You Can Do No Wrong

Betty Crocker... You are amazing.

Just thought I should put that out there although I think they already know.

What they don't know is I'm a 20-something broke, unemployed, college grad who has been playing with a gluten-free diet. Being broke I cannot afford the luxury of buy all sorts of fancy gluten-free flours and gums that are required for gluten-free baking. So, while wandering the mean baking aisles of the grocery store, I saw this.





I could not/would not pass the opportunity to snatch this super cheap all-in-one box up so I snatched and danced around the aisle and ran to BF all giddy-like (he is no longer alarmed or embarrassed by my excitement over baked goods). After self check out (I LOVE self check out) I took my purchase home where it sat on my shelf for a week or two. BUT! when I finally whipped these bad boys up... ooooohhh man. BEAUTIFUL! DELICIOUS! PERFECT!







Thank you Betty Crocker for making my gluten-free baking life that much easier.


:)

Chocolaty Goodness

I'm going to come right out with it... I have misplaced the recipe for these.

So instead I'm going to tell you how awesome these brownies are. And how they are gluten-free.

These brownies are fudge-y. Oh so fudge-y. So fudge-y in fact that I kept shoving them in my face.





Once I find the recipe and give it to you I advise against shoving them in your face. You should not shove them in your face as yummy as they are only because the main ingredient in them is a can of black beans. A WHOLE CAN of fiber-y deliciousness. And if you've ever eaten beans you know how your body reacts to them. So either eat your container of Activia or eat a few of these.

Edit: Found it!! Thanks Madeline



Black Bean Brownies
from Intentionally Katie

1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
3 eggs 3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional) (I didn't add any but they tasted like I did)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional) (I totally did)


Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x8 square baking dish.

• Combine the all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a blender; blend until smooth; pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the mixture.

• Bake in the preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Yields 16 brownies.

Now that I've more than likely completely turned you off from trying gluten-free black bean brownies all I ask is give them a try. A few family members ate them and had no idea they were flourless and full of beans.

They are just that good.


:)

This Is All I've Been Eating Today

They are super yummy. Super chewy. Oh so peanut butter-y. Easy to memorize recipe.

These cookies do not need to be talked up or over hyped and I do not need to say anything more than please make these now because you will love them.



JavaCupcake's Gluten Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.
2. In an electric mixer, combine sugar, egg, vanilla and baking powder. Mix 2-3 minutes on medium-high. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
3. Add peanut butter and mix until combined. Again, scrape down the sides of the bowl.
4. Mix in by hand the chocolate chips.
5. Scoop 1 ½ inch balls of dough onto the cookie sheet using an ice cream scooper.
6. Press down on dough a crisscross pattern with a fork.
7. Bake 8-10 minutes. Do not over bake.
8. Let cool on cookie sheet for 3-4 minutes until transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Hello deliciousness




:)

I Miss Fish

It's hard to come by in this house.
I don't think the parents like fish.
I love fish.
I miss fish.
So when I went on a grocery shopping trip with Dad I jumped at the chance to buy some fish. Some fish that would be fit for FRYING.

Deep frying has recently come into mine and BF's lives. We'd never made fish and chips from scratch so, since he was over and we don't celebrate Easter, we deep fried some fish. And some potatoes. It was wonderful.

We used Alton Brown's fish and chip recipe as a guideline and went from there. We didn't have Old Bay seasoning and we had a six pack of Torpedo. I'd say it worked out just as well. Dad kept saying it was awesome.





Although it was an all afternoon affair, it was totally worth it.
I need more deep fried foods in my life.
And more real beer. Gluten-Free just isn't the same.


:)

Wordless Wednesday

Sick of Staring at Dead Bananas

I don't remember if I mentioned that for my New Year's Resolution, I resolved to stop giving my GI tract problems and chose to go Gluten-Free. This hasn't been an easy feat. I miss pasta, grilled cheese sandwiches, cookies, cake, pie... I could go on forever. I do not have much support which makes it difficult at times. Also I am short on money so I can't go out and buy fancy flours and G-F products.
One day I splurged and bought Bob's Red Mill G-F Biscuit Mix. And this is what I made.

Truly Quick Banana Bread
Contributed by Dana Freeman

Ingredients

• 3 - 4 Bananas, very ripe
• 1/3 cup melted Butter
• 3/4 cup Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup GF Biscuit Mix
  
• 1/2 cup Walnuts-Baker's Pieces
  

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Whip ripened bananas in a mixer or by hand. Mix butter, sugar, egg and vanilla into the whipped bananas. Add in the baking mix and beat for 1 minute. Add the walnuts and mix just to incorporate. Pour mixture into a buttered loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Let cool and remove from pan. Makes 16 slices.

I'm totally going to buy this baking mix again.
It is totally worth this banana-y deliciousness.


:)

Thoughts on a Thursday...

• wonder if this sun is going to last
• how do i always manage to hurt myself when i need to be somewhere
• why does truffle butter taste so good but smell so gag-worthy
• deggings
• why has my life been reeeeeaaaally difficult these past few months