This is a fun twist on an old favorite. I have been making this recipe for years and it always turns out perfectly. In fact, I’m pretty sure this was the first recipe I came up with “all by myself”. :)
To make it gluten-free, I just subbed out a few different flours where I usually used all-purpose flour. Feel free to re-glutenize it by subbing the 2 cups of AP flour back in, and leave out the xanthan gum.
Okay, when I say this cake is super sticky… I mean it is super friggin’ sticky. See how the cake kinda dips in the center? I’m not exactly certain why this happened. :|
My guess is: incredibly moist (and heavy) cake with crispier ( therefore lighter) edges = cake that sinks in the middle. But the taste and texture totally trump any weird looks this thing may get.
I still have a lot of gluten free cake making in my future, but at least now I can say I have mastered a flavorful, wet, gluten free cake that will stick to the bottom of your plate. Good start.
The clementine filling/topping adds an extra layer of super sticky that I find over the top perfect for this cake.
As a child, did you ever love a food so much that you would risk the wrath of your huge and terrifying older brother to sneak the last one?
The other day my husband and I were reminiscing about childhood junkfood favorites, and I remembered how much I desperately loved Little Debbie Star Crunches. I had a sick obsession with these things. This most likely caused me to block all thoughts of them from my memory after I went vegan. Once my memory was triggered, though, I became dead set on the idea of making them myself. I needed a way to once again enjoy the taste/texture of the individually wrapped treats that I used to stash everywhere: lunchbox, pocket, fridge, freezer, bookbag, dresser drawer. It was kinda out of control.
I loved them primarily because of their gooey and crispy and hard to explain texture… which oddly enough gave them most of their flavor. I think sans the strange texture of a Star Crunch, we would be left with pretty much just “sweet”.
To recreate these things I needed a great filler, because the crispy rice and chocolate part is easy. The answer was the Medjool date! Dates are absolutely magical… I am super happy to have discovered the many uses of them.
These cookies are definitely close enough to an actual Star Crunch to satisfy my craving… without the long list of creepy ingredients and eternal shelf life.
Broccoli Salad with Creamy Mustard Dressing
The Blissful Chef: Cooking with the Seasons~ Spring Edition e-Cookbook is out! I recommend it to everyone - whether you are an established vegan chef or complete cooking novice. Author Christy Morgan eloquently describes her philosophy as “macrobiotic, vegan, raw fusion”.
Sounds tasty and swanky! Who couldn’t use a little more of that in their life?
I loved cooking and eating every single one of her recipes I have tried so far. I will happily be making the rest of them very, very soon.
Most of the recipes are already gluten free- so I didn’t have to worry about subbing anything. The prep and cooking time was fast, and the results were an explosion of flavors that my tongue had never before experienced. Perfect!
This woman can cook! And her recipes are simple, delicious, colorful, and dare I say… good for you.
Here’s a peek at the foods from the cookbook that my husband, son and I have all been enjoying devouring. My faves are definitely the Basil Pecan Pesto and the Curry Coconut Lentils, but I was also licking the dressing from the Broccoli Salad straight from the bowl. I know, classy.
If you would like to purchase This wonderful cookbook , please visit:
A little unconventional maybe– but pretty delicious for a last minute pantry raid. What I like best about these cookies is their texture– they are thin and chewy and crispy all at once. The flavor is, well, flavorful!
Since Garam Masala varies— I cannot guarantee that your cookies will taste just like my photo. :) Mine was a blend of coriander, cardamom, black cumin, cinnamon, celery, black pepper, allspice, cloves and anise. Each one of those spices had a special place in these cookies. A touch of cocoa really tops them off. Spicy, sweet and kind of chocolatey- could you really ask for anything more?
When I woke up this morning, it was beautiful and sunny and the birds were singing. Yay!
There was still two feet of snow on the ground… but the sun gave me a much needed burst of energy. So, rather than the usual bowl of cereal my son is honored with in the morning, I made him these muffins. He was thrilled to have anything other than cereal and ate 4 of them! I’m not super good in the kitchen before I have had a ton of coffee… but these turned out really well.
One tip- use silicon muffin pans, grease and flour your pan, or use some really good muffin liners. I used craptastic paper liners this morning and they sorta stuck- just a little bit. :(
Given that it was so early… I’m lucky to have remembered to line the cups at all. The muffins were delicious, though. They were a tad tangy and slightly sweet. And full of crumble topping! Oh, how I love crumble topping. <3
I think the vegan community is amazing- everyone involved is making a huge impact in their own special way. I love how vegans ultimately find common ground by simply refusing to participate in the exploitation of non-human animals. As most of us know, the choice to go vegan is no “trend”… it is holding on strong, and will only continue to grow. Which is awesome!
If you haven’t yet heard the heartwarming tale of Dorothy and Chico, you are in for a treat. I simply couldn’t resist sharing this story of these two love-birds (erhm, ungulates). All you need is love….right? Read on and warm up your heart: <3
I just couldn’t resist the kitschy-ness of including a post about aphrodisiac foods right before Valentines Day. So, I did some research googling, and found some pretty interesting “facts” about foods from various unreliable sources on the internet. :)
I thought it would be fun to include a simple list of foods that will spice up your life– that, when blended together, make a mighty tasty smoothie. Whether you are single or attached (or just don’t give a damn)…this smoothie will provide you with a good dose of spunk. <3
Okay, this pie does not actually contain ice cream. But, when the creamy mousse and cashew cream layers are frozen, they sure could pass for ice cream. It is rich with flavor and kind of indulgent as far as ingredients go. But, Valentine’s day is coming up, right? So why not splurge on yourself… or a loved one. This dreamy treat is full of chocolate, dates, almond flour, cashews… and there’s some tofu in there too.
The freezing process is a little time consuming, but the prep couldn’t be easier. It mainly involves using a just food processor and a spatula. The three layers frozen together sort of resemble an “ice-cream cake” in taste and texture. Yet, unlike a certain non-vegan name brand ice cream cake that I used to go crazy over- this one’s full of good stuff. So, refusing a second slice seems almost silly. :)
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’ve got love on my mind. Puppy love.
As much as I bake, I often neglect to bake treats especially for my furry friend (even though he always gets some of my human treats). But our dog friends deserve their very own batch of cookies just as much as anyone else. I created these for my pal, Giotto, who has a particular love for peanut butter and carrots. He was pacing in front of the oven the entire time they were baking… and I have to admit, they smelled pretty darn good to all of us humans in the house too.
Whoever ends up eating them, I think tails will most certainly be wagging.
While not super fancy, these cupcakes are sure to please the kids and adults in your life.
The recipe provides an excellent, almost “no fail” type of cake, while the frosting is over-the-top chocolatey. I think it’s the best chocolate frosting I have made so far, and it goes really well with this simple white cake. Honestly, the cake itself is just a tiny vehicle for all of that awesome frosting.
Instead of experimenting with my own GF flour mixture on these, I decided to use up the last of my GF Namaste Perfect Flour Blend. I just subbed the same amount where regular “all purpose” flour would go. This was my favorite generic cake recipe before going gluten free. Happily, it turned out really well using the Namaste flour mix.
Also, feel free to just skip the whole cake part and get right to the frosting. The cake is pretty darn good- but the frosting is where it’s at!
If you are craving sweet, sour and a little bit salty all at once, this pudding will deliver. It is pretty fast and easy to make… but it does seem to take forever to set up in the fridge. It is worth the wait though. The taste kind of reminds me of an Orange Julius… which makes me want to make one of those really badly.
If you cannot get your hands on any Meyer lemons (I couldn’t find any until I moved closer to a Whole Foods) try combining the juice of one lemon and one orange along with the orange’s zest. I’m guessing that would taste pretty awesome too.
Okay folks… they may not look like regular chocolate chip cookies… but you gotta trust me on these. They are seriously addicting little bites of awesomeness.
Since I first started eating gluten free, I have been trying to create a replica of my all time favorite vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe. Well, I finally have come very very close! But, I wanted to pause for a moment, and celebrate this little gem that I found along the way.
The cookies themselves are a little unorthodox, as they are made with buckwheat flour and almond flour… but the taste is quite remarkable. I have made these four times in the last week… which proves how much my son and husband enjoyed them. They loved them.
Not bad for my first attempt at using buckwheat flour– which by the way, is my new BFF. <3
Forbidden rice is so wonderfully amazing. With its chewy texture and deep purple hue, it is as striking as it is tasty.
If you have not yet experienced the taste/texture/greatness of Forbidden rice, it’s worth tracking down. It is, without a doubt, the best rice I have ever enjoyed… and it’s practically black. Very cool.
Last week I received a special recipe request —-from a very seasoned foodie. I was asked if I could conjure up a GF focaccia recipe, because her mother (a celiac) missed the taste of the flavorful flat bread. Isn’t that sweet??
So I searched through my old recipes, artisan bread books, gluten free baking books, and of course the internet, to Frankenstein together a recipe that will hopefully please dear Mom.
I must say, that I am happy to have gotten this request, otherwise I may have never known (so soon) the glory of baking gluten free bread. It was pretty easy. And no kneading!! One thing I will certainly do the next time I make this is add some dimples. [ I know, how could I have forgotten to dimple my focaccia?? ] I guess I was so immersed in slicing little tiny tomatoes, that I totally neglected the dimples. It certainly didn’t effect the taste any though. This stuff was really good.
This focaccia can be topped with pretty much anything … brush a little olive oil on before adding toppings to achieve a darker golden top.
If you do not eat gluten and, like me, think the GF breads in the frozen section of your grocery store are really really bad, try this… it makes an excellent sandwich bread too.
Can the world use another Curried Butternut Squash Soup recipe?
I think so.
I made this yesterday for lunch and found it so surprisingly easy and yummy that I wanted to share it. I have honestly never made any kind of squash soup before this, but I have seen numerous beautiful photos from some of my favorite vegan bloggers and cookbook authors. So, I just had to try my hand at making my own… without peeking at anyone else’s recipe. :)
I couldn’t believe how stupid easy this stuff is to make. I will definitely be making this over and over again. It seems like it would be pretty good with some canned coconut milk subbed for some of the almond milk… maybe I’ll try that next time. It is pleasantly mild and sweet… but filling all on its own. After the photo I ended up gulping this stuff down like a milkshake.
I know, I have no shame. Read More
I adore sweet potatoes. I could go for them any time of day. Today, I had this sweet potato tart for breakfast. It was pretty awesome, and went well with my pumpkin flavored coffee that I have been trying to use up. Although it is easy to make, it would be a royal pain if you did not have a food processor handy.
Spice as desired with this one, the batter is great on it’s own. For some reason I default into using three particular spices when I bake things that are orange. Whatever you decide, it is good both ways: super flavorful without lots of sugar…. (from a bag).
Okay, the glaze is pure sugar… but I couldn’t resist.
These are super rich and chocolatey, exist somewhere in between a cookie and a truffle, and are loaded with peanut butter. Yes, they taste as awesome as they sound. If you are feeling a little lazy (or are just out of chocolate chips) the cookies are fantastic if you skip the dipping step.
Since the weather outside is so frightful, (and freezing!) soup is on my mind. This lentil soup is nice and light, yet very satisfying. It is also chock full of warm fuzzy feeling. I created it to emulate a soup I always order at one of my favorite restaurants. Fragranced with lemon and cilantro, and pleasantly mild, even my lentil hating husband loves this stuff.
Here’s to soup, and keeping warm!
