It’s no easy feat getting started with baking gluten and casein free. A great way to start off your baking adventures is to use some of the handy gluten free, casein free baking mixes available at your local store. A basic bread mix, pancake mix, pizza crust mix and dessert mix of some variety, will get you going in no time. These mixes are great when you or your child has no further restrictions beyond gluten and casein. They are wonderful when you’re not confident of your baking prowess. Mixes are also endlessly helpful when you’re short on time. Box mixes are not for everyone, however.

To help make GF/CF baking easier, we’ve compiled some great tips and tricks for getting started with scratch baking.

Start with a recipe. When just getting started, a developed recipe is the best way to have success. There are many different recipe sites and blogs dedicated to every kind of GF/CF baked good from sweet to savory these days, so why reinvent the wheel? Some wonderful sites are Gluten Free Goddess (most dairy free), Fat Free Vegan (all GF), and The Sensitive Pantry.

Find a good all-purpose GF/CF flour blend. Start simple with an all-purpose blend if you can find one that will work for your family’s needs. You will find two general types in the market- those that contain Xanthan or Guar gum, and those that do not. There are advantages to both, but we recommend buying your gum of choice separately so you can control how much you need with each recipe.

Build a small collection of flours. If a premixed blend won’t work, or you’ve graduated beyond a premixed blend, build a small collection of your most-used GF/CF flours- such as white or brown rice flour, sorghum flour, tapioca flour and potato starch. Once you get going with recipes, you’ll find you use the same flours over and over again.

Do some research before skipping ingredients. Wondering what Xanthan gum is or scratching your head over guar gum? Do a little online research into the roles played by these ingredients, and any others that you don’t recognize. See what they do before skipping them in the recipe. Some you may not need, but others might be the key to your success.

Learn your substitutions. Learn what makes great substitutes for commons sources of casein (and eggs if you need to avoid those too). There are many, many vegan sites dedicated to substituting for milk products- use them. They’ll save you time and headaches. Bob’s Red Mill also has many info sheets on how to substitute flours and dairy products, call 800-349-2173 for a copy.

Don’t give up. Even the best chefs make mistakes and have failed recipes. Just because you didn’t get that cake to come out just right doesn’t mean you never will. Accept that there are bad recipes out there and there will be times when even the best recipe comes out poorly. Don’t give up!

Some Basic Recipes for the GF/CF Diet:

• Delicious Gluten Free Bread (Dairy Free) from Gluten Free Goddess
• Basic Gluten Free (Dairy Free) Pancakes from Ginger Lemon Girl
• All Purpose Muffins (GF/CF) from Bob’s Red Mill

Looking for something to do this weekend in Oregon? We recommend a visit to Newport! Newport, Oregon is worth a visit on its own merit, but this weekend boasts the Newport Celtic Festival and Highland Games which means Newport will be brimming over with all sorts of extra fun.

The festival celebrates the traditions of the seven Celtic nations- Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Galicia, Brittany, and Ireland. With events for the whole family,the Celtic Festival has live music, traditional dancing, a sand castle contest, Highland games for the kiddos, face painting, a Celtic Canine parade and even some real Heelan Coos (Highland Cattle). Adults will enjoy the bonfire, highland games and a whiskey tasting. The Highland Games include things like the Caber Toss, the Scottish Hammer Throw, and the Stone Throw among others.  There is also a vendor fair full of all sorts of Celtic crafts and wares.

Want to go beyond spectator? There are many events to participate in, including a Bob’s Red Mill Baking Contest. If baking is not up your alley, you can always try the Haggis Eating Contest.

Tickets to the Festival are $12 for adults, $9 for students and seniors, kids 6 and under are free (special deals for multiple days).Buy tickets here.

Caber Toss (photo courtesy of Newport Celtic Festival)

Once again, we’re looking for someone to help represent Bob’s Red Mill at the 19th annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship in Scotland this October 6th. Thus was born Spar for the Spurtle, the ultimate oatmeal throw-down. All it takes is a winning oatmeal recipe!

As Bob’s Red Mill founder Bob Moore and 2009 World Porridge Making Champion Matthew Cox explain in this video, the company won the competition and the title of World’s Best Oats in 2009. Now, Bob’s Red Mill is appealing to fans in search of the country’s best original recipe that makes use of the company’s Steel Cut Oats.

If you have what it takes to Spar for the Spurtle, simply make a video detailing your recipe* and submit it via our entry page by July 20th. We’ll fly three finalists to Portland, Oregon to compete in a live cook-off, and the winner will be off to Scotland for an all-expenses-paid adventure representing Bob’s Red Mill at the Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship!

Visit Spar for the Spurtle for more information, vote on videos and enter your own porridge recipe.

Prizes

Based on the video submissions, three finalists will be chosen to receive the ultimate trip for Bob’s Red Mill fans. The finalist prize package includes:

• Roundtrip airfare to Portland, Oregon
• Three-nights’ accommodations at a downtown Portland hotel
• A tour of Bob’s Red Mill led by company founder Bob Moore
• A gift basket filled with Bob’s Red Mill products and merchandise
• $100 Bob’s Red Mill Gift Card
• A spot in the live cook-off for a chance at the Grand Prize
• $100 for cook-off supplies

The winner of the live cook-off will receive the Grand Prize, which includes the following:

• Round-trip airfare for two to Scotland to represent the Bob’s Red Mill team at the 19th annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship in October 2012
• Two nights’ accommodations in Edinburg, three nights’ accommodations in Carrbridge (for two)
• Rail transportation between Edinburgh and Carrbridge (for two)
• $2500 cash

*Recipe Requirements:

• The recipe must be completed in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
• Soaking and toasting the oats is allowed, but they cannot be cooked prior to beginning the 30 minute time limit.
• The recipe must use steel cut oats, not rolled oats.
• Recipes must be cooked in their entirety on the stove top, using no more than two burners.

This fun recipe comes from Jennifer Daskevich, a 2011 Spar for the Spurtle contender. I thought it sounded like just the thing for Meatless Mondays and a great reminder of how good savory oats can be. Obviously, for Meatless Mondays, you’ll want to skip the shrimp. I left that option here, in case you want to try that another night!  Watch the video to learn a little more about this dish and enjoy!

Oat Corn Cake Canapes with Chipotle Two Ways

Oat Cakes

• 1 cup Steel Cut Oats
• 3 cups Water
• 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
• 3 Tbsp Grape Seed Oil + additional as needed
• 3 Shallots, minced
• 1/2 tsp Kosher or Sea Salt
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground Pepper
• 2 ears of fresh Corn – kernels cut off (frozen will work, too)
• 1/2 cup White Rice Flour + additional for coating cakes
• Water as needed to form patties
• 2 Tbsp chopped Cilantro
• 2 Tbsp chopped Chives + 12 larger pieces

Chipotle Raspberry Sauce*

• 1 cup fresh Raspberries
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 1 Chipotle in Adobo Sauce + 1 teaspoon Adobo
• 1/4 cup Water
• Chipotle Mayo
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 1 Chipotle in Adobo minced (or more if you like it spicy)

Shrimp

• 2 Tbsp Grape Seed Oil
• 1/4 lb small to medium Shrimp (about 12 pieces)
• 1/2 tsp Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground Pepper

Directions

Oat Cakes

Step 1

Bring water to a boil and add oats. Cover and cook for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally with a spurtle. Remove from heat and put into a medium sized bowl.

Step 2

Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large pan. Add shallots and saute for about five minutes to soften. Add garlic and stir until fragrant – about 1 minute. Add corn and cook briefly to meld to flavors.

Step 3

Combine oats with the corn mixture and 1/2 cup rice flour. Taste and salt and pepper as needed. Wet hands and form mixture into small fifty cent size patties — add water one tablespoon at a time as needed to form patties.

Step 4

Coat patties in rice flour and shake off excess flour. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in pan and fry cakes until golden brown on both sides — 2 -3 minutes a side.

Step 5

For assembly: On half of oat corn cakes place a dollop of raspberry chipotle sauce and garnish with chopped cilantro.

On other half of oat corn cakes place a dollop of chipotle mayo, a shrimp and garnish with chopped chives and a larger piece of chive.

Makes 24 cakes.

Chipotle Raspberry Sauce*

While oats are cooking, combine chipotle, raspberries, sugar and water in a saucepan and mash together. Simmer for about 7 minutes.

Chipotle Mayo

Mix well to combine.

Shrimp

Toss shrimp in sugar, salt and pepper. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a pan. Fry briefly for about 90 seconds a side.

Notes

*You’ll have left over but it is delicious!!
**Use our Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats to make the recipe Celiac friendly.
***The Chipotle Raspberry preparation is Vegan.