Monday, October 14, 2013

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies and a Giveaway

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Let's play the word association game. When I say you gluten you say. . . cardboard. Especially when it comes to any kind of baked goods, right?  Well, guess what my friends? I have a recipe for gluten-free chocolate chip cookies that will change your GCAI (gluten cardboard association issues). Lucky for you, I didn't make this recipe up, but my friend did. And she has skills.

Let me introduce you to Against All Grain's Danielle Walker. As the story goes - she started a blog for fun. She has spent a lot of time in the kitchen perfecting recipes and experimenting with foods to help get her Ulcerative Colitis under control. Her blog has grain-free recipes and fancy, beautiful pictures. Her blog readership skyrocketed and people across the world are enjoying her recipes and seeing improvement in their health. From autism to autoimmune diseases, people are benefiting from Danielle's recipes. Most recently Danielle released a cookbook with Paleo and Specific Carbohydrate Diet recipes - grain free, dairy free. And no cardboard.
And she's my friend. And I taught her everything she knows . . . about Formula One racing.


The cookbook made the New York Best Times Best Seller List right away. You can find the cookbook at many places including Costco. And let's be honest - in the age of the internet, who uses cookbooks anymore? I have gotten rid of most of mine, but I got hers because she's my friend. However, this is the most beautiful cookbook (gorgeous pictures with every recipe) I have ever seen and I love it and want to sleep with it on my nightstand. Even if I'm just a poser and never make a recipe from it.

However, it's too late because I am not a poser. I already made three recipes and ordered a food processor. So I guess my GCAI issues are over and I am a part of Danielle's posse. Incidentally, no one in my family has health issues or allergies. We are not a gluten-free or dairy-free or sugar-free family or a Paleo family, but I have seen the health benefits in so many people. It certainly can't hurt us to incorporate this type of eating into our lives.

So go check out Danielle's blog and read her story and get her cookbook and then make the chocolate layer cake and bring me a piece.

The other night I made her Real-Deal Chocolate Chip Cookies. They were delicious despite the fact my experience in the kitchen looks nothing like what you see in the pictures, on blogs, in the cookbook, or on television. Keepin' it real in the cookie-hood right here, folks.

The ingredients. (I did substitute butter for palm shortening. Because what the heck is palm shortening? I don't have palm trees to extract from and I couldn't find it at Whole Foods. And Danielle told me if you don't have dairy issues . . . butter makes them better. Preach Danielle.)
 The process.  Totally Desperate Mom style.
The transfer from blender to bowl. Not pretty. I didn't have a food processor because I gave it away. We got one when we first got married and never used it. Because when we first got married I am pretty sure our 23-year-old bodies did just fine on quesadillas and hot pockets. But I just ordered a food processor and I think I will love it now that I am a grown up who makes real food.
I mostly used nut-free, dairy-free chocolate chips, but I made a few with chunks of milk chocolate bar. 
Boom. Real-Deal Chocolate Chip Cookies. Yum. Delicious. I restrained myself and only had two. Until I had to have another one. My husband held back and only had three. Until he had four or five. And the kids love them. Also, I love my new oven and would sleep with it on my nightstand if I could. In case you were wondering.

They were a little grainier because I only had Bob's Red Mill Almond Meal/Flour instead of the kind Danielle recommends for baking. Bob's stuff works, but the fine blanched almond flour works much better with baking.

And now for the giveaway . . . Danielle is giving away a signed copy of her cookbook Against All Grain: Deletable Paleo Recipes to Eat Well and Feel Great to the person who has the best  luck with random.org. Simply leave a comment here with an interesting or boring comment about yourself and on Saturday, October 19 at 9pm PST Mr. Random will choose a winner. I will post it by Sunday, October 20th. (U. S. and Canada residents only.)

Go check out the gluten-free chocolate chip recipe over at Against All Grain!
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28 comments:

Crystal Corcoran said...

I still use cookbooks! Especially ones with beautiful pics on all the pages!

Jean said...

I JUST bought her book. JUST = today. But I want a signed copy :)

Becky said...

Interesting? The only imitation voices I do when reading books to my kids are the Count, Eeyore, and the most obnoxious Christopher Robin I can manage ;)


Oh, and my father in law is Gluten Free, so this would be nice for him...or me, because I like pretty pictures of food!

Kelley Zehfuss said...

Because you tried it first. Yup that's who I am... a follower. Of all things good that is. This is good stuff and all my gluten free friends would be jealous. I would share though. Especially with Jeanette Murphy. She keeps telling me if I would go gluten free I could rid myself of my allergy meds. So chocolate chip cookies that = no allergies? I'm in!

Amy said...

My husband would love a signed copy! Please!

Stacy Thompson said...

I am always up for making healthier meals for my family that does not require a lot of work.

shelley said...

I haven't had a new cookbook in years. This one looks great! Thanks for sharing!

Melissa G. said...

I am trying to reduce gluten in my family's diet, so it would be great to have a cookbook to get me started! And those cookies look like winners!

Tonya Tsingaris said...

I would love to try these recipes because there is way tooooo much bloating and gas at my house! Ha

www.parentingwithresearch.com said...

We already have one person who is gluten free, but would love to try Paleo.

Debra Lee said...

Interesting thing is I got braces when I was 40 and I fart a lot!

Jamie b said...

Hi! I'm Jamie.

Pretty boring, huh? ;)

Monica said...

I'd love a copy. My husband has turned paleo which means I have to figure out what to feed him. It's getting pretty boring over here at dinner time. As far as an interesting fact, I have three levels of deodorant to use depending on my day. I have toms for when I'll see no one, secret for everyday, and then dove clinical for when I will be in front of a crowd.

Becca Ferguson said...

I only had three wisdom teeth

Jenn Ensminger said...

My hubby, 4 kids and I have gone wheat-free/sugar-free for several months now and I've lost 22 lbs, no more Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome which hospitalized me A LOT! Huge difference in my kids, especially my 9 yr old daughter. With 4 picky kid eaters though, I need all the recipe choices I can get! Love you and your site!

Sonia P said...

my sister told me about against all grain. and that's why.

Mariel said...

I have been wanting this cookbook, and would LOVE to win it! Thank you Wendy & Danielle :)

Valerie F said...

would love this book! I'm transitioning to grain-free! Thanks

Kristen said...

Yes please! Thanks! Kristen

Kristin said...

Would love to win this! We don't have food issues, but have many friends who do. Not sure yet if I would give this to one of them or keep it so that I can be able to make yummy treats for them if I won, but either way it would be put to good use! :)

Amy N said...

I totally would love to win this! I am taking seven (7) daily pills to control my ulcerative colitis. I have a book collecting dust on my nightstand now that I've not had the time to read about almond flour and gluten free as a way to help UC. Thanks for sharing Danielle's website. I'm on it!

Those chocolate chip cookies look DIVINE! They truly are my weakness!

Heidi said...

I'm an old fashioned lover of real cookbooks and would love to get this, especially to help keep my family healthy!

Magean C said...

looks yummy although ive never tried making anything gluten free before. first time for everything?!

Kate Senft said...

It looks like everyone else here has good reasons for needing a grain-free and dairy-free cookbook, so I'm going to go with an interesting fact.


I own a pair of glow in the dark space themed footie pajamas that I wear on a regular basis. And it's probably the best set of jammies I've ever owned.

Kimberly said...

Getting more interested in Paleo and the benefits! My neighbor is trying Paleo, and feels great so far!

TDM Wendy said...

Jean - you are a winner! Email me your info!

TDM Wendy said...

Okay valerie you are my new winner since Jean never contacted me and I don't have her email. Please email me ASAP at wendy at wendyhagen dot net and get me your info!

TDM Wendy said...

You are my new winner! Please contact me with your info. Would love to send you this cookbook!