All-in-One Holiday Bundt Cake

I consider myself a rogue TWD baker. I haven't baked recently, but I don't feel that's my fault!  I mean, technically, my blog is listed on the blogroll, so I should be baking every week like the others. But it's still the wrong url! Why am I going to bake if nobody can see my gluten free TWD goodness?? I miss it, though, and I'm really looking forward to getting back with the other Dorie Greenspan fans. I mean, she makes a mean apple pie. And a mean cookie. And especially a mean all-in-one holiday bundt cake, which was this week's pick...

I had originally planned to make this cake using all-purpose flour and bring it into work, but decided at the last minute to make it gluten free (I just feel it isn't really fair to Russ to have him smell baked goods he can't eat!) I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose flour (cup for cup), and increased the baking soda and baking powder. See, I feel this was my issue in the past--I always used exactly the same amount of baking powder and baking soda called for in recipes created for gluten-rich flours, and then ended up with flat, dense breads. Gluten helps give baked goods shape, so it makes sense that you need to add a bit more leavener to get a gluten-free product to rise. And  I added a teaspoon of xantham gum.

I also omitted the dried cranberries, because I'm just not a fan (although I think maybe next time I'll try the recipe as written). When all was said and done, I drizzled the cake with a maple sugar glaze. It looks pretty this way, no? The verdict: Fantabulous! It's a little dry, so I need to work on that. I feel that's an issue of the gluten free baking and not indicative of the recipe itself. It would be great served with a scoop of ice cream. As it stands, though, it is a perfect holiday treat and quite easy to make gluten-free. I'm happy to be back with the Tuesdays with Dorie crew (and hopeful that my blog url will be updated soon!), and can't wait for the next recipe. This week's gem was picked out by Britin of The Nitty Britty; head on over to her blog for the recipe.

Undiscovered Gyrl (Allison Burnett)

Undiscovered Gyrl by Allison Burnett


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
My sister lent me this book and I'm afraid to admit I couldn't put it down. I'm a sucker for these diary type books (think Go Ask Alice or Wintergirls), even if they're not that well-written. The book is a series of blog entries written by the young and gorgeous "Katie." Katie has decided to defer college for a year, and turns to the internet to share her stories regarding her one and only friend, her abusive boyfriend, and her bad habit of becoming sexually involved with much older men who are already in relationships. The tone, at first, is light--she is proud of her sexuality and not ashamed to flaunt it. As the blog progresses, though, you learn of her troubled relationship with her father, you witness her repeated self-destructive behaviors, and watch as she falls deeper and deeper into a state of despair. It's definitely not worth a Pulitzer Prize, but it's a perfect read for a lazy Sunday.

And books have trailers now?? How awesome is that?



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Gluten-free, (mostly) vegan, (mostly) sugar-free banana bread

I'm always looking for gluten-free baking recipes, and was super excited to find the Babycakes cookbook on amazon. Russ and I were disappointed to not have a chance to make it to the bakery while we were in New York, as we'd both heard how amazing their vegan, (mostly) gluten-free and (mostly) sugar free baked goods are. When I got the book, I gravitated immediately towards banana bread. I know I've talked before about my love of banana bread, and I'm still on the quest to find the perfect gluten-free recipe. Plus, I was baking on Friday and knew I had to wake up early, early, early on Saturday to make it to the county to run a 5k with a friend, and banana bread is the perfect "to-go" breakfast.

The recipe was super easy to follow. Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour is easily attainable at Whole Foods (I'm guessing at most major grocery stores by this point), as is the agave nectar (used in place of granulated sugar). I was a little worried about the coconut oil, as I've always associated it with incredibly high amounts of saturated fat. However, it also, apparently, is high in omega 3 fatty acids. I figured I would try it out for a few recipes, and then find a healthier alternative later on if I became uncomfortable with using coconut oil as a "staple."

I'm not a vegan and, although I certainly don't mind cooking vegan every now and then (and actually enjoy it), I also won't think twice about throwing in a cup of chocolate chips at the last minute. The way I see it, this is already a pretty healthy alternative to most banana breads, so what's the harm in adding a little bit of chocolate? Plus, it wasn't actually a whole cup. I think I had maybe half a cup in there at the most. The bread took only 35 minutes to make, and turned out way better than this picture makes it look (we're working on the lighting!) It actually rose, which is a step up from our current recipe, and the chocolate chips didn't sink to the bottom (also a step up from our current recipe!) This recipe will definitely be made again, and I look forward to trying out new recipes from this book!

SATURDAY'S A RUGBY DAY

I always love telling someone for the first time that I played rugby; they never believe it, and I can understand why. Currently, I am not a very intimidating person. I'm short and not very imposing and have a tendency to blend into the woodwork. In college? I was, like, ten times more so. As a freshman, I weighed about a hundred pounds, had long, mousy brown hair (it's mousy; I'll admit it. Thank god for hair dye...), and was dwarfed by 3 tall, gorgeous, outgoing roommates. A few weeks into that very first semester as a freshman, I was walking with one of the aforementioned tall, gorgeous, outgoing roommates, when we came across a sign that said "A woman's place is in the MAUL." Well, that was something we just couldn't ignore. I had never heard of rugby before, but I bought some cleats, grabbed a mouth guard, went to practice two days later and was hooked.

Rugby appeals to the kid in all of us--you get grass stains and skinned knees and it's totally acceptable to roll around in the mud. I got to tell people I was a hooker (I really was! I could barely get out of bed on the mornings after a game because of how much my neck and back hurt, but it was so worth it every time I got to say, "I'm a hooker!"), I was part of a sports team for really the first time in my life (marching band was fun and all, but it wasn't really the same...) and I just loved the activity. More than anything, though? It was the community. When I moved to a state college in my sophomore year, I tracked the rugby team down within two days and was partying with them within three. They literally became my best friends. I had a group; I had girls to call when I was bored or when I wanted to go for a run at midnight. And it wasn't even just my team! The best part of rugby is the social aspect. After every game (which was almost always played cleanly--all of the ladies recognized that rugby is a rough sport as it is; there's no need to play dirty), both teams would come together over beer and sing songs. Seriously. After every single game. And one time? When one girl tackled me so hard my head bounced? She took me out afterwards and we had a great time and it was one of the most fun nights I can remember (that ended with me cradling a 40 like it was my baby; it was a little odd...)

And apparently, rugby did a hell of a lot more than make a skinny little college student feel empowered and protected. Rugby on the silver screen? With Morgan Freeman? The inspiring story of Nelson Mandela? I'm so there (but maybe I'll leave the cleats at home.)

Wedding Wednesdays!

I'm getting more wedding advice that I know what to do with! A friend has passed along The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being a Groom (the third edition), Bridal Bargains, InStyle Weddings (2006 issue), and Martha Stewart Weddings (2008 issue). Wow. Where to begin? It's crazy, because we've really done nothing so far. We need to find time to get to the Outer Banks to reserve a venue, but seriously almost every weekend is booked between now and the New Year (in fact, every weekend is booked; a trip to the Outer Banks will require taking two days off of work.) We've kinda sorta started working on our guest list, but it's all pretty vague at the moment.

I don't know. It's hard to balance what we want with what is convenient for our friends and family. At times, I think we should just hop over to the Alexandria courthouse, get married there, and then head off for a super fancy dinner and call it a day! Don't get me wrong; I love the idea of celebration, and I love the idea of sharing the moment with friends and family, but there are just so many little details to think about!

                       (source)

There is, however, one aspect of the wedding planning that really excites me: The wedding dress! Initially, I didn't feel the need for a wedding dress. It'll be a beach wedding--there will be no flowers (other than my hydrangea bouquet!), no bridal party, no violinist playing Canon in D as I stroll down the aisle on my father's arm (or, for that matter, Chris Brown's "forever".) But a wedding dress? I still want one. Is that so bad? I want a gorgeous dress to be tailored just to fit me. I want to look skinny and feel beautiful and I want people to look at me and say, "Wow! She looks gorgeous!"

I promise I'll have a budget, though. I'm going to control myself and not get all Say Yes to the Dress and spend, like, $5,000 on a dress. I want to look good and all, but not that good. (I mean, if I make like Michelle Duggar and have 18+ kids with some hick named Jim Bob then I can get my own reality show and have them pay for my 5,000 dollar dress, but I digress....)

So the question now is: Where? Call me crazy, but I want to avoid David's Bridal. This will sound mean, but I feel they're kinda like the Wal-Mart of bridal gowns, and I think the dresses are probably overpriced given the quality. We'll see; I'll likely be eating crow in a few months when I gush about the amazing gown I bought at David's, but for now, I'm saying it's not on the list. A colleague bought her dress at The Bridal Garden. Not only would it give me a chance to go to New York, but all proceeds go towards educating children in New York City. Wouldn't that be awfully charitable of me? I Do I Do Wedding Gowns in Gaithersburg seems pretty cool, as well.

I think I'll wait to shop until February (mainly because I won't really have much time for shopping between now and then...) I don't know; I'm leaning towards Bridal Garden in New York. Thoughts? Suggestions?

The Art of the Sandwich

My office in DC is snuggled in between Dupont and Georgetown. As each of these destinations is only a ten minute walk away, I often buy my lunch during the Spring and Summer. I generally pick cheap, healthy options (I'm in love with the Shanghai Chicken Salad at Cosi!), and I always relish the opportunity to leave my desk for a few minutes and get a bit of fresh air and exercise. When it starts getting cold, though, and rainy, I prefer to pack my lunch. But lunches have become more complex! Gone are the days of yore when throwing a lunch together meant pbj on wonder (being careful not to put so much jelly on the bread that it soaked through by lunchtime. How nasty was that? And grape jelly? What's up with grape jelly? I'm a strawberry girl through and through), a bag of carrot sticks and a juice box (I actually drank Minute Maid orange juice in my lunches through high school, except on the days when my sister and I bought our lunches, and we'd usually get Country Time Lemonade. We loved our juice!) I mean, some of Jennifer's creations over at Vegan Lunch Box must take close to an hour to prepare (and then some!) And have you seen the wonderful bento pics? People make fantastic lunches! Where do they find the time?

I had a Mr. Bento at one point, but used it once and sold it. It was too big and bulky, and I wasn't feeling it. I also have two bento boxes, which are adorable, but I rarely use them. Unlike Russ, who buys his lunch *maybe* five times a year, I'm lazy about packing my lunches. Sometimes, I'll grab a can of soup and peanut butter crackers (tomato soup, of course; the simpler, the better.) Other times I'll bring leftovers from the night before. When I'm really in a mood to go all out for lunch? I get sandwich stuff. I'm not lying: To me, the ideal lunch is a sandwich. It's weird. Maybe it's because Russ is gluten-free, so when I make a sandwich on glutenous bread I get a thrill of cheating or living dangerously (although Russ has been known to make a mean sandwich on gluten-free bread.) Maybe it's because I just love carbs, and I always like an excuse to throw a bread-and-butter pickle on something. I think part of it is the throw back, though. I always liked school, for some odd reason, and I have fond lunch time memories of the standard turkey sandwich or pbj (and I remember a good friend would always bring in a fried bologna sandwich on white bread. I've never been a fan of bologna to begin with, and I would always be like, "EWWW. It's FRIED." And she would look at me, exasperated, and say, "Do you want me to eat it raw?" I suppose she had a point. To this day, I'm not sure if bologna is raw and should be fried or whatnot. I feel it's best to avoid altogether. And as I write this, I've suddenly become curious as to whether or not said friend still brings fried bologna to work in a brown paper sack. My guess is no.)

ANYWAY, my sandwiches now are a little more intense. They involve multigrain bread and fancy mustard and sliced cucumber and sprouts. I love them, though. They make me happy, and I feel closer to 13 than to 30, and I kind of wish I could carry it to work in a brown paper bag with my name scrawled on it with a Sharpie. Today's lunch? A sandwich, some carrots, and a piece of fruit. Perfection. :-)

(Well, the addition of a Little Debbie Brownie would have made it true perfection, but this is pretty close...)

The Sport of Spectating

Remember last week's dilemma? Well, on Thursday I went to the doctor to have the stitches removed, and was told in no uncertain terms that a marathon was out of the question, and that I shouldn't work out at all for another week. I was livid. I was tempted to ignore doctor's orders, but I asked my older sister (a nurse), and she agreed, saying that since the stitches were just removed, there was no time for connective tissue to reform, and that, given the location, the possibility of the wound splitting open was, indeed, real. *Sigh* I still would have attempted it, but I was told that if the wound re-opened, they would not be able to re-suture it, which means I'd have to pack it and stuff it or what have you until it healed, and work outs would go on the back burner for a while. As much as I wanted to run, I figured it was best to sit this one out. So, I went to Staples, picked up some foam board and got ready to cheer Russ on at the Richmond marathon.

And let me tell you--spectating is hard! Especially in a city with limited parking. I dropped Russ off at the start, and drove right away to mile marker 7 (actually, we were much closer to mile 8). I was there super early and, conveniently, there was a Starbucks (score!), so I drank a venti Earl Grey while feeling sorry for myself and lamenting the fact that I wasn't running (ok, that's totally not true. I drank a venti Earl Grey in the dry Starbucks looking at the misty, humid mess outside and was secretly enjoying the fact that I wasn't running...) When the runners started coming through it was a lot of fun. They were all clearly feeling great at this point and had these, "I love marathons!" looks on their faces. Russ ran by, gave me a quick kiss and kept going. He looked great.

I hopped in the car and headed to mile marker 13. The directions available from the race site were PISS POOR, but I managed to get to the next stop, find parking and run to the spectator area. I was only waiting for about 10 minutes before Russ ran by again. He was definitely looking a little down trodden at this point (he started cramping early), but I thought he still looked great.

Getting to mile 19 was hard. The directions were horrible and finding parking was nigh impossible. But, I got the job done! I grabbed my big ass sign (Front: Baby, You Were Born to Run! Back: Russ) and headed out. Mile 19 is hard. So many of the runners at this point were starting to feel it. You saw a lot more run/walkers, people were stopping to stretch, they were red in the face. I really wished there was just something I could do to help. When Russ ran by, I walked with him for a moment or so while he ate the gummi bears I'd brought along. He was hurting and knew this wasn't going to a good marathon, but he also knew he had to finish, so he sucked it up and kept going (that's my guy!)

I wasn't able to make it to the finish thanks to stupid, STUPID directions. :-( BUT, I was able to get to the finish festival. So by the time Russ got his medal, got his blanket and walked through the corral, I was there. :-) I felt bad for him because he didn't have the race he wanted, but it was *so* nice seeing him at the end. Spectating is hard work, and I'd much rather support him from now on by actually running the races with him. The two of us run well together and manage to keep each other motivated. I think we're just so used to running together that it's hard at races when we run alone. I think he still needs to be proud of himself, though. It's much, much harder to finish a bad race then to finish a good one.

I'm able to start working out again tomorrow (it wouldn't have been a full week at that point, but it would have been 5 days, so I feel that's good enough. It's a work week, at least). The plan?

Mon: Rest
Tues: 3 miles/strength training
Wed: 4 miles
Thurs: 3 miles/strength training
Fri: Off
Sat: 5 miles/strength training
Sun: 8 miles

It's not a lot, but it's enough to get me back in. Next week the numbers will jump significantly--I can't wait! Also in need of new shoes sometime soon...