Soup season is here, and the holidays aren’t far behind. The first few years of my gluten free life, I searched high and low for soup pasta. If you are struggling to find a gluten free pasta for your holiday soups and winter comfort food, here are a few links that I hope you find helpful.
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Gluten Free Orzo – Probably the most familiar of all soup pastas, now you can have Gluten Free Orzo pasta at home. Try it in my Venus de Milo Soup.
Gluten Free Anellini– This one makes me nostalgic for my grandmother’s kitchen. When I was little, she would make it for me, with just a pat of butter.
Gluten Free Stelline (Little Stars) – Who remembers Chicken and Stars? Recreate this childhood favorite with gluten free stars from Jovial, Get it here!
Right Rice – If you like chickpea pasta, try Right Rice. It’s high protein, vegan and gluten free. Stir gently as it tends to break apart in soup.
I hope you found this post helpful. What other gluten free soup pasta have you found? Tell me in the comments!
Notes ♪♫ Some gluten free pastas, especially those made with corn flour will release a huge amount of starch into the water when cooked, and it can be a gummy mess. For that reason, I recommend that these pastas be cooked separately and rinsed before adding to your soup.
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If you have followed me for a while, you know that I am a huge fan of Better Batter. I am not exaggerating when I say their Artisan Flour Blend is a game changer for gluten free breads and pizza. Their Original Blendis perfect for gluten free cakes and cookies. I use both blends to make pasta!
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So, are you ready?
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What can you make with Better Batter? Here are just a few of my creations!
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Notes ♪♫ I am absolutely thrilled to be able to offer this discount to my readers. I’m not just an affiliate for Better Batter, I am a long-time customer as well!
Some people begin the New Year with resolutions for dieting, exercise and other life goals. For me, the New Year means it’s time to clean and organize. The packing away of the Christmas tree, finishing the last of the holiday leftovers and tidying up the kitchen. It’s time to make room for some new things that Santa brought me, and donate anything that is gathering dust.
Along with that, it’s time to give the pantry an overhaul. That means wiping down the shelves, getting rid of ingredients that are past the expiration date and putting everything in order for a New Year of baking!
What’s in my (gluten free) pantry?
For several years now I have wanted to give you a tour of my home pantry with all the gluten free must haves! So why the procrastination? Well, with all of the myriad cooking and baking ingredients I have purchased since going gluten free, things had gotten out of hand.
My pantry areas were so full of stuff, that often I would purchase something only to find that there was already a full box or bag in the cupboard that had gotten lost behind all the other ingredients!
What a mess!
The New Year is a great time to pull everything out for a good look at what I have on hand and reorganize how I store it. For those who are just beginning the gluten free diet, I hope this post will be helpful in understanding where to get started.
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One of the first things that I did after my Celiac diagnosis was to designate pantry areas where no gluten is allowed. Pull everything out and scrub the shelves clean. Segregate all gluten containing ingredients to be donated or thrown away. Give unopened items to the food pantry or family members. Discard opened items, or if your household is not 100% gluten free move all gluten containing ingredients to a separate area of the kitchen.
As you will see in the photos, I like to use ball jars to store my grains. When I set up my gluten free pantry, I washed them in the dishwasher and got some new lids. I also added a few new plastic containers and Lazy Susans to complete my gluten free storage space. A label maker is nice, but sometimes I just make labels from the product packaging and tape them on.
If you are new to gluten free baking you might be overwhelmed by the array of flours, starches and other ingredients used to make breads and pastries. Like many, I invested quite a bit of time and money stocking my pantry to get started. Over time I learned which ingredients I would use most often and pared down my list accordingly. Today, grains that I use frequently are purchased in bulk and those occasional ingredients are kept in small quantities.
Keeping a well-stocked pantry means that I can experiment with new recipes without having to run to the store. But an organized storage area is essential to not getting overwhelmed.
So, what should you buy first? My “Frequent use” listis a great place to start. I also provide you with a full list of what’s in my pantry by category; Grain/Flour, Starch, Seeds, Nuts and Other/Misc. I also made you a printable checklist to take along when you go shopping. You’re welcome!
It takes a while to know what you like. For me it was trial and error baking many loaves of bread, rolls, pancakes and sweets. Some ended up in the trash, and others I choked down but would never make again. Today, after 5+ years gluten free I have my go to recipes, the ones that taste good not only to me but also my gluten eating family. These are the ones that I make again and again, with consistent results. The ingredients become part of my master list.
Notes ♪♫ You may be unfamiliar with ingredients like xanthan gum and psyllium husk, but they are key in baking gluten free and will help with the structure and consistency of your gluten free breads.
Oh what fun I had making these cute little Crab Cakes! Gluten free and cooked on a waffle maker, they are the perfect summer meal. Like regular crab cakes, they can be an appetizer or a main course.
It’s so nice to have a new appliance! When my waffle iron gave out after many years of service I was excited to get a newer model. It has detachable plates, a game changer when it comes to cleanup!
I couldn’t wait to try out my new waffle maker, but breakfast wasn’t the first thing on the menu!
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Inspired by Skinny Taste, these Gluten Free Crab Cake Waffles are surprisingly filling! The recipe makes 2-4 servings, depending on your appetite. A single waffle with a couple of sides was enough for us.
Whisk together the egg, egg whites, mayo, mustard, chives, lemon juice, Worcestershire, Old Bay and Paprika. Add a few grinds of black pepper, to taste.
Drain the crab meat and gently stir it in.
Sprinkle the bread crumbs a little at a time and gently fold into the mixture. Don’t overwork it, handle as little as possible.
Scoop the mixture into 4 portions, about 1/3 cup each.
Heat the waffle iron to 350º and coat with cooking spray. Place one crab cake on each section of the waffle iron and close the lid, pressing gently.
The crab cakes will be done to a golden brown in 3-5 minutes. Start checking after 3 minutes.
For an appetizer, serve with salad greens and lemon wedges.
As a main course, enjoy them with Cilantro Lime Rice and a refreshing mango salad with a squeeze of fresh lemon and lime.
Notes ♪♫ I hope you enjoyed this fun recipe! No waffle iron? No problem. Here is a traditional crab cake recipe that is every bit as good.
As another year draws to a close and the holidays approach, many are planning a scaled down version of the usual Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. Even with the pandemic behind us, I still hear from friends and neighbors that their family gatherings will be smaller this year.
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Micro gatherings mean smaller portions. I will still be making soup and roasting a turkey breast. Instead of stuffing the bird though, I’ll be making these cute Ramekin Stuffing Cups.
Since beginning my gluten free journey a few years ago, I have enjoyed making a delicious Gluten Free Cornbread Stuffing from scratch each Thanksgiving. This year though, I’ll be taking a shortcut and using these Savory Gluten Free Stuffing cubes from Aleia’s.
If you follow my blog, you know that I use Aleia’s gluten free breadcrumbs in many of my recipes. Since I love their breadcrumbs so much, I thought I would give their savory stuffing a try, and it was a win!
These stuffing cubes are delicious! They remind me of the stuffing mix we all grew up with 😉 The 6 oz. ramekins are perfect for portion control.
Chop the veggies into small dice. Melt the butter and olive oil in a nonstick skillet and add the veggies. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Next chop the bacon into 1/4″ pieces and add it to the pan. Continue cooking until the bacon is crisp and the veggies are just beginning to brown. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Note: You can make ahead to this point and refrigerate or freeze.
Pour 1 cup chicken broth over the stuffing and stir to moisten. Return to low heat.
Pour the beaten egg over the stuffing, while quickly stirring and turning to incorporate.
Arrange 4 ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Spoon the stuffing lightly into the ramekins, about 3/4 cup each. Leave room for the stuffing to expand during baking, don’t overfill or pack it in.
Cover tightly with foil and bake at 325º for 35 minutes.
Serve hot out of the oven and don’t forget the gravy!
Notes ♪♫ Notice I didn’t add salt to the recipe? The stuffing cubes and the bacon have plenty of salt, so I decided not to add more. I also used unsalted chicken broth. If you are not limiting sodium, then by all means salt away! Print This Post
A grain mill can be one of the most healthful and economical investments you can make for your home kitchen. For me, this was never more true than when I had to learn about gluten free baking. The right tools can make all the difference to those of us who must adhere to a strict gluten free diet.
I have always been a home bread baker (long before Celiac) and have owned a KitchenAid stand mixer for decades. If you already have the mixer, just imagine what you can do with the grain mill attachment!
This is not a novelty item, it is a workhorse in my kitchen and has helped me immensely in my commitment to make tasty, gluten free bread from scratch. Watch!
Consider adding it to your collection. It will last a lifetime and change the way you bake forever. Check out the 5 reasons why you should own and use a grain mill.
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Eat Healthy
Improve your diet by consuming more whole grains. When you mill the entire grain into flour, you get all of the nutrients from the germ and the bran. We all know that so many gluten free breads and snacks are made with refined flour and contain almost no fiber. Milling your own flour and baking from scratch is healthier by far and gives your body those much-needed nutrients and fiber grams!
Stay Fresh
Once a whole grain is milled into flour you will need to pay careful attention to its expiration date. This is because oils present in the bran and the germ can become rancid over time, giving your flour an off taste and smell. (Refined grains have the bran and germ removed, giving them a longer shelf life.) Stored in its grain state, your pantry inventory will remain fresh for much longer. Milling your grain just before baking ensures that it will always be fresh and delicious.
Save Money
Gluten free flour is expensive! Oh my, did I have sticker shock the first time I went shopping. Purchasing the grain in its whole form can be less expensive, and it will last longer than milled flour. Mill only the amount needed for a recipe (measure by weight). Not only will you have the freshest tasting baked goods every time, but you will save money by not throwing away unused flour that has degraded over time.
Be Versatile
Buy a single grain that you can use in both whole and flour form. Buy a big bag of brown rice and use it for cooking, as well as milling into brown rice flour for baking. Some of my other favorites are sorghum, millet and buckwheat. All are sold in their less expensive whole form and can be processed into flour or enjoyed as a side dish.
Have Fun
Baking is fun! Experiment with different grain combinations without investing in an array of flours that you may only use one time. You may never make that quinoa bread again, but you will probably use up the quinoa grainas a tasty side dish. I am a big believer in this D-I-Y, from scratch approach and I always have my pantry stocked with my favorites.
If you enjoy my bread recipes I hope you will consider adding this wonderful tool to your kitchen!
I couldn’t wait to try out my new 
