Dainty Lemon Shortbread Bars- Perfect Winter Snack

At work one morning, I walked in to find a beautifully presented tin of lemon bars in the conference room.  Every person who came in to try one would leave, exclaiming that it was the "BEST thingggg they had ever put in their mouth!"... or something equally as convincing. 

Sister Baking Day!

Dainty Cakes, featured in out Holiday Display! (Left platter, center)

Join the Food Revolution! Sign the petition for Christmas!!!

Each Christmas, we all join our families in holiday cheer and eat and drink to our hearts content.  But, at times like this, we should also reach out to those in need of better options.  Today's post is about Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. 

I support Chef Oliver's goals of educating America's families and children about staying health conscious and reducing the risk of obesity induced illnesses.  With life moving at a 1000 miles per hour in the States, we are all urged to take a step back, and take care of ourselves and communities.  I think this is an appropriate holiday message. 

Here's a link to the Food Revolution toolkit, so each of us can do our part in the community.

Spiced Mexican Chocolate Cookies! Gluten Free!

I've been occupied with finding the perfect Christmas cookie recipe... and I think I found it!  I couldn't try them at the recent cookie exchange party I went on (as they weren't gluten-free), so after the rave reviews, I decided I should make them for myself!  This is a mini pre-Christmas project that one of my bridesmaids and I will embark on tomorrow night!!!

photo credit: http://web.me.com/mikejdunlap

Mexican Chocolate Cookies!!!

Ingredients

• 1 cup gluten free flour
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened Dutch Process cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons sweet butter, slightly softened
• 3 tablespoons stick margarine
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Generous pinch of ground black pepper
• Generous pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg white
• Red Sprinkles!

Directions

1. Combine the flour, cocoa, soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly with a whisk. Set aside. Combine the sugars in a small bowl and mix well with fingers pressing out any lumps. 
2. In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter and margarine until creamy. Add sugar mixture, cinnamon, peppers, and vanilla. Beat on high speed for about one minute. Beat in egg white. Stop the mixer. 
3. Add the flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until incorporated. 
4. Gather the dough together with your hands and form it into a neat 9 to 10-inch log. Wrap in waxed paper. Fold or twist ends of paper without pinching or flatting the log. Chill about 1 hour.
5. Place oven racks in the upper and lower third of the oven preheat to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
6. Use a sharp knife to slice rounds of chilled dough a scant 1/4-inch thick. Place 1-inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. 
7. Rotate baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back about halfway through.
8. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. 
9. Once cooled, sprinkle red or other festive colored sugar sprinkles atop the cookies and SERVE!!! 

Loads of Holiday COOKIESSS!!

Gluten Free Gingerbread Houses!!!

Call me a kid, but I can't help but get a tinge... a HUGE TINGE of nostalgia everytime I see my little niece's gingerbread house.  I think back to going over to friends houses in grade school each winter to erect and decorate those lovely little houses with frosting and gum drops.  Holidays always bring my thoughts back to those carefree days before being gluten-free. 

Then, I realize, that there are lots of kiddies out there who haven't been able to enjoy those moments at all up till this point.  For those kids, A + J Bakery, a nut-free and gluten free bakery of Rhode Island is making their Christmas wishes come true this year!  They've introduced their allergen free gingerbread house kit, which is available to ship nationwide!

photo credit: Flickr user wendycopley

It's GORGEOUS, and allows all kids the joys of Christmas that the rest of us remember.  =)