White & Walnut-Date Bread ~ fantastic GF artisan breads!
The internet is a wonderful tool. It allows us to connect with people and places we would otherwise never meet or experience.
Remeber that first post about our a-MAY-zing month together where I told you we would experience gluten-freedom by exploring international dishes from native cooks? Well, without the internet, this would be nearly impossible. For example, I'd never have met my new across the pond friend, Lorraine, co-owner (with her daughter, Jenni) of The Cake & Crumb, an artisan bakery in County Monaghan, Ireland.
Remeber that first post about our a-MAY-zing month together where I told you we would experience gluten-freedom by exploring international dishes from native cooks? Well, without the internet, this would be nearly impossible. For example, I'd never have met my new across the pond friend, Lorraine, co-owner (with her daughter, Jenni) of The Cake & Crumb, an artisan bakery in County Monaghan, Ireland.
Savory & sweet ~ The Cake & Crumb has it all gluten-free!
This is not just any bakery - it's a gluten- and wheat-free bakery with scratch-made breads and cakes. And mixes. Wonderful gluten-free mixes for breads, brownies, pie crust, and more!
Lorraine and I connected online and found that we have a few things in common, not the least of which is our love for delicious gluten-free baked goods. When she told me about The Cake & Crumb's line of mixes, I was excited. Until I realized that I can't buy them in the States...at least not yet.
Packaged mixes from The Cake & Crumb artisan bakery
After exchaning e-mail about the mixes and the potential for getting them to America, Lorraine packed up a selection of her creations and shipped them to me for review.
I could hardly wait to begin baking up breads and brownies. Little Chef voted brownies first, but I wanted to begin with the breads. I had some time last weekend, so decided to take on two at once.
1 bag of mix, water, and 1 T. of oil gets the bread in the oven!
I started with the White Bread. I admit that I was a bit skeptical when I saw that I only needed to add water and a very small amount of oil to the mix.
White bread batter ready for the oven
The breads came together in no time - 2 loaves mixed and in the oven in 17 minutes (yes, I really timed it; it's important to know how labor and time intensive mixes are).
Firm exterior crust with a delicate soft interior
A beautiful outer crust and a smooth textured, soft interior make this bread divine! Mr. GFGigi said he felt as if he were in an artisan bakery in Europe and that he could eat this bread every day!
Sliced while still very warm and no crumbling!
Know what's even better about these mixes from The Cake & Crumb? They're yeast-free! While I do not have a yeast allergy, I have friends who do, and I know just how exciting a delicious yeast-free bread can be!
The rest of the family had to provide feedback on the Walnut-Date Bread due to my nut allergy. Like all of the products that I have made from The Cake & Crumb's mixes, this bread received rave reviews. I was shocked when I began stirring the mix to find whole dates and walnuts! This flavor combo was a true temptation!
The Walnut-Date Bread is full of whole dates and walnuts!
Gluten-free Chocolate Brownie Mix
With two gorgeous loaves of bread baked, it was Little Chef's turn to mix up those brownies! Again, 1 mix, 2 ingredients, and it was off to the oven!
This mix was full of chocolate bits ~ a sweet surprise!
An incredibly moist, rich gluten-free brownie from a mix - no one would ever know!
We all agreed that these were some of the best, and by far the most moist, brownies we have ever tasted. Little Chef said we should just always buy The Cake & Crumb brownie mix. We're working on that...
Although you can't get these terrific mixes yet, I wanted to include them in our international gluten-free tour so that you could see what others in different countries are doing in regard to living gluten-free and the types of products that are available. In Ireland, Lorraine and Jenni are rocking some incredible mixes that I feel fortunate to have been able to try.
I have several other mixes to use, and when I do, I'll let you know how those turn out. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm anticipating nothing but success!
Many thanks to The Cake & Crumb for sharing their artisan creations with me and my family!
Don't forget to stop in tomorrow for our next GIVEAWAY! This one's really gonna' jazz you up!
xo,
Gigi
Although you can't get these terrific mixes yet, I wanted to include them in our international gluten-free tour so that you could see what others in different countries are doing in regard to living gluten-free and the types of products that are available. In Ireland, Lorraine and Jenni are rocking some incredible mixes that I feel fortunate to have been able to try.
I have several other mixes to use, and when I do, I'll let you know how those turn out. Based on what I've seen so far, I'm anticipating nothing but success!
Many thanks to The Cake & Crumb for sharing their artisan creations with me and my family!
Don't forget to stop in tomorrow for our next GIVEAWAY! This one's really gonna' jazz you up!
xo,
Gigi
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