Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls

   I've recently jumped on the gluten-free bandwagon. Don't worry, I'm not one of "them." I made the choice because of an allergy I've realized I have, not because I like to skip my lifestyle around from one buzzword "vegetarian," "gluten-free," "vegan" to another.  I've had eczema for as long as I can remember and recently figured out that the eczema that was showing up on my eyelids, neck, arms, legs, and hands was being triggered by gluten. Now that I've decided to completely abstain from it, I no longer look swollen-eyed and feel self conscious. With all the gluten-free things on the market now I'm realizing that this change may not be so hard at all.
   For Valentine's Day I like to make a delicious dessert for Brandon and I. The last few years I've made the same thing so this year, I wanted to branch out a little. After all, who doesn't LOVE cinnamon rolls...and ice cream?

Gluten free cinnamon rolls
Ingredients
Gluten-free Bisquick
1/3 cup butter, plus a few extra tablespoons
2/3 cup milk (I didn't try it, but I'm pretty sure almond milk would be great)
3 eggs
cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling

For icing
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons almond milk

Directions
Follow the directions on the box for making a basic biscuit but sub the butter for shortening. As you mix up the biscuit dough, add about 1 tablespoon cinnamon and about a 1/4 cup sugar.
Roll the dough on a flat surface (wax paper sprinkled with rice flour works wonderfully) to about 1/2 inch thick.
Sprinkle flattened dough with sugar and cinnamon and a few tablespoons butter.

Roll up dough to form a log, cut into circle and place in a greased baking dish. 

Bake at 400 for 13-16 minutes. 

For icing mix both ingredients until smooth. Add more sugar to thicken.

When rolls are baked, drizzed with tons of icing. Tons. 

   We topped ours with coffee ice cream and whipped cream because it was Valentine's Day...and that's just how we roll.

My Valentine's Day

   I really can't believe that Valentine's Day is already over! Before we know it it'll be March, then April and pretty soon...June! I hope you all had a really special Valentine's whether you celebrated your love for your family, friends, or a special someone.
   My day consisted of spending the day with a class full of psychotically excited 5-year-olds, getting flowers and going to PF Changs with my love, a delicious dessert, and some relaxation. Though there's no pictures of us (I'm working on getting better at that!) here are a few snapshots from my day....

Enchantment Tuesday (On a Wednesday)

   I know that yesterday was actually Tuesday when I usually share all the pretty things I've come across, but I just had to share my heart garland with you. So today we shall continue with all things Valentine's Day...

This cake amazes me. 

These are just plain cute. 

Definitely the coolest kids' Valentines I've seen. 

Fabulous nails.

Yes, these perfect pink brownies consist of cheesecake and red velvet.

I like Valentines with sweet messages. 

DIY Heart Garland

   I love Valentine's Day. How 'bout you? I gotta say that even before I had a "Valentine" to spend the day with, I always enjoyed this heart-filled, pink, red and white, some-what-of-a "Hallmark holiday" holiday. I love the candy, the flowers, the cheap foil  cartoon character Valentines, and the pretty decorations. Growing-up my parents always made it special. My mom and dad always took my brother and I out to dinner with them then we came home and devoured some delicious dessert (usually chocolate) that my mom made, and exchanged Valentines. My mom and dad still have the cards made by my brother and I displayed proudly and I still cherish the ones they made for me. 

  So with this holiday that truly delights me only a week away, I figured this past weekend was a good time to craft up a quick little heart decoration. 

   I started with some pretty cardstock....

   And free-handed hearts on the back. Making a stencil and tracing it for everyone would have been too time-comsuming and too perfect.

   Then I cut them all out.

   I used my mini hole punch to put to little holes in each heart and threaded a big 'ole needles with some embroidery floss.

   Then I simply strung them along the floss. 

   I hope you all enjoyed this quick little tutorial. Have a really wonderful Wednesday!

A Day of Chocolate and Sweetness

  Yesterday was "Enchantment Tuesday" wasn't it? Unfortunately I missed it. Not intentionally but I believe I'm getting sick and after going to the gym I fell asleep for three hours on the couch, took a shower, and went to bed. So, it was impossible for me to post and share my delights from this week since I was lying here on the couch, pretty much like a log. Forgive me?
  I hope you all had a special Valentine's Day. I shared some of mine on Monday and I have to share that it ended wonderfully as well. My sweet husband brought me home beautiful, aromatic flowers and a Mickey Mouse card. He knows me well.

   Remember that decadent chocolate cake I told y'all Brandon and I would be immersing our faces in after a Mexican Valentine's dinner? 

We did :o)

   In our defense, I did give away some. Like one piece. And I dropped a big chunk on the floor. We aren't total piggies. Now, I will feel guilty if I don't share this fantastic cake recipe with you all. Its real name is "Better Than Sex Cake" but I few years ago I made it for Christmas and my mom and I felt it was more fitting to call it the "Better Than Anything Cake." You choose the title you like best, one thing is certain, no matter the name this cake is rich, decadent, moist, super easy and will most likely knock. your. socks. off.

Better Than (you choose) Cake

• 1 box dark chocolate cake mix
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 can caramel topping

Bake the cake as directed on box. As soon as it emerges from the oven and is still hot, poke holes all over it and pour the caramel topping and sweetened condensed over it and allow them to seep in. Refrigerate over night. Best served with a dollop (if you're me a very large dollop) of whipped cream on top. 

A Day of Love

    Hello blog friends, I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a...

Very Happy Valentine's Day!

  

   I personally love this holiday. Not because I have a special someone to spend it with (though I do enjoy spending it with him), but because it's a day to really acknowledge how much you love and cherish someone like your parents, siblings, friends, children, coworkers, well,  you get the idea.... My parents always made this a special day for us growing up by making us cards, giving us candy or small little gifts, going out for a special meal, and coming home to a fantastic dessert made by my mom. More than that, this day of love can help remind us to thank God for the love He has bestowed upon us. There is truly no greater love in all creation than what He has for us. If Valentine's Day serves no other purpose than to remind us to thank God for his love, then it's a worthwhile day in my opinion :o)

   So far my "Heart Day" has been special and fun. I loved spending most of it with my little kindergartners who were so very excited (partly due to all the extra sugar they consumed) and who show their love and affection with reckless abandon. I got many, many hugs and "I love you"s and just seeing all those precious little ones all dressed up in red with no bigger cares than when we would have our "party" warmed my heart more than any gift could.

My students (and their parents) were too generous.

  Ohhhh I just love Valentine's Day at school. This evening, when Brandon finally gets home from work, we'll be going out for Mexican and then coming home to immerse our faces into this decadent chocolate cake.

I hope you all have a wonderful and special day and remember above all, that God's love for you is something to celebrate today :o)

A Homemade Book for my Valentine

  Two posts in one day? I know, I know. It's a bit out of the ordinary, but with Valentine's Day being tomorrow and me being a last minute kind of person, in between lesson planning I'm crafting my little heart out.
  This will be mine and Brandon's fourth Valentine's Day together and our first one as a married couple. I've more than excited to celebrate Valentine's with my sweet and handsome husband. The past two Valentine's Days I've made him a delicious chocolate dessert and a card, but I felt that this one being a little more special called for a more special gift (along with a chocolate dessert).
  I have enjoyed these almost 8 months of marriage more than I ever imagined I would. God has been so good to us and so good to me bringing Brandon into my life. I know it may sound cliche' but I am truly married to my best friend.
   For Brandon's heart day gift I chose 25 things (out of 100s) that I love about him and crafted him a little book.

 I've never made a "book" so this was a fun experiment. I started with this sketchpad I found at my parents' house from when I was in high school. I cannot sketch.

  I ripped out the pages and wrote one of my chosen 25 things on each page. I hadn't written in cursive in so long I ended up throwing away many mess-ups.

   I carefully trimmed the edge off each page.

For the front and back cover I used scrapbook paper I'd bought for decorating my Valentine's gift boxes. I cut out the cover a little bit bigger than the pages. I used an old, slightly jacked-up three hole punch to punch two holes in the front and back cover and pages.

I used ribbon to tie the whole thing together. I opted for brown instead of the pink I'd planned on using. Brandon's not a pink kinda guy and I've very thankful for that.

Word of wisdom: Before tying the ribbon into super tight double knots, make sure you didn't leave and pages out...

 I hope he likes it and that it gives him at least a hint of how very much I love and value him :o)