Decadent Double Chocolate Muffins Gluten Free Vegan

      It's been a while since I posted a baked dessert recipe here on the blog. That doesn't mean though that I've stopped experimenting in the kitchen.  If you've been following me in Instagram, Facebook or Twitter,  (I hope you are.) I'm sure you are aware that I'm spoiling the kids too much by always giving them freshly baked goods.  Hey, it's part of my job as a mom right? 

      Among the pictures I posted on Instagram lately, this Decadent Double Chocolate Muffins got the most requests for me to share the recipe.  I guess describing it super moist and made with lentil flour generated some extra curiosity.  What do you think?  Does it sound intriguing? 

    Anyway, for the past few months, I've been testing several protein rich naturally gluten free flours such as lentil, chickpeas, mung bean and even tiger nuts.  Child #3 in particular needs extra protein. Aside from that, we're already big rice eaters so I want to produce treats that are not only yummy but healthier as well.   

     While I'm writing this post, I've been going back and forth whether I'll call it a muffin or a cupcake.  Unlike most muffins, these are very light, soft and spongy.  The texture close to an angel food cake.  Without icing though, I can't officially call these cupcakes.  Anyway, I just decided to call it muffins.  If ever you need to make cupcakes, you can make these and top it with some healthier Creamy Chocolate Frosting.  I'm sure it will be a hit to any party.  

         Who says you have to feel guilty when you eat something decadent?  Give these a try and let me know what you think.  

          Have a great weekend!

- Roz

Ingredients:

2 Tbs. ground flax seeds
6 Tbs. water
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup nondairy milk ( I used flax milk)
2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup avocado oil (or canola, grapeseed)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup organic raw sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Flour mix
1/4 cup arrowroot flour
1/3 cup potato starch
1 cup lentil flour
1 Tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line two (12 standard sized) muffin tins with cupcake liners or silicone cups.
2. In a small bowl, combine the flax seed and water to make .  Mix well and let it stand for at least 5 minutes.
3. Add the apple cider vinegar to the non dairy milk. Stir and set aside.
4. In a medium size bowl, shift the ingredients of the flour mix.
5. With the mixer running, cream the sugar, avocado oil, apple sauce and flax seed goo until light and fluffy.
6. Alternately add the flour mix and non dairy milk.  Start and end with the flour mix.
7. Mix for about 1 minute.
8. Stir in half of the chocolate chips.
9. Fill prepared muffin tips up to 3/4 full.
10. Top with remaining chocolate chips.
11. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
12. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 and bake for another 10-13 minutes or until the toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
13. Remove from the muffin tins and let it cool on top of a cooling rack.
14. Enjoy!

Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Tickets Giveaway

     Hello TFMfriends!  I have a great news for you today. I've just teamed up with Kathleen of the blog My Best of Both Worlds to bring you this awesome giveaway.  

       If your children (and you) are fans of Disney Princesses like me, I'm sure you will be excited to win the 4 tickets to the Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales show on April 16 at Nassau Coliseum in New York. 

     Read Kathleen's article below about it and don't forget to click the Entry form link for the giveaway. 

         Who's your favorite Disney Princess by the way?  Mine is Aurora!  

         Good luck!

- Roz

         

Welcome to the

Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Giveaway

Sponsored by

Feld Entertainment

Hosted by

My Best of Both Worlds

Disclosure: My Best of Both Worlds is publishing this Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales giveaway post in exchange for receiving complimentary tickets to the show from Feld Entertainment. No other compensation was received in exchange for this post. The blogs that are participating in promoting this giveaway have not been compensated and are not responsible for selecting a winner or fulfilling the prize.

My Best of Both Worlds is very pleased to host the Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Giveaway!!!

Images provided by Feld Entertainment[/caption]

If you want to read all about Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales and where it will be in the New York Metro are just click here Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales is coming to town you'll get the low down and all the details to purchase tickets to see the show.

And now what you've been waiting for!

One lucky reader will win a family four pack of tickets to see

Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales

on

THURSDAY APRIL 16

at

7 pm

NASSAU COLISEUM

Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt. This enchanting journey features more than 25 Disney characters in an unforgettable theatrical experience for all families.

Images provided by Feld Entertainment

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 year and older. The giveaway ends on 3/11/15 at 1o:00 pm. A winner will be randomly chosen, once the winning entry has been verified, an email notification will be sent to the winner from My Best of Both Worlds. The winner will have 24 hours in which to respond to the email to claim their prize. If there is no response within the 24 hours another winner will be randomly selected then verified. Feld Entertainment is responsible for awarding the prize a family four pack of tickets to Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales for at Nassau Coliseum on April 16th at 7 pm.

GOOD LUCK!!

To join the giveaway, click this Entry-Form

If you are interested in having My Best of Both Worlds

review or promote your products or services~

please contact

Kathleen@mybestofbothworlds.com

Disclosure: My Best of Both Worlds will be receiving complimentary tickets to the show from Feld Entertainment. No other compensation was received in exchange for this post. All opinions are true and my own. Feld Entertainment is responsible for awarding the prize a family four pack of tickets to Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Giveaway for April 16th at 7 pm

The blogs participating in this giveaway received no financial compensation of any sort in exchange for this publication and they are is not responsible for selecting the winner or the prize. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, and any other social media are not affiliated with this posting or giveaway. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Food Babe's White Bean Chili

        Have you read The Food Babe Way by Vani Hari?  For those who are not familiar with Vani, she is the creator of the highly successful blog called Food Babe. With a mission to expose the unhealthy ingredients in common, well loved brands such as Subway and Kraft, this passionate health advocate is both loved and highly criticized by the industry.

      I came across Vani's blog early last year while I was doing some research regarding the hidden toxins found it food.  At that time, she just exposed one of the ingredients found in Subway's bread.  Though my children were not eating from the chain restaurant anymore due to their food allergies, I was still appalled to learn that even brands that market themselves as healthy are still using unnecessarily additives on their products.  For someone who's been really keen about what my family eats, I'm glad that there's someone who's willing to take the time to tackle this enlightening as well as controversial issue.

      The food allergy community I am in has mixed feelings towards The Food Babe. In one of her articles for instance, she advised her readers to "tell their food servers that they have food allergies to make sure that their order will come out as what they liked".  For someone with two children who are high risk for anaphylaxis and yes, a real pain in the butt when we eat at restaurants, that type of statement has a big impact on me.   What if the a food server read that and didn't take my food requests seriously? 

         Aside from that incident, I have to say, I still visit her blog once in a while.  After all, she does provide topics that are interesting and practical tips.  So, when I was contacted to preview her new book, I grabbed the opportunity.   

         If you are into healthy eating, I suggest you'll take the time to read The Food Babe Way .  The first part of the book contains a list of ingredients that are may cause harmful effects to the body.  For a label reader and food allergy mom such as myself, this is really handy to have on hand.

         The second part contains her tips on losing weight and having more energy.  This includes a day by day guide on forming healthier habits.  She also included some easy to make recipes such as the White Bean Chili below.  This gluten, dairy, nut, egg and soy free recipe is not only safe for my kids to eat, they actually liked it.          
           

           

      To sum up, I actually enjoyed reading the The Food Babe Way.  Even though she's not a scientist, she gave very interesting information that we can check out ourselves.  It was written in such a way that will make us think and pay more attention to our food before we eat.

      Personally, I would like to try her 21 days step by step program.  I'm still in working on losing that extra 25 pounds. If you would like to join me, you can grab a copy of her book, The Food Babe Way.   Let me know if you do so that I can start writing about it too.

        In the meantime, you can enjoy her recipe below.  It's great for this cold blasts.

        Happy Saturday!

- Roz   

(Note: I received a free copy of the book for this review.  This however didn't affect my thoughts and opinions about it.  Please see my full disclosure here.)

Food Babe's White Bean Chili Recipe

Ingredients:

2 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. smoked paprika
dash of cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. turmeric
8 large tomatoes, diced or 14-18 oz can diced tomatoes
2 15 oz. cans chick peas, rinsed and drained
4 cups vegetable broth
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 medium zucchini, diced

1. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot.
2. Add the onion, bell pepper, carrot, and garlic and saute until the vegetables are tender.
3. Add the spices and cook for one minute.
4. Add the tomatoes, chick peas and vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
    Season with sea salt and pepper.
5. Turn down the heat to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes.  Add a little water if more liquid is needed.
6. Add the zucchini and cook for about 2-3 minutes more.  Serve hot; store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Friday Freebies: SunButter, Wink Frozen Dessert Coupons and more

   Happy Friday Frugalista friends! I hope you are all warm and healthy today.

    Just a quick update, Child#4 was back in school this week. Child#3 is recovering quite well from his pneumonia. Hopefully,  the virus that's lingering in our house will soon die.  This arctic chill should have a purpose after all right?

      Anyway, for today I'm happy to share with you my coupon finds. You can print as many as you like.  This food allergy friendly products don't often have coupons so stock up.

      Also, have you signed up for the weekly newsletter? If you haven't,  just look on the right hand side bar and type in your email. As a TFM subscriber, every week (yup just once a week), you'll receive menu ideas, giveaway updates and deal alerts. The best part, it's all free! It's my gift for you hardworking food allergy friends.

         Have an awesome and safe weekend.


- Roz
(Note: This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my full disclosure here.)



Grocery Coupons

Wink Frozen Desserts - 75 cents off one (1) pint 

SunButter - $1.00 off any Sunbutter product

Tasty Bite - $1.00 off any product 

Beanitos - $1.00 off on any two (2) Beanitos 6 oz bags

Harvestland Review and $5 Coupon Giveaway

      One of the most important outcome of my children's food allergies is our family's deeper awareness on what is in the food we eat.  During my elementary days, I remember being trained to eat a variety of foods specifically fruits, vegetables, meats/protein, grains and oil.  In order to be healthy, we should avoid processed foods and choose food which are closest to it's natural state.  

      When I learned that I'm expecting my first child, I tried to make sure I provide the healthiest possible for my child.  That included breastfeeding for more than one year exclusively, cooking more at home and even making my own baby food.  Call me crazy but I did that to all four children.  

      After the kids were properly diagnosed with food allergies.  I became more strict with their food.  This meant I have to read everything on the label and even call companies if some of the ingredients were not clear.  

      Can you imagine my horror when I found out that majority of the basics such as milk, vegetables and yes, fresh chicken, pork, turkey and beef were loaded with unnecessary additives like antibiotics, hormones, preservatives and pesticides?  Who knew that the "natural" foods we learned to be healthier are actually filled with toxic products? Even worse is the reality that we are buying and consuming products from sick animals.  Oh and don't get me started on the things going on for ground meat products.  

        Anyway, that's when I decided that no matter how I like bargains, I would be willing to pay an extra dollar or more on the quality of the products I'll buy.  What's the point of spending hours planning meals and home cooking if my ingredients aren't healthy to begin with? 

          That's why when I was contacted by Momsmeet to review Harvestland products, I was so thrilled.  

        Though Harvestland has a wide selection of precooked and processed (sausages, chicken patties), I decided to stick to their fresh raw chicken.  Why?  Well, I want to compare Harvestland to the brands that are cheaper.  For this review, I focused on my favorite whole chicken.  

           As a seasoned home cook, I noticed right away that the Harvestland chicken doesn't have a really thick fatty skin.  Yes, I'm one of those people who actually remove most (not all) of the chicken skin before cooking.  Sad to say, there were times when I felt that about 1/5 of the amount I paid for is being thrown away.  

           For the two whole chickens I have, I used one to make Indian Spiced Roasted Chicken and the other for Chicken Tinola.  One both recipes, I realized that each dish has produced lesser water or juices. That meant I was able to get more meat per weight.  Who wants to pay for extra water weight? 

          Was the a significant taste difference that my children can detect on those dishes?  Not really.  However, I'm glad they are actually eating not only a delicious meal but healthier as well --- no antibiotics, pesticides, steroids, hormones.  Don't just take my word for it.  Harvestland is USDA Process Verified.  

       Since it's almost Valentine's day, I would like to give you a simple treat.  I'm giving away a $5 Harvestland coupon to two (2) loyal readers here in the US.  The giveaway starts today and will end on Feb. 27, 11:59pm EST.

          Sounds good?

- Roz

         
(Note: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet Program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.  As a MomsMeet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog.  My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group, LLc or the manufacturer of this product.) 

       

  

           

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Gluten Free Around the World Cookbook Review & Giveaway

        I remember the day when I first learned about Child#3's multiple food allergies.   We were at the Pediatric Gastroenterologist's office.  He was so surprised that my son never showed any hives in spite of the high numbers of the results.

        Since he didn't want to make any drastic testings until the effects of food allergies are ruled out, he told me to remove all the food that my son is allergic to in our family's diet for at least two weeks or until he's seen by an Allergist.  At that time, he's allergens are wheat, dairy, egg, soy, nuts and peanuts.  

        "Are you kidding me?  What will my family eat? "  I'm sure I was not the first one to uttered those lines because he remained calm after my quite violent reaction.  He then asked me, "You are Asian right? (Is it obvious?) "I assume you were raised eating Asian food. Am I right?", he continued. After replying with two yeses, he smiled and said, "Good! Well, you can eat rice and stew.  I'm sure you know at least three kinds."   

         

           It was a light bulb moment for me.  For someone who's a self proclaimed food enthusiast, I'm fully aware that there are many Ethnic cuisines which traditionally don't require my son's allergens as an ingredient. That's when I started sharing about Child#3's dietary restrictions and asking for traditional recipes from my friends.  

        Then last year,  I came across Chef Aviva's new cookbook, Gluten Free Around the World . Though the availability of gluten free recipe books has gone a long way since my children were diagnosed, Chef Aviva's cookbook made me really excited.  

        With over 100 traditional gluten free recipe from countries like France, India, Italy, Ecuador, Morocco, Cambodia and more,Gluten Free Around the World is the ultimate buffet feast.  More than just a recipe compilation, this hard bound book is filled with beautiful non food pictures that show each country's unique culture.  Chef Aviva definitely did a great job "scrapbooking" her travels and giving us the ideas on how we can taste the food she had - gluten free of course.

          Another thing I liked about this cookbook is that the recipes are easy to make. It doesn't require hard to find ingredients too.  Though there are some recipes that contain my children's other allergens, I can easily use a substitute for it with good results.  Some of my favorites are Moroccan Chicken, Layered Ratatouille and Sweet Potato Leek Soup.  

        Getting jealous?  Don't be.  I've talked to Chef Aviva about you and she generously agreed to give a copy of the Gluten Free Around the World Cookbook to three (3) of my dear friends residing here in the US.  (Sorry Canada and other international readers. I'm working on something for you soon.)   

          There's no need to purchase anything. Just look at the Rafflecopter box below to see how you'll be able to get entries.  This giveaway starts today and will end on Feb. 24, 2015 11:59 pm EST. 

           Good luck! 

- Roz

(Note:  I received a free copy of the book from the author for this review.  Also, this post contains affiliate links.  Please see my full disclosure here. )

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Friday Freebies, Deals & Giveaways - Gluten Free, Food Allergy Friendly 2/6

         It's been a crazy week in my household.  That doesn't mean that I forgot you my dear friends.  

         Have you joined the MoPweeze Bakery Gluten Free Cupcake giveaway I'm currently hosting? If you haven't, click this link now.  They will ship the cupcakes anywhere in the US so don't miss your chance.            

       

          And since I know how much you love to save, check out the deals and giveaways I found this week.  I'm sure you will all enjoy them too. 

          Good luck!

- Roz

Jules Gluten Free Jumbo Baking Pack - Groupon $39 + $12 shipping (retail value of  $121.45)

          This deal includes (4) Cookie Mixes, (4) Corn Bread Mixes (2) Pizza Crust Mixes & 5 lb. All Purpose Baking Flour

         

Our friend Vegetarian Momma is celebrating her blog's 4th birthday. She is hosting a giveaway every day this month of February.  Currently, here are the items that you could win:

Better Batter Gluten Free Sampler Pack Giveaway
EZ Tofu Press
So Delicious VIP Coupons          
1 Year Subscription to Gluten Free + More Magazine
Gluten Free Living Books by Pam Jordan
Gluten Free Whoopie Pie from Monk Bakery

FREE GF Jules Gluten Free Flour Sample
             No strings attached and even the shipping is included.

40% OFF Gluten Free Kits by GlutenAway
             Enter Promo Code: GLUTENAWAYVIP