How to Keep Chill: Karina's Best Frozen Treats

Karina's Best Dairy-Free Vegan 'Ice Cream' Recipes

The Big Chill

Our move to the Pacific Northwest has been a looping, crooked road. We've been gypsies for so long now our empty nester's walkabout feels like one epic morning-after flashback. From Cape Cod to Santa Fe, from West Hollywood to the Berkshire foothills, we've crisscrossed the country twice, renting a different space each year- for seven years. We built fires in the kiva of a snowed in adobe casita, listening to coyotes beneath the deepest, darkest, star studded sky. We've gone urban and modern in a glassy fourth floor loft, and budget friendly practical in a murky, cheap, fifties apartment with no laundry onsite. We spent a windy, salty year on Redondo Beach, and a wildly creative nine months in an 1840's New England carriage house with the biggest, brightest art studio I've ever had the pleasure to paint in (the bizarre, off kilter landlord is another story).

Along the way I've shed outdated things- furniture, frocks, and too many books, old assumptions, outgrown needs. And I got older (who has not?). My fifties are officially over. I turned the milestone of sixty here in Portland, and marked the occasion with grilled salmon, a fire pit, toasted marshmallows and dark chocolate.

There is more to the story of course (isn't there, always?). But I will leave you with recipes today, rather than exposition. Just know that magic is alive, in spite of evidence to the contrary. In spite of the sad, dark nature of things. In spite of the awful, awful news and Internet idiocy. Life is surprising. And sly. And yes. Full of magic.

When you least expect it.



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Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins - Almond Flour

Tender almond flour muffins bursting with fresh blueberries.

Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin Recipe with Almond Flour

Originally published July 2010.

I used Bob's Red Mill Almond Flour in this new muffin recipe. Finely ground almonds create a delicate, soft gluten-free flour that is light and subtly sweet.

First: 

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line a 12-muffin tin with paper liners.

Ingredients:

Whisk together:

1 1/3 cups almond meal
1 cup sorghum flour or certified GF oat flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch or potato starch (not potato flour)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
2 teaspoons Bourbon vanilla extract

Beat in:

1 1/3 cups organic light brown sugar
2 tablespoons light olive oil
1 tablespoon Ener-G Egg Replacer whisked with 1/4 cup warm water till frothy
1/2 cup warm water, more as needed, up to 3/4 cup
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Beat the batter until it is smooth, like a slightly thickened cake batter. I found this batter a bit thinner than I'm used to (I haven't baked with almond flour in several years).

Add in:

1 pint fresh blueberries, washed and patted dry

Stir gently and briefly.

Baking instructions:

Plop the blueberry muffin batter into the twelve lined cups. You'll probably have some xtra- for a baker's dozen. We made tiny mini-muffins with our extra better. Too cute.

Bake in the center of a preheated oven for 23 to 25 minutes, until golden and firm to the touch. A wooden pick inserted into the center should emerge clean.

Cool the muffin pan on a wire rack for five minutes. Gently pop the muffins out to continue cooling on the rack (don't cool them in the hot pan- they'll get soggy).

If by some chance, Babycakes, your muffins are soggy or slightly underdone-- due to unforeseen oven temperature variations-- place them back into the warm oven directly on the center rack for five minutes or so.

These are simply divine warm from the oven. 

Enjoy every bite.

Wrap and freeze cooled muffins for future breakfast treats.

Makes a baker's dozen.

Recipe Source: glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com

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Karina's notes:

If you prefer using eggs in your gluten-free baking, I recommend using two to three organic free-range eggs in this recipe.

*As always, follow your own doctor's medical advice regarding food allergies. Consult with her/him before even contemplating a food challenge- and obviously do not attempt a food challenge without medical advice and supervision.

Gluten-free blueberry muffins. Um. Yes.

Summer Recipes for a Gluten-Free Diet

Cook Up a Gluten-Free Wheat-Free Summer

Make your gluten-free diet fresh, fast, and light. These hand-picked Gluten-Free Goddess® recipes celebrate the abundance of local ingredients and garden-glorious taste. Kick up your warm weather meals with local fresh herbs, tender greens, lime infused guacamole,  protein rich hummus, and bright basil pesto. Simple grilled fish, colorful stir-fries, and brilliant quinoa salads  make for light and easy meals, perfect for picnic style get-togethers. Strawberries, blueberries and peaches inspire easy crisps and cobblers, cakes, muffins, and dairy-free ice creams everyone will enjoy. Eating gluten-free and wheat-free couldn't be simpler. 

Or more fabulous.

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