Working on the Diet

I have decided that it may be helpful if I start, occasionally, blogging about the gluten-free/dairy-free/paleo-type diet I am on. This go round with the diet has not been as easy as the first go round. The first two months of the diet, I knew there was a chance that the diet could prevent the need for surgery, so I really stuck to it and did a great job. Now that surgery is over, I find it a little more difficult to be so strict on the diet. However, I am doing pretty good, it is just a slower start than before. The main struggle I have had is not having anything sweet to eat (other than fruit). So I have been searching Pinterest for recipes over the past couple of weeks. Up until now, everything I have tried to bake (gluten free/dairy free) has miserably failed. Which is uncommon for me because I usually have no problem with baking/cooking. Anyway, I have recently found a couple of things that are really good and wanted to share for others who are trying to follow the same type of diet!

First, a vanilla cupcake recipe. I found this recipe on Pinterest. It says they are vanilla cupcakes, but I think they are more like muffins. Either way, Jordan and I both really like them! The first time I made them (the recipe makes 6) I just did plain cupcakes. We liked them so much I decided I would try to add some things into the cupcake/muffins. So, on Sunday, I made 2 with blueberries, 2 with sprinkles, and 2 with chocolate chips. (the chocolate chip ones are for Jordan- he doesn't follow the diet). Here is the recipe:

3 T butter, melted or coconut oil      (I used dairy free butter)
3 large eggs
1/3 cup organic sugar (if using honey, reduce to 1/4 cup)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut flour      (I used brown rice flour)
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Mix together butter, eggs, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl.Combine the coconut flour with the baking powder and mix together. Then, add to the butter mixture; whisking until there are no lumps in the batter. Put batter into 6 greased muffin cups or muffin cups lined with aluminum foil baking cups. Don’t use paper because the muffins will stick to the bottom of the baking cups. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Here is the link to the recipe site. She also has an icing recipe in her post that I have not tried.
alifeinbalance.net

The second item I wanted to share, is the Bisquick Pancake mix I found at Walmart! I rarely go to Walmart, but was very pleased with the amount of gluten free items they had. I haven't found a ton of stuff at HEB, but I have been told I will have better luck if I try the big HEB in Kyle. Anyway, I used almond milk, sunflower oil, an egg, and the bisquick and we had pancakes Sunday morning. Jordan and I both liked them and thought they tasted "normal". :)

For some unknown reason, this picture refuses to upload right side up. So, I guess sideways is better than nothing! :)