Sunday, September 30, 2012

GF Oatmeal Squares

Found via Pinterest, these gluten free Oatmeal Squares from Gluten Free on a Shoestring are spot-on. Really delicious. Perfect for second breakfast. Make them.


I made a half-batch to try, but now I wish I had twice as many.

I modified the recipe a tad. The original version is here.

This is my version:

Oatmeal Squares

3 c. gluten free flour (1 c. each brown rice flour, sorghum flour, potato starch)
1/4  teaspoon xanthan gum
2 T. flaxseed meal
1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 c. gluten free oats
2/3 c. oil
2 eggs, beaten
2 t. vanilla
1/4 c. molasses

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Line a a 13 x 9 pan with wax paper and set it aside.

Make the oat squares. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients. In a smaller bowl, mix the wet ingredients. Mix the two together, making a stiff dough.

Press the dough into the pan. Remove the wax paper from the pan and, using a pizza cutter, cut into squares. Place the squares about 1 inch apart on a baking sheet. They will spread a little. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until centers are set.

I chose not to use icing, as I thought they were sweet enough.

Benjy's Restaurant

Last night I tried a new restaurant! That doesn't happen very often, since I tend to find a few with gluten free menus and stick to those.

It just so happens that Benjy's is a gluten-friendly restaurant. They have a chef-driven menu that changes with the seasons, and they use local vendors.

Though it's not posted on the website, they have a gluten free menu that I was able to peruse.

 

I chose the Arugula salad, which was delicious and light. My friends chose the 8oz filet minon and the salmon sashimi (not gf). Both raved over their dishes.

It was a little overpriced, with smallish portions, but delicious and fun. I'd go there again on a special occasion that deserves a splurge. I'd also like to try them for lunch.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Single serving microwave cake


I'm sure you've seen the single serving microwave recipes around. I think they're a freaking amazing idea. The only thing that bothers me is that most require separating an egg. I feel like that defeats the purpose of a quick, simple recipe. My opinion: Streamline!

So I came up with this.



It actually makes two servings, because there's always someone around who's going to be eyeing your treat. Like a husband with a sweet tooth (sigh- not soon enough). Or a pregnant sister. Or a mom who's always down for a treat. Or, at the very least, an extra treat for myself for later.


 This was originally intended to be a chocolate chip cookie, but turned out with a cake-like texture. I call that a win-win situation, especially since it makes a great basic recipe for other cake flavors. But for today, we enjoy chocolate chip-- A la mode.


 Single-serve Chocolate Chip Microwave Cake

Gather:
2 ramekins

1 egg
1 T melted butter or olive oil
1 T brown sugar
1/8 t. vanilla
pinch salt
1/3 c. gluten free flour**
pinch baking soda
2 T mini chocolate chips

**Or blend of flours- see right sidebar for my preference: (2 T each of brown rice flour,sorghum flour, potato starch)

In a bowl, beat the egg, sugar and butter until combined. Add in the other ingredients and mix well. Spoon into ramekins. Microwave for ~60 seconds, and check to see if they're done with a toothpick that comes out clean. If they're not done, just pop them back in for a few more seconds. (Keep in mind that my microwave came free with the purchase of a george foreman grill about 10 years ago, and it took a little over a minute to cook mine)


P.S. Beats the heck out of heating up an oven in the middle of the summer.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

BJ's Brewhouse Party for Two


Saw a flyer in today's paper. BJ's Brewhouse is having a Party for Two promotion.
It includes two small salads, a shared gluten free pizza, and a gluten free Pizookie for 20 bucks!

I eat here all the time, and am excited to try this!

P.S. The pizookie is amazing. I suggest you order it before your entree just to make sure you have room. 

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Triple chocolate pancakes

Today, I woke up wanting chocolate. For breakfast.

And, because I'm an adult, I can do things like that. A simple bowl of cocoa pebbles would have sufficed, but there were none in the house.

Enter: Triple Chocolate Pancakes.



A basic pancake recipe chocolated up. You're welcome.

Triple Chocolate Pancakes

1/3 c. brown rice flour
1/3 c. sorghum flour
1/3 c. potato starch
1/8 t. xanthan gum
1 t. baking powder
1/8 t. baking soda
1/8 t. salt
1 T. oil
1 T. chocolate syrup*
1 T. cocoa*
1 T. lightly packed brown sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
2/3 c. milk
1/3 c. mini chocolate chips*

*Hershey's chocolate syrup, cocoa and chocolate chips are GF

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine the wet ingredients in another bowl. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix well with a whisk, and stir in the chocolate chips.

Preheat a griddle/ pan until water droplets dance around a few seconds before disappearing. (I use a nonstick pan on medium-low)

Ladle in about 1/3 cup of the batter and let it cook until you barely start seeing bubbles in the middle and the sides are set. Flip, and cook for a few minutes until the center is done.

Serve with whipped cream, and chocolate syrup in place of regular syrup.