Food, Memories and a Lane Change

I've mentioned before how I kinda grew up in a family in which all of us, at one time or another, became, well -  kinda foodies.  Having a grandmother who baked all of the time and working in our family's Restaurant since I can remember definitely played a huge part in this. It made it hard to resist homemade everything and anything. It also gave me a love for cooking and baking. I have so many amazing memories that all started around our table, eating delicious food prepared by grandma Helen, my mom and aunts.  Not only memories but amazing, heart to heart conversations happened around that same, large table. As well as Bible reading from my grandfather, and prayers - deep, earnest, heartfelt prayers. It was around this same table we all gathered the day grandpa Gene died and beat us all to heaven. We gathered to eat and remember, knowing that table will never be quite the same.

Well, life has just become a little interesting for us this past year...namely the past month or so. Our oldest, who just turned nine during our bitter cold winter, has had sensitive skin since the moment she entered this world flailing her arms wildly about. The sensitive skin turned to eczema early on. Mostly brought about by our crazy mid-western weather changes and new from the store clothing that had not been washed first. Last year it took a turn for the worse and I still put it off thinking it was just her eczema getting worse and bathe her in any natural lotion remedy we could get our hands on. Winter turned to spring, turned to summer and it started looking better, but still never went away fully. Last summer, turned to fall, turned to bitter cold winter and her skin turned bright red, dry, cracking, itching then burning and hurting - a vicious cycle - primarily on her arms but also on her legs some.  This year there was also a new addition...what appeared to be, blisters....tiny blisters. (If you would like to view of pictures of this - dermatitis herpetiformis) So after visiting our Chiropractor we decided to take all gluten out of her diet. This is no easy feat - for those of you who have taken gluten out know what I am talking about. After a couple of weeks of TRYING to take all gluten out, her arms started looking better - for the first time in what seemed like forever. So we did our own little test, put gluten back in for a day, the next morning we woke up to a little, big girl with arms so raw and red again. I went back to the researching trying to find out what all gluten is in....oh my goodness - it is in everything. Everything.

As of now, we are hopeful it is only a severe reaction/allergy/sensitivity to gluten and not Celiac Disease. But either way, we are on the road to becoming gluten free. And a road, or rather highway, it is.

Growing up in this restaurant gave us all a love for grandmas dinner rolls. Afterall, whenever we'd walk into their home and a home it was - so comforting, so peaceful, we'd smell the dough immediately. Now that this gluten intolerance has graced itself into our lives I am on a mission to find a way to make amazing food - Grandma Helen worthy - that can be served around our table safely for all to indulge in. I may post a few findings here for other gluten free families to enjoy. So stay tuned - on our journey! Life truly is a joyous journey!

Cinnamon and Sugar breakfast bites

The other day the boys and I were in the baking mood - so we found this AMAZING recipe for Scrumptious Baked Breakfast Bites at Oh My! Sugar High

Let's just say - not only were they scrumptious but they lasted all but 2.2 seconds.  They really were delicious!

Here are the ingredients (and we had everything on had...perfect!)

Sorry about the silhouette - I was in a hurry and wasn't paying attention to my pictures 

The boys mixing the Cinnamon and Sugar....and really getting into in!

Here they are all rolled...yes the boys helped me roll them all

Then you dip them in butter

Then you roll them in cinnamon and sugar....Tank and Bobo LOVED this part

back to the cookie sheet 

Perfection!! The only thing I would change....double the recipe next time!

Ingredients :

1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup crisp rice cereal, coarsely crushed
2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter-flavored shortening
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted

Mix flour, crushed cereal, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl.

Cut in shortening fork until the mixture resembles crumbs.

Add milk and stir just until moist (my sister hates this word so I had to use it)

Roll dough into approximately 2 dozen 1 inch balls.

Mix cinnamon and remaining sugar in a small bowl. Drop balls into melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture...roll really well

Place balls onto greased - or silt pat- cookie sheet.

 Bake at 425 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for a few minutes in pan on wire rack before removing.

Enjoy with a nice tall glass of milk....we sure did!!

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here is a little tidbit about me for all of my illinois friends that don't know. I am from Michigan (all of my family, which is a lot,  still live there) and my parents own a Restaurant there - Rykse's Restaurant & Bakery .  I grew up there and from early on I started working there. My earliest memories are working in the bakery with my grandma, covered head to toe in flour...I am sure not much older than Addison. I LOVED it.  As I got older I started hostessing, then serving, then catering and my final couple years there before I go married I was Managing.
They started this restaurant with my Grandparents and Aunt & Uncle 25 years ago. Many of the recipes, at that time, were my grandma Helen's.  It has changed and evolved over the past 25 years.  They have the most amazing desserts and bread and rolls and cinnamon rolls - not to mention the rest of the menu.  I miss it though I am sure my waistline doesn't.  Actually, that isn't completely true because when you work there, most of the time, it doesn't look as good - just because you are around it all of the time.

SO as Arae and Bobo are getting older, I really want to bake with them and teach them all my grandma taught me. Even if it means we are all covered in flour. I have so many amazing memories in the kitchen!

I was talking to my grandma today, in fact, asking her for a few recipes that I really want our kids to carry on.  I am so blessed to still have all of my grandparents alive and healthy...a true blessing!

I thought I would post a recipe I LOVE for chocolate chip cookies. This is not a recipe from the Restaurant or my grandma...those are a secret. But it is a recipe that I LOVE.

Here are a few tips I learned, though, from my grandma and the restaurant :

When making cookies :
- Don't over mix the batter if you want soft, fluffy cookies...this truly makes a difference!
- Cook them until you think they are getting close and take them out. Overcooked, crispy cookies aren't the best...in my opinion. I like them soft and gooey.
- Refrigerate the batter if you don't need it all right away....then you can take them out and have hot ones when you want them

She is so talented....she can cross her eyes two different ways! 

the show stoppers!

Niether one got a shell in...I was SO impressed!! They were pretty happy too!

LOVE my kitchen aid....and the cute hands that start it up!

If you don't have one of these...you NEED one! The best thing in the world for baking anything and it not sticking! Silpat

my Scooper and her many bracelets...she has made several of them and she keeps making them for everyone she knows. I even was gifted one today from my sweet girl!

Also, this is the perfect size scoop!

 Patiently waiting her turn from the crazy boy

Crazy boy! He was in heaven licking that thing...Im just happy no tongue was found stuck in it!

Not too done....perfection!

sit down, and enjoy....two at least! It is not a complete delicacy unless you dip it in milk! okay....maybe it isn't a delicacy to some, but to me (and the kids) we'll take it!

*DJ's tip - freeze them and eat them frozen

Recipe :

3/4 C Shortening (this makes them SO good)

1/4 C butter

1 C brown sugar

1 C White sugar

2 eggs

2 T warm water

1 t vanilla

3 1/4 C Flour

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

6 oz choc chips

Cream together first 4 ingredients together. Add eggs, water and vanilla. Beat well, but not too long. Add flour, baking soda and salt; mix well....again, once all beat together stop. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls onto cookie sheet lined with a Silpat. Bake 8 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from oven when cookies barely start to brown and you think you may need to bake them longer. Leave them on cookie sheet until you can take them off easily...mine are usually still warm but not hot.