BFree Gluten Free Breads

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BFree Multiseed Bagels

 

Before anything, I want to get one thing off my chest.  I have not posted on this blog in OVER A YEAR.  I can’t rightly keep blogger in my bio anymore.  But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about it, or wanting to. It just means, I am plum out of time.  (Shame, embarrassment, guilt, and imposter syndrome slightly expunged). So now, onto the good stuff! The stuff that’s bringing me back to post.  Bread. That’s right, BREAD! There are very few things in life that I love as much or more than bread.   My kids, my husband, my dog, my cat… well, maybe not my cat. Don’t tell her. She’ll develop a bread complex.

However, finding gluten-free bread has been quite a challenge over the years, and finding allergy-friendly, gluten-free bread has been like seeking the Holy Grail. There is some good bread out there (Canyon Bakehouse), but it’s not easy to find and it’s expensive. There is a good Gluten-free bakery in LA, Rising Hearts Bakery, but I have to get in my car and drive there specifically for bread. Because the bread at my local grocery store just doesn’t cut it. You KNOW what I’m talking about. Dense, rocks, dry, too much yeast, bread that’s like foam or worse, styrofoam. Bread with too much xanthan gum or guar gum, that has a slimy gummy finish. It’s often been, well, just not worth it to bother. And I do have bread recipes of my own, (see my Pita),  and I like some of the bread mixes out there (Luce’s bread is divine and crusty), but I am a very busy working mom and making bread from scratch or even from a mix is not in the cards most days of the week. Plus, I don’t own a bread machine. (First World Problems).

For many years, I thought I’d tackle this frontier. I’d launch bread products. Rolls, sandwich bread, pita, tortillas, maybe even bagels. However, my Cybele’s Free-to-Eat cookies have kept me occupied for more years than I ever anticipated and more years than I like to admit. Additionally, the challenges of bread and its short shelf life were daunting to me.

I’d all but given up on good bread and had settled on the passible gluten-free bread at Trader Joe’s.

I didn’t even know there was anything else out there.   Until a pot of gold from the end of the rainbow in Ireland landed on my doorstep.  Say what? A heaven-sent basket of bread. (Okay, it came in a cool shipper packed in dry ice, but to me it looked like it had angels singing and the wafting steam of fresh baked bread rising out of a homey tea towel.) I really said “Score!” as I opened it.  There was sandwich bread, multigrain sandwich bread, hot dog rolls, dinner rolls, bagels, wraps in two flavors, and pita bread. To a bread starved free-from eater, this is truly manna from Heaven.

And I have eaten all of it. Yup, I ate it all. I shared a little bit with my family, but I hid some of it in the back of the freezer for myself. And by the way, the freezer is where they recommend you store their products if they aren’t being eaten immediately.

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BFree Soft White Rolls

My takeaway? My favorite were the dinner rolls, crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, without any weird aftertaste or gumminess. Second favorite, the sandwich bread, both white and multigrain. And third, the Pita bread, which is the perfect size for a sandwich. Usually, one needs to cut the pita in half for the sandwich, and it breaks and splits and is hard to stuff. Not so with theirs – it’s the perfect size to begin with. Bravo, BFree!

For more info:

About BFree Foods

Based out of Dublin, Ireland and manufacturing for the U.S. market in Montebello, California, BFree Foods is an innovator in the wheat and gluten-free bread product category. Passionately dedicated to providing exceptional taste, nutrition profiles and performance, BFree’s wraps, rolls, bread loaves, bagels and pita breads maintain the texture of traditional bread products but are free from gluten, wheat, dairy, egg, nuts and soy. All BFree products are allergen and vegan-friendly, low-fat and high- fiber, making them ideal for health-conscious consumers across the globe. For additional information, visit US.BFreeFoods.com or find the brand on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

 

 

 

 

Brussels Sprouts and Parsnips with Balsamic Honey Glaze

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Brussels Sprouts and Parsnips with Balsamic Honey Glaze

 

Makes 6 servings
Free From gluten and all top 8 allergens

 

Green vegetables are thought to bring affluence in the New Year, as they are the color of money. To triple the prosperity, I’ve combined them here with golden parsnip “coins” and finished with a luxurious sauce. Happy New Year!

 

2 lbs medium to large brussels sprouts

1 1/2 lbs parsnips, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds

6 tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil, divided

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp finely minced shallot (about 1 shallot)

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp honey

 

1. Position one rack in the bottom third of oven and a second in the middle. Preheat oven to 450° F. Line 2 large baking pans with aluminum foil.

2. Trim any brown ends off sprouts and remove yellowed leaves. Cut each sprout in half lengthwise.

3. In a large bowl, combine sprouts and parsnips with 6 tablespoons of oil, salt and pepper, and toss well to evenly coat. Divide the seasoned vegetables between the prepared pans and spread into a single layer.

4. Place a pan on the bottom oven rack and the other on the middle. Roast 15 minutes. Stir vegetables, return to the oven, switching rack positions. Roast 10-15 minutes, until sprouts are crispy and browning and parsnips are turning golden.

5. Meantime prepare glaze by heating 1 teaspoon oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add shallots and cook 2 minutes, stirring often, until starting to brown. Add vinegar and honey, increase heat to medium-high and cook at a rapid simmer, stirring often, until syrupy and reduced by half, about 4 minutes.

6. Transfer roasted vegetables to a serving bowl, drizzle with glaze and toss to coat. Serve hot.

 

Brussels Sprouts and Parsnips with Balsamic Honey Glaze  © 2015 by Cybele Pascal

This recipe first appeared in the Winter 2015 issue of Allergic Living Magazine

Lentil and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms

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Lentil and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms

 

Makes 6 servings
Free From gluten and all top 8 allergens

 

Lentils are said to resemble mini coins, and an abundance of these tiny edible legumes symbolizes wealth in the New Year. This rich and flavorful gluten-free appetizer can be prepared through Step 4 and chilled a day in advance. Just before your guests arrive, drizzle the stuffed caps with olive oil and bake.  To make vegan, omit the pancetta.

 

30 crimini mushrooms (2-3 inches wide)

4 tbsp olive oil, divided

1 1/2 oz (42 g) pancetta, diced (optional)

1/2 cup (120 mL) minced red onion

1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

1 tsp chopped fresh sage

pinch crushed red pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced or crushed

1/2 tsp salt + additional for mushroom caps

2 tbsp dairy-free, soy-free buttery spread

1 cup (250 mL) cooked lentils (1 15 oz can, drained)

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1 cup (250 mL) gluten-free, allergen-free bread crumbs

1/2 cup (120 mL) shredded dairy-free, soy-free cheddar cheese alternative (such as Daiya)

freshly ground black pepper

paprika, for sprinkling

 

1. Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. With a dry paper towel, gently wipe dirt off mushrooms. Remove stems. Trim off the rough bottoms of stems. Finely chop remaining stem portions. Place mushroom caps, top-side down, on the prepared baking sheet.

3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan or a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add pancetta and cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Add onion, thyme, sage and crushed red pepper and cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and cook 1 minute, while stirring. Add chopped mushroom stems and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook 3 minutes, stirring often. Add buttery spread and stir to combine. Remove from heat.

4. In a medium bowl, mash 1/2 cup lentils until relatively smooth. Stir in remaining lentils, cooked mushroom mixture and parsley. Add bread crumbs, shredded cheese alternative, and a few turns fresh black pepper. Stir gently to combine.

5. Lightly sprinkle mushroom cap cavities with salt. Stuff each with a rounded tablespoon of lentil stuffing. Lightly sprinkle tops with paprika.

6. Drizzle stuffed mushrooms with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes, until mushroom are tender and filling is golden brown. Transfer to a platter and serve warm.

 

Lentil and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms © 2015 by Cybele Pascal

This recipe first appeared in the Winter 2015 issue of Allergic Living Magazine