Bread – Page 13 – The Celiathlete

March 18, 2014

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf

Product: Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf – $35.00

Let me tell you…I adore products from Katz Gluten Free. I have been pimping the quality, taste, and everything about their variety of products since I have tried so many of them. However…in order to make a gluten-free breakfast bread pudding with a friend of mine…I needed some gluten-free challah. And I knew the only place to get it was from Katz Gluten Free.

I debated for a long moment over whether to go ahead and order the very, very, very pricey Large Braided Challah Loaf…or just skimp on that line of thinking and get either the sliced challah loaf or the rice challah. I debated. Price had a lot to do with it. I mean…holy gluten-free gods…$35 was a lot to spend on a loaf of bread. But…I figured I wanted to go for quality of what we were making and opted to go ahead and place an order for Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf. I just hoped it was worth the $35 I was spending on it. Oy!

A few days later, the loaf arrived via UPS…and I was really excited to take a look at what a $35 loaf of bread looked like.

Little did I know that when the loaf is called a large braided loaf…it really is LARGE!! Seriously…the size of two of my heads put together. That is not an exaggeration!

I only hoped the Large Braided Challah Loaf was worth the investment in the end. I’d find out on Sunday morning…after a short run…when my friend, Jenn, and I raided her kitchen and began working on a recipe for Gluten Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel. We had the recipe picked out prior to the get-together weekend…and I told her if she got the rest of the ingredients, I would get the bread. And with both of us following through on the deal…it was time to open up this monster loaf and see if I made a wise investment.

The bread smelled fantastic the moment I got that plastic wrap off of it. I mean…almost like it was fresh out of the bakery. So amazing. I sniffed the air quite a few times, ignoring the slight hunger rumbles in my belly. There was a lot of time between this moment and breakfast time…so I had to focus on getting it made if I wanted to get myself fed. I sliced off the end piece and, instead of using it as the center of the bread pattern as suggested by the recipe…we cut it up to sample.

Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel made with Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf

OMG…it was good. It was really, really good. I loved the taste of the crust and the actual challah bread itself. The sesame seeds that are scattered on the top of the loaf are a brilliant touch and a very tasty addition. I wouldn’t have though that those little seeds could be so important, but the taste and texture was only elevated with their presence. I was impressed. And, let me tell you…this is one very soft and fluffy loaf of bread. You’d never guess it because it feels so heavy…but you slice into it and it is just super airy and light. It’s so weird, I know…but that’s the truth. It didn’t crumble or fall apart as I sliced into it, as so many loaves of gluten-free bread can do. And the taste was out-of-this-world delicious. It tasted like it had just been made and pulled out of the oven. It didn’t even need a reheat to make it taste edible. It can go straight from the freezer to the counter top with only a quick defrost. Amazing. Totally worth all $35 I paid for it.

I don’t know how this ranks nutrition-wise as no nutrition information is available on the site. Just know this bread loaf is HUGE!! HUGE!! The recipe we were making called for about 12 ounces and I used less than 1/3 of the loaf. Honestly. The rest is sitting in my freezer until my next culinary adventure arises.

I can, however, list off the ingredients that Katz Gluten Free uses to make its legendary Large Braided Challah Loaf. This gigantic loaf is made from a mix of gluten-free flour (white rice, tapioca, arrowroot, corn, soy, and potato), fresh eggs, palm oil, brown sugar, honey, xanthan gum, yeast, salt, flaxseed, and apple cider vinegar. Mine came topped with sesame seeds, however you can choose to purchase the loaf without the seeds on top. However, if you don’t have an allergy…I highly recommend keeping them on there.

This bread was amazing in the bread pudding that we baked up for breakfast. It’s amazing on its own. It’s amazing with a little butter schmeared on it. It’s amazing with pizza toppings cooked on it. It’s awesome as a grilled cheese sandwich. It holds up to anything and everything. It won’t fall apart on you. The flavor is amazing. The texture is more than superb. And the versatility this loaf offers is unmatched. And you’ll want to use it in a variety of ways…since there is so damn much of it. Not a complaint anymore. One of my favorite gluten free breads I have ever eaten. I will definitely spend another $35 in the future without a second thought.

Thanks Katz Gluten Free…for this amazing addition to my gluten-free menu!!

A slice of Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel made with Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf

March 7, 2014

Product Review: Gillian’s Foods Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons

Product Review: Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons – $4.49+

Three years.

Three very long years since I last had croutons on my salad. Have I missed them? Eh…sometimes? I mean, there comes a moment when you just want to have that little extra crunch to your salad…not from the lettuce or the carrots or the other fresh veggies that are making up said bowl of raw veggie goodness. Sometimes…that little extra seasoning and crispiness is what you desire. And…when you are a Celiac…well…that doesn’t get to happen.

Sure, I could dry out some gluten-free bread and bake up my own in the oven. Of course. But, do you know how expensive gluten-free bread is??! I’ll use that for my sandwiches and French toast, thank you very much!

Lo and behold, on a recent outing to my mom’s favorite store in the Birmingham, Alabama area – Organic Harvest – I spotted a pouch of gluten-free croutons on the shelf of the very first aisle. Hence a stocking up of various items that I can’t get around here.

That being said…the croutons were from Gillian’s Gluten-Free.

Now, I’ve had one other product from Gillian’s Gluten-Free product line. It was their French Rolls, a gift from my friend Kathy, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. And I loved them. I truly did. I used them numerous ways…even as hamburger buns. So, I figured picking up something else of the Gillian’s line-up would be a great way to see what else they can do.

So, into my arms went the pouch of Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons.

Mmmm…garlic.

Ahem.

Anyway…with my CSA bin deliveries back on since I’ve been in town the past couple of weekends, I have a freakin’ heap of lettuce just begging to be used. So, I took the lettuce, grape tomatoes, onion, avocado and cucumber from the bin the other night and made a huge, but epically delicious salad for dinner. And…to add to it…I figured why not give the Gillian’s Foods Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons a go. I got them down from the shelf in the pantry, measured out a serving and…dinner was served.

On their own, the Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons don’t offer much flavor. In fact, they are a little bland. But, no one really eats croutons plain, right? The point is that they compliment the salad and vice-versa. That was totally the case. Once blended on the salad and eaten with the variety of vegetables, these cubes of crunchy garlic-y goodness totally transformed. In fact, I was wishing a serving was bigger than it was, because these were absolutely great mixed in with other ingredients and topped off with a light drizzle of a balsamic dressing.

Both myself and Cathy (the infamous roomie) were impressed. And Cathy loves croutons…so I knew it would be a miracle to impress her. Especially since we were both ‘meh’ on the croutons alone. These little nuggets of goodness add the right amount of crunch and flavor without being too much for the vegetables in the salad. Loving them!

Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons are made from white rice flour, tapioca flour, water, soy flour, guar gum, egg whites, soy oil, yeast, salt, sugar, granulated garlic, oregano and basil. They are shelf-stable and are completely gluten-free, wheat-free and dairy-free.

As far as their nutritional value goes, a serving size of Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons is 7 ounces, or about 4-6 croutons, depending on size. I weighed my serving out. This serving will provide you with only 15 calories and 0.5 grams of fat. Nice!! Not heavy on calories or fat? I love that. You will also be consuming 45 mg sodium. These are sugar-free, trans-fat free, and cholesterol free. Also, you will be provided with 1 gram of fiber, but no additional protein. But if you choose the right veggies for your salad…that’s a non-issue anyway.

Yes…it has been a long, long time since I last enjoyed the crispy, crunchy goodness of croutons on my salad. My hope is that I can find these somewhere around here…or else I’m stocking up when I head to Birmingham next time. Definitely more impressed than I expected. And that…is only a good thing!

Gillian's Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons atop a delicious salad — Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons atop a delicious salad

March 4, 2014

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns – $5.99+

Vegan seafood.

Sounds impossible, right? I would have doubted its existence myself, until a trip to Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati, Ohio last year. My eyes were opened to so much potential and awesomeness. It’s…seafood…made from plant-based ingredients.

Seriously!

And while my journey into the vegan seafood began with Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets…which were…eh…okay…I have found other products by this company to be amazing. Like…you wouldn’t even know it wasn’t seafood. I’m not kidding. Taste is sometimes even better. Texture is spot on. Yep…I’m in love with this company. So much, in fact, that the Breaded Vegan Shrimp are always in my freezer.

Between the numerous natural food stores that I shop at each weekend, there is a variety of Sophie’s Kitchen options available. My most trusted spot, however, is Whole Foods, as they seem to have more of the products than anywhere else. And on a recent journey, these amazing products were…ON SALE! So, my roommate and I grabbed one of each.

And…with Fat Tuesday’s arrival…I was in the mood for some Cajun food. This meant I took the Vegan Prawns and rubbed them with a Cajun seasoning (a la Emeril Lagasse) and cooked them in the oven at 375°F for 6 minutes. This really is that simple, I swear.

Why Cajun shrimp? Well, when I was at Disney World this past January and was meeting Tiana (from The Princess and the Frog), I asked how her restaurant was going and explained that it was a dream of mine to open my own. She said to make my signature dish an amazing Cajun Shrimp Alfredo. So…here I took her advice…except I kept mine vegan and gluten-free. Because…I want to be able to eat it, yes? Yes!

Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Prawns (frozen) — Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns (frozen)

Well, being that this was the first time I was eating the Vegan Prawns from Sophie’s Kitchen, I didn’t stir them into the pasta, but rather laid them on tip. And it worked. The dish looked beautiful and the pasta came out perfect. I made up a sauce using So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk, almond milk, nutritional yeast, vegan butter, garlic, fire roasted tomatoes, and a bit more Cajun seasoning.

And I’ll get to the taste in a moment…

Because Fat Tuesday is tonight and I had another idea going in my head.

This time…a Cajun Shrimp Po’boy. With my vegan slaw on a gluten-free sandwich roll. This HAD to happen. I mean…for real. I once again rubbed the Vegan Prawns down with my Cajun seasoning, but this time I decided to cook them up in a pan. I toasted the rolls in the oven, added some local lettuce, slathered them with some slaw and topped them off with the Vegan prawns. My own, personal twist on a Po’boy. Getting in the Mardi Gras spirit here! I cooked the prawns in coconut oil and…OH MY GOODNESS…that was magic. The Cajun seasoning blackened up perfectly. And these were…winning!

So, now I can talk about what I thought about the Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns…

Oven baked or cooked in the skillet, I was beyond impressed with the flavor, texture, and overall taste of the Vegan Prawns. They were fantastic cooked in the coconut oil in the pan though. Reminded me of when I used to help my mom make her garlic lover’s shrimp (with real shrimp, mind you!). And, I think next time I purchase these (and, yes, there will be a next time), that’s what I’m going to do with them. YUMMY!! I thought these meshed well with the other flavors I paired with it, in both dishes. And while baking them in the oven was good…the pan cooking was beyond amazing. I think I found my new favorite way to prepare them. In fact, next time I get the Vegan Scallops…that’s how I’m cooking those as well. Honestly, these are fantastic.

As far as ingredients go, the Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns are made from water, konjac powder, beta glucan, potato starch, paprika, organic agave nectar, sea salt, carageenan (seaweed based gelatin), alginate (from seaweed), and calcium hydroxide. The Vegan Prawns are soy-free, gluten-free, 100% vegan and plant-based, non-GMO, contain no artificial colors, preservatives or MSG. These have no added sugars or artificial…anything. Honestly!

Nutritionally speaking, each box contains 3.1 servings…or 10 of the Vegan Prawns. A serving is 3 prawns, but being as I’m splitting this with two people over two days, we each had 2.5 Vegan Prawns. That being said, a normal serving of the 3 prawns would give you 50 calories. This product is fat free and cholesterol free. A serving will also provide you with only 150 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. Loving that. And finally, three of the Vegan Prawns provide you with 3 grams of fiber and less than 1 gram of protein.

Discovering Sophie’s Kitchen products has been amazing for me. I often keep one product stocked in my freezer at all times. You never know when you might need it. If you haven’t tried these yet…go to your local natural foods store and check their freezer section. Serious yummy vegan seafood eats here!

Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Prawns (cooked 2 ways) - Left: Vegan Cajun Shrimp Alfredo (baked); Right: Vegan Shrimp Po'Boys (pan fried) — Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns (cooked 2 ways) – Left: Vegan Cajun Shrimp Alfredo (baked); Right: Vegan Shrimp Po’Boys (pan fried)

February 28, 2014February 28, 2014

Recipe: Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread

My refrigerator has something incredible in it. Really.

I have these cartons of So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.

Let me tell you…these were the most fantastic yogurts to ever enter into my life. And I was feeling the need to bake last night. Using a guide recipe from Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, I baked up what is turning out to be one of my favorite breads I have ever made. Made with Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Morsels, Better Batter Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour, and So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk, this is a recipe that will wow your friends and family. You might even surprise yourself with how moist and delicious this bread is when it is baked and cooled and finally…sliced. All of this was from scratch and, as luck would have it, I had everything necessary already in my apartment. Check out the recipe below.

Recipe: Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread

Servings: 12-16
Time: Prep 20 minutes; Bake 50 minutes

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour (I used Better Batter)
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (I used Earth Balance)
1 cup plain yogurt, at room temperature (I used So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk)
2 eggs, at room temperature, beaten
3 ounces miniature chocolate chips, tossed with 1 teaspoon cornstarch (I used Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini Chocolate Chips)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease well a standard 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan and set it aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), place the flour blend, cornstarch, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar, and whisk to combine well with a separate, handheld whisk. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the butter, yogurt and eggs. Mix on medium speed to combine with the paddle attachment (or your handheld mixer) after each addition. The batter will be thick. Add the chocolate chips tossed with cornstarch, and mix with a spatula or spoon until the chips are evenly distributed throughout the batter. Scrape into the prepared baking pan and, with wet hands, smooth the top. To create a dome shape, run a wet spatula along the edges of the pan and pull the batter toward the center. For a uniform split down the center as the bread rises in the oven (instead of a more haphazard split), slash down the center of the loaf with a sharp knife, about 1/4-inch deep.

Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F, and continue to bake for another 20 minutes, or until the top of the loaf springs back when pressed lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with, at most, a few moist crumbs attached. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the loaf pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice once cool and serve.

~*~*~

You will love this bread. Light, moist, and packed with flavor. And using the Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk meant adding flavor without the added sugar. It was fantastic. And the bread…definitely one of my new favorites. This is amazing. I can’t wait to make more breads using the Cultured Coconut Milk. Fantastic.

Chocolate chip bread-y love!

February 28, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk – $5.99+

Love is finding a product that you can literally do just about anything with…and getting creative with it. I love to come up with new ways to make things when I’m in my kitchen. I love to see just what I can accomplish with what I have on hand.

Currently, in my refrigerator, I have two 16 ounce cartons of So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.

What is cultured coconut milk? Glad you asked.

It’s the dairy-free, coconut milk based version of a creamy, dreamy yogurt. Yes…all you dairy-free people who have lamented the loss of yogurt in your diet…welcome to the world of So Delicious and their fantastic coconut milk based yogurts. Also known as…cultured coconut milk.

I love that So Delicious has released two new varieties of their cultured coconut milk products. I already reviewed the Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk…but now it is simply the Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk. First of all, as someone trying to keep their sugar intake in check, the unsweetened offering makes me so happy. Even better…it has great texture and good flavor. It actually has a bit of a tang to it, reminding me of a sour cream. And, certainly, this could easily be used in place of sour cream. But…not in my case.

I got into my kitchen last night and decided to use some of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk…to make bread. Yep. Bread. Delicious…dairy free and gluten-free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Bread.

Here’s what I found out…my bread cooked up amazing. The Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk made this a very light, very moist bread when all was said and done. The best part was how it tasted. Because this also adds flavor without adding more sugar. And that…that is an amazing thing. I love how versatile this product is. It can be used in dressings, breakfast parfaits, smoothies, as a garnish for meals…you name it. And it does it all with style and without upping the sugars you’re consuming. LOVE!

A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk is 1/2 cup or 4 ounces. This serving will provide you with 50 calories and 4 grams of fat. You will be provided with 95 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. The Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk doesn’t provide any protein, but you do get 4 grams of fiber. This product is cholesterol free, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, non-GMO, and made with organic ingredients.

I have truly fallen in love with this product. I am so glad I have two containers of it chilling in my fridge. There are tons of other things I want to try this with. But…below, take a look at how amazing my bread baked up using the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk. I am beyond impressed. You will be too!

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk

February 24, 2014

Restaurant Review: Cap City Fine Diner and Bar, Columbus, Ohio

Restaurant: Cap City Fine Diner and Bar, Columbus, Ohio

Twas two days after my friend Jenn’s birthday and I was visiting her. That was not planned. Okay…maybe it was. I mean…birthdays are so much fun and I wanted to go visit Jenn anyway. The need to get away from life where I am currently living was a necessity more than anything. And good friends always offer the best times when you need your spirits lifted and your soul cleansed.

After a morning of delicious gluten-free crepes and an afternoon spent out shopping at the used book stores, a treat at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, and a stop at the natural food store that literally BROKE my budget (OMG…gluten-free things that I had not even known existed!), Cathy and I were going to take Jenn out to dinner to celebrate her birthday. I let her know ahead of time and she, even though she didn’t have to, chose a place that features a gluten-free menu.

The place…Cap City Fine Diner and Bar.

And at 5 p.m., we rolled up, parked, and made our way into the restaurant.

First of all, the place was nothing like I expected. Located on the end of a strip mall, the outside is very unassuming…save for the 50’s style door you walk through to enter the diner. We were greeted by the hostess after a moment and requested a gluten-free menu for me. We were shown to a table and settled in when our waitress, Candie, came over to get our drink orders. Despite the day of celebration, we all just stuck to water. She went over some specials, and the vegetable soup did spark my interest. So, after she went to fetch our waters and returned, I asked if it was gluten-free. She said she thought it was, but she would go double-check. When she returned, she regretfully informed me that it was not gluten-free. I had to options in mind for dinner. They had gluten-free fries offered and that was really tempting. If I did that, I’d be getting a salad. And it was pointed out by Jenn and Cathy that I could get a salad anywhere. True…but I can’t get fries everywhere. That being said, I made up my mind.

Cap City Fine Diner and Bar's Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls — Cap City Fine Diner and Bar’s Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls

Cathy and Jenn ordered what they normally order when we go out to a restaurant that has this on the menu – Fish and Chips ($15.99). As for me, I went with the Gluten-Free Seasonal Vegetable Plate ($14.99). Candie asked if I wanted some gluten-free dinner rolls. I was taken aback. I wasn’t expecting that. I eagerly nodded my head and gave her a “Oh…yes please!” Happiness.

Orders were in, and we fell into conversation about future plans, things happening around us, the waiter with the really awesome mustache, ate dinner rolls (mine gluten-free…theirs regular)…that sort of thing. The dinner rolls, for the record, were warm, flaky, and delicious! I kept myself to just one. And then…our actual food arrived.

My veggie plate looked amazing. I mean…I read the description, but this was beyond what I expected. This plate was stunning. The colors were vibrant. The presentation was inviting. I was beyond impressed and totally ready to dive in and try it out. But, I composed myself enough to take a picture. Then let my roomie photograph her fish and chips for her own blog (which maybe one day she’ll actually put up on the interwebs). And then she promptly stole some of my rice…because she said she really wanted to try it. LOL! I also let her steal a tortilla chip and some of the hummus.

Oh…I’m getting ahead of myself here. I haven’t yet described the actual food on the dish yet. The menu described the Gluten-Free Seasonal Vegetable Plate as being composed of very wild rice, sliced almonds, goat cheese, roasted red pepper hummus, warm roasted vegetables and cured olives. I asked for my plate to not include the olives because I disdain olives so much. I don’t even want to have to pick around them. The plate came with corn tortilla chips on the side. The rice had the slivered almonds, corn and craisins in it, really amping up the volume as well as the presentation. The roasted vegetables were a mix of asparagus, broccoli, carrots, red pepper, portobello mushrooms and garlic. It was topped off by a very liberal sprinkling of goat cheese. It looked fantastic.

And it was. Just popping with flavor. The corn tortilla chips were my least favorite part, actually and ended up being left on the side of the plate. The vegetables were roasted to perfection, however. Packed with flavor and cooked just enough to get them to that brilliant bright hue that catches the eye and really whets the appetite. I was SO ready for bite after bite. I ended up using dabs of hummus on my vegetables. The roasted red pepper hummus was good, but I found it to be very oily and a bit bland. I felt like it needed a little more seasoning or spice to it. Believe it or not, though, my absolute favorite part of this entire dish…was the very wild rice. I loved the play on flavors and textures with the perfectly cooked rice, the crunch of the slivered almonds, the sweetness from the corn and the craisins. It was absolute perfection. Everything meshed and mingled well on the plate and I was quite content with eating it.

If I had one complaint it was that the entire plate was swimming in oil. While I love olive oil as much as the next person, I think there is a thing as way too much. And this definitely got to that point. But, the flavors were great and I devoured everything but the chips. Delicious!

Would I dine here again? I’d be willing to give it a try. I might do the salad and french fries next time though. Cathy said she’d be willing to try a burger the next time as her fish was good…and fell solidly in the middle of everywhere she ate up until now. Not a bad showing…but it didn’t wow her enough to try it again. But…each of us are willing to give it another try with other food options.

So, a good showing by Cap City Diner. We had a great time there. And we did enjoy the food. It was a great night out with good friends and that was fantastic in and of itself. Good food and good times. Just what I needed.

Cap City Fine Diner and Bar's Gluten-Free Seasonal Vegetable Plate — Cap City Fine Diner and Bar’s Gluten-Free Seasonal Vegetable Plate

January 16, 2014

Product Review: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia

Product: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia – $4.99+

It is by sheer happenstance that I have had, since going gluten-free, a slice of gluten-free focaccia bread. And that happy moment occurred at a local, and now relocated (they moved out of Indiana and into Louisville) café here in the area. The restaurant was Earth Friends Café…and their gluten-free sandwiches were made on gluten-free focaccia bread, provided to them by one of my favorite local businesses, Annie May’s Sweet Café.

That feels like forever ago. It was…probably just over a year or so.

While I can still go to Earth Friends Café, it has been awhile. That is something I definitely need to change. Aside from that, however, that was the only time I had something different when I ordered a gluten-free sandwich. No Udi’s. No Schär. No prepackaged, store brand. Nope. It was real and amazing focaccia bread.

And that one time…an eternity ago…set the standard.

I attempted, once, to make a focaccia bread from a mix by Chēbē…which didn’t work out for me…at all. And that was that. Nothing more ever came of focaccia in my gluten-free life.

Until…one day…I was at my local natural food store and I spotted something I had never seen before. While I had heard of the Canyon Bakehouse brand via the various gluten-free magazines I subscribe to, and my annual trip out to Colorado (the Canyon Bakehouse dedicated gluten-free bakery is located in Loveland, Colorado), I had yet to actually taste any of their products. I had wanted to carry some home with me on my last trip to Colorado, but that final trip to the grocery store never actually happened. So…YAY…happy dance in the aisle when I spotted the brand in my area. FINALLY!

The freezer section actually had a few Canyon Bakehouse options inside now, but I zeroed in on the Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia. I have an abundance of gluten-free pasta in my pantry at the moment, so I figured…get some focaccia and get motivated to start cooking some of that up for dinner. With some pleading eyes and maybe a pout, I convinced my roommate to allow one extra splurge this week to our grocery budget. It worked…and the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia made the journey home to my own freezer.

I just returned from vacation, which means my cabinets, pantry, and fridge are pretty much bare, save for a couple of items. Pasta. Naturally. And lo and behold…my freezer had the focaccia bread inside. I knew what dinner was going to be the next three nights. Who doesn’t love a gluten-free rotini with a marinara sauce and a slice of gluten-free focaccia? I didn’t think I’d hear any complaints!

So, after coming home from the airport and letting the focaccia bread thaw for a couple of hours, I preheated the oven to 400 degrees and began to slice the bread into serving sizes. The packages says it will serve 8, so I sliced it in half, then cut those halves in half and then halved those again. Total…8 slices of focaccia. It worked well. I put the slices on a pan and then put them in the oven to toast while I worked on the pasta and marinara. About 10 minutes later, the pasta was ready and I pulled the bread out of the oven. Plating was easy. Bowl for the pasta…focaccia over the bowl. Perfect for mopping up that marinara, yes? Yes!

Settling in to eat, I couldn’t wait to taste the bread. So, I took one bite. And WOW! Canyon Bakehouse has a great reputation for a reason. The Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia caught me off guard. I was prepared to have a taste of something heavy and dense…but the opposite was true. This focaccia bread, while not light, was flaky. The crust was golden from the oven, the inside, soft, flaky, warm, and perfect. It tasted like real bread. TOTALLY!!

Canyon Bakehouse states on their Web site that their mission is to create delicious and nutritious gluten-free breads that the entire family will enjoy. If the Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia is any indication of their standards, then watch out gluten-free world…because this product is stellar. You’d be hard-pressed to tell it was gluten-free. No crazy aftertaste, no too dense. Just really good flavors, really great texture, and just amazing bread all around.

Let’s get down to the chemistry of the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia, shall we? The ingredients are simple and recognizable: water, brown rice flour, tapioca flour, extra virgin olive oil, cultured brown rice flour, xanthan gum, eggs, sea salt, yeast, thyme, rosemary, organic agave syrup, black pepper, and natural enzymes. Nothing fake. Nothing chemical. No words I can’t pronounce. No question marks as to what I’m consuming. Real ingredients that make really delicious bread.

As for the nutritional aspect of this bread…it’s actually not bad…especially since it is gluten-free bread. A serving is 1/8 of the loaf of focaccia. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 4 grams of fat. Much of that fat percentage is derived from the olive oil that is used in the dough. Healthy fat. A proper slice will also provide you with 15 mg cholesterol, 250 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. That’s not too bad. And, finally, you will be biting into 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein, so you won’t be left feeling empty after eating a slice. I find, so often, that gluten-free bread doesn’t fill me up like regular bread does. That’s not the case with this one. One slice is plenty.

I love how Canyon Bakehouse is thinking outside the box when it comes to products. With the variety of breads they offer (all of which I hope to try very soon), as well as hamburger buns, hotdog buns, and even muffins, the bakery does focus a lot on not just taste, but nutrition as well. I was beyond happy each night I had my gluten-free pasta to have a slice of the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia. It was the perfect compliment, seasoned to perfection, toasted up, with great, flaky texture and amazing flavor.

Yeah…you’re now on my radar, Canyon Bakehouse. And I hope to find more of your products soon!

A slice of Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia

January 2, 2014May 11, 2015

Product Review: Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Beer Bread Mix

Product Review: Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Beer Bread – $8.99

Let me give a big shout-out to Tastefully Simple consultant and a friend of mine from high school, Rebecca Fifield! It is because of her that I have these products in the first place. You see…back when I was in high school, I wasn’t gluten-free. In fact…I don’t think anyone in my hometown even knew what a Celiac was.

It turns out that there is magic in the Interwebs…and thanks to the magic of social media…you reconnect with people. That’s how Rebecca and I got back into touch. And she, knowing I am Celiac and having to eat gluten-free now, sent me packets of Tastefully Simple’s new gluten-free line-up of mixes.

Well…it’s the New Year. January 1st. And my roommate and I have set a few goals for this coming year. And we are wasting no time getting settled into the new routine. That being said, tonight I was simply cooking up some black eyed peas with some kale for dinner. I know that doesn’t sound gourmet, but some believe that eating black eyed peas on New Years Day will bring prosperity. I’m all for that. The recipe mentioned something about serving the meal with cornbread. I don’t have cornbread and I didn’t have enough cornmeal in my pantry to rock out a batch of it from scratch.

That being said…I remembered I had these mixes ready for me to try. So, I climbed up to the top shelf of my pantry and began to pull each one up until I found the one I was seeking.

Gluten-Free Beer Bread.

Yes. Gluten-Free Beer Bread. And…I just so happen to have gluten-free beer on hand. I’m not a beer drinker, mind you, but I make a killer queso with it…so I tend to have it in the house in case. So glad I did…because I was more than excited to get this bread cooking.

And guess what? Tastfully Simple really is simple!! This mix is super easy to put together. I got down one 9 x 5 bread pan and buttered the inside. Then, all I had to do was add to a large bowl…the mix, the gluten-free beer (or you can use soda), and 1 egg. There is an option to add 3 tablespoons of melted butter…which I decided to do.

That’s it. Whisk it together. Pour it in the pan. Drizzle the melted butter over the top (if you’re using it…but I highly recommend it). Set it in a 350°F oven for about 50 minutes…and you have yourself a beautiful loaf of gluten-free beer bread.

YES! It really is that easy!

Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Beer Bread

What’s more…I was drooling as this was baking in my oven. My apartment smelled (and still does) so amazing. Fresh-baked bread is one of my favorite smells…but this aroma was beyond fantastic. I resisted the urge to open the oven and sneak a peak the instant I started to smell it. That being said…I allowed it to cook for a full 50 minutes, preparing the rest of dinner as it was finishing up. And when my timer went off, I pulled a gorgeous, golden-crusted loaf of gluten-free bread out of my oven. I turned it out of the pan…and it was perfect.

I let it cool slightly as I finished up the last of the black eyed peas and kale we were having for dinner. I knew the bread needed to cool a bit more…but I was ready to dive in. So, I sliced off two slices…one for me and on for my roommate. It sliced beautifully, still steaming in the middle. Fresh. Hot. Gluten-Free. Bread.

Well, we settled in for our New Years Day feast and I immediately had to sink my teeth into the beer bread.

OH MY BREAD GODS! No…this is, by far, one of the best gluten-free breads I have ever made in my kitchen. The mix forms into this light, not dense, loaf of bread. I think the carbonation from the beer helps with this. The flavor is buttery, and light, and totally amazing. The texture is perfect. Not dense. Not heavy. And it’s soft…and the right amount of chewy. It is gluten-free bread perfection. I am going to have to order more of this from Rebecca…and stat!

Let’s talk ingredients now, shall we? The Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Beer Bread is a mix of rice flour, whey, sugar, potato starch, tapioca flour, baking powder, whey protein concentrate, cassava flour, brown sugar, salt, yeast extract, natural flavors, maltodextrin, and xanthan gum. Not a bad mix of ingredients there.

As for nutrition…the way I prepared the bread…the stats would look like this:

This mix contains enough for 13 servings. One serving of this bread would provide you with 138 calories and 3 grams of fat. You would also have get only 6 grams of sugar, no fiber, and 3 grams of protein. Amazing stats for bread, yes? YES!

And…trust me when I say that this bread is really, really, really good. Tastefully simple. Tastefully gluten-free. Tastefully devoured.

So, if you want to give it a try, hop on over to Rebecca’s Tastefully Simple Page (www.tastefullysimple.com/web/bfifield) and place an order now. You won’t regret it. I am so happy to have this in my life. Thank you, Rebecca! And thank you, Tastefully Simple!

November 14, 2013

Product Review: Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels

Products: Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels – $6.49+

To this day…thanks to the good gluten-free bagels out on the market…bagels continue to be one of my favorite, easy, breakfast foods (or snack…or even lunch or dinner) to eat.

That’s right. Just as any proper New Yorker will attest…the bagel is the best invention out there. I love them. I loved them back when I could eat “regular” bagels. And I love them now because I have found two brands that do bagels right. One handles bagel thins…but when it comes to all-out bagels…the crispy on the outside, soft on the inside bready treat…I turn to none other than Udi’s.

Udi’s knows how important taste and texture are to the gluten-free community. They strive to provide the best quality, best tasting gluten-free products out there. The first time I ever had one of their bagels…I might have cried.

Okay…I admit it…there were tears of joy. And I think the roomie had to hug me.

Yes…they really are that good.

And, get this…the roomie was never big on bagels…until she had one of the Udi’s Gluten-Free variety. Now…she loves them as much as I do, and is always interested to see what kind of topping I schmear over one in the morning.

Bagels are back with a gluten-free vengeance.

Okay…there is nothing new about Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels. They’ve been out on the market for as long (if not a wee bit longer) as I’ve been gluten-free. It’s just taken me this long to purchase them and try them. Why? I don’t know. I’m a grocery shopping dork, apparently. But…the other day they were on Manager’s Special at my local grocery store…and I couldn’t pass up a pack of these for $2.49. HELLO! They found their way into my shopping basket faster than you can say gluten-free!

Udi's Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels (untoasted) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels (untoasted)

Here it was, the Monday after a trip to Huntington, West Virginia, where I ran a full marathon. I was a little sore, very tired, and not wanting to put on my creative thinking cap to actually come up with something to eat for breakfast that day. Thank goodness for splurge purchases on sale items. I reached into my freezer and pulled out two (one for me, one for the roomie) of the Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels, placed them in a ziplock bag to thaw and became a slug for a good chunk of the morning. Around 20 minutes before the roomie was to get up for work, I turned on my oven to 350 degrees removed the bagels from the ziplock. They were completely thawed and soft (but not mushy…at all!!). I split them in half and set them on a baking sheet. Into the oven they went for about 10 minutes until they were just golden on the top. By then, the roomie was up and ready for some food…same as me.

Why the oven? Because I got rid of my toasted when I was diagnosed with Celiac. The toaster had been used with regular bread and therefore…I couldn’t use it anymore. Toasting bread in the oven is just as easy…it just takes a moment longer to allow it to preheat. I can deal with that. Sure, I miss the ease of a toaster…and yes, I could buy a new one, but my kitchen is the size of a walk-in closet…and I honestly have no room for one.

Anyway…I digress…

Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels are AMAZING! So tasty. I topped off one half with pumpkin spice cream cheese. The other half got a schmear of PB & Jellies Pumpkin Pie Jam (which I bought in Colorado Springs, CO). Why the different options? Well, I was down to just one serving of the cream cheese, so I split it with the roomie!

So…the verdict from both of us is…SUPER YUM! Like YUMTASTIC kind of YUM! Mmmm…mmmm…fantastic kind of YUM! SO YUM! I loved the texture of these bagels and the fact that they are the size of a real bagel, if not slightly bigger. The crust gets this nice crust on it, but the inside remains soft, but toasted all the way through. Perfect bagel texture…and probably better than any regular bagel I had ever eaten. I am beyond impressed! No surprise there!

So, let’s talk ingredients and nutrition, shall we? I know…I know…but it needs to be done. Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels are made from water, tapioca starch, brown rice flour, non-GMO canola oil, egg whites, dried cane syrup, teff flour, tapi0ca maltodextrin, tapioca syrup, flax seed, xanthan gum, yeast, salt, cultured corn syrup solids and citric acid, dry molasses, and enzymes. So…it’s not completely clean eating…but it’s not as bad as some things on the market.

Nutrition-wise, one serving is one a bagel. This really large bagel will serve you 320 calories and 11 grams of fat. One bagel also has 570 mg of sodium and 5 grams of sugar. In addition to that, this one bagel will also provide you with 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein. Trust me…you’ll be more than full after eating one of these…and you won’t be hungry for awhile. LOVE THAT!

I also love how delicious these bagels are…for real. Udi’s really does have it figured out and does a brilliant job of maintaining high standards when it comes to their products. This leaves only one type of bagel left for me to try…the Cinnamon Raisin. And I haven’t found that anywhere around here as of yet.

If you love bagels…you’ll totally love these! Trust me.

Toast one up for yourself and see if you agree!

Udi's Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagel (toasted and topped with a schmear of pumpkin spice cream cheese and a schmear of PB & Jellies Pumpkin Pie Jam) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagel (toasted and topped with a schmear of pumpkin spice cream cheese and a schmear of PB & Jellies Pumpkin Pie Jam)

November 8, 2013

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery launches new product and a giveaway!

Rudi's NEW Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing — Rudi’s NEW Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing

With Halloween over…the next big holiday coming up is none other than Thanksgiving. And we all have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Do you know what I’m thankful for?

Stuffing.

Yep…you read that right. Stuffing!

You see, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery just recently launched its first ever Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing. Yep…just in time for the holidays. I mean, if being gluten-free isn’t stressful enough at the holidays, tackling the homemade buffet at the dinner table can be enough to set you on edge. But not anymore. Not this year. Rudi’s wanted to help make the holidays brighter and easier this season, and they have certainly accomplished that with their delicious…yummy…made for everyone (not just the gluten-free) stuffing. The stuffing is a blend of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain and Original breads with savory spices that will tie in with any holiday dish on the table. Guaranteed. Oh, and it only takes 5 minutes to prepare…and is free of dairy, soy, and (of course) gluten. However, this product will only be available for a limited time…while supplies last through the 2013 holiday season. If you want to see what stores in your area carry Rudi’s Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing, you can check out their Facebook page!

But…that’s not all! To celebrate the launch of their Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing, Rudi’s is also providing a giveaway on their Facebook page, running from November 4-15. Every day, for 10 days straight, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery is giving away daily prizes of fun “stuff” for their fans to use and enjoy over the holidays with their family. In addition, fans can also download a coupon for $1 off any Rudi’s Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing through the More Fun Stuff(ing) Giveaway app.

How do you enter?

Hop over to Rudi’s Gluten-Free More Fun Stuff(ing) Giveaway and enter the information needed…and who knows…you might be chosen to win one of the prizes!

GOOD LUCK!! And stuff your holidays with delicious goodness this season with Rudi’s Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing!