Saturday, August 13, 2011

Gluten Free Multi-grain pancakes


I was at the Farmer's market a few days ago and sampled a man's gluten free multi-grain pancakes.  He told me the grains that were in them and that they didn't contain extra starches.  They were all grains I had at home and I thought maybe I could make my own. I've had experience with the flavors of these grains (some are stronger than others).  So, I tried it this morning and this is the result.  My family is the best critic that I have and they all loved them (especially since Daddy made honey butter to go with them).  We have rid ourselves of our egg allergies and now can have eggs.  I have not tried them yet with flax eggs but will.  Let me know if you do.

1/4 cup quinoa flour
1/2 cup millet flour
1/4 cup teff flour
1 1/2 cup sorghum flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
3 tsp honey
2 cups milk (rice or other--I used rice)

Mix all the dry ingredients together and make sure any clumps are mixed in.  Mix the wet ingredients together (beat the eggs and add in the milk and honey).  Combine dry and wet ingredients--careful to not over mix.  Heat a non-stick skillet and pour 1/4 cup for each pancake.  Cook until bubbles are popping and can easily flip. Flip the pancake and continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes (depending on your burner).  Makes between 10 and 12 pancakes.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Easy Gluten Free Pie Crust

I was searching for a pie crust for my husband's birthday
because he loves pie and he just started the candida diet 
and was off gluten.  After a one attempt at a failed recipe, 
I found this recipe from the Gluten Free Dish.  My kids 
loved it.  They said it tasted likereal pie crust.  Instead of 
the soy free Earth Balance, I used organic butter and regular
shortening.  I also used guar gum instead of xanthan gum.  
Also, since we were off  of eggs I used a little rice milk 
brushed on it--it is fine without it too.

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Pie crust

1 1/2 cups of gluten-free flour mix*
1 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 Tablespoon agave nectar or Lakanto
4 Tablespoons Earth Balance Natural Margarine Soy-Free
6 Tablespoons Spectrum Natural Organic Shortening
3 Tablespoons water (if the water is ice cold it is harder to press into the pie pan)

Place the gf flour mix, salt, xanthan gum and agave nectar, Earth Balance Margarine and Spectrum Shortening in the food processor and pulse to mix. Add the water and process until it is mixed.

( It might be best to do the mixing in stages. First add the dry ingredients and pulse. Then add the Margarine and shortening and pulse. and then add the water and pulse again ) Since mine gives off an odor I have to send mine outside with the boys so I don't make them do all those steps.

Press with your hands into the pie pan that has been lightly greased with the shortening.

Use Egg wash over the pie crust once it has been pressed into the pan before filling. I used 1 egg YOLK mixed with about 1/2 Tablespoon of water and brushed on with my fingers and wiped up the excess with a paper towel. (My brush falls apart so I don't use it)

Baking time should be under 35-40 minutes for a 400 degree oven or the crust will begin to burn. Watch carefully. The agave nectar causes this to brown which I like. Perhaps using foil to cover the edges if you need to cook longer.

*My Gluten-Free Flour Mix (all are Bob's Red Mill)

1 1/2 cups sorghum flour
1 cup cornstarch or potato starch
1 cup tapioca starch
1/4 cup millet flour

GF Flour Mix/Bob's Red Mill Mix

This is a mix I have been using lately.  I got it from Debbie Ross at www.theglutenfreedish.com. I have used this in her pie crust recipe, tortillas, and general baking.

*My Gluten-Free Flour Mix (all are Bob's Red Mill) by Debbie Ross

1 1/2 cups sorghum flour
1 cup cornstarch or potato starch
1 cup tapioca starch
1/4 cup millet flour

Monday, April 25, 2011

Brown Rice Crackers by Cathi Olson

Brown Rice Crackers


I found this recipe last week and it tastes great.  Thumbs up from my kids and husband.  Add a flavor with some onion, garlic powder, etc.  Just for fun, I made it with black rice flour. They turned out a dark purple.  These are great for gluten free school lunches.  I sent my kids with these and some tuna to put on them--they really like it.


1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
2/3 cup cooked brown rice
1 tablespoons flax seeds (optional)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup oil (coconut, safflower, olive, etc.)
1/3 to 1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil large baking sheet. In bowl or food processor, mix flour, rice, flax seeds, salt, and oil until combined. Add water a little at a time until dough holds together. Pour onto floured surface and knead a few times to form a ball. Press or roll dough on baking sheet. Score into 1 1/2-inch squares. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until bottoms are golden brown. Cool before removing from pan.

Yield: about 3 dozen

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Awesome Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I made these pancakes this morning and my kids couldn't get enough and didn't want any syrup.  They even wanted them for lunch.  Of course I said, "Yes!"  Isn't it a mother's dream to have their children eat flax, beans, and buckwheat? I found this on allrecipes.com and changed it to fit our gluten free, egg free, dairy free lifestyle.  I made my buckwheat flour in my Blendtec.  If you don't have one of these awesome blenders you can use a coffee/spice grinder that is less than $10 at Saver's (2nd hand store) and it still blends it into flour just not as fine.  I haven't tried it but I thought I could also make them into muffins.  If anyone tries it, let me know.

Awesome Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Wet Ingredients:

2 cup rice milk
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 flax eggs or 2 eggs (2 tbsp flax meal + 3 tbsp water = 1 egg)
5 drops Stevia *(opt or use a small amount of sweetener of your choice)
6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 ripe mashed bananas


Dry Ingredients:

¾ cups gluten free flour (see below)
¾ cups buckwheat flour
 1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking soda
¼ cup mini chocolate chips 

Butter or oil for cooking


Gluten Free Flour Recipe

Amy’s Basic Flour Blend (Sorghum-Garfava Blend) from simplysugarandglutenfree.com
1 cup sorghum flour
1 cup garbanzo fava bean flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1/3 cup tapioca starch
Mix well; store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
For the Garbanzo-garfava variation: substitute garbanzo bean flour for sorghum flour.

Directions for Pancakes

In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, flax egg, **stevia drops and melted butter.  In another bowl, mix together gluten free flour, buckwheat flour,  salt and baking soda. Pour the dry ingredients into the egg-mixture. Stir until the two mixtures are just incorporated. Add chocolate chips and fold in.  Heat a griddle or large frying pan to medium-hot, and place 1 tablespoon of butter, margarine or oil into it. Let the butter melt before spooning the batter into the frying pan, form 4 inch pancakes out of the batter. Once bubbles form on the top of the pancakes, flip them over, and cook them on the other side for about 3 minutes. Continue with this process until all of the batter has been made into pancakes.

* the original recipe called for 1 tsp sugar
**If you are using a liquid sweetener mix it with the wet ingredients.  If you are using a dry sweetener mix it with the dry ingredients.


Monday, April 4, 2011

Gluten Free Pizza Crust

This recipe has passed the test.  My family loves it and neighbors too.  It can be very filling especially if you use the bean flour.  I got it off the web and changed it to to meet my needs.  I didn't find much difference when I took out the yeast so I make it yeast free.  If you want to try it with yeast add one tablespoon and warm up the milk to activate the yeast.  When I get my new USB cord I will put a picture.


Gluten Free Pizza Dough

1 1/3 brown rice flour (I use garbanzo/fava bean flour) 
1 cup tapioca flour
4  teaspoons guar gum (or xantham gum, or agar agar)
1  teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon italian seasoning
3  teaspoon sugar or 1 teaspoon honey or 1 teaspoon agave syrup (I'm sure you could use Stevia too, I just haven't tried it yet)
2 teaspoon olive oil
2 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 1/3 cup rice milk or other dairy alternative

Directions:

 Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Lightly oil a cookie sheet or pizza pan (without holes). In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients together.  In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients.  Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix together with a mixer.  The dough will be sticky.  Add some tapioca starch (or other gluten free flour/powder) to your hands and spread it on the greased cookie sheet/pizza pan. Shape it into the shape you want—12 in round pizza, rectangle shape of a cookie sheet, etc. Bake pizza crust for 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Spread pizza crust with your favorite sauce and toppings. Bake another 10 to 12 minutes (depending on your oven and how crispy you like your crust).

I have frozen this crust too and it freezes well.  It's a quick gluten free lunch that I send to school with my kids.  Who doesn't love pizza for lunch?


Egg Free Mayonnaise

With one of my sons allergic to eggs in addition to having him be dairy free and gluten free, I am under more pressure to come up with ideas for replacement foods.  I have learned that when you are limited on ingredients you are forced to use more creativity which is a blessing on most days.  Today was one of those days.  I wanted to find a way for our family to still enjoy tuna sandwiches (the bread is the next step). The idea came to me (from above) to use white beans with the thought of adding mayonnaise seasonings.  I tried it this afternoon by mixing it in with tuna fish and had my daughter taste test (without telling her of course).  I asked her if she could tell me what it needed. "More mayo" was her response.  Not, "Yuck, what is that!" I had my good friend Sharlene try it too and her response was, "It's tuna." That was the response I was looking for.  For dinner, I mixed it with some avacado, lime, onions, and cilantro and pureed it in my Blendtec to make a guacamole that everyone loved.  Having mayo opens up many more food possibilities and variety to our diet.  I am so grateful for inspiration from above.

2 cans white beans or 1 cup dry white beans, soaked overnight/cooked/drained--leave a little for moisture
1 teaspoon fine salt
1 teaspoon dry mustard
5 drops stevia (use which ever sweetener you like)
2 1/2 teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Pinch of paprika

Put in a food processor or blender and puree.