Roc Wolfgang Reeder 6/28/80-9/28/08

Roc Wolfgang Reeder passed away on Sunday morning due to a seizure. He was twenty eight. Survived by his wife Melissa Reeder. They had only been married a little over a year. Eric and Roc were friends and worked together in Seattle. Eric introduced his sister Melissa to Roc New Years Eve 2000. They dated until they were engaged New Years Eve 2006 and married June 2007.

Roc's Memorial Service will be held Sat October 4th at 2:00 at Atascadero Bible Church.

You will be missed.

But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

Lam 3:32

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=44752470

Matilda and Frank

So I saw puppets at Micheal's Craft store by Martha Stewart and thought they were so cute, but $6 each.
So instead of buying something pre-fab and made of paper, I bought felt and made these for the kids and the cost about $2 for both of them!

Gluten Free French Bread and Pizza Crust

In my search of some good gluten free bread I have so far found two great recipes that I want to share with you. I made a gluten free pizza crust. Even Eric liked it and he has been my guinea pig, having to try all my new recipes.

The French bread recipe is awesome and I served it at a dinner party and no one even suspected it to be gluten free! I also made grilled veggie sandwiches with it and it was so tasty.
It is the best recipe yet, because it has a really crispy crust and fluffy center, just how French bread should taste. Usually rice breads are really doughy and dense but this recipe comes the closest to the real thing. One thing I did notice was as it bakes it gets very crispy, so in order for it not to burn I cover it with foil when there is ten minutes left to bake. The best thing is that it goes right in the freezer and keeps better and longer. I would suggest cutting it into large sections for an easier way to defrost what you need. I usually defrost three large pieces in the microwave for about thirty seconds and then slice it down the middle and toast both pieces or make it into grilled cheese sandwiches for the kids.

Gluten Free French Bread Recipe #180306

55 min | 15 min prep

SERVES 15 -20 , 2 loaves

• 2 cups rice flour (white)
• 1 cup tapioca flour
• 3 teaspoons xanthan gum
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
• 2 tablespoons fast rise yeast
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• 3 egg whites, beaten slightly
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• melted butter, for brushing (optional)

1. In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer, place flours, xanthan gum, and salt.Blend with mixer on low.
2. In a small bowl dissolve the sugar in the water, and add yeast.
3. Wait until the mixture foams slightly, then blend into the dry ingredients.
4. Add the butter, egg whites, and vinegar.Beat on high for 3 minutes.
5. To form loaves, spoon dough onto greased and cornmeal-dusted cookie sheets in two long French-loaf shapes or spoon into special French-bread pans.
6. Slash diagonally every few inches.If desired, brush with melted butter.
7. Cover the dough and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, 20 to 25 minutes.
8. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
9. Remove from pan to cool.

© 2008 Recipezaar. All Rights Reserved. http://www.recipezaar.com

Now the pizza crust is phenomenal, I love this crust and so does my family. I even made and gave it to one of the chefs at my work and he liked it! The trick is to bake it on a pizza stone, I think. So you have to adjust the baking times too. I will keep my pizza stone in the oven while it is heating up to the desired temperature. Then when the dough id ready I use a spatula and a bowl of warm water to spread the dough on the the stone. I dip the spatula in the warm water and then the dough spreads nicely. I would suggest baking just the crust for about 5 to 7 minutes. Then once you add your toppings bake it about 10-15 minutes depending on how crispy you want your crust. If you do not have a pizza stone disregard my tips. :)

Another tip is to make a double batch and freeze the dough, I do not recommend baking the dough first and then freezing. I had a hard time getting it off the stone, so I just froze the dough in wax paper and then in a Ziploc bag.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy the recipes!!

Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Recipe #44487

From Carol Fenster's "Special Diet Solutions".

by GinnyP

30 min | 5 min prep

SERVES 6

• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 2/3 cup brown rice flour or gram flour or fava bean flour (I use 'garfava' flour which is a blend)
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 2 tablespoons powdered milk or non-dairy powdered coffee creamer (Dairy alternative, 2 T tapioca flour or sweet rice flour in place of 2 T dry milk powder or non-dairy)
• 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2/3 cup water (110 degrees F)
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar or honey or agave syrup
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cider vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. In medium bowl using regular beaters (not dough hooks), blend all ingredients on low speed.
3. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes.
4. (If mixer bounces around bowl, dough is too stiff. Add water if necessary, one tablespoon at a time, until dough does not resist beaters.) Dough will resemble soft bread dough.
5. Put mixture on lightly greased 12-inch pizza pan or 11 x 7-inch pan (for deep dish version).
6. Liberally sprinkle rice flour on dough, then press dough into pan, continuing to sprinkle with flour to prevent sticking to hands.
7. Make edges slightly thicker to hold toppings.
8. Bake pizza crust for 10 minutes.
9. Remove from oven.
10. Spread pizza crust with your favorite sauce and toppings.
11. Bake another 20 to 25 minutes or until top is nicely browned.

© 2008 Recipezaar. All Rights Reserved. http://www.recipezaar.com

Kids say the darnest things

Yesterday Kira is outside with Eric and she sees a pile of dirt on the concrete. She says "What is that? What is that? That is a mess! You need to clean it up." She was dramatic and Eric really tired not to laugh. When he told me what she said, I thought immediately to a movie. Can you guess what line she is quoting????

The Goonies

When the mom comes home and the boys just broke her statue. She sees the mess on the coffee table and freaks out, but the boys all think she saw the broken statue.

I love that she was quoting that movie, but at the same time thinking is that a good thing?!

Well it was cute either way.

M-I-C-K-E-Y

We went to Disneyland on Thursday and it was amazing. There was no one there. The longest we waited in line was about twenty minutes for Nemo/Submarines and for Peter Pan. Kira and Enzo went on about seventeen rides throughout the day.
Here is the breakdown:

1. Matterhorn
2. Storybook Land
3. Tea Cups
4. Alice in Wonderland
5. Dumbo
6. Casey Jr. Train
7. Carousal
8. Buzz Light Year
9. Big Thunder Mountain
10. Jungle Cruise
11. Winnie the Pooh
12. Finding Nemo Submarine
    
13. Heimlich's Train
14. Peter Pan
15. Winnie the Pooh
    
16. (second and third time)
17. Carousal

We went to Club 33 for lunch and they totally accommodated our food allergies and they were great. We got to the park at 9:30, a half hour before it opened and Main Street was open but roped off. I never knew you could get there that early. We went non stop and the kids had a blast. Enzo napped for about an hour at one o'clock. Kira finally crashed out at about eight o'clock and Enzo followed around eight thirty. I have not had so much fun at Disneyland for years. Kira went on Matterhorn and Big Thunder Mountain, her first roller coasters, and she loved them. The weather was perfect and not too hot. It was the perfect day to go Disneyland.

Kira's Mermaid Face paint

Enzo totally enthralled with the submarine

Mary Poppins with the kids

Look at how empty Main Street was

Cruella DeVil and Kira

Yeah the Matterhorn!

Kira loved her first roller coaster

Love the Castle
(look at Kira's hand on her hip)

Getting her face painted

She sat so still

Kids in their ears

Enzo loved the Winnie the Pooh ride

Kira riding Mary Poppins horse "Jingles"

I think they had a good time!

Life in General

Well life has been just that, life in general around here. I am still in a funk and can not get motivated to do to much other than my little routine that I have right now. Which consists of 7:00ish waking up/ nursing little bubba
*get out of bed and get everyone dressed
*make smoothies and pack a snack for my run
*head to North beach and run with the kids
*get home and eat second breakfast with the kids
*check email, bank accounts and play around with kids
*lunch
*shower
*nurse bubba, get him to take a nap and lay down with Kira and nap too
Next thing I know it is 3:00 or 4:00?
Where or where did the day go?

Now obviously we have therapy on Wednesdays and Thursdays so the schedule varies there. And starting this week Enzo qualifies for mommy and me classes at R.H. Dana E.N.F. on Tuesdays and I can bring Kira too. I am excited about this and how both of them will benefit from it. It is from 9:00 to 11:00 though...so I have to cram it in the mix of things.
I have been working Friday and Saturday nights at the restaurant and we were soooo busy this weekend. It was great but very draining for me. I am hoping to pick up the Wednesday and Thursday night shifts too. I know working four nights will be a lot but we need the money for sure.
Anyways that is where I am and I miss writing lately but have not had the energy to do anything about it so hopefully this week I will get my head out my bum and kick it into gear.