Cupcake Bake-Off

 Here are the top scorers in the cupcake contest:
Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten Free Dreams Yellow Cake Mix and
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix.


Cherrybrook Kitchen scored the highest overall for flavor combined with appearance, making Cherrybrook Kitchen the Overall WINNER.


The Betty Crocker cupcakes received the highest scores overall for appearance and texture (very light and fluffy).  When combined with the scores for flavor, Betty Crocker came in SECOND Place overall.  



Thanks to all who baked the multiple batches of cupcakes and to the panel of judges!

Cookie Bakeoff

I hosted a GF CF Cookie Bake-Off a little while ago.  There were very few restrictions: all entries had to be
1) gluten-free, 2) casein-free and 3) un-iced.

Here are photos of big winners:
1st Place - Chocolate Chip.

2nd Place (the biggest surprise) - Chocolate Pumpkin.

There were 3 commercial entrants, but sadly, those finished at the bottom as they were either too dry, too sweet, flavor-free or a combination thereof.

Next up:  the Muffin Bake-Off, based on available GF mixes.  That will contain a more detailed review of each mix and the results.

Helping the Newly Diagnosed

What a small world.  It turns out that my newest friend's children were diagnosed last year as gluten-intolerant as was my friend (brought out by this pregnancy). They live in a small town and don't have access to specialty food stores or the GF wonderland of Whole Foods Market.  It was so lovely to share information on making a happy and healthy transition to a completely gluten-free house and to show them much of the great GF CF foods and cookbooks we love.

More Mold Than House

During my househunting trip yesterday I had a "fixer-upper" on my list. It looked great in the write-up -- a bit of land, house was gutted so we could finish it exactly to our liking, and a great price. One step into the house was already one step too far.  The problem wasn't the extensive water damage.

The inside was COVERED IN MOLD!!!  There were multiple dehumidifiers running full blast, but that won't fix the problem with the toxic mold.  This house should be condemned!  The local fire department should burn it down as a practice house or at least DEMOLISH IT. How could any realtor agree to list this property without disclosing the mold??!! Maybe s/he never actually stepped inside the house. Wish I hadn't either.

This photo doesn't even capture how extensive the mold was.

1st

Just getting started