Delicious Gluten-Free Baking with Buckwheat Flour

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T20:56:00.000-08:00

While our Thanksgiving table is always full of traditional favorites, I also like to include something a little unexpected each year. This year I have made Pumpkin Toffee to add to the desert table. It is great on its own, can be sprinkled over pumpkin pie or cheesecake, and makes a fun gift to send home with your guests at the end of the evening.

In addition to Thanksgiving, this Pumpkin Toffee will be great to have on hand for the upcoming holidays. The recipe is gluten, egg and nut-free, which covers all of my neighbors allergies.

Now, I guess it is time to start thinking about the Turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving!

PUMPKIN SEED TOFFEE

Place a large sheet of aluminum foil in a 9 X 13 pan so the edges hang over the sides. Grease the aluminum foil with butter.

In a heavy saucepan heat:

1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Butter
3 Tablespoons Water
1 Cup Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
1/8 Teaspoon Cloves
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Ginger
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

Cook and stir constantly over medium heat for about ten minutes or until a candy thermometer reaches 295 degrees. Remove from the heat and pour into prepared dish. Spread out evenly with a spatula. Let cool completely, about 1 hour. Break into bite-size pieces and store in airtight container.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

How adorable are these skeleton cookies? My sister always loved decorating cookies for the holidays. I loved how they looked, but I didn't really have the patience to sit for hours making detailed decorations when they were just going to be gobbled up. I love these skeletons because they are so cute, but really quick and easy to decorate.

Fun for all ages and perfect for every Halloween occassion. Even the smallest hands are capable of making a pretty great looking skeleton, so everyone can participate in the fun. Great for kids parties as well as adults. Serve a big tray of them or wrap up individually to send home with guests. They make a special gift for teachers or leave one at your best friends door. Wrap up carefully and bring a smile to your favorite college student or just surprise your little goblins!

The recipes used were Chocolate Cookie Cutouts (p.121) and Vanilla Frosting (p. 154) from my cookbook, or use your favorite recipes. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to make cookies. Once cookies have cooled, place frosting in a ziploc bag and snip a small hole in one corner. Hold the bag in hands to draw circle shapes with the frosting for the rib cage. Then make arms and legs. One quick circle completes the head and two dots for eyes complete your skeleton.

Quick, easy and adorable!

Happy Halloween!

Bake for a Friend

2011-10-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

I love spending time with great friends. Often these moments are so great because they revolve around the delicious food that we were sharing in that moment. We laugh a little harder and stay a little longer when we are lingering over delicious food that has been lovingly prepared for us. Just this week I received a very kind thank you from a woman who shared this kind of moment with her friends.

Early in the summer I received an email from a woman who was throwing a shower for her girl friend. She was looking forward to this event, but naturally a little concerned given that her friend was gluten-intoherent. She wanted to try the Carrot Cake recipe from my cookbook and had a few questions before she got started.

I heard back from her this week and this is what she had to say. "I wanted to let you know how fantastic the carrot cake was for my shower! I bought a gluten free chocolate cake from a local bakery (very expensive) and your cake was WAY BETTER than that one! "

I was very happy to hear that her shower was such a success. It is always so rewarding to pull something from the oven that looks beautiful and that tastes amazing and then share with our friends and loved ones. I am about to do that very same thing. I have Buckwheat Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Bars baking in the oven that smell incredible! I know they will taste great and be even better when I share them with our friends coming over for a last minute Autumn get together.

So, who do you want to bake for?

Happy Autumn!

Gluten-Free Fair

2011-07-31T18:04:00.000-07:00

Each year I look forward to seeing all of the new gluten-free products available. What better way to find out than to go to the annual Gluten-Free Fair. Each year gets bigger and better with so much to offer. This year the Gluten-Free Fair will be held at the Denver Merchandise Mart on August 21st. It is a great time to try samples of new products. You will find many local companies as well as national vendors to choose from. This event is free for the whole family to attend from 10am to 4pm.

Denver Merchandise Mart
451 E. 58th Ave.
Denver, Colorado 80216

Holiday Jam

2010-11-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

As the holidays are quickly approaching, I wanted to share a great tip with you. For years I have set aside one day to make fresh jam. I know it is hard to believe, but it actually makes the holidays much easier. Let me explain why... I am prepared with a great hostess gift for a last minute dinner party. I can make a quick and thoughtful gift by adding a fresh basket of muffins for a neighbor or teacher. I am prepared with a quick and easy appetizer by pouring jam over cream cheese and serving with crackers. Unexpected guests are no problem, just warm up a little jam to pour over vanilla ice cream or even cheesecake. Homemade jam is something everyone loves and truly appreciates.

Not only is this gift for our friends and families, but this gift has really become a gift to me and my children. Traditions often happen without even realizing it, which is what happened when I began making jam. My children were always underfoot in the kitchen, so I would give them a little job they could do while watching me cook. Making jam was no different. They loved to make labels and decorations for the jars. We would spend the entire day together in the kitchen laughing and singing, making our gifts together. Today my kids could make jam all on their own, but they still look forward to this time together.

I have always felt that the kitchen is the heart of our home. The best gift we can give is one from our heart! Happy Holidays from our home to yours!

Cranberry~Peach Jam

7 Cups chopped Peaches
3 Cups fresh Cranberries, whole or chopped
1 Cup Jalapenos (optional)
6 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Lemon Juice

In large stockpot, bring fruit to simmer on high heat, stirring often. Constantly stirring, add the sugar 1/2 cup at a time and bring liguid back up to a simmer.Add lemon juice. Continue stirring constantly and boil on high until liguid reaches 210 degrees. Remove from heat and quickly ladle into sterile jam jars. Once new sterile lids are tightly in place, turn jars upside down for 15-20 minutes to seal. Place jars right side up and cool completely before storing.

*Frozen peaches and cranberries may be used. Thaw fruit before cooking.

Delectable Peaches

2010-09-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

I am lucky enough to have a great big beautiful peach tree in my back yard. It was an unexpected gift, since we had purchased our house in January and no one had mentioned anything about a peach tree. Coincidentally, we spent most of that summer in California for my husband's job. We came home in the fall to find each branch bent to the ground covered with golden peaches. It was amazing that the branches didn't break. The kids were so excited that they ate peaches until they couldn't move.

That was ten years ago, and I can't tell you how much this tree means to me. It sits right outside my office window. I watch it change day by day through the seasons. It sparkles with winters snow, shimmy's with springs leaves, shades from the hot summer sun, and shares it's golden fall harvest. The anticipation almost becomes too much, but it is so worth the wait. This week I watched, as softball size peaches dropped one by one onto the grassy bed below. Then as if hunting Easter eggs, my children gathered the delicate fruit. Of course, it isn't long before the sticky juice is running to the tips of their elbows. Grinning from ear to ear, they are savoring the moment knowing it will be a long year until next years harvest. I know too, that I don't have long before they have grown and moved away, so I am savoring the moment with them.

We often aren't even aware of when our food creates a tradition and when our traditions create food. So many people feel that their traditions will be lost when becoming gluten-free, but the truth is that new traditions will be found. We just have to embrace the gift and watch it change day by day, season by season, savoring the unexpected!

Gluten-Free Fair

2010-08-24T07:31:00.001-07:00

Come join me for a great opportunity to check out many new gluten-free products. The Denver Celiac Sprue Association will be hosting a wonderful Gluten-Free Fair this Sunday August 29th. The Fair will be held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden, Colorado from 1-4 pm. You will be able to sample your way through many new gluten-free items. It is a fun afternoon to share with friends and family. Of course I will be there with my cookbook, so I am looking forward to seeing all of you!

Back To School Snacks

2010-08-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it is that time again, time to head back to school. Most parents find it difficult to be creative with school lunches and snacks, but it can be especially challenging when you have a gluten-free child. Try not to look at this as one more chore on your list, but more of an adventure you can go on with your child. I think it is a great idea to take your kids to the store and let them really explore the options. Try not to rush them. There are new gluten-free products available all of the time, so let them search for new options. Most kids are far more likely to actually eat the food they pack for school if they get to choose their food. I find this even more important when you have children who are restricted with their diet in one way or another.

This can be the perfect time to invite your kids into the kitchen and let them get creative with their food, no matter how young they are. Kids of all ages can help make a fruit salad, which can be much more interesting to eat than apple slices. The fruit choices are endless at this time of year, with vibrant colors and different textures. It is easy to make a large fruit salad and divide it up into single serving containers for the week. A quick splash of lemon juice will keep your fruit bright and fresh.

Yogurt is great, but can get expensive to buy in individual containers. An easy solution is to buy a large container of vanilla yogurt and divide it up. Fresh or frozen fruit can be added to make any flavor of yogurt desired. To make this snack even more fun, include a small container of gluten-free granola to add just before eating.

Wraps can be very fun and very individual. Start with a gluten-free tortilla and add anything from thinly sliced veggies (carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, avacodos, etc.), a protein (left over chicken, turkey, beef, sliced hard boiled egg, cheese, etc.), and a spread (hummus, quacamole, mustard, mayo). You get the idea, let your kids have fun with it.

I have always found that my kids need a little protein in their afternoon snack. They seem to function far better as they start their homework if they have had a little protein. So, I will leave you with one more great option. Buckwheat is high in protein along with many other valuable nutrients to help the mind and body function well. My cookbook offers many wonderful muffins, breads as well as granola bars, that make great snacks.

I wish you all a great school year, full of fun, laughter, learning and Delicious food!

Starting the New Year

2010-01-01T11:27:00.000-08:00

The new year brings opportunities for cleaning out the cobwebs and starting fresh. I have often thought that my mind felt like it was filled with cobwebs before living a gluten-free life. I felt like I couldn't think clearly or see the world as clear as I now can. It was as if I lived in a hazy fog. Everyday took so much energy to just get through the day, let alone enjoy it.

I have once again been reminded of that feeling as I spent the holidays with a family member. She was diagnosed with a gluten allergy just after Thanksgiving. I had already given her my cookbook, so she at least had somewhere to start. She immediately took on the challenge during such a difficult time of year. Her body has completely transformed in just these few weeks. Her headaches and rashes are gone. Her skin is shiny,clear and glowing. She wakes up so much happier and excited about her day. She doesn't have any of the food cravings that she used to. She has even started to loose weight, which she has struggled with for years. She said it was so much easier than she thought it would be. She is so happy that she was almost giddy as we talked about the changes that have happened. The cobwebs have definitely been swept out! She is a completely different person and is going to have a fantastic new year!

Wether you have just learned that you have a gluten intollerance or had a hard time following a gluten-free diet during the holidays, this is your time to clear out the cobwebs. I wish you all a fresh, clean and healthy start to the new year.

Now go get busy sweeping out those cobwebs!

Gluten-Free Cookie Demonstration

2009-11-21T14:49:00.000-08:00

This time of year we spend many days in the kitchen baking family favorites to share with our loved ones. Baking fresh bread and rolling out pie dough for Thanksgiving is just the beginning. Soon our ovens will be busy baking batch after batch of holiday cookies!

To get you started I will be giving a cookie demonstration on December 3rd for the Denver CSA Cookie Exchange at the Swedish Medical Hospital. Join me and learn the gingersnap recipe from my new cookbook. After the demonstrations we will share cookies and have a book signing. I can't think of a better way to start off your holiday baking than with a bunch of new recipes in hand.

These gingersnaps also make a delicious crust for cheesecakes. I like to make pumpkin cheesecake for the holidays. Cheesecakes are easy to make ahead of time and always look beautiful. A great tip to keep your cake from cracking is to put a pan of water on the bottom shelf before preheating the oven. This creates enough moisture in your oven to prevent cracking. If your cheesecake does happen to crack, you can always garnish with whip cream and pecans. No one will have any idea and you will have a great dinner party!

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Gluten-Free cookbook now available!

2009-09-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

Delicious Gluten-Free Baking
with Buckwheat Flour
by Michelle Brewster

DELICIOUS is irresistible! You will keep coming back for more of these gluten-free, wheat-free and yeast-free baked goods.

Each recipe uses gluten-free buckwheat flour, which is a very healthy and nutritious alternative to other gluten-free flours. Recipes are quick and easy to follow using basic pantry ingredients.

Each baked good turns out beautifully without needing to add guar or xanthan gum. The recipes look, feel and taste so much like they were made with wheat flour that you will be proud to serve them to all of your guests.

To learn more about my new cookbook, see my website at: http://delicious-gluten-free.com/