Month: April 2012

Posted in Product Reviews, Snacks

Glutino – Gluten-free Pretzel Twists

Posted on by Nicole :)

http://www.glutino.com/our-products/snacks/pretzels/pretzels-twists-8oz-us/

This brand was the first brand of gluten-free pretzel that I found.  Because I was a huge pretzel fan I was really happy to have an alternative but there were several unusual things about this pretzel that I wish I could change.  My product review is for their plain pretzels.  Recently these have come in flavors – sesame,  chocolate covered and yogurt covered – I have not tried these.

I am rating it ♥♥ with a score of 12 out of 20.  In all fairness, if I could take the price scores out of this, it would end up being 3 hearts but because this product is so expensive, it reduced its overall rating.

Appearance/size:  These pretzels come in two different sizes, sticks and mini-twists.  They look good although the mini-twists seems to be smaller in size than a regular mini-twist pretzel.  They also look a bit lighter and at a glance appear to be soft.

Flavor:  These pretzels have an odd flavor at first with a definite aftertaste.  They took me quite a while to get used to.  I was never able to pass these pretzels off at a gathering as “regular” pretzels.  A year and a half ago, there was only one other pretzel option that I could find by me (Ener-G)  so instead of going without I “got used to” the flavor of these.

Texture: While they are firm, they are not really crunchy or crisp.  They hold up very well to any dip you wanted to use them for.  But tended to be a bit chewy.   Again for me, something I got used to because I did not have options.

Price:  These pretzels are EXPENSIVE.  For the longest time the only size that was available (in my area) was the family size (about 14 oz I think) and I paid between $6.99 and $8.99 for them.  Wowsa.  Cut back on my pretzel addiction really quick!

Over all, this would be my second choice in pretzels.  The taste will take some getting used to and in my opinion do not look or taste like the ones I was “used to”.  For the price, for me, I often chose chips instead of these particular pretzels.  😦  My suggestion to you would be to check out my review for my favorite pretzel – Snyders of Hanover – Gluten Free Pretzels and see if you can find them instead.

Live and LOVE gluten-free!

 

 

 

Posted in Product Reviews, Snacks

Snyders of Hanover – Gluten-Free Pretzels

Posted on by Nicole :)

http://www.snydersofhanover.com/Products/Cid/1/Prid/331/

Pretzels………..something near and dear to my heart that I REALLY missed!  I have tried several different kinds of gluten-free pretzels and will post my ratings on the others later, but wanted to start with what I feel to be the best gluten-free pretzel I have found.

These pretzels are so good, that my family asked that I continue to buy these pretzels for them instead of the others I used to buy.

I am giving this product my highest rating ♥♥♥♥  with a scoring of 18 out of 20 possible points.

Appearance/size:  These pretzels come in two shapes, sticks and mini-pretzel.  They are the same size as their gluten filled counterparts.  I have been able to serve these at many a party with NO one noticing any difference.

Flavor:  At first taste, its hard to pick out the subtle difference in this pretzel.  Trying to put into words is even more difficult.  It is as if it is a “cleaner/clear” version of a pretzel?!  I hope that makes sense. LOL!  Several different flavors followed by that salty punch.  They do not seem to have an aftertaste or a chemical taste like some gluten-free snacks do.

Texture:  This pretzel is EXACTLY what you expect a pretzel to be.  Crispy, crunchy – exactly like their other Snyder’s brand that I had enjoyed for so many years prior.  It stands up to any dip I’ve used it in and are great snacking by themselves.  I have even chocolate dipped them and YUMMMOoo!

Price:  The price is right!!  At my local Woodman’s store ( 100% Employee Owned Independent Grocer) I paid $3.19 for this 8 oz bag.  While more expensive than the cheap wheat filled brands, it is MUCH less than the other popular brands of gluten-free pretzels like Glutino….AND 10 times better in flavor and texture.

Trust me on this one – IF you love pretzels – check these out.  You WILL NOT be disappointed!

Live and Love gluten-free!!

Posted in Books and Websites

WHERE can I find Gluten free products?

Posted on by Nicole :)

Once you’ve figured out that you can’t have gluten, the next step is trying to find products you can use!  Luckily, there are more and more gluten-free products available now.

There are quite a few ways to find gluten-free products online.  One way is to go directly to manufacturers websites.  Many of the larger companies will have a section for allergen information.  Take for instance Frito-Lay.  Check out their list of products that are gluten-free:  http://www.fritolay.com/your-health/us-products-not-containing-gluten-ingredients.html  Are you as surprised as I was to find out you could have so many snacks?  I mean really! I was beyond thrilled to find out that I could have regular Doritos!! Yessssss!  All is not lost!!

You will notice too on this site that it has been divided into two lists.  The first list is certified to contain less than 20 ppm of gluten. The FDA says for a product to be “gluten-free” it must have less that 20 ppm (parts per million) or .002%.

The second list, the products do not contain wheat, rye, barley or oat ingredients but some of them may be manufactured on the same lines as products that contain gluten.  They say “Although our lines are cleaned between production runs, Frito-Lay has not tested these products for gluten content and the ingredients in these products may have come into contact with gluten-containing products prior to manufacturing.  Individuals who are sensitive to gluten should take these factors into consideration in consuming these products.”

This is where the possibilities of cross-contamination can come into play.  Basically the item has no gluten, however it might get gluten on it from other things nearby.

How to handle this?  I cannot speak for anyone who is a Celiac, because that is a disease and not an intolerance.  But for ME (self-diagnosed gluten intolerant), I approach these items with care.  Sometimes these products do not bother me at all.  Some give me a grouchy stomach or make me a little bloated.  If I choose to have something that “could” be cross-contaminated, I make sure that everything else I eat at that time is gluten-free so that IF I do have a reaction I can attribute it to that particular item.  But for ME, I try to stay away from these items as there are usually other options available.  This is something you will need to figure out which path YOU want to take.

Other locations for great information are the Celiac websites.  Even though you may be gluten-intolerant and not a Celiac, always check these sites, publications etc… as they are a wealth of information and are specifically gluten-free!

Lastly, The Celiac Disease Foundation has started a wonderful on-line resource where you can find lists of gluten-free products!

http://cdfresourcedirectory.com/uid/4946c8e7-1ee7-4daf-9a0d-8ce558d83669

You will see it has the products in simple categories.  Then it will list products available that they are aware of.  It also includes that company’s contact info – address, website etc……..so that you can check further.  The websites will usually tell you if you can purchase it in your area or if you can get it online.  Often times they will have coupons too!

Let me know what you think about this resource!

Love Life!!

Posted in Gluten Free Recipes, Sweets

Chocolate-Strawberry Cheesecake

Posted on by Nicole :)

This recipe I created myself from a whole bunch of recipes.  I made this for Easter (2012) and it was a hit!  Yummm!  Sorry I didn’t take a picture……..it was very pretty!

1 Package of gluten free chocolate crème sandwich cookies
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups of sliced fresh strawberries
12 ounce container of cool whip
1 ½ cup sour cream
1 pkg of cream cheese
1 small box sugar-free instant chocolate pudding
2 ounces of gluten-free chocolate chips
1 teaspoon butter

Crust:  Crush the cookies in a food processor or blender.  If neither available, crush them as fine as you can with a zip bag and rolling pin.

Add the butter a little at a time until the texture will is crumbly, not like a paste. There is a possibility you will not use the entire amount of butter.

Press the crust into the bottom of a greased 8” or 10” spring-form pan.  Put in the fridge to chill while you work on the rest.

Cheesecake layer:  Mix the cool whip, sour cream and cream cheese well.  I used my standing mixer for this. Add the chocolate pudding, mix well again.

Assembly:  Spread half of the cheesecake mixture evenly onto the cooled crust.

Lay your strawberries over entire cheesecake, if it makes a thick layer that’s ok too!  Save 6-8 slices of strawberries  for the top garnish.

Spread the last half of the cheesecake mixture over the strawberries.  Arrange the leftover strawberries in the center, like a flower.

Glaze:  Melt 1 teaspoon of butter in the microwave.  Add the chocolate chips and stir.  If it is not quite melted enough, microwave in 10 second increments.  Do not microwave too long or it will get hard and icky.

When glaze is smooth and stirs nicely, drizzle over the top of cheesecake.  I drizzled mine in a flower-like loop pattern all around the cake.

Refrigerate overnight or at least several hours before serving.

Notes:  PLEASE CHECK ALL LABELS TO MAKE SURE ALL INGREDIENTS ARE GLUTEN FREE

If your strawberries are not sweet, feel free to cut them ahead of time and LIGHTLY sprinkle them with sugar or stevia.

I used the Glutino brand chocolate crème sandwich cookies, but I’ve had the K-toos and those are great too.

I used Jello brand instant pudding, Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips, Philadelphia brand cream cheese and Daisy brand sour cream.

Options – you can change up the flavors of this easily:

Add 1 tablespoon of some kind of liquor or coffee to the crust – say Bailey’s Irish Cream, Frangelico, Grand Marnier etc…..

Change the flavor of the pudding you add – pistachio, banana cream (with banana filling), Coconut Cream…..

Change up the fruit too – blueberries, raspberries or even a combination.

Posted in Gluten Free Recipes

Microwave Potato Chips

Posted on by Nicole :)

Since potatoes are gluten-free, this is a easy snack when in need.  In general, plain store-bought potato chips are usually gluten-free, but when you get into the flavors like BBQ or Ranch, there is gluten in the seasoning.  Here is your chance to make your own gourmet chips!

Ingredients:

  • medium russet potato
  • parchment paper
  • salt
  • optional seasonings: chili powder, garlic, Italian seasonings, etc. (Check labels to make sure they are gluten free)

Instructions

  1. Using a mandolin or v-slicer, slice one medium russet potato (peeled, if you like) as thinly as possible, taking care that all slices are the same thickness. Line the turntable tray of your microwave with parchment paper and place the potato slices on it without overlapping. Salt lightly and sprinkle with your choice of seasonings.
  2. Microwave at full power–watching closely–until spots of brown begin to appear, about 4-6 minutes. Turn off the microwave for 1 minute. Microwave again at full power until the slices are golden brown. (Be very careful not to over-brown or they will taste burned.) Remove from the microwave and allow to cool. Repeat until all potato slices are cooked.

Salt and Vinegar Chips: Dip each potato slice into cider vinegar before putting it on the parchment paper. Sprinkle with salt before microwaving.

 

Posted in Gluten Free Recipes

Creme Sandwiches (think Whoopie Pie)

Posted on by Nicole :)

Makes: 24 sandwiches      Cooking Time: 10 min    Please double check all of your ingredients to be sure that they are all gluten free!

Ingredients
  • 1 (18.25-ounce) gluten-free cake mix
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 drop each red, yellow, and green food color
  • 1 cup milk
  • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour – GLUTEN FREE
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat baking sheets with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, combine gluten-free cake mix, water, oil, and eggs; beat well. Divide batter into 3 separate bowls, then add a different food color to each bowl to make pastel red, yellow, and green cake batter; mix well. Drop tablespoons of batter onto baking sheets in an oval shape.
  3. Bake 7 to 8 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool slightly, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. In a saucepan, combine milk and gluten-free flour; cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until it forms a thick paste. Let cool.
  5. In a medium bowl, beat together sugar and shortening until fluffy; stir in vanilla then cooled flour mixture, and beat until doubled in volume. Turn half  the cooled cakes over on their backs; spoon each with a dollop of filling. Cover with remaining cakes, forming sandwiches.

***I have not tried this recipe yet, so if you do make it – please share the results!  🙂  ***

ALSO – I’m sure you could make this sugar free by using stevia and dairy free by using coconut or almond milk.

Posted in The Basics

What are Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance?

Posted on by Nicole :)

This list is from dummies.com and I thought it was a pretty decent representation of some of the symptoms that could possibly occur.  If you find you have quite a few on this list (like I did) perhaps you should talk to your doctor!

There are 200-300 symptoms of gluten intolerance, so this is just a few of them:

Gastrointestinal symptoms: These are some of the “classic” — although not the most common — symptoms:

  • Abdominal pain and distension
  • Acid reflux
  • Bloating
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Gas and flatulence
  • Greasy, foul-smelling, floating stools
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss or weight gain

Nongastrointestinal symptoms: Interestingly, although gluten sensitivity and celiac disease affect the gut, most people’s symptoms are not gastrointestinal in nature.

  • Fatigue and weakness (due to iron-deficiency anemia)
  • Vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies
  • Headaches (including migraines)
  • Joint/bone pain
  • Depression, irritability, listlessness, and mood disorders
  • “Fuzzy brain” or an inability to concentrate
  • Infertility
  • Abnormal menstrual cycles
  • Dental enamel deficiencies and irregularities
  • Seizures
  • Clumsiness (ataxia)
  • Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)
  • Respiratory problems
  • Canker sores (apthus ulcers)
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Eczema/psoriasis
  • Rosacea (a skin disorder)
  • Acne
  • Hashimoto’s disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus erythematosus, and other autoimmune disorders
  • Early onset osteoporosis
  • Hair loss (alopecia)
  • Bruising easily
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Muscle cramping
  • Nosebleeds
  • Swelling and inflammation
  • Night blindness