Ole-Talk

The Baking Corner - Gluten Free 1 Min. Mug Cake

This is my third year of being gluten free, trust me it is not by choice, because if you know me well I am sure that you have benefited from what used to be my almost weekly cupcake baking. Because of the fact that my body had decided that gluten = yuck, my baking had sadly declined. I mean I still baked for get together's, for friends who asked, and of course Christmas cookies but not being able to taste them myself took some of the joy out of it. Don't get me wrong I was able to find some gluten free recipes that I tried but trust me as much as a flourless chocolate cake is as yummy as it sounds there is just something missing. Oh right - Gluten!!!

Fast forward to last summer when I discovered Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour. Hallelujah!!! I must say I was a bit skeptical at first but started experimenting with it and loved the results. I knew that it was the real deal when I made a cupcake, that I have made before but with regular flour, for a girls get together and until I told my friends they did not have the slightest idea that they were gluten free. 

And now here we are. I will be documenting my adventures in gluten free baking using both gluten free recipes and traditional recipes that I make replacing regular flour with the 1:1 gluten free flour. First up this very easy gluten free mug cake.

Gluten Free Mug Cake
Original Recipe - Three Ingredient Flourless Peanut Butter Mug Cake
3 tbsp peanut butter(creamy)
1 tbsp  + 1 tsp white granulated sugar
1 large egg

Vernell’s Version

3 tbsp natural peanut butter
1 tbsp honey
1 large egg
1/4 tsp baking soda
A dash of vanilla essence
A sprinkle of ground cinnamon and ground ginger
Handful Raisins or chocolate chips

Combine all but the raisins or chocolate chips in a large mug or small microwaveable bowl. Whisk until smooth. Sprinkle raisins or chocolate chips on top and let sink in a bit. You may need to use your fingers to push them to just below the surface. Microwave on high for 1 min.

Enjoy with a cup of mint or ginger tea.

Optional – Depending on just how your day went you may want to add some frosting to the top of your cake before eating.

This is my go to when I want something sweet after dinner but still somewhat healthy. 

Let me know if you try it and what tweaks you made to the recipe.

Sunday Evening in the Kitchen

A productive Sunday evening in the kitchen!

Chickpea Salad

Madeleine's

Three ingredient banana oatmeal cookies. These are healthy and they taste good. I found the recipe on Pinterest.

And since I was in the kitchen taking photos thought I would share the wheatgrass and sprouts that Sheldon is growing.

The sprouts are very delicious in salads and I am looking forward to trying the wheatgrass.  Thanks for stopping by.

Pinterest Inspired | Crab Cakes

I absolutely love Crab Cakes.  Whenever I see them on the menu when I eat out I just have to get them.  I have always wanted to try making them myself and I finally found a recipe through Pinterest that looked easy and painless to make.  So here are my very first crab cakes.

Of course I had to tweak the recipe to make it my own.  I used ranch dressing instead of mayonnaise, spicy honey mustard instead of dijon, seasoning salt from Barbados instead of Old Bay Seasoning, and my Panko was Italian style. I have to say that they came out wonderful and were very delicious.  Sheldon asked if I was making them again next weekend.  Now if that is not the seal of approval I don't know what is.

Christmas Baking 2011

Keeping with my baking tradition here are the fruits of my marathon weekend of baking for this Christmas.

Hope you are all enjoying your Christmas Eve!

 

Apple Picking

We went apple picking today at Rocky Brook Orchard in Rhode Island.

Photos courtesy of Sheldon!

BBQ and Micro Brews

The weather was perfect for Saturday and we had a fun time with friends.  Here are some photos from the day!

Back yard view from upstairs

Remember my sneak peek...here is what they were for

Sheldon getting the music going...and Simba helping

Another few views of the backyard




Of course Simba was front and center

Fruit infused juice and water..ideas from Pinterest

We decided to move the tables into the sunroom

Friends enjoing themselves and tasting Sheldon's beer

Remember this

The grill master at work

Beautiful sunflowers - thanks Donna


Mr. Photographer

A nice fire to end the night


Now you see what the jars where for - another idea I got from Pinterest

From Pinterest to Dinner

All my time spent on Pinterest is paying off...really it is.  Tonight I made Eggplant Fries which I found on Pinterest.  You can find the recipe here. 

I used wholewheat flour in place of white and also added some cayenne pepper to my flour mixture.  I have to say that I was a little bit skeptical about the honey so I put it on the side and dipped the fries into it.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much it enhanced the flavor.   I will definitely be making these again.

Scallop Alfredo Pasta

Last night I made my Scallop alfredo Pasta dish.  It has been a really long time since I last made it and I am sure I did it completely different to the last time that I made it.  Served with some grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, Caesar salad and some of hubby's homemade beer and you have a dinner fit for a king!

Boil pasta.  I use angel hair pasta for this but I am sure you can use the kind you like.

While pasta is boiling:

Chop onions and green peppers

Saute scallops in melted butter

Add chopped onions and green peppers.  Also add some white pepper, fresh hot pepper (mine is from Barbados...just saying) and salt.

Throw in some spinach.  I use lots as spinach seems to disappear when it cooks.

Add the drained pasta and the alfredo sauce.

I thought it looked too beige so I added some corn for more color (smile).

Bon Appetit!

All About Food

Last night I was craving nachos but nothing on the menus of the restaurants close by appealed to me.  I mean doesn't anyone just make basic nachos any more.  So after looking through my pantry and fridge to see what I had I came up with this.

I call them Vernell's impromptu nachos - potato chips with cheddar and mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes and red onion.  Stick in the over until the cheese is all melted then enjoy with pineapple salsa by Paul Newman...yummy!!!

And for dessert- Guinness cupcakes with a chocolate whisky ganache and Bailey's Irish Cream frosting.  You can find the recipe I used here.  Of course I had to tweak the frosting and add my standard marshmallow fluff.

And since I am talking about food...I started today with some Whole Wheat Gingerbread pancakes.  Unfortunately I was too hungry to think about taking a photo but you can find the recipe here.

Thing a Day

For the month of February I am taking part in the Thing a Day blog and so far so good.

Day 1 - Homemade cupcakes and, cupcake wrappers and toppers made with my new Silhouette.

 

Day 2 - Altered Canvas also my February Inkling for the Ranger yahoo group.

 

Day 3 - A dust cover for my Silhouette.  I got the great idea and how to here at Crap I've Made blog.

 

Day 4 - Altered wooden C.  I used one of my new favorites, Japanese masking tape to alter this.