Kid lunch!

I recently ventured in to a local gluten free health food store called Pam Mac D's where I found some spinach dino nuggets and gluten free/vegan mac and cheese. The mac and cheese had a little bit too much oregano but I loved the dino nuggets. It reminded me of being a kid. Also, I couldn't resist a Babycakes carrot cupcake!!! 

Cake Batter Smoothies

While visiting my old college roommate for the long holiday weekend we decided to try this vegan smoothie we heard all about.  I like to call this the 'Cake Batter Smoothie' because it tastes just like cake batter.

Ingredients:

Banana

Vanilla Coconut Milk Yogurt

Tbsp Almond Butter

Ice cubes

*I added a little coconut milk as well

Instructions:  Blend away!

It was the perfect treat after a long day in the sun, Cheers!

Sprinkles Cupcake ATM

First time using the ATM

Vegan Red Velvet Cupcake

Absolutely BRILLIANT Sprinkles!  Who doesn't want to get a cupcake from an ATM.  Now all they need is to make more options for us Vegan or Gluten free people.  Don't get me wrong I love red velvet, but I would love to change it up sometimes! :D

Happy Easter!!

This year my niece's christening was on Easter Sunday, so for the first time in a long time I get to spend Easter with my family.  Here are some Easter treats that we made.

Carrot Cupcakes

Ingredients:

3 CUPS BOB'S RED MILL GLUTEN-FREE ALL-PUPOSE BAKING FLOUR

1 TBSP BAKING POWDER

1 TBSP BAKING SODA

1 TSP XANTHAN GUM

1 1/2 TSP SALT

T TBSP GROUND CINNAMON

2 TSP GROUND GINGER

1/2 TSP GROUND NUTMEG

2/3 CUP COCONUT OIL

1 CUP AGAVE NECTAR

1 CUP RICE MILK

1 TBSP PURE VANILLA EXTRACT

1/2 CUP HOT WATER

3 CUPS SHREDDED CARROTS

Dry Ingredients

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line 2 standard 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.  Add the oil, agave nectar, rice milk, and vanilla to the dry ingredients and stir until a think batter is formed.  Add the hot water and continue mixing until the batter is smooth.  Using a plastic spatula, gently fold in the carrots just until they are evenly distributed throughout batter.

Pour 1/3 cup batter into each prepared cup, almost filling it.  Bake the cupcakes on the center rack for 25 minutes, rotating the tins 180 degrees after 14 minutes.  The finished cupcakes will bounce back slightly when pressed, and a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean.

Let the cupcakes stand in the tins for 20 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack and cool completely. Next make the frosting!

Vanilla Frosting:

Ingredients: 

1/2 CUPS UNSWEETENED SOY MILK

3/4 CUP DRY SOY MILK POWDER

1 TBSP COCONUT FLOUR

1/4 CUP AGAVE NECTAR

1 TBSP PURE VANILLA EXTRACT

1 1/2 CUPS COCONUT OIL

2 TBSP FRESH LEMON JUICE

Ingredients

Directions:

In a blender or a food processor, combine the soy milk, soy powder, coconut flour, agave nectar, and vanilla.  Blend the ingredients for 2 minutes.  With the machine running, slowly add the oil and lemon juice, alternating between the two until both are fully incorporated.  Pour the mixture into an airtight container and refrigerate for 6 hours or for up to a month.

Decorating the cupcakes

Yummy!!!

White Trash

Ingredients:

WHITE CHOCOLATE BAKING CHIPS

PRETZELS STICKS

CHEERIOS

CHEX CEREAL

PEANUTS

M&M'S

(honestly you can add whatever you might like)

Directions:

Pour the white chocolate chips in a double boiler until melted, stirring occasionally.  In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients.  Once the chocolate is melted mix into the bowl of dry ingredients until the dry ingredients are lightly glazed with the chocolate.  Next spread the white trash on to a large sheet of parcel paper to dry.  When the chocolate has dried it is ready to eat!

Making birds nests

Add eggs and dry

I decided to make my white trash Easter themed.  I used the pretzel sticks and cheerios to make the white trash, which I formed into the shape of birds nests.  Then placed the cadbury mini eggs on top.

Finished Product!

Coloring Eggs

I am attempting to help Jace

College roommates came to visit!

Christening!

Ready to go!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting!!!

Chocolate Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 3/4 Cups Garbanzo-Fava Bean Flour

1/2 Cup Potato Starch

1 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1/4 Cup Arrowroot

1 Tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum

2 tsp Salt

1 Cup Coconut Oil

1 1/3 cups Agave Nectar

3/4 cup Unsweetened Applesauce

3 Tbsp Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Hot Water or Hot Coffee

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line 2 standard 12 cup muffin tins with paper liners.

In medium bowl, whisk together the flour, potato starch, cocoa powder, arrowroot, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt.  Add the oil, agave nectar, applesauce, vanilla, and hot water to the dry ingredients.  Stir until batter is smooth.

Pour 1/3 cup batter into each prepared cup, almost filling it.  Bake the cupcakes on the center rack for 22 minutes, rotating the tins 180 degrees after 15 minutes.  The finished cupcakes will bounce back when pressure is applied gently to the center.

Cookie Dough Frosting

Ingredients:

3 Sticks Unsalted Butter (room temp)

3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed

3 1/2 Cups Confectioner's Sugar

1 Cup All Purpose Flour (Gluten Free, Brown Rice Flour)

3/4 tsp Salt

3 Tbsp Milk (Almond Milk)

2 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Instructions:

In medium bowl beat together the butter and brown sugar with a paddle attachment until cream and fluffy.  Then mix in confectioner's sugar.  Add flour and salt.  Next add milk and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients.  Stir until batter is smooth.  Once everything is mixed add as many chocolate chips as you desire!

Cookie Dough Frosting

Let your cupcakes stand for 20 minutes before you transfer them to a wire rack.  Using a frosting knife, gently spread 1 tbsp of your chocolate chip cookie dough frosting over each cupcake.  Store the cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Potato Chips

We were craving sandwiches so thought it would be a good idea to eat at Potato Chip.  Probably the best sandwich I have ever had, but I was extremely disappointed by their service.  It's sad that I will may never eat there again because of their terrible service, but they do have some delicious sandwiches.

Mixed Veggie Sandwich with Hank's

 Turkey Avocado Sandwich with Cucumber Lemonade / Turkey and Cheese Sandwich

Love them!

Super Bowl

TEXAS CAVIAR

Ingredients:

1 can of Black Beans

1 can Sweet Corn Kernels 

1 can Petite Diced Tomatoes 

Every colored Bell Pepper

1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar

Garlic Salt

Black Pepper

Chop up Bell Peppers

Add:

Black Beans

Sweet Corn Kernels 

Petite Diced Tomatoes 

Add:

1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar

Garlic Salt

Black Pepper

and Dip.

The Party!

The game with a bunch of my Upstate NY friends

I think she is confused!

Homemade pizza bagels by Bridget Colella 

YAY!!! We win!!

Veggie Chili

Ingredients:

1 can (15 oz) Red, White, and Black Beans

1 can Tomato Paste

1 can (29 oz) Diced Tomatoes 

1 Medium Onion

1/2 cup of Celery

Yellow, Orange, Green Bell Peppers

1/4 cup Chili Powder

1 tsp. Cumin

1 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp.  Black Pepper

1/2 tsp.  Oregano

1/2 tsp.  Sugar

1/8 tsp.  Cayenne Pepper

Instructions:

1 can (15oz) Red, White, and Black Beans (rinsed)

1 can Tomato Paste & 1 can (29 oz) Diced Tomatoes 

Usually use 1 Medium Onion and 1/2 cup of Celery, 

but today I had Carrots.

Chop up whatever color peppers you prefer. 

I like having every color because it looks pretty.

Add Spices:  1/4 cup Chili Powder, 1 tsp. Cumin, 1 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder, 1 tsp. Salt, 1/2 tsp.  Black Pepper, 1/2 tsp.  Oregano, 1/2 tsp.  Sugar, 1/8 tsp.  Cayenne Pepper

Place in a crock pot or just a pot for 60 to 90 minutes.

Stir occasionally.

Madame Matisse Cafe & El Mirage Lake

David Freid

The bacon went to Freid!

Over a month ago a friend of mine and I took a trip to the desert, but thought it would be smart to eat something before hand.  We decided to stop at Madame Matisse Cafe at Sunset Junction.  It is a cute little place, but I don't think the wait staff liked us very much.

EL MIRAGE

These are a few photos I took of the trip with my iPhone.

Info on El Mirage Lake

Google Map

Photos by David Freid:

For more photos taken by David Freid

El Mirage

Dry Eyes

Mojave Sam

This Old House