Chocolate-Zucchini Muffins (Vegan and Wheat free)

I'm getting lots of zukes in my CSA box so I'm looking for ways to use them up and wanted to find a dessert that Julia could eat.  I chose this recipe with a few minor tweaks and my non-allergy children loved them too.  I had to make them stop eating them so poor Julia could enjoy them.  I wish I would've doubled the recipe (while everything was still out and a mess!  I cleaned the kitchen up while they were baking.) but I wasn't sure how they'd turn out with the gluten free flour. These muffins are super-moist, a bit springy and tasty.

Chocolate-Zucchini Muffins (Fat Free, Gluten Free, Vegan)
by Speakin' Vegan on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 8:29pm ·
Servings: 12
Ingredients:

• 1¼ cups gluten free baking mix ( I used Tom Sawyer that I bought at Naturally Soergel)
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa (We also added Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks and Julia was heavy-handed!)
• 1¼ tsp baking powder
• ¾ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 whole banana, mashed
• ½ cup raw sugar
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce (I didn't have applesauce so I used olive oil here)
• ¼ cup non-dairy milk (I used coconut milk)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded zucchini

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease muffin pan and set aside. If using paper liners, lightly spray inside of liners with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together. In another bowl, cream mashed banana with applesauce and sugar (use extra 1/2 cup for a very sweet, dessert-like muffin). Add in milk, vanilla, zucchini and any other optional add-ins you might like such as vegan chocolate chips. Stir until evenly combined. Add flour mix to wet mix in 3-4 batches and stir until just combined. Spoon batter into greased muffin pan and bake 18-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
 
Adapted for gluten free diet from http://happyherbivore.com/2009/01/chocolate-zucchini-muffins/

First top on the Ride for Ryan 2012...

The First Stop before the 2012 Ride for Ryan begins is Wednesday, July 18, at the Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant. Bring this coupon to the Inn for lunch or dinner and 20% of your bill will be donated to the Ryan Diviney Special Needs Trust.  You can enjoy a nice meal and help a family in need.

Please refer to our blog post about this event from last year for more information about Ryan, his story and his needs:  http://franklininnmexicanrestaurant.blogspot.com/2011/07/first-stop-on-ride-for-ryanthe-franklin.html

Here is a message from John Maletta regarding this year's charity ride:

"Scot Reed, George Gardner, Joe Maletta and I have upped the ante for this year’s Ride For Ryan bicycle trip fundraiser. We are planning a 480-mile, 6-day bike ride across New York state and southern Ontario to raise funds for Ryan Diviney’s Special Needs Trust. We are spearheading this very special effort for the son of my old college roommate and I am asking you to consider helping us. More about Ryan's story can be found by visiting www.ryansrally.org.

This is a targeted fundraiser to purchase a new piece of therapy equipment. The machine is called the RT300 from Restorative Therapy. The final price tag is $17,500. This is a vital piece of therapy equipment and Ryan’s Special Needs Trust does not have enough money in it at this time to cover the full cost of the equipment. The International Brain Research Foundation (IBRF) is advocating this for Ryan. Ryan has experienced a couple of broken bones during routine physical therapy because his bone density has diminished over the past couple years. This device provides electrical impulses to stimulate Ryan’s muscles to actually do the work. This therapy actually builds muscles, increases bone density, gives a cardio-vascular workout, and provides electrical stimulation that has the possibility to train the brain to work with muscles and to re-learn movements."

Maybe Felix will join the Ride for Ryan again this year. Biking 480 miles is not for the faint of heart! Our admiration, thoughts and prayers go with these men. Please join us next Wednesday to help give them encouragement, moral support and a fundraising kick start! You'll enjoy a great meal and help in the effort to raise funds for a family in desperate need. If Wednesday isn't possible, you can still make a donation. Visit www.ryansrally.org. to make a direct donation. Thank you for your consideration. Hope to see you on Wednesday!

This was where the 2011 journey started.

 

After 320 miles they were still smiling!

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat now on draft & Three Chile Adobe Marinated Steak

First off, I want to let you know that we have a new beer on tap: Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat.

According to the company, "Brewed with just a touch of coriander spice, this award-winning Belgian-style beer has a slight creaminess, dry tart finish and soothing citrus. Winner of the 2006 Silver Medal at the Great American Beer Festival® and 2006 Bronze Award at the World Beer Cup® in the Herb and Spice category."    It goes great with spicy food!  Try it tonight with our special menu feature:

Sirloin Steak with Three Chile Adobe Sauce
While Karen is away, John gets to play...in the kitchen that is! They usually chase him out except to allow him to make ice cream! However, with Karen on vacation, there is a little more elbow room. John was able to experiment and create a wonderful three chile adobe sauce. He toasted and pureed ancho, pasilla and chipotle chiles and cooked his sauce together with this puree and other wonderful ingredients like allspice berries, garlic and black pepper. He then marinated sirlion steaks in this wonderful concoction. These steaks will be grilled to your liking tonite and served with a special rice that John also created and, of course, stir fry green beans. We almost always serve stir fry green beans with our steak specials. I get unhappy emails when we don't! My iphone photo is not so great but the food is. Enjoy and let me know how you like it.