Archive for December, 2008

Dog Drama, Super Duper, & Dough

Dec 30

Posted by Maureen in Hold The Gluten Podcast | 3 Comments

The latest episode of my Hold The Gluten Podcast is now live!

Episode 15 “Dog Drama, Super Duper, & Dough” Features:

  • Baxter vs. my GF holiday cookies.
  • How I avoided getting glutened over the Holidays!
  • Duper our imaginary friend.
  • Did you know Playdoh contains gluten?!
  • Gluten free dough options: Aroma Dough, A Year of CrockPotting, & Gluten Free Dough Recipe
  • Gluten Free mixes for the EZ Bake Oven by Food Tek Quick Bake Kids
  • Why are people who are not gluten intolerant going GF?!?  The mystifying GF fad diet.
  • What do YOU think of this HTG Podcast?  Leave your feedback wherever you download this podcast!

Read the blog. Listen to the podcast. Educate yourself.

Rock on Celiacs!

Click the player below to listen to the show! Subscribe to the podcast using iTunes (or whatever media player you use) at http://feeds.feedburner.com/htgpodcast

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White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Dec 28

Posted by Maureen in GF Recipe Compilation, Recipes: Desserts & Baked Goods | 10 Comments

My intentions were to post this (and other) gluten free cookie recipes BEFORE the holiday season.  However, at approximately 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve, I was frenetically baking like Martha Stewart on crack.  Like a rabid Keebler Elf.  Like Betty Crocker on a bender.  No, it was not a pretty picture. Why was I baking on Christmas Eve, you ask?  This is why…

On December 23rd, I was out doing some last minute shopping. I battled parking spot stalkers, mall crazies, and scrooges filled with a case of the “bah humbugs”. Exhausted, I came home to find that my first “child” Baxter had eaten TWO DOZEN of my gluten free cookies.  Baxter is our black lab mix.  My husband and I adopted him from a local shelter 11 years ago.  Did I mention Baxter is blind?  Apparently his sense of smell is MUCH better than his eyesight!   I can only imagine the scene: Baxter’s overactive olfactory system detects my ziploc-bagged cookies. Cookies placed on the CENTER of the kitchen table. He somehow pulls them down, unceremoniously rips apart the bag, and devours all cookies. Only a few crumbs were remaining. That and a lot of dog slobber.

On a happier note, I feel quite confident about posting this tasty cookie recipe.  Thing 1 and Thing 2 loved the cookies and Baxter most certainly gave them two paws up.

Hope you all had a WONDERFUL holiday!

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

1 cup butter (softened)
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon orange extract
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup millet
1/4 cup amaranth flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
zest of an orange
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Using a mixer, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, orange juice, and orange extract — continue to mix well. Slowly add in white & brown rice flours, millet, amaranth, and tapioca flours. Add in baking soda, salt, baking powder, and xanthan gum. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are combined. By hand, fold in orange zest, craisins, and white chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 13 to 15 minutes. After removing from oven, wait a few minutes before transferring cookies to cooling rack. Makes three dozen cookies.

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Is It January Yet?!

Dec 18

Posted by Maureen in Celiac "101", Hold The Gluten Podcast | 6 Comments

The latest episode of my Hold The Gluten Podcast is now live!

Episode 14 “Is It January Yet?!” Features:

  • Wine and M&M’s…Duh – forgot gluten free food at a recent party.
  • Gluten Free Flours – always refrigerate (4 to 6 months) or freeze (up to one year).  Due to the lack of processing, most alternative flours will go rancid if not stored properly.
  • There is no “Holy Grail” for a GF Flour combination.  With flours such as Amaranth, Buckwheat, Millet, Quinoa, Sorghum, and Teff — use the 1/3 rule.
  • Remember that gluten free flours tend to absorb more liquid.  You may need to increase your liquid ingredients to avoid your baked goods being too dry/crumbly.
  1. Amaranth: Powerhouse for fiber, iron, B vitamins, and calcium.  Works well in baked goods due to high moisture content in grain.  Provides a nutty, grainy flavor.  Note – there is a strong smell/taste with Amaranth.
  2. Brown Rice: Healthier choice than White Rice Flour due to whole grain.  Nutty flavor.  Can have a gritty texture (combine with other flours to combat this).
  3. Buckwheat: No relation to wheat whatsoever.  Buckwheat is actually a herb and related to the rhubarb plant.  Provides a nutty, earthy flavor.
  4. Millet: Non-acid forming, making Millet Flour easy to digest.  Creates a light, crunchy crust for baked goods.  Provides a sweet, nutty flavor.
  5. Quinoa: Works well in baked goods due to high moisture content in grain.
  6. Sorghum: Closely mimics wheat flour.  Good for pizza crusts, scones, biscuits.
  7. Teff: Excellent thickener for soups, gravies, puddings, or stews.  Provides a mild, nutty flavor.
  • Don’t get glutened over the holidays!  Never be embarrassed to ask questions or double check the labels of that well-meaning family member cooking for you.
  • What’s your holiday tradition?  Have a new tradition you’ve created since going gluten free?  E-mail me at celiac@holdthegluten.net
  • Are you an Gluten Free Eagles Fan?  Check out EaglesFanCast blog & podcast. Yes, this is another shameless plug for hubby!

Read the blog. Listen to the podcast. Educate yourself.

Rock on Celiacs!

Click the player below to listen to the show! Subscribe to the podcast using iTunes (or whatever media player you use) at http://feeds.feedburner.com/htgpodcast

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Holiday Pumpkin Chocolate Fudge

Dec 15

Posted by Maureen in GF Recipe Compilation, Recipes: Desserts & Baked Goods | 8 Comments

Growing up, there were three “traditions” I fondly remember during every holiday season.

Tradition Number One: We would light a bayberry candle and burn it all the way down in order to ensure good luck in the coming year.  Can’t say the bayberry candles really helped in the “luck” department, but they smelled quite nice.

Tradition Number Two: During a snowfall, my brother and I would place cereal bowls outside to collect the fresh snow.  My mother would top it with vanilla extract and we’d gobble up this tasty treat.  I realize now that I probably liked this tradition immensely as I was six years old and hammered from the vanilla extract.  I’ve consequently altered said tradition with my own Thing 1 and Thing 2.  They eat their bowls of snow topped with sprinkles. Well, unless they are being really difficult.  Then it’s snow topped with Benadryl.  Ahem,  kidding…really!

Tradition Number Three: Shamelessly gorging on grandmother’s homemade fudge.  My grandmother was an old school kind of lady.  She canned vegetables.  She made gooseberry pies from scratch.  She ironed (what’s that?!).  Every holiday there was a tray full of her glorious chocolate fudge set out for all to enjoy.

With grandmother’s fudge in mind and my obsession with anything pumpkin not waning, I started thinking about whipping up a batch of my own fudge.  Then I started researching fudge (yes, I need to get out more).  Apparently fudge can be very tricky.  Making fudge began to scare me a bit.  I still haven’t recovered from my horrific Chebe Calzone Incident of August 2008.  After some procrastination, my craving for fudge overcame my fear.  I’d like to happily report that the fudge recipe I concocted was easy!  Trust me, if I can successfully make fudge while using a meat thermometer, you can totally knock this outta the park!

Pumpkin Chocolate Fudge

3 cups white sugar
1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup 2% evaporated milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
7 ounces marshmallow creme
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
12 ounces white chocolate chips
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 squares Baker’s Chocolate (I used bittersweet)
candy thermometer (a meat thermometer worked as well!)

In a large saucepan (at least 3 quart), mix together sugars, salt, evaporated milk, and pumpkin on high heat. Stir well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and continue to boil until mixture reaches 245 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not stir during this time.

When the mixture registers 245 degrees, turn off heat. Add marshmallow creme, butter (melted), vanilla extract, white chocolate chips, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir to mix well.

Leave fudge mixture in sauce pan and allow to cool to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. This will take some time, so be patient! Once the mixture has cooled to 110 degrees, beat until fudge is thick and has lost it’s “gloss”.  You will have arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger after beating this fudge!  Pour into a greased 13 x 9 pan. Microwave Baker’s Chocolate squares and spread over top of pumpkin fudge. Cool to room temperature and/or refrigerate before slicing.

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Adopt A Gluten Free Blogger

Dec 3

Posted by Maureen in GF Recipe Compilation | 15 Comments

The clever Sea from Book of Yum created “Adopt a GF Blogger” as a means for our ever-growing gluten free community to get to know each other (and our tasty recipes!).  I think of Sea as our virtual gluten-free matchmaker — uniting Celiacs far and wide.  I excitedly decided to adopt Sophie from Flour Arrangements for my first adoption entry.  No offense to Sophie, but I am glad this is a “virtual adoption”, because Thing 1 and Thing 2 keep me quite busy – thankyouverymuch.  I totally enjoy reading Sophie’s blog and drooling over her mouth-watering recipes.  Not only can she whip up an amazing gluten free meal, but Sophie draws, loves antique-y old things, and has an amazingly positive outlook.

Without further ado, here is my version of Sophie’s creation.  Never one to completely follow directions (such a rebel!), I experimented with my just-purchased amaranth flour and also added an orange flavor to the muffins.

Cranberry Orange Carrot Muffins with Gingerbread Frosting
Adapted from Sophie’s fantabulous recipe at Flour Arrangements

Cranberry Orange Carrot Muffin Ingredients:

1 cup brown rice flour
1/3 cup amaranth flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour
1/4 cup sweet white sorghum flour
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
2 1/2 tablespoon melted butter
1 1/2 tablespoon real maple syrup
1/2 cup orange juice
1 1/2 small carrots, finely grated
1 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 cup “orange flavor” craisins
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all flours, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk eggs, white sugar, canola oil, melted butter, maple syrup, orange juice, orange extract and zest. Add the grated carrot. Add wet ingredients to bowl of dry ingredients. Combine thoroughly. Fold in the “orange flavor” craisins. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes 12 tasty muffins.

Gingerbread Frosting Ingredients:

5 1/2 tablespoons softened butter
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of ground all spice
pinch of ground cloves
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Using an electric mixer on low speed, combine softened butter with dark brown sugar. Add ginger, cinnamon, all spice, cloves, and molasses. Mix thoroughly. Slowly add powdered sugar (about 1/4 of a cup at a time) until all powdered sugar has been added.

Frost muffins once completely cooled.

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