Easy Gluten Free Living

Archive for June, 2010

As people in the city of Pittsburgh sat in line in front of the Apple Stores anxiously awaiting their new I Phone 4, little did they know that there is a new app for your IPhone, IPad and IPod Touch that will help make gluten free shopping just that much easier.

My Grocery Master is an inovative idea that gives users access to a database with over 100,000 specialty food products and 360 name brand products at your fingertips.  So that whether you’re local store is out of that specialty nut flour you need or you’re on vacation in another town and run out of gluten free bread, you’re covered.  With the My Grocery Master app, you just type in the zip code plus the food product you’re searching for and the system will scan it’s database of the top 100 store chains in the country and online grocery stores, tell you where the closest location that carries that item is and even give you driving directions.

It works by using a GPS function and for added convience your search results can be saved.  You don’t need a connection unless utilizing the one-touch  website links.  There is also a one-touch link to the My Grocery Master website where they provide recipes and other information.

The App. also includes free updates with new brands and products offered.  The current database includes products for gluten free, lactose free and Kosher diets.

Future updates in the works are for diabetic, vegan and organic diets.

The application is available in the Apple App Store and costs an annual fee of just $4.99.

Some of but not all of the stores included in the database are:

• A & P
• Food 4 Less
• Giant
• Kroger
• Safeway
• Trader Joes
• Walmart
• Wegmans
• Whole Foods

If you found this information interesting, useful, or have anything to add, leave a comment below and let me know.

Barbara asked me last week, “What do you do to make good bread?”.  Bread is probably the hardest thing to make gluten free and still taste good.  I have yet to find a good store bought loaf.  Most of it tastes like cardboard or a dried out sponge.

Barbara also asked if I’d be willing to share a recipe.  So I decided that I would share a bread recipe from my new gluten free cookbook, A Gluten Free Holiday, that will be available within the next month.

A Gluten Free Holiday E-book Cookbook is filled with recipes and tips for getting together with family and friends.  It has the kind of food that you will be able to serve your guests or take with you to pot luck dinners and no one will guess that they are eating gluten free.

I hope you all enjoy this recipe.

                              Better Than Store Bought Gluten Free Bread 

• 3   Extra Large Eggs, beaten
• 3   Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 1/2   Cups Warm Water
• 1   Cup Sweet Rice Flour
• 1   Cup Rice Bran
• 1 1/2   Cups Brown Rice Flour
• 2 1/4   Teaspoons Xanthan Gum
• 3 1/2   Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
• 1 1/2   Teaspoons Salt
• 1/2   Cup Powdered Milk
• 2 1/4   Teaspoon Active Dry Yeast

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Sift all dry ingredients in a bowl.  In a separate large mixing bowl, mix all wet ingredients until well blended.  (I use my electric stand mixer with the dough hook attachment.)  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, 1/2 cup at a time while mixer is mixing and beat well, until dough is thick but not too stiff.  Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. 

Cover and set aside in a warm location for one hour to rise.*  Once dough rises, bake for 50 – 60 minutes or until edges are well browned.  Remove immediately from pan and brush butter or margarine on top of bread.

Yield:  1 loaf (about 12 – 16 slices)

*I heat a cup of water in my microwave oven for about 1 – 2 minutes and then place my bread dough in the warm microwave to rise.

This bread is more like a whole wheat loaf of bread, rather than a loaf of white bread.

If you try this recipe, please let me know what you think of it.

I forgot to say that you want to keep your gluten free flours in the refridgerator or freezer.  Then bring to room temperature before using.    

Actually, gluten free baking works best with all ingredients at room temperature before using.