Fabulous Pumpkin Cake

This healthy dessert is just plain awesome!! No grains, no dairy, no sugar!!! How can you beat that???? I found this on one of my favorite food sites..The Food Renegade. Thanks FR!!!

For the Pumpkin Cake

Preheat your oven to 350F.
In a medium sized bowl, combine all the cake ingredients and mix thoroughly to combine. Pour into an 8×8 oven safe baking dish (I suspect you could squeeze 12 cupcakes out of this recipe if you use a muffin tin). Bake until completely cooked through, about 30 minutes.

For the Pumpkin Cake
1 c pumpkin puree
1 c almond butter
1/2 c raw honey
2 eggs (from pastured hens!)
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 t vanilla extract
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
1/4 t cloves

For the Cinnamon Icing

1/4 c coconut butter
1/4 c coconut oil
1/4 c raw honey
1 t cinnamon

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and use either your mixing blade attachment or a whisk to beat the ingredients until fluffy.

Once the pumpkin cake has cooled, cut it into 9 squares and remove from the pan. Now…if the cake isn’t completely, 100%, no doubt in your mind, cool you are not allowed to proceed. I’m telling you, if your cake isn’t cool, the icing will just slide right off into a pile of goopiness and all will be wasted. If you haven’t experienced what disastrous-ness comes from not heeded the above warning, you only need try it one time to learn.

Use a small offset spatula or a spoon and drizzle the frosting over the top.

Store the Pumpkin Cake Bars you haven’t immediately annihilated in the fridge. The icing will harden in the fridge, let it come to room temp if you’d like it soft. If you’d like it softer, faster (for the impatient types, like myself) the frosting will melt beautifully if you stick the cake bar in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Goes great with your morning coffee or tea!

God is near...

Meredith took this picture one night last week from our back yard. Isn't God amazing?

Encouragement for you today:

"Follow Him through your difficult days. Do not give in to the temptation to quit. Where else is there to go? This is the insightful question Peter posed out of frustration (John 6:68). It is in your adversity that you desire the Almighty. He is not occupied with a celestial distraction somewhere far away. He is still leading you through this valley of despair. Do not give up on Him, for He has not given up on you. He still lovingly leads even though your soul feels resistance. He will pull you through this present predicament. Use this time of challenge to strengthen your faith in Him. Stay behind Jesus, and depend on His wisdom and care. If He can handle the forces of hell, He can handle whatever circumstance is crushing your confidence." (Wisdom Hunters)

P31 Fun times!

These are more candid photos of our P31 gathering!! The first photo is really no suprise to you...I like my snacks!! Heidi and I bonded over food and body heat (don't worry, we were both snuggled up in blankets!)and Annette with her sweet smile just makes the picture fabulous! The P31 sisters are now talking tatoos n tshirts...can ya guess which one I'm voting for?? I was going to suggest we all get our belly buttons pierced but figured it would lose the vote. LOL! I'm game for anything to be marked out as a P31 groupie! (As long as it doesn't call for red hats!)

Homeschool Field Day

The Starmer kids enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon with their friends to celebrate the end of the school year (even though we've been finished for 2 weeks). As a tradition, kids participate in events like standing broad jump, max sit ups in a minute, a sprint run, and finish with a shoe kick event. There was a great turn out despite the cold and windy weather. Everyone is looking forward to summer play and more social events before the new school year begins. This was a great way to conclude the incredible school year we had!! Congratulations Mason, Meredith, and Madelyn who are now officially in the 9th, 6th, and 5th grades!! Yahoo!!! You gave it your best!!!

For you:

Best Effort (Wisdom Hunter Devo)

God expects our best, nothing more, nothing less. Our best plus God’s best is a productive combination. Indeed, we can fall into the false belief that God will take care of everything without our efforts. Or, we can take on the unnecessary stress that everything depends on us, without thoroughly trusting in the Lord. Neither is healthy nor right—He simply expects our best—He understands our limitations.

We are trying to do our best here as well. Praying for you!

P31 Sisters

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 NIV

My Proverbs 31 Sisters are such a gift!! These 9 fine and godly women have been of the greatest support to me in the last year. Thank you all for your love,fellowship, friendship, and godly counsel. Sallie, you will be dearly missed but we are ALL forever connected as sisters!!!!

Last night the P31 Sisters met in Jen's wonderful garden for snacks and doing what we girls do best....talking!! Getting all of us together is not an easy task. However, these moments are so cherisable!!!!! There is just nothing more sweet to the soul than being with a bunch of sisters for coffee, stories, and guarenteed laughs! Can't wait till next time!!!!

In random order: Jen, Marina, Sallie, Heidi, Renee, Annette, Penny, Amy,and Tricia, and me.

Healthy Chicken Pot Pie

This recipe I found on www.health-bent.com and it has become a family favorite! This is a new spin on the ole traditional pot pie and I have to say...I don't miss the old one! Thank you Health Bent for such a great recipe! It is high in protein and healthy fats and amazingly grainless!!

Paleo Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients
◦2 carrots, peeled and diced
◦2 parsnips, peeled and diced
◦1 red onion, diced
◦1 small bunch fresh collards, any other green will work too (4-5 cups chopped, stems removed)
◦8 oz mushrooms, chopped
◦1-2 T fresh thyme
◦1 lb chicken breasts (or thighs or a mix)
◦4 T FOC (fat of choice)
◦3 c chicken stock
◦1 T potato starch**
◦s&p

For the Crust
◦4 egg whites
◦1 c almond flour
◦1 t baking powder
◦ 1 t salt
◦⅓ c butter (we used butter, but think non-hydrogenated palm shortening or coconut oil would work well too)

Method

In a large soup pot with a lid, heat your FOC over medium-high heat, then add your diced chicken. You want your pot to be pretty hot…you should hear a good sizzle when you add the chicken. Now…resist the urge to mess with it for a few minutes. You need to leave it down for a bit to get it a little brown. Test by peeking under a piece. When you’ve reached the desired brown-ness, go ahead and stir and finish cooking the chicken until done. This should take 4-6 minutes. Remove the chicken from your pot and set aside.

Add the remaining 2 T FOC and all of your peeled, diced veg (carrot, parsnip, onion, collards, mushrooms, thyme) to your pot and cover. Trapping the steam will help cook down your vegetables. Stir occasionally until all vegetables are cooked through and collards are almost finished cooking. Your collards should be wilted down and soft with a slight bite still to them. This will take 10-15 minutes. Now add the stock. Bring this up to a simmer and let the veg and collards cook a little longer, about 5 minutes. Add your chicken back in. The potato starch is going to be your thickener. To prevent it from clumping, add 1 T of starch to a small bowl along with 1-2 T water. Whisk or stir with fork until all lumps are gone and then add to the pot. Stir this through and reduce the heat until the mixture reaches a thickness that looks right for pot pie filling.

Remove this from the heat and add to any oven save bakeware (pyrex, stoneware, etc.). You could use ramekins and make individual pot pies here. Try to choose a size that will be filled to the brim by your mixture. However, this is not essential.

For your biscuit topping…

Let the butter (or palm shortening/coconut oil) get slightly softened and add it to your mixer bowl with the almond flour, salt and baking powder. Mix until evenly distributed. If you don’t have a mixer, do this with a fork. Now add your egg whites to the mix and stir to combine. Keep this mixture in the fridge if you make it ahead. When you’re ready to bake just top your pot pie veggie mixture (ramekins or other) with the dough. Bake at 400 F for 12-15 minutes until the top(s) is/are golden brown.

*Standard American Diet

**If you have issues with potato (though it’s been stated that, digestively speaking, you shouldn’t), I’m sure arrowroot powder would suffice as a thickener, but can’t estimate, off-hand, the quantity that would be needed…

"Tied With Love"

Saturday the girls and I enjoyed a wonderful woman's brunch at our church. It is always so refreshing to be with other amazing and godly women!! Together we enjoyed comfort foods like egg casserole, fruits, and sweet breads.

Madison and Lauren make the trek to Martensdale just in time to see me sport 3 different aprons for the skit "What your apron says about you." It was fun and silly which definately suits me. (but, no pictures. LOL!)

My mother-in-law and I were incharge of the food and spent many hours prepping and baking. We filled cake plates with all the finger goodies and wrapped them up in toulle tied with red or yellow ribbon. There were many sweet compliments from our church family and our Sunday School class is going to be in for a treat with all the left overs!

The girls did an amazing job serving the tables and refilling water pitchers. I'm so proud of them. "Tied With Love" was a success and I am already looking forward to next year!!

One Great Birthday!!

MEGAN, ROB, SHANNON, & KELLI...
MADISON, LAUREN, AND ME..

I have the dearest hubby in the world. Back in March he actually pulled off a very sweet suprise birthday party for me. I can honestly say I had NO idea!!! My friend Shannon was also apart of the master plan (you stinker!)The two of them successfully pulled one over me. Thank you sweet friend for offering your home for wonderful appetizers and fellowship. Thank you also to all my great friends who showed up! I had such a great and memorable night!!

Friday nights are about as sacred as going to church on Sunday morning. This is "Date Night"!! We both treasure this night together and find ourselves always looking forward it at the end of the week. The kids also know this. Since this is a very consistant event in our house, they look forward to pizza and movies with the grandparents and playing Wii. We have no video games so you can imagine how this once a week treat works to our favor. We rarely get excting hugs when we return. Rather its,"Do we have to go?". LOL!

Thank you honey for making #36 so memorable!! I love you!!

The Starmer Mission

About a month ago, we put together a family Mission Statement that we felt God was putting on our hearts for the next couple of years.

The mission of the Starmer Family is to celebrate our current season of challenge as preparation for His prosperity by pledging to do the following:

Strengthening Relationships - Ours w/ Him and service to others

Trusting Obedience - His will is never too risky and we will hold results w/ open hand because fear flees w/ faith

Align our prayers w/ the Almighty and be energized by our faithfulness to Christ

Remember to govern our affairs, decisions, and money wisely and according to his purpose.

Model Christ's behavior and attitude at all times. Live markedly different from others. We are God's signature.

Encourage eachother and give thanks in all circumstances. Here humility will grow and flourish.

Reach upward always. Stay focused on the Lord and be courageous. Our sacrifice of service is required but our separation is only for a time and soon we will be united again.

Day 7

Our Latest Family Picture