Gluten-free - What's a gluten?

I make this recipe because it is delicious, not because it is gluten-free.  For those avoiding gluten, you must try these treats.  I like the hearty texture of the quinoa flour and the almond butter.  It's an easy recipe to whip up, and worth the effort of grinding quinoa.  Enjoy!

Almond Butter and Quinoa Blondies

(From: EatingWell Magazine March/April 2013)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup smooth or crunchy natural almond butter
2 large eggs
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup quinoa flour*
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 °F. Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper (or foil), allowing it to slightly overhang opposite ends. Coat with cooking spray.

Beat butter and almond butter in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, brown sugar and vanilla. Whisk quinoa flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs on it, 25 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake. Let cool in the pan for 45 minutes. Using the parchment (or foil), lift the whole panful out and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into 24 squares. Let cool completely before storing.

*To make quinoa flour, purchase pre-washed quinoa and grind it to a powder in a clean coffee grinder.

1 square = 147 calories; 9 g fat(3 g sat); 2 g fiber; 15 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 7 mcg folate; 21 mg cholesterol; 11 g sugars; 10 g added sugars; 82 IU vitamin A; 0 mg vitamin C; 51 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 73 mg sodium; 101 mg potassium

Seriously...add the nuts!

Ok I get it, some people don't like nuts in their chocolate chip cookies.  If this describes you then don't make this recipe.  If you aren't afraid of nuts, these may be the most delicious chocolate chip cookies you will ever have so go ahead and give 'em a try.

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

(from Leah's kitchen)

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbs. milk
2 eggs
2 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 1/2 cup oatmeal
2 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease or place parchment paper on cookie sheets.
Combine flour, salt, soda, and baking powder in small bowl and whisk to break up clumps.
Cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer.  Add vanilla, milk, and eggs and beat until creamy. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture and beat until combined.  By hand, stir in walnuts, oatmeal and chocolate chips.
Drop spoonfuls of dough 2" apart on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake 10-12 minutes or until done.  The tops do not brown much so test doneness by checking the bottom of a cookie to see if it is browned.  Remove from oven an let sit on cookie sheet 1 min. then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Yield 4-5 dozen.