Cookies From Heaven (MMMMMMMMMMM!)

        Alright so I realized I have been posting that I am making things dairy-free, but I still use things with minimal amounts of dairy like chocolate chips and such; just a disclaimer for anyone that is completely avoding dairy :).

        Just the name of these cookies makes you fall in love, it has cake, chocolate chips, and reeses peanut butter cups!  I don't know how it could be any better.  Plus they are super easy to make and pretty fast!

Chocolate Cake Reeses Peanut Butter Chunk Cookies

1 gluten-free chocolate cake mix (I used Bob's Red Mill brand)

10 tablespoons buttery stick, melted (yes one stick plus two more tablespoons! I used Earth Balance brand)

1 large egg

1 cup chocolate chips

25 mini Reeses Peanut Butter cups (**careful if you are very sensitive these have the possibility of cross-contamination**)

Place reeses into a plastic baggie and crush them.  Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl (I didn't use an electric mixer, but whatever works for you).  It looks kind of crumbly, messy, and delicious. 

 Scoop onto parchment lined baking sheets about one inch apart and bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes.  It is kind of difficult to tell when they are done, I did mine for 14 minutes.  I was scared to over bake them, gluten-free stuff tends to dry out faster so just keep checking them. :) 

        Be sure and put them away right when they are done cooling so they don't dry out, it makes around 3 dozen so maybe freeze some.  ENJOY!

Raspberry Rice Krispie Treats!

        I made these for my cubbies :) they are very very verrrrry sweet (both cubbies and rice krispies:P).  All the leaders enjoyed eating the chocolate on the top and not the actual rice krispie haha.  Since they are raspberry it is suggested to cut them into heart shapes and add a little red food coloring for valentine's day, but I just made them in a big pan.

Raspberry Rice Krispies

1/4 cup Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks (or you could just use butter)

10.5 ounces mini marshmallows

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

6 cups gluten-free Rice Krispies (be careful because regular rice krispies are NOT gluten-free but they made new ones that are)

2 cups chocolate chips, melted (I used dark chocolate mm!)

So I made these twice, the first time I used the stove and the second time I used the microwave, both ways worked out fine. 

~Stovetop: Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat.  Add marshmallows and salt; cook and stir until melted and smooth.  Stir in raspberry jam (mine didn't like separate completely, I tried my best then got frustrated and said it was good enough).  If you want it redder/pinker add food coloring, then cereal! Spread into buttered 13X9-inch pan, put into fridge and let cool completely.  Once completely cool, spread melted chocolate over top (or cut into hearts first). 

~Microwave: Pretty much the same except put butter, marshmallows, and salt into a large microwaveable bowl and heat for 3 minutes, stir, reheat til melted and smooth.  Then just follow the above directions starting with stirring in raspberry jam. :) ENJOY!

Jason's Deli

        My church had a marriage conference which lasted two days.  My friends and I babysat/did a VBS with the kids!  It was lots of fun but very stressful and very long.  On the second day we were there all day and so lunch was provided; this usually means Meg bring your own food.  Except that I have the BEST CHURCH EVER and they got Jason's Deli for the adults (including the babysitters).

        Jason's Deli has a full gluten-free menu, http://www.jasonsdeli.com/menu/gluten-free-menu.pdf.  I didn't know about this, but the awesome leaders at my church figured it out and ordered me a "lunch box" -I think that's what it's called-.  It consisted of a sandwich on gluten-free bread (no cheese for me either), chips, and a cookie (I am not sure if it was gluten free =/ I didn't eat it).  It was such a good sandwich!  The bread wasn't too thick or dry, it was delicious and filling :).

       I do not usually eat at Jason's Deli, but I went with my friend's family a few weeks ago and ordered a salad.  I think it was the Chef's salad, not sure.  They handed me a gluten-free menu and when i ordered I said "Hey I need gluten-free *whatever salad I got*", just to specify.  I don't know if they have a regular chef's salad that contains croutons or something like that, plus sometimes food places have different procedures for gluten-free items.  The salad was really good; it had a lot of toppings and it was huge!  I think I ate more than half..but I was really hungry haha.

        Jason's Deli isn't a fast food place, but it doesn't take too long to get your food.  It is a nice place to have lunch with someone! :)  They also have take out and catering, so if you have an event coming up and need gluten-free options this is a great restaurant to pick.