SS&GF: Simply Sugar and Gluten Free

If you follow me on Twitter, you might be wondering what #bakingday means.  (And if you don’t follow me on Twitter, you should – we have lots of fun chatting!)  My friend Phoebe got everyone excited about #bakingday a month or so ago and I watched from the sidelines.  Being that it’s just Joe and I, and the shelf-life of gluten-free products being shorter than “normal” baked goods, I thought it wouldn’t be the best move for us.

But, I felt left out.  Twitter was a muck with #bakingday hash tags and everyone had so much fun baking together.  So, this time I’m joining in. I am so excited – especially about trying out my new breadmaker!

Here’s my baking day plan for Tuesday:

1. Cornbread for an upcoming Cornbread Stuffing Recipe (Yep, you have to come back for this one!) – Done!
2. Applesauce – I got apples for $0.49 cents a pound.  I bought about 10 pounds – I’m going to can it, too. – Done -3 quarts – pics below.
3. Chewy Granola Bars – this time no nuts, just seeds and dried fruit.  This is a request from a friend. – Done – 12 bars pics below.
4. Gluten-Free Bread – I got a bread maker last week on Craig’s List so I’m going to break it in.  I thought it had a gluten-free cycle but it doesn’t.  I’m going to try the rapid rise cycle and see how it works. – Done & pics below!  I can eat sandwiches!!
5. Make a double batch of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for Joe – Done!

An addition – for Wednesday

1. Another batch of cornbread…let’s hope it works. – Done & drying for cornbread stuffing – recipe soon!
2. Hummus – I’m soaking the beans Tuesday night. – Done – made 1 quart. Yum!
   
3. Kale Chips – Done,  – recipe to come!
4. Cream of Mushroom Soup using Ali’s recipe from Whole Life Nutrition – dairy-free, sugar-free, gluten-free – Done – 2 quarts -  no pics, but this is the BEST cream of mushroom soup I’ve ever had.  Stop by Ali’s site and check out the recipe.  It’s incredible.
5. Stir-Freeze Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for Joe – Double Batch Done!
6. Meatballs – no sauce – Done!
7. Homemade Sugar-free Ketchup – I’m testing a new recipe.  Hope it’s good! – Done – recipe to come soon!
   
8. 5 dinners worth of Marinated chicken & pork – Done – I used Ina’s Tuscan Lemon Chicken Recipe to marinate the chicken & brined the pork chops.
   
9. Roast Chicken Breasts for my lunches this week – Done.
   

Updates:

1.  Cornbread hasn’t been started yet.  (Decided a lunch break was in order…) was a flop.  I tried to change the recipe on a whim and it was too wet.  I knew it was when I put it in the oven but I had high hopes.  I do this more than I’d like to admit.  So, that goes on the list for tomorrow.

2.  Applesauce:

This pot was full of apples when I started.  I added just enough water so they didn’t stick to the bottom, about 3/4 of a cup, and simmered them on low heat until they were soft and reduced by about half.  I use sweet apples, such as gala, so I don’t have to add any sugar.  I don’t add any spices, either, so I can use it to bake with.

Then, into the food mill, which is sitting on a stock pot.  I can put it right back on the stove to keep the applesauce warm until I’m ready to can it.  I use the medium disc – I use my homemade applesauce in my baking so I don’t want it chunky – though I do love chunky applesauce.

This is my favorite part…I eat all of the apple pulp that won’t go through the food mill.  It’s so good, especially with some almonds and a little cinnamon.

Look at that – no sugar at all and ready to can. It’s the perfect consistency.  It’s been canned and is cooling.

3.  Chewy Granola Bars

Baked and cooling Cut and bagged -…I used this recipe but didn’t use nuts or figs.  Instead, I used 1/2 cup pepitas (toasted & salted pumpkin seeds), 1/2 toasted & salted sesame seeds, and 1/2 cup fruit-sweetened dried pineapple.  My friend, Lisa, doesn’t like nuts and requested a nut free version – I must say that I think these are even better than the granola bars with walnuts.

4.  Gluten-Free Bread Maker Bread – This is the most exciting part!!!

Can you believe that it’s gluten-free?  How beautiful!!  I didn’t slice it yet because it’s still cooling, but I did see inside from hole in the bottom from the little paddle.  It looks like real bread.  It did fall slightly in the middle but it sounds hollow and smells fabulous. So far, for my first attempt I am thrilled.  I used Karina’s recipe – check it out yourself here.

I am quite impressed with this – you can see that it did sink a little, so I have some trouble shooting to do.  But it slices beautifully and tastes great.  I could actually have a sandwich for dinner – imagine that!

Mission Accomplished! There’s talk on Twitter of another baking day at the beginning of December.  I hope you’ll join in!

For more make-ahead ideas, stop by Money Saving Mom and Life as Mom’s Ultimate Recipe Swap.

If you bake gluten-free bread in a bread maker I’d love to know how you do it.  Karina at Karina’s Kitchen has seemed to master this art, so I’ll be taking some cues from her today.

Please join us on Baking Day and jump in on the Twitter conversation! Use the hash tag #bakingday when you tweet so we can follow along with you.

Also – don’t forget that Holiday Food Fest starts on Thursday!  Link your Fall Dessert at Hoosier Homemade – she’s got a great give-away, too!