Zuchini lasagne

I saw a pinterest post for this so I had to try it. We can't have the regular lasagne since the pasta has wheat so this looks like the ticket. Not only does this give my gluten free one her italian fix but it sneaks vegetables to my youngest. Bwa ha ha!  Love it.
So I grilled the sliced zuchini (thank you God for my mandolin- watch the fingers) and made a meaty sauce. It took one whole zuchini per layer and I used a small dish (8x8).  So anyway.  I also didn't have mozzarella. I substituted colby cuz that's what I had.
Let the record show that I think I have an illness or syndrome.  I can never NEVER follow a recipe exactly as written. What is wrong with me?
My family loved it.  I would post a picture of the finished project but the family dug in so fast, I couldn't. 
Try a new recipe this week. Enjoy!

Tropical cupcakes

I was given the priviledge of making a cake and cupcakes for my niece-to-be's Bridal Shower.  We love her dearly and I was so jazzed about doing it.  So, my soon-to-be niece also happens to be Lactose Intolerant.  So, I put on my Baker's hat and wanted to make a really tasty and really unexpected.  So after scouring recipes, and websites and doing some research on Lactose free substitutions, I went to bed.  I had a very interesting dream that night about making cupcakes and the next day, I made the cupcakes!  They were really good so I decided to make them again for every-woman friendly.  I tend to bake from scratch, but not everyone does so simple and cheap is what I'm going for. 

First I started with a very simple cheap white cake mix from my local discount superstore! Then I got a can of pineapple, some vanilla extract, coconut and my splurge fancy brand eggs.  That's all I used in the making of these cupcakes. 

So, instead of 4 egg whites per the box instructions, I used 2 whole eggs.  I added the can of pineapple with juice, and about 1/2 -2/3 cup coconut.  I added 1 tsp of vanilla extract and mixed well, scraping once with a rubber spatula since the coconut and pineapple like to stick to the paddle on the mixer.  I did not have to add water or oil or any of the other stuff that you usually add to cake mix.

It made about 20 cupcakes. 

So, I baked them for about 30 minutes at 350.  I made a simple buttercream without butter...

They were so good!  I took a batch to Bible Study and everyone raved.  (If I do say so myself!)
So moist, and yummy and low in fat (except the frosting, because why make low fat frosting!)
I am going to try them again without the egg to see if I can make them totally vegan!  Then will try them again without gluten.  I used almond milk in the frosting and it was good and creamy and was still nice and white for when you need "White" frosting.  If you try these, then let me know what you do differently and how you liked it.  I'd love to hear back from you. 

And We're Back~

I know, it's been a while, but I've been kinda busy.  We made it through the holidays, (the first without my Dad) and it was kinda tough, but we did it.  Then there was my oldest's birthday!  She's 15!  I don't know how that happened, yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital!  Then within days, it was the 1 year anniversary of my Dad's passing!  We made it through that too. 

As many of you know, (I say "many" as if there are more than 2 people who even check in here) my husband was in a pretty bad car accident fall of 2011 where he suffered a pretty solid brain injury!  He's still working on the healing from that.  Last week, my oldest was in gym class and got banged on the head twice, rather severely!  The school nurse called and said, I should come and get her.  Her speech was v-e-r-y v-e-r-y- s-l-o-w.  (which is NOT like her!)  She's a pretty typical teenager and talks a mile a minute!  So off to the ER we go.  I'd been through this once before and was not going to miss this diagnosis and immediate treatment.  In the words of the ER Doc.  She "Got her Bell Rung" and was restricted from all screen time for 48 hours.  No, tv, computer, cell phone, no texting, to text.  He stops there and looks at me with my kindle out, and her with her book in her lap and says.  "Any text.   No Reading!"   Ah, now see that's a challenge!  She was not liking the tv/computer thing, but he lost her at no reading!

Well, we survived the 48 hours by sleeping!  Lots of sleeping!  She went back to school after the 2 days and now has about 5 quizes to make up and 15+ hours of homework to catch up! 

Oh, and on top of that, I have a wedding shower cake and cupcakes to do for this weekend.  I'll try to post pictures!