Hello, everyone! It has been awhile since I have written! I have been traveling and my computer blew up so I have been very busy and remiss in writing. I want to mention a few new things. First of all, Bisquick now makes a gluten-free version of their original Bisquick mix. I made biscuits and a coffee cake with it and they both turned out well. Before celiac, I was a religious user of Bisquick so this was very good news to me! I have only seen it at the 108th HyVee, but I know it will be showing up soon everywhere.
I don't think the Cheesecake Factory Gluten-free menu is ready yet......maybe this fall.
I have been sampling some other gluten-free menus and I have been pleasantly and happily surprised. The Bone Fish Grill has a delightful gluten-free menu. Many offerings and not just your typical...........don't order this with a bun nonsense. On their appetizer offerings, their edamame is beyond delicious! I could eat that stuff by the pound! Their fish items are very tasty and the staff is very captivating and extremely accommodating. And, it is not as expensive as you might think! It is a winner to me. And their creme brule makes me dance in happiness!!
Biaggis has quite a lovely gluten-free menu too! Lots of pasta dishes and their pizza was so good I had to use all my willpower not to gobble it all down like a pizza deprived crazy woman! They even have gluten-free bread for dipping..........what a concept, right? Very lovely options and again they were extremely accommodating and more than happy to make suggestions and speak with the chef...........that is all we really want, right?
Keep an eye out for HyVee Health Market bag sales. The store on 156th and Maple is now carrying Udi's cinnamon rolls.............they are excellent when heated and they even come with frosting! I have already raved on previously about how much I like Udi's muffins and pizza crust!
LaCasa has terrific gluten-free pizza and there is something very comforting about going back to places that never change and that is a good thing.
I must run, but will no longer take so long between posts.......enjoy the end of summer and keep stopping at those wonderful fruit and vegetable stands around town...........local produce.....the best!!!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Just Some Random Thoughts
Well, I have been extremely busy and then went to Colorado. I am now back and have been playing "catch-up" for a few days. And let me just say that is always the hardest part of coming back from vacation..........that and trying to get back into your old routine!
So whenever I travel, I always go with a certain amount of anxiety and trepidation. New places, new restaurants..........new ways to become glutenized and taken unaware! But anxiety does not seem to be beneficial in my world any longer, so it takes some strategy and common sense to try and navigate through the unrelenting pitfalls of being a stranger in a strange land. When I travel I rarely bring much of my own food.........too much of an inconvenience, a big hassle, possibly no refrigerator available and it is just basically a big pain in the butt!! But I do my homework before I leave on my journey and that makes things much easier. There are so many places that offer gluten-free alternatives now that it is reasonably safe if you know what you are doing. Do some research on line and then call ahead to restaurants that claim they have a gluten-free menu to verify that fact. Make a list and keep it with you when you travel. I had some happy surprises while I was in Colorado. Places like zoos and museums (which I thought would only offer junk food), had wonderful healthy selections. Delightful salad bars, gluten-free pizza, fresh fruit, and many other "safe" choices. Let's just say I never went hungry and that my options were many and varied. Also, as many of you probably already know, Mexican restaurants have many gluten-free options. Just stay away from anything made with or near a flour tortilla! I am still having problems with Oriental restaurants and the wheat-laden soy sauce. I solved that by getting some little to go paks of soy sauce and carrying some with me all the time. One never knows when one could get a mad craving for Oriental food and I am always prepared. They are always more than happy to make the dish you order without soy sauce. And believe this or not some restaurants actually use gluten-free soy sauce.........not many, but a few.
I feel like my trip was successful on several levels including the choices that are now available to us. And just as an aside............I think Colorado is way more cognizent of gluten-free living than Nebraska............I'm just saying...........
HyVee Stores are now carrying Udi's Gluten-free Bagels. They are really good and they make the best sandwiches ever! I am trying to get them to carry Udi's Cinnamon Rolls.........I have heard they are very lovely.
Have you ever been in the grocery store and walked by the bakery section and looked at all the Artisian breads and rolls as the fragrant aroma of their wonderfulness surrounds you with a dizzing sense of longing? Me too...............once and awhile I even get a little crazy mad about it and then I think about people with real problems and keep moving right past the bakery! Then the feeling of being deprived passes and I move on to the gluten-free section! And how often have you ever had someone say to you.............."it must be so hard to try and eat anything good". Most of the time I correct them and say "not as hard as you might think", but sometimes
I just nod my head and say yes, you wouldn't believe the difficulty......sigh.....and then I realize again that some people have real problems that can't be solved by not eating wheat and I just keep smiling.
Have a safe and stupendous 4th of July and keep smiling! Linda
So whenever I travel, I always go with a certain amount of anxiety and trepidation. New places, new restaurants..........new ways to become glutenized and taken unaware! But anxiety does not seem to be beneficial in my world any longer, so it takes some strategy and common sense to try and navigate through the unrelenting pitfalls of being a stranger in a strange land. When I travel I rarely bring much of my own food.........too much of an inconvenience, a big hassle, possibly no refrigerator available and it is just basically a big pain in the butt!! But I do my homework before I leave on my journey and that makes things much easier. There are so many places that offer gluten-free alternatives now that it is reasonably safe if you know what you are doing. Do some research on line and then call ahead to restaurants that claim they have a gluten-free menu to verify that fact. Make a list and keep it with you when you travel. I had some happy surprises while I was in Colorado. Places like zoos and museums (which I thought would only offer junk food), had wonderful healthy selections. Delightful salad bars, gluten-free pizza, fresh fruit, and many other "safe" choices. Let's just say I never went hungry and that my options were many and varied. Also, as many of you probably already know, Mexican restaurants have many gluten-free options. Just stay away from anything made with or near a flour tortilla! I am still having problems with Oriental restaurants and the wheat-laden soy sauce. I solved that by getting some little to go paks of soy sauce and carrying some with me all the time. One never knows when one could get a mad craving for Oriental food and I am always prepared. They are always more than happy to make the dish you order without soy sauce. And believe this or not some restaurants actually use gluten-free soy sauce.........not many, but a few.
I feel like my trip was successful on several levels including the choices that are now available to us. And just as an aside............I think Colorado is way more cognizent of gluten-free living than Nebraska............I'm just saying...........
HyVee Stores are now carrying Udi's Gluten-free Bagels. They are really good and they make the best sandwiches ever! I am trying to get them to carry Udi's Cinnamon Rolls.........I have heard they are very lovely.
Have you ever been in the grocery store and walked by the bakery section and looked at all the Artisian breads and rolls as the fragrant aroma of their wonderfulness surrounds you with a dizzing sense of longing? Me too...............once and awhile I even get a little crazy mad about it and then I think about people with real problems and keep moving right past the bakery! Then the feeling of being deprived passes and I move on to the gluten-free section! And how often have you ever had someone say to you.............."it must be so hard to try and eat anything good". Most of the time I correct them and say "not as hard as you might think", but sometimes
I just nod my head and say yes, you wouldn't believe the difficulty......sigh.....and then I realize again that some people have real problems that can't be solved by not eating wheat and I just keep smiling.
Have a safe and stupendous 4th of July and keep smiling! Linda
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Gluten-free products and where to get them
Well, summer is upon us and what a welcome relief it is! I have been painfully busy with too much work and precious little time to devote to the blog site. However, I am still madly dashing around going to gluten-free samplings, visiting Hy-Vees and Health Markets and eating a continuing stream of cupcakes and other tempting goodies. When I say madly dashing, I should say sprinting in an effort to keep any extra poundage from clinging to my hips and other applicable body parts. It is a daunting challenge believe me..........but, in my attempt to find real quality gluten-free products, I must persevere and march on.
And so first I must give a much needed thumbs-up to Bakers Supermarket at 132nd & Maple. They are starting to feature many more gluten-free products in their health market section......YAY!! They are now carrying Kinnikinnick bagels, English muffins, hot dog & hamburger buns, donuts and pizza crusts. They also carry Amy's gluten-free frozen cakes and some French Meadow gluten-free cookie dough (also frozen). They have acquired a fantastic selection of various mixes and they really seem to be seeking to increase the variety and availability of stuff......good for them!!
One item that Bakers is carrying (in their regular ice cream section) is Graeter's Ice Cream. Now this may not mean much to some, but being an ice cream lover I had heard "stories" of Graeter's and their amazing ice cream. Graeter's started out as a beloved family institution in Cincinnati, OH in 1870. One family started the busines and several generations later, the family is still running the business. They use a very interesting process to make their ice cream called French Pot process. And they make it in very small batches. People have literally been flocking to their ice cream stores for decades. They also ship their delectable pints of ectasy anywhere in the US. So imagine my surprise and delight when I saw the pleasing little pints sitting on the shelves in the ice cream section at Bakers! I bought my first pint and took it home with palpable anticipation. I chose Blackraspberry Chocolate Chip..........how could I not? As I took my first spoonful, I was initially taken with the creaminess and richness of the ice cream. Then the bursting flavors of the blackraspberry and deep rich chocolate combined to make the happiest of explosions in my mouth. This stuff is outlandishly good. One spoiler.........I think you could become easily addicted to the quality and deliciousness of this treat and it may cause you to turn your nose up at other brands of ice cream. OK, two spoilers.........it could also cause you to spend extra time on the treadmill, but it would be sooooo worth it!
Since it is Summer, I am going to talk about another ice cream treat. Remember ice cream sandwiches?? Yes, well I do, and of course that is all they were to me............a memory. But, alas and take heart, I found a gluten-free ice cream sandwich and it is surprisingly good! It is made by Julie's and it is organic and also goes under the guise of GlutenFreeda's. They too are at Baker's now in the health section. They are a divine and a delightful treat that does not eat up your calorie allowance for the day, but offers you a very satisfying respite of momentary pleasure and decadence. How can argue you with that..........and why would you?? As Rachel Ray says........YUM-O!
OK, and now five minutes to indulge me on the gluten-free soapbox. I have been sampling various offerings at several stores lately and I must say I am not that impressed with many of the new products they are getting in. The mixes are dry and not all that exciting. I have written here before about the fact that you need to jazz up gluten-free mixes and definitely add more butter fat. But, it makes me sad to think that many people settle for ho-hum products just because it is easier or they don't know where really good stuff is hiding. They accept that their new lot in life is to eat semi-yucky stuff if they want anything that resembles bread, cake or muffins. Remember, that is not the case and there are good, quality products out there, but you have to find your voice and you have to speak up. Most stores are only too happy to order in things BUT you have to ask them and you may have to ask them more than once. And restaurants are getting better with gluten-free menus (more show up all the time)..........I understand the Cheesecake Factory will have a gluten-free menu in July. But, we still need to speak up and we need to speak up loudly..........you can make a difference!
And so first I must give a much needed thumbs-up to Bakers Supermarket at 132nd & Maple. They are starting to feature many more gluten-free products in their health market section......YAY!! They are now carrying Kinnikinnick bagels, English muffins, hot dog & hamburger buns, donuts and pizza crusts. They also carry Amy's gluten-free frozen cakes and some French Meadow gluten-free cookie dough (also frozen). They have acquired a fantastic selection of various mixes and they really seem to be seeking to increase the variety and availability of stuff......good for them!!
One item that Bakers is carrying (in their regular ice cream section) is Graeter's Ice Cream. Now this may not mean much to some, but being an ice cream lover I had heard "stories" of Graeter's and their amazing ice cream. Graeter's started out as a beloved family institution in Cincinnati, OH in 1870. One family started the busines and several generations later, the family is still running the business. They use a very interesting process to make their ice cream called French Pot process. And they make it in very small batches. People have literally been flocking to their ice cream stores for decades. They also ship their delectable pints of ectasy anywhere in the US. So imagine my surprise and delight when I saw the pleasing little pints sitting on the shelves in the ice cream section at Bakers! I bought my first pint and took it home with palpable anticipation. I chose Blackraspberry Chocolate Chip..........how could I not? As I took my first spoonful, I was initially taken with the creaminess and richness of the ice cream. Then the bursting flavors of the blackraspberry and deep rich chocolate combined to make the happiest of explosions in my mouth. This stuff is outlandishly good. One spoiler.........I think you could become easily addicted to the quality and deliciousness of this treat and it may cause you to turn your nose up at other brands of ice cream. OK, two spoilers.........it could also cause you to spend extra time on the treadmill, but it would be sooooo worth it!
Since it is Summer, I am going to talk about another ice cream treat. Remember ice cream sandwiches?? Yes, well I do, and of course that is all they were to me............a memory. But, alas and take heart, I found a gluten-free ice cream sandwich and it is surprisingly good! It is made by Julie's and it is organic and also goes under the guise of GlutenFreeda's. They too are at Baker's now in the health section. They are a divine and a delightful treat that does not eat up your calorie allowance for the day, but offers you a very satisfying respite of momentary pleasure and decadence. How can argue you with that..........and why would you?? As Rachel Ray says........YUM-O!
OK, and now five minutes to indulge me on the gluten-free soapbox. I have been sampling various offerings at several stores lately and I must say I am not that impressed with many of the new products they are getting in. The mixes are dry and not all that exciting. I have written here before about the fact that you need to jazz up gluten-free mixes and definitely add more butter fat. But, it makes me sad to think that many people settle for ho-hum products just because it is easier or they don't know where really good stuff is hiding. They accept that their new lot in life is to eat semi-yucky stuff if they want anything that resembles bread, cake or muffins. Remember, that is not the case and there are good, quality products out there, but you have to find your voice and you have to speak up. Most stores are only too happy to order in things BUT you have to ask them and you may have to ask them more than once. And restaurants are getting better with gluten-free menus (more show up all the time)..........I understand the Cheesecake Factory will have a gluten-free menu in July. But, we still need to speak up and we need to speak up loudly..........you can make a difference!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
For The Love Of Cupcakes
OK, I will admit it freely and with no hesitation..............I adore cupcakes! Cupcakes are festive, cupcakes are irresistable and cupcakes are just plain fun to eat! Cupcakes look like a tiny celebration all deliciously encased in a paper liner with sweet, decadent frosting spilling over the top. Everyone loves cupcakes! Cupcakes are a happy indulgence that we can all afford to splurge on from time to time. They make the end of a long day considerably brighter, and they make children squeal with delight and clap their hands in anticipation of the first gooey mouthful. You want to make someone smile...............give them a cupcake. When I was growing up my Mother knew of my fascination with cupcakes and would often send homemade ones in my lunch for school. Ahhh, the amazing buttercream frosting adorning each cake in various shades of pink, mint green and creamy yellow! Trust me, I became hooked at an early age, they were the best!
Now my love of cupcakes had taken quite a sabbatical because I could no longer eat them........sigh! To say I have been underwhelmed with gluten-free cake mixes would be an understatement. They always turn out grainy and there is that yucky aftertaste that always seems to accompany them. Well no more........I have found an awesome gluten-free bakery in Denver and they just happen to specilize in cupcakes! Mermaids Bakery is divine! Now they cannot ship baked cupcakes but they can ship their mixes. I spent a pleasurable part of my weekend baking several of their mixes and they were way beyond my expectations! I was so pleased with the results of my efforts. I made the chocolate mix and the red velvet mix. I frosted the red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and chopped walnuts. I frosted the chocolate ones with a sinful chocolate buttercream. To my surprise and delight these cupcakes are heavenly! The texture is identical to gluten-laden cake and there is no trace of graininess or that weird aftertaste that we all know and dislike. I think I may have actually moaned and swooned out loud when I tried the first red velvet cupcake. I couldn't believe how good it was. And the chocolate is a very deep, rich, dark chocolate flavor that makes you feel extremely decadent as you devour every morsel. Now Mermaids Bakery has a shop in downtown Denver and you can bet I am going to make it there sooner than later. I will be trying the spice mix and the vanilla mix this weekend if time allows. And low and behold, these freeze very well too! But the best part is that I gave some to my gluten-loving, non-celiac friends (the final test) and they loved them and gobbled them up. Check out their website: http://www.mermaidsbakery.com. The photos alone will make you drool with longing.
I will keep you posted on the next flavors I make and I also have a recipe for a great yellow cake which I will post next time. More to come.....and remember to celebrate the little things in life.....like fantastic cupcakes from Mermaids Bakery........and no one will ever guess they are gluten-free!
Now my love of cupcakes had taken quite a sabbatical because I could no longer eat them........sigh! To say I have been underwhelmed with gluten-free cake mixes would be an understatement. They always turn out grainy and there is that yucky aftertaste that always seems to accompany them. Well no more........I have found an awesome gluten-free bakery in Denver and they just happen to specilize in cupcakes! Mermaids Bakery is divine! Now they cannot ship baked cupcakes but they can ship their mixes. I spent a pleasurable part of my weekend baking several of their mixes and they were way beyond my expectations! I was so pleased with the results of my efforts. I made the chocolate mix and the red velvet mix. I frosted the red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and chopped walnuts. I frosted the chocolate ones with a sinful chocolate buttercream. To my surprise and delight these cupcakes are heavenly! The texture is identical to gluten-laden cake and there is no trace of graininess or that weird aftertaste that we all know and dislike. I think I may have actually moaned and swooned out loud when I tried the first red velvet cupcake. I couldn't believe how good it was. And the chocolate is a very deep, rich, dark chocolate flavor that makes you feel extremely decadent as you devour every morsel. Now Mermaids Bakery has a shop in downtown Denver and you can bet I am going to make it there sooner than later. I will be trying the spice mix and the vanilla mix this weekend if time allows. And low and behold, these freeze very well too! But the best part is that I gave some to my gluten-loving, non-celiac friends (the final test) and they loved them and gobbled them up. Check out their website: http://www.mermaidsbakery.com. The photos alone will make you drool with longing.
I will keep you posted on the next flavors I make and I also have a recipe for a great yellow cake which I will post next time. More to come.....and remember to celebrate the little things in life.....like fantastic cupcakes from Mermaids Bakery........and no one will ever guess they are gluten-free!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Fantastic Hy-Vee Stores
You all know how I periodically sing the praises of Hy-Vee and their endeavors to bring their customers the best choices in gluten-free products. Well, they are at again, folks! They are expanding their gluten-free items tremendously and I couldn't be happier! The store on 156th & Maple has polished up their new and improved area in their Health Market and some of their new items look very enticing. It is my understandint that most of the Hy-Vee stores are expanding their gluten-free offerings, but below is a list of new gluten-free items that I know are now at the 156th & Maple Store.
Against the Grain Gourmet Baguettes (frozen)
Schar Classic White Bread (frozen)
Udi's Vanilla, Cranberry, Original and Au Natural Granola (So far I like Udi's products!)
Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Kasha
Back to Nature White Cheddar Crackers
Hodgson Mill Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix
New Nut Thin Flavors - Barbeque and Hint of Salt
Schar Products:
Penne Pasta
Fusilli Pasta
Hazelnut Wafers
Vanilla Wafers (These intrigue me.....I could make Southern Banana Pudding with them)
Cocoa Wafers
Chocolate Dipped Wafers
Vanilla Sandwich Creams
Chocolate Sandwich Creams
Table Crackers
Bread Crumbs
These are just some of the new products and they have many more! Now I must be honest and tell you that I have not tried any of the products listed yet, but of course I will certainly make that a priority now. I have heard good things about Schar Brand Products and I love Udi's stuff, so we will see how it goes. You must go visit the Health Markets at the Hy-Vee Stores! They improve their inventory every time I visit one. Now the Hy-Vee at 132nd & Dodge is being remodled so that is kind of a mess right now, but when they are done it is going to be fantastic! Also, the Oakview Hy-Vee is moving or they may have moved already.........I will check on that....but it looks like it is going to be an awesome store.
The Hy-Vee at 156th & Maple is having another Sack Sale on May 21st through May 23rd, so this would be a good time to stock up! Last month I posted some other dates for Hy-Vee happenings so check them out.
I have been busy testing recipes for gluten-free cupcakes! Actually I am baking as I write this. I am seeking the best gluten-free cupcake ever, so if you have a suggestion, let me know. Stay tuned and I will have some reviews shortly!
Against the Grain Gourmet Baguettes (frozen)
Schar Classic White Bread (frozen)
Udi's Vanilla, Cranberry, Original and Au Natural Granola (So far I like Udi's products!)
Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Kasha
Back to Nature White Cheddar Crackers
Hodgson Mill Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix
New Nut Thin Flavors - Barbeque and Hint of Salt
Schar Products:
Penne Pasta
Fusilli Pasta
Hazelnut Wafers
Vanilla Wafers (These intrigue me.....I could make Southern Banana Pudding with them)
Cocoa Wafers
Chocolate Dipped Wafers
Vanilla Sandwich Creams
Chocolate Sandwich Creams
Table Crackers
Bread Crumbs
These are just some of the new products and they have many more! Now I must be honest and tell you that I have not tried any of the products listed yet, but of course I will certainly make that a priority now. I have heard good things about Schar Brand Products and I love Udi's stuff, so we will see how it goes. You must go visit the Health Markets at the Hy-Vee Stores! They improve their inventory every time I visit one. Now the Hy-Vee at 132nd & Dodge is being remodled so that is kind of a mess right now, but when they are done it is going to be fantastic! Also, the Oakview Hy-Vee is moving or they may have moved already.........I will check on that....but it looks like it is going to be an awesome store.
The Hy-Vee at 156th & Maple is having another Sack Sale on May 21st through May 23rd, so this would be a good time to stock up! Last month I posted some other dates for Hy-Vee happenings so check them out.
I have been busy testing recipes for gluten-free cupcakes! Actually I am baking as I write this. I am seeking the best gluten-free cupcake ever, so if you have a suggestion, let me know. Stay tuned and I will have some reviews shortly!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Mariposa Bakery & Kristy's Kitchen
Greetings and salutations! For two years I have lamented the loss of rye bread to my celiac diet. How can you have an inspiring reuben sandwich without it? (Truthfully, you cannot!) How can you have a ham and swiss on rye? (Again, you cannot! It is just not the same with gluten-free white bread.) Just too "white bready"......ugh! But send up a flare and alert the media kids, because Mariposa Bakery in Oakland now has rye bread! Now you probably know that celiacs cannot have "true" rye bread. However, much to my delight and amazement, Mariposa has worked their magic once again & created a very good "imposter" if you will, of rye bread. It comes in nice little round loaves and looks somewhat "artisian" to me. Ahhh, but the taste, that is what truly matters. And it strikes a home run! It is the lighter version of rye bread, not the deep dark kind, but it is pleasingly good and it tastes like rye bread!! It has excellent texture. It makes very satisfying toast and I made an awesome ham and swiss sandwich today for lunch! Woo-hoo, it was just what I had been craving. All I can say is; thank you Mariposa.......now I need to go find some good corned beef.
They also now offer a very nicely textured multi-grain bread. It is quite dense with lots of seeds and great nutty stuff. It reminds me of a lovely multi-grain bread I used to enjoy in my pre-celiac days. I would be remiss if I didn't point out that it comes with some actual nutritional value too! I love it straight out of the toaster with a generous dollup of butter (of course). I feel healthier when I eat this as opposed to say white rice bread. Sandwiches are also good and hearty with this bread. Remember, you can order this stuff on line. I really like this company and their attitude and I would love to pay them a visit in the future.
http://www.mariposabaking.com/
Now onward to Kristy's Kitchen. Kristy and Mike Johnson (lovely people, by the way), are from Tecamah and created gluten-free mixes after Kristy was diagnosed, hence Kristy's Kitchen was born! They seem to be doing very well, I must say! They offer various mixes from crackers to biscuits to scones. I had to take my time baking and reviewing their products because they offer so much that I had to really keep my waistline in check (alas, an ongoing hazard).
First I made their Gourmet Cherry Sour Cream Muffin Mix/Coffee Cake Mix. I made it into coffee cake. I loved the texture and the way the cake rose in the oven. It comes with a streusel topping to which I added 3/4 cup of pecans, because I put nuts in everything (nutrition, don't you know). I have to admit this coffee cake really surprised me. I think it is hard to find a good gluten-free mix but this turned out delicious. I would not hesitate to serve it to non-celiacs, of course never mentioning the lack of wheat........You need sour cream of course and it also called for some water. I always substitute buttermilk or cream when a mix calls for water. I just think the extra butterfat gives it more richness and depth. This is good stuff and it freezes very well. Hats off to you, Kristy and Mike.
Next I made their White Chocolate Raspberry scones. Now I consider myself somewhat of a "scone snob" or scone afficianado. Scones are either really good or rather dreary and boring. (Basically I haven't met that many scones that I didn't like, but they aren't all good). I am happy to report these are excellent and I was really surprised again at how good they were. They are not accompanied by any weird aftertaste that gluten-free baked goods sometimes come equipped with. They have a great flavor and the raspberry and white chocolate added a nice touch without overpowering the lovliness of the scone. There is a Devonshire Cream recipe on the package back that you should serve with these warm scones. It becomes a delicious, festive and somewhat decadent treat all at the same time. What more could you ask for??
I have also sampled their Artisian Graham Cracker Mix and had a lovely cheesecake that boasted a crust made from the graham crackers. I have heard (on good authority) that their Savory Thin & Crispy Cracker mix is quite good, but I have not made them yet. Soon, I will though, soon! And last but not least is Grandma's Sunday Best Baking Power Biscuits. Again I substitued buttermilk for the water it called for. I made an old fashioned strawberry shortcake with them and it was a home run. These mixes can be found at No Name Nutrition, Hy-Vee and Super Foods in Blair, just to name a few places. I think that it is a smashing idea to support local people who take the plunge and start their own business. Give them a try http://www.kristyskitchen.com
They also now offer a very nicely textured multi-grain bread. It is quite dense with lots of seeds and great nutty stuff. It reminds me of a lovely multi-grain bread I used to enjoy in my pre-celiac days. I would be remiss if I didn't point out that it comes with some actual nutritional value too! I love it straight out of the toaster with a generous dollup of butter (of course). I feel healthier when I eat this as opposed to say white rice bread. Sandwiches are also good and hearty with this bread. Remember, you can order this stuff on line. I really like this company and their attitude and I would love to pay them a visit in the future.
http://www.mariposabaking.com/
Now onward to Kristy's Kitchen. Kristy and Mike Johnson (lovely people, by the way), are from Tecamah and created gluten-free mixes after Kristy was diagnosed, hence Kristy's Kitchen was born! They seem to be doing very well, I must say! They offer various mixes from crackers to biscuits to scones. I had to take my time baking and reviewing their products because they offer so much that I had to really keep my waistline in check (alas, an ongoing hazard).
First I made their Gourmet Cherry Sour Cream Muffin Mix/Coffee Cake Mix. I made it into coffee cake. I loved the texture and the way the cake rose in the oven. It comes with a streusel topping to which I added 3/4 cup of pecans, because I put nuts in everything (nutrition, don't you know). I have to admit this coffee cake really surprised me. I think it is hard to find a good gluten-free mix but this turned out delicious. I would not hesitate to serve it to non-celiacs, of course never mentioning the lack of wheat........You need sour cream of course and it also called for some water. I always substitute buttermilk or cream when a mix calls for water. I just think the extra butterfat gives it more richness and depth. This is good stuff and it freezes very well. Hats off to you, Kristy and Mike.
Next I made their White Chocolate Raspberry scones. Now I consider myself somewhat of a "scone snob" or scone afficianado. Scones are either really good or rather dreary and boring. (Basically I haven't met that many scones that I didn't like, but they aren't all good). I am happy to report these are excellent and I was really surprised again at how good they were. They are not accompanied by any weird aftertaste that gluten-free baked goods sometimes come equipped with. They have a great flavor and the raspberry and white chocolate added a nice touch without overpowering the lovliness of the scone. There is a Devonshire Cream recipe on the package back that you should serve with these warm scones. It becomes a delicious, festive and somewhat decadent treat all at the same time. What more could you ask for??
I have also sampled their Artisian Graham Cracker Mix and had a lovely cheesecake that boasted a crust made from the graham crackers. I have heard (on good authority) that their Savory Thin & Crispy Cracker mix is quite good, but I have not made them yet. Soon, I will though, soon! And last but not least is Grandma's Sunday Best Baking Power Biscuits. Again I substitued buttermilk for the water it called for. I made an old fashioned strawberry shortcake with them and it was a home run. These mixes can be found at No Name Nutrition, Hy-Vee and Super Foods in Blair, just to name a few places. I think that it is a smashing idea to support local people who take the plunge and start their own business. Give them a try http://www.kristyskitchen.com
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Nature's Gluten-free Bounty
Spring has sprung, gardens are sprouting, flowers are peeking up out of the ground to greet the warm sunshine, and the great American past time of lawn mowing has officially begun!
Having said that, this blog cannot always be about bread and rolls and cakes and pies. Above all else, I want to promote a healthy balanced diet for all. So, lets talk about some of nature's bounty that is now available for our enjoyment. Fresh asparagus is in abundance now. I love to sprinkle it with some olive oil and sea salt and roast it in the oven.........magnificent! It still has some crunch and a wonderful flavor. It is also superb on the grill with the olive oil and sea salt. Remember how people used to prepare it by boiling it to death........ugh!
Lovely, Hawaiian pineapple are also in delicious abundance right now. Try putting fresh slices on the grill for a minute or two on each side and you have a surprisingly good, low calorie dessert.....very tasty! They also really jazz up any chicken and rice dish. If the you make the dish a little spicy, the pineapple adds an interesting contrast and makes chicken and rice more exotic. Personally, I also love to just indulge in pineapple fresh as is. I have a fantasy of sitting in a field of them in Hawaii eating until I fall over in a juice-laden stupor!
Strawberries are back in season in a big way (and I do mean big........some of them are huge this year)! While strawberries are great under any circumstance, try making a fresh salad of baby spinach and sliced strawberries with a balsamic vinegarette. Wonderfully satisfying and very unique in flavor. Also, strawberries smothering a bowl of vanilla bean ice cream comes to mind.....ahhh!! Strawberries smothering a slice of gluten-free angel food cake........then drenched in fresh whipped cream.......what was that I was saying about a healthy diet????
Lastly are my beloved champagne mangos. These are a slightly smaller version of the usual mango that we are accustomed to and are pale yellow in color. I find them at Whole Foods and they are very plentiful right now. I can't seem to get enough of them! They are sweeter than their counterparts and I could eat them until I sprouted a Carmen Miranda fruit adorned hat! You really need to give them a try! They are reasonably priced so they are good for your budget and loaded with nutrition.
As far as I am concerned, this is a great time of the year for Celiacs. Cherry, peach, and watermelon season can't be far away and let's remember that sweet corn and tomatoes deserve our attention later in the season. The more fresh wholesome food we eat, the more unlikely it is for us to get "glutenized". As we all know, meat that is not marinated when you buy it is gluten-free. So grilling becomes a delightful possibility with nary a hint of gluten to ruin your summer BBQ. Remember Cookies BBQ sauce is gluten-free! But always read labels for possible "injections" in meat.............sneaky, very sneaky!
A few announcements regarding Hy-Vee and their Health Markets........108th & Fort Hy-Vee....April 28th - 15% off Gluten-Free Health Market Sack Sale. May 25th Northwest Omaha Hy-Vee Gluten-Free Support Group meets at 79th & Cass St. Hy-Vee. Contact Karissa at 384-8668 to pre-register. (I believe it is 5:30 to 6:30 PM, but check with her.) May 26th - Gluten-Free Sample Fest - 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at 108th & Fort Hy-Vee. May 26th - 15% off Gluten-Free Health Market Sack Sale, 108th & Forth Hy-Vee Only.
Council Bluffs Hy-Vee - Gluten-free Sack Sale on May 11th and a regular Health Market sack sale on May 20th.
Next blog I will finally talk about all the interesting mixes I have been making and sampling.....and making and sampling! I had to slow down my carb intake briefly though. I had visions of resembling the Pillsbury Dough Boy! Get outside and enjoy the weather..........you have been cooped up all winter! Linda
Having said that, this blog cannot always be about bread and rolls and cakes and pies. Above all else, I want to promote a healthy balanced diet for all. So, lets talk about some of nature's bounty that is now available for our enjoyment. Fresh asparagus is in abundance now. I love to sprinkle it with some olive oil and sea salt and roast it in the oven.........magnificent! It still has some crunch and a wonderful flavor. It is also superb on the grill with the olive oil and sea salt. Remember how people used to prepare it by boiling it to death........ugh!
Lovely, Hawaiian pineapple are also in delicious abundance right now. Try putting fresh slices on the grill for a minute or two on each side and you have a surprisingly good, low calorie dessert.....very tasty! They also really jazz up any chicken and rice dish. If the you make the dish a little spicy, the pineapple adds an interesting contrast and makes chicken and rice more exotic. Personally, I also love to just indulge in pineapple fresh as is. I have a fantasy of sitting in a field of them in Hawaii eating until I fall over in a juice-laden stupor!
Strawberries are back in season in a big way (and I do mean big........some of them are huge this year)! While strawberries are great under any circumstance, try making a fresh salad of baby spinach and sliced strawberries with a balsamic vinegarette. Wonderfully satisfying and very unique in flavor. Also, strawberries smothering a bowl of vanilla bean ice cream comes to mind.....ahhh!! Strawberries smothering a slice of gluten-free angel food cake........then drenched in fresh whipped cream.......what was that I was saying about a healthy diet????
Lastly are my beloved champagne mangos. These are a slightly smaller version of the usual mango that we are accustomed to and are pale yellow in color. I find them at Whole Foods and they are very plentiful right now. I can't seem to get enough of them! They are sweeter than their counterparts and I could eat them until I sprouted a Carmen Miranda fruit adorned hat! You really need to give them a try! They are reasonably priced so they are good for your budget and loaded with nutrition.
As far as I am concerned, this is a great time of the year for Celiacs. Cherry, peach, and watermelon season can't be far away and let's remember that sweet corn and tomatoes deserve our attention later in the season. The more fresh wholesome food we eat, the more unlikely it is for us to get "glutenized". As we all know, meat that is not marinated when you buy it is gluten-free. So grilling becomes a delightful possibility with nary a hint of gluten to ruin your summer BBQ. Remember Cookies BBQ sauce is gluten-free! But always read labels for possible "injections" in meat.............sneaky, very sneaky!
A few announcements regarding Hy-Vee and their Health Markets........108th & Fort Hy-Vee....April 28th - 15% off Gluten-Free Health Market Sack Sale. May 25th Northwest Omaha Hy-Vee Gluten-Free Support Group meets at 79th & Cass St. Hy-Vee. Contact Karissa at 384-8668 to pre-register. (I believe it is 5:30 to 6:30 PM, but check with her.) May 26th - Gluten-Free Sample Fest - 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at 108th & Fort Hy-Vee. May 26th - 15% off Gluten-Free Health Market Sack Sale, 108th & Forth Hy-Vee Only.
Council Bluffs Hy-Vee - Gluten-free Sack Sale on May 11th and a regular Health Market sack sale on May 20th.
Next blog I will finally talk about all the interesting mixes I have been making and sampling.....and making and sampling! I had to slow down my carb intake briefly though. I had visions of resembling the Pillsbury Dough Boy! Get outside and enjoy the weather..........you have been cooped up all winter! Linda
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