Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Cake

Yesterday we celebrated my father-in-law's 68th birthday.  I was in charge of the cake.  How I wish I had a picture for you, but alas, my phone died, and so I couldn't take a picture.  The really funny thing is that before we even went up to his house for the party, I had the thought, "You should take a picture of the cake before you go."  I should have listened.  Didn't.  It's not the end of the world, and the decorating job wasn't all that great!  My princess helped me with it.  I figured that he is old enough that he would have appreciated her decorating more than a professional one anyway (sentimental feelings).  Everyone loved the cake, and not all of them are on special diets. So, here is my recipe:

GLUTEN FREE DAIRY FREE CHOCOLATE CAKE

(Makes two 9 in. rounds or 1 9x13 cake)

1 C. brown sugar (or sweetener of choice)

1 3/4 Gluten Free Flour mix (see below for details)

3/4 C. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1 1/2 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

2 eggs

1 C. soy milk or rice milk

1/2 C. olive oil

2 t. vanilla extract

1 C. boiling water

Preheat oven to 350F (175 degrees C).  Grease pan(s) of choice.  

In a mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.  Add the eggs, milk of choice, oil and vanilla.  Mix well.  Stir in the boiling water last.  The batter should be thin.  Pour into pans.  

Bake for 30-35 minutes until nothing sticks on toothpick or cake tester when inserted into the middle.  Remove from oven.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

Frost as desired.

*Notes:  I make my own gluten free flour mix.  Here's how I do it: I pour 5 cups sweet brown rice and 3 cups hulled millet into my grinder.  To this I add 2 1/2 C. tapioca starch.  I mix this well using my Kitchen Aid, handheld mixer or a long handled spoon.  Then I measure the flour out and ADD 1 t. Xanthan gum per 2 cups flour.  I place the flour mixture into a large old Tupperware container and it is ready to use just as you would regular flour.  If you don't have my mix on hand you can use any gluten free flour mix you'd like.  If you don't have a mix, but just bags of individual flours, use the following proportions: 1/2 of needed amount of rice, sorghum, or another that is not really starchy, and then 1/4 of needed amount of two others.  One of these should be starchy ie: tapioca starch or potato starch in order to achieve the same consistency and texture.

This is the only cake I am allowed to make at my house, because everyone always requests it.  Which, I think that is a good thing.  There was only piece left of it last night, but I am told that it got polished off soon after I left.

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful in the kitchen! -Dari

Coconut Cloud Cream Moisturizer

Good afternoon!  I just got back from my first run of the season.  It felt so good outside today.  My life is a little crazy right now.  I had four kids 4 and under today.  The four year old was my own.  Needless to say, I haven't had a lot of time to do extra things, but my face told me I had to make more moisturizer!  I ran out about 2 weeks ago, and I have just put it off.  The sad thing is that it doesn't take very long to make.  Deciding to just do it is more than half the battle!

Anyway, I decided to take pics while I was making it so I could share it with you.  I LOVE this recipe.  I have been making it for years now.  The original recipe comes from my favorite DIY beauty book, Natural Beauty at Home by Janice Cox (2nd Ed.).  I bought mine on Amazon many years ago and it is my go to.

Her recipe  is as follows:

2 T. stearic acid powder

1/4 C. coconut oil

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 C. distilled water

A few drops coconut fragrance (opt.)

Here is my version of it:

1 T. beeswax

1/4 C. coconut oil

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 C. distilled water

5 drops essential oil of choice

(Today I used 1 drop Rosemary, 3 drops Lemongrass & 4 drops Bergamot)

(Another favorite of mine is 3 drops Geranium & 2 drops Lavender)

 

Oops! I forgot to put the essential oils out, too (lol).

The first step is to grate the beeswax.  I just use my hand kitchen grater.  Place the beeswax and the coconut oil into a double boiler (or if you don't have one you can place a smaller saucepan inside a larger pan.  Fill the larger pan with about 1 inch of water.  If you have a canning lid, place it in the bottom and then the smaller saucepan on top).  Heat the water to boiling over medium heat.  Just stir the mixture occasionally until it is completely melted.

Meanwhile, place the distilled water and the baking soda in a microwave safe dish and "nuke" it for 1 minute.

Here you can see the coconut oil and beeswax melted.

Here is my high end blender!  Funny thing is that I have had some really nice ones, but somehow they haven't lasted.  Yet, this blender that some wonderful person gave us for our wedding 15 years ago is still up and running!

Place the melted oil mixture in the blender.   With the blender running, slowly pour the water mixture in.  Add the essential oils and blend them in as well.

And here is the finished product!  Oh.  A little tip: pour/scrape the lotion into the container you plan on using while it is still warm.  The lotion will continue to thicken as it cools.  

I love this so much that I use it for my everyday lotion.  I use it on my face, hands, feet, etc.  This lasts about 2 months.

Hope you enjoy! -Dari

Little Bits of Fun

Hello! Hello!
I have been able to do lots of little things. I haven't taken pictures of everything and not everything is worth sharing, but here are a few of my favorites:

This is a thank you card I made for our Pinewood Derby. We had a local bakery donate the cake for our refreshments. I was asked to make a card so everyone could sign it. I dry embossed a pattern over the blue cardstock, aded texture and dimension using my crinkler and pop up adhesives. Inside there are 2 half page inserts to add more room for signatures (they stick out with tabs).
Apparently, this is the only recent project I have taken a picture of. Shoot. Well, I guess I will tell you about some of them and then will have to post some others. I have made Barbie tights and leggings. I found a pattern for them at www.perestroika.ca/html2/her_tights/her_tights.php. I found that I had to add 1/4 in. extra to the top and sides.
I have also written a poem. It is entitled:
PATIENCE
Sweet is the sound
Of a soft voice,
Content is the heart
That is slow to anger,
Peace is the feeling
Found in a loving moment,
Joyous is the soul
Who becomes like Christ.

OK, so this is more for me. This is an area I need to work on!

I also wrote a piano arrangement (accompaniment) for a hymn called "Jesus, Once of Humble Birth." If you would like to listen to it, you can find it at noteflight.com. I will add that link to my blog soon.
I made strawberry jam using frozen strawberries from Costco, apple juice concentrate and No-Sugar-Needed pectin. I like it. It tastes like the natural flavor of strawberries without all the extra sugar. For anyone who wants a really sweet jam, this is not for you.
I have done other projects, but I am going to post pictures of them, so they will have to wait.
Happy Spring