GF Bread and Breadcrumbs

Hello and Welcome!

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)

      ·        1/4 cup of oil (we use grape seed oil, optional)

·        2 Tablespoons sugar (will work with Splenda)

·        4 egg whites (beaten for 2 to 5 minutes or until light & frothy)

·        3/4 cup plain yogurt (we use plain Greek yogurt, optional)

·        1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

·        1/2 teaspoon salt

·        1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum

·        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

Part Two: Tip

Gluten Free Bread Crumbs
(created by Anne Abbott)                                                             

·        1 Box of GF Corn Flakes

·        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

·        Sugar: Domino 10lb $5.98 or Splenda 1.2lbs $9.98 both at Sam's Club

·        Eggs: One dozen around $2.50 at Aldi's

·        Plain yogurt: Fage 35.3oz around $3.00 at Aldi's

·        Cornstarch: Argo 2.19lbs $2.48 at Sam's Club

·        Baking Soda: Arm & Hammer 13.5lbs $6.68 at Sam's Club

·        Salt: Morton Sea Salt 26oz $2.15 at Meijer

·        Xantham Gum: Bob's Red Mill 1/2lbs $11.00 average at local grocery stores

·        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.