"All Things Pink" Cupcakes

These were originally going to be cookies, but I decided to go with cupcakes because the batter was thinner than I thought. They are actually more like a muffin, but cupcakes sound like more fun. I was on a mission to use up my beets, so they were they main influence in these pink treats. This recipe is the toaster oven size,  so double it if you plan on sharing. And, I , for some reason, always feel entitled to remind you that these measurements are not exact due to my lack of use of measuring utensils.

Cupcakes:
Dry-
1 cup gluten free flour mix (or other flour)
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cocoa
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon all spice
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Wet-
2 small beets, equal to about 1/3 cup beet puree (see note on roasting)
2 tbl ground flax seed
2 tbl coconut milk , or other milk
3-4 tbl olive oil
3-4 tbl canola oil
1 tsp molasses
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup liquid sweetener (raw honey, honey, brown rice syrup, agave- use less)
1/3 dry sweetener (raw sugar, evaporated cane juice sugar, whatever... not refined)


Preheat oven or toaster oven( :) ) to 350.  Mix dry ingredients well with a whisk or fork.

Puree  beats in food processor, scraping sides often. Add the remaining wet ingredients and blend well.

Pour wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and fold until mixed. Don't over mix. Fill muffin tins 3/4 of the way. Bake for... 15 minutes? Until they are settled, don't over bake. Cool completely and frost.

Frosting:
1/4 cup coconut cream
2 tablespoons earth balance
1/3 cup powdered sugar (more if you like)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon beat juice ( I got this from the bottom of my tupperware in which I had the beets)

Beat the coconut cream butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until smooth again.

Garnish with coconut shreds and a raspberry.

Roasting Beets:
I scrubbed clean, chopped off the ends, wrapped in foil and baked at 425 for an hour.  I then used a sharp knife to easily peel the skin off.

peace and love,
lindsay

Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls

I have been dabbling with the gluten free life, just here and there. I like it.  These are some sunday morning cinnamon rolls adapted from "Cinnamon Quill", a gluten free blog.  Please keep in mind that measurements are not exact; I don't really use measuring utensils, more like spoons and one measuring cup. Ha. Anyway, I enjoyed one of these puppies with a cup of fair trade english tea. YUM!

Dough:
2 1/4 cup "gluten free flour mix" (I found this in the bulk section of my natural foods store, it had chick pea, brown rice, tapioca and a few other flours)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raw sugar or other dry sweetener (fair trade)

3/4 cup melted dairy free margarine and/or raw coconut butter, divided
1 cup almond milk + 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar (combine and set aside)
1/2 cup rice milk (or whatever) + 2 teaspoons ground flax seeds (combine and set aside)
2 teaspoons vanilla

Filling:
1/2 cup raw sugar
2 teaspoons molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon dairy free margarine and/or raw coconut butter
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cinnamon (less or more to your taste)
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts

Frosting:
1 tablespoon dairy free margarine and/ or raw coconut butter
1/2 cup + organic powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons almond milk


Preparing the dough:
Preheat oven 375 - 400
Mix dry ingredients together with a whisk. Add the wet ingredients (more than half of the melted butter) and mix together with a wooden spoon. Sprinkle in more flour or milk to get the dough to be stiff but not totally dry. Knead a few times.  Let sit for 10 -20  minutes to thicken.

Meanwhile...
Filling:
Mix together all the filling ingredients with a spoon and adjust cinnamon if necessary.

Assembling the rolls:
Spread flour on your surface and roll the dough into a 9 x 13 rectangle, use your hands and fingers to get those corners nice and 90 degree-ish.

 Brush the remaining melted butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the filling evenly, leaving an inch around the edges.

Now, roll it up, length wise. I did this very slowly and reassembled the log as I was rolling, maybs the "breaking apart at the seams" is normal in the gluten free-vegan world, but whatever, it was fine, just took a little more t.l.c. and time to roll it up all nice and pretty.

Slice the log into 1 inch rolls.  Place on a cookie sheet leaving 1/4" between the rolls.

Bake for 12-20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through.  Remove cinnamon rolls from pan as soon as you take them out of the oven, and frost.

Frosting:
Beat the butter with the powdered sugar. Add the milk and vanilla and more powdered sugar if you need.

This is a picture of the frosting ingredients.

I sprinkled the cinnamon rolls with some fine coconut flakes.


heart,
lindsay

The Best Quesadilla Ever

I can't even describe this one. I've been on a quesadilla bender for the last week or so, and it's only getting better. Today's hit the spot quite well. Here's what's in my single serving quesadilla-
1 large tortilla,
1 small tomato, thinly sliced and then halved
1/2 avocado, thinly sliced
1-2 tbl safflower oil
3 oz extra firm tofu
1 cup thinly sliced cabbage
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp olive tapenade
1/4 lime
1/8 cup chopped cilantro
salt, pepper and red chili flakes

Here's how I made it-

Slice the tofu very thinly and then into 2"by 3" rectangles. Heat the safflower oil over medium high and cook the tofu for 3-5 minutes, turning often, until it is golden brown. Then cut the tofu into matchsticks, either using the end of your spatula or take the tofu out and slice it on a cutting board. Add the cabbage and garlic, stif fry for 3 minutes or until the cabbage is soft.  Remove tofu mixture and set aside in a bowl.

Add a little more oil to the pan and heat the tortilla, flipping a few times. Turn the heat down to low or medium low and spread  the tomato slices evenly on half of the tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half and flip a few times, allowing the tomatoes time to soften and break down.

Open the tortilla and spread the avocado on the other half, mashing it with a fork so it gets all soft and juicy.

Squeeze the lime over the whole tortilla and sprinkle with salt, pepper, red chili flakes, olive tapenade and cilantro.

Add the sesame oil to the cabbage mixture and mix.  Spoon this mixture on top of the avocado side of the tortilla, sprinkle with more salt and pepper and fold in half. Allow to heat for a minute or so. Cut in half or thirds and enjoy! You'll need a napkin for sure.

Baba Ghanoush Quesadilla

After a busy week of work I have a day off to relax, catch up and do the things I love.  Like eat. Today is Thursday and our  Community Supported Agriculture produce boxes are arriving in hours. So, time to kick the fruit and vegetable consumption up a notch. This mornings' breakfast consisted of almost a whole honey due melon. Lunch is using up more veggies and I squeezed in some carrot zucchini cup cakes somewhere in my morning. I'll consider posting that recipe, although it is harder for me to post baking recipes because I don't use measuring utensils. Anyway, they are cooling now. Here's the dilla I made. 

1 large tortilla
1/2 tomato, thinly sliced
1 leaf chard, rolled tightly and sliced diagonally
8 slices cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
2-3 tbl baba ganoush (recipe to follow)
1/4 zucchini, in thin match sticks
1 tsp olive tapanade
1/2 tsp gomasio (you can make this by blending toasted sesame seeds with salt in a blender or food processor, or buy it at your local natural foods store)

 Baba Ghanoush:
 1 large eggplant, sliced in half and roasted at 400 for 45 minutes or until soft
1 can drained and rinsed chick peas
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp water
1/2 lemon squeezed (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Allow eggplant to cool slightly and then scoop out the inside, leaving the skin. Add the rest of the ingredients to food processor or a good blender and blend until smooth.

To assemble tortilla:
 Lightly grease the bottom of a large skillet (cast iron is my skillet of choice), heat the tortilla over medium low. Spread baba ghanoush and olive tapenade evenly over the tortilla and heat for a few minutes. Layer the rest of the ingredients, sprinkle with gomasio and fold in half. Dip in salsa if you like.

Eating in Guam

Okay, I'm in Guam! I just bought a computer and now I am connected to the world wide web. Feels good. I got a job working as a Clubmate for Pacific Islands Club. My job is working at the beach, water park, trampoline,racquet center, kids club and doing dance shows at night. It's fun and high energy and I've met some super cool people out here. Guam, my birthplace, is magical and refreshing. I'm having a blast and loving the island style.

Eating in Guam is great. I've totally gotten better at eating since moving into a hotel room and eating at cafeteria 3 meals a day. The idea of food has changed a little in my mind. I'm still totally obsessed with it, but, for the first time in my life, it also feels like a chore sometimes. I'm learning more that food = fuel. I 'm not perfectly healthy all the time, but I'm getting better at picking foods that nourish and energize me.

Some of my fellow Club mates and I have started doing a food club on Monday nights. It starts at 10:30 when everyone gets off work. We cut, chop, blend, spread, grate, slice and mix while sharing knives and cutting boards and sprawling out all over our hotel rooms. Here's what we've made so far.

Cabbage, Carrot, Apple, Onion, Tomato, bell pepper and kale wraps with rice vinegar and agave nectar
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Bean Salsa. This was Natalie's recipe. SO GOOD!

corn, black beans, white beans, red onion, cliantro and salsa.


Pizza.

Daiya vegan cheese, onion, tomato, black beans, bell pepper, fresh garlic, organic mushroom, garlic marinara, sun dried tomatoes, pine nuts and a feta cheese. We made different combo's of all the ingredients. SO GOOD. Toaster oven. Amazing. Oh and this was on a whole grain pizza crust.





And Hummus. It was unreal. Christina's a master.

Garlic, onion, olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon, black beans, garbanzo beans, roasted bell pepper and tomato, roasted garlic. Again, we made different combos using an immersion blender and a regular blender.


photos by Rene.