Organic, Vegan, Gluten Free – nice to meet you!

Organic, Vegan, Gluten Free – nice to meet you!

I don’t know if this happens to you, but sometimes when I go into a grocery store, I get so overwhelmed by all the brands, and all of the ingredients that I get flustered and don’t know where to start! I end up wanting to throw my hands up like an idiot and storm out of the store, or wanting to crawl into a little ball in the corner somewhere, and just hire someone to do the shopping for me. This, of course, is quite irrational. I know this. I’m not sure why it happens. It’s sensory overload, I suppose. I see all these things, and I think, “I can do this and this and this, and if I do this, then I need this, and if I do that, then I need that ingredient” and before I know it, I’ve got a $1000 grocery list in my head, and no time, nor kitchen or refrigerator space in which to do it.
 
Hello, and welcome to Lauren’s tangent! Sigh…
 
Perhaps all of this is coming up because I’m moving into new territory, and quite frankly, I’m intimidated. Or is it downright frightened? In the midst of designing my business plan and the menu for the bakery, I’m constantly seeing and hearing signs, both direct and indirect, that I need to have gluten free, vegan and organic options on the menu. In an effort to listen, and listen well, I’ve purchased Erin McKenna’s 2 Babycakes cookbooks (thank you, Ashley Rogers, for introducing me to her!!) and have spent money I don’t have (thank you, visa), and much time traveling to 4 different grocery stores to gather up the ingredients that I have no idea how to bake with. I know what I’m good at right now: baked goods with refined sugar and non-organic ingredients. It’s tried. It’s tested. And it’s true. People love it. Will they – you – also love my new experiments? That remains to be seen, friends.
 
 
 
 
 
 So here I go – Bob Mills products in hand (including the very important xanthan gum, a product I don’t even really know how to pronounce and a key ingredient in gluten free baking) off into the land of healthier baked goods. Confidence is weary, and I’m sure there are tears on the horizon, but I know I will emerge on the other end, bruises healing and cuts bandaged, gleaming with some healthy food for you to enjoy, all in the quest to open up the first of many Delectable Yous. Here I go!
 
 
Fast forward a few hours and…
 
 
 
 …. 3 kinds of organic muffins! Blueberry explosion, chocolate chip banana, and morning glory, baby – all organic. I figured I would start there. Tomorrow? Vegan, baby – here I come!
 
Sweet dreams, all 🙂
 
Lauren
xxx