Author Archives: Elaine Luther

About Elaine Luther

Elaine Luther is the author of the blog: CreativeTextureTools.com - Helping You Make Your Best Impression in Clay.

Dairy-free Egg Nog Recipe

December 20, 2009 by Elaine Luther CommentsBe the first to comment on this article! »

eggnog

If you are frantically getting ready for the holidays and in need of a good alternative to the egg nog in the stores, here’s a terrific dairy free recipe that is quick and easy.

We hadn’t had egg nog for years until last Christmas when we decided to have a battle of the egg nog contest at our house: Joy of Cooking vs. the Internet.  We mixed up a batch of the Joy of Cooking Cooked recipe.  My mom chose an internet recipe that was less rich and less sweet.  The Joy of Cooking recipe was sweeter and richer – much richer.

Our dairy free modification to the Joy recipe was to replace all of the milk and cream with coconut milk.  Of the total quantity, we used half light coconut milk and half full fat. …continue reading »

The Scoop on Reusable Cloth Coffee Cup Sleeves

September 4, 2008 by Elaine Luther Comments3 Comments »

Batik Coffee Wrap

To save on disposable cardboard cup sleeves, the new fad now is to invest in a cute, stylish reusable sleeve. A few months ago, I saw patterns and instructions for one of these on Cut out and Keep. I thought, “Oh, how cute,” and bookmarked it. I still haven’t made one, even though I have just the right fabric.

Lucky for me, I discovered I can buy one online for a reasonable price. And there are all kinds of them available: knitted, embroidered, quilted, fabric, etc…. …continue reading »

Make Your own Home-grown Currant Syrup

August 20, 2008 by Elaine Luther CommentsBe the first to comment on this article! »

Currants are ripe

Do you have wild currants growing in your yard?

If you are like me you’ve watched them grow, ripen, and get picked off by birds year after year. If you’ve got kids with an interest in gardening and a nice sized bucket, then this quick recipe for syrup may be one for your family to try.

Everyone looooved this sauce on their pancakes. This is the first time we’ve done anything with our currants and it was a rousing success.

We were so glad we decided to use them this year. Next we will learn to make jam. …continue reading »

Elaine’s Coconut Milk Frozen Yogurt

August 6, 2008 by Elaine Luther Comments1 Comment »

Coconut Milk Frozen Yogurt

My husband says this is better than real ice cream, but we think that’s going a bit too far. It is super rich, creamy and delicious!

While this recipe does contain milk, it’s in the form of yogurt, so it will work for those who cannot have liquid milk, but who can have yogurt and cheese.

To make this frozen yogurt, you’ll need an ice cream machine. I have the Cuisinart electric ice cream and frozen yogurt maker. …continue reading »

Pure Decadence Coconut Milk Ice Cream

July 27, 2008 by Elaine Luther Comments1 Comment »

Pure Decadence Coconut Milk Ice Cream

When I heard there was a new choice in frozen treats for those of us who don’t eat/drink dairy products, boy was I excited. After all, this is National Ice Cream Month. I already make my own coconut milk frozen yogurt, but to be able to purchase already made coconut milk ice cream is a terrific option, and it’s even made with an alternative sugar — agave nectar. Pure Decadence is not rich — a characteristic you’ll either find “light and refreshing” or you may wish it were richer and creamier.

Our family celebrated National Ice Cream day by running a mini taste test on the new line of Pure Decadence non-dairy coconut ice creams. We looked at four flavors over two days: Coconut, Cookie Dough, Vanilla, and Chocolate. If you haven’t yet tried this brand, you may want to, it is a good alternative to soy and rice creams. …continue reading »

Babywearing Conference, Chicago

June 10, 2008 by Elaine Luther CommentsBe the first to comment on this article! »

Babywearing Conference, Chicago

The 2nd annual International Babywearing Conference is coming up! It will be held June 25-28, 2008 at DePaul University in Chicago, IL, USA. The Babywearing Conference includes not just terrific shopping opportunities for all types of baby carriers, but also workshops on how to use different carriers, holds, and workshops on the business of making and or selling carriers.

There will be a keynote speech by Jeni Norton, the founder of the largest babywearing online community, thebabywearer.com. Organizers have also put together a fashion show and a panel discussion on the history of baby wearing. There is a raffle scheduled for interested participants. Check out the conference website and their long list of exhibitors for more information visit: Babywearing Conference.

Chewable Jewels for Moms and Babies

June 3, 2008 by Elaine Luther CommentsBe the first to comment on this article! »

Chewable Jewels by Dr. Bloom

While many moms decide to forgo jewelry rather than let Junior pull on it, dentist Dr. Helen Bloom decided to solve that problem, while also giving baby a healthy choice for teething on.

Her unique selection of silicone jewelry includes bangle bracelets, pendants and backpack charms.

Check this website to see more of the chewable jewelry.

Why Try Coconut Flour?

May 28, 2008 by Elaine Luther Comments1 Comment »

Coconut on the Beach

When you’re on a restricted diet, you’ve got built in limits. For those of us who are gluten-free, alternative flours are an expensive fact of life.

I’ve tried both store bought and homemade flour mixes. I like quinoa flour, brown rice flour, and almond meal for various purposes.

But there’s another flour I really like for baking that you might not find at your local health food store: coconut flour. …continue reading »