Gluten Free Chocolate Creme De Menthe Cake

I had a few girl friends over for dinner last night and tried out a new recipe, well actually it was an old recipe from years ago that was originally for brownies.  I decided to make a gluten free version and turn it into a cake. Using a gluten free baking mix for chocolate cake, the bottom layer was very easy and a perfect substitution for the made from scratch cake. The cake is three layers. The bottom layer is a chocolate cake layer then a creme de menthe frosting layer then finally a chocolate drizzle over the top.  You could also make it a solid layer of chocolate topping if you wish.

It is very rich and delicious, perfect for the Holidays!

For the Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix Visit:http://www.glutenfreebakingmixes.com/catalog/item/8673313/9387040.htm 

Fresh Gluten Free Apple Cake

It is definitely that time of year. The weather is making an abrupt change, it seemed like I went to sleep in early September and woke up to a brand new season overnight. The flowering petunias are being replaced with Mums and flowering cabbage plants and pumpkins now adorn our front porches. I live in New England, so this happens every year it just seemed to happen really fast this season. With this change we also have new farm to table ingredients available for cooking and baking. I just love the first crop of apples that appear on the stands this time of year.  There are so many ways to enjoy them from simply eating them as  as they are, to baking delicious goodies.  One recipe that has been a favorite is my Fresh Apple Cake.We are not talking a complicated French Apple Tart here but an easy to prepare one pan cake.  It is a nice balance of spices to apples and usually devoured  before the day is over. Make it and begin to enjoy all the recipes I will be posting in the weeks to come!

 2 Apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3/4 cup Sugar
1 1//4 cups gluten free all-purpose baking mix

1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick of butter, melted

1 egg, or substitute of your choice

1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon all spice

1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional

Mix apples and sugar in a large bowl and let sit 10 minutes.  Meanwhile melt butter and whisk in the egg after the butter has cooled slightly and add this to the apples.  Mix dry ingredients together, with nuts if using, and add to bowl.   

Bake in a greased 8x8 inch pan 50 minutes @350 degrees.

cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Why Everyone Should Give Gluten Free Eating A Try

Gluten is a protein that has been in the human diet since agriculture began more than 10,000 years ago. Domesticated wheat was noted first with barley cultivation following.

Gluten is the term for the storage protein or “glue” that gives a stretchy texture and supple taste in the cereal grains, wheat, barley and rye, when kneaded into dough to make baked goods. Many medical personnel believe there is a certain level of gluten sensitivity in most people.  The goal is to see if gluten free eating will help with any of these common complaints, so if you have any of the following issues consider giving it a try.

Regular or Occasional Gastrointestinal Disturbances:

Eating a gluten free diet may help the digestive track stay regulated. You may notice a decrease in excess gas, less bloating after meals and an overall sense of normality in your gut. As a result you will have more energy and feel better as well.

Frequent Headaches or Migraines:

  People with frequent haedaches or migrains often report digestive troubles, again gas & bloating. According to Health Day News, after switching to GFE a significant decrease in symptoms is reported, often with headaches and migraines going away all together.

Stubborn Weight Gain:

Due to the nature of the foods you will be now eating, an overall healthier diet will be the result. A gluten free diet is rich in foods that provide more essential antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. This also may help you fight off some minor illnesses such as the common cold. Processed foods have to go and with them their chemicals and artificial flavors. You will be eating foods as close to their natural state as possible, which will help you loose weight.

So give it a try, start slow and monitor how you feel. Since there are many levels of gluten sensitivity figure out how much gluten is okay for you to feel your best.

One Tip:

If you feel the craving for a fresh baked good opt for a gluten free choice first, it may help you feel satisfied and stay committed to the diet.

To help make a gluten free choice easier use convenient gluten free baking mixes available @www.glutenfreebakingmixes.com

　

　

Gluten Free Lavender and Chocolate Lavender Loaves



Lavender and Chocolate Lavender Loaves

I have been trying out new variations of old recipes lately making them gluten free, using gluten free baking mixes and a gluten free all-purpose baking mix in place of traditional gluten flours.  Today I wanted to use the cake mixes I bought  and follow the directions exactly and see how they tasted.  Of course I couldn't resist making one small change, I used loaf pans instead of a cake pan.

 As it turned out  these simple loaves were absolutely delicious and easy to make.  Just one bowl and I was done.  I happen too have a four mini-loaf pan which make them cute and just enough for a simple snack.  I love the fact that I can make four loaves, freeze what I don't need and have a quick dessert ready any time I want something sweet either for my family or company.

 I used a package of gluten free cake mix of plain lavender and one of chocolate lavender. I made the plain mix first and used the same bowl to then make the chocolate variety.  I  followed the recipe exactly as on the package except instead of a whole cake, which would have been too much to eat immediately, I divide the batter from each mix into into two loaf pans.  I did have to cook them a little longer than the manufacturer's directions said since they were more compact than the  9" round cake the package usally makes. I tested them at the manufactures recommended time and then every 5 minutes after that until a toothpick came out dry when inserted into the middle of the loaf.  It was about 10 minutes extra total time.  They came out nice and crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. It was nice that each piece had some crunch to it. 

The baking mixes really were convenient and easy to use! To buy some of these baking mixes for your kitchen visit:www.glutenfreebakingmixes.com

Gluten Free Sunday Special Coffee Cake

Yesterday I had a brunch for some friends. Along with the usual vegetable baked egg casserole, fruit, and bacon I wanted to have a coffee cake to end the meal.  I looked through my recipes and found an old McCall's recipe card for a "Sunday Special" coffee cake.  I thought this would be perfect!

One of my friends is gluten free so I knew should adapt the recipe so everyone could it eat but I didn't want anyone to notice anything different.  I was successful, and was also happy I could say "no" when a friend asked if there were nuts in the cake since she was recently diagnosed with a nut allergy.

WOW  A Double Bonus!!! 

Topping:

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose gluten free baking mix

1/4 cup soft butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

Mix together with your fingers until crumby and set aside.

Mix together:

1 1/4 cups All-Purpose Gluten Free Baking Mix

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

In a separate bowl beat:

 1 egg

1/3 cup melted butter

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Add dry ingredients to bowl and mix until combined. Pour into a 8" greased baking pan.

Sprinkle topping over batter.

Bake in 375 degree oven 35-40 minutes until set. 

To learn more about these mixes visit:www.glutenfreebakingmixes.com

Gluten Free Chai Spiced Apple Cake with Vanilla Nutmeg Glaze

 A Delicious Dessert That's Spicy and Warm Tasting



Now that Autumn is just around the corner and the nights are getting a bit cooler it's time to change up our desserts a little.  On a recent trip to the local orchard I walked in and smelled the Apple Cider Doughnuts cooking, I could not wait to get baking a different dessert from what I have been doing all summer. I knew I had a package of Wholesome Chow Gluten Free Chai Spice Cake Mix in the pantry so I started from there.  I bought some apples from Rogers Orchards in Southington CT, which is five minutes from my house and added them to the cake batter and was pleasantly surprised how great it smelled when baking.

To put it over the top I made a package of gluten free glaze mix and added fresh ground nutmeg.  What a combination! 

It was super easy since the basics were from pre-packaged mixes but the results were as good as any made from scratch cake and so much cheaper than any cake I can buy in the specialty stores that sell gluten free products.

Sunnymount Show Room at Rogers Orchards in Southington, CT

Beautiful Apples at Rogers Orchards

Recipe:

1 package gluten free Chai spiced cake mix

1 cup chopped apples

Mix cake according to package directions and add apples.

Bake @350  degrees for 28-30 minutes.

Glaze with:

1 package gluten free vanilla frosting mix made as directed into a glaze with 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg added.  

For more information on the gluten free baking mixes I used visit:www.glutenfreebakingmixes.com

Gluten Free Peach Pancakes

The local orchard was having a buy one, get one free sale on bags of peaches, so needless to say I was busy making "Peach" everything last week. I found an old recipe for strawberry pancakes that I thought I would convert into a gluten free version and also substitute peaches for the strawberries.  WOW it was so delicious I will be making these again.  I simply used the all-purpose gluten free baking mix I always have on hand for the flour and otherwise followed the recipe. You can see how beautifully they turned out and were moist and nicely browned.  Full of peach flavor with a nice texture and a slightly crunchy crust!

Before I Flipped Them

Recipe

1 Cup Gluten Free All-Purpose Baking Mix
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
2 Tablespoons butter
3/4 Cup Milk
1 Egg, Beaten
1Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Peeled & Chopped Peaches

Melt butter in a medium bowl in microwave. Add egg,vanilla & milk and mix well. Add mixed dry ingredients and stir just until moistened, then add peaches.
Melt butter or heat oil in frying pan over medium heat.  Pour batter into pan using as much as you like for the size pancakes you want.  Fry until bubbles appear on surface then flip and cook a few more minutes on other side.
Serves 4
Recipe may be doubled and cooked pancakes freeze well.

Final  Result

For More Information on Gluten Free All-Purpose Baking Mix Visit:www.glutenfreebakingmixes.com