As my list of allergens becomes longer and longer, visits to the grocery store turn into desperate scavenger hunts for convenient products free of vinegar, nightshades, corn, and gluten. So when I do happen upon a product (any product) that meets these four requirements, I generally snatch it up regardless of whether or not I actually need it at the moment. That’s how I came to have two bags of Nameste Gluten Free Baking Mixes, one Muffin Mix and one Biscuit/Pie Crust mix, sitting in my pantry. They sat there, neglected, until I had the opportunity to test my reactions to brown rice. Little did I know that hiding within those plain brown bags were the tools to make delicious gluten free baked goods without the pain of measuring flours!
I have made an apple pie crust, blueberry muffins, and chocolate chip muffins with these mixes, and all have turned out fabulously. I’d have a difficult time distinguishing that pie crust from a wheat-based pie crust if blindfolded (aside from the fact that it was ever so slightly crumbly I suppose). The muffins held together very nicely, even when the bread structure was impeded by my comically large frozen blueberries. What I really love about these ready-made mixes is their inclusion of xanthan gum over guar gum. Guar gum, like xanthan gum, is helpful in holding together gluten-free baked goods, and it’s about 1/5 of the price of xanthan gum. Accordingly, many companies opt for Guar Gum over Xanthan Gum because it dramatically cuts down on production costs. However, Guar gum is derived from legumes, making it difficult to digest and giving it laxative properties. Xanthan Gum, on the other hand, is a milk-based derivative of whey powder. I find Xanthan Gum is much easier for me to handle.
To be honest, I feel like Namaste Mixes is reading my blog and making these products exclusively for me. Every single mix is produced in a facility free of potatoes, corn, vinegar, gluten, casein, and a handful of other Not Top 8 common allergens. And to top it all off, all three of my attempts at baking with these mixes has proven to be excellent! (I follow the provided recipes on the packaging. I have not tested this theory with non-Namaste recipes). I can’t recommend them enough to gluten-free eaters, especially those with multiple food allergies, and people who care for or entertain them (never worry again about inviting gluten-free eaters over for brunch!).
PS: I buy these at Whole Foods, and I have found them at Fresh Market. Most health foods stores should have them :]
Price: Depends on which mix you get, but they seem to come in at $4 for a bag that will make one batch of muffins. Much less expensive than Whole Food’s frozen gluten-free muffins ($9), which are full of corn syrup and potato starch!
Taste: 5/5 Delicious!
Texture: 5/5. I honestly find the ability of these mixtures to replicate an above-par texture without relying on a ton of allergen-additives amazing.
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BUCKWHEAT 