Cream of Whatever Soup Mix (Gluten Free) by Brazen Bounty
The Brazen Bounty Homestead started off as a fluke. Almost a akin to a double-dog-dare uttered by the cosmos. Against all the odds, the chance proprietor of the Brazen Bounty Homestead found herself behind a laden table at the Branson Farmer’s Market. Familiar faces, along with passing strangers, panoramad across her view.
This view was vaguely obscured just at the very bottom edge by the wooly line of crocheted whatnot she was peering over. An introvert, she had taken up crochet as a sort of active armor; both allowing her to get out there and make herself vulnuerable and also as a sort of shield. An added bonus was that it was also a type of maiden-call: those who were called to the art of the ol’ hand-yarn were always easier to talk to somehow, at least from her perspective.
She was proud of her offerings, there was indeed a Brazen Bounty to offer. She put a lot of love and care into each homemade mix, preserve, jam/jelly, and sauce. She was also proud of the loquatious overall-bedecked front-man she had hired to run the sales and answer questions at the booth.
She sat there, momentarily mesmerized by the sunlight gleaming and glinting off glass jars filled with her jewel toned treasures. Directly to the front of the Farmer’s Market booth were the shelf-stable pantry staples. There stood an elegant looking older lady in a prim beige market dress, asking questions. She could hear parts of the conversation.
Celiac? She knew what that was, her best friend had it. She quickly realized that the primly dressed older lady was asking about the ingredients in her “Cream of Whatever” soup mix.
She stood up. She wanted to be a part of this conversation, personally.
“That was might sweet of you for doing that for Miss Cathy. You know her?” She had watched as her newest, and now closest, customer walked off with her parcel before answering. “No, I don’t know her. But it’s nothing. I really hope she likes it!” She knew how prolific recipes that called for “cream-of’s” were and she wondered what meals that sweet-looking lady would make with her new gluten-free magic solution, and she wondered about the people who would be sharing those meals and how wonderful they must be.
Cream of Whatever Soup Mix
Naturally Gluten Free
Yields: The equivalent of about 6 condensed cans of soup.
Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered milk (use a dairy-free substitute for a dairy-free mix)
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- 1 cup rice flour
- 1 tbsp sage
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 2 tbsp dried spring onion or chives
- salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: 2 tbsp gluten free chicken bouillon powder (or mix dry powder into fresh stock)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to an airtight container.
- Mix well by stirring or shaking until evenly combined.
- Store the mix in a cool, dark place for up to three months, or freeze it for up to a year.
How to use the mix (for one can of condensed soup)
- Remove from the heat and use as a substitute for one can of condensed soup in your recipe.
- Combine ⅓ cup of the dry mix with 1.25 cup of water or stock in a saucepan.
- Whisk until the mixture is blended and smooth.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and begins to boil.
This blog post is based on the cozy mystery story “The Showcase Must Go On,” the first book in the Sammy Shepherd Series by Nikki Lachen of Cozy Ozarks.
