Gluten Free Mom: January 2010

These are surprisingly good and naturally gluten free (because they are flour less) brownies. The secret is NOT to reveal the main ingredient, black beans, until after everyone loves them.

I picked up this recipe on a recent visit to Whole Foods in Redmond. I was honestly really disappointed in the gluten free selection when this Whole Foods first opened. They just did not have much to offer.

But have you visited lately?

They have turned the entire front corner of the store into what is like a mini-gluten free mart. They have put some series effort into offering a great variety of gluten free products such as Pamela's, Namaste, Arrowhead Mills, Glutino . . .. They are also carrying several kinds of gluten free beer including Red Bridge, New Grist and Bard's. If you are in the neighborhood, it is definitely worth a visit.

Now to the brownies - I was pretty skeptical about these. Come on, brownies made with beans? But it was pouring down rain yesterday and the kids and I were searching for comfort food, so I whipped these up. They get two thumbs up for being super easy to make with ingredients you most likely have on hand, and two thumbs up for being surprisingly tasty.

I am not a deceptive person, but I knew if the kids were aware of the main ingredient they would be reluctant to try these. Thankfully they did not notice me pouring the beans into the food processor and they actually liked these brownies. The gluten free teen said she liked them better than other brownies we have made. They make a thin bite-sized brownie that is super moist and not over the top rich. I have cooked with garbanzo bean flour and the kids picked up on the taste immediately. Upon sampling these no one even mentioned a bean-like flavor. The Weekend Chef is reluctant about them, but then again he knows they contain beans. All I can say is try them, you may be surprised too.

Flour less Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed (we used Eden's Organic Black Beans that I rinsed really well)
3 large eggs
1/3 cup melted butter, more for the baking dish (we used Earth Balance to make them Casein Free)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cane sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder (this is the only ingredient we added - to give them a little more rise)

1/2 cup gluten-free semi-sweet chocolate chips (we used Sunspire chips which are also Casein Free)
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional - we did not use these)

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Butter an 8-inch baking pan.

Place the drained and rinsed black beans, eggs, melted butter, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract,sugar and baking powder in the bowl of a food processor and blend until smooth.

Gently stir in the chocolate chips and optional walnuts. Transfer mixture to the prepared pan.

Bake the brownies for 30 to 35 minutes, or until just set in the center. Cool before cutting into squares.

Just for fun, here are the nutrition facts for a leading gluten free brownie mix versus the flour less brownie. I am in no way saying that the flour less brownies are comparable in taste and texture to the cake-like GF brownies. I am merely providing the following for you to make your own comparisons:

Nutrition Label from Leading GF Brownie Mix:

As compared to the flour less brownie:

Per serving (1 brownie/about 2oz/60g-wt.): 160 calories (80 from fat), 9g total fat, 4g saturated fat, 50mg cholesterol, 35mg sodium, 17g total carbohydrate (2g dietary fiber, 12g sugar), 4g protein.

What a decade this has been. As the decade dubiously called the Decade with No Name draws to an end, an editorial in the Seattle Times noted that the American Public has rated it as the worst decade in 50 years.

We all remember the downs, so there is no need to recite them here. In addition to those, we have had our fair share of personal hard times starting with a heart-wrenching adoption process, then the ever sickening health of our now gluten free teen.

While challenging, the decade has actually ended on a high note for us. The boy from Guatemala who we feared would spend his young life as a homeless child is now sitting next to me playing Lego Star Wars on his DS. My once emaciated daughter who vomited so violently that she could actually throw it across the room, is now, well almost as tall as Mom, extremely healthy, bright and even adept at testing the boundaries (she convinced the Head of her very conservative private school to allow her to die a strip of her hair pink - minor to some, but definitely a statement in our world).

And if this decade has brought you into the gluten free life, then you are ending it on a good note as well. It is now easier than ever to live gluten free. So many of the myths about such everyday ingredients as vinegar and blue cheese have been revealed to be just that, myths! Both are safe for those on a gluten free diet. Yes, the diet is still challenging but there are so many actually good gluten free products on the market that one can scarcely feel deprived.

The following is a list of some of our best moments of 2009 - hardly extensive or all inclusive but let's focus on the positives for a while as we shepard in a new decade.

Favorite New Recipe of 2009

We have tried so many recipes, but our favorite has to be the crepes. They are so easy to make with a variety of fillings that they have been a twice a month staple for us.

Best New Gluten Free Foods

Bring on the Udi's!! Udi's White Sandwich and Whole Grain Bread

Upon tasting this bread you will not be able to tell that it is gluten free. Few gluten free products have excited us as much as Udi's bread. The first gluten free bread that you can leave on the counter top and eat without toasting. Looks, smells and has the texture of traditional wheat bread. Really it is that good. Just as satisfying are the Udi muffins and we hear they are making hot dog and hamburger buns which we are excited to try. There is sure to be more good products coming out of this company in the future.

Honorable Mentions to the following companies for bringing us some great gluten free products:　

Lucy Sugar, Cinnamon Thin, Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cookies I have yet to find someone who has not loved these cookies! They are crisp and crunchy with great flavor and oh so sweet. We love them all but the Cinnamon Thin are my favorite. You can buy these with confidence that you will love them.

Zero Grano Straight from Italy these are saltine-like crackers but actually much better! Light and crunchy with a hint of rosemary. Great with soup.

Zazzeri Pienza Gluten Free Pasta from Italy imported by PrimeSources International Another wonderful gluten free pasta from Italy. The shape and flavor is very satisfying. Not as hardy as Bi-Aglut but not starchy like some other pastas. I particularly like the different shapes. How fun to serve the family Chicken Noodle Soup with star shaped gluten free pasta noodles.

Food Should Taste Good chips are certified Gluten Free and processed on equipment that does not process any gluten ingredients, and they taste wonderful. Really a cross between a cracker and a chip. We love the the Sweet Potato chip dipped in hummus.

Zing Bar Surprisingly tasty gluten and soy free bars. I really like the chocolate and peanut butter flavored bar.

General Mills Honey Nut Chex General Mills now makes six gluten free cereals that you cannot beat if you are looking for mainstream everyday cereal.

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, Brownies, and Yellow and Devil's Food Cake Mix One of the latest mainstream food manufacturers to enter the world of gluten free living. These are reliable, readily available and easy to make gluten free mixes. Try Streusel Cake with the Betty Crocker Yellow Cake mix.

Favorite New Appliance

Last year I really wanted a pizza oven - I was really craving that crispy crust and burned-just-right-cheese on top that you get from a pizza oven. Not really having the funds or the space for such, I was resigned to live without until Jules Shepard introduced me to Presto 03430 Pizzazz Pizza Oven

We not only cook homemade pizza with it, but also focaccia bread and cheesy bread sticks. Okay, maybe not as good as a real pizza oven baked pizza but it produces a nice crunchy crust on the bottom and perfectly melted cheese on top. Moreover, it makes the chore of cooking dinner a lot more fun!!

Favorite Place to Eat Gluten Free

Hands down our favorite family dining place in Seattle is Romios Pizza and Pasta in the Greenwood neighborhood - whenever we walk in the door the theme song from Cheers replays in my head -

"Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name. "

That's the kind of neighborhood restaurant Romio's is. And it is true, it can be three months between visits and Don the waiter always greets us with a very warm welcome.

Of course, the gluten free food is great as well. This is a restaurant that actually works hard to make it's gluten free customers happy. At Romios you can enjoy the simple pleasure of eating a GF pizza while drinking a cold GF beer. They also serve GF grinders, subs and pannini. Recent additions include lasagna and ravioli.

Our absolute favorite is the GF pita bread with hummus. That with a bowl of artichoke soup is the perfect meal for mel. The gluten free teen loves the ravioli. They also have Lemon Pie for dessert, but we have always been so full by the end of the meal that we cannot eat dessert.

Favorite New Gluten Free Publication

With so many new people starting the gluten free diet, it is really great that Jules Dowler Shepard published a new book entitled The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. If you are new to the diet or know someone who is, this book is a great step by step guide that will get you started down the road to great health.