*Not all foods listed here are certified gluten free, they are simply made without gluten containing ingredients. You'll need to decide for yourself what foods you are comfortable eating.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Microwave Chocolate Cake

My friend Stacey sent me this recipe the other day (she got it from this blog) and last night I was having a huge chocolate craving so I gave it a shot. It definitely satisfied my chocolate craving but I would've liked it to be a little sweeter. My husband ate it too and we both agreed the consistency was great but it didn't have that sweetness we desired. I plan to make it again but I'll probably add a little sugar;) Sorry the picture isn't so pretty, we were getting ready to watch a movie and I was in a rush so the frosting literally got dumped on.

Here is the recipe: 

Microwave Measuring Cup Cake
Dry Ingredients:2 TBSP Sorghum Flour (Can use Brown Rice) *see note
2 TBSP Almond Meal, 
2 tsp Coconut Flour
, 1 TBSP Flax Meal, 
2 TBSP Potato Starch, 
1 tsp Baking Powder, 
1 ½ TBSP Cocoa Powder, 
¼ tsp Xanthan Gum, 
Pinch of salt
Wet Ingredients:3 TBSP Organic Applesauce (warmed in microwave 20 seconds)  **see note about using egg instead, which is what I used, 
3 TBSP Coconut Oil (melted in a 2 C measuring cup), 
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract, 
3 TBSP Pure Maple Syrup (Grade B is Preferred)
1) In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.

2) Add warm applesauce, vanilla, maple syrup and the coconut oil to the
 dry ingredients.  Leave a little coconut oil in the measuring cup and
 swirl it around to coat the sides.

3) Stir together all ingredients until well blended.

4) Pour cake batter into the measuring cup with the remaining coconut oil. Smooth top with a spoon.

5) Place cup in microwave and cook on high for 1 minute 40 seconds. 
Remove cup from microwave, let it rest for 30 seconds.

6) Run a butter knife gently around the edge of the cake, invert cup onto
 a plate and tap the bottom of the cup to release the cake.

7) Let cake cool for awhile (if you can wait!).  Frost with quick microwave
 frosting recipe. (below)

*Note:To make this cake grain free, replace the sorghum or brown rice with almond meal (in addition to the other almond meal).  Also tasty! 
**Note:  If you can tolerate eggs, replacing the applesauce with 1 egg does result in a taller, fluffier cake.

Microwave frosting
¼ C GF DF Chocolate Chips (Enjoy Life)
2 tsp Coconut Milk
1) Place chocolate chips and milk in a microwave safe bowl. 

2) Heat in microwave for 15-20 seconds.  Stir.

3) Heat in 10 second increments until most of chocolate is melted.

4) Stir until all chocolate is melted.

5) Spoon frosting on top of Measuring Cup cake and smooth across top
 and sides.  Now dig in!

Gluten Free Finds at Trader Joe's

 The other day I actually got to go to Trader Joe's by myself and had time to peruse the aisles. I found a few great new gluten free things (or at least they were new to me). I haven't had a chance to take pics of all of them but here is one of mine and Lauren's favorites- Mini Chicken Tacos. So quick and easy!  
I also found some gluten free chocolate chip cookies that were decent. 
I am LOVING their new corn pasta and for less than $2 a bag I'm buying a lot of it. So nice to not spend $4+ per bag of pasta. 
Our whole family is in love with the Applegate Farms hotdogs, they are actually made from real meat, have no nitrates, gluten or casein, and you can pronounce every ingredient in them (there are only 6 or so ingredients!). They are $5 for a pack of 6 but we think it's totally worth it since it's real food.