A natural soap for a golfer made from French green clay and olive oil.

This soap is made of olive oil, French green clay( a natural green pigment), shea butter and goats milk. It is a nourishing bar with a refreshingly clean smell. This is a great gift to sneak into a golf bag for your honey that enjoys their golf game. After a long day in the sun, a shower and this bar of soap is all that matters!

It weighs 6.5 oz . E-mail me nazarina@karston.com

My first gluten free cupcake wedding story

http://giddygastronome.blogspot.com/2008/02/valentine-delight.html See also my wheat flour cupcakes.

Tiramisu http://giddygastronome.blogspot.com/2008/03/tiramisu.html

Chocolate cake with white chocolate and whipped cream mousse and molded chocolate decorations.

cheesecake

http://giddygastronome.blogspot.com/2008/04/cheesecake-mcvites-digestive-wheat.html

This was an intimate little wedding, Cape Malay style that transpired last year in May and these were all the desserts I made for the joyous occasion. I also picked these tulips from my garden and made the bouquet. It was also my very first attempt at baking gluten- free ( adapted from "The gluten-free").

The beautiful bride is a vegetarian and also gluten-free . This was quite a challenge indeed but being who I am, went to the book store and purchased these books for help. Now, the bride is never left out of any gathering because I consult the 'The gluten-free"for all her cakes, pastries and breads etc... Let me tell you! I feel so good when I eat these gluten-free creations myself.

One does not have a heavy wheat sinking feeling but rather a very pleasant digestive experience . I would never have even dared to bake gluten-free if it was not for the bride. One is never to old & set in one's ways to attempt something new! These creations were so very creamy, moist and enjoyable, nobody missed the wheat!

What a beautiful couple( God bless!). Their gentle and good nature is indicative of what every union should be like !

Recipe for the "Wedding Story cupcakes" ( I do not use liquor)

Gluten-free black forest cake:

Please use organic ingredients if you can.

1 can red cherries (17oz)

2 T vanilla ( from Santo Domingo)

6 T unsalted European butter

3/4 c daisy sour cream

2 eggs beaten ( Egg lands best)

1 c rice flour Bob's Red Mill

1/2 c potato starch flour Bob's Red Mill)

1 T soy flour

3/4 c organic sugar

2 t g-free baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

1/4 t kosher salt

5 squares dark chocolate ( 70% dark)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350, line a cupcake pan with cupcake paper liners.

Drain cherries and mix with vanilla, let stand in a bowl.

Melt butter and add it with the sour cream and eggs to the cherries.

Combine the flours, baking powder, soda and salt.

Add the cherry mixture to the flour mixture and stir until moistened.

Melt the chocolate with just a little milk, cool slightly and stir into cake batter.

Scoop batter halfway into the liners and bake 25-30 mins or until you smell the aroma and a skewer comes out dry in the center of cupcake. The black forest type of cake is also very good when all the flavors have 'matured' over night.

I have decorated the cupcakes with organic heavy whipping cream and melted white Lindt chocolate beaten together. The little chocolate hearts were molded in a heart shaped candy mold( Wilton) and the paper bags and bride and groom decorations I purchased from Michaels.

Please e-mail with any questions or any of the other recipes in this post. Go to "view my complete profile".

Treat your Dad on Father's day!

I made this napkin setting( adapted from "Napkin Folding" for every occasion, complete with the ' shirt and tie ' which is made out of fondant, I then took a picture and uploaded it on a card at http://www.greetingcardhelper.com/ . This site is amazing because I did it all from my computer and the owner of this site helped me out when I was stuck! This site mails out a physical card for you, so you do not have to buy a stamp or go to the post office for that matter. One can just about make any type of card on this website. I wrote a message on the card and also uploaded some of our pictures when I was a little girl and invited my dad to have dinner at my house on Father's Day. You see he lives in Florida and I live in Colorado so I am also purchasing his airfare. He received the card in the mail and accepted! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO YA!!

Just thought I'd share this gesture!

Falooda a.k.a. Bombay Crush ( An exquisite rose-flavored milkshake)

Click here for garnishes for iced teas & more virgin drinks

and here for a virgin pear/ginger beer libation!








FALOODA.

Oh yah!!!!, this drink is so delectably dreamy! Both children and adults cannot stop until there is nothing left. This is a nourishing little number that I make during the Fasting month. It is utterly filling after a long hard day of Fasting and anything with my homemade french vanilla ice cream in it is worthwhile starving for the whole day ! You literally have to tear me away from it!

Unfortunately, for me I have become lactose intolerant bummer!!! But that still does not stop me. I just drink it when no one is around!

Homemade French vanilla ice cream:

Please use all organic ingredients. I used Horizon Organic to make 4 quarts.

2 c milk

1 c sugar or more to taste

1/2 t salt

2 c half and half

3 T vanilla ( from Santo Domingo)

4 c whipping cream

Scald milk until bubbles appear around edge of pan. Remove from heat , add sugar and salt and stir until dissolved. Stir in the half and half, vanilla and whipping cream. refrigerate 30 mins. Churn in your ice cream maker as directed.

NB. I have experimented with some kosher brand of gelatin and rennet tablets and by adding either to the milk, gives one a smoother ice cream and less ice crystals. I shall post this method another time!

See also my other pink dessert! http://giddygastronome.blogspot.com/2008/03/oetker-strawberry-mousse-with-white-and.html

Falooda:

Serves about 6-8 people.

Soak 3 T Tukmuria seeds( jelly seeds) in some water until just covered, they will become 'spongy' after 10 mins. See the little black seeds above. These are available at any Indian store.

In the meanwhile pour 8 cups of cold milk into a jug

Whisk in about 6 or more helpings of ice cream into the milk.

Stir in the 'Rooh-Afza drink mix about 3-5 T depending on the shade of pink you want. This imparts a very distinctive rose-flavor to the drink. Drain the Tukmuria seeds and add little by little to see if you like these seeds in the drink. However, it is these little seeds that makes this drink exotic and it is sooooo good!

Enjoy!

Some people add pieces of China grass( jelly) , but I prefer not to.

Nazarina A

Bhajiyas aka Dhaltjies or Chilli bites ( Could be made gluten free as well).

This savory hors d' oeuvres is a must have at any party and it is an excellent little bite especially for those vegetarian guests, but please make plenty because even a ' meat loving motor head' would totally enjoy these! It could be made spicy or with a medium heat and if dipped into my mixture of Mrs Balls ( apricot and ginger chutney) , sambal oelek and roasted red bell peppertiser, it is to die for! I think it takes a close third after my samoosas and home made sausage rolls.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c chickpea( chana) flour aka Besam.

1/2 c self raising flour.

1 t baking powder

1/2 t salt or to taste

1 t turmeric

1 t cumin

1 t garam masala ( see my homemade mixture here http://giddygastronome.blogspot.com/2008/03/malay-curry-cottage-pie.html

1 t leaf masala

1 chili chopped seeds removed

1/2 c onion finely chopped

1 t pounded garlic

1/2 t finely pounded ginger

1 c shredded spinach leaves

1/2 c cilantro

1 T chopped chives

1 c club soda

Method:

Sift the flours and the salt except the baking powder. Add the rest of the ingredients and add the club soda slowly to make a very thick batter or you might have to use a little more club soda if the mixture is very dry. Stir in the baking powder just before deep frying. Drop teaspoonfuls into hot canola or vegetable oil and fry until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve with chutney.

gluten free version:

omit the self raising and just add 1/2 c tapioca starch or corn starch and make sure you use g-free baking powder and wallah!!!

Enjoy!

I make these during the Fast as well!!

An injectable: and this is no botox....I mean bull!

I absolutely abhor a gadget that does not do double duty so here is another use for the flavor injector, just soak in warm soapy water and clean thoroughly after each specific use of course.

Or just buy 2, they are like $2.00 a piece at Target Even the smallest pastry tip does not work quite as well as this flavor injector.

Inject some huckleberry syrup into these gluten free popovers or maple syrup, blended home made strawberry preserves etc.... into my 'ball-shaped' pancakes ( an older post) .

Mini gluten-free popovers:

1 c water

1 stick European unsalted butter

1/3 c potato starch ( Red Mill )

2/3 c rice flour ( Flying horse brand at Asian stores)

1/2 t kosher salt

4 Eggland's best eggs.

Method:

Preheat oven to 425. Grease a mini muffin pan. My yield, 20 popovers.

Bring water and butter to a rapid boil. remove from burner and add flours and salt all at once.Stir until mixture leaves the sides of the pot and forms a ball. Cool. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition. Fill mini muffin cavities with a heaped tablespoon of the batter and bake for ten minutes then lower temperature to 350 and bake for a further 20 mins.

I bought this huckleberry syrup in the Yellowstone National Park and as you can see just push needle into the little holes that form naturally when baking the popovers. These popovers were light and delightful and not overly sweet! They were so 'eggy' and just had the right amount of sweetness with the syrup.

Enjoy!