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Low Carb Chocolate Cupcakes

Wendy has been sticking to her KETO diet lately, and I’m proud of her for being so disciplined.  Although she hasn’t cheated (as far as I know), she has talked so much about chocolate cake that it won’t be long before she does.  She has one specific cake on her mind.  The cake she is longing for is one that was brought into work several months ago by one of the managers at our office.

That cake had a special ingredient…

Zucchini

When Wendy admitted to not knowing that there was a difference between liquid and dry measurements, I knew I would need to step in to help.

I told her I would try to duplicate the recipe.

On Tuesday she handed over 5 small zucchini,a zip top bag filled with cocoa powder, and a bottle of Stevia concentrate.  Seeing that she was serious, I committed to create this cake for her.

My low carb chocolate cupcake recipe was adapted from Lisa’s Low Carb Yum Best Low Carb Chocolate Cake Recipe.

This recipe makes 24 cupcakes, contains 96 calories, and 2.5 net carbs.  It requires planning ahead because unless you bake low carb/sugar-free regularly, you probably won’t have all the necessary ingredients on hand.

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cup low carb sweetener (1:1 sugar replacement)

1/4 teaspoon Stevia concentrated powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)

8 large eggs (beaten)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups zucchini (shredded)

Using my food processor I shredded 4 small zucchini which is apparently the secret to making this low carb cake recipe so moist.

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk coconut flour, sweetener, Stevia concentrate, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt.
  3. In a separate container whisk eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
  5. Stir in the shredded zucchini.
  6. Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling about halfway.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
  8. Cool on wire rack.
  9. Once cool, frost with chocolate buttercream frosting, if desired.

I highly recommend frosting with chocolate buttercream frosting.  The recipe is from Lisa’s Low Carb Yum, is unbelievably tasty, and completely worth the extra calories!

 

 

Low Carb Chocolate Cupcakes

  • Servings: 24
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

1 cup coconut flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cup low carb sweetener (1:1 sugar replacement)

1/4 teaspoon Stevia concentrated powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)

8 large eggs (beaten)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 cups zucchini (shredded)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.

In large mixing bowl, whisk coconut flour, sweetener, stevia concentrate cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt.

In a separate bowl whisk eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla until smooth.

Combine wet and dry ingredients.

Stir in zucchini

Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling only halfway.

Bake for 15 18 20 or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack. Once cool, frost with chocolate buttercream frosting, if desired.

prettyis.me

 

 

Wendy had a happy day!

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

On my way to work this morning I was listening to Mark Kaye and Meghan on 95.1 WAPE.

They were discussing their upcoming Hot Ones Challenge and welcomed James from 9 Ball Heaven Sports Grill & Billiards to the studio.

At 9 Ball Heaven, James offers a hot wing challenge to anyone who can eat 10 of his hot wings in 20 minutes.

If the challenge is met, there is a prize.

One of these: The hot wings are doused in James’ own chief sauce (made with ghost peppers).

Taking turns, Mark and Meghan each tried 3 wings from 9 Ball Heaven: 1 mild, 1 medium, 1 hot, while the other presented interview questions.

Mark went first.  He declared the mild wing to be delicious while Meghan asked him to name his last meal (food/drink) if he were on death row.  Mark said it would be those wings and a cold beer.

He then tried the medium wing which he described as appetizing and finally the hot wing while Meghan asked him to name 2 items he would want to have if he were stranded on a deserted island:

“AN AMBULANCE AND A DOCTOR”

was his immediate response.

He later changed his answer to ‘his inhaler and family’, but his first answer was indicative of the effect the hot wing had on him.

Meghan’s response was to this Hot Ones Challenge was hilarious.

She was so nervous that I was expecting she would back out.  I was laughing out loud to the point that I can’t even remember Mark’s interview questions for her, with the exception of the 3rd one:

With Meagan’s first taste of the hot “chief sauce” wing Mark asked her to sing Baby Shark.

This is what she said:

That wasn’t so bad…

WHOA… OH MY GOD… NO… Baby Shark Doo Doo Doo Doo… (sniff) Grandpa Shark…

I gotta GO

It was a great show and as I pulled into my dreaded office parking lot,  I think it may have been the first time I’ve ever arrived laughing!

Today my

Favorite # ONE

is

The Morning Mess with Mark Kaye and Meghan

By the way, I think this would be a good challenge for my nephew Kyle.

~

Favorite # TWO

Women’s Rosalynn Block Heeled Mule

(a birthday gift)

 

Thank you Richard and Emily!

~

Favorite # THREE

Earrings

(a birthday gift)(similar)

Thank you Stephanie and Amanda!

Also from my girls…

Favorite # FOUR

A Purrmaid Pool Float

and other pool time accessories:

Magical Unicorn Beverage Boats and Stretchy Fling FlamingosIt is about time for me to get in the pool.

Ordinarily, it would be considered past time to get in the pool.  But my pool doesn’t get warm until late June/early July

Now I have no excuse!

~

Favorite # FIVE

It’s Friday

and

I’m out of the office like

Happy Weekend!

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

Way Back Wednesday

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

(I might be exaggerating)

Actually it was the afternoon of June 6th in 1984 and I was about to enter a new season of life!

Last Wednesday marked 35 years since I graduated from high school.

Because I was busy posting highlights from my recent birthday and cruise, I neglected to take time to focus on memories of high school.

With the exception of occasional uneasiness brought about by thoughts of a possible Soviet invasion (special thanks to the movie Red Dawn), it was a great time to be a kid!

SO many things were happening during the early 80’s prior to my high school graduation.

Such happenings include:

Reaganomics

Family Ties

Lady Diana Spencer

Return of the Jedi

star wars episode 6 GIF

The cable debut of MTV

Sally Ride

EPCOT

Jump

music videos 80s GIF

The birth of the modern internet

Footloose

kevin bacon dancing GIF

The release of the first Apple Macintosh

Michael Jackson’s MoonwalkMichael Jackson Moonwalk GIF

The maiden voyage of the Space Shuttle Columbia

The Cosby Show

Ghost Busters

harold ramis ghostbusters GIF

Sixteen Candles

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Retro Wake Me Up Before You Go Go GIF

and

WHAM!

(see what I did?)

I was a senior in high school!

(why didn’t someone help me with my eyebrows?)

During my teens, senior high began with 10th grade.

It was at this point in August 1981, that I began attending Edward H. White Senior High School (personal artwork in the yearbook)

It seemed like a huge place and a schedule led by “mods” instead of “periods” was a bit overwhelming for a newbie. Luckily I had some older friends who were already attending and were able to show me how to manage (thank you Kim and Vicki).

It was important to have identification at the time.

Mine looked like this:

Although there were so many activities to keep me busy…

when I think back, time seemed to move slowly.

But before I knew it

1984

had arrived.

I would be saying goodbye to high school.

Happy 35th Anniversary Ed White Class of 84!

GO COMMANDERS!

 

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

 

 

 

The Lizard

Critters seem to find their way into my house and usually I find them after they’ve gone to the great beyond – thank goodness!

But while cleaning the family room

–

A

Lizard!

 

We came upon each other suddenly…

as he was sunning himself on the back of the sofa.

While spiders and bugs get a swat or a spray, lizards get a pass.

I can pick it up by that long tail and take it to the door and gently let it go to a new lease on life.

I reached for him and his eyes grew large.  I could see the fear in his eyes or so it seemed.  I pulled and he held on for dear life, no kidding, and those little feet dug into the tapestry fabric.  I said, “come on little fella, let go; I’m not going to hurt you.   I’m going to set you free”.  I just wanted to put him back into his natural habitat, but all he saw was something bigger than life and he wasn’t about to let go.

It became quite funny, a battle of sorts. The more I pulled, the more he held on. I could almost hear him crying, “somebody help me”!

Finally, I was able to peel him away from the sofa.

As I made my way to the door I began to ponder, isn’t that what God has to do with us when we think we’re in a “safe place”, comfortably living our lives?

He knows it’s not the best plan for us.

Sometimes it hurts and we become afraid as He “pries us away” from what we thought was good only to find we can experience something far better. His aim is not to hurt us, even though at the time we can only think of our pain and fear.

If we could pause and remember that in all our ways to acknowledge Him, then He would direct our paths, and would do a better work in us that, even if we tried, we could never imagine. God, in His providence, has only our good in mind.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:6 KJV

MDR

Friday Favorites

It may have been a short workweek, but since returning to work after vacation I have been longing for Friday…

Not only because I want to

NOT GO TO WORK

but because I enjoy sharing my

Friday Favorites

Animation Dancing GIF by LooseKeys

Favorite # ONE

It may seem that I have an obsession with donuts because I have mentioned them frequently on my blog in such posts as found here, here, here, here, here, and here.

And as a matter of fact, I’ve picked up donuts for work many times.

However I won’t be bringing in donuts on National Donut Day because donuts are a high carb food and Wendy and Kim are currently practicing a low carb lifestyle.  That said, instead of donuts, we will be enjoying these

Cocoa Roasted Almonds

for a special treat today.

9 net carbs per ¼ cup serving and 100% sweet tooth satiating

These are awesome!

~

Favorite # TWO

Little Visitors

The baby girls came by for a visit on Tuesday evening.

Oftentimes Lydia will ask to take a bath while she is at Glammy’s.  I agree that it is a good idea since she and Rory will likely fall asleep on the ride home, then their Mommy can put them right to bed.  Many times they don’t have a change of clothes, or pajamas with them.

On this occasion, Glammy offered the use of her tee shirts.

Rory was particularly amusing when she presented her ensemble.  Then she noticed that LB was holding a bag of Tostitos.Because she wanted to wear the garden gloves she had discovered, it was especially cute when she tried to feed herself a Tostito.

What a doll!

~

Favorite # THREE

Birthday Gifts

LB has such good taste!

My birthday post shared the adventures LB and I experienced on June 1st, however I didn’t reveal the birthday gifts LB gave me.

Here they are:

KATE SPADE White Rock Road Denim Sam in Dark Wave

KATE SPADE Emelyn Quilted Black

(similar)

STERLING SILVER TIKI FLOWER DROP EARRINGS

STERLING SILVER FLOWER TIKI BRACELET

~

My family celebrates other birthdays in June.  This week we were blessed with two others

Favorite # FOUR

Adrienne Dawn

is my sister’s youngest G-baby.

This week marks one year for the “rainbow baby”

Happy Birthday Adrienne!

~

Favorite # FIVE

Emily

is my daughter-in-law.

She is a lovely young lady and Mommy to the sweetest little Glam-babies in the world.

Happy Birthday Emily!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

I Love It When We’re Cruisin’ Together

Included in the Travel list on my Bucket List Blog Post is

Go on a Caribbean cruise

Last week LB and I did just that!

We headed for Tampa on Thursday and sailed out of Port Tampa Bay later that afternoon.

Bon Voyage!

After an assessment of our room, and a moment to enjoy our private balcony, LB and I began to plan which events we most wanted to attend.

Carnival makes it easy to keep up with cruise activities by using the Carnival HUB app.  Some of our favorites were trivia,  live music, and productions such as the “Welcome Aboard Show” performed by the ship’s exceptional dancers who had some degree of vocal talent.

We decided not to dress up but keep it casual and enjoy dinner at the Italian buffet on the Lido deck. Prime Rib, Eggplant Parmesan, and baked fish

Low Carb

👍🏻

~

Friday was a day of indulging as I began my first full cruise day with a cup of very good coffee and an excellent eggs Benedict breakfast.  It was also very relaxing as we basked in the sun on the top deck And later enjoyed music trivia and the sing-a-longs that ensued. 

Having spent my teens in the eighties makes me quite a contender for 80’s music trivia

but it doesn’t make me a good singer.Yes, that pencil is my microphone.

On Friday night LB and I dressed up and took advantage of the photo opportunities in the atrium and on the promenade deck.It is fun to doll up and be fancy.

Dinner was excellent every night

but dessert was the best.  If you’ve never tasted a Chocolate Melting Cake you should take a Carnival Cruise just to try one.

~

Saturday was excursion day.

Our ship docked at the port in Cozumel and we set out to explore.

LB and I spent time at Dolphin Discovery.We enjoyed time on Chankanaab Beach

and visiting with the locals

LB planned a day of fun and adventure with opportunities to cross items off of my bucket list.  Posing with a mariachi band was not one of those items, but it was fun nonetheless.

Saturday was also my birthday.  More about the Birthday Adventure here.

After dinner Saturday evening, LB and I went to a showing of the movie Bohemian Rhapsody which premiered in 2018 and apparently won Academy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.  The story was sad, but the music was good.

It was a relaxing way to end an exciting day!

~

Because I left home without packing sunscreen, by Sunday I was pink.  LB was too.  Henceforth, we remained in the shade to avoid further exposure to the sun

While indoors, LB thought it would be a good idea to experience one of the hamburgers from Guy Fieri’s grill aka Guy’s Burger Joint

Cruises are notorious for causing weight gain.  Believe it or not, LB managed to evade added poundage

but Kim did not.  [She didn’t do well against the Dealer either]

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

A Week to Remember

Friday

May 24th at 4:30 PM could not come soon enough.

But it finally did and I was ON VACATION!

LB and I had planned to take a western Caribbean cruise beginning on May 30th, however my plan was to enter Vacation Mode as soon I left the office on the Friday before.

And so I did.

I came home that afternoon, made my customary Friday night little pizzas for LB and began my plan to

DO WHAT I WANT

for the next ten days.

Sunday

LB and I went shopping.  Because we had planned a BIG Memorial Day Celebration, we headed to the grocery store to pick up necessary party essentials and prepare for the coming day.

Monday

was a Memorial Day family gathering.

I was so happy to be able to spend time with my kids, my Mama, my sister, and the precious little ones that call me Glammy.

There are two of them and they are adorable.

One has a Glammy persona at times, and prefers to not be caught on camera doing “her thing” unless adequately planned.

Being that I could not help myself, despite her protests, I snapped Lydia’s picture as she conquered “Sunny the obnoxious swan” with the help of Aunt Manda.

Tuesday

I met Demetra at her salon on St. John’s Avenue to get her help bringing my grays under control.  While I was there Demetra told me about a cupcakery that is for sale.  Silvada’s is looking to franchise and sell the St. John’s Avenue location.

LB and I checked it out.

The Creme Brûlée cupcake was delicious and I believe it can be easily duplicated.

I would love nothing more than to bake cupcakes and feed people every day.

Later that evening, we enjoyed Disney’s new production of Aladdin on the big screen at EPIC Theatres. On

Wednesday

LB and I took part in St. Augustine’s weekly event

Music by the Sea

The last dinner in May was catered by Purple Olive.

LB and I shared a plate.

Since I don’t eat shrimp or blatant carbs, I enjoyed a plantain for dinner.

(not a word)

Thursday

was the big day.

Cruise day

to be continued…

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

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