Wonderful Chocolate Chip Cookie Way

A crewman pointed out last week that we have not documented the wheatless chocolate chip cookie phenomenon.  After reviewing my logs, this was confirmed.  So we made a coarse correction and were on our way to a familiar and wonderful region of space known as "Chocolate Chip Cookie Way".  We've decided to spend a little extra time for shore leave and I didn't hear any complaints about that!

The chocolate chip cookies are wonderful!  I would prefer them over the regular type made with wheat flour any day.  I started out making the recipe with almond meal that I ground in my food processor.  The texture was not like the traditional cookie, but I honestly didn't care.  I LOVED the taste so much and the texture seemed irrelevant.  Eventually I did decide to splurge and purchase some finely ground almond flour and just see what the fuss is all about.  It did come out looking and preforming like a traditional cookie in the texture department.  I might consider using almond flour when preparing some as gifts or having people over to entertain!

I highly recommend this recipe.  Don't be afraid to dabble with it and change it up.  I do find myself wondering about using 1/3rd or 1/2 coconut flour?  But that is an adventure for another day.

Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 cups almond meal/flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1/2 cup butter or coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup sour cream or coconut milk (I have used whipping cream and raw cows milk and it's fine)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon liquid stevia (Sweetener equal to 1/2 cup sugar)
10 ounces bittersweet or dark chocolate chips ( I just use the semisweet)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Whisk together almond meal/flour, baking soda & salt in a large bowl.

Combine eggs, butter (or coconut oil), sour cream (or coconut milk), vanilla, and stevia in a small bowl and whisk.  Stir this into the flour mixture just until combined.  Stir in the chips.

Drop heaping tablespoons onto the baking sheet.  Press each cookie to 1/2 inch thickness.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.  Remove and place on rack to cool.

ENJOY!

Bread, oh lovely sandwich bread!

Sorry I haven't posted lately, but I'm back on the bridge of this crazy ship I call Wheatless.  I'm trying to take my duties seriously after being held captive for a while by the inhabitants of a dangerous planet in the star system Apathy.  Motivation free living was their game and it was a struggle to break free.  The tactical ship Discouragement is in hot pursuit, but I think with a little extra effort we can shake them!

I put some distance between us while exploring the Manna Cluster.  I've discovered several bread recipes that I hoped would be perfect to make sandwiches.  Who wants to explore Wheatlessness on basic, boring rations!  I had some failures with something I found called "Broccoli Bread" that called for whey isolate.  I attempted that recipe twice and then gave up on it and then I found Dr. Davis' Basic Bread recipe in "Wheat Belly Cookbook".  I was jumping for joy when I finally pulled out a loaf of bread that had risen to the occasion!

You know how I like to be thrifty, but so far I have not attempted to use almond meal or use more garbanzo bean flour then almond flour yet.  For me it would be cheaper, but I just LOVE this recipe cuz it works so well.  I will update with other versions and let you know how it goes.

I'm sorry I do not have the wonderful picture of it sliced.  I can't seem to find the photos on my camera.

Basic Bread

1 1/4 cup almond flour
1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon garbanzo bean (chickpea) flour
1/4 cup ground golden flaxseed (I've used milled regular and golden and it seems fine)
1 1/2 baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
5 eggs, separated
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 Tablespoon buttermilk (I've just used cream or regular milk)
1 Tablespoon xylitol or 4 drops of liquid stevia or to desired sweetness (I've tried both sweeteners and also just left them out all together on one go... why sweeten it?  It's for a sandwich!?)

Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf pan.

In a food processor, combine the almond flour, garbanzo bean flour, flaxseeds (in my case flaxseed flour), baking soda, cinnamon (if using), and salt.  Pulse until blended then add the egg yolks, butter, buttermilk, and xylitol or stevia and pulse just till blended.

In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.  Pour into the flower mixture and pulse until the egg whites are evenly distributed, but do not run the machine at a constant speed.  Spread into the pan and bake 40 minutes, or until a wooden pick comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  Remove and cool completely on a rack.

I am VERY HAPPY with how this bread turned out!  I will admit that the smell of the bread reminds me of my aunts beauty shop!  My mother-in-law says that is the smell of the baking soda.  It doesn't affect the taste at all and I just ignore it.  It is easy to do when you are slapping on lovely sandwich ingredients and enjoying the ability to eat a nice GLUTEN and STARCH FREE sandwich!  Oh yeah... awesome.  

Set phasers to "Knock You Out" because it will.  

I can't wait to get in there and do some tweaking.  I have considered... BLUEBERRY bread!!!  Imagine pumpkin bread, whatever you like!  Then on the savory side... break out different seasonings and go for it!  I hope you enjoy this as much as we do!!!!!