Gluten-Free Pantry: Light & Luscious Angel Food Cake Mix

Hey what's this in my pantry? Oops- it's a mix of Light & Luscious Angel Food cake mix that I forgot to use. I probably purchased it about 8 months ago- maybe its age had something to do with the outcome however.

So I mixed up the package of Gluten-Free Pantry's Light & Luscious Angel Food Cake Mix with 1 3/4 cups warm water using a free-standing mixer with a wire whisk attachment. I should have seen the tip-off - which was that after nearly 15 minutes my stiff peaks had not yet formed. I kept my poor Kitchen Aid whirring away until finally the volume doubled. I added the vanilla and beat mercilessly again, loaded up my 10 inch ungreased tube pan and placed in a hot 350 degree oven.

After 40 minutes, the top was golden- but not dark- but I couldn't imagine that it could cook much longer. I took it out and used an old trick from Mom- insert a bottle in the tube pan and turn pan upside down to cool on the counter.

At long last, I cut a piece. So it tasted like Angel food cake- which remains one of my favorites- but it was concentrated in texture- almost like if you took a piece of fluffy Angel Food cake, and smushed it down to squeeze out the air. What you'd be left with is what's here in my kitchen. It had a very sponge-like quality that wasn't altogether bad- but not great either. Rob was rather amazed at how sweet it was.

So I'm going to chalk this one up to a mix that had gone past its prime. Unfortunately there was no "Best By..." date to prove it- which reminds me that I often don't find the "Use by..." dates on many gluten free mixes. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon?

Better luck next time!

Ingredients:
Sugar, white rice flour, cornstarch, powdered egg whites, gluten free baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate), cream of tartar, sodium lauryl sulfate (a whipping agent), salt. Contains eggs.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 3 Tbs Dry mix (38g)
Servings per container: 12
Calories: 140
Calories from fat: 0
Total fat: 0 g
Sat. fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 90 mg
Total carb: 32 g
Dietary fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 21 g
Protein: 4 g

Pound Cake: Everybody Eats Cinnamon Pound Cake

Here's another winner from Everybody Eats. Rob and I just can't seem to get enough of these delectable goods. Granted you do have to wait for delivery, but it's worth every minute I can tell you.

We recently received a rather large and welcome shipment from Everybody Eats. Among the booty was their delicious Cinnamon Pound cake.

This gluten free pound cake is true to form with a rich buttery texture that is dense and cake-like just like Grandma used to make. On the bottom is a sweet swirl of cinnamon that pushes the pound to a whole new level.

I've been toasting the pound cake for breakfast, adding a dollop of imported butter (trust me I know how bad that is), and topping it with fresh fruit. The raspberries have been especially succulent this week.

What a way for a celiac to start the day!

Cake: Gluten-Free Pantry Decadent Chocolate Cake Mix

To celebrate a sweet gluten free Valentine's Day this year, I made Rob a Decadent Chocolate Cake from Gluten-Free pantry. I apologize for posting this so late in the game.

The gluten-free cake was simply stunning and unbelievably moist and delicious. I made it in one of those new silicon pans, which I'm still not completely sold on yet.

In any case, this chocolate cake was just divine. I topped it with a chocolate sauce concocted of chocolate bars, cocoa, sugar and butter- but I imagine it would be just as delicious without it.

Unfortunately for me, Rob had the entire cake eaten within 30 hours.

To make the cake, beat 5 tbs. softened unsalted butter, add the mix plus 2 eggs, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, and 1 cup low fat buttermilk or low fat yogurt. (I used my favorite full fat Fage yogurt).

The celiac safe mix can also be made lactose free and egg free if desired.

Ingredients:
sugar, white rice flour, potato starch, cocoa powder, tapioca starch, sodium bicarbonate, salt, guar gum, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 3 tbs. dry mix (41g)
Servings per container: 10
Calories: 150
Cal from fat: 10
Total fat: 1 g
Sat fat: 0.5 g
Trans fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 15 mg
Sodium: 230 mg
Total Carb: 33 g
Dietary fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 18 g
Protein: 2 g

Cakes: Authentic Foods Lemon Cake

Now that the cold weather has finally hit, I took the opportunity to do some re-shuffling in the kitchen cabinets. I had forgotten that we had a gluten free, wheat free Lemon Cake Mix from Authentic Foods that remained un-tried. Since it had been a while that I made Rob a celiac-safe dessert, I whipped up the mix and could not believe the results!

To make 1 gluten free lemon cake, I first preheated the oven to 350 degrees, lightly sprayed a 9 in. pan with Pam, then I mixed 2 eggs, ¼ cup milk, 3 tablespoons of water and 3 tablespoons of canola oil in a mixer. The package cautions not to over beat (affects the rise-factor) - which I tried hard not to do. I poured the batter in the pan, let it sit for 5 minutes, then baked for about 30 minutes. The package suggests 30 min. for an 8 in pan, 35 min. for a 9 in. pan, and 25 minutes for 12 cupcakes. As my oven runs hot (which I forgot), I should have pulled the cake at 27 minutes- but no matter. I then let the cake cool and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

The gluten free Authentic Foods Lemon Cake looked very attractive with its sugar sprinkling over the honey brown exterior. Granted, it didn’t rise like a bundt cake- but that’s okay. I gave Rob the first wedge and awaited the true test. The celiac-friendly dessert was bursting with lemon taste, was light with a delicious sponge interior, and was a definite hit. I was completely blown away by a gluten free lemon cake! I couldn’t believe it lacked flour. Rob loved it so much, the cake was history by the next morning. I don’t know how easy Authentic Foods are to locate locally, I will very likely be placing my order soon.

Authentic Foods, “dedicated to manufacturing wheat and gluten free products” can be reached at:

1850 W. 169^th Street

Suite B

Gardena, CA 90247

800-806-4737

Ingredients:

Granulated cane juice, rice flour, corn flour, Garfava flour (garbanzo beans, broad beans), baking powder, natural flavors, baking soda, lemon peel, salt, xanthan gum.

The Authentic Foods Lemon Cake Mix is certified kosher.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 slice (28 g)

Servings Per Container: 12

Calories: 110

Calories from fat: 5

Total fat: 0.5 g

Sat. fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 45 mg

Total Carb: 24 g

Dietary fiber: 1 g

Sugars: 14 g

Protein: 1 g