​Whether the parents have learned before birth or at that precious, emotional, and chaotic time just after a baby is born, the diagnosis of Down Syndrome can be paralyzing to a parent.  There are so many emotions that course through the hearts of these parents that often they themselves don’t know which to latch on to.  There are feelings of fear, disbelief, denial, hope, and for some, even rejection.  The parents you once knew as strong and poignant can turn into puddles of salty tears with just one wrongly spoken word, be careful, you can be walking through a minefield.  

I love bread.  I mean I REALLY love bread. 

I probably could look a lot less round if it were not for this love affair I have with the carbohydrate laden deliciousness.  Homemade bread is my special weakness, especially if it is at all sweet.  I have in fact been avoiding making my sinful Cinnabread for sometime (though I think the recipe book whispers my name each time I pass through the kitchen) because I cannot control myself around it, it is sinful. 

There was no escaping it today though, I had some bananas that were in bad shape.  What does that have to do with anything you ask?  Well, around here we try not to let much go to waste and since we currently have no pigs out back (they are now in the freezer) there was nothing left for me to do but to make some delicious quick bread.
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This is where it can get a bit tricky, I have a child who is dairy free due to allergies and our newest little babe who is nursing also shows signs of a dairy sensitivity.  I have to make many of our treats dairy free for my 5 year old so its always a welcome option when I can just avoid dairy and no one knows the difference.  Here is what I have come up with for a delicious, moist and sweet banana bread that is totally dairy free, but trust me, no one will know that there isn’t butter in there.
 

Main Ingredients

1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup olive oil
1 egg
2 Tbsp water
1 - 1/2 Cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 Large mashed bananas


Preparation

1 Preheat oven 325.
2 Mix oil and sugar, add egg and water and stir.
3 Add next 3 ingredients.
4 Smash the bananas then add to mix and pour into greased pan.
5 Bake for 1 hour- test with toothpick.

Printable recipe click here:  Delicious & Simple Dairy Free Banana Bread

If you like this one, check out these recipes:
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​Sinful Cinnabread
Best Iced Lemon Bundt Cake
​Depression Era Butterscotch Cookies

Find me on Instagram too as Incidentalfarmgirl

I have been a mom for 17 years now, but more specifically the mom of boys for the last 11 years.  There is an age old debate about which is more challenging to raise, boys, or girls.

 I think boys. 

The reason being I have to spend more on clothes (they ruin them), utter more ridiculous phrases, (untie your sister please!) and spend more money on visits to the emergency room (oh so many stitches) than with girls.  Don’t get me wrong, raising girls is no walk in the park to be for sure, but in my book it’s a little less rough.  I have to say though...

Unless you live under a rock, and this day and age that may not be a bad thing, you have likely heard the term probiotic thrown around.  Often you will hear people say that probiotics are the answer to all of your gut needs, or at the very least, they are good for you to take when you have had to resort to antibiotics.  I am a fan, especially when it comes to boosting the immune system.  Probiotics seem to be the answer to increased immune function as well as healthy digestion, and who doesn’t need that?

I have one kiddo that is dairy free and our newest babe is showing signs of dairy sensitivity with lovely patches of eczema everytime mom indulges in the delicious dairy department.  

What is a girl to do?

Milk is a favorite, and chocolate is a weakness, so I came up with this little treat to indulge my desire but not cause discomfort to our new babe.

​I get it, I do, there are some who will read the title of this post, roll their eyes and say, NO WAY!  Yup, I was there too.  I had zero intention of homeschooling my children, I mean ZERO.  To me, that was for other, more patient people…and besides Homeschoolers were kind of, well you know, weird.

​I am going to go out on a limb and say that after giving birth to 6 children, I can possibly be classified as very experienced in the venue of babies.  The interesting thing is that sometimes you forget between children just how much your new little one teaches you.  As parents we think we are the experts, however, those of us who have been at this awhile will tell you, our babies teach us far more than we realize.

​When I was a new mama I had no idea what I should be looking for in a pediatrician.

I simply looked at degrees, was the staff friendly, and did the office have accommodating hours, etc.  This is the checklist that most every online source will tell you to go through, but they are leaving out the really important things.  I am here to share that after working with a few pediatricians over the years, some good, some not-so-much, I have gleaned some insight that would have been invaluable those first few years when I had no idea what I was doing.
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Here are some secrets you should think about before trying to interview, yes I did say interview, your new care provider. 

If you are like most homeschool moms, you envision a perfect day enjoying your children and their accomplishments.  You might plan  your lessons a week at a time and in your mind you see each of your children dutifully working on the lessons you have for them while you sip your morning coffee and grade completed assignments.  Once completed, the books will be put away, chores will be done and the rest of the day is just waiting to be seized.  Oh, but then reality sets in, and you realize that you may have raised your voice more than you intended, you are a few chapters behind where you want to be, and dinnertime is creeping up and you once again don’t have a plan.  Is this just my day or can you relate?

It's that time when we all take a glance back over our shoulders as we move into the new year. My hope is to encourage, teach, and inspire readers throughout 2017 and beyond but for now, let's see what you all really liked from 2016.  Here are my top 10 Posts by popularity from 2016...

​Here are the posts you all looked at the most: