http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ Forums for the elanaspantry.com website en Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:09:49 +0000 http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/bread-maker#post-1128 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:13:39 +0000 jaylu 1128@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Hi, we are on SCD, all is going well. I haven't found any shortcuts with making bread but I have a shortcut with soup - make the stock in a slow-cooker overnight set on low or you can put it on in the morning and the stock is ready in the evening. Makes heaps of stock so I freeze it in 1 cup packets. Slow-cookers are also good for stews and some veg dishes like Ratatouille - eggplant, tomato and onion stew.<br /> Jayne </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/vita-mix-preferences#post-1113 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:59:12 +0000 lisastafford 1113@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>We make fruit smoothies in our Vita Mix, homemade mayonnaise, pureed soups, and sometimes vegetable juices. Of course, we make homemade ice cream in it too, with Elana's great recipe for Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream.</p> <p>I use a food processor to make my homemade nutella in small batches. It is easier to get out by removing the blade first. Since we are SCD, we make it without the chocolate. It's still really yummy. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/vita-mix-preferences#post-1110 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:56:10 +0000 jenzyme 1110@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>we have a vita mix too, bought the wet and dry containers, we like to make nut butters in the dry one! we do not however use it to make almond flour, you just can't get that same fine consistency like when you buy it in bulk. i think i talk about my "super blender" every day to someone, and recommend it all the time! If you have the money go for it!! </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/bread-maker#post-1095 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:07:45 +0000 lisastafford 1095@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Thanks for the reminder about bison. I will buy some for our family soon. I am glad that your father in law is showing improvement. Dietary change can be hard, but so powerful. Food is our fuel. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/bread-maker#post-1063 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:38:53 +0000 ackerman 1063@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>That's interesting....my doctor never mentioned that. I will have to ask, I'm not interested in going back to how I felt when I was eating gluten.</p> <p>Thanks so much for the suggestions. There is an ice cream product at our organic store that is made with coconut milk and they use agave nectar as a sweetener. So far, that hasn't caused any problems and tastes delicious. We only use agave nectar and honey in our house as well. My father in law has stage 4 colon cancer and is currently going through treatments. Along with a Naturopath, we changed his diet to help with his situation. It's been remarkable, after 6 months of chemo he hasn't been sick once and the cancer has shrunk 50%. Part of that diet change was to go gluten free. If it wasn't for my father in law's situation and diet change, I don't know if my doctor and I would have figured anything out.</p> <p>I will have a peek at those diet options, thank you! </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/bread-maker#post-1060 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:09:05 +0000 lisastafford 1060@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>The celiac biopsy is a waste of time if you are on a gluten free diet. They say that you have to eat gluten (and probably feel miserable) for 6 months before the biopsy. With my daughter, her allergy test showed gluten, wheat, and basically all grains, so we didn't go to the medical doctor or have the biopsy. </p> <p>My husband has Crohn's. The diet that I found for both conditions is called The Specific Carbohydrate Diet. We have been following it for over 2 weeks now, but lean towards The Paleo Diet (which is even more strict). We consume a very small amount of cheese and butter, and are transitioning to almond butter, from peanut butter. We use honey as our only sweetener, but I let the two children have maple syrup.</p> <p>We use coconut milk to make smoothies and homemade ice cream. We use lots of eggs, free range and local when I can get them. I made the Almond Bread one time, but it's gone and we really don't miss it. We have adapted to a life without bread. Your homemade soups sound great. YUM. </p> <p>Have you ever looked at The paleo diet? A lot of athletes follow it. Have you heard of CrossFit? A friend of ours owns a gym and teaches it. He is big on the Paleo way of eating. We do programs from Beach body in our home gym. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/bread-maker#post-1050 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:03:10 +0000 ackerman 1050@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Right now, we follow a gluten, yeast and sugar/processed food free diet. I have an allergy to dairy so we drink almond milk and raw cheese. As for red meat...only Bison in our house. No beef or pork. I will be going for a biopsy shortly for celiac. Right now, if I run astray from the diet, I begin to have problems again. </p> <p>I do a lot of pre-cooking and freezing. All our soups are made from scrach and I freeze them. We have been buying our bread (Ezekiel and Manna) but they contrain a small amount of gluten. Depending on the results from my test, this may have to change. I also prebake all our snacks for the curling season. I do this about 4 times a year and freeze them as well. I was hoping that the bread situation would be a place that I could cut some corners. :) Nuts, dried fruit and home made trail mix is one of our staples.</p> <p>I am pretty fortunate, other than the soup, I can pretty well find everything I need at a few of the organic and health food store in our city. I live in Saskatchewan, Canada. For the size of city that I live in, we have about 4 organic and health food stores that carry a great selection.</p> <p>How about yourself? What diet do you follow? </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/bread-maker#post-1049 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:11:58 +0000 lisastafford 1049@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Wow, Colleen. Curling is an intense sport. One suggestion is to bake when you're home and freeze what you will take on the road. Keep it in an ice chest or hotel room freezer. You probably will run out of baked goods before you get home. </p> <p>What diet do you follow? Are you able to find the foods you need at grocery stores, health food stores or restaurants when you're on the road? Do you eat dried fruit and nuts? They travel well. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/bread-maker#post-1048 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:43:50 +0000 ackerman 1048@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Hello Elana,</p> <p>Have you ever tried your recipes using a bread maker? My husband and I both competitive curl so we're on the road a fair bit. This option would help with our time management. Any suggestions?</p> <p>Thanks<br /> Colleen </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/vita-mix-preferences#post-964 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:27:06 +0000 lisastafford 964@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>I have the Vita Mix wet and dry containers. I bought a reconditioned one from vitamix for much lower than retail. I have had it about 8 years and love it. Do you know that if you blend berries in it for 2 minutes, the seeds will be pureed? You can make your own nut flour and nut butters in the dry container. It is handy for chopped nuts too. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/vita-mix-preferences#post-896 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:48:22 +0000 bakingfool 896@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>I bought my vita mix 15 years ago. I did buy both wet and dry containers and an extra wet container. Back then I ground all my own grains and the dry container was handy for that when the wet one was used for other stuff. Plus it got scratched up quite a bit from the hard grains. The third container is used strictly for garden compost. Any vegetable ingredient or peels that no one wants to eat or is not edible goes into it and when it is full would be ground up and burried in the garden to compost. Easy and very helpful for the garden. I never use this container for foods we eat. You never know what contaminants might be in the peels or any soil left on the roots, etc. Of course you wash it when needed. I use a rag not intended for the kitchen/dishes but still...</p> <p>This was a large investment back then as we still had 2 kids at home and weren't making very much money. But it was so worth the price. It still works like new! Hubby and I used our tax refund one year for it. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/canning-jars#post-895 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:32:53 +0000 bakingfool 895@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>It is not a concern to me because you aren't supposed to fill the jars to the brim any way. I've been using canning jars for 35 years without problems. </p> <p>If it bothers YOU don't use them. It is only you who matter in this decision. Not intending to come across as mean or angry, but you are the one who would worry about it. If you can live with them and not stress about it that's great, if you can't then there is the answer for you.</p> <p>Hope that made sense. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/does-anyone-else-use-a-convection-oven#post-838 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:28:52 +0000 Franleigh 838@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Sorry to get off topic Convection Oven...<br /> Bruce Fife, ND has written several books about the benefits of coconut flour:<br /> <a href="http://www.thepowermall.com/thecenterforhealth/bio/fife.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.thepowermall.com/thecenterforhealth/bio/fife.htm</a> </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/does-anyone-else-use-a-convection-oven#post-774 Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:43:11 +0000 chucklor2 774@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>It's too bad you gave away the coconut flour. It is my understanding the coconut flour is actually low carb and is ideal for weight loss and people on low carb diets.</p> <p>There is a lot of information about coconut flour here:<br /> <a href="http://www.mercola.com/products/coconut_flour.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.mercola.com/products/coconut_flour.htm</a><br /> <a href="http://www.low-carb.com/alnuorcofl22.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.low-carb.com/alnuorcofl22.html</a><br /> <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4460619_choose-low-carb-flour.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.ehow.com/how_4460619_choose-low-carb-flour.html</a></p> <p>I'm sure that if you do a search like I did "is coconut flour high in carbs" it will bring up all kinds of information for you. I made Elana's Cranberry Walnut Bread for Christmas gifts and our Christmas breakfast. Everyone absolutely loved it!</p> <p>I do have a convection oven, but I haven't used it for baking yet, since I also have a regular oven and a large family. Someone gave the convection oven to me, basically brand new. I have tried using it to toast my bread, but that's it! I'm afraid to use it, thinking that I'll burn whatever I try baking in it.</p> <p>Lori </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/does-anyone-else-use-a-convection-oven#post-712 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:20:37 +0000 Rachel B 712@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>I, too, always change recipes as I go but only after I do it by the exact recipe the first time. I gave the coconut flour to my dil because of the high carb content. Now I just bake with almond flour. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/does-anyone-else-use-a-convection-oven#post-710 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:05:48 +0000 Gini 710@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>I haven't tried any of the recipes with convection yet. I am trying to go thru and try most things the way they are suggested(which is hard for me as I am always changing recipes as I go). I will let you know and I hope you will too, when you get brave enough to try convection. I have it both on my reg. oven &#38; my toaster oven. Love it! </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/does-anyone-else-use-a-convection-oven#post-708 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:37:42 +0000 Rachel B 708@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>I never got any responses from this question, so I'm bringing it back to the top with this post and hope it works. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/canning-jars#post-584 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:23:30 +0000 Katie H 584@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Hi everyone - I recently read an article in Organic Living magazine talking about how the lids of typical canning jars have a coating on them containing bisphenol A. The article said that if your food doesn't touch the lid it should be fine but otherwise there is a possibility of contamination. The article said that Weck jars do not have metal lids and therefore there is no chance for contamination. I am deciding what kind of canning jars to purchase and not sure how concerned I should be. Is the bisphenol A in canning jar lids a concern to anyone else?... </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/sharpest-and-most-reliable-knives-on-the-market#post-379 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:45:50 +0000 aridavis1 379@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>If you are sick of using dull knives i have the answer!<br /> Cutco knives not only last years before dulling, but they also have a FOREVER guaranty.<br /> This means that you will never have to buy a knife again. If they break or dull you can just send them to the company and they will replace them free of charge.</p> <p>I am selling these knives and if you are interested please give me a call or email me.<br /> What we would do is schedule a fun, quick, appointment where i would come over and show you the knives. We could cut up some yummy food and have a great time. There is no pressure to buy because I get paid just for the appointment. So if you are interested in helping a college student out and having an awesome time please contact me. (I live in Boulder CO)</p> <p>Ari Davis<br /> (303)241-5827<br /> <a href="mailto:aridavis1@aol.com">aridavis1@aol.com</a> </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/breadmaker#post-359 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:20:39 +0000 elana 359@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Recently several people have asked if my bread can be made in a breadmaker; I don't have one, so really can't answer this question. All of my breads are quick breads and simple to make, not requiring much equipment.</p> <p>If you do experiment and make one of my breads in your breadmaker, please stop back by and reply to this topic to let us all know how it turns out!</p> <p>Thanks,<br /> Elana </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/vita-mix-preferences#post-315 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:43:58 +0000 Anabetica 315@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Well, I take back what I said. Our local Costco was doing a demo for the Vita-mix 5200 and we went to see it. It was great. We were sold! We are not even Costco members but the Vitamix salesman used his card to let us get it for $400. </p> <p>If you are purchasing ground almonds and using that for your baking, you don't really need the dry container. You can still make nut flour and nut butter with the wet container.</p> <p>We are happy with it so far.</p> <p>Hope this helps,<br /> Betty </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/vita-mix-preferences#post-312 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:32:02 +0000 Anabetica 312@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Hate to throw another option into your decision making, but have you looked at the Blendtec blenders? I'm in the process right now of comparing these two blenders and I'm leaning toward the Blendtec. It has more power, no need to push the food down, auto shut off, rectangular shape to pour thick smoothies out, similar price. </p> <p>Let us know what you decide.</p> <p>Blessings,<br /> Betty </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/vita-mix-preferences#post-311 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:22:01 +0000 Joelle 311@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Hi. I was just wondering who has purchased a vita mix and wished they had purchased the "steps above?" I want to purchase a vita mix and am looking at the 4500 $399 or the 5200 $449, but these also have upgrades for a dry mixer, and of course it's $549. Does anyone have any experience with this dilemma? </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/does-anyone-else-use-a-convection-oven#post-284 Sat, 30 May 2009 13:58:55 +0000 Rachel B 284@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>I live full-time in a motor home and have a microwave/convection combo oven. I never use the microwave, but I do use the convection for everything. It's taken me a lot of experimenting to find the best way to bake, roast, reheat and defrost in the convection.</p> <p>I'd like to know if anybody uses a convection oven for Elana's baked goods? </p> <p>I've found that any of them that call for 350 degrees and a short baking time doesn't work for me. I generally use 300 degrees for a longer period of time and things come out fine. I've made Elana's Simple Bread, Nut Bread, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sesame Cookies, Orange Cake, Almond Butter Brownies, and they were all delicious. The only failure I've had were the Prune Truffles.</p> <p>I've had a package of Coconut Flour in my pantry for months, but haven't tried anything in the convection oven with it yet. I hesitate because I can't eat things with too many carbs which is why I love the almond flour recipes. However, I am having company this coming week and might try one of the coconut flour cake or muffin recipes. I'll post how well it comes out using Elana's instructions if I do. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/food-processors#post-262 Wed, 06 May 2009 12:50:49 +0000 Samantha 262@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Thanks for the info. It looks like a great site.<br /> -Samantha </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/food-processors#post-260 Tue, 05 May 2009 05:04:48 +0000 leila 260@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>I'm not familiar with the research into BPA's but this might help you pick out one:<br /> <a href="http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/15/blenders-and-food-processors-potential-sources-of-bpa-and-phthalates/" rel="nofollow">http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/15/blenders-and-food-processors-potential-sources-of-bpa-and-phthalates/</a></p> <p>apparently vita-mix blenders are quite powerful (my neighbour has one)<br /> Hope that helps! </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/food-processors#post-254 Sat, 02 May 2009 13:02:33 +0000 Samantha 254@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>I would like to know if anyone can recommend a good food processor. I am concerned about the BPA used in most of them, so I have shyed away from buying one. </p> <p>Thanks,<br /> Samantha </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/essential-equipment#post-109 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:52:34 +0000 zebe912 109@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>Mini sized ice cream scoops for measuring out cookie dough. The big (normal) sized one is just right for muffins &#38; cupcakes as well. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/essential-equipment#post-103 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:51:47 +0000 balancedlife 103@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>The Magic Bullet can act as the whisk, food processor (within reason), and coffee grinder! </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/essential-equipment#post-102 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:04:53 +0000 benevolentkitchen 102@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>whisk -- aerating flours<br /> food processor -- for nuts into flour and/or butters<br /> coffee grinder -- for flax and small dry herbs<br /> wooden spoon -- non-reactive with things like buttermilk </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/the-great-magimix-4200xl#post-40 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:40:47 +0000 zebe912 40@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>My mom made me wait years to get a mixer (I kept asking for christmas) because "it will be a good wedding present". Then I got married and no one got me my mixer! I knew I didn't want a KitchenAid, and decided on the Cuisinart 7 quart since I make wedding cakes. It has various attachments like the KA's but fixes some vital flaws, without going up to the price point of a Viking.</p> <p>Anyway, I love mixer but I'm really glad I also got the blender and food processor attachments for it. Next I want the meat grinder, but that one is pricey! My favorite thing about my Cuisi mixer? The built in timer for sure. </p> http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/topic/the-great-magimix-4200xl#post-32 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:03:40 +0000 christianne 32@http://www.elanaspantry.com/forums/ <p>The Magimix 4200XL food processor is the greatest addition to my kitchenware ever. I don't know if it is very widely known in the US since it is a French brand. Since I don't have a very large kitchen, I don't want a juicer, blender, food processor all crowding on the counter. Magimix processors come in a variety of sizes, I use the second largest processor. It works beautifully for all smoothies, soups, pesto's, grated products like coleslaw, bread dough, whipped eggwhites, cashew milk etc etc. The motor adjusts itself to the amount of product you use so it is very easy to use. Many restaurant cooks in Europe use the Magimix as well. I recommend this processor highly!<br /> How about your favorite hardware?<br /> Christianne </p>