Buzzing Happily with Pumpkin Cashew "Cheesecake"

When I think of thanksgiving, I almost immediately picture a large table, or two to three smaller tables patch worked together in a long train, covered with mismatched table clothes and each place set with the proper assortment of plates, cutlery, glasses and crackers for a full meal together. Some, of course, match, like at the parents table where the nice plates and wine glasses reserved only for special occasions are used, but down at the other end, where the kids are usually placed together, it's a colourful array of orange and red dishes, bright napkins folded neatly, and the bright golds and shiny yellows of the crackers. I love the setting of a thanksgiving table, with all the colours and decorations that often resemble an autumn pathway, lined with fallen maple leaves held down by smoothed stones and little tea lights that flicker and eventually fade as the evening progresses.  

There is always family and friends, buzzing happily around the table, while some help to serve the heaping dishes of vegetables and aromatic tray of turkey, balancing the cranberry sauce between two plates in either hand. Some sit across from one another and chat freely, with sounds of laughter filling the whole room, and eventually catching on as everyone sits down together, and the food is served in heaping spoonfuls onto plates. I always send my spoon back to the mashed yams, my favourite, and a few extra Brussels sprouts. 

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At the Cabin

It's a shock to feel as if I have been hit by the sudden fact that it isn't only me that's moving away, something I can control, can always know when I'll be visiting friends again, but also the people I have grown to accept as always being around, always being there, will too, move away, and find new adventures on greater, larger, and expanding coast lines. As this week goes on, more of my friends update their Facebook statuses and with their new location, or post photos of their new dorm room home.

It came when I saw one of my good friends on the island only last Friday, and I was so absorbed in running from errand to errand as well as finding time for a quick coffee with mum before heading to a friends, worried about seeing her before she left to university as well, that I didn't even think that just that evening, he would be flying across the country for a semester in university. And I'm sure he's not the only person I've missed while I've been so wrapped up in my own move. 

After last weekend, we packed a little more and filled an entire row of boxes to be kept, and to be given away, but I also took a few days off to spend a couple of nights at my friends cabin, a place I have visited with her family for years, and a place where it is easy to forget everything else, and just enjoy the sound of the waves on the beach, or the numerous trips in the rowboat in hope of pulling up a big crab from the trap out in the bay.  

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Twin Comfort of Dessert

I'm not sure if I'm even allowed to be sitting here, enjoying the Indie music and being around busy people, chatty people, groups of people slumped over coffees with their heads bent towards each other and deep in conversation. I haven't bought anything; I sought refuge from the rain outside. As I passed by the huge windows of this rustic coffee shop, I felt the pull of just sitting and spending time at a table situated in a corner. I love to watch the people that come and go, each one with a story which I attempt to discover. Each person has a distinguishable taste, noticeable by their sense of style as they walk from the door to the counter and order their choice of drink, sometimes pairing it with a muffin or scone, at the coffee bar.

I went to school today for a Provincial exam, and sat for three hours in the gym with all of the other English students writing three essays and answering 25 multiple choice questions. Afterwards, in our exhaustion and giddy perception of being free from the pressures of this exam, at least for a little while, some friends and I drove down the road for tea together. The woman behind the counter provided samples of aromatic tea leaves for us to smell, and help us to try and figure out which tea to make into a drink, until we all decided upon a black English tea, latte style.

So there we sat, all six of us, with twin lattes in our hands and perched in chairs situated around one small round table, legs intertwined. We went over the exam, exclaiming our surprise at some of the answers, and trying to figure out whether we had chosen the right one - if pre-exam chatter hadn't been stressful enough!

Our stomachs began to growl promptly, as our nerves settled down to make way for hunger, and our pack abruptly stood and left with the steam out of our hot mugs trailing behind. The smell of that little tea place was so calming and comforting, even if the white decor wasn't. And with a hot drink to sip I began to completely unwind from the buzz of sitting an exam.

Again we found an under-sized table to share, with nearly enough room for all of our lunches to share the space. Inside had been too busy, and all the tables were taken, so wrapped up in our fur-lined parkas and knitted scarves, and still huddled around lattes, we parked ourselves under a big out-of-place summer umbrella that dripped with the drizzling rain. There couldn't have been anything more Vancouver. Lunch was taken outside because its so beautiful, and we love it outside, but there we were wrapped up in big thick coats and leaning away to prevent being hit from the splatter of the rain.

So as I sit here, slowly warming with the steam of other's hot drinks rising into the space around me, I think of a decadent dessert to complement a peaceful afternoon. What better way to enjoy the fresh flavour of fruit with a sweet gluten-free topping than Twin Crumbles, have two for you and another, and just sit for a while.

Twin Apple-Blueberry Crumbles
Print recipe here.

The perfect complement to any meal, these little crumbles are quick to whip up when you have a craving for something sweet, and are light enough to leave your taste buds fulfilled without filling you up too much.

Fresh fruit sweetens the pots with delicious flavour, and be sure to serve them with a dollop of vanilla yogourt or ice cream for a creamy treat. This can be served as a summer or winter dessert, switching up the fillings for more seasonal fruits. Pomegranate and pear, anyone?

Serves 2

Ingredients

1/2 apple, sliced thinly
1/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 tsp lemon juice

2 tbsp gluten free oats
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp ground almonds (or almond flour)
1 tbsp corn flour
2 tbsp cold butter

A pinch of cinnamon

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Divide the blueberries among two ramekins, top with sliced apple and drizzle with lemon juice. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, ground almonds, and corn flour. Chop up the butter and add into the bowl, rub between your fingers until the mixture becomes crumbly, resembling bread crumbs.

Divide the crumble topping among the two ramekins, levelling evenly. Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon on top of each crumble.

Place in the centre of the oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the topping begins to brown and blueberries begin to bubble.

Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving with a spoonful of vanilla yogourt or ice cream.

Enjoy the sweetness of this treat after a long day!
xx S.

If Life Throws Snowballs, Sweeten Them!

Ever feel as if the cold of winter wraps it's icy tendrils around everything, and despite the layers of blankets the draft disperses and grows from underneath your skin; winter, in it's stubborn display of the changes to come, the winds and cold, the storms and the crystallised beauty, also wraps you gently at first, comforting and softly, tightening as a cocoon around a caterpillar, with each fibre pushing it's frosty exterior further onto you, freezing to the touch, and never letting go.

Maybe this is why I love winter, it truly is like being wrapped in a forever Snuggy. Forever slippers on your feet, and never thinking that the skies will suddenly brighten, open up, and even disperse.

I find the contrasts of winter's arrival most apparent as I stand on the dock for the ferry. The wind blows carefully at first, testing it's recipients for reaction, and with none, increases intensity. Laughing, it speeds up, as if a child chasing an animal around, it winds precariously through cars, through people, jumping over benches and fences, and still never tiring. Above, clouds hover close, grey and white in patches, but mostly a light grey similar to that of the sparse populations of seagulls buried in their feathers; some gulls peer atop their wings only in the search of dropped food. You feel as if a heavy dome encompasses the world, but there lies the sea, an expansive, vast body which stretches farther than the horizon, although unseen at the moment. By land you can continue on, but by the space above, the star and moon invisible, you are halted. You can travel off the island, there are so many places to be explored; other continents, ones you have traveled  others unknown, lie beyond the boundaries far off, perhaps they can be escaped to, and perhaps winter can be forgotten for some time. And yet, situated on a small island between the surrounding mainland, time seems to have stopped after five o'clock each night, and again we wait for winter to pass over in the tranquil escape of our homes.

So with the cold air coddling the timbers of our wooden house, and escaping in through every possible crack, I decided to embrace the winter wonderland it so wishes to be, and turn my counter into my very own personal snow field.

And with that, I poured icing sugar across the counter.

My own winter wonderland.

It's almost December, and surprisingly, I couldn't be more excited for Christmas.

So time to start the Christmas baking, the holiday treats, and decorating all those wonderfully sweetened cookies.

Did I mention that we already have a bottle of organic Egg-Nog in the fridge? A delectable winter treat, creamy and sweet, especially comforting when it's been warmed up on the stove and spiced with a delicate peppering of nutmeg and cinnamon. Remember last Christmas when you sipped Egg-Nog by the window and snow flakes fell, and still, you were warm.

Look, even the restaurants think it's already that time of year.

This is the first time that I have incorporated any of the gums, xantham or guar, into my baking, and although reluctant I thought it was worth a try. So many successfully bake with them, and can bypass the result of crumbly, flaky cookies or muffins which give gluten-free baking such a bad name.

Mum was given a small package as a sample of Bob's Red Mill Guar gum, and for the past couple of weeks it has been peering round the corner of a basket in the cupboard. I admit, I've eyed it a couple of times, however I haven't seen the need to use it. That is, until today.

I was reminded of my friend's comments on my cookies,

"These are sooo crumbly!"

And the picture of the depleted loaf when it came out of the oven, nearly crumbling across the expanse of the counter as I lifted it from the baking tin. No, I don't want disappointment from these picturesque little treats. They should be full of love and fun.

No tears, nor fears, mum would say.

Gluten-Free (and Vegan) Chocolate Snowball Cookies
Printable recipe.

Truffle-like in taste, but moist and light, these little snowballs will definitely be by my side for every winter celebration and party this year. They're the very essence of winter, comforting and delightful, and like the snow on the ground (may it come soon) they look like little snow balls that fly across the yard.

Quickly and easily made in a short amount of time, it's important to set aside a large area for the icing sugar, which will coat these little snowballs in a feathery dusting. Just remember, this area must be completely dry to avoid actually icing to form, which is very difficult to scrape clean!

Makes approximately 16 1-inch balls

Ingredients

4 oz gluten-free unsweetened chocolate chips or grated chocolate
2 tbsp coconut oil

2 tbsp ground flax seed
3 tbsp almond milk

1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 c light brown sugar

1/2 c coconut flour
1/4 c sorghum flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp each salt and guar gum (use xantham gum if you prefer)

approximately 1/2 c icing sugar for coating

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, melt together the chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave (high for 2 minutes, stir, and repeat for 1 minute or until completely smooth) or in a dish above a pot of simmering water on the stove.

In another, larger bowl, whisk together the ground flax and almond milk. When the chocolate and coconut oil is completely melted, pour into the flax mixture and stir well to combine.

Add the sugar and vanilla extract.

In another bowl, mix together the flours, baking powder, salt and guar gum before combining to the chocolate mixture. It should turn out thick and moist. If using shredded coconut, add it here.

With your hands, roll the dough into small balls and place approximately 3 centimetres apart on the baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Even though the snowballs are still hot (and don't look like snowballs just yet!) roll them in the icing sugar, coating them completely before setting aside and repeating with each.

During this process, the snowballs will begin to cool, so repeat coating them until they are covered completely and no brown of the cookie dough can be seen.

Serve and enjoy!

*Notes*

If you choose to use sweetened chocolate, reduce the sugar to 1/4 c and taste test before baking. For a sweeter treat, keep the same amount of sugar with sweetened chocolate.

Between 1/4 c and 1/3 c of finely shredded coconut can also be stirred into the mixture right before forming the snowballs for a crunchier texture, however after baking the coconut might suck some of the moisture.

The Bar of Bliss

Like rolling the tapes of a movie, or repeating the lyrics of a song in your head until the words melt together and the meaning becomes indecipherable, I've been going over this post, trying to come up with phrases and anecdotes, clever similes and descriptions.

Lost in the wordplay instead of finding the meaning, I've convoluted my metaphors. It's messy.

So instead I sat down and closed my eyes, and to conjure up the perfect place - a peaceful scene in my mind - to banish worries from my mind. You know, like one of those places the instructor will tell you to imagine in relaxation sessions, or classes at school, which I often scoffed at, and instead made to-do lists in my head while I pretended to participate with eyes closed.

So here goes;

A large, muffled robin-egg-blue house, with a wrap around deck sits amid a golden landscape, awash in the afternoon sun. It's not new, although nor is it shabby. It's well maintained and the wood of it's structure still remains intact. All around this house span fields of tall grasses, bending to the movement of the warm breeze; summertime. Bay windows expand across one side of the house and inside comfortable, fluffy cushions of warm colours are arranged neatly along the window seat. From a seat there one can view the large oak tree situated outside, with the leaves that remain green this time of year.

Many have climbed its large, rippled trunk and the thick, supporting branches that lend themselves to be perches for kids, birds and cats; notched and pock marked from the joyous escapades to its heights, letters and signatures dot the lower branches. Hanging from the thickest of them all is a faded yellow rope with knots tangled and gnarled into inconceivable shapes, and an old pickup truck tire that sways gently at the end. The tire appears worn, with edges smoothed, from those who have played and flown through the air while watchful mothers peered over steaming mugs of freshly brewed chai teas out of the bay windows: a portal to the fleeting movements of children's lives.

The aroma that seeps from teapots encompasses the interior of the house, a welcoming and comforting scent which resides, the spices a tender nudge to the senses upon entering through the dark blue front door, decorated with a large stain glass window down the length of it.

The breeze outside softens the intensity of the hot sun, but remains so gentle as to not move dust from the winding dirt driveway down to the distant main road, and give dance to the long grasses in the rolling hills. It plays tricks on my hair, which flows out behind as I run and jump and play in the expanse of never ending fields. Untouched by anxieties and fears, this is freedom.

The soft tendrils of the grass playfully lap at my skin, nudging my senses, tickling. My dog runs alongside in a joyous oasis while sniffing the smells carried by the wind and excited by my own personal happiness.

I remember the quaint oak table inside, with the delicate setting of a white table cloth that hosts afternoon tea and freshly baked brownies, still warm from the oven, and all prepared tastefully before my return from checking on my horse just up the hill from the house.

The barn, classically painted a deep red with white trim just last summer, houses a beautiful thoroughbred mare that awaits outside in his paddock; a strong stature and watchful gaze greet me, followed by the nodding of his head to my offering of an apple, picked a few moments ago. His coat glistens a rich brown in the sun, and he trots closer in anticipation, excitement, sniffing. Three black socks mark his legs, the front left an astonishing white. Tomorrow we will ride.

Another adventure, another carefree day will ensue, and peace always remains in reach.

Gluten-Free Brownie Bliss Bars
Print Recipe.

Ever just crave chocolate? I know I do. Often. These bars, creamy, rich, and perfectly chocolate, are an excellent after dinner treat served with vanilla ice cream, or as a sweet treat to a long day!

Baked with love, and baked in just a short time, these can be enjoyed anytime!

For best results, allow the brownies to cool at least 15 minutes before removing from the pan, and then let them cool completely on a rack before cutting. This will prevent them from crumbling, but if you can't wait, they can be eaten straight from the pan with a spoon. (Which will probably be me, so don't be shy!)

The best gluten-free brownies... Moist and delicious!

Makes 16 square brownies.

Ingredients

1 c brown sugar
1/2 c butter, or Earth Balance
1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 c 100% cocoa powder

3 eggs

3/4 c Nana's Gluten-Free Flour Mix
1 tsp baking powder

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tbsp tepid water

Directions

Grease an 8" square baking pan with butter and preheat the oven to 350°F.

Melt the butter, sugar and salt together in a bowl. If melting on the stove top, combine ingredients in a bowl and place over a pot of simmering water, stir frequently until butter and sugar melt together. For a faster method, place ingredients in a microwaveable bowl and cook on high for 1 minute.

Stir well and add the vanilla extract and cocoa powder.

In a smaller bowl, beat together all the eggs before adding. Beat rapidly to remove any lumps and until the mixture looks shiny and smooth.

Blend in flour mix and baking powder, and slowly fold in chocolate chips.

Pour mixture into the baking pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle 1 tbsp water over, and place in the oven.

Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until an inserted knife from the center comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and allow the brownies to cool for 15 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Cut into squares once completely cool.

Just A Simple Thing

I just don't have enough time in the day to cook, that is, unless you count chemistry as cooking. I mean, it's combining ingredients to form something new right?

Which leads me to wonder about what actually happens when the cake is in the oven, or when the baking soda ("Not a milliliter over one teaspoon!") is added to the batter. This chemical reaction is so unknown to me when encased and hidden in a well-greased baking pan and surrounded by 350°F heat I can't venture into without my trusty mittens.

I've had many failures cooking gluten-free lately, especially with the breads when I replace eggs with flax or don't add enough liquid. My chemical reaction is imbalanced. Before the mixture goes into the oven, it seems moist enough (often, too moist), and I think,

"Yes! This is it! It will definitely work!"

But I've learned my lesson: let the batter sit for a while to see whether it is affected by the humidity of the air, and therefor whether it requires more liquid. (You may want to try this, and perhaps it won't even be necessary as the air becomes more humid this fall.)

These gluten-free attempts, not failures simply because I in fact learn from them every time, are probably the most frustrating thing when I bake with the purposes of indulging in my hard work. I crave something sweet RIGHT NOW.

I have this image in my mind of sitting down in a big lounger chair, with the sun streaming through the windows and warming me up while I hold onto a large cup of steaming hot tea. I imagine enjoying a freshly baked piece of gluten-free zucchini loaf in a few moments; expecting to see a baked-to-perfection loaf sitting well-risen in the oven when I open the door, I am disappointed to see only a depleted center. It hasn't risen. It's still crumbly. And I'm exhausted from all the effort.

A lot of my energy has gone into the kitchen recently, cooking as well as cleaning my dirty mixing bowls and sticky measuring spoons, causing me to rethink my usual approach to baking, which formerly began with,

"What's the most difficult thing I can attempt today?"

Because with regular flour it was pretty easy to pull off something gone manic even if it didn't go so well. And it always ended up tasting good.

That's so not the case anymore.

Some flours taste weird... Like vegetables. And as much as the U.S. Congress tries to fight it, pizza still isn't a vegetable, even if my dough tastes like snap peas.

So I decided today I would treat myself to something easily home-baked.

I needed to unwind from my busy days at school, and to relax a bit before sitting down and starting on the continually growing pile of homework. And I'm sure I de-stress the best with a little chocolate in my system.

So I set about finding something amongst our ingredients to make something simple and quick, containing pure enjoyment with each and every bite.

They're delicate, decadent, and desirable.

Ginger Coconut Cranberry Chocolate Clusters
Click here for printable version.

Because these are so quick, they're a perfect go-to treat for guests, family or yourself when craving chocolate!

When setting, these clusters require some space in the fridge, so if it's packed from your latest trip to the grocery, I would recommend clearing a shelf (or half) before you carry your laden tray to the open door and attempt to clear a space with one hand! (And nearly drop all of your little clusters on the floor, to the dog's delight!)

Ingredients

225g dark or milk chocolate chips (depending on your preference of sweetness)

1 c shredded coconut

3/4 c chopped dried cranberries
3/4 c chopped candied ginger

Directions

In a medium size bowl over a pan of simmering water, pour in the chocolate chips until they heat and begin to melt. As the chocolate melts, begin to stir more frequently until it is completely smooth.

While the chocolate melts, line a large baking sheet with parchment, and set aside.

Add in the coconut, mixing in before stirring in the chopped cranberries and ginger.

Once all ingredients are mixed together, drop the mixture onto the baking sheet by using a spoon.

Transfer the sheet to the fridge, and allow the chocolate to cool and harden. (Approximately 30 minutes)

Makes about 18 small clusters

 Next time, I will definitely try different flavors of chocolate. Especially the ones that come around Christmas time: Chai? Mint? Sea salt or caramel? Let me know any other combinations you try!