Carefreeglutenfree - Carefree Gluten Free

“Oh, I adore to cook. It makes me feel so mindless in a worthwhile way.”

Truman Capote

“Like all magnificent things, it's very simple.”

- Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

{Picture via familyfreshcooking.com}

"Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness."                             - Jane Austen

All-American Apple Pie

Gluten Free Pie Crust*

Filling: 2/3 c. sugar ½ tsp. cinnamon 2 Tbsp. water 2 Tbsp. lemon juice ¼ tsp. nutmeg 2 Tbsp. margarine 5-6 medium sliced apples

Crumb Topping: ½ c. firmly packed brown sugar ½ c. softened margarine 1 c. Gluten Free all-purpose flour*

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. To Make Pie Crust: Follow package directions. 

3. To Make Filling: In large bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Toss with apples. Add water and lemon juice. Toss until evenly coated and spoon into unbaked pie crust. Dot with butter.

4. To Make Crumb Topping: Using a pastry cutter, mix topping ingredients until crumbly in texture. Sprinkle over apples. 

5. Place pie on a cookie sheet, covered with aluminum foil, to catch juices that may spill over.  Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.  Top with ice cream and serve.

*I used Gluten Free Pantry's perfect pie crust mix and all-purpose flour for this recipe.

Cook's Tip: This recipe can be made into a delicious gluten free apple crisp by omitting the crust.

Maple Bundt Cake

Recipe adapted from Vegetarian Times

3 ½ cups Gluten Free all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. xanthan gum

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. salt

1 ½ cups pure maple syrup

⅔ cup canola oil

2 Tbs. vanilla extract

1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar

2 tsp. maple extract

Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly coat 10-inch Bundt pan with cooking spray.

2. Whisk together flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in bowl.

3. Whisk maple syrup, oil, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, maple extract, and 1 1/3 cups water in large separate bowl. Stir in flour mixture until just blended.

4. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and cake begins to pull away from sides of pan. Cool in pan on rack 20 minutes. Unmold onto rack, and cool completely. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

Pomegranate and Mint Sorbet

Ingredients:

1 cup Mint Simple Syrup, recipe follows

2 cups 100 percent pomegranate juice (recommended: Pom Wonderful)

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (dairy-free)

Mint Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1 packed cup packed fresh mint leaves

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and mint leaves over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool for 20 minutes. Strain before using. Yield: 1 cup Directions:

In a glass pitcher, combine the Mint Simple Syrup, pomegranate juice, and orange juice. Pour the pomegranate mixture in an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.  During the last 10 minutes of freezing time, add the mini chocolate chips. Scoop the sorbet into dessert bowls and garnish with fresh mint sprigs.