Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

Whilst I was faffing about on the net I stumbled across this recipe from cookiescupcakesandcardio.com and decided to give it a burl.

I made slight adjustments in order for my cookies to be gluten free but haven't strayed too far from the original.  I used White Wings Gluten Free Flour for this recipe but I'm sure other brands of gluten free flour work just as well.  I made a point of resting the dough for at least a couple of hours before rolling out and honestly, with a light dusting of flour on my work surface beforehand, it was pretty user friendly and not sticky like gluten free dough can be. So I'm not going to beat around the bush here - these cookies have a lot of sugar and a lot of butter so if that's a problem, these are obviously NOT FOR YOU.  Otherwise, knock yourself out.  Here's what I did

Ingredients

3 Cups White Wings Gluten Free Plain Flour     

3/4 cup butter at room temperature (171 grams)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 Tbsp thickened cream

1 1/2 tsp gluten free baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp xanthan gum

Method

Using an electric mixer, whip butter

Add sugar

Add egg & scrape down sides before adding further ingredients

Add vanilla & cream

Once light and fluffy, add flour (a little at a time), xanthan gum, salt and baking powder

Mix on low until a soft dough forms and pulls away from bowl - add extra flour if too sticky

Halve the mix, shape into a disc and wrap each portion in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours

Roll out pastry and cut desired shapes - place on trays lined with baking paper  

Cook for 6-8 minutes at 200° C

Allow to cool completely on trays once removed from oven  

The original recipe also called for 1 tsp of almond extract of which I did not use purely because I didn't have any :)  The cookies tasted fabulous anyway.   

Lifestyle Bakery have done it again :)

When I read recently that there was a new soft white roll available from Lifestyle Bakery - I went weak at the knees.

OK so.. that was totally a lie but OMG how awesome!! - I was excited and I couldn't wait to try them.  I mean, I love their bread and so the rolls had to be unreal right? YES! and you know what?  Not just rolls people.  

Soft white delicious rolls with no weird gluten free aftertaste and they don't fall apart when you bite into them.  HALLELUJAH!  Yeah that's right - there's a serious contender in the bread aisle.. and that's not all.  Free steak knives? Nuh Uh.  WAY better..  Soft, white DINNER ROLLS.  NO!!!!!! OH YES!!

I can hear the Oohs and Aahs..  Don't fight it.  Feed your excitement.

I could feel a burger night coming on.  Home-made burgers are the Bomb.. and they are certainly well received in our house. A flavoursome pattie, a little lettuce, a slice of tomato, a cheeky slice of cheese, a splash of sauce.  Dynamite.  Not a peep at the dinner table - Golden moments indeed.

Yes the Lifestyle Bakery Soft'n'Light range has been extended to include white rolls, dinner rolls and pizza bases.  They really are deliciously good and I should know.  I've unashamedly tried them all.

What's more, all the products in the Soft'n'Light range are PRESERVATIVE FREE, low in saturated fat and 100% Australian owned.

My little people are under the weather today and so I knew appetites weren't at their hearty best however they still needed some sustenance in their wee tummies.  So although cheese and tomato isn't going to win me any Masterchef accolades, I knew this little combo would be eaten.  There is something to be said for keeping things simple sometimes.  I decided to use the Lifestyle Bakery Dinner Rolls instead of plain old sandwich bread - nothing wrong with a sanga but they have that every other day..

Who says you have to keep dinner rolls purely for a dinner accompaniment anyway?  These are perfect for little hands!

I used a cute little gingerbread man cookie cutter for the cheese.  It's about making things look appealing and fun for little tackers.  You want them to eat it don't you! 

While I was putting these together, it suddenly occurred to me that these cute  little dinner rolls would make the perfect platform for some awesome sliders.. YESSSS.  Oh the possibilities.  A post for another day..

Find a retailer HERE

Lifestyle Bakery sent me the above products to try out.

All opinions expressed are my own.  I was not paid for this post.

Oh Shanks! You shouldn't have!

Ingredients   

6 Medium to large sized Lamb Shanks

1 Tbs EV Olive Oil

1/2 cup Gluten Free Plain Flour

1 Tbs Italian Herbs

1/2 tsp Curry Powder

1/2 tsp Paprika

1/2 tsp Ground Cumin 

2 Cloves Garlic

500mls Gluten Free Chicken Stock

2 large Brown Onions

2 Large Carrots

1/2 bunch Celery

1 can Italian Cherry Tomatoes

Method

1. Pre-heat slow cooker - on LOW setting.

2. Combine Flour and spices in large dish.

3. Coat shanks in flour mixture - shake off excess.

4. Heat oil in large fry pan and brown shanks - do 2 at a time so as not to overcrowd pan.

5. Add 1/4 onions to each batch - transfer shanks and onion to slow cooker and repeat process with remaining shanks and onion.

6. Whilst shanks are browning, chop carrots and celery into a large dice.

7. Once all shanks have been browned and transferred to slow cooker, add diced vegetables garlic and chicken stock. 

8. Leave to cook on low for approx. 6 hours adding 1 tin of Italian cherry tomatoes an hour before cooking complete.

Freelicious Corn Couscous - Review & {Giveaway}

Winter is just around the corner.  We've had but a taste of it so far and with it brings fabulous winter dishes.  Break out your slow cookers people - I'm talking warm the cockles of your heart type stuff here.  Hearty casseroles, steaming hot soups, mouth watering roasts with all the delicious trimmings.  I'm a big fan of this kind of nurturing comfort food aren't you?   Here's my personal favourite.. slow cooked lamb shanks (my recipe here) mmm.. where the meat is literally falling off the bone and just melts in your mouth mmm.. and what better way to compliment a plate of shanks than with a side of delicious buttery couscous!  Alas the regular variety is off limits to a Coeliac or gluten intolerant person.  Bummer.

Wait just a minute! Hold up there..  Have you not heard about CORN couscous?  NO?  Where have you been? Where have I been?  Where have they been hiding this stuff?

Buttery and light.  Freelicious Corn Couscous is gluten free, simple to prepare and delicious.  As easy as cooking rice and ready in under 10 minutes - you gotta love that!  

Freelicious Corn Couscous 375g RRP $4.49

You can prepare your corn couscous with water or gluten free stock, serve as a side or a meal in it's own right.

GMO free

99% fat free

Cholesterol free

No preservatives

No artificial colours or flavours

Suitable for vegans

Corn couscous lends itself well to various flavour combinations - It's as easy as adding a few tasty ingredients like I have here -

A handful of sliced spring onion, a generous amount of gently toasted whole Aussie Macadamias,  or flaked almonds work well too (you already know I'm a Macadamia freak) and some pan fried gluten free chorizo and you're in business.
Oh yeah now you're talking.  

 

This is a review post for Freelicious and Digital Parents Collective.
All opinions expressed are my own. This is not a paid promotion. 

*Giveaway*  *Giveaway*  *Giveaway*  *Giveaway*

Freelicious has generously offered a product pack valued at $50 for this giveaway.

To enter please leave a comment telling me your best or terribly awful (totally your interpretation) CORNY joke.  This is a game of skill and chance will play no part in determining the winner.

Entries close at 5pm (Perth time-WST) Sunday 9th June 2013.  

Good luck!

** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Hosted by Three Lil Princesses