Soft Molasses Cookies

What a treat!  These turned out so wonderful! 
Be sure to make a lot of them, they will go fast.  This, I can assure you!

3/4 cup shortening (be sure to check ingredients if allergies are involved)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses (I used cooking molasses)

2 & 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt (I may decrease to 1/4 tsp, I found them a tad on the salty side, but either way will work)
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg


Cream together shortening and sugar.  Add egg (or egg replacer) and molasses, stir until creamy.
In separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients.  Fold into molasses mixture and stir until combined.  Cover, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours until well chilled. 
Once chilled, roll into smallish balls, roll in white sugar, and place on a greased (I use parchment paper) cookie sheet. 
Bake at 350F for 9-10 minutes.

**IMPORTANT STEP, DO NOT SKIP**
Leave the cookies on the cookie sheet for 1 minute.  After that minute, remove onto rack to cool. 


Now, I will admit that I forgot to add one key ingredient.  The egg (or in our case, the egg replacer) and they still turned out wonderful!  I was a little concerned, but lets just say I'm having a hard time keeping the cookies from being devoured! 

The BEST Lemon Loaf!

I decided to tweak and try this recipe and I must say, the entire loaf almost disappeared in an hour!  This was fantastic! 
Please do not make the mistake I made by using a stone loaf pan, when you try to remove very hot items from stone, they tend to break.  Next time I make this, I will use a lightly greased glass loaf pan.



1/2 butter, 1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup shortening (I used shortening, I was almost out of our *safe* margarine)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs or replacements (I used 1/2 tsp baking powder and 2 tbsp water for each egg called for)
1/2 cup milk (I used original rice milk)
1 & 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
rind from one lemon




GLAZE
juice from one lemon
1/4 cup sugar
*while bread is baking, I make my glaze, but not too early as it needs to be liquidy to put onto bread.  Over medium heat, dissolve sugar and lemon juice, in a saucepan*

Cream butter and sugar in large bowl.
Add eggs or replacement, mixing until creamy.  NOTE: if using shortening, texture will not seem smooth, this is okay.
Blend in milk.

In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and lemon rind.
Pour into the batter, stirring until moist.
Pour into greased loaf pan.
Bake at 350F for 55-60 minutes.
Let cool for 5 minutes
Remove to rack while loaf is still hot, and use a toothpick to poke holes all over the top of the bread.  Spoon glaze over the top (be sure to have a plate underneath, this can and will get messy)
Allow to cool before slicing into it.

ENJOY!

Snickerdoodle Blondies

Egg, dairy, nut and soy free

2-2/3 Cups All-Purpose Flour

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

3 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon, divided

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2 Cups Packed Dark Brown Sugar

1 Cup Dairy-Free Margarine, at room temperature (I use Earth Balance Soy-Free)

2 Large Eggs, at room temperature (I use ½ tsp baking powder and 2 tbsp for each called for)

1 Tablespoon Real Vanilla Extract

2 Tablespoons Sugar

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350ºF and lightly grease a 9×13 inch pan.

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and set aside.

In large bowl, beat together margarine and brown sugar until well combined.

Add the eggs (or replacement) and vanilla, and beat until smooth.

Stir in the flour mixture until well blended.

Spread the batter evenly in your prepared pan (I lightly greased a spatula for easy spreading).

Combine the 2 tablespoons of sugar and the remaining 2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a small dish. Evenly sprinkle the mixture atop the batter 

Bake  for 25 to 30 minutes or until the surface springs back when gently pressed. They will be firm and raised around the edges, sinking slightly in the middle.

This is okay!  Let cool completely before cutting into slices

A very strong message without any words

I think this poster says it all.  Something so simple, something that others see as just a normal thing to eat........well, the results can be deadly. 

Comfort food!

A little bit ago, I had written about how thrilled I was to find Amy's brand Mac and Cheese, which is free of gluten, dairy and soy!  Our 5 year old LOVES Mac and Cheese and it's one of the few foods I have yet to make a decent tasting dish of.  I paired it up with a home made dinner roll (see recipe here) only I added Daiya  cheddar style shreds into the machine while the dough was mixing, and sprinkled more Daiya on top before baking them.  My boy LOVED his dinner!  Add some veggies and voila!  A healthy and tasty meal!