Ep 116 When in Doubt, Bake Muffins
Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –
We’ve been staying home for a few weeks now, and more and more, I’m drawn into the kitchen to bake. My focus of late has been muffins. This week, I speak with Cinde the Everyday Gluten Free Gourmet, as she recently posted a collection of muffin recipes. Muffins are likely the easiest baking someone on a gluten free diet can make for themselves. Muffins are so versatile, and you can even get the kids involved. You can find Cinde, her blog and her recipes at https://www.everydayglutenfreegourmet.ca.
Sue’s muffin recipes can be found at https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com/muffins-2 and https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com/oatmeal.
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
This is a time when we all need some comfort food. There was such a run on staple foods when everyone realized they were going to staying at home. The store freezers were decimated with shoppers buying any pre-made food to fill home freezers. Since that time, I’ve noticed the baking aisles are now the ones picked over. Many stores are out of (wheat) flour and yeast is a hot commodity.
I suspect parents are getting back to basics, taking time to bake with their children who are looking to stay busy. I suppose home made bread, with all the kneading, waiting, kneading again, and shaping is something that has become a family activity. And the best part is the reward at the end. Fresh baked bread to share with family.
In our gluten free world, I hesitate to suggest novice bakers attempt gluten free bread. It is certainly possible, and some forms are easier than others. If you have a baguette pan, creating the perfect loaf isn’t hard, but I can’t expect those who don’t bake to have a baguette pan. On the other hand, most everyone has muffin or cupcake pans in their kitchen and can gather the basic ingredients to make some form of muffin.
The beauty of muffins is they can be any flavour, and maybe won’t even turn out pretty, or “Instagram worthy”, but with very few exceptions, will be edible, and can qualify as comfort food. Muffins can be easily tailored to your specific tastes or food restrictions. You can even take a simple basic recipe, and split it up between two kids, allowing them to make additions to suit their tastes. Muffins are versatile, nourishing and easy to make.
Muffins are quite possibly the perfect comfort food for us right now. As most of us have a little extra time on our hands, and maybe some helpers eager to take a turn in the kitchen, maybe now is the best time to make the humble muffin our family friendly go-to snack item, it’s something I’ve been doing for a long time now. Happy Baking!