Sugar Free Oat Drop Cookies

© Kali Matthews Photography

While I have a few minutes to blog, I had to post my favorite sugarless recipe, so far. They're also perfect for someone with allergies because they can be gluten free and do not contain eggs. Intriguing, right? You can't stop at just one of these. I dare you to try. And FYI, the dough is just as good as the cookie. The best part, these are so healthy, you could eat them for breakfast! Now who doesn't want to eat cookies for breakfast? 

Sugar Free Oat Drop Cookies

(adapted from this recipe)

1 1/2 cups regular rolled oats
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 cup of almond meal or flour
1/2 cup mixed nuts, finely chopped
1 cup dried fruit (I used raisins and craisins)

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325F. Grease baking sheet.

In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, almond meal or flour, mixed nuts and coconut flakes. Stir in allspice and cinnamon. Add dried fruit and stir until well and evenly mixed. Make sure the dried fruit do not stick together in big batches.
In another bowl, combine canola oil, mashed banana and vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until well combined.

Place on baking sheet 2 inches apart in one inch balls, slightly flattened. Bake for about 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Makes about 2 dozen. Enjoy. :)

No Sugar | Day 12 | Delectable Whole Wheat Sugarless Carrot Cake

Hi, my name is Kali, and I am a sugar addict. Seriously. Studies have shown that refined sugar can be addictive. It triggers the same parts of the brain as cocaine. Scary, especially for people with a genetic predisposition to addiction.

I'm thrilled because I did not think I could do this and honestly, didn't know if I even wanted to. I haven't had sugar in 12 days! You may not think that's a big deal, but this is coming from someone who hasn't gone a day without sugar in probably her entire life. I'm hoping to abstain for at least a month, then I'll decide if I want to adopt it as permanent lifestyle change, because it is a lifestyle change. I've had to become a constant label reader and the stuff is in practically everything.

Days 3-8 were the hardest. Killer headaches, massive fatigue, and unyielding cravings. But I'm happy to report, I stuck to my resolve.

One of the huge benefits that has come from quitting, is all I've learned about substituting sugar with natural sweeteners, like bananas and pineapple, honey and applesauce. I love to bake and haven't felt cheated at all. 

Now to the point of the post, introducing:

The Delectable Whole Wheat Sugarless Carrot Cake

(adapted from this recipe here)
photo © Kali Matthews Photography

• 2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3/4 cup oil
• 3/4 cup honey
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup unsweetened crushed canned pineapple , drained
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. 1
   Combine dry ingredients.
2. 2
   Add oil, vanilla, honey, and eggs; mix well.
3. 3
   Stir in remaining 3 ingredients.
4. 4
   Bake in two greased 9-inch cake layer pans for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees.
5. 5
   Cool in pans several minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack.
6. 6
   You can also bake this in a 9x13 pan as a sheet cake -- just as good, and easier than frosting a layer cake!

I whipped up a delicious sugar free cream cheese frosting using these ingredients:

8 oz of cream cheese, 3 tablespoons of butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 6 packets of stevia. Just throw them in a mixing bowl and use a hand mixer to whip.

 It also helps to have an enthusiastic three year old co-baker on hand for entertainment purposes. The boys and I absolutely loved this cake, and I will definitely be making it again.

photo a day challenge (intro & days 1-2)

I'm participating in a photo challenge issued by Chantelle at fatmumslim. I think it will be a fun way to start off the new year, get my creative juices flowing, and document the little things that go on in our life.

I'll try to get out my nikon for most of the photos, but I'm pretty sure lots of days, I'll be posting pictures from my trusty little iphone.

You can follow me right here on my blog or on Instagram, username kalisarah88.

Join in? (: The party just started yesterday, so you don't have too much to catch up on. The details are on Chantelle's blog here.

Day 1: me (taken w/ iphone)

Day 2: breakfast (taken with nikon)

lowfat vanilla yogurt, walnuts, a dash of honey bunches of oats, raisins, and green apples. 

easy and de-lish.

life lately, according to my iphone

Wow, it's been a long time. Starting with Halloween-

Harper was Clark Kent. Landon was Batman. And I was Spidermom. We went to trunk or treat at church, then to see Grandma Ruth at work, then Aunt Cindy at her fun house.

We played with this handsome, dude Jeremiah aka Harper's birthday twin.

Harper had a birthday party and scored this cool wolf hat from his girlfriends. ;)

The boys went mini golfing for the first time and loved it.

"Polar Bear" the elf came and went.

 He ever-so diligently kept watch on the boys and had some fun, too.

Landon's been waking up and asking for some pretty fancy breakfasts.

He's not accepting my usual offers of cereal and toast,

so I've had to get all June Cleaver-like and throw down some mickey mouse pancakes,

 breakfast burritos, strawberry covered waffles, and pepper jack scrambled eggs.

I'm not gonna lie, I was getting kind of sick of cereal too.

Here the munchkins feel asleep on the way to the gym one evening. It was only 6:00.

 You may not know they don't take naps anymore. It's been MONTHS and I hate it.

We've started potty training, or not.

The only thing that's gone in the potty so far is half a roll of toilet paper.

One of three yarn wreaths I made this season.

They actually take a lot longer than I expected, but they're fun.

I spend a lot of time loving on this little man.

He's the perfect soft, chubby snuggler. I hope that doesn't change anytime soon.

Brothers watching a little too much Mickey Mouse House on Youtube,

but Anthony's in San Diego for the week, and sometimes mommas just need a break.

This is my emo hat and sad face for Anthony going to San Diego for the week without me.

Just be glad I'm not posting Farrah's Ugly Cry Face.

Okay, I'm posting.

And Kim Kardashian's.

It's just funny.

Poor things, they've had hard lives.

where a kid can be a kid

On Harper's actual birthday,

we went to Chuck E. Cheese.

Just our little family... and Anthony's entire soccer team. ha.

The boys had a blast and,

I just chased them around with my camera.

They really are growing up so quickly.

Older people tell you all the time, "It goes by so fast"and "I remember when mine were that little. Now they're in college". I didn't realize how right  they were, until now. Once you start having children, yes the nights are long and the days are challenging, but I believe these are some of the sweetest moments of our lives.

I was brushing Landon's teeth the other day and explained that the toothpaste helps kill the germs in his mouth. He looked very concerned and asked, "Are the germs crying?"

A few days later, there were two flies in my kitchen. I was about to make lunch and I haaaate flies. So I went on a swatting spree, killing one, picking it up with a paper towel, and throwing it away, unaware that Landon was watching me in shock. Still unaware, I swung again to kill the next fly, and Landon cried out. I looked up to see him, horrified. He yelled, "No, mommy, no! Don't kill it! It just a baby! He not big. He not big." (Um, yes the fly was huge) but he was literally on the verge of tears. So, I let the darn fly live. I'm so thankful for this sweet, sensitive boy, even if he is the most rambunctious one I know.

a birthday letter

Here I am about an hour before meeting Harper.

Here I am after one heck of an hour...

and enjoying the moment every mommy dreams of for nine months,

snuggling my sweet, cuddly baby for the first time.

I have such happy memories of that day.

Can't believe it's already been two years.

And a note for the birthday boy:

Dear Harper,

Two years ago yesterday, you joined our family. You were carefully planned and much anticipated. I couldn’t wait to meet you, to look into your eyes, to hold you, to kiss you, and to watch you grow. 

What would our family have done without you, these last two years? You have taught us so much. 

First, you taught me that I could survive on less than three hours of sleep for days in a row. You taught your dad that he can't take his eyes off you boys for more than 2 seconds. You taught your brother to share, to love, and to protect. 

Your wonderful spirit is much needed in our home. Here are some of the things that make you so special:

• You have very good manners and have the sweetest little thank yous I've ever heard. 
• You absolutely love to snuggle. Any time, day or night. I melt a little every time you climb into my lap, lay your head on my shoulder, and wrap those pudgy arms around me.
• You love hats! You have several, and make sure to put one on almost every time we leave the house.
• You love going to the basketball gym with daddy, and you love when he tickles you.
• You love to play (and get into trouble with Landon). You two are best friends and follow each other every where.
• You especially love playing cars and throwing balls.
• You love climbing on the counter tops and sneaking food (especially chocolate chips)
• You take all the DVDs out of the entertainment center at least four times a day.
• Your favorite shows right now are Sesame Street, Mickey Mouse Club, and "Do" (Scooby Doo)
• You love blowing bubbles and helping mommy make cookies.
• You love reading Daddy's Winning Hoops magazines. When things are too quiet, I often find you in my bed flipping through the pages and pointing out every ball and basketball hoop.
• You love building "castles" with Landon out of every blanket pillow, and sofa cushion in the house, then jumping on it or hiding under it.
• You loooove books. You ask for "one more" until we've read 14 stories before bed, and sometimes even ask to sleep with one. Some kids sleep with a stuffed animal or blanket, but you sleep with a book in your arms. 
• You have unusually soft and silky skin. I'm hoping it's awhile before grow out of that sweet, baby-like softness.
• You love gulping down daddy's Dr. Pepper when no one is looking.
• You dislike when mommy or daddy leaves.
• You also dislike bedtime and wearing a tie.
• But mostly, you love everything. You are so easy-going, for which I am grateful.

You really are a special kid, Harper. You fill my heart with happiness. 

We love you so much!

life according to my i-phone

If you're not following me on Instagram, you are missing out.

I've been a pretty lame blogger lately,

but I have a good excuse.

I've been going to the gym twice a day.

(you would too if you had two boys and unlimited daycare).

Here's where I profess my undying love for Toms shoes. 

Even the boys have ditched all their other kicks in favor of Toms.

Best of all, for every pair of Toms shoes purchased, a pair is given to a child in need.

As you can see, it's time for them to get new ones already. 

Harper's birthday's tomorrow, in case you were wondering what to get him... 

He's a size 9. Huge, I know.

The boys are so into Halloween this year. 

They've worn a different costume pretty much every day this month.

And change their minds about what they want to be every .05903 seconds.

 In the past week, I have had three completely different hair colors.

 I decided I was sick of my highlights and wanted to be a red head. That obviously did not work out. So, I had to quickly cover my obnoxious strands with the darkest hair color possible.

I'm lucky to still have hair.

From blonde

to red orange

to dark brown.

I'm channeling my Cherokee roots.

 Here is the one and only way to get my boys to sleep.

Push them in the jogger stroller for hours at a time.

It's true, no break for me anymore.

Naps, how I miss them.

Pinterest has made me quite the cook lately.

This may be my favorite recipe I've tried so far.

Chicken enchilada soup. Amazing.

 Harper's always been quite the ladies man.

He's submissive and easy to dominate. Girls appreciate that.

 Typical Harper and Landon.

Climbing on the counters and eating all the Reece's peanutbutter chips. Stinkers.

 Here's an example of dinner at our house. 

It's breaded tilapia (I tell the boys it's chicken fingers).

And yes, they love it.

 They love each other.

Harper's become obsessed with hats lately.

He's so funny, when we're getting ready to go some where,

he's always rushing around last minute saying,

"Wait, my hat! My hat!" 

Last of all,

Harper and Landon dumped out a 28 lb. bucket of laundry detergent this morning.

That was fun.

Oh, I love my boys. I really do.