Daring Bakers: Cheesecake

I really enjoyed this challenge.  It was relatively simple and mom got the cheesecake she kept asking for =D.  Unlike the last challenge, I did this one on the first weekend that I could.  It didn't need any special ingredients and I had the time =D.

The April 2009 challenge is hosted by Jenny from Jenny Bakes. She has chosen Abbey's Infamous Cheesecake as the challenge.

And now, to the pictures!!!

I made my crust with Kinnikinnick graham cracker-style crumbs.  They worked beautifully, but next time I wouldn't add the extra vanilla to the crust, it was just too much vanilla (and I'm a big vanilla person).

The fun part was pressing them out in these fun (super cheap) pans!

Then I started the cheese part of the cheesecake =D

Mixed it all up.

Then one at a time...

Add the eggs

And watch it become thinner.

And then my secret ingredient *cough* dried mangoes *cough*

You'll never guess which one has this secret ingredient in it...

All baked.  Now we wait.  A whole day.

wait .

wait.

wait.

Sleep.

Get up.

wait.

wait.

Okay, now you can top it.  aka more waiting...

Lots of fruit =D

And some glaze!  Now just wait a little longer to let it set.

and then...   Eat!!!

Yum, this was good.  Definitely make this.  Asap. 

Thanks to Jenny for this challenge!!

xoxo

Lauren

Happy Birthday =D

So my little blog is one year old.  Today.  It sure doesn't feel like that long, or anywhere near that, but what do you know?  It's actually been a year, and so much has changed.  So very much.  I began as a little blog posting every single day about gluten, my health and some random book and fashion posts.  Now, I'm still a little blog, but as my health has gone up and down my posting has become more random.  It's still about gluten and my health, but less and less about books and art and fashion.  Although I haven't shown it here, I've become much more interested in fashion over the past year.  I have hundreds of fashion blogs (and food ones too!) that I read on a daily basis, and I've found my own style and begun to define it =D.  Not to worry though, I'm not going to change into a fashion blog anytime soon, I'm good just where I am.  

As a gluten free blogger, and a teen one at that, I've learned a lot and found out tons about gluten free baking and cooking.  I've been a part of the Daring Bakers since June, which has been a very fun outlet, and an amazing way to encourage me to try making new things.  I completely recommend it if you ever need a push to try more baking, especially gluten free.  They've become much better with the gluten free crowd, in altering the recipes for us.  Which makes it so much easier for me =D.  Oh, and of course, when you're all done making the food, you get to see everyone elses when we all post our results.  That's always the fun part, especially when theres a lot of freedom in the recipe.

This year has been great, and I'm looking forward to another year, with more adventures, and (positive?) changes in my health, and of course, more posts.  In fact, I hope to do more writing in general, and do more with fashion, and do more baking and cooking and experimenting and everything =D.

So here's to another amazing year =D!

xoxo

Lauren

Happy Easter!

So tomorrow is Eater Sunday.  When I was younger that meant searching through the house with my brother for chocolate eggs.  They were hidden all over the house (but always within our line of sight/height), and we would find as many as possible, then eat as many as we could manage.  Then mom & dad would take some, and we'd eat some more.  Once we had fully stuffed our faces, and probably had some brunch or lunch, my brother and me, along with half of the kids in our neighbourhood, we would take part in a huge neighbourhood-wide easter egg hunt.  There would be teams, and everything.  It was always a huge and very fun event.  Also, each of the teams would have younger kids and older ones, as well as girls and boys, which always made it more fun.  That also helped in making the teams more even.  But, as some of the kids were older, there were always very specific rules and boundries.  

As I got older, and when we got a dog, the easter experience changed.  No more chocolate on the ground, as you never know if he might get his paws on it.  Or really no more on low areas.  Now Easter is just about our family, having a nice breakfast together, then just enjoy the day.  Including the chocolate, of course =D.  Easter has evolved with us, I would say for the better.  It used to be about the easter bunny, and the chocolate, and it has turned into more of a day about our family, and of course, some good food =D.  

So, if all goes well, I'll have cinnamon bread, that I'll make into french toast, and maybe some pancakes or cornbread too.  And, with any luck, there will be some chocolate in there too, whether or not they are for breakfast!

Have an awesome Easter, however you celebrate it!

xoxo

Lauren

The Flu...

So I haven't been feeling amazing, and yet I've been feeling better than normal all at the same time.  I think that I caught some form of the flu that is going around my school at the moment.  I have been feeling like I'm going to pass out (not dizzy, but pass out.  that may seem weird, but I can tell that this is different from my normal sickness), as well as getting really hot then really cold and so on.  I've also been having a hard time really focusing, but that part is getting better.  One thing that has also been accompanying this (at my school, not in me) is throwing up. 

That got me thinking.  I don't know why, but I almost never get the flu and throw up because of it.  I think that I have had that happen only once or maybe twice in my entire life.  So, I think that in some weird way, all of the diseases that I have somehow protect me from the throw up side of flus.  In fact, flus are not often something I get.  I know that I've had probably 2 in the past 2 or 3 months, but thats just chance (or maybe my weakened immune system).  But in general, through my life, I don't tend to get the flu.  Lots of colds, but not usually the flu.  And when I get it, it's never as bad as my friends.  This flu that I have now isn't that horrible for me, but apparently it is a really hard hitting one.   

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but who knows, all of my illnesses could actually have prevented others.  Anyways, I'm starting to feel not too bad again, so hopefully this will pass and I can get back to everything =D!

xoxo

Lauren