This post is linked to Gluten-Free Wednesdays.
It’s another month of Adopt a Gluten-Free Blogger, the gluten-free community event created by Sea (Book of Yum). The hardest thing about this adoption event is choosing who to adopt. There are so many great bloggers to choose from! (One doesn’t have to adopt a gluten-free blogger, but the blogger does have to have a “gluten-free” category so that these recipes are searchable. Non-bloggers can also participate.) Although I got a very slow start on participating in this long-standing event, I have participated as often as possible since my first adoption of Pete and Kelli Bronski of No Gluten, No Problem almost exactly a year ago.
This adoption makes my 10th and I decided to adopt Maggie of She Let Them Eat Cake. Maggie and I met on Twitter and I felt an instant connection. She’s a very positive, energetic, and sweet person who’s so much fun to hang out with online. Plus, the truth is I’ve always really liked the name Maggie. So today on a whim I looked up the definition of the name. I was so surprised to find out that the meaning of Maggie is actually a nickname of mine. (I won’t tell you what that is; you can look it up if you like.) I guess Maggie and I are more connected than I thought—how cool!
But back to Maggie’s blog … it’s wonderful. Maggie’s a big baker and has been since she was a little girl. She’s also a really terrific mom. Yes, I said terrific mom! Please don’t be misled by her blog title. She Let Them Eat Cake is not an over-the-top, full of sugary, decadent sweets 24/7 type of blog. Not at all. Maggie’s family’s health journey has them eating gluten free, dairy free, and egg free. Most of the time her recipes are also refined sugar free, too. Her blog is full of great recipes that meet these requirements—recipes for things like bagels (yes, gluten-free, egg-free bagels that people love!), snack foods, cookies (like 12 Days of Christmas Cookies), and, of course, the cake featured in her blog name. How about Chocolate Almond Cupcakes happily decorated with a pirate theme (or a theme of your choice or just iced) for a little guy’s birthday? Cupcakes are the thing now, but have always been “in” for kids’ birthdays and school parties. Incidentally, along those lines, Maggie has a great post on Raising Gluten-Free Kids.
So which recipes of Maggie’s did I make? Well, quite some time ago, Maggie shared an Almond Dream Milkshake recipe. I wanted one on those shakes the moment I read her post title and then was completely smitten once I saw the photo. (Yes, you can be smitten with milkshakes!) The ingredients definitely sounded like they’d make a dreamy liquid concoction—almond milk, almond butter, banana, and dates. I didn’t have any almond butter or dates at the time, so months passed before I finally made this milkshake. But as the saying goes, the wait was so worth it! When you are drinking this beautiful, luscious gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free shake, you will definitely be the envy of others. Oh, there is one problem though. Maggie says this recipe makes two shakes. I think she got that part wrong. As you can see from the photo, there was only enough for one! (We may all have learned about sharing in kindergarten, but we don’t always have to practice it.)
I also wanted to make one of the Maggie’s cookie recipes. There are quite a few to choose from! I was really tempted by her Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies as I’ve been keeping healthy quinoa flakes on hand, but in the end I couldn’t resist making Maggie’s Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. On the one hand, one might think the only thing better than Chocolate Chip Cookies would be Double Chocolate Chip Cookies. However, truthfully, these were a bit of a gamble for me as I’ve never really liked chocolate cookies much. Chocolate-covered or chocolate-dipped cookies, yes, but not always ones that have chocolate in the batter. Usually I need the contrast of a more vanilla type batter to make a chocolate chip cookie enjoyable for me. But Maggie’s Double Chocolate Chip Cookies looked perfect, so I had to try them. Verdict? Yes, they are perfect. Maybe it’s the combination of coconut oil and dark chocolate chips that help make these cookies so good. They are so moist and of course “chocolatey,” but not in a “death by chocolate” kind of way. The chocolate in the cookie itself and the additional chocolate chips is not too much at all. I suspect it’s balanced by the use of almond flour and the flax “eggs.” I didn’t want to grab one cookie after another like I often do, and Mr. GFE and I found these cookies only got better after sitting—always a sign of successful gluten-free baking! (Note: I cannot tolerate sorghum flour, and potato starch is not an ingredient I normally have on hand. So instead of Maggie’s combination of sorghum flour, potato starch, and almond flour, I made a mix that equaled Maggie’s total measurement of flour mix, but I used slightly more almond flour mixed with brown rice flour and cornstarch. That combo worked just fine.)
Last summer, I made Maggie’s healthy, but decadent Chocolate Pudding (with a surprise ingredient!), but unfortunately I didn’t take time to get a photo. And honestly, I could have made many more recipes of Maggie’s for this adoption, but I’ll save some for the future. Veggie Chili, Roasted Carrot Hummus, and Almond Sesame Crackers top the list. See … I told you my nickname “twin” is about more than sugary desserts!
I’m hoping to meet Maggie at the Gluten-Free and Allergen-Free Expo in just a few weeks! (See who else will be there, too.) And Maggie is hosting this month’s Go Ahead Honey, It’s Gluten Free carnival. Her theme is Springtime Brunches. Read more here and check out the rest of She Let The Eat Cake while you are there. You’ll really enjoy yourself and come away with a bunch of tasty recipes and much more!
FYI–My other previous Adopt A Gluten-Free Blogger adoptions are shown in last month’s adoption of Zoe (Z’s Cup of Tea). Check that adoption out as well as all the rest. I haven’t had a bad one yet! In fact, many of the recipes I’ve tried through my adoptions have made it into our regular menus; that says a lot.
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
I love love love Maggie’s recipes. I adopted her a few months ago and made ice cream and the carrot hummus. Both are amazing. I have made the carrot hummus since again – SO good 🙂
Loved your adoption post 🙂
Shirley says
Hi Valerie–I remember your adoption of Maggie. She’s such a talent, isn’t she? I know I’ll be making more of her recipes in the future. 🙂
Shirley
Kristina @ spabettie says
once again I LOVE the adoption posts! 🙂 thank you for sharing – I will be headed over to look at Maggie’s blog now…
and as I consider you an internet friend – you KNOW I had to look it up! Pearl? 😀
Shirley says
Hi Kristina–Thanks so much, dear! I do love doing the adoption posts. We are blessed with so many great gluten-free bloggers. Maggie amazes me with her recipes!
Shhhh on the other …
xo,
Shirley
Erin Elberson Lyon says
Yum. You and Maggie both are certainly within my virtual circle of friends that I hold dear.
Did you substitute for the sorghum in the cookies? Inquiring minds want to know (and figure why reinvent the wheel of you already did 😉 Mags recommends buckwheat as an option in her post which I am likely going to try.
Shirley says
Hi Erin–Awww, that makes my day! Circle of Friends … such a beautiful concept and reality that I’m grateful for.
I chuckled when I read your question about the sorghum. My blogger friends know me better than my own family in many cases! You know that I don’t eat sorghum, but my family has no clue. 😉 Yes, I used the same measurement amount for the total of the gf flour mix and almond flour, but I used slightly more almond flour than Maggie did and used slightly less brown rice flour than sorghum and subbed cornstarch for the potato starch. I updated the post after I read your question. Buckwheat would probably be delicious, but I can’t eat buckwheat either. Enjoy these cookies though … however you make them!
xo,
Shirley
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Everything looks and sounds delicious! I have to say that I am quite jealous of all your adventure to the gluten free show. There will be so many great people there I’d like to meet. Have fun!
Shirley says
Sarena–I would have liked to make even more of Maggie’s recipes for this post, but was making a ton of other recipes for other reasons this weekend. Fun to have Maggie’s blog as a “go to” resource and A LOT left to try still. 🙂
Sorry you won’t be at the Expo, but I did just see that you are presenting at BlogHer Food on the same panel as Alisa! How awesome! Wish I could be there to hear you guys!
Shirley
Zoe says
Maggie is wonderful! That’s so sweet about you two sharing a name, in a way. 🙂 I really want to adopt her at some point, reciprocate the favour since she adopted me last year. She’s one of those bloggers I’d love to get to know in person one day. As always, a fantastic job, Shirley!
Zoe says
And of course, adopt you as well, Shirley, and make some of your fab recipes! 🙂
Shirley says
Zoe–That would be great one day! I do worry when others adopt me or make my recipes though. Human nature, I guess. 😉
Shirley
Shirley says
Zoe–I agree! Maggie IS wonderful. 🙂 I’m sure you’d have a blast adopting her. 😉 Our nickname link is cute and meeting Maggie will be a blast!
Thanks, dear!
Shirley
Debi says
Milk. Check. Almond butter. Check. Dates. Check. Frozen bananas. Check. Think I can make this without waking Chaz up? lol Looks so yummy! I really need to check her blog out more often. 😀
Shirley says
Hi Debi–Oh, don’t you love it when the mental checklist works out? Wondering if you made it. I think Mr. GFE could sleep through the blender, but I don’t usually push my luck. Consideration and all that. 😉
Yes, DO check out Maggie’s blog more. I know you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
xo,
Shirley
Ludwell N. Brown says
I’ve been trying to live gluten free for a while now and it’s been working great for me. Thanks for the inspiration.
Shirley says
Hi Ludwell–Welcome to gfe! 🙂 I’m so happy to hear that you’ve been living gluten free successfully. Hope you’ll visit gfe on a regular basis and always find it helpful.
Best,
Shirley
[email protected] says
What a sweet homage to accompany this adoption!
Does she get her own room?
Maggie’s site is wonderful. Agreed on all counts.
Warm regards,
Nicole
Shirley says
Hi Nicole–Glad you enjoyed my post and also are a fan of Maggie’s blog! 🙂 Maggie deserves her own room and more. 😉
Hugs,
Shirley
Stephanie Mckenzie says
I made the almond date shake, except I changed it quite a bit, I just used her recipe as a template and subbed with what I had on hand. I used organic regular milk and soaked the dates in the milk overnight to soften them. I used sunbutter in place of the almond butter. I also added some of my homemade coconut milk kefir and about a TBSP of ground chia seeds and blended it all up…it was so good!! Thanks so much for the recipe, I plan to purchase almond milk and almond butter and follow the recipe to a T next time 🙂
Maggie says
Hey Stephanie – Your version sounds pretty darn delicious. I love the idea of soaking the dates in the milk!
Shirley says
Hi Stephanie–It’s wonderful to see you again! It’s been a while. 😉 I love how you adapted Maggie’s shake recipe to what you had on hand. I believe the best recipes are versatile that way. 🙂 Your dream shake sounds fabulous, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the original, too. Thanks for jumping in and trying Maggie’s recipe right away!
Shirley
Maggie says
Thank you so much Shirley. I loved reading this post. You TOTALLY made my month – and it’s only just begun 🙂 I am thrilled that Mr. GFE got to at least try the cookies! Thank you for your love and support Shirley. I am so honored to be your friend and to have been adopted by you. I think I do need a room! xoxoxoxo
Shirley says
Hi Maggie–You are welcome, but it was very much my pleasure! I am only giving back what I receive from you, dear. So glad you enjoyed the post … we certainly enjoyed giving these two recipes a test run!
Fingers crossed that I’ll see you soon! xoxoxo,
Shirley
Lynn Peterson says
Oh Shirley, what a wonderful website you have! And I love Maggie’s blog also! Her pirate cupcakes are absolutely adorable! You are THE BEST!
Big smiles at ya! Lynn
Shirley says
Hi Lynn–Welcome to gfe! So glad you made it over from your own wonderful blog, Gimme Gluten Free. I’m seriously wanting a decadent chocolate dessert after just seeing your Heavenly Chocolate Cream Cake! Wow!
Many thanks for the kind words on gfe! And yes, Maggie’s blog is great. Her pirate cupcakes make me smile every time. 😉
Hugs,
Shirley
Ricki says
Another fabulous adoption post–both the recipes sound great, and that cookie pic has me drooling! You are BOTH real “pearls” (did I get it right??) 😉 Seriously, the food blogging world is a better place with both of you in it. A fun and informative read, as always. 🙂
Shirley says
Hi Ricki–Oh my goodness, thanks for those kind words! Every girl needs a cheerleader like you. Seriously. 🙂 Maggie’s recipes are closer to your dietary needs, too. You can probably just add a slight tweak now and then and have a wonderful recipe you can enjoy. 😉
Yes, you got it right, but please keep it to yourself … only my dearest friends call me that.
Hugsss,
Shirley
Kim (Cook IT Allergy Free) says
Maggie is the most adorable thing and I have not even met her yet! But yippeekiyaay!! That will change at the end of this month!! I love love Maggie and her recipes. I am dying to make her latest muffin recipe this weekend! Shirley, as usual you have done an amazing adoption! Thank you for sharing maggie with us!
xo
k
Shirley says
Hi Kim–I agree and I share your excitement! Maggie is phenomenal. 🙂 She just confirmed that she will be the Expo with her family in tow—woohoo! Glad you enjoyed my adoption post … I keep having such wonderful adoptees and they make it sooo easy. 😉
xo,
Shirley
Angie Halten says
So enjoyed the assortment of recipes you directed me to, especially the Double Chocolate Chip cookies and The Almond Dream Milkshake. Mmmmm Good!
Shirley says
Hey Angie–I know … heavenly goodness with both recipes! 🙂 I might have to make the Almond Dream Milkshake again tomorrow. 😉
Shirley
Sandra LaBranche says
Hi Shirley:
I am Maggie’s mother and I would like to thank you for the wonderful things you wrote about her in your recent blog!!! We are all very proud of her and this journey that she has taken in the gf world!!! We love to be her testers and continue to be amazed at the yummy gf goodies she creates. She is also very fortunate to be part of such an inspiring, nurturing community of bloggers!
Shirley says
Hi Sandra–Welcome to gfe. How wonderful to have you here on your own merit and also as Maggie’s mom! You have so many reasons to be proud of Maggie. What an amazing daughter you raised! We are so lucky to have her as a gluten-free blogger and as a friend in part of our community. 🙂 I can’t wait to meet her at the end of the month!
Best,
Shirley
Aubree Cherie says
I love Maggie’s recipes, how fun that you chose her this month for Adopt a Gluten Free Blogger. Can’t wait to try the almond shake 🙂 I’ve added it to my favorite recipes of last week post. Check it out! (if you want :)) Thanks, ~Aubree
Alta says
I love Maggie’s blog – although I think I need to spend even more time on it! This shake looks so good. I want one for lunch. LOL
Shirley says
Hi Alta–Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment. Maggie is super talented. Those of us who need to eat gluten free and dairy free can really benefit from her recipes. That shake is really, really good and it’s so pretty that you feel really pampered when drinking it, too. Use a special glass, and it would make a decent lunch, too. 😉
Hugs,
Shirley