Typs of Gluten Free Flours and Nutritional Values

GFLourNutritionGluten Free Flours and Nutrition                              I’ve had several questions lately about the nutritional values of Gluten Free flours. So here are few of the ones I’ve used. Please take note that not all of the serving sizes are the same from one type to another. So it can be misleading.

Rice flour blends are usually a blend of Rice, Potato starch, and Tapioca. Some of the Rice flours, such as Pillsbury add Pea fiber, and unflavored gelatin, or pectin. None of the blends are in the same amounts. That is why they do not bake up the same.

Bean Flour blends usually have a blend of Garbanzo beans and Fava beans with other starches added, such as potato or tapioca. Or they may also add Sorghum flour.

The Coconut and Almond flours are usually not blends. I add those flours to cut down on the carbs. I hope this helps answer some of your questions.

Glutnen Free Honey Sweet Rolls

IMG_1511

Honey Sweet Rolls

Gluten Free Flour Mix:  My favorite flour mix, 1 – 1pound box of Betty Crocker GF Rice Flour and 3 Cups of Tom Sawyer GF Flour, whisk together and store in airtight container. Using this mix there is no need to add xanthan gum.

Ingredients for rolls:

3 ½  Cups Gluten Free Tom Sawyer/Betty Crocker GF Flour Mix (see GF flour mix above) (Or Better Batter)

Note: If you use another flour that does not have xanthan gum, then you must add 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum.

½ Teaspoon Salt

½  Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Heaping Tablespoon Gluten Free Baking Powder

1 Cup Pure Egg Whites

½ Cup Gluten Free Canola Oil

1/2 Cup Pure Butter Milk

½ Cup Pure Honey

In large mixing bowl whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Then add egg whites, oil, butter milk, and honey. Gently fold liquids and flour together until all dry ingredients are wet. Don’t over mix! Cover mixing bowl and store in refrigerator at least 2 hours. ( I like to mix this the day before and let it set overnight, also dough is much easier to work with when cool.)

When you are ready to bake rolls, remove from fridge and prepare yeast mixture below.

Yeast Mixture:

¾  Cup White Granulated Sugar

½ Cup Scalded Milk (in microwave about 1 minute)

¼  Cup Cold tap water

2 Heaping Tablespoons Dry Active Yeast

In medium glass mixing bowl, add sugar, scalded milk, & water. Stir to dissolve sugar. Temperature should not be over 110 degrees. (It will kill the yeast) Add yeast and mix with plastic whisk. Set aside and let it foam about 15 minutes. I like to set it near the stove to keep it warm.

Preheat oven to 325* Add a 9×13 inch baking pan filled half way with water, to bottom rack of oven. This will keep rolls moist while baking.

When yeast is ready, add dough and yeast mixture to food processor or mixer. Blend on highest setting until well mixed. Do not over mix, it will make rolls rubbery. I usually blend no more than 30 to 40 seconds or until all lumps are gone and dough is smooth.

Pour dough onto wax paper that has been lightly greased and floured (with GF flour). Lightly sprinkle more flour on top of dough, just enough to roll out. Roll out dough to about 1 inch thickness. Using a 2 ½ in round cookie cutter, cut rolls and place in a lightly greased nonstick pan. Or if you are using a glass baking pan you must lightly grease and flour the pan or the rolls will stick. I can get 18 rolls into a 9×13 inch pan. This will make 24 – 25 rolls depending on how big you make them. I use a smaller pan for the rest of the rolls. Try not to handle the dough any more than you have to. The more it is worked the tougher it makes the rolls. If you would rather make popover style rolls, then just use an ice cream scoop and place 1 scoop of dough into a regular greased nonstick cupcake or muffin pan.

.IMG_1507

Melt ½ stick of salted butter and generously brush top of rolls. Let rolls rise in a warm place for about 20 minutes.  Place in top rack of oven, above water,  when rolls have risen and bake for 20 minutes then remove pan of water from oven and let rolls finish baking for another 5 to 10 minutes or until completely brown and done in the center. Insert a wooden toothpick in the center roll, if it comes back clean, then they are done.

Remove from oven and butter again while warm. Lightly cover rolls with foil that you have pierced with a fork, ( so rolls do not sweat) until you are ready to serve. These freeze very well. To thaw and serve, remove from freezer bag and pop them into the microwave for 25-30 seconds per roll, longer for multiple rolls.

Gluten Free Flour Revisited

tomsawBCI had a conversation with a lady yesterday, that is still having trouble finding the right Gluten Free flours to work with. So I thought I would add some more info. about the flours I use. My favorite  G F flours and the ones that react and taste more like the wheat flour that we all grew up with, are the Tom Sawyer Gluten Free Flour and Betty Crocker Rice Flour blend mixed.  Below is the recipe I use to mix these 2 flours, and where to find them.

Tom Sawyer and GF Betty Crocker Flour Mix

The combination of these 2 flours is the closest I have found to the taste and texture of regular white wheat flour. And since this mixture works the best for these recipes I like to keep this mixed, it saves a lot of time.

2 – 16 oz. boxes of Betty Crocker all-purpose GF rice flour blend (each box measures out to a scant 3 Cups)

6 Cups Tom Sawyer GF Flour

In a large mixing bowl slowly pour each kind of flour in, and slowly stir with a wire whisk. ( You don’t want the flour to poof out, it is wasteful and it will throw off the measurement). Mix thoroughly, it is very important!

The reason I do this amount, is because it fills up my large Tupperware container, and this will last awhile. If you also have wheat flour in the house, PLEASE LABEL your containers!!!

NOTE: I realize some people may not be able to get the Tom Sawyer Flour, it is not available in all stores. ( We have to order this over the internet, I have provided a phone number and link below.)

Tom Sawyer Gluten Free Flour. Com

Phone 877-372-8800

Email: tomsawyer@esedona.net

You can find Betty Crocker Gluten Free Rice Flour blend at Wal-Mart, Homeland, Reesers, & other markets. Please be aware that this is not a Betty Crocker cake flour mix or Betty Crocker Bisquick, be sure and just read the boxes. Also please note, if you use the Betty Crocker rice flour alone, you must add xanthan gum to the recipe.

I hope this helps!

Fried Green Tomatoes

IMG_1454We just picked the rest of the tomatoes from our garden before the first frost this year. These are so good my husband likes to pick them green just to fry, in the spring before the first ones get ripe.

Gluten Free Fried Green Tomatoes

3-4 Medium Size Green Tomatoes

1 ½ Cups Betty Crocker GF Rice Flour Blend

1 Teaspoon Gluten Free Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon Salt

1 ½ Tablespoons Sugar

Enough oil enough oil in skillet to pan fry tomatoes.

Whisk together flour and other dry ingredients. Wash, core and slice green tomatoes, about ¼ inch thick. Dip each tomato slice in coating mix, coating each slice on both sides. Be sure oil is hot when you place coated slices in the pan. Fry each side until golden brown. (About 2 – 2 ½ minutes per side) Drain on paper towels and serve.

Bob’s Red Mill New Gluten Free Flour

IMG_1436  I received my order of Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour. So far I’ve made just one loaf of bread, using my favorite brown bread recipe. The Bob’s Red Mill, loaf is on the right. The one on the left, I made with Tom Sawyer GF and Betty Crocker GF Flours mixed 1/2 and 1/2 as I usually do. Both were made with the same amount of flour, and leavening. The same process, everything. The texture is fine, it’s not crumbling, but it did not rise, and it does have that dreaded hole in the center, it’s just lacking something. It did not exchange 1 to 1 in this recipe. I will keep working on it, and when I get it down I’ll post the winning recipe!