Ok. So in cahoots with my friend Elizabeth over at Three Channels we are reviewing GF/CF Foods every Friday. Since my brand new laptop shit the bed yesterday, I wasn't able to post mine. My computer geek (meant most affectionately) came to the rescue and was able to get it up and running (flying) by removing Vista and putting on XP-Pro. Stupid Vista.. is all I have to say.
So, better late than never... I'm posting my GF/CF Friday review. Yes, it is Saturday.. I'm sure someplace in the world it is Friday.
Today's entry is on Glutino Cinnamon Raisin Bread.
Embarking on the Gluten & Casein Free diet, one of the trickiest things to find a suitable (and Edible) substitute for is bread. To put it nicely most of the pre-made Gluten Free bread is dreadful. You may as well put your sandwich on a piece of styrofoam - it might even taste better. We make my son's sandwiches on the uber thin rice cakes instead and he is happy with that.
I try to include my son in our grocery shopping trips as much as possible and point out different gf/cf items he might be interested in trying out. One trip many moons ago he found this Glutino Cinnamon Raisin Bread and I figured we could try it. I'm always looking for quick breakfast or snack options that are healthy and raisin bread fits the bill. A single loaf of this bread costs $5 - which is typical.. gf/cf foods cost a mint. Unlike 'normal' loafs of bread, you'll find the gf/cf breads are Frozen -they are only shelf stable for 7 days unless you keep them in your freezer.
It is a nuisance to try to get the pieces apart from the frozen loaf even though they are pre-sliced. I use a butter knife routine that I don't suggest you try unless you have protective eyewear and no kids are watching. Out of the toaster simply spread on your favorite gf/cf margarine or butter subtitute, fresh fruit preserves, or even syrup. I've used these in place of waffles and also for my gf/cf french toast. My son loved raisin bread prior to going on the diet and is still able to enjoy it now (even if it costs a lot more, and we don't buy it as often). The consistency is almost right, if maybe a bit on the crunchy side for raisin bread. The taste - sweet and cinnamonny (is that a word?)
I normally post a pic of my son eating the food with a thumbs up or down but this morning he screamed at me that he didn't want his picture taken and ran away with his piece of toast. Take my word for it..Thumbs Up!
A bunch of you will probably be wondering 'how do I make gf/cf French toast. I started doing this after my son consumed a whole $8 box of the Gluten/Wheat Free Ian's French Toast Sticks
in a single sitting. I noted that on the Ian's box it says that they start with Glutino bread! I've found that gluten free bread doesn't have the best texture served cold or toasted.. but it is amazing at soaking in flavors for French Toast - like a sponge. I make gf/cf french toast just as I normally would make wheat and dairy offending french toast, except I start with this Glutino Raisin bread and I use all the appropriate subsitutions to make it gluten & casein free - so namely substituing the butter, milk, and flour. You can also easily adapt this to be egg free as well. A tip - definitly add in a teaspoon of gf vanilla extract and I like to use vanilla rice milk as well. I recently use a chocolate chai rice milk and that came out fabuloso as well. Have fun experimenting to see what works best. Instead of egg or an egg replacer try a couple scoops of applesauce.
For ideas on gf/cf ingredient substitutions check here: http://gfcf-diet.tacanow.org/recipes/substitutions-gfcf-recipes.htm
Portions of the gf/cf review posted at Epinions.com
3 comments:
So . . . you have to actually make it, but once you get the flours ready, it's pretty easy. After about a year of eating crappy gf/cf bread, I managed to make a loaf that's actually really, really good. Some of my friends prefer it to wheat bread, and I think that's saying something. Here's a link: http://aprovechar.danandsally.com/?p=228 (In the comments, you'll see that you can actually cut the yeast in half or even in thirds, which cuts the cost down greatly and cuts the, um, tooting factor of yeast.
So glad he liked it!
BTW- your blog is looking great! Its really such a great resource.
Sounds good minus the raisins. It is very hard to find plain cinnamon bread. Nothing exists at Whole Foods so I usually get the one at Trader Joes, that is very thick so only one slice will do.
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