Whiteley Creek Homestead

I don't often use mixes because I find it's difficult to match from-scratch cooking in taste and nutritional quality, but I spied a gluten-free cranberry orange muffin mix that I decided to give a whirl. Some gluten-free baked goods tend to be tough, chewy, and flavorless… not this product. The muffins are especially good warm from the oven but still very tasty at room temperature. Dick gave them a thumbs-up, too.  

INGREDIENTS: brown rice flour, potato starch, white rice flour, sweet dried orange rind, sweet dried cranberries, turbinado sugar, sweet rice flour, Montina™ pure flour, tapioca flour, baking powder, vanilla powder, sea salt, xanthan gum.

The muffin mix has 2 grams of fiber per serving. To pump it up, I added 2 tbsp ground flax. Also, for the 1/2 cup oil called for on the package directions, I substituted 1/4 cup applesauce plus 1/4 cup oil.

The mix contains Montina. I learned from the Gifts of Nature web site that Montina™ is a native bunch grass called Indian Ricegrass, which is high in fiber, protein, and iron. It is marketed by the company as a baking supplement and it is also an ingredient in their all-purpose flour blend. Both products are available online. I purchased my muffin mix at Jewel's Health Food Store in Brainerd (Minnesota) which stocks a wide selection of gluten-free products.