Rosie's Gluten Free Sweets

Cheers to Ballroom Dancing & Chiffon Dresses

Jennifer Chanda — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 22:37:23 +0000

When I was a child, I remember my mom, Rose, getting ready to go out and celebrate the coming of the New Year. She loved to ballroom dance and I remember her beautiful chiffon dresses that would flow so freely when she twirled. I was always in awe of her beauty and her happiness when she danced.

The anticipation of her getting ready on New Year’s Eve always filled our apartment with excitement. When she finally left for the evening and the door was locked, I imagined my beautiful mom on the dance floor in all her glory. As hard as I tried to stay up to midnight and wait for her return, my eyes always failed me. I don’t imagine my keeper for the evening, one of my three sisters, would have allowed it anyway.

When the morning finally came, I couldn’t wait to hear about my mom’s evening. I always looked forward to the plastic lei and noise maker that when you twirled it by the handle would make this crazy sound. I still have one packed away somewhere.

I will always cherish these memories and so thankful for the impact it had on me all these years later. My mom taught me how joyous and beautiful it was to do something you loved.

Cheers to ballroom dancing and chiffon dresses! May the year 2026 bring you joy and beauty in abundance. Happy New Year and God Bless!

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Family

Jennifer Chanda — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:38:35 +0000

I’ve been watching the 2006 series *Brothers & Sisters*, starring Sally Field and a host of other well-known actors and actresses. I’m in the final season, and I’ve fallen in and out of love with all the characters and their lives. I’m most connected with Sally Field’s character, Nora. She reminds me a lot of myself. She’s exactly my age now, loves to cook and decorate, and loves her family fiercely. At the same time, she’s always trying to understand herself amidst a flurry of situations and opportunities. She’s not only the mother of her children, she’s someone they can always count on to be there when needed. The dinner table and the dynamic a gathering can bring is one of the main focuses of the series. I’ve made it through all the major holidays with this fictional family, and I have loved and also squirmed with each family dinner scenario.

With the holidays approaching and all the gatherings that will happen, it reminds me how precious family is, despite differences of opinion and the different seasons a person might be in. Sometimes it’s hard to be thankful when life has been less than fair. Sometimes, after all the shopping, cooking, decorating, and wrapping is done, there is little left in the tank to share.

The bottom line is we are not perfect, and despite the overabundance of noise and glitter the holidays can bring, joy, peace, and love are there for the taking. We must quiet our minds, unplug for a while, and take time to be grateful for all the blessings our Lord provides. May your gatherings be a reminder of the importance of family and the memories that are made, whether at the dinner table or across the miles.

Blessings to all!
Pam

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Celebrating Wonderful Mothers

Jennifer Chanda — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:48:45 +0000

This week, our bakery is bustling as we prepare special treats crafted with love by our bakers, all to celebrate the wonderful mothers in our lives. It’s a time for us to honor and appreciate the incredible role mothers play, filled with immense responsibilities and sacrifices in guiding their children to adulthood.

Motherhood is truly a journey of continuous learning, much like attending “mom” school with never-ending homework! It often involves countless hours of research and sleepless nights. Even after your own children have grown, the journey may continue with the joy of nurturing grandchildren, a prospect I’m personally embracing as a proud grandmother of five beautiful “Lovies.” They mean the world to me, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of their lives. It feels like I’m pursuing my doctorate in grand-mothering!

To all the mothers in our Rosie community, Happy Mother’s Day! May your day be filled with joy, knowing the profound difference you make in your children’s lives every single day. Cherish every moment, and don’t forget to take a little break for yourself now and then! Back in the day, we used to call it playing hooky!

Blessings,
Pam

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Wrapping Up the Year!

Jennifer Chanda — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:54:59 +0000

It’s that time of year again when we are literally wrapping up our year along with the Christmas presents, we’ve thoughtfully bought for friends and loved ones. Some of us have even begun to self-reflect on what this year has brought and how it was handled. For many, the world has become very complicated on all spectrums. I think it safe to say we are hanging on for dear life trying to find simplicity among chaos.

There is no doubt about it, we are all trying to fit in and wondering what will the New Year bring. As a small business owner, I’m always trying to navigate the endless challenges that appear and wondering what will come of it. My faith and relationship with the Lord have no doubt been my anchor. However, blind faith sometimes creeps in when I’m super busy and have lack of knowledge on certain subject matters. It certainly is an uncomfortable feeling and one I don’t personally recommend going into too often. If anything, blind faith should be a signal to dig those heals in and learn all you can about something so you can come to your own conclusions. It’s an opportunity to explore, grow, learn and then teach. Look to those you trust to find those answers you seek and no doubt the New Year will bring many opportunities and blessings.

Please know it has been a pleasure serving you this year and we thank you for trusting in us to make your life safe and a little easier. We are so blessed and look forward to celebrating with you throughout 2025.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pam

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Gluten Free Waffles

Jennifer Chanda — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:03:57 +0000

INGREDIENTS:

¼ cup granulated sugar

½ cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 cups Pamela’s Pancake & Baking Mix (I like this blend the best for waffles although it does contain cultured buttermilk).

½ teaspoon xanthan gum

4 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 ¾ cup milk (unsweetened dairy free milk alternatives work as well. However, you will use less milk about 1 ½ cups).

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a large bowl whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract and vegetable oil.
In a separate bowl, combine the GF flour blend, xanthan gum, baking powder and salt then add to egg mixture incorporating well.
Stir in the milk until batter is smooth. It will be on the thick side.
Pour batter onto a preheated waffle machine and grease if necessary.
Cook the waffles according to your machine’s directions.
Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

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Gluten & Dairy Free Sweet Cornbread

Jennifer Chanda — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:36:20 +0000

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups buttermilk (2 cups DF milk alternative plus 2 tablespoon lemon juice)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup melted DF butter (we use Earth Balance soy free buttery stick)

1 1/3 cups sugar

2 cups cornmeal

2 cups Rosie’s Gluten Free Flour Blend

1 teaspoon xanthan gum

1 teaspoon salt (only add if your DF butter does not contain salt)

ROSIE’S FLOUR BLEND (YIELDS 9 1/3 CUPS)

680 GRAMS WHITE RICE FLOUR

212 GRAMS BROWN RICE FLOUR

198 GRAMS POTATO STARCH

85 GRAMS TAPIOCA STARCH

INSTRUCTIONS:

Grease a 13×9-inch baking pan and set aside.
In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, prepare buttermilk then add baking soda and mix together and let sit 10 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, melt butter in microwave. Add sugar and use a spatula to incorporate butter. Add eggs. Add buttermilk to the butter/sugar/egg mixture and incorporate just until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together cornmeal, Rosie’s GF flour blend, and xanthan gum and salt if needed. Add to wet ingredients and stir. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch pan.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with crumbs only and top of cornbread doesn’t sink in if pressed with fingertip. Let cool at least 5 minutes or longer before eating.

The post Gluten & Dairy Free Sweet Cornbread first appeared on Rosie's Gluten Free Sweets.

Midwest Pockets of Joy

Jennifer Chanda — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 19:13:35 +0000

My husband and I just got back from a short getaway to Colorado. It was just what we both needed to refuel for a new seasonal change and what that means to us as a couple. We both own businesses so finding time to savior the bursts of colors, cooler weather and holding hands while walking our property is something we really try hard to make happen. As much as we both love the Fall, we know the challenges of it being the start to the busiest time of year.

Already our schedules are full and there’s no stopping the shorter days accompanied by the shortness of daylight. I could start to panic but I’ve learned that it’s ok to change up traditions and the perfect story I’ve created for myself. I’ve learned to ask for help and to let go of the control that I’ve clung to for years. Doing this has lessened the stress of trying to be perfect and to enjoy the pocket of moments that mean the most.

Today, those pockets are filled with family, friends and whatever inspires me to be just myself. My wish for all of you is that this coming season be filled with many pockets of Midwest joy and what that truly means for you…

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Patriotism at its best!

Jennifer Chanda — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 21:06:16 +0000

I can honestly say that this 4^th of July was pretty spectacular for us. As 1^st time participants in the Crystal Lake Parade this year, it was an experience of community spirit I will personally never forget. It was an absolute honor to have our Rosie Bug in the parade and many thanks to our Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce for hosting this much revered event.

As businesses gathered that Sunday before the start of the parade, the excitement was very real as people tail gated, took pictures and mingled. Never did I realize beyond our gathering point, the number of people and families that awaited us. Even a passing thunderstorm did not sway their intentions on celebrating with us.

As our car approached the point of entering the parade line, I was completely overwhelmed at what I saw. For as far as I could see, there were hundreds of people clothed in red, white and blue lining both sides of Dole Avenue. Sounds of cheering, clapping hands and music filled the air while children with outstretched arms reached for candy and trinkets. It immediately made me tear up to see such patriotism.

Our hearts were so full of joy that day and long after the parade was over, we talked about how that day affected us. I’m so proud to own a local business here in Crystal Lake. Thank you for your continued support of what we do and thank you for loving on us the way you did that Sunday! God Bless America!

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A Gluten Free Summer

Marlena Clark — Wed, 29 May 2024 20:17:10 +0000

I can hardly believe we are headed into the summer months. I can remember as a child growing up on the Northwest side of Chicago, what that meant. For me, it was playing with my ball until the sun set and my mom called for me from our apartment window. It meant listening for the ice cream truck play its infamous melody and scrambling to find a couple quarters somewhere in the house. If we were lucky, on really hot days, someone would open the fire hydrant at the end of our street and we would play in the water until the police turned it off. It also meant an occasional visit from a street vendor’s cart selling snow cones. Back then we didn’t worry about harmful dyes or whether something was gluten free or not.

Today it’s a whole different story as we navigate around what causes harm to our bodies and how we are going to deal with it. Summer today is much more complicated as we gather with others for barbeques, picnics, vacations and summer outings to our favorite places. It means reading labels, prepping beforehand, and sometimes going without rather than taking a chance.

The phrase “it is what it is” has become one of my favorites. It allows me to be ok with my current conditions and still make it a positive outcome – if I choose. I hope you choose to make it a positive outcome too as you enjoy all what summer has to offer. When you are ready, we are here for you. The bakery for many has become “the place” for those not wanting to be left out. It melts my heart to hear the stories you all share and if we can make your summer fun a little easier for you, then we have done our job. Cheers to making beautiful summer memories!

God Bless,
Pam

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Easter Blessings…in our new bakery

Jennifer Chanda — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 20:35:38 +0000

God’s bakery is in full swing as we prepare physically and mentally for the processing of all the Easter orders and foot traffic that we are always so blessed with. Our minds are busy calculating needed ingredients, packaging and production processes. The events leading up to our pre-determined pick-up dates have been discussed, transcribed and stowed away for safekeeping. How exciting to experience our first Easter in our new space and to know our sweets will grace the tables of many with food allergies. We are grateful for the God who gives us the talent and energy to provide such services. As each day drawers closer to celebrating the hope and light that is promised, we pray this Easter is extra special in knowing how much you are loved.

God Bless,
Pam

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