With the election looming (please vote!), a pandemic still out there, and wildfire season not quite over in California, there is a lot to be overwhelmed by right now. I haven't written much since the pandemic started because this a positive blog where we only write about recipes or restaurants we love, and there's been a lot of times over the past several months that I just haven't felt that positive.
I know I am not alone in struggling at times this year, and I have a lot to be thankful for. On hard days, nothing brightens my mood quite like baking something and watching The Great British Bake Off- the kindest and most joyful competition reality-based show in existence. I have loved to bake ever since I was little and my mom made banana chocolate chip bread from The Joy of Cooking, or my dad made Tollhouse cookies in the shape of my initials. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease over 15 years ago now before it was trendy, and honestly the hardest part besides physically feeling terrible, was the thought of not being able to bake again. It turns out, though, that baking without gluten is pretty rad.
Chances are you need a healthy dose of coziness in the form of a freshly baked cookie, or a bit of Marie Kondo-ing your kitchen to prioritize creating joy the old fashion way. Here are a few of my favorite simple baking recipes for the hard days- (and they are delicious whether you eat gluten or not!):
Salted Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies aka my favorite chocolate chip cookies from The Bojon Gourmet. These are actually vegan, which I am not, but they are without a doubt my all time absolute favorite chocolate chip cookie. I love dairy and eggs, but these have neither, and are way better than any egg/dairy inclusive cookie I've tried (and remember, I used to be able to eat gluten!). I also love these because say you're running out of eggs or butter, it's no problem with this recipe.
Ricciarelli from Pinch Me I'm Eating. Besides the chocolate chip cookie mentioned above, these are my all time favorite cookie. They're an Italian cookie from Siena, almond based with lemon juice and orange zest, and usually eaten at Christmas. Arizmendi Bakery in the mission in San Francisco makes a version that is so good, I would find excuses to drive into the city just to get that cookie. In fact, a few months ago I stood in a lengthy line for that same cookie, and it was worth every minute I had to wait.
Chocolate Crackle Cookies from Alice Waters. These are similar to ricciarelli but they are chocolate almond flour cookies that also make me think of Christmas- yum.
Jam Bars from Tartine All Day. The amazing baker and co-founder of world famous Tartine Bakery in San Francisco, Elisabeth Prueitt, can't tolerate gluten. Lucky for me Tartine All Day (her cookbook) is completely gf friendly. I made these bars for a friend's wedding and shaped them into a giant heart.
Paleo Vegan Chocolate Pudding from Paleo Running Momma. I'm not paleo or vegan but I stumbled across this recipe because I wanted to make a coconut milk based chocolate pudding. It's SO SIMPLE and fast, and I actually prefer it now to dairy-filled chocolate pudding. You don't need to bake this obviously but I'm still including it in this list because I love it.
Best Pumpkin Pudding Recipe from Food52- Russell's mom often makes pumpkin pudding (aka pumpkin pie without the crust). This is a great option if you don't have time to make a crust but still want that delicious pumpkin-flavored joy.
Paleo Chocolate Zucchini Bread from Elana's Pantry. Elana mostly cooks with almond flour and doesn't used refined sugar (she often opts for maple syrup, honey or agave instead). Her recipes are super simple but delicious alternatives to typical gluten-filled super sugary recipes. I've made these with regular vanilla (rather than vanilla stevia) and instead of cacao, used chocolate chips and baked them as muffins.
Commentaires