Flying Apron Baking Book

Click here to find it on Amazon

I had my birthday last week and  one of my gifts was The Gluten Free & Vegan Baking Book.  I am not vegan but definitely gluten free so was delighted with this.  Now, it has to said before I go any further, if you are in the UK like myself, some of the ingredients are a bit alien.  More about that in a bit.  The concepts used in this book are also somewhat different to the norm.  It is a delightful book. I can honestly say, I have never had my nose in a cook book for so long. I just cant leave it alone.  Never have I read all the forewords and blurb at the back before, but this one I definitely have.  It is going to take some experimentation, but I shall not be defeated.  I have had a couple of failures, but know what is wrong with one, if not the other.  I have had a good outcome with today's recipe and the look of glee on my taste tester sons face summed it up for me.  Any recipe book that can produce a cookie that is much healthier and still makes him smile like that has to be good.

These photos are of the Chocolate Chip Cookies I made from the book.  I have to tell you, I did not use rice milk because I am not vegan, but ordinary semi skimmed.  Also the chocolate was not dairy free etc but none of these things I think would affect the finished result.  Also, you may notice I made some,  double chocolate ones too.  After the plain ones went in I added about an ounce of cocoa and about 2 tablespoons of water as cocoa really dries mixtures out.  This I am pleased to report was also a success but not in the book.
Some ingredients that are called something else in the UK

Garbanzo bean flour  = Gram flour, made from chick peas, like we use for bhajis.  I cant call it gram flour any more now. Garbanzo is such a good word!

Fava bean flour = broad bean flour (I haven't found that here yet)

Canola Oil  = rapeseed oil which is usually listed as vegetable oil here ( look on the back).  That said, I believe sunflower would be fine too.

Stevia = this is a plant based sweetener, also hard to find her.  Research suggest that a similar plant based sweetener called zylitol or xlitol would be a good substitute.  Both warn against using too much, as it can cause a laxative effect in large amounts.

Baking soda.  You prob know this one, but that's bicarbonate of soda, just in case.

That's what I found so far. Will update this list as I go along.

Another Dolly

Phew, its been a whirlwind couple of weeks with lots of work and family stuff going on, I haven't had a chance to blog even a little bit.  I haven't been near my sewing machine all week until yesterday. There has been some knitting going on in the evenings and I have a couple of items almost done but not quite.  Today I did put the finishing touches on my latest rag doll.  She is all kitted out in  a strawberry themed outfit. I love strawberries both the actual thing and the imagery.  Anyhoo, here is Jessica. If you get frustrated with dolls often being caucasian, she may be just what you are looking for.

I have also been a bit distracted by something exciting this weekend but I dare not say, in case it doesn't work out. Keep you posted if it does.

BTW, I am trialling amazon associates. I have shied away from this in the past, but I dont think its too intrusive.  Any books you see here via that facility, are books I truly believe are worth having either because I have them or are firmly on my own wish list.  Todays, I have to say, was possibly the most moving, addictive and poignant novel I have ever read, and that is saying something.