Countdown to Christmas Link Up

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Thanks to Stacie at Makeup Obsessed Mom for tagging me!  
Favorite Winter Nail Polish?Anything red, sparkly or metallic. It used to be OPI I'm Not Really A Waitress.  Favorite Winter Lip Product?Lip Balm. Period. This time of year it's all about keeping those lips hydrated. My current fave of the moment is Nivea Kiss of Honey Most Worn Winter Clothing Item?Long sleeve t-shirts from Target. They are great on their own or layering under blazers or sweaters. Most Worn Winter Accessory?Boots and scarves. Favorite Winter Candle?Leaves from BBW or the Cider candle from Walmart Favorite Winter Beverage?Hot Apple Cider K-Cups Favorite Christmas Movie?1. Christmas Vacation2. Elf3. A Christmas Story Favorite Christmas Song?Holly Jolly Christmas  Favorite Holiday Food?Iced Sugar Cookies Favorite Christmas Decoration?I have many so I can't pick just one. I also really love old fashioned Santas and have several around my house at Christmas. So I'd say Santas. :) What is at the top of your Christmas list?I got my present early this year - a LV Neverfull. It's shown up in some Instagram and Blog pics. ;) What are your plans for the Holiday this year?We're not quite sure. We're thinking of going to my in-law's house. Most of my Husband's family lives around the same area so it's nice to be able to see so many at one time.  I'm doing a Christmas tag on my YouTube channel if you'd like to watch that here.  Merry Christmas Happy Holidays!!! Pin It

Brown Sugar Bacon Lil Smokies

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This is by far the most requested, best loved appetizer at my parties. Whether it be Christmas or tailgating, these Brown Sugar Bacon Lil Smokies will be a hit and usually the first to go. I've been making them for years and actually got the recipe out of a holiday appetizer magazine. You can pretty much find this one all over the Internet these days though. I'll give you my tips and tricks that I've learned over the years.

What you'll need:

1 package of Bacon *I only use Center Cut
1 package of Lil Smokies {I like all beef when I can get them}
1 cup light brown sugar *fresh

How To:

1.  Line a large cookie sheet with foil. {the sugar will burn in the oven and you don't want to ruin your pan}
2.  Cut each piece of bacon into three even pieces. *I like using Center Cut and have found this works best. It's leaner and the pieces are more even.
3.  Pour the brown sugar into a bowl to dredge each of the wrapped smokies. *I say to use fresh brown sugar because I find it sticks best and is less clumpy than sugar that has already been opened. You can also sprinkle the wrapped smokies with the sugar at the end. I've yet to try this method but will next time. I think it's probably easier since you actually have to press the sugar into the bacon to get it to stick otherwise. Update: I did try this and it's much easier! A lot of sugar falls off though.
4.  Next wrap each smokie with bacon. I find if I slightly stretch each piece of bacon around the smokie, it holds better. Some recipes says to secure with a toothpick. I usually do that after baking, before serving. I've never had trouble with the bacon coming off during cooking {except for this year}.
5.  Bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes or until the bacon is cooked. {baking times depend on your oven}

ready to go into the oven...

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Packing Tips and Organization

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Hello there! I'm back from my Christmas trip to visit the In-Laws and wanted to share my packing tips and organization video with you. This video was supposed to be up before but I had a poor internet connection while away. Regardless, you can use these tips for any trip, any time of year.

I hope you all had an amazing holiday! I'm looking forward to what 2013 brings me both personally and for my Blog and YouTube Channel.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram {links on my home page} for daily posts and pictures. :)

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New at the Drugstore 2

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It's safe to say that the past few months new items have been flooding the drugstore. I picked up quite a few items while on my Christmas vacation {reviews coming soon}. You can check out those photos on my Instagram here. Over the weekend I found a new display of Maybelline products at my local Target. It also included the new The Rocket Mascara but I had already picked that up in my previous haul so I didn't take a pic. I also ran across a new huge hair care display by L'Oreal with some pretty great prices to boot.
*All photos were taken with my cell phone camera.


Instant Age Rewind The Lifter
~ Lifting Foundation + Smoothing Primer
~ 12 shades
~ Claims: Get firmer, lifted skin instantly
~ $11.99 at Target

My Thoughts: This isn't the first time I've seen a foundation with primer and it won't be the last. Immediately, the swirled design reminds me of the Stila primers. I think Almay may have something like this as well. I passed on this because I don't usually love Maybelline foundations. However, I may still give it a try at some point.


Instant Age Rewind The Perfector
~ Concealer + Vitamin C Treatment
~ 5 shades
~ Claims: Fights dark spots over time {4 weeks}
~ $8.49 at Target

~ Powder with Smoothing Primer
~ 6 shades
~ Claims: No caking
~ $8.49 at Target

My Thoughts: The "eraser" is the same concept as the one currently out. I have it but don't love it. Might be due to the shade. Who knows? I don't buy the claims of getting rid of dark spots. Most things on the market can't do that unless your issue is very minor. I passed on this as well. The powder looks promising though and at some point I'm sure I'll try it out. Anything that claims "no caking" is a bonus in my book.


Eye Studio Master Duo
~ First 2 in 1 glossy liquid liner
~ Thin or Thick Glossy Liquid Liner
~ Glossy Formula
~ 6 shades
~ Claims: Duel tip creates a thin precise line or use the flat side for a bold thick line
~ $6.99 at Target

My Thoughts: While I think the concept is unique and might actually work, I passed on this for one reason - glossy eye liner is a big fat no in my opinion. Enough said about this one.


Color Whisper by Color Sensational
~ Pure color pigments suspend in a weightless gel
~ No heavy waxes or oils
~ 20 shades
~ Claims: Sexy soft, see through color
~ $5.99 at Target

My Thoughts: Big surprise, another brand hopping on the lip butter/glossy balm craze. From looking at the website, these seem more like the L'Oreal Caresse line and will not have much pigment. I think I opened each one to look at the texture and shade. Each one looked very matte in the tube. This scared me off. Now I know a lot of lip products look this way when in fact they are quite the opposite. However, the few shades I thought about trying were out as you can see from the picture, so I passed. I did notice that the packaging is thinner than the regular Color Sensational lipsticks {those, I love}. It felt sorta cheap in my opinion.

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My 2012 Beauty Favorites!

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Happy New Year!!!

  I hope everyone had a safe NYE! We were going to go to a casual dinner out and then just hang at home. Well, my Hubby came home from work not feeling too great so we just stayed in and watched TV. Basically it was quite and like any other night, just the way we like it. ;) I wanted to share my favorite beauty products of 2012 with you. I think I made about 2-3 lists, lol but finally narrowed it down. What were some of your favorites this past year?  Pin It

Karina's Gluten-Free Apple Crisp

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The best gluten-free apple crisp I've made. In this lifetime anyway.

I've been pondering identity lately. As in, am I the I writing this as Gluten-Free Goddess--- or am I a word-free, less defined kind of I that isn't actually I at all, but merely a spark in the collective energy source that is the great Mystery? Or Universe. Or Divine. Or whatever conceptual nomenclature you prefer.

Am I my thinking mind- or am I more of an essence, what we call soul, a truth beyond the assumed collection of thought patterns, personality traits, and personal history framed by a set of beliefs and separation known as the ego?

I do know I am not my disease.

One of the reasons I chose not to use the word celiac in my blog title was for just this very reason. I do not define myself as a celiac. In an identity sense. Yes, it says so on my medical records somewhere (in full disclosure, I think it actually says "possible sprue, resolved by the patient going gluten-free" because I couldn't afford an endoscopy). But I do not identify with my disease. That would be identifying with my gastro-functional limitations.

Hello, my name is Karina. And I have screwed up villi.

But I am not my screwed up villi. Just as I am not my post-cataract artificial lens implants. Or my salt and pepper hair that bristles like a squirrel on my prone-to-migraines head. I am also not my post-menopausal body that has brilliantly succumbed to a force superior than lunges and squats.

In the end gravity wins, I am sorry to tell you.

The older I get, I find less and less comfort in defining myself at all- never mind defining myself by my various bodily quirks (not to mention, my southerly migrating butt). I derive no solace in my mental quirks either. My beliefs, or assumptions or my random monkey thoughts. Even my skills are a poor capture of who I really am. I do not identify with how many paintings I've painted or sold, or how many likes I receive on Instagram. I do not crave recognition as a mirror. The promise of fame and fortune remains less than compelling.

I instead wander the hours of my days seeking answers that lead to more questions. Not answers that close the book. As in, subscribing to a system that has it all "figured out".

As Anne Lamott says, certainty is the opposite of faith.

Certainty is finite.

The end of growth. It clips the wings of possibility- the bigger truth that exists beyond my small understanding. Closing the book on the question of Who am I, exactly? would be foolish. The Big Mystery is far greater and more full of awesome than I can ever attempt to imagine. And whatever micro-teeny part I play in this infinite universal system called Life, I intuitively know one aspect of it, thanks to five-plus decades of living. Whatever It is, It is fluid. Everything changes. Including time. The past, present and future. The Universe (it's expanding, you know, faster than they first calculated). My experiential perception of myself (also expanding). The I that does not exist, because the I is only ego. The nattering, unreliable voice in my head.

So if this I does not exist--- who is craving this apple crisp?

Perhaps the only sensible response is this.

Be one with the apple crisp.

Now that I can do.

Quinoa flakes are the secret ingredient in this apple crisp.

Karina's Gluten-Free Apple Crisp Recipe

Ever since I started using quinoa cereal flakes in crisp and crumble toppings I've been dreaming of making an apple crisp. In the past I've used a pancake mix, or a blend of gluten-free flours to make a sugary topping. But quinoa flakes kick it up to a new level of flavor (not to mention, add a whole grain goodness to the endeavor). The texture is delightfully light. And the organic coconut oil gives it a buttery melt-in-your-mouth delicacy I haven't enjoyed since giving up moo-cow dairy.

Ingredients:

6 apples (Macintosh, Delicious, Pink Lady, Gala)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons tapioca or arrowroot starch
1 cup quinoa flakes
3/4 cup brown rice flour (or sorghum flour)
1 cup organic light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup organic coconut oil

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8x11-inch gratin or baking dish with vegan buttery spread. Set aside.

Peel and core the apples. Slice them and toss into a bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice and toss to coat. Add the maple syrup and stir. Dust with tapioca starch and stir again to coat the slices. Pour the slices into the prepared baking dish.

In a mixing bowl, combine the quinoa flakes, brown rice flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and sea salt and whisk to blend. Add the coconut oil in pieces and using a whisk or a pastry cutter, cut the coconut oil into the flour blend until you have an even, sandy mixture.

Spoon the mixture all over the top.

Bake in the center of a pre-heated oven for about 20 minutes. Cover the top loosely with a piece of foil and continue to bake for another 20 minutes or so (depends upon the size/type of apples), until the apples are fork tender and the sides of the crisp are bubbling. (The foil will help keep the topping from browning too much.)

Allow the crisp to cool before serving- though slightly warm it is luscious. We had leftover apple crisp the next day, chilled, right out of the fridge, and Darling it was fabulous cold, too. It tasted like apple pie.

Serves 8.

Baking time : 40 to 45 minutes.

Recipe Source: glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com
All images & content are copyright protected, all rights reserved. Please do not use our images or content without prior permission. Thank you. 

G-free apple crisp warm from the oven. It's also fabulous chilled.

Karina's Notes:

Quinoa flakes make this crisp and crumble topping light and delicate. If you cannot find quinoa cereal flakes (check your local market's hot cereal section) you can order them on-line. Yes, I suppose you could substitute rolled oats- but I find even gluten-free rolled oats rather tough to digest, and they make a heavier gluten-free apple crisp. Not nearly as lovely as using quinoa flakes.

I used brown rice flour and it was perfectly flavorful. You don't need starches- or xanthan gum- in this topping recipe. If you need to be rice free, I suggest sorghum flour.

To keep it completely starch free, omit the tapioca starch in the apple filling. I did, and it worked beautifully- though the juices would be thicker if you add the starch.

This fabulous recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, corn-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, and xanthan gum free. Holy tap dancing Goddess. That's a lot 'o free.

Enjoy sugary treats in moderation. Gluten-Free Goddess advises consuming no more than 2 tablespoons of sugar a day.

My Favorite Gluten-Free Winter Recipes

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Warm up Winter with cozy gluten-free recipes.

Celebrate Winter 2013
Cozy up and find sustenance with my updated collection of winter recipes, from classic comfort food like gluten-free mac and cheese, to nourishing slow-cooked stews and hearty healing soups that warm you body and soul. From cider roasted vegetables and turkey enchiladas to holiday goodies like Flourless Chocolate Cake, you'll find plenty of winter favorites to keep you well fed.

Lovely, easy roasted red pepper hummus

appetizers + bites
Hazelnut Crackers
Hot Artichoke Dip Hummus Tahini with Spiced Olive OilParmesan Crisps and Roasted Tomato SalsaPecan CrackersPotato Chips - Gold + Sweet PotatoesNachos Fabuloso
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Savory Vegetable Pancakes Sweet Potato Latkes Warm Winter Salad with Squash and PotatoesWinter Pesto

Butternut Pecan Scones

breakfast + brunch
Applesauce Crumb Cake with Cinnamon
Big Banana Muffins
Butternut Pecan Scones Breakfast Brownies

Chocolate Gingerbread 
Corn Muffins- new! Eggs Diablo on Soft Polenta
English Muffins 

Fritatta with Brown Rice Penne
Gluten-Free Donuts Gold Potato Frittata
Hot Buckwheat Cereal and Maple-Cinnamon ApplesMediterranean Pasta Frittata with Goat Cheese

Pancakes- the best GF recipe Pear Polenta Muffins
Pumpkin BreadPumpkin Corn Muffins
Pumpkin Donuts
Pumpkin Pancakes Pumpkin Pie Bread
Pumpkin Scones with Maple Icing Pumpkin Waffles
Quinoa Breakfast CakeQuinoa Muffins with Pecans and Dark Chocolate Roasted Vegetable Cheddar Quiche
Roasted Vegetable Noodle KugelSour Cream Blueberry MuffinsSweet Potato Coffee CakeSweet Potato CornbreadSweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas

Butternut + Bean Chili

soup, stew + chili
African Bean and Sweet Potato SoupBuffalo Sausage Stew
Butternut + Bean ChiliCelery Soup with Fennel with Ryeless Rye CroutonsChicken Soup for Body and Soul Cranberry Buffalo Roast Stew
Cream of Broccoli Soup with Coconut Milk
Curried Butternut Soup aka Sunshine Butternut SoupIrish Potato and Cabbage Soup- with sausageKarina's Beef StewNew Mexican Stew with Ground Turkey and Green Chiles

Mulligatawny Detox Soup Roasted Vegetable Chowder
Santa Fe Pumpkin ChowderSweet Potato Soup with GingerTurkey SoupTwo Artists ChiliWhite Bean Chicken Chili

Asian style turkey meatballs with brown rice noodles.

main dish + comfort food
An Easy Savory Winter Vegetable Ragout with Shaved ParmesanBaked Chicken Chili Rice CasseroleBaked Mac and Cheese - Dairy-FreeBalsamic Roasted Pepper ChickenBeef and Potatoes au Chocolat
Beef in Pomegranate SauceCreamy Sauced Pasta with ArtichokesCrunchy Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs for Topping CasserolesEasy Melted Peppers and Dags (yes, dags)Garlicky Shrimp and Spinach Bake with Mozzarella

Good Karma Meatloaf Pie
Holiday Turkey Enchiladas
Irish Cottage Pie
Jazzed Up Turkey Tetrazzini
Kicked Up Baked Mac and Cheese
Maple-Apricot Glazed Meatloaf

Pasta Frittata with Kale
Peanut Chicken Stir-Fry
Penne ArrabiataPork Roast in Apricot Mushroom Sauce
Quinoa Stuffed Cabbage with Roasted Sweet Potato
Roasted Acorn Squash Risotto

Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
Savory Vegetable Kugel
Smoked Salmon and Spinach Goat Cheese Strata
Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

Spaghetti with White Vegetables and Pine Nuts
Stir-Fry Veggie Bliss
Turkey + Sweet Potato Enchiladas
Turkey Meatballs with Asian Noodles 
Turkey Meatloaf with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Pecan Crust
Turkey Nachos
Vegetarian Putanesca


side dish
Acorn Squash with Attitude (Green Chiles)
Balsamic Roasted Veggie Smothered Baked Potato
Cheesy Uncheese Sauce
Dijon Roasted Vegetables
Horseradish Spiked Red Potato Salad- Serve Warm

Karina's Gluten-Free Latkes and Cinnamon Applesauce
Karina's Kicked Up Colcannon (Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage)
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash + Cornbread Stuffing with Curried Apples and Cranberries

Pinon Rice Bake with Feta
Pomegranate Glazed Green Beans and Portobellos
Pumpkin Polenta

Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf
Quinoa Salad with Pears, Baby Spinach and Chick Peas in Maple Vinaigrette

Rice Pilaf and Variations
Roasted Blue, Red and Gold Potato Wedges
Spanish Brown Rice Bake with Onion, Green Chiles and Tomato
Skillet Cornbread with Green Chiles

Vegan Scalloped Potatoes

Always a favorite- gluten-free banana nut bread.

bread, scones and muffins
Banana Blueberry Muffin Cake
Banana Nut Bread
Butternut Pecan Scones
Chocolate Muffins 

Easy Buttermilk Flatbread
English Muffins
Favorite Gluten-Free Bread
First Loaf in My Gluten-Free Bread Machine

Gluten-Free "Rye" Bread
Gluten-Free Multigrain Sandwich Bread
Make Mine a Gluten-Free Cheese Sandwich


Old Fashioned Gluten-Free Baked Donuts
Orange Scented Soda Bread

Pumpkin Bread with Walnuts
Pumpkin Muffins
Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel Topping
Pueblo Bread- with green chiles

Pumpkin Chai Bread with Cranberries
Pumpkin Pie Bread
Pumpkin Scones with Maple Nutmeg Icing


Skillet Cornbread with Green Chiles
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Sweet Potato Cornbread

Whole Grain Olive Bread

Coconut flour apple cake.

winter sweets
Almost Sausalito Cookie Bars
Apple Crisp (with quinoa flakes)
Applesauce Crumb Cake with Cinnamon

Banana Almond Bundt Cake
Blondie Style Quinoa Bars with Dark Chocolate Chips
Brown Sugar Buckwheat Thumbprint Cookies 
Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Dark Chocolate Chunks
Chocolate Cupcakes with Coffee Icing 

Chocolate Gingerbread 
Chocolate Layer Cake
Chocolate Quinoa Brownies
Chocolate Sorbet
Chocolate Truffle Cake

Coconut Flour Apple Cake
Coconut Frosted Banana Cupcakes
Coconut Layer Cake
Coffee Biscuits with Chocolate Chips
Cranberry Peach Crumble

Dark Chocolate Brownies

Flourless Chocolate Cake
Frosted Banana Spice Cake
Frosted Carrot Quinoa Bars

Gingersnaps and Star Cookies
Lemon-Iced Ginger Thins

Maple Frosted Pumpkin Cake
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
Peanut Butter Quinoa Cookies
Pie Crust Recipes

Pumpkin Bars- new recipe
Pumpkin Cheesecake 
Pumpkin Crumb Cake
Pumpkin Pie with Praline and Pecan-Coconut Crust
Pumpkin Quinoa Cookies

Raspberry Coconut-Almond Bars


Snowy Lemon Cookies
Sweet Potato Pie
Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake

Cooking Gluten-Free By the Seasons

Winter Holiday Menu

10 Vegetarian Christmas Recipes

Slow Cooker + Crock Pot Recipes

My Favorite Autumn Recipes

 My Favorite Summer Recipes

My Favorite Spring Recipes

Gluten-Free Corn Muffins - A Spicy New Recipe

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Our newest gluten-free muffin recipe- grainy and tender with a hint of spicy.

My heart is often tugged in multiple directions. Yanked this way, and pulled that way. Like one long, drunken walk of contradiction. Opposing strategies, assumptions, and intentions collide and churn and grip my emotional little pump like a fist- far more often than I care to admit. For all kinds of reasons. If I was a believer in astrology I would now confess my Gemini imprint. Which allegedly explains my dual nature and divergent tendencies. I have always pursued two paths at once, and wrangled opposites like the celestial twins I supposedly embody. But the only current subscription card I carry is not to the stars above in any connect-the-dot sense, but to the Big Kahuna. The Mother of All. That's right.
Love.
That's why this past year was so tough, Babycakes. 
So much anti-love. So much devoted divisiveness. So much snide finger pointing and blame. So much snark and cynicism. So much collective denial. So much hurt and incredulity for anyone who has a heart. Or tenders a tendency to listen rather than rail. And this year's ending. Its post-hurricane holiday season bruised by glass-eyed shock and long, long heartache. Every mother in the world nested that cold pit of terror darkly inside her deepest, secret place. That place without words. The terror is clean and razor sharp. It beats, too, like a heart.
So I must write about it. In words that sting and stutter in their inadequacy.
I am tired of our culture of death. I am weary of our appetite for power and violence. I am numb from the depth of greed that poses as success.
I tell you this because I must. I have no choice, truth be told. I gotta talk about it. If you visit for the recipes only, or stop by for encouragement and celiac support, you may be raising an eyebrow right about now. You might prefer fun and perky chit chat. Not all this complicated feeling stuff. I know.
Recipes, inspiration and support- it's all here for you. My family and I knit our love of good food and gluten-free support for you. We have for seven years. And will continue to do so in the new year. 
But you should know- goddess status aside- I struggle with this stuff every day- just like you. I know you do, too, because you are here right now. Reading these words. You care. You love. You worry. You are tired of the superficial, the weak reasoning, the shrugging dull acceptance that this is the way it has to be. Because you know- like I do- it doesn't.
Love can win. Light can penetrate the darkest hour. Denial can be pinched and prodded awake. Common sense values can be sexy. Golden Rule ethics are still hot. Still small voices can be excavated. And heard.
I am turning to the new year with hope for a better one. Where not one single child is riddled with bullets (is this really too much to hope for?). Where our political process is governed by doing the right thing- and not by money, and its corporate culture of greed. Where guns are not sexy. And our appetites are hungry for knowledge, art, culture and truth.
I know, I know. My Age of Aquarius hippie artist proclivities are showing.

And if I could? I would invite you all over for cocoa and muffins. I would make you a big bowl of mulligatawny and hand you my favorite spoon, and play some Yo Yo Ma and James Taylor on the HiFi. We could watch the deer outside the kitchen window as snowflakes spin their magic just before dark. The recipe I would make would be this new corn muffin recipe spiked with spicy green chiles and golden pumpkin.

A match made in heaven.

Or hatched by a Gemini goddess wrestling with light and dark.

You decide.

Warm from the oven corn muffin, waiting for butter.

Gluten-Free Corn Muffins - A Spicy New Recipe

Steve whipped up these chile studded golden morsels of corny goodness this week to have on hand for the Crock Pot stew and soup we planned to make. These would also be killer with this chili.

As we started gathering ingredients for our favorite corn muffins, we just so happened to have some leftover canned pumpkin in the fridge. And some Trader Joe's roasted green chiles. What happened next? A new recipe was born.

Ingredients:

1 cup sorghum flour
3/4 cup (gluten-free certified) cornmeal
1/2 cup potato starch (not potato flour)
1/2 cup organic light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon GF chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 free-range organic eggs, beaten
1/2 cup expeller pressed organic Canola oil
1/2 cup warm milk or non-dairy milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin or winter squash
1 4-oz can chopped roasted green chiles, drained
A sprinkle of cinnamon and GF chili powder for topping

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 375ºF. Line a 12-muffin tin with paper liners.

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the sorghum flour, GF cornmeal, potato starch, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, sea salt, chili powder, and cinnamon.

Add in the eggs, oil, milk/non-dairy milk, pumpkin and beat until a smooth batter forms. You can use elbow grease and a wooden spoon, or your trusty mixer.

Stir in the chopped roasted green chiles by hand.

Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, and smooth out the tops with wet fingers. Sprinkle with a touch of cinnamon or chili powder.

 Bake in the center of a preheated oven for 20 minutes, until domed and golden. The tops should be firm to a light touch. Test doneness with a clean toothpick, if you like.

Cool the muffins on a wire rack. Serve warm for fabulous flavor.

Wrap, bag and freeze leftover muffins to preserve fresh-baked texture and taste. Reheat on a griddle with a dab of butter, or olive oil.

Wonderful with a bowl of hot soup or chili. Delicioso with Mexican food.

Makes one dozen muffins.


Recipe Source: glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com
All images & content are copyright protected, all rights reserved. Please do not use our images or content without prior permission. Thank you. 

Karina's Notes:

For my vegan companions- Steve made this corn muffin recipe with eggs, but I know they'd also work with Ener-G egg replacer. See this older corn muffin recipe for proof.

We used organic soy milk- but any milk or plain non-dairy milk will work.

No pumpkin on hand? I've also made a version of these using cooked sweet potato. 

As for flour changes- I hesitate to recommend any rice flours these days. I'd say- use your favorite blend- but- realize you may not achieve the lovely crumb we got here, with sorghum flour, cornmeal and potato starch (there really is a difference in GF flours- the blends we are whisking up these days are not gummy or gritty or dense- they are light and tender). 

Remember to keep your added ingredients on the room temperature to warm side- adding in ice cold pumpkin puree or milk will chill down the batter and require a longer bake time. 

Happy New Year!

Black Tie Birthday Bash- Mea and Eva's Themed Party!

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Dear Diary,

The girls' birthday party this year was a lot of fun! Months ahead of time, they started brainstorming.  Mea wanted to know what theme we should chose.  "What could we dress up like?" she asked.  This apple is not falling far from this tree. There is no denying it... we love dressing up! We invent reasons to do so.  And Birthdays are a perfectly good reason to do something silly.

Adults are invited (encouraged) to participate as well... (its all for the kids, right?)  HOWEVER! Allow me to layout my disclaimer: Rest assured... nobody is required to dress up... in fact, nobody has to do anything that will make them too uncomfortable. We want everyone to come and enjoy and we love you no matter what! I know that some of my friends and family wince at these ideas... "Oh gosh, Sarah, what do I have to do? What do I have to wear?"  "Really? Can't we just have a normal birthday party?"  I have come to understand that dressing up and being totally ridiculous is not fun for everyone.

The birthday party is meant to be a celebration of life!  It should be fun for everyone.  Those who want to come and be peanut gallery observers to all the silliness- perfect!  Believe me when I say that us HAMS totally appreciate your role.  I think it is more than fair to agree... as long as you aren't negative about what I am doing doing, I promise not to give you a hard-time.  

So, without further adieu, this year, the theme was... (drum-roll please!)...  BLACK TIE BIRTHDAY BASH!  Mea wanted everyone to dress up in their prettiest things, "like their real clothes and look really pretty and handsome."
  
We sent a red carpet themed evite.
The invitation read:

Mea and Eva request the pleasure of your presence at the most sought after event of 2012- their “Black Tie Birthday Party! 

COME RED CARPET READY! The preshow will begin on the red carpet with photo opts and VIP interviews. "Who are you wearing tonight?"

Special note to the talent’s agents, managers, stylists and staff: Please prepare for a possible impromptu talent show.
We went and got some red pillow cases and sheets at salvation army to lay down a red carpet rug.  We printed off some direction arrows to the red carpet and photo area.  I set up a little backdrop (thanks Jill for cutting out the bow-ties) with twinkly lights and balloons.

Dad is a super good sport too! Nice bow-tie!

We printed out "backstage pass card... and lad lanyards for people to where they areound their neck.  they had titles on it such as official photographer, stylist, agent, producer, talent etc.

  
Some people want to get silly but either they have no idea what to wear or they have anxiety. "If you do it, I will do it."... "Are you going to look cute or ridiculous?"  I always have extra props and costume pieces laying around the day of the party... and once everyone is warmed up, more people join in for a photo opt or two.  I happen to have a ridiculous collection of wigs and hats (halloween stuff from over the years). 

The little gentlemen looked so adorable!


Some famlies came in full rock star mode and aunts and uncles were dressed to the nines! (What does that mean?) I can't find all the photos right now.

We set up a "SWAG ROOM"... for kids to take home some little prizes:

 

Before cupcakes, we had a talent show.  The girls sang their favorite song: Avril's "complicated".  Everyone who wanted to got a turn to sing or dance or show off their best somersault.  Some kids introduced themselves on the mic.  Where was the video camera?... uncharged but I can tell you that I have a mental recording of it that will stay with me.
Eva threw a fit when I starting clapping before she was finished.  This mamma will learn to be more patient but my little diva has to also learn to share the spotlight :)  Where does she get it?

The talent show continued with a (shirtless? and somewhat dangerous) dance off!
 
  All in all, a GREAT TIME!  We are so fortunate to have awesome friends... who can show up and make themselves at home in all the chaos.  And we have family that is loyal and loving beyond belief.  A special thanks to my friend Jen for helping to make this day special for the girls.