Thanks to the holidays, I have been baking a lot more than I usually do (which is pretty much not-at-all). My experiences with gluten-free baking in the past have not been all that great. To be honest, there's a bit of a love-hate relationship between me and gluten-free baked goods. "Love" when someone else makes it and "hate" when I do. Also, I have to contend with not only being gluten-free, but also being yeast-free as well --double whammy!
Anyway, this holiday season, I decided I would plan ahead and make my own gluten-free treats to take to holiday parties so that I wouldn't just go and have to watch everyone eat all the delicious food. I'll be trying to post more recipes as I go, but here's a synopsis of my current holiday favorites (which actually isn't all baking, but oh well!):
1) Chocolate Coconut Pie - Found this recipe on Pinterest and was surprised to see that it was a) relatively easy and b) completely gluten-free without any modifications whatsoever. I made two of these for Thanksgiving and I was pretty happy with the results. I will say that I'd like to try my hand at making this recipe a little lighter since it was so incredibly rich. Also, the crust was a little difficult to cut if you weren't careful.
2) Bob's Red Mill Shortbread Cookie Mix - I actually tossed these together last night after I got home from work. They were really quite simple and delicious, but (as with most gluten-free items) a bit on the dry and crumbly side. It may be heresy to do this to shortbread, but I'm thinking about adding a thin frosting (maybe a lemon glaze?) on top to add a little zing. Also, I found out last night that I don't own a rolling pin. I might need to remedy that. Last night I was rolling out cookies with the salt container...
3) Lastly, pumpkin pancakes! Yes, I know. It's not baking. BUT it was a fantastic holiday morning treat (especially after completing my first ever Turkey Trot). I modified Katie's recipe to toss out some delicious pumpkin pancakes that were just about perfect. They were a little too cakey for my taste, but future modifications can remedy that.
Happy Holiday and good luck on your gluten-free holiday baking adventures!
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Happy (Belated!) Gluten-Free Thanksgiving!
Just writing a quick note to say Happy Thanksgiving.
My holiday was deliciously gluten-free despite being at a family party where I'm the only one who has those specific dietary needs. It helps that I brought my own pie, snacks, and made part of the meal.
Two best things about yesterday? My mom was in town and she made gluten-free gravy (I know, I know, it's not that hard! But I just can't seem to get it right...) and gluten-free cookies that actually tasted good!
I made this pie. It was good, but oh-so-sweet. And it's ridiculously easy to make. Mine did not look as good as Martha's, though.
We also had three turkeys (yes, my family with just 18 people for Thanksgiving, roasted three turkeys), homemade cranberry sauce, cornbread, baked yams, mashed potatoes, the aforementioned gluten-free gravy, and tapioca jello. It was like all the nostalgia of childhood wrapped up on a plate.
My holiday was deliciously gluten-free despite being at a family party where I'm the only one who has those specific dietary needs. It helps that I brought my own pie, snacks, and made part of the meal.
Two best things about yesterday? My mom was in town and she made gluten-free gravy (I know, I know, it's not that hard! But I just can't seem to get it right...) and gluten-free cookies that actually tasted good!
I made this pie. It was good, but oh-so-sweet. And it's ridiculously easy to make. Mine did not look as good as Martha's, though.
We also had three turkeys (yes, my family with just 18 people for Thanksgiving, roasted three turkeys), homemade cranberry sauce, cornbread, baked yams, mashed potatoes, the aforementioned gluten-free gravy, and tapioca jello. It was like all the nostalgia of childhood wrapped up on a plate.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
I'm still here!
I kind of disappeared there for a while. So sorry. Between moving, new job, no wifi, and phone problems, it has really cut down both on the blog and on the Twitter account. Once I get my wifi set-up and my phone problems straightened out (using Twitter for almost all of the communications for this project and then having it flip out has not helped), I will be back and on top of things again, but for now...
I'm still here, still eating gluten-free and definitely dreading the upcoming holiday season. I think I'm just going to need to have a weekend of holiday baking so that I have something to take with me to the office, family parties, friends' parties, other miscellaneous holiday events.
A few weeks ago, I ran across this amazing Tumblr called wheniwentglutenfree. Yeah, it's all sorts of awesome. The .gif below (found via that lovely site) pretty much describes how I feel about the holidays.
(Source: whatshouldwecallme)
I'm still here, still eating gluten-free and definitely dreading the upcoming holiday season. I think I'm just going to need to have a weekend of holiday baking so that I have something to take with me to the office, family parties, friends' parties, other miscellaneous holiday events.
A few weeks ago, I ran across this amazing Tumblr called wheniwentglutenfree. Yeah, it's all sorts of awesome. The .gif below (found via that lovely site) pretty much describes how I feel about the holidays.
WHEN THE BREAD BASKET ARRIVES
(Source: whatshouldwecallme)
Monday, October 15, 2012
Squash Curry Soup
Yesterday was my down day after an amazing event on Saturday (Seriously, getting to give the Cleveland Foodbank the money to help serve 200,000 meals? Pretty incredible!). But as with most Sundays, I have to start thinking about what the week will hold for gluten-free lunches. Fortunately for me, I have this tendency to pick up ridiculous amounts of winter squash when autumn comes around, so there was no doubt in my mind what I was going to be working with.
Three butternut and one acorn squash were halved, cleaned out, and popped in the oven for baking. While that was working away, I started scavenging through my cupboards to see what I could find. The results? A can of coconut milk, cinnamon, turmeric, garlic, cayenne, and black pepper. That certainly sounded like a great addition and I decided to try my hand at a squash curry soup.
In a large soup pot, I combined the spices with some butter and then added the coconut milk and squash (I used one butternut and one acorn for this recipe). After adding some sage, and a half a round of chevre (I can't resist the call of cheese, I can't!), I put my immersion blender to use and it turned the combination into a creamy, rich golden soup. Upon final tasting I added some yellow mustard to try and cut through the richness.
All-in-all this turned out to be a pretty amazing soup. Hearty, flavorful, and full of fall flavor. Definitely looking forward to having this throughout the week!
Three butternut and one acorn squash were halved, cleaned out, and popped in the oven for baking. While that was working away, I started scavenging through my cupboards to see what I could find. The results? A can of coconut milk, cinnamon, turmeric, garlic, cayenne, and black pepper. That certainly sounded like a great addition and I decided to try my hand at a squash curry soup.
In a large soup pot, I combined the spices with some butter and then added the coconut milk and squash (I used one butternut and one acorn for this recipe). After adding some sage, and a half a round of chevre (I can't resist the call of cheese, I can't!), I put my immersion blender to use and it turned the combination into a creamy, rich golden soup. Upon final tasting I added some yellow mustard to try and cut through the richness.
All-in-all this turned out to be a pretty amazing soup. Hearty, flavorful, and full of fall flavor. Definitely looking forward to having this throughout the week!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Alternative Flours and Mixes Angst
One perk for me going gluten-free is that, because of relatively limited finances, I don’t have the option to buy those expensive flours, flour blends, and mixes. Oh right. That’s not a “perk” per se, but the eating healthier because of it definitely is! I’m forced now to eat a lot more in the way of whole foods than I ever had before.
But every now and then I just get this craving for a brownie. I REALLY miss brownies. I made these and they’re delicious, but they just aren’t the same (and almond flour or meal costs an arm and a leg). This has resulted in me not eating brownies (my favorite food group --and yes, they qualify as a food group all on their own) for several months.
I reached my breaking point yesterday and decided to buy a gluten-free brownie mix when I was out grocery-shopping. Can I just say this: “WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THE PRICES?” OK. Maybe a little bit of an over-reaction. I know that gluten-free alternatives are expensive. But really. Nine dollars for a cake or brownie mix? OK, so your flour mix works miracles, but if I can’t afford to buy it, let alone use it on a regular basis, it is useless to me.
In a haze of chocolate desperation, I broke down and dished out the $5 for the cheapest gluten-free brownie mix available and I tried it last night. But I’m not happy. I know that there are a lot of reasons that these items are so costly. Phrases like niche market, supply and demand, come to mind. I can afford to buy a couple extra cans of chickpeas. I cannot afford to buy Better Batter flour mixes. OK. I said it. I was really upset over the cost of Better Batter flour blend. Especially after hearing so much amazing stuff about it.
My go-to for treats is actually usually a Pinterest search for “paleo desserts”. I know the paleo diet gets a lot of flack, but they are definitely some of the best (and generally most affordable) recipes I’ve found out there for gluten-free desserts and treats. Especially when compared to the flour alternatives we’re working with now. If you follow my gluten-free board on Pinterest, you will see “paleo” recipes pop up on a regular basis. I’ve found several cookie and cake recipes that work really well by searching for paleo options. And I don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get the ingredients either.
But every now and then I just get this craving for a brownie. I REALLY miss brownies. I made these and they’re delicious, but they just aren’t the same (and almond flour or meal costs an arm and a leg). This has resulted in me not eating brownies (my favorite food group --and yes, they qualify as a food group all on their own) for several months.
I reached my breaking point yesterday and decided to buy a gluten-free brownie mix when I was out grocery-shopping. Can I just say this: “WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THE PRICES?” OK. Maybe a little bit of an over-reaction. I know that gluten-free alternatives are expensive. But really. Nine dollars for a cake or brownie mix? OK, so your flour mix works miracles, but if I can’t afford to buy it, let alone use it on a regular basis, it is useless to me.
In a haze of chocolate desperation, I broke down and dished out the $5 for the cheapest gluten-free brownie mix available and I tried it last night. But I’m not happy. I know that there are a lot of reasons that these items are so costly. Phrases like niche market, supply and demand, come to mind. I can afford to buy a couple extra cans of chickpeas. I cannot afford to buy Better Batter flour mixes. OK. I said it. I was really upset over the cost of Better Batter flour blend. Especially after hearing so much amazing stuff about it.
My go-to for treats is actually usually a Pinterest search for “paleo desserts”. I know the paleo diet gets a lot of flack, but they are definitely some of the best (and generally most affordable) recipes I’ve found out there for gluten-free desserts and treats. Especially when compared to the flour alternatives we’re working with now. If you follow my gluten-free board on Pinterest, you will see “paleo” recipes pop up on a regular basis. I’ve found several cookie and cake recipes that work really well by searching for paleo options. And I don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get the ingredients either.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Yes, they're gluten-free and, yes, they taste great!!
I based my recipe off of this fantastic recipe here, but I didn't have any regular gluten-free flour mix, so I decide to be inventive.
Preheat your oven at 450F.
I took four frozen chicken breasts and partially thawed them (I find still-slightly-frozen-chicken easier to chop up). After that, I cut them into just slightly-smaller-than-normal sizes for nuggets (think Chick-Fil-A sized nuggets).
In a large, Ziploc plastic bag, I combined equal parts chickpea flour and Parmesan cheese along with a combination of paprika, salt, pepper and cayenne. In all honesty, I added a little too much cayenne, but they're delicious. If you're not good with spicy, dial down or eliminate the cayenne all together.
Put the chicken in the plastic bag (if you're doing a lot like I was, this will have to be done in batches), seal the bag, and shake, coating all the pieces with the cheesy goodness. After that, I spread them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet and baked them for 15 minutes, flipped them and then backed for another seven.
The results? Spicy, super-moist, and really easy homemade chicken nuggets! This made enough for several meals and so far it looks like it reheats really well.
In hindsight: I had run out of parchment paper and foil, and that would've saved me a lot of trouble with the clean-up afterward.
I based my recipe off of this fantastic recipe here, but I didn't have any regular gluten-free flour mix, so I decide to be inventive.
Preheat your oven at 450F.
I took four frozen chicken breasts and partially thawed them (I find still-slightly-frozen-chicken easier to chop up). After that, I cut them into just slightly-smaller-than-normal sizes for nuggets (think Chick-Fil-A sized nuggets).
In a large, Ziploc plastic bag, I combined equal parts chickpea flour and Parmesan cheese along with a combination of paprika, salt, pepper and cayenne. In all honesty, I added a little too much cayenne, but they're delicious. If you're not good with spicy, dial down or eliminate the cayenne all together.
Put the chicken in the plastic bag (if you're doing a lot like I was, this will have to be done in batches), seal the bag, and shake, coating all the pieces with the cheesy goodness. After that, I spread them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet and baked them for 15 minutes, flipped them and then backed for another seven.
The results? Spicy, super-moist, and really easy homemade chicken nuggets! This made enough for several meals and so far it looks like it reheats really well.
In hindsight: I had run out of parchment paper and foil, and that would've saved me a lot of trouble with the clean-up afterward.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Pinterest Gave Me Hope
OK, as cheesy as it sounds, it's true. I'd been neglecting myself by not following a strict gluten-free regimen --and it was definitely showing, if we're to judge by the bouts of illness and exhaustion. So, when I started to seriously pursue a gluten-free lifestyle earlier this year, I turned to Pinterest.
I'd already been using Pinterest to track some of my favorite things: DIY ideas, my favorite color, favorite quotes, etc., so why not gluten-free recipes and ideas? Sure enough, this works! I now use Pinterest on an almost-daily basis to search for and track gluten-free recipes.
My gluten-free board is a daily inspiration to me that gluten-free food does not have to be tasteless, crumbly, and depressing --in fact, quite the opposite! I am a very visual person, so seeing amazing pictures of gluten-free food is a huge motivation for me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. Pinterest has given me: gluten-free crepes, cookies, entrees, desserts, and more. Cheesy, but true!
I'd already been using Pinterest to track some of my favorite things: DIY ideas, my favorite color, favorite quotes, etc., so why not gluten-free recipes and ideas? Sure enough, this works! I now use Pinterest on an almost-daily basis to search for and track gluten-free recipes.
My gluten-free board is a daily inspiration to me that gluten-free food does not have to be tasteless, crumbly, and depressing --in fact, quite the opposite! I am a very visual person, so seeing amazing pictures of gluten-free food is a huge motivation for me to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. Pinterest has given me: gluten-free crepes, cookies, entrees, desserts, and more. Cheesy, but true!
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