My First Gluten Free Christmas Part 2

Welcome back to part 2 of my drama entitled "My First Gluten Free Christmas." Staring Carol Fleisher and family. Okay, Okay, enough with the theatrics-I'm getting back to the story. :)
In part one I told you all the yummy gluten free goodies I made for Christmas. Now I am going to tell you how my Christmas went.
On Christmas Eve, Matt and I went to the annual Christmas Eve service. It was very windy outside with +20 mph wind and very cold!  It was so good to see everyone there and to wish them a Merry Christmas. I especially love the end of the service. We turned off all the lights in the church and began singing Silent Night. First we sang it in English then German and finally in Spanish. I got goose bumps just hearing everyone worship in the different languages. It reminds me that one day we will all be singing and worshiping (every tribe, tongue, and nation) around the His throne!
After that we came home and exchanged gifts since we were headed out of town the next day. It was a very simple, but very appericate gift exchange. I love it when I buy my hubby a present and he has no idea what he's getting. Usually I just buy items off his wish list but ocassionaly I am able to slip one by him!
On Christmas Day, we headed out of town. I was really anxious about this trip. This was the first time we had taken Sophie out of town with us.  For those of you that don't know Sophie is our minature daschund (and our spoiled four legged child). We'll we finally got the car loaded up and hit the road. Sophie hates rididing in the car. She likes to explore and she simply cannot explore while sitting in someone's lap. She likes to let you know that she can't explore too!  Finally, the whinning started to subside as we reached our first destination. On the way to spend Christmas Day with Matt's family, we stopped at our friend Brenda's house.
It was so good to see her. We met her and her family several years ago. Her husband used to work with my husband. They are some of the sweetest, and most compassionate people you have ever met. They are also dog lovers!  Their pomerian, pit bull and lab were all glad to see us as well  and you know that I had to love on all of them. Of course, after Sophie made sure everyone was "ok", she began prancing around like she was the belle of the ball. Soaking up all the attention. It was good to catch up and hang out with everyone.
Well after a little while it was time to get back on our way and before we knew it we were at Matt's aunt and uncle's house. Sophie felt at home at once and began playing with other dogs at the house. Aunt Denise is a wonderful cook. As soon as you open the front door, your nose bombarded with a thousand savory scents. I am very thankful that she has lots of cooking experience and doesn't' mind sharing it with me. I had told her about not being able to eat gluten and she was very accomdating. She encouraged me to bring some gluten free foods to Christmas dinner. She made sure that what she prepared was gluten free-well most of it anyway.  Finally, the rest of Matt's family got there and after a round of photos we ate. People tried my cooking and were very nice. Most of the people there also cooked so I got feed back on what I coked.  I didn't tell them what what I fixed was gluten free I just told them that  I cooked for once!  I wasn't afraid of them know that I couldn't eat gluten. I was more afraid of them not understanding what it was and what it means and that I wouldn't be able to explain it properly. Of course some of things I made didn't turn out quite right but I tried and I learned. Besides what they don't eat I get to take back home with me! :)  I am happy to announce that I didn't eat anything with gluten in it for Christmas dinner! Yeah! :)
Meanwhile outside in the back yard, Sophie is happily playing with the other dogs and trying to figure out how to get out of the fence.

Well that's pretty much what happened for my Christmas. Except I have to tell you what my dear, sweet Sophie did. After dinner Christmas day, Matt and I along with some other members of the family decided  to relax in the hot tub for a little bit. Well, Sophie didn't like this one bit. She started crying inceasently because she could not join us. Next thing I know, I see Sophie up on the side of the hot tub. She had some how mananged to jump up about 4 feet strait off the ground to the top of the hot tub! I couldn't not believe it. I mean I knew she was a good jumper but I didn't realize she could jump like that. After she got up there and saw what the hot tub was she lost interest fast. She absolutely despises water especially if for a split second she thinks she might have to take a bath!

Well that's how my first gluten free Christmas went! I hope your was just was wonderful with many loving memories!

My First Gluten Free Christmas Part 1

Well I did it! I made my first gluten free holiday foods! I here's what I made: Cranberry Cobbler, Surprise (Tortilla Chip) Stuffing, Crestless Coconut Pie, Cinnamon Bun Muffins, and Cheddar Biscuits.
     I started with the stuffing. It was surprisingly easy to make. You just take tortilla chips, and cover them with broth. Then you add whatever "extras" you want too. I added cranberries, celery, onion, and mushrooms.I can't wait to taste it tomorrow over at my in-laws. I hope every one likes it.  Here's a picture of what it looked like when took it out of the oven. Thanks Shirely over glutenfreeeasily.com for the recipe.

After that I decided to some cranberry cobbler. Having been born and raised in the South-I love cobbler! I decided to try agave nectar with this recipie. My hubby bought a huge bottle of agave nectar at one of the local liquor store a while back.  I like it!  It so sweet and I really like the fact that it has a low glycemic index.! :) Things went well tll I put it in the oven. When it was time to take the cobbler  out of the oven it was still runny! Like really runny. So I left it in the oven for an extra 20+ minutes. Finally, it looked like a cobbler. Also, I want to thank ginger lemon girl (http://gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com) for the recipe.

While the cobbler was in the oven cooking, I decided to start on my crestless coconut pie. My hubby loves coconut! He was such a wonderful helper today. He help me cook and even helped me clean up the kitchen afterwords! :) I love you sweetie. Thanks for all your help.

Back ot my pie. I usually tweek recipies after I have made them one or twice. For some strange re ason I decided not to follow the recipie. the recipie (from glutenfreeeasily.com) called for 1 1/2 c. of coconut and since there was only a little bit more of coconut left in the bag I decided to put it in too.  Needless to say, silly me did not think about the pie overflowing. Thankfully I had decided to put a cookie sheet under the pie pan.

 

I made had made cheadder biscuts earlier in the week (this recipie is also from www.glutenfreeeasliy.com). So last but not least, I made Cinammon Bun Muffins. This recipie was from www.elanaspantry.com. I tweeked this one slightly as well. Instead of using almond and coconut flour as the recipie suggested I used a bun mix from Kinnikinnick. I just added all the other ingrediance to the recipie. I don't feel compitent enough in my baking to make my own glutten free mix yet. Oh before I forget I also, subsituted the grapeseed oil for coconut oil. I also decided to put the topping on last. However, after the first dozen. I discovered that they were to dry if you put the icing on after the muffins are done. So I decided to put the icing on before I baked them. Here's a picture of them.

 Hopefully, I have not put you to sleep yet.! :) I just wanted to share with you my advents in gluten baking so far. Read my next blog post to find out how the rest of my Christmas was! :)

Dec 22, 2009

December 22st

FOR TODAY... from Carol's Daybook

Outside my window... rain and cold winds

I am thinking... about my familly. I am sad that I will not get to spend the holidays with them. However, March will be here before I know it! :)

I am thankful for...The Lord and His Mercy and Compassion. And my hubby-he's my best friend and love

I am wearing... jeans, t-shirt, and boots (it's muddy outside!)

I am remembering... all the stuff I still need to do before Christmas

I am going... to get a glass of wine and a bubble bath and relax

I am currently reading...Gone With the Wiind and my new Lutheran Study Bible

I am hoping... for a nice, peaceful, Christ-filled Christmas

On my mind... all the cooking I have to do. I hope everything taste alright. If not I will definitely hear about it from the family.

Noticing that... fear of a situation is getting much smaller as my mind is filled up with Christ and his blessings

Pondering these words...Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about DANCING in the rain during the storm.

From the kitchen... meringe cookies. Mint and celery are in the dehydrator.

Around the house...packing things to go to Matt's family on Christmas Day, wrapping gifts, unpacking and trying to organize things.

One of my favorite things~ Mexican Hot chocolate.
From my picture journal...

Christmas here we come!

Well you remember how I told you I didn't to hot on going gluten free for Thanksgiving. Hopefully I have fixed that problem. I have volunteer to make a lot of the items for our Christmas dinner. I hope this is a good thing! :) No, it will be. I love to cook! Here's what I am making that's gluten free: Cheddar biscuits, stuffing, peppermint meringue cookies, cranberry pie, crust less coconut pie. I also found a Cinnamon roll recipe that I want to try as well. Matt and I started a tradition eating the rolls on Christmas morning before we open gifts. I was afraid that our tradition was in jeopardy when I was diagnosed with celiac disease. I will definitely let you know how everything goes.

Remember Christmas isn't about GETTING but GIVING!

Love, Peace, and Tasty Treats! 

Carol

I can't close without posting my favorite Christmas hymn. I love to sing even if it sound s terrible. God says to make a joyful noise-so I do! :)  Enjoy. May the words touch your heart like they do mine.

Gentle Mary laid her Child lowly in a manger;
There He lay, the undefiled, to the world a Stranger:
Such a Babe in such a place, can He be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race who have found His favor.

Angels sang about His birth; wise men sought and found Him;
Heaven’s star shone brightly forth, glory all around Him:
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, heard the angels singing;
All the plains were lit that night, all the hills were ringing.

Gentle Mary laid her Child lowly in a manger;
He is still the undefiled, but no more a stranger:
Son of God, of humble birth, beautiful the story;
Praise His Name in all the earth, hail the King of glory!