I tried a new recipe last night that had me whooping up and down! Quick, simple, fun, and unfortunately able to pack on pounds if I am not careful. Here is the recipe that I adapted from one a got in an email from a friend. I don't know where the original recipe came from or I would give them credit. . .

GLUTEN FREE 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
Serves 2 if you want to share

1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons rice flour or gluten free flour mix without baking powder
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
pinch of salt
1 egg
3 tablespoons rice or soy milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) some nuts (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix
thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil, mixing well.
Add the vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts (if using), and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. May be eaten plain or topped with warm chocolate sauce, raspberry sauce or whipped cream.

This could also be a great last minute gift by putting the dry ingredients in a coffee mug, covering it with self-adhering plastic wrap, making a card with the rest of the ingredients and the directions and wrapping all in colorful cellophane. Let me know how this works for you.

Have a great week.

Loving Gluten-Free

Five years ago, I came across a Naturopath who started me on a road to life with a lot less pain. I'd been monitored by an internist for about 15 years and he was still scratching his head over my symptoms: swollen painful knees, rashes, bloating, gas, etc. I didn't get it. I ate healthy foods and exercised every day, yet I was a wreck!
The internist's take was this: knees-arthritis from an overactive immune system, rashes-?, bloating, gas-something I ate (but what?!) He couldn't give me any definitive answers. I tried the usual NASIDS without much relief. Enter the naturopath. . .
I went through the allergy testing and came up with an amazing number of foods that my body didn't like. . . foods with gluten, foods with casein, shell-fish, corn, in fact my naturopath recommended I eat an alkaline diet. Google that one for more info. It has made an incredible difference in my life. I am not pain free but I am still able to continue with my athletic lifestyle and enjoy it a lot more. Now I'm finding that there are millions out there just like me. If you are gluten-free and would like to share your experiences and especially any recipes or resources, I would love to share.