The Shop is coming Along!

Good News!

The Whispering Tree Shop is now official! It is coming along nicely and quickly. We now have our Tax ID Number and Business License! We are working out the logo and designing business cards and tags. We are still working on the online shop, which should be up in a few days. But the most exciting news of all is that we will be selling our handmade crafts at the new Farmers Market of the Ozarks this Spring! Glory Be To God! Blessings- Layla

Signing the papers!

Baby O is One!

Our sweet baby sister, Olivia Jane turned One this week! She is such a sweet and smart little girl. I can't believe she's already one, but at the same time I can't believe she is only one!

She really enjoyed her Gluten Free Brownie Cupcakes (which are the bomb!) You can see the sugar setting in! Of course I made her a set of matching shoes and hat! She did a little modeling for me!

Hagen made her an adorable onesie dress! I think she should sell them in the shop.

Of course she got presents from Mom and Dad, but we didn't get pictures. Here's one of Olivia enjoying her Birthday card from her Grandparents!

Isn't she adorable?!

Olivia, you are such a blessing to our family and I couldn't imagine our lives with you! Children are a Blessing from The Lord! -Layla

Delicious Taffy Recipe

                     I made honey taffy for Dad on his Birthday, and he loved them, every one did!
                                                    Here's the recipe, so you can enjoy them too!

Honey Taffy Recipe

1 1/6 cup sugar
1 1/6 cup honey
3/4 cup water
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. orange extract, {flavor of your choice}

Combine sugar, honey, water, salt. Cook rapidly to 280*   DO NOT STIR WHILE COOKING!!!
 Turn of heat, stir in vanilla and extract. Pour into buttered pan until cool, you may put the pan in the freezer for a minute or two if you need to. Pull taffy until it is light in color, it will be very sticky at first, keep your hands buttered really well.Make a rope 1 1/2 in. thick. while still soft, quickly cut in to 1/2 in. lengths with buttered scissors, you might need to put the taffy in the freezer again. Wrap up in wax paper. Store in fridge or freezer,we kept them in the freezer but they had a bit of a bite to them in the middle.This gave us a quart of taffy. These are very simple, but don't make late at night! Hope you Enjoy!!    Hagen  :)

The Most Delicious Gluten-Free Cupcake Recipe Ever!!

The cupcakes mom made for Dad's Birthday were immaculate! They have to be the best Gluten- Free recipe out there! Here is the recipe, it's definitely worth trying!

Gluten- Free Brownie Cupcake Recipe

2 Ghirardelli 100% Chocolate bars (4oz each)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup honey

Add all of these ingredients in a double boiler and melt. To this melted mixture add

2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cups milk

Once all of the wet ingredients are together, it's time to move on to the dry ingredients.

1 1/2 cups Bob's GF flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon xanthan gum

Sift all of these ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Now add the wet ingredients to the dry. Stir thoroughly, the batter will be thick. If you think it's too thick, you may add 1/4 cup more milk.
Spoon batter into lined cupcake tins 3/4 to all the way full, depending on how large you want them. Bake at 325*( our oven runs hot) for at least 30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Let cool on a rack.

While the cupcakes are baking, make the icing. You will need

1/2 cup peanut butter
2 Tablespoons softened butter
2- 3 Tablespoons heavy cream (or milk)
1 cup powdered sugar

Combine ingredients in a food processor. If needed add more powdered sugar or cream to get a nice consistency. Dad says it tastes like Reese's peanut butter filling! Pipe or spread icing onto cooled cupcakes. Pour yourself a big glass of milk and enjoy!

If you tried this recipe and LOVED it, let me know in the comments! -Layla

Dad's Birthday!

Today was Dads Birthday! I'm so blessed to have a dad like him. He works hard for us, provides for us, but most of all he love Jesus!!! He  turned 38, I think he is still young, though he says he's getting old! :) 

Dad Enjoying The Cowboy Book Matilda Wrote and Illustrated 

Kind of Blurry, but that is a Jar of Honey Taffy I made.

Gabe's Wood Burned Awesomeness 

We made brownie cupcakes with homemade peanut butter icing. YUM!!!

Dad, I LOVE YOU!!! Happy Birthday! Glad we made your day special!!    Hagen

A Foggy Day

                                                              The other day it was realy foggy.

Layla with the goats  :)

Don't like the tarp in the back but, You know.

                                                       We also got some ice the other day.

                                                         The ice, so pretty yet so cold.               

                            The sky is grey, but its never realy the sky, its just the clouds that are grey.

                                                  Hope you make your rainy day bright :)  -Hagen

Today's Happenings...

                   Not much happened today accept that Gabe made butter and was really proud,

  
                                          Olivia wore her hair in a pig tail, for a while!

    And for dinner we had Beef and Vegetable Soup, made with organic veggies from Azure Standard.   Homemade Sourdough Crackers and fresh milk from The Burton's 

             Oh, and I can't forget dessert! Mom made Apple Crumble with cream!

   
 Here's a recipe for you to try...

Homemade Sourdough Crackers

1 cup sourdough starter
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour(we use Bob's All Purpose GF)

In a large mixing bowl, knead together all the ingredients. You want your dough to be tough, but still soft. Separate your dough into eight balls and flour your work surface. Doing one ball at a time, roll the dough out as thin as you can get it without it sticking. It takes a bit of work and a lot of flour, but just keep working with it. Now take a pizza cutter or a sharp knife and cut dough into squares. Place crackers on an oiled pan. Brush crackers with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. They are also really good with garlic powder! Bake at 350* for 12-15 minutes or until golden. If you like chewier crackers, just roll them out thicker. They take a little bit of practice, but once you get it the process will go quickly. Your family will be begging you to make more! Hope you enjoy this recipe! God Bless-Layla

Hey all! We've been working hard on getting products made for the shop. Here's what we've been up to...

 I've been working on newborn size booties for boys and girls, crocheted nests and eggs(which need a bit of work) and ... HATS!! Hagen made that adorable iPhone case made from handmade felt! And all of the yarn I've been using is from my birthday. Aren't they great colors? Having a shop is such hard work (wink,wink)! Happy Crafting! -Layla

Let's Make...

Homemade Chunky Applesauce!

 This recipe is so easy and delicious! Here's what you'll need...

Applesauce  Recipe

20 apples, any variety, pealed and chopped
1 cup raw honey
3 Tablespoons water
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
Potato smasher

Now that you have your ingredients, let's get started! Put all of your ingredients together in a large pot and let simmer for 30 - 45 minutes with a lid on, stirring occasionally. Once the apples are softened, whip out your trusty potato smasher and smash away! You can only get them smashed so much, but if you want a creamier sauce, you could always use an immersion blender or food processor. Let the sauce thicken up and cook until the apples are translucent, about 15 more minutes.

When your sauce is the way you like it, pour or spoon it into jars. Now you just made your very own Homemade Applesauce. Give yourself a pat on the back! I just love this recipe and it tastes so good! It's like apple pie without the crust! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

   And check out the Worlds Tiniest Apple! I hope you all have a blessed week!- Layla