GFCF Cereal made at home!!!

GFCF Replacements homemade!

I love love love Cinnamon Toast Crunch as well as Cookie Crisp and so do my kids!  But let's face it they are not GFCF! I found some great recipes here at Gluten free on a shoe string.  So of course I tried it!  And let me tell you they are delicious!!!!!  I will post the recipe on this blog post but PLEASE go check out her recipes and buy her books while you are there, they are amazing, and full of great GF recipes that can be converted easily to GFCF!  Micah LOVED THEM!  I out my changes in italics.  She also has a great Fruit Loop and Apple Jacks recipe, I will be trying those next!

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

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Recipe type: Breakfast

By: Nicole @ Gluten-Free on a Shoestring.com

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 7 mins

Total time: 27 mins

Serves: 4 to 6

Gluten-free Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Ingredients

• 2 cups (280g) all-purpose gluten-free flour (I use Better Batter)(I used my own mix from a recipe)
• 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if using Better Batter)
• 3 tablespoons (38g) whole grain teff (I did not use because I did not have)
• 3/4 cup (150g) sugar (plus more for dusting)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (plus more for dusting)
• 4 tablespoons (23g) buttermilk blend (I use Saco), I used a little Almond Milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 7 tablespoons (84g) vegetable shortening or Palm Oil Shortening
• 1/2 cup milk (lowfat is fine, nonfat is not) (I used Almond Milk to make it GFCF)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Line rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
2. In the bowl of your food processor fitted with the steel blade, place the flour, xanthan gum, teff, sugar, ground cinnamon, buttermilk blend, baking powder, baking soda and salt, and pulse to combine well. Dip clean, dry fingers in dry ingredients. With well-floured fingers, tear the shortening into small chunks and toss the pieces carefully in the dry ingredients. Flatten each of the well-floured pieces of shortening between your fingers. Pulse the processor a couple times to combine.
3. Pour the milk into the dry ingredients and pulse just until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured piece of parchment paper, dust lightly with flour if sticky, and knead until smooth. Divide the dough into 3 pieces. Cover one piece of dough with another piece of parchment paper, and roll into a rectangle about 1/8 inch thick (the thickness of a nickel). It should roll out easily and cleanly. If not, dust lightly with flour and continue rolling.
4. Remove the top piece of parchment paper. With a pastry cutter or very sharp knife, even the edges of the rectangle. Slice into pieces about 1/2 inch square. Pierce each square carefully 2 or 3 with the tines of a fork.
5. Dip a small offset spatula in flour, and slide it under a row of squares to lift the squares off the paper. Transfer to a prepared baking sheet, and carefully separate the squares from one another a bit. They will not spread during baking. In a medium-sized bowl, combine sugar and ground cinnamon to taste, and sprinkle liberally over the tops of the squares arranged on the baking sheet. Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake for about 7 minutes or until lightly golden brown, rotating once during baking. Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.
6. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet. They will crisp as they cool.
7. Store leftovers in an airtight container. The whole recipe should nearly fit in 2 quart-sized mason jars.

Duly Noted

This recipe is made like pastry dough. The shortening should be broken up into chunks precisely as directed. I have not tested this with any substitutions, so I do not recommend you make any at all.
If you don’t have a food processor, a bowl and wooden spoon will work. Use a wire whisk to combine the dry ingredients, then create a well in the dry ingredients and shortening when it’s time to add the milk. Add the milk to the well, and use the spoon to mix together the dough until it just comes together. Turn the dough out onto lightly floured parchment paper, and proceed with the rest of the recipe as directed.

Cookie Crisp-style Cereal

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Recipe type: Cookies

By: Nicole @ Gluten-Free on a Shoestring.com

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 20 mins

Serves: 4

Mini gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, in the style of Cookie Crisp Cereal

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups (187g) high-quality all-purpose gluten-free flour (Used my own mix)
• 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
•  2 cups chocolate chips (I used best life for vegans for GFCF version)
• 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
• 8 tablespoons (112g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled (I used Smart Balance light spread for vegans)
• 1 extra-large egg at room temperature, beaten
• 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 4 to 8 tablespoons milk, at room temperature (Almond milk for GFCF version)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Line rimmed baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper, and set them aside.
2. In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder and salt, and whisk to combine well. Place the mini chocolate chips in a separate small bowl, add about 1 teaspoon of the whisked dry ingredients to the chips, toss to combine and set the chips aside.
3. To the bowl of dry ingredients, add the sugar and whisk to combine. Add the butter, egg and vanilla, and mix to combine. Add 4 tablespoons milk, and mix to combine. Add chips and reserved dry ingredients, and mix until the chips are evenly distributed throughout. Add more milk by the tablespoon until the batter is soft enough to pipe through a medium plain piping tip.
4. Pipe small, dime-sized portions of the dough through a medium plain piping tip on the prepared baking sheets, less than one inch apart (they won’t spread much during baking). With wet fingers, press down the center of the cookie so nothing is sticking out.
5. Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the mini cookies are golden brown around the edges and lightly brown on top. Allow to cool on the baking sheet until crispy, about 10 minutes.
6. Serve with cold milk.      

Got a call from the BMP today!

Finally heard from the BMP today for Micah's second assessment and the date for his eligibility meeting with us and the school system.  His second assessment called a "playdate" takes place in their office.  This is where the majority of his evaluation will take place, this is on October 16.  Then we meet with all the therapists and the school principle to see what help he will be eligible for, this is November 5.  Feels like a life time.  Today I have to take two of the middle girls for their school physicals and will talk to our pediatrician again so she can fax over the Autism Spectrum Diagnostic Needs referral to the Easter Seals office in Peoria.  So we can finally get the "medical diagnosis" done.
 It's funny how without an "official" diagnosis, when there is something different about your child you know it.  You don't need a "professional" to tell you what you already know.  But for the world, I guess society needs to have the words Autism Spectrum Disorder spoken out in  order to acknowledge that your child needs a little extra attention.  A little extra help in this world.  With our without a label, these kids are who they are.  Different.  But it isn't always a "bad different", there is such a joy and grace about so many of these little canaries.  I am grateful mine can communicate, that he hugs me, kisses me and tells me he loves me. And for a kid who will likely place on the spectrum, he will place high functioning, for this we are grateful.  I think my heart would break if he lost the ability to do those simple things we too often take for granted.  Too many of these kids can't tell you what they think and feel, they can't hug you and kiss you, they have been lost in a world of their own.  I am anxious to see change in them, I am anxious to see them set free.  I have read about child after child who has come out of this fog, with the GFCF diet and biomedical treatments.  Why are the mainstream doctors so scared of it?  Why do they fight that it works?  Well, I guess they would have to admit that if diet and biomedical detoxes a child into recovery, they would have to admit, some of the treatments (immunizations, environmental toxins, processed foods, etc.) may just be linked to the reasons these disorders occur in our children.  They would loss money. But that rant is for a later blog.
Right now I am noticing slight things in Micah from the diet change, less melt downs being one.  Until yesterday when we let him have birthday cake.  Ugh, he has been obsessing, melting down and frantic ever since.  No more cake unless it is GFCF, lol...we learned that one the hard way!!!
So until later, if you are a mom of a canary, love on them today, hold them tight!  They need your love even if they seem to reject it!  Be blessed!

Sometimes life is funny

Just a quick little rant-
Yesterday Micah was watching "Team Umizomi" and decided to inform us what a trapezoid was.  It is moments like these where I realize just how smart he really is.  It wasn't like he was copying team umizomi, he identified the shape before they said it on the episode as a trapezoid.  My 16 year old and I stood there and smiled at each other.  He makes me laugh, he makes me proud.  Then at dinner last night I was made brutally aware of his sensory issues again as I and my husband sat at the table trying to coax him into eating at least three bites of his meat loaf.  Of course I was bribing him with GFCF oreo style cookies.  But the fact that there was ketchup, rice and green onions in it, was a recipe for at least three consecutive melt downs...sometimes I wish trapezoid moments were the only thing that came out of his little mouth.  Those moments, keep my heart inline with the fact he is more then those melt downs, more then the freak outs and hysterics over ketchup touching his meat.  And Lord, do not make him touch the green beans.  Green foods freak him out.  Big time, major melt down!  Gaahhh, we have been waiting for the BMP to call us with the next assessment date, and Micah eagerly awaits going back to "Winkin" (Lincoln School) to play with his "yellow haired friend Cammie" AKA the speech therapist that was doing her initial eval on him. He is so funny, and such a challenge some days.  But goodness I love this boy!  Sometimes life is funny, sometimes it's  trapezoids, and sometimes it's green beans, but it is all good.  And it is all about love!

My little Blue Canary

"Canary in the coal mine" was a term the minors used back when mining was a popular occupation.  This expression refers to the practice of miners of taking canaries into the mines as living air quality indicators – if the canary keeled over they knew to get out of there because the air quality was deteriorating, and the bird was affected before everyone else. 
Many believe children and adults on the spectrum are like these birds, and are more prone to the toxins in our world.  The things we eat, the chemicals we clean with, the immunizations we inject into them, and our surroundings in general.  These individuals simply can not handle these toxins and their bodies become over run with the toxicity of the elements that enter into them, rendering them almost 'keeled over" under their influence.
I firmly believe that toxins from my body that transferred through my placenta, environmental toxins from food, began to break my little canary's immune system down.  I firmly believe he was predisposed to the damage down by yes you guess it, his MMR.  I can remember after he was born, he was so very bruised, immediately they jabbed him with Vitamin K, and then his Hep B shot.  He spent one week in the nursery under the lights to deal with a very bad case of jaundice.  I remember his regular pediatrician was on vacation, and another was covering for her.  I remember him saying he didn't understand why his bilirubin levels were so high.  It wasn't until about a year ago after much research that I think I stumbled upon the reason for it.  Vitamin K injections given to newborns are at a much much higher dosage then what they really need, the theory is that their tiny bodies will store the excess for later use.  I could give you all the links etc. but that will all come in due time.  Vitamin K while very important to stop hemorrhage in your newborn, whom are usually born deficient, has been found to cause hyperbilirubin in infants that have birth trauma.  Micah had birth trauma.  He was born with the widest part of his skull (ear up, face towards my right leg) instead of his crown presenting first. This caused excessive bruising to his face and neck.  Bruising, causes high bilirubin levels, Vitamin K causes hyperbilirubin after trauma, hmmmmm... I hear puzzle pieces falling together.
He was always a little eccentric, a little charmer, he crawled and walked early.  Was so stinking smart (still is).  After his MMR, it was a matter of weeks, that we began to notice strange behaviors.  Like his need to wear the same shoes and if you made him wear a different pair he would melt down and was inconsolable.  He could not stand condensation on his sippy cup and would scream at the fact his hands would get wet.  I could no longer cut his hair or nails without screaming in fear.  He claimed he was scared.  It was weird.  He started obsessing over  toys and pulling on his ears to the point at 4 years old his cartilage is not firm but like butter. He can shove his whole ear inside the hole. Everything was changing.  In time the meltdowns became more frequent and his obsessions would last weeks on end and only change at his discretion.  He stopped eating anything other than cereal, chocolate milk, mac n' cheese, cheese pizza, peanut butter sandwiches (which the crust HAD TO BE CUT OFF), in other words, sweets, carbs and dairy...ONLY.  He would literally projectile vomit if you tried to give him broccoli or mashed potatoes. 
I began to research and ran into Sensory Processing (Integration) Disorder.  It was so Micah.  For once we had a name, I talked to his pediatrician, she recommended a therapist, I kept reading and investigating.  That is how we got here.  With some sort of diagnosis on the spectrum.  It hasn't been given yet, it isn't in stone...but I know it is there. 
He had his first assessment last week, and they have already began pointing things out that were obviously sensory issues.  We are looking at two more assessments then hopefully he will be starting preschool and receiving therapies while there.  All this gets him immediate help while we wait for  the medical staff at Easter Seals to give us the actual medical "diagnosis".  That will be the next step.  this initial process helps us to also ensure our insurance will at least cover his diagnostic testing at Easter Seals.  The educational assessment, will be a great help with that.  But I was watching him tonight.  my little blue canary; and I feel like the cage door is open for him.  We are slowly integrating the GFCF diet into our family. I pray this helps with the melt downs.  I will have a lot of blogs later, explaining GFCF diet, and this journey.  I pray it helps heal me as well.  But my little canary, he is gonna be set free, every moment that he steps outside himself, and his sensory issues, every challenge met and conquered, opens the door a little bit more, till one day he will fly out.  I am NOT letting him "keel over" inside that cage in the mean time.  I love his sweet song way to much to allow that.  For all you mamma's of canaries , there time is coming to fly free, hang in there!

The eyes are the window to the soul

Those eyes.  They scream out," look at me!" 

I look at those eyes and I see so much.  But Micah doesn't look you in the eyes for very long.  Maybe a moment or two.  That's why I love this photo so much it's all about his eyes.  Rich with personality, rich with wonder and awe.  A good friend of ours Derek Brumby, caught some amazing shots of Micah the last time he came to visit...I can't wait to share them all with you.  There are some awesome eye shots.  Anyone that has a child on the spectrum can appreciate the eyes.  His haunt me.  I love when he is relaxed enough to really look at me in the eyes.  It's a moment I always want to capture.  This photo did just that.  We have such a long road ahead of us.  But I am forever grateful that it is what it is.  That it is not the horrors some families experience.  I can handle SPD, I can handle an Asperger's diagnosis.  Because my son is still in there, he can still smile back at me.  Praise you God, we have that.  Praise you Father, for the fact he is still Micah, just with a few little quirks that range from obsessive behaviors, to major melt downs.  But he is still my son.  In all his little weird triggers and quirky behaviors...he is still my gorgeous, smart, intelligent, loving, brilliant, funny, goofy, little man.  A blessing from heaven, a little angel in the disguise of a 4 year old.  But oh those eyes!

I am a little nervous for tomorrow, not because I am afraid they will tell me what I already know, but because he will shortly have a label I have to explain to others.  And other people will label him as weird, odd, spoiled, bratty, out of control.  They know nothing.  But I plan to educate them if it is the last thing I do!  Watch out world, here we come!

This starts the Journey of a life time

Change is coming-
Thursday we take our gorgeous son to begin his evaluation into a diagnosis that will most likely change our whole world.  It could rock us, it could cripple us BUT we will not let it.  I have known for two years my handsome little man was different.  But until recently we have only come to terms with the fact that it is time to have him evaluated.  That maybe, just maybe his eccentric style was really a sign he may have something on the Autism Spectrum.  I am pretty sure he will be diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, but I have a stronger feeling he will be labeled a child with Asperger's Syndrome.  
You know, I am okay with that I really am.  He is special, he is funny, he is quirky and a little wild sometimes.  He is smiley, and strong willed, he is magnetic and lovable.  He is Micah James Huettemann, 4 years old and number seven in the line of eight children.  He is our little man and we would not have him any other way.  I have so much to blog about, so much more than this quick little entry.  And I will write it all down for everyone to read.  But after, after he has been evaluated, after we as a family come to terms with how we will discuss it and share it with our loved ones first, but if nothing more comes of this it will be that I hope Micah learns along with everyone I can reach that he is Micah James Huettemann he maybe different...but he is NEVER less.