Delicious Gluten-Free Multi-Purpose Flour April 3, 2012

Recently, I went looking for a different and more delicious flour to make my sweet and savory treats. My journey ended at a simple blue and white box labeled,  King Arthur Flour.

White flour is highly processed, and while it does taste great in bread and pastries, is horrible for the body and causes weight gain. The right gluten-free alternatives give food similar taste with less health issues. Many similar products such as Bob’s Red Mill, run at about the same price but do not have the same flavor. The health benefits within these two brands are the same, but for around $8 you get a 24 oz box and a product that bonds well with other ingredients without the grainy, chalky taste that most other gluten-free flours.

This flour goes with anything including regular cooking for frying or giving gravy more texture

The Spice Rack: A Kitchen Necessity February 17, 2012

If you love to cook, you probably have a spice rack. In my kitchen, there is easily an accessible line of seasonings that live on a ledge above the stove and rows of less used ones in a cupboard to the side. 

For those who suffer from allergies, reading the labels on these is an absolute must. Surprisingly, many seasonings are not gluten-free or have been packaged in the presence of peanuts. There are also a few seasoning mixes containing a lot of salt. Salt is not bad. Salt helps all of the flavors within the dish blend together and stand out at the same time. Our bodies also require a certain amount of sodium per day.

A fundamental rule to seasoning food is understanding the taste of the seasoning you wish to use. You have to imagine what the food be like when the two ingredients are combined. If you cannot remember the taste of the seasoning, sprinkling some on your hand and give it a lick. 

One of my favorite spices is an all-purpose seasoning called Spike Gourmet Natural Seasoning. Spike, is a delicious and handy friend to have around. It can go in salads, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, rice, anything. The ones most used in my kitchen are Red and Blue; a salted and salt free blend. These two complement each other and can be used in the place of the other. Red Spike does have a high salt content and should be used with caution.