Weekend Baking: Birthday Cake (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

Was channeling my inner domestic goddess this weekend as I made two birthday cakes from scratch for my son's birthday party.  For the majority of our gluten and dairy eating guests - my son included, I made this delicious chocolate cake which is my go-to for birthdays, topped with this peanut butter frosting.

Since my best friend was in town (who's been GF/DF for years) and not wanting to miss out on the cake festivities myself, I made this gluten and dairy free chocolate cake with coconut cream frosting (note: recipe reads as vegan, but I subbed 4 flax eggs with 4 eggs).  Not trying to toot my own horn, but the cake was pretty delicious!  Highly recommend for anyone with dietary restrictions that just wants a real honest to goodness moist and flavorful chocolate cake that tastes like chocolate cake!

image/minimalistbaker

Friday Fun

It's the weekend!!  What a gorgeous week it's been in the Seattle area, crisp blue, cloudless skies, and the vibrant fall colors bursting on the trees, just beginning to carpet the ground.  My favorite time of year!  This weekend we're hosting friends for a little birthday party and friend gathering to celebrate our little guy's 2nd birthday, and other than that, planning to get outside to enjoy a lovely fall weekend!

+ Did you know Bill Gates and Steve Jobs raised their kids tech-free?

+ the aftermath of a canceled wedding

+ For Washingtonians, many recyclables are ending up in landfills - here's why

+ more than 800 people have been shot to death since the Las Vegas massacre...

+ if you've had a rough day, or read too many articles like the one above and just need a little laugh, watch this lip sync battle (if you don't have time for the whole clip, start at the 4:00 mark, Paul Rudd is hilarious!)

+ the return of Stranger Things! anyone else watching this weekend?

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September Favorites

+ nutpods dairy/gluten-free, whole 30 approved coffee creamer

+ these handy dandy name labels for my kids clothing and supplies

+ la la land and hidden figures (both now on HB0 streaming)

+ speaking of movies, have you seen captain fantastic, so, so good! (streaming on amazon prime)

+ reading a bunch of chic lit "beach reads" by this author, so far my favorites are the perfect match, waiting on you, and anything for you

+ this "pizza" spaghetti casserole (paleo, gluten/dairy free)

+ almond flour crackers and dark chocolate sea salt with pumpkin seeds (both at Costco)

+ this Ed Sheeran song...swoon

Weeknight Baking: Chocolate Zucchini Bread (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan)

While our summer garden is fading fast, we recently picked the few remaining zucchini off the vine, and with no other plans for the produce, we opted to make zucchini bread!  My daughter made chocolate zucchini bread at a cooking camp this summer, and has been eager to replicate the recipe in our own kitchen ever since. Thus, my little sous chef and I decided to make this delicious chocolate zucchini bread together.  While it wasn't quite her recipe, she did enjoy grating the zucchini, sifting the cocoa powder, and stirring the various ingredients into the batter.

The recipe listed is vegan, but I substituted 3 eggs for the flax eggs listed, and it turned out just fine; moist, flavorful, and oh-so-chocolatey.  You really can't tell there's any zucchini in this bread, and it was sure was delicious!

image/minimalistbaker

Again

Frustrated, saddened, devastated, angered.  Again.  This keeps happening.  As if Sandy Hook wasn't enough.  No one needs to own an automatic assault rifle.  Look where it has gotten the United States.  We can change this, we need to change this now. Look at Australia who took strides in changing their gun laws.  If you feel helpless, confused, and want to do something, I encourage you to become a member of Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action and contribute your support to this fight. And read this.

Feeling all the emotions today.  My heart and thoughts are with the victims and their families.