Happy Monday everyone! Are you ready to start the new week off with some super easy dark chocolate no bake cookies? Here in Tennessee, Spring has come with flowers, sunshine and birds chirping. Just what I needed! I am sorry I have not posted any new recipes for awhile, I have had a lot going one! As I wrote about before my 10 year old had the worst stomach pain for months and we finally figured out, after many many Doctor visits, that he has Celiac disease. Since this is a genetic disease, our whole family was tested. It turns out that my 7 year old has it too. The same little guy that has been having such trouble with his heart the last few months. Poor guy! The good new is we are headed up to Vanderbilt later this week for a second try at a procedure that will fix his heart once and for all, we hope! When we get that behind us I plan to really jump into Gluten Free cooking and baking because, let me tell you the pre-made packaged GF items are very expensive!!
I will be adding a new Gluten Free section to the recipe index and posting all our family favorites there. I have to admit, this has been overwhelming for me, since I love bread and baking, but luckily there are some great resources and products out there. This last week we tried these Dark Chocolate No Bake Cookies, our first homemade GF cookies. If you can’t have gluten, just be sure to use gluten free certified oats–crazy but I learned that most oats test positive for gluten. Anyway, these cookies were yummy! I am usually not a fan of no bake cookies but my friend Gloria brought these to our choir practice a couple of weeks ago and I was impressed! These are not your average no bake cookies:) They are really taken up a notch with the Special Dark cocoa powder, toasted pecans and coconut! Yum! Whether you are gluten free or not, you are going to love these little treats! Also, if you eat gluten free, I would LOVE to get your favorite recipes, cookbooks, products etc. I am SO grateful for any advice right now!! Thank you so much:)
Other Gluten Free recipes found here
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Dark Chocolate No Bake Cookies (gluten free)
Description
These are not your average no bake cookies… they are really taken up a notch with the Special Dark cocoa powder, toasted pecans and coconut!
Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned oats (or quick-cooking rolled oats, if you prefer)
- 1/3 cup tablespoons unsweetened Speical Dark or Dutch Process cocoa
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (I like toasted pecans)
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter
Instructions
- In a bowl combine the oats, cocoa, nuts and coconut. In a pan, put sugar, milk, and butter. Bring just to a boil, stirring to combine. Pour over the rolled oats mixture. Mix lightly until blended.
- Drop from a teaspoon onto waxed paper or foil. let stand until firm, about 10 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen cookies. I use a very small cookie scoop.
I’ve been following keepitsimplekeepitfresh.blogspot.com for a while. Lissa has beautiful recipes that are kid friendly as three in their family have celiac disease. Best wishes! Diet changes when you’re used to cooking other ways are big challenges.
My 8 year old daughter was also diagnosed with Celiacs about 2 years ago. It has been an adventure, but we are finding lots of fun new ways to eat! I am so excited to see a GF section on your blog!
My 8 year old daughter was also diagnosed with Celiacs about 2 years ago. It has been an adventure, but we are finding lots of fun new ways to eat! I am so excited to see a GF section on your blog!
My 8 year old daughter was also diagnosed with Celiacs about 2 years ago. It has been an adventure, but we are finding lots of fun new ways to eat! I am so excited to see a GF section on your blog!
I remember hearing that same diagnosis a year and a half ago for my youngest son. At age 14, he only weighed 80 pounds! I didn’t even know what we were in for. Since then, after some frustration and tears, he has gained about 25 pounds and grown almost 6 inches, and of course he feels so much better! This flour blend has been a life saver – I have successfully used it in all kinds of recipes – from cookies to muffins to biscuits to pizza crust:
http://www.silvanaskitchen.com/silvanas-kitchen-all-purpose-gluten-free-flour/
I just our favorite recipes with this flour instead.
I have not tried to make a sandwich bread yet. In the beginning, we did try to make a few sandwich breads (not with this flour) that were not that great, and with the price of the ingredients, we just buy it from a gluten-free bakery.
It may seem very overwhelming at first, even for an experienced cook, but it truly gets easier and it is so worth the effort when you know your kiddos are healthier. I look forward to seeing some GF recipes on your blog.
I remember hearing that same diagnosis a year and a half ago for my youngest son. At age 14, he only weighed 80 pounds! I didn’t even know what we were in for. Since then, after some frustration and tears, he has gained about 25 pounds and grown almost 6 inches, and of course he feels so much better! This flour blend has been a life saver – I have successfully used it in all kinds of recipes – from cookies to muffins to biscuits to pizza crust:
http://www.silvanaskitchen.com/silvanas-kitchen-all-purpose-gluten-free-flour/
I just our favorite recipes with this flour instead.
I have not tried to make a sandwich bread yet. In the beginning, we did try to make a few sandwich breads (not with this flour) that were not that great, and with the price of the ingredients, we just buy it from a gluten-free bakery.
It may seem very overwhelming at first, even for an experienced cook, but it truly gets easier and it is so worth the effort when you know your kiddos are healthier. I look forward to seeing some GF recipes on your blog.
these look simple and tasty, mel. I’m actually excited to try them – usually I don’t like no bake cookies either but these sound good! I’m looking forward to exploring the world of gf cooking too! 🙂 My friend has a great recipe website that is not technically gf (I don’t think) but they avoid it in general. HEre is the link: http://www.greenshakesandgiggles.com/
Love you guys, sis!
these look simple and tasty, mel. I’m actually excited to try them – usually I don’t like no bake cookies either but these sound good! I’m looking forward to exploring the world of gf cooking too! 🙂 My friend has a great recipe website that is not technically gf (I don’t think) but they avoid it in general. HEre is the link: http://www.greenshakesandgiggles.com/
Love you guys, sis!
these look simple and tasty, mel. I’m actually excited to try them – usually I don’t like no bake cookies either but these sound good! I’m looking forward to exploring the world of gf cooking too! 🙂 My friend has a great recipe website that is not technically gf (I don’t think) but they avoid it in general. HEre is the link: http://www.greenshakesandgiggles.com/
Love you guys, sis!
Oh Melanie! It sounds like you have had a pretty stressful past few months. I hope that with the new diagnosis your son will be feeling better soon and I hope your son with the heart condition is healed quickly. I have actually done quite a bit of gluten free cooking and baking for work that I have done and because I have several friends and family members on restricted diets. I have found that I can make a lot of recipes gluten free (specifically regarding baking) but that the texture is different using gluten free flours than traditional flours. My favorite recipes, however, are completely flour-less and are for cakes, cookies, muffins and pancakes. Good luck on your new gluten free journey and to the quick healing of your family.
Oh Melanie! It sounds like you have had a pretty stressful past few months. I hope that with the new diagnosis your son will be feeling better soon and I hope your son with the heart condition is healed quickly. I have actually done quite a bit of gluten free cooking and baking for work that I have done and because I have several friends and family members on restricted diets. I have found that I can make a lot of recipes gluten free (specifically regarding baking) but that the texture is different using gluten free flours than traditional flours. My favorite recipes, however, are completely flour-less and are for cakes, cookies, muffins and pancakes. Good luck on your new gluten free journey and to the quick healing of your family.
Oh Melanie! It sounds like you have had a pretty stressful past few months. I hope that with the new diagnosis your son will be feeling better soon and I hope your son with the heart condition is healed quickly. I have actually done quite a bit of gluten free cooking and baking for work that I have done and because I have several friends and family members on restricted diets. I have found that I can make a lot of recipes gluten free (specifically regarding baking) but that the texture is different using gluten free flours than traditional flours. My favorite recipes, however, are completely flour-less and are for cakes, cookies, muffins and pancakes. Good luck on your new gluten free journey and to the quick healing of your family.
After eating gf for about 12 years, my best advice is to focus on foods that are naturally gluten-free, rather than trying to find substitutes for everything. For instance, fill your plates with veggies instead of starches, and/or eat rice instead of pasta. Use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas. Use cornstarch to thicken soups and gravies instead of flour. When I make oatmeal or pb cookies, I sub ground oats for the flour (just throw it in the blender for a minute). Try skipping the birthday cake and make elaborate sundaes instead. There are all kinds of gluten-free products that you can spend a fortune on, but save those for special occasions, and slowly adjust the rest of your eating to foods that are naturally gluten-free. When you do need a good gf bread, try Udi’s products – it’s the best gf bread I’ve found!
Hang in there, and believe me, it gets easier! Good luck!
After eating gf for about 12 years, my best advice is to focus on foods that are naturally gluten-free, rather than trying to find substitutes for everything. For instance, fill your plates with veggies instead of starches, and/or eat rice instead of pasta. Use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas. Use cornstarch to thicken soups and gravies instead of flour. When I make oatmeal or pb cookies, I sub ground oats for the flour (just throw it in the blender for a minute). Try skipping the birthday cake and make elaborate sundaes instead. There are all kinds of gluten-free products that you can spend a fortune on, but save those for special occasions, and slowly adjust the rest of your eating to foods that are naturally gluten-free. When you do need a good gf bread, try Udi’s products – it’s the best gf bread I’ve found!
Hang in there, and believe me, it gets easier! Good luck!
After eating gf for about 12 years, my best advice is to focus on foods that are naturally gluten-free, rather than trying to find substitutes for everything. For instance, fill your plates with veggies instead of starches, and/or eat rice instead of pasta. Use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas. Use cornstarch to thicken soups and gravies instead of flour. When I make oatmeal or pb cookies, I sub ground oats for the flour (just throw it in the blender for a minute). Try skipping the birthday cake and make elaborate sundaes instead. There are all kinds of gluten-free products that you can spend a fortune on, but save those for special occasions, and slowly adjust the rest of your eating to foods that are naturally gluten-free. When you do need a good gf bread, try Udi’s products – it’s the best gf bread I’ve found!
Hang in there, and believe me, it gets easier! Good luck!
Sorry to hear about your boys troubles but I’m excited to see what Gluten free things you come up with, as my famliy is slowly making the change to gluten free as well. (not for actual medical purposes but just due to my suspicisions,,,,)
Sorry to hear about your boys troubles but I’m excited to see what Gluten free things you come up with, as my famliy is slowly making the change to gluten free as well. (not for actual medical purposes but just due to my suspicisions,,,,)
This has been my favorite GF flour blend, especially for baking! It tastes much better than most of the packaged flour mixes! I can use it in place of AP flour in any recipe!!! I make up a big batch and keep it in the fridge to use whenever I need flour. Good luck!
http://themutchfamily.blogspot.com/2011/01/gluten-free-flour-blend.html?m=1
This has been my favorite GF flour blend, especially for baking! It tastes much better than most of the packaged flour mixes! I can use it in place of AP flour in any recipe!!! I make up a big batch and keep it in the fridge to use whenever I need flour. Good luck!
http://themutchfamily.blogspot.com/2011/01/gluten-free-flour-blend.html?m=1
This has been my favorite GF flour blend, especially for baking! It tastes much better than most of the packaged flour mixes! I can use it in place of AP flour in any recipe!!! I make up a big batch and keep it in the fridge to use whenever I need flour. Good luck!
http://themutchfamily.blogspot.com/2011/01/gluten-free-flour-blend.html?m=1