Daily Archives: 15 November 2009

Connecting Online

I have met so many people through online connections.  First, there was a small moderator community of maybe 20 women who helped with the running of message boards at OrganizedHome.com.  We were there for each other through thick and thin, even though we lived across the country from each other or some of us closer or some of us further.

 

When the message boards at OrganizedHome.com closed, I found a group of local moms at a MomsLikeMe site hosted by my local Gannett paper.  This was wonderful because we actually get together in real life too.  Many have been to my home.  Many have been to other things I go to.  We support each other as did my other group of friends.

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Now, I am connecting over the next ten days at MomaLom.com.  I know the connection will last more than for five minutes over the next ten days.  I just know new friendships will be forged.  I encourage you all to stop over and see, for the next ten days, what MomaLom is up to.


Baking Without Sugar

As the holidays approach, my oven is going non-stop.  I love to bake.  My favorite ingredients in autumn are pumpkin and apple and cranberry.  Because both my parents are diabetic, I spend a lot of time trying to make my tried and true recipes better.  I know how is it possible to make something better.  In my case, I try to use items other than shortening and sugar.

I have done some baking with Splenda.  I find that the brown sugar blend works best.  I do not like how Splenda itself tastes in baking.  It is not bad, but it not fantastic either.  So I set out this morning, prior to 6 am so I hope my brain woke up with that cup and a half of coffee, to make Vegan Pumpkin Bread with Stevia.

By the way, if you would like more information on Stevia, please visit No Meat Athlete’s blog and this entry.

Here is the recipe I altered.  If I had been smart, I would have remembered that Belly Laugh Baker had posted a vegan pumpkin bread recipe on No Meat Athlete’s blog.  I didn’t, though, so started out with my own and some information on Stevia from that blog.

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PUMPKIN BREAD
Blend together:
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon Stevia (I used “in the raw”)
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
¾ cup canola oil
2/3 cup water
Sift together (or mix well with whisk):
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon each cinnamon, nutmeg (freshly ground if possible) and cloves
3 ½ cups flour (I used whole wheat flour)
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnut meats, chopped
Mix dry and wet ingredients all together until smooth, by hand or with electric mixer; do NOT overbeat.  Add one cup raisins and one cup walnut meats.  Pour into loaf pans and bake at 325F.  Let cool 15 minutes and remove from pans to finish cooling.
2 ½ “ x 4 ½ “ x1 ½ “ pans; 11-12 loaves; ½ cup batter each; bake for 45 minutes
3” x 6” x 2” pans; 6 loaves; 1 cup batter each; bake for 55-60 minutes
8” x 4” x 2” pans; 3 loaves; 2 cups batter each; bake for 1 hour, 15 minutes
9” x 5” x 2” pans; 2 loaves; 3 cups batter each; bake for 1 hour, 25 minutes
Muffins:  makes 24; bake 25 minutes at 350F
And, in an even more daring attempt, I have made an apple cake without the eggs.
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Apple Cake
1 teaspoon Stevia (in the raw)
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup canola oil
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups chopped apples, skins on
Mix and bake at 350F in a large, ungreased pan for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Mom to the College Kid

Yesterday, I went to college for the day.  This is not the first time I have played this role.  I have six children and yesterday I was visiting #5 at college.  I have done the day trip to college many times since 2003 and each time is different.

oneonta

This time was made more unique by the fact that #5 is a student-athlete.  He is a diver.  I, if you follow me, made an impromptu trip to #5 in October due to a diving injury.  This trip was to watch him dive.

 

On top of diving, there was a team dinner and time with the coach.  It is always nice to get feedback on how your college-aged child is doing as the things he or she lets you know should not be posted online.  His diving is somewhat improved from high school.  He has, as he has with other diving coaches, a love-hate relationship with the diving coach.  More importantly, his grades are good – the coach checks these things.  And, he is hospitable.  He has hosted at least two recruits and Coach is happy with him for doing so and for doing so well.

 

When you look back at all the things that could go wrong or right at college, as a parent, it is nice to know that some of the values taught before #5 left home are sticking with him.


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