If you have been gluten-free for any period of time, you know there is just as much gluten-free junk food out there as there is gluten-filled. From unpronounceable gums to highly-processed starches to recipes wholly dependent upon high-arsenic rice flour, it’s hard to know how to nourish one’s family while navigating it all.
That was my own struggle for years. There were homemade versions of the wheat-filled baked goods we ate regularly – from pancakes to pizza crust to English muffins – but they were far too complicated. I wanted something that would be simple.
And so, after some experimenting, I came up with a master dough recipe which includes oats, buckwheat, and sorghum flour. This dough is soaked and can then be manipulated into ten different baked goods.
Without a high-powered blender, the soaked grains are blended with a simple stick or counterop blender. This is then mixed with high-fiber psyllium husk as a binder.
All of the recipes are free from dairy and nearly all of them are also free from eggs.
My very favorite aspect of this recipe collection is that I can, with the hundreds of homeschool, homestead, and large family things swirling in my brain, soak the same exact measurements of oats, buckwheat, and sorghum flour any day of the week. The next day I can turn that into one of ten recipes for our breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
It is simple and wholesome – exactly what any busy Mama needs in the kitchen when dealing with food allergies.
I stand in the kitchen snuggling my cooing babe while looking up at her oldest brother and the juxtaposition leaves me breathless. I hold onto that baby like she’s oxygen because, I ask myself daily, will this be the last one? I know I’ve asked myself the same thing with the previous three but I’m 37 now and…
And then I look up at this young man who still calls me Mama. I look up because he is at least two inches taller than his 5′ 7″ mama and folds his lower half under the table like an accordion before swallowing half a field of potatoes at dinner. Also, his barely younger brother’s pants are getting shorter and our oldest girl is looking more like a young lady and wasn’t it just yesterday we joyfully said “It’s a girl!” on a February night eight years ago?
Daily I am reminded that the years I have left to teach them are now less than a handful and that feels like a ton of bricks on my shoulders, shoulders that are joyfully covered in baby drool.
And again, that juxtaposition…
Under the weight of all of this I burn granola. Not much of a segue, I know, but it’s the truth.
The last few years of changes and shifts have left my heart aching, my mind reeling, my prayers quickening, and my granola burning. It’s far too much to introduce a granola recipe with, I am aware, but could someone please tell me how to talk of the seemingly unimportant when the truly important looms large, because I know not how.
With that out of the way, friends, I finally stopped burning the granola (most of the time). In Traditional Foods for the Frugal Family I have a soaked granola recipe that we love. I know it’s better for us and I know it’s delicious and I know they tell me to soak my oats, but guys, I just can’t seem to get there.
And what I’ve learned about myself is that I tend to be an idealist – an all or nothing kind of gal, you might say. That’s how I ended up going cold turkey off the grid while pregnant with our third child and now, four blessings and nine years later, I am the grateful owner of a washing machine (yes, it’s possible off-grid!) and seriously considering all that a crock pot has to offer to a family of nine.
So I’m learning to let go of ideal and prioritize while living in the current reality. I’m making everyday granola so that we have some easy breakfasts with goat yogurt or milk a few days a week. This frees me up so that I can catch up on the dishes or teach the difference between a predicate nominative and a participle (did I ever take 6th grade English?) or just enjoy the morning snuggles with the littlest ones.
Those little ones, I’ve learned, become big ones who are more into hugs than snuggles but definitely, definitely into granola – when Mama doesn’t burn it.
Everyday Homestead Granola
This is a super basic, large family granola recipe that you can add to or switch up as desired. Most recipes I’ve seen call for twice as much oil and honey for this much in the way of dry ingredients but I have found this ratio to be just right in terms of crunch/sweetness/frugality/health balance. I share affiliate links to where I find the best deals on these ingredients for those who are interested.
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Line three standard baking sheets with parchment paper.
Combine all of the oats, seeds, and nuts in a very large mixing bowl. In a 4-cup measuring cup or similarly sized bowl, combine the oil, honey, water, and salt. Whisk really well and immediately pour over the dry ingredients.
Mix everything together really well until all of the oats are hydrated and everything is completely combined.
Divide the mixture between the three baking sheets and bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes. Rotate the pans and bake an additional 35-50 minutes, checking occasionally to see if it is done. You are looking for a good deep golden color without darker brown/burnt edges.
Once completely baked, allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Will keep for several weeks but this stuff only lasts about 4-5 days in our house.
It is hard to look around at the things going on across the earth and not have at least a slight sense of foreboding.
And perhaps this is a good thing…
What?
Why would the train wreck that is about to unfold (or is already unfolding) before the nations be a good thing?
What we see is evidence of man’s great need and of man’s great failure. And thus the darkness makes the light appear that much brighter.
When man is proud all the Lord has to do is take his restraining hand off just a little and all of a sudden the darkness floods out into the open. That is why when you see violence in the streets you can be sure the violence was in the heart first. It isn’t new. It didn’t just develop. It was always there and at times restrained. It is open rebellion against the Creator of all who has commanded not to kill, steal, lie, or covet. And we each see a glimpse of this sinful nature in our own hearts each day.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
So again we can ask how is there anything redeemable about all the bad things we see?
Who is worthy?
Is it man or woman? Is it Republican or Democrat? Is it city dweller or rural dweller? Is it mask wearer or non-mask wearer? Is it prepper or non-prepper? Is it educated or uneducated? Is it rich or poor? Is it any particular race? Is it any particular country? Is it the sick or the healthy? Is it the self-righteous?
…Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Revelation 5:2-4
And yet, there is one who is worthy. And thus the glory of Him who is worthy is magnified in comparison to the backdrop of all the unworthiness we see in ourselves and the world around us.
The Lord Jesus is worthy. He is good. He is just. He is true. The Lord God reigns in heaven and earth and you can be sure nothing happens on earth that He does not have control over. Remember Job in the scriptures? Satan couldn’t touch him without getting God’s permission. Remember Esther? God was glorified in delivering the Jews from what seemed like almost certain (and legally decreed) annihilation. Remember Daniel? He ended up in the lion’s den and the Lord showed that He is able to deliver. Remember Elijah who was confronted with hundreds of false prophets? And the Lord prevailed. Do you see the pattern? God wins and He does it in a way that glorifies Himself.
Can we find an instance in the scriptures where following the Lord and enduring trials and afflictions was easy? Was Noah’s life easy? How about all those killed for their faith from the time of Christ to the present? Was Paul’s life free from hardship? And if we are honest with ourselves, though the Lord grants many wonderful blessings to each of us, the battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil isn’t easy.
Thus, that sense of foreboding you have is showing you something. For the Christian it is time to be reminded to be heavenly minded. For those that are still dead in trespasses and sins it is time to wake up and seek reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ (and Him alone) before it is too late. All that is about to unfold before us should remind us of how it all started back in the garden of Eden.
My dear friend, I’m reminding myself of all this and you just happen to be listening in. I am weak and need to be reminded of these things.
Do we really remember and realize that all pain, suffering, death, and disease are the result of man’s fall? Do we realize what the Lord Jesus did on behalf for those He came to save? Do we appreciate the words the Lord spoke on the cross when he said, “It is finished.”
The thin veneer we call civilization often lulls us into a false sense of security. If we are honest with ourselves we get too comfortable here sometimes. That comfort makes us wander spiritually. We begin to forget that every breath and every provision are a gift from God. We forget that we are supposed to be serving him wherever we are and not just going through the daily routine. If the King’s service requires I suffer then should not my heart rejoice that I get to serve the king? Oh, that my mind and heart would grasp these things.
The sense of foreboding should also remind us of how it will all end. True, we don’t know what will happen between now and then. But if you are a follower of Christ you know that He knows… and that should be enough. And if Christian history tells us anything, it should show us that God gave great grace in times of trouble… but there were also great times of trouble for the Lord’s people.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Psalm 56:3
So at a time when darkness seems to be falling across the land you can be sure the light is blazing where the Lord Jesus is ruling over all. We must look with the eyes of faith and see the light beyond the darkness, “looking unto Jesus.”
Who is worthy?
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain…
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne… And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Portions of Revelation 5:6-12
If you have the opportunity I recommend the following sermon:
