No Sugar, Egg-free Oatcakes

These hearty cakes have a mild flavor that serves as the perfect medium for rich toppings. 

2 cups milk of your choice
1 cup flour
2 tbs flax meal
3 tbs oil
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients. Cook by the 1/4 on a hot, oiled skillet or griddle until brown and crispy on both sides. 

Serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Makes 6 cakes.

Strawberry Cupcakes and a Mad Hatter Tea Party

What is the difference between a muffin and a cupcake? Frosting. 
For Gemini's 4th birthday Mad Hatter Tea Party, I adapted my Vegan Blueberry Muffins to make these moist, tender, juicy pink cupcakes.
For the sake of simplicity, I used store bought frosting. Vanilla or cream cheese frosting pair perfectly with these strawberry cakes. 

3/4 cup sugar

1 TBS flax meal

2 TBS water

1 TSP vanilla

1/4 cup olive or coconut oil

1 1/2 cups flour (All Purpose or whole grain)

1 TBS baking powder

1/2 TSP salt

3/4 cup Almond or other milk

approximately 1 pint fresh or frozen strawberries

1-2 TBS flour

In a large bowl, stir together sugar, flax meal, water,  oil (melted if solid), vanilla, baking powder, and salt.

Add 1 1/2 cups flour. Stir until just combined.

Add milk, stir until just moistened.

Do not over stir these 2 steps. Over mixing will make your cupcakes will be hard and chewy. Batter should be thick and slightly lumpy.

In a separate bowl, lightly toss berries in 1-2 TBS flour. This helps evenly distribute berries in cupcakes, and prevents them from settling at the bottom.

Fold into batter. Spoon into prepared muffin pan, filling 3/4 full. 

Bake at 350 for 15-22 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Cupcakes should be pale and very moist.

Cool slightly. Remove from pan. Move to a wire rack to cool completely. Frost, decorate and serve. 

The set up.
My collection of tea cups, a camping mug for the baby, tea, cream in a squeezy bottle, hats from the Dollar Tree, snacks. 

"Drink Me" Post It tags on Capri Suns

"Eat Me" egg salad finger sandwiches
Post It tags wrapped around tooth picks

Even the teapot is dressed up. I made this cozy just for the occasion. 

The Birthday Kid. Happy as a hatter. 

Party time! D was a good sport. <3

Gifts wrapped in kids' artwork. 

First Haircut

Taurus had his first haircut at 2 years and 4 months old. I was a little nervous about cutting his curls, but they are still going strong. 

He was intrigued by the whole experience. He kept turning around in his chair, trying to look at the scissors while I was cutting. 

Neither of us was traumatized by the experience, and now his hair stays out of his eyes. He looks good, don't you think?

Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal

This is-hands down- my kids' favorite breakfast. They ask for it every day.
I make it for them whenever I have blueberries on hand. It's healthy, cheap, filling, quick, and tasty. 

Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 tbs flax meal
water
1/4 cup milk of your choice
2 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs butter or margarine
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen. 

Combine oats and flax meal in a medium-sized pot. Add water to just cover. Cook over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Lower heat.

Stir in milk, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla. 

Last, fold in blueberries. Heat through. Serve.