Healthy (Gluten Free) Pumpkin Cupcakes

Hello ladies,
This time last year, before the discovery of my gluten sensitivity, I was obsessed with making delicious Pumpkin Cupcakes. I got the recipe off Splenda.ca and it uses whole wheat flour and canned pumpkin. Tonight I tried supplementing the whole wheat flour for rice flour and got a delicious gluten free alternative! Here is the recipe! Enjoy!

Healthy Pumpkin Cupcakes

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 18-20 minutes
Makes: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) whole wheat flour (or rice flour for a gluten free alternative)

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

• 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder

• 1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda

• 1 tsp (5 mL) ground cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt

• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground nutmeg

• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cloves

• 1 egg

• 1 3/4 cup (430 mL) canned pumpkin

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) canola oil

Icing Ingredients
• 1 package (250 g) spreadable low fat cream cheese

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

• 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400⁰ F (200⁰C) and prepare a 12 cup muffin pan with baking spray.

• Combine the whole wheat flour, SPLENDA^® Granulated, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, salt, ground cloves, and ground nutmeg in a mixing bowl. 

• Beat the eggs thoroughly in a separate bowl.

• Add the canned pumpkin and canola oil to the beaten egg. Mix until thoroughly combined.

• Combine the mixtures in the two together until just mixed. Do not over mix. The batter will be stiffer than a typical cake or muffin batter.

• Spoon the batter equally into the prepared muffin pan, taking the time to evenly smooth the batter in each cup.

•Bake for approximately 18 to 20 minutes.

•Remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

• Combine the cream cheese, SPLENDA^® Granulated, and vanilla to form an icing

• Spread the icing equally over the tops of the thoroughly cooled cupcakes.

Nutritional Information

Amount per Serving:

• Serving Size: 1 cupcake

• Total Calories: 200

• Calories from Fat: 117

• Total Fat: 13 g

• Saturated Fat: 3 g

• Cholesterol: 30 mg

• Sodium: 340 mg

• Total Carbohydrates: 18 g

• Fibre: 3 g

• Sugars: 3 g

• Protein: 5 g

It was picture day at school today :)

New Plan of Action!

I'm proud to announce that I have had a great week this week! Down two lbs since Monday with nooooo cheating! Whoo, hoo!
Went to see Dr. Som today for some advice and to give her an update which made me remember how different things were when I saw her last. Every appointment she would ask "What's your stress like?" and I would go on to tell her about the varying degrees of stress in my life. At that point she would encourage me to relax and not let things stress me out. Today was the same as every other but this time when she asked me what was stressing me out I simply said "nothing". That's right, I couldn't think of a single thing! This is an epic event! For years I was always stressing out about something! Wonder if my cortisol is down? lol. Hope this lasts! I feel pretty good today :)

Dr. Som's suggestions:

• Exercise -  Running 3 days a week. She suggested Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays since I work late 2 days per week. Talked to Joe, he may join me on my run on the weekends :)
• Try two weeks 100% strict. She believes that this should "reset" my weightloss mentality. My goal is to be down 10 lbs by Thanksgiving. Already down 3 :)
• Start taking my supplements again, especailly the adrenal support and Inositol.
• Start charting my food again. Slacked this summer :P
• Eliminate artificial sweetners. Boo :(

Tonight I ran with Russell :) Felt good!  Here is what I ate today:

Breakfast: (8:00am)
Kashi GoLean (1 cup)
Skim milk (1 cup)
Banana

Lunch: (11:45am)
Quinoa (1/2 cup)
Chicken (deck of cards size)
Mixed veggies

Snack: (2:00)
Grapes
 Laughing cow cheese wedges (2)

Snack: (4:30)
Banana
Peanut butter (1 tbsp)

Dinner (6:00)
Turkey sausage (1)
Brown rice (1/2 cup)
Peppers & onions

Snack: (8:30)
Glutino crackers (4)
Cheese (2 cubes)
Apple

Here We Go Again!

Ok, so I know I've been MIA lately. Truth is, I have been bad :(

Since school has started, I've been trying to get my will power back but it seems like every day there is a new treat in the staff room-- pizza, cookies, cupcakes, you name it! I used to be able to look at it and have no desire to eat it, but these days I am not so strong.

Today is Monday, the first day of a new week. I am trying again. Going to see Dr. Som on Thursday, hopefully she will offer me some good advice. Went to work early today to do some planning with my teaching partner and worked at Oxford until 6:00pm so I am sure sleep is not far off.

Here is what I ate today:

Breakfast: (7:30am)

Kashi GoLean (1 cup)

Skim milk (1 cup)

Banana

Lunch: (11:45am)

Romaine lettuce

2 eggs (hard boiled)

Brown rice salad with fat free mayo (1/2 cup)

Fat Free Italian Dressing (2 tbsps)

Snack: (2:15pm)

Banana

Snack: (6:30pm)

Banana

Dinner: (7:30pm)

Tuna burger

1/2 cup of rice pasta

Laughing Cow Cheese

1/4 Fat Free Cheese

Mixed veggies

My dinner :)

Why Didn't I Think of This Sooner?!

Kasha GoLean with skim milk can be quite bland. Today I added blueberries and some cinnamon :)

Back!

Hello everyone! Yes, I'm aware I have been MIA for a couple of weeks but I am back on the map! lol
We had Joe's mom's birthday a few weeks back and then Joe and I did some camping last weekend so you can imagine what put into what crap I was putting into my body. Drumroll please...
2 hamburgers on white buns,
4 hot dogs on white buns,
spinach dip (healthy!) but with bread :(
Gluten free tuna macaroni
S'mores! Hershey's chocolate, marshmallows and no, not graham crackers because we couldn't find them at the store but CHOCOLATE DIP COOKIES! Amazing but oh so bad :(

Good news is, I am back at work which means back in a routine and eating at a regular schedule.
Down 2lbs over night. Maybe shoving crap down my throat has given my metabolism a kick in the ass?
Anyways, plan on being pretty strict for the next little bit. Hope to be down another 20lbs by Christmas.
Wish me luck!