Chocolate Cake

The best chocolate cake ever! I made it last night and it received great reviews. I discovered it through a cooking show on the food network. No flour and no gluten.

Moist Chocolate Cake

2/3 cup quinoa
1 1/3 cups water
2 cups milk or soy milk
4 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 cups white or cane sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Bring the water and quinoa to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the covered saucepan on the burner for another 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow the quinoa to cool.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch (20 cm) round or square cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment paper.

Combine the milk, eggs and vanilla in a blender or food processor. Add 2 cups (500 mL) of cooked quinoa and the butter and continue to blend until smooth.

Mix the sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the contents of the blender and mix well. Pour the batter into the pan and bake on the center oven rack for 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Grandma

Last weekend I went with friends to Washington State, a normal and pretty frequent thing to do although this time we went and explored some new places. It was a great day and on the way home, while waiting in the border line we had the windows down and the smell of farms was wafting into the car. Not the stinky kind of smell but the grass after a long day in the sun, type of smell. It totally reminded me of my Grandma's house in Utah. If it was near by I would probably jump in my car and go for a little drive down memory lane.

I think of Grandma (and all of my grandparents) pretty well every day of my life and have done since she (they) died about 11 (12 and 9) years ago. I often think of her home, the farm, the drinking well, the hay, cows and the street between her house and the house where my Uncle use to live. I think of how she knew her neighbours, went to church, grew her own food, raised children and worked hard. She always seemed to be sewing something on one of her sewing machines.

I find it so interesting that I love being at home, chatting with friends and neighbours, cooking and growing a lot of my own food and work hard. I also doing a lot of sewing and quilting on my machine. The only thing I don't have is children (yet).

Recently one of my cousins wrote to me to say that she was so proud of all that I have done in my life especially the ministry I do in the church and she said that Grandma would be proud. I hope Grandma would be proud after all she knew me through my childhood and teen years but not as a 32 year old (soon to be 33) women, minister, and granddaughter. Wow! If she was around today I would have so many stories to share.

Family Camp

I am back home after five days of Family Camp. It was a great week filled with crafts and games, campfire, singing, worship and lots of eating. The greatest highlight is that I went swimming for the first time in probably ten years. It was amazing!

Cabin Fever to Cabin Living

I've been home two weeks now, on leave from work in order to rest and recover after my car accident. The resting and recovering time has been a blessing and I am so thankful to work for a place that is so understanding and caring however I am starting to go crazy!!! There is only so much tv and reading one can take and I am at my limit. Thankfully tomorrow I am heading to Cultus Lake for a few days of fun where I will be resting and reading and staying in a cabin while surrounded by friends. From cabin fever to cabin living....