What's In My Book Bag?

Make Your Own Flavored Water with True Orange and True Lemon

What I like:

• I find it easier to drink more water.  Sometimes I drink one glass with the flavoring and then drink another without.
• Ingredients (no artificial sweeteners)
• Packets are easy to carry in my wallet.
• Taste
• Zero calories

I really like to use True Orange in my water.  My mom prefers the True Lemon.  She also uses it in tea and more.

 

It is very convenient to have in the cupboard to use in recipes. My mom uses the True Lemon in recipes such as tuna salad or chicken salad.  Just sprinkle and stir.  I find that a bit a strong for my tastes and would probably prefer to use 1/4 to 1/2 a packet.  

 

There is also True Lemon Lemonade Drink Mixand True Lemon Raspberry Lemonade Drink Mix made with stevia. 

 

If you use any of the True Lemon products I'd love to hear which one is your favorite flavor and if you use any in recipes besides flavoring water.

 

Note: I forgot to say that the lemonade versions are 5 calories.

Prices change all of the time.  

 Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

Homemade Pizza Crust with Chebe Gluten Free Garlic & Onion Breadstick Mix

As you read in my last message, we will be having homemade pizza either today for lunch or tomorrow. Some of you know that I am gluten free and may be wondering what I will be using to make a crust.

 

This time I'm going to be using the Garlic & Onion Chebe Bread Sticks Mix. I've also used the garlic & onion to make bread to eat with soup. Chebe also has a Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix but, you know, I don't think I have even tried it yet.   Note to self: order some of the actual Chebe pizza crust mix to try.

 

Here is one thing to note with the Chebe mixes, follow the directions.  When I mix it up and dump it out to knead it looks like there can't possibly be enough liquid.  Once I start working with it to make it into a dough ball it is amazing how it all comes together. 

 

If you are not gluten free, then go ahead and make a traditional crust.  You could always get a pre-made one but making it from scratch is fun & economical.  If you have kids, I like giving each of them their own little piece of dough to make individual pizzas.   I also encourage them to toss small pieces of dough in the air like they see done at the pizzeria [over the table or counter of course and if it drops on the floor we toss that dough].  If that is too much for your comfort level, then show them how to push out the edges of the dough on a cookie sheet to make their crust.  I also use my OXO Good Grips Rolling Pin to flatten out the dough.   So don't forget to grab your rolling pin, if you have one, and you want to speed the process along.

 

It's fun to also have the kids be involved with topping ideas.  One night I had two of my nephews over so we decided to have make your own pizza for dinner.  They were having a great time creating their own pizzas and the oldest asked if there was a way he could make the "stuffed crust" that some of the restaurants do.  I grabbed a couple of string cheese packets and cut them lengthwise so he could fold the edge of the crust over the pieces of string cheese.  It was a hit!

 

Have you tried making your own pizza at home?  What do you like to use for toppings?

Prices change all of the time.  

 Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

Who Knew I Would Like Baked Lentil Crackers?

These are one of my favorite crackers. I wouldn't consider myself a lentil fan but I am a fan of these Mediterranean Snacks Baked Lentil Crackers. They are pretty sturdy too. I'm thinking they would be good with some different toppings like tuna salad or egg salad.   They just don't usually last that long around here.  I like the Sea Salt version. They also come in Cracked Pepper and Rosemary Herb.

 

 

Prices change all of the time.  Double check the price before making a purchasing decision.

King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Cookie Mix Review

I hoped to have time to make a bunch of gluten free goodies before  Christmas.  Unfortunately I ran out of time and had to sit out most of the sweets at celebrations.  Since I had the ingredients on hand and we were looking for a treat this afternoon I suggested that I try making a gluten free cookie.  Today I'm trying the King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Cookie Mix. 

 

I used parchment paper because it seems like such a Martha thing to do because it makes for easy clean up (and I was using my pizza pan with holes in it because the jelly roll pan that I usually use to make cookies was being used for something else).

 

Now I don't have a lot of experience yet making gluten free baked goods but one thing I noticed is that the flour mix was very light and became airborne very quickly (something to keep in mind as you pour it into your bowl & as you begin mixing).

 

The directions on the box were good.  I will say that I didn't have the patience to wait for my butter to soften so I heated it up in the microwave which, of course, may have slightly changed the outcome of our cookies.  I also added 2 tsps. vanilla (not that it necessarily needed it) but it seemed like something I would add if I were making a non-GF variety.  I also added 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. (As always, make sure anything you add in is also gluten free).

 

 

Here are the cookies on the parchment paper ready to go into the oven.  Put in oven.  Set timer.  Look at directions on box again.  Ooops.  It says to flatten them out before baking.  Quick.  Grab oven mitt.  Grab tray out of oven.  Sort of flatten cookies with back of spoon.  Put tray back in oven.  Reset timer.  Now I'm not sure what they would have looked like if I hadn't gone back and sort of flattened them out.  But they came out looking pretty yummy.

 

Here they are out of the oven after they have cooled for a few minutes.  I even got a "Oh, these are good" from a person who eats gluten.

They were good.  They came out chewy not crispy.  Next time I think I would add another 1/2 to 1 cup of chocolate chips.  The cookie part is not very sweet like I remember some of my favorite gluten filled chocolate chip cookies. It has been a long time since I've had a "regular" chocolate chip cookie, though, so my memory might not be so accurate as to the degree of sweetness in the cookie.  

 

I definitely plan on picking up more of the King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Cookie Mix.  I like my first batch of cookies and it is definitely a good mix to add to my pantry.  I also like that it is a general cookie base and that you are invited to switch out your favorite add ins to make different flavors so it should work for both chocolate chip or dried cranberry walnut.

 

What do you like to add into your cookies?