Archive for Gluten Free

Best Gluten Free, Vegan, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe!

By Dessert Darling · Comments (1)
Monday, February 20th, 2012

Last week I explained what GLUTEN FREE means in this post here. Today I am sharing with you a Super awesome, Vegan and Gluten Free, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe that I adapted from Leslie Durso’s blog (the Veggie Dreamgirl) here. Yes, it is possible to be Vegan, Gluten Free, and Super Delicious. TRY these cookies and see for yourself.

The Ingredients:

 

Always buy Organic when you can:

  • 1 cup creamy Peanut Butter
  • 1 cup Palm Sugar or Brown Sugar (or half and half)
  • 1 small Banana, well mushed
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • dash of Vanilla
  • 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips

How to Make Them:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  • Mix all of the ingredients, minus the chocolate chips
  • Blend well, making sure that the banana is well mushed up
  • Add the chocolate chips, then stir
  • Use a spoon to scoop out the balls onto a buttered pan (not Vegan, but makes ‘em tasty)
  • Press the balls flat, or or else they won’t fully bake and the’ll be shaped like balls
  • Bake for 12 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let cool
Note: these are gooey cookies thanks to the Peanut Butter & Banana, but fear not. You can safely eat the dough, raw or cooked, since it doesn’t contain any eggs.

 

Enjoy!!!

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20 Naturally Gluten Free Desserts

By Dessert Darling · Comments (3)
Friday, February 17th, 2012

Yesterday I wrote about the significance of “Gluten Free” in this post here. While that information might seem devastating to a dessert fanatic, fear not, there are plenty of naturally gluten free dessert options. In no particular order they are:

  1. um, CHOCOLATE
  2. Ice Cream
  3. Pudding
  4. Macarons
  5. Meringue
  6. Pavalova
  7. Flourless Chocolate Cake
  8. Souffles
  9. Divinity
  10. Fudge
  11. Bananas Foster
  12. Milkshakes
  13. Sorbet
  14. Italian Almond Cookies
  15. Raw desserts
  16. Caramels
  17. Candy Apples
  18. Chocolate fondue
  19. Custard
  20. Peanut Butter Cookies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow- there’re a lot of awesome options. So relax, Gluten-Free doesn’t mean Dessert-Free. As always, read the ingredients carefully, especially if you have a true allergy to gluten. For example, an ice cream with pretzels in it would have wheat. Other things to avoid would be traditional chocolate chip cookies, brownies, cake, cupcakes, and donuts. Woa- and pop goes the cupcake bubble! I kid ;)

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Thinny Thursday: What does GLUTEN FREE Mean?

By Dessert Darling · Comments (0)
Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Gluten Free products are sprouting up everywhere and it’s no wonder why since there has been a 400% increase in Celiac’s Disease. Holy crap, say WHAT?! Ok, let’s back up.

What is GLUTEN?

Gluten is a substance in grains, especially wheat, that is responsible for the elastic texture of dough. It basically acts like.. a GLUE. So when you mix flour, water, and salt to make play-dough? Well that sticky-gummy like substance is what gluten also does in your insides when you consume it.

What is Celiac’s Disease?

Celiac’s is a digestive disease that wreaks havoc on the lining of the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients. People with Celiac’s Disease cannot tolerate Gluten (source).

Why the Increase in Gluten Allergies?

Turns out that yet again, GMOs are to blame (what are GMOs? See video here). In the case of wheat, it was genetically modified with the promise of feeding millions of starving people world wide. The result? There are now “30% more obese than undernourished in the world.”  (source)

Genetically Modified Wheat 

The wheat in our food today is drastically different from the wheat our grandparents or even parents had growing up. According to Dr. Mark Hyman’s fascinating article here, some facts about the wheat of today:

  1. It contains a Super Starch – amylopectin A that is super fattening.
  2. It contains a form of Super Gluten that is super-inflammatory.
  3. It contains forms of a Super Drug that is super-addictive and makes you crave and eat more.


Crickies! What’s a DD to do?!

I know, you’re totally scratching your head right now, wondering WTF you can do and eat that’s still delicious and doesn’t tear up your intestines and make you sick and fat, right?! Or something like that. Fear not- you CAN take action.

  1. Eat Organic
  2. Eat Gluten Free- I shall be on the look out for fantastic GF dessert options! Stay tuned
  3. Eat Raw desserts (always Gluten Free)
  4. Sign this petition to ask the FDA to label foods with GMOs
Eat yummy, stay healthy!  Together, we’ll learn how. ;)
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Thinny Thursday, the Skinny on Raw Desserts

By Dessert Darling · Comments (1)
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Someone on Twitter recently asked me what Raw Desserts are, so I’m taking this Thinny Thursday to explain. Raw Desserts are basically a God-send if you’re abstaining from refined foods, white sugar, flour, are Vegan, Gluten-free, and like sweets! According to About.com, a raw food diet consists of “raw, vegan foods that have not been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit” so as to not lose their enzymes and nutritional value. These desserts are sweetened with natural and unrefined ingredients like dates, agave nectar, coconut and fruit. Additionally, they use crushed or pureed nuts to make the base of these treats. While Raw Desserts can be high in nut fat, every ingredient is usually a healthful item with minerals, vitamins, protein, and fiber. You can usually find Raw Desserts in a refrigerated area of a health food store like Whole Foods. Below is an image of one of my favorite Raw Chocolate Treats by Hail Merry (see review here).  Yum!


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Shari’s Berries, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries for a Special Treat

By Dessert Darling · Comments (3)
Monday, January 30th, 2012

With Valentine’s day around the corner, I thought I’d try some chocolate dipped Shari’s Berries. These treats impressed me with their juicy, high quality strawberries and equally delicious chocolate coating. The stark white chocolate made me nervous at first, since chocolate that blanched can taste like toxic wax. However, this white chocolate was simply sweet and delicious. The only gripe from my book club friends was that Shari’s is a bit heavy-handed on the chocolate. They would have preferred a more delicate treatment. I for one, am never one to complain about too much chocolate, but if you’re looking for a healthy substitute to chocolate truffles, these berries are probably not it. Overall, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries are tricky treats to pull off well and Shari’s does an excellent job.

For more info on Shari’s Berries, click here.

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Organic Gummy Bears by Yummy Earth, DD Approved!

By Dessert Darling · Comments (2)
Thursday, January 19th, 2012

You may have seen my recent posts about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in our food and my deep sadness over how sick they are making our nation (for more, click here). When I was a kid I ate my share of sugary cereals and Candy Candy Candy everyday! Yes, everyday I would go to am-pm after school to buy a treat!! And then go home and eat Lucky Charms! And while it wasn’t “good” for me then, it wasn’t the same grade of poison that today’s candy is with its High Fructose Corn Syrup made from corn seeds that were cross-bread with insecticides by Monsanto’s scientists. Bleh! I wonder how I’ll feel someday, letting my future kids go trick-or-treating when I know how detrimental today’s candy is to their health. It really bums me out as Halloween is a holiday that is near and dear to a DD’s heart! In this vein I’ve kept my eyes peeled for candy that children can have now that won’t alarm their systems with a barrage of chemicals, artificial colors, unpronounceable substances, and GMOs. I came across these Organic, Gluten Free Gummy Bears by Yummy Earth at Whole Foods and they are totally delicious! They even have that perfect, tough consistency that a Haribo Gold-Bear has (my childhood favorite). Sure they don’t come in the same technicolor rainbow as other candies, but they also don’t have those toxic colors that contribute to ADHD (see here). I’m really glad that I found Yummy Earth. They carry other organic candies that I hear are phenominal… particularliy the lolipops. Yummy Earth is DD Approved with 5 Shiny Cherries!

Ps:  I like to freeze my Gummy Bears. It takes longer to eat them and I enjoy how my mouth has to melt each one. :)

Pps:  Click here to ask the FDA to label foods with GMOs so that you don’t have to shop in the dark.

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Mad Mac NY Macarons on GILT Taste

By Dessert Darling · Comments (0)
Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Divine!

I ordered these irresistible Macarons on GILT Taste and had my concerns about the state of such a refined cookie arriving in the mail across county. Would the Macarons taste stale? Would the shells turn to crisps? The centers dry to rubber? Au contraire mon ami. These delectable cookies, made by Parisian pastry chefs no less, arrived in Perfect condition. The Pistachio captured my heart upon first bite as it melted away with a buttery decadence. The spritely Strawberry had sweet preserves in the center, the Chocolate a rich ganache, and the Lemon a gentle creaminess.

I’m not even kidding you, I just ate all 12 cookies while writing this review- Yea, irresistible!

For more info on the GILT Taste deal, click here.

For more info on Mad Mac NY, click here.

XOXO

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FABES All Natural, Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie, Umm…….

By Dessert Darling · Comments (1)
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

While I think it’s important to have aesthetically pleasing desserts, I was still willing to give this pathetic looking pie a fighting chance. I’ve enjoyed FABE’S organic brownies in the past and I appreciate bakeries that cook with natural ingredients. But OHmyGod guys, this was THE most Disgusting dessert that my friends and I have ever had. Indeed, one friend suggested that it had gone bad, for surely FABES did not intend this selection to taste like regurgitated pumpkin pie (sorry to be graphic, but that’s the best way to describe it). Yes, that is a half cherry that you see at the top, as low as my rating system can go. If you are Gluten Free, I’m sorry, it’s just really hard to find you guys edible desserts! If not, go for the real thing guys! The option from the Whole Foods bakery (post here) was Amazing!

XOXO

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Mint Chocolate Milkshake from Cafe Gratitude

By Dessert Darling · Comments (1)
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

What does a Dessert Darling eat the day before her wedding? Why, a healthy milkshake, of course! Thankfully there was a Cafe Gratitude in the adorable town of Healdsburg where I could take all of my bridesmaids for a special, pre-wedding lunch. While the girls ordered fabulous, savory dishes, I happily settled for this Chocolate Mint Milkshake that I could justify thanks to the Vitamineral Green that they sneak in there. The shake was incredibly yummy and I think I’ve officially become obsessed with Cafe Gratitude!

To learn more about Cafe Gratitude, a California organic, vegan restaurant chain that features amazing Raw desserts, click here.

Thank you Autumn Reeser for snapping this photo!

XOXO

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SCOOPS Gelato, Perfect for this HEAT!

By Dessert Darling · Comments (4)
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

5 Cherries
The Heat is ON!  No complaints here! This just means I get to eat more of my favorite dessert… gelato!

The other day I finally checked out SCOOPS, a charming little gelateria that serves both traditional gelato as well as vegan, gluten and lactose-free options made with soy milk. This gelato holds true to the Italian tradition of using milk instead of cream, which results in a markedly lighter fair. This fresh rendition is incredibly desirable during a heat-wave (and a diet, for those counting cals)!

In addition to great consistency, Scoops boasts unique and original flavors like Mascarpone Butterfinger, Honey Lavendar, Red Velvet Cake (with cake and icing in it!) and their best selling “Brown Bread,” which is an incredible combo of brown sugar with crunchy Grapenuts! Mmm. Five cherries all the way!~

Gelato-crop“Brown Bread” on top of Honey Almond and gluten-free Pistachio

For more info on SCOOPS in Silverlake, click here and SCOOPS Westside, click here. 

XOXO

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