Gluten Free Bread review:

Today I received my order from Gluten Free Mall. (Featured to the right of the blog).  I was pleasantly pleased at how fast I received my order, within four days to be exact. All my products were intact, the box was packed with bubble wrap, and even had a small freezer bag to keep my candy bar from melting. That's what I call service.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post I had ordered two loaves of bread from Bfree to try, and then give a review on them. A white loaf, and a brown seeded loaf. I have never tried their products before, actually never heard of them either until I found them at the Gfree Mall. 

If you have read my blog for any length of time you will know I am somewhat a bit picky about my gluten free bread. I have tried throughout the years many store-bought loaves and most of them have been tasteless, had a bad mouth feel, or just too expensive for my budget. Hence is why you will also notice many gluten free bread recipes posted here. Some oven recipes, some recipes using a bread maker. We all have busy lives and therefore don't always have time in the kitchen to bake, or else we prefer baking more enjoyable treats, like cookies and cakes.... guess that explains the few extra pounds I've noticed lately...

The loaves were exactly what I was hoping for! First let’s start with the white loaf. It reminds me of the WONDER bread I grew up eating. It kind of has that spongy texture that I remember more than the exact taste of the bread itself.  Yet it did not disappoint. I toasted it and smeared it with just a little butter so as to get the real taste of the bread. I found that the crust toasted quicker than the toast itself, so I just turned the toaster a little lower and toasted a second time to ensure it was toasted all over. 

The crunch was even, the mouth feel is almost to the perfection as if I was eating regular gluten bread. It is a nice thin slice, which is good, as the slices are actually a little longer than a loaf of regular white gluten bread. All in all, I would give this 4 1/2 stars, but only because the brown seeded loaf exceeded my highest expectations!

The brown seeded loaf has that chewiness that a regular gluten wheat bread might have. It toasted perfectly on my toasters lower setting, The edges were crunchy, the center moist and chewy, and the flavor I have to admit was the best flavor of any gluten free bread I have tried in years. So, I definitely give this loaf a 5-star rating!

The carb and sugar count in the brown seeded loaf is also lower, so my husband being a diabetic, says it’s even suitable for him to eat. He really enjoyed the flavor and crunch it had also. So, I guess hands up its a winner for both of us.

I really must say that if you haven’t tried Bfree's breads yet you are really missing out. If you can find them in a store local to you, I suggest giving them a try. If you can't find them locally you can purchase them to the right of this page in the Gfree Mall. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with their goodness.

Until next post,

Sharon

 

Gluten Free Linner.....

Ok. I know you are curious as to what exactly Linner is. Well to my 44-year-old daughter it’s a combination of lunch and dinner. Therefore, the combination gets its new founded name of Linner. She has many shortened names for pretty much everything but that’s a story for another time.

Today my husband wanted me to try a new recipe for him that he found in a magazine. Since he is diabetic, he is trying really hard to not eat as much meat. Hey, if its gluten free, then I'm all ears! It was actually one of the easiest recipes I have ever made, so I happily enjoyed the feast with him as well. He was one happy camper. Well, we don’t actually camp, but the recipe is sooooo easy that you could actually make it when camping. The only fresh item you need is spinach, all the other ingredients are spices and canned garbanzo beans. It was quick, tasty, and filling.

Now I have not really ever been a big fan of spinach, but the spices and beans blended so well together that the bitter taste of the spinach actually played well off of them. I pride myself on trying to make things easy when it comes to meal planning since most of my time always seems to be taken up trying for that fresh loaf of bread, or dessert, that tastes so much like what we were all use to eating in a gluten infected world, yet gluten free. I’m sure you can relate to that!

We don't always have time to make bread, cookies, or cakes when life is so hectic. Raising kids, working, being grandparents, or even just daily chores. So, to help you out I have added several new Affiliates to my site to help make your hectic life a little easier. Gluten Free candies, cookies, breads, mixes, and all that you need can be found there. Even Amazon has products for a gluten free lifestyle along with bakeware, home decor, clothes, pretty much everything you need can be found without leaving your house. I do make a small commission if you purchase from one of the sites but you are NEVER charged anything extra to use them. It helps pay for the cost of managing the blog to help you on your gluten free journey. I have actually ordered a few gluten free products myself from the sites that I personally haven’t tried yet, and will be giving reviews on them once they arrive. A few of them are breads.....Please, please, Pretty please let them be eatable!!!!!!!

Well onto the recipe. Not only was this easy, it is about a 9-minute recipe from start to finish. Yes, I said 9 minutes! It’s a protein rich meal so no need for meat, plus it’s not only gluten free but diabetic friendly as well. 

 

Beans n Greens:

Calories: 310       Protein:  15g       Carbs:  42 g       Fiber:  13 g       Fat:  11 g       

1 T extra virgin olive oil

1 (15 oz) can no salt added garbanzo beans (drained)

1 teaspoon curry powder

1/2 teas ground ginger

1/4 teas freshly ground black pepper

1 (5oz) package fresh baby spinach leaves

1/4 teas salt

1. In a large skillet heat the oil over medium heat.

2. Add the garbanzo beans and all spices, except salt. Stir to coat.

3. Add the spinach and salt. Cook while gently stirring until beans are heated and spinach is just wilted, about 2 1/2 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

You could actually add 10 oz of spinach if you would like to as the spinach looks pretty sparce after wilted but it will change the nutritional info.

That’s it! I made a nice side salad to go with it and a slice of gluten free bread to top it all off. Delish! Enjoy.

Talk soon,

Sharon

 

Zucchini "Noodles"

 

Servings: 4 | Prep: 35m | Cooks: 10m | Total: 45m

 

 Today I thought I'd share a quick and fresh recipe. My daughters garden is really starting to produce, and she has an over abundance of zucchini which she has been sharing. I really like zucchini and find it light and refreshing during the hot summer days. This recipe is kind of like zucchini spaghetti, but without the sauce. It’s not very time consuming and just light enough that you don’t feel overly full when done eating. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

INGREDIENTS:

6 zucchinis

1 clove minced garlic

2 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons margin

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, can use Romano if preferred

salt and pepper to taste, or omit

DIRECTIONS:

1.Cut zucchini into thin noodle like strips. I use a regular potato peeler for this, but a mandoline works well also. Toss with 2 teaspoons of salt, and place in a strainer to drain for 30 minutes.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the zucchini, cook for one minute. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process.

3. In a large skillet heat the margarine over medium high heat. Add the zucchini and minced garlic, cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Sprinkle with Parmesan or Romano cheese and enjoy.

I find this dish pairs well with a light meat such as grilled chicken breast.

NUTRITION FACTS:

Calories: 141 | Carbohydrates: 10.4g  

| Fat: 9.9 g | Protein: 5.6g | Cholesterol: 4mg

Enjoy, 

Sharon

 

GF Bread Mix

 

 Hi everyone. Wow! Who would have thought such a small bathroom would take so long to refinish. It’s been a while since I have had the time to post on the blog, and for that I apologize. I finally got to make that loaf of bread I promised, and since I haven't had time to try a loaf from scratch, I used a mix by White Gold and want to give you my thoughts on it.

First the main flour on the ingredients list is white rice flour. I have been wanting to try more rice free flour mixtures, but a promise is a promise and at the moment this is all I had available so here are my thoughts:

The really great thing about this bread flour mix is that you do NOT have to have a bread maker with a gluten free setting because the directions call for the BASIC bread setting! First impression was good so far. It is also a certified Gluten Free mix.

Secondly the mix is already premeasured so all you have to do is add in the other ingredients which everyone pretty much has on hand. Milk, eggs, salt, apple cider vinegar, 1 envelope dry yeast, soft butter or oil, and sugar. Put the liquid ingredients in the pan, pour in the dry ingredients, set the basic bread setting and walk away till done. Excellent so far, I’m impressed!

OK. Now comes the best part. The taste test. If you have bought gluten free bread you probably know most are either very expensive, or very dry and tasteless. This loaf was bendable, moist and has a mild sweet taste. I did not taste any yeast at all. My husband who is a diabetic likes to try out the things I bake, and although he is not on a gluten free diet, he enjoyed the texture and taste.

It does have a somewhat moist, almost tacky feel to the touch which I have found to be true of most homemade gluten free breads I have tried. However, you probably know by now if you have been gluten free for anytime at all, that this is true of most gluten free breads you make from scratch.

If toasting you need to keep a watch on it as it will brown in the toaster fairly quickly. I found this to be true also when making grilled cheese sandwiches. However, the bread keeps its moistness during either of these processes and does not crumble nor become dry inside. I used my bread slicer so my slices were rather thick so I’m sure this needs to be factored in.

I haven’t tried making French toast with it yet but I am sure that with the texture of the bread that it will be a great success. My husband has tried it as grilled cheese sandwiches, toast with jelly, and really enjoyed the taste and he is a pumpernickel bread kind of guy so this is great praise for the loaf. I think the only thing I might try differently is to leave it inside the bread maker after is quits baking for approximately another half hour before taking out to set on the rack to cool. 

It freezes well and although the bag states that it can be frozen up to 2 months. The only drawback is that it does have a little more sodium in the mix that I would prefer since I do have CKD but with that said it was delicious in flavor and texture and so therefore, I give it a 4 1/2 stars.

You can purchase this mix from Amazon. It’s under $8 and I believe worth the price for a fresh home baked loaf. If you purchase it and give it a try, please leave a comment on the site and let me know your thoughts. 

Until next post. Have a blessed day!

Sharon

 

Trying for that perfection..

 Hi everyone. I know that a week ago I promised you a delicious bread recipe. Well Im still trying to find that perfect recipe, and loaf. Its been a very busy week here with having a new vanity installed in our bath along with laying a new floor and so my attention has been a little helter skelter to say the least. 

I promise to try and get back in the kitchen next week when things settle down to continue on my bread baking journey. Being off GF for over three years now and getting back on track is really like starting over. Im finding it alot harder then the first time around because now I also have to maintain a kidney friendly diet as well. Its like suddenly being in a foreign country and not speaking their language! There are many recipes on the site that I hope will keep you busy until then.

So till next post, Happy GF eating!

Lee

Getting Restarted:

 Hi everyone. Its been along time since I have posted for several reasons, years in fact. Four years ago I decided to quit eating gluten free for a number of  reasons. Since then I have lost weight, gained weight, had my gallbladder removed, found out I have had kidney disease for many years of which my Dr neglected to inform me, had panic attacks, and have now gained weight in my belly area. Its been a roller coaster ride to say the least and I am sick n tired of being sick n tired!

So its a new beginning. I will be restarting a GF diet to see if this once again will alliviate most, or all of my symptoms. I was diagnosed in my thirties as having a wheat allergy. I guess this may not mean that I have Celiac disease, but may be enough to give eating gluten free another try. So today is the first day of starting my new journey. 

I am digging out all my former GF recipe books, retrying some of my favorite recipes from the past on my blog, and moving forward trying some new ones to share with you all. Since its been awhile I am basically starting from scratch. If any of you have any recipes you would like to share on the blog just let me know. After all, we are in this togethor.

Since I now know I also have kidney disease most of the recipes will hopefully be low sodium, low potassium, and low phosphorus, a feat in its own. Juggling both types of eating is going to be a task but hopefully one I can master with perserverance. I hope you will stop by often and rejoin me on my journey.

I will be working on a bread maker bread today and tomorrow that I will be hopefully sharing with you by the end of the week. Until then, have a blessed day!

Apple Honey

 Hi everyone,  I'm back after a much needed rest

Gluten Free in South Carolina...

Well here I am in sunny South Carolina.  We are getting a new RV and will be homeless for a few days, so I have to use my notepad and the hotel Internet....bummer! With that said, I don't have much to write about since I have no oven to bake, nor stove to cook. Eating out each and every meal is something I'm not use to, and even though the hotel does have GF buns and bagels individually wrapped at the breakfast buffet, something made me ill the first two days here. So today I decided to avoid the free breakfast, and surprisingly I don't have a stomachache. Go figure... I guess when you have your own kitchen, and don't eat out a lot, there are not so many things to watch, or check for.

I shared with you in one of my last posts a low carb banana nut bread recipe which was a big hit with my husband. He really liked it so much that it will be added to my recipe collection. Since I am limited on what to eat until we are in the new RV, I am really going to have to read, and read, and read labels... I guess I will close this post and surf the web for a few new low carb, gluten free recipes to try in our new RV oven, when we finally DO get the new RV. So until next time, enjoy the nice weather of summer, wherever you are!

Sharon Lee

Home made Bisquick Mix...

                                                                                     

Today was one of those rainy days where I didn't feel much like doing anything, except sit and listen to the rain hit the roof. I love those days. They relax me, help me think more clearly. They also remind me of my childhood where everything was so easy. Today takes me back to the tree house I built out of scrap lumber my dad no longer needed. It was in a tree close to our house, nestled in the woods between ours and the neighbors. I use to love laying on the rough wooden floor as the rain fell, protected from its drops from the leaves above. Oh the memories. Memories of fresh made bread on Fridays, homemade meatballs, pancakes, and strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberries from the farm down the road...

My mom used bisquick quite a lot when we were growing up. Something that was taboo when I first started on my gluten free adventure. Now you can buy a gluten free version in the store, but I find it just a little staggering in cost, so I don't buy it often. So what if I make my own??????? I told you that rainy days help me think clearly....or maybe they just give me to much time to think...well either way it got me up and moving!

I started browsing the web and found several recipes to make a homemade bisquick mix. Mostly with regular flour, but I was now in a experimenting stage, so out came the pans, and my basic gluten free flour mix. I have to say I was a bit skeptical. I mean bisquick mix has been around for generations, but what the heck...

After blending the mix I had to give it a test run. After all, why make it if I am not going to use it. My first choice was strawberry short cakes. My son in law had mentioned them just a few days prior and had planted the seed in my mind. I didn't have a bisquick box to follow the recipe, so I went to the Betty Crocker web page. I must admit that these turned out pretty close to the real deal. The recipe said to bake for 10 to 12 minutes, and although I left them in for the full 12, and they were just a smidgen over browned on the bottom, they still tasted great!

OK...So how would pancakes hold up to the "mock bisquick" test? I had to know being the inquisitive person that I am. Delish!!!!!  I devoured them all before I ever thought to take a picture, sorry! I probably would have kept going, as there are a few other recipes I want to try,  but I had used up all the mock bisquick mix I had made, so I will have to share other recipes in the future. Until then, please enjoy these two.
                                                                               
The mix is soooooo easy to make. Keep a empty bisquick box around to keep your mix in it. When company comes you can make pancakes and I bet you they won't even know its not the real deal!

Enjoy,
Sharon Lee

Homemade GF Bisquick Mix:

384 g Basic GF Multi Purpose Flour Blend  (posted 4-11-17)
1 1/2 T baking powder
1/2 T salt
1/2 c "cold" vegetable shortening, coconut oil, or butter (I used vegetable shortening)

Place dry ingredients in a food processor. Drop cold pieces of shortening, coconut oil, or butter on top of flour mixture. Process until the consistency of a dry crumbly mixture.
Use this as a cup for cup replacement in all recipes that call for a bisquick mix!


Pancake Recipe:

128 g mock bisquick mix
1/2 c milk
1 egg

Stir mixture with a whisk until thoroughly blended.
Cook over a med high heat. I waited until the tops were very bubbly to flip, which worked best for me, however, check the underside often to see if they are browned enough before flipping according to your heat temperature setting. The first few always seem to take longer than the others.

The strawberry shortcake recipe can be found at https://www.bettycrocker.com along with some other recipes you might like to try with this mock blend.
 

Low- Carb Banana bread....

Lately my husband has been on a sort of a food adventure, wanting to try new, and healthier foods. He even went so far as to purchase a 10 quart pressure cooker, of which  I am totally at a loss of what to make in it, as there are just the two of us...LOL Although the pressure cooker really has nothing to do with the bread recipe I am going to share, his venture of finding healthier eating alternatives does. As I have previously mentioned, he has type 2 diabetes. I hope you like the picture of the bread, I couldn't wait to show off the beautiful plate I got at a garage sale....LOVE it!

Although he has sampled my dessert creations from time to time, usually the ones in which I have used coconut sugar, as it doesn't raise his blood sugar as rapidly, I have yet to made a recipe just for his diabetic needs, basically because he is not a sweet eater in general. Well today was the day that changed! I chose a recipe of something I know he will enjoy on occasion, and that everyone else will like as well, banana bread. It not only helped me use the leftover bananas sitting on my counter, but come up with a delicious treat of which he can indulge in, without guilt.

This bread originally calls for almond meal, but I switched it out for almond flour, as this is what I had on hand. There is virtually NO added sweeteners of any kind in this recipe, so the flavor and sweetness in the bread comes from the bananas. Now, I personally like sweetness in my desserts and quick breads, but I must say that this loaf did not disappoint. The recipe says to bake it 45 - 55 minutes so I set my timer to the 45 mark and it was done. Actually, it was slightly browner than I would like, so I will test at the 40 minute mark next go around.  Although it definitely does not have the sweetness I personally am use to, remember, it has NO sugar,  I would still give it a 4 1/2 stars. I might try adding a drop of banana flavoring next time around also.

This is really one of the easiest quick breads I have made. It is moist, light, and definitely not overly sweet. It also doesn't have that gooey heavy texture most banana breads have when using traditional wheat flours. I believe this recipe could even be considered KETO, correct me if I'm wrong....

It is soooooo good lathered with some butter! I must admit I had to have a slice before the hubby got home. I had to make sure it is good enough for my knight in shining armor, didn't I ? The recipe nutritional info only stated that there were 12 slices - 131 calories The slices also didn't disappoint as they were a very nice size as you can see from the picture above.

Please let me know if you try the recipe and drop me a line.

Enjoy,
Sharon Lee

Low- Carb Banana Bread Recipe

3 medium bananas, very ripe  ( should measure at 1 c )
3 eggs
2 T oil
224 gr almond flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 teas salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Lightly coat a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with coconut oil, or spray and set aside
In a 2 c measuring cup,  mash the bananas, should measure 1 cup total.
Add the eggs and oil to the cup. Blend. Now add water until it comes to the 2 cup line.
In a medium bowl whisk together the almond flour, baking powder, and salt until blended with a whisk.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and blend with the whisk until thoroughly incorporated, do not over mix. Stir in the walnuts.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
Bake for 40-55 minutes depending on your oven and pan size. ( next time I plan on trying a 7.5 x 3.5 pan found to the right of this blog at Amazon, to give the bread a little more height)
Test with a toothpick which should come out clean if done. Check at the 40 minute mark, then every few minutes until done.
Remove from the oven and set pan on a rack to cool.
After 10-15 minutes run a knife around edges of pan to loosen and turn loaf out on the rack to finish cooling.

 

Pie Crust for a Apple pie to brag about!

                                                                                  

So last post I mentioned that I had a pie crust recipe my friend Helen had given me that I really wanted to try. It was a regular crust recipe that I needed to convert to gluten free. Well today I think I got it on the first try...I did have to adjust  the amount of  water that went into it, and add some xanthan gum, but other than that it was pretty straight forward.

The picture of the pie does not do it justice. Although the pie is still to hot to taste, as it just came out of the oven, I can assure you it is going to be a winner! How can I tell, you ask? Well I cheated and broke off a piece of the crust to sample. It was tender, and flaky, and I honestly don't think my family is going to know the difference. Here is the reason why....I made chocolate cupcakes the other day when converting a regular cake recipe to gluten free. (still working on it) The cupcakes turned out a little more dense than I personally care for, but my daughter and her family ranted, and raved about them....asking what kind of cupcakes they were. Well in my opinion they pretty much had the taste of a German chocolate cake, not the regular chocolate cake I was going for. OH!, was the response, well they were really good! So therefore I really believe the pie is going to be a big hit!

Before I start, please know I am a big fan of the old wooded rolling pins, and I still use my mothers, making sure it is well floured before I start to roll out the dough. They have worked the best for me when having to roll anything out in my recipes. I might also try chilling the dough first for about one hour the next time before rolling it out. I usually do, but I was in a hurry this morning and wanted to speed things up a little. It definitely would be a little firmer to handle if chilled. I also put the shortening in the freezer for about one hour before starting the crust, as this makes a HUGE difference in the taste and texture.

So at this point the pie has now cooled enough to sample and I have to admit I am pretty excited. The other night my oldest daughter Dana and I had gone out for pie to a local restaurant in the area, and I must admit that although their pie was delicious, I believe this crust would win hands up. I don't know if its because the shortening was chilled or not, but the crust is so light and fluffy, that I wish there was more....The cinnamon did not over power, and the sugar was just enough as to not take away the sweetness of the apples.  But the CRUST......Delish!

It has a buttery taste even though there was no butter used, and stayed flaky even with the juice of the apples, which there was a whole three pounds of. I am sure my family will ask why there is a piece missing, but I guess that's just one of the benefits of being the baker. LOL

So after telling my friend thanks for the great recipe, it seems only right to share a piece or two with her. So I am off for a visit, but not before I share the recipe with you.
Enjoy, and have a apple kind of day!
Sharon Lee

Double Pie Crust:

250 gr  Basic Gluten Free Multi Purpose Blend (recipe shown below post)
1 teas salt
3/4 c well chilled vegetable shortening (Put in freezer 1/2 to 1 hour before preparing)
1 large egg, PLUS (additional egg yoke to brush top crust if desired)
3-4 T ice cold water  ( I used 4)
1/4 teas xanthan gum

Apple filling:

3 pounds of apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 T lemon juice (keeps apples from browning in color)
1 teas cinnamon
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Directions:

Measure out shortening and put in freezer.
Put ice in measuring cup with water.
Place egg in separate bowl.
Measure out salt, xanthan gum, and flour into large bowl.

Take the shortening from freezer and using a pastry cutter blend into flour mixture until crumbly and uniform. Next add the whole egg, and cut in until completely blended, about 1 minute.
Add 1 T ice cold water at a time until the mixture forms a soft uniform ball. Split ball in two and wrap in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator until cool. This helps the dough roll better without sticking. After rolling  you could return to refrigerator to "solid" up making it easier to place in pie plate without tearing. Place the sliced apple mixture in the pie pan and place the rolled top pastry on top. Crimp pie edges. I brushed the top of pie with 1 egg yoke mixed with about 1 T water and then sprinkled the top of pie with granulated sugar. Bake in oven on 375* for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350* and bake for additional 45 minutes. Remove from oven and place on rack to cool.
Makes 1 pie.


*NOTE....I found the dough so tender that I had several tears in the pastry which I had to PATCH, but the flavor and texture were worth it. I might try to cut the water down to 3T next time and see if that helps if the chilling process doesn't..

Basic Gluten Free Multi Purpose Flour Blend

452 gr Superfine brown rice flour
226 gr Potato STARCH
76 gr Tapioca starch/flour

Mix and keep in refrigerator or freezer