Gluten Free Goodness

Once upon a time there were gluten free baked goods. To be honest they were horrible tasting not to mention thick and lumpy. . Not so any more.Gluten free baked goods can be just as yummy as their their regular counterparts. In fact they can be addictive - so much so that cake and bread lovers can easily switch over to this healthier alternative.

Gluten free flours were the subject of today's New York Times Dining regular Melissa Clark's article. She covered both professional and home baking regarding this revolution. Wheat free baking is more than just a trend. Thanks to a rise in celiac allergies, more and more moms are seeking out gluten free products to buy and make for their children. Famed bakeries like Babycakes in Manhattan and Los Angeles has always produced gluten free goodies and their cupcakes rival those of the famed Magnolia Bakery in taste and lightness. They are almost ethereal in their taste and texture and have gotten a following.


A better idea, as expressed in Ms Clark's article is that the flours are available to home bakers. Supermarkets carry a wide range of flours such as sweet potato (!), sorghum, teff ( a species of lovegrass that can be ground into a flour)and oat. Also gums such as xanthum and guar, used commercially to bind cakes and cookies can now be bought at your local health store Home bakers will be happy to know that baking with these flours produce a better and actually lighter product. There is even a pizza recipes thrown in so wheat allergy sufferers can enjoy a fresh baked pie with the works.

Gluten free used to be impossible to find and even more impossible to digest. However all that is changing. Thanks to improved flours and regularity in stores and bakery gluten free is definitely becoming part of the American diet.

Note:
I forgot to thank the New York Times Dining Section and their great staff of writers who provide me topics for my Wednesday and Thursday entries. My toque is off to you in gratitude!