Rudi's Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Recommendation: Rudi's Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Review:

Thick slices. Surprisingly easy to remove a few frozen slices and pop them in the toaster (usually you have to defrost the loaf to separate the slices). Lots of sweet raisins. Delicious with melted butter (and of course a cup of tea). Rudi's Cinnamon Raisin Bread is a real treat.

Where to buy: http://www.rudisbakery.com/where-to-buy/ 

French Meadow Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Recommendation: French Meadow Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Review:

I always check the gluten free freezer at the super market to see if there is anything new to try. This week, French Meadow Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough caught my eye. 

Husband's jarring homemade baby food, autumn leaves are falling in the rain outside, and I'm trying to order the World Series online since Cablevision has decided to once again mess with us. Those cookies started calling me from the freezer and so into the oven they went.

But not before I could steal one and eat it raw. Raw cookie dough - I haven't eaten that in a long time...enjoyed every morsel. The baked cookies were just as tasty. No mess, no fuss, easy to eat chocolate chip cookies. Enjoy.

Where to buy: ShopRite carries them in the frozen food gluten free section.

GF Pizza at a chain restaurant

Recommendation: GF Pepperoni Pizza

Review:

Needed a quick meal while visiting Providence Rhode Island this weekend. I had been told that Uno Chicago had GF pizza. So, I decided to give it a try. When I was reading the big menu and found the GF pizza, it also said to ask the server for their GF menu. What a nice surprise that there were more choices!

I really did want the pizza so I ordered a thin crusted pepperoni pizza and it hit the spot.  

Where to buy: in all Uno Chicago restaurants. Check out the GF menu.

Bisquick gluten free and fabulous

Recommendation: Bisquick Gluten Free

Review:

Dear Bisquick. I thought you left me forever. Your versatility. Your ability to make everything in life right and good. I thought you forgot about me, but you never stopped thinking about me. So happy to see you again. In my pantry ;)


We are so good together, after all these years.

Where to buy: your local food store.

Sourdough Bread

Recommendation: Food For Life: Brown Rice Bread

Review: I titled this bread review, sourdough. What's odd is that the packaging says Brown Rice Bread. I remember my BGF (before gluten free) days and this bread tastes like sourdough. So forget the label, buy the bread, toast it up with melted fresh mozzarella, add some fresh basil, tomato and garlic powder. I've enjoyed this sandwich 3 times this week already! 

Where to buy: Check your local food store where the health food or gluten free freezer foods are located.

Sugar Cookies

Recommendation: 123 Gluten Free Lindsay's Lipsmackin' Sugar Cookie Mix

Review: I really enjoy the way my house smells when something sweet is baking. And I do enjoy mixing things together to make that aroma happen. Most of all, I like eating what I've baked. If I had to prioritize the things I like most about baking it'd be the eating part followed by the way my house smells. So, you can imagine that I like to get to those steps quickly. After pulling out the box then putting it back in the pantry about 5 times while reading the instructions, I decided with my Mom over one afternoon to take the plunge and prepare 123 Gluten Free Lindsay's Lipsmackin' Sugar Cookie Mix. 


I did say I like to bake, but only if there are a few ingredients and not a lot of instructions. I'm in a bit of a pickle now because 123 Gluten Free Lindsay's Lipsmackin' Sugar Cookie Mix cookies are DELICIOUS. But will I be able to withstand all the steps (including refrigerating the dough before using) on my own? If you give it a try, good luck with the cookie cutting part. After a small disaster with the cutter, I just rolled them into 1 inch balls and they came out fine.


Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/123-Gluten-Free-Lipsmackin-21-6-Ounce/dp/B001EO6FNC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1276428067&sr=1-3

Kinnikinnick S'moreables Graham Style Crackers

Recommendation: Kinnikinnick S'moreables Graham Style Crackers

Review: I just woke up to a dreary day and a grumbling stomach, after feeding my little guy on and off while we napped for the last 3 hours. Walked into the pantry and was excited to find something I could grab quickly while I wait for my tea water to boil - graham crackers. Delicious, thick, rich graham crackers. The kind you'd love to melt marshmallow and chocolate on a chilly summer night.  Or the kind you crumble for the bottom of a great cheesecake. Kinnikinnick S'moreables Graham Style Crackers are THE perfect GF graham cracker. Enjoy!

Where to buy: http://www.thebetterhealthstore.com/ItemDetail.asp?ovchn=FRO&ovtac=CMP&sku=2013300309&ovcpn=KINNIKINNI&ovcrn=2013300309

Glutino Gluten Free Crackers

Recommendation: Glutino Gluten Free Crackers

Review: A little cheese and crackers with olives can really take care of that Mediterranean craving when it sneaks up on you. While I regularly eat rice crackers as part of my staple diet, there is something better if you want that full-fledged "Ritz-like" cracker experience. OK. Ritz and Mediterranean don't really go together, but work with me here. Glutino Gluten Free Crackers are dense, flaky and thick. They are a bit more expensive than rice crackers, but when you really need a fix, give these a try.

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Glutino-Gluten-Original-Crackers-Ounce/dp/B001CWV4PA

Pizza Dough

Recommendation: Gillian's GF Pizza Dough

Review: My Dad used to work in a pizzeria as a kid. So when my husband (aka, my amazing personal chef) came up with the idea to have a "make your own pizza party" with my family, I knew I wanted to be part of the fun. I found Gillian's GF Pizza Dough and tried it. If you're looking for Sicilian pie crust, this is not for you. If you enjoy Margherita style crust, you will like this. It doesn't have much flavor and it doesn't rise much. But with some seasoning and some trial and error in your oven, you will have a crunchy crust holding your favorite pizza fixings. And speaking of a pizza party, you should try it. Invite a group of friends over, make a pot of sauce, set out bowls with your favorite GF ingredients and enjoy the evening.

Where to buy: http://www.celiac.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=512=8-7

Chicken Broth

Recommendation: Progresso Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth

Review: It was clearly written on the side of the box - Gluten Free. I never would have guessed that chicken broth had gluten, but many do. Progresso Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth is deliciously rich with flavor. It's good for a quick rice and veggie soup or to use in your favorite recipe that calls for chicken broth.

Where to buy: 
In your local food store, where all broths are shelved.

Shortbread Cookies

Recommendation: Pamela's Pecan Shortbread Cookies

Review: I really hesitated to try these cookies. I don't like mixing nuts in my cookies. And I am not a fan of pecans. I really just wanted a shortbread cookie that I could eat while sipping my tea and reading my InStyle magazine. Well, hold on to your taste buds - these are phenomenal cookies (and I don't even notice the nuts). The consistency and the melt-in-your-mouth flavor, make this my favorite cookie. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've polished off a box in one day's time. 

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Pamelas-Products-Shortbread-Cookies-7-25-Ounce/dp/B000DZH1D6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1268350145&sr=8-7

Donuts (yes, donuts!)

Recommendation: Kinnikinnick Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Review: Heaven. The day I tasted these donuts I was in heaven. Never did I think I'd be able to sink my teeth into a sweet donut again - and actually smile because it tasted so good. But these frozen treats warm up in the microwave to become the "best thing since sliced bread" for us GF eaters in search of something to calm a sweet tooth. I dare you to eat just one.

Where to buy: http://consumer.kinnikinnick.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.home/productcategoryid/17

Spaghetti

Recommendation: Ancient Harvest Quinoa Gluten Free Spaghetti Pasta

Review: I went to a fabulous dinner party this past weekend. Grilled shrimp and scallops, marinated beef, chicken picatta, and penne vodka! A mouth-watering feast. And the best part? The hosts called me in advance to discuss how to make everything gluten free. What a thoughtful gesture to a person who's used to eating whatever small part of a feast is GF. To my surprise, I was introduced to a fabulous GF spaghetti - Ancient Harvest Quinoa Gluten Free Spaghetti Pasta. It was served al dente, smothered in a special gf vodka sauce. You won't find a better GF spaghetti!

Where to buy: http://www.celiac.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=73

Cereal

Recommendation: Cinnamon Chex Cereal

Review: I love crunchy food. When I first started eating GF, it was a craving I had often but had nothing that would fill the void. But thanks to the Chex line of GF cereals, I got a little pep back in my GF step. Chex makes a few varieties of GF cereals now (rice, corn, honey nut, chocolate, and cinnamon). I mix the rice or corn with nuts and dried fruit for an on the go snack. And I like the cinnamon on top of my morning yogurt for a little sweet touch and added crunch. The best part? You can find GF Chex in your local food store. Thank you General Mills!

Where to buy: Your local food store in the regular cereal aisle

Pancakes

Recommendation: Pamela's Ultimate Baking and Pancake Mix

Review: Good grief, there are a lot of awful tasting GF pancakes out there. When you have a craving for a stack of pancakes, you don't want cardboard cakes. Pamela's Ultimate Baking and Pancake Mix is the best of the best.  Tip: I make a double batch each time and freeze them. A few seconds in the microwave to defrost and they taste fresh and fluffy!

Where to buy: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=94770&catid=74921&aid=337953&aparam=pamela_s_products_ultima&CAWELAID=61287568

Snack Bar

Recommendation: KIND Bar Walnut and Date

Review: I used to love eating granola bars. A substantial snack that I could pack in my bag and eat when my arms were too full at the mall to stop for a snack or when I had back to back meetings and no time for lunch. Finding a GF snack bar that was up to my high expectations was not easy. Most of the bars taste like cardboard or dirt. Yes, dirt. I actually tried a GF chocolate bar once that tasted like dirt. I'm not here to bash any brands, but don't you think this might have come up in consumer testing..."hey, this tastes more like dirt than chocolate." Anyway, if you're looking for a mix of sweet, healthy, and filling, try out the delicious KIND Bar Walnut and Date. Don't be turned off by the word "date." These are sweet and yummy bars. Really. I love them so much, I have an account set-up with KIND where they send me a shipment every 3 months automatically!

Where to buy: http://www.kindsnacks.com/buy-products

Brownies

Recommendation: Pamela's GF Irresistible Chocolate Brownie Mix

Review: There are two things I immediately missed once I stopped eating gluten. Brownies and bread. While I applaud Betty Crocker for coming out with a convenient and cost-friendly brownie mix, my hat goes off to Pamela's Chocolate Brownie Mix. These brownies are not only my absolute favorite because they are so rich and gooey, but my husband and card playing neighbors request them too. You know it's good when people who can eat gluten ask for these brownies!

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Pamelas-Chocolate-Brownie-16-Ounce-Packages/dp/B000DZKKK2

Where's the GOOD gluten free food?

After years of issues with food, I started keeping a food log of what I ate and what symptoms followed. It didn't take long to realize I was lactose intolerant and had a sensitivity to gluten. After months of living gluten free, I decided to see a specialist to get a real diagnosis. I was hoping this was the last of many doctors I'd need to see to diagnose my stomach issues.

Well, his conclusion was that he could not detect Celiac Disease or any gluten allergy because I had stopped eating gluten for so long already. He told me to start eating gluten again and come back in a few months to be retested. I politely said no thanks. It took me years to figure out how to feel better and, diagnosis or not, I was never going back to eating gluten.

So, I've continued to eat gluten free for several years now and I know how challenging it can be when you first start out. At first, the two most frustrating things were trying to figure out which ingredients contained gluten (required reading all labels) and finding gluten free packaged foods that actually taste good!

I searched online and talked to people, but I couldn't find a list of good tasting gluten free food anywhere.

Recently, at my local health food store (where I get most of my gluten free goodies these days), I ran into a women who was overwhelmed by all the GF choices and and asked me for my advice. Having tried many of the products already (and finding most of them terrible), I was over-joyed to walk her through the store and point out the all the wonderful tasting gluten free food. The kind of food that doesn't TASTE gluten free!

To all you gluten free eaters out there, this blog's for you.