Change Is Good: Finding My Inner Gluten Free Baker

You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try.  ~ Dolly Parton 

Change.  It's good, but terrifying at the same time.  While we welcome and thrive in routine, every once in awhile a little upheaval is called for.  To grow professionally and personally, sometimes we have to take a big leap into the unknown and just hope to God that our instincts are right.  For the past year or so I've known that I needed to make some professional changes.  Considering how much time is devoted to work, I needed to make that part of my life better.  But how easy it is to coast along.  You get comfy and kinda forget what else is out there.  That is, until a phone call comes from out of the blue and your life changes forever.

I've been hinting around here about some big changes and I'm finally ready for the big reveal.  Recently I left my job - one I'd been at for about 4.5 years - and started a new position as pastry chef and baker at a brand new whole foods/gluten free/nut free/organic restaurant opening up in Saskatoon.  Talk about changes!  I haven't worked exclusively in pastry for a long while, but if you've been hanging around this blog long enough you know how much I love baking.  Granted, gluten free baking is completely different.  And challenging.  But it's also incredibly fascinating.  I'm getting to know my different flours and how they interact together.  I'm baking with brand new ingredients like xanthan gum, arrowroot and agar flakes.  Because the restaurant is refined-sugar free, my sweeteners of choice are maple syrup, cane sugar and coconut sugar.  And almost every single ingredient in the kitchen - from the chicken to the chickpeas to the chocolate- is organic and I love that.  We will be making absolutely beautiful, healthy and delicious food.  I'm super busy, getting to know the new products (and the ins and outs of a new kitchen) but also thriving.  My brain is happy learning new things!  My co-workers are so kind and funny and amazing professionals.  I'm honoured to be amongst their expertise.  We know we are onto something special, and without a doubt will be taking Saskatoon by storm.

Because I'm a geek keener, the few days before I started my new job I did a little recipe testing of my own.  While these exact recipes won't be used in the restaurant, I'm happy to share them with you today.  And please, if you are gluten free and want to share any information with me, share away!  I'd love to know any good resources/recipes you have that you think I might benefit from.  

Vanilla Chia Pudding

Chia pudding, pictured above, is a great way to get more chia into your life.  And you really want to.  These tiny seeds are bursting with loads of nutrition, like fibre and protein, but also help keep you feeling full, longer.  Funny little guys, they don't really taste like much, but absorb the flavours you combine them with.  And absorb they do - soaking up a great deal of liquid, you don't really need that much.  I really liked this pudding - it has the texture of tapioca, and garnished with fresh organic blackberries, it makes a fine breakfast or after work snack. 

1 1/2 cups milk (I used whole milk, but you can use almond or soy or whatever you drink. No skim though)
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 tsp pure vanilla
1 tbsp maple syrup

Combine all ingredients in large bowl.  Whisk well.  Refrigerate and whisk every 10 minutes, for half hour.  This is so it doesn't get lumpy.  After half hour, pour into 4 serving dishes, cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.  Garnish with fresh berries.  Serves 4.  Recipe from Pastry Affair.

Lemon Tart 

I brought this tart in for my new boss and chef to taste and both of them were blown away - so much so that you can't even tell it's gluten free.  Garnish with fresh berries and a little whipped cream, if you like.  
 
Pastry:
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1/2 cup potato starch
1/2 cup sweet rice flour
2 tbsp cane sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chilled butter, cubed
1 egg
1/4 cup ice water
butter for greasing pan

In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix the dry ingredients.  Add the cubed butter and mix until pea sized bits of butter remain.  In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and ice water with a fork.  Stir in the liquid and mix until it comes together, is soft and supple, not soggy.  Form into disc, refrigerate for one hour, or overnight, if possible.  Preheat oven to 375*F. Let dough rest for 30 minutes then roll out on counter dusted with sweet rice flour.  Fit it into 9 inch tart pan with removable bottom.  Poke holes in bottom of crust.  Chill for 30 minutes, then par bake for 18 minutes (see directions in the following quiche pastry recipe for par baking).  Remove parchment and weights then pour in lemon filling.  Bake for another 20 minutes.  Let cool completely before removing from tart pan.  Makes 8 servings.  Pastry recipe from Gluten Free Girl and The Chef.

Filling:
3 eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
2/3 cup cane sugar
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
6 tbsp chilled and diced butter

In a bowl, beat the eggs, yolk, sugar and lemon juice.  Transfer to saucepan and add the butter.  Warm over low heat until butter melts, stirring constantly.  Continue stirring until lemon mixture thickens, but do not boil.  It's ready when it coats the back of a spoon well (you run your finger along back of spoon and the mixture holds its shape).  Filling recipe from La Tartine Gourmande.

Millet, Amaranth & Brown Rice Pastry for Quiche

I love working with these new-to-me flours.  The taste is warm and nutty and perfect for savoury fillings.  Use whatever quiche ingredients you like or have on hand. 

Pastry:
2/3 cup millet flour
1/3 cup amaranth flour
1/3 cup brown rice flour
1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 egg
6 Tbsp chilled, cubed butter
5 tbsp ice water (more if needed)

In bowl of stand mixer, add the dry ingredients and blend.  Add the cubed butter and mix until pea sized bits  of butter remain.  Beat in the egg.  Gradually add cold water.  Mixture should just come together and form ball. Remove from bowl, form into disc and wrap in plastic.  Refrigerate dough for at least one hour. If in fridge for longer than a few hours, let it stand for 30 minutes before using.
Dust counter with a little brown rice flour and roll out dough into circle to fit 9 inch tart shell or pie plate.
Fit crust into pan, crimp edges, poke holes in bottom with a fork. Chill for another 30 minutes.  Meanwhile prep filling ingredients.
I sautéed 1 cup asparagus and 1/2 mushrooms in a little olive oil.  Use whatever you like.  I used 3 eggs and 1 cup cream, beaten together with 1/2 cup goat cheese for filling, with fresh herbs, salt and pepper.
Par bake crust (place a round of parchment on top of crust and place dry beans or pastry weights on top of parchment. Be sure to fit it in the corners too. Par bake for 15 minutes in preheated 375*F oven. Remove parchment and weights.  Place cooked veg in bottom of crust.  Pour in creamy filling.  Top with cherry tomatoes and bake for another 20-30 minutes until filling is set and golden.  Makes 6 servings.  Pastry recipe from La Tartine Gourmande. 

Honey Whole Grain Bread

Gluten free bread is by far the most challenging project.  So often it ends up gluey and heavy.  But not this loaf.  The crispy crust gave way to a tender interior with a great crumb.  The trick is to let it rise in a low oven with the door cracked open.  Served warm with a little butter and jam I gobbled this stuff up; one of the better breads I've ever made, including those bursting with gluten.  Like many gluten free breads, it's best eaten fresh the day of, or else toast it the next day. 

1 1/2 cups warm water (100-110*F)
1 tsp cane sugar
1 package (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup arrowroot powder
1/2 cup tapioca flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup teff flour
1/4 cup buckwheat flour
1/4 cup amaranth flour
1 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 200*F.  Grease a 9x5 loaf pan with olive oil.
Place warm water, sugar and yeast in medium bowl and stir.  Make sure water is right temp - yeast should bubble up.  If it doesn't, start over.  Let it stand, bubbling away for 5-10 minutes.  Stir in honey, oil and vinegar.  Whisk well.
Combine dry ingredients in bowl of stand mixer.  Pour in yeast mixture.  Mix on medium for about a minute.  Pour into loaf pan.  Place uncovered in 200*F oven, leaving door cracked open.  Let it rise for 35 minutes.  Close door, increase heat to 375*F and bake for 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Loosen from pan and place onto cooling rack.  Makes one loaf.  Recipe from The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook  

And there you have my big news.  I've leaped big, leaving behind comfort and security, but also heaviness and dissatisfaction.  I'm pretty excited about this fresh start.  A brave new (gluten free!) world awaits, and I'm grabbing it by the tail.  Wish me luck.  Oh, and if you ever find yourself in Saskatoon, be sure to stop by Leyda's and say hi - we open to the public later this week.  xoxo Renée.