Archive for January, 2010

Gluten Makes Me Grumpy

Jan 28

Posted by Maureen in Hold The Gluten Podcast | No Comments

The latest episode of my Hold The Gluten Podcast is now live!

Episode 32 “Gluten Makes Me Grumpy” Features:

  • Feedback from listeners Scott and Nate about onion rings in the french fry order.
  • Are you attending the Gluten Free Life TV Twitter Party on February 2nd?
  • 2010 Gluten Free Cooking Expo April 17th & 18th in Lisle, IL.
  • Sausage Recall due to salmonella.  1.2 million pounds of sausage recalled!
  • In search of gluten free gravy for my mashed potatoes:  Trader Joe’s GF Turkey Gravy (premade) for $1.49 and Road’s End Organics Golden Gravy Mix & Shitake Mushroom Gravy (mix) both 99 cents.
  • BIG Brown Rice Tortillas from Trader Joe’s – my review.
  • Have you joined the Hold The Gluten fan page on Facebook?
  • Prevention Magazine offers over 4,000 gluten free recipes (keyword search “gluten free”).
  • What do YOU think of this HTG Podcast? Leave your feedback wherever you download this podcast!

Read the blog. Listen to the podcast. Educate yourself.

Rock on Celiacs!

Click the player below to listen to the show! Subscribe to the podcast using iTunes (or whatever media player you use) at http://feeds2.feedburner.com/htgpodcast

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Trader Joe’s (BIG!) Brown Rice Tortillas

Jan 27

Posted by Maureen in GF Product Reviews | 9 Comments

trader joes gluten free rice tortillas

Becoming gluten free prompted many changes in my life.  While it may seem trivial, I was unfairly forced to ingest itty bitty tortillas.  Gone were the days when my dinner description included the words “quesadilla the size of your head”.   Now I know you are asking yourself the (totally valid) question: “Um, hello Maureen, traditional gluten free corn tortillas are six inches in diameter.  That’s not itty bitty, that’s portion control!”  And to answer your question: Sometimes I want a quesadilla the size of Sputnik!  Then  I discovered (BIG!) Brown Rice Tortillas in my local Trader Joe’s refrigerated section.  Before I share with you my humble opinion, I must admit to missing the lilliputian-sized corn tortillas so much that I have returned them to my refrigerator.  Sometimes bigger isn’t always better.  Well, unless we’re speaking about quantities of bacon or chocolate, but that’s another post entirely.

Pros:

  • BIG BIG BIG tortillas!
  • Works well for quesadillas.
  • Reasonably priced at $2.49 for six 10-inch tortillas (vs $1.50 for ten 6-inch corn tortillas).
  • Do not come frozen (therefore avoiding severing a digit or two while trying to separate a solidified tortilla mass).

Cons:

  • Very chewy texture.  Borderline rubbery.
  • Not your best option for a wrap-type sandwich (easily broke when folded).

trader joes gluten free tortillas

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Betty Crocker Gluten Free Devil’s Food Cake Review

Jan 22

Posted by Maureen in GF Product Reviews | 4 Comments

“Birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to eat more cake.”

forkfull of gluten free cake

This past Sunday was my birthday.  Not to be all Negative Nancy, but turning 37 was NOT that thrilling in the grand scheme of things.  To make matters worse, a full-on “raging hormone” war was taking place in my SAGGY, FLABBY body.  Can I get a waaaah?  What I wanted – strike that – needed was chocolate.  Lots of chocolate.  My darling husband of ten years knew it was vital that he take action quickly:  provide his long in the tooth wife with some chocolaty confection or get punched in the throat.  Just for the record, I wouldn’t really punch my devoted spouse in the throat.  I abhor physical violence.  A kick in the shin might be warranted though as I take my chocolate very seriously.

Enter the wondrous Betty Crocker.  As you all know, Betty Crocker offers gluten free cake, cookie and brownie mixes.  What could be better to perk up a disheartening 37th birthday than with chocolate cake?  I had yet to try Betty’s gluten free version of their Devil’s Food cake.  However, a few months ago I had taste tested the gluten free vanilla cake mix with good results.  Chuck (a.k.a. husband in reaction/avoidance mode) began mixing the cake ingredients.  Just as I had doctored the Betty Crocker vanilla cake mix, Chuck added two ingredients to the gluten free devil’s food cake mix.  One cup of sour cream and one packet of chocolate pudding mix went into the batter.  The result?  A moist, dense, chocolaty hunk of heaven.  This cake was so darn good that Chuck and my two kiddos were permitted ONE slice each.  I ate the rest of the cake forkful by fabulous forkful.  By the time I got around to taking a picture to post (priorities People, cake before photography!), all that remained was one tiny bite.

My birthday turned out to be quite fabulous and amazingly tasty.  I can’t wait to turn (gasp) 38!  Yeah, that’s totally a lie, but the cake…I’ll take any day!

headerGlutenLanding

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Gluten Free 2010!

Jan 9

Posted by Maureen in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

The latest episode of my Hold The Gluten Podcast is now live!

Episode 31 “Gluten Free 2010!” Features:

  • Listener Amanda, a high school student with celiac disease, shares her story.
  • Is there a connection with celiac disease and our immune system going into hyper-drive when faced with other illness (i.e.  common cold)?
  • Gluten free cookie crisis — Hershey’s recipe revamp gone terribly wrong.
  • Burger King shares their gluten free food options!
  • Listener Joe Z. found Joe Corbi’s Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough to be tasty.
  • Listener Julia LOVED Udi’s White Sandwich Bread — even untoasted!
  • Gluten free food ideas:  Peanut butter sandwich ala Trader Joe’s GF pancakes & some peanut butter.   Waffle Panini made with apples, cheese, and (mmm) bacon in between two GF waffles.
  • What do YOU think of this HTG Podcast? Leave your feedback wherever you download this podcast!

Read the blog. Listen to the podcast. Educate yourself.

Rock on Celiacs!

Click the player below to listen to the show! Subscribe to the podcast using iTunes (or whatever media player you use) at http://feeds2.feedburner.com/htgpodcast

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