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On Friday night, we had our friends Mark and Erin over for our favorite dinner party meal as of late…
This salad with goat cheese, candied walnuts, and apples, Butterfied Burgers, and goat cheese potato salad with fresh chives. Dessert was the Ultimate Vanilla Cupcake…
We’re holding off on giving Summer whole eggs and wheat, and so taking Sarena’s advice, I subbed 1/2 all purpose gluten free baking flour and 1/2 brown rice flour + 1/2 tsp xanthan gum for the cake flour, and for the eggs, I used 2 TBSP flax seed gelled in 6 TBSP warm water.
The frosting was vanilla bean buttercream, and I loved how you could see the vanilla bean specks…
The verdict from our cupcake taste testers?
Really good but a little floury tastying. CD and I liked them, but thought they were too sweet, especially the frosting.
Stay tuned for Round 3…we have a winner!
{ 33 comments }
I can’t wait! I’ve had exactly one cupcake since I went gluten-free two years ago, and it was just okay … I’m looking forward to the HEAB approved cupcakes!
Coming soon Jennie. It’s one of Sarena’s (The Non Dairy Queen). Do you read her blog? She’s not gluten free but her husband is. So she has tons of great gluten free recipes.
I tend to think baked goods are too sweet usually too. Some people don’t understand. But when people say things are too salty… that’s what I don’t understand
Katie,
You are a girl after my own heart. Bring on the salt!
I think I must have similar tastes to Katie! Can always add salt to things, but generally I find baked goods ridiculously sweet. I’m trying to work out what to make for Misty’s first birthday party (how quick has the first year gone!?!) Cake? Cupcakes? Cookies? Think I’ve got some experimenting to do too. mmmm goats cheese salad, yummo. Anything topped with creamy salty goodness is a winner in my book
Hope you guys had a fun Halloween!
Lou,
I’ve been having so much fun party planning, and I know you will come up with some amazing treats for Misty’s birthday. Can’t wait to read about them. Make sure there is something salty on the menu for mama!
You guys crack me up with the cupcake testing! I want to come be a tester! The vanilla specks always make things seem more fancy and I think the fact that you can smell the vanilla makes the flavor really shine. Sounds like a delicious evening!
Love the salad recipe! Can’t wait to try out the butterfied burgers.
Happy Halloween. What’s Summer going to be dressed as?
Health Bee,
A Jack-O-Lantern!
That salad sound like it is right up my ally! What kind of dressing did it have (if any?)
Caitlin,
Oh my gosh, I am in love with the dressing I made and have been pouring what was left all over everything. I used the following recipe but subbed maple syrup for the honey and used regular balsamic vinegar. So good!
http://www.bellaeats.com/blog/2011/10/13/autumn-salad-with-apples-blue-cheese-candied-walnuts.html
Those cupcakes look like winners to me, and I reckon I could handle the buttercream
I wanted to say, on your last post, I can’t believe how big Summer is – and how gorgeous! She looks just like you
Eleanor,
I know – she’s growing up so fast. Thank you!
What a great dinner party! Can’t wait for round 3
Too sweet and a bit floury? I think that’s when you need to cut them in half and sandwich them back together with tahini
Hannah,
Wow, I love you. That is all.
These cupcakes look marvelous, as does the rest of your meal! What did you dress Summer up as today?? Happy Halloween, Heather!
Joelle,
We dressed Summer up as a Jack-O-Lantern, and I posted a pic of her today. So cute!
Love Love Love using vanilla bean!!! Gives it so much more flavor and I love the specks, too!!!
Happy Halloweeeeen!
Alex, I agree. So much more flavor than vanilla extract!
Ok…how long do I have to wait around for round 3?! Want it now!
Nothing is too sweet! You’re one of those people who I don’t understand. Kidding
I know you don’t like your desserts super sweet. But I do and I loveeee buttercream frosting!
And many times with GF baking…things can get that floury taste in a hurry. I’m excited for the Round 3 verdict and recipe!
Averie,
If we ever meet up, I think we should go Mexican. I’ll eat the chips, and you can have the fried ice-cream.
Sometimes GF flour is too sweet for me too. I usually have to add garbanzo or coconut flour. They look good to me though!
Why are you avoiding the whole eggs? And do you still allow her egg whites…er, part of the eggs?
You eat whole eggs correct?
Jen,
It is advised to hold off on egg whites and wheat for the first year as babies often have a hard time digesting the proteins contained in both, and yes, I eat the whole egg. The yolks are the best part!
Hey Heather,
This really isn’t directly related to cupcakes, but I really wanted to share it with you. This is an article from the local paper. I thought the study at Berkeley was particularly interesting…
http://www.registerguard.com/web/livinghealthfitness/27089829-41/yoga-allen-body-eating-mind.html.csp
Btw, your cupcakes look delicious and the buttercream… YUM!
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for sharing the article – that woman is doing cool work, and I totally agree that there is such a mind-body connection when it comes to yoga. Loved that her students rest in Savasana between each pose, and reading that really made me miss my practice – it’s a challenge for me to get to the studio these days, and I haven’t been doing much at home. Thanks again for thinking of me, and yeah, you really can’t go wrong with buttercream.
Can’t wait to see the winner! So excited!
I LOVE that vanilla bean paste. I found a jar at TJ Maxx and have been adding it to everything. So much better (I totally just typed butter! Haha!) than liquid vanilla extract! That’s quite the spread there girl! I really need to try that goat cheese potato salad…you must be a fan with as many times as I’ve seen it pop up here lately!
I’m loving this cupcake recipe testing…can’t wait to see round 3!
Heather,
Well, I bet you paid a lot less than I did at Williams-Sonoma! I really need to start going to TJ Maxx, and yes, you must try the goat cheese dressing – I add it to chickpeas, chicken, salmon – anywhere where you use mayo. It’s so yummy!
Wow, Summer looks so grown-up in your last post, Heather!!
Amazing, how fast time goes by! Hope you’re having a great fall over there! A chocolaty hello from Germany!!
Hi Marie-Sophie. Just ate some chocolate in your honor.
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