Gluten-Free Pumpkin Scones

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I don't know about you but I often look at things longingly in bakeries. Lately it's been pumpkin almost anything that I can't eat because it's always filled with gluten. Well I finally found a recipe that I was able to translate really well to gluten-free. I made mine dairy-free and it was just as delicious. The recipe includes the variation (it's pretty straight forward).
 
As with any recipe, make it a few times and it won't be hard. The key is to make sure the cold butter or vegetable shortening is incorporated well into the dry ingredients. You can do this either with a food processor (my favorite), a pastry blender (handheld tool) or two knives. This dish is great for breakfast or as a treat with a cup of tea or coffee.

 Adapted from http://livlifetoo.blogspot.com/2010/10/pumpkin-scones.html 

Makes approximately 12-14 medium sized scones
 
6 tablespoons butter or vegetable shortening, cut into chunks

Dry Ingredients:
1 ½ cups Amy’s Gluten-Free Flour Blend
½ cup almond meal (or all gluten-free flour)
Scant ½ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon xanthan gum
½ teaspoon sea or kosher salt
Heaping ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Heaping ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
3 tablespoons half and half or 2 ½ tablespoons almond or soy milk + ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large egg
1/2 cup canned pumpkin

Egg Wash:
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk or milk substitute
Coarse sugar (for example, turbinado)                                    

Sugar Glaze Ingredients:
½ cup powdered sugar
¾ to 1 tablespoon milk or milk substitute

1. Preheat oven to 400˚F.  Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
2. Place butter or shortening in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Measure the dry ingredients while it chills.
3. Combine the dry ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse about 5-10 times until dry ingredients are mixed well.
4. In a medium to large bowl, beat the eggs first, then add the milk and pumpkin. Set aside.
5. To the bowl of the food processor, add the chilled butter or shortening. Pulse 20-30 seconds or until mixture looks like grated parmesan cheese. You can also use a pastry blender to blend the butter or shortening with the dry ingredients.
6. Gently mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients with a spatula. Form into a ball.
7. Place some gluten-free flour on a clean counter. Place the dough on the counter and pat into a rectangle about 1” thick.
8. Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut into triangles. Transfer to the baking sheet.
9. To make the egg wash, mix egg and milk or milk substitute in a small bowl. Brush each scone with the wash. Sprinkle each scone with coarse sugar.
10. Place in oven and bake about 12-15 minutes or until scones are golden brown. Scones should be crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.
11. After about 3 minutes, transfer to a wire rack.
12. Once cool, prepare the sugar glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth.  If it’s too runny, add more sugar.  If too thick, add a little more milk until reaching desired consistency.  Drizzle the glaze over the top of each cooled scone and enjoy. 

5 Tips for Enjoying a Gluten-Free Expo

If you have never been to a gluten-free expo before put on by the very talented and organized people from the Gluten-Free Allergen-Free Expo, you are in for a treat. I will be attending their Dallas expo this weekend; it will be my third with them. After looking through some photos, I thought of some things that might be helpful if this is your first time:

1. Come hungry! There will be many, many samples to try. However, the one caveat is that they tend to be starchy so have a good breakfast with some protein that day. You might even want to have some (gluten-free) protein on you in case you start to fade.

2. Drink water. All of that walking around, sampling, and talking can make you thirsty.

3. Wear comfortable shoes. Did I mention there's a lot of walking? And expect to be tired at the end.

4. Bring an extra bag or two. Vendors have lots of giveaways. You never know what you might go home with (perhaps a cookbook or two??).

5. Have fun and socialize! These expos are a great time to not only meet vendors but other people who are in the same boat as you. Talking to people who have a food intolerance or sensitivity with you or a family member can really make you feel "normal". I know that some times I feel like I'm the only one out there (especially when I travel or I'm out, watching people eat bread, pizza or cookies). It's nice to know we have a community. Make the most of it. Talk to the vendors as well. It's always interesting to find out how they got started. Who knows; maybe you will meet Gluten-Freeda or Kyra from Crave Bake Shop?!

Check out these photos of past expos.

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