Category Archives: Food/Cooking

KIND Oats & Honey Clusters

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144 kind oat and honey granolaThis 11 ounce bag of gluten-free, non-GMO, low glycemic granola was $4.99 (on sale for $4.49) at Safeway. It’s loaded with “super grains” including oats, millet, quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat. Ah, the “Q” word. Loved by so many. Me, not so much. I just do not care for the funky, punky taste of quinoa. Nor do I care for the pronunciation of the word. That’s another story, though.

The overall taste of this granola is good. I do not taste any of the toasted coconut mentioned on the front of the package, probably because it is overpowered by the quinoa. Otherwise, I do get the occasional burst of honey flavor. The cereal is very hard, and needs to soak for a while in the yogurt before you eat it unless you want to be crunching on rock-like chunks. My jaw is tired.

So, I can see this being a favorite of health-food folks who enjoy that kind of flavor. Me, not so much. It will get me by until I can get back to WalMart and get the most excellent Van’s Natural Foods Cranberry Almond granola for $3.98.

RECOMMENDED? Eh. It’s a matter of personal taste.

LARABAR Cashew Cookie Bar

Posted in Food/Cooking, Travel by

IMG_5670 lara bar cashew cookieIn my attempt to eat healthier, I decided to have a LARABAR Cashew Cookie bar instead of a serving of delicious tortilla chips. I wanted something not too sweet, and I figured the saltiness of cashews would do the trick. Eh. The consistency was decent – not the nasty sports bar consistency by any means. The flavor was extremely mild. Occasionally I would get a hint of cashews or dates, but otherwise, it was just a sort of bland but not unpleasant fruitish flavor. Interestingly, there are ONLY two ingredients in this LARABAR: non-gmo cashews and dates. I lucked out and got this on sale for 99 cents.

A bit higher in calories and fat than the tortillas, I hoped it would curb my in-between-meal snacking needs. I’ll let you know how that goes in about 20 minutes. 😉 Here are the stats:

230 calories; 13g fat; 23g carbs; 6g protein; only 5mg of sodium; 10% daily requirement of iron; and other stuff.

What I really like about some LARABARs is that not only are they gluten free, but they are also soy free. I am not a fan of soy. If you are looking for a something to take with you on a plane or hiking or what-have-you, especially if you can find it for 99 cents, I recommend this LARABAR for convenient on-the-go snacking.

More at www.larabar.com.

Freschetta Gluten Free Pizza

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IMG_5561 freschetta burnedHoly flipping pizza, Batman, this is amazing. Freschetta has hit the nail on the head when it comes to making really excellent gluten-free pizza. Wow. The taste is just awesome. And, it has plenty of cheese on it. Ooey, gooey cheese.

I grew up eating pizza in Boston and New York City. So I know what pizza is supposed to taste like. Amy’s is definitely not it. Udi’s is closer, but it’s one of those “good for gluten-free” deals. Freschetta’s tastes like real pizza. The kind the guy flips around in the window. *happy sigh*

I have two minor issues with this pizza.

#1 – You get four servings from the Freschetta pizza – that’s two okay size slices per serving. I don’t think so. This pizza is too good to just stop there. I usually (twice so far) eat three, which reduces it to 3 servings per pizza (at $9.99/pizza). I could probably make it four slices (half the pizza), but I do have some semblance of self control.

#2 – I keep forgetting to put the flipping pan in the oven while it’s preheating. The first time, I completely forgot and ended up with the burnty pizza picture you see above (because I left it in for the 15 minutes instead of 12). The darn pizza STILL tasted awesome. The second time, I remembered AFTER the oven was preheated, so I put the pan in for five minutes and then put the pizza in. Still not enough time – the middle of the pizza stuck to the pan again, but not as badly as the first time.

Sticking to the pan or not, you still cannot beat the taste and consistency of this Freschetta Gluten Free Pizza. I’ve had gluten-free pizza at actual pizza shops, and Freschetta still wins. Yay for us!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

IMG_5787 gluten free freschetta pizza

Udi’s Lasagna

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IMG_4211 udis lasagnaYUM! Hot, hearty, quick, easy, reasonably priced, and delicious. How can you go wrong with that combination? Udi’s has hit it out of the ballpark with this lasagna. So satisfying. The flavor, consistency, and appearance – all great.

Even though when you take the tray out of the microwave the sauce looks a bit soupy, it’s really not. There’s just enough of it to keep it moist. And the sauce is light and flavorful. Spicy smell while cooking, but not spicy to taste. There’s just enough sausage to give it a hint of a very pleasant kick.

The cheese consistency was good. At 5:45, the cook time was very convenient. While it’s frozen, it may look like it needs more cheese on top, but it really doesn’t.

I don’t know about other gluten-free lasagnas, yet, but for $4.99 a single serving, I’ll be looking for this on sale and will buy a few when that happens. Thank you, Udi’s.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Wolfgang Puck Free Range Chicken Soup

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IMG_5659 wolfgang puck compWhen I feel crummy, I want chicken soup. Of course, when I feel crummy, that’s when I don’t feel like making chicken soup. Who wants to go to all that trouble? You? Then send me some chicken soup, will you? (I will say, last time I was ill, a dear, sweet friend made me some turkey soup. All hail turkey-soup-making friends!)

This time, I was prepared. At least I hoped I was. On a recent trip to Safeway trolling for gluten-free foods, I found Wolfgang Puck Free Range Chicken with White and Wild Rice Organic Soup on sale. So I got a can.

I will be completely honest. (What else is new?) When I opened this can, I almost hurled. It smelled TERRIBLE. If your stomach is at all off, I recommend you have someone else open the can. (Sorry, I just call ’em like I see ’em.)

I heated one can of soup in one bowl (see photo). It says on the can there is enough for 2 servings, but I beg to differ if you’re serving it as a meal. If you’re serving it as an appetizer, well, you can probably get away with that. I cooked it for 2-1/2 minutes on high as per the instructions. I recommend putting a plate underneath. It didn’t boil over, but there was a lot of  condensation under the microwave-safe cover.

IMG_5661 wolfgang puck compThe broth was not runny – it was a nice thickness for dipping toast or crackers (or in my case, 1/2 an Udi’s bagel). The texture of the rices was very good. The chicken chunks were a little tough, but not chewy or nasty. My sensitive palette would have liked just a tad less paprika, but for normal people, I’m sure it was fine.

Would I buy it again? I consider this one of those “break glass in case of emergency” foods, so yes. I have a container of Pacific Foods g/f chicken soup ready to try next. We’ll see who wins the spot on my lazy Susan.

Quick and Delicious Gluten-Free Breakfast

Posted in Food/Cooking, Health, Recipes by

RANCH SCRAMBLE IMG_3872I have a love/hate relationship with eggs. I hate the smell. I love the protein. I won’t eat them if they’re runny. I love that they’re versatile and easy to prepare. I also do not like ranch dressing. Yes, I know, there is actually one human being alive who doesn’t like ranch. Whatev. But I do like the small company Litehouse, and I do like their OPA dressings which are super low in calories and high in protein. And, two negatives make a positive, right?

In this case, yes.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbs OPA Ranch Dressing
  • 1 tbs Cream or Milk
  • 2 slices Udi’s White Sandwich bread

Break eggs into a small, non-stick skillet. Add cream and dressing. Stir with plastic fork or whisk until thoroughly mixed. Cook on your preferred setting until your level of doneness is achieved. Meanwhile, toast bread.

Boom – done. One pan, one plate. Easy cleanup. No nasty egg smell in the house. In less than 5 minutes, you have a delicious, different, protein-rich meal for any time of day – not just breakfast.  Eggs and ranch…I’m thinking a quiche might be next… Nah, too much work. You try it and tell me how it goes. 😉

Click here for more on Litehouse OPA Ranch dressing.

Great Value Brand Gluten Free Granola Bars

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IMG_5679 great value granola barYes, that’s right, WalMart has gotten into the gluten-free food business. Technically, I’m not sure their Dark Chocolate Granola Bars actually qualify as GRANOLA since they seem to be made of rice crisps, but I’m not complaining. I really, really like these.

So many gluten-free granola bars require bionic jaws to chew them, or teeth of steel to crack into them. These bars are light and happy and sweet, sort of like what I would imagine Rice Krispie treats would be like if you added chocolate flakes.

Five bars come in a box for $2.48 which is about 50 cents less than the least expensive gluten-free snack or granola bars. Unlike the others, these are not “packed with nutrition,” but they have only 100 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. They’re great for a quick sweet tooth fix. Beware, if you eat while driving or on the couch, the chocolate flakes do have a tendency to fall out. You wouldn’t want those on your pants. No, that didn’t happen to me. They fell all over the plate in the photo. I’m just sayin’.

I like these bars a lot and I do recommend them.

 

Kozy Shack Simply Well Naturally Flavored Puddings

Posted in Dessert, Food/Cooking, Health, Snacks by

Kozy-Shack-Simply-Well-Rice_Pudding-4Pk-565x245There’s a lot of cheap junk food out there…and there’s a lot of expensive health food out there as well. So finding something healthy that tastes good at a decent price…and then adding gluten-free to the mix is an accomplishment!

Kozy Shack Simply Well puddings are naturally flavored, and state gluten-free not only on the outer packaging, but on each individual serving cup as well. They contain 3 grams of prebiotic fiber per serving, are made will real milk, are a good source of antioxidant vitamin E, calcium and vitamin D, and have no hydrogenated oils or preservatives.

Healthy Pudding? Yes, pudding…you know, like dessert? Yet each cup has only 100 calories and as little as 1 gram of fat, depending on the flavor. Speaking of flavor…they taste great. I tried the lemon ginger; don’t let the name discourage you – it is not biting or tangy. It is a light, mildly sweet, lemony treat, with an occasional tiny hint of ginger. The consistency is smooth like custard. It is great as an in-between meal snack.

The dark chocolate flavor is less sweet, and a little less smooth than the lemon. It is a little heavier consistency-wise, and more resembles the flavor of a chocolate mousse than a pudding. I would love to add some whipped cream on it for a really delectable dessert. However, it doesn’t need the topping to be delicious.

All good things come at a price; I purchased these treats on sale for three dollars per four-pack, which translates to 75 cents a cup – for a yummy, healthy, gluten-free treat. There are five flavors in all.

Simply Well Naturally Flavored Pudding by Kozy Shack can be found in your grocer’s refrigerated dairy section. For more information about Kozy Shack, go to their official website. All Kozy Shack puddings, flans and gels are gluten-free.

 

This article originally appeared on Celiac-Disease.com on March 10, 2010 at http://celiac-disease.com/kozy-shack-simply-well-naturally-flavored-puddings/  Flavors and prices may have changed since that date.

Best. Cookies. Ever.

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IMG_5723 immaculate cookiesSerious. Dead serious. Not kidding. These cookies are the most awesome cookies ever, even better than glutenous cookies!

Imagine, if you will, the outer edges of a brownie – just a little crispy on the outside but still chewy on the inside. Then imagine an entire cookie exactly like that. That is what the Immaculate Baking Company has created with their Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough. You get 12 balls of dough in a tray. Flatten those out (I use wax paper and the palms of my hands), pop them in the pre-heated oven, and BAM! 15 minutes later you have the most amazing cookies ever. Even my gluten-mongering friends are like OMG with these cookies. Best. Cookies. Ever.

Seriously – you could put some vanilla ice cream and other stuff on them and make a brownie barge type thing but they are so good I hate the idea of actually putting anything on them. I appreciate them all by themselves.

WARNING – do NOT bake all of them at once if you are alone. You will eat them ALL. I tend to cook four at a time right before I bring two to a friend. If I wasn’t bringing them until the next day, I would eat them all. You will not be able to resist. Honestly.

Run, don’t walk, to your nearest Safeway or the other stores which carry this product. You won’t be sorry.

More information (including a store finder) is available at www.immaculatebaking.com.

IMG_5739 immaculate cookie

 

Real Food, Real Taste and Gluten-Free: Bistro Sensations

Posted in Food/Cooking, Recipes by

Bistro Sensations Smoked Mozzarella SausagesI love it when something good happens by accident. But when something great happens by chance, well then – I’m going to tell everyone.

I was in Wal-Mart and saw Bistro Sensations Smoked Mozzarella with Artichoke and Garlic fully cooked chicken sausage in the refrigerated section. I have no idea why I picked up the package. When I turned it over, surely enough, it said gluten-free. That was all I needed to see! I was also pleased that they contained no soy (although they are not labeled as soy-free).

When we got home, we put those sausages on the grill. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best): I give them an 11. Even my gluten-mongering spouse loved them. Great flavor, great texture…I felt like a normal person eating normal food. That doesn’t happen too often.

The sausages were not greasy. The seasonings were just right. We had 1-1/2 sausages each with some beans. That left one sausage. I decided to make a crustless quiche with it the next night.

There are no seasonings other than salt in the following recipe because I wanted the flavor from the sausage to be the feature of the dish.

Sausage & Cauliflower Crustless Quiche (Gluten-Free)

  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup of cooked cauliflower
  • 1 Bistro Sensations sausage link
  • Salt
  • Dash of milk or half and half
  • 1 cup of Italian shredded cheese
  • Pam for grilling or oil

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Grease pie pan.
  • Chop up cauliflower and sausage.
  • Spread half of each on the bottom of the pan.
  • Beat eggs.
  • Add milk/cream and salt. Beat some more.
  • Add shredded cheese and stir.
  • Pour 3/4s of the egg mixture into the pie pan.
  • Scatter the other half of the cauliflower and sausage evenly through out the pan.
  • Pour the rest of the egg mixture into the pan, covering the rest of the ingredients.
  • Cook for 30 minutes.

Let sit for about 5 minutes to set, then cut and enjoy. Makes 4 generous slices as a main course.

Enjoy!

This article originally appeared on Celiac-Disease.com on April 17, 2010 at http://celiac-disease.com/real-food-real-taste-and-gluten-free-bistro-sensations/  Unfortunately, it is not clear if Bistro Sensations sausages are still available. I’m sure other brands will work just as well.