Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Think outside the bag....

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 Yes that beautiful slice of pizza is Gluten Free! Crisp and thin crusted, and you can do this for yourself at home. Just a few minutes to mix and 12 hours later it is ready for you, it will last in the fridge well covered for 5-7 days (some customers have left for 10 days). Know you won't use it that in time frame, portion out and freeze in Ziplocs freezer bags, for up to 6 months.


This dough mixes well and will make 2-10" thin crust pizza, but think smaller if you want, 4-5" basically any size you want. Also don't limit to making just pizza, bread sticks, calzones, appetizers, meat pies etc. Even dessert!

Here is a photo tutorial, it is so easy. I say this all the time, but honestly, if I can do it, so can you!

So starter packet:

Empty packet into a medium bowl whisk in sweetener of choice, then add 1 c warm water and stir. You will have shaggy mess.

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Then cover with plastic wrap and set timer for 40 minutes. Daydream of the toppings you will use....
 
 
 
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 Pour the remaining dough flour in a large mixer bowl. Whisk to combine, adding spices or herbs at this time.
 
 
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So after 40 minutes, it will about double, and fluffy. Scrape this into the prepared mixing bowl. (have maybe a 1/4 c of warm water handy just incase)*
 
 
 
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 Mix with dough hook, slow at first to combine, the flour should start to be absorbed into starter. Increase speed to medium, if the dough seems, dry add a 1 tbsp. of water at a time (lower the speed!!). The dough will start to form around the hook, it might also cling to side of the bowl, that's ok. Make sure it incorporates the flour. Mix for 3 minutes. The dough will be firm, and tacky to touch. The sides of the bowl with be cleaned of dough.
 
 

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Scrape into oiled container.


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Toss to coat, cover and off to the fridge it goes for 12 hours at least.

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You can see it rose very nicely overnight! Now onto what to use to bake!
(lets get you comfortable with working with this dough, then
we will revisit about how to grill).




What to use when baking:
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cast or pizza stone should be placed in the oven to heat as well.
 
I find rolling out easiest on parchment, and it also helps with clean up, moving the dough to pan, etc. I love a thin crisp crust, so I use a  cast iron pan, (or grill), but a pizza stone is good, or a pizza tray. They have new round  perforated pizza trays now, you could use that as well, but for the prebake, you will want to parchment for sure. Cornmeal, sprinkle on the parchment, in a circle just shy of what size you are rolling too. Be generous, but don't over do! You will need some rice flour for the top, to prevent sticking to the rolling pin. Go lightly with this, just enough to prevent sticking.
 
 
 
 
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 For the pizza in the photo (at the top of page), I used about 6 oz. of dough, about the size of a grapefruit. (again doesn't need to be precise). Place dough in the center of the parchment. Roll, starting in the middle and work out, (center to top). Rotate 1/4 turn, repeat roll. Again rotate 1/4 turn, repeat this until you reach desired thickness.

You can roll the edge up now, to form a crust. Drizzle with a little olive oil around the edge. Using the parchment, lift and place onto whatever baking tool you are using. Return to oven, and bake for 5 minutes. (I do this with my traditional dough as well, helps prevent soggy pizza!!).


Remove from oven, if you used cast or stone, you can now slide the dough off the parchment. This will allow for a very nice crisp bottom!. Brush top with a little olive oil, add your toppings. Place back in the oven for another 5-7 minutes (or until the bottom is golden brown). Remove from oven, allow to set for 2 minute, slide onto a cutting board and cut into slices.....listen did you hear that?? Yup crisp crunch! Enjoy!!


































Monday, June 22, 2015

The Gluten Free side of me......




I have been working with GF for some time now. Well actually, a good 10 years or so....and I don't eat it....don't need to, but I had a friend that had Crohn's disease, so I started dabbling for her, then a friend had Lyme's disease and so it began. I can say yes,  I have seen nasty taste go to, tolerable to HEY NOW I think you're on to something!! I have used guar gum, xanthan, flax seed mixture....if you can name I have probably tried it....

I have actually settled on using a combo of xanthan gum and psyllium. I know, as you all know, that well, there is a texture thing, a taste, or should I say an aftertaste, chalky, gritty etc. it will just never be like "normal" bread. But be damned if I don't keep trying!

So, I have several blends of flours, sweeteners, eggs or egg white, which fat to use, that I have learned to enjoy working with, lots and lots of trial and error. The variety of "flours", are what makes it difficult to keep things on hand at home and well some are just done right expensive!

This is what drives me to provide fresh baked goods, yes most can be frozen and work well, but fresh is always so much better! Just like in my traditional side, I source as much local products that I can. I use local milk, cream, eggs ( I actually have three farmers for eggs! Each one use for different things) , maple, raw honey, jams, etc. and several NYS items as well, after that I go outside for sourcing.

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I am always creating things to bring some sort of normalcy, that are different, that can be fresh then you can freeze. Working on how long a true shelf life is, some breads are shorter then others, some, like traditional can stand on the counter, some are even great for making bread crumbs, crackers, croutons etc. Of course this takes time, if it were the only thing I did, not as long, but I do so love to dabble in many things! Winter months are a little better, cause I love to hibernate and I can, cause my root cellar, freezer etc. are always well stocked from working hard all summer! But you get what I mean, time always gets the best of good intentions!

Right now, fresh baked goods are delivered and available on Saturdays at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mustard-Seed-and-Stone-Mill-Antiques/129155607874?fref=ts, they also carry my premixes! Stop down and give them a visit, so many great items available! Worth the ride! (anything self stable is available during regular hours)

My premixes are also at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kids-Market-Fruit-and-Vegetable-Stand/188960021191060?fref=ts. Fresh baked didn't prove to be a good sell, but that can always change!

And last but not least, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shaws-Maple-Products/275563989141572?fref=ts carries the Pancake premix!

I am always asked why just these three places, the answer is simple: because they all have what I look for when I shop and support somewhere: Integrity, loyalty, customer service beyond compare and a dedication to supporting small local business! I consider it an honor that they all carry my products, but more importantly, they are family to me, and I wouldn't be here baking/making/creating with out their support!

Welcome to the GF side of my life......