Grumpy’s Cafe

Cleveland Tremont neighborhood and a gluten-free menu:)

grumpys-cafe.com

2621 W 14th St
Cleveland, OH 44113

Tremont Area

(216) 241-5025

Anne writes:

Went to Grumpy’s for lunch last Thursday (April 23).  Have been going there for lunch occasionally for years and always had to be careful to get a gluten-free meal.  Surprise!  They had a gluten-free menu available last Thursday – and it contained lots of items, including 2 varieties of fried potatoes.  I had the jambalaya and Cajun fries and it was heavenly!

Easy Holiday Gift Cookies

1-2 packages gluten-free cake mix (enough for 2 layers)

1/2 cup gluten free flour mix

1/3 cup canola oil

2-3 eggs

4 ounces applesauce

6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans, or other nuts (optional)

Mix and blend well all ingredients except chocolate chips and nuts in a large bowl.

Gently stir in chips and nuts.

Place teaspoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes.

Allow to cool. Cookies will be light and cake-like. Place 10 to 12 cookies on a small decorative plate, cover with colored cellophane and tie with a bright ribbon. Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies.

Hints: If cookies appear to stick to cookie sheet a bit, spray cookie sheet with a little cooking spray.
Try different types of cake mixes and add-in ingredients, such as white chocolate chips, different kinds of nuts – or maybe cereals?, M & M’s or other candies, etc. – fun to experiment! Cookies could be frosted a bit, too, if desired.

Cornmeal Thumbprints

2 cups gluten-free flour blend (add xanthan or guar gum, according to package directions if flour does not contain any)

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon salt

10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

2/3 cups granulated sugar

2 teaspoons lemon zest

3 large egg yolks

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 tablespoons black currant jam (or other jam of your choice)

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Whisk together flour, cornmeal and salt in large bowl.

With mixer, cream together butter, sugar and lemon zest 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg yolks. Add vanilla. Add flour and cornmeal mixture. Mix until no flour pockets remain.

Shape rounded tablespoonfuls of dough into balls.
Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet 1 inch apart.
Bake 5 minutes and remove from oven.
If not too hot, use thumb (or use end of a wooden spoon handle or anything that works)
to make a deep indentation in each cookie.
(Dip thumb or spoon, etc. in ice water before each press.)
Edges will crack when you do this.
Return to oven for another 5 to 8 minutes, until bottoms are golden.

While cookies are still warm, fill centers with jam.
Transfer to rack to finish cooling.

Pizzelle Cookies

Copyright1995-2006 Scott Adams

1/2 cup butter or margarine

2/3 cup sugar

3 eggs

2 cups gluten-free flour

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
(unless gluten-free flour contains xanthan or guar gum,
if so, omit adding more)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

pinch of salt

Melt butter or margarine on a low heat in a small sauce pan. Beat eggs in a large bowl and add vanilla. Add sugar to egg mixture and beat well. After butter has melted, allow to cool slightly and then add to egg and sugar mixture. Sift in flour, baking power and xanthan gum, if needed, into the wet mixture, stirring well to ensure all flour is completely mixed. Bake using pizzelle iron. Makes about 2 dozen.

NEOCN November Notes

Some thoughts on this time of year, Thanksgiving and all that entails –

‘Gratitude. More aware of what you have than what you don’t. Recognizing the treasure in the simple – a child’s hug, fertile soil, a golden sunset. Relishing in the comfort of the common – a warm bed, a hot meal, a clean shirt.’ -Max Lucado

Some gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner suggestions . . .

For a moist and flavorful stuffing: ‘Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing’

Another way to serve sweet potatoes: ‘Sweet Potato Souffle’

Green Bean Casserole: follow the usual recipe, but use gluten-free Cream of Mushroom soup (such as Progresso’s) and (gluten-free) Fried Onions from an Asian Market, such as Park To Shop, 1580 East 30th St., Cleveland.

Serve gluten-free breads or rolls.

Use cornstarch to make your gravy.

There are many gluten-free pie crust options you can use for your pies.

(Or save yourself some time by purchasing from one of our many gluten-free bakers/bakeries: ‘Grocery and Bakery List’ )

We are grateful for “what we have” (including delicious gluten-free food).

Happy Thanksgiving!