Recipe: Light Buckwheat Pancakes - Gluten-Free

Mmm, mmm, mmm...one thing that will make you forget all about the lack of gluten is buckwheat pancakes! A favorite of my mother's, you won't miss the wheat at all in these hearty, delicious pancakes - so good with real maple syrup and homemade butter - or blueberry or strawberry jam. Omit the sugar and add sliced bananas for an extra-healthy sweet breakfast treat!

Light Buckwheat Pancakes - Gluten Free

Ingredients:

Buckwheat pancakes (Photo credit: Foodicted)

1 cup buckwheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, whisked
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp butter, melted

Directions:

1. Get out a large cast iron skillet or griddle and grease lightly with cooking or coconut oil.
2. Put all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir together until mixed well.
3. Add egg, whisking mixture as you add.
4. Add milk, whisking mixture as you add.
5. Add butter, whisking mixture as you add.
6. When all ingredients are blended, heat your griddle until a drop of water sizzles and disappears.
7. Pour about 1/4 cup portions of the pancake batter on griddle allowing room to spread, and cook until bubbles form on top. The bottom should be golden brown. 
8. Flip and cook just until the pancakes are golden brown on the bottom. 
9. Remove and continue until all pancakes are ready. 
10. Serve with your choice of toppings.

Recipes: Gluten Free Flour Mixes

Obviously one of the hardest things for many people about going on a gluten-free diet is giving up breads and pastas. But there are lots of good substitutes available for wheat flour now, so you don't have to go without all your favorite breads and desserts - just be sure you are using gluten-free flours instead.

Here are several gluten-free flour mixes you can make at home, to make sure you  know what's in your baked goods. Each also contains suggestions for use for each mix.

Just make some of these up ahead of time, and store in air-tight containers to use when baking or cooking breakfast items like pancakes and waffles.

Rice Soy Flour Mix
(Makes 1 cup.)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup soy flour
1/4 cup tapioca flour

• Mix together and store in an airtight container until ready to use.
• Makes a good flour to use in pancake batter or for brownies.

Baking Flour Mix
(Makes 3 cups.)

Ingredients:
2 cups rice flour
2/3 cup potato starch
1/3 cup tapioca flour
1 teaspoon xanthan gum

• Mix together and store in an airtight container until ready to use.
• Makes a good flour to use in breads, rolls, and other baked goods.

Rice Potato Flour Mix
(Makes 12 cups.)

Ingredients:
8 cups rice flour
2 2/3 cups potato starch
1 1/3 cup tapioca flour

• Mix together and store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Lighten Up Rice Flour Mix
(Makes 12 1/4 cups.)

Ingredients:
4 cups rice flour
4 cups tapioca flour
4 cups cornstarch
1/4 cup potato flour

• Mix together and store in an airtight container until ready to use.
• Try this flour for foods where a lighter texture is called for.