Tag: Gluten free

Yummy Gluten Free Blondies

Dear Liza,

Auntie Bridgett has been trying to change her diet lately, so there has been some experimental baking going on. She found this recipe for gluten-free blondies (like brownies but with less chocolate).
We used the recipe as she wrote it in her sketchbook.

Feeling up to the challenge, I jumped in, helping and photographing.
First, a can of chickpeas got drained and dried. We saved the juice!

Then some oats got ground into a rough flour in the food processor and everything else got added to that.

In less than a minute, it was a nice smooth paste. We added a handful of walnuts and chocolate chips,(because of course we did.)

The whole batch got poured into a greased and parchment-lined pan and put in the oven at 350 F for half an hour.

While it was baking, we tried what seemed like a very unlikely task… making meringue from the chickpea juice!

Amazingly, with some agave, a pinch of cream of tartar, and whole bunch of whisking, zbridgett turned this into a tasty topping.

The hardest part of the whole process was waiting for the blondies to cool so we could eat them!!


Though not anywhere near a health food, these are a nice baked treat for folks who are sensitive to gluten.

Yummy, too!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies

Dear Liza,

The new cookie place has opened!! Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies, run by a fine fellow named Nate, of course, (I haven’t found out his last name yet) has opened just down the block on Belmont, and they are wonderful.

Six different kinds of cookies, three of which are vegan and gluten-free, are on offer for $4.00 each, or $20.00 per half dozen. This is not cheap, surely, because Nate uses quality ingredients. Nate even lists the ingredients in his website so you know what you are getting.

As a way of making an objective taste test, we bought one of each. Auntie Bridgett was very happy with the gluten-free Trailblazers, with their cake-like texture and crunchy nuts and chewy raisins. The Snickerdoodles were also delicious, though a bit dense for a snickerdoodle, because of the oatmeal.

The only drawback is that the gluten-free cookies use Vegan butter, which is made with coconut milk, and Auntie Bridgett is allergic to anything coconut. Being a cookie-loving woman, this makes her very sad.

But, thinking positively, I get the rest of the cookies!

I especially loved the Cherry Almond, which have a unique chewy, almond-y goodness.

Everyone should stop by and find their favorite at Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies! Smiling Channing will be happy to sell you some.


Love,

Grandma Judy

Mikiko Donuts

Dear Liza,

There is a new donut place in Portland! We are already famous for the very sweet and silly Voodoo Donuts, and the adult flavored, organic, Blue Star Donuts. Coco’s Donuts, downtown, is a classic old fashioned donut shop, with maple bars and crullers.

But Mikiko Donuts are something altogether different. These donuts are made with rice flour instead of the familiar wheat flour. They are also dairy free.

But the big difference, to me, is that they are baked, not fried. This makes them healthier, because there isn’t extra fat in the donuts.

We visited Mikiko this past weekend. They are a very cheerful and welcoming shop. The fellow piping the donut pans welcomed conversation and gave me tips on how to do his job and avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. “Let gravity do the work,” he said.

The lady running the shop said she loved not having the hot oil and all the accompanying mess, fumes, and ventilation requirements. The shop did seem quieter, cleaner, and less smoky than most donut places. Just regular bakery equipment, ovens and work counters, filled the place.

Auntie Bridgett and I carried our order (a Horchata Pudding filled donut for me and a Yuzu Funfetti one for her) up a few blocks to Oregon Park, where we enjoyed our treats while watching dogs play under the tall trees. I found my Horchata donut to be a bit gummy, but the Yuzu one was lighter. They both had good flavor and I would easily recommend the Yuzu Funfetti to anyone trying their first gluten-free, dairy- free donut.

One of the many things I love about living in Portland is getting to try new things. Even gluten free, dairy free, baked donuts!

Love,

Grandma Judy