Sunny Valley Wheat Free scones

We had a lovely party the other day, in the backyard during scorching heat. I'd call it a baby shower -- technically, it was, since dear friends were there to celebrate the impending arrival of Little Bean -- but we didn't play any games with balloons under the shirt or ribbons made into a hat. (god forbid that awful one involving a melted Snickers and a diaper.) Instead, dozens of us — men and women both — sat under the shade trees, told stories, and ate great food.

My good friend Karen arrived with a big box of scones in her hands. She has to eat gluten-free as well, so I knew she hadn't just stopped at a bakery at the last moment. "I found these at this gluten-free bakery in Maple Valley. We just happened to stop through there, and I couldn't resist."

"Oh, you mean Sunny Valley Wheat Free?"

"Yeah!" she exclaimed. "How did you know?"

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Deann Schoeler, the brainstorm behind the bakery, at a gluten-free event here in town. She's lovely, and the few goods of hers I tried that day made me want to visit the store. But a certain little someone growing larger prevented the trip over there.

But Karen brought me scones.

Believe it or not, there was so much food piled on the picnic table that afternoon that I didn't have the chance to eat a scone. By the evening, some of the icing had melted, so I put the plastic container in the freezer.

Oh yeah.

I think these are probably best straight from the freezer. One afternoon, I left a scone out to see what it might taste like thawed. The cranberry orange taste was sharp and lively, but the scone turned into little crumbs all around me. They're better from the freezer — they don't actually freeze — where the texture maintains its integrity.

I'm usually not a fan of white rice flour and tapioca baked goods. They strike me as starchy, and the remnants of each bite cling to the teeth. But these scones feel different. They hold up. Their simplicity lets the flavors shine through.

Little Bean has been enjoying these. Thank goodness I am finished with the carton soon. I haven't eaten this much sugar through the entire pregnancy. But I just can't resist reaching into the freezer for a scone I can eat.

Check out the Sunny Valley online shopping site. Even if you live far away from Seattle, and you don't have a friend to bring you scones, you might want to buy some of these.