Gluten free

Recently I made a loaf of bread using a bag of Namaste Foods Gluten Free Bread Mix. I bought this on sale at some point, and it subsequently sat in the pantry for a while. I’m not sure how long, but there’s another 8 months to go until the use-by date, so I’m not worried. I like to have stuff like this on hand because sometimes I get in the mood to eat bread, and that usually means I have to make it myself. This time, I was also in desperate need of clearing out some pantry space, so making this mix was the easy answer.

This is the third loaf of gluten free bread I’ve made from a mix (Pamela’s and Bob’s Red Mill were the other ones I tried), and it did fairly well. It rose way more than I thought it would, but it was still heavy and moist the first day, only to very quickly dry out by the third day after baking.

The bread mix consists of a flour blend made from brown rice flour, Read More »

I love Panera Bread and that we have one not too far from us! Even if we forget that it is there half the time, it is nice when we remember it.  Bryan loves their bread and their creamy tomato soup and I truly miss their bread but love their salads and their creamy tomato soup also.  We went to lunch there last week, and like I always do before going somewhere to eat (even if we’ve been there a million times) I went Read More »

For over 200 years,  has built an impressive reputation for its consistent, high-quality, all natural baking flours.

Now the company has entered the gluten-free market with eight new gluten-free mixes:.

King Arthur Flour boldly states the following message on their website, “Our award-winning gluten-free mixes are the best you’ll ever taste.”  Their tagline is “King Arthur Flour gluten-free mixes – a taste the whole family will enjoy!”

We tested them.  The verdict?

These gluten-free mixes are as good as advertised. Both children and adult tasters agreed they are spectacular.

The Mixes

We received two boxes each of the eight different varieties. (Hint to all you gluten-free bloggers and support group leaders out there – request yours now!)

The mixes are packaged in attractively designed boxes, incorporating blue, tan and pumpkin colors in an appealing design supported by scrumptious-looking pictures.  The boxes are clearly labeled gluten-free in multiple locations and Read More »

Udi’s Gluten Free is launching their NEW line of Hamburger Buns, Hot Dog Buns and two varieties of Ancient Grains Breads this month… just in time for your summer BBQs!  I have been waiting for what seems like a very long time for Udi’s Gluten Free to make buns; I figured that since their bread is soft, delicious and doesn’t need toasting that their buns would be superior to others on the market.  I was right.

My family sampled Udi’s new gluten free buns and Udi’s new gluten free Ancient Grain Breads and they were a hit!  My daughter enthusiastically announced “I love Udi’s Hamburger Buns” at the dinner table; I especially liked them toasted on the grill.  I was impressed by how Read More »

Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com

LOVES PARK, Ill., July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Crunchmaster®, the fastest growing brand of certified gluten free crackers in the U.S., has announced its new 7 Ancient Grains product line is now available in supermarkets nationwide. The crackers are available in two flavors – Hint of Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper & Herb – and will be showcased at the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) Fancy Food Show July 10-12 in Washington, DC.

Crunchmaster 7 Ancient Grains crackers are made with 100% whole grains including brown rice, sorghum, quinoa, sesame, millet, flax and amaranth. The crackers are also oven-baked and contain low sodium, making them an ideal snack option for Read More »

I love to do research!  And in the gluten free industry that means sampling gluten free food.  

Today I am particularly happy to be sampling Joan’s GF Great Bakes products recently introduced to the market; specifically the multi-grain English muffins.  She is updating her delicious line, which includes bialy’s, Italian bread, bagels, English muffins, Scicilian pizza, corn toaster muffins, chocolate chip cookies and calzone, by adding double chocolate muffins, crumb cake, and multi-grain English muffins.

And Joan has really has done it again.  I am a proponent of healthy gluten free living and in large part those of us that are gluten intolerant (Celiac Disease, gluten sensitivity) have taken whole wheat out of our diets and are left with low-fiber, low-nutrient, dense food.  Joan’s multi-grain English muffins are made with 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber (amaranth, flax seed meal, organic buckwheat, and fortified with iron, vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, and D3, Calcium, Folic Acid) and Read More »

[Editor’s Note: September 26, 2011. California Pizza Kitchen has suspended its gluten-free pizza crusts.]

Hello All,

I wanted to share with you a press release that I received today about California Pizza Kitchen:

Hi!

The wait is over! Today California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has launched gluten free pizza crust, making 29 of their original pizzas available gluten free.

CPK has taken notice of the increased demand with more than 3 million Americans affected by Celiac Disease and created a specialty menu with various gluten free items. Among the 29 different gluten free pizzas available is America’s favorite, The Original BBQ Chicken pizza, the Pear & Gorgonzola pizza and the Wild Mushroom pizza. CPK also offers other gluten free appetizers, soups, salads, specialties, kids items and desserts to choose from on their current menu.

CPK is thrilled to offer those that require gluten free items a menu with the same delicious offering that they’ve always had, now gluten free.

I also saw this on their website: Read More »

Pamela’s Products, an award-winning leader in the gluten-free foods arena, is now accepting entries for its 6^th Annual Gluten-Free Recipe Contest! 

This year’s contest theme, “Convenience,” focuses on highlighting recipes that are short on time, but big on taste, using any Pamela’s Products brand products to make life easier.

“Convenience.” Easy & delicious recipes that offer convenient ‘shortcuts’ or useful time-saving applications in preparation, storage or lifestyle without compromising flavor, have become a staple of home chefs.  Whether preparing a complicated recipe that can be easily reheated with full flavor and freshness, creating an unbaked/uncooked meal that can be stored and frozen or whipping up a quick and simple grab-n-go snack, there are many ways to make recipes delicious, healthful, gluten-free and convenient.

offers home cooks the opportunity to Read More »

The suitability of oats as part of the gluten-free diet has been a source of controversy, with some groups pointing to research suggesting oats are safe and others pointing to other research demonstrating oats are dangerous to those with celiac disease. Close inspection of available medical research clearly shows that oats, even “gluten-free” oats, should not be included in the gluten-free diet at this time.

Until the early 1990’s, oats were excluded from the gluten-free diet, along with wheat, barley and rye. Then, a few pilot studies suggested oats may not cause the harm previously thought. The idea was proposed that people with celiac disease would find their diet more palatable, and would benefit nutritionally, if they were allowed to eat oats.

Heavy contamination of many oat products with wheat, rye, and particularly barley, was a concern. Companies began to produce so-called “gluten-free oats.” These oats were tested for the presence of wheat, barley and rye. They are vigorously marketed as “safe” for celiacs. However, studies show that even “uncontaminated oats” (oats not containing wheat, barley or rye) are toxic to an unknown number of people with celiac disease.

Early studies proclaimed oats to be safe, but they have since been judged faulty with poor validity. Nevertheless, they opened the floodgates to Read More »