Gluten free cookie experimentation (I guess that’s what I’ll call it)
Well as you may have seen from my tweets Valentines Day was celebrated in dribs and drabs here due to a kid with the flu and a mummy with one of the worst migraines she’s had in years. Anyway, we spent yesterday afternoon attempting to make some lip shaped butter cookies, which would eventually be dipped in chocolate. Cute huh? Like a black and white cookie where one lip is chocolate-y and the other is plain. Well things didn’t turn out like that. I’m getting much better at my GF baking, but it’s still really frustrating. Things just don’t work the same and it’s like learning a whole new set of chemistry rules. Anyway, there were some learnings and lovely moments. Here’s the recap. I modified a recipe from the Barefoot Contessa, switching out the regular flour with the Whole Foods All Purpose Flour blend I’ve come to like. The first batch were rolled, cut, and placed onto a silpat baking sheet. Then straight into the oven. 
As you can see, not such a great result. They spread out too much, getting thin on the edges and browning too quickly. Also, almost unrecognizable as lips. So next time around, I rolled, cut, and placed them on parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Then I put them in the fridge to set up for a bit. Like a charm. 
These turned out much better. They didn’t loose their shape that much and consequently cooked more evenly. The next set were rolled, cut, and placed right on the cookie sheet (no parchment). These too were placed in the fridge before cooked in the oven, but alas with the same poor results as the first batch. 
See same thing, spreading out and browning too much on the edges. So here is the big learning for this and other cookie cutter cookies. Roll, cut, place on parchment on a cookies sheet. Refrigerate for a bit before putting in the oven and allow to cool a bit on the sheet before you take them off and put them onto the cooling rack. Ok so onto the Chocolate dipping saga. It was a total disaster and I’ve done this before so I don’t know what the hell I did wrong. First I tried the microwave. The chocolate broke. Then I tried the double boiler. The chocolate broke. Then I tried the mircowave again. The chocolate broke. As you can see the cookies never got dipped in chocolate. 
After this very frustrating baking event, I had to give myself a little mummy time out in the bedroom. After a minute or so Mazie came in and said, “It’s ok Mummy. It’s ok”. Then she gave me a big hug and said, “It’s ok Mummy it happens some times.” She was totally right. It is ok and it does happen sometimes. I think sometimes I want everything to come out like the picture — baking, crafts, our living room, etc– but sometimes the picture isn’t the best way. These were the best cookies we’ve made yet, because I learned a lot. Not only about my GF baking, but that might child might be one of the smartest people around and my best friend.
Filed under Cooking, Food, Gluten Free, diapers, you know she's my daughter when | Comment (0)
Naty Diapers
Just came across these great new diapers. We had been using the Seventh Generation brand diapers and pretty happy with them, but have recently switched over to these new diapers on the recommendation of a friend. They are 100% biodegradable, made from no petroleum products, and thus far no more leaks than other brands we’ve tried. I think I’ll be a convert.
The other great thing is that they sell them on 1800diapers.com which is a fantastic site. Free shipping on orders of $50 and they typically arrive in a day or two from when you placed your order. No need to lug bulky diapers home from the store.
Filed under Cool Products, diapers | Comment (0)
