Flourless Peanut Butter Choclate Chip Cookies

Recently I decided to go gluten-free (or at least as gluten-free as possible for my family) and it has done wonders for my stomach issues.  I am not one of those hipster-go-green-eat-only-orangic people.  I think consuming gluten is perfectly fine and healthy if you don't have an allergy or intolerance to it.  But suffering from all kinds of stomach problems most of my adult life and never being able to find a cause of it, I decided to try the low gluten/gluten free route and I have definitely seen a difference. 
The problem is EVERYTHING has flour (which is the main culprit of gluten).  No more baked goods for me unless I want to buy all kinds of wheatless flour and find the right mixture to make the conversion to regular flour equal. 
I stumbled across this recipe online (I believe someone actually posted it to Facebook) and was super excited to try it since it was flourless and I could actually eat it.
I didn't except it to be very good but the cookies actually turned out delicious.  The recipe only makes slightly over a dozen cookies so you may want to double (or even triple it).  They are a little crumbly, since flour is the main ingredient that holds baked goods together.  Once they come out of the oven, you definitely need to let them cool enough before you remove them from the tray or they will just fall apart.  But if you cannot have flour and are craving cookies, I recommend you cook these up!


Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
•  1 Large Egg
• 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Cup Chocolate Chips

Preheat Oven to 350 (F).
Stir together peanut butter, sugar, egg, baking soda, and salt.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking tray.
Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned.
Cool on baking sheet on a wire rack for 5 minutes.  Transfer to wire rack and let cool 15 minutes.

Things Mothers of Boys Say

 

 

Just a few things I find myself saying on an almost daily basis.  I'm sure a lot of these things aren't just limited to boys, but I don't remember saying these things when my daughter was younger (And I definitely don't say them to her now!).  Feel free to add things that you find yourself saying to your boys in the comments! 

 

(A "Things Mothers of Daughters Say" will be coming soon)

 

 

 

No licking the dog

Where are your pants?

Don't eat dirt

How did you get a cookie stuck in your hair?

No licking your shoes

Where are your pants?

No climbing over the couch

Hands out of your pants

Stop throwing your toys

Don't shoot your mommy

Don't shoot your sister

Where are your pants?

Don't bite the cat's tail

Don't let the dog lick your tongue

What is all over your face?

How did you scrape your knee?

Don't lick your toes

Take your socks out of your mouth, you're not a dog

What is stuck in your hair?

The stick is not a sword, put it down

Rocks are not for throwing

Why is this blanket/floor/toy/couch cushion/etc.  all wet?

Don't let the dog lick your mouth!!!

WHERE are your pants???

Mother's Day

I'm a little late with this post, but I hope everyone had a good mother's day!  It was a day to slow down, leave the dishes, leave the laundry, and just appreciate being a mother.  We packed a lunch and headed to the local state park (Ridley Creek) for a picnic and a hike.  Luckily the weather was nice so the kids were free to skip rocks in the creek, splash in puddles, and collect flowers and rocks by the mud without fear of them freezing to death when they got wet.  My son stopped to pet every dog that walked by, crying "Lucy! Lucy!" because every dog apparently is named Lucy.  He stomped in every puddle he came across.  My daughter climbed on rocks in the water, and with her being the clumsy one, I was shocked that she didn't fall in.  (Although she did slide down a muddy hill once or twice.)  Sometimes it's hard for me to let the kids go and let them get dirty.  I think about the muddy, dirty laundry I will have to do and the baths I will have to give and I cringe. But it was a good day for me to relax and let them be kids. 
A day out doesn't have to cost a lot of money to be memorable.  This day of being out in nature, just walking the trails and pushing the kids on the swings and hiking with them through the woods cost no money at all, but the time spent is invaluable.  They had so much fun we are already planning a time to go back. 

Free Summer Bowling

As the summer approaches it can be hard to find things to keep the kids busy. Especially when they've been occupied in school for 6-8 hours a day and are now suddenly home for that time.  

You can go to kidsbowlfree.com and sign your child up for a free summer of bowling!  Each child will get 2 free games per day.  You will have to pay for shoes, usually a cost of $2. Not all facilities participate so you'll have to find one near you that does.  

You'll have to sign up on the website, enter the names and birth dates of all the kids you want to participate in the program and then starting May 1st, they will have access to free bowling all summer! You just have to show the employees at the desk your smartphone with the coupons or you can print them out. 

It is only between certain hours and it changes daily so you'll have to check the website or you bowling facility before going bowling.  Usually it is between 12 and 5.

I have done this the past two years and signed up all of my kids for this summer!

It's a great way to spend a couple hours getting out of the heat and keeping the kids out from in front of the tv.