Category: Gluten-Free

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Three Cheese Pizza – $7.99+

So…earlier this year Udi’s released quite a few new products.  And when I saw the products online as they were announced, I couldn’t have been more excited about this.  After all…Udi’s = gluten-free yum.  They really do.  The bread, the pizza crust, the cookies, the muffins, the bagels…they’re fantastic.  Throw them in front of any unknowing person and they’d be hard pressed to call it a gluten-free item.  Udi’s works gluten-free magic.

Well, one of the new products that was announced were three varieties of gluten-free frozen pizzas.  Come on…do the happy dance with me.  While I love grabbing an Udi’s pizza crust and topping it off with my own toppings, sometimes it’s just nice to come home and throw something in the oven…no thinking, no chopping, no shredding…just simplicity and ease.

That’s what you get with Udi’s new line of pizzas.  The three flavors that were released were Uncured Pepperoni Pizza (which is off-limits for this vegetarian), Margherita Pizza, and Three Cheese Pizza.  The last two, I can consume as a gluten-free vegetarian.

Well, after the announcement, I searched high and low for these products, but I just couldn’t find them in my area.  When I went out to Colorado, naturally, I could find them everywhere…but I was in a hotel room with only a refrigerator.  No way to cook it up or keep it frozen.  So, I marveled at it through the freezer door of the grocery store and made myself walk away.  And then, a couple weeks ago, I was out at the local natural foods store…and there they were on the bottom shelf…like a beacon of heavenly gluten-free light shining upon me…Udi’s Gluten-Free Frozen Pizzas.  I immediately grabbed the Three Cheese Pizza and hurried to the check out.

Well, with an injury to my foot from stepping off a curb, standing in the kitchen for too long can be a task…so, the other day, I reached into the freezer and pulled out this little goodie.  My roommate and I needed an easy, fast dinner…and this was going to be it.

It’s so easy to prepare too.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Remove the pizza from the packaging and set on a pizza sheet.  Bake for 12 minutes or until the cheese begins to bubble and the crust begins to brown.  So easy.  I cooked as the box recommended, then pulled it out of the oven, sliced it up, and my roommate and I each sat down to half of the pizza.

This half, mind you, is only 320 calories.  AWESOME!

But how did it taste?  Amazing.  No…really, really amazing.  Gluten-free sometimes gets a bad rap, but when something as amazing and delicious as this pizza comes out on the market, it may change people’s minds.  Honestly, the crust browned to a perfect crisp, but stayed a little soft for chewing.  The cheese was stretchy good.  And so tasty.  The toppings on this pizza were basically tomato sauce with some spices, topped with a premium blend of mozzarella, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses.  YUMMY!  No really…it’s yummy.  The crust was flaky, light, and delicious.  The toppings were a perfect seasoned blend.  And nothing fell apart or crumbled.  Just really…really good food.

My roommate raved about it.  And since she can have regular pizza…that’s a big thing.  I should have known…with the masterminds at Udi’s behind the wheel, this was going to be one epic pizza.

If I had any complaint, I would have to say I wish the toppings were set a little closer to the edge.  There was a huge bit of crust left exposed, as you can see in the picture.  I tried to set it right after it baked, but…well…that just sort of made a mess.  It was okay though…because at least the crust and toppings were good…so that the crust was stand-out even without something atop of it.

Kudos to you, Udi’s…for taking on frozen pizzas and doing them to perfection.  The cheese lover in me triple thanks you for this triple cheese delight.  Despite the hefty price…I’m willing to pay it again…and again…and again.

Well worth it.  Then again…Udi’s normally is.

Product: Schär Gluten-Free Snack Crackers – $6.99+

I have had such good luck with products from Schär.  Honestly, when it comes to gluten-free products, they stand out.  I’ve had pasta, breads, and snacks from their line-up and have fallen in love with each and every one of them.  Love at first gluten-free bite, yes?  So…when it came down to trying the box of Gluten-Free Snack Crackers from their line of products, I couldn’t wait to dig in.  Mostly.

Why the mostly?  Well…I’m a health nut.  Don’t let the cookies/cakes/ice cream deceive you.  I’m an athlete, so while I do treat myself to things every now and again, I do watch my calories and nutrition when I buy products.  I didn’t buy these snack crackers, mind you.  These boxes were being given away at the Gluten-Free Expo I attended in Birmingham, Alabama.  I was excited to be receiving Schär products to try…and not just a sample pack…an entire box.

But…the mostly comes in when I look at the nutrition panel for these snack crackers.  These crackers come in individually wrapped packets of 8 crackers.  These 8 snack crackers, each about the size of a deck of cards, will set you back 240 calories.  Yes…just for 8 crackers.  These packets also contain 11 grams of fat with each packet.  So, we’re not talking the most sensible snack cracker out there.  But when it comes to gluten-free foods…perhaps it is.

Anyway…the other night I made up my homemade gluten-free cheddar broccoli potato soup and I wanted some crackers to go with it.  These were in the pantry so, that’s what my roommate and I had with it.  I opened up the little individual packets and eased out the snack crackers.  They looked like really big saltines, minus the saltiness.  So, that was a good thing.

In my mind, I had these made out to be like…gluten-free Club crackers.  So, imagine my disappointment when I broke off a piece of the cracker and popped it in my mouth.  Nothing buttery or smooth.  In fact…I found the flavor on these to be almost close to cardboard.  Which is such a huge disappointment for me because I am a strong believer in the products that Schär puts out on the market.  Every single one I have had prior has knocked my socks off.  But these crackers were just bland.  They lacked…flavor.  Seasoning.  Something.

Thankfully, the entire purpose of these crackers were to dip into my soup.  When I combined them with my homemade soup, they worked out just fine.  I don’t know if these crackers are actually made to be eaten on their own, but I don’t recommend it.  What I do recommend is getting a gluten-free cheese spread, cream cheese, or finding a gluten-free soup and using these crackers in that.  Sparingly.  Maybe half a pack.  Because there is still no excuse for that nutrition panel.

On their own…Schär Gluten-Free Snack Crackers are a bust.  When used with soup, or a spread, or however you like to dress-up your crackers, these actually improve.  Enough to make them have some sort of flavor.  The texture is light, so it isn’t a texture issue.  It just lacked some seasoning of some sort.  I wasn’t impressed at all.  And at 240 calories per serving…I really want to be wowed.  Because as of now…reaching for another packet means I have to convince myself that those 240 calories are worth it.  An internal battle with your nutrition-conscious side should not have to occur before a meal for a side/garnish/snack.  It shouldn’t happen.

I was not a fan of the Schär Gluten-Free Snack Crackers.  I think I’ll skip them in the future and see what else is out there on the market.  Perhaps at less of a calorie hit for the day…with less fat…and with better flavor.  It was a let down for me…but I still love Schär for all the other delicious gluten-free products I have had from their line.

Product: Bob’s Red Mill Homemade Wonderful Gluten-Free Bread Mix – $3.99+

When a company names a gluten-free bread mix “Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix” then it needs to live up to the standards set forth by naming it as such, yes?  Well, that was the challenge before Bob’s Red Mill when I picked up the Gluten-Free Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix from Hobby Lobby awhile back.

Here’s the thing with my gluten-free bread making.  It’s been fair to middling.  I’ve been trying different bread mixes in my dedicated bread maker, but…nothing has just stood out and wowed me.  Everything has baked up flat, dense, and just…eh.  No pop.  No rise.  No…wow factor.

Yes…when it comes to gluten-free bread…there must be a wow factor.

Well, with the expiration date nearing on the bag of Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix…I decided to put the name of the bread to the test.  Except…I was really, really going to test it.  The ingredients to add to this bread mix is simple, really.  1-2/3 cup warm milk (I used unsweetened almond milk), 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 tsp cider vinegar, the yeast packet (included), and 1 egg plus enough egg whites to get it to 3/4 cup.  This is where I changed things up.  I hate separating eggs, so instead, I used enough apple sauce to get it to 3/4 cup as the egg white substitute.  Of course, I was a little concerned about whether this would affect the bread at all…but this is how we learn in gluten-free baking, right?  I added all the ingredients per the instructions in my bread maker, set it for basic with a medium crust…and let it bake.

When I finally got around to sneaking a peak at the bread…it was already rising.  And this was the first time I ever had a gluten-free bread mix in that bread maker that actually domed up like my regular bread used to.  This was already making me a very happy girl.  I was just hoping my applesauce substitute wasn’t going to destroy this amazing looking loaf of gluten-free bread.  As it baked, the crust began to brown and it looked absolutely fantastic.  When the bread maker signaled that it was done, I pulled out the container, eased the bread out into the cooling rack and let it cool for a bit.

It looked and smelled fantastic.  Like I said, most bread mixes I have used haven’t risen to dome up at the top.  They are flat.  Not Bob’s Red Mill’s bread mix.  This one looked amazing.

So, after giving it some time to cool, I couldn’t resist a taste.  I grabbed my knife and sliced off the very end.  I gave it a small spread of strawberry preserves and a sprinkling of honey.  Then…my first bite.

I was blown away.  This was gluten-free bread?  Really?  I checked the bag again.  It was.  My roomie, who can eat regular bread was eating the other half of the slice that I cut.  She said it reminded her, taste and texture-wise of regular wheat bread.  It was absolutely fantastic.  Not too dense, airy without holes, moist, and gluten-free bread perfection.  And it rose!!  IT ROSE!

It’s the little things in life when it comes to gluten-free baking.  Trust me.

Anyway…I have since toasted up slices in the oven with a spray of olive oil and a dash of garlic powder…and it still rocks.  Bakes up to a nice crust on the outside…soft on the inside.  Just gluten-free bread heaven.  I’m beyond impressed.  And my substitute did nothing to change the way the bread came out.  It rose, it set without falling.  It’s a work of bread making art if I do say so myself!

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix is definitely my choice for gluten-free bread making at home.  I’m beyond impressed.  I’m sold for life.  Really delicious.  Really amazing.  Really wonderful.

Product: Lundberg Farms Mediterraneans Curry Brown Rice Couscous – $3.39+

Lundberg Farms is…as I like to say…full of win!

Major, epic, colossal WIN!

Why, you might ask?  Well…because they tend to be able to bring items from my past back into my life.  The pre-gluten-free life, for example, often included meals that were served with or over couscous, which is a coarsely ground pasta made from semolina (a type of wheat).  So, when I was told I needed to go gluten-free…away went the couscous and in its place…rice or quinoa.

Don’t get me wrong…I love both rice and quinoa…but there was just something about that texture in couscous that I was lacking now.  Quinoa did in a pinch…but it just wasn’t the same.

And then…Lundberg Farms rode in on it’s white hoarse, delivering products that no other company has tackled yet.  One of such…is their Roasted Brown Rice Couscous line.  Four different varieties of gluten-free couscous in a box…easy to add to boiling water, cover, heat and enjoy!  It is that easy.  And the results are fantsastic…but let me get there.

In my local stores, all I have usually been able to find is the Mediterranean Curry flavor.  Since then, I have found the others at the natural food stores in Louisville, but here locally, it’s pretty limited to just the one flavor.  So, what ended up in my pantry was the Mediterranean Curry Roasted Brown Rice Couscous.  And I really had nothing to make up with it…so it just sat there…and sat there.

But I have a running injury and standing up in the kitchen to prepare meals is a bit of a task right now.  So…this is what I made up to have with my lunch.  To keep it in the same region, I made up some homemade tzatziki to serve with Crunchmaster Original Multi-seed Crackers as well.  Because in this household…we love to serve foods by the region…or something.  Just being a nerd, I suppose.  No crime against that in the kitchen…or in life.  Ever.

Anyway…nothing could be simpler to make.  Just boil 2 cups of water on the stove.  Pour in the brown rice couscous and the seasoning packet.  Give it a mix.  Cover and turn the heat down on the stove to the lowest setting.  Let it simmer for 10-13 minutes.  And do resist the temptation to lift the lid.  It smells fantastic from the time you add the seasoning…but do resist the urge.  Let it cook through, then remove from heat and let it sit, still covered, for five minutes.  Once that time is up, pop off the lid, breathe in the amazing aroma, and fluff it with a fork.  Now…it’s ready to eat.  One box makes four servings, so heap it onto a plate and dig in.

Lundberg Farms makes all their products with organic and natural ingredients.  No high fructose corn syrup or trans fats here.  You won’t find hydrogenated oils or any of that stuff that is really not fit to be consumed by humankind.  Nope.  What you will find in the Mediterranean Curry Roasted Garlic Couscous is organic roasted brown rice, seasonings, dried vegetables, brown rice flour, spices (cardamom, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, ginger, pepper), natural flavors, and lots and lots of delicious, edible, natural stuff (technical term).

The Mediterranean Curry variety of the Roasted Brown Rice Couscous is also only 150 calories per serving (and you get a lot in a serving!), with only 1.5 grams of fat and 460 mg of sodium.  Not bad for pre-packaged with seasoning, yes?  This variety is kosher, vegan and gluten-free.  It’s made with whole grains and is a non-GMO certified product.  YAY!

And how does it taste?  Delicious doesn’t seem to it justice.  It was one of those things that when it hits your taste buds it just ignites everything.  The aroma of it is fantastic, but the taste is what really sells it.  The Mediterranean Curry flavor has a bit of a spice to it, but nothing with heat.  Just flavor.  And it tastes amazing.  I found it to be lighter in texture than that of the regular couscous I used to prepare.  And the flavor was outstanding.  I’m raving about it to my roommate who is raving about it right back at me (and she can still have regular couscous!).  We’re elated.  And we’re stuffed with this gluten-free couscous goodness.  We were both so impressed with it that it was hard not to eat the two servings we set aside for another time.  Just…really good.  And it complimented our cracker and tzatziki side perfectly.  A little Mediterranean spice from the couscous, paired with the cooling flavor of the tzatziki…it was lunch nirvana.

So, if you love couscous…but haven’t had it since going gluten-free…or have been gluten-free and haven’t tried it yet…thanks to Lundberg Farms, you now can.  And from what I can tell, the gluten-free version is, for me, better than the “real” thing.  So…go ahead…purchase a box and simply make it up.  Try it out.  Get creative.  Serve it with something as a side or treat it as your meal.  Either way you serve it…you’re serving up a little dish of yumminess.

And thank you, Lundberg Farms…or the opportunity to have couscous once again.  I think I love you.

Product: Kay’s Naturals Better Balance Honey Almond Cereal – $6.29+

It’s the plight of the gluten-free vegetarian athlete.  Protein…protein…protein.  I sometimes really have to monitor my intake to make sure that I am getting enough.  That’s why Greek yogurt (Chobani for the win!) has become my friend.  But one can’t live on Greek yogurt alone.  And the more places that protein can be found…the better.

I never would have thought cereal.  And I never would have even dreamed of picking up this brand…as we don’t have it in my area.  But Milwaukee had it on the shelves of the Gluten-Free Trading Company…and on my second visit there…I grabbed a box.  For some reason…I just really wanted to try it.

The cereal is from Kay’s Naturals, a company that basically scoured the growing supply of so-called nutritious foods and discovered that the missing link in it all was a more balanced blend of protein, carbohydrates, fiber and fats.  The fact that the products put out by Kay’s Naturals are all-natural and gluten-free definitely helps promote a better diet.  Not only that, they focus on providing a healthy balance of low calories, lean soy protein, no cholesterol, lower carbohydrates, higher fiber…and, most importantly…great tasting products.  Doing this with a gluten-free line is even more valuable to those who do have to eat gluten-free because a recent study out of Harvard Medical School found that most gluten-free products that are currently on the market place are high in starch and tend to lack essential nutrients.

So, that’s the gap Kay’s Natural’s sought to fill.  And fill it…they have.

I don’t know what compelled me, out of all the items in the Gluten-Free Trading Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to pick up a box of this cereal.  I think a lot of it was the declaration of PROTEIN on the front of the box.  Like I said…protein is a huge issue for me and I’m trying to work on that.  There were actually three flavors available: Apple Cinnamon, French Vanilla, and Honey Almond.  I chose Honey Almond…because I figured it would taste like Honey Nut Cheerios if nothing else.

Woke up on the morning of a 4 mile race and discovered I was out of Honey Nut Chex.  No problem.  This box was in my pantry and ready to be tested.  So, I poured out a serving (28g…which I measured to be 3/4 cup) and added a splash of unsweetened original almond milk.  I took my first spoonful, really expecting cardboard.  I mean…it was a line of products I knew nothing about nor had seen.  I hadn’t even seen it mentioned on any of the gluten-free sites I frequent.

However…it was really good.  And, to answer the question…no…they did not taste like Honey Nut Cheerios at all.  Instead, they sort of tasted like vanilla ice cream…if vanilla ice cream was crunchy.  Seriously.  No joke.  I mean…sure it isn’t even the French Vanilla variety, but the Honey Almond was really delicious.  I was very happy sitting down to this bowl at breakfast and getting set for my race.  Really good.

I am so impressed I am really considering ordering their products online…in the sample pack…and then probably by what I end up liking more from the line.

But in one bite…Kay’s Naturals’ won me over.  It helps, now that I know what this company set out to do for gluten-free foods, to support companies that are looking to lean up gluten-free products.  So many gluten-free products are high in calories and fat…but it’s quite the opposite with these.  In fact, the Kay’s Natural Honey Almond Protein Cereal has only 100 calories in a serving.  Out of that, only 1.5 grams of fat as well.  Lean protein, 9 grams worth, is what really kicks this cereal up a notch.

If you can find it…I encourage you to buy it.  If you can’t…order it online.  I was so happy with it.

Product: Boulder Canyon Jalapeño Cheddar Kettle Chips – $1.70+

Preface to this blog…I am a spice-seeker.  I love a bit of heat in my food.  Especially when something is made for a little extra fire.  I don’t want burn.  I want spice.  There is a difference.

Last year while in Los Angeles, my friends and I were out snack shopping before a night of drinks, music, and goofiness.  Being the only gluten-free girl in the group, we tried to find things that even I could have.  And one of the chip varieties we grabbed from the grocery store…was Boulder Canyon.  It wasn’t this flavor…but that was my introduction to this brand.  The bag was clearly labeled gluten-free…which I appreciated.  And…all but two of their flavors are gluten-free.  Each bag is clearly labeled so there is no confusion.

Let’s hear it for labeling!  WOOHOO!

Imagine my joy, then, when I was out at the store in town and spotted Boulder Canyon Kettle Chips on the shelf.  While we have had these in the area for awhile…what really caught my attention was the flavor: Jalapeño Cheddar.

Now…I am a sucker for anything that is labeled jalapeño.  That is issuing a spice-worthy challenge, my dear friends.  So, you better believe these found their way into my shopping basket and were out the door with me when I checked out.  I was so excited about trying them.  But…as always, they tend to have to wait until I use up other products first.

But their time to shine has finally arrived.

I measured out 28 ounces (about 14 chips) of these fantastic kettle chips to take to work with me for my afternoon muchies.  Like clockwork…at 3:00 p.m.  I was totally stoked about popping the lid off my dish I brought them in.  I carefully selected my first chip, took a breath, and then took a bite.

What I expected was the sweetness of a kettle chip.  That I got.  I got a little bit of salty from the chip and the cheddar cheese.  But what I didn’t get was the heat.  Here we have a chip that is clearly flavored with jalapeño…and I don’t even get an inkling of it.  No slight burn at the end of the bite.  No spice.  Nothing.  It just tastes like…a chip.

Apparently the jalapeño powder and red pepper was a little light in this batch.  No spice…no heat…no nothing.  Lots of crunch and a bit of cheese.

Not a complete disappointment though…the chips are good.  Packed with flavor (minus the spice) and really crunchy and good.  I loved how they weren’t too salty and were not greasy.  That’s a huge thing with me.  I just feel that if something is advertised as having that jalapeño kick…it really should leave your throat with a little spicy tingle.  Or…maybe that’s just me.

As for nutrition…these are chips…so…yean.  One serving is only 150 calories, with 8 grams of fat.  Not great…but not bad.  Not in the grand scheme of things.  They are low in sodium though, which isn’t always the case when it comes to potato chips.  Just remember…keep to a serving size and don’t down the entire bag.  I mean…these are good, but…be snack smart.  Especially when it comes to chips.

So, the spice let me down, but the chips themselves are actually quite good.  If you aren’t a fan of spice, then you won’t have to fear these.  My roommate, who is a wimp when it comes to spicy foods ate this without a problem.  Loved that it didn’t have any heat or burn to it.  So, if you are a lover of flavor but heat-meek…these might be the ideal chip for you.  And you’ll impress your friends by telling them the chips you are crunching on…are jalapeño flavor.

I don’t count Boulder Canyon out.  I have had massive luck with other flavors from their line (which I haven’t blogged about because they were actually my roomie’s snack…not mine).  And these are actually quite good in and of themselves.  So…I would buy them again.  And maybe spice them up with a dip of some sort.

Happy munching!

Product: Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Corn Fusilli – $3.49+

I don’t know how many more times I can reiterate this but…I LOVE TRADER JOE’S!!

Trader Joe’s is not only impeccable about labeling their products…so shoppers know for sure if something is vegan, vegetarian, kosher, gluten-free, etc…but their line of products is impressive.  Honestly.  I wouldn’t go back if it weren’t true.

And I do go back.  Every week.  And every week I find something else I love about Trader Joe’s.

Well, it just so happened that I was in the mood to make the Brown Butter – Pumpkin Mac & Cheese for dinner the other night.  This time, however, I was going to toss in some fresh broccoli as well.  Why?  Because I had broccoli…and I could.  So, why not?  The thing is…I needed a good gluten-free pasta that would not only be ideal to cook, bake, and then…for the following evening…reheat (GASP!).  I’ve used brown rice pasta before and they tend to turn to mush after sitting in the refrigerator.  The one time prior I used a corn pasta, I was quite impressed with the way it reheated.  It wasn’t Trader Joe’s variety…but that’s what I had this time around.  Into the pantry I went and emerged with Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Corn Fusilli.

Cooking the corn pasta is simple.  Boil water, add corn pasta, cook for about 9 to 11 minutes…or until reaching that perfect al dente.  As I was actually going to bake mine too, I kept it just under that perfect pasta level.  Drain.  Top however you wish.  Enjoy.

The actual packaging said to cook this pasta for 9 minutes…but at nine minutes it was still a bit crunchy to the taste.  I went a bit longer, another couple of minutes and it got it to just under the level it needed to be at.  I think I should have actually boiled the pasta in a larger pan, to be honest.  I can’t really blame it on the pasta.  More of a kitchen blunder, really.  So, it took a bit longer than anticipated.  And I had to keep my pumpkin and cheese mixture moving so it wouldn’t solidify.  But once these noodles got where they needed to be, texture-wise, we were back in the game.  I gave the noodles a quick drain, put them back in the pan, then coated them with the pumpkin-cheese coating for the pumpkin mac & cheese.  Mmmm.  Then, it was into the oven for about 20 minutes.

When the casserole emerged, it was hot, bubbly, and smelled amazing.  Even better…every fusilli noodle was intact.  Honestly.  It was a thing of extreme beauty.  The macaroni and cheese dish itself was a fantastic shade of pumpkin orange.  The noodles were just spread throughout.  Little bits of broccoli adorned the dish.  It really looked and smelled great.  And when I went to scoop it into bowls…nothing wilted or fell apart.  The pasta held it’s shape and didn’t collapse under pressure.  Corn pasta…for the absolute win!

But…how did it taste?  Amazing.  For the record, corn pasta does not taste like corn.  That was my initial concern when it came to using corn pasta.  But it actually has a texture much like whole wheat would…without getting gummy like whole wheat pasta tends to.  It is the right texture for pasta.  Really…if you didn’t tell anyone you were using it…they wouldn’t know.  It is amazing and versatile…and it holds up against a combination of pumpkin and cheese.  That’s…outstanding.

And the results…delicious.

Even better…it reheats beautifully.  Doesn’t turn to mush or anything!  This makes me one happy gluten-free pasta loving girl, trust me.

Trader Joe’s makes quality products.  Honestly.  They are taking steps in the right direction and making sure their products live up to the brand they have established over the years.  Let me tell you…I’m hooked.  And this line of gluten-free pasta has forever worked its way into my kitchen. Beyond impressed.