Category Archives: Food/Cooking

Gluten Free LUNA High Protein Bar

Posted in Food/Cooking by

IMG_5664 luna bar compOne word: yuck. Sorry, LUNA, I am a supporter, but I couldn’t stand this.

The first thing that assaulted my senses was the taste/smell of alcohol on the very first bite. Then there was a weird saltiness. The only reason I was able to finish the bar was because I drowned it in Cool Whip (which I then proceeded to eat directly out of the container to get the LUNA taste out of my mouth. I’ll let you decide whether I’m joking about that or not).

The flavor was supposed to be Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. The only other two flavors available (in the store) contained peanut butter, and I’m not a fan of that. I’m also not a fan of soy-based protein, which is the foundation for this bar. It didn’t occur to me to check the ingredients in the store – I just saw GLUTEN FREE and the 99 cent special price and dove in. Yes, I’m a big dummy.

This LUNA bar is 170 calories, 6g of fat, 12g of protein, and contains decent amounts of calcium, Vitamin D, iron, and other stuff. Oddly, there was no chocolate liqueur which a lot of these bars use for flavor.

It turns out that they have a bunch of other flavors, too. You can check those out at http://www.lunabar.com/products/luna-protein  Maybe those flavors are better. I don’t know. I do know that I’m not going to find out.

IMG_5665 luna bar

DanActive Probiotic Dairy Drink – Gluten-Free Vanilla

Posted in Food/Cooking, Health by

DANACTIVE IMG_3868Okay, I made a mistake here. I went into this thinking that, because DanActive is manufactured by Dannon, it would be more like a smoothie than a drink. I figured (sorry, this is kinda like math, here) Dannon = yogurt. Yogurt + probiotic dairy drink = thick, smooth beverage.

WRONG.

Sorry, Dannon, but to me, this is more like the liquid penicillin we used to drink as children back in the dark ages. Except I remember that tasting better.

If you like tangy yogurt, then this will be a breeze for you. But I am a big sissy and like the yogurt that tastes like cream. Yes, every meal should taste like dessert. What’s so wrong with that?

In any case, I tried this because it’s a) probiotic; b) certified gluten-free; and c) it was marked down 50% off.  Yeah, I’m cheap. So sue me. I try all this stuff so you won’t have to. You wanna make that up to me? Tell your friends about this blog. Oh, and buy some of my books.

The family pack I purchased has 8 bottles in it. The normal price (at a small, local Safeway) was $4.49. That’s 56 cents per bottle. Now, this is not a meal replacement by any means. It is more like a supplement. It contains L.Bulgaricus, S.Thermophilus, and “10 billion of its exclusive probiotic culture L.Casei Immunitas which no regular yogurt has” according to the package. I checked my yogurt – that contains L.Casei. It doesn’t say anything about Immunitas. Frankly, that sounds like a disease contracted by political refugees.

Each 3 ounce bottle has 70 calories, 1 gram of fat, 11 carbs, and 3 grams of protein.

So, if you want something with a bit of a tang to quiet those between-meal stomach grumblings, this might be for you.

G/F Mac & Cheese Steel Cage Match: SamMills Brand

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gluten free mac and cheese IMG_1892

No one said there would be math.

At the WalMart store in Colville, Washington, there is an impressive selection of gluten-free foods in the freezer section – for a non-health food store, anyway. This is where I discovered SamMills the Corn Master’s Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese In a creamy Cheddar Cheese Sauce.

At $2.97 for 8 ounces, vs. Amy’s at $3.58 for 9 ounces, it was worth trying. It is wheat free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, and gluten free. Phew!

While I was in the store, I glanced at the cooking instructions. “Cook on high for 3-1/2 minutes” in the microwave. Super easy. Sold.

Then I got it home and went to cook it. That was when I really read the instructions:

Gluten free mac and cheese IMG_1887

  • Cook on HIGH for 3-1/2 minutes
  • Remove film, stir well and cook thoroughly until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

SAY WHAT? No one told me math would be involved. *Sigh*

Seriously, cooking to a certain temperature is my most hated thing. I take this stuff very seriously, and if I can’t get it up to temperature, am I supposed to throw it away? I mean…

Anyway, I finally got it to 165. That was kind of a pain. It didn’t look too bad. And, it had very good flavor. The pasta consistency was similar to slightly undercooked, but I like it that way. I’d much rather have pasta I can sink my teeth into than have mush. So, the SamMills Mac & Cheese was good, but the cooking part was a bit stressful for me and sort of lessened the enjoyment of the dish. For more on SamMills products, go to www.SamMills.eu.

Tune in next time for Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheese.

EATING RIGHT Gluten Free Cake Mix – Yellow

Posted in Dessert, Food/Cooking, Recipes by
eating right yellow cake mix IMG_6666

Not very “yellow” but that’s okay.

Well, this was interesting. I wanted to make a gluten-free spice cake, but Safeway didn’t have any mixes in that flavor. Their new “healthy” EATING RIGHT label offered only yellow cake mix, so around $3.00 per box, I decided to get that and check online to see what spices to add.

I did some searching and found spice information on The Sister’s Cafe:

1 yellow cake mix box
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice or cloves

So, I followed the instructions, added the spices, and commenced to mixing. I went with cloves instead of allspice since the birthday boy has an aversion to the latter. Then, my epiphany: wait a minute, why does it say to “grease or spray a 9×9 cake pan”? Shouldn’t it say PANS – like as in plural?

HA HA not. Even though the picture on the front and back of the box show a two-layer cake, the contents of the box are indeed for only one layer. Oops. That’s probably why it was so inexpensive. Doy.

The birthday recipient always expected a two layer cake: more frosting, you know? (By the way, I always use the Martha Stewart recipe for cream cheese frosting. It works out well.) So, I made two fairly shallow round cakes and baked them for a shorter time.

The day of baking, the cake was surprisingly moist and the consistency was excellent for gluten-free. The spices worked out perfectly, even though they were for TWO cake layers, not just one. But, as the days went by, the flavor faded. It was very strange.

Recommended? Sure. But betware – you will need TWO boxes to make a two layer cake.

EATING RIGHT Ham & Cheese Scramble

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ham cheese scramble IMG_9902Earlier this week, we wrote about the SMART ONES Cheesy Scramble with Hash Browns. Here is an alternative, brought to you by EATING RIGHT.

Let me start out by saying that nowhere does Eating Right claim that this is gluten-free. But if you look at the ingredients, you will notice wheat is not listed amongst the allergens at the end. Eggs, soy, and milk the only allergens listed. When you see modified corn starch specified and xanthan gum used – those are normally a good indication there will be no gluten. However, if it is not labeled as so, it is never guaranteed.

I got this “EATING RIGHT” breakfast on sale for around $2.00 at the local Safeway.

EATING RIGHT: 220 Calories, 7 grams of fat, 18 grams of protein, and 730 mg of sodium. A total of about 5.5 minutes cook time. Very easy.

Compared to:

SMART ONES: 210 Calories, 9 grams of fat, 15 grams of protein, and 510 mg of sodium. A total of 3 minutes cook time. Very easy.

Flavor? Pretty good. I was definitely happier with the non-red-pepper overpowering flavor. This was quite pleasant until I got to the end where I guess I had missed stirring during the cook time and all the black pepper had accumulated. Wow! Powerful stuff. So, I decided I would try another one, and be more careful about the stirring. Well, thorough stirring spread that black pepper throughout the dish. I will not be doing that again. I prefer crispy hash browns, and these were not, but they were good. The eggs had good flavor and consistency. The ham was a little dried out, but I like mine that way (since I don’t usually eat ham) so it didn’t bother me at all. The flavor was good as well.

All in all, if you’re starting out a busy day, need a decent protein-laden breakfast, and only have a few minutes – this is another way to go.

Smart Ones Cheesy Scramble with Hash Browns

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smart ones cheesy scramble IMG_5022Let me start out by saying that nowhere does WeightWatchers claim that this is gluten-free. But if you look at the ingredients, you will notice wheat is not listed amongst the allergens at the end. Eggs and milk the only allergens listed. Xanthan gum is used in the eggs and cheese sauce which is normally a good indication there will be no gluten. However, it is never guaranteed.

I got this “Smart Beginnings” breakfast on sale for $2.50 at the local Safeway. You can probably do better somewhere more traveled.

210 Calories, 9 grams of fat, 15 grams of protein, and 510 mg of sodium. A total of 3 minutes cook time. Very easy.

Flavor? I thought the potatoes were a little too peppery. Could be the bell peppers, but I’m not sure. I prefer crispy hash browns, and these were not. The eggs, however, had good flavor and consistency. I’m not sure where they get the idea it’s a “cheesy” scramble – I didn’t really notice any cheese sauce.

All in all, if you’re starting out a busy day, need a decent protein-laden breakfast, and only have a few minutes – this is the way to go.

Learn more at http://eatyourbest.com.

Nature Valley GLUTEN FREE Roasted Nut Crunch Bars

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Nature Valley Gluten Free Roasted Nut Cruch Bars

Nature Valley, check out this photo. You can’t get much more naturey than this. You want to hire me, yes?

Can you believe it? FINALLY, a healthy snack bar for gluten-free folks that doesn’t taste or look like a turd. And, from a mainstream brand name, no less. Well, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

I found this nugget in Safeway. Normally $3.89, with my card, the price was $2.99. No offense, Safeway – don’t get me wrong, I love you for all the gluten-free food you’re now offering – but I’d bet money you could normally find these for $2.99 in larger stores. Just sayin’. And, at $2.99, it’s competitively priced with the KIND bars I’ll be reviewing at a later time.

Each 1.2 ounce bar (there are six in a box) has 190 calories, 13 grams of fat, 13g carbs, and 6g protein. 0mg of cholesterol is always nice, too.

What’s in them? Almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds and some stuff to make them stick together.

How do they taste? Before I answer this, I must issue a warning. If you have sensitive teeth or dentures, this product may not be for you. It is hard. As a rock. As a granite rock. When they say Roasted Nut Crunch, they really mean the crunch part. That being said, they taste good. Like almond and nut brittle. Not overly sweet – the nutty flavor is definitely the main focus.

You know what else I liked about these? Hardly ever do you see a product that looks EXACTLY like it does on the outside of the box. This does. Silly? Maybe. But it gives me confidence to know that they didn’t have to doctor up the packaging to entice you.

Highly recommended, especially for vampires, werewolves, and other creatures with strong teeth.

Enjoy!

 

 

EATING RIGHT Gluten Free Homestyle Chicken & Rice Pasta

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eating right chicken IMG_3866I do not like peas. I don’t. I’ll eat them, they don’t repulse me or anything, but I find the flavor tends to overpower dishes. So, I ate all the peas out of this first. (Or I tried to, anyway. There were a lot of them.) Problem solved.

So, peas must have been on sale that day because this was loaded with them. There was a generous amount of chicken, but I only saw a few mushrooms, a couple of carrots and one piece of celery. I’m a meatatarian, so that didn’t hurt my feelings any. By the way, the chicken was not overcooked at all. It was a little chewy, but not like pretend chicken nugget processed yuckiness – if you know what I mean. It’s definitely real chicken. The pasta was tender and al dente. Well done, Eating Right.

Despite all my whining and complaining, I really liked this. It has the rich, creamy flavor of a cream of mushroom soup casserole. It’s hearty, and it was hot as hell after cooking it for 6.5 minutes and then letting it sit for 2. I like my food hot, so that made me happy, too. For $2.67 on sale, I am very, very happy. (Normal price $2.99)

Now to the particulars:

340 Calories, 13 grams of fat, 75 mg cholesterol, 700 mg sodium, 36 grams carbs, 20 grams protein.

Okay, so maybe a little high on the fat and sodium, which is probably why it tastes good.

At that price, I’d do it again. Definitely recommended!

 

G/F Salmon Sandwich

Posted in Food/Cooking, Recipes by

salmon sandwich comp IMG_3860The biggest inconvenience about being gluten-free – to me, anyway – is that “quick and easy” meals are hard to find. Gluten-free snacks are either too spicy for me or really high in sugar. So, this quick and easy lunch makes me very happy.

INGREDIENTS

  • Leftover Salmon or Chicken
  • Udi’s White Sandwich Bread (or your favorite)
  • Mayonniase
  • Cucumber
  • Smoked Gouda Cheese

Got leftover salmon? Break it up with a fork. Stir in your favorite mayonnaise, or some cream cheese, or even plain yogurt would work. Toast some Udi’s White Sandwich Bread (or your choice). Udi’s bread is a smaller that most breads, so you can probably use 3 cucumber slices and 3/4 of a slice of cheese to fit nicely. Serve with gluten-free chips or sweet potato fries.

Quick, easy, inexpensive, and above all, classy. Come on, cucumbers on a sandwich? That’s classy!

Enjoy.