Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

Since now you have started your gluten free diet, there is a recipe I am going to share with you. It's called Peanut butter cookies! These cookies are delicious, flour free and best of all....gluten free! This recipe is from a book entitled 'The Big Book of Gluten-Free Recipes by: Kimberly A. Tessmer, RD, LD. Here is the recipe:

Makes 2-3 dozen cookies, depending on size. 

Ingredients: 
1 cup gluten-free natural peanut butter, well stirred
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup gluten free chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 cup almonds or nut of you choice, finely diced

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, sugars, egg, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Mix thoroughly. Add chocolate chips and diced nuts if desired. 

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon cookie dough by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until centers are cooked and edges are lightly browned. Let them cool on the sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 

And there you have it folks! Delicious gluten-free peanut butter cookies. You don't have to add the chocolate chips or the nuts; they are your choice. A warning about this recipe though....these cookies are DELICIOUS! You will want to make them all of the time. 

Enjoy your delicious gluten free cookies. See, it is not so bad being gluten free. 

Sources: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-big-book-of-gluten-free-recipes-kimberly-tessmer/1113839844?ean=9781440562396
http://www.shockinglydelicious.com/5-ingredient-gluten-free-flourless-peanut-butter-cookies/

The Diet

Hello! You have just found out that you are gluten free....now what? Now it is time to take one of the hardest, greatest journey's in life....a gluten free diet! The worst part about starting a gluten free diet is the change from regular food to gluten free food. However, with a lot of faith and a lot of work, the diet will soon become second nature.

One of the things that will change first is your weight. It may go up or down, but guaranteed it will change. Do not be deterred by this factor, your weight does not define who you are. As long as you are following the diet and being healthy, your weight cannot bring you down. 

You will begin to notice the fact that there seems to be no food around you and that you cannot find ANYTHING that is gluten free. This is not the case! There are many foods, some you probably did not even realize, that are gluten free. For example, here are gluten free foods that you might not have seen as gluten free:

• Chex-mix cereal
• Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles
• Ice cream
• Fruits and Vegetables

And so many others. There are a ton of websites out there to help the gluten free novice. Plus, foods like chicken and steak are gluten free too! See, a gluten free diet is not all bad. 

One piece of advice I can give, is do not give up on yourself or your diet. The beginning can be the most challenging portion, especially if no one you know is gluten free. You may feel it is hopeless, or that you wish you did not have a gluten allergy. Be proud in yourself. Your tummy really needs you to stick to your diet. 

You are not alone in your gluten free journey. There are many people who are diagnosed with celiac disease or a gluten-sensitivity. You can do it! If you have any questions, or need advice on a gluten free diet, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Sources:

http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/diagnosingceliacdisease/tp/Gluten-Free-Diet-Side-Effects.htm

http://www.chex.com/products

http://celiac.org
http://www.thisfullhouse.com/reviews/2009/10/celiac-disease-awareness-month-new-glutenfree-cereals-party-recipes-from-chex.html