Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hey all!!!
After a morning of lifeguarding, I needed an afternoon project before heading to babysit for the night.

So, I decided to tackle the recipe that rules all: classic chocolate chip cookies. I had yet to master this in a gluten-free fashion.

Following the advice of a GF mom at the pool I work at, I headed to our neighborhood Trader Joe's. I had only been here 2 times as I normally visit Kowalskis for my GF needs. But... I must say, I am converted!

 I substituted their all purpose baking mix (GF) for the three GF flours needed in this recipe. It worked perfectly and the cookies were delicious!

Enjoy with a glass of cold milk and an air conditioned room!

This recipe is adapted from Gluten-free Goddess' website: she has some great recipes!

Ingredients:

1 cup sorghum flour
3/4 cup potato starch (not potato flour)
1/2 cup almond flour

I substituted 2 1/4 cup Trader Joe's Gluten free all purpose flour for this: See picture below... 

1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar ( I used trader Joe's organic Brown Sugar)

1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, beaten 
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Rounded 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used TJ brand) 


Optional:
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sorghum flour, potato starch, almond flour, xanthan gum, sea salt, baking soda, and brown sugar.

Add in the oil, eggs and vanilla extract.

Beat the dough for two minutes, until it is sticky and smooth.

Add in the dark chocolate chips; and stir by hand to combine. Add in walnuts or pecans, if desired.

Note: If it is hot and humid, cover and chill the dough for one hour.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Form the dough into 28-30 balls. Place a dozen or so on the lined baking sheet and press down lightly- not too flat.

Bake for 14 minutes. The cookies will look golden- but still feel slightly soft to the touch. They crisp a bit as they cool.

Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Makes 28 to 30 cookies. 

New York City and Jennifer Esposito

This past March I got the opportunity to fulfill one of my bucket list dreams. Travel to New York City, the big apple, the city that never sleeps... you get the picture, it's pretty awesome :)

I was invited on an east coast road trip by good family friends the Hartnetts. After dropping off one Hartnett kid in Jersey, Anne, whom I call my second mom, and Katie, my "other" younger sister, and I boarded the train into the city.

 Anne had lived in the city years ago and knew the ropes. So, we filled our 2 days there with all the must-sees and beautiful sights we could possibly fit in.

I absolutely LOVED it, the people, the business, the SHOPPING (bye bye savings at Michael Kors).

Here were some of the highlights for me:
The famous Plaza hotel, just as beautiful as I would have pictured it, anyone who ever watched the Eloise movies as a kid should take a peek at the old lobby, it's gorgeous!

Shopping on Madison and  5th.... let me tell ya right now... Tiffany's is real guys, like jaw dropping, diamond studded real. Armani, Versace, Prada, Dolce and Gabanna.... also real... ha ok, I just looked, but I can pretend like I can shop at these places right!?

Rockefellar Center: just as beautiful as I would have thought, with an added bonus of seeing a proposal as we ate dinner at their rink-side restaurant!

Central Park: Serene. The boathouse, the fountain, the gorgeous paths and views of the city. I loved our long stroll through the inner city landscape.

The Boathouse! 

A couple other highlights include:

• Seinfeld Diner
• Stardust Diner: SO entertaining and good food! Highly recommend it!
• Rockefellar building(where I actually realized I don't like heights at night.... minor panic attack, no biggie)
• Columbia university
• Mamma Mia on Broadway (SO amazing!)

One of my absolute favorite parts, however, was visiting Jennifer Esposito's gluten-free bakery.

Jennifer is one of my favorite actresses and gluten-free connoisseurs. She raises awareness for celiac disease and shares her story of illness and hardships as she fought to find a diagnosis.

She also founded Jennifer's Way, spreading awareness about Celiac, and sharing her delicious gluten free recipes and products. This then led to the opening of her bakery in NYC, so of course we made the trip to 10th street and avenue A to taste her delicious treats!

Let me say this, it has been a long time since I have gone somewhere and been able to choose anything I want from a tray of goodies and know it wont make me sick...

So we got to the tiny, but cute bakery, and who do I see when I walk in the door.... Jennifer Esposito herself, standing 3 feet in front of me... Katie and Anne had to give me a little shove to keep moving through the door as I stood starstruck in front of the actress.

After I spend a couple minutes picking out delicious bread and treats, I turn to leave. But then I realized, I really really really want a picture with her.... but didn't want to bother her.

 Katie, the wise 16 year old advises me on this dilemma.
"Maria. How many times are you going to get this chance, to meet her, and to introduce yourself....ONE!"

So.... I asked, and she graciously agreed to take a picture. So it happened, I met my favorite actress and have a picture to prove it :)

She will always be my inspiration as I can completely relate to her story. Being sick, being scared out of my mind, not knowing what was wrong, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.

 But I am forever grateful we DID figure it out, I am healthy as ever, and I can live my life the way I want to live it, treating every gluten-free challenge as a gift from God. 

One of these days I will share my story, the hardships I faced as gluten forced my life into a 180 spin during my first year of college. But for now I'm focused on the future, the chance I get to face my fears and chase my dreams. 

Here is a link to Jennifer's website, she has products, information, and her story. So take a look!   http://jennifersway.org

Happy Living!
~M

Shopping, heels, and age misinterpretations

Another beautiful day in beautiful Minnesota!

More nannying adventures commenced as the summer works up to it's busy fullness!

G had a camp most of the day, so C and i decided to do our favorite thing that G has no interest in.. SHOPPING! Luckily 50th and France was nearby to satisfy our needs and empty our pocketbooks.

I had been so excited to wear my new wedges (which I must add were purchased for me by my best friend Mel, as after she sent me a picture of her new ones on sale, I jumped with excitement and called   her asking to get me a pair too. Awesome friend award right there folks!) , perfectly designed for summer, and went well with my cutoff jeans and black tank... So i strutted my stuff along the avenue working the heels.

However, at a certain point while sorting through the sale rack at anthropologie, I realized something... I wanted so badly to change into flip flops!

So we traipsed back to the car and I changed shoes, and was very very happy about it. I shall save these ones for a dinner out on the town :)

ugh.. so cute.. but so so so not my day-to-day footwear 

I wish I was one of those people, who could wear heels all day, with the perfect outfit, and the perfect accessories, but honestly, it's summer. It's hot, the sun is shining, and I really just want to be in a pair of shorts, a tank, and flip flops! And you know what, that is ok!

Heels serve their purpose. Weddings, Christmas, fancy dinners, fancy parties... but for me, NOT for everyday wear... too much darn work.

So we went on our merry way, peeking in stores and looking for the best sales of summer, when a woman in one of the stores welcomed C after we had been in the store for a while. C's confused look then prompted the woman to say "oh sorry dear! I didn't see you with your Mom there"...

UMMMM talk about JAW dropping moment, C turned to me with a big grin trying to hold back a boisterous laugh as I picked my jaw up from the floor... I am 20, C is 12... do i seriously look old enough to be her mother! OY!
The woman went back to work and as we left the store I turned to C and said "yup, didn't you know? you are my blonde miracle baby from when I was 8!"

So we had a good laugh while I stole a couple extra looks in the mirror to make sure I hadn't magically turned into a 40 year old woman.

Nope, we're good :)

Happy Living!
~M

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

I made this bread months ago but didn't post about it... absolutely delish! If my fam will eat it (they are not GF) then it passes the test! 

Ingredients

3 cups (420g) high-quality all-purpose gluten-free flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
1 cup (218g) packed light brown sugar
2 1/2 cups grated zucchini
3 eggs (180 g, out of shell) at room temperature, beaten
1 ripe banana, peeled and mashed
1/2 cup (112g) vegetable oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

• Preheat your oven to 325°F. Grease 2 standard loaf pans and set them aside.
  
• In a large bowl, place flour, xanthan gum, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, granulated sugar and light brown sugar, and whisk to combine (working out any lumps in the brown sugar). Set aside the dry ingredients.
• In a separate small bowl, place the zucchini, eggs, banana, oil and vanilla, and mix to combine well. Create a well in the center of the bowl of dry ingredients, and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix to combine. The batter will be very wet. In a separate small bowl, toss the chocolate chips with the cornstarch. Pour the chocolate chips and cornstarch into the batter, and mix until the chips are evenly distributed throughout the batter. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared loaf pans, and smooth the tops with a wet spatula.
• Place the loaf pans in the center of the preheated oven, and bake, rotating once, until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of each loaf comes out clean (about 50 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes in the loaf pans. Remove from the pans and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Attribute to "gluten free on a shoestring". 

A piece of our childhood

It is our choices... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

J. K. Rowling 

If you grew up the 90's or even the early 2000's you are probably very much familiar with the Harry Potter series. The magical story that taught us lessons about loyalty, friendship, bravery, and love.

I think J.K. Rowling is brilliant. She created this entire world, people, places, histories, and created a story that brought childhood dreams to life, bringing us out of our day to day lives and into a completely different world.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone was released September 1st 1998. At the time I was almost 6 years old, and the perfect age to begin the journey that so many kids around my age travelled on through our youth and high school years.

My siblings and I started hearing the books at bedtime, in that fabulous half hour of the evening when my Dad would read a chapter, voices and all. The second book was released in June of 1999, and as we were still a little young to read, would continue to hear the progression of the books as the year went on through the eyes of my Father. As I grew older and more books were released in a yearly succession from 2000-2007, I would find great accomplishment in finishing a 600+ paged book all by myself, staying up reading until my eyes wouldn't allow it.

The last three books were released in the summers, 2003, 2005, and the final book in 2007, uniting kids all over the world in a story, the hearts of characters, and the passion of the writing making the Harry Potter series one of the most successful in the world.

I have fond memories of us kids lined up on grand avenue at the neighborhood Barnes and Noble. Waiting hand in hand with our parents, anxious to start reading the next installment of Harry's adventures.

 Once in our hands, we read all day, soaking in the new adventures, and development of our beloved characters. At the Tennis club which is where a large part of my summer was spent, kids were reading all over, in the lawn chairs, on the patio, in the shack, until forced to stop to their dismay for a very specific reason. The books ignited a universal love of reading.

Us kids read on car rides, and under the blanket with a flashlight until 3 in the morning, trying to cram in the story and find out the ending before starting the book all over again, and anxiously waiting for our friends to finish so they could gab and discuss the exciting new stories.

November 14th 2001 marked the release of the first movie, bringing the beloved story to life and adding another element of excitement to the many young readers. I went to every movie, shortly after it's release, and continued throughout my high school years.

The final movie was released my senior year so, along with a large part of my high school,  I attended the midnight premiere. It was packed with kids and high schoolers wanting to stay up half the night to experience the last installment of the series.

 The books had all been released, so this, the movie, marked the end of an era.  It was the end of the story we had followed throughout our childhood, bringing with it the conclusion of the characters that we had developed such an attachment to.

So thank you J.K. Rowling, for giving us your stories, for sharing with us your world, and finally, thank you for the magic.

Happy Living,
~M

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Anyone who grew up at the Saint Paul Tennis Club knows Gary. Our beloved, wise, funny, and grandfather-like swim coach who kept us in line throughout the summers of our childhood, and continues to do so as he is the boss of all of us lifeguards.  He is the owner of many funny sayings, commonly using the phrase "The good, the bad, and the ugly".

Seen in a broader spectrum, this phrase describes our day to day lives. The good: positive moments scattered through our day, the bad... obviously the rough parts, and the just plain ugly moments we hope to someday forget.

Today was lovely. I had the day off, had coffee with my sisters (one real, two honorary), laid by the pool, got some gluten-free treats from French Meadow Bakery, and shopped around 50th and France with my sister Annie. Today had only a little bad and a smidgen of ugly (rush hour traffic) .... success!
As we were shopping for fathers day gifts, we came across a sign that said this:

"Always appreciate the little things in life, because someday you will look back and realize those were the big things".

I stood there and read it a couple of times, taking in the message and realizing it was absolutely true...

Summer mornings after swim practice watching Full House with my siblings

Hazelnut coffee in the morning at the cabin

A perfect evening at the lake in Ely Minnesota

Caribou dates with my Mom

Fires in the fireplace at Christmastime

Walking up to Grand avenue on a warm summer evening to get ice cream with my high school friends

These moments, the good things that are sprinkled through our day, are often clouded by the bad and the ugly. But when you look back, you don't remember the 2 hours of traffic, or the rude person in front of you in line, you remember the good, the things that come together creating a story. Your story.

So breathe in those good moments, buy the person behind you at caribou a drink, take the day off, make time for your friends.

Because at the end of the day... The good always outweighs the bad and the ugly.

Happy Living!
~M

Nanny Life

It's finished, the hard year of school filled with exams, nursing skills and clinicals. Now...

IT'S SUMMER!
and with it, the summer jobs that keep me busy day-to-day.

Nanny; Verb, meaning to do.... everything and anything.....

What do we do...
Cook
Clean
Swim
Jump
Drive
Play
Craft
Run
Mend
Talk
Chase
Shop
Sleep... well ha not so much
Wake: yep thats more like it
and overall: Take Care

I am lucky, well um... understatement of the year. I am EXTREMELY lucky to have the opportunity  to nanny some of the greatest girls in the world! Who also happen to be my cousins :)

We have an absolute blast together, and it is always a mini adventure as we make our way through all of the summer activities in Minnesota.

We'll call them G and C.
C is the oldest. G is the youngest.
ages: 12 and 11.

Every day begins at about 7:30 am for me.... arriving in the city at about 8:30 depending on the amount of drivers who have dragged themselves out of bed for the morning rush-hour drive to work.

When i arrive, we eat
*another perk of nannying... delicious food you do not have to purchase yourself... college kids, you know how rare this is....

During breakfast, usually consisting of my favorite gluten-free rice krispies, a steaming hot cup of coffee, and juice. We discuss what shenanigans we will get into that day... should we set off firecrackers in the neighbor's yard or trespass in fountains all over town... ok, so we are really not that bad, but some days we come up with some pretty fun stuff, and some days we sit around trying to decide when we should get off our chairs and start the day...

Our first day consisted off.... RAIN
well darn
So we jumped to our rainy day list.... and BINGO
Crafts and baking, a girl's best friend.

After watching a couple episodes of Full House.. one of the best shows in existence and one I have gotten G hooked on like no other, we got our butt's into gear and got going on our day.

We high tailed it over to Michael's Craft store and tried to restrain ourselves with a spending limit as we browsed the infinite possibilities of crafts and home projects.

We then scooted over to Kowalski's picking up a couple gluten free baking supplies.

So we crafted, baked, watched, and ate.  Making our first day of summer a success.

Stay tuned for more stories from our summer shenanigans as we embrace the rain and sunshine, one day at a time.

Happy Living!
~M