Dare Breton Gluten Free Herb and Garlic Crackers

Recommendation: Dare Breton Gluten Free Herb and Garlic Crackers

Review: Light, buttery, flaky and rich with herb flavor. The only problem with these crackers is they are too big to fit into my mouth in one bite. Nobody will know they are gluten free. So buy a few boxes and serve them to your guests. Or you can be like me and pig out on half a box while typing this up and blame the blog ;)

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.com/Dare-Breton-Gluten-Crackers-Garlic/dp/B00DJ62WV2

Bella Lucia Gluten Free Pizzelles

Recommendation: Bella Lucia Gluten Free Pizzelles

Review: They don't taste gluten free. That's all you need to know!

Where to buy: Whole Foods

http://glutenfreepizzelles.com/pizzelles/anise-gluten-free-pizzelles?zenid=jsd01vr2fpdk2j7005d79ir103

Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Crisps

Recommendation: Kitchen Table Bakers Parmesan Crisps

Review: Amazing, crunchy, intense aged cheese flavor. Love these!

Where to buy: http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=663741&storeId=10052&langId=-1

Mint Tea - a lifesaver...well, at least a night saver

Recommendation: Any Mint Tea - I guess

Review: While recently visiting a beautiful little country across the pond, I was reminded how spoiled I am in the fairly gluten-free educated US of A. I packed a bunch of gluten free bars, nuts, dried fruits, and granola for my trip. I was hoping not to eat them, but felt comforted that I had them in my bag. 

Unfortunately, I met a lot of wait staff who assured me my meals were gluten free but clearly had no idea what they were talking about. The final straw had come. I gave up and stopped dining out with my colleagues. 

I was cranky, annoyed, and alone far from home. I called my husband, complained, then moved on to google to burn off some steam. Desperate for any new information I could find to help my very uncomfortable symptoms, I stumbled upon a site that talked about mint tea. What did I have to lose?

So, I ordered up a $25 mint tea from room service. It came with two tea bags, so I can understand the price (**smirk**). I didn't care. I was angry that I felt crappy, had already worn my looser waisted outfits due to the prior few nights worth of similar issues. I put both tea bags in and drank up. To my surprise my large belly started to retract, and the pain subsided significantly. 

Not that it's a cure or anything, but I for one will now carry two tea bags in my purse. I also read that you can buy GF cards to hand to waiters and wait staff. That's next on my list of things to do. 

With all obstacles, there is an opportunity to learn and grow!

Where to buy: Anywhere

Simply Organic Carrot Cake Mix

Recommendation: Simply Organic Carrot Cake Mix

Review: Just as awesome as the banana bread. A nice welcome home cake from my son and husband topped off with gluten free cream cheese icing. Polished off the cake in 2.5 days.  Just add carrots, eggs, and water. 

Where to try: http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Organic-Carrot-Cake-11-60/dp/B00269RE66/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376863421&sr=8-1&keywords=simply+organic+gluten+free+carrot+cake

Glutino: Multi-Grain Sandwich Bread

Recommendation: Glutino: Multi-Grain Sandwich Bread

Review: It was OK. Very lightweight but thickly cut slices. Flavor was good. Did taste like multi-grain, but there just wasn't much to the bread in the substance category. 

Where to try: Local frozen food store or http://www.amazon.com/Glutino-Genius-Gluten-Multigrain-Sandwich/dp/B00CPFC2T0/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1374436668&sr=1-1&keywords=glutino+multigrain+sandwich

Simply Organic Banana Bread Mix

Recommendation: Simply Organic: Banana Bread Mix

Review: Was a little skeptical since banana bread, made with real bananas, always tends to flop when I make it. [Not that I let that spoil the situation. I do as my Grandmother did and toast it up,  top it with a few pats of butter and eat the whole thing one slice at a time anyway]. No mixer necessary. Just add bananas, eggs and water and this bread comes out perfectly baked. It's got a nice spice to it too so you could probably add any fruit you like and create a great treat. Simply Organic: Banana Bread Mix has my thumbs up.

Where to try: http://www.amazon.com/Simply-Organic-Banana-Bread-10-Ounce/dp/B001XWRNSG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374435915&sr=8-2&keywords=simply+organic+banana+bread

Pillsbury Gluten Free Cookie Dough

Recommendation: Pillsbury Gluten Free Cookie Dough

Review: Whenever I stop at the food store to pick up a few things, I try to spend a couple minutes scanning the shelves to see if I can spot any new gluten free items. On one recent stop with the family in lock step, I stumbled across pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough by Pillsbury right next to the regular pre-made cookie dough in the chilled dairy isle of my local New Egypt market. I was seconds away from buying something that my guests and family were going to enjoy that night when I got a big smile on my face and picked up the Pillsbury gluten free chocolate chip cookie dough. Just to get the full effect, I sampled some raw dough :) I ate too many cookies. It was worth it.

Kudos to Pillsbury!

http://www.pillsbury.com/products/gluten-free  

Where to try: Probably your local food store!

New GF restaurant opened in Lawrence NJ - Wildflour!

Address: 2691 Main St.

Stay tuned - going to do a live taste test with some GF colleagues soon to write the proper review!

Pamela's Oat Raisin Walnut Spice Whenever Bars

Recommendation: Pamela's Oat Raisin Walnut Spice Whenever Bars

Review: Pamela's Oat Raisin Walnut Spice Whenever Bars are very moist, thick but not compressed, sweet, and hearty treats that hit the spot when you have a sweet craving for something substantial but with a hint of healthy. 

Where to try: http://www.amazon.com/Pamelas-Products-Whenever-Raisin-7-05-Ounce/dp/B00503DOWS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1370912252&sr=8-4&keywords=pamela+whenever+bars

Disney World: Crystal Palace: brownies and ice cream

Recommendation: Disney World: Crystal Palace: brownies and ice cream (almost)

Review: Anyone with a food allergy is offered a chef-led walking tour of the buffet line at the Crystal Palace to learn what is gluten (or any allergy) free. While I appreciated the guided tour, I wondered why they just didn't label the food so I could easily walk through the line with everyone else, versus get a verbal tour, then go to the back of the line to actually fill my plate. Good service, but opportunity for improvement there.

The food options were many and delicious, so I was quite happy.  As the chef was about to end the tour, he pointed to the dessert bar and said, "you can't have anything over there." Happy with the general food options, I was fine with that. After all, I wasn't looking to pack in any more calories. But then he said, ask the waitress for my brownies and tofutti. Both are gluten and dairy free and they are fabulous. He seemed pretty proud of his brownies and I'm always game to try new gf foods.

His humble boasting was definitely understated. These were in fact the best gf brownies I've ever had. And to have ice cream on top was well, like having ice cream on top! I savored (and devoured) every last morsel, pushing away my husband's fork the two times he dared to aim his fork toward my brownie.

As a result of my drooling, my husband tracked down the chef and asked what the ingredients were so he could make them for me at home. The chef hesitated, but then said to write down my email address and he'll send it to us. Chef Alfonso, I'm waiting (with my fork and tofutti) for your email!

Where to try: Disney World: Crystal Palace

Udi's Gluten Free Soft & Hearty Whole Grain Bread

Recommendation: Udi's Gluten Free Soft & Hearty Whole Grain Bread

Review: A thick piece of crunchy crusted toast. Sometimes I dream about those days. Last week, I lived them. I'm very impressed with the "hearty" in Udi's Gluten Free Soft & Hearty Whole Grain bread. It's not dense like most breads and tastes like a multi-grain bread. Toast it up and add butter. You'll forget it's gluten free. I actually toasted every piece in the loaf (peanut butter sandwich, pulled pork sandwich...) and never actually had a slice just out of the bag. I'll have to buy another!

Where to try: Shop Rite frozen food gluten free section or http://www.amazon.com/Udis-Gluten-Whole-Grain-Bread/dp/B0049OPXP0

Disney World: Be Our Guest Restaurant: Quinoa Salad

Recommendation: Disney World: Quinoa salad

Review: I had low hopes of finding delicious, healthy gluten free meals when visiting Disney World. Didn't really matter though because I had my gluten free KIND bars (blueberry, pistachio) with me and had just left my parent's house where I ate like a queen for almost a week. Time to scale back on the eating and walk off those calories.

To my surprise, I was treated to a delicious quinoa salad at Be Our Guest Restaurant (castle) with mixed greens on the side and a delicious dressing too. I scarfed up every last morsel and so did my Mom who ordered the same meal. Are the gluten free folk starting to take over the world? I'll be fine with just 50% of it :)

Where to try: Be Our Guest Restaurant at Disneyworld

Sweet Christine's Chocolate Cake

Recommendation: Sweet Christine's Bakery: Chocolate Cake

Review: Sweet Christine's Chocolate cake is an all natural, no preservatives, gluten free, vegan chocolate cake with chocolate icing. The cake measures a few inches high and a large slice of this round cake is deliciously worth the calories. The icing is a bit gritty, but not too bad. It didn't stop me from having a piece of cake every night until the whole darn thing was gone. 

Where to try: Whole Foods 

Sun Cups Milk Chocolate Caramel Cups

Recommendation: Sun Cups Caramel Cups

Review: Just tried the Sun Cups Caramel Cups and Mint Cups and they are delicious, organic, nut free and gluten free. Thanks Mom!

Where to try: Whole Foods or http://www.bettymills.com/shop/product/view/Sun%20Cups/BFG23887.html?source=froogle2&utm_source=froogle2&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=parts&utm_keyword=BFG23887&utm_content=Food&gclid=CMnn49eWqrUCFYdT4AodZmoAqA