Gluten-Free – Page 128 – The Celiathlete

November 2, 2011November 2, 2011

A “Lovely” and rich German chocolate delight

Liz Lovely Vegan & Gluten-Free German Chocolate Cake cookies

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free German Chocolate Cake Cookies – $3.99

For just one moment, I want you to discard all your preconceived notions of gluten-free foods. They do get a bad rep. From tasting like cardboard, to dry, to flavorless. For one moment…or longer…I want you to enter the world of gluten-free baking with an open mind, a hungry stomach, and a sweet tooth.

Just because something is gluten-free (and in this case, vegan too) doesn’t mean that it’s not going to be amazing. Liz Lovely proves this once again with another delicious gluten-free cookie from the company’s line-up of vegan, gluten-free cookies.

Every time I go into my natural foods store, I treat myself to a pack (which contains 2 cookies) of these cookies. The vegan, gluten-free variety come in a variety of flavors. But the German Chocolate Cake ones caught my attention that day. They looked absolutely mouth-watering delicious.

Soft, chocolate cookies dusted with coconut…pardon me while I drool.

And, as with the previous experience with Liz Lovely cookies…I was not disappointed.

Remember…a serving of these cookies is 1/2 of a cookie…but trust me…it’s the perfect amount.

The gluten-free German Chocolate Cake cookie was so moist and and rich. Seriously, these cookies are soft. I love that in a cake-like cookie. You get the cookie appeal but the moistness of a cake. It’s the perfect combination. The chocolate base of these cookies is decadent and really just melts in your mouth with each bite. The addition of the walnuts to the batter is nice, sporadic treat throughout the cookie. But the key is the coconut on top. It adds a great texture and quality to the cookie and really ramps up the flavor. The gritty coconut texture pairs really well with the smooth, rich texture of the cookie. It was a match made in heaven. And I’m not even a big fan of coconut when it’s used as a topping.

These vegan, gluten-free cookies are fantastic. I always look forward to buying another flavor and seeing how it compares to the others I have tried previously. With two of these cookie varieties under my belt, I look forward to my next sampling. Vegan…gluten-free…delicious. Yeah…life doesn’t get much better than that.

Liz Lovely Vegan & Gluten-Free German Chocolate Cake Cookie

November 2, 2011November 7, 2011

Recipe: “Hey…These Tomoatoes Look Amazing” Pasta

Every great (and improvised) recipe starts with a trip to the grocery store or local farmers market. Well, our farmers markets are shutting down for the year…but one afternoon while walking through the organic produce at my local grocery store, my roommate pointed out just how beautiful the Roma tomatoes looked. Upon inspection, I agreed…they were perfectly ripe – not a blemish on them. So…we bought some. I mean, tomatoes are awesome and can be made into…lots of different things.

What I did was create a pasta dinner where vegetables made up the “sauce.” Why drown your pasta in some heavy sauce when fresh vegetables and a little time on the stove can make something far more flavorful and healthy? Yeah…I may never go back to sauce again.

“Hey…These Tomatoes Look Amazing” Pasta

Servings: 2
Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

4 oz of gluten-free pasta noodles (your choice on kind, here I used DeBoles Gluten-Free Rice Penne)
6 organic Roma tomatoes, sliced
1-1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (I used baby bellas here)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Dash of salt
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp roasted garlic vinegar
Shredded mozzarella cheese (I used Diaya vegan cheese)
Feta cheese (or Parmesan, or goat cheese…whatever your taste buds desire)

Directions:

Fill a pan with water and put on stove. Bring to a boil.

While waiting on water to boil, slice mushrooms and tomatoes.

Heat a non-stick pan on medium-high heat. Once hot, add olive oil to pan to cat. Add mushrooms to pan and begin to cook to a nice light brown.

While mushrooms cook, add gluten-free pasta to boiling water and cook per package instructions.

Once mushrooms begin to brown, turn down the heat a little and add minced garlic. Stir. Allow the garlic to begin to take on a little color. Then, add the sliced tomatoes to the pan and begin to cook. The juices from the tomatoes will begin to release. Begin to season with herbs, salt, and red pepper flakes. Allow to simmer.

Drain gluten-free pasta noodles and shake excess water from them.

To the vegetables, add a splash of roasted garlic vinegar at the end. Stir and allow to simmer for one minute more. Add the pasta to the pan and give it a good stir. Simmer for a minute or so, allowing the pasta to absorb some of the flavors of the “sauce.”

Remove from heat and pour into two bowls. Give each bowl a light sprinkling of shredded mozzarella cheese and stir. This just adds a creamy texture to the dish. Crumble feta cheese over the top.

Serve.

~*~*~

I’ve made this recipe a few times now…with linguini noodles and also spaghetti squash. They’ve both been delicious with this “sauce.” I just poured the vegetables over the spaghetti squash however, instead of cooking it in the pan. It worked just as well. I also find that shiitake mushrooms are a nice substitute for the baby bellas. Get creative. See what you have that’s fresh and give it a whirl. I promise…it’s epic yum!

November 1, 2011

Crunch time: Snyder’s of Hanover bring gluten-free pretzel sticks to their line-up

Product: Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks – $5.99+

Pretzels are awesome snacks. Honestly, since I was a kid, they’ve been one of my favorite things to crunch on. And when I went gluten-free…they had to be eliminated from my diet. Not that there weren’t gluten-free options out there. My local grocery store had bags of Glutino’s pretzels on the shelves…but for that price, it was hard to convince me to shell out the funds for it.

But then I won a contest during a month of gluten-free giveaways on Gluten Free Works. How exciting. My prize…a bag of the new Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks. When they arrived in the mail…I was so excited to give them a try. Pretzels were back on my snack plate and that made me stupid-happy!

My afternoon snack at work is very important to me. It falls between lunch and dinner, and must sustain me through dinner prep and the cooking time each day. I packed a serving of these pretzel sticks and found that they did do the trick.

Snyder’s of Hanover do offer up a great product here. These pretzels are light as air, so they don’t even feel like real pretzels however. One bite…and the crunchiness of them is apparent. Love a crunchy pretzel. But I find these to be a bit too loud at times. Especially when I’m sitting in my cubical at work, and I disturb the office silence with a loud CRUNCH. Ah well…one of the perils of the office, I suppose. But, these are good. I found the lightness of them to be a bit offsetting, but once I got beyond that, I found the magic of these pretzel sticks. They are also a low-calorie snack that is relatively low in sodium (for pretzels) and pack a crunch with each bite (even I don’t want pretzels that don’t have a bit of a snap to them!).

They taste good, but I found them to lack when I compared them to the pretzel twists I tried from Glutino. When I ate the Glutino pretzels, I wanted to share them with everyone at the office. I didn’t get that same rush with these. They lightness of them didn’t make them feel like real pretzels, unlike Glutino which matched the feel, texture, and flavor of regular pretzels bite-for-bite. If I’m craving pretzels and these are all I can find, however, I wouldn’t turn my nose up at them. They really do taste great…they just didn’t wow me like I hoped.

I had also hoped that Snyder’s of Hanover (being a well-known and trusted pretzel brand) would have their gluten-free bags at a more affordable price than, say, gluten-free companies such as Glutino. However…the few stores I have spotted these in, they have been just as expensive if not more expensive than Glutino’s brand. YIKES! And I wouldn’t mind shelling out almost $6 for pretzels if the bags were of equal value to the regular pretzels. But hold up a bag of Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks to one of their bags of regular pretzels, and it is much smaller. I see that trend a lot in companies that begin a gluten-free line…and with gluten-free companies in general. More cost…less product. It’s a sad reality to me these days…but one I have to give if I feel the need to splurge on a snack.

So, while Synder’s of Hanover didn’t really wow me with their pretzels, if they were on sale, I’d pick them up again. Might even dip them in some (gluten-free) melted chocolate and change things up a little. If you are craving a lot of crunch and a little salt in your day…and if you can find these…go ahead and try them. They do make a great gluten-free snack. They just aren’t my first choice for gluten-free pretzels for the moment.

October 31, 2011

Bob’s Red Mill churns out thick, filling pacakes

Product: Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pancake Mix – $4.99+

Fluffy pancakes are my favorite kind of pancakes. So, when my friend Jenn told me about Big Lots carrying Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free mixes for a great price ($2.50+), I bought up the lot of them as soon as I could. And, since I had such great luck with Pamela’s Products when it came to gluten-free pancakes, I was really excited to mix up a batch of Bob’s…considering his is a gluten-free name that is trusted years over.

While these pancakes cooked up thick and fluffy, they still seemed quite dense when sliced into. I’ve mixed it quite a few times now, and the batter seems so heavy when I lay it into my pan. It’s strange, because while I do like thick and fluffy pancakes…this just seems the wrong kind of fluffy.

Now, don’t get me wrong…these are good in their own right, but I much preferred the lighter version I whipped up with Pamela’s Products Pancake and Baking Mix. Because, while filling, they really were light and airy. These are quite heavy…so I feel full and then remain feeling full. That’s not how I want to spend the morning, because then I just want to crawl back into bed.

Pancakes are a tricky food, mind you. Everyone likes to eat them a little differently. But I like to have something that will fill me up without making me feel like I just consumed the entire plate. While I stuck with the serving of Bob’s Red Mill pancakes (two 4-inch pancakes), these thick little breakfast cakes were heavier than I am used to when it comes to mixing up pancakes for the morning.

Still, quite good in its own right. Perhaps next time I’ll add a splash more of almond milk and break up the batter a bit more. But I love the way these cook up and fluff up on in the pan. Beautiful pancakes to be sure. But…just not right for me.

I do love that Bob’s Red Mill is such a trusted brand when it comes to gluten-free eating. And I do look forward to trying other mixes and enjoying them. So, while these pancakes didn’t cook up to my standard, I still enjoy eating them. And I’ll mess with the recipe some and see if I can still achieve the fluffiness…but with a lighter texture all around.

October 30, 2011

Alexia dishes up a potato and veggie twist on Italian flavor

Product: Alexia Italian Sauté – $3.29+

I admit it…this was the one potato and vegetable side from Alexia that I wasn’t too sure about. I mean, I liked all the components in it; I just wasn’t exactly sure how it would all come together in the end.

I was with the product at the inclusion of the packet of basil-infused olive oil. That…sounded absolutely delicious to cook the bag of potatoes and various vegetables in. And I was good with roasted red potatoes, spinach, onion, and tomatoes. It was the inclusion of the great northern beans that through me for a loop. And I love beans. As a vegetarian, they are a fantastic source of fat-free protein. Perfect, as I’m also a runner and lean proteins are key to my training. But…how would they work with potatoes? I wasn’t too sure about it.

But I should know by now to trust brands like Alexia. When they cook something up, it’s always a tasty treat. Potatoes and beans actually pair really well. Especially these…when sauteed for 12 minutes in the basil-infused olive oil…the flavors are magnified and every bite is so satisfyingly delicious, you almost wish you had more.

I served this up as a meal, but it, like the other potato and vegetable sides, can be served up for multiple diners as a side dish? But why, when you can savor it as a meal instead. Yeah…it’s that good. This one, surprised me, but in a good way. Sometimes, the foodie in me just needs to trust the product to be good and not automatically assume flavors and textures won’t work together.

Whether you are in search of a nutritious, gluten-free side, a vegetable side-dish, or a vegetarian meal…turn to the sautés from Alexia. Honestly, every one has been full of flavor, easy to prepare, and absolutely pleasing to the palate. And for a gluten-intolerant, vegetarian, these fit right into the meal plan where needed.

Product perfection, bite after potato-y bite!

October 28, 2011October 28, 2011

Amy’s Kitchen dishes up another fantastic product in gluten-free (and dairy-free) burrito

Product: Amy’s Kitchen Gluten-Free Non-Dairy Burrito – $3.79+

A lot of love goes into the foods that Amy’s Kitchen produces and puts out on the grocery store shelves. That’s evident. After all, the business is family-owned business that grew over the years and expanded and soon…Amy’s Kitchen became the nation’s leading natural frozen food brand. Every product that Amy’s Kitchen puts out is vegetarian…but now there are quite a lot of gluten-free options in her line as well.

Which is ideal for this busy, gluten-intolerant vegetarian.

It’s not everyday you find a company that uses natural and organic ingredients in their processed food products. But that’s what makes Amy’s Kitchen stand out from many of the competing brands out there. And it’s one reason (the other being that EVERYTHING I have ever eaten from their line-up of foods has been spectacular) I continue to purchase these products.

So…what does one eat on a busy evening when there is way too much to do, so slaving over the hot stove to create a homemade masterpiece of a meal is not an option? Well…this happened to me recently and my answer was to open of the freezer and pull out Amy’s Gluten-Free Non-Dairy Burrito. My roommate had one of the regular burritos offered in the line-up that is marked as low sodium.

Amy's Kitchen Gluten-Free Non Dairy Burrito (frozen) — Amy's Kitchen Gluten-Free Non-Dairy Burrito (frozen)

Easy to heat. Just unwrap. Place on plate. Put in microwave. Nuke. Remove from microwave. Enjoy. And while it’s heating up, you can pour yourself a drink or start on a project. Within minutes…dinner is warm and served.

Now, burritos usually aren’t my thing. They are heavy and often way too filling. But the gluten-free burrito from Amy’s Kitchen was just right. Honestly. The gluten-free tortilla was very light, not heavy like most burritos flour tortilla counterparts. With this one being non-dairy (lactose intolerance here!), there was no heavy cheese. It was a light, but filling portion of beans and rice in a mild, tasty, Mexican sauce. And all the ingredients and vegetables and goodness wrapped up inside this light tortilla were organic.

This burrito was mouth-watering delicious. It doesn’t look like much coming out of the microwave, piping hot. It looks a little naked and boring, to be honest. But one bite was all it took to have me hooked. The rice, beans, and vegetables all just come together to create the amazing flavors that burst from this burrito. Trust me, with the mild Mexican sauce, you don’t even miss the cheese. Yes…food can be good without the cheese. This is proof wrapped up in a gluten-free tortilla. I let my roommate have a small taste of mine…and she said she loved it more than the one she was eating. Especially the gluten-free tortilla because it just seemed lighter than the bulkiness of the flour tortilla in her Amy’s Kitchen burrito. GLUTEN-FREE VICTORY!

When prepackaged food can taste this amazing, I don’t feel as bad on busy days just simply digging into my freezer and pulling out something that just needs a bit of a zap in the microwave, or a short sit in a preheated oven. And when food is this nutritious and relatively low in sodium (Amy’s Kitchen does have a low-sodium line, FYI) from the get-go…plus is packed with natural and organic foods, it takes the guilt away from not wanting to cook from scratch. Especially on days you just don’t have the time to do so…or just don’t feel like it. It happens. And now…Amy’s Kitchen is stepping in to help make your quick meals delicious, wholesome, healthy, and in some cases…gluten-free.

Amy’s Kitchen continues to wow me with the products that are put on the shelves. So, if you have yet to try any of them, you’re completely missing out. Don’t let the vegetarian label fool you if you are a carnivore. This just proves that great, pre-made vegetarian meals exist and are good for not just the vegetarians of the world…but the meat-eaters as well.

Go on…let Amy’s Kitchen serve you some amazing food from their delicious line-up. You won’t be disappointed.

Amy's Kitchen Gluten-Free Non-Dairy Burrito (heated)

October 27, 2011

Hodgson Mill bakes up fantastic and moist gluten-free brownies with winning mix

Product: Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Brownie Mix – $3.99+

WINNING!

Let’s start with that because it was how this chocolate treasure came into my life. I had joined an online community doing some giveaways during Celiac Awareness Month and won a couple of giveaways. One I knew about. This one, however, arrived as a complete surprise. But, when given gluten-free chocolate…a lady never turns up her nose.

I’ll be honest. I was a bit reluctant to cook the Hodgson Mill gluten-free brownies up. I was so enamored with the Betty Crocker mix, I didn’t think anything could top it. But I was craving chocolate one day…and this was my next gluten-free treat in the pantry to cook up. And so…that’s what I did.

So easy to make. Very few ingredients. Pop it in the oven, and soon my entire apartment smelled of delicious brownie goodness. If these tasted anywhere near as good as they smelled, it would probably be difficult to keep to just one at a time.

Out of the oven to rest and cool. The brownies cooked up amazing. I mean, with a soft crust on the top and everything. The PERFECT brownie just from the looks of it. Once it cooled down enough for me to slice into it without making a mess…I plated up. Because in my world, chocolate is priority.

Fudgy. Creamy. Amazing. These blew the Betty Crocker ones away. Honestly, one of the best brownies I have ever tasted. So very moist and soft. And they kept that way as my roommate and I worked our way through it for eight days. Nothing went stale. Nothing got hard. They stayed moist and delicious. No heating up in the microwave necessary. Fall off your fork fantastic. These gluten-free chocolate morals of goodness are, bite-for-bite, loaded with chewy, chocolate flavor.

I will never doubt the wonders of Hodgson Mill products ever again. This is the second one I’ve tried. But this one…by far…has been my ultimate favorite. Chocolate done right in all it’s gluten-free brownie glory. It’s hard to stick to a serving. And…I discovered these are delicious on their own. No need to dress it up with Chocolate Cool Whip or drizzle it with melted dark chocolate. Although…we all indulge a little more every now and again. But…it wasn’t necessary and that was the best part. These brownies are so amazing they can stand on their own. Why dress up perfection?

Hodgson Mill won me over again. Gluten-free never tasted so sweet (or chocolatey).

Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Brownie (epic yum!)

October 25, 2011November 2, 2011

Vegan and gluten-free cookies a “Lovely” guilty pleasure

Liz Lovely's Vegan & Gluten-Free Triple Chocolate Mint cookies

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Triple Chocolate Mint Cookies – $3.99

I know…I know. I thought it too. Two 2-inch cookie rounds for $3.99? Are you off your rocker? But cookies are one of those things that seem to win out over price and logic at times when it comes to me. My guilty pleasure is often some variety of cookie, savored slowly, bite-by-bite, while all of the flavors play over my palate.

Naturally…some cookies are better for my foodie tendencies than others.

What I noticed first about Liz Lovely’s cookies when I was in my natural food store…was that they were (OMG!) cookies! Then I spotted that they were vegan (YAY!). And then…some were certified gluten-free (DANCE OF JOY!). Then I spotted the Triple Chocolate Mint variety and my wallet lost out to my tummy rumblies.

Chocolate + Mint + Cookie = WINNING!

So, yes…the cookies are a bit pricey, but they are backed up by their standards and amazing taste. Trust me.

Move over Girl Scouts. If Liz Lovely has anything to say about amazing mint cookies, your Thin Mints are getting a run for their money. Unlike the Girl Scouts offerings, Liz Lovely baked up a delicious vegan and gluten-free cookie that is brownie-licious and satisfying. Honestly, it would be Cookie Monster’s vegan cookie dream. If perfection could be captured in cookie form…the vegan and gluten-free Triple Chocolate Mint Cookies by Liz Lovely would set the bar and hold the standard. Cookie heaven on Earth.

These cookies are chewy and full of dark chocolate flavor. They should be, considering they are a chocolate base with chocolate chips and a chocolate drizzle. But these amazing cookies don’t stop there. No. They get an added bonus with a hint of peppermint oil that just takes them to the next delicious level. Each bite is soft, chewy, and has the perfect balance of dark chocolate and mint. Nothing too overpowering. Absolute cookie perfection.

I never took so long to eat a cookie when I bit into this one. I savored every ounce of flavor, every little bite. Every bit of chocolate was allowed to melt slowly as I savored it down to the last bite. Cookie nirvana.

Do mind the serving size, however. These 2 cookies are good for 4 servings, so you eat half a cookie at a time. Believe me…it’s not easy sticking to that once you have a taste. But these are meant as a treat, so give yourself 4 days of sweet indulgence. More time to savor every little bite.

Whether you gobble down cookies like Cookie Monster, or savor each little nibble to really soak in the flavors, these cookies make a rich, decadent dessert or treat. And, the cake-like consistency will leave you feeling satisfied. Trust me.

I haven’t been able to resist these cookies since finding them. If I am in my natural foods store, one of the gluten-free varieties is coming home with me. So, rest assured, the other flavors will get their time in my blog spotlight. But, with all that said, these have been my favorite vegan and gluten-free offerings from Liz Lovely yet.

Who needs Girl Scout cookies (which I can’t eat anymore anyway)? Tantalize your taste buds with these instead. Trust me. Two cookies well worth the price.

Liz Lovely's Vegan & Gluten-Free Triple Chocolate Mint Cookie

October 25, 2011

Envirokidz Organic Crispy Rice Bars a peanut butter packed gluten-free delight

Product: Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Bars – $2.50+

I love a good gluten-free deal. Seriously. Sales. Manager’s Specials. It’s one of the only ways I can afford to test out some of the products that I do. But even more difficult at times is finding healthy gluten-free snacks that aren’t straight out of the produce aisle.

Don’t get me wrong…fresh produce is my favorite thing in this world. I load up on fruits and vegetables religiously and snack often on apples, berries, and certainly bananas. But sometimes the diet needs a bit of a shake-up and finding a gluten-free alternative often leads to cookies or high-calorie snack bars.

Then, on the Manager’s Special table at my local grocery store, I found a pack of Nature’s Path’s gluten-free line of products that are marketed to kids. Envirokidz Organic Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Bars…sounded intriguing enough. I like peanut butter. And when I didn’t have my gluten-intolerance, Rice Krispie treats were one of my favorite things in the world. So…this sounded like a good way to change up the afternoon snack. Not to mention, these are relatively healthy, low in calories and fat, and gives this vegetarian a bit of a protein boost from its use of organic peanut butter in the ingredients.

Here’s the good thing about buying products that are marketed towards children. They often taste amazing. Why? Because kids are finicky eaters. They are the biggest food critics out there and will not eat something that doesn’t taste good to them.

Nature's Path Envirokidz Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Bar

I ripped into one of these at work one afternoon when the 3:00 munchies hit hard. And I became hooked immediately. They are soft, chewy, and packed with peanut butter flavor. They have the right amount of sweetness in each bite to counter any cravings for something sweet (and less healthy). Not to mention, they are the perfect amount to act as a snack without ruining my appetite for dinner. Let’s face it…I live to eat and cook, so this was my perfect go-to snack. Who would have thought?

These bars are the perfect size (think granola bar size) to be filling, and easy to transport. They have the crispiness in the initial bite, and the soft, melt-in-your-mouth affect that crispy rice bars should have. And…they are flavored with peanut butter. Salty meets sweet. The best combination ever.

Nature’s Path knew what they were doing when they set out to market and make these delightful treats. Kids will love the animals on the boxes. But they will also love the product that is wrapped up inside. Even better…adults will too. And you don’t need to feel guilty about this little indulgence.

Nature's Path Envirokidz Organic Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Bar (Unwrapped)

October 24, 2011

Udi’s serves up a slice of gourmet gluten-free pizza

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts – $5.99+

I was shocked the other day when I wandered into one of my local department store’s gluten-free grocery section and spotted Udi’s gluten-free pizza crusts in the freezer. Shocked. I had only spotted these at Whole Foods in Louisville. Now…they were sitting somewhere local and easily accessible.

FINALLY…somewhere near me had gluten-free pizza crusts!

I just happened to be hungry (broke the cardinal rule of never shopping while hungry) at that moment, so I bought a pack of them (it comes with two) and headed home to cobble together some toppings for dinner.

These pizza crusts were bigger than what I thought, so putting two on the same pan didn’t happen. That’s not a bad thing. Two pans out, oven preheated, I set to work on topping the frozen crust. I am on a tight budget these days, so I had to go with what I had laying around. I brushed each crust with olive oil, then sprinkled with caramalized shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh parsley, non-dairy Mozzarella cheese, and then some herbed goat cheese. Into the oven it went for about 10 minutes. Then a sprinkling of organic spinach, back into the oven for one minute to allow to wilt, back out. Dinner is served.

Aside from a delicious homemade pizza crust at a gluten-free pizzeria in Okemos, Michigan, I had had the gluten-free pizza at BJ’s Brewhouse and Restaurant, as well as Rudi’s pizza crust (YUM…but not available in stores near me!). But I had heard so many people shout praises over the versatility and delicious flavor of Udi’s pizza crusts. So, I was intrigued and eager to take my first bite.

When I did…I wasn’t disappointed. The flavor is very much like a homemade pizza crust. It’s got a crunch to it from being a thin sheet, however, it is soft to chew. The flavor is, in part, by the use of brown rice flour. It complimented the flavors of my pizza creation, rather than overpower it. Light and delicious. There was no doubt how amazing this product was. And I had heard people talk about making pita chips out of it as well as other great creations, and I can see how that world work…and work well.

Udi’s has been smashing it out of the gluten-free ballpark when it comes to their products. That’s one reason I continue to go back to them. They aren’t just consistent, they are consistently good! When you know a product is guaranteed to be delicious, you make more of an effort to find it and buy it.

Gluten-free and craving pizza is no longer a problem. I can easily serve up a slice of gluten-free pizza pie now. The toppings are a mystery. The taste of the crust shouldn’t be.

Pizza with Udi's gluten-free pizza crust — Udi's Gluten-Free Pizza Crust topped with herbed goat cheese and sun-dried tomato pizza with caramelized shallots, fresh parsley, non-dairy mozzarella cheese, and finished off with spinach.