House Of J got PEGGED!

My little munchkins double birthday is around the corner. I AM SO EXCITED!

To commemorate Earth Day, being green, sustainable and all around carbon foot print reduction, we've been doing our best to accumulate party supplies that are better for Mother Earth.

We'll be doing wooden utensils and paper straws and the adorable toppers for our cake will not be made of plastic.

They will be these amazing little wooden dolls that my little ones will get to play with for many years to come.

My new friend Marie over at Pegged By Grace created this sweet little trio for our cake! Woody, Jesse and Buzz.. My Daughter has NO IDEA!

I've been keeping them hidden for awhile now and luckily it's been easier because I was also sent a little Batman peg(yes my daughter loves batman) to keep her little paws off the ones for her cake!

She's been walking around with her little Batman for a few weeks and just loves to hold him and make him talk to her little brother. The detail is just amazing. I cannot rave enough about how special the hand painting is on every doll. Her little Batman has been bitten on,dropped, stepped on, and just all around beat up... She is going to be 3 after all. and Toddlers are hard on their toys. There is not a chip on a scratch on him! Super hero of SUPER high quality.

Wooden toys are so popular right now. From instruments to pull along toys. They are everywhere. What I love so much about these little peg dolls is that they will be on their birthday cake to honor their first ever combination party and then be reused over and over again as play things.

They are hand painted so detailed that even Jesse's braid is spot on!

PEGGED by Grace also does completely custom orders. When I asked what she loved most about her work she said that she loves when a family orders a custom peg family to look like your favorite family photo! How special would that be, a peg doll collection of your loved ones.

Please show another fellow momma owned and operated small business some love and support by liking her face book page, checking out her shop and spreading the word!

Check her out here :)
Peggedbygrace.blogspot.com

Etsy.com/shop/peggedbygrace

Facebook.com/peggedbygrace

And the secret word for the  Birthday surprise giveaway is PEG!

Keep checking the blog and our facebook page to see when the giveaway begins.

xoxo-J

Organic Country Gravy

I used to LOVE using bouillon to season gravies, soups and anything else I could think of...until I realized that there was a plethora of disturbing chemicals inside. I've actually discontinued using it until I stumbled upon Gobio Organics.

I was so excited when Gobio Organics sent me a generous little sample of some of their cubes. Everything about them is different, the color is more natural there is no artificial ingredients or color.

The flavor was way more intense as well. Check out their ingredient list!

Ingredients: Sea Salt, Corn Starch*, Yeast Extract, Non-Hydrogenated Palm Oil*, Chicken Fat*, Dehydrated Chicken Powder*, Celery*, Onions*, Lovage*, Parsley*, Garlic*, Turmeric*, Pepper*, Natural Rosemary Flavourig.
*certified organic

Gluten-Free

 √ Organic Free-Range Chicken

The flavor was so intense that I barely had to season my gravy. Just a bit of lemon pepper seasoning was a perfect addition.

I always use a mix of beef both and chicken in my gravies for a well rounded flavor.
For my country gravy you need:

1 Chicken Bouillon Cube (GoBIOfood.com)
1/2 cup water
1 Cup Beef Broth
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
2 Tablespoons GMO free flour

In a small sauce pan, melt your butter and add in flour. mix until it forms a paste and turns light yellow in color. Add in your beef broth and simmer until it starts to boil.

Break up a bullion cube in 1/2 cup warm water and slowly incorporate it to your gravy.
Season with lemon pepper!

SEE! it's so simple and easy, no chemicals from those gravy packets!

Enjoy with grilled pork chops, chicken, chicken fried steak, and especially my lightened up wheat biscuits..found here

Lightened Up Wholesome Home style Biscuits

I don't like vegetables enough to eat 100% raw...BUT my family and I are working hard to eat mostly organic, all natural and less produced foods. I don't think I'll ever be able to tell the hubby to never eat another slice of deli meat or a Hebrew National Hotdog, but I can at least minimize those chemicals by serving home made staples with pure ingredients...

We found a great local honey company at our local Costco...And although it doesn't sound very pure & organic, Costco out here is very good about having local items and organic ones as well.

A great biscuit can really make a meal that much more special. But those frozen ones are just PACKED with chemical additives like...

Hydrogenated soybean oil
Sodium aluminum phosphate
Xanthan gum
and of course the ever popular
"natural & artificial flavors"

It was so easy to make these, and although esthetically they aren't as delicious looking as the ones in those little cardboard tins...

They are raw healthier and if you buy the right ingredients, are GMO free!

You need:
Organic/GMO free certified
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
1 tsp + 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tblsp honey
1/2 cup milk
1 tblsp vinegar

add in vinegar to the 1/2 cup of milk and let sit for 3 minutes. (you can buy buttermilk, but why bother)

In the bowl of your electric mixer put in all the dry ingredients and mix on the lowest setting to incorporate.

add in your honey to the milk and vinegar mixture and then slowly pour into the dry ingredients

take 5 tablespoons butter cut into small cubes (I cut each tablespoon into 4's)

gently fold the butter into your mixture with a spatula.

take some parchment paper and flour heavily. add your dough and then flour some more. I use white flour for this part because wheat can be a touch sticky but you can use either.

roll your dough about 1/2 inch thick and then fold over, roll out again and fold one more time in the opposite direction.

use a small round fondant cutter or biscuit cutter...even the rim of a glass.

place on a nonstick baking sheet or line with parchment and bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees

This recipe made 15 miniature biscuits but should make 7 or 8 regular sized ones.

enjoy:)

Planning for Birthday Bash 2013

What started out as a little recipe blog became an everything under the sun kind of blog.

I promise to update our recipe index soon, but there is SO MUCH going on over here at the House Of J that time is just whizzing by.

I cannot believe how fast this year has gone by. My little girl is going to be 3 and my baby boy is approaching his 1st birthday. We've moved across country, started a business and have watched our little ones grow and change every day...

In only 2 short months House Of J will have a HUGE Double Party Feature~!!!

Can you guess the theme?

TOY STORY!

So far we've got a bunch of great vendors signed up and I will be featuring them this week! AND of course in celebration of this amazing extravaganza, Your's truly will be giving away 1 dozen Toy Story themed treats--- But you have to check out all our featured vendors this week to collect the "secret word"

This past week the fun filled boxes of joy started coming in! And Julia couldn't been more excited!

I met a wonderful lady named Christine, Her Etsy store CSCUTECRAFTS(secret word) is packed with fun party decor in lots of themes. Can you picture the excitement when these showed up in the mail?

They are made so well, well enough to withstand an almost 3 year old and a 10 month old playing with them until nap time (so I could hide them haha). The features are on point and I couldn't be more excited to display them at the kids upcoming event. Wait until you see what neat ideas I have in store for these little guys!

Our Big Birthday Bash Feature will be in Early June, but until then, Check out Christine's shop & tell her House of J sent you!

xo

House of J Feature & Giveaway!

I'm not Irish...

But I love a good brew and a fun parade (who doesn't) So how about a St Patty's day giveaway!

One Of my new besties is also a blogging momma! Her site is chock full of giveaways on a weekly basis and has graciously featured the  House of J Etsy store and local chapter!

In celebration of her adorable little munchkins 1st Birthday, House of  J is supplying cute little cupcake toppers to go along with their "Luck of the Irish" themed Birthday Bash!!!

Check Out Dani Sue's Review of my local "Lactation Cookie tasting party" from last week HERE.

And Don't forget to enter the giveaway extravaganza going on at her page this week for a chance to win a basket full of goodies from yours truly! (Details below!)

House Of J- Local Chapter!

I just wanted to give a quick thank you to all of my readers, fellow blogging mommies and friends out there. February was "House Of J's" Most Viewed and most talked about month since the beginning!

 I never imagined a little recipe and party blog would turn into a REAL BUSINESS! We have so much planned for the coming months with a ton of giveaways, features and some really amazing partners and vendors.

 The munchkins are having their first combined birthday this year and we have so many exciting partnerships to share with you all! I just wanted to take a minute and tell you all about our new adventures.

 House Of J will become a .COM by months end--> our blogger account is open and will be featured for now but please keep a look out for our new URL!

 We are going to be super involved in our local community with farmers markets & we will be at the Great Cloth Diaper Change of Norther Colorado. Its going to be a great year and I am excited to share the ride with lots of other local Northern Colorado mommy owned businesses and my readers!

House of J is now on twitter! Follow us @ HouseofJFC

I hope you all entered the Tropical Traditions giveaway because it is ending soon and I'd love for everyone to have a chance at winning a really great baking ingredient. I hope you send me a photo of what you created with it!

 House of J is also participating in a great giveaway that is hosted over at http://danisuedreams.blogspot.com/ That starts Tomorrow!

 with Love , House of J

Tropical Traditions Review & Giveaway!

House of J is featuring its first hosted giveaway for our wonderful Facebook Fans! Thank you to our sponsor TROPICAL TRADITIONS!

I know you guys are amazing bakers if you are reading my blog. :)

So you will appreciate this really delicious and healthy alternative and  its also GMO free which is a really huge concern for us here at House of J.Coconut oil has so many uses but my favorite way to use it is in delectable desserts.

I am new to all the wonders of coconut oil personally but I've made some really amazing treats.. Like the Dairy free vanilla cupcakes I've shared with you all. HERE.

Not all coconut oil is created equally and it does come with a hefty price tag but it is well worth it. Especially for my vegan and gluten free friends. The pure Virgin Coconut Oil is the way to go if you'd like a fun alternative to using butter or canola oil in your recipes.

Tropical Traditions is gifting one lucky House of J fan a jar to try! I am so excited to see what ideas you can come up with using coconut oil!