Flour-less peanut-chocolate cookies

I adapted this recipe from the March 2005 edition of Everyday Food.

It was flour-less, hence gluten free from the get go, but I now have to eliminate eggs and that has proved my bakers Achilles heel. Until my friend and chief dough slinger at Rogue Bakery set out on the making me cookies that I could eat AND other people would want to eat. In the process he discovered and perfect a formula for replacing eggs in baked goods with Xanthan Gum. I used his formula and got these yummy gems!

Wanna have these tonight? Here is what you will need to do.

Preheat oven to 350.

Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Mix 1/4 tsp Xanthan Gum with 1/4 c slightly warmer than room temperature water. Beat as you would an egg and let sit about 3-5 minutes. It will look like egg whites.

In a large bowl combine 1 c Creamy Peanut Butter (I used Skippy Natural, cuz that was what was open), 3/4 sugar, Xanthan Gum mixture, 1/2 tsp baking soda and pinch of salt. Mix well. Stir in 1/2 c whole unsalted roasted peanuts and 3/4 c semi sweet chocolate chips.

Mix well.

Using a table spoon or a medium scoop, spoon even amounts of dough into hands and form into balls with damp hands (to prevent sticking)

Mine did not spread much, but leave ample room between. You should get 12-14 balls.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, rotating the trays once.

My neighbor, my mom and my kids loved them. I think they are pretty tasty. No one guessed they were gluten and egg free.

If you are feeling lazy but still want some cookies - might I suggest emailing Rogue Bakery. His cookies are worth every penny and HE brings them to your DOOR.

Stuffed Squash

I had one acorn squash and one random little yellow "sweet potato" squash. I decided to stuff them. Here are the results.

Wanna have this for dinner - here's what you need.

3/4 lb or slightly less bulk sausage. I used spicey Italian chicken sausage from Whole Foods.
1 1/2 c hot cooked rice (I used basmati from my local Indian market)
1/2 c golden raisins (also from my local Indian market)
1/2 med yellow onion, chopped
1 Tbs ginger paste (yep, local Indian market)
1/2 Tbs garlic paste (yep, local Indian market)
2 Tbs hot water
1/2 c grated cheese (I used some leftover sheep's milk regiano)

Cut and seed the squashes. Place on a baking sheet and preheat oven to 400.

Place raisins in a large mixing bowl and and toss with the hot water. Cook the sausage, breaking it into small pieces. Add onions, garlic and ginger pastes to the raisins and toss. Stir in rice and cheese. When sausage is almost done, dump - drippings and all - into the mixing bowl. Toss to combine.

Stuff into the squashes, mounding it high. Extra stuffing can be baked off in a small casserole dish.

Cook for 35 minutes or until the squash is tender.

H is not a fan of raisins or squash exactly and he ate one of each.

Sewing 201

I finally made good on my promise to myself this summer and took a sewing class. My basic skills are decent, but I want to make myself some clothes and frankly I knew I needed some professional guidance.

Monday I took a sewing class at JoAnn's and we made option A from this pattern. I made a modification, becasue I wanted it to button differently. I am 98% finished and will post pictures once I complete the hem and ornamentation.

I feel inspired now to try more versions of the jacket this winter and to finally tackle some of the other dresses and such that I have been afraid to try.

(jacket A is the middle one in a aqua. I choose a very pretty burgundy print fleece for my jacket.)

Help Wanted

Help Wanted: Congressional Reps and Senators

Reasonably well spoken, energetic self starter, with an eye for details, fantastic reading comprehension skills, and unsurpassed active listening skills. Must be able to manage a staff and an active calendar of events, understand modern communication methods such as Twitter, SmartPhones and email.

Desirable personality traits include: humble nature, ability to put others and their well-being ahead of personal gain. Must be dedicated to working on behalf of others and still maintain the ability to say "No" when it is warranted. 

Having read the Constitution of the United States of America is a requirement. Understanding what is and is not covered by said document extremely important.

The ideal candidate must refrain from involving him or herself in the private lives of others. All personal opinions of a moral, religious, or cultural nature must be kept to one's self at all times.

Extensive experience in accounting, money management and fiscal responsibility a bonus. Having taken classes or seminars or having on the job proven negotiation skills will be judged most favorably. An understanding of the concepts of "Prudent Man" and "Fiduciary Duty" also required.

Educational requirements vary and personal skills will be weighted equally to educational achievements.

Vacancies to be filled in early November - the applicant pool thus far, substandard. 

You only have one shot

So - while away this week, the power of email hit me square between the eyes. I got a facebook email message that one of the women from my Kenyon Review writing workshop had died. She was 20. She had been living with cancer - no blossoming. She was a hell of a writer. Man, she could craft a poem. She could tear one apart also.

I had the privilege to learn with her. Grow with her. Write with her.

She was just finishing up a round of chemo and had fast talked her doctors into letting her attend the workshop. She rested alot and hung out with me at meals. She could jive with my diet issues and fear of an upset tummy. I never balked as she swallowed down horse pill after horse pill.

I told her about my mom. I got it. The process of cancer. I also was not hung up on it. She was not dying - she was living and I think - seeing my mom battle through chemo - that is important to note.

What she showed the world and continued to show - as I followed her on Facebook and Goodreads - is life is for living - ONE DAY AT A TIME. Squeeze it and hang on tight. Sure maybe an afternoon nap is in order, but do not coast, do not sleep it through, cuz you have no right to expect tomorrow to include you.

As a teenager it had to be tempting to just give up, get pissed, be angry at the world. Instead she took summer school, online and sometimes from the hospital, getting chemo. Seriously.

This spring, she and a friend were hatching some public poetry project and sent out a call for work. I sent her some of my work. Happily so. I hope her friend sees that vision through.

Her words, written during the workshop will never cease to inspire me and make me want to write my very best. Such skill with the pen and at such a young age. I wish I had the chutzpa to write like her when I was twenty. I was shy, maybe once you realize that tomorrow is not a guarantee you just write like you don't care. It took me years to learn to take those risks.

As the news settled into my gut, part of me wanted to be angry. What kind of Universe takes away someone with some much talent and such a gift to inspire. Then I remembered - it is not how long you have - it is how you lived what you were given.

I think M's words speak for themselves. She lived every single second... and just like a good poem. Ever single word counts.


Some of her lovely and and totally moving prose can be found here.