FOODIE FRIDAY: Fun with gelatin!

       In a discussion recently about gelatin and how good it is for you, I mentioned some of the different kinds that I had played with. Of course that brought a request for the recipe. Hmmm. You mean that scribble of notes I jotted down to try remember what I did? Clearly I had to make some recipes to see if I could duplicate what I did before; to see how well my notes captured it. Since I'm a "Little dab of this, and a splash of that" kind of cook, that's always an interesting challenge! So I made some Coffee Gigglers and shared them when we had a Taco Potluck while camping in the Bouse area. They were very well received, and I heard later they were even talked about at the fire that night! After making them again, I feel confident that I it got down. It's now in Official Recipe Form!

The squares on the left are the peanut butter ones, on the right the coffee. Not much difference by looks except the coffee ones are smoother in texture. I'm thinking that the peanut butter ones are just begging for some kind of chocolate layer.

The basic gelatin gigglers recipe is simple, and once you know the proportions you can make all kinds of flavors:
2 TBSP gelatin
2-3 cups total liquid (depending on how firm you want them)

   I like to put the gelatin in cold liquid first to keep it from clumping, then add it to the hot and stir for several minutes. You can also use a stick blender to make it smooth, but it will add a foamy top layer. I like that added texture and for the Coffee Gigglers, it's the best way to emulsify the fats.
    I like to play around with different combos of herbal tea, kombucha, flavored stevia and veggies or fruit. With the basic ratios of gelatin to liquid, I can pretty much make anything that sounds good! I've used hibiscus tea for color if I'm doing a fruit flavored one. Tulsi tea is great for a soft, refreshing mouthful. Chamomile tea for a before bed calming bite (great for kids). Peanut butter and bananas is a grandkid favorite. And why not coffee while we're at it?
     Why, you might ask, would I bother to make gelatin in the first place? Glad you asked! Gelatin is made of collagen (same thing, different forms) which is an important protein and it's the glue that holds your body together. It's necessary for skin, hair, nails, a healthy gut, joints, etc. For more great information on this, go here to Amy Myers MD website and read  up on it. I certainly noticed a difference when I ran out and couldn't find any for about a month in my travels. I didn't really want the Knox Gelatin because I'm not sure of the source (although it will do in a pinch), and I prefer it in bulk. I finally found some in Tucson in the Food Conspiracy Co-op in bulk and got a bunch, enough to get me home. Now that I'm eating it again, my nails are getting stronger and so is my hair. I don't really have joint issues, so I don't know by personal experience how that helps. But it's enough for me to know that my nails are better since they are a pretty clear indicator of body health. I usually add it to my morning porridge, but sometimes I just want to play around with it! Plus it's fun to share this healthy snack with others.

The brand of decaf coffee I use, truly decaf. I try to get organic cream. The brand and flavor of stevia used in both recipes. The Lakanto Monkfruit sweetener is something I've just started using. It has Monkfruit and erythritol in it. 

     I took my version of Bullet Proof Coffee and added the cream, extra stevia and gelatin. I can have it any time since it's decaf, and it makes a great, light dessert!  You can make it with whatever flavor combo floats your boat, just be aware that once it gets cold and gels, it will be milder in flavor and less sweet.

Coffee Gelatin Gigglers:
2 TBSP plain gelatin
1 cup cool water
Mix these together and set aside. This keeps the gelatin from clumping.

Mix together:
     1-1/4 c hot coffee to taste, strong enough to get diluted by the cup of water.
     1 TBSP butter (to make dairy free, use coconut butter or double coconut oil)
     1 TBSP coconut oil
     2-4 TBSP cream to taste (can also use coconut cream)
     2-3 droppers Chocolate flavored stevia to taste (a dropperful comes up about 1" approx 20 drops)
     1 tsp monk fruit/erythritol sweetener or honey (to mellow out the stevia)

Blend the coffee, fats, sweeteners and cream together in a blender or with a stick blender until somewhat frothy. Add the gelatin/water mix, blend until thoroughly mixed. Taste it. This mixture should taste a bit sweeter and stronger than you prefer. Pour into 8x8 pan and refrigerate until set. Cut into squares and enjoy! It will separate as it cools to form a top layer. You can also pour this into gelatin molds, individual cups or whatever you prefer.

Peanut Butter Gigglers: (a grandkid favorite, they ask for these!)
        2 TBSP plain gelatin
1 cup cool water
 Mix these together and set aside. This keeps the gelatin from clumping.

     1/4 c peanut butter
     3 droppers Chocolate flavored stevia (a dropperful comes up about 1", approx 20 drops)
     2 TBSP cream
     1 tsp Lakanto Monkfruit sweetener or honey or maple syrup (can use more of this, less of stevia)
     1-1/2 cups very hot water
     6-8 slices frozen banana or to taste

In a deep bowl, mix peanut butter, sweeteners, and cream. Add gelatin mixture and stir well. Add hot water and blend thoroughly. Add frozen bananas and blend. Chill until set up, cut and serve.
TIP: I like to have frozen banana slices on hand in the freezer. I take a real ripe banana, slice it about 1/4" or slightly thicker and take a gallon freezer ziplock bag and place them one layer thick in the freezer until frozen, then they can be used individually.

Did you make them? Did you try any variations? I'd love to hear about it.

Travel Tuesday: Off Road Adventures

Spectacular views! The road looks good from a distance....

Unusual flowers I've not seen elsewhere

Some parts are better walked.

While we were camped outside of Bouse, AZ, I was invited to go to The Desert Bar with some off-roading enthusiasts. I've heard of the Desert Bar from many people who have gone, knew of its uniqueness and also of the somewhat bumpy road getting up there. So far we hadn't felt compelled to go, although we thought it might be interesting. And then along comes an opportunity I didn't want to pass up. Because I would have felt like a wuss if I had! I decided to go for the Adventure instead of comfort and safety. So off we went, and instead of the rather rough road going in, we took the back way. I'm not sure I would call it a road. Well, maybe: if you have 4-wheel drive and plan to use it--a lot!, if you have enough clearance to get over some big rocks, if you don't mind desert pinstripes (getting up close and personal with thorny bushes), if you don't mind dirt and bumpy rides that bounce your head off the window, then, yes, it's a road! Truly, going with enthusiasts made it fun. Jerry opted out and I almost did. It's enough that it's about an hour plus drive on the main road, but the sound of 3 or more hours taking the back way had me questioning the wisdom of this. I was concerned about sitting so long. I also was wondering if there would be any stops along the way, not only to stretch my legs, but to 'pick flowers' as my Grandmother called it. It was a relief to discover that due to the bouncing, movement side to side and having to keep my balance, I wasn't just sitting there and didn't have a chance to get stiff. Plus we stopped several times to get out, stretch legs, take pictures (while not in constant motion!), oooh and ahhh over the scenery, and, yes, 'pick flowers'.  We were rewarded by spectacular scenery, the comradery that happens when challenges are met, and the fun of arriving at this picturesque oasis in the desert.

     The Desert Bar is only open on the weekends and they do a hopping business in those two days. People come from all over the place to enjoy food, drinks and music at this remote place. It's hard to fathom the kind of vision needed to think up something like this, but it's really something to see. It's been built in stages and they are still building. It runs totally on solar and I got a peek at 2 of the battery banks. The smaller one had 48 linked together. The food there is typical fast food: hamburgers, specialty fries, etc. Since we were eating outside, I felt comfortable eating the lunch I had brought with me while the others supported the local economy. There was a band playing and quite a festive air about the place, and lots of people. 

First view of the Desert Bar. It was packed! Ahead of me are MP, Wendy and Dave.

      From the entrance of the 'back way' it took us about 2-1/2 hours to go the 5 miles to the bar. The scenery was spectacular. Some of the sections of road were pretty tricky, and at the very start was a part they called a 'gatekeeper'. If you could get up that section, you could probably make it the rest of the way, but it was not for the faint of heart! I was the first to hop out and walk up it, but in the end everyone got out and the drivers assessed it to figure out the best way to go up. The careful way they looked it over and planned it built confidence, and I was happy to hop back in once they made it up the hill. I took videos of 3 different vehicles making it up that climb. Since I was at the top, it didn't show very well how steep it actually was. There was only one other section I walked, and I was very quick to hop out when asked if I wanted to walk this part. Yessiree! Plus I could take more pictures, getting better shots from the outside. 

     Several times we pulled over to allow faster off-road vehicles pass us. Since we were in two Jeeps, we weren't trying to win any races. There were quite a few people along the way, some coming towards us, some passing us. Since it's a one-way road, either we or the other party pulled off onto a wide spot to allow passing with lots of hand waving, some sharing of "How's the road up ahead" and "You're almost there! Cold beers await!" After we reached the highest point where there was a memorial, we heard that the next little bit would be tricky, but since we made it this far, we'd do fine. I was reassured, but some sections felt much like whitewater rafting in a Jeep!

   

Clockwise from the top: The small church from the front, cement floor, stamped tin walls and ceiling.

Nice view while washing your hands.

      One intriguing addition to the Desert Bar is this tiny church. It's about 10 feet square, made all of steel and lined with stamped tin. It's beautiful inside. There's a plaque inside of all those who donated funds to make it. I wonder how many weddings have been done here?
     One of the first things one hears about whenever people talk about the Desert Bar is the Ladies Room. So of course I had to see it for myself. It's quite unique, with a very industrial look and a half wall in front of the sinks. Instead of windows, it's just open to the air with a great view since it's so high up. How many Ladies' rooms warrant pictures?
   All in all, it was a fun day and I'm glad I went. But everyone agreed that they can cross that road off their list. "Been there, done that" It wasn't exactly harrowing, but there were moments when I heard "Definitely getting a lift kit when I get home" muttered more than once. I think next time, I'll just go the more usual route. We left that way and it reminded me of the road in Monument Valley. Not exactly smooth, but much smoother than our first section!
      ADVENTURE ON!

Top: Me and MP, Bottom left: MP and Wendy, Bottom right: Vic, Dave, and Rick in the background.

Someone did a lot of work building this road! Check out the rock wall edge. This section stretched for about 300 feet.

Sanctified Saturdays: Oceans of Love

Soaking in the sound of the pounding surf, and the mesmerizing motion of the waves.

When I was a teen we often went to the ocean. I loved it because standing there on the beach, feeling the wind, listening to the surf pounding and seeing the magnitude of the ocean put my problems in perspective. I loved it when there was a storm because as the storm raged outside, my insides got quieter and more at peace.

I got a glimpse of how BIG God is, just a peek, but enough to bring the troubles in my life to a better perspective. That’s the place I see God most clearly, see His majesty and recognize that any problems I have are so small compared to Him. He is big enough to handle it, to help me. This is my happy place, the place I go in my mind when I really, really need to feel His presence and comfort. In my imagination I sit at His feet, hearing the surf, tucked away from the wind, telling Him what’s on my heart. And He listens and loves.

Last Fall I got to stop at a beach on our way home from the cabin. As I stood with my toes in the sand looking out across the wide Pacific Ocean, I felt the Lord whisper to me ‘Look at the vastness of the ocean. My love for you is bigger! Look at the grains of sand on the beach. My thoughts towards you are more! My thoughts towards you are good.’ Wow. How can I take that all in? How do I wrap my mind around that?

Psalm 139:17 in The Passion Version says, “Every single moment You are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that You cherish me constantly in Your every thought! O God, Your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on the very shore! When I awake each morning, You’re still with me.”

Jeremiah 29:11 in the Amplified says, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.”

As tears streamed down my face from the sheer wonder and magnitude of His love for me, I listened to the pounding surf. The Psalm came to mind of deep calling to deep. The deep voice of the ocean called to something deep inside of me, pulling my heart closer to His heart. “Come closer, feel the depth of My love.” Each wave seeming to wash away another pain from the past, smoothing away rough places. Restoring life and hope and joy. So very healing. What a Good, Good Father!

In Psalm 42:7a of the Amplified, “Deep calls to deep at the [thundering] sound of Your waterfalls;”

Lord, I hear You calling me deeper. Deep into the depths of Your vast love for me. Deeper into knowing You. Deeper into what You are calling me to become. Your love is irresistible!

I love getting sand between my toes.....!

NOTE: I also write for my church's blog. After it's published there, I can publish it here. If you'd like to check out other blog posts there, click here.

Travel Tuesday: Big City Life

What a sight to fly into Seattle with it covered in snow!

Going to Phoenix to visit friends took some unexpected turns this year. For the last several years we have parked in front of my friend's house for about a week. This year, however, there was a complaint and so we discovered that parking big rigs on city streets is not allowed at all in Phoenix. Who knew? Often we can park for 3 days in different towns, but here, not at all. The very kind officer who showed up to let us know was sorry to bother us, but explained the rules. Since we were leaving the next day, he said he'd put in his report that he had contacted us and that we were leaving the next day. It was kind of him to not insist we move right away.

Did I mention all the shoveling I did?! This was before the additional 4".

After the second (3rd?) snow. A ruler wasn't long enough!     

        Jerry then moved over to a casino in the Peoria area for a week there while I flew back to Washington State to spend some time with my daughter and grandchildren.
      I didn't expect to get snowed in! It was fun, but I was disappointed that I didn't get to see anyone else while I was up there. Snow, more snow, even more snow....! And the run to Costco to prepare for said snow was an unexpected adventure. Who knew that store could hold so many people? Or that those amazing checkers could crank everyone through so fast?! Double lines reaching the back of the store and beyond, yet I was only there about an hour. It turned out to be worth it, since we did indeed get dumped on! We had some fun walks in the snow, making snow angels, playing in the snow and trying to make a snow man with snow that was drier than I ever remember it being. Until the rain started, that is! Then there were wet and cold hands and feet and sopping clothes. Ah, I remember that feeling from childhood of hands that burned and tingled as they warmed up!
  It was beautiful and I was glad to not have to try to go anywhere in all of it. I can't go so far as to say I've missed snow by spending my winters in the Southwest, but I did enjoy it while I was there.
    Since we weren't done in the Phoenix area, Jerry scouted around to find other options for the rest of our time there. He found a wonderful place at Lake Pleasant, right on the water. So we enjoyed our week there even though it rained several of the days. We had friends join us for lunch at the Marina Diner and then returned to our rig to play cards the rest of the afternoon which was fun.

Lake Pleasant Marina, the lake, our view, enjoying sunshine again.

  The next day we went to church with some friends we've known for years from our old church and it was great getting together with them, being blessed by the music, the good teaching and the presence of God we felt there. Then off to lunch at a great Mexican restaurant where I managed to find something I could eat without problems.
  Off we went the next day to Tucson, settling in to an RV Park for a change. It was the closest place to the friends we wanted to visit and for an unbeatable price. Since it was so cold that week, we were quite thankful to have electricity. I felt pretty pampered!
  We enjoyed the visits we had with our friends, eating at their homes, eating out. Getting together with old friends and even some new ones. We are blessed with such great friends!
   Not only was the weather very cold in Tucson (it got down to 24 one night) but we woke up one morning to snow on the truck! That was unexpected. It also rained there so much the dirt roads in the RV Park turned to lakes and mud. We were content to take a day off and rest up on the worst day. It started to dry out by the time we were on our way to our next location.
    I enjoy Tucson, not only to visit friends, but also to stock up on supplies and get to some of their specialty stores like the Food Conspiracy Co-op that sells things that I can't find in a Sprouts store. Meeting up with our new friends there made it even more fun.
  After all that Big City life, we were ready to head off to Yuma Foothills to meet up with the Boondocker group on the Arizona Trust Land, and to celebrate a 50th Wedding Anniversary of friends from our home park. That was a fun gathering and we were able to see many friends from home who winter in Yuma.

Sanctified Saturdays: The Water Makes a Difference

Walking the rocky road, going higher and higher....

As I was on a walk recently....
I was pondering the effect of so much rain here in the Southwest this winter. This normally dry, barren and largely brown region is greener than I've ever seen it! There are other areas of the country that are much more flamboyant with color, but in this region, the contrasts are more noticeable. There are predominantly several shades of brown with clumps of green scattered about, so it's a delight to come upon purple, orange, yellow or white blooms. As I walked along, I saw these flowers growing in the middle of the rocky road. It got me thinking about how a little bit of rain, a little bit of water makes all the difference. Sunshine they get aplenty, but water is the key. Then these little flowers just push their way up between the rocks toward the sunshine to bloom.

Bloom in unexpected places!

In life, we can find ourselves in similar circumstances. Places that seem overwhelming or barren. Rocky places full of rocks of difficulty, with boulders of impossibility. That's where we can invite the Living Water to pour over us. We can receive that Water of the Holy Spirit to nourish and feed us, infusing us with Life. Splashing us with sustaining Hope. We don't have to keep our eyes on the circumstances, on the rocks, on the dust. We can turn our gaze to the Light of God and ask for His rain to pour over us. When we invite Him into our impossible circumstances, we invite the miracle of Life to invade, to give us hope, strength, endurance, and persistence. We invite Him to help us bloom where we are, even in the midst of the circumstances. The flowers didn't move, they just received the water and bloomed right where they were! Bringing life and color to the barren places. The Water makes all the difference. Let Him make all the difference in your circumstances, too.

Happy blooms dressing up the rocky region, giving testimony to the goodness of God and the blessing of rain.

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, flowing with water clear as crystal, continuously pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. The river was flowing in the middle of the street of the city, and on either side of the river was the Tree of Life, with its twelve kinds of ripe fruit according to each month of the year. The leaves of the Tree of Life are for the healing of the nations." Revelation 22:1,2