Category: Products

Product: Rustic Crust Gluten-Free Napoli Herb Pizza Crust – $4.99+

This is another case of looks can be deceiving when it comes to the gluten-free products on the market.  I’ve seen these crusts on the shelf of my local grocery store for over a year now and have never bought them.  Why?  Because…they looked…funny.  I know, that’s a bit fickle coming from a foodie like me, but…they just always looked green and crumbly and…there were products I knew were good like Udi’s pizza crusts in the freezer section…

And then…one word struck fear into my gluten-free heart one day while out at the grocery store:

CLOSEOUT!

Trust me…when you live off of a section of five shelves, the fact that anything suddenly is labeled as a closeout item means…it may not be coming back.  And over half the section was now on closeout.  I went into panic mode.  I purchased everything I really, really wanted to try.  And I did it without remorse, despite my bank account screaming in agony.

One of the products that made it home with me were the pizza crusts by Rustic Crust.

And with my weekly deliveries of delicious farm produce…I had some vegetables that were just screaming out to be made into pizza toppings.  And so…I decided to give this crust a shot.  The worst thing that could happen would be that it wasn’t any good.  I’d still eat the pizza because I don’t waste anything…but…I’d prefer it to be delicious all the way around.

My pizza was a simple white pizza.  A touch of garlic-infused olive oil on the crust, crushed red pepper flakes, some thinly sliced summer squash, some sliced red onion, a smattering of goat cheese, a little sprinkle of mozzarella…what’s not to love?  Into the oven it went for 15 minutes to cook.  I had to admit, as the time ticked on…it was beginning to smell delicious.

I was actually quite surprised by the outcome of this pizza crust.  A shelf-stable shell…it was either going to be amazing or…not.  I let the pizza sit for a moment so that it wouldn’t fall apart when I sliced into it.  And once I did, what I found was that this specific pizza crust baked up to a crispy perfection.  And I mean…Chicago-style pizza crust crispy.  It had a nice golden shell on the outside, but the center was still soft…as if baked right at home and made from scratch.

So, already I was feeling better about this pizza crust.  But even the best baked items can fall short in the flavor test.

Not Rustic Crust.  The Gluten-Free Napoli Herb Pizza crust was delicious all the way around.  This crust was flaky and crispy and chewy and amazing and just…WOW!  It worked as a white pizza.  I was so nervous that without sauce it might just fall flat.  But this pizza crust is packed with flavor and great texture.  And…each slice is only 80 calories.  As I topped mine off with mostly vegetables and a smattering of goat cheese and (for me) vegan shreds, it meant it was a rather nutritious slice of pizza all the way around.

Not only is Rustic Crust Gluten-Free Napoli Herb Pizza crust wheat-free and gluten-free, but it is also dairy-free and egg-free.  It’s a vegan, gluten-free crust of wonder.  This seven inch shell held up splendidly in the oven and with my toppings.  I will say…it doesn’t reheat all that well the next day, but what pizza does?  Pizza just hates the microwave…period.  And that is no poor reflection on this crust…because even reheated and needing to be eaten with a fork…it still tasted great.

So…I have to bow down to the great gluten-free gods once more.  I shall never again (or at least try to never again) doubt a product or judge it by its looks alone.  This is my second favorite pizza crust I have tried so far (the winner so far belongs to Katz Gluten-Free), so that speaks volumes.  It has certainly found a spot in my pantry from here on out.  No doubts.  No questions.

Simply delicious, crusty, warm, amazing pizza is right at your grasp.  Go ahead…pick up Rustic Crust Gluten-Free Napoli Herb pizza crust and try it out for yourself.  I promise…it will take you back to those pizza parlor days.

Product: Livwell Gluten-Free English Muffins – $4.99+

You don’t realize how much you enjoyed something until you can’t have it anymore.  For real.  For the longest time after going gluten-free…the fact that I couldn’t have a doughnut or enjoy a bagel really started to bother me.  These were foods that I used to have all the time, no second thoughts, and now…they were completely hands off.

One such food for me is English muffins.  Laugh if you must, but I used to use English muffins religiously for breakfast goodies.  Or…I’d grab one to eat on it’s own with either cream cheese or some soft butter or jam.  Yeah…I missed having them.

That’s not to say that gluten-free varieties didn’t exist.  They did.  Unfortunately, the one brand I could find in my area was loaded with calories.  No kidding.  Just around 250 calories for one English muffin.  No thank you.  I love breakfast breads as much as the next person, but…damn…let’s save some wiggle room for the toppings, yes?

So, imagine my elation the day I walked into Whole Foods and spotted a new line of gluten-free products near all their gluten-free bread items.  The brand is Livwell, and they make gluten-free, wheat-free, and dairy-free products that vary from different types of bread (flat breads, sandwich breads, diner rolls) to scones, to crumpets, to cakes, to pancakes, to…wait for it…English muffins.

At first glance, you wouldn’t think much about them.  They are much like Schar products in that they are vacuum sealed and sitting on a shelf.  Normally I would run from this madness, but these intrigued me.  I can’t explain it, but they did.  So…I picked up one of the packets of English muffins (I just had to) and made my purchase.

The other day for breakfast I decided my roomie and I would break these out and give them a go.  So, I tore into the packaging and pulled out two of the English muffins.  They were quite light and airy.  I liked that.  It means I wouldn’t feel overly stuffed because they were too dense or heavy.  Winning already.  I sliced each one in half and into the toaster they went.

I was a bit nervous, not quite sure they would be like or how they would toast up in a toaster.  The packaging, after all, told me to grill them and I wasn’t feeling that brave so early in the morning.  Toaster it was, and they did brilliantly.  They were a beautiful golden brown upon popping up.  And I lightly spread each half with a bit of Laughing Cow Light Cream Cheese.  Order up.

I settled in for my breakfast and happily took my first bite.  While these do not taste like classic English muffins, they are perfectly textured.  They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, making for the perfect breakfast bite.  And, each English muffin only sets you back 141 calories.  I absolutely adored how light and soft these were.  They satisfied my craving and were even better than the regular English muffins I used to devour.

Livwell…if this is just a taste of what you have to offer with your other products, well, I’m lining up to try some more.  These were fantastic and I absolutely loved every delicious bite.

English muffins…welcome back into my life!

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Hamburger Buns – $4.49+

One of the first brands anyone in the gluten-free community thinks of when you mention any sort of bread product is Udi’s.  Trust me.  They have made a name for themselves by proving time and again that they can push out a quality gluten-free product that rivals not just the competition, but also the real thing.

Udi’s was my first love affair with gluten-free bread.  I think I cried a little the first time I took a bite of a sandwich using their bread.

So, after having the opportunity to eat a veggie burger at a restaurant with a gluten-free bun, I realized how much I missed being able to pick up my burgers at home.  It’s such a small, simple thing…but you don’t realize how much you miss it until you can’t do it anymore.  And with all the gluten-free products out on the market, hamburger buns aren’t too difficult to come by, right?

*cough*

Well, probably in most areas.  Not here.  Thankfully, however, there are a couple of stores around that do stock Udi’s products.  And the Udi’s Whole Grain Hamburger Buns were one of the options available.  They weren’t the first one I snatched up to buy…I shopped around to see what else was out there.  But there was nothing.  So, I returned to Udi’s once more and trusted them to give me a quality product to pair with my veggie burger.

And, as always, they came through for me.

My veggie burger was being cooked in my skillet, and my veggie sides were in the oven and on my grill pan.  As they were finishing up, I pulled out a Udi’s Whole Grain Hamburger Bun to warm up in the microwave for a couple of seconds.  What emerged was soft and delicious, by the way.  When first taking it from the container, the bun seems a bit too…sturdy.  But a quick flash in my microwave remedied that.  Press on the top and it bounced back.

Udi’s Hamburger Buns do come pre-sliced.  YAY!!  This is one detail that makes me incredibly happy.  No needing to search out a sharp knife and attempt to make a decent cut through the roll itself.  I loaded it up with my vegan-cheese covered veggie burger, some bibb lettuce, a slice of tomato, and some onion.  A little ketchup and mustard topped it off.  And viola…my dinner was served.  A veggie burger…IN A BUN!!

It’s the little things in life, folks.  Trust me.

I settled in with my plate and eagerly picked up my veggie burger (YAY!) to take a bite.  The bread, the veggie pattie, the vegetables on top…it all worked well.  And the bun itself was quite the star.  Soft, amazing texture, and delicious.  It tasted like the regular whole wheat buns I used to buy and eat.  Honestly.  I was blown away, again, by yet another Udi’s product.  I was very impressed.  And the bun held up, even with the tomato, which does get the bread soggy.  It did get soggy, but it didn’t crumble and fall apart on me.  And I loved being able to give my entire burger a nice squeeze as I took a bite.

Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Hamburger Buns are made from all ingredients that I recognize.  YAY!  This is a step in the right direction.  One bun does set you back 180 calories though, so be aware.  These buns do contain more calories than most regular buns out on the market.  *sigh*  But, small price to pay.  In addition, each gluten-free bun has 6 grams of fat and also 6 grams of protein.  Love getting that protein!

Udi’s is a star with the gluten-free community, pushing out new and different products.  They nailed it with these hamburger buns.  So, if you are gluten-free and need something for your next family barbeque or a picnic, Udi’s is pretty much available everywhere, unlike other brands out there.  I guarantee you can find these in your local grocery store.  Gluten-free goodness…just in time for grilling season.  Love it.

Go ahead…stop eating your patty with a fork.  You can now pick up your burger and enjoy it like everyone else…in a bun even more spectacular than the one they have.

Product: Sunshine Burgers Garden Herb Veggie Burger – $3.99+

I have been lamenting the serious lack of vegetarian proteins that are gluten-free as well.  They are nigh on impossible to find.  Trust me.  I’ve been searching for over a year now.  And while I have uncovered a few…some things still escape my grasp.

One of the easier faux-tiens to find that are both gluten-free and vegetarian are veggie burgers.  There are a wide variety out there, and while most of the big name brands (Morningstar, Boca, Gardenburger) all have gluten containing ingredients in them…there remain a few on the market that are gluten-free as well.  I’m sort of working my way through them.

So, my palate was jazzed to find another brand that is not only vegan, but gluten-free.  These are Sunshine Burgers.  I have spotted them at my local natural food stores, but they tend to be pretty widely distributed.  I had gotten quite cozy with my normal brand, so I decided it was time to branch out and try something new.  So, into my shopping basket these went and then into my freezer.

Since joining a local CSA group, fresh produce arrives weekly at my door.  This week I not only had onion and tomato, but also local organic bibb lettuce.  NICE!  So…what works well with onion, lettuce and tomato?  Burgers.  Yes…burgers.  So last night, I got out my skillet, lightly spritzed it with oil and got to cooking.

Sunshine Burgers are free of soy, wheat, gluten and dairy.  They are, in fact, vegan!  The ingredients used are all natural and all organic.  And the list is composed of the following: Organic Ground Raw Sun-flower Seeds, Organic Brown Rice, Organic Carrots, Organic Herbs, and Sea Salt.  Yep.  Recognize all of those ingredients because I sure do.

These veggie burgers also cook up really well.  I find, at times, the gluten-free veggie burgers crumble as you cook them up.  Not these.  They held together really well.  And they smelled absolutely delicious as they were cooked up in the skillet.  I was very excited to be trying them out.

As the patty finished up, I warmed up my gluten-free hamburger bun.  Some vegan cheese went onto the burger and I steamed it down to a perfect melted goodness.  Then onto the bun with the lettuce, tomato and onion.  A squirt of organic ketchup and gluten-free mustard and viola…dinner was served (with a side of roasted brocollette and honey-balsamic glazed carrots).

I settled in with my plate and happily took my first bite.  It was heaven.  Heaven on a gluten-free bun.  Seriously.  Bursting with flavor.  You could taste a little bit of everything.  It was beyond good.  It was divine.  Honestly, it was a surprise to take a bite and get such a rush of flavor.  SO delicious.  I was ready for more.  In fact, I was ignoring my sides at first because I was so focused on the veggie burger.  I can’t rave enough about these.  But I’m going to.  They are fantastic.  And even if you aren’t a vegetarian or don’t have food allergies, I think you would really enjoy sinking your teeth into one of these.

The only downside I have to these delicious veggie burgers is…the calorie count.  OUCH!  One burger will set you back 190 calories.  The other flavors top off over 200 calories.  Pair that with a bun and…yeah…your calorie count is climbing.  Oh…and let’s also discuss the 13 grams of fat as well.  YIKES!  My other gluten-free veggie burger of choice has 140 calories and only 5 grams of fat.  The same company but different gluten-free veggie burger also has one for 110 calories and only 3 grams of fat.  And one of the first versions I tried only set me back 100 calories and only 2 grams of fat.  So…what gives?  These may taste delicious…but they are definitely not one of the healthier varieties out there if you watch your calorie and fat intake.  I’m an athlete…so I monitor mine closely.  So…YIKES YIKES YIKES!!

That being said, I will hand it to Sunshine Burger for making a fantastically delicious gluten-free and vegan burger.  I am in love with it.  I am not, however, in love with the nutrition information…and will probably shy away from this brand in the future because of it.  If calories and fat are not an issue for you…or if you want to treat yourself to a delicious veggie burger, and damn the nutritional content…then these should be the first ones you snag out of the freezer.  Honestly…they are one of the best I’ve tasted.  It’s sad that the three patties in that box will probably be the only ones I ever taste.

Sunshine Burgers are fantastic.  I mean…a dream.  But the nutrition information is a bit shocking.  And while it’s okay to indulge every now and again (and believe me…I do).  I have a hard time swallowing so many calories and so much fat with just one small veggie burger patty.  Delicious…and sinfully so.

Product: Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Rice Pasta and Cheddar – $1.99

Rice Pasta and Cheddar?!  WTF?!  Let’s call it what it is, shall we?  Trader Joe’s very own gluten-free macaroni and cheese.  Mmmmm…I love, love, love macaroni and cheese.  When I went gluten-free…I had to create a new way to make it from scratch.  And the options out there on the market were…pretty much limited to Annie’s.

But then my area got a Trader Joe’s.  And while walking the crowded aisles one afternoon, my roomie and I stumbled across boxes of Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Rice Pasta and Cheddar (which honestly is macaroni and cheese…I promise!).  Well, it was such a great bargain that we snatched up a box to try.

Prior to this as far as gluten-free-in-a-box-mac-n-cheeses goes, my only exposure has been Annie’s Rice Macaroni and Cheese.  And it was good.  Especially for nights you don’t have time to shred up your own cheese, cook up noodles, make a white sauce with gluten-free flour and ingredients and bake for 45 minutes.  Let’s face it…some night’s you’re just HUNGRY!

Preparing the macaroni and cheese was similar to the way I had to make the Annie’s version as well.  Boil water.  Add pasta.  Allow to cook for 10-12 minutes.  While noodles are boiling away, make cheese sauce.  Put 1/4 cup of milk (I used unsweetened almond milk) into a measuring cup, then mix in the cheese powder until it is well mixed and you have a cheese soup of sorts in the cup.

Drain the pasta, return to pan, and pour over the cheese sauce.  Stir until well blended.

Now, I have been told the sauce is actually thicker when you use a higher fat milk.  No doubt.  But I am lactose intolerant, and unsweetened almond milk was what I had on hand.  Guess what?  It works great.

Now, Trader Joe’s gluten-free macaroni and cheese is not the cheesiest, nor does it come in fun shapes.  That’s okay because this product doesn’t need that sort of gimmick.  Sure, it’s not Velveeta…but it doesn’t need to be.  The cheese sauce you whip up is perfect to mix in.  If you like your cheese thicker…add some shredded cheddar and give it a good stir.  There you go.

What I can say is that when I compared it to Annie’s Gluten-Free Macaroni & Cheese…Trader Joe’s tasted better.  How about that?  It’s a fraction of the price too.  LOVE IT!!  It was cheesy goodness in every bite.  The noodles didn’t fall apart after cooking, despite constant stirring.  And they held up when the sauce was poured over it and blended in.  The texture was great.  And there was no need to add anything to the sauce.  Mac and cheese perfection from a simple box.  My roomie loved it and she doesn’t have to eat gluten-free.  I mean…loved it.  Especially how cheesy it turned out.  And I didn’t even add cheese.  Just the cheese powder/almond milk mix.

Trader Joe’s…you make a gluten-free life worth living.  Thank you for adding this simple product to this busy girl’s life.  I’d rather make it from scratch…but this makes those mac and cheese cravings simple and easy to fill.  No long waits.  Just 12 minutes to cook the noodles and viola…dinner is served.

If you live near a Trader Joe’s…and even if gluten-free isn’t your thing…try it.  You’ll fall in love with it.  And I guarantee you it’s far better than anything Kraft serves you from a box.