Buy This not That

 This post is slightly different from what I generally post. I am always looking for a way to save money when it comes to gluten-free. I grew up with my mom popping popcorn. My husband grew up with popcorn from a microwave. So needless to say he was quite skeptical that popcorn is extremely easy to make.

These are both gluten-free, Project Non-gmo verified, organic choices.
You can pay $5 for Angie's Kettlecorn popcorn, from Costco. Which is an amazing price for 46 cups of popcorn.

Or you can buy from Harris Teeter, the kernels for $2 that makes 70 cups.
My mom mentioned that Harris Teeter does not sell it in her town anymore so I will have to check that out. Considering it takes 5 minutes to make popcorn, buying the kernels is the cheap way to go.

Flour Resource

Grain Free

 I have to devote a post to explaining gluten-free flours. This puzzled me at first. Basically....gluten is like "glue", as I like to think of it.
Gluten is what binds dough together, gives it elasticity. When your pizza springs back after rising, it is the presence of gluten that gives the dough this ability.

Wheat contains the properties of gluten, hence it's popularity.  Wheat is also a grain. There are many other grains: oats and corn just to name a few. Some grains can have gluten present while others do not contain any gluten.

Those with allergies to grain must avoid all grains gluten and non-gluten. Hence the grain-free flours. For a complete list of gluten-free and wheat-free flours visit: www.wheat-free.org.
For a list of grain free flours visit: www.grainfreeliving.com.

Gluten and Wheat free NOT grain free

An Allergy-Free Pantry Part 2

This post is a little more "tricky" There are many definitions when it comes to allergy-free. The food you eat depends directly on your personal allergies.

Some people are allergic to corn so Sam Mills products would not work for them. Thankfully, my children are not allergic to corn or potatoes so that is what we survive on for our fillers.
Sam Mills provides: spaghetti, macaroni, ect. pasta.

Bob's Red Mill is not the end all answer to all the other products. I use Bob's Red Mill for convenience, but you can buy these ingredients from health food store's bins.

Gluten-free Rolled Oats:
Walmart: $6. something
Krogers: $

Some argue over quinoa being a grain, but for this blog I'm gonna call it grain-free. It's up to you to research and come to a personal decision. I will say Coconut flour is going to be the flour you use the most. Potato flour is very heavy in weight and absorbs liquid. Chia is a seed which does not supplement to well in large quantities. Quinoa gives a funky taste if you use over 140 grams in a flour mixture.

Grain Free

 These flours you are going to use sparingly. Buckwheat and Millet are strong earthy taste when used too much. I haven't tasted Amaranth or Sorghum in my recipes yet, but I have not used over 20 grams in my flour mixtures either.

Gluten and Wheat free NOT grain free

An Allergy-Free Pantry Part 1

I've been lazy....no, I just pure hate having to consider allergies. I have been putting off gathering all of my allergy free baking supplies to calculate the cost. I will start in the baking cupboard.

Egg Replacer: obviously great for replacing eggs, when a recipe uses them for binding. If a recipe is calling for eggs to create a fluffy, light texture....then Egg Replacer will not get you anywhere.

Found:
Whole Foods
Lowes Foods
Krogers

Corn Flake Crumbs: great for breading recipes. Our family has some allergic to rice so corn is our main staple.

Found:
Lowes Foods

Ghee: Caisine and Lactose free!!!! Maintains the buttery flavor and texture:
                                                                                Found:
                                                                                Lowes Foods

Coconut Palm Sugar: replaces sugar 1=1 ratio

Found:
Whole Foods
Krogers

Celtic Sea Salt: maintains all the trace minerals table salt has removed. It has a strong flavor to it so a little bit goes a long way.

Found:
Whole Foods: roughly $5

Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips: replaces chocolate chips.

Found:
Food Lion: $5.69+
Walmart: $4.88
Krogers: $3.99

I will double check the prices and edit this entry.

GLuten-Free All purpose Flour Mix 6

300 g Potato Starch
300 g Tapioca Starch
200 g Coconut Flour
 80 g Quinoa Flour
 20 g Potato Flour
 20 g Millet Flour
 20 g Buckwheat Flour
 20 g Sorghum Flour
 20 g Amaranth Flour
 20 g Chia Seed Flour

This one gets a little dry. Be sure to compensate for the liquid absorption by at least 1/4 increase of what  liquids/oils the recipe calls for.

Flour Mix Lessons, Take 2

I ran out of flours this past week. I made the mistake of substituting over 200g of Quinoa to make up for the lack of other flours. What a mistake!!!! My whole family will not touch whatever I make with that flour mix. The mix gives the baked goods a dry sensation, a grainy texture, and a earthy taste.

I refer to this page a lot, when determining which flours to use.

From experience:

1. Never go over 140g of Quinoa in a flour mix period. It will dry out any recipe and give an earthy aftertaste.
2. 20 g of Millet and Buckwheat is a safe measure for all-purpose mixes.
3. If you can get away with using gluten-free oat flour, recipes turn out best with taste.

Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour Mix 5

300g Tapioca Starch
300g Potato Starch
140g Coconut Flour
100g Quinoa Flour
100g Sorghum Flour
20g Potato Flour
20g Millet Flour
20g Buckwheat Flour


There is only a slight variation from Flour Mix 4.





To make your own recipe follow the guideline found here: http://glutenfreegirl.com/2012/07/how-to-make-a-gluten-free-all-purpose-flour-mix/

A guide to how each type of flour works in weight, taste, and texture found here: http://www.wheat-free.org/wheat-free-flour.html