Gluten free tres leche cake success

I can honestly say I didn't think this experiment would work out. My cake base messed up with a box mix and I went back with my tried and true flour mixture. It was an adventure in itself. Out of the top 8, this has both eggs and milk. I will be experimenting to eliminate both in the future. :) 

Gluten free Tres Leche cake

Serves: 9-12 

Preheat oven to 350*. 

Ingredients for cake 

* 2 cups brown rice flour 

* 1 cup corn or tapioca starch 

* 3/4 cup milk 

* 2 cups sugar 

* 5 eggs separated 

* 2 teaspoons guar or xanthan gum 

* 3 heaping teaspoons baking powder 

* 3 teaspoons vanilla 

* 1/4 teaspoon salt 

Ingredients for pour over 

* 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream 

* 1 (14 oz) can evaporated milk 

* 1 (12 oz) can sweetened condensed milk 

Ingredients for frosting 

* 1 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream 

* 1/8 cup sugar  

* 2 teaspoons vanilla 

Directions 

Prepare a 9x13 pan with either butter or non-stick spray. 

In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Set aside. 

In a large bowl, combine the brown rice flour, corn starch, sugar, and guar or xanthan gum. Mix in salt, baking powder, and vanilla. Add eggs yolks and combine. Mixture will be more like a dough. Don't worry. Fold in egg whites and combine well. Pour mixture into pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes. 

While cake is baking, mix and whisk pour over ingredients together and set aside. 

In a separate bowl, mix cream and sugar for frosting. This will take about 5 minutes. Set aside. 

Allow cake to sit for 10 minutes once baking is complete. With a fork, prick about 12-15 holes in the cake. Also lift the sides to allow the mixture to be spread all over. Pour the pour over mixture on top of the cake. 

Set cake in the refrigerator to cool. 

After 10-15 minutes in the refrigerator, spread frosting on top and place back into refrigerator until serving.

 

Miracle noodles rock

Miracle noodles are just awesome in my book. 

A friend of mine tried them for her diabetic husband a few months ago. I was initially turned off by the package but wanted to find something that would satisfy my carb lovin' fill and not kill my calories/healthy eating each day. 

The package makes you think you'll eat nothing and the noodles, by themselves, are tasteless. The package feels like a weird, watered down solution. I was afraid my noodles would slip through my colander so I drained them in a paper towel in the colander before and after cooking. This is because the noodles are made from Glucomannan, a natural fiber.

Add spices and flavor and it's a no carb, no sodium, no starch,  no fat, no calorie addition to any meal. 

I used the "angel hair" in my chicken and veggie stir fry today and holy yum! 

I can't believe I waited so long to try them!

I am now a miracle noodle believer!!

Don't judge a student by their past

Today, I nearly lost it with a teacher. This doesn't happen much. However, she crossed that imaginary line that one has about a student's behavior. 

I was in the behavior unit today and things can go crazy to quiet at the drop of a hat. There's no preparation and I truly love each minute. The teacher entered the room.

The teacher interrupted my class, introduced herself in my class, and to the student she would be working with next week. At lunch, she then proceeded to tell me that she isn't sure how well this would work since she's seen the student at her worse and has heard things about her. 

Seriously?! Have you lost your mind lady? 

We ALL have our issues. We ALL have our meltdowns. We are human. 

Don't judge a book, or in this case student, by their cover. 

Give people a chance. They may surprise you!

Low carb, high protein, low sugar, low cal...Healthy eating frustrations

Bear with me as I just spill my thoughts in this post. I am frustrated and annoyed.

Why you ask? 

I've stopped losing weight. My first 55 pounds I lost was a combination of exercise and calorie counting. That was it. I didn't have to count my protein. I did keep my sugar in a normal range but I didn't have to agonize of why I lost weight. It just came off.

Enter in about six months ago. I just stopped losing weight. I am still building a little muscle but the scale isn't moving and it is frustrating. I've done high protein, low carb. That kept me full and I enjoy the high protein however, I didn't lose weight. I went back to what I did post-college and did calorie counting. It didn't work. I weigh and measure my food. Still, nothing. 

I refuse to take supplements, aka fat burners, since I want to keep it off. Plus I want to lose it healthy and not gain it all back after going off it. 

I really don't know what to do next. I am doing some more research and reaching out to some fitness gurus/friends who do this every day. Something has got to give. 

Sigh...one day I will start losing again. I just want to be healthy. I am eating well and hoping something will click again soon.

For now, I will keep doing what I am doing.

I don't want to be thin. I just want to be healthy.

Saying goodbye to Holly

Holly had a spot on my bed every night and morning. She was waiting at the door when I got home. She was one of the first things I saw each morning. She was spunky and sweet. She was stubborn and hardheaded. She ruled our roost and thought she was the BOSS. She was against our three other dogs.

  The Boss

Sleeping Peacefully on her blanket

Holly lived 17 years and really never saw herself as a dog. She thought she was a princess and lived until today. Today, April 16th, 2013, we had to put Holly to sleep. She cried out in her sleep and last night was the worst of all. She and I didn't get much sleep. She is my girl and she is now pain free!

Her favorite activity: car rides

I will miss you sweet girl!! 

Dealing with tragedy of today's world

My sister will be attending Law School in Boston. She will be starting in the fall. Once I heard of the explosions during the Boston Marathon, my heart sunk for the many families affected by the explosions that occurred during the race today. We had a few family friends at the race. Their 20 year old daughter was running it. One of my church members ran it too. Everything was hunky-dory until the first explosion went off.

Insert panic

Cell lines shut down, mass emergency personnel went running. Chaos occurred. Hell unfolded before people's eyes. I can't imagine the senses some have seen today. I can't imagine what went through their minds. I can imagine, though, my sister being in Boston and me not getting a hold of her. I can imagine being so scared that I can't talk with her.  

Relationships may not be the best but panic ensues when explosions occur. Panic of not hearing from your loved ones, not being able to communicate with them, and not having that instant communication. That, in itself, is just hard and unbearable. 

My heart goes out to those who were affected by today's chaos. My heart goes out to the families that are dealing with this event. My heart goes out to all who have to process and deal with this tragedy  This wasn't random. It was personal and planned. I hope justice is served and people are able to live their lives once they deal with the tragedy their own way. 

Hug your loved ones tonight. Say "I love you" and pray. No one can fully prepare for tragedy or panic before it occurs. How you respond can be remembered though.   

Squat-a-thon & #SpringToHealth

Two of my favorite workout peeps are doing two separate challenges that I am taking apart of this April. Won't you join? It mixes in squats, planks, and healthy eating. You do need a Instagram & Twitter account to participate in the #SpringToHealth challenge. For more information, click on the links below the pictures.


Girl Gone Healthy's April Squat-a-thon

#SpringToHealth's April challenge

Enjoy today!!