Your search ends here.....

Gluten free cranberry cinnamon applesauce muffins!

For the perfect gluten free muffin. Yup, that's right. And I'm gonna share it, cause I can not believe that after almost a year of gluten free baking, that I finally came up with the perfect combo of flours and other ingredients. Whew.
Ya, seriously, it's been a year of trial and error trying to find a muffin that wouldn't crumble to sand when you touched it. Or so dense, that you feel like you just ate a meal. The other great thing about this recipe is that, they are low sugar, and dairy free as well. I am telling you, this muffin recipe is at least just as good, if not BETTER than any regular flour muffin you've ever made. There I said it. Makin big claims over here, but just make them once. Then I'm sure you'll come back here and tell me how much you love me, haha.
I have made this recipe 3 different ways now. Banana blueberry, Pumpkin spice, and Cranberry cinnamon applesauce. After the first two batches the winner was cranberry cinnamon applesauce. When I perfect the first two, I'll share those as well.
Alright enough talk. Let's bake some gluten free goodness!

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Cranberry Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins
 makes: 18 -20 med. sized muffins         Bake at 350F for 15-25 minutes

Dry ingredients:
1 1\2 Cups brown rice flour
3\4 Cups tapioca flour or starch
3\4 Cups potato starch
1 1\2 tsp xanthan gum (can substitute guar gum)
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. sea salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
Whisk all dry ingredients together, in a medium size bowl, till well incorporated.
Next, in a separate medium size bowl mix together:
1 1\2 Cup of organic unsweetened cinnamon applesauce
1\2 Cup date paste (to make date paste blend or process about 10 dates with 1\4 - 1\2C. water) * (instead of date paste you could add another 1\2 cup of apple sauce)
10 Tbs. omega or olive oil
1\2 Cup maple syrup or agave
Once well mixed, then beat in 2 eggs.
Then stir in flour mixture.
Next fold in:
1 Cup frozen or fresh cranberries
1 Cup cinnamon chips (optional)

Once everything is mixed, if it seems a little stiff or too thick for muffin batter I added about 1\4 - 1\2 Cup of vanilla coconut milk. You could use any milk alternative you like though. Then spoon into greased muffin tins. Bake till slightly golden on top, and toothpick is clean when inserted.

Et Voila....... A thing of beauty. The perfect gluten free muffin.

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate. Let me know what you think!
~ Katrina

The Uxbridge Studio Tour and other good stuff!

 

Back in February The Husbands Aunt asked me to be a guest artist at her art gallery, The Magic Door, for the annual Uxbridge Studio Tour. I was SO incredibly honored by this, as she is a very talented artist.

Jay and her mother Joan Yerema often paint these beautiful pieces together. Amazing.

I have been preparing for months. I've learned a lot in this time of preparation. Not just about technique or application, but how to step way outside my comfort zone and go after the things that I dream about. Even if every detail is not perfect, or exactly the way I think it should be. I am learning to create, even when I don't feel 'inspired'. I guess this makes me a 'working artist'. Here are some photos of the art I displayed, and some of  Joan Yerema and Jay Yerema Weafer's gorgeous paintings. If you would like to purchase any of their art work, you can contact Jay here. If you are interested in purchasing my art work you can do so Here.

 Love Never Fails

Love Never Fails and ceramics by Mayta Markson

Be Still (on the top) and Shift (on the bottom) both by Katrina Weafer

See me through (on top) by Me   Cornwall coast paintings by Joan Yerema

The two red paintings by Joan and Jay Yerema and all ceramics by Mayta Markson

It also makes Miss Mack a working artist too, she spent the weekend with me and really wanted to bring one of her paintings to sell.

To all of our delight, she sold it! To a famous Canadian Brass, Juno award winning, jazz musician! How cool is that!? She was so proud.

Needless to say I was so proud too. I may have gotten a little bit teary. 

In the vein of stepping out and pursuing goals, comes my second bit of news. Well, not just a bit, huge actually. Amazing, and sometimes I still can't believe it.  For years I have talked and wondered, and talked and wondered some more about pursuing a career as a tattoo artist. After a few weeks of research, and working up the courage, I visited a little shop, Ill Cosmos, that I had heard great things about. After we met and chatted and they got a chance to check out my portfolio, they decided to take me on as an apprentice! These ladies are artists. They really value being great at what they do. So I feel super priviledged to be a part of the team. I am already learning so much.

I got to tattoo my first grapefruit the other night, I'm sure there will be many more to come.

Cute, right?

Till next time my friends and family be well!
~ Katrina