Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Gluten Free & Whole Grains

When most people first find out they must stick to a gluten free diet, they go into panic mode.  No more pizza!  No more bread!  No more cake or cookies!  The list goes on and on.  We do love our carbs, don't we?  Take away the wheat, though, and we are hard pressed to find those comfort foods we crave.  Ahh....the gluten free section at your local health food store or supermarket.  So many high priced, cardboard tasting, nutritionally devoid products to choose from.  Where to start?  Maybe try a mix to make at home?  A quick check of the ingredients list will usually reveal the same list:  WHITE RICE & STARCH...and not much else.  How about a little fiber and protein?  Enter bean & rice based flour mixes.  Yum.  Yum, that is, if you like a "beanie" after taste in your shortbread cookies and maybe a little intestinal discomfort to go with it.  Personally, I can do without.  And I do, and quite deliciously, I might add!  I think other Gluten Free Folk also want to eat food with wonderful taste and texture without waving "bye-bye" to quality and nutrients.  So, I have been baking and cooking and experimenting with whole grain gluten free flours for the past several years.  The recipes posted here are what I have come up with.  Please enjoy them in good health!