Thursday, December 20, 2012

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Good afternoon Everyone. Today is another baking day, as I need to get my Christmas cookies baked, and my gift trays assembled. I tried a new gluten free Peanut Butter cookie recipe this morning, once again from one of my favorite standbys, Betty Crocker. I used their Gluten Free BISQUICK pancake and baking mix .

I found the recipe on their home site, and it was a really easy, quick recipe. Just by using the gluten free mix, and adding a few ingredients from my pantry I had cookies in no time at all. Once again I was not disappointed. In fact these are probably the best Peanut Butter cookies I have ever tasted!

I did however tweak the recipe slightly by substituting Splenda's Brown sugar blend mix in place of the sugars called for, as my husband is a Diabetic. The cookies came out lightly browned and are soft and moist. I used regular sugar to make the criss cross design on top and to flatten slightly, but you could use colored sugars as well to make them more festive.

The only disappointment I had was the recipe states that the recipe will yield 2 1/2 dozen and I only actually got 20 cookies from the recipe. I did however use a cookie scoop to make the cookies uniform in size for a more visual effect on the trays, so this may have been the reason. Other than this one minor issue, this recipe will be added to my Christmas cookie list for many years to come. Also from now on, I will double the recipe each time.

If you are a Peanut Butter lover these are a definite must try!

Peanut Butter Cookies (Gluten free)

1/2 Cup granulated sugar
1/2 Cup packed brown sugar
(or omit both sugars called for and use a total of 1/2 cup Splenda brown sugar blend in recipe)
1/2 Cup peanut butter
1/4 Cup shortening
1/4 Cup margarine, softened
1 egg
1 1/4 cups Bisquick Gluten free mix

1. In large bowl mix the sugar, peanut butter, shortening, butter and egg. Stir in the Bisquick mix. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. On a ungreased cookie sheet place the balls about 3 inches apart. With a fork dipped in sugar flatten the balls in a criss cross pattern.

3. Bake 9-10 minutes. Cool 5 minutes then remove to a cooling rack.

Recipe states that it makes 2 1/2 dozen. I got 20 cookies from the recipe.
You can find other Gluten free recipes on their site at http://www.bettycrocker.com

Have a great wheat free day!
Sharon


   

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Sandy Hook Elementary School...

Today I was blessed by a friend  through a email with the following poem.  This tragity at Sandy Hook Elementary will not soon be forgotten. Being  myself a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, and sister my  heart grieves for those who have suffered such a loss. Tears fill my eyes with every thought and image of this terrible wrong doing. I thought I would share this poem with you, and ask that each and every person who reads this post will stop and  take a minute to please pray for those morning the loss of a loved one due to this tragidy.

I do not know the auther personally, but I thank them for touching my heart with such a beautiful gift of words.


Twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air,
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say,
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“Where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“This is heaven.” declared a small boy, “We’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same,
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King.
As they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had,
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!”
“May this country be delivered from the hands of fools”,
“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“Come now my children, let me show you around.”
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran,
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
 Then I  heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”


Written by...Cameo Smith

May God bless each and everyone...
Sharon

 


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