Tag Archives: Christmas

Gluten Free Gift Guide

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The Holiday season includes not only one gift-giving occasion for my family, but three.  Alex’s birthday falls at the end of November and my birthday is the first day of Winter, December, 21.  You don’t have to remind me that this is also four days before Christmas.  I know.  My family was always good about separating the two, but inevitably, my birthday has always become wrapped up in the Christmas frenzy.  That’s okay with me.  I enjoy seeing lights on houses and having a tree and getting those warm, fuzzy, feelings that are associated with this time of year on my birthday, it’s special.

I cherish the tradition of gift giving.  It is something I look forward to every year.  While I relish in thinking of the perfect present for my sister, mom, dad, husband, dog etc, I realize that some people dread it and may leave it to the last minute.  To ease their pain, I’ve come up with a gift guide for the celiac or gluten-intolerant person in their life.

2012 Gluten Free Gift Guide

Gluten free cookbooks – This is especially good for the newly diagnosed because they aren’t able to rely on some of their go-to meals anymore but they are still great for experienced people because everyone needs a little inspiration in the kitchen.  Two of my favorites are:
Gluten Free Girl and the Chef by Shauna James Ahern and Daniel Ahern
Gluten-Free Baking by Rebecca Reilly

Baking Supplies – Gluten free baking is touchier than baking with wheat flour and this requires some potentially knew kitchen equipment such as:
A Food Scale for measuring precisely (I like this one because it’s red and festive).
A Silicone Baking Mat to keep dough from sticking.

Toaster/toaster oven – Toasters and their cousins, toaster ovens, are some of the worst culprits for cross contamination.  If the whole family isn’t gluten free all of the time, gluten in the form of bread crumbs get stuck in these devices and contaminates the gluten free items.  Also, gluten free sandwich bread tends to taste better toasted. You don’t have to get fancy here either, just make sure its dedicated to be gluten free.

Gluten free cooking/baking class – This is a fun way to do something that’s necessary, learn to eat gluten free.  Rosario Pino’s in East Rochester has a class in March, Wegmans usually has them, and hopefully I’ll be hosting another one soon!  If you want to make a weekend out of it, check out New York City, the Natural Gourmet Institute has classes coming up.

Gluten free restaurant gift certificate – Being gluten free often means eating at home.  Take your loved one on a night on the town at their favorite, trusted, GF spot.  Make sure though, that the restaurant knows you are coming when you do go, so that they are prepared.

Good luck gifting and Happy Holidays!

Peppermint Brownies (aka, the best brownies I’ve ever made)

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It was possibly the rainiest Sunday we’ve ever had here in New York City.  I kept thinking to myself, if only it were 10 degrees colder like its been ALL WEEK and then I’d be making snowmen and watching Rufus bounce and bury his noise in the snow.  Even though I hate being forced stay inside all day, rainy days are good days for some things like sleeping in, eating big breakfasts, going through your Netflix queue, and baking.

It was determined I would bake, and when a Real Simple email popped up with a brownie recipe, I had found my target.  I wanted to make them seasonal, so they became peppermint brownies.   The result of the rainy day activity was the best batch of brownies I’ve ever made.  Here’s why:

1. They didn’t stick to the pan.  I HATE it when you make brownies and then end up having to scape crusted chocolate off your pan to enjoy a bar.

2. They didn’t taste like xanthan gum.  I modified this recipe myself, so this was really exciting!

3. Their texture was the perfect balance between cakey and fudgy.

4. Kosher salt+peppermint made this batch different than your average brownie and created a really interesting and delicious flavor.

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Celebrating with Gluten-Free Rolled Out Sugar Cookies

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Christmas-time is here! Happiness and…cookies.

I don’t know what it is, but I have the Christmas bug bad this year.  As soon as Thanksgiving was over, I was ready to whip out my Christmas playlist and deck the halls.  It’s my third Christmas in NYC this year and the second Christmas in my Peter Cooper apartment with my dog and I think I’m just having the urge to nest.  So, to satisfy these Christmas-y nesting urges, I have a to do list this holiday season.  It is:

  1. Get advent calendar and take turns opening it and eating the chocolate hiding beneath the flaps
  2. Get tree and decorate it
  3. Go to the Union Square Holiday Market and browse
  4. Make roll-out cookies and decorate said cookies
  5. Blast Christmas music and sing along
  6. Have a pre-Christmas apartment Christmas party with holiday foods and desserts and wine

This past weekend, I completed #1,2 and 4.  #2 was slightly stressful due to the OUTRAGEOUSLY overpriced trees that is the norm here in Manhattan.  I don’t want to talk about how much we dropped to get a 4 footer.  #4 was really important to me.  I needed to make these cookies to prove to myself that being GF during the holidays is doable and delicious too.  I didn’t want to make the dough myself because I’m a baby, so instead I bought the Gluten Free Pantry cake and cookie mix.  I’ve had previously successful experiences with it as a drop cookie because it tastes completely gluten-filled and non-xanthan gumm-y.  But, turning this mix into a roll-out cookie dough was not as easy as I thought and I had to enlist the help of my cookie baker friend extraordinaire, Caitlyn.

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