'Twas The Weekend Before Christmas

'Twas the weekend before Christmas,
           and all through the town,
             everyone was frantic,
            and running around.

Will you be one of them?

Or will you be like me, stuck (I mean, well...who am I kidding...I am stuck) in the kitchen all weekend preparing cookies, cakes, breads and other Christmas goodies?

Two months ago, I was one of those people who joyfully bought pre-made cookie doughs and frozen pies, threw them in the oven, and called them home-made. And they were. They were made in my home. However, two months ago our 3-year old daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, which means she cannot eat anything that is not wheat-free and gluten-free. Everything, and I mean everything, is made from scratch.

So, for me the kitchen has become an experiment. Mixing up all kinds of gluten-free flour blends (made from rice, tapioca, potato and other flours) into yummy, edible foods. Subscriptions to fashion magazines have been nudged out of my magazine rack and replaced with "Cooks Illustrated", "Joy of Cooking" and the like. I get excited when I find a new recipe.

If you find that you have a few spare hours this weekend, and would like to try out something new in the kitchen, I invite you to visit the following websites for some Christmas cooking inspiration: