christmas recipes

The Gluten Free Chef Blog’s Top 10 Most Popular Recipes of 2017

December 29, 2017 — Leave a comment

It’s the end of the year so you know what that means…

Best of Compilations

That’s right. Although activity on the blog in 2017 wasn’t as plentiful as year’s past, it wouldn’t be the end of the year without a few best of compilation posts. Up first is the Top 10 Most Popular Recipes of 2016. These are all the top recipes that you viewed, liked, loved, and shared throughout the year.

The Gluten Free Chef Blog’s Top 10 Most Popular Recipes of 2017

Vegan Sorghum Pancakes

Vegan Sorghum Biscuits 

Oven Fried Garlic-Chive Potatoes (Vegan)

Chocolate Banana Apple Smoothie

Honey Balsamic Tofu Stir Fry (Vegan)

Slow Cooked White Bean, Lentil & Kale Soup

Sour Cream Pound Cake 

Parmesan Asiago Spaghetti Squash 

Apple Fritters

 

Sorghum Chocolate Pound Cake

Cookie Recipe Roundup | Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies 2017

December 27, 2017 — Leave a comment

The 2nd Annual Cookie Recipe Roundup Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies

The 2nd Annual Cookie Recipe Roundup compiles all the cookies that made this year’s Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies. I hope you are having a wonderful day, spending time with family, and eating amazing food & gluten free cookies. Until next year.

Most Viewed Cookie This Week: Brown Butter Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookie

Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies 2017:
(1) Dark Chocolate Chunk Eggnog Cookies

Eggnog + cookies = pure decadence
(2) Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip 

A gift from Ina
(3) Salted Cinnamon Sugar Caramel Apple Blondies

Caramel blondies
(4) Simple Shortbread

Shortbread delights
(5) Hazel Nut Almond Graham Crackers 

Gluten free graham crackers
(6) Grain- Free Loaded Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Grain free
(8) Brown Butter Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies with a twist
(10) Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

The best cookies ever
(11) Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Carrot Cake Cookies

The perfect breakfast cookie
(12) Pumpkin Cheesecake + Shortbread Bars

Cheesecake + shortbread  = perfect match

 

Granola Cookies

Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies | Granola Cookies (Day 9)

December 21, 2017 — Leave a comment
Granola Cookies

Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies | Granola Cookies (Day 9)

Our Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies countdown continue with one of my favorite cookies recipes. These cookies are very close to my heart as they are one of the very first gluten free recipes that I ever created. That’s right. Before I was the gluten free chef, I was a lowly single transplant living in Nashville, TN learning the ropes as a new teacher and figuring out to afford a gluten free diet out of my tiny kitchen. These cookies were the result of literally what I had in my cabinet and fridge at the time and a longing for a sweet treat. They were a fan favorite at the (now defunct)  theglutenfreechefbakery and here on the blog.

Granola Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups gluten free rolled oats
1/2 cup corn starch
pinch of sea salt
1/4 cup organic brown sugar
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup rice milk or almond milk
1 egg
1/3 cup dairy free chocolate chips (preferably Enjoy life brand)
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup golden raisins

Preparation

  1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix rolled oats and cornstarch in a medium bowl.
  2. In a small saucepan on low heat, combine brown sugar, cane sugar, vanilla, honey and rice milk. Stir sugar mixture until completely combined.
  3. Combine sugar mixture with dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in egg, chocolate chips, coconut, and golden raisins. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill cookie dough for at least 30 minutes.
  4. Remove from chiller and drop dough by rounded spoonful’s on a prepared cookie sheet. Sprinkle each with sea salt. Bake for 13-15 minutes. Makes about one dozen.

 

Gluten Free Meal Plan | June 11-16, 2017

June 11, 2017 — Leave a comment

We’ve just about reached the half way mark of June and the weather here in Rochester, NY finally matches the season. I know. I know. Technically summer doesn’t officially start until June 21st but as far as I’m concerned summer begins after Memorial Day. It’s a rare year when our weather cooperates with my theory and this year was no different.

Fortunately, summer in the Roc! is absolutely beautiful. With an abundance of fresh local produce, blue skies, and amazing scenery. Check out this week’s menu plan to help you plan the perfect meals for early summer weather no matter where you live.

Breakfasts
Strawberry Coconut Hot Cereal
Strawberry Banana Chai Smoothie
Broccoli and Cheese Mini Omelets (Recipe & Photo from Skinnytaste)
Vegan Sorghum Pancakes
Banana Split Bars (recipe courtesy of Skinnytaste)
Dinners
Kale + Quinoa Bowl
Pan Fried Eggplant & Baby Potatoes
Wild Caught Salmon
Beet Green, Snap Pea, & Tofu Stir Fry
Easy Does It Grilled Chicken
Dessert of the Week: Lemon Pudding Cake

For more gluten free menu planning ideas visit Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures

For recipes that combine whole foods with Weight Watcher’s savvy visit Everyday Maven

For lunch ideas visit Oh My Veggies

For lunch box and super kid friendly recipe ideas visit I’m A Celiac

YOUR THOUGHTS?

Cookie Recipe Roundup | Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies 2016

December 25, 2016 — 1 Comment

New to the blog this year is a Recipe Roundup of all the cookies that made this year’s Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies.  I hope you are having a wonderful day, spending time with family, and eating amazing food & gluten free cookies.  Until next year.

Most Viewed Cookie This Week: Simple Shortbread Cookies

Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies 2017:
 (1) Grain-Free Double Chocolate Cookies 

The best darn flour-less cookies you’ll ever eat. Period
 (2) Brown Butter Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown butter & pecans…

(that’s all)
(3) Granola Cookies

The cookie that started it all

Granola Cookies
(4) Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip & Walnut Skillet Cookie 

One giant chocolate chip cookie. Yes please!

(5)  Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies 

Carrot cake but in a cookie.
(6) Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

A brand new cookie
(7) Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Vegans unite!
(8) Pecan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

A cookie gem from Ina Garten.
(9) Simple Shortbread Cookies

The perfect shortbread cookie recipe.
(10) Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

The best cookies ever
(11) Hazelnut Almond Graham Crackers 

Un-Graham Graham Crackers
(12) EggNog Chocolate Chunk Cookie

Nog + chocolate chunks = heaven

 

Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies | Egg Nog Chocolate Chip Cookies (Day 12)

December 25, 2016 — Leave a comment

And we made it! The 12th day of Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies 2017. On this 12th day I’ve left the inspiration to the Brown Eyed Baker with these Dark Chocolate Chunk Eggnog Cookies. This post is from 2013 and these cookies are just as amazing now as they were then. These cookies are light and moist in the center with crispy edges just as I like them. The eggnog flavor is subtle but perfectly enhances this chocolate chip cookie.

Dark Chocolate Chunk Eggnog Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup + 2 tablespoons gluten free all purpose flour

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt + 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
6 tablespoons earth balance
1/4 cup Silk “Nog”
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup Enjoylife Mega Chocolate Chunks

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silpat
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
    Using an electric mixer, beat the earth balance and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  3. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the eggnog, egg yolk, vanilla extract and nutmeg; continue beating on medium speed until completely combined, about 2 minutes.
  4. Reduce the mixer speed to low, add the dry ingredients and beat until just combined.
  5. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the chocolate chunks.
  6. Using a small or medium cookie scoop (1 or 2 tablespoons), drop dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
  7. Bake from 20 to 25 minutes (longer for larger cookies), or until the edges are set and the centers spring back when touched lightly.
  8. Remove from oven and, using a spatula, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Photo credit: Brown Eyed Baker

Twelve Days of Gluten Free Cookies | Hazelnut Almond Graham Crackers (Day 11)

December 24, 2016 — 1 Comment

What better way to spend the day before Christmas than to make your own from scratch graham crackers. These Hazelnut Almond Graham Crackers are the bees knees and perfect by themselves, as a crust (for cheesecake), or stuffed with chocolate and marshmallows for smores.

Hazelnut Almond Graham Crackers

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup almond milk

1 1/2 cup hazelnut meal
1 cup almond meal
1 cup potato flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation

  1. Sift together dry ingredients. Set aside
  2. In a food processor cream together butter, brown sugar, and honey. Sift in dry ingredients alternating with almond milk and pure vanilla until fully combined.Dough will be wet.
  3. Transfer to plastic wrap, cover and refrigerate overnight.
  4. Divide dough, roll out on a rice floured surface and cut into rectangles using a knife.
  5. Bake 12-13 minutes until brown on edges. Allow to cool completely before pulsing to use for crust.

Photo credit: Cheap Recipe Blog