This has been the oddest holiday season we’ve had in a long time. Not bad, not sad…but different. Several traditions have had to be put aside and my usual elaborate planning has been tossed out the window. Maybe it’s because I was outta commission for 11 days after Thanksgiving. (I got really sick) Whatever the reason friends, I’m not bothered.
I told The Husband on Sunday morning during our coffee-talk, “I’m not down about things being so different this year…I believe God’s not surprised…I’m just interested to see how He brings it all together from here on out!”
Normally by now, I’ve had several baking days and prepared lots of goodies for The Husband to take into his office and share and for us to nibble on at night in front of the fire. (Of course we always have an extra 5 lbs to take off in January!)
But this year I haven’t baked, so I asked him what holiday treat he wanted me to make. His brow furrowed and he glared at me like I was asking a trick question, after all, this is our first Christmas since my Celiac Disease diagnosis and most of our favorite holiday treats are full of dreaded gluten.
“Could you figure out how to do Plaza Park Squares without the gluten?”
This is one of his favorite Christmas treats. I’ve been making it since I got the recipe nearly 20 years ago from my friend Leslie and her mom Cinda.
*** If you aren’t gluten-free don’t try this version, try one of the two originals…(Original recipe HERE & a yummy variation of the original HERE!)
Here’s what I came up with…it didn’t come out quite like the original but it is tasty!
Plaza Park Pie~Gluten Free Easily
2 boxes yellow cake mix~gluten free
2 eggs
2 sticks butter-really soft, near melted
1 bag of snack size Heath Bars-chopped into small pieces
Mix everything by hand, not mixer!
Press into 2 well greased pie pans (press well)
*****
Use a mixer for this part!
For topping…
1 box powdered sugar(powdered sugar)
1 (8 oz) cream cheese softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix using a hand or stand up mixer and spread over Heath bar mixtures in pie plates.
Bake at 350* for 40 to 50 minutes
The top should be light brown with a thin crispy layer and gooey underneath, the topping should not be runny
***If the top starts to get too brown during baking, cover with foil***
Let cool and the cut into small pieces!
*****
So, how are you doing? Are you having a pretty normal Christmas season?
~Sending you love today my friends, and wishes for you to have peaceful week ahead~
dad says
December 12, 2011 at 7:39 amWhat do think about replacing Heath Bars with
Hershey or Hershey with Almonds?
Robin says
December 14, 2011 at 7:15 amDaddy, yummmm, sounds so good! xo
Andy says
December 12, 2011 at 7:41 amSounds very tasty. I hope you had a. great weekend !!!
Julie Garmon says
December 12, 2011 at 10:59 amYUM. I’ve never heard of these babies. Got to try them! Thank you.
Jenn says
December 12, 2011 at 2:42 pmSo far, the boy was sick over Thanksgivng and now the man has been sick this past weekend. A colleague at work is sick, and I accidentally drank from his STRAW!! It was a major cooties moment, and I couldn’t think of anything to do , but I wanted to wash my mouth out with some sort of disinfectant! Trying so hard to stay healthy, but have laid it to rest, knowing that if I do, it won’t surprise the Father.
Made a batch of “toffee” (see my pinterest board and find pretzel chocolate sea salt bark, which you could make with g-f pretzels!), but it never made it to the gift boxes as intended. Same thing happened with batch of chocolate mint cookies. So, it’s gonna be what it’s gonna be this year!
Hope you are really on the mend now! Love your attitude about the season. And think about this–you won’t have 5 lbs to lose in a few weeks!
Robin says
December 14, 2011 at 7:14 amJenn, you crack me up wanting to wash you mouth out!!!! And I’ve gotta head over to your pinterest board…Hope hubby feels oh so much better soooooooon! xo
Carol Copeland says
December 12, 2011 at 3:39 pmThis is my first Christmas with Celiac as well. I love to bake, so it is quite an adjustment. We celebrated with all 4 of my kids this past weekend since my son is on leave and going back to Afghanistan on the 19th. I did make one recipe for everyone of my Fairy Drop cookies, probably something I will continue to do for them every year. I use my Grandma’s vintage cookie press, and it always makes me think of her, and these cookies are so very loved around here. I wanted to make as much of the stuff that I used to make and was pleasantly surprised at the things I was able to make GF. I made buckeyes with Jiff peanut butter, rice krispie treats with the new GF Rice Krispies, puppy chow with Chex and used Jiff again, and peanut butter fudge with Jiff and marshmallow Fluff. Was nice to be able to serve stuff I could eat that everyone else likes as well !! Another sad thing was giving up attending a cookie/ornament exchange I’ve been attending for 10 years… the appetizers she serves, plus all those gluten-filled cookies, would just be too much to bear !! Instead, I am hosting a GF cookie exchange this weekend with a few girls — wish you were closer and could come !! I don’t like change and cherish traditions, but this past year has certainly been quite a year of change, so I am learning to embrace it and make new traditions !! So thankful that the Father’s love and who I am in Christ will never change 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful holiday season and can embrace the changes as well !! XOXOXO
Robin says
December 14, 2011 at 7:13 amCarol! Oh honey, I wish I were closer too! love the GF cookie exchange! Brilliant. I’m sending you hugs and love and thanks! You’ve given me a wonderful list of treats to make this week for our family party on Saturday!
And I pray for your boy…that The Father would guard his way, keep him safe and give him joy in his journey during the coming months. And for all the family that misses him, I pray peace. love to you my friend and thank you for your sacrifice…
xo
Gina says
December 12, 2011 at 4:19 pmI’m going to check out the regular recipe. 😉 My Christmas hasn’t been the same for other reasons but I am trying to focus on the real meaning. It’s really not about gifts, food or even family (gasp.) Those things are nice though. 🙂
Robin says
December 14, 2011 at 7:08 amGina…hugs. You’ll LOVE the original, and it’s so super easy! xoxo