Old-Fashioned Cocoa FUDGE GLEE! (Gluten-free) Brownies

This has been my family's favorite fail-proof brownies recipe for years... mouthwatering!
Adapted from Gourmet Magazine (circa 1986):

Preheat oven to: 350F
(grease and GF flour a 9 x 9" pan)

In a bowl beat until creamy:
3/4 cups soft butter or margerine
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teas vanilla

Add to above mixture and beat until fluffy:
2 large eggs (one at a time)

Sift into above mixture and stir gently until just combined:
3/4 c gluten-free baking flour (I prefer "Pamela's")
1/2 c dark unsweetened cocoa powder
dash of salt

Stir in (just a few strokes):
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips (most are GF but check ingredients)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Spread into greased/flour pan and bake 30 mins at 350F.
Cool, cut, and enjoy!

Perfect GLEE (gluten-free) Muffin Recipe

Adapted from the Joy of Cooking: a delicious, light muffin recipe to which you can add any fruit or chopped nuts or chocolate chips!

Preheat over to 400F

Sift in a bowl:
1 3/4 cup gluten-free baking flour
1 teas baking powder (2 teas if baking powder is not included in the gf flour mix)
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teas salt

Beat in another bowl:
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I use canola)
3/4 milk

Pour:
Wet ingredients over dry ingredients and fold gently until blended.

Fold in:
1 cup fruit and/or nuts (i.e., blueberries, chopped strawberries, bananas, dates, cranberries, walnuts, pecans, chocolate chips, etc)

Fill:
greased muffin tins (or paper lined muffin tins) about 2/3 of the way.

Bake:
22 minutes

Yields:
approx 15 muffins

My Gfree daughter's favorite breakfast!

QUICK Glee (Gfree) Coffee Cake

- Follow directions for GLUTEN-FREE BETTY CROCKER Vanilla Cake Mix and spread in greased 9" sq pan (or 13 x 9 for thinner cake)

- Mix together until crumbly: 1/4 cup soft butter (or marg), 1/3 cup gluten-free baking flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 t cinnamon

-Crumble mixture over vanilla cake batter. Take a knife and swirl it into the batter.

-Bake according to cake mix directions.

Use Your Microwave Often?

This is the best and easiest way to clean your microwave!

Place 2 cups of water in a microwavable bowl.

Nuke it for 5 mins on regular setting.

After 5 mins are up, leave the bowl in the microwave for another 2 mins or so to let it steam.

Take out bowl (will still be HOT!) and wipe down the oven....everything slips off so easily, no cleaner needed.

Scrumptious GLEE (gfree) Stuffing

I made this gluten-free stuffing at Thanksgiving and it was everyone's favorite (even the wheat-eaters')!! The key is good gluten-free bread.

Melt in pan:
-1/3 c butter or marg

Add and saute until tender:
-1 c chopped celery
-1 c sliced mushrooms
-1/4 c diced onion

Remove from heat and add:
-seasonings such as sage or tarragon or basil or rosemary (or whatever you like)
-salt/pepper

In bowl combine:
-6 c cubed gluten-free bread (I use one Against the Grain Gourmet gf baguette)
-1/2 chopped pecans
-1/2 cup dried cranberries
-the sauteed veggies & butter above
-3/4 c chick broth or water

Bake stuffing inside roast turkey or chicken or cook separately at 325F for 25 mins covered with foil, then remove foil and bake another 15 mins until slightly crispy.

Even better the next day!

GF Sour Cream Choco Chip CAKE

I adapted this by substituting the flour and it's better than the wheat version! Absolutely delicious and moist and doesn't crumble, plus it lasts several days!

1/2 c butter or marg
1 c sugar
2 eggs
2 c gluten-free baking flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 pkg (12oz) mini choc chips

(Preheat @ 350F)

BEAT marg and sugar.
ADD eggs and beat.
COMBINE dry ingredients.
MIX with egg mixture.
STIR in sour cream, vanilla, choc chips (minus 1/3 c chips).
SPREAD in greased 13 x 9 pan.
BAKE 22 - 25 mins, until golden brown.
REMOVE from oven.
SPRINKLE with a mixture of:
(1/4 c white sugar, 1/4 c brown sugar, 1/3 c mini choc chips).
CUT when cool.

www.eXaminer.com GFree INTERVIEW

Original Format: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-20151-Manchester-Gluten-Free-Examiner~y2009m11d16-Interview-with-Elizabeth-Atkinson-Author-of-GLEE--An-Easy-Guide-to-Gluten-Free-Independence

(by: KIM HOPKINS)

INTERVIEW with Elizabeth Atkinson, author of:

GLEE: An Easy Guide to Gluten Free Independence

Q: What is your background? How did you get involved in developing a book about living with celiac disease?

A: I write novels for tweens, but have a background in freelance writing. My daughter was diagnosed with CD at the end of her junior year. She was very worried about leaving for college in the coming year and surviving on her own, so I wrote a concise survival guide for her. It turned out to be a great book for anyone newly diagnosed.

Q: How did you come up with the concept for GLEE?

A: When I searched around for a very basic, user-friendly GF survival guide for someone newly diagnosed, I only came up with "Gluten-Free for Dummies" by Danna Korn. It's an excellent resource, but still pretty lengthy. I wanted something much more concise and pocket-size.

Q: How did you decide on the title GLEE for your book?

A: Since I'm a writer I'm always creating and redesigning words and concepts. The first thing that came to mind with the "gluten-free" diagnosis was "What an unappealing word!" To me it sounded like food had glue it in! Anyway, I immediately shortened it to GLEE (GL for "Gl"uten and EE for Fr"ee"). so in our house we call gluten-free food "Glee" food. It's also a hopeful word, describing her new energy, health, and outlook on life!

Q: What is the most useful advice you have for people new to the gluten free lifestyle?

A: Besides reading my guide which has everything you need to know when newly diagnosed including food advice, food lists, travel, online resources? : ) I would say don't panic and take it one day at a time. The first most drastic thing you have to do immediately is cut out those wheat-filled carbs, so make a big pot of brown rice. You can add anything fresh to rice like veggies, cheese, fresh meats, nuts, tomato sauce, etc and have a meal. Then you must get a basic list of what you cannot eat either from a book or online. Then give yourself lots of time to do that first grocery shopping! And luckily today, almost all mainstream grocery stores carry gluten-free food - just ask at the desk. (And get used to asking a lot!)

Q: What are some of your family's favorite gluten free foods?

A: My daughter loves baked treats like cookies, brownies and muffins. I pretty much follow the usual recipe substituting store-bought GF flour for regular flour. The rest of the ingredients (like cocoa, chocolate chips, butter, etc) are usually GF. As far as packaged foods we love Against the Grain Gourmet Rolls, Bagels and Baguettes. Amy's Rice Crust pizza is our favorite GF frozen pizza, but there are many good ones. These days we rarely buy the packaged GF foods and cook fresh as often as we can making the correct GF substitutes when necessary.

Q: Can you share something about what you are currently working on?

A: I am going through the editing process with my editor right now for my next tween novel, "I, EMMA FREKE," which will be in bookstores Sept 2010! You can learn more about Elizabeth Atkinson by visiting her website and blog here.