Gluten free holiday cookies, part 1

 Hey, check out my Examiner article about GF Bakeries in the 

Philadelphia, PA, area!

Gluten free holiday cookies, part 1

www.landolakes.com

Don't forget to check out the Gluten Free Cookie Swap on Facebook!

Hi, GF Friends!

Have you been to the Gluten Free Cookie Swap on Facebook?  You have GOT to check it out - there are so many awesome gluten free recipes there, all tried-and-true.  And there are prizes to be won!
And if you scroll way down and like my GF Pizzelle recipe, you will have the "prize" of my unending gratitude.  :)

Happy Baking!

trish

Jules Gluten Free Giveaway

If you read my blog at all, you probably know how much I lovelovelove Jules Gluten Free Flour and Cookie Mix (and Jules herself!)  Well, now my friends, I'm going to give you a chance to win some Jules.  I'm offering you a giveaway where you can win Jules Gluten Free Welcome Pack, which includes a 5 pound bag of her flour (ARV 19.95) and 3 awesome e-books.  
Giveaway ends on December 11, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST


Here's how:  Leave a comment for each entry.
Mandatory Entry:  


This is easy.  Just follow this blog via Google Friend Connect.  If you already do, leave a comment telling me that (and your GFC name.)


Extra Entries:

• Follow me on Twitter (or leave a comment with your @ name if you already do)
• Sign up to receive emails from Jules' blog, Jules Speaks Gluten Free.
• Check out Jules' Gluten Free Cookie Swap on Facebook and "like" a cookie recipe (leave a comment naming the cookie that you "liked".  Good Karma points if you "like" my recipe; Gram and Pop's Gluten Free Pizzelles winkwink!)
• Read any of my past blog posts.  Come back and tell me something you learned.
• Tweet (no more than once a day) about this giveaway.  Leave me the Twitter url.

See?  Wasn't that easy?  And one of you will win enough gluten free flour to take care of all your holiday baking!  Good luck!

Taste the (Gluten Free) Rainbow!

Chris Galli, who owns the Spoonful of Sugar Bake Shop on etsy.com, recently sent me a sample of her Italian Venetian Rainbow cookies.  My Italian's a little rusty, but all I can say is "fantastico!"  These bright little cakes of yumminess were just as I remembered them from when I was a kid b.c.(before celiac), if not a little better.  The almond flavoring was just right, not too overpowering but definitely there.  And moist?  Mamma mia, these cakes were so moist!  My older daughter said you didn't even need a glass of milk with them (which you usually do when you're having GF baked goods!)  They were coated with a yummy chocolate ganache and there was a nice little spread of seedless raspberry jam between each layer.  I almost didn't believe these cakes were gluten free, but Chris assured me that they were.

Chris' shop has other gluten free goodies, too: pignoli cookies, thumbprint cookies, Amaretto butter cookies, to name a few, as well as treats for the gluten-eaters in your life.  She loves to customize her creations, so don't be afraid to ask.  How cute would these pink rainbow cakes look at a baby shower?

Her cookies and cakes come beautifully packaged, too, so they'd make awesome gifts.  I know etsy is not where we usually find our gluten free goodies, but pop on over there and check out Chris Galli's Spoonful of Sugar Bakeshop.  Delizioso!

She's Done it Again! Jules Gluten Free Cookie Mix

Well, she's done it again.  First, Jules Dowler Shepard, who birthed Julesglutenfree.com, brightened the lives of people with celiac disease (and others who have to eat gluten free) by giving us her gluten free all-purpose flour, which measures cup for cup just like non-GF flour, with none of the grittiness or heaviness we've come to expect with gluten free baked goods.  Now that mix "is at the heart of" her new gluten free cookie mix, to give us cookies that are just as yummy and versatile as her flour mix.  I just finished eating a cookie (or two or three...) that I baked using the mix, and I am one happy camper!

The mix comes in a hefty 1.31 pound package, which makes a lot of batter when  mixed according to the directions (with 8 tbs. butter or alternative, 8 tbs. shortening, 2 large eggs and vanilla).  The nutrition facts tell you to expect about 60 cookies, but I have a feeling it might make more.  (I haven't baked all of it yet--I was so excited to tell you about it!)  Speaking of batter - it's delicious!  Yes, I know it's passé to eat raw cookie dough these days (but why was it okay when we were kids?  Never mind - that's another topic for another day), but I haven't had good batter in years.  I just had to try it.  And guess what?  YUM!  (Now for the disclaimer: don't eat raw cookie dough; it's bad for you.)

I made some of the cookies with chocolate chips, some with chocolate and peanut butter chips, a few I sprinkled with decorator sugar and a few I left perfectly naked.  They were all wonderful!  They tasted like...well--cookies!  And since I've been missing a certain Pepperidge Farm cookie these past 9 years, I used Jules' cookies to make my own "Milanos".  I made plain round cookies, very thin, and cooled them on a rack.  Then I melted some semi-sweet chocolate chips and sandwiched them between two of the cookies.  Tada!  Gluten free Milano!  Maybe I should rename them...










How does "Juliano" sound, after our hero, Jules?  :)

Thanks again, Jules dear, for putting your heart and soul into this awesome cookie mix.

You can find Jules' products on her website or at various retail shops throughout the US.  Her cookbook, Nearly Normal Cooking for Gluten-Free Eating is also available on her site or at Amazon.com (see below).