Lemon Bars - gluten free dessert

 Earlier this year family we had family in town to see a Community Theater performance that my daughter was in. They came to the house for pre-show dinner, and my niece made lemon bars.

Now my daughter loves all things lemon.... Ices, sherbert, ice cream, cookies, pie, pudding, you name it - if it's a sweet treat and it has lemon, she is all over it.  She was so into the lemon bars I was afraid she would miss her curtain call. But, we jumped in the car in the nick of time, with lemon bar number 3 tucked in a little dish for her intermission snack.

Since everyone was enjoying them as much as her we had precious little leftover. We baked another batch ourselves before the week was out.  I even made it in a pie dish a few months later for PI day at school.  Such a delicious buttery shortbread crust and creamy lemon custard - there was none left over that day!

It's an simple recipe to adapt to Gluten-free, just sub your favorite GF flour. It is especially easy if you have a baking partner - while one zests and juices the lemons, the other is mixing the batter. 

We used The Pioneer Woman's recipe but there are ton of recipes out there (all quite similar) and I highly recommend trying one.  The lemon bars are very much a crowd pleaser!


You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

Jamaican patties - Gluten Free baking

Jamaican Patties.
My Caribbean born husband's all-time favorite!
But, that gluten-filled flaky pastry - my nemesis as it crumbles and falls everywhere. Everywhere.
I freak out when they are in my house as it will mean diligence, and cleaning and an unsafe kitchen. It totally stresses me out. Then it puts a strain on us.  Not a good scene.

But still, Jamaican Patties.
 
So I finally put my fear aside and tried my hand at them. Full disclaimer I have always lived in fear of baking anything that is billed as PASTRY. Sounds like something for a much more seasoned, experienced baker. Not me.  I prefer boxed mixes so I can't mess up. Baking has always been a little scary for me. It's like magic and I didn't get the wand, or the spell.

Last week I was feeling daring so I decided to make a pan of Jamaican beef and intended to bake biscuits to serve with the beef, and a salad. Drop biscuits I kinda have down pat. (using Pamela's GF pancake mix)

I suppose I was feeling more daring than I even thought and on a whim started the pastry! Yes. Pastry! 
They would win no awards for visual presentation - they were very haphazard looking, let's say. I will need to practice a bit (or a lot) and make them a few times to improve the shape and folding, and cute fork lines around the edges (love those cute fork lines!)

But, the taste - the taste was incredible!!  
My St Thomas husband said that I nailed it!  My (gluten-free) daughter who has been desperately missing patties ate a few bites, stopped, breathed and said "and then the angels sang"
That my friends, was the best review I have ever gotten, for anything!!

I used this recipe from Food.com and I used GF baking mix from Aldi, even though the recipe calls for flour.  And, this is why I haven't been given a magic baking wand - I am always kind of flying by the seat of my pants! 


 

If you enjoy my art you can find more in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

A Gluten Free Blessing for the New Year

A New Year, a fresh start, lots of good intentions... let's get things off to a positive start!  Even with the New Year, resolutions and big plans it is easy to get derailed. Slip, slide and then your well-meaning resolutions become a distant memory.
But every day, every meal is an opportunity for change, and for making the best choices for your health and well being.

To help you stay positive and stay on track I am sharing my Gluten Free Blessing. It is my New Year's gift to you... download a FREE print... for you, for a friend, for a loved one! Whether you are just starting your GF journey, or a veteran of negotiating labels and hidden ingredients... this Blessing is for everyone.  
It is formatted to fit in an 8x10 frame or 8x10 mat opening.

Wishing everyone a Happy & HEALTHY New Year and a beautiful Gluten Free journey!

Live Love Laugh Bake!

I have wonderful memories of baking while growing up.  My father loved to bake, he still does. In High School, and when I visited on weekends while in college, Sunday mornings usually began with fresh baked muffins. What a beautiful thing to wake up to!  I would rush into the kitchen hoping they were still warm from the oven so the butter would get all soft and melty.

Live Love Laugh Bake, watercolor & ink, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

My Dad was always experimenting and using whatever he had on hand to add to the muffins... zucchini, carrots, ripe bananas.  We never knew what we would get but they were always so delicious.  Such a happy way to start the day, quietly chatting over warm muffins.

Dad was always the Baker in the house especially for the holidays but when my Mom was ill and rapidly losing weight his baking became a staple in the house. He was always baking something special for her. Especially cream puffs, my Mother's favorite! He baked them in hopes she would or could eat them and put on weight. And I think he hoped, that by eating them, somehow she could be saved.  
He baked love and hope and tenderness into those cream puffs, cupcakes and treats. It was love made tangible and edible.  He baked them full of love and joy.  
And hope. 
Lots and lots of hope.  
And even as the cancer ravaged her digestive system and he knew it couldn't save her, he still baked for her. And it was always joyous, festive and filled with love.

We all enjoyed those delicious moments and many are still crystal  clear even after over 30 years.

After Mom passed, Dad continued to bake muffins every weekend for whomever was home that weekend (we were all in college) and the smell, the taste, the heat, the bonding... over melting butter was a moment of sweet happiness to be deeply appreciated. 
All the more as those moments could be found even in all the grief.

What I learned from it was to...

Live fully

Love deeply

Laugh heartily 

Bake often. 

Bake with Joy, Love and Hope.

And to treasure all the sweet moments.  

Since I'd rather be sketching or painting I tend to use mixes or at least baking mixes and here are some GF mixes and flours I have used with excellent results:
Glutino
King Arthur GF Baking Mix
Betty Crocker baking mixes and Bisquick


For a free pdf printable of my Gluten Free Blessing click here