Gluten Free Secret Vegetable Spiced Chocolate Muffins

I'm struggling with depression atm, pills changing, not blogging... however, this recipe is epic.

It's scaled down by 50% from the original as I only had 250g courgette... i'll put the original numbers in brackets. It's also possible to do a straight substitute for non gluten free flour (i've never made the original recipe, cos a) i've only bought two courgettes my whole life, and b) my muffin testing friend is gluten free. it's supposed to be awesome).

Step One

250g courgettes (500g)

Trim then grate courgettes in food processor. Weigh them if you're feeling picky. About 2 courgettes, there'll be enough to give a bearded dragon a treat left over.

Step 2

1/2 cup sunflower oil (1 cup)
3/4 cup soft dark sugar (1 1/2 cup)
2 small eggs (3 large)

Wang all this in the food processor (with the blade attachment thingy) and whizz like hell.

Step 3

1 1/4 cups Gluten free flour (2 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup cocoa (1/2 cup)
3/4 tsp baking powder (1 1/2 tsp)
1/2 tsp baking soda (1 tsp)
3/4 tsp cinnamon (1 1/2 tsp)
1/2 tsp nutmeg (1 tsp)

Tip all this in, then use a spatula to sort of fold it into the liquidy stuff so it doesn't turn into chocolate spiced smoke and go up your nose. Whizz like hell.

Step 4

half a big bar of chopped dark chocolate

this is a definite necessity. you can chuck in 1/2 cup walnuts (1 cup) if you feel like it, but my tester doesn't eat nuts.

Give it a tiny whizz just to mix it in. Plop 1 1/2 tbsp in each muffin case and bake at gas 4 (180 C) till they bounce back when you poke them.

Finished Nelly teapot

I finished him. And I added a mouse. Like you do.

Nelly Teapot

 So, I've only increased my meds for one day.... and already I'm feeling more creative. This little guy needs a lot more work, but I rather like him.

Some stuff I painted...

I painted this owl this year - and this hippo all the way back in 2010.

I'm rather proud of both.







But I'm incredibly proud of this - a simple plate, made on a spinner, but it's beyond what I thought my skill level was.

Extreme Crochet

So. I decided I wanted to do some Extreme crochet.

Mainly because I wanted one of these, which I saw on a ripped out page from an Observer magazine from June 2006.

So I bought a load of yarn in the Ice Yarn garage sale (40 balls for £40 inc delivery, and omg how awesome was the delivery... they TEXT me to tell me it was about to arrive!)

And then I was like... hmmmm. Need a hook. So I checked with my friends, in case one of them had one they'd gone off. No luck.

So I made one. Out of Fimo.

 I basically made it black. With a cut-off Yo Sushi chopstick inside to give it some rigidity (thanks mum).



Then I got a bit over excited with some bits of crazy ass sample stuff my sister gave me that she'd made with some silver stuff and bright fimo and a pasta machine, which had kinda broken into bits cos I've had it over a year now...

....and so now I have a crochet hook that looks like a pink snake exploded all over it. But in a good way.


Also. I photographed it next to the sellotape to give it some scale. Professionals use rulers, but I couldn't find one. Just get hold of a roll of sellotape and kinda... squint.

Banana Fudge Muffins

So.... My depression has been pretty bad recently, so I've not been blogging so much, however... today I did an epic amount of baking, and made up my first recipe for muffins :)

This is what I made today - Banana Fudge muffins, Blueberry muffins (smoooooth ones) and choc chip peanut butter cookies.

There are currently 12 muffins and 12 cookies in the freezer, waiting for my lovely friend Slop to come and claim some as a barracks warming gift ;) plus allllllll these waiting for me to eat them.

This is the recipe for Banana Fudge Muffins.

Combine in a big bowl with a whisk:
12oz plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 bag (roughly 4oz) of Mini Fudge Chunks

In a different bowl:
2 eggs
240ml warm milk
6oz sugar
4oz melted butter
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 mashed banananas

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ones, don't over mix. Spoon into muffin cases and bake at gas 5 for about 20 mins, or until slightly golden and springy to the touch.

Chicken Milk Jug

Tah dah!

My first finished piece of ceramics that isn't basically a button!

It even pours! (If you put in too much milk, it dribbles all over, hence spillage, but enough for a cup of tea is fine)

I'm too excited to blog properly!

Eeeeeeeeeee!

Photo also shows my awesome doggie pawprint mug, which no one else is allowed to use...