Gluten and dairy free bread

[Alison]

As I've mentioned on another thread, my godson has a few dietry problems. He's had problems with milk (and related products) since birth but now he's weaning, it appears he can't cope with gluten either. My friend is a good cook and is starting to experiment with various gluten free options but is keen that the rest of the family eat with him so as to save excessive cooking. Yesterday the two of us had a baking day and tried cakes, biscuits and bread. The sponge cake was a total success, the biscuits OK but need work but the bread was terrible. The recipe was off the back of the Doves Farm strong bread flour packet. We mixed to instructions but it didn't rise at all (I know they don't necessarily rise as normal bread but these stayed as teeny bread rolls) and was very oily tasting, not to mention dense. Does anybody have a decent tried and trusted recipe that makes decent bread which is at least an approximation to the real stuff? I know you can buy it but it's expensive and she'd like to make a load of rolls and freeze for future use if possible. Also any recommendations on cook books would be good too Thanks muchly!

[becslb]

My Mum is a coeliac with severe dairy intolerance and she has found bread a difficult area and I think has resorted to buying a particular brand (can't remember off the top of my head) and just having bread maybe once a day inorder to stretch a loaf out. But in general, she has found most GF breads dense and almost chemically tasting

I have just borrowed Andrew Whitley's "bread matters" book from our local library and there is a section on Gluten Free Baking (AW is the man who runs/owns "the village bakery" The Village Bakery, Organic Bread, Cakes and Bars and they sell GF bread/cakes as part of their range (and I am told they are very good)). The book explains all the different flours and why you need what you do - there are several recipes for bread plus pizza bases, pastry and cakes. Might be worth requesting via your library though some of the ingredients sound scary!

I have used the pastry recipe on the back of Doves Farm flour bags with good success - just don't overhandle it! I do have a couple GF cookie recipes (let me know if you want them) - I find looking for GF is best as you can then substitute dairy with dairy-free fairly easily.

This is a good blog Gluten Free Girl and the Chef and Dan Lepard's forum has quite a few good recipes suitable danlepard.com • Index page

hth, bec

[Capsid]

Does he have coeliac disease? You may be worrying unnecessarily if he doesn't.

[northepaul]

maybe he's just intolerant, Capsid. My DD has a cows milk intollerance - she doesnt have to be rushed to hospital if she accidently tastes cows milk/cheese, etc. It just makes her have an upset tummy/plegmmy etc.

[Alison]

He's definitely not to eat milk (gets special formula on prescription etc) but not officially diagnosed with coeliac yet although it's looking likely he will. Apparently he has the relevant markers and since being taken off gluten products he's been much heathier and putting on weight as he should etc.

Thanks for the links, will pass them on and see if they help

[zeezeezed]

Hi Alison

I had to cut out gluten a few years ago and bread was a real problem. I ended up just not bothering with it.

Have you tried contacting

Glutafin gluten-free foods from Glutafin

If you register with the website they will send out a free sample box of most of their products. Some of its ok, some not, but at least you get the opportunity to try some.

x

[arpoet]

After years of gut rot the hospital suggested that i may have a reaction to cows milk. I tried soya milk and found it horrid.. then i tried St Helens Farms Fresh Goats Milk, from Tesco.. and wow, it is great and helped me a lot.
They have many recipes using goats milk on thier site including this one for gluten free bread.
St Helens Farm - - Yorkshire Goats' Milk | Goats' Milk Probiotic Yogurt | Goats' Milk Cheese | Goats' Milk Butter | Goats' Milk Cream | Goat Dairy Products | Yorkshire Dairy Products.
I seem to remember that i made it some time ago but its more like cake than bread.. But quite eatable.
I wont drink cows milk now and get though 3 lts of goats milk every week.
My 2 year old grandson cant have cows milk, but he loved Grandpa's tea with goats milk.
Roger

[Alison]

Have you tried contacting

Glutafin gluten-free foods from Glutafin

If you register with the website they will send out a free sample box of most of their products. Some of its ok, some not, but at least you get the opportunity to try some.

That sounds good, thanks, will pass on the info

After years of gut rot the hospital suggested that i may have a reaction to cows milk. I tried soya milk and found it horrid.. then i tried St Helens Farms Fresh Goats Milk, from Tesco.. and wow, it is great and helped me a lot.

Yes, I used to know a lad up the road when I was little that couldn't eat cows milk but could manage goats however unfortunatley this little lad has a problem with the milk proteins from any animal milk and can only use soya or rice milk.