The Wellness Kitchen in Templeton, CA. was the location of a wonderful gluten-free cooking event day. I had a wonderful time with Rosemary, the owner of the Bless Your Heart Bakery and about 13 other women (and one man), learning her techniques for gluten-free cooking. The atmosphere was peaceful and the community of participants was one of graciousness and friendship.
I’ve been trying to cook gluten free with mixed results for about a year. The problem included putting in a lot of effort (not to mention money) in gluten-free products only to see my precious baked goods crumble before my eyes. As recently as last week for Thanksgiving, I had a disaster with a carrot cake.
Today, the mystery of using xanthum gum as a binder in gluten-free baked products was solved. All you have to do is add it to the mix – DUH! Simple and done. I came home with a perfectly backed pineapple loaf and a stomach full of gluten-free cookies, quiche, and rolls.
The fun demonstration of making a yeast bread right in class was the best part. Now I feel empowered to pull out my mixer to create those hamburger buns my husband really wants to eat without worrying about getting a stomach upset.
To round out the day, we had a session on mindfulness presented by Susan McIntosh of Stress Less for Life. I was so relaxed I skipped a planned trip to Trader Joe’s to come home to take a nap! If you’re in the Central Coast area, be sure to stop by and support the Wellness Kitchen or the Bless Your Heart Bakery. Also, give Susan a call so you can learn to stress less and relax. It will definitely be worth it.