Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

Piggy made these delicious pumpkin spice cupcakes all by herself tonight.  They are so tasty!  No one could tell they were GF!  And they are not overly pumpkin-y.  Tastes more like a spice cake!


Ingredients
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp. molasses
1 Tbsp. honey
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 can pumpkin puree
2 cups GF flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 cup buttermilk


Frosting Ingredients:
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 cups confectioners sugar


Directions
Preheat oven to 350.  Using an electric mixer, cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses and honey, until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the pumpkin puree and vanilla and beat until well mixed.


In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.  Add the flower mixture and buttermilk alternately to the pumpkin batter.


Line cupcake pan with paper liners and spoon the batter into the cups nearly to the top.  Bake approximately 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Cool completely before frosting.


Frosting:
Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese and butter until smooth.  Add maple syrup and confectioners sugar to combine.  Once cupcakes have cooled, apply frosting.

Macaroni Salad

This is a quick and delicious recipe we had for dinner tonight.  The recipe calls for 1/3 to 1/2 cups of mayo, but I indulged and added nearly a cup.  This will be a great recipe for summer!

Ingredients
2 cups dry macaroni (Gluten-free rice pasta)
Salt
1 hard boiled egg
1 roasted bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh chopped parsley
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar
1/3 to 1/2 cup of mayonnaise 
1 tsp. paprika
Freshly ground pepper to taste


Directions
Cook macaroni as directed in salted water.  When cooked, remove from heat, drain, and rinse with cool water until room temperature.


While macaroni is cooking, put chopped onions into a small bowl and sprinkle the lemon juice or vinegar over them.  This will take the edge off the onions.


Combine cooked macaroni, onions, and all other ingredients in large serving bowl.  Adjust seasonings to taste.

Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

Oooohhhh.... this is my favorite dish since we started this journey!  It reminds me of Pappadeaux's Pontchartrain recipe.  But this one is so simple, quick, and is equally as delicious! Andrea made this for us tonight and did a fantastic job!


Ingredients
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup butter, cut into small pieces
1 tsp. creole seasoning (like Tony's)
8 salmon fillets
brown sugar


Directions
Preheat oven to 350.  Boil wine, butter, and creole seasoning in small saucepan for 3 minutes.  Sprinkle salmon on both sides with salt and pepper.  Place fish in oven safe dish and pour wine mixture over the top.  Bake about 15 minutes, until fish is opaque in center.  Remove from oven.


Preheat broiler.  Cover each salmon fillet with a layer of brown sugar.  Broil until topping is brown and bubbly, about 3 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Pour remaining liquid over each fillet as you serve.