Gluten Free Chocolate Recipes for Valentines...

I thought I would consolidate some good recipe options for you to make for your honey on Valentines Day. Whether breakfast in bed, dessert, or anything in between, here are a few (mostly-chocolate-influenced) sure to be loved!

Chocolate Granola
Strawberry-Chocolate Smoothie
Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing
Chocolate Fudge Icing
Double-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bon-Bon Cookies
Rich-Dark Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Hot Cocoa

Allergen-free cupcake mix...

I am a scratch baker for the most part. And in the gluten free realm, I have mastered it fairly well. But when it comes to allergen free (for multiple food issues) well–that can be daunting to even the experienced baker.


Omitting eggs and dairy in baking takes one into a whole new venue of scientific experimentation that can at times, not turn out so well, or send you to the store for a lot of complex substitution ingredients.

So when I find a mix that works well for allergen free items, I like to tout its praises. I don’t know how readily available this brand is across the country, but it is stocked on most of the common big name groceries in my city. Cherrybrook Kitchen

This mix is great! Not just gluten free, allergen free! You add a few simple ingredients (oil, water, vanilla) and you have a delicious cake or cupcake. They are super-super moist and go together in very little time.
Frost this with my allergen free fudge icing, and its a winner!!

Gluten Free Snickerdoodle cookies...

We are only a mere 4 weeks on the other side of our Christmas festivities, and it seems like it was a million weeks ago, the cookie exchanges, gift tins with sweets, and those holiday parties laden with cookies and goodies. With over indulges mostly now long forgotten, many are in the mood for a homemade cookie. Many cookies pose challenges for the gluten free-er. But these Snickerdoodles are just like the ‘real-thing’, a.k.a.—those cinnamon-sugary cookies with gluten.
No one will know they are GF—take them to the boy scout party, the office meeting, or even your next cookie exchange (next season)—exchange away, you won't have to tell anyone they are GF! They are soft and chewy with a crisp edge. They have the perfect toasty warmth of cinnamon with the crunchy sugar.
Gift these to a gluten-free-er for their birthday or upcoming Valentines Day, or set out on your next dinner party with coffee. They are a traditional cookie, made modern for a gluten free world.

Recipe

• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 ¾ cups gluten free flour (I recommend Tom Sawyer, use what you have)
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• ¼ tsp. salt
For rolling mixture:
• 2 Tbs. granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 F. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and beat until combined. To the butter mixture, add the dry ingredients: GF Flour; baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Mix until well combined.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Place on baking sheet (dark sheets, or non-stick sheets may darken the bottom of these cookies, line dark pans with parchment if you are using them. If you have aluminum pans, you can use those unlined and ungreased.)
Bake for 9 minutes, or until lightly browned on edges and puffed. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Green tomato and radish salad...

I am a bit of a renegade, i suppose. Why? because I plant a garden in the winter—and I plant tomatoes, a non-winter vegetable at that. But in my defense, our winters are barely what others call summer, so each year, I risk it. Now, I live in Arizona, so a winter garden is not so unusual I guess. And for my 30+ winters gardening in Arizona, only three of them (that I can remember) has had freezing temperatures...the last three. That means, emptying my linen closet (and nearly having to strip all the beds) to tromp out in 32-degrees and cover, even double-cover mind you, all my pot and plots. It is a lot of work, and sadly, my tomatoes never survive, no matter how well I tuck them into my pretty little bed sheets.

I had nearly 30 green tomatoes on the vine! That is the risk I take, I suppose, with winter gardening, even in sunny AZ. So when freezing Arizona winters give me an abundance of green tomatoes, I make salad.
Here it is:

Green Tomato and Radish Salad

• 2 small or 1 medium green tomatoes, firm ones
• 4-6 radishes
• Juice and zest of 1 tangerine, or ½ of a small orange
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• 1 tbs rice vinegar
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 pinches of kosher salt to season
• Cilantro to garnish

Slice the radish and tomatoes on a mandolin on the thinnest setting, or slice as thin as you can with a knife. Toss in a bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Let sit for 10 minutes. Serve.
Note: if you don’t like radish, use celery or even all tomato.

Gluten Free Enchilada Sauce...

In our house after Thanksgiving all the way up to Christmas means one thing—turkey enchiladas. The day after thanksgiving means putting up the Christmas tree and a huge hot bubbly plan of melting-gooey cheesy turkey enchiladas.
The problem? Canned enchilada sauce usually has wheat in it. Even homemade recipes for that matter, they all begin with a roux of flour and oil. Well—no problem anymore. Here is a recipe that is easy, and—according to my husband is, “Just like my Nana’s (his Mexican grandmother’s) enchilada sauce!” So—there you have it.
Make a batch, and then make enchiladas from any recipe you have and like. Make a double batch and store the extra sauce in a jar in the fridge. You can use for a few weeks! (Think Christmas Tamales)
Not only is it a great enchilada sauce, it makes a great taco sauce too!

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons gluten free flour
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup Chile Powder
• 2 tbs red wine vinegar
• 2 cups cold water or chicken broth
• One 15oz can of tomato puree

For heat if you like it hot, but it is optional:

• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
2. Add chile powder and cook for an additional minute.
3. Slowly add the water or broth whisking vigorously, making sure that no lumps form.
4. Reduce heat to low, add garlic powder, salt, peppers (is using), and tomato puree, and simmer covered over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
5. Remove from heat, and stir in vinegar.

Allergen Free Hot Cocoa...

Mmmmm. Nothing says winter, and Christmas and all that goes with it like hot cocoa. Many mixes on the market now are gluten free, but not allergen free. This recipe is so simple, you will never go back to store bought mixes of hot cocoa. It’s rich and dark and sweet and delicious! Simple to make, keeps forever, and the best part? It is sooo delicious.

Make this as a gift for anyone you know who is allergen free (egg, dairy, soy, gluten…etc). Give it to them in a jar wrapped in a bow.

This mix takes more in a mug than a store-bought package mix to make a cup of cocoa. Double this recipe to have plenty for the season for your family.
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• Good sized pinch of kosher salt
• 1/4 cup cornstarch

Mix all ingredients and store in a jar or Tupperware container.
To make a mug of cocoa:
Add 1/3 cup of the mix into a standard-sized coffee mug. Add hot water and stir to mix. Add marshmallows if you like!

Simple and easy gluten free thanksgiving...

I know there are a multitude of recipes out there for a gluten free Thanksgiving. So, I am simply going to post a few tips I like to use, and also a few of my already posted recipes that could be incorporated into a simple gluten free Thanksgiving menu.

Tip 1: Make a centerpiece out of fruit. Its always beautiful, and then you get to eat the fruit after, so there is no waste. Use some extra herbs from your garden, or what you didn't use in your recipes--Voila! Instant centerpiece!

Tip 2: Brine your turkey. Trust me on this one. Google Alton Brown's recipe. You will never go back to un-brined turkeys.

Start with this recipe as one of your appetizers. Its simple, and easy to make, and delicious.
Olive Appetizer.

Make one of these biscuits as your gluten free roll offering for dinner. Either is delicious, and even your non-gluten free eaters at the table will not know they are GF. Tip: The next day, they make amazing biscuits and gravy! Cheddar biscuit, or Buttermilk-Sage biscuit.

Pie. You cannot have Thanksgiving without pie. This crust works! Its a great gluten free recipe! Pie Crust.

Serve your pie with this holiday spiced and scented coffee. It will truly feel like the beginning of the Christmas season. Cinnamon French Press Coffee.