Desserts

Gluten Free Sugar Cookies thanksgiving style….

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Sugar Cookie with Frosting and Pumpkin Candy

If I’m not making something for the family, I am making something for my kids class parties. I was signed up to bring cookies to my youngest’s preschool class which I am actually fine with making the dessert for class. Than at least I know my kids will be able to participate in the dessert if I am the one making it.

Anyhow, my mother’s friend Sandy had given me a box of Betty Crocker™ Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix back in July and I hadn’t had the chance to try it out yet. But then I thought today would be a good time to crack open the box. It was really simple to mix — I actually got down and dirty and used my hands to knead the dough together. Then I used my Pampered Chef Small Scoop to drop the cookie dough onto the cookie sheet so I would have relatively the same size cookies.

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Birthday Cake anyone

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Today is my daughter’s 8th birthday and I make her cake practically every year. And this year wasn’t any different. However,  I bought a cake box at walmart so I could box it so we can take it over to CV Steak at the Carson Valley Inn for Dinner tonight! I think I did a pretty good job (for someone that doesn’t frost cakes that often) — except for writing her name not so good at that. I need to work on that one!

Frozen themed gluten free chocolate cake.

Frozen themed gluten free chocolate cake.

Frozen themed gluten free chocolate cake.

Frozen themed gluten free chocolate cake.

Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

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I just made 48 snowflake Sugar Cookies. I glazed them and the kids put sugar sprinkles on them. I am tired and my feet hurt from standing. But my daughter wanted cookies for her birthday treat at school instead of cupcakes so as a mother I said OK. But these cookies are time consuming, about 2 hours at minimum.

Nevertheless, these cookies are buttery, sweet and very tender depending on the thickness you decide to make them.

Gluten Free Sugar Cookie

Gluten Free Sugar Cookie

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Frozen Pudding Pops….

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I was craving Pudding Pops and hadn’t had them in eons… especially since they don’t make them any longer. I bought an

Jello Pudding Pop with a generic Popsicle holder

Jello Pudding Pop with a generic Popsicle holder

Jello Pudding Pop with a Jello Pudding Pop holder | Small Town Living in Nevada

Jello Pudding Pop with a Jello Pudding Pop holder

actual Jello Pudding Pop kit and was sorely upset. There wasn’t anything fancy or needed. The kit supplied 2 small boxes of chocolate pudding and 2 small boxes of vanilla pudding and a small 8 compartment popsicle tray….

There was nothing in there that was special — and the recipe was exactly the same as if you were making pudding. The difference is that you fill the tray and then freeze rather than refrigerating.

Of course I have a  bazillion popsicle trays… and could had easily purchased the pudding packets off the shelf. But I thought it was going to be different, boy was I wrong.

Nevertheless, the kids and I had fun making the pudding pops together. And the end result was really tasty. Live and learn people… Live and learn.

Gluten Free Rice Crispies Squares with Cranberries and Dark Chocolate Chips

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I can never do something the simple way – I always have to add some flare to my food, like chocolate.

RiceCrispies

Gluten Free Rice Crispies Squares with Cranberries and Dark Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
10 oz. Marshmallows
6 cups Gluten Free Brown Rice Crisps Cereal
3/4 cup cranberries
1 bag dark chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth.

Add cereal, cranberries and chocolate chips to marshmallow mixture. Stir until well coated.

Using a buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares.

Decided to go with a dollop of Chocolate Spread on the brownies…

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Gluten Free Brownies

I made gluten free brownies topped with a dollop of Hershey’s Chocolate Spread and a candy corn for Arik’s Halloween Party tomorrow…. now I think I am done!

So, soooooo busy….

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Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

This week has been crazy and it is only Wednesday! I have been swamped with chores galore. I volunteer at my kids school on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I still have laundry on the couch that needs to be folded and dishes in the sink from making halloween party treats for my kids classes. And then, my kids have friday off since it is “Nevada Day.”

Since Nevada became a state (admitted to the Union) on October 31, 1864, and since legislature wanted to celebrate Nevada Day on the “last” Friday in October… Nevada Day falls on the “actual” Oct 31st – therefore my kids do not have school on Halloween this year.

But Nevada day is a big too do this year since the state is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Nevada’s statehood. Thousands come out to the state capital to watch the parade and celebrate. But it is more than just a parade, it is Nevada’s Heritage Celebration, a gathering of community spirit and a salute our state’s past while looking ahead to our state’s future.

Because there isn’t any school on halloween this year, my kids school parties and dress up fall on Thursday (tomorrow) instead.

Gluten Free Brownies | Small Town Living in Nevada

Gluten Free Brownies

Having three kids in school – Pre-school, Kindergarten and 2nd Grade… I find myself having to make several food offerings.

My daughter’s class said they are having a breakfast party — so I will be making two dozen Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting and since it is Halloween, I will throw a few candy corns on top.

My youngest’s class I have to make brownies (Gluten Free of course) to bring in. Not certain if I will top those off with anything. But the Hershey’s Chocolate Spread keeps popping in to my head as a great topper even though I had already put white chocolate chips into the batter. I don’t buy Nutella since my husband and I are allergic to hazelnuts and the Hershey’s Spread are basically similar but one of their flavors is made with almonds instead of hazelnuts. So win!

And then I really got off easy for my older son’s class. Since he can’t partake in having the regular cupcakes all I have to bring in is a Gluten Free Cupcake for him. Score! One less thing for me to make. What I normally do is make a batch of gluten free cupcakes, freeze them in a ziploc bag — and pull them out when needed for a class function — thaw them out over night then all I need to do is frost it right before the kids head off to school. Life is so much simpler that way!

Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcake

Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcake

Halloween Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Cookies3

I always have issues with making chocolate chip cookies because of the altitude. Now the challenge is gluten free. But I think I hit on a winning combination that is to please all.

2 sticks butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon gluten free vanilla
2 eggs
2-3/4 cups Gluten Free Flour
3 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 ounce bag of Hersey’s Halloween Chocolate Chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375°F.

Cookies62. In a bowl – Stir together flour, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt – set aside. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Flatten each ball with a fork.

Cookies1

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie

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I had leftover pumpkin from when I made pumpkin bread… So today was a pumpkin pie kinda making day.

I actually even had some Pillsbury Pie Dough in the refrigerator — so I saved time and didn’t need to make a crust!

PumpkinPie

INGREDIENTS

  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
  • 1 can (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
  • Pillsbury Gluten Free Pastry Dough ( placed into a 9″ pie dish )

MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

PieDoughPOUR into pie shell.

BAKE in preheated 425° F oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 45-60 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. PumpkinPie_NotCooked

Adapted from: Very Best Baking

Gluten Free Fig Newton Cookies

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FigNewtons

Originally Written on August 19, 2014

I have never really liked Fig Newtons, but my husband and children love them. And they are quite expensive to buy at the grocery store so I rarely buy them.

We were in Los Angeles at my husband’s grandmother’s house and she had a gorgeous fig tree that had figs that were over ripe and needed to be used. So I pick a bunch with the idea of making fig newtons but gluten free.

Now the funny thing is I tried these and thought they were really good. In fact I ate 3 of these cookies and had to refrain from eating more, LOL.

When my husband came home he said they were really tasty and way better than the fig newtons his mother use to make when he was a kid. So all in all I think I did really well.

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