Gluten Free Bread: Gluten Free Granola

Since being diagnosed with Celiac disease I have missed the “crunch,” of cookies, granola and the whole grain cereals.  Due to the fact that all of these things listed above come mostly in a gluten formulated version or I have had to find versions acceptable to my taste the hunt for the “crunch” began.  I loved to have a couple tablespoons of broken cookies in my yogurt or occasional bowl of ice cream.  I missed having traditional breakfast cereal once in awhile.

My friend Joan,  brought me over some gluten free cookies which she had made for my birthday, along with a recipe that she had torn from a fictional book she had read.  The cookies had a good taste but were a bit hard.  I crushed them up and ate them like cookie bits in my yogurt.  That got my mind ticking again on how I could make a granola from the recipe with a bit of tweaking.  So, below is the recipe that I created from the fictional book recipe “Claire’s Coconut Kisses.”  My friend cannot remember what the name of the book was, so if you recognize it, I will be happy to credit the author. This is a large batch, I make it and then put it in vacuumed sealed bags for later use.  It may be cut in half or in thirds for a smaller batch.  This recipe is easiest if made using a stand mixer but can be made using a hand held mixer.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

6 egg whites

1 1/2  cups brown sugar

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups chopped nuts

2 1/2 cups shredded coconut ( I use Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut)

1 cup gluten free oatmeal

1/3 cup coconut flour  or Quinoa flour

7 cups cornflakes

1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

Beat egg whites until almost peaking, add brown sugar and vanilla, continue whipping until very creamy (about 4 minutes).  Add maple syrup and beat 1 more minute.

Combine remaining ingredients into a very large bowl, (I use my bread making bowl.) Pour egg white mixture over ingredients and mix.  I usually end up getting my hands into the mixture as it works best.  Once all of the ingredients are thoroughly coated.  Grease 2 large cookie sheets and pour mixture onto them.  Using your hands spread the mixture out evenly.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Then turn off oven, leave pans in the oven until the oven is completely  cooled.  Take out of oven.  Mixture will be one large piece.  Using a large spoon break the large piece into whatever size chunks you like and put into vacuum sealed bags.  (I leave some larger on purpose in case I get the urge for a cookie.)  Use as garnish on ice cream or yogurt or eat as cereal.  It is very filling and NOT calorie free but oh so tasty.

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Gluten Free Bread World: Gluten Free Granola

Gluten Free Bread: Sourdough Starter

Combine the following in a 4 cup glass container.

Ingredients:

1 cup water (105-110 degrees F.)

2  1/2 tsp yeast

1 1/2 cups rice flour (white or Brown).

Stir together, this will be a thick paste.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place.  Stir 2-3 times daily and it will be ready to use in 3-4 days.  You will notice that the mixture will rise and fall throughout the

day.  The starter will often have a clear liquid on the top of it.  Stir this into the mixture thoroughly before using in a recipe.

Always be sure to leave at least 1 cup of the starter as the basis  for your next batch.  Add 1 cup of warm water and 1 1/2 cups of rice flour.  Cover loosely and let sit for at least 1 day before using in a recipe again.    Starter can be placed in the refrigerator to use at a later time.

I must admit that I am a huge fan of sourdough.  I add it periodically to just about everything.  I love the texture that is derived from using it and I like the tangy taste.  Sometimes, it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.  I keep it in the fridge until I want to bake with it.  I take it out of the fridge.  Let it sit for a few hours.  Replenish the flour and water and leave it sit overnight.  The next day it is ready to bake with.

2009 worldwide copyright http://glutenfreebreadworld.com

Gluten Free Bread: Sourdough Starter

Gluten Free Meals Ready Made/ Gluten Free Meal Delivery

Most Americans are touched by celiac disease in some way, yet so much confusion still abounds. Celiac or gluten intolerance as it is sometimes referred to, is a disease that results when the body has a reaction to gliadin, a gluten protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats.

Celiac disease can affect people at all stages of life.  People who are newly diagnosed with gluten intolerance and even those who have been living with it for years can find it a challenge, if not overwhelming, to maintain the lifestyle and dietary changes necessary to manage their condition.

I have found that gluten free meals require a great deal of research and time. What takes most people 30 minutes in the grocery store can easily take me an hour. Even though more and more gluten free products are showing up on the grocery store shelves, I still have to visit several stores to buy everything I need or order from online sources.

Menus the gluten free way require careful planning and is often time consuming.  Consequently, I find myself not varying our menus as much as I would like to, because, change requires research and time, and I am a very busy person.

Frankly, I tend to stick with the tried and true menu as I know it is safe.  Dining with friends and family can also present food challenges as often they are unschooled in what is,  and isn’t,  gluten free.

I have found a wonderful option online that has truly revolutionized the way I cook for my family.  When I can’t think of what I want to cook, or when I am running late from work I just pull one of the gfmeals out of the freezer, confident that they have been carefully prepared and are gluten free.

Many of their gluten free meals are also Soy and casein free for those of you who suffer with multiple food allergies.

I have even brought gfmeals with me when dining at the homes of friends’ or family just to ensure that I eat safe food. That way I don’t have to worry about being accidentally  “glutened.”

The gfmeals meal plans were created by people living the gluten free lifestyle and know what it’s like to be affected by gluten.

Gluten Free Meals and Meal Plans will:

• Meet your healthy gluten free lifestyle needs.

• Provide you with safe gluten free meals with no planning or preparation required.

• Offer a variety of tasty, healthy and nutritious food choices; family-friendly, ready-to-cook entrees, sides and even gluten free bakery goods.

• Affordability, convenience, and home delivery.

• Ship nationwide, meals arrive frozen with easy to follow cooking instructions.

They also offer gift Certificates which are perfect for any occasion.   Give to the family member, friend or client who lives the gluten free lifestyle.

Click here to visit gfMeals.com

2009 Copyright http://Glutenfreebreadworld.com

Gluten Free Meals Ready Made/Gluten Free Meal Delivery

Gluten Free Bread/Article

This is my very first actual post. Please be patient as I am still learning my way around the blog world.  I will be getting links set up shortly so come back often and check out my progress.

Here you will learn about gluten free bread recipes (bread is a loosely used word on this blog) and some other interesting and delectable recipes will be added from time to time. You will see tips on how to prepare gluten free bread recipes in your home as well as other helpful information surrounding this subject.

I am looking for additional input regarding gluten free bread recipes especially for each holiday and for every other day of the year.  Lets improve our living,  one gluten free bread recipe at a time. Feel free to share your experiences and recipes in the comment section.

Since my diagnosis of celiac disease I have scoured blogs and other gluten free websites in search of gluten free bread recipes as well as combed through books at the local library and even stole some of my friends recipes as well as tweaked some of our family heirloom recipes. You will find the culmination of my searches here on my blog.

I have adapted some of the recipes and because I was only looking for recipes to try I did not always note where they came from and who posted them. After all of this time some of them are so badly stained with flour, cooking oil or other nameless ingredients that I can hardly make out my own writing.

It is not my intention to “steal another s’ works” so I apologize to the originators of the recipes if I do not give them the credit they deserve. It was their unselfish giving that got me through the painstaking trials of living gluten free. If you know to whom the credit is due on any of the recipes or articles not cited, please feel free to contact me.

Bread is the one thing that I knew I would miss the most living the gluten free lifestyle and that is what has brought me to my very first blog.

Speaking of Firsts:

What was your FIRST job?

What was your FIRST car?

Who was your FIRST grade teacher?

Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?

Who was your FIRST best friend, and are you still friends?

Who was your FIRST kiss?

Who was your FIRST date?

I digress…..onward and upward into Gluten Free Bread world.

2009 copyright http://Glutenfreebreadworld.com

Gluten free bread/Article