Peach & Strawberry Crisp

What says summer more than strawberries and peaches!!

Before this recipe I've never cooked with peaches before but Giada made me a believer! They compliment the strawberries so well and mixed with the oats it's a perfect summertime dessert. I personally enjoy a mix of both yellow and white peaches in my crisp.

I found this recipe on Food Network by Giada and made some changes so it would work for my family. Since mid-July I think I've made it more than 6 times....it's a HUGE hit with my boyfriend!!

Of course it's made with organic fruits and all gluten free products. There is something wonderful about organic fruits and veggies...they taste SO much better!!

Pre-heat oven to 350
I use 13x9 pan (original recipe calls for 8x8)


Filling:
1 large lemon (fresh squeezed)
2 1/2 tbsp arrowroot flour

1 1/2lb strawberries (cleaned and sliced)
8 large peaches (yellow or white) peeled, pitted and sliced
1/2 cup organic brown cugar

Topping:
1 1/2 cup Pamela's Mix
1 1/2 cup Trader Joe's gluten free Oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup organic brown sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
                                                                               1 stick plus 4 tbsp unsalted organic butter

Pre-heat oven and butter (or spray) 13x9 pan

Filling: Mix fresh squeezed lemon juice and arrowroot flour until combined. Mix strawberries, peaches and brown sugar in a bowl and mix until combined....add lemon juice and arrowroot flour. Pour into pan

Topping: Combine flour, oats, almonds, brown sugar and cinnamon. Add butter using either fork or pastry tool until combined...do not over mix as entire topping will form a ball. Sprinkle over fruit mixture and bake for 45 min.

Cool for 5-10 min and serve with Ice Cream (the only way we tried it)!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Drops

There is nothing better than chocolate and peanut butter together. HEAVEN!

After a long day with the boys I can't think of anything I would enjoy more than a nice glass of Cabernet and a chocolate peanut butter snack. Since tonight was "one of those days" I had the craving and decided to bake after I put my little men to bed. Luckily they went down so I could really get into my baking!

Since finishing I've enjoyed 3 with my Smith & Hook Cabernet! It's astonishing how quickly the bottle of wine disappears. 

These are filled with chocolate and peanut butter...even down to adding extra on top before baking! 

Pre-heat oven to 350
Makes approximately 55 small muffin size cookies

1 1/2 cups Pamela's baking mix
7 tbsp organic dark cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 stick organic unsalted butter
3/4 cup peanut butter   (I use Trader Joe's valencia chunky)
1/2 cup organic sugar
1/2 cup organic brown sugar

1 large egg 
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp organic milk 

8oz organic peanut butter cups (Justin's dark chocolate cups) chopped 

Combine Pamela's baking mix, cocoa powder, and baking soda in a bowl, set aside.

In a separate bowl combine butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Beat for 1 min on med speed to combine. Add the egg, mix while adding milk and vanilla. Do not over beat. 

Once combined add dry ingredients, do not over beat. Mix will be drier than typical cookie mixes. Finally with a spatula mix in peanut butter cups (keep chocolate chips in freezer/fridge until ready to chop for best results). 

Add liners to a small muffin pan and spoon out so each is almost full. Bake in pre-heated 350 oven for 13 min. Once removed place on a rack to cool. I take liners off once cool. 

Store in fridge for 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months! 

Welcome back...

It's been almost a year since my last, and almost initial post, but I'm back!!

Quite a few things have changed for our family over the last year...over 5+ months ago I started my family on a new diet...I now buy only organic and all-natural products as well as anything gluten free. No preservatives, additives or fillers are found in our home or any of the food we eat. I feel great and I can see a change in our 2 young boys (ages 3 and 22 months).

The change in our diet was for a few reasons...I noticed both our youngest son and my boyfriend were miserable after eating sweets, pastas or breads. After talking with my god-send of a neighbor and doing some research for myself I thought it could possibly be a sensitivity to gluten. Looking into a diet change further I found some blogs from other mothers that had children with SPD and found that removing gluten helped with attention. I was sold!! The only person the diet change could hurt was me, countless hours in the kitchen to adapt to our new diet and I was willing to take on the challenge.

Many hours of research about gluten I began to think about everything we eat...from fruits and veggies to daily snacks. All loaded with CRAP...to put it simply. That brought about my change to all organic, all natural, no preservatives. Now it's only been between 5-6 months since our kitchen overhaul as I like to call it, and I feel better. I no longer get the rock in my stomach feeling after enjoying pasta or feel guilty making my kids cookies or cake because I know everything they are eating is more healthy than most options out there.

I'm a HUGE fan of Pamela's mix...I have it automatically delivered every other month from Amazon and sometimes find myself needing to order more in between deliveries. I use it for everything from pancakes and waffles to cookies and other baked goods. My taste-testers range from 22 months to 83 years old and have no problems with honesty. I've heard something as simple as, "please don't make this again" or "it's lovely, but I don't want another slice," to my all-time favorite from my 3 year old..."mommy I thought you said there was chocolate in it but its yucky." I can't imagine life without Trader Joe's and Whole Foods either...I've learned to shop for what I need and only what I need so that buying all-natural and organic is affordable for families on a budget.

This is all a work in progress, I'm no Gordon Ramsey or Giada but I LOVE cooking and baking for my family/friends knowing I'm giving them the best I can. Comments and suggestions are always welcomed. Enjoy