Last month I got the pleasure of spending a weekend in Paso Robles celebrating a good friend's 40th birthday.  It is no secret that I love wine, but finding gluten free snacks and lunches while wine tasting can be tricky.  Wineries and tasting rooms don't always have food, and if they do, the offerings are usually crackers, bread or a cheese selection, none of which I can eat.  Luckily, downtown Paso Robles is home to a delightful little bakery called Bless Your Heart Speciality Baking which offers gluten free, low glycemic and vegan options. My husband and I stumbled upon it last year and I was thrilled to find the bakery right where we left it.  

I'm a sucker for a tasty chicken salad (it was the food I craved the most while pregnant) and so I opted for their house-made rotisserie chicken salad on a gluten free sourdough bun with organic greens and vine-ripened tomatoes.  The chicken was so tender.  Amidst the tangy mayo was chopped apple, cranberry and celery.  The bread was still warm from the oven and had a soft and chewy consistency.  It was 11:00am and I was already in gluten free foodie heaven.  

The next day, we made a quick stop to the bakery before leaving Paso. I wanted to pick up a loaf of that bread and a couple cupcakes for the road.  I opted for the carrot cupcake and the lemon cupcake.  Having baked with chocolate lately,  I thought they would be a nice change of pace for my sweet tooth. 

For me, the lemon cupcake was not a favorite, though the presentation was adorable. ​On the other hand, the carrot cupcake was exceptional. The cake was so moist and not over spiced.  The vegan whipped cream on top had me licking my fingers and wishing I had stayed to ask for the recipe!  It was delicious.  Light and creamy...I could eat that whipped cream on just about anything.  The dusting of aromatic cinnamon complimented the cake perfectly.  Mmmm, it was so delicious. 

Last week, ​one of my fellow Pilates colleagues took a trip to Paso.  Much to my delight she came back with stories of wine tasting, her praise of this yummy bakery, and...

two carrot cupcakes just for me. ;-)

Cheers for gluten free cupcakes, 

Francine

It's that time of year.  That time of your favorite turkey dinner, seasonal cocktails, red cups at Starbucks, and warm, crumbly baked goods.  Oh wait...warm, crumbly gluten free baked goods.  An oxymoron? Not with a little effort...

I'll admit it. I had some epic baking fails in the beginning.  Couldn't I just swap normal flour for rice flour? Uh, no. What is xanthan gum and do I really need that tiny amount or can I just skip putting it the recipe? Uh, yes. Is buckwheat wheat flour? I know, confusing right?  Is that the real price for the gluten free flour or was that a misprint? ​It does get pricey...

All these questions might race through your mind as you start you gluten free baking. And now there are So. Many. Choices. when it comes to gluten free flours.  Choices are a blessing and a curse. If you hate one of the mixes you have others to try. Then again, where do you start?  I'm going to give you my favorite two mixes that you can purchase right off the shelf or order on Amazon.  Don't worry, this is just the beginning to help you whip up some tasty gluten free treats that will impress your coworkers, kids, and friends ( if you choose to share) and will help you beat the overwhelm.  

Pamela's Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Mix 
The first mix I feel in gluten free love with was Pamela's All Purpose Baking Mix.  It is easy to find at stores these days, or do what I do and buy the large bag on Amazon.  With this mix you can make everything from cookies, to pancakes, to (my personal favorite) sour cream coffee cake.  The sour cream coffee cake is so good and so moist that I dare you to tell the difference between it and a non gluten free variety.  Their are countless recipes their website, as well as on the back of the big bag.  Please note that the mix is not dairy free, it does contain buttermilk. So it would not be appropriate for vegans or anyone on a dairy free diet.  Since the birth of my son a few months ago, I have chosen to give up all dairy - even butter!! - to help his digestion.  So I've had to shelve my beloved Pamela's mix for now and turn to another option. 

King Arthur's Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Mix 
King Arthur Flour has been making baked good products for years so it should be no surprise they have jumped on the gluten free baking bandwagon.  Honestly, their products are fairly new to me and I don't know why I didn't try them sooner.  I have been pleasantly surprised with their All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Mix, which is also dairy free. It is a little hard to find, but if your local health food store does not carry it you can request that they do or order it from the King Arthur website. I recommend signing up for their email newsletter. You can actually specify that you only want information on gluten free products.  They have a good variety of gluten free flours and mixes, and from time to time offer free shipping on their products. 

So there you have it....a little something to get you through the holiday baking and out of the overwhelm.  We'll talk about xanthan gum another time after you've gotten your feet wet. 

Happy gluten free baking, 

Francine