Oat Bran Banana Muffins

Found this recipe originally at COOKS.com, altered it slightly. These are really tasty AND gluten free! As long as you can handle oats anyway, I'm sure if you needed you could find gluten free oat bran.

Oat Bran Banana Muffins
yield: approx. 18 small muffins

3 cups oat bran
1 cup almond milk
1 cup mashed ripe banana
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 tsp. molasses
4 egg whites
2 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 Tbsp. salt
1/2 tsp. allspice
1 cup raisins
1 cup crushed walnuts
2 tsp. vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Grease two muffin tins and line with paper liners.
3. Combine oat bran, milk, and banana, let sit for 15 minutes.
4. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
5. Spoon into muffin cups and bake for 30minutes(depends on your oven)
6. Cool on wire rack.

SUCCESS!

FINALLY!!!
Third time is ALWAYS the charm!!
Since I found out that I have some sort of problem with Gluten and went Gluten free, I've been trying to bake some half decent bread. First attempt was a miserable failure, second attempt was better, this third one though really hit the button. Keep in mind GF bread will ALWAYS be dense and the crust will never be what it is on wheat bread, but this recipe came closest in flavour, colour, texture, and smell! Enjoy!

Gluten Free Bread

3 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
3 teaspoons xantham gum
1tablespoon olive oil
1 cup very warm water
1 tablespoon of dry yeast
pinch of sugar

1.Preheat Oven to 200 F
2.Combine yeast, water and sugar. let bloom **yeast will dissolve and foam up
3.Combine flour, xantham gum, and olive oil in standing mixer using paddle or whip
4.Add water and mix until combined. Change to dough hook and mix for 2 minutes or until dough comes together smoothly. **DOn't worry about over or undermixing, there's no gluten to develop!
5.Knead dough a few times on counter top and shape into a log. Place into small greased bread tin.
6.Place in heated oven and TURN OFF HEAT. Let rise for 30 minutes.
7.Remove bread from oven, turn back on and heat to 375 F
8.Brush top of loaf with olive oil and bake for 40-45 minutes.
9.When time is done let cool on counter before slicing and freezing. Keep frozen until ready to use.

Gluten Free Pita Bread

So here's my first attempt at a gluten free bread product. It's damn tasty but needs a few tweaks. I used vegetable oil because I didn't have any olive oil and it does taste a wee bit yeasty. I like it, but you can always bump the yeast down a bit. I used the gluten free flour recipe found here at Gluten Free Gobsmacked. These make 5 inch pita's. Next time I think I will try making them thicker and bigger. Nontheless they are really good and it makes me happy since I love my pita and hummus! When I try another recipe I will post it on here. For now enjoy this one! I also apologize for the picture, it's definitely not my best work. Next time around I'll get a better one.






Gluten Free Pita Bread

3 cups gluten free flour
3-4 teaspoons xantham gum
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon dry yeast
1 cup of warm water
pinch of sugar

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
2.Combine yeast, warm water, and sugar in a bowl. Let bloom.(It will foam up)
3.Combine flour, xantham gum, and oil in stand up mixer. Mix well.
4. Add yeast/water mixture and mix until combined. You might need to add a bit of water to adjust the consistency.
3. Knead a few times on a wooden board or counter, covered with a bit of flour, until smooth.
4.Place into a lightly oiled, oven safe bowl, and cover with a damp cloth.
5.Place into oven and turn the oven off.
6.Let rise for 30 minutes and then remove from oven.
7.Turn oven up to 500 degrees. Place two sheet pan sinto oven to heat along with the oven.
8.Take ping pong size balls of dough and roll out into small circles about 1/8 of an inch thick.
9.Let rise for 15 minutes.
10.Place onto hot cookie sheets and bake 2 minutes per side.
11. You can brush with oil or ghee and cover with a towel until all are finished or just let cool on a board or rack if you want crispier pita's.

Makes about 15 small pita's

Falling Off The Face Of The World

Ok..so I haven't had the time to come up with anything new for the blog lately and I apologize. Things have been pretty hectic and crazy in my life. So I apologize for falling off the face of the world. Look forward to a post on the upcoming Winter Solstice, that's my next project!
I am now trying to learn how to eat again...as in an ENTIRELY new diet. Must go gluten free, dairy free,avoid soy, and almost vegetarian. It's complicated. But it will make me feel much better. And I can say after only two weeks that yes, I do feel much better. It's hard though since it's totally different than how I was raised to eat. It's sad. I've been a cook for almost ten years and I am TOTALLY LOST! So I've been searching lots of websites and printing off lots of recipes and cooking lots of new stuff. Like Quinoa. Haven't decided if I like the stuff yet. My wonderful father is taking me out to go shopping at Planet Organic tomorrow so I can get some funky ingredients like gluten free flour and xantham gum. Between this diet and the Zyban though I am feeling WAY better. In fact I haven't felt this good in almost five years. SO please be patient. I'm going through a major life change...sounds like I am going through menopause! *giggles*.
If any of you are vegetarian/vegan/gluten free/etc and have any advice I would love it!
*hugs and smooches for all*