| So you've made the decision to keep your cooking | | | | Gelatin is a clear solid substance derived from animal |
| gluten and processed sugar free. Good for you! But | | | | collagen. In our cooking, gelatin is used to bind the other |
| where do you start? This article will show that with | | | | ingredients together and it adds moisture and protein to |
| some careful planning, gluten free, sugar free recipes | | | | the mix. |
| are not as problematic as you may think. | | | | |
| Stocking your kitchen with the right ingredients is a vital | | | | #5 - Honey |
| part of preparing for a gluten and sugar free lifestyle. | | | | Produced by bees from the nectar of flowers, honey |
| We'll now look at 7 must have ingredients that you'll | | | | is a fantastic natural sweetener. It easily melts into any |
| use in many different recipes. | | | | recipe adding its distinct sweetening taste. |
| #1 - Brown rice flour | | | | #6 - Xanthan gum |
| Naturally gluten free, brown rice flour is made from | | | | Derived from bacterial fermentation of corn sugars, |
| unhulled kernels of rice. It has a slightly nuttier flavor | | | | xanthan gum is a must have for gluten free baking. It |
| than wheat flour and doesn't behave in exactly the | | | | adds in the stickiness that the gluten would have |
| same way. It is therefore often used in a mixed blend | | | | provided. |
| of different gluten free flour grains. | | | | #7 - Artificial sweetener |
| #2 - Dried fruit | | | | Many health food stores now stock artificial |
| Some fruits are high in natural sugars, so act well as | | | | sweeteners which can be used in sugar free cooking. |
| sweeteners for our sugar free recipes. Apricots, | | | | An example of this is xylitol which has a low glycemic |
| bananas and apples are all good fruits in this respect. | | | | index and doesn't cause fluctuations in blood sugar |
| Depending on the recipe they may need to be soaked | | | | levels. |
| or stewed beforehand. | | | | With experience, you can create gluten and processed |
| #3 - Cornstarch (cornflour) | | | | sugar free alternatives of most recipes. But if you are |
| Cornstarch is (unsurprisingly) the starch of the corn | | | | new to this way of cooking (and eating) then I'd |
| grain. It is often used in gluten free recipes as a | | | | recommend using a specialist cookbook to get you |
| thickening agent in soups, stocks and sauces. It can | | | | started on gluten free, sugar free recipes. Good luck |
| also be used in mixes with other flours for baking. | | | | and happy eating! |
| #4 - Gelatin | | | | |