Egg Free & Dairy Free Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese and Maple Frosting

We had this cake for Naomi's birthday this year, her little friend is allergic to eggs and milk, just so you know, I didn't frost her little friend's cupcake (since obviously the frosting isn't dairy free!). I also lowered the sugar in this cake, and was really happy with how it tasted.

Egg Free & Dairy Free Vanilla Cake
2 1/3 c. flour
1 TB baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. applesauce
1 c. applejuice
1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything thoroughly, pour into a 9" x 13" baking dish (or two 8" round pans or a 24 muffin pan), greased. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (About 30 minutes for cupcakes.)

Cream Cheese and Maple Frosting
1 8oz pk cream cheese, softened
1/3 c. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix together until smooth, spread onto cake.

Cookin' Across America

The Local Cook is hosting "Cookin' Across America" contest to show different foods from different states. If you have a blog you can enter it this week and next week the voting starts.

I entered my Mom's Whole Wheat Bread recipe, since it is made using grain from our State.

Changing Blog

Just FYI, I am trying to change my blog around to a 3 column blog and I did something wrong, so I will probably be messing with it over then next few days, thanks for your patience!

Homemade Deodorant

I remember growing up my mom was not a fan of the ingredients in deodorants/antiperspirants. I didn't put much thought into it, I didn't really need deodorant. About 10 years ago I moved to a different climate and found that I didn't smell pretty. So I started using more deodorant. I never did use an antiperspirant, I really believe that God created sweat glands for a reason! Most antiperspirants have aluminum in them, that seems to be the one ingrediant that makes people nervous.
A couple years ago I got some Tom's of Maine deodorant, it seemed ok at first and then became less effective. So I gave up and excepted my smell. I wasn't really happy with that solution either though... I decided to try powdering with baking soda, it worked well, but didn't last all day. I had heard that homemade deodorant was baking soda and coconut oil, so I started using some coconut oil and then powdering with baking soda. Too many steps! But it did work.
One of my friends mentioned making deodorant and had been researching it a bit, so she found a recipe and we went and got ingredients (most of which we found we had).
I took the boys deodorant away too so we are all using this now and I have to say that I am so pleased! It works so well and there is no smell- no perfume smells and no B.O.! And this works for Brian too, who's job is very physically demanding.


Homemade Deodorant
1/2 c. baking soda
1/2 c. arrowroot powder
2/3 c. coconut oil (we used expeller pressed so there was no coconut smell)

Mix the 2 powders, melt the coconut oil and mix into powders. Pour into 2 containers. We should have had smaller containers! But we found these at Hobby Lobby and decided they would be the easiest to stick our fingers in.
Take a bit out (I use the back of my finger nail), about 1/2 tsp. and rub it into your armpit.

If you have an empty deodorant container, you could pour it into that, but you would need to keep it in the fridge during the warmer months of the year, as coconut oil melts at around 76˚.

Refined Sweetener Free Meal Ideas

Since there is so many foods out there that have added sweeteners, I figured I would give you an example of some of the things we ate while trying so hard to avoid the processed sweeteners.
I know we had more variety for dinner than I have listed here, but for the life of me, I can't think what! We did eat alot of chili and rice dishes. They were easier.

Breakfasts:

Scrambled eggs (typically we have these each morning, so we get some good protein)
Green Shakes (typically we have these every morning)
Oatmeal with applesauce and maple syrup
Pancakes (didn't add any sweetener, we have gotten used to these without)
French toast
on the pancakes & french toast:
Fruit sauce (fruit, water, corn starch, pure maple syrup, cooked just until thicker)
Peanut butter
Jelly (all fruit Jelly)


Lunches:

(All sandwiches were on homemade bread)
Peanut butter & honey
PB&J
PB & apple or banana sandwich
Tuna salad (homemade mayo)
Egg salad (homemade mayo)
Muffins
Hard boiled eggs
Meat sandwiches (home cooked roasts/turkey/chicken)
Grilled Cheese

Dinners:

(dinners typically served with veggies and potatoes or bread)
Meat balls
Spaghetti
Chili
Lentil chili and corn chips (corn chips don't contain any sweeteners)
Fried rice
Stirfry (homemade sauce)
Short ribs
Homemade mac & cheese
Roast