Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Gluten Free Snickerdoodles from With Style & Grace

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I spotted this post on Lisa Thiele's facebook page, and just had to check it out.  Lisa's blog, With Style & Grace, is packed full of creative ideas, and she has included lots of recipes, including gluten free goodies like this.  I'll be trying this one with the kids this weekend, they'll love making the ice dream sandwiches! Thanks for sharing Lisa, and the pictures make me drool.
Here's the link to Lisa's post, and I've included the recipe below


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
{Vegan/Gluten-free} Snickerdoodle Recipe
Print this Recipe
{Recipe adapted by Oh She Glows}
Ingredients
  • 1 cup gluten-free flour mixture – I used Pamela’s. If you don’t want to make them gluten- free, you may use whole wheat pastry flour or all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 flax egg (1/2 tbsp ground flax + 1.5 tbsp warm water)
  • 1/4 cup Earth Balance (vegan option) or butter (non-vegan option)
  • Cinnamon sugar for rolling: 1 tbsp sugar + 1 tsp cinnamon, mixed together
Directions
First, prepare the the flax egg (1/2 tbsp ground flax + 1.5 tbsp warm water) and set aside. In a medium sized bowl cream together the sugar, Earth Balance, and vanilla until well combined. Add in flax egg and beat for about 1 minute.
In another bowl, whisk together the cream of tartar, baking soda, flour, and cinnamon. Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, mix until combined. Use your hands to knead together the dough. Shape the dough into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lay Parchment paper over your baking sheet. Roll 1 to 2 tablespoons of dough into a ball. Roll the ball in cinnamon sugar mixture, press the ball with a fork to flatten slightly. Repeat until you’ve gone through the cookie dough.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. For chewy cookies, bake for 10 minutes; crispy cookies, bake for 12 minutes.
Cool for about 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Organic Elegance Bridal Shower-sneak peek

I'm busting at the seams to share the Organic Elegance Bridal Shower I will be featuring in April.  Here's a little teaser....



























There will be chocolate, and clear glass, fabric flowers and delicious food and cocktails, all in a very special place.  Can't wait to get the party started!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Angel Cakes Bakery-Gluten Free Heavenly Goodies

I have been working on a little project for a year now, and finally can share it with all of you.  The Angel Cakes Bakery is now open on Etsy.  I've only listed one item for now, but have many more on the way, just baking away and taking pictures every day.
I have been gluten free for 20 years and have seriously missed cake, pies, cookies, brownies and all the goodies in between.  I learned to let go of the cravings for biscuits and gravy, hot rolls and butter, pizza....well you get the idea.  In the last few years, as the public has become much more aware of Celiac disease, gluten intolerance, and other food allergies, I started to wonder if the products available could be improved upon.  I have never been the type of person to accept mediocre, especially when it comes to food, and when the food is served to my guests, it has to be beyond good, it needs to be exceptional. 
I have baked for years, learning form my Grandma, Mom, Dad and many, many cookbooks.  I decided to attempt a gluten free cake that could fool anyone who ate it.  All of the gluten free cakes I had tried in the past were grainy and dry, wet and heavy, or tasted like cardboard.  Many mixes and recipes have been publicized and even some of the major players have put a few boxes on your grocery shelf.  They just left me with a bad taste in my mouth, literally.
So, I started testing recipes, flour combinations, techniques and timing.  Finally, one Saturday morning a few weeks ago, I pulled a cake out of the oven, let it cool a little, and pulled off a corner and popped it in my mouth.  The flavor of the vanilla bean was the first thing I noticed, then as it melted in my mouth, I was surprised to find that my mind went directly to my Grandma's kitchen.  The smell of cake filled the air and I couldn't wait to smear a big "gob" of frosting on the slice she would cut from the top to level the cake.  She called this a "twinkie".  I called it heaven with a glass of milk. 
Back in my own kitchen I stacked my luscious gluten free layers, filled them with vanilla bean butter cream, layered them with strawberries and piled on a mountain of her special "angel frosting".   Last touch was piping on a few simple swirls of pink butter cream and some cute little fondant drops.  And so, Angel Cakes Bakery was born. 




I carried the cake with me to a function the next morning and served 25 people.  I waited silently for the reviews.  My husband came to tell me later that afternoon that no one could stop talking about how delicious the cake was.  And no one knew...it was gluten free.  I thought I would explode.  Life as I knew it was about to change.  No longer would I ever accept the bland, dry, heavy baked junk that I have eaten for the last 20 years. 
Next up, the most indulgent Double Chocolate cake I've ever tasted.  I perfected it tonight, and will post the pictures this week. 

Have a sweet night.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Gluten Free Events + Nourish Restaurant

Many of you may not know what "gluten free" means, or why I would be posting about it.  Well, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease almost 20 years ago, and have maintained a gluten free diet for all these years.  I honestly never felt that I had a choice.  The complications and illness that is involved if I do not maintain this strict diet are not worth the risk.  Without going into detail about the disease (if you want to find out more...Celiac Sprue Association) I will be concentrating much of my time to promoting Gluten Free Event Planning.  I am passionate about offering clients a choice when it comes to planning their perfect day.  This includes being able to eat everything at your own party.  This also includes making sure your guests  enjoy the food as well.  For many years gluten free has meant compromising taste for our health.  Now that the public has been made much more aware of gluten intolerance, mainly thanks to Chelsea Clinton and her infamous gluten free/vegan wedding, I think a lot of us will be bravely stepping out and declaring that we too deserve food that tastes fabulous.  I am passionate about offering brides, Moms, Dads, Grandmas & Grandpas, and businesses the ability to focus on the celebration/event without worrying that someone may get sick, or that the food is not good.  A special day deserves really delicious, over the top yummy food, including dessert!
 I visited with the owner of Nourish Restaurant yesterday in Scottsdale at the gorgeous Camelview Village, and got a tour of her 100% gluten free heaven.  Check out his short video for the scoop on this hip, chic, gluten free spot, and by the way, the patio is such a cool place to hang out.
 Kirstin Carey's story is very familiar to me as she says "I was tired of being the freak at the table".  I too am SO tired of explaining why I won't be eating bread with my meal, or having a piece of my own Birthday Cake after the candles are blown out. This restaurant was created, she says, so she could eat!  Her guests come for miles to enjoy a large menu which also excludes many, many other allergens according to the color coded and extremely detailed ingredient specifications on the diverse menu.  Kirstin is constantly reviewing and questioning her vendors about their specific ingredients, and yesterday she and her chef Dan Santos decided they needed to make their own mayonnaise, as none of the premade one's could meet their high standards.  Now this is dedication to the cause.  Providing safe, gluten free, and above all really delicious food to a community of people who have waited so long for the world to recognize and finally cater to their needs and above all their taste buds.  Thanks Kirstin, and I look forward to the Bridal Shower Styled Photo shoot we will be featuring soon in your beautiful restaurant with the delicious food, and an over-the-top dessert table. "Organic Elegance" is our theme for the party, so watch for my posting of pictures soon.
 "If there were to be a restaurant in heaven, I do believe this would be the ONE. Modern, upbeat, healthy food. We will be back….my mouth is already drooling." ~Meg E., Phoenix, AZ

Have a sweet day - gluten free of course.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Spring Color Inspiration-Crisp & Sweet

A sure sign of Spring in the desert is wildflowers.  They are multiplying daily on the mountain trails near our home.  Soon they will be joined by red and purple tall slender stalks.  They'll be gone soon enough with the climbing temperature, but for now, they remind me that I really have to enjoy the cool mornings and warm afternoons, and the intoxicating smell of orange blossoms that fill the air. 

Drew Barrymore on the cover of Bazaar inspired this bright, crisp, fresh inspiration board.  Have a sweet week!



Save the Date: Oh So Beautiful Paper
Dress: Dior

Cake: City Bake Shop

Thursday, March 17, 2011

St Patrick's Day Wedding

This is a post from one of my favorite photographers, Heather Waraksa, in New York.  Her talent is amazing, and her style is so unique, I could look through her photos all day.  This wedding really helps to show that the"wearing of the green" can be quite beautiful.