Wheat free baking with recipes for wheat free flour

January 6, 2013
I’ve had a glorious two weeks with my second son (third child) and his wife and two sons. We played games, watched a few movies and had a good old time. The children got lots of toys for Christmas and we found out that we’re not going to move to California this year, like we thought. We probably won’t have to move at all!We’re very glad, although wish that our loved ones in CA would consider moving to OK and that OK had a beach with waves suitable for surfing and snorkeling. (If wishes were fishes, we all would swim.) (And real estate in OK would be the most expensive in the world)
But the one thing that’s tricky about entertaining Scott and Kimberly is that Kimberly is allergic to wheat. Of course, learning to be a good hostess to Kimberly, (ie. showing my love) is making foods that she can enjoy. So I did some experimenting and these are my conclusions.
There’s no such thing as a really delicious yeast bread/crust that doesn’t contain wheat. But I did find that the recipe on the side of the Bob’s Red Mill potato starch package is the best tasting and has a decent consistency. I layered the loaf with cinnamon and sugar and it tasted good enough to be a treat.
We can substitute “Kimberly flour” for regular wheat flour recipes in most quick breads like corn bread, banana bread, pumpkin muffins etc. Pizza crust uses yeast, of course, and it tasted fine but wasn’t chewy like it ought to be. It couldn’t be rolled but only “pressed” into shape. The pie crust that used Kimberly flour, (and some oat flour I made by blending rolled oats in my blender) was quite nice. I added brown sugar to it and I really liked it.

Here’s the recipe for “Kimberly Flour.” If you’re dealing with a gluten free diet, you ought to have a grain grinder so you can grind your own grains. They’re very expensive, otherwise.

2 cups of brown rice flour
1 cup sweet sorghum flour (I buy the exotic flours already milled)
1/2 cup potato starch
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1/2 cup corn starch.
2 tablespoons xanthum gum powder.
I like to add a cup of navy bean flour. Kimberly doesn’t like the flavor in yeast breads or crusts, but it isn’t noticeable in strong flavored foods like banana bread or pumpkin bread. I don’t notice it in any recipe after it’s baked, though it’s strong-tasting before baking. I like to add the protein and fiber from the beans. Brown rice instead of white rice can make up for that.
Mix and store to use like regular flour in recipes that use baking soda/powder for leavening.
You can buy the grains already ground into flour from a store that carries Bob’s Red Mill products, or buy the whole grain and grind it yourself. Many food processors have the grain grinder attachments.
But if you’re one of those poor wheat allergy sufferers, here’s a recipe that will knock your socks off. . .

 Beth’s Chocolate Orange Sheet Cake ( and it’s easy to make gluten free!)

Start by boiling two whole (uncut) navel oranges for an hour or pressure them in a pressure cooker for 15 minutes. (Leave whole for cooking) Preheat oven to 400 Fahrenheit.

 blend in a mixing bowl:

2 cups Kimberly flour (see above) or use all purpose flour if you’re not worried about the wheat.



2 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

6 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
 

Take the hard little stem end off the oranges and puree them (pulp, peels and all) in a blender or food processor with:

3/4 cup oil

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs
2 teaspoons of vinegar



 

Blend the wet into the dry very well. Grease and flour a 12×16 sheet pan and spread batter in it evenly.
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.
Five minutes before being done, cook in saucepan,
1 stick (1/2 cup ) butter, until slightly brown.
Add 4 cups powdered sugar,
1 teaspoon of vanilla,
 dash of salt,  



6 tablespoons milk
The icing will be semi-liquid. Pour it over the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Serve hot or at room temperature and be sure to send me your love notes after you try it.
I’ll add a picture of this tomorrow.

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