It's all about dessert tonight :-)

Yesterday was the Quinte Youth for Christ Chili Cook-Off and Pie Auction. As I lay flat out on my back with the "Death Cold" (circulating the county apparently I found out today), Kev dutifully made a delicious huge pot of chili, and three incredible pies. Why I didn't take photographs, I'll never know. The pies he made were found at www.recipezaar.com, and were called Caramel Crunch Apple Pie, Preacher's Wife Peach Pie, and Pear and Apple Streusel Pie. These three pies were auctioned off for a grand total of $310!!! The proceeds to the event fund the local Christian Youth worker at our high school (and our dear friend) Andrew MacKay.

Tonight, Andrew's wife made my day! This part is also entitled "Why I Love gmail!" Those of you who use gmail understand. Those of you who don't, I must teach you ;-). Once you have a gmail address, there is a list to the side of your computer screen of all your friends who also have gmail. Each name has an "avatar" (small photograph), and a line affectionately known as the gmail tag. Groups of friends communicate all day through their tags, keeping abreast on projects, attitude, prayer requests ... you name it.

Today, Ann-Marie posted a very fun recipe (below) for "Coffee Mug Cake". I looked at it and thought "How fun! What are the chances it will work gluten-free". Then, twenty minutes later my lovely last-minute son announces that there is a French party in his class, tomorrow, and that he has to bring cupcakes or something. So, off we went. It worked! Here is the result:


We added chocolate chips and turbinado sugar on top to decorate. You could easily ice, or glaze, or use marshmallows or mm fluff. It needs something else (cinnamon? vanilla?) but still, fast and tidy! We made one for tonight, one for Iain tomorrow, and now Alison is making one for her and Claire's lunch tomorrow ;-).

Thank you gmail and Ann-Marie for this quick and easy fix to Iain's emergency snack need!!!

"COFFEE MUG CAKE"
http://www.dizzy-dee.com/recipe/chocolate-cake-in-5-minutes

60 mL flour (4 T) (Bette Hagman's gluten free mix works great)
60 mL sugar (4 T)
30 mL cocoa (2T)

Mix the above together in a regular coffee mug.

Add 1 egg to mug. Pour in 45 mL (3T) milk or milk replacement and 45 mL (3T) oil, and mix very well (if you're doing this with children, make sure you use a fork and mix in the corners at the bottom of the mug).

Microwave for 3 minutes in a 1000 watt microwave (in our 1100 watt microwave, 2 minutes 50 seconds worked).