Jamie VanEaton's Oopsie Rolls (Gluten Free bread substitute)

3 ozs. cream cheese (do not soften)
3 large eggs, separated
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Separate the eggs and add the cream cheese to the yolks. Use a mixer to combine the ingredients together.
3. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff. If you are using the same mixer, mix the whites first and then the yolks.
4. Using a spatula, gradually fold the egg yolk mixture into the whites, being careful not to break down the whites.
5. Grease a cookie sheet and spoon the mixture onto the sheet, making 6 mounds. Flatten each mound slightly.
6. Bake about 30 minutes and take out while still soft, not crumbly.
7. Let cool on the sheet for a few minutes and then remove to a rack and allow them to cool.
8. Store in a loosely closed sack and allow to rest on the counter before use, otherwise they might be too moist.
9. Can be frozen.

*Varation: You can add herbs to the yolk mixture to spice it up or add stevia to the yolk mixture to make a sweet roll.

Cinnamon Coffee Mug Bread (Sugar Free, Gluten Free)

1/4 cup almond flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp powdered stevia (1 packet)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
1 tbs butter, melted

1. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add the egg and butter and beat until smooth.
3. Pour batter into a coffee mug.
4. Microwave for 1 1/2 minutes or until done.
5. Dump it out of the mug and then slice.

Coconut Muffins (Sugar Free, Gluten Free)

9 eggs
6 tbs butter, melted
2/3 cup coconut milk
1 tsp liquid stevia (90 drops)
3/4 tsp sea salt
3/4 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup sifted coconut flour
3/4 tsp baking powder

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
   
2. Blend together eggs, butter, coconut milk, stevia, salt and vanilla.
   
3. Combine coconut flour with baking powder and thoroughly mix into batter until there are no lumps remaining.
   
4. Pour batter into 12 greased muffin cups.
   
5. Bake for 23 minutes or until golden brown, or until toothpick comes out clean.

161 calories, 13 grams fat, 4.9 carbs, 6 grams protein, per muffin.

Spring/Summer Video

I decided to put together a video of short clips from the footage I shot throughout the spring and summer this year. As I looked through it, I realized I actually didn't get all that much on film this year. That's not like me at all! I need to get back into the habit of filming things. Anyway, here's the video.

ZooTunes at Woodland Park

Tonight Regina, Katie and I we went to see Cyndi Lauper perform her Memphis Blues Tour concert at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Betty stayed home with a caregiver. We picked Katie up from school, stopped for a snack and headed to the zoo through all the stop-and go-traffic. Yuck. Made it in time though to set up our chairs on the grass and eat our picnic dinner while listening to the opening act. I didn't take my camera, but snapped a couple of shots with my cell phone. Didn't get any pics of Cyndi though, too far away, but she was the one on the stage with the huge, bright red wig on! Completely outrageous!

Katie enjoying the concert?

First Day of School - First Grade!

Katie's a first-grader now and today was her first day at school. She's going to the same school she attended last year, so she's with many of her same friends and she's actually going to have the same teacher again this year. We're happy about that since she's a wonderful educator and Katie adores her. Katie is especially excited about school starting up again because now she can see her boyfriend every day. They fell in love last year and even though they did not see each other all summer, their love seems to have survived the separation. She's quite smitten with him, as you will see in the pictures below...

Katie "posing" for the obligatory first-day-of-school photo on the front porch.

Katie and her boyfriend found each other within minutes of arriving at school!

Katie sitting in her classroom at her desk.

Katie and her teacher.