During my third class we learned how to fill and decorate cupcakes and how to pipe three different types of flowers: drop flowers, rosettes and shaggy mums.  I think this class was the most fun!  I enjoyed the flower making and how to properly use a leaf tip! Some of you out there may think I am plain silly, but I was using the leaf tip wrong for so long that I just gave up on it! Here are some shots of the cupcakes that I decorated last night. 

Check back next week if you are interested in seeing how my final cake turns out!

For years I have wanted to take the Wilton cake decorating classes that are offered at Michaels.  I have such an affinity for beautiful dessert and although there are baking classes that I will be taking at school, I really wanted to spend some time focusing  strictly on decorating techniques.

I was lucky enough to have met a very kind lady in the store one day while I happened to be wearing my chef's coat. (You would shocked at how many people stop and talk to you when you're wearing a chef's coat), but I digress. She asked me about my school and shared that she was very interested in baking and cake decorating. She then proceeded to tell me that she had taken all of the decorating classes at Michaels!  Let me backup a bit.  That very same day two other people, at two different times, suggested the Michaels classes to me.  A message from God?  Yah, I totally think so!

So far I have taken two classes and I am truly having a blast. The instructor is very kind and helpful. The other students in the class are lively, vivacious and eager to learn.  Of course on the very first day we were asked to "go around and share" why we wanted to take the class.  I decided to be bold.  I explained that I was a culinary student who would eventually like to open a bakery to accommodate people who suffer from food allergies.  To my surprise everyone was so warm and appeared truly interested. The following week a few people gave me some encouraging words and the names of people that I might be interested in  networking with. After that I felt even more stocked! 

Here is what I have done so far. 

For the first class we had to decorate sugar cookies.  My cookies were gluten and dairy free of course. ;)

For class 2 we had to bring in a cake.  We were instructed to pipe a cupcake on top. I'm not a big fan of the cupcake design we had to use, so I just played up the side borders. The front of the cake is a little bit of a mess because I bumped into it. Oops! 

Tonight is my third class.  We are learning how to decorate cupcakes with decorative flowers.  I will post pictures and an update later this week.
Being in this class feels so awesome! After being terribly sick for so long, I find enjoyment in doing the things that I made excuses for not doing in the past. I know that there are many of you out there who love to explore your creative sides.  Some of you may hesitate to take classes like this for various reasons: time, money, fear of looking silly etc., but my advice is to to give it a shot.  Not to mention the class was half off when I signed up so that is definitely a perk! ;)

Admittedly, I am not too big on fish. When I was a kid, a nice little bone lodged itself in the back of my throat and that was enough for me to just turn away from fishy dishes. Now that I am older, I have begun to have a better relationship with it; especially salmon. Cooking fish, chicken, shellfish or vegetables in parchment paper or foil, creates steam which helps the food retain moisture. Its also healthier than pan frying in oil. Salmon en papillote is a fun and elegant dish, that is both super easy to make and a breeze to clean up.  It is delicious served over brown rice or quinoa and looks beautiful plated next to a side of asparagus. It can also be prepared a day in advance.

I got this glorious recipe from Karina the Gluten free Goddess. I took these to school one day and the instructors and other culinary students could not tell that these little beauties were gluten & dairy free!  Try these today. This coffee infused treat is sure to be a crowd pleaser

I oftentimes find myself searching for gluten and dairy free products just for the heck of it.  I get true joy when I find a new product at the regular grocery store.  I have just recently moved from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Lake Charles, Louisiana.  When I found out about our relocation the first thing that I looked up was the location of a Whole Foods.  You can only guess what I found... Exactly!  There is NO WHOLE FOODS in Lake Charles!   Whole Foods market was my comfort store.  Although I did not shop there weekly, I would get specialty items like non-dairy yogurt, cream cheese or sour cream.  

I must say that I am most pleased with Kroger!  I always read about the items that people have purchased from Kroger on other blog sites, but since I did not have a Kroger I was not sure what I was missing out on.  They actually have a large gluten free selection and a pretty decent dairy free section. 

Biglots also has some great items at a fraction of the price! I found cereals, pasta, teas, and mashed potatoes! 

The moral of the story: You never know what a store may have so always check!

Hello all! This is my very first post and I am extremely excited! Please bear with me. I am still trying to get the hang of setting up a blog. I believe this will be a cathartic endeavor and I am glad to share it with you all. Gluten and Dairy free living, while it has its challenges, can be quite rewarding.  I know that I often find solace reading how other bloggers deal with their conditions, and I would like to pay it forward by writing for the newly diagnosed or seasoned Gluten and/or Dairy Free-ers out there.  Even if you aren't gluten or dairy free, I hope my posts can be beneficial to you as well. God bless and thanks for reading!