Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yeah, so it is nothing short of a comfort food day for me today.  In the past two hours I have made the crumble topping apple pie (see below), chocolate chip cookies and a pizza pie crust.  Clearly I am in an eating (and/or stuffing my face) mood!

The chocolate chip cookies were a new recipe and I think they came out much better than I expected.  Mostly because I am so tired today I feel like I am not actually functioning despite all of the cooking that seems to be happening!  Anyway, they taste nothing like G-F cookies you normally find, which makes me so happy.  Here is the recipe:

Dry Ingredients:

1 cup Brown Rice Flour

3/4 cup Tapioca Flour

2 tsp. Baking powder (low sodium)

1 tsp. Baking soda (low sodium)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 TBS flaxseed

Wet Ingredients:

1 tsp. vanilla

2 TBS applesauce (organic)

1 egg yolk

2 egg whites

4 TBS butter, melted and cooled (organic)

1/3 cup honey

chocolate chips (I used the allergy-free mini ones, about 1/2 cup)

Here's how its done:

In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolk, vanilla, honey and butter just until combined.  

Mix your chocolate chips with the flour mixture first so they get evenly distributed.

Next, add your wet ingredients to the flour and chip mixture and stir just to combine.  

Lastly, beat the egg whites into stiff peaks and fold into the cookie dough 1/3 at a time.  

Spoon out 1 TBS of cookie dough onto your baking sheet (I line mine with recycled parchment paper) and bake for about 10 minutes.

Eat warm for the best taste or cool and freeze for up to a month!!

Ahh, New England in the Fall

I was considering (strongly) moving to CA for at least 3 months but for several reasons my plan fell through...  at least for the time being.  In some ways I am happy it is post-poned because I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fall.  So my favorite season!  The brisk air, the brightly colored trees and crunch of fallen leaves under your feet, being comfortable in just jeans and a cozy sweatshirt.  Nothing beats it.

My favorite of all fall past times is without a doubt apple picking.  We go to Blue Jay farms in CT and have for many many years.  It is so beautiful in the orchards and Blue Jay has this little farm store with homemade cider donuts, pies, jams, etc.  Smells like heaven in there.  Unfortunately I cannot eat any of the treats anymore due to my gluten, dairy, soy-free restrictions.  Oh, but not to worry, I am making some of my own.  Filling my kitchen with the smell of baked apple and cinnamon is enough to make even the most heavily-laden gluten eaters re-consider purchasing pies pre-made.  Half the experience is being able to smell the deliciousness all day... mmmmmmm :)

My apple pie had a gluten-free pie crust, apple filling stacked about 2" above  the rim of the pie pan and a cinnamon crumb topping.  I am about to pull it out of the oven and snag a quick taste... will post a picture soon!