Chocolate Piping

I made shapes of hearts and ovals but really any shape can be made.  These gluten-free, soy-free chocolate “designs” can be used on tops of cupcakes, cakes, served with a cup of cappuccino or with a small bowl of fruit for a classy dessert.

Make sure you make the piping thick enough.

INGREDIENTS and SUPPLIES

1. ½ package (5 oz.) of Enjoy Life Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

2. Parchment triangles

DIRECTIONS

1. Place chocolate in pan on low heat and stir with a wooden spoon constantly or place in a Pyrex cup in microwave for 30 seconds at a time and stir at each break.
2. Take a piece of waxed or parchment paper and tape it to your cookie sheet (or counter top like I did) – draw the shapes you desire.
3. Roll your triangles into cone shapes.
4. Once melted you’re ready to fill your parchment paper triangles but make sure the tip is very small, allowing a little chocolate out.  Roll over the top of the parchment and gently squeeze.
5. Place in refrigerator or freezer.  Peel off gently.  Enjoy.

Miranda Jade Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

Over thirty years ago, Mr. Ritt opened a bakery in Philadelphia that would later become a gluten-free establishment and gain a dedicated fan base among the gluten-free community. It’s no surprise that after closing his bakery’s doors, Mr. Ritt was met with the demands of his enthusiastic customers who couldn’t do without his tasty creations. Lucky for us, in response to their feedback, he developed a variety of mixes, which can now be conveniently ordered online. We had the opportunity to test some of these mixes, and we were quite satisfied.

Mr. Ritt makes a wide assortment of gluten-free mixes, allowing the gluten-free community to make all sorts of baked goods, from cookies and cakes to baguettes, pizza crust, and hamburger buns. The mixes are excellent, with great flavor, versatility, and quality ingredients.

The All-Purpose Buckwheat Flour Blend is a high-fiber and high-protein mix. This one is ideal for baked goods with a flavor that’s stronger than chocolate chip cookies, according to Mr. Ritt’s website. Pizza and Italian lovers can use the Multipurpose Italian Bread and Pizza Crust Mix, which is not only gluten-free but also egg- and dairy-free.  This mix is good for hamburger and hotdog buns as well as pizza crust.

Waffle-lovers, rejoice! Mr. Ritt’s Buttermilk Waffle Mix can be used for not only waffles, which were the mainstay of Mr. Ritt’s bakery for years, but also pancakes and even a tempura mix.

If you’re a fan of soft pretzels, as I am, you’ll love the Quinoa Bread and Pretzel Mix, a delicious mix that’s not only free of gluten, egg, and dairy, but made with quinoa flour, rich in protein and fiber. As far as I know, it’s the only soft pretzel mix celiacs can make at home!

Mr. Ritt has used his impressive experience to enable us to reproduce his cherished goods in our kitchen with versatile, nutritious, and delicious mixes. What’s more, Mr. Ritt says more are coming. I highly recommend his products for your gluten-free baking needs!

Miranda Jade

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

Now that you’re gluten-free, you don’t have to say goodbye to your favorite recipes. If you have tons of family recipes that have been handed down to you, this can be very good news!

The conversion process is simple: just use gluten-free flour blend (which you can make yourself using my gluten-free flour blend recipe—or buy it prepackaged) one-for-one. This applies to cookies, pancakes, and muffins.

Does your recipe require cake flour? You can make your own by combining 1 ¼ cups of your gluten-free flour blend with ¼ cup of tapioca starch or flour or ¼ cup of corn starch.

The one-for-one substitution doesn’t apply to all recipes, though, such as with Danish sweet rolls and yeast breads.

Miranda Jade
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

b.a.

Experimenting in the kitchen one day with spirulina, I discovered some amazing cookies that are also good for you. These raw cookies are gluten-free and grain-free.

INGREDIENTS:

1 c sunflower seeds, soaked 5-10 hrs

3 tbsp macadamia nut butter

3 ½ tbsp date paste

1 tsp powdered vanilla bean

¼ tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:

 1. Place in greased liner in dehydrator and make about 1/6-inch thick.

2. Dehydrate 10 hrs at 105 degrees. Turn over cookies. Dehydrate another 5 hrs or to desired texture.

3. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

4. Place by heaping tbsp on a greased cookie sheet and flatten slightly so they’re somewhat evenly thick.

5. Bake for 8 mins, turn around in the oven, and bake 1-2 more mins.

6. Let cool only 5 mins then remove.

Miranda Jade

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

These squares are just delightful and a treat for the whole family! Perfect for a sweet tooth after a savory dinner.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups Popping Sorghum, popped

1 cup shredded coconut (preferably unsweetened)

1½ cup Faux-reo Cookie Wafers – roughly crushed (recipe below)

1 cup confectioners sugar

4 rounded tablespoons powdered milk

6 oz  plain coconut oil

DIRECTIONS:

Lightly grease a 6” x 9” pan with butter

Mix together all dry ingredients in a bowl

Melt  coconut oil in a saucepan over gentle heat until a clear liquid

Pour melted coconut oil into dry ingredients and thoroughly mix together

Evenly spread mixture into pan and press down very firmly with the back of a large spoon

Place pan into fridge and leave until set firm. When set, cut into small squares and serve.

TIP: Store in fridge to retain firm texture. Squares will crumble and fall apart in temperatures above 70F   as the coconut oil starts to melt. Place back into fridge to re-harden.

Faux-reo Cookie Wafers Recipe

Makes 25 – 30 chocolate cookie wafers

INGREDIENTS:

1 ¼ cups sorghum flour

½ tablespoon corn or potato starch

½ cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

½ cup PLUS 2 tablespoons (1 ¼ sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter

1 large egg

DIRECTIONS:

Set 2 racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375F degrees.

In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the sorghum flour, corn/potato starch, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until the dough comes together in a mass.

Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet approx 2 inches apart.  With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough.

Bake for 9 minutes for a softer cookie or 13 minutes for a crunchier cookie, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.Info

k.m.

m.t.

The Pure Pantry offers mixes that are not only delicious, but good for you, serving as proof that gluten-free, dairy-free, casein-free, soy-free, and even sugar-free don’t equal taste-free—quite the contrary!

The Pure Pantry offers a variety of mixes for gluten-free cookies, cakes, and pancakes, and even an all-purpose mix for creating other baked goods such as biscuits, muffins, and breads. The mixes are also versatile. We added tons of nuts to the Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, and we loved them. They were not only delicious, but so healthy tasting.

Other mixes include Wholegrain Chocolate Chip Coconut Organic Cookie Mix, Buckwheat Flax Pancake and Baking Mix, Organic Sugar Cookie Mix, and the decadent Wholegrain Dark Chocolate Cake Mix, oh so chocolately and full of good-for-you nutrients including protein, antioxidants, and protein from ingredients such as quinoa. The Organic All-Purpose Baking Mix is vegan and free of gluten, sugar, dairy, and casein and remarkable for its versatility. It’s even kosher!

Elizabeth Kaplan, Founder of The Pure Pantry, was diagnosed with celiac disease several years ago. Discontent with the poor nutritional value of gluten-free products, Elizabeth put her skills as a trained chef to work to develop great-tasting as well as healthy gluten-free substitutes. The Pure Pantry’s website, http://www.thepurepantry.com, features recipes, an online store, and resources for the gluten-free community. I highly recommend checking out their mixes for your gluten-free baking.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

This is the original Toll House recipe, halved because I don’t want to make so many cookies. These are really delicious!

INGREDIENTS

a heaping 1 3/4 c rice flour, or flour mix

1/2 t xanthan gum

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1 stick shortening, Earth Balance, or butter

1/2 c brown sugar

1/4 c white sugar

1 t vanilla

1 egg

1/2 package GF chocolate chips

nuts, optional

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375. Mix sugars and shortening or butter until creamy.

2. Beat in egg, then dry ingredients except chocolate chips and nuts, if using.

3. Once smooth, add chips and nuts, and roll into balls

4. Flatten slightly

5. Bake 8-10 minutes

6. Let cool on cookie sheets

7. Remove and eat or store in air tight container.

Note: You can replace the egg with egg replacer or applesauce to make them vegan.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

I’m bringing you this recipe courtesy of Cream Hill Estates. For more delicious, gluten-free oats recipes, visit the following link: http://www.creamhillestates.com/en_healthy_oat_recipes.php. Great to put in your kids lunches with some fresh fruit.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups Desiccated coconut, unsweetened
1 1/2 cup Oats, rolled, old fashioned *
1 1/2 cup Raisins
2 cups Sunflower seeds
1/3 cup Sesame seeds
3/4 cup Peanuts or soy nuts
1/2 cup Dried fruit, apples, cranberries, apricots
1/2 tsp Salt
1 cup Honey, liquid
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 cup Peanut butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix all ingredients together. Thoroughly blend the honey, vanilla and peanut butter.
(You may need to mix with greased hands to ensure everything is mixed together.)

2. Line jelly roll pan (rimmed cookie sheet) with greased parchment paper. Pat mixture firmly into pan with greased hands or heated spoon. If you want thinner bars use two jelly roll pans.

3. Bake at 275 F till golden brown, 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven and once again pat firmly to ensure the bars hold together.

4. Cut into bars or squares, depending on what format you want.

A 40 gram bar has 5 grams of oats (rolled oats). Enjoy!

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Mmmm…what a delicious combination chocolate and shortbread make! This recipe was donated at the 2009 Tampa Bay Celiac Group Cookie Exchange.

INGREDIENTS
½ c unsalted butter
¼ c granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla
¾ c flour mix (I use white rice, potato, and tapioca)
2 tbsp sweet rice flour (I use white)
¼ c cocoa powder
¼ tsp xanthan gum
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 c semisweet mini or regular size chocolate chips (I prefer regular size)

DIRECTIONS

1. Beat butter and sugar until cream, add vanilla, mix well.

2. Add dry ingredients, stir until a soft dough is formed, add chips.

3. Shape dough into a flat square, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 mins.

4. Preheat oven 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheet.

5. Using a think sharp knife, slice through into 5/8-in. slices and place on greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with granulated sugar. Chill again until cold before baking.

6. Bake 8-10 mins until centers are cooked.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Living Without, the nation’s leading magazine for people with Celiac Disease, gluten sensitivity and food allergies, has become the title sponsor of the 4^th annual Gluten & Allergen Free Expo, to be held April 29 – May 1 in Chicago.  Living Without has teamed up with Jen Cafferty, nationally recognized expert on cooking and living gluten-free, on this Expo, the country’s premier gluten and allergen-free event.

Living Without’s editors and writers will be on-site at the vendor fair leading gluten-free/allergen-free cooking demonstrations, meeting guests, answering questions and distributing free copies of their popular magazine.

“We’re thrilled to be uniting with Jen Cafferty to help thousands of people learn more about adapting to an allergen-free way of life, while still enjoying tasty, healthy foods,” said Alicia Woodward, Editor of Living Without.  “This Expo features a variety of experts, valuable information about great tasting specialty products, cooking and baking tips, recipes, and much more.”

The Gluten & Allergen Free Expo is home to the Midwest’s largest gluten-free vendor fair featuring the tastiest gluten-free cuisines and allergy-free foods in the marketplace. More than 70 vendors will be showcasing and sampling their products.  The vendor fair also features a designated nut-free area, kids’ activities and performers.

This year’s Expo will feature a variety of cooking and baking classes taught by well-respected chefs, nutritionists and cookbook authors, who will offer tips for preparing gluten-free/allergen-free meals and snacks.  There’s also a special cooking class for children, free of the top eight allergens.  Participants will enjoy lively presentations, taste the recipes and have the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the experts.

“Partnering with Living Without on the upcoming Expo is just a perfect fit.  Their experts will bring a depth and breadth of experience to the event, and attendees are sure to benefit from their vast knowledge,” said Jen Cafferty, event organizer.

The Expo’s presenters will discuss the use of replacement foods, discuss the newest allergen-friendly products available and provide tips on having a balanced diet.  The event is open to the public, though pre-registration is required for the specialty cooking classes.  The Gluten & Allergy-Free Expo is expanding to other markets, as well, including Dallas in fall 2011.

For more information or to buy tickets, please visit www.gfafexpo.com.

About The GFAF EXPO:

The Gluten & Allergen Free expo is the nation’s premier event and lifestyle show for people with Celiac Disease, gluten sensitivity and food allergies. The Expo features gluten-free/allergen-free cooking classes, led by top chefs and personalities.  The Expo also features a large vendor fair for consumers to sample and purchase products.  For more information, visit www.gfafexpo.com. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Living Without:

Living Without is the nation’s leading magazine and resource for people with Celiac Disease, gluten sensitivity and food allergies. The publication features gluten-free/allergen-free recipes, created by expert chefs and nutritionists. Ingredient substitutions are provided for common food allergens such as dairy, egg, peanut, soy and tree nuts. Living Without also features tips and advice for living a healthy, active life, free of food allergens.  For more information, visit www.livingwithout.com. Also find us on Facebook.

Tina Turbin

www.Glutenfreehelp.info