I should begin by telling you that when I decided on this recipe, it was under the assumption that there were plenty of apples in the fridge.  I remember buying the apples, and I didn't eat the apples... but I don't live alone.  The apples were all but gone when I went to retrieve them.  So instead of making an Apple Crunch, I'm making a Pear-Apple Crunch (4 pears and 1 apple).  I'm glad the kids are choosing healthy snacks, I don't want you to think I'm complaining.  I had to laugh it off. So other than subbing out a different fruit, this recipe is true to form.  Sort of.  The written recipe on the card below is word for word, the same as the original.  However, I chose to make this one Gluten Free and Vegan so that I could be my own taste tester for once (not really, I've also tried these recipes:  Grapefruit Avocado Salad ,  Thousand Island Dressing ,  Potato Chip Cookies ). If you're following the glutenous version, use t...

A long-time customer of Caught Red Threaded recently shared the most beautiful words about the products carried, stating "you infuse each thing you make with magic al powers".  I was flattered but also questioned how such a thing is possible.  After three days of pondering this notion, that I could possibly make something better than it already is simply by having been the one to produce it, I extended this notion beyond Caught Red Threaded. I've been a parent for more than a decade.  The same hands that produce essential oil blends and lavender eye masks once rocked babies to sleep.  I feed my family healthy, home-made foods each day.  I carefully select the ingredients from the grocery store, farmers market, or our garden when the weather is warmer.  While I type, there's challah dough proofing in the oven, made from scratch with these same hands.  If I can take a couple ingredients, give them time to marry and grow, and bake them into an enti...

I don't know how many times in the last couple of years that I have longed for pizza. Not pizza as I once knew it. I'm talking about a cracker crust that is crispy. Something that holds together. So many recipes are elaborate and call for ingredients that I don't already have on hand.  When it comes to cooking, I only use what I already have in the fridge, pantry, and garden. In this recipe, if you use real eggs, good for you. Just be sure to decrease the water. Don't have a GF Flour blend?  Straight up almond flour works just as well. The taste is slightly altered but not in a bad way.  I treat the kitchen like a chemistry workshop. A little bit of this, and a dash of that to produce a masterpiece. As my family can attest, I almost never write the recipe down. Consider yourself lucky that this recipe made it on to paper to eventually become this post. With that said, here ya go... Ingredients: 1/2 C. Gluten Free Flour 1/8 C. Egg Replacer 1/4 C. Wa...

A friend recently purchased a diffuser. She hemmed and hawed for days before buying it online from Amazon. She even turned down a Groupon offer (which was apparently very tempting!) before finalizing her decision.   So let's say you Google "essential oil diffuser".  Your search comes up with "about 525,000 results.  Of course the process is overwhelming.  Add to it, many people are novices and aren't sure the level of investment they want to make, let alone what style and size to pick.  Let me help you out by narrowing your search. Target  offers a small, but very affordable option.  This one retails for $19.99.  Travel friendly, it operates on batteries or with the included USB cord.  If you want something that will last 1-2 hours, then this is the product for you.  However, if you are looking for something with more oomph, I would recommend the next model. This diffuser by Now ranges in price from $35-$45, depending on the v...

For nearly two decades, I have been making a version of this recipe that my Bubbie shared with me on the cusp of my 20th birthday. As an undergrad, apartment dweller, I was very proud of my newfound freedoms. When time and money allowed, my roommates and I would spend our time baking treats to eat and share with friends.  Bubbie's version of the recipe was top-secret. I didn't share it with anyone for at least ten years. Part of me was certain no one could make this recipe the way I could (I was young, what can I say?).  If I shared it with one person, how many others would have this coveted list of ingredients wrapped up into a chewy, delicious treat?  The thought of someone else sharing was even more distressing than my doing so in the first place. Once I got over myself, and I'm aware some things take longer than others, I shared this recipe with so much pride... Until it was pointed out to me by one of the recipients that it likely came from the back of a box.  H...