A Muse's Guide » christmas

Christmas (Wheat-free) Baking Project Experiment: With Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook

Deanna — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:15:20 +0000

The Christmas season is here, and I have nearly finished marking final exams, and I have no experiments or major research to do over the holidays. Therefore it is time to do my own experiments at home, and buy some baking cookbooks and make use of my oven and baking supplies.

My baking cupboards are full of all the fixings to make healthy, organic and wheat-free baked goods, and there isn’t an abundance of wheat-free baking cookbooks on the market. I don’t really bake that often due to that. What should I do?

Well, I went out and got the Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. No, she doesn’t have some magical book that accommodates vegans, celiacs or wheat-free foodies, but I have a plan! I am going to revise some of the recipes in the book to suit my wheat-free needs, and write about whether they are fabulous or a flop.

Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook

This will be a fun and and hopefully tasty experiment. Instead of wheat flour, I will be using spelt, corn, rice, kamut, rye and other non-wheat flours.

I will even try to make my revisions as gluten-free as possible, though that can be tough as any celiac will tell you. I may end up ruining some of the recipes, but then at least I will know what works and what doesn’t.

To start I am trying to decide between the following items: scones, rugelach, cookies or coffee cake. Any suggestions?

Wish me luck! I will start posting upcoming baking experiments through the next couple weeks.

~Deanna

Tapestry Foundation Angels: Ring the bell!

Deanna — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:12:27 +0000

Go to the Tapestry Foundation for Health Care’s Webpage http://www.tapestryfoundation.ca/angels/index.php

Click on the wreath to ring the bell, and money will be donated by Scotiabank to the Tapestry Foundation.

I’m just passing along the message and don’t forget to ring the bell, it doesn’t cost you anything.

Cheers, and Merry Christmas

Deanna

Shopping For Christmas

Deanna — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:15:21 +0000

I am not one to go to shopping malls. Truthfully, I hate them. They are crowded, busy and no one ever seems happy. Online shopping is one of my favorite things. I don’t have to deal with line ups or not finding the right item. I also only purchase the exact thing I wanted, no impulse buys (for the most part). As you likely know, I even have my groceries delivered via an online store.

As for Christmas presents this year, I don’t forsee myself stepping foot into a shopping mall. I will wait and see the deals online and whether there is anything that really is worth while to purchase. What is the point of buying a gift just to say you bought someone a present. Aren’t presents suppose to be heartfelt and thoughtful?

So far in this lovely month of December, at least two dozen people have asked me if I have my Christmas shopping done? What do I say? NO!
Many people are aghast that my shopping is not complete. Many people try to make me worry I won’t get it done in time. Hah! In time? I think I might wait for the boxing week sales online to finish my shopping. You heard me, I might wait until after Christmas to purchase gifts at a significantly lower price.

So to alleviate anymore confusion, my Christmas shopping may or may not get done in time for Christmas Day, that really isn’t my priority. So please stop asking! If I do buy gifts you can bet I purchased them online while wearing my pyjamas, and that my mail-lady happily drops the packages off at my front door. (another fun tip – presents you buy online, depending on the company, can come pre-wrapped!).

Have a Merry Christmas everyone! And remember to enjoy it – not stress over it.

-Deanna