Guten Free on a Budget PLUS! Gluten Free Sourdough blog!

[Bubblingbrooks]

I know many of you have looked at eating guten free due to possible allergies, but are put off by a number of things.
Cost being the number one area I am guessing.

First of all, do not fall for the idea that you have to buy gluten free boxed products in order to eat well.
They are expensive, and besides that, they are generally packed with large amounts of processed foods, so in the end you are still eating a "food" that is damaging and fake.

If you are able to grind your own flours, clean out your mill well, then grind a bunch of rice flour. This first grinding will likely have gluten in it due to the mills previous usage, but for those just transitioning, that should be ok as you will not have to worry about like others that have been gluten free for some time.

Now, to make pancakes, just follow this simple recipe.
http://sustainablefirstfruits.blogspot.com/2010/01/simple-gluten-free-pancakes.html

Want to make Banana Bread?
Banana Bread

This recipe is adapted from my grandmothers recipe, to make it gluten free.

Preheat oven to 350
Butter, and then flour with rice four, one bread pan.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 to 3/4 cup of honey
3 bananas
2 eggs
2 cups of brown rice flour
1 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup of soaked.dehydrated nuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients together, pour into pan, and bake till done.
Allow to cool. Loosen the sides prior to dumping out.

You will find that this recipe is very similiar to the wheat version of banana bread.
Very little difference in texture or flavor.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Gluten free Chocolate cake?


Black Bean Chocolate cake.

24 hours prior to making this cake, soak 2 cups of black beans in water, with a little bit of raw whey (or lemon juice) added.
Cook and cool the beans in fresh water, prior to making the cake.
(Beans may be cooled quickly by rinsing with cold water)
This method assure that your beans will not cause gastric issue of any kind.
If you do not have dry beans available to you, you can use one can of rinsed black beans,
However, I cannot vouch for their not causing gastric distress.
On to the recipe!
In your blender, combine the following.
1 1/2 cups of cooked and cooled beans
3 farm fresh eggs
1 tsp of vanilla
1/2 tsp of sea salt
6 Tbls of cocoa powder
1 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of baking soda.

Blend until smooth.
Add the following ingredients.
3/4 cup of honey
7 tbsp of warmed butter
2 eggs.

Blend again till smooth.

Pour into a buttered pan that has also been "floured" with a bit of cocoa.
Bake until center just springs back when pressed.

Allow to fully cool, and ideally, let sit for a few hours prior to serving.
Serve with a dollop of fresh raw cream and a few sliced strawberries.

 

[Wifezilla]

do not fall for the idea that you have to buy gluten free boxed products in order to eat well.
They are expensive, and besides that, they are generally packed with large amounts of processed foods, so in the end you are still eating a "food" that is damaging and fake.

 

[Bethanial]

I know I don't have to buy the packaged stuff. But I still have to get the whole grains in order to grind them. And living in the middle of nowhere, the closest place to get even the pre-ground flours at the grocery store is 45 minutes away. Closest health food store to get the actual bulk grains - 1-1/2 hrs.

And I'm having to pinch my pennies, most of them twice. My son gets free breakfast and lunch at school, which is a big deal to me. I've done enough research to know if I go GFCF, that is now 10 meals a week that I will have to provide - at a much higher price than my current "free" - the price would be significantly higher just by fixing him these meals, but to do so in a GFCF manner would really increase that cost.

I'd like to at least switch to raw milk and products, if I do nothing else. Also in my research on GFCF were people giving testimonies of the symptoms disappearing of just cutting out the milk. And that WOULD be a savings (if I can ever FIND a source!) because of the amount of $ spent of lactaid milk and tablets.

*ending rant now - WHY?!? does it have to cost more to do things the right way, the healthy way?!?*

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

I know I don't have to buy the packaged stuff. But I still have to get the whole grains in order to grind them. And living in the middle of nowhere, the closest place to get even the pre-ground flours at the grocery store is 45 minutes away. Closest health food store to get the actual bulk grains - 1-1/2 hrs.

And I'm having to pinch my pennies, most of them twice. My son gets free breakfast and lunch at school, which is a big deal to me. I've done enough research to know if I go GFCF, that is now 10 meals a week that I will have to provide - at a much higher price than my current "free" - the price would be significantly higher just by fixing him these meals, but to do so in a GFCF manner would really increase that cost.

I'd like to at least switch to raw milk and products, if I do nothing else. Also in my research on GFCF were people giving testimonies of the symptoms disappearing of just cutting out the milk. And that WOULD be a savings (if I can ever FIND a source!) because of the amount of $ spent of lactaid milk and tablets.

*ending rant now - WHY?!? does it have to cost more to do things the right way, the healthy way?!?*

We actually spend less on eating gluten free, versus before Less ingredients.
I totally get having to pinch over and over. But, God has always provided for our true needs over and over.
Mmm, I got something for you to read.
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Budget.pdf
Making only one change at a time is recommended though.
Say you cut out all dairy. That can leave you a bit of wiggle room if you so choose.

 

[miss_thenorth]

WHY?!? does it have to cost more to do things the right way, the healthy way?!?*

Well, that is a loaded queston. But especially living in the states, you should take into consideration that if you spend the extra dollars on providing nourishing foods to keep you healthy, you end up paying less at the doctors.

 

[Bethanial]

We actually spend less on eating gluten free, versus before Less ingredients.
I totally get having to pinch over and over. But, God has always provided for our true needs over and over.
Mmm, I got something for you to read.
http://kellythekitchenkop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Budget.pdf
Making only one change at a time is recommended though.
Say you cut out all dairy. That can leave you a bit of wiggle room if you so choose.

Very interesting article, gave me a lot to think about. Where can I find the Weston A. Price diet she's talking about, though. I know he's the "real milk" guy, but not much else.

But especially living in the states, you should take into consideration that if you spend the extra dollars on providing nourishing foods to keep you healthy, you end up paying less at the doctors.

That's part of the issue right now - I don't pay (other than gas and a tiny co-pay on prescriptions) for medical. That's actually why I'm still legally married is to stay on the insurance, until I can get my own. My son will stay on it regardless of marital status until he's either 18 or graduates college - unless he decides to join the military, too, which is very likely with so many family members (both sides) serving.

eta: fix quote

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Its not a diet per say. Dr. Price is actually the dentist who did research in the early 1900s.
You can read and see his work here. http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html
The foundations addy is www.westonaprice.org and the cookbook that we have used to learn how to cook better, is called Nourishing Traditions. Ask for it at your local library for starters, or see if a used copy that fits your budget can be found on Amazon.
You may be able to find a WAPF chapter leader near you, that cna hook you up with food co-ops that can help cut costs a bunch.

 

[Bethanial]

Thank you! There IS a local chapter in the city I most frequent 1-1/2 hrs away Hoping that also means sources for raw milk there This is also the town with the closest whole foods market for bulk grains and such, that I visit at least once a month

Thank you, BubblingBrooks

 

[CrimsonRose]

wow thanks for the recipes and info... So to do the whole gluten free thing you have to go cold turkey? or are their benefits from just limited the gluten too? (my family REALLY loves their big fluffy loaves of bread) so it will be hard to totally take that away... LOL