Episode 49 “Gluten-Free Fabulosity” Features:

• Maureen’s gluten-free food finds! Obsessed with instant oatmeal, graham crackers, ice cream cones, “oreo” cookies, sugar & spice pan bars
• Vanessa’s Expo West gluten-free finds – Russo’s Pizza, RP’s Pasta, Pappardelle’s Pasta, Julie’s Organic Ice Cream, Hilary’s Eat Well, Imbue
• Coming up – road trip to Milton, Delaware to visit Dogfish Brewery
• What do YOU think of the HTG Podcast? Leave your feedback wherever you download this podcast!

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

Rock on Celiacs!

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

Click the player below to listen to the show now!
Download audio file (049_HoldTheGluten-22Mar2012.mp3)
And here is the direct download

Episode 47 “Pizza Perfection” Features:

• Maureen & Vanessa interview Trevor & Corbett of Bella Monica Pizza – learn their gluten-free story.
• Near Raleigh, NC? Visit Bella Monica’s restaurant!
• What do YOU think of the HTG Podcast? Leave your feedback wherever you download this podcast!

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

Rock on Celiacs!

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

Click the player below to listen to the show now!
Download audio file (047_HoldTheGluten-23Feb2012.mp3)
And here is the direct download

Review of 125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes by Carol Fenster, Ph.D

Pros:

• Excellent assortment of gluten free vegetarian recipes.
• Bonus vegan recipes.
• Details the calories, fat, protein, carbs, cholesterol, sodium and fiber for each recipe.

Cons:

• No food photographs.  Prior to going gluten free, I didn’t cook much at all.  After being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I was essentially forced to get in my kitchen. I need pictures of what the end result will look like!

Episode 35 “Celebrate Celiac Awareness Day” Features:

• Podcast guests (and gluten eaters) Eric and Chuck (our husbands) share their experience in living with a gluten free person.
• Gluten free beer taste test – Bards & Redbridge vs gluten-filled Yuengling.
• Cooking with gluten free beer – Vanessa makes beer brownies, beer bread, and more!
• Dogfish Brewery in Delaware to offer GF beer. Thanks to Gluten Free Philly for sharing this info!
• How much gluten is safe for me?
• Dr. Fasano’s breakdown on FDA labeling.
• Hold The Gluten Podcast voicemail line! (502)35GFREE aka (502)354-3733
• What do YOU think of the 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/htgpodcastDownload audio file (035_HoldTheGluten-12Sep2011.mp3)
Click for direct download

For six long years, I’ve been on a quest to find a mouthwateringly delicious gluten free pizza.  Back in my gluten eating days, we’d enjoy a Trenton Tomato Pie — the kind you fold in half before eating (if you’re from Jersey, you know what I’m talking about).  After going gluten free, I tirelessly sampled countless pies looking for that illusive holy grail.  I came very close today at California Pizza Kitchen!  I feasted on the Gluten Free Wild Mushroom Pizza and it was pure fabulousness.  The cheese was uber-cheesy, the toppings were generous, and the fact that I could eat something other than a (yawn) house salad was priceless.  The only minor glitch in the meal was that the gluten free crust was a bit undercooked.  However, that didn’t stand in the way of me scarfing down the entire pizza.  There are 27 (holy crap!) gluten free pizza options. Note that two pizza options are NOT available gluten-free.  They are the Thai Chicken and the Roasted Artichoke & Spinach.  CPK’s gluten free menu is impressive and I’m thrilled that they are aware of their gluten free customers’ needs.  California Pizza Kitchen has locations throughout the US.

Prior to our visit, I did contact California Pizza Kitchen via e-mail and here is their response.  FYI, this response is from Barbara Cason, Guest Relations on May 12, 2011.  As of June 29, 2011, CPK now offers the gluten-free pizza crust option at all locations.

Thank you for your inquiry and interest in California Pizza Kitchen. The following items from CPK are acceptable for a Gluten Free Diet: Small Cravings Asparagus & Arugula Salad White Corn Guacamole & Chips The Wedge Salad Soups Tuscan White Bean Minestrone **Order Without Croutons Sedona Tortilla Soup Salads Original BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad Roasted Vegetable Salad Original Chopped CPK Cobb Salad Moroccan Chicken Salad Waldorf Chicken Salad Field Greens Specialties Wild Caught Mahi Mahi Served with wok-stirred mixed vegetables. Served blackened upon request. Pan Sauteed Salmon Served with wok-stirred mixed vegetables. Served blackened upon request. Desserts Hot Fudge or Caramel Sundae CPKids Grilled Chicken Breast Served with baby broccoli. Fresh Fruit Available with the purchase of a CPKids Meal. As CPK does offer many items that do contain some form of gluten, we also recommend mentioning your dietary restrictions to your server or a manager on duty to ensure proper precautions are taken to prevent cross-contamination.”

Cake or ice cream?  Tiara or party hat?  Big bash or intimate celebration?  We all like a birthday (or other festivity) with options.  Not only can we gluten free peeps have our cake, but thanks to Betty Crocker Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix we have other tasty choices!  I was super excited when I (insert modesty here) ingeniously decided to use Betty Crocker’s GF Cookie Mix to create a ginormous and scrumptious cookie cake!  I’m sure you’ve all seen cookie cakes in your local grocery store.  However, those cakes are loaded with gluten (boo hiss).  So I easily made my own gluten free cookie cake and it ended up costing less than the price of a store bought cake!  That’s a big ol’ win/win in my book.

Here’s how to make your very own gluten free cookie cake:  follow the directions on the Betty Crocker gluten free cookie mix box.  When cookie mix is a soft crumbly dough, transfer it to a 10 inch pie pan.  Evenly press the cookie dough around the base of the pie pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes (cookie will be light golden brown).  Let cool completely before decorating.  To decorate this cookie the size of sputnik, I used Betty Crocker Easy Flow Decorating Icing (it comes with four tips for different style options).

Before you blow out the candles, don’t forget to make a wish!

Disclaimer: please don’t judge me on my cake decorating “skills” cause I have none!

It was totally because of the needs (whining) of my children that I bought these Back To Basics Syrup for snow cones, slushies, and ice pops.  Ok, I admit it, I also was feeling a bit nostalgic for my Snoopy Snow Cone Machine.  Snow cones are an awesome way to celebrate Summer.  What’s more exciting than grinding up ice, pouring some sugar-filled liquid on it, and eating it?  Can I get a “yum”?   However, as I was making snow cones yesterday for the kids, my daughter shouted out, “Hey Mom, these are gluten free!”  There it was, printed on the back of the bottle “CONTAINS NO GLUTEN“.  Whenever I see a gluten free label on anything (heck, it could be my living room couch) I get excited!  So I had to share my tasty summer treat with my fellow gluten free peeps.

Enjoy!

It was a no brainer when Enjoy Life contacted me to taste test their double chocolate crunch gluten free granola as well as their  semi-sweet mega chunks.  I personally consider chocolate one of the major food groups, so I was excited to sample their new products!

Double Chocolate Crunch Granola Review
Pros:

• Gluten, nut, and casein free, vegan, kosher pareve
• There are only 3.5 grams of fat in 1/2 cup of granola!  Many granolas are high in fat content.
• Very crunchy and tasty.  Perfect topping on greek yogurt and berries.

Cons:

• Do your pricing research!  In doing a search on-line for Enjoy Life Granola, I found that the price point varied greatly by retailer.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mega Chunks Review
Pros:

• Gluten, soy, nut and casein free, vegan, kosher pareve
• Delicious, HUGE chocolate chunks!  They aren’t kidding around with the “mega” title.
• Would be wonderful to add to cookies or brownies.  Sadly I did not bake anything as I ate the entire package over the course of two days handful by handful.

Cons:

• Pricing.  Sadly pricing online was very high due to shipping costs.  A 10 ounce bag cost as much as $10.00 online after shipping charges.  Unless you can locate these in your local grocery store, these mega chunks would be very expensive.

Dominic Alcocer of General Mills alerted me to this impending change.  According to Dominic,

This is due to a change in manufacturing facilities, and although gluten will not be used as an ingredient in any of the three products, we will no longer be able to guarantee that they will be free from cross-contamination.

Logistically, at the shelf, we are making efforts to minimize overlap and confusion.  You may, however find both gluten-free and gluten containing product on the shelf at the same time while the new product works its way through the distribution system. Our recommendation (which of course you don’t need to be reminded of) is to read the information on the ingredient list. The callout “May Contain Wheat“ will communicate which product has the potential of containing gluten.

While this decision is necessary for the Helpers line of product, it doesn’t change, in any way, General Mills’ overall commitment to the gluten-free community which goes all the way to the top of our organization.   We understand that keeping track of ingredient changes in products is one of the greatest challenges in living gluten freely, and would like to request your help to communicate this change to your readers to maximize awareness and keep the gluten free community informed.

As much as I’m disappointed that Hamburger Helper will no longer be gluten free (the more gluten free mainstream foods, the better), I give General Mills credit for communicating this change via so many avenues.  Even us gluten free “veterans” sometimes tend to grab and go with foods we know are GF (totally guilty!).

If you can’t get enough Gluten Free Hamburger Helper, stock up now!  Just be sure to look for the Gluten Free label!

If I wasn’t already married, I would propose to Shabtai Gourmet.  That’s how much I am (crazy obsessed) in love with their Devil’s Food Mini and Regular Swiss Chocolate Rolls.  Holy moly, these desserts are FANTASTIC (yes, I am shouting, they are that good!).  The wondrous Andrew of Shabtai Gourmet recently shared his award-winning mini (aka Yidels) and regular size swiss rolls.  The package arrived on a ho hum Tuesday afternoon.  Upon opening the box of gluten free desserts, that Tuesday became spectacular!  I did cartwheels of joy in my living room.  I danced the jig in the kitchen.  I sang a song about Shabtai’s Yidels (trust me, rhyming with Yidels is not an easy feat).

Finished drooling over these photos?  Two lucky commenters will win a Shabtai Gourmet Sample Pack!  This is a drawing you so want to enter!  Simply leave a comment here on what your favorite gluten free dessert of choice is and you’ll be entered to win a Sample Pack of Shabtai’s delectable gluten free baked goods.  Deadline to enter is Saturday, December 11th.

Some other delectable allergen friendly desserts baked by Shabtai are: Gluten Free Honey Cakes, Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, Gluten Free Flourless Chocolate Cakes, Gluten Free Jelly Rolls, Gluten Free Brownie Bites, Sponge Loaf Cakes & so much more.

Pros:

• Gluten, dairy, peanut, soy, lactose, corn AND casein-free
• Deliciously moist chocolate sponge cake filled with white creme and covered in dark chocolate (need I say more?)
• Baked in a dedicated gluten, dairy, peanut, soy, lactose, casein and corn free bakery
• Kosher

Cons:

• I was not able to restrain myself from eating ALL of the Swiss Chocolate Rolls in one day

Deadline to enter is Saturday, December 4th.

Pros:

• Gluten-free, dairy-free and casein-free
• Excellent source of protein and omega 3
• Made in a dedicated gluten-free facility
• Easily transportable
• Great combination of sweet and crunchy

Cons:

• Price point is a bit high.  The cost for a case of 12 bars average $28.00 ($2.33 per bar)

Congratulations to Ashley L. in South Carolina!  She is the lucky winner of the Bakery on Main Holiday Gift Set!

In other exciting giveaway news, have you left your comment and let your gluten-free voice be heard?  Enter to win a box of Gluten Free Bisquick.

Stay tuned for an awesome giveaway from Rudi’s Gluten Free Bakery!  I recently had the pleasure of taste testing Rudi’s original, multigrain, and cinnamon raisin gluten free breads.  They ROCK!  Three lucky winners will receive loaves of Rudi’s breads (which are fab for a grilled cheese sandwich or cinnamon french toast).  More details to follow.

(Photo courtesy of Snapr)

Here’s where YOU come in!!  Alone, I am one gluten-free voice, but together we can make a difference in our gluten-free community.

If you could ask the Gluten Free Team at General Mills anything at all (or put in a gluten free food product request), what would it be?

This is your chance to be heard!  Share your honest opinion, feedback, questions and/or comments.  I will share your thoughts with the General Mills Team next month.  As my thank you, you’ll automatically be entered to win a fantabulous box of Gluten Free Bisquick!  Comment deadline is November 2, 2010.

Give the gift of happy taste buds! This boxed set is the perfect gift for your gluten free friends and family (or even for yourself). Inside you’ll find an eco-friendly reusable Bakery On Main tote bag, 1.5 oz gluten free granola snack packs of our Apple Raisin Walnut, Nutty Cranberry Maple and Extreme Fruit & Nut flavors, 2 oz. Fiber Power gluten free granola snack packs of our Triple Berry and Cinnamon Raisin flavors, and 1.2 oz gluten free granola bars in our Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Maple Nut and Extreme Trail Mix, plus a $0.50 off coupon.

Gluten Free Giveaway! Leave a comment here for a chance to win a Bakery On Main Holiday Gift Set!  Deadline to enter is 10/20/2010.

I must give HUGE props to General Mills for addressing the need for gluten free mainstream products.  I practically live on Chex cereal (my favorite is Honey Nut) and have been known to sneak spoonfuls of Betty Crocker chocolate frosting for a “snack”.   In addition to the generous assortment of gluten free products (see listing below), General Mills provides a helpful fact sheet on healthful gluten free eating, reading labels, and foods that may contain gluten.   I especially love that General Mills clearly identifies their products “Gluten Free”.

Be sure to check out the Live Gluten Freely site as well as their Facebook page.  I’m thrilled to announce that starting next month, I will join Kim Bouldin of Gluten Free is Life and Vanessa Maltin of Celiac Princess as a Featured Blogger on Live Gluten Freely!

The Live Gluten Freely product box includes:

• Betty Crocker® Gluten-Free Brownie Mix
• Betty Crocker® Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix
• Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy Chocolate Frosting
• Honey Nut Chex® Cereal
• Betty Crocker® Create-A-Bug® Fruit Flavored Snacks
• Betty Crocker® Fruit Flavored Snacks Variety Pack – Fruit Roll-Ups®, Fruit Gushers®, Fruit by the Foot®
• Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar® Snack Bar
• Betty Crocker® Potato Buds® Mashed Potatoes
• Betty Crocker® Red Serving Spoon
• Coupons and More!