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Wait, is this gluten-free?
A blog about the fun of feeding yourself in a gluten-full world

The Magic of Teff

7/15/2020

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While most Americans have never heard of it, teff is a hard working, high nutrition grain that is worth getting to know. High in protein and B vitamins, it is also gluten free and can either be cooked whole or ground and used in baked goods. It's tiny- roughly the size of a poppy seed.
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A few interesting facts about Teff:
  • The uncooked grain is 13% protein, making the ground flour particularly useful in gluten free baking (we'll get to that later!)
  • Ground teff has a bit of a chocolatey or nutty flavor, which makes it particularly adaptable to recipes with those flavors
  • Whole teff can be cooked into a healthy porridge, almost like polenta, and eaten as a side dish
  • The Teff Company grows and distributes teff in Idaho; check out their website for ideas, recipes and more
  • Teff is used to make the Ethiopian staple injera, a sourdough style flatbread made by fermenting the ground grain, then cooking the batter on a large flat grill called a mitad; the injera is used like an edible utensil to scoop up meats, stews, vegetables and legumes (see photo below)
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photo credit: MagicBones/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
If you're not adventurous enough to make your own injera, look for a local Ethiopian restaurant and try it for yourself. {NOTE: in many parts of the US the yeast in the air and/or the teff are not right for making injera, so most injera in the United States is NOT, I repeat, NOT gluten free!!! Many have barley, wheat or other grains added to create the right texture. If you are celiac or even mildly sensitive, I would highly recommend making it yourself or skipping the experience all together.}

So, what do we do with teff?

Excellent question! At Bosco Baking Company we are always trying new things. One of our favorite new products are our graham crackers, which feature teff as one of the primary flours. We have posted the recipe below so you can make them at home. They are perfect for S'mores or for grinding and using as graham cracker crust. A single batch of the recipe will make about 24 crackers (4"x2"). Store crackers for up to 2-4 weeks in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Gluten Free Graham Crackers

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Celebrating in the Age of Covid: Food is Love

7/6/2020

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Almost overnight, large celebrations have become a thing of the past.
No big summer weddings, no graduations, no prom, and certainly none of summer's favorite past time, baseball.

While it has been a struggle to accept a lot of these changes, there are so many amazing things happening daily that deserve celebration. I propose that we collectively shift our perspective from can't to what else is possible. Here are some amazing ways the bakery has helped our community create joy in their lives (and others) while maintaining physical distance:
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Have an intimate wedding with a small cake to share, then Zoom the ceremony with family and friends.

Bosco Baking Company made this small wedding cake for a couple that eloped, but then had to cancel their big reception. A small, intimate gathering was just as memorable and less expensive to boot.

Send a platter of brownies to someone who has really made a difference in your life. Nothing says I love you like chocolate.

One of our loyal Bosco customers sent brownies to her credit union! She was so appreciative of all they have done over the years and how hard they were working to keep things on track during the pandemic. Needless to say, message received.
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Have a special birthday cake delivered to your niece or nephew.

A sculpted dragon cake, complete with fruit roll-up flames and wings, made an unforgettable accompaniment to a medieval birthday celebration.

Call your favorite local bakery (ahem!) and have them put together a care package for someone special. Many restaurants and bakeries offer delivery for a small fee.

At the bakery this year we put together a gift box for Mother's Day featuring products from local businesses and a white chocolate fresh fruit tart that was to die for.
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Share some of the ways you are celebrating and making memories right now. I want to hear all the creative things you are doing to keep connected to the ones you love.
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    Author

    Jessica Berry is the owner of Bosco Baking Company. After 15 years of being totally gluten-free, she knows it requires resources, wit, determination and education. You will find all of those things here.

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