A post from Ruth...

Ok, you asked for it, now you are going to get it!  My gluten free chocolate chip cookie recipe that is!

Many of you that have been reading our blog for a long time know that I (Ruth) am "Gluten Free" but I don't let that stop me from enjoying some good homemade food.  I have now been gluten free for two years so I have a little practice at it and we don't really eat any different than before. And the food, in our opinion doesn't taste any different.

Now before I get into the chocolate chip cookie recipe you will first need the gluten free flour blend that I use.

Gluten Free Flour Blend

2 cups brown rice flour

2/3 cup potato starch

1/3 cup tapioca flour/starch

1 tsp xanthan gum

Mix this all together in an airtight plastic container with a lid.

When I make this I make a triple batch just so that I don't have to keep making it every time I want to do any baking.

6 cups brown rice flour

2 cups potato starch
1 cup tapioca flour/starch
3 tsp xanthan gum

Here are some other pointers with this blend.  Before using it after it has sat for a while, make sure that you give it a good shake to mix up the contents.  I also use brown rice flour as it has more fibre to it than the white and personally we don't notice any difference in the flavour.  Trying to find a place to buy the xanthan gum, normally any health food store should carry it or any store that carrys a large supply of gluten free products.  In Canada my favourite shopping spot for Gluten Free items is bulk barn.

Ok now on to the recipe that so many of you have been asking for.

Gluten Free Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups Gluten-Free Flour Blend (see above)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375°F. Combine flour blend, baking powder, baking soda, and xanthan gum in medium bowl. Set aside.

Combine butter, brown sugar and sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Continue beating, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.

Reduce speed to low. Beat, gradually adding flour mixture, until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto parchment paper covered cookie sheets. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. (DO NOT OVERBAKE.) Let stand 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets.

Now a couple more things.  If you are Celiac than you will need to make sure all the products you use are totally gluten free.  I also use only butter and sugar, no substitues!  Also altitude can play a part in the way the cookies turn out.  Right now we are at 6400ft so these cookies spread out nicely and cooked just the way I like them but I have had them turn out as little puffed up cookies so you may want to add slightly more or less butter or a slightly higher temperature.  Just play around with the recipe a little to get it to your desired finished product.


I will try to add recipes from time to time, so if there is one that you would like just email us, facebook us or leave it in a comment.

Here is another recipe that I thought you may be interested in with the Christmas season coming up, this is from a friend of mine that has had MANY, MANY requests for.

Vodka Christmas Cake recipe

(Made mine this morning!!!!)
1 cup sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 cup water, 1 tsp. salt , 1 cup brown sugar, Lemon juice, 4 large eggs, Nuts, 2 cups dried fruit.

1...bottle Vodka,

Sample a cup of Vodka to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Vodka again to be sure it is of the highest quality then repeat.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point, it is best to make sure the Vodka is still OK. Try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up off the floor, wash it and put it in the bowl a piece at a time trying to count it. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver or something. Sample the Vodka to test for tonsisticity.

Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something. Check the Vodka. Now shit shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the Vodka and wipe the counter with the cat =)