Mennonite Girls Can Cook (39 page)

Because the success of gluten-free baking depends on consistent and accurate measurements, this book includes the weight / grams conversions for dry ingredients in all gluten-free recipes.

As short a time as five years ago, a puzzled expression was the immediate response of anyone hearing the word
Celiac
or
gluten
. Today that is changing as the awareness of this disease is growing. In Canada, for example, it is estimated that 1 in 133 people have Celiac disease.

Celiac is an auto-immune medical condition that prevents the small intestine from absorbing nutrients. Gluten’s irritation of the small intestinal wall allows food toxins that would otherwise be eliminated as waste to escape into the body and cause severe damage. Cancer or other medical conditions can result.

There is no cure, but the disease can be totally controlled by a life-long avoidance of gluten. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It is this protein that triggers the body’s immune system to turn on itself.

Simply avoided those gluten-containing flours is not enough. A Celiac must read every single label because of “hidden” gluten. For example: the gluten in malt, soy sauce, or packaged foods. Chewing gums can be dusted with gluten, too.

Oats, while they do not contain the offensive gluten protein, are cross-contaminated because oats are grown as alternate crops in wheat fields. There are however gluten-free oats available.

There is a huge list of alternate gluten-free flours that can be substituted for wheat, rye, and barley—and the wonderful advantage is that these flours are full of rich vitamins, protein, and minerals that have been processed out of our wheat flour. The disadvantage is that without the gluten, which is what gives us that wonderful elastic quality in breads, baking with gluten-free flours presents a completely new way of doing things.

Restaurants, while much more Celiac-friendly and knowledgeable than they used to be, are still a challenge for those on a gluten-free diet. French fries may or may not be coated with gluten. Some chefs coat plain rice and potatoes with gluten. Sauces and gravies and soups are often thickened with flour.

It is overwhelming sometimes to invite Celiacs for dinner, but following a few simple rules makes it quite doable. Serving food that is naturally free of gluten is the easiest way to go—homemade soups, meat dishes, casseroles, vegetables, and fruit are always great. Also, there are many pre-prepared gluten-free foods or mixes available now in grocery or health-food stores.

—
Julie

APFEL KUCHEN
(
OBST KUCHEN
):
A fruit fritter, usually made with apples in our tradition. It also means “apple cake” in German.

ARME RITTER:
French toast

BERRY SUGAR (CASTOR’S SUGAR, BAKER’S SUGAR):
Super-fine sugar

BIENENSTICH:
A German coffee cake with a baked-on topping of honeyed almonds and a custard filling. Also known as Bee Sting Cake.

BLINTZES:
Thin cheese-filled pancakes

BLAETTER TORTE
(NAPOLEON TORTE):
The Russian Mennonite version of the French torte, which has many layers of pastry filled with a rich custard

BODEN TORTE:
Fruit flan

BORSCHT
(
BORSCH
,
KOMMSTBORSCHT
):
In Mennonite cuisine,
Borscht
is a cabbage soup, with beef, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, dill, and seasonings.

BUBBAT (
BOBBAT
):
A batter bread with fruit, often used as a dressing for chicken or fowl. It can also be made with sausage and form a savory one-dish meal.

BULKI
(
BULKJE
):
Russian Mennonite white bread

BUTTER SOUP (
BOTTASUPP
):
Similar to potato soup, enhanced with butter and cream

DRY CURD COTTAGE CHEESE:
A soft, unripened cheese with white, dry curds made from curdled skim milk. It is often used in the filling for
Wareneki
(
Vereniki
) and
Blintzes
.

EUROPEAN WIENERS:
A longer, thinner version of the wiener, available at the deli and usually made from ground pork

FARMER’S CHEESE:
A soft, white unripened cheese made from milk, cream, and salt. It is basically dry curd cottage cheese that has been pressed to form a brick. It is often used in fillings for
Blintzes
and
Wareneki
.

FARMER SAUSAGE:
A sausage made with ground pork, salt, and pepper and then smoked but not cooked. One ring of farmer sausage is usually about 1½ pounds / 750 g. If farmer sausage is not readily available, substitute with smoked ham or smoked kielbasa.

FLEISCH PERISHKY:
Meat buns

GERMAN PANCAKES:
Large, thin, crepe-like pancakes. When filled with cheese and fruit, they are called
Blintzes
.

HOLUPSCHI (
Hallapse
):
Cabbage rolls

HOOP CHEESE:
A dry cheese similar to farmer’s cheese, but made from milk alone

ICING SUGAR (
powdered sugar, confectioner’s sugar
):
A very fine powdered sugar used to make icing or frosting

KARTOFFELPUFFER
:
Potato pancakes

KIELKE
(
KIELKJE
):
Noodles

Kitchen Mixers/Machines:
Generic term for mixers with dough hooks used when making yeast dough recipes

KOTLETTEN (
COTLETTEN
):
Small, tasty meatballs, usually deep-fried

OBST MOOS (
PLUMA MOOS
):
A cold fruit soup made from dried fruits

PASKA
:
An Easter bread, made with butter, eggs, and sugar and often frosted with white icing and decorated with colorful sprinkles

PAVLOVA:
Meringue dessert named after the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova

PERISHKY
(
Perischki
):
Yeast dough or pastry pockets filled with fruit or meat

PFEFFERNUESSE
(
Peppernuts
):
A small spicy cookie, often the size of a hazelnut; traditionally served at Christmas

PLATZ
(
OBST PLATZ, OBST KUCHEN
):
A fresh fruit dessert with a cake-like base, fruit filling, and crumble topping; usually baked on a large pan

PORTZELKY
:
A deep-fried fritter, studded with raisins and traditionally served on New Year’s Eve

REISTCHE
(
REESCHE
):
Zwieback
are toasted slowly at a low oven temperature until thoroughly dried out. Once cool and hard, they will last for a very long time. They are traditionally served with coffee.

Roger’s Golden Syrup:
Golden syrup is a by-product from the refining of sugar cane and often used as a substitute for golden corn syrup. It is very popular in Canada and Britain, but not readily available in the United States. Use golden corn syrup if not available.

ROLLKUCHEN
:
A light and crisp fried bread often served with watermelon

RÜHREI:
German scrambled eggs that are much like chopped pancakes because they contain flour. They are often eaten with sugar.

SUMMER SAVORY (
PFEFFERKRAUT
):
An herb most often used with green bean and pea dishes

SCHMAUNDT FAT:
A cream gravy most often served with homemade noodles of any kind

SCHNETKI
(
SCHNETJE
):
A very rich finger biscuit

SPAETZLE:
Egg noodles or dumplings formed by pressing dough through a colander

SPICE HOLDER:
A small metal container available at kitchen shops, useful for adding herbs and spices to the simmering soup pot and easily removed later

Tee Gebaeck:
Means dainties served with tea, for example
Linzer
cookies

Wareneki
(
Vereniki
):
Cottage cheese pockets (can also be filled with fruit); also known as perogies

Yeast:
Active dry yeast works best when dissolved in water with a teaspoon of sugar prior to mixing with dry ingredients (100-110° F / 37-43° C). Instant yeast is designed for mixing directly with other dry ingredients before use but also can be used in place of active dry yeast following the active dry yeast method.

Zest:
Tiny filaments of the outer layer of citrus peel

Zwieback
(
Tweiback
,
Tweeback
):
A soft double-decker yeast bread roll, rich in butter and salt. The two balls of dough are placed one on top of the other before baking, and then easily pulled apart to eat.

Active dry yeast,
195

Ammonia, baking versus household,
184

Apfel Kuchen
(Apple Fritters),
170
,
193

Apple Bars,
172-3

Apple Fritters (
Apfel Kuchen
),
171

Apple Pancakes,
29

Apple Rolls,
38

Apple
Streusel
Muffins,
35

Apples

Apple Bars,
172-3

Apfel Kuchen
(Apple Fritters),
171
,
193

Apple Pancakes,
29

Apple Rolls,
38

Apple
Streusel
Muffins,
35

Arme Ritter
(French Toast),
30
,
193

Asparagus, Sesame Asparagus Stir-fry,
71

Bagdanov, Moisi,
27

Bagdanov, Nadia,
24
,
27

Baked Ham with Sauces,
108-9

Baking ammonia versus household ammonia,
184

Baking, roasting chart (poultry),
94

Bartel, Marg,
16
,
34
,
66
,
208

Basil Tomato Pizza,
106

Bayles, Ellen,
15
,
27
,
161
,
207

Beans

Green Bean Soup,
50

Green Bean Stew,
111

Bee Sting Cake (
Bienenstich
),
165
,
193

Beef

Holubschi
(Cabbage Rolls),
80-1

Kotletten
(Meatballs),
78

Meatloaf,
79

Savory Pot Roast with Roasted Vegetables,
85

Tacos,
82-3

Berry-Filled Scones,
41

Berry sugar (Castor’s sugar, baker’s sugar),
193

Bienenstich
(Bee Sting Cake),
165
,
193

Blaetter Torte
(Napoleon Torte),
158-9
,
193

Blintzes
,
24
,
193

Blueberry Crumble Muffins,
36

Boden Torte
(Fruit Flan),
160
,
193

Borscht
(Soup),
52
,
193

Bread for the Journey

Bartel, Marg,
66

Bayles, Ellen,
161

Friesen, Anneliese,
40

Klassen, Bev,
84

Klassen, Julie,
103

McLellan, Kathy,
186

Penner, Charlotte,
23

Reimer, Betty,
53

Schellenberg, Lovella,
131

Wiebe, Judy,
148

Breads.
See also
Gluten-free recipes

Apple
Streusel
Muffins,
35

Arme Ritter
(French Toast),
30

Authentic
Schnetki
(Finger Biscuits),
146-7

Blueberry Crumble Muffins,
36

Brown Bread,
141

Bubbat
(Bread),
97
,
193

Bubbat
(Bread) with Farmer Sausage,
74

Bulki
(White Bread),
139
,
193

Buns and
Platz
(Coffee Cake),
120-1

Butterhorns,
136

Cheese Straws (gluten free),
149

Cinnamon Buns and Variations,
124-7

Cinnamon Buns (gluten free),
127

Cottage Cheese Coffee Cake,
126

Date Loaf,
43

Fleisch Perishky
(Meat Buns),
138

Gooey Walnut Rolls,
128-9

Health Buns,
122

Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf,
42

Maple Twists,
150

Orange Sour Cream Crescents,
126

Paska
(Easter Bread),
132-3

Paska
(Easter Bread) Cheese Spread,
134

Peppernut Spice Buns,
130

Pluckets,
32

Potato Seed Bread (gluten free),
142-3

Raisin Bread with Apple Filling,
144

Refrigerator Potato Rolls,
116-7

Rhubarb Orange Sticky Muffins,
37

Rollkuchen
(Fried Bread),
145
,
195

Savory Cheddar Scones,
55

Sunflower Flaxseed Bread,
140

Zwieback
(Double-decker Rolls),
118-9
,
123
,
195

Breakfasts

Apple Pancakes,
29

Apple Rolls,
38

Apple
Streusel
Muffins,
35

Arme Ritter
(French Toast),
30

Berry-Filled Scones,
41

Blintzes
,
24

Blueberry Crumble Muffins,
36

Blueberry Scones,
39

Bubbat
(Bread) with Farmer Sausage,
74

Date Loaf,
43

Eggs Benedict,
22

Farmer Sausage Quiche,
20

German Pancakes,
28

Granola,
33

Ham and Egg Cups,
26

Kartoffelpuffer
(Potato Pancakes),
21

Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf,
42

Pluckets,
32

Rhubarb Orange Sticky Muffins,
37

Rührei
(Scrambled Eggs),
75

Waffles with Vanilla Custard,
31

Broccoli Salad,
61

Brown Bread,
141

Brown Sugar Topping for Cinnamon Buns,
124

Brunch.
See
Breads; Breakfasts

Bubbat
(Bread)

about,
193

with Farmer Sausage,
74

Roasted Chicken with Anise Seeds and,
97

Bulki
(White Bread),
139
,
193

Buns and
Platz
(Coffee Cake),
120-1

Butter Soup (
Bottasupp
),
46-7
,
193

Cabbage

Borscht
,
52

Coleslaw Dressing,
59

Holubschi
(Cabbage Rolls),
80-1

Sautéed Red Cabbage,
89

Cabbage
Borscht
,
52

Cabbage Rolls (
Holubschi
),
80-1

Cakes

Buns and
Platz
(Coffee Cake),
120-1

Cottage Cheese Coffee Cake,
126

Obst Kuchen
(Coffee Cake),
164

Pastry for Pie or
Platz
(Coffee Cake) (gluten free),
162-3

Carrot Salad,
64

Carrots

Carrot Salad,
64

Glazed Carrots,
70

Cauliflower Cheese Soup,
54

Celiac disease,
191

Cheese

Cauliflower Cheese Soup,
54

Cheese
blintzes
,
24

Cheese Straws (gluten free),
149

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes,
69

Cottage Cheese Coffee Cake,
126

farmer’s cheese,
193

Meat Pinwheels,
73

Paska
(Easter Bread) Cheese Spread,
134

Savory Cheddar Scones,
55

Wareneki
(Cottage Cheese Pockets),
90-3

Cheese
blintzes
,
24

Cheese Straws (gluten free),
149

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes,
69

Chicken

Chicken Enchiladas,
99

Chicken Noodle Soup,
48-9

Chicken Quesadillas with Caramelized Onions
and Peppers,
102

Chicken Tarragon Salad,
67

Roasted Chicken with Anise Seeds and
Bubbat
(Bread),
96-7

Santa Fe Chicken Salad,
60

Chicken Enchiladas,
99

Chicken Noodle Soup,
48-9

Chicken Quesadillas with Caramelized Onions and Peppers,
102

Chicken salad, Santa Fe,
60

Chicken Tarragon Salad,
67

Cinnamon Bread,
125

Cinnamon Buns and Variations,
124-7

Coconut Prawns,
105

Coffee Cake

Buns and
Platz
(Coffee Cake),
120-1

Cottage Cheese Coffee Cake,
126

Obst Kuchen
(Coffee Cake),
164

Pastry for Pie or
Platz
(gluten free),
162-3

Coleslaw Dressing,
59

Cookies

Mom’s Soft White Cookies,
180-1

Peppermint Cookies,
184-5

Pfeffernuesse
(Peppernuts),
188
,
194

Rolled Oat Cookies,
187

Syrup (Jam-Filled) Cookies,
182-3

Tee Gebaeck
(
Linzer
Cookies),
189

Corn Chowder,
57

Cottage Cheese Coffee Cake,
126

Cottage Cheese Pockets (
Wareneki
),
90-3
,
193
,
195

Cream and Brown Sugar Topping for Cinnamon Buns,
124

Crumb toppings

Apple
Streusel
Muffins,
35

Blueberry Crumble Muffins,
36

Cottage Cheese Coffee Cake,
126

Crusts.
See
Pies/pastries

Custards, Waffles with Vanilla Custard,
31

Date Filling for Rolled Oat Cookies,
187

Date Loaf,
43

Desserts

Apfel Kuchen
(Apple Fritters),
171
,
193

Apple Bars,
172-173

Berry sugar (Castor’s sugar, baker’s sugar),
193

Blaetter Torte
(Napoleon Torte),
158-9

Borden Torte
(Fruit Flan),
160

Doughnuts,
178-9

Fresh Raspberry Pie,
170

Hazelnut Roll (gluten free),
154-5

Lemon Meringue Pie,
168

Mom’s Soft White Cookies,
180-1