Inside Out Bakery in Saskatoon

I'm excited to do my first post on a local business! Lucille from Inside Out Bakery here in Saskatoon contacted me and told me about some of the things she has going on with her bakery. I had never heard of it, so was glad she reached out. I got to drop by the bakery on Avenue C and taste some of the goodies!

Inside Out Bakery is a facility free from gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, refined sugars, yeast, xanthan gum and MSG. They also carry a range of products that are--or can be altered to be--paleo, vegan or diabetic friendly. Many ingredients used are organic, so there's an option for everyone! 

In the bakery on Ave C

They use whole foods and healthy ingredients, swapping white sugar for date paste and other natural sweeteners. Lucille told me they like to use a lot of coconut flour and bean flour for fiber and nutrition. Instead of white rice flour they use brown, and when starches are necessary, arrowroot and tapioca are used instead of more refined corn or potato starch. They even make their own chick pea paste from scratch by roasting and grinding the peas right on site.

in the bakery on Ave C

Products are baked fresh to order or can be bought off the shelf at the bakery or at Herb N Health on Broadway and 9th. They have an amazing selection of products including cookies, cakes, cinnamon buns, breads, muffins, and even soups. Orders can be picked up at various locations around the city (see their website for more details) and they will also deliver for a fee. Lucille told me she is working on getting her products in another location downtown as well. 

Muffins (banana chocolate chip, pumpkin, carrot cake), cinnamon buns, chocolate chip shortbread, lemon shortbread, lemon and chocolate cupcakes and biscuits

pumpkin, banana and carrot cake muffins

I had the chance to taste a few of their products and was impressed. My husband said their carrot cake is comperable to any carrot cake he's had and I have to agree. All mine needed was a little cream cheese icing! (I believe they offer their carrot cake with a coconut cream frosting). My favourite would have to be the cinnamon buns. They are chewy and goey and sweet, even though they're made with date paste and whole grain flours! I froze a few and am eating the last one right now. Microwaved from frozen, these cinnamon buns are just as good as they were fresh. Mmmm... I also really enjoyed the chocolate icing that was on the chocolate cupcake. The cupcake was good, but the icing was to die for: rich, dark, and delicious! The biscuits were soft and mild in flavour but were yummy with butter and jam and are designed to go alongside a soup or stew.

goey cinnamon buns

They really infuse a lot of flavour into their baking. There are lot of spices (cinnamon, ginger, etc.) in their muffins and the flavour comes through very strong. I really like spices so this was a plus for me. The lemon flavour in the lemon shortbread and cupcakes was strong too. They use the whole lemon, including the zest, so the flavour is very bright, tart, and citrusy. To see all the products they offer, check out their website.

mini cupcakes 

Because they use fiber rich, nutrient packed whole grains and foods, their products tend to be more dense than their wheat flour counterparts, but I think (and my gluten-eating husband agrees) the texture is still great and the flavour is definitely there. You can really taste the coconut flour flavour in the muffins. 

some natural products they have for sale at the bakery

Support a local business! You can order a cake for a birthday party, cinnamon buns and muffins for a morning business meeting, go sit down in their Broadway location for soup and dessert, or Ave C bakery for a cold drink and warm scone. I think it would be great for restaurants, coffee shops or hotels to have some treats from Inside out Bakery on hand for guests with dietary restrictions. Most products can be kept frozen and microwave beautifully. Lucille also mentioned they are hoping to open up a location in Lloydminster in the near future!

a nice place to sit and taste some goodies or just wait for your order to be ready

Have you tried anything from the Inside Out Bakery? What did you think?

Chocolate Cake

I can't take any kind of credit for this recipe, except maybe that I made it successfully and took some pictures. I actually made it for the adults at my son's first birthday celebration. I made some awesome no sugar "dog dog" cupcakes with a peanut butter cream cheese icing for my little guy. Although his cake wasn't gluten free (baby cake recipe here if you're interested anyway), ours was! Only 2 of us were gluten free but all the gluten-eaters were suprised at how good it was. This recipe is definitely a keeper!

Find it at A Girl Defloured 

I think the most important part of this recipe is the flour blend. You have to use one that's good for cakes. The recipe calls for cup4cup, but I used a mock cup4cup blend (Better Batter might work too??). Directions for how to make this blend can be found here. It looks kind of confusing and uses a bit of math, but if you decide how many grams you want total, you can use the percentages to find how many grams of each component should be added. You will need a kitchen scale for this. 

This recipe made enough for 2 round cake pans plus 4 cupcakes. Just watch the cupcakes to make sure they don't over cook. I iced it with chocolate whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate shavings

This really makes a stunning cake to present to anyone who is confined to a gluten free diet. They will love you forever! Haha.

Quinoa Blondies

I love the recipe I have for quinoa brownies, but I kind of left it at that for the longest time. I didn't realize there was a whole world of quinoa baking at my fingertips! Muffins, cakes, BLONDIES. Duh! It was staring me right in the face this whole time. I think technically blondies are supposed to have chocolate chips in them or something, but you can always melt them on top when it comes out of the oven if you require chocolate in your blondies.

Similar to my quinoa brownies, these blondies have a lighter, cake-like texture - go ahead and call it cake if you want, you have my permission ;). The recipe can be made in an 8x8 baking dish, as cupcakes or mini cupcakes like I have shown in the pictures. Simply adjust the baking time accordingly. Some similar recipes I've seen (thank you, pinterest) will even double the recipe, cook in round pans and make a layer cake with some kind of delectable frosting. 

Oh, and as an added bonus, these blondies contain coconut flour! Something I am trying to use and understand a bit more. I get mine from the bulk barn. 

makes an 8x8 baking dish or about 20 mini cupcakes

Ingredients

3 Tbsp Milk (any variety)

1 tsp Vanilla

2 Eggs

1/4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1/4 cup Canola Oil (or melted coconut oil or butter)

1 cup Cooked Quinoa

1/2 cup Sugar

3 Tbsp Coconut Flour

3/4 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Salt

Directions

In food processor or strong blender, blend milk, eggs, vinegar, vanilla and quinoa.

Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.

Add dry mixture to food processor and blend with the wet ingredients. 

Pour into greased or parchment lined 8x8 baking dish

or greased/nonstick mini muffin cups.

Bake at 350 until edges start to brown and the middle is set - 25-30 mins for a dish and 12-15 for mini muffins. 

before baking

after baking 

I will try to get a picture of the blondies in the pan next time I make them. Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy :)

Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes

I've been experimenting a bit with coconut flour lately. I really like it (and it's pretty healthy), but it's very different from other flours and starches. It really sucks up liquid, and will continue to absorb for a few minutes after mixing, so it's a good idea to let your dough rest for 5 minutes or so before forming the donuts, cookies, or whatever you are making.

Coconut flour will give your baking a sweet, coconutty flavour and a dense texture. Even a few tablespoons can have a big impact on a recipe. I used some coconut flour in a pumpkin scone recipe the other day. It was alright, but needs some more work before I'm happy with it. 

The flour is fairly expensive compared to other GF flours, but you don't usually use much in a recipe. I buy my coconut flour at the bulk barn, but you should be able to find it in any health food store. 

makes 18 donut holes

Ingredients

1/2 cup Coconut Flour

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

Pinch of Salt

1/2 cup Sugar

2 Eggs

3 Tbsp Oil

1/4 cup Pumpkin Puree (or substitute applesauce)

1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice (or apple pie spice or cinnamon and nutmeg)

1 tsp Vanilla

1-2 Tbsp Milk if needed (I used homemade pumpkin puree which has a little more liquid than the canned stuff)

1 tsp cinnamon and 2 Tbsp sugar for rolling donuts in 

Directions

Combine wet (except milk) and dry ingredients separately and mix together. Mix  in milk if needed.

Let dough rest for 5 minutes.

Make 1 1/2 inch balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar.

Place dough balls in mini muffin tins (you could probably just used a baking pan because they don't really spread out)

Bake at 350 for 14-16 minutes (until fairly firm)

Let cool and enjoy!

* You could also make a glaze for the donuts after baking instead of rolling in cinnamon and sugar.

Chocolate Mug Cake

Gluten Free Mug Cake

This is the best invention ever... chocolate cake in just over a minute. Whoever thought this up is a genius. It's not quite as good as "real" cake, but when you're having a chocolate craving emergency, it's a pretty dang good substitute. Go ahead and melt some chocolate chips over the top for good measure!

 

Not the prettiest, but delicious!

Too bad I can't blame my cravings on pregnancy anymore! Although I am breastfeeding, so I'm still technically eating for 2... and I'm pretty sure the baby wants chocolate.

for at least 1
Ingredients

3 Tbsp Gluten Free Flour Blend (any kind you want)
1 1/2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 Tbsp Sugar (you can use less or substitute other sweeteners in the appropriate amount)
1 Tbsp Oil (I use canola)
1/4 tsp Baking Powder
Dash of Vanilla Extract
2 Tbsp Milk (or milk substitute)

Directions

Combine dry ingredients in a medium-large microwave safe mug
Add wet ingredients and mix
Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 mins (until it's no longer wet or squishy)
Ice with nutella or let chocolate chips melt on top

I usually eat it out of the mug but you can take it out and eat it on a plate... if you like making extra dishes ;)

 

Dry Ingredients

 

Add wet ingredients and mix

 

Microwave for 1 - 1 1/2 mins

 

melt chocolate chips on top

Sorry for the crappy pictures, but you get the idea!

Mini Cheesecakes with Blueberry Sauce

Gluten Free Mini Cheesecakes with Blueberry Sauce

I love cheesecake. It is probably my favourite dessert. Even better when topped with homemade blueberry sauce...mmm. Because it's just the two of us around here, making a full sized cheesecake would be kind of ridiculous... I have no doubt we would eat it, but that's just the problem. For our anniversary this year, I decided to try a more sizable version of that delicious cake. It turned out amazing... and we finished all six mini cheesecakes within a day. Oops!

Delicious!

Last weekend we were invited to spend some time at a friends cabin a few hours north of Saskatoon. We had an amazing time fishing, swimming, trying out some water sports, and hot tubbing! Unfortunately, my attempt at a sort of wake boarding was a bit of a failure. When I fell the rope tightened around my arm and I ended up dragging behind the boat for a ways. No broken bones, but some serious rope burn and crazy bruising. Because I had that pulmonary embolism awhile back, I am on blood thinners which didn't really help with the bruising. As you can see, it's very pretty. I am getting good at using my left hand, but hoping to regain use of that arm fairly soon!

2 days after it happened... it's even more bruised now if you can believe it!

Ok, enough show and tell for now, on to the recipe.

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed more people. Also, you can change up the toppings however you like - fresh fruit, whipped cream, crushed up candy bar, etc.

(Makes 6 Mini Cheesecakes)
Ingredients

For Crust:
1/3 cup GF Graham Cracker Crumbs (or any cookie crumbs)
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 Tbsp Melted Margarine

For Cheesecake:
1 8oz Package of Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup Sugar
1 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Egg

For Blueberry Sauce:
about 1 cup Blueberries
3-4 Tbsp Sugar
Just enough water to almost cover blueberries in a saucepan
1 tsp Lemon Juice (optional)

Directions

Crust:
Crush graham crackers in a ziplock bag and mix with margarine and sugar. (you could also use other types of gf cookies)
Grease 6 muffin tin holes and press mixture into the bottom.
Bake at 325 for 5 minutes. Let cool.

Cake:
Beat together cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. (Use a hand mixer or stand mixer).
Mix in egg until just combined.
Pour batter into prepare crusts and bake at 325 for 25-35 minutes (until centre feels somewhat firm)
Let cool completely before removing from pan.
Chill cheesecakes in fridge until ready to serve.

For Blueberry Sauce:
Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
Let simmer 5-10 minutes, until it just barely starts to thicken.
It will thicken more as it cools.
Spoon over cheesecakes when serving.

graham cracker crust

mixing the batter

pour batter on top of prepared crusts

after baking

once cool, chill in the fridge

serve with blueberry sauce or topping of choice

King Arthur Flour GF Yellow Cake Mix Review

KAF gluten free yellow cake mix

 We just finished moving in to our new house! As a house warming gift, my husband got me something I've been wanting for years... a Kitchen Aid mixer!! I got to test it out with a new mix that King Arthur Flour sent me to review: Gluten Free Yellow Cake mix. It worked like a dream... and the final product tasted like a dream.

My new Kitchen Aid in the background

I served it to my family (including gluten eaters) for a mother's day/father's day get together. Everyone loved it (the six of us almost finished the whole thing). As you can see, I made the cake version, but you can also make cupcakes from the mix. I have found that GF cake tends to be more finicky than cupcakes, but this cake was really easy to make and didn't fall at all.  I topped it with whipped cream and berries and it not only tasted, but looked amazing!

mmm... berries and whipped cream

 I've reviewed some King Arthur Flour GF mixes previously (view here), and have been very impressed with their products. This mix did not disappoint! I just wish these mixes were sold in Canada. Of course you can get them online ($6.95), but the shipping cost kind of blows my budget.

Just out of the oven

Additional ingredients were 1/2 cup butter (I used margarine with great results), 2 Tbsp vegetable oil, 4 eggs, and 2/3 cup milk. That seems like a lot of eggs, but I know they help to hold gluten free baking together, so I'm not surprised. The texture was moist and spongy. The taste was sweet with the flavour of vanilla. Just what I'm looking for in a good yellow cake.

Rating:

Cost       3 stars

Taste      4.5 stars

Texture  4.5 stars

Overall Rating: 4 stars


 

Thanks King Arthur Flour for providing me with these mixes. All opinions are my own.

Cranberry Apple Coffee Cake

Gluten Free Cranberry Apple Coffee Cake

It is so satisfying to make a successful gluten free cake. Anyone who's experimented with GF baking knows that. I can't even count how many times I've optimistically slid a seemingly perfect GF cake into the oven, only to pull out a rubbery, half burnt/half raw cake with a 6 inch crater in the centre 45 minutes later. How Annoying! Nowadays, there's all kinds of GF cake mixes on the market, and if you're willing to pay $6 for a mix, you can probably expect decent results (although I haven't tried most of those mixes, I'm assuming they don't suck... otherwise they wouldn't sell, right?). For those of you who'd rather not buy the processed, and rather expensive, mixes, try this recipe. Yes, it's coffee cake... but it's cake and it's gluten free, so no complaining!

This version is actually pretty healthy with apples and cranberry sauce. I sometimes even eat it for breakfast (my husband is horrified... cake for breakfast!). You could easily add extra sugar, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, or icing to make it more of a traditional cake. Or instead of apples and cranberry sauce, add your favourite fruit (blueberries, raspberries, pear slices, etc). Feel free to try another one of my versions: Ginger Peach Coffee Cake.

Make sure to bake this cake until the centre feels firm. The edges will be dark, but not burnt. Otherwise your cake will have a rubbery 6 inch crater in the middle...

(makes 9x9 baking dish)
Ingredients

1 1/3 cup Light Flour Blend (see flour blends)
3/4 cup Sugar (or less if you prefer)
2 Tbsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 cup Oil
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Milk
1 tsp Vanilla (optional)
3/4 tsp Cinnamon
2  Peeled and Sliced Apples (med sized)
1/2 cup Cranberry Sauce (I make homemade sauce when cranberries are cheap and freeze it... it's really easy)
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Directions

Stir together all dry ingredients.
Beat eggs with milk and add, along with the rest of the wet ingredients, to the dry ingredients.
Pour into greased 9x9 baking dish.
Press slices of apples into batter (about 1/2 inch apart).
Spread cranberry sauce over the top (Doesn't need to cover the entire cake. It will sink in somewhat)
Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on top.
Bake at 350 F for 45-50 mins (until very brown but not burning). The centre should be firm to the touch.
Let cool and cut into 9 square pieces.

Press apple slices into batter

Spread cranberry sauce over the top (you don't need quite this much... I just used all of my leftovers)

Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes

Serve with coffee for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon snack!