Thursday, August 8, 2013

Gluten-Free Peach Berry Cobbler


Like warm sunshine in a bowl. Mmmm. A perfect summertime treat! Serve warm with fresh cream for breakfast, or dress it up whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for dessert! 


I like to make the topping on the side so that it doesn't get soggy over the week or two that it takes me to eat a full batch. I store the fruit in the fridge and the "biscuits" in a tupperware. When I'm ready for a bowl, I spoon some fruit into an oven-safe bowl, top with a few biscuits, and put it in the toaster oven on medium-low (~275°) until the fruit is warm and the topping is crisp. If you're planning to serve it all at once and would like to prepare the topping and fruit together like a traditional cobbler, follow the instructions labeled Variation, below the recipe.
 
Note: If they're in season, you can use fresh fruit instead of frozen. Baking times may need to be adjusted.

Fruit

4 10-oz bags frozen sliced organic peaches 
1 cup frozen organic blueberries

1/4 cup coconut palm sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp cloves
1 tsp frozen orange juice concentrate (or 1 Tbsp orange juice or 1/2 tsp lemon juice)
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp water

1. Preheat oven to 400
°. Grease a 2-quart baking dish.
2. In a large bowl whisk together spices, juice, water and cornstarch until smooth. Stir in peaches, blueberries and sugar. Toss to coat evenly, then pour into baking dish. Make sure to scrape sides of bowl so you get all the juice and spices into the dish. 
3. Cover and bake for 30 minutes or until peaches are fork-tender.  
       (See Variation if cooking topping with fruit)
4. Stir gently and continue baking uncovered for 15 minutes or until peaches are very tender and juices have reduced and thickened. 
5. Reduce oven temperature to 325° and prepare topping.

Topping
1-1/2 cups Pamela’s Baking Mix
1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
4 Tbsp butter, diced
1/3 cup milk mixed with 1/2 tsp vanilla


1. Mix dry ingredients together.  
2. Put butter and flour mixture into food processor and pulse for a minute or so until it looks like coarse breadcrumbs. If you don't have a food processor you can cut butter into the flour-sugar using a pastry cutter or two knives. Stir in vanilla-milk until just combined. 
3. Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto cookie sheet 2 inches apart. 
4. Cook for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Variation
After peach-blueberry mixture has cooked for 30 minutes, remove from oven and uncover. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Drop spoonfuls of topping batter onto fruit and return to oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Gluten-Free Whole Grain Pancakes


Let me start by saying, this is basically a Pamela's Products recipe with a few additions. So a big thank-you to Pamela's because these pancakes are insane! I know it may seem like they'll taste like a hippy's flipflop, but seriously: these are the BEST PANCAKES I'VE EVER TASTED. Wonderfully flavorful - nutty with a hint of sweetness.  

Makes 10-12 pancakes

6 Tbsp Pamela's Baking Mix (1/4 cup + 2 TBSP)
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1 Tbsp sorghum flour
1 Tbsp flax seed
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon 
Optional: 1 tsp coconut palm sugar
 

3/4 cup buttermilk (see Tips for substitution)
2 Tbsp water
1 egg, extra large
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp butter, melted
Butter and coconut oil for cooking

1. Heat pan to medium high, add about 1 Tbsp oil and 1/2 Tbsp butter and spread all around the pan. Add extra butter/oil if using a larger griddle. Lower heat to medium. I set my electric griddle to 350.
2. Mix up dry ingredients. Mix up wet ingredients separately, adding butter last. Stir all ingredients together until fully incorporated. Additional water can be added if batter is too thick.
3. Use ¼ cup batter for each pancake. Flip when bubbles pop and pancakes are well-browned on the first side. Finish cooking until pancakes are cooked all the way through, one to two minutes. Serve hot with butter, maple syrup and fresh fruit. 

Tips:
  • You can substitute buttermilk by mixing 3/4 cup plain milk with 3/4 Tbsp apple cider vinegar and let it sit for 5 mins.
  • My favorite way to eat these pancakes is with fresh mango and raspberries.
  • Grade B maple syrup is the most flavorful. It is less refined than Grade A so it has more concentrated maple flavor and lower glycemic index rating.
  • To reheat, put pancakes in toaster oven or frying pan on medium-high for a minute, then flip and cook for one more minute until hot and crispy.