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When we first started making organic baked products a
decade ago the only ingredients available were flour, oil and sugar.
Today, just about any farmed ingredient is now available in an
organic version and these ingredients are relatively accessible,
economically priced and of good quality due to compliance to organic
standards.
We use seven main types of flours for our production of organic
baked goods. These products are available to the general public for
home baking as well. Following is a description of a few of the most
popular:
1) White and Whole Wheat Flour - These are milled locally and
have no visual difference from conventional. They have good protein
value and mix similar to regular flour when using a natural dough
conditioner.
2) Stoneground Flour - This is the most challenging to work
with of all the flours. It has good fermentation, reduced mix times
and smaller volume expectations which still equals acceptable
breads.
3) Spelt Wholegrain and All-Purpose - Not all spelt flours
are created equal; different milling techniques produce very coarse
or fine flours. We have found finer flour makes better selling
breads with higher loaf volume and finer crumb structure. The
all-purpose with lower bran makes for good pastries and cakes.
Products made with spelt have a distinct nutty flavour and taste.
One of the main functional differences when using Spelt is the lower
gluten make-up and content. |
4) Kamut - (technically known as Polish
Wheat). This grain is yellow in colour without the bran flecks. The
name Kamut (pronounced cam-moot) is a trade marked seed variety
owned by a group of American farmers. We purchase from a local
Canadian miller and most of the
recipes we have had to construct ourselves.
Along side of the flour ingredients, oils and sugars are available
in organic varieties which enhance the taste and nutritional value
of the end product as well.
Baking with oils is standard practice in the organic industry where
elimination of trans-fats doesn't arise. However, making pastries
and cakes is a considerable challenge. In the past when we were in
need of a solid ingredient we used an oil/butter combination, but
the costs were astronomical. Now we are seeing tropical oils such as
Coconut and Palm fruit oil which are being processed differently
reducing the saturated fat percentage. Keep in mind that some oils
such as organic Canola bring a very strong flavour and odour that
can dominate the baked goods.
Because of the organic protocols set out for sugars, this ingredient
tends to be coarse and light amber in colour. The one we use doesn't
dissolve as easily as regular sugar and can effect cookies and cakes
adversely. Specialized ones such as Turbinado sugars (which are
finer and offer higher nutritional profiles) are available but are
expensive.
Contributed by Brian Hinton of Lakeview Bakery. |
More Than Just Flavour...
Aside from being the most ultimate way to add
flavour and colour to your favourite dishes, have you ever really
considered the healthy benefits you are getting from using spice on
your foods?
Almost any dish you prepare can be stripped of hundreds of calories
contributed from high fat condiments such as salad dressings and
butters. A single spice or blend can be soaked in either water
and/or "lite" olive oils to give you an excellent low fat dressing
or rub for meats, veggies and salads. Look for quality spices for
better flavour.
Combining vibrant spices such as cayenne or chipotle chili with
dried garlic, dried onions, cracked pepper and oregano makes a
delicious rub for barbecued steaks and chicken, without the sugars
and salts found in most grilling sauces.
Creating blends from a collection of natural herbs and spices also
offers you an abundance of healing properties. Garlic, for instance
is known to provide many cancer-protective properties (hint: allow
your freshly chopped garlic to sit 10 to 15 minutes before cooking
to activate their protective phytochemicals). Oregano has the
highest antioxidant activity of the top 27 fresh culinary herbs, and
spices ground from chillies do wonders for pain, digestion and
boosting metabolism.
Next time you are planning a meal, opt for natural blends of herbs
and spices over prepared convenient condiments. The internet is a
great resource for yummy recipe ideas - google "cooking with spices
or herbs". |
Spice Up Your Skin!
The latest and greatest that is hitting the
higher-end spas is the use of certain spices to enhance the look of
our skin. Turmeric especially is making waves as a better
"cutting-edge exfoliant" as opposed to salt and sugar scrubs. When
combined with orange zest, this "rub" gently scrubs the skin which
also helps to retain the skins elasticity. Having natural antiseptic
and antibacterial compounds, it is also amazing at brightening skin
tone as well a reducing blemishes and acne.
When combined with neem paste it helps to cure excessive dry skin,
chapped lips and cracked heels. Coconut oil or olive oil can be
substituted for the neem.
To treat wrinkles and crow's feet, a blend of buttermilk and
turmeric powder is applied to the areas around the eyes. Regular use
of this easy to create at home treatment will also reduce dark
circles under the eyes.
TIP: Spices should never be stored
near a range top or microwave exhaust fan. The heat causes a loss of
flavour, potency and even colour. Best to store your spices in a
cool dry location or in the |
I have been really enjoying the articles and
recipes in the Flavours of Organic segment in Rising Women. It has
motivated me to make changes. Do you have any suggestions as to what
I can do around the house to become more eco-friendly?
Great question! Our general household consumerism -- daily upkeep,
kitchen, even accessorizing -- can be a true offender to our
environment, yet so easy to rectify. Let's look at some areas in
your household that you can make positive changes economically:
Cleaning Products - Being an almost everyday regime in every
household, switching your cleaning products to environmentally
friendly will definitely make an impact. In almost every major
market, grocer and department store, you can be guaranteed to find
an eco-friendly alternative for all-purpose cleaners, dish and
dishwasher liquid and glass cleaner. Look for products made with
plant-based and biodegradable ingredients, recycled packaging and
not tested on animals.
Laundry Products - The laundry room is another area of the
house that can be unfriendly to our earth, but there are many
creative ways to reduce enviro impact, waste and money. Look for
laundry detergents that are phosphate-free and biodegradable. Many
of these products are concentrated so you do not have to use as much
to do the same job.
Dryer balls are fantastic in the dryer because they eliminate the
usage of chemical fabric softeners and actually reduce drying time
by up to 25 percent. Support a Calgary-based business: visit
www.claudiaschoices.ca for a friendly variety of laundry
and cleaning products. If you are in the
market for a new washing machine, choose a front loading model. They
are energy-efficient because |
they use less energy to heat the
water. They use as much as 50 percent less water than vertical-axis
machines, use less soap and are gentler on fabrics.
Kitchen - Let's look at
"containers" in general. Glass, ceramic and stoneware is by far the
safest container you can use for food storage. Not only are you
keeping your family safe from toxic Bisphenol A and other chemicals,
you are contributing to less waste in our landfills. IKEA is an
excellent destination for glass containers of all sizes. If you
can't get away from plastic, look for biodegradable products to
avoid excess landfill waste.
Another area that is gaining popularity thankfully is using cloth or
hemp tote bags when shopping. Plastic bags are a huge economic
blemish on everything from oil production to waste management.
Keeping bags both in the car and in the kitchen alleviates
forgetting
them. And don't stop at using them
only for grocery shopping, take them to the mall!
Bathroom - Buy recycled toilet paper! In fact, buy only
recycled paper products (paper towels, T-P, napkins, etc.)
Consider replacing your toilet. They use approximately 30 percent of
the water you use in your home. Switching to a 6 Litre toilet will
reduce your bills in the home and reduce the bills we incur as a
community from our water treatment plants. The City Calgary offers a
$50 credit on your water bill for each toilet you replace in your
home. www.calgary.ca
Making smart choices to create a more eco-friendly home is becoming
more effortless than ever; all you have to do is a little leg work,
but not much! A lot of the larger corporations are now getting on
board with the "Eco-Movement" and introducing products at reduced
rates to generate consumer interest. Buyer beware however, read the
ingredients and manufacturing details to make sure their claims talk
the talk. |
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