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    Home / Ingredients

    Ingredients

    When I cook at home, I use nearly 100% seasonal, organic and locally-grown ingredients. I don't want to get all preachy, but it seems like a no-brainer to eat food that tastes better and has the lowest impact on the planet. So what if it's more expensive? You get more nutrients and fewer harmful pesticides. And, to quote an old hair commercial, You're worth it.

    Farro Cucumber Salad

    Below is an ever-evolving list of ingredients I enjoy working with, including my favorite sources in the San Francisco Bay Area.

    Produce
    If I didn't have an amazing co-op at my fingertips that carries such exotic stuff as fresh lemon verbena, turmeric root, squash blossoms and padron peppers, I would spend a lot more time at the Bay Area's farmer's markets. Produce tastes best when it's grown close by, picked when ripe and eaten fresh. Farmers markets and enlightened co-ops will usually let you taste before you buy; this is a great way to get to know what's in season when. Receiving a weekly produce box from a local farm (called Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA) is another. Terra Firma, Eatwell, and Riverdog all deliver to the San Francisco Bay Area and have beautiful produce (and sometimes flours, eggs, and other goodies). Frog Hollow has an all fruit CSA that is to die for. But perhaps my favorite place to pick up produce is Everett Family Farm near Santa Cruz, where you weigh your own produce on the honor system and stick your money in a box.

    Super-Moist Pink Pearl Apple Cake

    Dairy
    I love Strauss dairy, which is produced here in Northern California. Their milk and cream is minimally processed (not ultra-pasteurized), and it tastes so sweet and fresh that I often can't resist swigging it straight from the glass bottle. I'm thrilled that they've recently come out with a line of greek yogurt, which tastes rich and creamy with a mild tang. Their ice cream is excellent, as well.

    Topping for Plum Rhubarb and Raspberry Cardamom Crisp

    Butter
    I always use Strauss European-style unsalted butter, which is 85% butterfat (as opposed to commercial butters which have less fat and more water). Pie doughs, scones, pound cakes and cookies will all taste more rich and flavorful when made with excellent butter. Butter from cows that get to graze on grass and flowers will also be richer in color. (I even read about some sheep who graze in a violet field and produce lavender colored milk!)

    Eggs
    Eggs in my recipes are always "large" (2 ounces by weight) unless otherwise specified. For baking, I tend to use organic Clover or Glaum eggs, both produced locally. For dishes where the eggs are the main focus, like Shakshouka, I splurge on eggs from Eatwell Farm (which you can get through their CSA and at Rainbow Grocery), which have the brightest yolks and come in varying colors and sizes. Even most "free-range" chickens have had their beaks clipped, and this prevents them from pecking at bugs and getting as rich a diet as those without clipped beaks. Plus it's just sad. Farmer's markets (and increasingly, health-food stores) will often carry these eggs from happy chickens. Once you get over the sticker shock, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the high quality of these eggs, such as the one shown above, and you'll reap the benefits in the form of more nutrients and a more pleasurable "eggs-perience." (Sorry.) If you are dedicated enough to keep your own chickens, I applaud you!

    Sweeteners
    At any given time, my pantry contains organic granulated, light brown, dark brown, and powdered sugars from Wholesome Sweeteners; maple syrup and maple sugar; agave nectar; honey; dark molasses; non-GMO corn syrup; brown rice syrup; Alter Eco's unrefined muscobado sugar; and coconut sugar. The sweeteners serve different purposes, and I play with them all in my baking. Agave dissolves nicely into drinks such as the Indian Summer Blues with Cardamom, Rose and Gin. Honey is delicious in Masala Chai and Black Sesame Granola. ANZAC Biscuits wouldn't be authentic sans Lyle's Golden Syrup. Molasses is necessary for spice cookies and Cranberry Pear Upside-Down Gingerbread, and what would a stack of Banana Buckwheat or Ricotta Pancakes be without a pour of maple syrup?

    Flours and grains
    Grains not only contain different nutrients, they also have unique flavors and baking properties. Glutenous grains include wheat, spelt, barley, rye and kamut. Some gluten-free grains are oats, buckwheat, rice, corn, amaranth, millet, and quinoa. I love experimenting with different flours, whether I'm baking gluten-free or not. A few excellent cookbooks that explore a range of grains and flours are Good the the Grain, Pure Dessert, and Super Natural Cooking. Some favorite alternate grain recipes on this site include Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookies, Kamut Flour Pizza Dough (with asparagus and pesto or otherwise), Oatmeal Molasses Bread, and Plum and Barley Flour Biercake.

    Apple Quince Tart with Gluten-Free Buckwheat Crust

    Gluten-free grains
    When I bake gluten-free, I primarily turn to oat and millet flours, whose warm, earthy flavors enhance a variety of baked goods, and sweet white rice flour, which is neutral-tasting and similar to all-purpose wheat flour. Sweet white rice flour, available here, is not interchangeable with regular brown or white rice flour, so if you find yourself without it, you'll want to add xanthan gum to the recipe (usually 1/2 teaspoon per cup of flour). I haven't explored the gluten-free blends out there, as they tend to cost more than making my own combo, and they often contain bean flours which taste unpleasant to me. Oat and sticky rice flours, with the occasional tapioca and xanthan gum, tend to do the trick. Some favorite gluten-free recipes include Bittersweet Whiskey Brownies, Nectarine Plum Almond Upside-Down Cake, Über Chocolate Cookies. For a full listing, see the Recipes page under Gluten-Free.

    Chocolate Almond Olive Oil Cake

    Oils
    When I cook with high heat, extra-virgin coconut oil is my pick. Coconut oil also makes a good substitute for butter in many baked goods as, like butter, it is solid at room temperature, and its nutty-sweet flavor enhances many sweets, such as Vegan and Gluten-Free Hippy Crispies. Ghee, or clarified butter, has an even higher smoke point, and is ideal for very high heat cooking, such as making popcorn (or Bourbon Cacao Nib Caramel Corn, for that matter). For lower-heat cooking and baking, I use light, extra-virgin olive oil and sunflower oil. Toasted sesame oil is essential for finishing certain Asian dishes, like Spring Vegetable Fried Rice, and super-good olive oil completes simple dishes like Melon with Feta, Lime and Mint, and some baked goods, like Tangerine Olive Oil Pound Cake.

    Tarragon Olive Oil Ice Cream, with Malden salt

    Salt, Spice and Everything Nice
    I use two types of salt: fine sea salt for cooking and baking, and Malden salt for finishing dishes. Malden salt's crystals are large, flaky pyramids, and a pinch crumbled over a salad or sauteed padron peppers adds a flavorful crunch. But sweets can benefit from a sprinkle of flaky salt, too, such as Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Bars and Butterscotch Pudding.

    When it comes to spices, fresh is best. If you don't know how old the spices in your spice rack are, throw them out and get some new ones. Some spices have especially volatile oils that diminish in flavor quickly. These are best bought whole, and ground as needed, like nutmeg, black pepper, cumin, coriander and cardamom. In addition to the usual sweet baking spices (cinnamon, allspice, cloves, ginger and nutmeg), I often reach for smoked paprika, curry powder, and turmeric.

    Pan Bagnat with Basil Vinaigrette

    I always use fresh herbs when possible, but occasionally add dried oregano or thyme to a sauce or soup. Don't bother with dried soft herbs like basil, chives or tarragon; their flavor doesn't preserve well dried.

    Dreamy Vanilla Ice Cream + Peach Crisp

    Vanilla beans make appearances in many of my recipes. Don't buy the über-pricey beans in the super-market; order them in bulk, or, if you live in the Bay Area, pick up a bunch at Vanilla-Saffron in the Mission. I rinse and dry used beans and stick them in a mason jar covered with whatever neutral-tasting alcohol I have on hand (vodka, white rum or brandy) to make my own vanilla extract.

    Salty Double-Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Chocolate
    Favorite brands for baking include Scharffen Berger, Guittard, Valrhona, and Dagoba. I usually bake with bittersweet chocolate with a cacao mass of 70%, but there are some excellent dark milk chocolates and vanilla-flecked white chocolates out there, including Green and Black's. Cacao nibs (broken up chocolate beans) make an excellent addition to cookies and other treats. I usually use dutch-processed cocoa powder, as I like its old-fashioned flavor (think Oreos). A favorite application for it is this Chocolate Bourbon Banana Cream Pie.

    Rosemary Peach Maple Leaf

    Spirits
    Wine, beer and spirits often find their way into my cooking. When I'm not mixing up Sweet Cherry Manhattans, I'm often adding bourbon to Pecan Pie, Rum to Banana Cakes, and beer to cheesy Gougères.

    A note about recipes
    I often give amounts in ounces as well as cups; ounces are always by weight, unless otherwise specified (such as in cocktail recipes). For folks outside the US, this is a great site for converting measurements into grams.

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    Welcome

    I'm Alanna, a recovering pastry chef-turned food photographer, stylist, videographer, and award-winning cookbook author. The Bojon Gourmet is a celebration of the sweet, savory, and occasionally boozy recipes that I create in my San Francisco kitchen.

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    the front cover of Alternative Baker, a cookbook by Alanna Taylor-Tobin, winner of the IACP Cookbook Awards

    My cookbook, Alternative Baker, contains 100+ recipes featuring corn, oat, chestnut, almond, buckwheat, sorghum, and other gluten-free flours. Find out where to get your copy! →

    Fresh from the blog

    Grain-Free Banana Bread with Cinnamon, Dates & Walnuts (paleo, vegan & maple-sweetened)

    Dairy Free Gluten Free Carrot Cake

    Dairy Free & Gluten Free Carrot Cake

    Passover Desserts (gluten-free, paleo & vegan)

    Vegan Key Lime Pie (paleo & no-bake)

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    Fresh on TBG: Cinnamon Date Walnut Banana Bread T Fresh on TBG: Cinnamon Date Walnut Banana Bread

This easy little loaf gets a baklava vibe from sticky dates, toasted nuts, cinnamon, and a drizzle of honey if you like. It’s free of grains, dairy, eggs, cane sugar, and can be made nut-free too. I use cassava, almond, and tapioca flours for a sturdy, tender crumb, but I’ve given substitution suggestions in the recipe. If you’ve got a couple of ripe bananas lying around, this is the recipe for you! 

Ingredients:
•nut or seed butter
•maple syrup and/or coconut sugar
•coconut oil or ghee
•plant milk
•flours
•baking powder and soda
•cinnamon
•vanilla
•salt
•toasted walnuts
•dates

Adapted from the chocolate-flecked paleo vegan banana bread recipe I posted last year, I’ve been making this cozy variation lately and loving the flavor-packed combo of spices, nuts, bananas, and dried fruit. 

Find the recipe by tapping the link in my profile, then tapping this image. Or search “banana bread” on #bojongourmet. Or copy/paste the following link into your desktop browser:

https://bojongourmet.com/grain-free-banana-bread-paleo-vegan/

#bananabread #paleobread #veganbread #f52community #f52grams #feedfeedglutenfree #veganbombs #feedfeedvegan
    GF Vegan Rhubarb Crisp
✨
Heading to the in-laws’ this weekend for a pot luck on the deck and to hopefully pilfer some homegrown rhubarb.🤞🏼
✨
This recipe features jammy sweet-tart rhubarb showered in crispy, crunchy, nutty crisp topping. Made with simple ingredients you probably have on hand, vegan if you use vegan butter. Add a handful of berries if you like! 
✨
Get the recipe via the link in my profile by tapping the link, then this picture. Or search “rhubarb crisp” on #bojongourmet. Or copy/paste the following link into your desktop browser:

https://bojongourmet.com/vegan-gluten-free-rhubarb-crisp/
#rhubarbseason #rhubarb #rhubarbcrisp #f52community #f52farmstand #f52grams
    My favorite GF DF carrot cake, now with a nut-free My favorite GF DF carrot cake, now with a nut-free paleo variation!
🥕 
I was craving this fluffy, springy, gently-spiced carrot cake the other day, so I tested a grain-free and naturally-sweetened version. It’s pretty tasty, and it also happens to be kosher for Passover! 
🥕
Now you can make this elevated classic with a gluten-free flour blend (sweet rice, oat, millet, and tapioca flours) or go grain-free with cassava and coconut flours. Either way, this beauty comes together in minutes with one bowl and a spatula, and it bakes up with a pillowy and tender crumb. 
🥕
Make it in a 9-inch round pan for a single layer cake, or double or triple the recipe for more layers. Or use a square or rectangular pan for sheet cake. Gussy it up with rainbow carrot ribbons, or drizzle with maple or honey on top. 
🥕
I’ve linked to my traditional less-sweet cream cheese frosting in the post, as well as a vegan cream cheese frosting recipe that I make with @miyokoscreamery plant-based butter and cream cheese. Or you can go paleo and top it with whipped coconut cream or thick coconut yogurt. Feel free to add any carrot cake mix-ins you like – pineapple, raisins, shredded coconut, or toasted nuts.  
🥕
Find the recipe by tapping the link in my profile, then tapping this image. Or search “carrot cake” on #bojongourmet. Or copy/paste the following link into your desktop browser: 

https://bojongourmet.com/dairy-free-gluten-free-carrot-cake/
#carrotcake #glutenfreecake #paleocake #dairyfreerecipes #feedfeedglutenfree #f52community #f52farmstand
    Fresh on TBG: Passover Desserts (GF, DF, vegan & p Fresh on TBG: Passover Desserts (GF, DF, vegan & paleo options)
✨
While I didn’t grow up in a religious family, I loved putting together this roundup of sweet treats that happen to be kosher for Passover. I don’t know if it’s the pandemic, my age (I’ll be 40 this year!😳) or following such inspiring Jewish foodies (Jewdies?) as @jakecohen, @zenbelly, @whatjewwannaeat, @predominantly_paleo , and @estherandloretta , among others, but I’ve been feeling super nostalgic for Jewish cuisine lately.
✨
Also, I had no idea how complicated the rules of Passover really are! I knew that wheat and yeasted baked goods were strictly verboten, in order to honor the hardship of our people traversing the dessert without time to stop and let their bread rise. But I didn’t realize that certain groups observe stricter rules, avoiding all foods that even *look* like grains, such as beans, legumes, and even cardamom! 
✨
I even asked you all in my stories to weigh in on the heated debate about baking soda and baking powder. Apparently they are *technically* kosher for Passover according to the letter of the law, even though I and many others always thought they were to be avoided. 
✨
Whether you celebrate or not, I hope you go meshuga for these recipes! A few favorites: 

1. GF Vegan Chocolate Tahini Tart
2. Brown Butter Macaroons
3. Vegan Key Lime Pie
4. Paleo Crepes
5. Pot De Creme
6. Almond Poppy Seed Eton Mess
7. No-Bake Brownie Ice Cream Sandos

Find these recipes and more by tapping the link in my profile, then tapping this image. Or search “Passover” on #bojongourmet. Or copy/paste the following link into your desktop browser:

https://bojongourmet.com/passover-desserts-gluten-free-paleo-vegan/

Chag sameach! 

#passover #passover2021 #passoverdesserts #passoverdessert #pesach #passoverrecipes #glutenfreedesserts #paleodessert #vegandessert
    Weekend plans? ✨ I’m craving these GF citrus Weekend plans? 
✨
I’m craving these GF citrus poppy seed almond flour pancakes. Grain-free and dairy-free, they also happen to be kosher for Passover! 
✨
Top them with yogurt, honey, and citrus for a vibrant and nourishing breakfast.
✨
Get the recipe at #bojongourmet, tappable link in my profile:

https://bojongourmet.com/fluffy-almond-flour-pancakes-gluten-free/
✨
#glutenfreepancakes #paleopancakes #dairyfreepancakes #pancakes #f52community #feedfeedglutenfree #f52grams
    Fresh on TBG: Paleo Vegan No-Bake Key Lime Pie ✨ Fresh on TBG: Paleo Vegan No-Bake Key Lime Pie
✨
Pie Day = great holiday or greatest holiday? We’re celebrating with this easy pie recipe that requires no baking. Just whizz everything together in a blender or food processor, then set in the fridge. 
✨
This beauty bursts with bright citrus flavor soothed by luscious coconut for a dessert that will make you feel like you’re lying on a tropical beach. Just the thing for ushering in brighter days!
✨
Ingredients:
•nut & coconut crust
•maple syrup
•vanilla, cinnamon & salt
•lime zest & juice
•soaked cashews
•water or coconut water
•coconut oil
•coconut yogurt, for topping
✨
Find the recipe by tapping the link in my profile, then tapping this image. Or search “lime pie” on #bojongourmet. Or copy/paste the following link into your desktop browser: 
https://bojongourmet.com/vegan-key-lime-pie-paleo/
✨
#keylimepie #pieday #piday

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