Elana’s Pantry

Coconut Flour

Coconut flour is my new favorite flour. I have been experimenting with it for a while –that would be more than 2 years. During this time I have come up with some delicious recipes that lend themselves perfectly to coconut flour.

This flour is a bit lighter than almond flour, which makes it perfect for cakes, muffins and breads. Further, it is gluten-free, high in fiber and low in carbohydrates, making it an ideal ingredient for celiacs, diabetics and those concerned with GI (glycemic index).

I have not found coconut flour available for sale in stores in my area to date. I order mine online from Tropical Traditions.

During the next few weeks, I will be debuting some of my coconut flour recipes, including my favorites for blueberry muffins, vanilla cupcakes and devil’s food cake. As with my other recipes, these use just one type of flour (rather than the complex combinations typical of many gluten-free creations) and are lightly sweetened with agave.

Please note: Coconut flour and almond flour have very different properties; substituting one for the other in my recipes will not work.

Why Glass?

Eight days into the New Year and it seems as though the post-holiday blues have hit.

We’ve had more than our usual share of cold dark weather here in Colorado, and all I want to do is go into hibernation, sleeping day and night. Of course, that’s not what’s taking place in my reality.

This time of year I find myself spending a good deal of time cleaning and sorting. I cleaned out the pantry and fridge the day we returned from our holiday trip, figuring out what I needed to restock. Above is a picture of the bottom shelf of my refrigerator. I store nuts and seeds (which have oils in them that can go rancid if not refrigerated) in the fridge. There’s also a jar of homemade soup stock on the right side of the photo.

Why glass, you ask?

I have been using glass mason jars for storage for more than a decade. I dislike plastic for numerous reasons. Start with petrochemicals, then move to xenoestrogens. You get the idea.

On a more practical level, glass is gorgeous and aesthetically pleasing. Built to last. No stains on glass, no yucky lingering food smells.

Glass is practical. Forget about the struggle to find matching lids. No mystery foods concealed by plastic hiding out in the back of the fridge turning into a science experiment. You can see your food. And my favorite part? Good use of vertical storage space.

Last but not least and possibly most important, glass is cheap –costs much less than plastic.

Top 10 reasons for glass?

1. healthier
2. visible victuals
3. vertical storage space
4. aesthetically appealing
5. easy to clean
6. no stains
7. no flavor trespassing
8. won’t melt in dishwasher
9. matching lids
10. cost effective

I buy glass jars at my local hardware store, McGuckin’s, you can also buy ½ quart (1 pint), 1 quart (2 pints) and ½ gallon (6 pints) jars online.

Stocking Your Kitchen: Pots and Pans

With more time in the kitchen during the holidays, several people have asked me about cookware, specifically, pots and pans.

As you read through the list of items below, keep in mind that stocking your kitchen need not be an overnight process. You can invest slowly and build your own “dream team” set of pots and pans over the years. I received mine as wedding presents more than a decade ago and appreciate them anew every time I cook.

I use my All-Clad Stainless on a daily basis and my inexpensive, cast-iron cookware, nearly as often. Below is a guided tour of my pots and pans and hopefully, helpful hints as to how to stock your kitchen.

Pots
All-Clad ½ Quart Saucepan
All-Clad 2 Quart Saucepan
All-Clad 4 Quart Saucepan
All-Clad 12 Quart Stockpot

Pans
All-Clad 8 Inch Fry Pan
All-Clad 12 Inch Fry Pan
All-Clad 4 Quart Sauté Pan

I enjoy using cast iron for roasting nuts and seeds; below are my favorite size pans. Brand is irrelevant when it comes to cast iron; this type of cookware is heavy duty, inexpensive and long-lasting.

Cast Iron Cookware
9 Inch Skillet
10½ Inch Griddle

If you are a bride to be figuring out how to stock your kitchen or what to put on your bridal registry, the above list is a good place to start in terms of basic, useful pots and pans.

Happy Holidays!

Dogs In a Garden

The boys have declared a salmon boycott and reserved their right to eat an alternate protein on salmon night.

Tonight, my younger son chose to exercise his boycott with a hot dog, organic beef, of course; not to sound snobby, but I make quite certain that when my children eat animal products, they are from clean sources (no hormones, pesticides, antibiotics).

He sat staring at the hot dog on his plate for a moment, then looked up at me and said, “Mommy, can I have a piece of lettuce?” As I walked to the fridge I realized he had adopted my favorite “junk food” meal as his own. Here it is.

Dogs In a Garden
hot dogs
romaine lettuce

mustard
sauerkraut

1. Cook the hot dogs (either in boiling water, a hot skillet or on the grill)
2. Place a cooked dog in a piece of romaine lettuce
3. Smother with your favorite condiments
4. Devour

The phrase, “Dogs in a Garden,” was coined by my good friend Rhonda at our Matrix Memorial Day barbecue. This gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb method of eating hot dogs saves room for the good stuff (think dessert) at a summer barbecue.

Toasted Sesame Oil

This condiment is a family favorite. We drizzle it on everything from kale to chicken. It adds a wonderful, nutty Asian flavor to dishes. I consider it a kitchen staple.

My younger son especially likes sesame oil and in his enthusiasm, sometimes tries to dump half the bottle on his steamed broccoli. In order to make him think twice before pouring with a heavy hand and drowning his greens, I warn that he must finish all he puts on his plate if he wants dessert!

Now Nau

In spring of 2005, Eric Reynolds, the visionary creator of the company Marmot, contacted me. He wanted to pitch what he said would be the next big thing in retail. He arrived at my office, laptop in tow and we pored over his spreadsheets and business plan.

His ambitious venture: to launch a chain of environmentally friendly clothing stores. I was in.

His concept included minimalist stores constructed of recycled materials which would sell 100% organic cotton clothing; the pièce de résistance –the company would donate 5% of every sale to a non-profit organization.

The first Nau store opened in Boulder in March, 2007. Three more have opened since and several additional locations are slated to open across the country in 2008.

Their fabulous website offers products based on their design philosophy of beauty, performance and sustainability. My husband and I each purchased a few pieces of clothing and find them comfortable, durable and hip. I bought the shirt above and wear it far too often.

Great Gifts from Boulder

Boulder is often called the “Mount Olympus” of the organic food industry. Boulder’s Best Organics, a web based business, provides a pantheon of locally made products including soaps, chocolate, wine and tea.

This company offers a convenient way to ship a Rocky Mountain gift basket to far off friends and relatives who need a fix of Boulder. When my friend Stephanie had her baby, I sent a basket of postpartum pampering treats including lotion, chocolate and wine.

Fiordifrutta

These delicious jams by fiordifrutta are made with 100% organic fruit. They’re juice sweetened –no cane sugar, fructose or other forms of processed sugar in disguise. This is the only organic jam I have found with no added sugar. The flavors are great!

My favorites are orange and raspberry, though they come in a large variety including rose hip, which is quite tasty as well.

Update: This product has been renamed Rigoni di Asiago. It is still the same product and I continue to enjoy using it. However, the Italian company bought out their American subsidiary and are using the Italian name for the product.

Good to the Last Drop: Tube Wringer

I am addicted to my tube wringer. It drives my husband crazy. Even though we have our own toothpastes, I get out the tube wringer and squeeze every last drop out of his tube before I let him throw it away. I use it as well for ointments and other products that come in a tube. I don’t like to waste!

I found out about this from my friend Mary whose husband is a painter. He had one of these metal tube wringers and I decided to get one for home. Try it and see. The manufacturer claims you’ll get 35% more product out of each tube. What I know is that my kids think it’s a pretty nifty gadget and argue over whose turn it is to wring the tube.

Umeboshi Plum Vinegar

I keep umeboshi vinegar on hand at all times. It has a delicious tangy flavor.
I use this salty condiment on salads, chicken and fish to lend a discrete, Asian flavor to my dishes.

Click on the photo to buy your own mouth puckering bottle.