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Finding Good Gluten Free Bread

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All images Copyright 2010 Sandra Mireles
All images Copyright 2010 Sandra Mireles

Following a gluten free diet is not easy with the dietary restrictions on wheat, barley, rye, and some oats. If you have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease you learned pretty fast that your life would never be the same. Although eating bread and pastry is not prohibited per se, it is quietly prohibited because it takes a long time to find the right products for your taste.

You will discover that the store bought breads do not even bear a resemblance to the sliced bread you are accustomed to buying in the grocery store. When you do find a bread you can tolerate you will be shocked at the cost of such a bread. Today I purchased a loaf of dark brown bread made by kinnikinnick. I had never heard of the company but I was really surprised by the tast of the bread. After six months of eating no bread or tapioca bread that tastes like dried bread crumbs, it was a pleasant change. I recommend it.

You may discover that you have type 1 allergies, or you are gluten intolerant. There are a number of diagnoses that are treated with a gluten free. I recently discovered that there is believed to be a connection between autism and gluten in the foods eaten by autistic children.

There are a number of food products on the market but they are not easy to find although you can Google the words gluten, or gluten free food and get good results. It has been my experience that some of these products are better than others.

For instance, the Hodgson Mill Multi-purpose baking mix is a truly superior product. I have used it in making corn bread and the results were better than using wheat flour!

Today I found the quinoa (keen-wah) I have been looking for at a store called Natural Kitchen. There are several locations across the country. Quinoa is a high protein grain that equals meat, fish, or poultry.  I found noodles made from quinoa as well. I will update after I try these products.

The cost is prohibitive to buy loaves of bread regularly, and to purchase the different types of flour required to make bread from scratch is expensive. I am considering investing in these flour products because the recipes generally call for small amounts so several loaves of bread could be made over time. This is something I will need to report back on as well.

Comments

Ann Nonymous 2 years ago

This is a really really good and important hub. I know several people who are allergic to gluten and will pass this on if I get a chance! Great job smireles and thanks!

Smireles 2 years ago

Thank you, Ann! I am happy my poor offering is of help! Blessings!

Ken R. Abell 2 years ago

Very interesting & informative. Thank you.

JCielo 2 years ago

Really informative as usual! I just wish my uncle were alive today. My aunt used to have to bake and prepare everything herself, because you couldn't get finished gluten-free products in those days.

Tom Whitworth 2 years ago

Smireles,

It sounds like a business opportunity. You could bake it and sell it over the internet.

Smireles 2 years ago

Things have come a long way in the past few years. It is nice to be able to find a few products.

Tom, I had not thought about making it a business! You are right! There is certainly room for such a bakery. I had to drive 20 miles to get my bread!

CassidyS 2 years ago

You are very right about it being expensive to make gluten-free foods from scratch, even though buying pre-made gluten free foods is also expensive. I recently found a pasta brand called Tinkyada and I think it's up there with wheat pasta-it's very good. I also agree on you about the bread. I have a good gluten-free bread recipe but I'm still always experimenting because wheat bread is so hard to duplicate. I've looked into having a gluten-free bakery also but it was too difficult with my circumstances, I hope you can make a success of it!

Smireles 2 years ago

Thank you, Cassidy5. I am checking out Tinkyada for the pasta. My gluten free bakery is still in the brainstorming stage! lol!

Pamela99 2 years ago

This is a good hub. My brother has celiac disease and it is tough always eatint the right food. You gave some good information.

Smireles 2 years ago

Thanks, Pamela99. It is good to hear from you!

Smireles 2 years ago

Note: I used the Quinoa pasta in a dish from scratch similar to Hamburger Helper. I was great and the taste was not different! Reasonably priced and full of protein!

CASE1WORKER 2 years ago

Hi - i have had coeliac diseasse for nearly 50 yrs- the bread is a bit yeuchy but having had nothing other than it all my life I find the smell and taste of "normal" bread repulsive. Good luck with yr project. There is a bread in the UK called Genius which is taking the market by storm as it actually tastes quite nice - more like a bread. My mum says that the world has really turned re gluten free. I can now pop into my local supermarket and buy gluten free, cakes, bread etc but when i was growing up all there was three different types of biscuits and flour. In the UK we can apply to get our bread etc at a subsidised rate or get it free if we are low income or of retirement age or expecting

Smireles 2 years ago

King Arthur's Flour is introducing a line of gluten free baking products and flour. They look good but are a little pricey. Thanks for reading and commenting Case1worker.

Joshua Kell 2 years ago

Thanks for the useful information. I appreciate it, and shall take it to heart.

Smireles 2 years ago

You are very welcome!

Melissa  18 months ago

Does the hodgson mill mix measure cup for cup for wheat flour? If not what is the conversion?

Thank you!

Smireles 18 months ago

Melissa, thanks for stopping by. The Hodgson Mill mix does measure cup for cup for wheat flour. However, finding the right flour is a trial and error project. Hodgson Mill flour works wonderful in corn bread because it is a bit grainy. Other blends are better for pastries and baked goods. Living Without.com is a great source and the magazine offers a page of flour blends and substitutes. Good luck.

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