Gluten Free Flour Mix

 As you all know by now I have been experimenting with developing a new GF flour mix that is free of rice flours, and other flours that are in the grass family because of my personal grass and wheat allergies. Seems that all these years with having a wheat allergy, I had forgotten I am also allergic to grass...Ugh! No wonder I have still felt sick sometimes after eating, even when I watched what I ate.

First I will let you know I have been doing ALOT of praying over this issue. I have found over the years that so many of the GF flour blends on the market have just had such a bland taste, or else loaded with "fillers" as I will call them, such as coconut, nuts, chips, etc to camouflage  that missing flavor. Not to mention  that  many are made with flours such as coconut and other nut flours to which many are also allergic. Bean flours if not used correctly can, well, taste like beans! Rice....well ....It's easily available, cheap, and pretty much in everything. It's also pretty bland in taste and it still needs help from other flours and starches to make a blend,  just like all others do, as they can not stand on their own. It's also in the grass family.

I finally got sick n tired of being sick n tired. I know, I know......It's expensive to eat and bake gluten free. Trying this brand, that brand, only to be disappointed most times in the end, for which I am sorry. Believe me, I know exactly how you feel!

I have spent countless days and nights doing research on flours and formulas others have used, or tried. I have tried products that filled my stomach but did not satisfy my taste buds. I have spend hundreds, NO, thousands of $$$$$$$'s over the years on premade mixes and bags of GF  flours trying to create my own blend. Even now my pantry is filled with hundreds, and hundreds of dollars worth of gluten free flours and starches with which I have been experimenting with trying to find the perfect blend  that I can use. One that not only will give me the taste of "NORMAL" baked goods, but also be safe for my individual allergies, as well as yours.

I recently made a loaf of gluten free bread that rose well, as a matter of fact, it overflowed the pan, but that's another story in itself...My fault... It has such a bendable texture, nice air pockets, and toasts beautifully. Compared to most GF breads on the market I give it a big thumbs up! I have tried many GF breads, even reviewed a few on the blog. The bread I recently made with my blend, taste  more like that of a whole wheat bread than regular white, but that is fine by me, because I know what went into it.

Then I tried the same flour blend and made GF chocolate chip cookies with it. I have to tell you that I am so pleased with how these turned out! I took some to my neighbors and they said they were delicious, and they DO NOT even eat gluten free!

Thirdly I made chocolate cupcakes today, YES, with the same flour blend, and they rose, taste, and have crumbs just like gluten laden cupcake mixes you buy in the supermarked. Did I mention they are DELICIOUS!!!!  So I will be continuing to tweek, and try several more recipes with this blend before sharing. I may even be working on a cookbook in the near future. If this flour mix can work for breads, cookies, and cakes as well, then I have been truly blessed! It may truly be a substitute as a true 1 to 1. Oh, and did I tell you, it is 120 grams per cup, just like regular white flour......OH YEAH! 

So till next time,

Sharon

 Deuteronomy 28:12

The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand.

Gluten Free, and Free from Pop Up Advertisements

 Hi everyone. Just wanted you all to know that Wheat Free Living  and Me is totally free from  "Pop Up Advertising"...

Nothing irritates me more than visiting a popular site and having those "Pop up Advertisements" POPPING up everywhere. It disrupts me and I actually can't get off of that site quick  enough!  It's really irritating trying to read a recipe, collect information, or order something you see, when you keep having to stop and x out a "pop up"! Ugh....

If you are interested in a product, or products on my site, you can click on the store buttons to the right on my page and check out what they have to offer. It's that simple! So stop in and browse the stores, and Happy Shopping!

Easy, Quick, ,Gluten Free Pancakes

 In case you haven't dropped by lately you might not know that my "retired" husband has gone back to work once more. Yes, life does seem to be somewhat of a roller coaster ride as of late...So each morning I have the pleasant task of making a hearty breakfast for the two of us to start the day since he is now working from home.

We have had eggs and bacon, scrambled eggs, french toast, you name it.  I am pretty much tired of looking at eggs. All were gluten free, but I have been having visions of eggs in my dreams...

Today I thought I would step it up and make pancakes. He likes his plain, and I like mine with mini chocolate chips. I know that with having kidney disease I need to limit my  intake of certain foods, so mini chocolate chips gave me just enough of the chocolaty flavor I needed but not too much of the "potassium or phosphorus" that my kidneys DON'T need. As per my husbands input, the King Arthurs flour mix I used is already sugar free, and I used Allulose when following the recipe to help watch his sugar intake for his diabetic concerns. Yes, we are getting older and our bodies are not what they use to be. That is why it is so important to watch your diet now a days.

Have you ever done research on the sodium, fats, etc that the fast food industry has in their food. Not to mention being over processed, loaded with sodium and preservatives , that even I don't know how to pronounce! Gluten Free living can be easy once you learn the in's and out's. But just like everything in life, it can take time and patience. Even after years, I am still learning new tricks. Todays recipe was super easy, gluten free, low sugar, and very tasty. Even though the flour mix contains rice flours, I am still committed to developing one that is "grass" free, and continue to slowly wean myself off of them...

The regular recipe called for buttermilk, but since I was adding  chocolate chips to mine I used regular milk. You could also try Almond or Oat milk if you want, but the results will give you a different taste, possibly texture also, ..some adjustments may need to be made.

I hope you will enjoy as much as we did.

Please note: I always measure my GF flour by weight. If you measure by dry cups you may get a different result. Therefore I am also including dry cup flour measurements for your convenience.

Ingredients:

1 large egg

2T Allulose ( or 2 T regular or coconut sugar )

1 teas pure vanilla extract ( I used McCormick as I love the flavor )

2 T neutral tasting oil, such as vegetable oil, avocado oil, or refined coconut oil

3/4 cup regular milk, or milk of your choice, even buttermilk

  

Ingredients:

1 cup King Arthur all purpose Gluten Free flour blend, ( 124 gr)

1 T fresh baking baking powder  ( yes 1 T, helps make a nice rise)

1 large pinch of salt

In a medium bowl crack the egg, add the 2 T sugar, or sugar substitute, 2 T neutral oil, vanilla and milk. Whisk vigorously until fully combined.

In seperate bowl combine the GF flour, 1T fresh baking powder, and 1 large pinch of salt until blended well. 

Add the wet mixture to the dry and whisk until blended. Adding more milk, 1 T at a time, if needed, to reach the desired texture. I added 1 T extra milk at this point and it was perfect for me.

I preheated my griddle right before I added the liquid to the dry so I could directly pour  the batter onto the pre-heated griddle. Let the pancakes cook until you see bubbles starting to form on top, or lightly lift corner of pancake to see if its browned before flipping. Once golden brown  flip to the other side.

Transfer cooked pancakes to a large plate and continue cooking. I found the recipe made 5 fairly large, thick pancakes. They were tender, moist, and a definite recipe to keep and remake.

I hope you enjoy. If you try the recipe please leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts.

PS: I'm still working on my GF, grass free, grain flour blend. I ordered some more flours to try, and it's coming along better than I thought, so hopefully you will be hearing about it soon with some new recipes.

Ezekiel 16:19

"Also My food which I gave you---the pastry of fine flour, oil, and honey which I fed you---you set it before them as sweet incense; and so it was", says the LORD GOD.