Recipe--Wacky Cake

I've had requests for some of my recipes lately. Today I'll share the Wacky Cake. Credit goes to Kathy Przywara, courtesy of kidswithfoodallergies.org.

Ingredients 1 1/2 cup flour (see below for gf options) 3 Tbsp cocoa powder (optional) 1 cup sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 Tbsp vinegar 5 Tbsp oil 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup water

Instructions Preheat oven to 350F. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Mix wet ingredients in a separate bowl and stir to combine. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until you get a smooth batter. Do not beat. Pour into greased and floured pan (8" square or 9" round) or 12 cupcakes. Bake in oven until tests done - about 35 minutes for cake, about 20 minutes for cupcakes.

Easter--the Green Way

Easter is upon us, and it's another holiday that finds me fighting old habits. The kids do not need baskets of corn syrup sweetened candy sitting in a bed of artificial plastic grass. This year I have changed my ways (a little).

I'm reusing last year's baskets, and last year's plastic eggs. The kids think they have to leave them out for the Easter Bunny to use. There will be candy, but it will be minimal. There are art projects, sunglasses, and outside games in the baskets. And the "grass" is biodegradable. I found it at Safeway!

I also have to share my favorite CA Green Solutions/Green Irene (http://www.cagreensolutions.com) recycling tip--all the foil that candy is wrapped in is RECYCLABLE! Hersey's kisses for everyone!

Minimal trash, minimal sugar, and smiles all around. Happy Easter!

I did it! A Safe Food Treat for All!

I volunteered to make "allergen free" cupcakes for the kids at school for Dr. Seuss's birthday celebration. By "allergen free" I mean: egg free, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, artificial coloring free, tree nut free, and peanut free. And they are corn free too.

These "Wacky Cake" cupcakes are easy to make, use pretty mainstream ingredients and are actually good! I topped them with safe frosting. Also easy, even though they did require palm shortening.

Yea! Something everyone can enjoy.

Paper Towels

Having house guests that still use paper towels is an eye opener to me. My family stopped using paper towels about a year ago. I read about a family that only used them for cleaning up "cat barf". That imagery stuck with me--now we usually have one roll in the house, for really disgusting clean ups. Besides that we use cloth napkins or rags.

My guests went through 2 rolls in 3 days! And there were only two of them. Wow. I guess we really are making a difference by using reusable cloth for clean up.

Sometimes it is the little things!