A Super Yummy Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Carrot Cake Recipe (and a Regular One Too ;))

This is our family carrot cake recipe, and it is really, really yummy!  It's very moist and the cream cheese frosting makes it delicious!  I modified it for Conner's birthday party (pictures to come soon) and it came out super good, so I thought I'd share!  I'll post the regular recipe below, with the changes to make it gluten and dairy free in red.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• Cake:
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups flour (Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose Gluten Free for a GF version)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 cup wesson oil
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups grated carrots
• dash of salt
• 1 teaspoon xanathan gum for GF
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar for GF

• Frosting:
• 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese (Use dairy-free vegan cream cheese for a dairy-free version)
• 1 stick of butter or margarine (Make sure to use a dairy-free margarine (we like soy-free Earth Balance) for dairy free)
• 1 box (3 1/2 cups) of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped nuts OR 1 cup shredded coconut (optional)

Sift dry ingredients including xanathan gum if you are doing GF (or don't, I never do, I just stir ;)).  Add oil and blend by hand.  Add in eggs and apple cider vinegar if you are doing GF and beat until smooth.  Fold in carrots.  Grease and flour your pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  While baking, beat all frosting ingredients except for the nuts or coconut, until smooth.  Put on the cake after it comes out of the oven and cools a bit.  Top with nuts or coconut if desired.  Enjoy!

WOOOO HOOOO! Great News for Madi!

Madi has an Amtryke at home, which she LOVES and rides often, but I was hoping for one for her to have at preschool as well.  The preschool Madi goes to on Thursdays, and will soon be attending twice a week, always has tricycles out for the kids to ride.  Madi can never ride them, though, because she needs a trike she can work with her arms, not her legs.  Whenever I've gone to help, Madi has really wanted to ride them, but it just doesn't work.  Since I can't very well tote her, her chair, her supplies, AND her Amtryke to and from preschool when she goes (since she has about 2 1/2 years of preschool ahead).   I decided to write up a "Wish" for Madi on the Amtryke site, stating that it would be used for preschool for her.  Our wish was granted in FULL!!  They are sending Madi a trike for preschool!  It will have hand petals, foot blocks, a little strap to keep her knees in, a helmet, and a seat belt, just like she needs!  We are SO excited!!  Now Madi will be able to cruise with all of her friends!  YEAH!

A HUGE HUGE thank-you to the Texas Ambucs Chapter, who donated this trike for Madi.  We are so thankful for you!

If anyone would like to donate to this very cool program, or would like to submit a wish for their child, you can go to www.ambucs.org, or e-mail ambucs.@ambucs.org

A "Thank You" for the Adoption Help :)

If you have helped us towards the adoption in any way (garage sale donations, help organizing or running our sales, monetary donations towards our adoption, etc....) you should have gotten a "thank you" from us in the mail, or will be getting one soon!  If for some reason you donated, but do not get a card, PLEASE let me know.  It's nothing personal, I promise!  I have just sent out about 40 cards (aren't we blessed!?!?!?!?), and keep thinking of more people to send them to, so I just have a lot of names in my head :).  Please e-mail me at jamie_lugo@hotmail.com if I left you out. 

We really do appreciate every one of you and you have been a true blessing in our lives! 

Need Avon?

My wonderful friend, Carena, is doing a fundraiser for our adoption!!  Here's the info from her:

I'm doing an online event to benefit a great friend who is working hard to adopt a little girl from India. I will donate 20% of all sales toward bringing Ramya home. Please consider placing an order- even a small one, to help support this amazing family in their journey to bringing Ramya home. Thank you!

http://cstamps.avonrepresentative.com/

click on "online events" and shop from there to benefit Ramyas adoption.

A Very Merry Christmas

We had an amazing and blessed Christmas this year.  We were very lucky to be surrounded by friends and family that love us, and that we love.  Here's some photos from our special day!

Baking Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies

Spending time with our cousin, Micah

Aunt Angi and Cousin Lauren

Madi and her papa

Spending time with Cousin Nathan

Love this photo of the boys!!

Enjoying time with Grams and Granddad

Us being our typical selves

New fingerless gloves... perfect for zooming!

And some for Conner too, of course :)

Merry Christmas Ramya!  We love you and are preparing our home for you!!

Enjoying Christmas with Grammy and Papa

Our new Christmas gift.... yeah for Craigslist!  It is wheelchair-accessible

Another new gift... a sand and water table that has adjustable heights!



The Local Spina Bifida Association Christmas Party

We attended the local Spina Bifida Association Christmas party again this year and had a great time!  Madi ran in to a few of her friends, including Owen, who is one of her favorites!!  Santa was there again and the kids had fun sitting on his lap.

Madi and Owen

One thing the Rifton Mobile Stander is great for.... DANCING!



Madi and her buddy Tanner 

Thanks to the local chapter for such a fun day!

Our Trial Run With Two Needing Medical Care

Kyla, the teen staying with us for a bit, has been having some health problems.  She gets attacks of very intense abdominal pains that leave her in tears and unable to lay down or fully stand.  They have landed her in the hospital twice, and so far, nothing big has been found to be the source of her pain.  She's on a very bland diet and medication to coat her stomach, but so far, nothing is helping. 

While I was in the hospital trying to help Kyla get to the bottom of her pain, my mom and David did an amazing job taking care of the kiddos.  David learned how to cath Madi (though we'll save him doing it for times like this) and even got the kids down for a nap.  My mom came in the morning when David had to get up for work, and did a great job keeping them asleep.  She, of course, did an awesome job playing with them too, but that goes without saying!!

For those of you I owe phone calls and "thank you's" too, I promise, they are coming!  Between this, the flu, and Christmas, there hasn't been much time to catch up, but I'm getting there!  (Sue and Petey.... two of these people are you... you guys are such a blessing to me!!)

Please keep Kyla in your prayers and pray they can get to the bottom of this!