Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies




Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies; Quick and Easy - Make ahead and freeze for laterGluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

If your kids are like mine chances are they eat all the time. Whenever possible I try not to give them prepackaged processed foods but rather have special treats on hand ready to go at all times. These cookies are quick, economical, and super convenient to make, freeze, and serve most any day of the week.

Yields: 16-20 cookies
Ingredients

  • 2/3 C Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend * (recipe below)
  • 1/8 tsp. Xanthum Gum
  •  ½ C Almond Flour
  •  ½ tsp. Baking Soda
  •  ¼ tsp. Salt
  •  ¼ tsp. Ground Nutmeg
  • 1 stick Butter – slightly colder than room temperature
  • 1 Egg
  • ¼ C Brown Sugar
  •  ¼ C White Sugar
  •  1 tsp. Vanilla
  •  ¾ C Chocolate Chips, White Chocolate Chips, or Peanut butter chips

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the GF Flour Blend, Xanthum Gum, Almond Flour, Baking Soda, Salt and Nutmeg with a hand-held whisk until well incorporated.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter (make sure your butter is not too warm, as the butter temperature is ‘key‘ to making good cookies. Butter that is too warm will make for a flat cookie and too cold will simply make for a clumpy dough. I find leaving it on the counter for approximately 45 minutes to be just about the right time).
4. Add the egg, both sugars and vanilla to the butter until well blended. 

5. With an electric mixer on low, add the flour mixture (I add mine all at once but you can do it in smaller batches if desired) to the butter mixture.
6. With a large spatula, fold in the chocolate chips.
7. Chill batter for 10 – 15 minutes.
8. Drop spoonfuls of batter on an un-greased cookie sheet (I cover mine in parchment paper for easy cleanup) and bake for 7-9 minutes.
9. Transfer cookies to cooling rack before storing**.

*Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend – Equal parts brown rice flour, sorghum flour and tapioca starch mixed until well blended.

**I double and triple this recipe anytime I make it then, freeze big chocolate chip cookie dough balls wrapped in plastic wrap for future use. (see picture above) This way I am only 20-25 minutes from homemade cookies anytime my kids want them.
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies; Quick and Easy - Make ahead and freeze for later

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Print the recipe here

Dairy and Gluten Free Tomato Bisque

It has been years since we have had tomato soup in our home. Visit 31 Days of Food Intolerance’s for the full story. Typically, various store brands contain gluten as a thickening agent and even in those instances where I do manage to find a “safe” gluten free option it inevitably contains dairy.

My solution like so many other food choices here at the homestead; make our own. This soup is a great option for this lenten season. Make it for dinner and enjoy the leftovers at lunch. 

Homestead Tomato Bisque 

This recipe is gluten and dairy free and a homestead staple. My kids request it almost weekly.


Ingredient List
Serving size 6-8 small/medium portions
  • 2 T butter /1 T grape-seed or EVOO (Extra-virgin olive oil)
  • 1 Small onion, diced
  • 2 slices of bacon, ham, or salami (finely chopped)….this can also easily be omitted
  • 2 T minced garlic
  • 3 T Gluten Free Flour
  • 4-6  Cups chicken broth (we use organic)/or chicken stock
  • 1 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes (with liquid)
  • 1 14-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 T Parsley 
    1 T Thyme
  • 1 Bay Leaf
    1 cup almond or rice milk
  • Salt and Pepper to taste


Instructions

  1. Heat the butter and oil in a large dutch oven/soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and saute for about 5 – 6 minutes or until the onion is translucent and soft in texture.
  2. Add the meat of choice and the minced garlic. Cook about 1-2 minutes longer.
  3. Whisk in the flour (it will get clumpy/ and cake like in appearance)
  4. Pour in the broth, milk, and tomatoes while continuing to stir vigorously. Whisk continuously until all the flour clumps are well blended and mixture is brought to a boil.
  5. Add remaining spices (parsley, thyme, bay, salt, and pepper) simmer 20-30 minutes
  6. Puree using an immersion blender (if you don’t have one….I highly, recommend it) It is such a great kitchen tool for soups and smoothies
  7. Lastly, dig in!

    (Click for a PRINTABLE version of this recipe)

     

Mr. Smiles Turns “2”!

 

 Mr. Smiles is the big “2”!! He has been such a joy over the past two years. He is all boy; full of spunk, a little monkey, a heart of gold, and guaranteed to light up a room with his personality and smile! He can count to 3, say almost anything, plays pretend like the best of them, loves babies, balls, trains, boats, motorcycles, riding his bike, and just being a boy! There is never a dull moment when he is around and I feel so blessed to be his Momma!

Being a summer baby the cake this year was a homemade gluten free pound cake complete with fresh strawberries and raspberries from our back yard! Yummy! We also enjoyed some orange flavored  cupcakes with a dairy free frosting at Mr.Smiles birthday celebration with Nonna and Papa this past weekend. Yes, despite our diet changes over here I’m happy to report a successful “sweet eating birthday” 🙂 whew!

 Our rough, tough little boy received a lawn mower from our Grand-neighbors…I thought that Mr.Smiles was going to take it to bed with him he was so excited! In fact he loved it so much it had to sit at the table with him while we sang “Happy Birthday”. Yes, he almost passed up cake ….and this boy can eat!

Then there was the Duplo lego table from Mommy and Daddy…another big hit. Well, that was until big sister K.Bear started bossing him around a bit and trying to ‘take over’ that’s when I was able to capture the ‘sour puss’ welcome to “terrible 2’s face” complete with hair pulling. Ha! I foresee some sibling squabbles in my near future. Hey, we all survived….bring on the fun or should I say “time out’s”, “discipline”, and “consequences for ones actions”.

Gluten and Dairy Free Pound Cake

2 cups sugar
1 cup Earth Balance Butter melted
4 Organic Eggs (room temp)
4 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla
3 cups Gluten-Free Flour Blend
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
2 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
1 cup Almond milk

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 12-cup Bundt® or 10-inch angel food cake (tube) pan; sprinkle with gluten-free flour blend. Set aside.

Combine sugar and melted butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla; beat until well mixed.

Stir together gluten-free flour blend, baking powder, and xanthan gum in small bowl. Gradually add flour blend mixture alternately with milk substitute to butter mixture, beating at low speed until well mixed.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan.

*Recipe has been altered from original Landolakes Recipe

Parenting is certainly not easy but truth is I wouldn’t change a thing!