American baking, baking, baking. Gluten-free, gluten-free, gluten-free

Unbeknownst to them (well, I did mention it once or twice), my bakers at my American Corners Belgrade Baking Classes, are learning some typical American recipes that just happen to be gluten-free.  It's amazing to realize that some of our good ole American favorites and comfort foods don't have a lick of gluten in them at all.  Some, I did have to fudge a bit on (no pun intended- but fudge is gluten free!). For example, a typical Apple Crisp recipe pretty much does have gluten.  But as you fellow celiacs know, "It's not about deprivation, but substitution," so I substituted flour for ng flour.  That being said, I do try to be true to tradition when I am teaching traditional American baking (now that was an unintentional tongue twister).  On the other hand, if you don't notice the substitution in the food sample I give you, then it won't hurt you (like gluten hurts me).  If I substitute gluten-free flour in a recipe and it totally works, I will note that in the recipe.

Before I give you these simple, easy, American recipes, I must tell you that I have mastered the gluten-free bread loaf.  After my totally depressing, disastrous first loaf that imploded (literally- see photo post below), I shook the flour (ha!  I just wrote that without thinking), no, I shook the gluten-free flour out of my hair and tried again.  I know I shouldn't gloat, but doesn't this thing look marvelous?

It tasted good too!

Now for the recipes of the last few months:

By Marshall Astor from San Pedro, United States
[CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sweet and Salty English:  Deviled Eggs

Naturally Gluten-Free

Adapted from “Family Fun Super Snacks”

Ingredients: 10  hard-boiled eggs 1 ½ teaspoons (tsp) spicy or dijon mustard 1 ½ tsp vinegar (white or cider) ¼ to ⅓ cup mayonnaise Paprika Peel the eggs, then slice them long ways.  Scoop out the yolks and put them in a medium-sized bowl.  Mash them with a fork.  Add the mustard, vinegar, and mayonnaise.  Mash until it is smooth and a bit chunky.  Do not over-mash.  Fill the egg-white halves with the yolk mixture and sprinkle with paprika. You can add chopped pickles, olives, or pimentos if you like.

English Serbian ingredients састојци hard-boiled тврдо кувано vinegar сирће to peel кора to scoop зграбити yolk жуманце medium средњи to mix мешати smooth глатка chunky здепаст to fill попунити egg white беланце

Click here to get the printable Deviled Eggs recipe

By Jules Morgan from Montreal, Canada [CC-BY-2.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sweet and Salty English:  Banana Muffins

(Uh, not Gluten-Free)

Ingredients: 1 ½ cups flour 1 teaspoon (tsp) baking powder 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 3 large bananas, mashed ¾ cup sugar ½ cup cocoa 1 egg ⅓ cup butter (100g), melted Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Line a muffin tin with paper cups or grease with butter or margarine. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.   In a large bowl, mix bananas, sugar, egg, and butter.  Add flour mixture and mix until smooth.  There will be small chunks of banana.  Pour into muffin tin.  Each muffin cup about ⅔ full.   Bake 25-30 minutes until muffin top springs back when lightly tapped.

English Serbian ingredients састојци baking powder прашак за пециво baking soda соде бикарбоне melted топљени muffin tin Колач калај smooth глатка chunks Комади top врх to spring скочити lightly олако tap тапните

Click here for the Banana Muffin printable

Sweet and Salty English:  Cornmeal Battered Catfish

Naturally Gluten-free

adapted from finecooks.com

Ingredients: 2 lemons, quartered 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp salt 1 cup cornmeal 2 egg whites 1 kg catfish fillets 1.  Place the egg whites in a shallow dish and coat the catfish fillets on both sides. 2.  In a separate shallow dish, stir together all of the cornmeal and spices. 3.  Coat the catfish well on all sides with the cornmeal mixture. 4.  Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.   5.  Add the fish to the pan and cook for 4 minutes on each side.  It should be opaque in the center, white and flaky.   6.  Serve with lemon quarters.

English Serbian ingredients састојци catfish сом battered пржене с маслацем olive oil маслиново уље cornmeal кукурузни гриз egg whites беланце to coat покрити opaque непрозиран flaky пахуљаст quarter четвртина

Click here for the Cornmeal Battered Catfish printable

Sweet and Salty English:  Apple Crisp

(I made this with all-purpose gluten-free flour and no one noticed!)

Ingredients: 4 cups peeled and sliced apples (about 5 apples) ¼ cup white or brown sugar ½ tsp cinnamon ¼ cup water 1 cup flour ⅔ cup sugar ½ cup (½ Serbian stick) butter (softened) Preparation: 1.  Preheat oven to 190°C. 2.  Put apples in square 20x20x5 baking pan. 3.  Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.  Pour mixture over apples. 4.  Mix the rest of the ingredients in a separate bowl and sprinkle over the apple and sugar mixture.   5.  Bake 45-50 minutes.

Click here for a link to pan size conversions English Serbian ingredients састојци apples јабуке to peel oљуштити softened омекшало

Click here for the Apple Crisp printable