Chocolate orange cupcakes Copyright 2013 by R.A. Robbins
That got your attention didn’t it? Today is National Chocolate Cake Day. It is also my birthday, so I get two pieces, right?
A few days ago I mentioned ways to celebrate a birthday without food. You can still have a wonderful day. However, if you really want cake but live with dietary restrictions there is always another option. You can make your own.
I love chocolate cake. But I don’t love all the sugar and fat that usually finds it’s way into this delicious dessert. So, this is my favorite chocolate cake recipe. I love it made as cupcakes. I prefer my cake naked, but this is so good, you won’t miss the frosting! If you prefer frosted cupcakes use your favorite frosting recipe.
Chocolate Orange Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 ½ cup brown rice flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I prefer dark cocoa powder)
1 teaspoon baking soda
Zest and juice of 1 medium orange (approx. 1 T. zest and ½ cup juice)
1/3 cup water
¼ cup agave nectar or ½ cup sugar
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil or unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ – ¾ cup chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
3. In another bowl combine wet ingredients.
4. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add wet, stirring just to blend.
5. Stir in chocolate chips.
6. Place cupcake liners in a muffin pan.
7. Divide batter among the cups.
8. Bake 15-20 minutes or until the tip of a knife inserted into the top of a cupcake comes out clean.
9. Remove from oven, take cupcakes out of the pan and allow to cool.
Makes 12 cupcakes.
When most people think of birthdays they think of cake. And who doesn’t love cake? When the cake becomes a problem celebrating doesn’t have to end These are a few of my favorite ways to celebrate without food.
* Center the celebration around an activity rather than food. Swimming, skating or a craft party for children, a play or concert for aduls.
* Make a donation to a cause to benefit children in the amount of your age.
* Organize a card shower for the birthday girl/boy instead of a party. Who doesn’t love cards?
* If you are planning a party be sure the celebration is meaningful and fun for the person with the birthday.
* If you find yourself alone on your birthday celebrate anyway. Invite a friend co-worker or neighbor to join you.
* Do something nice for your mother or in her memory if she has passed. After all you wouldn’t be here without her.
If you grew up in Sunday School you may remember the Children’s song Be Careful Little Eyes What you See. Sometimes the simplest words are the most profound. In this time of anger, strife and turmoil we need to tell our little eyes be careful what they see, our hands be careful what they do, our mouths be careful what they say, our feet be careful where they go, our hearts be careful who they trust, our minds be careful what they think. In the computer age we also need to be careful of the websites we visit and the words we type.
But there is always Good News! There are good, decent, grounded people in the world trying to live with love and in the light. It’s time to come together. Not to form an army to violently take back what we think has been lost, but to stand together as testament to the light that is not overcome by darkness and is still present in the world.
“Patterning your life around other’s opinions is nothing more than slavery.” — Lawana Blackwell
People always seem to have opinions about how we should live our lives, don’t they? From serious issues such as health, to personal ones like political or religious belifs to the more trivial like how we dress or wear our hair (the photo today is my hair and people do have opinions) everyone seems to have an opinion. And in the computer age we seem compelled to express them.
Of course there is a time to listen and sometimes apply suggestions from others, but we have to resist becoming a copy of anyone else. Being someone other than who you were created to be is slavery. You don’t want to go there.
espirational.com 