Too Hot to Cook - Crock Pot Chicken Wings

Summer Cooking on Planet Glurple

I have a few tricks for summer cooking. Fire up the grill or pull out the crock pot. I love crock pot cooking but the secret is all in the timing. If you do it right, plan what you will make, thaw any meat in the fridge over night, add ingredients in the morning, and you will eat a wonderful meal at dinner with little effort. This is great for the busy working parent and the stay at home mom who never really gets to stay home!!

So lets start of with something easy and fun!

Crock Pot Wings!!

This is a really flexible recipe and you can add to it as you see fit.
1-2 lbs. of Chicken Wings
1/3 Cup of Soy Sauce ( Wheat Free Brand for those that are on a gluten free diet)
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon of ginger (fresh or ground)
1 Tablespoon of Honey
1/3 Cup of minced onions (I used green onions)

Put it all in the crock pot cook on low for 6 -8 hours

Crock Pot Chicken Wings with a Side of Pan Fried Potatoes

Living the Gluten Free Life - Lasagna

It has been a struggle to find things to eat but I am determined that will find a way to make this work. There is a lot of hit and miss out there with the Gluten Free packaged foods. Mostly misses!!! I also don't want to miss out on foods that I love so I have been searching. I plan to take you all with me on my journey to find a happy and yummy Gluten Free Life.

My poor family has been suffering cause lately I have not felt like cooking, but now I am on a mission to find fabulous substitutes!

Today's find is Gluten Free Zucchini Lasagna.

About Zucchini Lasagna

This creative twist on the Italian classic had us thinking;  who needs pasta?  Christine and Carla Pallotta of nebo restaurant share a quick creative alternative to pasta that utilizes one of the gardens most bountiful Veggies.
Gluten Free Note - Substitute corn starch for flour and serve this as a gluten free option to allergy sufferers, and you will see tears of joy in their eyes! Yes. It's that good!

My Family's Story: A Boy and His Dog

My oldest was an early talker, thinker, and doer. From the time he was 2 he would look out the front door and just wait. Sitting there for the longest time. One day I asked him what he was waiting for, he looked up and said, "My dog Gossy". There  it was, words sent out into the universe. The dreams of a child and his faith they would come true.

It did, the day they met was magical. Gossy was a rowdy boy the former owner said, no one wanted him. I think he was just waiting for his real boy to show up. He came over an sat by us and to this day there has never been more of a gentleman of a dog then he.

He loves his family and watches those kids like a good knight! He loves to herd them like a good cattle dog would. He has a sweet face and fits in perfectly to our active house. So if you are debating if a family pet is right for your family follow your heart. Be open to the good things that will come your way, even the 4 legged good things!

 Look at that face! 

Good boy Gossy! Good Boy!

Fun With Food: Making Flat Bread

This summer we made a plan to go with out air conditioning for as long as we could. We made it till the very hot month parts of August and September but still used it sparingly when we did turn it on. The one downside to this plan was, baking bread in the hot days of summer.

I started About 2 years ago I started to grind my own wheat for our bread and baked goods. The benefits of fresh ground wheat are overwhelming and out weigh an extra work it makes. So now I was faced with over heating our house or giving up my baking. I was not prepared to do either and I researched other options.

When I first started my homestead green living lifestyle I was in love with the idea that I could make anything. Our own ketchup, hamburger buns, salad dressing, and laundry soap to name a few of the things we make for ourselves. It was so rewarding to know when we ran out it did not mean a trip to the grocery store but to mix a few ingredients already in my pantry.

I started researching other ways of making bread type items without the oven. I checked out bread makes and bought an inexpensive bread maker that is working out nicely and is great for mixing up dough that I may use for rolls or pizzas! I also found some great recipes that are for making flat breads on the stove top. The kids and I experimented and made a recipe that works for us. It has a good bit of oil in it but in makes a nice dough that is easy for kids to roll out.

Whole Wheat Flat Bread
2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1.5 cups All Purpose Flour
0.5 t Baking powder
7 T Oil
1 cup very hot water


3 minute of kneading
15 minute to rest under wet warm towel
Form into Golf Ball size balls
Roll out and cook on a cast iron grill or non stick pan

ENJOY!!