two great ideas. need your feedback....

not sure why this happened today... but I was introduced to two amazing ideas that wrap around my love of gluten free baking. since I live in a tiny mountain town, I am really reaching out to my local neighbors for some feedback about both ideas here they are:

1. I was helping out at the school's book fair today and spotted this book, "America's most wanted recipes, just desserts. In this book are over 175 recipes that duplicate some of americ's most loved desserts found at well known restaurants. But none of them where gluten free!!! What if I took every one of the recipes in this book and translated them into a gluten free version?? and had them available by subscription on a blog?? I could work from home, my own hours.... I could offer one or two recipes a week at the farmers market? or have a weekly bake sale at my home?

2. So I dream big!! I would love to open a vintage cupcake shop in this little town. It would only bake and sell gluten free cupcakes and desserts. Well, I found the most perfect space today. it has been a bakery before, a restaurant before. lots of supplies are still there and useable, most of the equipment is working. two patios. lots of parking. on the main hwy. and next to the most successful restaurant in town. close to the elementary school. The owner is very flexible about re-designing the décor. With a lot of paint, some new flooring and table and chairs... it would be the cutest sweet shop. Obviously I can't do it all alone. I would need to find a couple of others to partner with... but the biggest question is "can this town support a business like this?". It would be perfect for birthday parties, tea parties, small meetings. And a place to come and have a cup of coffee and a cupcake.

3. I could combine #1 and #2.

please leave comments for me!!!

baby bundt almond macaroon cakes.

love love love my new baby bundt pans!! so cute, the volumne of 2 good size regular cupcakes!
i love filling the middle with frosting, crème or curd! i will make another batch in the next couple of days. i have very ripe bananas so banana cake is on it's way!!

my baby bundt pan, almond macaroon cakes were so amazing....
i was so excited about taking these to my knitting group, i forgot to take a picture. darn! so sorry.

well, life has been very full lately. and when i am stressed, i bake. made these amazing almond macaroon cakes with raspberry jam and coconut frosting this weekend.
the other thing i do when i am stressed is eat. i had to get them out of my house!! or i would have eaten every single one of them!! the ladies at my knitting group did a big thumbs up for them!!

i baked using my original baking mix which combines, almond, coconut and rice flour, white sugar and baking powder, adding eggs, coconut milk, butter and almond extract.
i haven't been baking with white sugar, and boy did it taste super sweet!
not sure if my body was so happy about it either.

i thought i would concentrate on a coconut flour only mix, but i was reminded that my most favorite of my mixes is the almond and coconut flour blend, eliminating the rice flour and with coconut nectar crystals for sweetening instead of white sugar.
this weekend's baking really confirmed that for me. so that is what i will concentrate on.

i will offer a nut free version by special request. (eliminate the almond flour)
so with this in mind. i will be making up some of the mixes, finalizing some recipes, and moving forward!! i will be in the bay area the first week of april if anyone is interested in trying out this mix!! i know i will be running a special on it, so keep in touch.

my favorite pics.

white chocolate fudge creme recipe!!

this is the crème that I used on top of the chocolate chip donuts. it is very sweet, so you need just a bit on top.

in a double broiler-

melt 1 cup of mini marshmallows and a 1/2 cup-1 stick of butter and one can/14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk, once melted add slowly
one package of white chocolate chips-12 oz. stir until all melted and smooth!!
makes about 2 cups. I store in jelly jars in the frig. This is the most wonderful crème. Use it
as frosting, on ice cream, on a muffin, or - a spoonful is awesome!!

here I have made this recipe three ways. white chocolate on the left, used milk chocolate chips instead of white in the middle, and used dark semi sweet chips on the right. same recipe, different chips.

enjoy!

special surprise for tomorrow.

I will post my very favorite almond macaroon cake!! gluten free!!
tomorrow!!

donut recipe and more...

instead of re-writing the entire post.... please go to:

http://simplelivingforarichlife.blogspot.com

for the infamous donut recipe and more!!

working out my farmers market menu early...

I got the call today if I was interested in participating in the local farmers market! YES!!!
Got me thinking about what my market menu of baked goods would look like. Here is a
thought:

 heart shaped almond macaroon cake.- gluten free only

all are gluten free, grain free and nut free.
coconut bread-
banana bread-
cinnamon raisin bread- 

chocolate chip espresso brownies- 

coconut cupcakes/muffins.
chocolate cupcakes/muffins.
vanilla cupcakes/muffins.
blueberry lemon cupcakes/muffins.

muffins will be plain, cupcakes will have an added filling and frosting.
vanilla, chocolate, mocha, raspberry, lemon curd- frosting flavors.

so what am I missing????