Thursday, November 29, 2012

Vegan Gluten Free Christmas Cookie Recipes

 Vegan & Gluten Free
Christmas Cookies

Gluten Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Gluten Free Dark Gingerbread Cookies
Gluten Free Almond Vanilla Bon Bon Cookies

If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!  
 
I have been busy in the kitchen creating a wide variety of Holiday recipes from Thanksgiving dishes, Breakfasts for a crowd and of course Christmas cookies!  These cookies turned out wonderfully and my family truly enjoyed all of them.   These cookies were all extremely popular when I posted the pictures on facebook and people were begging for the recipes and so I am posting them here on the blog.
I was actually SHOCKED when my husband called the Almond Vanilla Bon Bon cookies:
Chocolate Heaven and said he'd rather eat these than chocolate chip cookies any day!

To a normal person that may not seem like a big deal, but my husband is a Chocolate Chip Cookie Monster through and through!  Nobody messes with his chocolate chip cookies, they have been his favorite dessert for most of the 20 years of I have known him other than maybe a few chocolate cheesecakes that have really won him over so I was very happy with the result of these little cookies!!

I have to admit that I struggle with my addiction to sugar, I know I need to quit eating the stuff and I've come a long way using more brown rice syrup, stevia and natural sweeteners but even still, too much is too much.  However, over the holidays I just enjoy baking and have a wonderful time creating in the kitchen and I just have absolutely no desire to give up on enjoying some of my Christmas candies and cookies!

My kids had so much fun decorating the little gingerbread bears we made!!!
 Hubby was on my Naughty list that night though!

I was busy mixing up this wonderful batch of rich, dark gingerbread and asked him to pick up a few things from the store....including a gingerbread man cookie cutter!   So what happens, 10 minutes later when he gets to the store......He Forgets!  Seriously?  Here I am with this beautiful gingerbread cookie dough and no cookie cutter!

We had to improvise......hearts and cupids....nope......leaves and acorns......not gonna work!!

I do have candy canes and an angel, however the angel has such tiny sections that the cookie dough always tears and they look terrible!  So we finally settled on the teddy bear!  They were little cookies but they were yummy and very cute!

What can I say about chocolate crinkle cookies, they are just YUMMY!  They are my daughters favorite so she was thrilled the night I made them.  I made a small recipe though so there weren't many to go around.  Since I have been making desserts every night I figured I needed to make SMALL batches so nobody end up on a binging frenzy and ends up with a tummy ache!


*** I cannot find the gingerbread recipe!!!   If you want the recipe I will post it as soon as I find it, just post in the comments below to let me know if you want it.  Thanks.

Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Found!!!


This little cookies are very DARK and RICH gingerbread, the flavor is NOT light so be aware of that.  If you want you can reduce the spices if you like more bland gingerbread.  My kids LOVED these and they have sensitive palates.



Gingerbread Cookies
Delicious!  Dark and rich



Almond Vanilla Bon Bon Cookie




Options:

You can add almond extract 
Make orange cookies with 1 tsp. orange zest and 1/2 tsp. orange extract
Make Cherry vanilla add 2/3 c. chopped dried cherries, 1 tsp. cherry extract and make a red cherry icing





Friday, November 23, 2012

Tex-Mex Tempeh Sausage and Hashbrown Bake

Excellent Holiday Brunch Recipe to feed a crowd!


If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   
Rich and creamy Tex-Mex inspired brunch recipe featuring frozen hashbrowns, tempeh sausage, veggies and a delicious nacho cheese to top it all off.  

If you will be having a large gathering of family and friends to feed on a busy morning this brunch recipe is quick, easy and cheap!

I created this recipe the day before Thanksgiving, I was just in the recipe creating, cooking mood and I made this. My kids had it for lunch.....and dinner!  My family really enjoyed this and the kids didn't even complain about eating it twice in one day.

The day before Thanksgiving is always a very busy day for me, I generally cook an entire Thanksgiving meal for either just my little family or when we do Thanksgiving on my side of the family I do the cooking for them all.  Don't get me wrong I love doing it and I REALLY love watching everyone enjoy the food I have lovingly prepared for them.

This year people were RAVING over my food not knowing it was the vegan food!!

I really enjoyed having people ask "Who made this?"  and I even had a couple ask for recipes!  

That made my day!

I am posting the recipe because it was very popular on the Facebook page.  




Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Pumpkin Spice Snack Bar Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Snack Bars

If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   

Festive holiday snack bar featuring brown rice crisps to give it a little crunch along with the festive pumpkin and spices to give it that holiday flair!  These little bars are sure to please those little ones waiting for Thanksgiving dinner.  
A healthy alternative to typical granola bars, protein bars etc....

I am posting this recipe because it was quite popular on

If you want to vote for your favorite Holiday recipes Like The Peaceful Kitchen and watch for the latest recipe creations!


I guess you could say I have been in recipe creation mode and several of the recipes have been popular on facebook and so I have decided to continue posting my creations here for my fans, but only the most popular ones.

These little bars were a hit with my kids, I made them so my  hubby would have something healthy to snack on at work rather than resorting to vending machine junk food!  I keep telling him if he doesn't quit eating that garbage he will pay for it, and inevitably the migraines, back pain, lack of endurance etc..... end up plaguing him but he never learns.

My kids keep begging to have another pumpkin spice bar so obviously they love them.  These bars are not overly sweet, brown rice syrup is actually 1/3 less sweet than any other sweetener, I didn't create these to be dessert, they are supposed to be a fun snack so don't expect stomach sickening sweetness from these bars, although they have plenty in my opinion.

Enjoy!



Thursday, November 15, 2012

Gluten Free Vegan Cream Puff VS. Raw Almond Vanilla Cookies


Gluten Free Vegan Pate Choux
Gluten Free Vegan Cream Puffs
Gluten Free Vegan Eclairs





If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   
After years of culinary disasters I finally created a light, airy, crispy Gluten Free Vegan Cream Puff / Eclair
This gluten free vegan pate choux dough was creamy, rich and perfect.  I piped it on the pan and it looked as perfect as any pate choux should!  After MANY failed attempts to make a lovely vegan and gluten free pate choux I was very worried as I slipped these babies in the oven.

Would they rise properly?
Would they taste good?
Would they hold together?

I pressed the timer and kept coming back over and over checking on my gluten free vegan cream puffs and eclairs.  I am SO happy with how they turned out, they are AMAZING!!!

My non-gluten free hubby called them Delightful!!!

I was just thrilled with the result and I made a beautiful VEGAN Pastry Cream to fill them.  Pastry cream can be tricky and I have often seen recipes that include silken tofu but I wanted to make it without that crutch!  Don't get me wrong, I like my tofu, but I really wanted to create a very traditional vegan pastry cream.

WOWZERS, this pastry cream is yummy!  Yes, you could find me and the fam gobbling this up by the spoonful!!

By the time I finished with the vegan gluten free pate choux, then successfully created the gluten free eclairs and cream puffs and vegan pastry cream I was too lazy to try and create a vegan chocolate icing to top them, so the cream puffs got melted chocolate chips on top, it wasn't pretty but it was Oh So Good!


Why are you not posting the recipe for the vegan gluten free pate choux, eclairs, cream puffs?

Okay, remember the deal?

During the Holiday recipe creation marathon ONLY the recipes that have enough likes and comments on facebook get posted.

Unfortunately this recipe did not receive enough likes or comments and therefore will be saved for Bodymade or my Gluten Free Baking E-book!!!

You just get to look at how pretty they are........

If you want to join in on the fun so you can get your favorite recipes Click Here   
to like the peaceful kitchen and see all the AMAZING Holiday recipe creations and pick your favorite ones!!


VS.

Raw Almond Vanilla Star Cookies


I must admit I was quite surprised at the winner, but the raw almond vanilla star cookies had more interest than the cream puffs and so this recipe is the one I will be posting.

Don't get me wrong these cookies are really good!!  They are lightly crispy on the outside and still a little chewy on the inside.  They would be excellent paired with some hot chocolate or frosted.
I frosted them with a berry frosting colored with a little beet and they were adorable and delicious.

My kids love these and they are healthy enough that the kids can have them as a snack anytime!


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Chickpea Cutlets over roasted bell pepper wild rice and Roasted Garlic Alfredo Cream Sauce

Gluten Free Seitan-style Chickpea Cutlets Served with Roasted bell pepper wild rice and Roasted Garlic Alfredo Cream Sauce



If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   


Savory thyme infused wild rice with roasted red bell pepper and sauteed onion and mushrooms topped with crispy delicious gluten free seitan-style chickpea cutlets and a rich and creamy roasted garlic Alfredo cream  sauce.

I am sure you are wondering why I am posting another recipe......I'm supposed to be on a sabbatical from blogging for an undetermined amount of time......  Well, I am posting this recipe due to popular demand and in honor of sharing a delicious recipe that would be the perfect feature dish for a Peaceful Thanksgiving!

Holiday Recipe Creation Marathon

I decided to do a holiday recipe creation marathon, going through all my 'Traditional' recipe books like Betty Crocker and other holiday recipe books and creating Vegan versions of the holiday favorites featured in these recipe books.  I have been posting pictures of my creations on my facebook fan page

You can follow the marathon by liking The Peaceful Kitchen on Facebook....Click Here

As I have been posting my recipe creations they have been getting a lot of attention and people have been asking for the recipes.  I agreed that if there was enough interest in each recipe I would post it on my blog and this recipe got quite a bit of attention so I am posting it.

Here are some other recipes I've created over the last few days.....

This is the most AMAZING dessert, both my Mother and my Sister in Law called this HEAVENLY after one single bite!

It is a Gluten free dessert featuring a cookie bottom, an oil free homemade caramel center and a brownie top.  This is FAR beyond comfort food, this is just decadent rich indulgence at its best!
 This is a picture of the cookie/brownie caramel bars in the pan.  Ooooo the ooey gooey, fudgy caramel goodness!

Yep, they are gluten free but you'd never know it, and that delicious, rich caramel without oil......Oh yeah!
Okay, for a little healthy lunch before your holiday indulgence.

Sweet Miso Dressing

This was finger linking good, you could drink this stuff!  It has NO oil, NO nuts and is 100% delicious!  Turn your boring salad into Sweet delight!
Christmas Morning Cran-Berry French Toast

You cannot beat this for breakfast, it fills the kitchen with the most amazing Christmas smells.

The french toast is spiked with holiday spices and the cran-berry sauce is made with mixed berries and cranberries and has no refined sweeteners and also has a special holiday spice blend!

Blueberry Pomegranate Sparkler

If you are looking for a delicious alcohol-free, sugar free bubbly for your holiday parties, this is the drink for you!

I tested this on my hubby, kids, brother and his wife, and my parents.  

This drink caused my parents to fight like children!!!!  

Yep, it's that good.  You should have seen my parents literally FIGHTING over the glass when I served it to them.    This has NO added sugars of any kind, no honey, agave, maple syrup  NOTHING!!
You will not believe how delicious it is and how sparkly and bubbly it is.

NO it is not water kefir or fermented, although water kefir is also good.






Friday, November 9, 2012

Gluten Free Parkerhouse Dinner Roll Recipe

Gluten Free Parker House Dinner Roll Recipe

If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   
 
Warm, soft, delicious gluten free parker house roll recipe.  My daughter called these absolutely delightful and they certainly were.  I had to quickly share a photo of these delicious gluten free rolls.    I believe these soft gluten free rolls will be the recipe that graces our Thanksgiving dinner table this year.

I used a couple of tricks to get a delicious soft texture out of these rolls and it worked beautifully.  I used my proprietary gluten free flour blend that works beautifully with yeasted breads.  

Tonight I created a delicious carrot ginger soup with quinoa along with these delicious rolls and it was quite a hit with my family.  They usually like quite traditional flavors but they all heartily gobbled up their soup and rolls.  I really liked the change from the norm and the ginger in the soup was the perfect warming compliment to a very cold, snowy evening!

Here is a little glimpse at the carrot ginger soup, the quinoa adds a really fun texture to the soup and really boosts the nutrition as well!  The soup features steamed carrots, cannelini beans, green onion, ginger, garlic, a hint of lime and other spices and it is just divine!


Some day I may begin sharing my recipes again and I may blog regularly, as for now it is just fun to post pictures of what I have been up to lately.  These recipes will be available in my nutrition classes and in the android app. I just like to give some teasers on the blog........

Monday, November 5, 2012

Potato tempeh sausage soup, Peanut Butter Apple Crisp and lentil salad



Latest Creations......

Potato Tempeh Sausage Soup


If you would like to continue to follow my work......
My recipes and I can now be found @

I hope to see you there!   

My latest creation, comfort food for a cold fall evening, filled with homemade tempeh sausage, red potatoes, and kale in a very warming homemade broth. Mmmmmm!


I am still creating delicious recipes, all of which will be available on the Simple Chef Android app.  The app is now available and ready for download!  I'm so excited!  We've had great reviews so far. 

We finished up the last Bodymade nutrition class on Saturday, the class turned out wonderful.  I served my simple, yet delicious nacho bake along with some freshly squeezed and warmed wassail.  The food was a hit and the information in the class was amazing and very well received.  

I've had an excellent rest from my blogging, however, I must admit I miss creating recipes and posting them.  I may post a few recipes from time to time and I can't help but continue to update my readers on my success with Bodymade as I begin a new career.

I am in the process of formulating a new product that is made exclusively from whole foods as an amazing supplement!  I can't wait until we finish the formulation and production aspects and I will announce it here when it is available.  Thank you for all of your support and love!


Peanut Butter Apple Crisp

When I told my husband about this dessert he thought I had absolutely lost my mind, peanut butter in an apple dessert?  YES!  and no it is not weird!

I asked, haven't you ever heard of apples and  peanut butter as a snack!

He said yes, but I've never heard of it in a dessert.

Well, he ate his words when he tasted this scrumptious dessert!

This turned out so yummy!  I made a homemade, very low fat crispy pie crust made with peanut butter, then topped that with sliced apples, cinnamon, splash of lemon juice, nutmeg and then topped it all off with a delicious oat peanut butter crisp and baked until the apples were soft and tender and the topping had a beautiful brown crispy texture.  

This is certainly a diversion from our usual chocolate chip cookies but it was really good.  Although I must confess that I actually added some chocolate chips on top and let them melt before I ate my slice!

This recipe will be coming in the paid 'Dessert' section of the app! 

I can't post the recipe but just wanted to tempt you :-)

Lentil Salad


This is more like what I eat everyday, something simple, healthy and easy yet....delicious!  
I generally top this salad with a zesty oil-free Italian dressing like the one in my Zesty For Life Salad Dressings E-book available in the store......or some other amazing oil-free dressing from my collection of recipes!

You can always make salad amazing if you have a great dressing!