!

And so I am encouraged!  With God’s help and by His grace…maybe His mercies that are renewed every morning, too…these things CAN be changed in my little heart!  I am a thankful girl for the purging and cleansing and purifying and sanctifying that my heavenly Father is choosing to do in me!  He is the Potter…I am the clay.  And thankfully I am getting molded more and more into the image of my Lord!

May I encourage you also?   ♥ 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty Hand,
that He may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6 and 7

Praying for each of you!  ♥ 

♥  coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blog post, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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