Cook: Gluten-free and Vegan Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzels

Check out my latest recipe:

Craft: Ruffle Tree Skirt

It's getting closer to Christmas, so I thought I'd take on a sewing project for the holidays. The Assessor and I purchased a spectacular tree several years ago when we moved into our house, but we went with the cheapest of the cheap tree skirts to just get by. We are now just getting by no more!

Thanks to some research on Pinterest (to maintain my dignity, won't tell you how many hours I spend pinning) I found several examples of tree skirts that I wanted to steal ideas from. You can see several of them on my Holiday and Gift Ideas Board (just scroll down a bit). 

I settled on making a sewed ruffle skirt. However, most of the ruffled version I found were "no-sew," quick versions. Don't get me wrong! I love no-sew and quick, but I also like machine washable. So I decided to follow the Pinterest versions general plans, but hem all the fabric so they wouldn't fray in the wash.

Here're the steps I took to make the tree skirt above:

1) Gathering the Materials

I went to Walmart and purchased four different polyester/cotton blended fabrics.

• 2 yards of light tan with printed leaves (the fabric used for the outermost circle)
• 1 yard of plain tan fabric
• 1 yard of gold satin fabric
• 1 yard of plain brown fabric

I also decided to use an old white twin-sized bed sheet, that I owned already, as a base to sew all of the ruffles on top.

2) Making the Base (or Bottom) Fabric

To make the base with the old white bed sheet, I folded the bed sheet in half and drew two semi-circles, one for the outer edge and a smaller one for the tree trunk (on the fold), using a method similar to the one on this Web site and this Youtube video. Then I cut a slit from the outside to the inner hole and sewed a hem along the outside edge of the cut skirt. Finally, I hemmed the edge of the skirt.

3) Preparing the Ruffled Fabric

I cut strips of fabric, one yard width and about 6-7 inches tall and hemmed the bottom edge. I say "6-7" inches because some of the material I bought was taller than others (the gold satin fabric was from a much taller bolt of fabric than the others).

4) Sew the Outer Ring of Fabric

Then I pinned and sewed the outer ring of fabric. I let the ruffle fabric overhang the outer edge of the tree skirt by about an inch. I had to sew multiple 1-yard strips together to cover the whole outer edge.

5) Mark the Location of the Remaining Ruffled Fabric

Since my ruffling fabric was not all exactly the same width (some were about 6 inches and others were 7), I placed and marked the edge of where I wanted to sew the layers.

6) Add the Marks Around the Entire Skirt

I took a tape measure and temporarily marked (with a pencil) on the tape measure the distance between the edge of the skirt and each of the marks original marks. Then I moved and copied those marks around the edge of the skirt (using a similar method to the one I used to create a perfect circle)

6) Sew the Rest of the Ruffled Fabric

Pin and sew the rest of your fabric starting from the outside working inward to the middle of the skirt.

7) You're Done!

Voila! There you have it! Feel free to add some sparkles or your own touch.

Cook: Vegan No-Bake Pumpkin Spice Caramel Popcorn

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With the changing of the seasons, I've had a hankering for something caramel. Caramel apples, caramel popcorn, caramel caramel (you get the point). But all store bought caramel (at least locally) contains cow milk products.

So I did a little research and found a recipe I could make my own and make it milk free. Below is the result.

I only have two words of warning to keep in mind while making this.

1. After you've mixed the vanilla and baking soda, pour the entire contents on top of the popcorn in one sweep and start mixing quick so that you get an uniform coating before everything cools.
2. Once you have a bite, you might not stop. If you're planning on taking some to a party or making some as a gift, don't sample. :)

Cook: Superhero Cooking Oils Series, Canola Oil as Cyclops

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According to IGN, Cyclops has lost two wives, reunited with his space pirate father, discovered two lost brothers, fought beside both a son and daughter from alternate futures, and defended The Dream as a knight might protect the Holy Grail. Through all of this, he's still standing.  He's X-Men's golden boy and mutant in charge next to Professor X (source).

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I'd like to think of canola oil as Cyclops. No drama (or recipe) is too much for this singular vision. Just check out the specs below (everything is from wikipedia).

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Canola Oil

• Contains large amounts of monounsaturated fats, low amounts of saturated fats, and presence of Omega-3s (good for the heart, just like Mr. Univision).
• Includes anti-inflammatory properties (so you can stay svelte like Mr. Cool).
• Looks light and clear with relatively little flavor (ready for any action).
• Comes highly recommended for replacing extremely unhealthy solid fats like stick butter as well as slightly less healthy oils such as soy and peanut (can be substituted in equal amounts). Professor X can't make it? Send in Cyclops. Wolverine going crazy? Send in the Cyclops. So let it be with canola oil.
• Is created from cold-pressing the seeds of the rapeseed plant, which is a cousin to Brussels Sprouts and cabbage (mustard family). Canola oil, like Cyclops, comes from good stock.
• Works best at 375-450 degrees F, which is good for high heat recipes including sauces, and deserts, grilling, stir-fry, and coating pans. Canola oil is calm under pressure just like the man, the one and only Cyclops.
• Helps with leavening as well as tenderizing and moisturizing food (gentle and smooth).

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(Cyclops and canola oil have heart)

So don't be afraid to pull out the canola oil instead of corn or butter! Your body will thank you for it!

Cook: GF French Toast

After a much needed vacation away from the world of blogging, vlogging, and addictive Facebook posting, I'm ba-ack!

I've got some great ideas for some upcoming blogs and videos, included a continuation of my series on oils, sewing and woodworking DIYs, a music video about how much I'm glad that I'm no longer eating gluten and milk products, and new recipes! I'll also be re-designing my YouTube page since they've made some changes while I've been away.

Also I think I've found a great online organizer for my recipes that I'll be embedding into my blog. So you can either read my blog for recipes like the one below, or go directly to http://www.kitchenmonki.com/blogger/allergictosittingcom.1. So keep checking back each week!

Below is a recipe for GF French Toast. Did you know that French Toast was originally created in order to make stale bread more palatable? That's why dryer bread is best for making french toast. It'll soak up more of the milk and eggs.

Using dry GF bread is essential to this recipe because GF bread tends to be more on the dense and less absorbent side right out of the bag (or out of your bread maker). Try drying your bread in an uncovered container in the fridge or leave some slices out over night.

Vacation -- It's "Away From the Computer" Time

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In order to re-charge my creative juices, I'm going on a blog (and work) vacation until August. Unless I have a brilliant idea just pop up, I won't be blogging for a while. Have a great summer everyone and stay cool!

Exercise--Enchanted Run

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The Assessor and I were on a run the other night and we came up with an exciting idea! Sometime, before we're old and grey, we want to run the Enchanted Circle in New Mexico over a period of 5-6 days.

I've been talking fora while now about how I would love to run an ultra marathon (more than 26.2 miles). But then the Assessor and I watched this movie called Running the Sahara on Netflix.

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Okay, so those three people are nuts. The heat, the politics involved in moving through several countries, the running more than a marathon each day, and the drama between the runners and their team were all insane! But the idea of creating our own extreme long run in a place that's relatively cool and somewhere we love: we can't beat that!

According to the Running the Sahara dudes, they were running anywhere between 14-20 minute miles. That's totally doable, and it tells us that they had several walking breaks during their 4,620 mile journey.

For us, the idea would be that we would obviously do some distance training (running and hiking) in the mountains before we start the journey. Then, when we felt we were ready, we start in Angel Fire and run to Eagle Nest and then spend the night at a hotel. That's about 12 miles of running. And just in case I don't mention it, we'd stop in a hotel in each of these towns that I'm going to mention.

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The next day, we'd wake up and run from Eagle Nest to Red River and stay at another hotel. That's a distance of about 17 miles and it'd probably be the biggest climb of the trek.

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Then the next day we would travel from Red River to Questa (15 miles).

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We'd then go from Questa to Taos.

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Then Taos to Angel Fire would be the last leg of the trip, and also the longest (24 miles).

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Then we would collapse, preferably into our husky and border collies waiting at the finish line. :)

Obviously, we're not ready yet to do this run this summer. We need to prepare and there are a lot of things to consider like the following.

• Reservations: We'll need to reserve hotels and that would make our decision to run very concrete (no backing out).
• Time: We'd need to make sure that we could already run a good 6 miles before going up to the mountains, then we would need a least a month to prepare for the several day run. Maybe even more prep might be required.
• Babies: We want to have a baby or two, and this involves a bit too much extreme exercise for baby-making. Once, Lord willing, babies are had, that creates a bunch of other issues as well.
• Other Babies: We have two dogs that will need attention while we're gone during these days.
• Help on the Road: What if we run out of water or food, we need help checking into a hotel, we have medical issues, we need a little inspiration from a friendly face? We're going to need people to help. Maybe even some people might want to join us. :)
• Equipment: Clothes, shoes, etc.
• Injuries: We'd need to be relatively injury free (like my knee problems would need to go away or somehow be minimized).

So, thoughts? Interested in helping or joining? Have a better idea? The Assessor and I would love to hear it!

Cook - Superhero Cooking Oils Series, Corn Oil as Rougue

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Don't go away (or visit the loo)! This post is a continuation of my Superhero Cooking Oil series.  You can read my previous post on sunflower seed oil.

Corn Oil as Rogue

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Corn oil is extracted from the germ of the corn kernel much like Rogue was removed from her southern home by Mystique after Rogue discovered her powers.

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Rogue isn't always a goody two-shoes. She spent a lot of time with the criminal mutant, Mystique before she amended her ways and joined up with the X-men. Similarly, corn oil is also not the best of oils. It's slightly higher in saturated fats than canola and grape seed oil, but as a whole it's no where near as bad as butter, hydrogenated soybean oil, and coconut oil.

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Corn oil is high in polyunsaturated fats (which can reduce LDL and triglycerides 4x more than olive oil, but also decrease HDL as well). In fact it's mostly unsaturated fat and therefore awesome like Rogue and her superpowers (flying, power-absorbing, memory sucking, fire, etc).

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If you put Rogue under fire, she tends to get a bit testy, a little miffed. Corn oil is just the same, with a smoke point of 350-400, corn oil is best used for cooking at medium temperatures otherwise it can discolor and stink up your food.

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When Rogue gets tired in the fight against evil, she just saps someone's energy to replenish her superhero strength. While corn oil does take away your strength to grow it's own, the large amounts of vitamin E is great for increasing your immune system.

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Although Rogue is quite worldly because of her travels with the X-Men and her ability to fly around, she never looses her country accent. Corn oil hasn't lost it's hillbilly ways either. Corn oil is most commonly sold unrefined and, as a result, it has a little flavor and is yellow in color. Make sure it stays that way.

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If you know Rogue at all, you'll know that she's super powerful, but she has one down side. You don't want too much of Rogue or else she'll extract your life force and superpowers and leave you in a comma or leave you dead (if you touch her skin). Corn oil is rich in Omega 6  (a healthy fatty acid that we consume in unhealthy quantities) and has been associated with cancer in some studies. However, because corn oil is found in so many unhealthy foods (fried foods, chips, candy), it makes you wonder if it's our unhealthy use of corn oil and the high quantities of the stuff that's the problem.

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And lastly, even though she's a little rough around the edges, everyone likes a Rogue. She's witty, strong, and a definite feminist. Corn oil is also quite lovable; it's often in tasty salad dressings and delicious baked goods and it's very inexpensive

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For more information about corn oil, check out Wikipedia's article, or this, this, and this web site like I did.

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Cook: Peanut Butter Cups (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Gluten-Free)

For years, I've had a hankerin' for some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups like when I was a kid! Sadly, I can't have them. They contain cow milk products. But I found a recipe online that's supposed to imitate the taste and I tried it out this weekend.

I made a few changes to the original recipe. First, I decreased the amount of peanut butter filling (the original recipe called for too much and we "had to" chow down on the extra because it wouldn't fit in the containers). I used semi-sweet dairy-free chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Finally, I didn't follow the instructions to add extra salt to the peanut butter (there's already salt in the all-natural peanut butter that we bought).

According to the Assessor, my recipe is a good match with the original in terms of taste. The chocolate was a bit harder than Reece's chocolate, but that's probably because it's not milk-chocolate. I might try to make my own goat milk chocolate some time and see if that doesn't help.

Before using my recipe, you might read the original because he gave a good explanation for why you should use high quality chocolate and peanut butter to make the recipe work.

Dairy-Free Peanut Butter Cups

Theses are the brands I used.

Ingredients (as adjusted from the original)

• 12 paper muffin cups
• 1 12 oz package of milk-free chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
• 1/2 cup reduced fat all-natural smooth peanut butter
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1) Cut the top half off of the paper muffin cups.

2) Heat up all the chocolate for 2 minutes at 50% power in a glass, microwave-safe bowl. Then take a teaspoon full and drop into each paper cup. Spread the chocolate up the sides of the cup.

3) Put in freezer or fridge until hardened.

4) Mix powdered sugar and peanut butter.

5) When the chocolate hardens, heat the bowl of peanut butter for 30 seconds to 1 minute in the microwave and place even amounts into each cup. Make sure to pat the peanut butter down so that the second chocolate layer will cover the top.

6) Let your helpers lick the peanut butter bowl while the half-finished cups are cooling in the fridge.

7) Once the peanut butter has cooled, spread the remaining chocolate over the top. If the bowl of chocolate has cooled and is stiff again, you can reheat it on 50% power in increments of 30 seconds.

8) Decorate your helpers with the muffin tops while the peanut butter cups are hardening in the fridge.

9) Enjoy!

It's so tasty! 

Also, check out the new pages I have tabbed at the top of my blog. I've got a Spotify account and a GoodReads account so you can keep up with the crazy stuff I've been listening to and reading about.

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Think: Tragic Events

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My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

-Psalm 73:26

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

-Isaiah 41:10

Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. 

-Psalm 82:3-4

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but have courage--I have conquered the world. 

-John 16:33

The waves of death surrounded me; the floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death itself stared me in the face. But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I called to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears. 

-2 Samuel 22:5-7

Below's Garth Brooks and "The Dance." His performance was meant for a different memorial service, but I think it fits recent events.

Watch and Read: Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Other Prides and Prejudices

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I watched the entire series of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries last week on YouTube (you can see it from start to finish at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6690D980D8A65D08). It was awesome! But it also got me to thinking how timeless Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice story truly is and just how many versions I've seen recreated for the small and big screen. So here's a recap of my favorites in preparation for the future Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie that's in production (which may or may not come to fruition). I've listed the movies/series in the order in which I first saw them. Maybe your favorites are different?

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1) Pride and Prejudice (1995) with Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth and Colin Firth as Darcy

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This 300-minute TV miniseries of Elizabeth and Darcy's love story is, in my opinion, the best ever depiction of the book in it's original setting (1800 England). From Jennifer's 100 playful and witty tete-a-tete's with all her friends and family to Colin's 3 million awkward and haughty facial expressions make me want to re-read the original every time (in a good way, because I'm so excited). The music is catchy (watch yourselves or you'll be humming the theme song as you brush your teeth). Also, the last scene between Lady Catherine de Bourg and Elizabeth Bennet had me serial-wacking couch pillows and hooting with exaltation.

2) You've Got Mail (1998) with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks and The Shop Around the Corner (1940) with Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart

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I've lumped these two together because You've Got Mail is a modern remake of The Shop Around the Corner. You can read for yourself about how these movies draw from the original P&P, but suffice it to say they're both awesome movies that take P&P into the 1900s. Both movies reduce the number of characters and scene changes quite a bit to get at the heart of the whole Elizabeth and Darcy saga, which makes for much easier-to-digest movie-sized packages.

3) Bridget Jones's Diaries (2001) with Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth (again!!!!)

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This movie (and the original Bridget Jones's Diaries book) makes no excuse for it's blatant draw from the P&P novel. According to the author, she even hired Colin Firth because she liked his 1995 Darcy portrayal so much! I must say that this is the most risque version over the tale, and why wouldn't it be with the indomitable British actor Hugh Grant.

4) Pride and Prejudice (2005) with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen

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If you have to watch a shorter period-version of story, I'd go with this movie staring Keira and Matthew. Although Mrs. Bennet (Elizabeth's mother) is not nearly as annoying and meddling as she should be, I think it's an excellent try. With over 28 main characters to develop, I think any film maker would find it hard to condense the story into 1 hour and 27 minutes.

5) Pride and Prejudice (1980) with Sabina Franklyn and David Rintoul

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I have to say that this version is my least favorite. There's very little background music, long lengthy conversations taken verbatim from the book, and a Darcy that I might mistaken for a robot if I were to meet him on the street. The chemistry between almost all of the characters is zilch, and it seems like Sabinia kept forgetting that she was playing the witty, playful, sarcastic Elizabeth and instead seemed to play the all too sweet and sensitive Jane instead. This is not a version I would recommend.

6) Lost in Austen (2008) with Jemima Rooper and Elliot Cowan

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So this, the latest BBC version, is quite a stretch. The likelihood that someone in today's world is going to step through a wall in their bathroom into the world of Elizabeth and Darcy is rather small. Also, the scene where Darcy is asked to dunk himself in the pond is quite silly. But overall, the main character, Amanda, does an awesome job and makes this a really cute, rom-com story (you can watch for free but not captioned at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz-9gmfXjTI).

7) Lizzie Bennet Diaries (2013) with Ashley Clements and Daniel Vincent Gordh

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And this brings me to the last of the P&P-related film I've seen. This series was created in conjunction with Hank Green (one of the Vlog Brothers). What a unique way to re-tell the story from a vlogger's point of view! Don't get freaked out about amateur vlogers portraying beloved characters; these people are trained actors. Although I would have liked more episodes with Darcy, I think that maybe the suspense of not seeing him makes the episodes with him that much more exciting and epic. Also, the episode where Lizzie explains her parents and the episode when Bing Lee visits a sick Jane Bennet are "totes adorbs." Plus they're relatively successful at closed captioning the series. In the words and actions of Lydia Bennet, "Whaaaaaattt" [high five].

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Not really...:) So which one's your favorite?