My Favorite Donut

gluten+free+dairy+free+the best+churros+recipe

EPISODE

Learn how to make a classic “dump and stir” doughnut that is amenable to modern twists. You’ll learn how to fry without a fryer, how to make a simple chocolate sauce, and most importantly how to make perfectly cooked Churros. You will be able to impress your friends and family with fresh, homemade doughnuts.


Show Outline: 

  • Churros

  • Chocolate Sauce: 10:52


If you would like to help support the show, click here.


Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

  1. Churros Recipe - One of my favorite recipes 🙂

  2. Chocolate Sauce (below)


Easy Chocolate Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

1 cup chocolate pieces
1 cup milk (dairy free works fine too)
Salt to taste

Directions:
In a medium sized bowl, microwave 1 cup chocolate pieces and 1 cup milk (dairy free works fine too) for 30 second increments whisking thoroughly in between heating. Then stir in some salt to taste. If you like, you can even add a dash cinnamon, nutmeg, chili powder or vanilla. 


Frying Doughnuts - Tips & Troubleshooting

  • Follow the recipe carefully.

  • Oil Temperature: For optimal frying the oil needs to be between 360-375F (182-190C).

  • If your doughnuts come out oily the frying oil is likely too low. 

  • If you flip your doughnut over to cook the second side and it tries to flip back over to the first (cooked) side, this is probably because your churro was slightly overcooked on the first side. 

  • Make sure your oil is preheating before you mix the wet and dry ingredients together. 





Dumplings, Crispy Vietnamese Crepes & A Savory Rice Cake

gluten free dairy free pot stickers

EPISODE

It’s time for some savory meals. Join me to learn about homemade Asian mains that will help you expand your repertoire. 

Show Outline: 

  • Dumplings 

    Vietnames Crepes 8:28

    Savory Rice Cake 14:18


Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts

gluten free dairy free vegan asian recipes


SHOW NOTES:

In this episode I reviewed recipes from The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen cookbook by Laura Russell.

Recipes discussed:

  1. Gingery Pork Pot Stickers

  2. 3-Ingredient Crispy Vietnamese Crepes (vegan option) This was my favorite recipe. You can fill it with whatever you like, but I have a fairly traditional option and a vegan option.

  3. A Savory Rice Cake. You can find these cakes in Singapore and China. The Singapore version has simple ingredients while the Chinese version is more complex and flavorful, incorporating things like dried shrimp or mushrooms. It makes a great accompaniment to a meal. 

I love the Vietnamese Rice Crepe recipe. One common filling you can find in Ho Chi Minh is a combination of pork, shrimp, mung beans, and mung bean sprouts which are flavored with garlic and eaten with lettuce, mint and cilantro. You can find a recipe here

See an example of these crepes being cooked in Ho Chi Minh in an open air restaurant.

Cookie Baking Secrets: Chocolate Chip Cookies & Butter Cookies

gluten+free+dairy+free+classic+chocolate+chip+cookies+recipe

EPISODE

If you have ever wanted to know how to make your cookies more chewy or crisp or moist the next day, you have come to the right place. In today’s episode I’ll discuss aspects of baking that affect texture. Furthermore, if you would like to learn about how specific ingredients affect cookie texture, check out the show notes below.


Show Outline: 

  • Butter Cookies 3:44

  • Experiment with Flavor (butter cookies) 6:44

  • Chocolate Chip Cookies 13:00

  • Bake Time 13:37


Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts

gluten free dairy free butter cookies recipe plain


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

  1. Classic Butter Cookies 

  2. Chocolate Chip Cookies 

  3. Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars

  4. Double Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies 

5 Factors that Affect Cookie Texture, Broadly Speaking

-Recipe 
-Rest time (resting the dough in the fridge overnight)
-Size of cookie
-Oven temperature 
-Bake time - Most people over-bake chocolate chip cookies! Take them out of the oven as soon as the middle loses its sheen. 

Troubleshooting - Recipe Adjustments 

Cookies can spread too much, be domed and dry, or otherwise be subpar for a number of reasons. When troubleshooting, always first check bake time, cookie size, rest time, etc. The causes of a problem can vary but if a cookie is too dry or domed, you can try reducing the flour by a tablespoon, or two tablespoons if it is a large recipe. If your cookies spread too much you can try reducing the sugar some (assuming you’ve already tried refrigerating the dough overnight). If your cookies have an off flavor, try reducing the baking soda. And, lastly, if they are falling apart, try adding a little more psyllium husk powder (or xantham gum, gaur gum, chia seeds.. whatever your recipe calls for) and/or 2-3 teaspoons of water. However, if your cookies aren’t holding together always try letting rest for twenty minutes  after baking before removing them from the cookie sheet. If that doesn’t work, then adjust the gums. Psyllium and gums also help keep cookies moist for a few days. Now go forth and bake exquisite cookies 🙂 

Let’s recap, check out the notes below. Always change only on factor when testing a recipe. Changing the recipe is the last thing you should try.

Dry cookie Try in the following order: reduce bake time, reduce flour, add more psyllium husk powder or xanthan gum (using more than 1 teaspoon of gum per cup of flour is very unusual and probably not needed)

Spreading Too Much To reduce spreading allow the dough to rest in the fridge overnight (unless it has whipped egg whites), reduce the sugar

Off Flavor Reduce the baking soda

Falling Apart Let the cookies rest for 20 minutes on the tray after they are baked, add 2-3 tablespoons of water, add more psyllium husk powder or gum

Bake Time

I came across an interesting article on Bon Appétit: How to tell when anything is done baking

Classic Chocolate Cake with a Ganache Frosting

gluten free dairy free classic chocolate cake with ganache frosting recipe

EPISODE #25

This cake is one of my favorites. It is a classic chocolate cake with a classy ganache finish. And the ganache frosting takes less than 5 minutes to make! Hard to beat. This recipe also has a dairy free option which I love. I hope you give this cake a try and feel confident adding a new technique to your baking repertoire. Enjoy! 🙂

Ganache 9:45


Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts

gluten free dairy free classic chocolate cake with ganache recipe


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

  1. Classic Chocolate Cake with Ganache Frosting

    Video: To see the video, click on the recipe link above. Enjoy!

View the recipe above to learn how to make the ganache. Note that I use a slightly different method for this recipe. Traditionally, ganache is made by boiling the cream and then pouring it over the chocolate and letting it rest, before stirring into a smooth ganache. If you prefer this method, you can use it instead.

When making ganache, you can vary the chocolate to cream ratio for different consistencies/uses and whether you are using dark or white chocolate. Ganache can be made many different ways, but the 1:1 chocolate to cream ratio is a classic. If you use two parts cream to one part chocolate and chill it, you can then whip the mixture and frost a cake with it or serve it with fresh fruit.

Here is a quick demonstration on how to cover your leftover ganache in chocolate to make truffles. Alternatively, you can shape it into balls and roll them in: crushed nuts, coconut, or cocoa. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try rolling your ganache balls in powdered freeze dried raspberries. Or rub some orange blossom oil onto almond pieces before rolling your ganache in the almonds. Or you could even try a more savory flavor like matcha or curry powder—just be sure to start small so you don’t overwhelm the chocolate flavor. I have actually had curry in chocolate before and it can be delicious.

Troubleshooting: If your ganache breaks and looks curdled, you can usually rescue it. Try adding a tablespoon of hot cream at a time and stirring until it comes back together.

Bread: Whole Grain Goodness

NOTE: The photo avove is a classic boule. The one I made is a smaller, wholegrain version. A smaller loaf is quicker to make and more importantly (in my book at least) it has more crust per volume of bread :-) I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS TASTY MULTIGRAIN …

NOTE: The photo avove is a classic boule. The one I made is a smaller, wholegrain version. A smaller loaf is quicker to make and more importantly (in my book at least) it has more crust per volume of bread :-) I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS TASTY MULTIGRAIN LOAF!

EPISODE #24

I didn’t used to be a bread baker, and honestly I’m still pretty new to it, but there are few things as rewarding as a fresh whole grain loaf. In this episode, I’ll talk about a light whole grain Hot Cross Buns recipe flavored with orange zest, figs, and toasted almond and what to look for to get great results. Then I’ll share a classic boule loaf with you—the kind that has a chewy, robust crust. And you’ll learn how to get that crust without a commercial oven. 

Hot Cross Buns 2:50

Boule 8:50


Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

  1. Hot Cross Buns - If you like the flavor of buckwheat, you’ll love this recipe. It’s flavored with orange zest, figs, and toasted almonds

  2. 1-Bowl Whole Grain Boule Loaf (Vegan) - This bread is currently one of my favorite bread recipes! It’s wholesome and a great place to start if you are new to whole grain baking. It’s made with teff flour which is much milder than buckwheat and an excellent addition to savory and sweet baked goods.

    Videos: To see the videos just click the recipes above. Enjoy!

Is internal temperature the best way to monitor when bread is done baking? Cook’s Illustrated says this is not the best way to tell when bread is done baking. However, for many recipes, it works. So, while it doesn’t always hold true, it’s a good first bet. However, I do have a few recipes that are exceptions. For example, my biscuit recipe requires baking for a quite a while past 200F/93C. Otherwise they taste “doughy”. The bottomline is that internal temperature will not always indicate doneness, because it depends on the recipe.

I you’d like more bread baking tips, you can check out this previous post.

You can find more information about the roll salt plays in bread baking here.

gluten free dairy free pita bread recipe

Also, if you’re interested check out my Bread Baking Basics episode. I talk about a wonderful pita bread recipe from Authentic Foods that I use all the time — including for mini pizzas!

Winter & Holiday Baking: Two Festive Treats

gluten free dairy free stollen recipe

EPISODE #23

I talk about two treats that are bound to make your holidays festive: that glorious German loaf called Stollen and the mysterious Mincemeat Pie. They are both delightful treats that are easier to make than they appear, making them a delightful addition to your holiday or winter dinners.

Outline:

Mincemeat Streusel Pie
Stollen Loaf 9:10


Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts.


SHOW NOTES:

You can find Steve’s GF bread flour here.
You can find more about the history of Mincemeat here.


Recipes:

  1. Mincemeat Streusel Pie with Hazelnuts - flavored with orange zest and cocoa

  2. Stollen Loaf - A festive German bread packed with dried fruit

  3. 3-Ingredient Homemade Marzipan - a wonderful addition to Stollen and many other baked goods.

Mincemeat pie streusel gluten free dairy free recipe

Don’t Open the Door: Eclairs Special

Eclairs gluten free dairy free recipe

EPISODE #22

Eclairs are a classic French pastry filled with pastry cream and, in this case, topped with chocolate. In this episode they are demystified and made achievable for home bakers. The pastry is made from a dough called, pâte à choux, which is used to make a handful of delightful desserts. The filling, pastry cream, is equally versatile and an ingredient in many pies, tarts, doughnuts, and cakes. Eclairs not only expand your confidence and baking knowledge, they are sure to wow any guest. Enjoy!

Outline:

-Pastry Cream

-Choux Pastry 6:20


Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts.


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

Eclairs — Just one awesome recipe, including pastry cream and choux.

How to Make the Perfect Tart: Decadent Chocolate Tart and Cranberry Grapefruit Tart

gluten free dairy free tart recipe

EPISODE #21

This show is all about tarts. I discuss how to make the perfect, classic tart shell and how to keep it crisp. It’s a foolproof recipe with a vegan option and I walk you through what to look for to get great results. Next I discuss two fillings: a classic chocolate one and a fruity one with unique flavors. I’ll talk about how to play with flavor as well as why each step in the recipe is critical. Enjoy!

Outline:

-Tart Crust

-Chocolate Filling 9:10

-Cranberry Tart 13:20


Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts.


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

  1. Your Classic, Chocolate Tart recipe with a festive Cranberry Swirl (optional) - a rich and silky smooth filling

  2. Cranberry Grapefruit Tart recipe

  3. Classic Foolproof Tart Shell recipe — Great for savory dishes too (vegan option)

  4. No Fail Pie or Tart Crust - Oat and Almond (vegan option). This is my favorites because it is quick to prepare and does’t require chilling.

Aran Goyoaga: Author of Cannelle et Vanille Cookbook

Aran Goyoaga cookbook author

EPISODE #20

Aran Goyoaga is the James Beard-recognized creator of Cannelle et Vanille and her new gluten free cookbook is of the same name. Her recipes are influenced by her Basque upbringing, where food is a central part of the culture. Aran is also an outstanding food stylist and photographer. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, and Vogue, among others.

Click here for a link to this episode on Apple Podcasts.


SHOW NOTES:

If you’d like to see more of Aran’s work, you can visit her website Cannelle et Vanille.

Aran Goyoaga Cannelle et Vanille cookbook


Bread Baking Basics: Brioche, Baguettes, and Pita Bread

gluten free dairy free brioche rolls recipe

EPISODE #19

How do you know when your bread is done proofing? How do you know when your bread is done baking? Why is salt important when you’re baking bread?We’ll explore the basics of bread making through three classic recipes: baguettes, brioche (8:35), and pita bread (15.36). Enjoy!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bread-baking-basics-brioche-baguettes-and-pita-bread/id1441338206?i=1000453811446


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

  1. Brioche - My personal favorite!

  2. French Bread

  3. Pita Bread - Also here is a link to an interview with award-winning author Reem Kassis. She has excellent sides and mains that go with pita bread.

The bread blend we use to bake beautiful brioche, baguettes, and pita bread is called Steve’s GF Bread Flour and it can be found at Authentic Foods.

Is internal temperature the best way to monitor when bread is done baking? Cook’s Illustrated says this is not the best way to tell when bread is done baking. However, for many recipes, it works. So, while it doesn’t always hold true, it’s a good first bet. However, I do have a few recipes that are exceptions. For example, my biscuit recipe requires baking for a quite a while past 200F/93C. Otherwise they taste “doughy”. The bottomline is that internal temperature will not always indicate doneness, because it depends on the recipe.

I you’d like more bread baking tips, you can check out this previous post.

You can find more information about the roll salt plays in bread baking here.

gluten free dairy free pita bread recipe

Quelcy Kogel: Author of The Gluten Free Grains Cookbook

Quelcy Kogel cookbook author

EPISODE #18

Our guest today is Quelcy Kogel. She is a food and prop stylist, photographer, and cookbook author. Her recipes have been featured in Bon Appetit, BuzzFeed, and HuffPost Taste among others. She talks with us about her Gluten Free Grains Cookbook, which features numerous baked goods and desserts. Her professional website, Quelcy.com, like her cookbook radiates passion, skill and a dedication to the art and craft of food that few possess.


Click here for a link to this episode on Apple Podcasts.


SHOW NOTES:

I’d like to extend a huge thank you to Quelcy for being a guest on the show! You can learn more about her on her blog, With the Grains, where she shares her recipes and writing.

Quelcy Kogel The gluten free grains cookbook


Recipes:

  1. Quelcy’s Fried Pancake Horns recipe (photo below, it’s the one that looks like empanadas)

  2. A classic fudgy Brownies Recipe I posted a while ago (features teff flour)


How to Reduce Food Waste

  • Here’s a tip on how to reduce food waste. I compost during the warmer months but something I’ve started doing is saving old vegetables, ends, and peels and then steaming them for my dogs (dogs are omnivores so they need vegetables too). It helps make them healthier and reduces food waste. Although there are a few items that are poisonous to dogs so watch out for those (like grapes, walnuts, or onions to name a few).

  • Another option is to compost during the warmer months (or compost indoors year round using vermiculture or an electric composter if you have renewable energy)


Irradiation

There are two criticisms of irradiation. One is that along with destroying harmful microorganisms it also destroys ones that are good for us. The second, and perhaps more important criticism, is that irradiation does not fix the core problem. Food often becomes contaminated because the growing methods or processing plants aren’t up to par. Some people fear that food processing plants use irradiation as a crutch rather than ensuring that facilities (or growing methods for that matter) have processes in place to ensure minimal risk of food borne illness.

As of 2018, here is a list of the foods that the FDA allows to be irradiated:

Beef and Pork
Crustaceans (e.g., lobster, shrimp, and crab)
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Lettuce and Spinach
Poultry
Seeds for Sprouting (e.g., for alfalfa sprouts)
Shell Eggs
Shellfish - Molluscan (e.g., oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops)
Spices and Seasonings


Vote With Your Dollar

Also, if you want to vote with your dollar as we inevitably do, and if you’re new to eating organic, here is a list of foods that are especially important to eat organic because of their high pesticide use:

The Dirty Dozen

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale
4. Nectarines
5. Apples
6. Grapes
7. Peaches
8. Cherries
9. Pears
10. Tomatoes
11. Celery
12. Potatoes






Quelcy Kogel gluten free fried pancake horns recipe

Doughnuts, Cheesecake, & A Peanut Butter “Milkshake"

gluten free dairy free doughnut recipe

EPISODE #17

Today we talk briefly about American doughnut history. Then we dive into some recipes: how to make a classic doughnut, lime-infused cheesecake, and a vegan “milkshake” or nog.

Your Classic, Caky Doughnut

Lime-Infused Cheesecake + A No-Bake Cheesecake 9:45

Peanutbutter “Milkshake” 15:28


Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doughnuts-cheesecake-a-peanut-butter-milkshake/id1441338206?i=1000446221959

Coconut-Lime Cheesecake

Coconut-Lime Cheesecake

Peanut Butter Milkshake

Peanut Butter Milkshake

Reem Kassis: The Palestinian Table

gluten free dairy free flatbread dinner recipe

EPISODE #16

Reem Kassis is best known for her cookbook, The Palestinian Table. In the book she tells stories about her childhood—growing up in Palestine and she shares some fabulous recipes. She never expected to end up cooking professionally. She left Palestine to pursue a degree in business and worked in the industry for years before she decided to take cooking to the next level, which she definitely did. Her cookbook was the Winner of the Guild of Food Writers First Book Award and a James Beard nominee for Best International Cookbook. I should note here that Reem’s cookbook is not gluten free but many recipes are naturally gluten free or can be adapted to be gluten free. I often use quinoa or millet in place of wheat grains.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reem-kassis-the-palestinian-table/id1441338206?i=1000444556789

Herbs & Spices: 6:33

Taboon flatbread 10:44

Elements of good cooking 13:37

Desserts 16:59


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

  1. 3-Ingredient Za-atar Spice Mix: a blend of sesame seeds, lemony sumac, and oregano (or substitute thyme). It makes a great topping on salads, meat, grains, eggs, etc.

  2. Here is an excellent flatbread recipe for Pita Bread from Authentic Foods. It calls for their bread flour mix but that same mix also makes excellent brioche and French bread.

    Here are two additional Dairy Free and Gluten Free Flatbread recipes I would like to try. Honestly, most gluten free bread/flatbread recipes don’t measured up. If your’e interested, volunteer to test these! Or share your favorite flatbread recipe 🙂

    https://www.glutenfreeandmore.com/recipe/gluten-free-dairy-free-pita-bread/

    https://www.feastingonfruit.com/vegan-gluten-free-flatbread/

gluten free dairy free flatbread recipe

Bread Making Tips (from Happy Campers Bread Company)

I did an Interview with Jan and Lacy, the founders of the Happy Campers Bread Company, and asked them for some bread making tips. (By the way, their bread is amazing and can be ordered online. It’s also free of a handful of major allergens, including rice.) Their advice confirmed some of my thoughts about baking bread — many recipes call for too much yeast. If your loaf is dense try addressing the issue indirectly.

gluten free dairy free bread making tips advice


This is what they had to say:

  • Use a mixture of flours for balanced flavor. Using too much of any one flour will result in off taste. Rice, millet, sorghum and teff are good bulk flours, because they're neutral in flavor and are fairly light (won't produce dense bread). Add a little bit of buckwheat, quinoa, or amaranth for nuttier, more whole grain flavor.

  • Nut flours like almond or coconut are tough to make bread with, because they're so heavy and will produce very dense bread.

  • Using starches (tapioca, corn, potato) will produce lighter bread. On the other hand, starch isn't nutritious, so regarding nutrition, the less the better. I recommend about 20% of flour to be starch.

  • A mixture of psyllium husk powder and xanthan gum works best to replace gluten, I recommend approximately a teaspoon of each per loaf. Mix them up in your flour before adding water.

  • Mix all ingredients very thoroughly (on high speed in your Kitchen Aid, at least 10 minutes).

  • Dough consistency should be of thick batter. This will depend on flour used, but roughly weight ratio 1:1 in flour:water should produce the right consistency.

  • 1 tsp of yeast should be plenty. When bread turns out dense, most people will think it's yeast, but that's rarely the case. More likely you need more mixing time or lighter flours (like millet, rice or some starch).

  • For nice yeasty, sourdough flavor, create a "sponge:" mix all your flour (including xanthan and psyllium) with water, add a pinch of yeast and let sit in fridge overnight. Add the remaining ingredients (like salt, yeast, molasses, seeds etc.) the next day, proof and bake as usual.

Socca Flatbread, Alegria & A Spectacular Muffin

gluten free dairy free socca recipe

EPISODE #15

In this episode we talk about an unusual but well-loved flatbread that is common in parts of France and Italy. Then I will share an awesome quickbread/muffin recipe that has almost no sugar and we will finish off with a paleo and vegan Mexican candy.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/socca-flatbread-alegria-a-spectacular-muffin/id1441338206?i=1000441539028

Recipes:

-Socca Flatbread or Chickpea Crepes (vegan) - coming soon

-Chocolate Coconut Walnut Bread

-Two Hikers on Horseback - Chocolate Amaranth Bars (vegan & paleo)


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

  1. Socca Flatbread or Chickpea Crepes (vegan) - coming soon

  2. Chocolate Coconut Walnut Bread

  3. Two Hikers on Horseback - Chocolate Amaranth Alegría Bars (vegan & paleo)

I also mentioned a powder called Maca powder that I’d like to experiment with more. Many people claim that it has numerous health benefits.

Coconut Chocolate Walnut Bread (below).

gluten free dairy free chocolate coconut amaranth bread recipe


Alegría - A Mexican Popped Amaranth Candy (picture below)

Alegria bars are a mexican dessert made with popped amaranth (paleo)

Alegria bars are a mexican dessert made with popped amaranth (paleo)

Amaranth “Polenta” Cakes, an Easy-To-Prepare Boozy Dessert, and More

Gluten Free dairy free amaranth polenta cakes recipe paleo vegan

EPISODE #14

Join us this week for adventures with crepes, protein-rich “polenta” cakes (vegan and paleo), and a dessert that (when made correctly) is absolutely amazing.

Recipes:

-Crepes - some new takes on an old recipe

-Amaranth “Polenta” Cakes 6:32

-Bread Pudding with Caramel Cognac Sauce 11:40


SHOW NOTES:

Recipes:

  1. The Best Crepe Recipe (made with Cashew flour) or Teff Crepes

  2. Amaranth “Polenta" Cakes

  3. Bread Pudding with Caramel Cognac Sauce

A Popped Amaranth Alegría Bar recipe is coming soon!

Amaranth:

Health benefits according to Dr. Axe.

Here are some photos of amaranth flowers (below). The genius, Amaranthus, includes at least 70 species of amaranth and immense diversity. Only certain varieties are used for their “grains" (seeds, actually) and leafy greens. In fact, many varieties are considered weeds. However, many species offer colorful foliage and beautiful unique flowers, so if you live in a climate where the plant is not invasive it might be a great, robust one to add to the garden.


Alegría - A Mexican Popped Amaranth Candy. It’s actually a bar and here is a recipe if you are interested. I look forward to trying this recipe as well!

Alegria bars are a mexican dessert made with popped amaranth (paleo)

Alegria bars are a mexican dessert made with popped amaranth (paleo)

Alice Medrich: Award-Winning Author, Baker, and Chocolate Connoisseur

Alice Medrich interview podcast gluten free flavor flours

EPISODE #12

I had the amazing opportunity to talk with Alice Medrich. She is well-known in the food world for her expertise with chocolate, French pastry, and baking. In fact, she introduced one of America’s treasured desserts, the chocolate truffle, which, in the 1970’s and 80’s, was virtually unknown. We’ll talk about her journey and what it was like to be part of a food movement that is still influencing us today. And, we’ll also dive into her most recent cookbook, Flavor Flours. It’s a celebration of grains that are gluten free and she teaches us what those grains—or flours in this case—can offer us when married with the impeccable craft of a fantastic baker. Alice Medrich, has won numerous awards for her cookbooks, including James Beard awards and a Julia Child first cookbook award.

Join us next week on The Gluten Free Baking Show to learn more about Alice Medrich’s cookbook!

SHOW NOTES:

Here is the recipe for Alice Medrich’s Corn Flour Chiffon Cake

Buttery Crackers, Super-Seeded Crackers, and More

Molasses Cookies

EPISODE #11

This episode is all about crackers. Learn how to make simple, healthy snacks at home. We’ll cover everything from rich buttery crackers, to crackers packed with seeds, to crackers made with cooked whole grains! All of the recipes are dairy free and there are two vegan and paleo recipes.

SHOW NOTES:

Below are the recipes from the episode:

  • Buttery Crackers (Rich & Delicately Crispy - admittedly my favorite)

  • Norwegian Crisp Bread. Yes, it’s also traditional in Sweden and there are variations around Europe, including German Knackebrot. They are super hearty and packed with nutrients. You can adapt it to be paleo or try this paleo alternative, Super Seedy Crackers (I couldn’t help myself with the title..)

  • Quinoa & Corn Crackers (An Oh-so-satisfying crunch!)

Buttery crackers recipe

Portuguese Desserts Adapted From David Leite’s Cookbook

Molasses Cookies

EPISODE #10

Today we talk about desserts from David Leite’s cookbook, The New Portuguese Table. David Leite is the founder of Leite’s Culinaria, which was the first food blog to win a James Beard Award in 2006 and again in 2007. David Leite was also awarded the Julia Child first book award for his cookbook The New Portuguese Table. These desserts will certainly be a regular part of my baking repertoire and I hope you enjoy them too.

SHOW NOTES:

Below are the recipes from the episode:

Gluten-free dairy-free Orange Olive Oil Cake

Gluten-free dairy-free Orange Olive Oil Cake

Interview with Award-Winning Author David Leite

David Leite interview podcast

EPISODES #8 and #9

You can make a convincing case that food defines who we are, and often who we are not. We talk about this and much more with food writer and memoirist David Leite about his most recent book, Notes on a Banana: A Memoir of Food, Love and Manic Depression. He’s the founder of Leite’s Culinaria, which was the first website to win a James Beard Award in 2006 and again in 2007. David Leite was also awarded the Julia Child first book award for his cookbook The New Portuguese Table. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, and the Los Angeles Times, among many others.

Join us next week on The Gluten Free Baking Show to learn more about Leite’s recipes!

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