Baking with Nancy Reagan

Today ends our 5-day long Holiday Cookie Recipe Week! And we have a yummy gluten free recipe to share with you this morning. The recipe is from Nancy Reagan's kitchen and is for Vienna Chocolate Bars.

The ingredients that you will need include:

*2 sticks butter
*1 1/2 cups sugar
*2 egg yolks
*2 1/2 cups gluten free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour)
*1 10 oz. jar of raspberry jelly
*1 cup semisweet chocolate bits
*1/4 tsp. salt
*4 egg whites
*2 cups finely chopped walnuts

Now, the directions are as follows:

1) Cream the butter with the egg yolks and 1/2 cup of sugar.

2) Add the gluten free flour and knead with fingers.

3) Pat batter out on a greased cookie sheet to about 3/8 inch thickness.

4) Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit until lightly browned.

5) Remove from oven and spread with jelly and top with chocolate bits.

6) Now, beat egg whites in bowl with salt until stiff.

7) Fold in remaining cup of sugar and nuts.

8) Gently spread on top of jelly and chocolate.

9) Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit.

10) Now cut in squares or bars.

And don't forget that Ms. Celiac's Market sells tons of great gluten free baking ingredients!

Chocolate Layer Bars!

Another one of my favorite holiday recipes are Chocolate Layer Bars. These delicious bars taste practically the same in their gluten free version as they do in their original form.

The ingredients you will need to prepare this recipe include:

*2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

*1 8oz. package of cream cheese

*2/3 cup (5.3 oz. can) evaporated milk

*1 cup chopped walnuts

*1/2 tsp almond extract

*3 cups gluten free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour)

*1/2 tsp salt

*1 1/2 cups sugar

*1 cup margarine

*1 tsp baking powder

*2 eggs

Now, for the directions:

1) Combine chocolate chips, cream cheese, and evaporated milk in a medium saucepan.

2) Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture is smooth.

3) Remove from heat.

4) Stir in walnuts and 1/2 tsp almond extract. Blend well. Set aside.

5) Combine remaining ingredients in a large mixer bowl. Blend well until mixture resembles course crumbs.

6) Press half of mixture in greased 13 x 9 pan. Spread chocolate filling over flour mixture.

7) Now sprinkle the rest of the crumbs over the filling.

8) Bake at 375 degrees fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.

9) Cut into bars when cool and enjoy!

Time For A Family Classic!

Today I will share with you a family recipe for Czechoslovakian Cookies. This was the first year that I made this recipe gluten free and the gluten free version turned out to taste just like the originals!

The ingredients you will need are:

*1/2 lb. margarine

*1 cup sugar

*2 egg yolks

*2 cups gluten free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour)

*1 cup chopped walnuts

*1/2 cup grape jam

Directions:

1) First pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit and grease an 8'' square pan.

2) In a mixing bowl, cream the butter until soft. Now gradually add the sugar, creaming until light and fluffy.

3) Add the egg yolks and blend well. Now gradually add the flour and mix thoroughly.

4) Fold in the chopped nuts.

5) Spoon half of the batter into the cake pan and spread evenly.

6) Top batter with grape jam and then cover with the remaining cookie dough.

7) Bake for 1 hour or until lightly browned.

8) Cool on rack and then cut into squares.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Balls!

Another one of my favorite cookie recipes are for Chocolate Balls. These are chocolate treats covered in powdered sugar with a hint of cloves throughout them. They are delicious!

For this recipe, you will need:

*2 cups walnuts

*3 squares unsweetened chocolate

*2 eggs

*1 cup sugar

*1/4 cup gluten free dry breadcrumbs (I used Aleia's plain gluten free bread crumbs)

*1 tsp ground cloves

*2 tbsp gluten free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour)

*Confectioner's sugar

DIRECTIONS -

1. Grate walnuts and chocolate together with a nut grinder.

2. Beat eggs slightly, adding sugar gradually. Continue beating until fluffy.

3. Now, stir in walnut-chocolate mixture, bread crumbs, cloves, and flour.

4. Start your oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease 2 cookie sheets.

5. Dump some Confectioner's sugar on a piece of waxed paper.

6. Take small amounts of cookie dough and roll into 1'' balls.

7. Drop chocolate ball in sugar, covering all surfaces.

8. Arrange on cookie sheets and bake for 15 minutes or until cookies look crackled on the surface.

Don't forget that most of the items for these recipes can be found at Ms. Celiac's Market!

7 Layers Of Goodness!

Today is the start of our cookie countdown - every day this week we will be featuring a different gluten free cookie recipe!

7 Layer Bars have always been one of my favorites! They are sticky and sweet and taste essentially like candy! And the recipe is so easy to make!

For this recipe you will need:

*1 stick of margarine

*1 cup of gluten free graham cracker crumbs (I used Josef's Gluten Free Graham Crackers and broke them into small pieces)

*1 cup of coconut

*1 small package of gluten free chocolate chips

*1 can of condensed milk

*1 cup of chopped walnuts

Now, all you have to do to prepare this simple treat is:

1) Melt margarine in 9x13 glass dish.

2) Spread graham cracker crumbs across the dish.

3) Then spread the coconut.

4) Next pour the chocolate chips.

5) Now add the condensed milk.

6) And top off with the chopped walnuts.

7) Finally, put in oven at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.

Don't forget to check out Ms. Celiac's Market to purchase the ingredients!

Let's Make A Trip To Babycakes NYC!

To those of you who are unfamiliar with the bakery, Babycakes, it is located in downtown Manhattan and offers a wide selection of gluten free baked goods.

This holiday season they have created a special "Holiday Menu" that offers many gluten free treats for us all to enjoy. So, if you do not have the time or energy to bake or if you just want to try something new, why not order some of these gluten free items for your holiday parties?

The 2009 Holiday Menu includes:

*A Few of Our Favorite Things 9'' Cake (serves 20-25) = $85

-two layer brownie cake with vanilla frosting and cookie crumbles

*Candy Cane Cake (serves 10-12) = $50

-chocolate cake log with white mint icing and candy cane stripes

*Apple Crumb Cake (serves 8) = $35

-apple cake with spiced crumb topping and vanilla glaze

*Double Chocolate Crumb Cake (serves 8) = $35

-rich chocolate cake with chocolate crumb and chocolate glaze

*Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes = $3.95/each, $44.15/dozen

*Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes = $3.95/each, $44.15/dozen

*Gluten Free Pumpkin Cupcakes = $47.45/dozen

*Gluten Free Banana Cupcakes = $47.45/dozen

*Gluten Free Brownie Cupcakes = $47.45/dozen

*Banana Loaf (serves 8-10) = $30/loaf

*Banana Chocolate Chip Loaf (serves 8-10) = $30/loaf

*Cornbread Loaf (serves 8-10) = $30/loaf

*Pumpkin Loaf (serves 8-10) = $30/loaf

*Frosted Pumpkin Loaf (serves 8-10) = $45/loaf

*Frosted Gingerbread Loaf (serves 8-10) = $45/loaf

*Apple Cranberry Toastie Loaf (serves 8-10) = $30/loaf

-cinnamon swirl bread with roasted apples and cranberries

*Regular Brownies = $11/dozen

*Agave Sweetened Brownies = $16/dozen

*Ginger Cookies = $18/dozen

*Chocolate Chip Cookies = $18/dozen

*12 oz. Vanilla or Chocolate Frosting = $16

If you live in NYC, you can have them delivered for $21 if you are below 59th street, $25 if you are between 59th and 70th and $30 if you are between 71st and 96th street.

For those of you in the contiguous 48 states, you may have their items delivered via FedEx.

Also, Babycakes: The Cookbook is available to order at Ms. Celiac's Market. It would make a great gift for a gluten free friend or family member this holiday season!

For more information, please visit www.babycakesnyc.com or visit them at:

248 Broome Street (btw. Orchard and Ludlow)

212-677-5047

[take the F/J/M/Z to Delancey Street or the B/D to Grand Street]

Bring Out The Cake!

One of my favorite gluten free companies, Pamela's Products, has come out with a line of cheesecakes and cakes. These gluten free cakes are perfect to serve at your holiday dinner!

Currently, there are 5 cheesecakes to choose from (available in both a 3-inch or 6-inch cake):

*Pamela's New York Cheesecake [with ginger cookie crust]

*Pamela's White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake [with dark chocolate cookie crust]

*Pamela's Zesty Lemon Cheesecake [with ginger cookie crust]

*Pamela's Hazelnut Cheesecake [with a chocolate crust]

*Pamela's Agave Sweetened New York Cheesecake

If you aren't a fan of cheesecake, then you should try one of the other 2 cakes [available in 6-inch cake only]:

*Pamela's Chocolate Fudge Cake with Chocolate Frosting

*Pamela's Coffee Cake with Nut Topping

As of now, Pamela's Products Gluten Free Cheesecakes and Cakes are only available in a few select stores in Michigan, New Mexico, and California.

However, you can order them at Ms. Celiac's Market!

For more information, please visit their website at www.pamelasproducts.com.