We can't pick all of the food we eat directly off a tree, and we can't make everything ourselves. I always think I want to raise my own chickens, and then I catch of whiff of what raising chickens actually smells like, & I think the closest I'm going to come is to befriend a farmer.
When I first started writing Gluten-Free on a Shoestring Quick & Easy, I figured I was gunning for the job of The Gluten-Free Sandra Lee. After all, there are so many new gluten-free packaged products available now. Shouldn't we be able to eat like everyone else in America does – or like I read that everyone else does? Semi-homemade gluten-free food could go together like Fred & Ginger, right?
Does “no” go with “way”? I quickly learned that “gluten-free quick & easy,” for me, means devising smart kitchen shortcuts and techniques, and adding the occasional top-notch packaged gluten-free product where it really matters. Not putting Cool Whip on canned pumpkin and calling it pie. Every recipe gets you where you wanted to go in the first place (real food, real fast) without sacrificing your dignity (and your family's health) in the process.
In the new book, I list the gluten-free prepared products that I really like and use in my own kitchen, my own bad self, most every week. It's the truth, 'cause I do not lie. But there are also plenty of things I ran into along the way that are serious Don'ts. I learned them the hard way. Why should you have to walk a mile in my moccasins? Often, my “don't” is based on the fact that a product is ridiculously expensive and simply plain not good. And I say we don't buy them unless and until they come UP in quality and go DOWN in price.
Vote with your wallet! Here's my list of don'ts. As in Don't Waste Your Hard-Earned Money:
1. Those ridiculous single-ingredient “tortillas.” I don't even know who makes them, but it absolutely doesn't matter. They sell one brand at Trader Joe's, and they are an affront to the word Tortilla. They peel and crumble if you so much as dare to take them out of the package. For shame!
2. Gluten-free bagel-shaped bread, sold as a bagel. Look, it could be because I'm from New York, home of The Bagel, but there's a certain huge gluten-free company that makes a certain gluten-free “bagel” that used to be at least passable, and now I find it personally offensive that they are getting away with charging what they charge for that dry, crumbly mess.
3. Gluten-free hot dog buns. C'mon. I dare the corporate representative of this company to eat a hot dog on one of these things and get more than 50% of the bun itself into his or her mouth. Dare.
4. Gluten-free breadcrumbs. Maybe you know of a gluten-free breadcrumb that is worthwhile, but I haven't seen it. They're either wildly expensive, or they are, essentially, ground cornmeal, except they cost nearly $5 for 12 ounces.
5. Gluten-free readymade pizza crusts made with rice flour and tapioca starch as the only grains. They are crackers. Super expensive crackers that make me so very sad when I think about people who are spending their hard-earned money on them and thinking that this is all they have to look forward to. Cracker pizza.
6. Gluten-free pie crust mix. It's basically just something of a premium-priced all-purpose gluten-free flour blend. You still have to add fat and you still have to add liquid.
7. Gluten-free powdered frosting mixes. Similar to the pie crust mix. It's basically just confectioners' sugar with some flavoring and salt. Have mercy.
8. Don't freak out, but Chebe Cheese Bread Mix is just tapioca flour/starch and dry milk with salt, at north of 50¢ per ounce. And that's just the dry mix! You still have to add the cheese and eggs. I will give you a recipe for Brazilian Cheese Bread that will knock your socks off—at the proper shoestring price.
9. Gluten-Free Pancake Mix. There are plenty of companies that sell gluten-free pancake mix these days, and it breaks my poor cheap heart every time I roll on by them in the grocery store or online. The first four ingredients of my gluten-free pancake recipe can be your mix.
10. Speaking of mixes, let's talk Gluten-Free Cake Mix while we're at it. You know how you pay more money per pound for chicken when it's more processed? Like a whole chicken costs less than skin-on, bone-in breasts costs less than boneless skinless costs less than tenders? It's like that. If you pay someone else to put together 4 dry ingredients for you, you're going to pay a huge premium. Chapter 8 of My New Cookbook has 13 recipes for Make-Your-Own Gluten-Free Baking Mixes. Use a digital kitchen scale and you'll have the same consistent results that led you to buy that mix in the first place.
What's on your Don't Buy List? Teach me!
Love,
Me
P.S. If you haven't yet, please pick up a copy of My Cookbooks! I can't keep the blog going without your support! Book 2 will be out in just a few weeks!!
Michelle says
I mostly agree with you too, especially about the “bagels”. I have yet to taste a GF bagel that tastes like a real bagel. I do however think that King Arthur’s GF chocolate cake mix is the best. I haven’t found a recipe that tastes at all similar. Oh and Trader’s Joe’s GF waffles are good enough for us, not to mention they are only $1.99 a box!
Michelle says
I mostly agree with you too, especially about the “bagels”. I have yet to taste a GF bagel that tastes like a real bagel. I do however think that King Arthur’s GF chocolate cake mix is the best. I haven’t found a recipe that tastes at all similar. Oh and Trader’s Joe’s GF waffles are good enough for us, not to mention they are only $1.99 a box!
Susan Joy Durovey Antrim says
My need to make-my-own stems not only from my dissatisfaction with so many of the pre-made products and mixes and that I want to save money, but also a desire to be not merely gluten-free, but healthy, avoid starches, especially in large quantity, and the fact that I am a diabetic as well. Thank you for your site!
Lroloson says
I make lots of your recipes, including bread , but we do have a new bread, called Good Bye Gluten that has shown up recently in our Giant Eagle stores. It is fresh, not frozen, recommended to be stored at room temp, 90 calories a slice, I paid $ 4.89 for a 1 lb loaf, out of curiosity. One week in, still soft and fresh, very tasty, plain or toasted, sturdy, not crumbly, comes in white and multi grain! I have used it for a sandwich, toast, toasted and processed a couple slices for bread crumbs in my meatball recipe.
Elisabeth says
I buy the hot dog buns and bread, but that is about it. When the bread gets too stale to eat I make breadcrumbs out of it. I have found that Glutino’s round crackers are, for the most part, inedible, although their table crackers are a good substitute for water crackers. Yesterday I tried my hand at making a GF version of Raincoast Crisps (those insanely expensive nut-and-dried-fruit-laden crackers from Vancouver), and it turned out so much better than I had hoped for a first attempt that I will keep working on those.
MaryAnn says
I also agree with the majority of your list – though I (and the rest of my family, who are not GF), LOVE Pamela’s baking mix for pancakes, chocolate chip cookies and muffins. It’s just a really convenient thing to have on hand to whip things up. And, the Better Batter chocolate cake and brownie mixes are delicious – yes, all of these things are expensive, but they are not something I use very often. I love baking, but I work full time and have two little ones, so there just isn’t a lot of time to do it unfortunately. I have tried making bread with Better Batter a couple times and they have been epic fails, so I honestly have given up – I don’t want to waste my expensive flour on failures, so I pretty much don’t eat bread. I don’t like Udis bread, but Canyon Bakehouse is really good – they are tiny loaves and expensive, but it is yummy, even un-toasted – particularly the 7-grain and the cinnamon raisin – so I keep them in the freezer and eat them occasionally. I picked apples a couple weeks ago and made pie using the frozen GF pie crust from Whole Foods and it was really good – yes, expensive, but quick and easy (and not an everyday item, so I was ok with paying a premium). I would like to make everything my self, but if there’s no time, I think it’s awesome that there are some good, conveient options out there.
Annie Rosieschild says
I really like the GF pie crusts from Whole Foods, also. I can’t tell them apart from my buttery, flaky homemade crusts. They are expensive, but I only use them at Thanksgiving and Christmas when all the other gf cooking is so time consuming. I really DO like Udi’s bread, reminds me of my mom’s homemade bread when I was a child, but I only eat it occasionally. I’m not really a sandwich person. I feel like other GF breads either have texture issues or leave a very chemical or metallic aftertaste in my mouth. The first bite is okay, the 2nd iffy, and by the 3rd I’m gagging and feeding very expensive bread crumbs to the birds. I find that Udi’s doesn’t have that aftertaste. I keep hearing good things about Rudi’s, but after so many negative experiences I’m afraid to try it.
Whimzee26 says
ok, you convinced me. I pre ordered your cookbook on Amazon. Afterall, I have been lurking and enjoying your recipes for some time now.
Marymccl says
Ooh, and I forgot good tip for breadcrumbs since.they’re outrageously priced in grocery store. Save ends leftover from gf bread, throw in food processor with some seasonings and poof!
Marymccl says
Lol! Love the hot dog bun comment. So true!! I pretty much don’t buy any processed gluten free ‘food’ anymore. The only thing I buy is Rudis bread. Cookies are the worst. You could break windows with those things. Breakfast bars = gag. Every once in awhile, I’ll treat myself to against the grain pizza, (amen!) Doesn’t taste like a cracker with cheese. Everything else, I make from your cookbook. Can’t even tell its.gluten free. Amen to you!! I’m spoiled now!
Egrigby says
In defense of chickens, I am one of those farmers you should make friends with. While a large quantity of chickens who are caged might stink, free range chickens, and or chickens that are cleaned up after don’t. I have about 40 chickens out in the front pasture with the goats (who do stink!) and until you need to recycle those kitchen scraps you would never know they are there. Now, I won’t even go into how funny they are to watch, or how nice it is to have one on your lap, or to watch riding a goat.
I do recommend buying farm fresh eggs for baking though. They are usually only a day or two out of the chicken so the proteins are fresh, and if they are grass fed/free range they have more vitamin D, and omega fatty acids, as well as containing less cholesterol.
Peggy Ford0518 says
Do you sell your eggs? If so, where are you located?
Egrigby says
We are outside of Raleigh NC, and we do sell them. Right now we have all the sales we can handle because without artificial light the chickens reduce their laying as there is less daylight. Some of our customers actually freeze eggs for winter.
Mimi Johns says
One product I like is GF Cornbread mix from Bob’s Red Mill. But the rest of the stuff you list – yuck!
Cheeto74 says
trader joes used to have the best pancake mix and it was reasonably priced… I miss it so much, but if enough people e-mail them, they might bring it back
Deanna M Zimmer says
I started having tummy problems and found out I am sensitive to wheat. I have been wheat free for about 3 months and I feel so much better. All of my tummy and digestion problems are gone. I follow your blog and have tried some of your recipes which my husband and I both loved. He is mainly gluten free at home but eats what he wants away from home. I just ordered both of your cookbooks. I can’t wait to get them. I like Udi’s buns and bagels both. I toast them before I eat whatever they are being used for. The same with the hot dog buns. But, I did order some Better Batter and I am going to bake some bread. I love this flour. So glad I was directed to your blog. It was hard in the beginning but oh so easy now. I will always be gluten free. No slip ups here.
Tricia says
The hot dog and hamburger buns are much tastier if you wrap them in a paper towel, sprinkle with a little water and microwave for 10 – 30 seconds. If they are frozen, just wrap and mic, no need for water. Here in North Texas, Subway offers gluten free rolls and that’s what they do, which caused a “Why didn’t I think of that?” moment.
Annie Rosieschild says
My family actually loves the Udi’s bagels, toasted. I have to warn the gluten eaters in my family that they are mine, mine, mine, and my son’s (who is GF like me). When toasted, they are thick and crusty on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Yes, they remind me more of my mother’s homemade bread that she baked when I was a child than a New York style bagel, but I never really liked the super dense, chewy NY bagel. I’ve never eaten an Udi’s bagel not toasted or baked as a mini pizza, so I don’t know if I’d like it as much. I always buy them when they are on sale and I have an Udi’s coupon (which I get often since I’m registered with the Udi’s site). They are so big that I can make a package of 4 last a long time because I only eat one-half at a time.
Cindy says
My do not buy list is the same as yours! How disappointing to finally find hot dog and hamburger buns only to find they are more like a styrofoam cup than a soft bun!! I love your site and your recipes, Nicole, thanks so much for all that you do to educate us and keep us fed well :)
Cine Swennes says
you ARE brilliant. and your cookbook has a place of honor next to my le creuset (navy goes SO well with cassis) on my bookcase (pic promised in future) . after 12 plus years gluten free, i have migrated towards paleo. but (hear it,.. BUT), when i choose to cheat it is with PIZZA. the GF crust i have come to love is Against the Grain. which co$t$ – well, LOT$. i thought i got a brazilion cheese bread recipe from you before. …tangent: i love my USA pan that’s from KAF for gf bread and came across a 2nd’s clearance mini usa muffin tin for $12.70 :) and thought once again of making a pizza crust from brazilan bread cooked in a usa pan and of course of YOU. tangent end…. so. what i am asking of you (the gf wizard) is a recipe for pizza crust that’s based on brazilian bread. so i don’t have to buy the expensive pre-made frozen version. right now it seems i might as well be asking for you to hand over a winning lottery ticket but i thought i’d try. love you any which way your whim or energy goes!
Melissa says
You are my eternal GF hero Nicole!!! My whole GF life changed when I found GF on a Shoestring – I recommend it to every newly GF person I come across. Totally agree with your list, but would also add to my own list any other GF flour but Better Batter. Your books + that flour = yummy gf food at a reasonable price.
Love you!
Melissa says
You are my eternal GF hero Nicole!!! My whole GF life changed when I found GF on a Shoestring – I recommend it to every newly GF person I come across. Totally agree with your list, but would also add to my own list any other GF flour but Better Batter. Your books + that flour = yummy gf food at a reasonable price.
Love you!
Christina says
ANYTHING and I mean Anything made by Cherrybrook Farms. Their dessert mixes are weird and nasty. Some brands are pretty good, but not this brand.
j_bell84 says
I live in Australia and the prices here for Gluten free food are out of this world. My fiancee is American and we visited a few months ago and I couldn’t believe how cheap everything was and just how much variety you actually have….I found it pretty amazing!
I am new to the whole gluten free thing and I’m still learning what I can and can’t eat. My mum recently bought me a bag of Gluten free microwave popcorn at $5 a bag, while her heart is in the right place, I guess she doesn’t realise that the generic brand popcorns here are all gluten free anyway and she could have bought one of those for under $2. I have made the same mistake with a lot of foods, buying them at inflated prices because it says gluten free, only to discover that a “regular” product actually contains no gluten anyway.
Thanks for sharing all your recipes, it sure is a big help!
Reedyme-commerce says
I fell for those big unsliced bagel looking hamburger buns once! Nope not a bagel. I have your book and just got my first batch of bettet batter flour. Will be trying to make my own soon!
Angelyz924 says
The only prepared gf food I buy is bread and I only buy rudi’s multi grain. I gave up on making my own cuz it never turns out BUT all the yummy things I make out of your first book has inspired me to try again!
GypsyMama says
Omg, I couldn’t agree more with everything you said! I think it is just plain wrong to charge the prices that company’s do for some of these products!!! RIDICULOUS! …. I make up my own seasoning mixes, make my own broth…and mix my own egg replacer. I think the biggest thing I have found that it is important to invest in good kitchen equipment…like my mixer, blender, and food processor…these are must have’s for me and make fast work of any recipe. I don’t buy frozen potato anything either…those get diced in the food processor… for fries, hashbrowns, or skillet potatoes.
Gwen says
Right on…. I can not get my husband to stop spending money on some of this junk LOL actually I have found some almond crackers that are good but $$$$. I would like to make my own breads etc but can not find all the ingredients for the breads… any help would be appreciated
Jennifer says
Wow, I had come to most of the same conclusions awhile back. The one that got me was the Chebe mix. My daughter loves the stuff, so I’ll buy your book just to find out how it can be topped. Plus, I just love, love, love your recipes anyway. :)