Grain-Free Carrot Cake and Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts Review and GIVEAWAY!

When making the switch to the real food lifestyle, some people may think they have to give up their "sweet tooth." 

Kate Tietje, of Modern Alternative Mama, is here to prove that assumption wrong with Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts. 

From chocolate chip cookies to vanilla bean cheesecake to gelato and eclairs, Kate shows the real food lifestyle is not one of denial--but of delectable desserts.

A few months back, I had the opportunity of testing recipes for Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts.

And let me tell you, if you check out Treat Yourself, you are in for a treat!  

Besides desserts made with all natural, whole-food ingredients (no nasty additives here!), Treat Yourself offers several grain-free and allergy-free options, which is very important to my family right now.  

 

Kate starts Treat Yourself with some basics about desserts and gives some helpful information regarding real food sweeteners (like honey and maple syrup) before delving into 32 recipes, ranging from cakes and frostings to cookies and brownies to even ice cream and frozen treats.

Many of the recipes are compatible with the GAPS diet. In fact, 23 out of the 32 recipes are grain-free!

Treat Yourself sells for just $7.95! 

But Kate is offering Humbled Homemaker readers a 25% discount now through October 3 with code HUMBLETREAT!

Want to try out one of the recipes yourself? 

Check out this super moist--and delicious carrot cake! Best part? It's grain-free, so I can serve it to my daughter!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 3/4 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 egg*
• 1/4 c. honey
• 1 medium carrot, shredded
• 1/4 c. milk (or coconut milk)

*I have *not* yet tried this with an egg substitute. Unfortunately, using flax meal and water did NOT work as an egg sub in this recipe.

Directions:

Stir all dry ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and continue mixing until smooth. Pour into a 7" baking pan or a 6-cup cupcake pan. Bake at 350 for 20 min.

Want a chance to WIN a copy of Treat Yourself? 

Here's how to enter(remember to leave a separate comment for each entry):

1.Check out the table of contents and share which recipe you’d most like to try and why.

2. Subscribe to The Humbled Homemaker by RSS or e-mail.   

3. Like The Humbled Homemaker on Facebook.

4. Follow The Humbled Homemaker on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway.

5. Leave a comment on another post. (Tell me which one.)

6. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media.

7. Subscribe to Modern Alternative Mama via RSS or e-mail.

8. Like Modern Alternative Mama on Facebook.

Giveaway ends Friday, October 7, 2011.

The winner of the Against the Grain ebook giveaway was #22--hobby! Congrats, hobby, and please comment with your e-mail address! Thank you to everyone who entered! 

Be on the lookout for two great giveaways for lactation cookies (in celebration of the end of the breastfeeding series) this weekend!

Image by: ado12  

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I'm linking up with: Simple Lives Thursdays, Turning the Table Thursdays, Saving Naturally, Cooking Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Creative Juice, Things I Love Thursday, It's a Keeper Thursday, Frugal Follies Tuesday, Your Green Resource, Food Trip Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Sweets this Week, Living Well Blog Hop, Foodie Friday, Freaky Friday, Tidy Mom, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, The Gluten-Free Homemaker, NOBH, Lolly Jane, Weekend Gourmet Blog Carnival, Homemaker by Choice

The Prairie Homestead, The Healthy Home Economist, The Saturday Evening Post,  Real Food 101, Tatertots and Jello

Made by You Monday,  Traditional Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, Frugal Tip Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, The King's Court IV, Kelly the Kitchen Kop, Day2DayJoys, Women Living Well

Works for Me Wednesday

Good Cheap Eats 

Parenting on a Penny: Affordable (or Free!) Preschool Resources

Image by cienpies

Welcome to this month's edition of Parenting on a Penny!

For today's feature, I've decided to list a round-up of affordable (or FREE!) preschool resources!


As I wrote about last week, I'm not so sure formal preschool is necessary (not bad--just not necessary).

But I do think it is my job as a mother to begin educating my children--whether in a laid-back "live as we learn" approach or more formal training down the road. 

Without further ado (I say that a lot don't I?), here are some great resources to get your started--that won't break the bank:

• Jasmine @ Far Above Rubies offers this great list of ideas and resources for homeschooling preschoolers. (Also check out Jasmine's Rod and Staff preschool curriculum review. She has me intrigued!)
• ABC Jesus Loves Me: A FREE online curriculum for 2-4 year olds
• Our Preschool Homeschool Blog: A 26-week preschool plan, week by week
• Brightly Beaming Resources: Another FREE curriculum that focuses on steps to reading
• Starfall's Learn to Read with Phonics: FREE printouts, resources and games
• TLS Books: FREE printables for preschool through 6th grade
• Richele @Under the Golden Apple Tree offers many homeschooling tips. I especially loved this post on making a bedtime lessons book for your preschooler. I'm adding this to our homeschooling projects!
• Modern Alternative Mama's Project-Based Homeschooling (at Keeper of the Home): I love Kate's laid-back, project-focused approach to preschool at home.
• Tifaine @Through My Lense recently listed 3 FREE Simply Charlotte Mason ebooks!
• Mary @The Encouraging Home lists a great line-up of her homeschool curriculum and daily schedule.
• Here's a link to a cool alphabet project.
• Here's some neat ideas for teaching your preschooler about chores. 

Other Resources

• Several experienced homeschooling moms recommended the Five in a Row series to me for preschool.
• I've gotten so-so reviews on Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I picked it up cheaply at a homeschool resources thrift store.
• Learn Your Letters Learn To Serve is a downloadable curriculum by Heavenly Homemakers. It is not free, but I have heard it is way worth the money!

Other Ideas for Preschool on the Cheap

• Share/Trade resources with friends
• Check out resources from the library or a homeschool co-op
• Scour consignment sales and thrift stores for used materials

And while we're talking homeschool...

I found this article extremely encouraging and convicting this week! I think all Christian families--homeschool or not--should read it!

I'm a newbie to all of this! I'm so eager to learn from wiser, more experienced moms! 

What can YOU teach me about homeschooling--especially during the preschool years? What are some free and affordable homeschool materials you use? 

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I'm linking up with: Raising Homemakers, Time-Warp Wife, Don't Waste Your Homemaking,

Breastfeeding Challenges: Extended Breastfeeding and Weaning

Image by agastecheg

Welcome to this week's edition of the Breastfeeding Mini Series. I took last Friday off and decided to post today instead. 

It's hard to believe this is our final post in this series! 

I thought it would be appropriate to tie up the series with a final breastfeeding challenge--weaning. 

I have to admit, weaning makes me a little weepy. 

No, I don't want my daughters to nurse forever, but just like sleeping through the night, getting their first teeth and learning how to crawl or walk, weaning signifies that our babies really won't be babies forever!

My second baby--who will turn 1 in a few weeks!

As your baby grows, less feedings are needed. Babies quickly learn how to nurse more efficiently. So, 12 feedings per day may turn into 10 feedings per day pretty fast. 

Any time a feeding is dropped, weaning has begun. 

By the time your baby is 6 months, he or she may only be nursing 4 to 6 times per day, depending on whether or not you've introduced solids. 

Can't believe this little one is already 3!

By the time your baby is ready to wean (and he or she will usually let you know), nursing may be down to only one time every other day or so--really--at least that's how it was for me and Baby Girl #1.


Now, some moms just wean their babies cold turkey. 

Even though my goal was to breastfeed for a year (then I backed it up to 2 weeks!), as my oldest neared her first birthday, I just couldn't imagine she (nor I) were ready to stop nursing.

I think she had latched onto my chin here!

At that point, she was already pretty verbal and would ask for it.

I know this may sound strange for some. I never, ever imagined I would breastfeed a child who could talk--but I did! 

I think our culture has put a stigma on breastfeeding longer than one year. But all over the world, women nurse their babies for much longer, and the health benefits cannot be denied. 

The World Health Organization actually recommends mothers nurse their infants for up to two years. 


I decided that I wouldn't wean just because my daughter had turned a year old. The only reason to do so at that point would have been cultural pressure. 


And I think child-led weaning really made our weaning experience all that much easier. 

By a year old, my daughter nursed around 3-4 times per day (usually with breakfast, lunch, dinner and at bedtime). 


Over the course of the next 10 months, she gradually dropped feedings herself. Since she could talk, I left it up to her and only nursed her if she asked for it. 


By the time she dropped her morning nap (around 18 months), she was only nursing about 3 times per day (breakfast, before nap and at bedtime). 

Image by CathyK

A couple months later, she dropped her bedtime feeding and only nursed first thing in the morning.


By the time she was 22 months old (and I was 3 months pregnant with Baby Girl #2), she only nursed every other day or so. 


I never became engorged or got clogged ducts or anything during the weaning process. 


Now emotionally? It was hard. Because it did signify she was growing up. 

Me and my girls--Baby Girl is still nursing!

But it was mutual. And we still had (and still have!) plenty of cuddle time without nursing.


Now, I believe everyone's situation is unique. Perhaps you are a working mom who really needs to wean. Everyone has a different experience. 


My sister recently weaned her two-year-old cold turkey. She told him a few days before his second birthday: "Two-year-old little boys don't get nurse-y time anymore."


He seemed to understand. She nursed him the night before, and she hasn't nursed him since. 


And he's been fine. 

Little Girl & my nephew on his 2nd birthday. He weaned the day before!

That may sound cruel to some, but my sister is 7 months pregnant with twins--and she has type 1 diabetes (which makes her high risk).


And, under the guidance of her doctors, I think she made a wise decision. 

How about you? If you breastfed, how did you wean your children? At what age did they wean? What do you think about breastfeeding beyond one year?

This officially concludes the breastfeeding series, although, breastfeeding is a subject I am sure I will re-visit again and again!

In celebration, check back this weekend for TWO special giveaways for one month supplies of lactation cookies!

Have  you entered the giveaway for Modern Alternative Mama's grain-free cookbook--Against the Grain?! The giveaway will end on Thursday, Sept. 29! 

Do you enjoy reading The Humbled Homemaker?  Subscribe to receive posts:

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I'm linking up with: Raising Homemakers, Time-Warp Wife, Don't Waste Your Homemaking, Simple Lives Thursday,

Creamy Potato Soup with Veggies & Plan It, Don't Panic Week 2

Image by nkzs

I'm so excited about Plan It, Don't Panic Week 2! I felt so energized after last week's challenge--and I got SO many new recipes from the link-up over at Keeper of the Home! (Check out my Pinterest for some of the recipes!)

This challenge is helping to bring some order and JOY back into planning meals for my family!

Without further ado, check out the recipe for tonight's dinner--Creamy Potato Soup w/ Veggies--and scroll down for this week's meal plan!

Creamy Potato Soup with Veggies 

Ingredients:

• 8 white potatoes, peeled & diced
• 4 carrots, peeled & sliced into "coins"
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
• 32 oz. stock (chicken, ham or veggie)
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• thyme, to taste
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 2 cups chopped kale
• enough water to cover potatoes & carrots

Boil potatoes and carrots until just soft (but not mushy). Add stock, celery, mushrooms, milk and seasonings. Cook on medium-high until soup starts to bubble. Add kale and cook for a few minutes on medium-low. Set on simmer until ready to serve. (I sometimes serve immediately.)
Serves: 6-8

Meal Plan for 9/26-10/2


Monday:
Breakfast-egg/dairy/GF breakfast bars (subbing peanut butter for the applesauce)
Lunch-leftover chicken noodle soup
Dinner-creamy potato soup w/ veggies (scroll above for recipe!)
Prep: Bake bars; thaw meat and chop veggies for Tuesday; soak white beans for Wednesday's muffins

Tuesday:
Breakfast-egg/dairy/GF breakfast bars
Lunch-leftover potato soup
Dinner-Modern Alternative Mama's sausage & peppers w/ spaghetti squash from Against the Grain 
Prep: Cook white beans for muffins, thaw chicken and chop veggies, rinse and soak quinoa

Wednesday:
Breakfast-grain-free blueberry muffins using white bean vanilla cake recipe as a base and subbing flax meal for eggs
Lunch-leftovers
Dinner-slow cooker chicken and quinoa
Prep: soak oats

Thursday:
Breakfast-soaked, baked oatmeal
Lunch-leftovers
Dinner-salmon pasta salad
Prep: make pancake batter for Friday's supper

Friday:
Breakfast-leftover oatmeal
Lunch-leftovers
Dinner-breakfast for supper
Prep: shred cheese, soak black beans, chop peppers

Saturday:
Breakfast-eggs (for me and hubby) and pancakes for Little Girl
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner:black bean/chicken quesadillas with GF tortillas for Little Girl
Prep: thaw chicken 


Sunday:
Breakfast: grain-free blueberry muffins
Lunch: Modern Alternative Mama's Chicken Marinade from Real Food Basics (in the crock pot), green beans, rice
Dinner: leftovers

What's on your menu this week? 

Have  you entered the giveaway for Modern Alternative Mama's grain-free cookbook--Against the Grain?! The giveaway will end on Thursday, Sept. 29! 

Rather just go ahead and buy the book? Today is the LAST DAY for the Humbled Homemaker discount! Order the book here with code HUMBLEGRAIN for 25% off!!

Do you enjoy reading The Humbled Homemaker?  Subscribe to receive posts:

• via RSS (like Google Reader/Google Friends Connect) here 
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I'm linking up with: Plan It, Don't Panic, Menu Plan Monday

Mangia Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday,Turning the Table Thursday, Pennywise Platter Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Creative Juice, Things I Love Thursday, It's a Keeper Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Frugal Food Thursday,

White Bean Vanilla Cake & Against the Grain Review

A few months back, I had the opportunity of testing recipes for Modern Alternative Mama's third ebook--Against the Grain: Delicious Recipes for the Whole Food and Grain-Free Diet.

Little did I know at the time that my daughter would be diagnosed with gluten "sensitivities" a few months later, and the book would become even more relevant to my family. 

Regardless of whether or not your family is grain-free, this cookbook is full of delicious--and nutritious--whole food recipes that your family will love!

The author, Kate from Modern Alternative Mama, starts the book out with some basics of the benefits of a grain-free diet before delving into 30 grain-free recipes, ranging from savory suppers to delectable desserts to even grain-free "breads."

Most of the recipes are compatible with the GAPS diet. Some are dairy free, and--most important for my family--they are ALL gluten free!

Against the Grain sells for just $7.95!

Image by denise57

Want to try out one of the recipes yourself? My favorite dessert from the book is Kate's white bean vanilla cake.  

Let me just say it's DELICIOUS! I served it to guests, and I had to tell them it was made with beans! My 3-year-old absolutely devoured these when I made them into cupcakes. 

Ingredients:
3 c. white beans, cooked and plain
6 tbsp. coconut oil
¾ c. raw honey
6 eggs*
2 tbsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. baking soda

Directions:

Place all ingredients into a blender and puree until completely smooth. Pour into a 7" cake pan or into a cupcake pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350. 

That is IT! EASY and definitely kid-friendly!

*I have not yet made these with an egg substitute (my go-to substitute is flax meal and water). I hope they do--and if they do, I will re-post!

Want a chance to WIN a copy of Against the Grain? 

Here's how to enter(remember to leave a separate comment for each entry):

1.Check out the table of contents and share which recipe you’d most like to try and why.

2. Subscribe to The Humbled Homemaker by RSS or e-mail.   

3. Like The Humbled Homemaker on Facebook.

4. Follow The Humbled Homemaker on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway..

5. Leave a comment on another post. (Tell me which one.)

6. Share about this giveaway through your blog or favorite social media.

7. Subscribe to Modern Alternative Mama via RSS or e-mail.

8. Like Modern Alternative Mama on Facebook.

 

Giveaway ends Thursday, September 29, 2011.

The winner of the Healthy Homemaking: One Step at a Time ebook giveaway was #27--Lea! Congrats, --and thank you to everyone who entered! (Reading through your comments--I was so sad I couldn't just give one to EVERYONE!) Be on the lookout for another great ebook giveaway next week!

Do you enjoy reading The Humbled Homemaker?  Subscribe to receive posts:

• via RSS (like Google Reader/Google Friends Connect) here 
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 I'm linking up with: Simple Lives Thursdays, Turning the Table Thursdays, Saving Naturally, Cooking Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Creative Juice, Things I Love Thursday, It's a Keeper Thursday, Frugal Follies Tuesday, Your Green Resource, Food Trip Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Sweets this Week, Living Well Blog Hop, Foodie Friday, Freaky Friday, Tidy Mom, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free, The Gluten-Free Homemaker, NOBH, Lolly Jane, Weekend Gourmet Blog Carnival, Homemaker by Choice

The Prairie Homestead, The Healthy Home Economist, The Saturday Evening Post,  Real Food 101, Tatertots and Jello

Made by You Monday,  Traditional Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, Frugal Tip Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, The King's Court IV, Kelly the Kitchen Kop, Day2DayJoys, Women Living Well

Works for Me Wednesday

Good Cheap Eats