Saturday, October 29, 2011

Gluten Free 101 with Wildtree


Gluten Free 101 with Wildtree

For those of you with Celiac Disease or who have been eating gluten free, you know there is a wide range of products out there. And while they are helpful when you want to bake muffins, bread, pizza or scones, they are not always the nutrient dense foods you may wish to eat. Just as I was about to give up, Wildtree came along and launched their Gluten-Free line. They have taken their time in doing so because first and foremost, any food Wildtree produces must have nutritional value. Leslie Montie, the founder and CEO of Wildtree, has always believed that if you are going to eat, there should be something of nutritional value in your food, even if it's chocolate.

If you have been on a gluten free diet for a long time, you know that most gluten free products in the grocery store do not necessarily equal "natural" or "good for you". With Wildtree's Gluten Free line of products, you can be assured that you are getting a gluten-free AND all-natural product.

Other Gluten-Free Products…
• Many gluten-free products on the market can be high in calories, fat and sugar. To improve the taste and texture of gluten-free products, many companies add fat.

• They are usually low in fiber as well since they are made from refined grains and starches.

Wildtree’s NEW Gluten-Free Products...
• Contain Ancient Grains - Wildtree’s new gluten-free products use millet, teff, sorghum, amaranth, and quinoa. These ancient grains are WHOLE grains and provide protein, B Vitamins, Iron, Fiber, and Folate.

Introducing the Ancient Grains
Amaranth- A tiny cream-colored seed indigenous to South America, Central America, and Mexico. Amaranth contains all of the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. It is also rich in fiber and iron. Amaranth has a corn-like taste and a slightly glutinous texture. Using a ratio of 3 parts water to 1 part grain, amaranth cooks up into delicious breakfast porridge or savory, polenta-like side dish. Cooks in 25-30 minutes. Available forms: whole seeds, flakes, flour.

Millet- A small, beadlike beige grain that tastes similar to cornmeal. It is the highly nutritious staple food in many parts of Africa and Asia. Millet is a rich source of fiber, thiamine, niacin, and folate. Use a ratio of 1 cup grain to 2 1/4 cups water for fluffy millet. For porridge, increase the liquid to 3 cups. Cooks in about 25 minutes. Available forms: whole, grits, puffed, flour.

Sorghum- Also known as milo, a tannish-white grain that resembles a small berry and is a rich source of fiber and iron. Sorghum is one of the world’s leading food staples including Asia and Africa. It works well as a hot cereal or a side dish and can also be popped like corn. Sorghum cooks in about 25 minutes at a ratio of 1 cup grain to 4 cups of liquid. The grain should be soaked overnight before cooking. Available forms: whole, flour.

Teff- The color of the Teff grains can be ivory, light tan to deep brown or dark reddish brown, depending on the variety. Teff has a mild, nutty, and a slight molasses like sweetness. The white teff has a chestnut-like flavor and the darker varieties are earthier and taste more like hazelnuts. Cooks in 15-20 minutes at a ratio of 1 part teff to 3 parts liquid. Works well in baked products such as breads muffins, pancakes, pie crust, and cookies and is a rich source of fiber, iron, and thiamine. Available forms: whole, flour.

Quinoa- A tiny high protein seed that was the staple of the Inca empire. The seeds are coated with a natural insect repellent called saponin which is bitter and must be removed. Nowadays, most quinoa is thoroughly cleaned before it is packaged. Taste a raw grain: if it seems soapy, swish the quinoa in a bowlful of water before cooking. Beige quinoa is more flavorful than red quinoa. Available forms: whole, flakes, flour

Wildtree's Gluten Free Products
Wildtree's Gluten Free Brownie Mix
Wildtree's Gluten Free Muffin Mix
Wildtree's Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix
Wildtree's Gluten Free Bread Mix
Wildtree's Gluten Free Pizza Dough Mix

I am SO excited that we are able to offer this to our Gluten Free Customers!
Please contact me with any questions you may have or place an order anytime at http://www.jenwarr.mywildtree.com/.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the Gluten Free/Ancient grains education. It's such a maze!! Now, can you educate me about Xanthan Gum?

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  2. Hi Jen,

    My son is allergic to Wheat, Corn, Rice, Millet, paprika, eggs, dairy, peanuts, Olives, Olive Oil, Canola oil, well he has 35 food allergies. So I'm wondering if any of your gluten free products are millet free? I know that some Xanthan Gum contains corn is your's corn free? Corn is a hard one and it is one of his True Allergies. I would like some more information on your Gluten Free Products. Please email me: glenda@thestampcamp.com

    Thanks,
    Glenda Calkins

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