 Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
|
 Picture Perfect |  The Icing on the Cake |  The Dream Dress |  A Bouquet of Love ~ Coming August 2014! |
All the angst, nerves, and to be certain, the excitement of a wedding, are an integral part of this new book. Gabi Delgado is a young lady who dreams not of her own wedding; she doesn’t even have a boyfriend, but of the beautiful wedding dresses that she can design for other brides to be.
But this doesn’t seem to be what is going to happen for her, neither the wedding or the chance to design beautiful wedding dresses for other brides. Instead, she is locked up in a dead end job, doing alterations on bridal dresses for her temperamental boss. Life isn’t fair! And her boss is a tyrant! His ego is so fragile that he cannot even see that anyone else can even come close to the beautiful dresses he designs! It is so frustrating, Gabi can just see what each bride dreams for when her special day comes.
So Gabi is stuck until one day...well, I guess that you will have to read this funny book, interspersed with witty sayings, a bad tempered boss, and just maybe a what!?! No, not someone who Gabi might be interested in, no, it won’t happen for her, no, not ever! Or will it??
Look for Janice Thompson’s newest book, The Dream Dress, for a fun read!
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I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading these books.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
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Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
If you're a fan of medieval fantasy, A Draw of Kings is a winner! This book has more twists and turns than a thrill ride at the amusement park. A Draw of Kings is the third book in Patrick W. Carr’s The Staff and The Sword series. In order to understand the plot and the twists and turns of the story, you will want to read the first two books in this series: The Hero's Lot and A Cast of Stones.
Errol is the main character in this trilogy, and he has become a warrior. He is willing to give his life so that the proper man can replace the old king who has died. Duke Weir has taken the old king’s place by force and is willing to kill anyone who stands in his way. Lots are cast to find out who is to become the new king. How this affects Illustra and its people is an important part of the story.
Adora is the old king’s niece, and she is being sought by Duke Weir to bear his son to give him the royal blood needed so he has the right to be king. Of course, she's not on board with this idea!
Understanding the unusual terms and names will be easier if the previous books have been read. Patrick Carr is an imaginative writer and has written a book that holds your attention and keeps you reading. If you enjoy medieval fiction, this is a great series to read, but please do read the first two books. ☺
To help out readers of The Staff and The Sword trilogy, I've reformatted a glossary and list of characters and geographical locations found on Patrick Carr's website so it's easier to view. You'll find the printable PDF below!
Adora is the old king’s niece, and she is being sought by Duke Weir to bear his son to give him the royal blood needed so he has the right to be king. Of course, she's not on board with this idea!
Understanding the unusual terms and names will be easier if the previous books have been read. Patrick Carr is an imaginative writer and has written a book that holds your attention and keeps you reading. If you enjoy medieval fiction, this is a great series to read, but please do read the first two books. ☺
To help out readers of The Staff and The Sword trilogy, I've reformatted a glossary and list of characters and geographical locations found on Patrick Carr's website so it's easier to view. You'll find the printable PDF below!
 | Patrick W. Carr teaches high school math and makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Mary, and their four sons, Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Learn more at patrickwcarr.com. |
Click on the image below, to download and print out your free PDF glossary for
The Staff and The Sword trilogy!
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I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading these books.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Guess what? No affiliate link here today. I have absolutely nothing to gain whether you order or not! :)
I go through about one container of my favorite Swanson Premium Vanilla Whey Protein Powder each month. We L-O-V-E this stuff!
I use it in protein shakes almost every day, and we also use it in some of our desserts and sweet treats. Yum!
This morning, I was excited to open up my email and see that Swanson Vitamins is having a 20% off sale on their own brand of products...plus FREE shipping for orders $50 or higher.
You'll pay $23.99 for a large container of delicious tasting vanilla whey protein powder, which is a steal of a deal! Sale ends July 28th, 2014. Limited time specials! (not an affiliate link).
JUST MAKE CERTAIN: to order "Swanson" brand products so you'll receive 20% off each of the Swanson products. The discount code is 20PERCENT.
Also, they may have a few glitches with their ordering system today due to large volumes of orders being placed, so if you notice a problem, you may need to place your order and then give them a call to have them discount your Swanson items by 20%. My order went straight through following that link, above, so I didn't need to call them.
Here are some additional Swanson brand products that fit well with a low-carb diet...and these would help you get over the $50 threshold for this incredible sale:
 White Chia Seed (great for Fuel Pull puddings and overnight breakfasts) |  Himalayan Crystal Salt |  Xylitol Powder |  Organic Ground Turmeric (great for the "Singing Canary" beverage) |
 Coconut Flour |  MCT Oil (Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil) - great for adding into smoothies and protein shakes |  Oolong Tea - great for "The Shrinker" beverage |  Swanson Lemon Essential Oil (great for "Singing Canary" beverage) |
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Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
We love this meatball recipe and have used it for years now, but have adapted it to low carbstandards. Everyone who's tried it at our home has loved it! This is also a great main dish to take to others who are in need of freezer meals due to a death in the family, the birth of a baby, or someone just needing some encouragement.
My 12-year-old daughter, Brittany, says: "These are the best meatballs I have eaten, ever. They are so DELICIOUS!"
This recipe has actually made her into a meatball snob. Totally. She hardly ever enjoys eating other meatballs.
☺
You'll find a free printable recipe page for Marvelous Meatballs for Low-Carbers at the bottom of this page!
Marvelous Meatballs for Low-Carbers:
- 2 slices sprouted rye or sprouted wheat bread (or 1/2 cup almond flour for a gluten-free, very low-carb option)
- 1/3 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 lb. 80% or leaner ground beef (preferably grass-fed)
- 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley (or 1 tsp. dried)
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 3/4 tsp. full mineral sea salt like Redmond RealSalt or Celtic sea salt
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
 | Heat oven to 400° F. For easy cleanup, line a rimmed baking pan or glass baking pan with parchment paper. (I like to spray a tiny bit of coconut oil onto the pan before laying down the parchment paper so that the paper easily sticks to the baking pan.) |
 | Combine almond milk and lemon juice in a measuring cup; let sit for a few minutes to "sour" or turn into "soured milk/buttermilk". |
 | Meanwhile, cut off the crusts from the two slices of bread. Tear the bread into small pieces about the size of a quarter. (Skip this step if you'll be using almond flour instead of bread.) |
 | Place the bread pieces (or almond flour) and "buttermilk" into a large bowl, mashing the bread and buttermilk together with a fork until it combines into a smooth paste...or cheat like I do and blend well with a hand mixer. ☺ |
 | Add the ground beef, grated Parmesan cheese, parsley, egg yolk, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to the mashed bread. |
 | Stir the mixture gently until combined and uniform in appearance, or mix well with clean hands. |
 | Form the mixture into either 1-1/2" meatballs (12), or 3/4" meatballs (24) using a cookie dough scoop. Place formed meatballs onto a rimmed baking sheet, spaced about 1/2" apart. Bake for 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the meatballs; inside of meatballs should be thoroughly cooked and have no pink color. Note: if you don't have a cookie scoop, here's how to save time: spread meat into a large rectangle shape. Cut into 1" or 2" squares. Pick up each square and quickly roll into a ball and place on baking sheet. |
 | I enjoy making four lbs. of meatballs at once! I keep out 1 lbs. of meatballs for our dinner that night...spaghetti and meatballs...and freeze the rest in freezer containers or freezer zip-type bags. Yum! Nutritional Information: *Using 2 slices of sprouted whole wheat bread, this recipe contains 15 grams fat and 7 grams net carbs (S-Helper: your count may be lower depending on the variety of sprouted bread used) *Using ¼ cup almond flour, this recipe contains 15 grams fat and 2 net grams carbs (S). |
Here's the FREE printable recipe for you!
(Click on the image, below, to download this and print it out.)
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 Marvelous Meatballs for Low-Carbers has been featured on Trim Healthy Tuesdays at Gwens-Nest.com along with a lot of other great THM tips and recipes! |  Print out my FREE printable Healthy and Trim/Low-Carb Lifestyle Grocery List! |
"The Voice" returns to NBC tonight, Monday - February 24th, 2014 - with the strongest vocalists from across the country invited to compete in the blockbuster vocal competition show's sixth season!
Celebrity musicians and coaches Adam Levine, Shakira, Usher and Blake Shelton return, while Carson Daly continues to serve as host.
 Adam Levine |  Shakira |  Usher |  Blake Shelton |  Carson Daly |
If you're not all that familiar with The Voice, the show's innovative format features four stages of competition:
- the blind auditions
- the battle rounds
- the knockouts
- the live performance shows
During the blind auditions, the decisions from the musician coaches are based solely on voice and not on looks. The coaches hear the artists perform, but they don't get to see them - thanks to rotating chairs. A coach impressed by an artist's voice pushes a button to select the singer for his/her team. At this point, the coach's chair swivels so that he/she can face the artist selected. If multiple coaches push their buttons for a singer, the power then shifts to the artist to choose which coach he/she wants to work with. If no coach pushes his/her button, the contestant is eliminated from the competition.
In the live performance phase of the competition, the top artists from each team will compete against each other every week during a live broadcast. The television audience will vote to save their favorite artists, and the two singers with the lowest number of votes will be sent home each week.
In the end, one will be named "The Voice" and will receive the grand prize of a recording contract.
The one component of The Voice that appeals to me more than other musical competitions on television these days is that competing artists are encouraged, not blasted. I think that says a lot about the producer of the show and their reason for hosting this program.
| Subscribe to The Voice: http://full.sc/HbIXEY Mondays at 8/7c and Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC! Get more of The Voice: http://NBC.com/The-Voice/ Full Episode: http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/video/ | Like The Voice: http://Facebook.com/NBCTheVoice Follow The Voice: https://Twitter.com/NBCTheVoice The Voice Tumblr: http://nbcTheVoice.Tumblr.com/ Google+: https://plus.google.com/+TheVoice/ The Voice Pinterest: http://Pinterest.com/nbcTheVoice/ |
I'm excited to watch a new lineup of performers and competitors Monday night on The Voice! Have you been a faithful viewer of all five previous seasons...or is this a new-to-you television program?
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FTC Disclosure: Free products are being received as a thank you for this blog post, and my participation in the Twitter Family Viewing Party. All opinions expressed are still honest and my own. I was not asked to watch The Voice for an entire season, but am hoping to do so with my family.
 | I've always enjoyed sweet, wholesome, moral movies because our world is so filled with the opposite of that in our day and time. Janette Oke writes in simple ways, sharing her message of strong people trusting in God, despite the trials and hardships which come their way. When Calls the Heart is a "feel good" movie, one that I can sit down with my entire family and be glad we watched it together! I hope you'll enJOY watching When Calls the Heart as much as we did...especially if you win a free copy in my giveaway (2 winners)! Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you! |
Movie Summary:
“When Calls the Heart” tells the captivating story of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), a young teacher accustomed to her high society life, who receives her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley, a small coal mining town where life is simple, but often fraught with challenges.
Lori Loughlin plays Abigail Stanton, a wife and mother whose husband, the foreman of the mine, along with a dozen other miners, has just been killed in an explosion. The newly widowed women find their faith is tested when they must go to work in the mines to keep a roof over their heads.
Elizabeth, the new teacher, charms most everyone in Coal Valley, except Constable Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing) who believes Thatcher’s wealthy father has doomed the lawman’s career by insisting he be assigned in town to protect the shipping magnate’s daughter. Living in a 19th century coal town, Elizabeth will have to learn the ways of the frontier if she wishes to thrive in the rural west on her own.
Let's give away two copies of the "When Calls the Heart" DVD!
To enter this giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter widget below. (Email subscribers may need to click back to the original post to enter this giveaway via the Rafflecopter form.)
The giveaway for the When Calls the Heart DVD ends on Friday, February 28th, 2014 at midnight Pacific time...
...and please read the requirements for entering. If you're randomly selected as the winner, and you said you completed a step, but didn't, I'll need to select a new winner instead. U.S. entries only, please. Thanks!
Entrants must be 18 years or older; only U.S. residents are eligible to enter this giveaway.
I will select the winner of this prize using Random.org (via this Rafflecopter entry form, below).
I will be verifying the winning entrant's giveaway entry options to make sure they are valid. In the past several months, multiple potential winners were excluded from winning even though their names had been selected randomly as winners, because they said that they had signed up for email subscriptions but had not completed the process, which includes clicking on an email you will receive to confirm your subscription. An email subscription to Joy In Our Journey.com is not a requirement to enter our giveaways, but if you do use an email subscription option to enter to win, please make sure that you click on the confirmation email that you will receive. That will validate your entry. Thank you! :)
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I received a copy of this DVD for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading these books.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
I'm giving away two books to one blessed reader today! Here's more about the two books I'm giving away so you'll know what you will be winning:
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Children these days are drawn in to gaming, television, iPods and iPads, and YouTube.
Will they show an interest in reading the Bible with their family?
I believe the answer to that question is: YES!
We began reading little Bible books with our children when they were just tiny - probably around 8-9 months old. One of them LOVED to be read to, even though we knew she didn't fully understand what was being read. She loved the snuggle time and couch time with both her mommy and her daddy each evening before bed.
The other daughter was an active, energetic little one, and it was more difficult to encourage her to sit still for a few minutes of prayer and Bible time with Mom and Dad and sister.
Even though it was tougher for our energetic bundle of joy, our expectations as parents were the same for both girls. We just knew that it would take longer for one of the girls to learn to settle down and begin to enjoy reading Bible events with us. And that was okay. We were willing to teach her how to sit and focus for a few minutes at a time when she was very young. It's an important skill anyway, right? ☺
I've been taking a look at The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook for children ages 4-8. While my daughters are past this age, I love to share with you some of the new Bible resources for handing our faith in Jesus down to our children! I would love to use this with future grandchildren some day.
Here are some details about The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook:
- Features 145 illustrated Bible lessons
- Each lesson features a "Christ Connection" that shows children how God's plan for salvation through Jesus appears throughout the Bible
- Free download to the Interactive Bible Storybook App that brings the art and lesson to life both visually and audibly
- Jenna Lucado, daughter of well-known Christian author, Max Lucado, provides narration to more greatly engage children in the Interactive Bible Storybook App
- Engaging questions at the bottom of each Bible lesson
Here's a sample of a two-page spread (one lesson):
You can see from the sample how the layout of the lessons is done for parents (and grandparents). This will help determine if this material is age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for your own children and grandchildren.
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Along with The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook comes another new book that works side by side with this one: The Big Picture of What God Has Always Wanted:
 |  The purpose of The Big Picture of What God Has Always Wanted is a kid-friendly, Reader's Digest version of the Bible for children. Eighteen kid-friendly pages summarize the Bible and God's purpose for His will in our lives - that we would all become Christ-followers and share Christ's message of love and salvation with others in our lives. |
Video introductions to these books:
Time for our giveaway of these two books!
To enter this giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter widget below. (Email subscribers may need to click back to the original post to enter this giveaway via the Rafflecopter form.)
The giveaway for these two books, The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook and The Big Picture of What God Has Always Wanted ends on Tuesday, February 24th, 2014 at midnight Pacific time...
...and please read the requirements for entering. If you're randomly selected as the winner, and you said you completed a step, but didn't, I'll need to select a new winner instead. U.S. entries only, please. Thanks!
The giveaway for these two books, The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook and The Big Picture of What God Has Always Wanted ends on Tuesday, February 24th, 2014 at midnight Pacific time...
...and please read the requirements for entering. If you're randomly selected as the winner, and you said you completed a step, but didn't, I'll need to select a new winner instead. U.S. entries only, please. Thanks!
Entrants must be 18 years or older; only U.S. residents are eligible to enter this giveaway.
I will select the winner of this prize using Random.org (via this Rafflecopter entry form, below).
I will be verifying the winning entrant's giveaway entry options to make sure they are valid. In the past several months, multiple potential winners were excluded from winning even though their names had been selected randomly as winners, because they said that they had signed up for email subscriptions but had not completed the process, which includes clicking on an email you will receive to confirm your subscription. An email subscription to Joy In Our Journey.com is not a requirement to enter our giveaways, but if you do use an email subscription option to enter to win, please make sure that you click on the confirmation email that you will receive. That will validate your entry. Thank you! :)
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I received a copy of these books for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading these books.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
My family was craving some pastry-type of breakfast treat that was still "on plan" and healthy for us, so I searched around and found a recipe on CutTheWheat.com and adapted it to fit my style of cooking and my family's favorite way to eat!
This recipe requires the use of something you might not have in your kitchen: a muffin-top pan, or a whoopie pie pan. You may also use tartlet pans.
If you are on either a low-carb, Paleo, diabetic, sugar-free, or gluten-free diet, or you are following a Healthy and Trim lifestyle eating plan, I can't begin to express how helpful a muffin-top pan or whoopie pie pan can be! Think...
...sandwich thins
...hamburger buns
...larger cookies
...mini pies
...tartlets
...single-serving layer cakes
...oven-baked pancakes
...mini-fritattas
...baking eggs in round shapes for breakfast sandwiches
...and of course, muffin tops
...and whoopie pies.
And, of course, all low carb. Woot!
This recipe requires the use of something you might not have in your kitchen: a muffin-top pan, or a whoopie pie pan. You may also use tartlet pans.
If you are on either a low-carb, Paleo, diabetic, sugar-free, or gluten-free diet, or you are following a Healthy and Trim lifestyle eating plan, I can't begin to express how helpful a muffin-top pan or whoopie pie pan can be! Think...
...sandwich thins
...hamburger buns
...larger cookies
...mini pies
...tartlets
...single-serving layer cakes
...oven-baked pancakes
...mini-fritattas
...baking eggs in round shapes for breakfast sandwiches
...and of course, muffin tops
...and whoopie pies.
And, of course, all low carb. Woot!
 Homemade Sandwich Thins |  Mini-Pies |  Homemade Cheesy Rolls |  Homemade Hamburger Buns |  Tartlets |
 Mini-Tartlet Pans |  Muffin Top Pan (usually 6 wells) |  Whoopie Pie Pan (usually 12 wells) |
The recipe:
- 3/4 cup almond flour (I prefer Honeyville Farms brand for its finer texture)
- 1 Tbsp. coconut flour
- 1/4 tsp. full-mineral sea salt like Redmond RealSalt or Celtic sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum or glucomannan powder
- 5-1/2 Tbsp. Swerve sweetener or erythritol/Truvia, divided
- 3-1/2 Tbsp. cold butter
- 3 eggs (2 egg whites and 1 whole egg)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract (learn how to easily make your own, here!)
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 5 Tbsp. cream cheese
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla or almond extract
- 6 Tbsp. low-sugar or no-sugar fruit preserves
Set oven rack to middle level. Preheat oven to 375° F (190° C). Grease 10 wells of a whoopie pie pan (or halve this recipe for 5 muffin-top or whoopie pie wells). You may also use tartlet pans or mini-pie pans.
 Place dry ingredients into food processor. |  Pulse until well combined. |
Place almond flour, coconut flour, salt, baking powder, xanthan gum, 3 Tbsp. Swerve or erythritol/Truvia, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a food processor. Pulse 10-12 times until blended. (Or, combine well in large bowl, making sure any almond flour lumps have disappeared.)
 Slice the cube of cold butter into 1/4" (1 cm) slices. |  Rotate the sliced butter one turn and slice it again into 1/4" (1 cm) slices. |
 |  Rotate the chilled butter one more time and slice it the short way into 1/4" (1 cm) slices. |
 Sprinkle small chunks of butter on top of almond flour mixture. |  Pulse until mixture resembles bread crumbs. |
Cut cold butter into 1/4" (1 cm) cubes and sprinkle onto flour mixture in food processor. Pulse 10-20 times until mixture resembles bread crumbs. (Or, use a pastry blender to cut the cubed bits of butter into the flour mixture.)
 Whip eggs together until light and fluffy. |  Mix wet and dry ingredients until well combined. |
In a separate bowl, whip 1 whole egg and 1 egg white until light and fluffy, with either a wire whisk or an electric hand mixer. Add whipped eggs and vanilla extract to the flour mixture in the food processor. Combine until smooth and well blended. (Or, combine liquid ingredients and dry ingredients together and blend well.)
 Combine wet and dry ingredients thoroughly. |  Place a heaping spoonful of dough in each well. |
Spoon about 1 oz. of the dough (1 very heaping tablespoon) into each greased well. Use either your fingers or a rubber spatula to flatten the dough into the bottom of the well.
 Spread the dough to fill each of the wells. |  Like this! |
 Bake dough 5-7 minutes. |  Press down with a greased spoon to make an indentation in the middle of each tartlet crust. |
Bake dough for 5-7 minutes; remove pan from oven. With a greased metal spoon, gently but firmly press down into the middle of each round flattened baked dough to make an indentation. Be careful not to tear through the bottom of each dough round. (You will want to grease the back of the spoon with each round.) Place pan back into oven for another 5-10 minutes until the outsides of the tartlets are firm.
 |  Combine wet ingredients thoroughly. |
Meanwhile, prepare the cream cheese topping in a separate bowl: stir together cream cheese, remaining egg white, vanilla or almond extract, and remaining 2-1/2 Tbsp. sweetener until smooth.
 Swirl cream cheese mixture and preserves together on the top of the tartlet crusts. |  Bake and cool 15 minutes before removing from pan to cool on baking rack or towel. |
Remove tartlet crusts from oven again and reduce oven temperature to 350° F (176° C). Place 1 Tbsp. of cream cheese mixture into each baked tartlet crust. Top the cream cheese mixture with about 1 tsp. of fruit preserves, either leaving it in the middle of each tartlet or using a toothpick to swirl preserves into the cream cheese mixture. Bake tartlets for another 10-12 minutes or until the cream cheese/preserves topping has set. Allow to cool for 15 minutes; remove tartlets from baking pan and cool completely on wire cooling rack or towel.
So there you have it! A deliciously sweet pastry type of dessert or breakfast, with no sugar or flour.
If you do decide to make this for breakfast, the baking times add up so that this wouldn't be the best recipe to make during a rushed morning. I actually made mine the night before so we could enjoy them for a quick breakfast.
If you do decide to make this for breakfast, the baking times add up so that this wouldn't be the best recipe to make during a rushed morning. I actually made mine the night before so we could enjoy them for a quick breakfast.
Here's the printable version:
Click on the image below to download and print your own binder-ready recipe!
Have you ever tried to make your own no-sugar, low-carb, gluten-free breakfast pastry? If so, did it have fruit filling - and what flavor or variety did you use?
What's your biggest struggle with providing low-carb breakfasts in your home?
What's your biggest struggle with providing low-carb breakfasts in your home?
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In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
Summary of the book:
Shannon's summer just got a whole lot more . . . Amish?
Shannon McNamara has exciting plans for the summer--getting her driver's license, a job, and more--and she can't wait to dive in. But her ill mother has plans of her own: to relocate them both to the heart of Amish country in Ohio where she has relatives who can help her.
Turns out a "simple" life is actually a lot of hard work. But when a hot young Amish guy named Ezra enters the picture, Shannon's ready to get an Amish makeover and even consider making it a permanent change. Will these plans come crashing down around her too? Or can she really make the jump into a whole new way of life?
Shannon McNamara has exciting plans for the summer--getting her driver's license, a job, and more--and she can't wait to dive in. But her ill mother has plans of her own: to relocate them both to the heart of Amish country in Ohio where she has relatives who can help her.
Turns out a "simple" life is actually a lot of hard work. But when a hot young Amish guy named Ezra enters the picture, Shannon's ready to get an Amish makeover and even consider making it a permanent change. Will these plans come crashing down around her too? Or can she really make the jump into a whole new way of life?
Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by Jan:
When I saw that the next book I was to review was a book that seemed to be for the teenage market, I wasn’t thrilled, to say the least. However, after reading Melody Carlson’s new book My Amish Boyfriend, I was hooked. This is a really good story with a very realistic look at the Amish that we do not often see.
Shannon’s mother is very ill, and Shannon does not know what is wrong with her, other than she cannot get along without her pills. Summer has come, and she wants in the worst way to get a driver’s license, a job, and a tattoo. Well, that is simply not going to happen! Her mom needs more care than she can give her, so she and her mother are sent to - of all things - back to her mother’s roots, her Amish parents. So much for Shannon’s dreams for the summer. And she didn’t even know that her mother’s parents were Amish!
This is an excellent story with important lessons that Shannon learns about family, God and what she wants for her life.
I strongly recommend Melody Carlson’s newest series of books for teen age girls, especially My Amish Boyfriend. Even an older reader such as myself was caught up in Shannon’s story and enjoyed reading it.
Shannon’s mother is very ill, and Shannon does not know what is wrong with her, other than she cannot get along without her pills. Summer has come, and she wants in the worst way to get a driver’s license, a job, and a tattoo. Well, that is simply not going to happen! Her mom needs more care than she can give her, so she and her mother are sent to - of all things - back to her mother’s roots, her Amish parents. So much for Shannon’s dreams for the summer. And she didn’t even know that her mother’s parents were Amish!
This is an excellent story with important lessons that Shannon learns about family, God and what she wants for her life.
I strongly recommend Melody Carlson’s newest series of books for teen age girls, especially My Amish Boyfriend. Even an older reader such as myself was caught up in Shannon’s story and enjoyed reading it.
 | Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington's, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, the Life at Kingston High series, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. She is the winner of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and Finding Alice. Melody and her husband live in Oregon. For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com. |
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I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading these books.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you any extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!
Scroll down toward the bottom of this post to learn how to enter the giveaway!
I wouldn't say I'm exactly "starstruck"...or these days - as my girls would say, part of an Ann Shorey fandom, but I do feel blessed to have met author Ann Shorey in person. She attends church with me, and several years ago, she was gracious enough to host a dinner at her home and provide a teaching/Bible devotional for younger women in our church. It was a blessing to get to know her just a bit - and to hear that she was going to be releasing her first published book to the fiction world! We were all so excited for her!
That was back in the winter of 2009, and her first published novel would be released to the public the following August.
Since that summer, it's been enjoyable for me to read each of Ann's books as it becomes available. I feel blessed!
Tonight, I'll be attending a small book signing/dessert event in our community as Ann celebrates her latest novel, Love's Sweet Beginning.
I think I'll bring along something chocolate to share. Seems fitting, right? Sweet = chocolate? ☺
 |  |
Here's a little summary of Love's Sweet Beginnings by Ann Shorey:
What will it take for a once-privileged young woman to make her way in the world?
It isn't Cassie Haddon's fault that she has reached the age of twenty-five without possessing any useful skills. Until the War Between the States, she always had servants. Since then, she and her mother have been forced to rely on family to care for them. But now the well of human kindness has run dry, and Cassie must find work to support them.
Unfortunately, leaving the past behind is easier said than done, and Cassie must summon all of her courage and wits to convince local restaurateur and grocer Jacob West that she's exactly what his business needs.
With her signature sweet romance, Ann Shorey weaves a tale of two people from different backgrounds finding common ground and the hope of a bright future together.
Joy In Our Journey's review, by Julie:
Here is an amazingly imaginative post-Civil War novel, with each chapter filled with trauma and drama, as well as having a sweet—though somewhat complicated--love story being intertwined.
The story takes place in Missouri, beginning with a widowed woman, Eliza Bingham, and her grown but yet unmarried daughter, Cassie Haddon. Cassie has been raised as a lady, never having had to dirty her fingers with any kind of housework or imagining she would have to learn how to provide an income for both herself and her mother. Unfortunately, this is the very circumstance in which they find themselves. Cassie determines she will learn how to provide as they face this very difficult crossroad in their lives.
Cassie succeeds at the job she applies for in the small town’s grocery/restaurant. Much to everyone’s surprise, she actually becomes very successful at it. Her mother never gets over being horrified that her daughter would have to stoop to such a low life, and is even more disturbed as Cassie falls in love with her employer, Jake.
Many surprises are revealed throughout this story having to do with every character presented. It becomes somewhat complicated to figure out all the “mysteries” but needless to say, it eventually all turns out well. A good read!
The story takes place in Missouri, beginning with a widowed woman, Eliza Bingham, and her grown but yet unmarried daughter, Cassie Haddon. Cassie has been raised as a lady, never having had to dirty her fingers with any kind of housework or imagining she would have to learn how to provide an income for both herself and her mother. Unfortunately, this is the very circumstance in which they find themselves. Cassie determines she will learn how to provide as they face this very difficult crossroad in their lives.
Cassie succeeds at the job she applies for in the small town’s grocery/restaurant. Much to everyone’s surprise, she actually becomes very successful at it. Her mother never gets over being horrified that her daughter would have to stoop to such a low life, and is even more disturbed as Cassie falls in love with her employer, Jake.
Many surprises are revealed throughout this story having to do with every character presented. It becomes somewhat complicated to figure out all the “mysteries” but needless to say, it eventually all turns out well. A good read!
About Ann Shorey:
 | Ann Shorey is the author of the At Home in Beldon Grove series, Where Wildflowers Bloom, and When the Heart Heals. She has also published selections in the Cup of Comfort series and in Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul. Ann and her husband make their home in southwestern Oregon. Learn more at www.annshorey.com. In addition to writing, Ann has won many prizes for her culinary skills. Her recipes have appeared in Country Woman magazine, and in several national cookbooks, including Taste of Country and Taste of Home. Recently author Patti Hill included one of Ann’s recipes in her Garden Gates Cookbook, available on Patti’s web site. Ann has been privileged to present cooking demonstrations to young women from her church as part of the Apples of Gold mentoring program. Ann and Richard share their home with a loveable Belgian Shepherd named Amber. |
The Giveaway:
To celebrate the novel, author Ann Shorey and Revell Publishers are pleased to present the SWEET BEGINNINGS Sweepstakes, and your chance to win one of three marvelous prizes, all closely connected to the story.
Click to enter the Sweet Beginnings GIVEAWAY!
 Grand Prize |  2nd Prize |  3rd Prize |
GRAND PRIZE: our Grand Prize winner will receive a 6-month Pie of the Month Club Membership to the Grand Traverse Pie Company!
SECOND PRIZE: Our Second Prize winner will receive a prize pack filled with some of Cassie's favorite things: a delicate, rose-colored lace shawl, a pewter pen and ink set, and a bath set filled with lavender and lilac soaps and lotion!
THIRD PRIZE: our Third Prize winner will receive a complete, signed set of the Sisters at Heart series!
This giveaway ends February 20, 2014 at 11:59 pm (Pacific time). Entry is open to U.S. residents only, age 18 and over.
Winners will be selected Friday, February 21, 2014, and announced at AnnShorey.com.
Winners will be selected Friday, February 21, 2014, and announced at AnnShorey.com.
Ann's other books:
 The Edge of Light |  The Promise of Morning |  The Dawn of a Dream |
 Where Wildflowers Bloom |  When the Heart Heals |  Love's Sweet Beginning |
 Sincerely Yours |
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I received a copy of this book for review, but was not compensated financially in any way. The opinions expressed are those of Joy In Our Journey.com and are based solely on experiences while reading this book.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission...without it costing you a penny more. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support!
Hi! I'm Julieanne!
You'll find me in the kitchen
trying new Trim Healthy Mama recipes, loving God, and carrying out that love as I bless my husband and teen daughters.
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