Tag Archives: jennifer harris

Top 20: Gluten-free and Dairy-free Products Finds at Expo West 2015

Coconut cream pops Expo West

Coconut cream pops Expo West

Expo West is simply the best and the largest natural foods event in the United States. Each year the event grows in exhibitors and attendees and shows no signs of slowing down. One of the trends noted this year was the surge of vegan/gluten-free products, like bread, cheese, cheesecake, cookies, frozen desserts, macaroni and cheese, salad dressings, yogurt, etc.

Here are this Examiner’s top 20 gluten, dairy, and vegan product finds:

  • CoYo’s coconut milk yogurt hails from Australia and is made from coconut cream and natural flavors in four varieties: Natural, Mango, Mixed Berry, and Raw Chocolate. The berry and mango are incredibly creamy without a funny taste or texture and taste fantastic. This product debuted at Expo West 2014, but this was my first time trying it and color me impressed. Availability: In stores
  • Cosmo’s Dairy-Free Spicy Ranch is thick, rich, and mildly spicy. Made from coconuts, it works as a salad dressing, dip, and sandwich spread adding a nice kick to what would be ordinary. It does contain eggs, but is soy and nut free. Availability: Online for now
  • Daiya Foods, Inc. gets a nod for their new Cheezecakes and Cheezy Mac kits that are soy free and vegan. Available in three flavors, Deluxe Alfredo, Deluxe Cheddar, and Deluxe White Cheddar Veggie Medley, each kit comes with a bag of liquid cheezy sauce ready to be combined with cooked brown rice pasta.Their cheezecakes are also available in four flavors: New York, Chocolate, Key Lime, and Strawberry. Availability: Rolling into stores now

Read More »

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free CocoWhip Is the Tops

So Delicious Dairy Free Coco WhipBack in the day it was impossible to keep a tub of Cool Whip in the house because it was irresistible to me plain (on the end of my finger) or on top of pudding, cake, pie, and ice cream. It wasn’t until later in life that ingredient choices became an issue and my beloved Cool Whip was deemed unsuitable. Tears were shed as a chapter of my life came to a close and desserts were no longer topped until So Delicious Dairy Free introduced CocoWhip.

CocoWhip, available in Original and Light, is made from organic coconut milk, it is naturally sweetened, and contains no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors. It is certified gluten free, vegan, and kosher parve, and Non-GMO Verified. CocoWhip ingredients are: Read More »

Gluten-free Recipe: Dairy-free Chocolate Cashew Cake (No Bake)

chocolate cashew cake

Dairy used to be my friend, but then we had to break up and it is the most difficult breakup I have ever had. Eliminating dairy/casein from a diet is more difficult than removing gluten because it is everywhere and it tastes really good.

Of course the best way to go about eliminating dairy is to look for substitutes and for me that made chocolate and cream cheese a priority. I never thought I would be able to like dark chocolate and now I love it. Cream cheese substitutes can be made from soy, which is also a no-no for me, but then came luscious cashew cream to save the day. Read More »

Gluten-Free Grilling Tips

gluten free grilling tipsTime to fire up the grill and start barbecuing because summer is here. It seems not a day goes by when the aroma of grilled meat doesn’t fill the air. If you are cooking for someone who is gluten intolerant, just a few simple steps will ensure a safe and tasty meal. Eating a burger with a knife and fork works in a pinch, but it just isn’t the same experience, or very filling.

I love attending barbecues, but there are a number of sources of gluten that needs to be considered, such as: condiments, toasting buns on the grill surface, seasonings, marinades, and utensils. I like to come prepared with my own gluten-free bun. I don’t expect the host to provide a gluten-free bun because a) how would they know what to get, b) what if the gluten-free bun contains additional allergens I avoid, and c) I don’t want the host to fuss over me, or exclude me because they don’t think they can feed me safely.

Here are some great tips for successful gluten-free grilling whether you are the host, or the attendee: Read More »

Inaugural Gluten-Free Food Update 2014

Alternative Baking Company Gluten Free Cookies

Alternative Baking Company Gluten Free Cookies

This product update is long overdue and it is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to new gluten-free product launches in 2014. Expo West is just a few weeks away and I can’t wait to be overwhelmed by gluten-free products. Gluten free is slated once again to be one of the top diet trends in 2014 and that means more gluten-free products are being developed. Hopefully, these new products will trend towards health food and won’t be loaded with fillers, sugar, salt, and artificial color/flavors.

Here is the first new-to-me gluten-free products installment of 2014: Read More »

Product Review: Pillsbury’s Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough [DISCONTINUED]

[EDITOR’S NOTE: AS OF APRIL 20, 2017, ALL PILLSBURY GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE GLUTEN-FREE LINE WAS DISCONTINUED. THE SHELF LIFE WAS 93 DAYS, WHICH WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH GIVEN SALES. THEY HOPE TO MAKE FROZEN PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE.]

pilsbury choc chip gluten free

When I was first diagnosed with celiac disease the first thing I thought about missing was chocolate chip cookies. My grammy made the most incredible chocolate chip cookies and the thought of not being able to eat them made me sad, so I began my quest to make gluten-free chocolate chip cookies just like grammy’s, and I didn’t stop until I succeeded. When Pillsbury introduced their chocolate chip cookie dough, I thought there was no way they could be as good as my grammy’s, but I was wrong. Read More »

Gluten Free Product Review: Glutino’s Muffin Mix

Glutino-muffin-mix

Cheesy Sausage Muffins Credits: Jennifer Harris

 

glutino muffin mixA mix, is a mix, is a mix, right? Not necessarily and definitely not when taking Non-GMO Verification into consideration. Glutino’s Gluten Free Pantry muffin mix is free of gluten and dairy, it is GMO free, and it is incredibly easy to use.

When I received my free sample in the mail I decided I wanted to do something different. I mean who Read More »