Gluten Free and Dairy Free Cookies

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

 السلام عليكم

I'm sorry - I haven't been online for a very long time. The issue is, I didn't know what exactly to write about, but now I have three ideas I can write about.

Today I am going to write about two, but as for the third idea, I will just suggest it. Whoever wants to do it can put a comment. Anyway, I will do it later inshaa Allaah.

Now before I start, I will just share some pictures of the Hills in Katara. If you haven't been there yet, I suggest you go there! Yes, it is hot, but the particular day we went - Friday - wasn't so hot. We also went at 5.00 PM, which yet it was sunny! It was SO beautiful. Though... I meant to take a few flowers and a stick so that I could photograph it, but Qadarallaah I wasn't prepared for it. Next time inshaa Allaah, I will take a freezer bag or box and keep my treasures!

Ummi.

The last three pictures are by little Ramlah!

Which one is your favourite?

Let's turn the page... and start on...

GLUTEN-FREE & LACTOSE-FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!

So. You know, it's pretty hard to find a good chocolate chip cookie recipe that actually is tasty AND gluten-free and dairy-free (lactose-free).

If you are looking for a NON-gluten and lactose-free recipe, I suggest you check out this post.

I adapted Betty Crocker's Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies and made it into a GF and LF recipe, and added a few ingredients.

Do you know anyone who can't eat anything gluten or lactose? Give them a treat and make them happy, inshaa Allaah.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups Gluten-free flour (you can look for a flour that has Xanthan gum)
1/2 tsp (and a pinch more) Xanthan Gum (if your flour has it already, omit this)
100 grams Pure Live Free Sunflower Spread, softened
10 oz Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips (also, any brand of chocolate chips that is lactose-free)
1 tsp Baking Soda (NOT baking powder)
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract (you can also use Vanilla essence)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp Mountain Honey
1 cup nuts (I left it out because the person I was adapting the recipe for didn't like nuts in cookies - who likes it when you can have more chocolate chips???)

You already have most of these ingredients - baking soda, vanilla, sugar (both sugars), eggs, salt, honey and maybe you even have the flour!

Method:

1
Heat oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, mix flour, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt; set aside.
2
In a large bowl, beat sunflower spread, honey, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with electric mixer on medium speed or mix with spoon about ten seconds minute or until just blended, scraping the side of the bowl occasionally.
3
Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Stir in flour mixture just until blended (dough will be stiff and soft). You can use your hands (coated in flour and clean) for this step. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Remember, the nuts are optional.
4
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls (or teaspoon shaped balls) about 2 inches apart onto parchment paper on a cookie sheet or grill.
5
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown (centres will be soft). Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to airtight container. The cookies will be hot and the bottoms soft. If the bottoms don't appear cooked, don't worry, just let the cookies cool on the pan/grill for half a minute longer.


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And that is how I make my cookies extra soft and very very very melt-in-your-mouth. There is actually not much of a difference between the gluten cookies and these.

Same melt-in-your-mouth texture, slightly crispy edges, real soft centres and not really chewy. It's the perfect cookie (unless you love chewy). And even if you like chewy cookies, you could try this cookie for a change. And if you aren't gluten-free or dairy-free, then you should try the other version of it here.

So, you know about two ideas... and what about the third idea?

I thought of having a poetry competition... and some people don't like poetry. To solve that... I also thought of having a joint competition - poetry and art. You could submit both, too. It wouldn't be fair not to have ONLY a poetry competition.

I have not decided on the rules yet, but I will soon. Let me know in the comments below the date I should start the competition, the deadline... and the rules if you like. Oh and one rule I can think of... the whole family can participate, as of the previous years' contests.


Today, I am going to try another recipe inshaa Allaah. Yup, it's a sweet dessert. I did my savoury dinner yesterday. And I will share it with you inshaa Allaah!

One more thing. What have you been doing to prepare yourself for the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah?

Maimoonah