Healthy Gluten-Free Baking: Gluten-Free and Flour-Free Banana Muffins

BananaMuffinsFor too long, gluten-free baking has been lacking in flavor, fiber and nutrition as most recipes are dependent upon gums, starches and refined flours. This method of baking, in contrast, uses presoaked whole grains and is a wonderful alternative as it produced baked goods that have great texture, flavor and nutritional quality. It is also much less costly to prepare than gluten-free mixes and traditional gluten-free recipes. This has the added bonus of making wholesome gluten-free recipes affordable and appealing to the whole family. (No more making the gluten-intolerant family member eat differently from the rest!).

I usually refer to these recipes as “blender recipes” because the whole grains are soaked for a period of time to allow for the breakdown of enzyme inhibitors and to increase nutritional value, and then are processed in a blender for use in a pancake, muffin, cake or cookie recipe. The texture of baked goods made from blended soaked grains is superior to those made with gluten-free flours and is much more similar to that of the white flour products we’re accustomed to. They are more nutritious and economical too! Gluten-free “blender” recipes are some of my favorites and definitely worth the extra effort expended to set some grains to soak in advance of baking time.
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Getting To Know Different Types of Cake Moulds

CakeMouldsCakes can make an ordinary day special that is why many bake shops are not just into breads but also into special cakes for different occasions. There are many ways to make cakes more tempting. Presentation is one of the important factors that a baker should know to catch the attention of people. In order to make a cake presentable, one should be creative enough to make variations. Using cake moulds from Make Bake is a good way to make different cake designs. Here are some things to know about cake moulds.

What Cake Moulds Are Made Of

There are three main materials used for cake moulds. These are stainless steel, silicone or Teflon and aluminium. Each material has its pros and cons so bakers can decide which mould is apt for them.

Stainless Steel Moulds

Cake moulds made of stainless steel are preferred by many chefs because they can last for years. On the other hand, there are some who dislike using stainless cake pans or moulds because they do not conduct heat evenly. For beginners, it can be a little tricky to use stainless steel moulds since the heat is not distributed equally which can result to unevenly baked cakes.

Aluminium Moulds

Aluminium cake pans are good conductors of heat. Many bakers love using aluminium moulds because heat is distributed evenly, resulting to uniformly baked cake layers. Although some health reviews say that aluminium products should be avoided when cooking, many are still using them because of the better results compared to stainless steel moulds.

Silicone Moulds

Silicone cake pans also called as Teflon pans are very easy to clean because of the non-stick material used to make them. Modern bakers like using silicone moulds because they are resistant to rust and stains plus they can be used for baking and freezing at the same time. With proper handling, silicone cake moulds can also last for a long time.

Shapes

Aside from different materials, cake moulds also come in different shapes. Some are round, some are squared and some are even specialised according to what the baker wants. There are cakes that can come out better using special cake moulds such as Savarin cake pans, mini cake pans and Cannele cake moulds.

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Lobsters and Lobster Bakes

LobsterBakesLobsters exist in the general populace’s mind as a staple of the diet of those who live in Maine, in particular. While this may be true, they have been used as a food since the times of the Romans and Greeks. When the British first started colonizing North America, they delighted in lobsters while the colonists weren’t quite so enthusiastic. Despite the early aversion to lobsters, Americans got over that in the 19th century and lobsters have “enjoyed” a place of honor as one of the favorite foods of many people since then.

The lobster most frequently thought of in the United States is the American Lobster. This type resides primarily along the Atlantic coast of North America. It has been found as far south as North Carolina but is most common in the colder Atlantic waters around the Canadian Maritimes, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Before humans developed a taste for lobster, the main predator was the codfish. Other predators include haddock, flounder, and other lobsters. Thanks to overfishing of the codfish during the early 20th century, the lobster population was allowed to increase dramatically. Unfortunately, they too are being overfished now. This can be seen in the diminishing size of caught lobsters.
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The History of Cupcakes

CupcakesWhile no one is quite certain where cupcakes came from, it is known that they made an appearance in the United States sometime in the 19th Century. Called Fairy Cakes in the United Kingdom, cupcakes revolutionized how cake was made and mothers across the land lauded the blessing.

Prior to the introduction of the cupcake to the kitchens of America, cakes were made by weighing the ingredients. Cupcakes were made by measuring the ingredients for the first time. It has been suggested that this is perhaps where the term “cup cake” originated, since everything was measured in cups. Other origins of the name have also been offered, such as the fact they are baked in a cup but at one time, cupcakes were also called “number cakes”. This name originated from the recipe, whereby it required “…once cup butter, two cups sugar, three cups flour, four eggs…” At one time, recipes called for cupcakes to be “…baked into little tins.”
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A Short History of Desserts

HistoryofDessertsSweet desserts have existed since the beginning of mankind. It is now enjoyed by people throughout the world in variety of flavors. In the past, only the affluent society folk could afford it while the ordinary people could only enjoy it on special occasions. Advancement of sugar production allowed its more extensive spread and at much more affordable prices to customers. People enjoyed desserts worldwide because of the increased supply of sugar.

Desserts are thought to have originated from a custom to remove the aftertaste of a meal with a sweet taste as they leave the mouth with a sweet flavor. The name confection is derived from a French word ‘desservir’ which means to clear the table. Thousands of dessert varieties exist today. Ice cream, cakes and pies are some of the popular desserts that have been present around since ancient times.

The origin of ice cream dates back around the 4th century BC, the Roman emperor Nero had ordered his followers to gather ice and add fruit toppings for his dessert. A Chinese king named Tang developed an early form of ice cream by combination of milk and ice. Ice cream was brought back by traders to Europe. Ice cream continued to evolve during history and recipes were soon developed for serving the French and Italian aristocracy.
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