Small Farm Big Life

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Gluten Free Apple Sauce Waffles with Apple Topping

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I love breakfast food. When I went gluten free a few years ago breakfast was the first thing I worried about. At first I thought I would be eating eggs and never again get to indulge in waffles. Thankfully, I was wrong!

These Apple Sauce Waffles with Apple Topping remind me of apple fritters. I like to cook the waffles until they have browned and are slightly crispy. This is important because if you take the waffles off the griddle too soon they will be soggy and you won’t get that delicious crispiness.

I mix up the batter for the waffles and begin cooking them first. Next, while I’m cooking waffles in the griddle I begin peeling and chopping the two apples needed for the topping.

By the time I’ve gotten the five sets of large waffles cooked the apple topping is lightly boiling on the stove to cook the apples down and brown the ghee.

I suggest serving the waffles and topping immediately while they are still hot. These apple sauce waffles and apple topping are a delicious way to start your day!

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Gluten Free Apple Sauce Waffles with Apple Topping

These Apple Sauce Waffles with Apple Topping are a delicious way to start your day. You could make the batter the night before and enjoy hot waffles and topping in the morning.

  • Author: smallfarmbiglife
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 large waffles
  • Category: Breakfast

Ingredients

Waffles:
1 cup Almond Flour
3/4 cup Tapioca Flour
1/4 cup Coconut Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tsp. Cinnamon, ground
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup Coconut Oil, melted
1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 cup Almond Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Apple Sauce

Apple Topping:
2 Tbsp. Ghee
2 large Apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp. Honey
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon, ground
1/8 tsp. Nutmeg, ground
1/8 tsp. Sea Salt
1/3 cup Maple Syrup

Instructions

Waffles:
Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl. I like to use a hand mixer to get a nice, lump free batter. Beat on medium-high until the batter is smooth. The batter should be fairly runny.

Apple Topping:
Cook ghee, apples, sugar, honey, and spices on medium heat until the apples are tender. Add maple syrup and heat through. Serve immediately over waffles. The topping can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days and reheated if needed.

Notes

I like to make a double batch of these waffles and then store them in the fridge. I pop them in the toaster to reheat and have easy weekday breakfast.

Keywords: gluten free, breakfast, waffles, apple, paleo

February Books I Read

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I didn’t read a lot of books in February. I’m blaming the short month and that I spent most of my time keeping animals with water that wasn’t frozen, warm bedding and food.

The books I did read were good, so I still thought it was worth a post. If you plan to have or dream of having a flower garden I highly recommend Floret Farm’s Cut Flower book. I ordered seeds from them and am eagerly awaiting having more flowers this year.

The other two books are suspense and worth a read. They were easy books and would both make great beach reads if you are also just trying to keep up with no time to read right now.

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan
Anatomy of a Scandal wasn’t a typical suspense novel. It is about a husband’s affair that turns into a rape charge. After the acquittal his wife begins to question if he really did rape his mistress. The author keeps teasing something that happened at college 20 years earlier. As the current day story evolves we get more and more information on what happened 20 years previous. 

I really liked this book. I liked that it wasn’t the same old suspense novel. I liked the characters and the jump between what is happening currently and what went on 20 years ago. I liked how current character were weaved into the past story.

Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, & Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms by Erin Benzakein
This book is beautiful and useful. I learned so much about growing and harvesting flowers. I ordered seeds from Floret Farms and I can’t wait to put what I’ve learned to practice.

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
I hesitated with a four star rating, but this book wasn’t a three. I liked the characters and the pace of the book. I liked that it would jump back in chapters to slowly show what had happened in the past that led to the maid of honor being found by the bride floating in the harbor. 

It was a little sad that the story had to keep going back to the bride’s mother who was dying of cancer. But, overall I liked the story. I had never read anything by Elin Hilderbrand and I would read more of her books.

Goodreads – be my friend on Goodreads! I love tracking what and how many books I’ve read in the year. The nerd in me loves the email they send at the end of each year with my reading stats.


Gluten-Free Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

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These are the pancakes I have had on rotation lately for breakfast. They are easy to mix together and will last a few days in the fridge. I like to make a double batch to have a quick breakfast for a few days in a row.

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Gluten-Free Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

These pancakes are easy to make and a delicious morning start.

  • Author: Elaine VanVleck – Small Farm Big Life
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 7
  • Category: Breakfast

Ingredients

3 eggs, large
1/3 cup almond milk
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/3 cup tapioca flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground

Instructions

Combine eggs, almond milk, ACV, maple syrup, vanilla together using a mixer. I like to make mine with my hand mixer in my batter bowl. Add dry ingredients with melted coconut oil on top. Doing the steps in this order will help the coconut oil to mix into the cold, wet ingredients without clumping.

Cook pancakes on medium heat until beginning to bubble and flip. This should produce golden pancakes with a touch of crispiness at the edges.

I highly suggest eating warm with syrup or sunbutter, but they can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to five days.

Keywords: pancake, breakfast, cinnamon

Cold Weather Favorites

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I have a few staple items that I wear that make chore time a little more bearable during the winter months. I have a jacket that I love from Duluth Trading Co, but they don’t make it any longer. I was bummed because I truly love that coat! Here is my list of six simple items that I love.

  1. Berne Women’s Insulated Overalls – These zip all the way up the front and up both legs. They also have a snap at the hem to keep them closer to your boots so you don’t get a draft. Most mornings I pull these on over my pajamas and go do chores.
  2. Muck Women’s Chore Boot (Mid Calf) – These boots last a long time. I just had to replace mine after five years of daily wear. The sole helps me not to slip and slide in the mud. They are very comfortable and keep my feet warm. They are well worth the price! If you have cheap chore boots you need to try a pair of these on.
  3. Crane Clothing Co (C.C.) Classic Beanie – This hat is warm but also vents well so my head doesn’t get sweaty or itchy. It comes down low enough to cover the tops of my ears to keep them warm too. I toss mine in the washer and dryer without balling or issues.
  4. Eddie Bauer Multiclava – This can be worn over you hair, but my favorite way to wear it around my neck to keep wind and rain out. I pull it over my head before I put my hat on and it keeps my neck toasty. It’s also great to pull over my mouth if it’s really cold out.
  5. Cabela’s Women’s Wind Resistant Gloves – these will not keep your hands from getting wet, but they do keep my hands warm while packing buckets, checking fence, etc.
  6. Carhartt Women’s Vest – I love my insulated vest! It’s great for the cold season under my jacket or during the spring with a long sleeve t-shirt underneath. It’s versatile and gets worn a lot.

FYI – this isn’t an ad. I’m not getting anything from these companies. I just wanted to share what is working for me this winter.

My Favorite Books of 2018

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In 2018 I read 64 books. I was shocked at how many books I had read when I checked my stats on Goodreads. If you aren’t using Goodreads to track your reading and to-be read list I would highly encourage it. I love to look at my stats for the year. How many books did I read? What was my most read category? How many pages did I read? How did this year compare to other years?

These are the thirteen books that I gave a five-star rating on Goodreads. I think it’s a really good list of books!

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
I really liked this book! I saw the preview for the movie (which looks really good) and knew I had to read the book first. I loved how Kevin Kwan made note of the words and phrases he used from various languages and explained each one. This was such an indulgent read! I flew through the pages wanting to know what outrageous thing was going to happen next.

Greenglass House by Kate Milford
This is children’s literature, but I really liked it. I liked the characters and there was a twist at the end I wasn’t expecting. It occurs in a huge house on a cliff in a snow storm with a house full of thieves.

Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Slightly South of Simple is southern novel perfection. Kristy Woodson Harvey does such a beautiful job of bringing us a family drama set on the coast of Georgia in a charming small town. Slightly South of Simple is the first book in the Peachtree Bluff series.
I can’t express how much I loved this charming book that explores the bonds of family and the things in life that bring us home. It is a must read!

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
I loved this book! I was so riveted and couldn’t put the book down at the end. I had no idea who had “done it” until the very last pages. I feel like that is rare. Usually I’ve guessed who it is and am just finishing the book. In this case there were a few suspects and I was surprised who it was. 
I can’t wait for the next Paula Hawkins book. She has definitely become one of my favorite authors after this book and Girl on the Train.

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
I loved this book so much. Alice Hoffman drew me in and I couldn’t put this book down. I read it in four days! I hope this book gets a movie so I can watch it as many times as I’ve watched Practical Magic. It’s just so good!

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
I loved Nevermoor. Jessica Townsend voice is similar to JK Rowlings. Even though this book is different than the Harry Potter series I liked it as much. I’m excited to read the next book when it comes out in September!

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
Next Year in Havana is stunningly beautiful. I was mesmerized with this story from the very start. It is the first historical fiction I’ve read based in Havana and I loved it! Chanel Cleeton’s other titles appear to be romance novels, which is not my thing, so I was a little surprised to love this book. She should definitely write more historical fiction.

Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brene Brown
s always Brene Brown made me think about things differently and gave so much wisdom in this book. I love that she does so much research. These aren’t just some ideas she came up with, she has the studies to back them. I loved this book!

Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes
This is not a quick read, but it well worth the time. I love Frances Mayes writing and she doesn’t disappoint in this book. Her descriptions of Italy make me feel like I’m back there. This book makes me want to rent a villa and move to Italy for a year. Not likely to happen, so at least I can live vicariously through the characters in this book. 

The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey
The Secret to Southern Charm is the second book in the Peachtree Bluff series. If you haven’t read the first book, Slightly South of Simple, read it now. It is so good! Plus, it will help this book make more sense. The books follow the mother, Ansley, and then each of the daughters. The first book is every other chapter about the mom and then the oldest daughter Caroline. This book is every other chapter about the mom and the second daughter, Sloane.

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
Something in the Water is so good! The writing reminds me of Ruth Ware, but the story is new and intense. I read this book in three days. I didn’t see the twist coming until the last few chapters of the book and couldn’t put it down until I saw what was going to happen. I also liked how the author tied up her loose ends and the book ended really well. 

A Well Behaved-Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler
I couldn’t put this book down. I loved Therese Anne Fowler’s book about Zelda Fitzgerald and was excited to read this book too. Even though this is historical fiction is felt so relevant for current times. Sad and amazing that a hundred years later we are still fighting for women’s rights. 

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan
This story is heart-breaking and fantastic all at the same time. If you like The Nightingale, you will love this book. It is a similar story told from Milan Italy with two brothers as the main characters. This is such a well written book. I can’t recommend it enough.