As a youth I discovered a passion for baking. One of my
favorite activities during the summer was baking homemade bread. There was
something about kneading the dough, letting it rise, punching it and then the
smell wafting through the house as it baked…yummy. It made my heart grow warm
knowing I had created something to share with my family. So when it came to gf
baking the transition was interesting to say the least. I remember a chocolate chip
cookie recipe that while it was baking smelled like burning plastic. The dough
tasted funny to me too. However after their time in the oven and cooling they
tasted just like the gluten version. (don’t’ worry I have better recipes then
that to share, lol) Gf baking is a different world then “traditional” baking. For
those of you who already gf bake know the difference in smells, consistency,
and timing. Baking gf is not difficult; it’s actually in some ways easier. A
couple of tips; always separate your eggs and fluff the whites and fold into
the batter for a lighter end result, and lining the pan with parchment paper
then greasing the paper creates an easy transfer from pan to plate. The recipe
below is simple and averages $1.75 a loaf (using the low cost options shown
below).
Part One: Recipe
Everyday Loaf Corn-based
(YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT'S GLUTEN-FREE! BY ROBEN RYBERG)
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1/4 cup of oil (we use grape seed oil, optional)(YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT'S GLUTEN-FREE! BY ROBEN RYBERG)
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2 Tablespoons sugar (will work with Splenda)
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4 egg whites (beaten for 2 to 5 minutes or until
light & frothy)
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3/4 cup plain yogurt (we use plain Greek yogurt, optional)
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1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
·
1/2 teaspoon salt
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1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
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1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
i.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a medium-size loaf pan.
(parchment paper is your friend, optional)
ii.
Cream the oil and sugar in a medium-sized bowl. Add the beaten egg whites
and fold in until very frothy. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix well.
iii.
Pour into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for approximately 60 minutes, until
golden brown. the bread should test cleanly with a toothpick.
Serves 12
Gluten Free Bread Crumbs
(created by Anne Abbott)
(created by Anne Abbott)
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1 Box of GF Corn Flakes
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Any left-over gf bread, ex: bread heals
Add a box of corn flakes and left over bread into a food processor and
blend till breadcrumb size. Put into desired container and store in freezer.
When you’re using breadcrumbs in different recipes add spices/herbs to your
liking to compliment the dish. Our
family uses these breadcrumbs for chicken fingers, fish sticks, and eggplant
parmesan to name a few. Enjoy;)
Part Three: Educational
Cornstarch is the starch of the corn (maize) grain obtained
from the endosperm of the corn kernel. (Wikipedia)
Cornstarch has basically become our substitute for flour because it is easy
to find, cost is low and has a wide range of uses. We often use it as a
thickener for soups, gravies, and sauces. It can even be used to coat protein
before cooking. Please note that it acts a little different then flour. When
making gf gravy for Thanksgiving I create a slurry by adding 1 part cornstarch
2 part cold water and stirring with a fork till smooth. Then combine to the broth
till desired consistency. If it is added directly into the cooking food it will
form lumps that are difficult to mash out for a smooth mixture (as discovered
at my first gf Thanksgiving, lol). A good website which goes into further
details about conversions of flour to cornstarch is missvickie.com/howto/cornstarch.htm
aka All About Cornstarch.
Part Four: New Item
Wildtree all-natural gourmet culinary blends, infused Grape seed oils, dressings and
sauces.
I am always looking for quick and easy ways to create tasteful and healthy
meals for my family. After attending a Wildtree party last year I discovered
several gluten free products from this company to add me in my quest. Not all
of their products are gluten free, but they have many gf options and all their
items are natural. They have a gf cake mix which is one of the best we have
ever used. Many of their culinary blends
are gf too. I personally love the Garlic & Herb blend which I often use in
combination with the gf breadcrumbs when creating such dishes as eggplant
parmesan. It has been helpful over the past year to have their mixes in our
pantry as a backup.
Part Five: Grocery List
·
Oil: Member's Mark Pure Olive Oil 3L $10.98 at Sam's Club or Natural Grape seed Oil 64fl.ozs suggested price $50.00 at
Wildtree
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Sugar: Domino 10lb $5.98 or Splenda 1.2lbs $9.98 both at Sam's Club
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Eggs: One dozen around $2.50 at Aldi's
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Plain yogurt: Fage 35.3oz around $3.00 at Aldi's
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Cornstarch: Argo 2.19lbs $2.48 at Sam's Club
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Baking Soda: Arm & Hammer 13.5lbs $6.68 at Sam's Club
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Salt: Morton Sea Salt 26oz $2.15 at Meijer
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Xantham Gum: Bob's Red Mill 1/2lbs $11.00 average at local grocery stores
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Apple Cider Vinegar: 2 one gallon jugs $3.58 at Sam's Club
Please note that prices may vary with locations different then Central
Ohio.
Thank you for visiting! Look for our next blog coming soon featuring kid
friendly chicken fingers, tips on a quick and easy breakfast smoothie, and
learn about flaxseed.