Scrumptious Chocolate Cookies

I have tried many different gluten free cookie recipes and this is by far the best one I have tried.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line one or two baking sheets with an Exopat or Silpat liner.
Whisk together the dry ingredients:
1/2 cup GF buckwheat flour
1/2 cup corn flour (make sure its finely milled)
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch or potato starch (not potato flour!)
1/3 cup organic cocoa
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup organic cane sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar (can replace with coconut sugar if desired)

Add in:

1/2 cup light organic olive oil
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup almond milk- more as needed

As you beat the dough pay close attention to the consistency. Add more milk a tablespoon at a time, and beat to combine, until you achieve a smooth but sturdy cookie dough.

Add in:

1/2 cup chocolate chips (or if you prefer cocoa nibs)

Stir as best you can to combine (the dough is stiff).

Roll a golf ball sized wad of dough between your palms, and place the ball on the lined baking sheet about two inches apart. Use your palm to press down on the dough and flatten slightly. Make as many balls as your mixture allows.

Bake time: 15 min (or less depending on your oven)
Makes 24 cookies

*Adapted from Karina Allrich

Quiche!

Just made these amazing Quiche's adapted from Andrew Cordova's recipe!

Ingredients:
-10 Eggs
-1 cup coconut milk
-1 cup of broccoli finely chopped
-2 mushrooms chopped
-Coconut oil for greasing the pan
-Muffin pan
How to make it:

1. Preheat oven to 350 fahrenheit
2. Whisk eggs then incorporate coconut milk
3. Oil each muffin cavity
4. Distribute the mushroom, and broccoli evenly into each cavity
5. Fill each cavity with egg/coconut milk mixture
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until slightly brown
7. Allow the quiche to cool for 5 minutes before removing from the muffin pan

Makes 12 muffin size Dairy Free Crustless Quiche’s


These quiche are great. I freeze them and if I ever need a meal-to-go i grab one :)

Black Bean Brownies

I found a recipe by Melissa D'Arabian for black bean brownies, so I adapted it to make it gluten-free. When you taste it, you would never guess that it has beans in it!!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup cooked black beans
• 1/2 cup organic olive oil *
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup Green & Black's unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup evaporated cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee or espresso
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup buckwheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 9-inch square baking pan.

In a blender, puree the beans with the oil. Add the eggs, cocoa, sugar, coffee, and vanilla. Melt the chocolate and add to the blender. Blend on medium-high until smooth. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the blender and pulse until just incorporated. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake until the surface looks somewhat matte around the edges and still a bit shiny in the middle, about 20 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes before cutting and removing from the pan.

*You can also make them with coconut oil. It tastes amazing too! Just switch out half of the olive oil and replaced it with 1/4 cup coconut oil. (melt the coconut oil with the chocolate and add to blender!)

Enjoy!!

Delicious Quinoa Muffins

Ingredients
1/2 cup gluten free flour mix of your choice (or brown rice four)
1/2 cup quinoa flakes
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 bananas
2 eggs
2 Tbsp organic honey
1 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp flax
1/4 cup craisins (or raisins or chocolate chips)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400F (200C).
2. Mix flour and flakes with the other dry ingredients.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together bananas, eggs and honey; add to dry ingredients.
4. Mix in chia seeds, flax & craisins.
5.. Half fill greased muffins tins. Bake for 20-25 minutes

So what is this "Gluten" thing that everyone is talking about?

Is eating gluten-free healthy?
Eating gluten-free is commonly portrayed as "healthy". But is it really? For example, is gluten-free cake any "healthier" than normal cake? The answer to that is no. Eating gluten-free is not necessarily a way to eat healthier for everyone. Some people are sensitive to gluten and eating gluten-free can be better for their health, but it depends on the individual.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein that is found in many grains, but there are some grains that are naturally Gluten-free. Gluten has many properties, it helps dough rise, gives your favorite bagels that dense, chewy texture and many other properties.
How do you find out if you're sensitive to gluten?
People who have celiac disease must eat 100% gluten free and a health care professional will be able to determine if you are celiac. But there are others people who are simply sensitive to gluten, and their bodies don't react well to gluten. To figure out if you are sensitive to gluten, I would suggest contacting a nutritionist or going for a few weeks without eating any gluten and seeing if it improves your health in anyway.
What are the symptoms of gluten intolerance?
Gluten intolerance can cause diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, irritable bowel symptoms, brain fog, fatigue, insomnia, chronic fatigue, skin rashes, numbing and tingling, joint pain, weight loss or weight gain, anxiety, hyperactivity, pain syndromes, menstrual cycle dysregulation and depression.
If you have these symptoms, it might be worthwhile to try eating gluten free to see if you feel better. But keep in mind that having any of these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean that you have a sensitivity to gluten.
What does gluten-free food taste like?
Six months ago when I learned that I had a gluten-sensitivity, i stuck to the basics, brown rice bread, plain quinoa and other tasteless gluten-free packaged foods. But I have discovered that eating gluten-free doesn't mean you have to eat tasteless food, there are so many delicious options! Especially living in a city like Toronto, with the kensington market just a few blocks away and Noahs and Whole Foods Market around the corner, there is no limit to gluten-free ingredients and ultimately to delicious gluten-free food!
What will I be posting on this blog?
I am always finding delicious gluten-free recipes and I love to share them, so my friends and family suggested that I start a blog of my favorite recipes and gluten-free eating tips, so that everyone can explore the world of tasty gluten-free food!