Vanilla Rhubarb Jam

For many years I confess that I have had one major food fear: canning. Canning seems like an activity  worthy of only a chef well experienced in gourmet food or a medical exert well practiced in sterilization techniques. And I can attest that I am, unfortunately, neither one.

Canning, however, is an absolutely wonderful way to preserve local, seasonal produce. There is absolutely nothing that can compare to a juicy strawberry picked at the height of summer or a tangy rhubarb stalk harvested in early spring. These are the gems we wait all year for. That is unless you practice canning. Canning allows you to preserve these seasonal delicacies at the peak of their deliciousness so they can be enjoyed year round!  How can anyone resist that? All right, so I decided that it was high time I conquered my irrational fear of canning. And let me tell you, the reward was sweet. Quite literally!

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls: Take 1

There is something magical about a warm cinnamon roll fresh out of the oven. The fantastic combination of gooey sugar-spice filling and delicate vanilla icing seems to erase stress and induce a sense of ultimate euphoria. Suddenly hectic lives become obsolete as family members gather together and become lost in delicious vanilla-cinnamon perfection. Now, if only that experience could be gluten-free.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies (n): a classic American dessert of  sweet, buttery cookies bursting with rich, gooey chocolate chips. Chocolate chip cookies are the classic bake sale item, the classic lunch box treat, the classic remedy for a stressful day. And now the beloved classic has gone gluten-free!