Let them eat cake!

Or not.

I love carbs in any form I can get them.

I would think by the size of my waist line, that is probably pretty obvious.

Recently, my brother-in-law discovered that he cannot have gluten...that holy binding agent that makes so many of the foods we love stick together.

No bread.
No pasta.
No sweets.
No beer.

An all out death sentence for that part of our brain that craves comfort foods, and that other part of our brain that craves a cold brew on a hot summer day.

Now obviously there are ways around all of this, and with a major lifestyle change, his family fully on board, they have learned to adapt.

Bread is now made with different types of flour.  Rice pasta replaces traditional wheat pasta...etc. etc.

But I have to say, for me, Christmas baking has been taken to a whole new level because I think everyone should be able to indulge in homemade holiday sweets, even those living gluten free.

But for those of us who don't live gluten free (or in my case, in gluten overload!), knowing where to start was a challenge.  Needless to say, with a lot of googling and visits to celiac.com, I think I've done a pretty good job navigating this new world.

I can honestly say, I've never read so many labels in my life!  I have researched every ingredient before carefully re-reading it's ingredients list one more time just to make sure that the dreaded "g" word, and all of it's counterparts (like evil malted barley!) are absent.

And, after a whole lot of research, I have adapted one of my family's favourite recipes to be gluten free!  You can make it the good old fashioned way too, just use regular ingredients.

I hope these join your family's favourite holiday recipes - it's quick and easy and makes LOTS!!


"Keith's Peanut Butter Krispie Bars" 
(so named for my Uncle Keith - these were his favourites as a kid!)
*NO BAKE - 10 Minutes - Makes TONNES!!

1 cup of sugar- white or brown which will give a more maple flavor - both are delish!
1 cup of light corn syrup  (corn syrup is gluten free, but be sure to check the label)
1 cup GF peanut butter - I used PC Blue Menu "Just Peanuts" Crunchy peanut butter
6 cups **Crispy Brown Rice Cereal you can find in the organics aisle in the grocery store
PLEASE NOTE: Rice Krispies cereal is NOT gluten free!

Bring to a bubble 1 cup each of sugar and corn syrup.  Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup peanut butter.  Then add 6 cups of rice cereal and mix thoroughly.  Either press into a greased 9"x13" pan OR let mixture cool in a greased pan until cool enough to handle and roll into 1" balls.  Let cool completely!!

Melt 1 cup (or 1/2 cup each of white & dark) chocolate chips, pour into a piping bag or ziplock baggy and snip end.  Drizzle on top of bars or balls.  To avoid cracking the chocolate while cutting bars, warm the knife in hot water and dry.

Photos to follow!