Have a Gluten-Free Thanksgiving!

Dear Readers,

     Here at Euforia, we know the holidays are a tough time for people who don't eat gluten.  So much of our traditional Thanksgiving foods are loaded with gluten, some obvious, like stuffing, and some are not so obvious, like gravy.  We are writing today's article with some ideas on how to have a gluten-free Thanksgiving, and we've included some links to gluten-free recipes.
     Safe foods:

• Turkey - At the grocery store, a fresh turkey is a good bet.  As long as there isn't any added ingredients, and you don't use any added spice or gravy packets if they're included, you should be just fine.  Bake and enjoy!
• Cranberry sauce - If you're buying store-bought cranberry sauce, check the ingredients on the can to be sure, but generally cranberry sauce is naturally gluten-free.  However, if you'd like to go the homemade route, here is the Ocean Spray recipe for how to make it yourself!  Recipe
• Mashed potatoes - Another delicious Thanksgiving staple that, when you make it yourself, is completely gluten-free - all you need is potatoes, milk, and butter, and you're all set!

     Use caution:

• Stuffing - Since stuffing is essentially seasoned bread crumbs, most store-bought stuffing is not for the gluten-intolerant.  Fortunately, there are plenty of gluten-free recipes, like this one from Udi's: Recipe
• Gravy - Traditionally, gravy is prepared with pan drippings and flour, but you can make some substitutions to make your gravy delicious and gluten-free.  Cornstarch or rice flour work really well, and here's another good recipe here: Recipe

     As far as dessert, let Euforia take care of it for you!  We have delicious cakes that are all-natural and gluten-free.  Plus, we are running a buy 2 cakes, get a mini Triple Delight for free (use code TURKEY2013) so there will be plenty for everybody to enjoy!  

     

Indonesian Holiday Traditions

Hello Readers,

     I'm sure a lot of you are getting prepared for the holiday season: shopping, making travel arrangements, menu planning, etc.  While we all celebrate holidays in our own way, there are some traditions that are held in each culture.  For example, here in the United States on Thanksgiving, families gather to eat large meals of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, and pie (and then pass out in front of football!).  Many holiday traditions, regardless of culture, have family gatherings and food at the center.  Today, we wanted to take the opportunity to talk about holidays and traditions in Indonesia.
     Maulid Nabi - The birthday celebration of the Prophet Muhammad.  Muslims gather to give prayers of thanks to Allah, and at mosques, speeches and lectures are given.  Families wear new clothes and give children gifts, and in some areas, parades and festivals are held.  (01/14/14)
     Idul Fitri (also known as Lebaran) - Idul Fitri is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadan.  In Indonesia, this is the time when people ask forgiveness of others, and millions travel to visit their friends and family.  People dress in traditional, cultural clothes, attend special prayers, do charitable acts and visit loved ones.  Many families also have special Lebaran dinners consisting of rendang, ketaput, opor ayam, and various cakes, candies, and desserts.  (7/29/2014) Read more about Idul Fitri here.
     Indonesian Independence Day - Every year on Indonesia's Independence Day, the National Palace televises an Independence Day ceremony in the President gives a speech, members of the military are in full dress uniforms, and the flag is raised.  The people take the day to celebrate and have fun - red and white decorations are hung, parades, contests, and games are planned.  The most anticipated event is the Panjat Pinang - a huge palm trunk is greased with clay and oil, and at the top of the trunk, prizes are hung , and the person who makes it to the top wins the prize.  (8/17/14) Read more about Indonesian Independence Day here.
     Around the world, many holidays are about family, food, and good times.  We hope that the holidays you celebrate are filled with lots of all three of those things.  Also, be sure to order a gourmet cake from Euforia Confections.  Our traditional Indonesian celebration cakes are sure to make your holidays that much more special.

All the best!
Euforia Confections
     

Going all-natural!

Dear Readers,

     With more and more attention being paid to the ingredients in our foods, we wanted to take this opportunity to talk about our ingredients.  Here at Euforia, we believe that simple, natural ingredients can be transformed into amazing desserts.  We don't use preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial flavors and colors in our foods and never will.

Thousand Layer Roulade

     Euforia cakes are created from traditional family recipes, so we are using nearly the same ingredients in our bakery that are used in kitchens throughout Indonesia.  Our Thousand Layer Spice Cake contains eggs, butter, sugar, milk, fragrant spices, and salt - That's all there is to it.  The Vanilla and Lemon Variations contain vanilla and lemon and citric acid instead of spices.  The Triple Delight Cake is made of eggs, butter, sugar, gluten-free flour blend (white rice, brown rice, tapioca, almond, potato), milk, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, and coffee.
     Because our cakes are natural in addition to being gluten-free, they can be enjoyed by more people.  We hope you get the opportunity to try them for yourself!


      

Our favorite desserts go gluten-free!

Hello Readers!

     I'm hoping this post finds you well!  Last week, we talked about our favorite Indonesian foods, and included some recipes, which we hope you got to try and enjoy.  This week, we are all about dessert, and while you can always order a Triple Delight or Thousand Layer Cake from Euforia, sometimes, it's nice to get into the kitchen, tie on the apron, and get baking.  Baking is how I achieve catharsis and I recommend it.  Since Euforia Confections are gluten-free, the recipes I include will be gluten-free too.
     Not only is it seasonally appropriate, but pumpkin pie is a great option for the gluten intolerant because you don't need to make any substitutions with the filling.  To start any pie, you need a good crust.  I am terrible at homemade pie crust, but fortunately, Pillsbury makes a pretty tasty gluten-free pie crust - it comes in a tub, so just scoop and roll it out.  If you would like to have a tasty, made-from-scratch crust, King Arthur has a gluten-free flour and a good recipe to accompany it.  Here's the link to the always-popular Libby's Pumpkin Pie recipe.
     I always get excited for cookies, but I know finding a good gluten-free cookie is hard to find.  Plus, I know in a lot of markets, the ingredients to make gluten-free baked goods can be difficult to find (ever try to find xantham gum in West Virginia?).  Bisquick has been making baking easier for me for years, and fortunately, Gluten-free Bisquick is available now.  I've tried the peanut butter cookie recipe, and it's definitely worth making (if you can add chocolate chips to the dough, it's even better!)

Chocolate souffle

     Now for the chocolate (Come now, you didn't think I'd have a dessert list and not include chocolate?):  Going gluten-free is a great reason to make a souffle!  They're is no need for flour substitutes or anything else to make them, all you need is chocolate, eggs, butter, and sugar, and gfreely.com has a great recipe.  Even though they are surprisingly easy to make (just don't overmix!), your guests will be very impressed when you serve souffles at your next gathering!
     If you're craving something sweet and you feel like baking, I hope these recipes give you a little inspiration.  If not, there are tons of great cookbooks, blogs, and resources out there.  However, if you want something sweet, something that will go great at your next gathering, Euforia Confections can do the work for you!  Our cakes are gluten-free, all-natural, delicious, and easy clean-up!

All the best,
Euforia