As you know gluten-free products are expensive. There is nothing more frustrating than spending money on a product and finding out it is not good. When my daughter and I were first diagnosed we'd go to the grocery store and see these amazing products. We would put them in our cart and couldn't wait to try them.
I'd cringe at the price but if we could eat something and feel "normal" it would be worth it. We'd get home and tear into the package, take a taste then look at each other with disappointment. I might as well throw money in the trash. In hopes of saving you some money and disappointment, I want to share with you some of my favorite products.
Yesterday was National Pancake Day. In my house, every Sunday is pancakes & waffles. It is a Sunday tradition. When my daughter and I were diagnosed with celiac, I swore we would continue our family traditions. This meant we needed to find gluten-free substitutes for many of our recipes.
We have tried several different types of gluten-free pancake mixes. The best has been King Arthur's Gluten-Free Pancake Mix. We love it so much that we have it delivered to our house every four weeks. They make light and fluffy pancakes. I especially love the waffles. We have a great waffle maker, it is reasonably priced and works well.
I grew up baking with my mother and I wanted to continue that tradition with my children. I started baking with them when they were very little. When my youngest and I were diagnosed with celiac disease I was determined to find alternate ways to make our recipes gluten-free. I started trying different types of gluten-free flour.
I'd make Irish Soda Bread with two different types of gluten-free flour and then compare them. Over the years I have rewritten all our favorite recipes as gluten-free recipes. When my daughter moves out she will have a recipe box with all of our favorite family recipes converted into gluten-free versions. The best flours I have found to substitute for regular flour are Cup 4 Cup and Better Batter. (Use my code GFL&T for 35% off Better Batter products.) I use Cup 4 Cup for baking but Better Batter for bread making.
I recently made homemade bread with Better Batter's Artisan Blend. This was amazing! The bread turned out perfectly. It had a hard crust on the outside but was light and fluffy on the inside. It does take time to make, as you need to allow time for the bread to rise, but it's worth the work.
If you are baking for yourself or someone else gluten-free in your family I highly suggest a good mixer. It makes all the difference. They are not cheap but it is a great investment. I have had my Kitchen-Aid mixer for eighteen years and have never had any problems with it. There aren't many products that last that long anymore. There is also a 4.5-quart Kitchen-Aid mixer depending on your needs.
These are just a few of my favorite gluten-free products. It is a challenge to find a product that gives the same positive results over time and is also easy to obtain. Sometimes I find an amazing product but I have to search to find it and/or it is extremely costly. These are products that I can find and use regularly. What are your favorite products?
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