Pictures of 1 in 133 event - largest GF cake

[Zizzle]

An event is happening in downtown DC today to convince the FDA to finally adopt GF labeling requirements. Here are pictures of "world's largest GF cake" and how it was made. Must have lots of Xanthan gum!!


http://lockerz.com/s/98763920

1in133.com

[MaggieRedwings]

Now that is large! I would love to have a piece but I must say it sure looked dense in texture.

Thanks for posting.

Love, Maggie

[sarkin]

Maggie, I think that's Jules gluten free flour (from one of the pictures) - she was a real baker, and really worked to make it as much like 'all-purpose' flour as possible. It does have xanthan gum - good guess there, Z!

So I'm guessing it would be a lot lighter than many GF cakes (say, the ones I'd be baking with nut flour, if I were a better baker)...

Here's the nutrition info on the flour (she appears to be the baker-in-chief): http://www.julesglutenfree.com/v/vspfil ... iLabel.pdf

I haven't tried it - baked goods aren't a priority for me (probably I'll get there in a few breadless, crackerless months).

Love,
Sara

[Zizzle]

Sara,
I don't miss the baked goods either. But I do always have chips or GF rice crackers on hand, especially during PMS! Chocolate and chocolate chip macaroons are currently helping with cookie cravings, although I broke down and ordered a case of GF goodies from Glenny's. They had a $15 off $85 special. I love their nut bars and GF/DF oatmeal cookies (although they have soy lecithin). I am yet to bake a single GF item, and I've been at this for a year! My dissapointing attempts at GF/DF pancakes are probably the reason I don't bother baking. In fact, I rarely turn on an oven in my house, unless it's the toaster oven for an Udi's frozen bread/bagel or a brown rice tortilla. I'm latina and expected myself to make lots of homemade corn tortillas too, but alas, there is no time. And without cheese to melt on them, tortillas just aren't that interesting.

[sarkin]

LOL, Z -

without cheese to melt on them, tortillas just aren't that interesting.

...that is precisely how I feel about bread. I used to reconfigure all sandwiches to be open-faced, to minimize the bread:everything-else ratio.

Tortillas came into my life at an older age, and I am trying not to wish too hard that my love affair with them is only on hold (Enterolab results may say otherwise). When I first went GF on my own, with no idea there was an MC connection, I was having tortillas for breakfast with almond butter and banana. (Too weird for my husband, I loved it.) I suspect that my amorous relationship with corn is likely to indicate bad news is heading my way - I have literally craved corn so much, I have dreamed about tortillas every time we've come back from Mexico or Central America, the homemade ones are life-altering. (And yes, time-consuming.) I don't think we usually dream like that about the foods that are our true friends...

I just got some raw cacao nibs - and have found several soy-free chocolate bars (wildly expensive, artisanal, will be rare), and cocoa. I would have said chocolate wasn't a priority, but apparently I would have been lying. The cacao nibs are tastier than I'd have guessed, right out of the bag!

I think it's great that you've found GF baked goods that work for your family, and with kids the age of yours, I think it's perfectly reasonable if the oven doesn't get turned on till they're old enough to help (or start learning to cook a little). If you don't run the oven, it stays mighty clean ;) I'll let you know if my upcoming pancake waffle experiments yield anything memorable.

Love,
Sara

[Zizzle]

Sara,
You must get to your nearby Trader Joe's and buy their Organic Dark Chocolate Truffle bars (orange label). They are not at all expensive, and they are soy-free. They are "made on equipment" shared with all our no-nos, but I've never had a problem, and many celiacs swear by these bars. It's so creamy, not like other dark chocolates.

I can't say I've dreamt about tortillas. Applewood smoked bacon? All the time! I end up pouring salt all over my homemade tortillas to enjoy them, just as the poor Mayas in Central America do who can't afford cheese or beans. Many kids literally grow up on salted tortillas. At least I use high-quality sea salt, just like they do.

[sarkin]

I wish I could march over to TJ's right now - thanks for that! (I can walk there, but rarely do, because it means I have to walk my purchases home, too).

I would guess that you don't dream of tortillas because they're a lifelong presence for you - like bread & butter (which I realize you also have had your share of, back when you could) for most Americans. OK, but not 'dreamy.'

Funny that chocolate is almost universally adored. My husband considers it a staple (like "we need toilet paper, dish soap, and chocolate" - note that I can't even think of what staple foods belong in my current pantry, had to go with paper/soap).

I do occasionally remember to feel lucky that I can afford to buy foods that I can eat. It may be a struggle to figure out what those foods are, but I have never truly had to do without on a sustained basis...

[MBombardier]

I'm with Zizzle. I was looking at the no-soy chocolate bars and thinking that it would have to be a really special day that I would spend $10 for one, then I went to Trader Joe's and they have quite a variety for $1.99. I really like the chocolate raspberry.

[Zizzle]

Dark chocolate is a staple for my husband too. He believes he's deriving great health benefits from it, and he even endures the 86% varieties for extra health benefits!

I grew up on more cheese and bread than tortillas. My dad is French, so we had very rich cheeses and baguette on hand most of the time. I made the mistake of looking up when I was getting my new treat - olives from the olive bar at Whole Foods. Straight ahead was a cooler full of delicious, exotic cheeses. I almost cried. Then I dutifully went on to pay $250 for a very small cart of GF/DF groceries. Totally depressing and seriously affecting my wallet!!

I never eat lunch out when I'm at work, partly because there is nothing out there for me (even though I work at one of the busiest intersections of DC), except for salads, but mostly because my food budget is reserved for my insanely expensive groceries!

[sarkin]

Marliss,

One of the weird things about living in New York is that you can get things cheaply that are expensive elsewhere... and of course, if you have a mind to spend an outrageous sum of money on something (people love to feel they're getting something exclusive, because they're "in the know") - well, we've got you covered there, too. I spent a lot too much on a chocolate bar today ($8!), but it's from a weird local store, by a funky local maker, and has my husband's favorite flavor ingredients (and nothing that doesn't work for me... unless chocolate turns out not to work for me, but we're not even going to discuss that just now). This was before Z & I got our little chocolate dream-fest started, even. In fact, I made that purchase before breakfast.

And I have placed it where he is unlikely to look for it, so it may last past this evening. (Don't get me wrong, I mean to share it, but it will give me digestive distress if he inhales his share in seconds.)

Zizzle, I feel your pain. I am telling myself that we have a lot of cheese budget to spend on GF/*F now. When I bought that chocolate, which seemed criminal, I briefly wondered what co-pays my insurance company would require if I were on Entocort (if they'd pay for it at all). (I sincerely hope we could afford them if I turn out to need them, and still afford food... but the $8 chocolate bars would be gone for sure.)

--S

[jme22]

Hi all,

I live in the DC area so I thought I would add the news story about the cake. The coverage was on the local evening news.

Here's the link to the story:

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/05/ha ... 60083.html

Julie

[Zizzle]

Thanks Julie!
Nice coverage, except for the quick snippet of a doctor saying "The tests are quite good" (for gluten intolerance)