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Free from: gluten, grain, dairy, eggs, soy, & nuts!

All May long, we’re going "against the grain" to gain insight into how simple grain free baking can be!  

Last week, we satisfied our munchies with my amazingly simple and delish Grain Free Gluten Free "Pot" Brownies. This week I have another sweet treat to share just in time for Mother's Day!

My Chocolate Covered Grain Free Gluten Free (Oven Free!) Sunbutter Bites are special enough to fill a candy box tied up with a pretty bow for Mom to show her how much you care!

In fact, this recipe is so incredibly easy and FUN to make, you'll want to keep it near the front of your recipe box to use any time you want to share a sweet gift from your kitchen. (We don't even need to turn on the oven for these!!)

Of course, once you try one of these decadent little bites, you might just decide to double the recipe and make extras to nibble on for yourself (I know I do!).

And that's a-OK because these decadent candy bites are free of the most common "Big 8" food allergens as well as gluten free and grain free!! That means nearly everyone can enjoy them! 

Now, let's get that recipe and get in the kitchen!

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Gluten Free Grain Free Brownies
Brace yourself for an action-packed, information-filled month here at GlutenFreeGigi.com!
 
I don’t think we’ve ever had so much fresh, exciting, new, and useful content packed into only a few short weeks!

Take a look what I’ve got in store for you...  Be sure to mark these important dates on your calendar so you don’t miss a thing! Then we'll get to today’s stellar grain free recipe! (To learn more about grain free, don't miss the "A Side of Science" article I wrote discussing the topic here.)

Beginning today, and all month long on Tuesdays, we’re going "against the grain" to gain insight into how simple grain free baking can be! Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking you can’t have your favorite foods if grains are off the menu!
 
Overcomplicated recipes and long ingredients lists are not necessary when cooking grain free. We can enjoy all the foods we love - grain free! - using a few simple tips, tricks (and even some secrets!) I know. I’m going to share them with you this month... It's my May treat for you!

May is also Celiac Awareness Month. Every Thursday in May my “A Side of Science” articles will focus directly on some aspect of Celiac disease (CD). My goal is to raise as much awareness as possible this month by providing science-backed, unbiased information about living with CD you can immediately use to enhance your wellness.

In fact, I’d love it if you would join me in increasing CD awareness by sharing each “A Side of Science” post during the month of May on your Facebook page, via Twitter, or even on your own website if you have one. The more we spread the word, the more people we can educate about CD and living gluten free. That helps everyone, so let’s do it!!!

Also, mark your calendar for Food Allergy Awareness Week May 13-19. Many of you, like me, live with multiple food allergies, so again, let’s work together to share information and ideas about food allergy awareness, especially during this week.

Raising awareness is particularly critical for those of us with children on special diets due to a food allergy. I understand that because I live it every day in my own home with my own child.
 
On May 23rd and 24th I am personally presenting, as part of my ongoing monthly webinars, unique information in a comprehensive discussion on children with food allergies that could literally save your child’s life!
 
I’ll be sharing more details and registration information soon, but save those dates because this webinar is guaranteed to sell out early and it will not be offered again!

Now... on to this week's recipe!
 
I promised delish grain free dishes all May long and this first recipe will not disappoint. My Gluten Free Grain Free “Pot” Brownies take gluten free, grain fee eating to an all time high! 

Even if you aren't grain free, trust me, you will want to keep this recipe handy! It is simply that good.
 
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Some say LOVE is all you need...
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CLICK IMAGE for Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake recipe

I say gluten free CAKE is important, too! Try my Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake, or how about...
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CLICK IMAGE for Gluten Free Coconut Cake Recipe
this gorgeous Chocolate Glazed Gluten Free Coconut Cake?
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CLICK IMAGE for Gluten Free Jelly Doughnut Muffins recipes



Or maybe you'd rather have Gluten Free Jelly Doughnut Muffins!

But let's not stop here... there's much, much more...
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Whatever, Debbie! Gluten Free Gigi's Oatmeal Cream Extreme Pies


I never really thought hers were very tasty. They were sweet, soft, chewy... almost gooey in the center. But they lacked chocolate. I always wondered about that Debbie, not wanting chocolate in her oatmeal cream pies. Didn't you??


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Fudge-y filling spread onto each cookie before adding the marshmallow creme is essential!


I've never missed those cellophane-wrapped cakes, but one evening Little Chef and I were in the kitchen (always!) chattering away (always!) about food. Our topic: Snacks from my childhood versus those she eats. How times have changed!

You see, Little Chef doesn't really know Little Debbie all that well. Even before I went gluten free, Debbie was rarely invited to our house.


So, in our kitchen chatter, I told Little Chef how, when I was a child, everyone seemed to have a cupboard full of boxes with that rosy-cheeked girl smiling out at you. 

I could tell she was imagining how delicious those sugar-y treats really are. You know, there is huge kid-appeal in the box alone, not to mention how attractive they make the cakes look with all that waxy "chocolate" and those funky shapes. 

I told her they really aren't that good. 

"But didn't you eat them when you were a kid?" she wasn't buying it. 

"Yes, but... I didn't really like them. They were just there," it was true.

I told her if I had been Little Debbie, I'd make something extreme, something magnificent, something with chocolate that was brimming with so much sweet filling no cellophane wrapper could contain it!

She turned on the oven and said, "I'll help you."

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gluten free cake, GFCF Diet, gluten free dairy free cake, gluten free birthday cake recipes, gluten free cake recipes
Have your (gluten free) cake and eat it, too! My Little Chef made those candy hearts and shared some to accent my cake! Love!

February. Hearts, flowers...LOVE! Don’t you feel it in the air?? I do! 

I’m sharing the love with YOU all month long with 4 more weeks of all-new heavenly gluten free recipes and information. I want to help you love and appreciate your gluten free lifestyle more each and every day!


You know by now there’s more to special diets here at GlutenFreeGigi.com than simply omitting an offending food. Just as I did before eliminating gluten (and dairy, soy, and nuts) from my diet, I continue to take a "lifestyle" approach to health, focusing on nutrition as fundamental to long-term wellness. 

That doesn't mean there isn't room for favorite foods like cake! Foods we love need not be left behind, even on our healthy gluten free diet. 

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Homemade Chocolate Chunks are gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, vegan, and delish!


These chocolate chunks are made with Valrhona dark cocoa. Use any cocoa (or raw cacao, if you prefer) to make your own chocolate chunks. 

You will find these chunks are terrific on their own or in a snack mix; however, they do melt more than "traditional" store-bought chunks or chocolate chips. These contain only 4 ingredients and do not use an emulsifier like soy lecithin (read about soy lecithin here). You could add one if you like. 

To show you how these look in a baked product, here's a picture of muffins I made with these chunks. When the muffins are still hot, the chunks are near liquid. Allowing the muffins (or cookies or other baked goods where you use these chunks) to cool completely will result in a solidified bit of chocolate again. 


I love the natural flavor of these chocolate chunks and knowing exactly what is in them. It's also nice to know you'll never run out of chocolate pieces when you get the desire to make your favorite baked treat! 

Enjoy!

Homemade Chocolate Chunks
Gluten Free, Vegan, Soy Free, Nut Free

6 Tablespoons good quality unsweetened cocoa powder
6 Tablespoons coconut oil that has been gently melted (melt just until it is liquid)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup or other sweetener of your choice*

*Note on sweeteners:
You can use liquid or solid sugars here, such as palm sugar, cane sugar (brown or white), molasses, honey, etc. 

I have not tried stevia (it burns my tongue!), but I feel sure it would work. If you are able to use stevia and try it in this recipe, please share your results in the comments below so everyone can benefit. 

You may want to add more sweetener to your chocolate chunks; I didn't want mine too sweet. Adding a bit more sweetener, up to 4 Tablespoons of maple syrup did not change my final results. 

Combine all ingredients in a glass dish, such as a glass loaf dish. I use one that is 8x4-inches. Stir until everything is mixed well, then chill for about 30-40 minutes, or until the chocolate is solid.

Use a knife to cut into desired size chunks. Scoop out the chunks with a spoon. I start on one corner of the dish and run the tip of my spoon down the side of the dish, all the way around, then scoop out the chunks. You will have some small bits flake away, but mostly the chunks will come out whole. (See my picture above again... I scooped these using this method and put them right on the plate without arranging them at all so you could see exactly what to expect when you make them.)

Store these in a glass jar, tightly covered, in the refrigerator. Enjoy! 

~g~


For even more quick, easy and super-tasy gluten free recipes I've created for you, why not join me in the kitchen?  See how tasty living gluten free can be!

You can even receive every new gluten free recipe right in your inbox each week along with my latest “A Side of Science” articles and exciting special announcements when you SIGN UP for my FREE E-LETTER!   


Let's Connect!

Comments about a specific post or recipe? 
Share it in the “comments” section below!

Questions? 
Check out my ALL NEW FAQs and you might just find your answer!

If not, email me: mailbox (at) glutenfreegigi (dot) com. 

I’m always happy to hear from you, but need to ask for your understanding and patience when it comes to responding. I receive lots of email these days, which I love, but it does make it more challenging to respond to each one. I answer as many of your questions as possible in my How-To videos and posts so everyone can benefit. Keep watching my videos and website for my answer to YOUR question! 

Follow Along...
on Twitter and "Like" my Facebook page! 

You can also check out my boards on Pinterest and find out what I’m posting on Google+! 

These are places I like to go have fun and share what’s going on in the Gluten Free Test Kitchen and in my home kitchen, too! 

I love following you, too! Make sure you let me know you’re out there!   

~g~
Thank you for taking time to visit! Come back often for my weekly recipe and how-to video posts on Tuesdays and informative "A Side of Science" articles on Thursdays. 

Remember, my mission here at GlutenFreeGigi.com is to share my experience and knowledge to help you navigate your gluten free life with ease and confidence because I understand how challenging it can be!

I’m excited to have YOU here!

Thank you for sharing the journey!

xo,

Gluten Free Gigi   
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Simple & naturally gluten free~homemade Sunbutter with an Apple: Great reNEWal snack!

What an exciting time of year! Crisp, invigorating air fills our lungs, while the spirit of the holidays lingers to warm us. 

Now is when many of us resolve to approach the fresh New Year with a plan for improving our overall well being! 

That's why all January long, as promised, each post here at GlutenFreeGigi.com will focus on our 5-week plan of life-balancing reNEWal! 

An extreme "whole new you" approach feels a bit overwhelming to me. Instead, I focus on balanced healthy living all year. I know you want to do that, too.
 
I also understand it can be difficult to stay on track when life gets hectic. Often, just getting started can pose a challenge. I'm here to help and keep it simple!

In coming weeks, I'll show you easy ways we can pay attention to our health, take time to restore our energy, and fire up our metabolism! We will move toward wellness through balance, with a focus on the foods we eat and staying healthy on our gluten free (or other "free") diet. 

I've experienced first-hand the positive power food can have on our bodies. Over 4 years ago, by making what turned out to be simple changes in what I was eating, I experienced a transformation of health so phenomenal it completely changed my life! This drastic improvement in my overall well-being due to simply changing my diet is why I started GlutenFreeGigi.com. It is my mission to share with others how simple achieving optimal health through diet can be . 

I hope you'll join me here all month long! I can't wait to reNEW with YOU! 

Have a look at what I've got for you this week...
6 Comments
 
 
I know you wonder at some point what you can do about holiday indulging. I do too! I certainly enjoy my share of sweet treats this time of year. Sometimes, with even a hint of guilt afterward!

You know that “morning after” feeling (not that morning after feeling, the other one!)... Lying there in bed wondering why you ate a second slab of Aunt Ida’s fruitcake, wondering how you’ll fit into that festive frock for the next party.

Work with me here, fellas. Even if you’re not wearing a festive frock, you know what I mean. You don’t exactly want to let that belt out a notch during this “Season of Eats” either!

It’s enough to stress a girl (or guy) out, and that’s before you consider all the other seasonal stressors we face.

But what if indulging in a favorite treat could actually reduce stress AND be healthy? Chocolate lovers, I have great news. It's almost as good as a visit from jolly old St. Nick...

5 Comments
 
 
gluten free nut free dairy free candy
Simple gluten free candy anyone can make! You can make it nut free dairy free & soy free too!

There's always room for an extra gluten free treat during the holidays! 

For the next several weeks on Sunday, I'll share a special Christmas yummy my family enjoys making during this festive time. 

Of course, all these treats will be gluten free. I'll provide alternative ingredients for other food sensitivities and allergies when possible. 

This week's treat is simple, affordable, and fun for the kids, so turn up those Christmas carols, light the tree, and come join me in the Christmas kitchen... We're making Gluten Free Butter Cups Candy!

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For all of us on a special diet due to a food allergy, here’s the latest from Gluten Free Gigi’s gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free recipe box!

This week’s How-To videos (click to view):
- Beet-iful Cupcakes (No refined sugar, Vegetarian/Vegan option)
- Chocolate Coconut Banana Bread (Vegan)
- Decadent Fudge (Vegan)


~g~

This week, we wrap up our series of my favorite gluten free Top 12 Recipes for Special Diets from Year One. This trio, each with an easy-to-follow How-To video, is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!

I’m giving you a taste of the sweet life with simple, affordable treats that are ideal for those of us on a special diet due to a food allergy! As an added bonus, all of these recipes are vegan-friendly!

Take a look at our first dish...

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