tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464244845799278082024-02-20T03:03:06.456-08:00Giving up the GlutenHelpful tips for making the transition into a gluten-free lifestyle.J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-18536174304459941742009-07-08T22:33:00.000-07:002009-07-08T22:56:26.125-07:00Review: Hansen's CakesSo, I'm getting married in October in Los Angeles (exciting!). But, along with the excitement comes the stress of planning a gluten free wedding. Everyone has told me that you won't really eat at your wedding, you are always SO busy. I don't care! I want my wedding to be gluten free! :D<br /><br />The biggest worry is the cake! So, I contact the only <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">GF</span> bakery in Los Angeles, <a href="http://thesensitivebaker.com/">The Sensitive Baker</a>. I love these guys. Their stuff is amazing. Really, it's the best stuff I've found that I haven't made from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">stratch</span> myself. Granted, the price tag is a little high, but the food is awesome. I've had cakes from here before for birthdays, etc. So I know that this place is great.<br /><br />I go and talk to the Sensitive Baker. Apparently, they don't really feel comfortable decorating elaborate cakes. They also don't do tiered cakes. Sadness. But, the woman told me that they bake cakes and then send them over to this bakery called <a href="http://www.hansencakes.com/">Hansen's Cakes</a>. They try to sell me on it by saying that movie stars shop there (which is the most common thing said about ANY store in LA... this is LA people, you can't impress me with movie stars... they are everywhere).<br /><br />So I made an appointment there at their main showroom, explained that I had <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Celiac's</span>, and off I went with my fiance.<br /><br />THE EXPERIENCE WAS COMPLETELY TERRIBLE!!! Do NOT go to this bakery. I have probably never had as bad of an experience with a company in my life!<br /><br />When I show up, the woman that I met with was insulting. Every idea I had she looked at me like I had said something offensive. I ask for was a two-tiered white wedding cake with a blue ribbon around each tier (I bring a picture from Martha Stewart Wedding, I want something simple). "You want your cake to be white?!?" "You want your cake to have blue on it?" Every time she gave me this horrible face that basically said, "Well, if you want to ruin your wedding, go right ahead!" <br /><br />Then comes the cake tasting. They bring me a plate that has white cake and chocolate cake (even though their <a href="http://www.hansencakes.com/menu.nxg">website says that they offer more varieties</a>, as did the Sensitive Baker). I look at the guy who brought me the cake test pieces and ask, "These are the gluten free ones, right?!?" He looks at me and says, "Oh, I don't know. I just got it from the kitchen." I look at him and say, "Well, can you please check because if I eat this and it's not then I will be very sick for three days." The saleswoman tries to get me to go ahead and eat the pieces he brought. Hum... NO?!? I get sick if I eat a piece of lettuce that touched a cruton, there is NO way I'm flat out eating that much flour!<br /><br />After the guy returns and assures me the cake he gave was GF, we taste it. The cake they served was NOT the Sensitive Bakers. The cake was dry, terrible tasting, and falling apart. I've had cakes and cupcakes from the Sensitive Baker many times and this was not that! A GF cake mix you get from a store is WAY better!<br /><br />No one could tell me what of the fillings was gluten free and each person I talked to told me something different. I finally talked to one person who actually seemed to know what was going on and he grabbed me a printout of the ingredients for the cakes. I tell him that the cake ingredients don't look like something that the Sensitive Baker would make and that it sure didn't taste like their recipe. He said that they say that they take the cakes from the Sensitive Baker, but apparently they have started making their own recipe!?!<br /><br />I went and complained to The Sensitive Baker. The saleswoman woman there told me that this was the first that they had heard of this and they were shocked that Hansen's was selling gluten free cake that wasn't theirs (in violation of their contract... opps!). From the sound of it, doesn't look like Hansen's will have the Sensitive Baker's business for much longer. I'm not sad at all.<br /><br />So I'm currently trying to work out something. My caterer is seeing if he can find someone else decorate a Sensitive Baker cake for. He said that he uses Cake Divas to decorate vegan cakes from a vegan bakery all the time so we are currently talking with them to see if we could work something out.<br /><br />In conclusion, DON'T go to Hansen's. The terrible reviews they have online are COMPLETELY true! Don't risked getting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">glutened</span> (and terrible cake) from this place!!!J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-3785969810652925312009-05-29T12:45:00.000-07:002009-05-29T13:07:24.523-07:00Recipe Review: Tom Ka GaiI LOVE LOVE coconut milk. I've been craving it a lot lately. So when I saw lemongrass in the grocery store on sale, I just had to make this <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Adriennes-Tom-Ka-Gai/Detail.aspx">Tom <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ka</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gai</span> recipe</a>. Yummy!<br /><br />Like most Thai food, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, so there really isn't adjusting you have to do. Finding fish sauce isn't the easiest thing in the world, though (unless you live near an Asian market). <a href="http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=1279010&prrfnbr=1351136">Thai Kitchen Fish Sauce</a> is gluten-free and is the one I've always used. Now, I specifically recommend this brand because if you are a true American-born gal like me you don't want to buy any sort of sauce with little fish heads staring back at you. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ew</span>. <br /><br />Best way to get the most out of the lemongrass flavor is to throw it either in a food processor chopping it slightly or to grind it in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">morter</span> & pestle. The food processor is easier, so that's what I did. ;) Makes tiny little pieces of the lemongrass, but since lemongrass is calming on your stomach no big deal. When you cook the lemongrass, the smell will be significant, so make sure to turn on your vent on the stove before you start.<br /><br />Note to sensitive stomachs: Two things you might have to do to adjust the recipe. Crushed red pepper isn't great on stomachs recently healing from the a new gluten free diet, so I recommend removing that if you are in that boat. Also, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bok</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">choy</span> is a member of the cabbage family and therefore can cause significant bloating. So, if that is ever a problem with you, I would replace the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bok</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">choy</span> with slivered carrots, snow peas, and/or bamboo.<br /><br />Note to non-Gluten free peeps: If you are making this for a gluten-free person, make sure that don't have cross-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">contamination</span> by using new seasonings. If you've used a measuring spoon in a spice container after you've measured out flour with the same spoon, then you will make the person sick. This usually isn't a problem with the seasonings in this recipe, because you normally don't use flour and cumin in the same recipe so the likelihood of you've ever getting flour in the seasoning is small, it's just important to note. Also, never chop the food on the same cutting board you've used to slice bread products on. Make sure all your cooking utensils are thoroughly washed.<br /><br />Overall, it's a great naturally gluten free recipe to try. Something a little different. :)J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-10525460780191514792009-05-29T12:42:00.000-07:002009-05-29T12:44:02.023-07:00Booze!Found this website "<a href="http://www.glutenfreedrinks.com/AlcoholBeverages.htm">Gluten free Drinks</a>" that gives recipes for Gluten-free cocktails. Not too bad!J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-28708010868202819622009-05-12T23:35:00.000-07:002009-05-12T23:42:42.671-07:00Recipe Review: California Chicken<a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/California-Chicken/Detail.aspx">California Chicken</a> - <a href="http://allrecipes.com/">All Recipes . com</a><br /><br />Tonight was the second time I've made this recipe. The first time I made it with Pepper Jack cheese instead of the Monterey Jack cheese that the recipe calls for. This time I used Provolone. Honestly, I like the Pepper Jack the best... but I like food with a kick, so there you go. Also, this time I added garlic, and for as much as I love garlic, I don't think it really added. Many people recommended lime juice, but I'm out.<br /><br />The recipe is naturally gluten free, so you don't have to worry about changing anything.<br /><br />Note to newbies: If you have onion powder, make sure that you've never dipped a teaspoon that you might have just dipped into flour in a previous recipe. If you are worried, I think you could totally replace the onion powder with chopped onions that you discard. <br /><br />Tip: If you have avocado left over, make sure to store it with the avocado pit. The pit keeps the avocado from turning brown.<br /><br />Enjoy!J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-19672450441616481142009-05-12T23:29:00.000-07:002009-05-12T23:35:18.883-07:00RecipesSorry for the long time in between posts. I've had a lot going on lately: getting engaged, traveling, and working on two demanding productions... so needless to say, life has gotten in the way of the blog posts.<br /><br />One thing that I've noticed lately is that friends and family of mine have been asking me for good naturally gluten free recipes for them to cook when I'm coming over (with the engagement and all). I realize that I don't know what to tell them! I try so many recipes, but I hardly do them more than once, so I forget about them.<br /><br />Now, I can cook, but I don't claim to be a chef. There are a TON of wonderful gluten free blogs out there that have original recipes on them. <br /><br />This is NOT one of those blogs.<br /><br />Instead, I've come up with the idea of posting recipes that I find online that I liked and telling you how I modified them to be gluten free. Honestly, some of the best meals I've made were recipes that contained gluten where I replaced a few ingredients. It's normally easier than trying out a gluten free recipe that no one but the blog poster has ever made. <br /><br />So, I hope this helps!J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-31704262518477671012009-04-07T19:55:00.001-07:002009-04-07T20:02:29.364-07:00HeinzI called the Heniz company a few days ago to inquire about one of their products and they said that they could email me a list of all of their products that don't contain gluten. So, here it is! Enjoy!<br /><br />~+~<br />April 6, 2009<br /><br />Dear Valued Consumer,<br /><br />Thank you for your interest in Heinz Products. We certainly understand how difficult it can be to find foods that meet the requirements of a restricted diet.<br /><br />As you requested, the following is a listing of all of our products that do NOT have gluten containing ingredients. If the product you asked about is not on this list, then it may contain gluten containing ingredients. Also, please note that recipes can change without notice. Therefore, we recommend you always check the ingredient statement on the label.<br /><br />HEINZ PRODUCTS:<br />Heinz BBQ Sauces (Original, Chicken & Rib, Garlic, Honey Garlic Only)<br />Heinz Chili Sauce<br />Heinz Cocktail Sauce<br />Heinz Horseradish Sauce<br />Heinz Ketchup<br />Heinz Organic Ketchup<br />Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup<br />Heinz One-Carb Ketchup<br />Heinz No-Sodium Added Ketchup<br />Heinz Hot and Spicy Ketchup Kick'rs<br />Heinz Mustard (All Varieties)<br />Heinz Pickles (All Varieties)<br />Heinz Peppers (All Varieties)<br />Heinz Relish (All Varieties)<br />Heinz Sloppy Joe Sauce<br />Heinz Tartar Sauce<br />Heinz Traditional Steak Sauce<br />Heinz Vegetarian Beans<br />Heinz Distilled White Vinegar<br />Heinz Red Wine Vinegar<br />Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar<br />Heinz Apple Cider Flavored Vinegar<br />Heinz Red Wine Vinegar<br />Heinz Garlic Wine Vinegar<br /><br /><br />Jack Daniel's BBQ Sauces (Original #7, Honey Smokehouse, Hickory Brown Sugar, Spicy BBQ Only)<br />Jack Daniel's EZ Marinader -- Teriyaki Variety<br />Jack Daniel's EZ Marinader -- Garlic & Herb Variety<br />Jack Daniel's Steak Sauce (Both Varieties)<br />Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce<br />Lea & Perrins Traditional Steak Sauce<br />TGI Fridays Salsa (All Varieties)<br /><br />CLASSICO PRODUCTS:<br />Classico Red Sauces (All Varieties)<br />Classico Alfredo Sauces (All Varieties)<br />Classico Pesto Sauces (All Varieties)<br />Classico Bruschetta (All Varieties)<br /><br />DELIMEX PRODUCTS:<br />UPC CODE: PRODUCT NAME:1<br />769600012 Taquitos, 36 ct. Delimex Chicken<br />1769600018 Tamales, 12 ct. Delimex Beef<br />1769600019 Tamales, 12 ct. Delimex Chicken & Cheese<br />1769600024 Tamales, 6 ct. Delimex Beef<br />1769600028 Taquitos, 25 ct. Delimex Beef<br />1769600029 Taquitos, 25 ct. Delimex Chicken<br />1769600048 Taquitos, 36 ct. Delimex Beef<br />1769600095 Taquitos, 12 ct. Delimex Beef<br />1769600096 Taquitos, 12 ct. Delimex Chicken<br />1769600155 Tamales, 15 ct. Costco Beef<br />1769600159 Tamales, 20 ct. Delimex Beef, Costco<br />1769600180 Taquitos, 60 ct. Delimex Beef<br />1769600186 Taquitos, 60 ct. Sam's Club Beef<br />1769600214 Taquitos, 25 ct. Delimex 3-Cheese<br />1769600565 Tamales, 20 ct. Beef, Sam's Club<br />1769600684 Taquitos, 66 ct. Costco Beef<br />1769600685 Taquitos, 66 ct. Costco Chicken<br /><br />ORE-IDA PRODUCTS:<br />UPC CODE: PRODUCT NAME:<br />13120XXXXX- ALL VARIETIES of Ore-Ida® Tater Tots®<br />1312001879 Ore-Ida® ABC Tater Tots®<br />1312000080 Ore-Ida Golden Patties® (9 ct.)<br />1312000258 Ore-Ida® Golden Fries® (32 oz.)<br />1312000278 Ore-Ida® Golden Fries® (5 lb.)<br />1312000286 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (32 oz.)<br />1312000291 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (5 lb.)<br />1312000296 Ore-Ida® Pixie Crinkles (26 oz.)<br />1312000377 Ore-Ida® Cottage Fries (32 oz.)<br />1312000392 Ore-Ida® Southern Style Hash Browns (32 oz.)<br />1312000428 Ore-Ida® Country Style Steak Fries (28 oz.)<br />1312000455 Ore-Ida® Zesty Twirls (28 oz.)<br />1312000469 Ore-Ida® Potatoes O'Brien (28 oz.)<br />1312000647 Ore-Ida® French Fries (8 lb.)<br />1312000654 Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (6 lb.)<br />1312000784 Ore-Ida® Steam N' Mash Cut Russets®<br />1312000785 Ore-Ida® Steam N' Mash Cut Sweet Potatoes®<br />1312000786 Ore-Ida® Steam N' Mash Three Cheese Potatoes®<br />1312000787 Ore-Ida® Steam N' Mash Garlic Seasoned Potatoes®<br />1312000483 Ore-Ida® Golden Twirls® (28 oz.)<br />1312000484 Ore-Ida® Zesties® (2 lb.)<br />1312000800 Ore-Ida® Steak Fries® (28 oz.)<br />1312000801 Ore-Ida® Shoestrings® (5 lb)<br />1312000828 Ore-Ida® Shoestrings® (28 oz.)<br />1312000829 Ore-Ida® Shoestrings® (40 oz.)<br />1312000833 Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (30 oz.)<br />1312000854 Ore-Ida® Hash Browns (5 lb.)<br />1312000862 Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (6 lb.)<br />1312001012 Ore-Ida® Potato Wedges with Skins (24 oz.)<br />1312001036 Ore-Ida® Crispers® (20 oz.)<br />1312001176 Ore-Ida® Waffle Fries® (22 oz.)<br />1312001190 Ore-Ida® Steak Fries® (3.75 lb.)<br />1312001260 Ore-Ida® Extra Crispy Crinkle Cut (26 oz.)<br />1312001280 Ore-Ida® Extra Crispy Seasoned Crinkle Cut® (26 oz.)<br />1312001417 Ore-Ida® Extra Crispy Fast Food Fries (26 oz.)<br />1312001461 Ore-Ida® Country Fries (30 oz.)<br />1312001492 Ore-Ida® Fast Food Fries (4 lb.)<br />1312008564 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (8 lb.)<br />1312008572 Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (8 lb.) <br /><br />CLUB SMART ONES PRODUCTS:<br />UPC CODE: PRODUCT NAME:<br />2580002011 Smart Ones Broccoli & Cheddar Potatoes<br />2580002247 Smart Ones Lemon Herb Chicken Piccata<br />2580002254 Smart Ones Fiesta Chicken<br />2580002360 Smart Ones Santa Fe Rice & Beans<br />2580002904 Smart Ones Creamy Tuscan Chicken<br />2580002907 Smart Ones Grilled Chicken in Garlic Herb Sauce<br />2580002915 Smart Ones Home-Style Chicken<br />2580002918 Smart Ones Chicken Santa Fe<br /><br />Again, we appreciate you taking the time to contact us. If you need further information, feel free to call us at this toll-free number (1-800-255-5750). Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 6:00 PM, Eastern Time.<br />Heinz Consumer Resource Center<a href="mailto:CenterHeinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com">Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com</a><br /><br />HEINZ/cl<br />P.S. - For your convenience, here's a recipe for a barbecue sauce without gluten-containing ingredients:<br />Heinz Ketchup Basic Barbecue Sauce<br />½ cup Heinz Tomato Ketchup<br />¼ cup water<br />2 tablespoons brown sugar<br />2 tablespoons Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar<br />2 tablespoons Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce<br />1 teaspoon chili powder<br />½ teaspoon celery seed<br />½ teaspoon salt<br />¼ teaspoon hot pepper sauce<br />In saucepan, combine all ingredients.Simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes.Brush ribs or chicken with sauce during last 10 minutes of grilling or broiling.<br />Makes about ¾ cup of sauce.J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-62640390261318929072009-03-04T10:17:00.000-08:002009-03-04T10:19:33.362-08:00$5 Triumph Dining Guide today onlyLetting everyone know that <a href="http://www.triumphdining.com/twitter.aspx">Triumph Dining Guide is only $5 today only</a>! Go and check it out!<br /><br />Saw this deal on their Twitter account. If you aren't following them on Twitter, you should be!J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-69640463175461656982008-11-04T12:07:00.000-08:002008-11-04T12:15:06.458-08:00Review: Bumble Bar<a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SRCs0DCqnfI/AAAAAAAAAM0/BRuzQZgbeSA/s1600-h/BumbleBar001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SRCs0DCqnfI/AAAAAAAAAM0/BRuzQZgbeSA/s400/BumbleBar001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264897974565772786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are several flavors of <a href="http://www.bumblebar.com">Bumble Bars</a>, although I’ve only had the original, cherry, tropical fruit, and apricot flavors. My mom brought me these bars from the <a href="http://sprouts.com/home.php">Sprouts</a> store in Texas. We took these on our camping trip and ate them in the car, hence the fancy map background on the pictures.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">These bars are interesting because they are nuts/seeds held together with agave nectar. So, the bars are flexible and they kinda fall apart while you’re eating them (so it was a little difficult to eat in the car). They are really quite yummy, but a little sticky.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SRCso6wgSlI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Agvs5Cmf3t8/s1600-h/BumbleBar002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SRCso6wgSlI/AAAAAAAAAMs/Agvs5Cmf3t8/s400/BumbleBar002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264897783363553874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I enjoyed the apricot flavor the best, but most people in the car liked the tropical fruit more. Although, I have to admit that I felt really healthy and free spirited eating something that is comprised only of dried fruit and seeds. The bars have only a tad bit of sweet flavor, so they aren’t very sugary. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">All in all, I enjoy them more so than most bars. My only problem is that I don’t understand where the bumble bee theme on the bars came from since there is no honey in the bars. Bumble Bars, please answer me that!</span>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-83562820512824554622008-10-14T22:43:00.001-07:002008-10-14T23:02:57.089-07:00Review: Mrs. Leeper's Beef Lasagna<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SPWDKg0zjgI/AAAAAAAAAMM/hezs-86a1eI/s1600-h/MrsLeepersBeefLasagna001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SPWDKg0zjgI/AAAAAAAAAMM/hezs-86a1eI/s400/MrsLeepersBeefLasagna001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257252356658269698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've been really searching for easy to fix gluten free meals. The only exposure to the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.mrsleepers.com/">Mrs. Leeper's brand</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I had more this was their corn pasta. I am not a huge fan of corn pasta, just because the corn flavor doesn't quite go as well with most meals as well as rice flavor does. Plus, the corn pasta's texture is a little different from the rice pasta I'm used to. Anyhoo... </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Basically, their gluten free beef lasagna is a hamburger-ish type meal. Just add ground beef and you are ready to go. It took a little longer than the 15 minutes promised on the box, but the results were worth it. Very few brands seem to use corn pasta, but I thought that it blended wonderfully with the spices in the mix.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The box suggested to add cheese and fresh basil. We added cheese, since fresh basil is in short supply at my tiny apartment. I definitely recommend adding the cheese. Afterall, what doesn't taste better with cheese? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We also fixed green beans on the side, which was a nice addition. It fed three hungry adults with no leftovers, so I don't think it's quite enough to feed a family of four even if there are children. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In conclusion, I was very impressed with the product! The quality of the food was higher than any boxed food I've had. The taste was amazing, definitely better than Hamburger Helper! I will look into buying more <a href="http://www.mrsleepers.com/products.html">Mrs. Leeper's box meals</a> in the future. </span><br /><br /> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Stats:<br />Company – Mrs. Leeper's<br />Price - Don't know, it was a gift<br />Review – 5 out of 5 stars<br />Preparation - Buying a pack of ground beef, ~20 total to cook<br />Gluten Amount – No gluten ingredients used</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Allergians - Contains milk and soy ingredients</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SPWDRBf7HjI/AAAAAAAAAMU/Y19re9p7_ag/s1600-h/MrsLeepersBeefLasagna002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SPWDRBf7HjI/AAAAAAAAAMU/Y19re9p7_ag/s400/MrsLeepersBeefLasagna002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257252468508270130" border="0" /></a>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-87318855146997765112008-10-13T22:12:00.000-07:002008-10-13T22:16:43.672-07:00Gluten Free MahaloAfter searching for interesting things on <a href="http://www.mahalo.com">Mahalo.com</a>'s website, I stumbled across this <a href="http://www.mahalo.com/Gluten-Free_Diet">gluten free diet webpage</a> on their site.<br /><br />I think it's exciting to see that there is more and more awareness to gluten and the gluten free diet! I think some of their links leave a little to be desired, but all in all, it's not too bad. You can also recommend additional links at the bottom to make the page better.<br /><br />I hope that they make a page for gluten in general, but one step at a time!J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-44132685287200678502008-10-02T15:55:00.001-07:002008-10-02T15:57:21.857-07:00Review: Glee Gum<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SOVRhylzlJI/AAAAAAAAALM/8E3iHMcNgbM/s1600-h/GleeGum001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SOVRhylzlJI/AAAAAAAAALM/8E3iHMcNgbM/s400/GleeGum001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252694181355426962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hello everyone! I’m back after some time off, hope everyone is hanging in there after all the craziness over the past few weeks.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I’ve been chewing Glee Gum for a while now and really love it. The gum comes in little squares with a hard outside and a somewhat softer middle. I buy the gum at both Trader Joes and Whole Foods Market, although it is available elsewhere. The gum is all natural and contains none of the major allergens, so it’s safe for most people. Their FAQs page goes into more specifics, in case you are interested. It doesn’t contain any artificial flavorings either, which makes a wonderful difference in the taste.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I’ve only had the peppermint and the tangerine with tangerine being my favorite. My only complaint is that normally I have to chew two squares at the same time to get it to be equivalent of a ‘normal’ size piece. The flavor doesn’t last as long as a normal piece of gum, but the flavor is better in general. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I highly recommend it! Most of my friends that have had it say it’s the best gum that they’ve ever tasted, so it’s not just for people with food allergies! </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Stats:</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Company – Verve Inc.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Price - .89 cents</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Review – 5 out of 5 stars</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Preparation - None</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Gluten Amount – No gluten ingredients used</span>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-2947159599182880062008-09-05T12:08:00.000-07:002008-09-05T12:13:47.387-07:00Family EmergencyHi everyone,<br /><br />My Grandmother passed away a few days ago, so I'm visiting my family/attending the funeral and won't be updating until I'm back home. Sorry for not posting this sooner, it just entered into my mind.<br /><br />But, look forward to a review about the famous Rendezvous BBQ restaruant in Memphis (they actually knew which of their products were gluten free)! Maybe I'll write an article about funerals and dealing with the food you get from people. We'll have to see. Hope everyone is doing well.J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-18768032246913849012008-08-28T12:39:00.000-07:002008-08-28T12:44:39.270-07:00Last few days for a free Triumph Dining Card<a href="http://www.triumphdining.com/index.aspx">Triumph Dining</a> is giving away a <a href="http://www.triumphdining.com/freediningcard.aspx">free dining card</a> if you are interested. Deal is only for August, so hurry!<br /><br />They sent me a free set to review and I have to admit that I'm completely loving them! I'll give a full review after I get a chance to go to more non-English speaking restaurants, but the experience that I've had with them has been overwhelming positive and much better than I would have thought. Most of the time I've used them, the chef/cook will come out to my table to discuss specifics with me. How often does that happen without you even asking?<br /><br />Anyhoo, check them out. They also have a <a href="http://blog.triumphdining.com/">new blog</a> going too.J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-77798219776416130742008-08-26T11:24:00.000-07:002008-08-26T11:49:23.825-07:00Frito Lay, friend to Celiacs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SLRNq4YncJI/AAAAAAAAAIk/KUS807UWnoo/s1600-h/FritoLay001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SLRNq4YncJI/AAAAAAAAAIk/KUS807UWnoo/s400/FritoLay001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238897665624207506" border="0" /></a>You know, every once in a while, I'm just really impressed by a food company. Doesn't happen often, but one company that has impressed me ever since I found out that I would have to go on the gluten free diet is <a href="http://www.fritolay.com/">Frito Lay</a>.<br /><br />I think it's because the ingredient list in their products is so easy to read. Most contain just a handful. Who would have guessed that potato chips only contain potatoes, oil, and salt? Abnormal in this day and age!<br /><br />Frito Lay is one of the first companies who products I began to trust early on in my gluten free process because a large selection of their products are gluten free and I've never had a reaction to any product on their gluten free list.<br /><br />Just look at their list of <a href="http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/ProdDetEv_Cat_351852_NavRoot_306_ProdID_364066.htm">gluten free products</a>! Yes, that is 161 products listed. They also seem to update the list every few months. Crazy!<br /><br />Their customer service people are also really friendly and knowledgeable in my experience.<br /><br />After <a href="http://givingupthegluten.blogspot.com/2008/08/aveeno-lies-when-they-say-that-their.html">my experience with Aveeno</a> this week, I figured that I need to congratulate a major company that was succeeding in impressing me.<br /><br />Hats off to you, Frito Lay!<br /><br />Disclaimer: In the interest of full disclosure, I have had a family member work for Frito Lay (but, that's never stopped me bad mouthing a company before!)J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-66201125427059853382008-08-21T18:45:00.000-07:002008-08-21T18:55:42.535-07:00Symptoms of Celiac Disease<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">I’ve had three different people come to me this week saying that their doctors think that they might have celiacs.<span style=""> </span>They all asked me about common symptoms, so I decided to compile a list of the most common ones that I know of (based on organizations that I trust).<span style=""> </span>Hope this helps.<span style=""> Feel free to list more if you know of any common ones that I missed. Also, feel free to list your own symptoms or ask questions about your symptoms and I will try to help you the best I know how. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">**Remember, you don’t have to have any symptoms to have the disease**<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><u><span style=""><br /></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><u><span style="">Common Symptoms of Celiac Disease<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="">Gastro Symptoms<o:p></o:p></span></u><br /><span style="">Abdominal cramps, gas and bloating<o:p></o:p><br />Appetite (Increased to the point of craving)<o:p></o:p><br />Constipation<u><o:p></o:p></u><br />Diarrhea<o:p></o:p><br />Recurring bloating, gas, or abdominal pain<o:p></o:p><br />Stools (Any of: Loose, Hard, Small, Large, Foul smelling, Floating, Discolored, Frothy)<o:p></o:p><br />Weight loss / weight gain<o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="">Other Physical Symptoms<o:p></o:p></span></u><br /><span style="">Back pain <o:p></o:p><br />Bone or joint pain<o:p></o:p><br />Decreased ability to clot blood <o:p></o:p><br />Dehydration<o:p></o:p><br />Delayed growth or onset of puberty<o:p></o:p><br />Edema <o:p></o:p><br />Electrolyte depletion <o:p></o:p><br />Energy loss<o:p></o:p><br />Failure to thrive (in infants)<o:p></o:p><br />Fatigue<o:p></o:p><br />Infertility male & female, recurrent miscarriage<o:p></o:p><br />Missed menstrual periods (often because of excessive weight loss)<o:p></o:p><br />Mouth sores or cracks in the corners <o:p></o:p><br />Muscle cramping (Especially in the hands and legs)<o:p></o:p><br />Night blindness<o:p></o:p><br />Osteoporosis<o:p></o:p><br />Skin (Very dry, Dermatitis herpetiformis)<o:p></o:p><br />Tingling numbness in the legs <o:p></o:p><br />Tongue (Smooth or geographic - looks like different continents)<o:p></o:p><br />Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel<o:p></o:p><br />Unexplained anemia (a low count of red blood cells causing fatigue)<o:p></o:p><br />Vitamin K Deficiency<o:p></o:p><br />Weakness<o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="">Mental Symptoms <o:p></o:p></span></u><br /><span style="">Depression<o:p></o:p><br />Disinterested in normal activities<o:p></o:p><br />Irritable<o:p></o:p><br />Mood changes<o:p></o:p><br />Unable to concentrate<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p><br />For more information, please visit the following websites:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><a href="http://www.celiac.org/cd-symptoms.php">Celiac Disease Foundation</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.celiaccentral.org/What_is_Celiac_/Symptoms/96/">National Foundation for Celiac Awareness</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.csaceliacs.org/celiac_symptoms.php">Celiac Sprue Foundation</a><br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-13500142779360653812008-08-19T11:38:00.000-07:002008-08-19T11:42:30.125-07:00Review: Trader Joe’s Flourless Chocolate Cake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SKsTvVKWW7I/AAAAAAAAAIU/hlemue2sBBs/s1600-h/TJsFlourlessChocCake002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SKsTvVKWW7I/AAAAAAAAAIU/hlemue2sBBs/s400/TJsFlourlessChocCake002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236300695603665842" border="0" /></a><br /><o:p></o:p>So, I was super excited yesterday to see that Trader Joe’s now has a flourless cake!<span style=""> </span>I had heard through the grapevine that it existed, but I’m afraid that if you aren’t living on the East Coast, that you don’t get as many of the gluten free products in your local Trader Joe’s store.<span style=""> </span>Where is the West Coast love, Mr. Joe? <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.traderjoes.com/labels_and_lists.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SKsTc5_BGVI/AAAAAAAAAIE/i6S_kXSA0fM/s400/TraderJoesGlutenFreeIcon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236300379070732626" border="0" /></a>The cake is listed on their “<a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/labels_and_lists.html">No Gluten Ingredients Used List</a>” even though the packaging itself doesn’t have their new gluten icon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The consistency is weird, which is to be expected.<span style=""> </span>It’s kinda of a cross between a brownie and fudge, more leaning toward the fudge.<span style=""> </span>The packaging doesn’t do much to make it more appealing, but it sure tastes yummy!<span style=""> </span>Very rich.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My boyfriend had the great idea of popping it into the microwave for 12 seconds, and I can’t even tell you how heavenly that made it.<span style=""> </span>If you had vanilla ice cream with it, you just might die (consider yourself warned!).<span style=""> </span><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is extremely messy, I’m afraid.<span style=""> </span>If a crumb gets on your skin, it kinda melts and gets all over everything.<span style=""> </span><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Two thumbs up from both of us.<span style=""> </span>Not a bad item to grab on your way to a party.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SKsTqNz-gII/AAAAAAAAAIM/Rz6TLcYE2jk/s1600-h/TraderJoesFlourlessChocCake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SKsTqNz-gII/AAAAAAAAAIM/Rz6TLcYE2jk/s400/TraderJoesFlourlessChocCake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236300607731433602" border="0" /></a><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Stats:<br />Company – Trader Joe’s Exclusive<br />Price - $7<br />Review – 5 out of 5 stars<br />Preparation - None<br />Gluten Amount – Manufactured in a facility that contains wheat</p>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-12741536645766260842008-08-14T10:37:00.000-07:002008-08-14T12:36:11.291-07:00Gluten free Vegas trip!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SKR3kZJehVI/AAAAAAAAAHw/SkWJDgYmdvA/s1600-h/Vegas001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SKR3kZJehVI/AAAAAAAAAHw/SkWJDgYmdvA/s400/Vegas001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234440134020990290" border="0" /></a>UPDATE: I added the list of gluten free restaurants after contacting the Celiac Support Group in Vegas for permission. Please look at the end of this post for their list. Please post if you ever go to any of the places, I would love to hear about your experience!<br /><br />So I went with some friends to Vegas a few weekends ago. It was a blast and for someone who hasn’t been to Vegas with friends, a great time was had by all. We arrived on Saturday afternoon and left Sunday afternoon, so our trip was a short, yet sweet one.<br /><br />This was one of my first real vacations to a completely new place now that I’m gluten free. I was nervous about what to do while I was there, so I went ahead and contacted the Celiac Support Group in Vegas via email to get a list of gluten free places so that way I would have some idea of what my options were. We ended up more just eating at whatever place we were close to at the time (most of us being Vegas rookies, it was hard to really plan ahead). Thankfully, I had just received a set of free <a href="http://www.triumphdining.com/diningcards.aspx">Triumph Dining Cards</a> to review on my website (look back later for a full review of them) or else it would have been much more difficult. Here is a break down of the gluten adventures:<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.harrahs.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml">Hotel: Paris</a><br />We decided that we wanted to stay on the strip, which I recommend if you aren’t used to Vegas much (plus, you can get a more expensive hotel and then cram a lot of people inside). We didn’t end up eating at the hotel, but I did call the main line for their restaurants and the person on the other end had no idea what gluten was. They went and checked and looks like the cooks they talked to had no idea either. So, keep that in mind.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alcohol </span>(aka the reason most people go to Vegas)<br />I haven’t been able to drink alcohol (except up until recently) because the acid was too much for my stomach to handle. Now that my body has experienced the healing powers of not killing it with gluten constantly, it’s healed considerably. Unfortunately, this means that I’ve never been able to drink ever since I turned 21. This has resulted in two sad things: 1. I have no idea what drinks to order and 2. I can’t hold my liquor. It’s really funny actually how little I can drink. I have a half of a wine cooler and I’m toasted. One shot and I’m completely gone. Good thing drinking isn’t really my thing. But this has made me realize that I had no idea what drinks I could order that don’t have gluten in them! I have no idea if margarita mixes have gluten in them and I don’t know if flavored liquor does either. I ended up drinking a screwdriver (vodka and orange juice), because that’s the only thing I could think of other than a mimosa (champagne and orange juice) or a rum & coke. So, I’m doing some research on gluten free drinks that I will hopefully be able to post later so that way you can know a small list of gluten free cocktails that you can order at a bar. Because Vegas is just more exciting with a little alcohol thrown into the mix. ;)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.startrekexp.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quarks Bar</span></a><br />Located in the <a href="http://www.startrekexp.com/">Star Trek Experience</a>, this place will close in a few weeks.<br />So the main reason we went to Vegas is that the Star Trek Experience is closing (yes, we did make a special Vegas trip just for that. Dorks = cool). So we had to eat at the restaurant that was inside the Experience. I handed my <a href="http://www.triumphdining.com/diningcards.aspx">Triumph Dining Card</a> to our waiter, asked the normal questions about the menu, and he went off to the back to inquire. I was surprised at the menu, basically everything was breaded, fried, or a sandwich. Not many gluten free options. The chef came out and we discussed my options, and by options I mean she didn’t know what gluten was and I just ended up with grilled chicken and unseasoned veggies. Not a bad meal, since it was cooked wonderfully, just kinda boring. My friends ended getting the legendary Warp Core Breach (aka the quickest way to get wasted in Vegas). I felt a little left out, so I ended going and talking to the bartender to see if he had any suggestions on what I could drink that might be gluten free, but he kinda freaked out at the idea of gluten and said he didn’t feel comfortable serving me any alcohol, so he refused to. Worried about getting sued, I’m sure. Sigh. All in all it was nice, although the company really made the experience, not the food.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.goldengatecasino.com/">Golden Gate Hotel</a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SKR3r2ha0VI/AAAAAAAAAH4/g2nD9JLmF2o/s1600-h/Vegas002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SKR3r2ha0VI/AAAAAAAAAH4/g2nD9JLmF2o/s400/Vegas002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234440262165123410" border="0" /></a><br />Located in downtown on the old strip, this is Vegas’ oldest casino and hotel.<br />We went here for brunch. I ended up ordering steak and eggs. I think it naturally came gluten free since the only seasonings were salt and pepper. I did replace my side item with fruit, just so I wouldn’t have to ask about it. I was great and really hit the spot. It was also the cheapest place we ate at, but it was my favorite. The wait staff was really nice. We were the youngest people there (maybe by 30+ years) but the place had the feel of an old diner were all the people are regulars. I have to admit, I really enjoyed downtown much more than the new Strip. The pace was slower and there weren’t tons of people. Plus, most people weren’t completely wasted (although we did go in the morning) and there weren’t tons of people handing out Girls Girls Girls flyers (does everyone find that as annoying as I do?). I love retro places and this fit my bill. Plus, the whole street is covered so it’s tons cooler than walking around on the strip since it’s all in shade. This seemed to be it’s biggest selling point to all my friends who didn’t grow up in places that could match the 108 degree heat. Plus, they have the old neon signs everywhere. We pondered how the next Strip will look like in 30 years after everyone has gotten tired of the current Vegas while we took pictures.<br /><a href="http://www.hardrock.com/"> </a><br /><a href="http://www.hardrock.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hard Rock Café</span></a><br />Located off the Strip.<br />So, it’s really important to note that there is a difference in the café in the Hard Rock Hotel and the separate standing Hard Rock Café. We went to the Hard Rock Café thinking that they had gluten free menu (based on what I read), but we were confusing it with the Hard Rock Hotel restaurant which apparently does. Mostly we went because we heard that there is a $8 steak that’s not listed on the menu, but you can ask for it (turns out that was the one in the hotel, not the café itself). The service at the Hard Rock Café in Vegas is the second worse service I’ve ever received! It was terrible! We had a bartender as our waitress, which might explain it. I’m not sure why she was waiting on tables, but I do know she wasn’t happy about it. I went through and explained what gluten was and starting asking questions about their menu. She kinda stared at me blankly. I keep thinking to myself, “Is this person high?” She goes off with my <a href="http://www.triumphdining.com/diningcards.aspx">Triumph card</a> to the back and comes back saying almost everything has gluten in it, especially the side item that comes with my meal (mash potatoes?). Here is how the conversation went:<br />I ask, “Ok, what other side items do you have that I could have instead?<br />Long pause. She stares at me blankly.<br />I realize that this isn’t going any where. So I say, “Do you have steamed veggies?”<br />She says, “Yeah, I think so. I would have to check.”<br />Long pause.<br />I respond, “Oh, well do you have any other sides? Baked potato, fries, fruit perhaps?”<br />Long pause.<br />She says slowly, “Uh, well, we fruit from the bar.”<br />I look at her confused and say, “You mean bar fruit. Like lemon slices?<br />She perks up a bit, “Yeah, do you want some of those?”<br />My table gawks at her.<br />After this fun time (no, I didn’t end up ordering lemon slices as my side item), she kinda disappeared, never to be heard from again. We ended up having to get other waiters to bring us our food, water, etc. The one good thing that came out of the experience was an inside joke from our group. Anytime something doesn’t work for us, we randomly shout, “Bar fruit!”<br /><br />So all in all we had bunches of fun. Apparently, I’m terrible at gambling (which I learned the hard way) but so was everyone else in my group so we had a good time. I think if I did this again, I would chat with my group more and plan out the food better. This was kinda a spur of the moment trip, but I would try to plan ahead better next time. Good thing I took snacks with me or else it might have been a bit grim. All in all, I recommend Vegas. :)<br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">~+~<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br />The list below is the one provided to me by Celiac Support Group in Vegas. I took off the places that I found no longer exist. There are tons of gluten free options, so feel free to have fun! Oh, and note that most of the places on this list are super expensive, so if you are trying to keep it under $20 a meal, you should maybe do a little more research on your own. Enjoy!<br /><br />~+~<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Gluten-Free in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Las Vegas</st1:place></st1:City> List<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">This list is to help people find places to eat safely. The responsibility rests with each individual to inquire and check to be certain they are being served appropriately GF food.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The list is formed by word of mouth from people who have eaten in these places. Remember, menus and ingredients change without notice. Be responsible – ask ask ask ask – then ASK AGAIN.<br /><br />Aureole – Mandalay Bay – call for reservations and tell them about GF<br />Baskin Robbins – look online for up to date info<br />Bellagio - FIX Steakhouse<br />Bonefish Grill – GF menu on web site<br />Border Grill at Mandalay Bay – ask for GF menu. Four Seasons has GF bread at their buffet, separated.<br />Buca Di Beppo – call for GF list<br />Café Ba Ba Reeba in Fashion Show Mall –chef prepared and delivered personally to table GF stuffed mushrooms! Putting together a GF menu also.<br />Capitol Grille in Fashion Show Mall (ask for GF menu)<br />Carrabas – www.carrabas.com<br />Chili's – email for current info<br />Chinois – Forum Shops at Caesar's – GF menu<br />Claim Jumpers<br />Dairy Queen – look online for up to date info<br />Denny's - look online for up to date info <br />El Pollo Loco – email for up to date info <br />Fellini's at the Stratosphere – talk to chef –call ahead <br />Fleming's – Call ahead and arrange GF meal<br />Hamachi - Red Rock Hotel - wrap in soy paper and also wraps in cucumber but take your own soy sauce.<br />Hugo's - in basement of Four Queens on Fremont St. Downtown – excellent.<br />In N Out Burger - on Trop and I-15 – GF fries, order burger "Protein style" – comes wrapped in lettuce leaves – OR order "flying Dutchman style" – just meat and cheese. If they seem stumped, ask for manager. <br />Joel Robuchon – MGM (have concierge help – these places will cater to you) $$$<br />Joe's Stone Crab and Steakhouse in Caesar's Forum Shops<br />L'Attlier (Robuchon) – worth every penny <br />Macaroni Grill – email for current info<br />Maggiano's in Fashion Show Mall (GF pasta–Talk to chef – will accommodate, call ahead, wonderful!<br />McFadden's Irish Grill and Pub - Rio - has GF list and will work with you<br />Mesa Grill in Caesar's (Bobby Flay chef)<br />Mimi's Café<br />Mirage – Wolfgang Puck's grill, and Emmett's Fish house $$$$$<br />Nobhill – MGM.<br />Outback – north of Harrah's and throughout the valley<br />P. F. Chang's – Hard Rock Hotel and off the Strip on Paradise/Flamingo.<br />Paymon's <st1:place st="on">Mediterranean</st1:place> on <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Maryland Pkwy</st1:address></st1:Street> – check phone book – they have limited items but are great and good.<br />Pei Wei (P.F.CHang spin-off – fast food-ask for GF menu) in Henderson<br />Red Robin America's Gourmet Burgers and Spirits – email for info<br />Shibuya – MGM - they have GF soy sauce and wrap in soy paper<br />Simon, and AJ's - at Hard Rock $$$$$ (2 different places)<br />Sir Galahad's – Excalibur<br />South Point's Silverado Steakhouse – south on the Strip<br />Stack and Samba - Mirage<br />The Rainforest Café – MGM - Ask for head chef.<br />Todd's Unique Dining; 4350 E. Sunset Rd. by Green Valley Pkwy,( Near Trader Joe's Market)<br />Tony Roma's – email for up to date info – we eat here often – no problems.<br />Wendy's - look online for up to date info<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Markets:<br />Whole Foods; Trader Joe's; health food section most supermarkets; Great Harvest Bread Company, (702)306-1476, Tina – they bake GF bread;–bring your favorite crackers with you<o:p></o:p></span></p>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-10968568227838451482008-08-12T16:52:00.000-07:002008-08-12T16:55:55.448-07:00Contest Winner: Clara!Congrats Clara on being the contest winner! <br /><br />Thank you to everyone who played, it really means a lot to me to see that I have such devoted fans out there! I'll have another contest soon, so keep checking back.<br /><br />Clara, please email me at givingupthegluten@gmail.com this week so I can get the address you would like me to send the cookbook to.<br /><br />Our regularly scheduled posts should start back on Thursday. :)J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-26988745707210113922008-08-05T11:15:00.001-07:002008-08-05T12:20:05.889-07:00Giveaway Contest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SJiY4ShiI9I/AAAAAAAAAG8/UnQBBSMc7FU/s1600-h/GiveawayBook001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SJiY4ShiI9I/AAAAAAAAAG8/UnQBBSMc7FU/s400/GiveawayBook001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231099060003414994" border="0" /></a><br />Free stuff! Woohoo!<br /><br />I've been having some technical difficulties uploading my posts this week, so to make up for my lack of updates, I figured that it was time to have some fun and give away this fabulous cookbook above. I have a copy myself and it's full of great recipes that you can make in a snap.<br /><br />So, like everything in life, there are rules to this contest:<br /><br />Generate a list of topics ideas that you would like me to write about. This can be either a particular product you would like reviewed, a gluten issue you would like me to talk about, etc. To enter, you will need to add a comment to this particular post. For each idea (up to five) that you come up with, I will enter your name into the hat that I will pull the winner out of. Example: If you post 6 ideas your name will go into the hat 5 times but if you only post 3 ideas then your name will only go into the hat 3 times. The more ideas you post, the better your odds of winning. Make sure to fill in a name and not click "Anonymous."<br /><br />The posting will close next Tuesday, August 12th at noon PST (USA). I will announce the winner that night. Feel free to post ideas after that time, but you won't be entered into the contest. After that, I will have you email me your address and I will ship the book to you at no charge!<br /><br />If you have any questions or need clarification, just add a comment to this post. I'm trying to do this on the honor system, so make me proud people or else I wouldn't feel right about giving away any more free things! And will all love free things! Woo!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SJicu2C3-yI/AAAAAAAAAHE/l7GqpfewPMs/s1600-h/GiveawayBook002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SJicu2C3-yI/AAAAAAAAAHE/l7GqpfewPMs/s400/GiveawayBook002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231103295786318626" border="0" /></a>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-48086415530349688322008-07-22T11:19:00.000-07:002008-07-23T11:15:04.433-07:00Toothpaste: Gluten free?<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">So I recently decided to change my toothpaste brand, so I thought that I would pass along the inquires that I made for the main three toothpaste companies (Crest, Aquafresh, and Cologate). I emailed them with the following three questions:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">I was wondering if your various toothpaste products contain gluten? <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">Are they manufactured in a gluten free facility? <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">Do you happen to have a list of your gluten free products?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">Here are their responses:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">CREST<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="">“Thanks for contacting Crest.</span></i><span style=""><br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="">None of our current Crest toothpaste versions, Crest Whitestrips versions, or Crest Night Effects contains gluten. In addition, none of the ingredients used in Glide dental floss contains gluten.<br /><br />Although we do not directly add ingredients that contain gluten to Crest Pro-Health Rinse or to Crest Whitening Rinse, it's possible these products could contain trace amounts. We recommend you contact your doctor before using these rinse products if you have questions or concerns about gluten.<br /><br />Stop by anytime.<br /><br />Crest Team”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><span style="">COLGATE <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><span style="">“Thank you for contacting us with your question. We appreciate the opportunity to provide information regarding grain derived ingredients in Colgate Palmolive products.<br /><br />We do not intentionally add gluten to the following Colgate Palmolive products. However, we cannot guarantee that the ingredients used are not exposed to any glutens.<br /><br />Colgate Toothpaste, all variants<br />Colgate Simply White Clear Whitening Gel, all variants<br />Fluorigard Rinse<br />Orabase Paste and Orabase Gel<br />Peroxyl Gel and Peroxyl Rinse<br />Phos-Flur Rinse<br />Platinum Toothpaste<br />Prevident Gel<br />TOTAL Floss<br />Ultra brite Toothpaste, all variants<br />Viadent Rinse<br />Viadent Toothpaste<br /><br />Sorbitol is an ingredient which can be grain derived and may be found in toothpastes. Our sorbitol is corn-derived.<br /><br />Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us. We hope this information is helpful.<br /><br />Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><span style="">Amy Pollock</span></i><span style=""><br /><i>Consumer Affairs Representative”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><br />AQUAFRESH<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><span style="">"We have received your e-mail and we are happy to respond to your question regarding Aquafresh® toothpaste and gluten.<br /><br />Aquafresh® toothpaste is gluten-free.<br /><br />We appreciate your taking the time to contact us.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><i><span style="">Sincerely,<br /><br />Samantha<br />GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare"</span></i><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-8932966158728555622008-07-17T20:21:00.000-07:002008-07-17T20:25:06.203-07:00FDA One Step Closer<p class="MsoNormal">The FDA announced recently that they are having the final meetings before they make their ruling on the restrictions for labeling something “gluten-free.”<span style=""> </span>If you haven’t heard, the FDA back in 2004 made a ruling in their Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 that by the year 2008 they would need to provide manufactures and consumers a definition of gluten and the legal requirements for a product to be labeled “gluten-free.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you did not know, currently in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> manufacturing companies can label something “gluten-free” yet there is no legal definition of what that specifically entails.<span style=""> </span>Usually, companies will label something ‘gluten-free’ if the gluten content is less than 20 ppm (particles per million).<span style=""> </span>There is still disagreement on what gluten really is and how far something has to go before it’s actually gluten free.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The proposed restrictions force companies to only label something as gluten free if it meets the following requirements:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="cms-itemdetail-body">1. Contains none of the “prohibited grains” which includes wheat (e.g., durum wheat, spelt wheat, or kamut), rye, barley or their crossbred hybrids</span><br /><span class="cms-itemdetail-body">2. Contains no ingredient (e.g., wheat flour) that is derived from a “prohibited grain” and that has not been processed to remove gluten</span><br /><span class="cms-itemdetail-body">3.<span style=""> </span>Any ingredient (e.g., wheat starch) that is derived from a “prohibited grain” must have been processed to remove gluten, if the use of that ingredient results in the presence of 20 micrograms or more gluten per gram of food,</span><br /><span class="cms-itemdetail-body">4. Can contain no more than 20 micrograms or more gluten per gram of food.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There seems to be split opinion on how this ruling will work in real-life application.<span style=""> </span>Some people believe that many products that companies label now as ‘gluten-free’ will no longer be labeled as such because of the extra cost in testing that will be required.<span style=""> </span>Personally, I welcome any regulation and think that this ruling will play out very similarly to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 with companies having to label allergens.<span style=""> </span>But we will have to see!<span style=""> </span>I will post again once they actually make the ruling official.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>If you want to read more, please check out the following links:</o:p></p><o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/lab-cat.html#gluten"><o:p>FDA Website </o:p></a></p><a href="http://www.celiaccentral.org/Newsletter/News/Celiac_Disease_News/240/vobId__1106/">Celiac Central</a><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><a href="http://www.dcgluties.com/2008/06/20/tgigf-fda-inches-closer-to-gluten-free-labeling/">DC Gluties</a></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://hub.gmnews.com/news/2008/0710/front_page/028.html"><o:p>The Hub</o:p></a></p>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-46251895073163691352008-07-15T13:21:00.000-07:002008-07-23T11:19:16.668-07:00Figuring Out if a Product is Gluten FreeSo, you have a product in your hand and you really, really want to eat it but the label is mysterious.<span style=""> </span>It contains ingredients such as “modified food starch” which could contain gluten or not.<span style=""> </span>What’s a girl to do?<span style=""> </span>So, put on your glasses and sharpen your pencils because it’s time to do some research! <p class="MsoNormal">The easiest way to figure out if the product contains gluten is to locate the toll free customer service number on the back of the product and call.<span style=""> </span>The information that you need to have handy is 1. The product name 2. The flavor of the product (if there are multiple, because it might differ) 3. The product identification number (or UPC number).<span style=""> </span>The customer service person could ask for any of this info depending on the how well the employee has been prepped on the product info.<span style=""> </span>When I call up I will say, “Hi, I was wondering if your product X contains gluten.”<span style=""> </span>It’s just that easy!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, if you are like me and normally shop in the evenings (especially in PST) the customer service line might be closed.<span style=""> </span>(Side rant: Why do they seem to all run on EST?<span style=""> </span>*Shakes fist in air*<span style=""> </span>Why?!?)<span style=""> </span>Anyhoo, then you don’t this option.<span style=""> </span>If you are already at the store, you can go to the information counter and ask if they have a list of all the gluten-free products in their store.<span style=""> </span>Certain grocery stores such as <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/Attachments/NoGluten.pdf">Trader Joe's</a> and <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/specialdiets/gluten-free/index.html">Whole Foods</a> have lists of all of their own product lines that contain gluten or other allergies.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If none of that helps, your best bet is to look online when you get home (or use your Blackberry, iPhone, or call someone who has access to the internets).<span style=""> </span>I find it’s best to pull up Google and type in:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SId1sriEhXI/AAAAAAAAAG0/O9C6qDx-aeA/s1600-h/GoogleSearchProductX.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SId1sriEhXI/AAAAAAAAAG0/O9C6qDx-aeA/s400/GoogleSearchProductX.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226275303047071090" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">This will bring up a list of websites.<span style=""> </span>First, I will look at the addresses for what looks like the company’s official website.<span style=""> </span>Some companies will have a list of gluten-free products on their website, which is awesome and makes life easy.<span style=""> </span>Most companies won’t list their gluten-free products in written form because they are worried that if they change the product ingredients that people will have already printed out the list and not check for updates (aka they eat it, get sick, and sue the company… isn’t the legal system grand?!?).<span style=""> </span>That’s why on any gluten-free product list there is always a line about making sure to check the label before eating any product.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If I can’t find the anything on the official website, then I will look and see if of the links are for the <a href="http://www.glutenfreeforum.com/">Gluten-Free Forum</a> in the search results.<span style=""> </span>The Gluten-Free Forum sole purpose is to be a forum for people with gluten-related issues to post.<span style=""> </span>It’s the best place to find answers, because there are so many educated veterans of gluten-intolerance/celiacs.<span style=""> </span>Most people have already contacted the company and posted the info they found.<span style=""> </span>If you still can’t get any info, I would post your inquiry there to see if people have run into the same issue.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you can’t contact anyone on the customer service line, you can always email the company.<span style=""> </span>Lots of companies that won’t post their gluten-free lists online will only tell you information over the phone (so worried about written info and lawyers).<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Normally, if I get a hold of a person at a company that says that they can’t verify if a product contains gluten or not, then I say, “If that’s the case, I will no longer be able to purchase any of your company’s products because you obviously don’t check for food allergies in your products and I can’t take that chance.”<span style=""> </span>I will always make sure to thank the customer service person (because they can only tell me the information that they are given) and hang up.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes, I’ve had people call or email me back later with more info because I had said that I won’t purchase their products anymore (you’ll be amazed at what lengths companies will go to if you say that one little line).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If none of the above situations work, you can always switch product brands (especially to organic and smaller food companies) to see if their products contain gluten or, at the very least, have better customer service.<span style=""> </span>;)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Happy sleuthing!<span style=""> </span></p>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-38354699247925285172008-07-10T12:39:00.000-07:002008-07-10T13:23:19.652-07:00Rice Chex is Now Gluten Free<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHZtm5ppO6I/AAAAAAAAAGM/Mw2mVFOuMPw/s1600-h/RiceChex001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHZtm5ppO6I/AAAAAAAAAGM/Mw2mVFOuMPw/s400/RiceChex001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221481333060615074" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p>You heard me right, a mainstream cereal brand has changed it’s ingredients to now being gluten free!<span style=""> </span>Woot!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHZuUQAo7xI/AAAAAAAAAGk/sAkSgmCGNKA/s1600-h/RiceChex002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHZuUQAo7xI/AAAAAAAAAGk/sAkSgmCGNKA/s400/RiceChex002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221482112156757778" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">I had to pick up two boxes at the store today, since all the old gluten boxes are now gone.<span style=""> </span>The cereal tastes slightly different than I remember, but is still yummy. I added some blueberries and sugar to add some depth to the taste and I completely recommend it.<br /><span style=""><br /></span>Random comment: geez, the cost of cereal has spiked, hasn’t it?<span style=""> </span>I never buy any anymore so I wasn’t in the loop.<span style=""> </span>Thank you, American economy!</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHZuKM5lJKI/AAAAAAAAAGc/ojkJWYKnE-0/s1600-h/RiceChex003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHZuKM5lJKI/AAAAAAAAAGc/ojkJWYKnE-0/s400/RiceChex003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221481939523151010" border="0" /></a>Now, it’s important to note when you pick up a box of <a href="http://www.chex.com/products/products.aspx">Rice Chex </a>that it says “Gluten-Free” on the front.<span style=""> </span>Since they are phasing out the old boxes, you might pick up an old one that contains malt.<span style=""> </span>So be careful!<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>General Mills also added a <a href="http://www.chex.com/Recipes/CategoryView.aspx?CategoryId=447&t=5">gluten free section to their online recipes</a>, to celebrate.<br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Gluten free products are slowly making their way into normal grocery stores.<span style=""> </span>Soon we will take over the world.<span style=""> </span>Bwahahaha!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-6095348896121156072008-07-08T10:29:00.000-07:002008-07-08T10:45:35.862-07:00Review: Gluten-Free Pantry’s Chocolate Truffle Brownie Mix<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHOmsE0_4rI/AAAAAAAAAFM/7vWWsRCdxYU/s1600-h/GlutenFreePantryBrownieMix001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHOmsE0_4rI/AAAAAAAAAFM/7vWWsRCdxYU/s400/GlutenFreePantryBrownieMix001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220699669193024178" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p>As a huge fan of <a href="http://www.glutino.com/content/view/86/110/">Gluten-Free Pantry</a>’s products, I was excited to try out this mix.<span style=""> </span>It’s been sitting on my shelf for a while because I’ve been making the less expensive <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/">Trader Joe’s</a> Gluten Free Brownie Mix instead.<span style=""> </span>But, I have to admit, this wasn’t the best gluten free brownie mix that I’ve ever had.<span style=""> </span>It was dry in the middle and really stuck to my greased pan.<span style=""> </span>I like my brownies moist and a little gooey in the middle, which this didn’t have at all. <p class="MsoNormal">I added some chopped nuts, to see if it helped with the texture, which it really did.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The mix came with chocolate chips in it, but they didn’t melt when baked.<span style=""> </span>They also helped with the texture, but it seems weird that they didn’t melt more than they did.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I personally would recommend the Trader Joe's Gluten-Free Brownie Mix over this one.<span style=""> </span>This mix was still good, just not the best I’ve ever had.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHOnVs16sLI/AAAAAAAAAFU/M0C2AFHLowY/s1600-h/GlutenFreePantryBrownieMix002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SHOnVs16sLI/AAAAAAAAAFU/M0C2AFHLowY/s400/GlutenFreePantryBrownieMix002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220700384308932786" border="0" /></a></p>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3446424484579927808.post-81672817401164730652008-07-03T12:13:00.000-07:002008-07-03T12:21:05.944-07:00Mini Cupcake Tins Make Baking a Little More Fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SG0mUMpJ-EI/AAAAAAAAAE0/2JseN-hoLHo/s1600-h/MiniCupcakePan001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SG0mUMpJ-EI/AAAAAAAAAE0/2JseN-hoLHo/s400/MiniCupcakePan001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218869671625357378" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p>So, I’ve learned that gluten free baking seems to always have a problem with texture.<span style=""> </span>Lots of mixes are just grainy instead of smooth and fluffy.<span style=""> </span>I’ve found a good solution to mixes that have this problem: just make everything smaller!<span style=""> </span> <p class="MsoNormal">Normally, the edges of your baked goods are firmer in texture (because they are baked slightly longer) and don’t suffer the grainy issue.<span style=""> </span>I read somewhere that if you are making gluten free cookies that you should make the cookies smaller to ensure that they don’t fall apart as easily.<span style=""> </span>I was amazed to find that this is true but also discovered that it makes the grainy texture less noticeable.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I decided to test my new theory with other baked goods, as well.<span style=""> </span>My first test was brownies.<span style=""> </span>My grandmother gave me an old mini-cupcake tin that she had never used, so instead of pouring the batter into an 8x8 pan, I used the mini-cupcake pan.<span style=""> </span>Not only does it make the texture better, it holds the brownie together more and is cute to boot!</p>I now use this method on almost all baked goods that I make, especially cupcakes.<span style=""> </span>It works wonders and people always give me compliments on how cute they are.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SG0lnCq7esI/AAAAAAAAAEk/TiGlU_vSW5w/s1600-h/MiniCupcake002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Ze0J6kA9n24/SG0lnCq7esI/AAAAAAAAAEk/TiGlU_vSW5w/s400/MiniCupcake002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218868895854328514" border="0" /></a>The only thing that you need to note is that mini-cupcake pans come in several different sizes and normally aren’t consistent.<span style=""> </span>It doesn’t really matter what size you buy, just keep in mind that cupcake holders only really come in two small sizes: Bonbon and Mini-Cupcake.<span style=""> </span>Bonbon holders are really for making chocolates and are therefore smaller.<span style=""> </span>Don’t use the foil bonbon baking cups for anything other than chocolates because any baked good will stick to it more.<span style=""> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>You can buy small cupcake holders at Michael’s and sometimes at the grocery store.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Wilton</st1:city></st1:place>’s has a list of all the ones that they have on their <a href="http://www.wilton.com/store/site/department.cfm?id=DA556239-423B-522D-FF9589C29CEBCF6F">website</a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>Enjoy baking!<span style=""> </span>Please send links to pictures if you ever make any small baked treasures!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>J.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03502159120980457495noreply@blogger.com1