LARABAR

I noticed a new to me gluten free product at the grocery store today called LARABAR.  It's a fruit and nut energy bar.  They had two flavours, Apple and Peanut Butter.  Apple was definitely my favourite flavour, however my son loved the Peanut Butter.  The ingredients are very simple, dates, dried fruit for the apple and peanuts for the peanut butter.  No preservatives, added sugar, dairy or soy, they are also vegan!

Give these a try, they really are tasty!

http://www.larabar.com/

Chocolate Pie

This weekend I didn't get around to baking exactly, but I did make a Chocolate Pie.  It turned out pretty darned tasty, considering how easy it was. 

I started out by using my Vita-Mix Blender to turn the Kinnikinnick S'moreables into graham crumbs, I also added some walnuts and almonds.  Mix this with a touch of butter and sugar, bake for 6-8 minutes.  While the crust is baking, make one package of Chocolate Pudding mix.  After the shell has baked and cooled, poor the pudding filling into the shell and into the fridge it goes.  I only had mine in the fridge about 4 hours before I had a slice, it was a bit runny still.  The next day, it was set perfectly, next time I will make this one with 24 hours in advance to let it have time to set.

Cream Hill Estates

I would like to thank Cream Hill Estates for sending out a package of their whole oat groats!  I have never tried oat groats before and am very intrigued by the look of them.  They have also sent along some recipes for their oat flour, groats and oatmeal.  I am looking forward to spending the long weekend baking and sampling!  I will post the recipes and let you know how they turn out as I get around to baking.

Hope everyone enjoy's their long weekend!

Glutino Crackers

Glutino Crackers are a delicious replacement for your average cracker.  They come in original, cheddar, multigrain and vegetable.  I haven't tried all varieties yet, but I can speak for the orginial and cheddar.  I tried the original first, with a variety of toppings, it passed every test with flying colours.  This is a great cracker for dip, cheese and crackers, peanut butter or anything really!   The cheddar wasn't my personal favourite, the taste was acceptable, just not something I'm into I guess.  I look forward to sampling the multigrain and vegetable, I will let you know when I get around to tasting them.

Is Coke Gluten Free or Not?

I just found this letter in a forum and it's really got me thinking after the night I had last night.  I went out, had 4 rum and cokes and ended up extremely sick..  

"Here's the email I received from Coke regarding their products:


Thank you for contacting The Coca-Cola Company, Ms. Barcus. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

We are able to confirm that Coca-Cola classic, caffeine free Coca-Cola classic, Coca-Cola Zero, Barq's root beer, caffeine free Barq's root beer, diet Barq's root beer, diet Barq's Red Creme Soda, Diet Coke, Diet Coke with Lime, Diet Coke Plus, caffeine free Diet Coke, Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda, Sprite, Sprite Zero, Vanilla Coke, Vanilla Coke Zero, cherry Coke, Diet Cherry Coke, Cherry Coke zero, Fresca, Fanta Grape, Fanta Orange, Fanta Orange Zero, DASANI, DASANI Lemon, DASANI Plus Refresh + Revive, DASANI Plus Cleanse + Restore, DASANI essence, FUZE (all flavors), NOS Energy Drinks, Rehab, Minute Maid Lemonade, Minute Maid Light Lemonade, Minute Maid Kids + Apple, Minute Maid Pomegranate Blueberry Juice, Minute Maid Pomegranate Lemonade, Minute Maid Pomegranate Flavored Tea, Minute Maid Multi-Vitamin Orange Juice, Minute Maid Kiwi-Strawberry Energy, Minute Maid Juice Bars (Orange, Cherry, and Grape), Nestea Red Tea, Nestea Sweetened Lemon Tea, Diet Nestea Lemon, Nestea Citrus Green Tea, Diet Nestea Citrus Green Tea , Nestea Lemon Sweet, Gold Peak Lemon Iced Tea, Caribou Iced Coffee, Enviga Sparkling Green Tea, Enviga Berry Sparkling Green Tea, Simply Apple, Simply Grapefruit, Simply Orange Juice Country Stand Medium Pulp with Calcium, Simply Lemonade, Simply Limeade, Simply Orange with Mango, Simply Orange with Pineapple, Simply Lemonade with Raspberry, POWERADE Mountain Blast, POWERADE Grape, POWERADE ION4, VIO Vibrancy Drinks, and our 100% juice products (without added ingredients) are gluten free.



Additionally, we can tell you that all of our other brands meet Codex's definition of gluten free which means the level does not exceed 20 mg/kg in total. Codex is in the process of reviewing this standard and we are monitoring the progress closely. At this time the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not have a regulatory definition of gluten-free.



We can assure you that the exact amount of gluten in all these other products is very low - perhaps even zero. Some minor ingredients in these products are manufactured from plants that gluten-sensitive people could react to, so we are unable to state categorically that they are totally gluten-free even though they may have undetectable levels of gluten in them. The Codex guideline provides a very low threshold for gluten content. However, extremely gluten-sensitive individuals should discuss consumption of these products with their health care provider. We hope this information is helpful. If you have additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact us again.



Cameron

Industry and Consumer Affairs

The Coca-Cola Company"

Udi's Gluten Free Foods

Just wanted to let you all know a review will be on it's way about Udi's Gluten Free Foods, the kind people at Udi's will be getting some product out and I can't wait to taste and review it for you all!  Stay tuned for the review!
http://www.udisglutenfree.com/

Cup of Tea Bakery in Whitby, Ontario

I found this bakery within the first week of discovering I was intolerant to gluten.  Considering it's only a 10 minute drive from my house, you can only imagine how happy I was to have found it!  I tried almost one of everything, starting with the brownie with buttercream icing.  This brownie is delicious! The cupcakes with buttercream icing were just as delicious!  If I had to choose between the two, well, I just couldn't!  I also couldn't resist trying the cookies.  The gingerbread cookie was a new product, I willingly tried a sample at the store and loved it so much I took home two more.  This bakery also sells some grocery products, cereals, crackers, teas and coffees among other things.  Definitely worth the trip to Whitby if you live in the vacinity! 
Check their website out via the google sponsored ad titled:

Gluten Free Goodness

"Cup of Tea Bakery in Whitby makes the most delicious cakes & breads!"

Kinnikinnick S'moreables Graham Style Crackers

I discovered these at WalMart and was so very pleased with the taste and texture.  These taste, smell and look just like real Graham Crackers.  They make amazing s'mores and can also be put thru the blender and used to make a graham pie shell for cheesecake or whatever you want!  Visit Kinnikinnick's website for recipes and a huge selection of gluten free products, all made right here in Canada!
http://consumer.kinnikinnick.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/consumer.home.html

Mrs Leepers Corn Pasta

I have been eating President's Choice Pad Thai noodles as my substitute for any noodle dish, whether it be spaghetti, mac and cheese or what they are actually meant for, pad thai.  I had tried various brands of gluten free pastas and had never been satisfied.  The pad thai noodles were the closest thing taste wise to regular pasta.  Last week I noticed Mrs. Leeper's Elbow Corn Pasta at my local Great Canadian Superstore (they have the best selection of gluten free products).  I snatched up a package which sat on my shelf for the last week until I had the craving for some mac and cheese yesterday.  8 minutes later I was in my glory!  The pasta looks, tastes and smells like regular pasta!  I couldn't have been more pleased.  After googling the website, Mr's Leepers carries a variety of pastas as well as pre-packaged mixes (like hamburger helper) and they are all gluten free!  My next trip to the grocery store will include a chat with the health food ailse guy (my new buddy) to ask if they can carry all of the products.

Mrs. Leeper's products can be ordered via their website

 http://www.mrsleepers.com/index.html

Canyon Bakehouse

After trying every brand of frozen bread, every package of bread mix and even loaves from a gluten free bakery, I still was not satisfied with gluten free bread.  Hours of searching the net led me to find a review for Canyon Bakehouse.  I immediately found their site and attempted to place an online order, it wasn't until I noticed they only shipped within the US that I almost cried for the first time over these products.  I emailed the company and requested they ship to Canada.  I recieved a reply almost instantaneously and my order was placed!  A few days later a package arrived at my door, I tore into that box like I was a kid on Christmas morning!  It had been months since I had eaten any bread and I simply couldn't wait any longer!

First I tried the Cranberry Crunch muffins, they were delicious!  Moist with a nice crunch to it, the flavour is mild and the cranberries do not over power the taste.  I had the first one plain, the next time I heated it and served with some butter, also a nice touch.

Next I dove into the Cinnamon Raisin Bread, now this one is my new favourite breakfast item.  Imagine the Cinnamon Raisin Bread that you used to eat as a kid, now multiply that taste by a thousand and you get Canyon Bakehouse's Cinnamon Raisin Bread!  I let my 8 year old step son try this and he agrees it's far better than any Cinnamon Raisin Bread he's ever had!  Coming from a kid who will pick raisin toast over cookies, that's a pretty big compliment.

Then came the San Juan 7 Grain Bread, I had been craving a BLT for months when this bread arrived, of course when lunch time rolled around out came the classic ingredients for a BLT.  Let me tell you, I was in heaven.  I ate that sandwich with the biggest smile on my face and literally tears were about to come pouring down.  I was so thrilled to finally find something to fill the void that was left when I had to give up eating my adored whole grain breads.  I have never been a fan of non toasted sandwiches, so I have only had this bread toasted, but I have read in reviews it is soft and moist enough to eat right out of the package. 

The following morning I decided eggs and toast was in order, another favourite I had been missing!  This is where the Mountain White Bread came in. I personally have always preferred whole grain breads to white breads, however this bread is almost making me change my mind.  Some days I'm in the mood for the San Juan 7 Grain, other time's it's a Mountain White day all the way.  This bread, along with the others has a great texture, nothing crumbling about as you try to take a bite.  It also has a bit of a sweetness to it that the San Juan doesn't have.  I personally find this bread works well with peanut butter and or jam because it already has that little bit of sweet.

For lunch that day it was onto the Rosmeary & Thyme Focaccia.  I decided pizza was in order.  I have tried the various grocery store gf pizza's and Pizza Nova and Pizza Pizza's gf pizza's, I wasn't impressed with any and was so excited to make my own!  I sliced the entire loaf in half, smothered with tomato sauce, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.  The end result was nearly the best pizza I've ever eaten!  The inside was so moist, my husband thought I had made this pizza with fresh dough.  With the other half, I used a couple slices in place of garlic bread with spaghetti, simply toasted with butter this focaccia is delicious!  I also had to try bruschetta, another one of my favourites I was deeply missing, also an excellent way to eat this focaccia.

Canyon Bakehouse products are available at some Whole Foods stores in the US and are available for online ordering through their website.  If you are outside of the US try emailing them with your request. 

http://canyonbakehouse.com/

Cream Hill Estates Oatmeal

These oats are far better than any oatmeal I had eaten prior to going gluten free.  It can be easily made in a pot on the stove, or in the microwave.  Ready in about 6 minutes.  The directions indicate you can soak the oats for 15 minutes before cooking, however I find them perfect without spending the time soaking first. 

Cream Hill Estates guarantees that their oats are free of cross-contamination with wheat, barely, rye, triticale, kamut or spelt during growth, harvesting, transport, storage, mill processing and packaging. Medical science confirms that pure oat products are safe for most people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.  Add pure oats slowly to your diet to give your body a chance to adjust to the fiber.  Start with no more than 35grams (1/3 cup dry) twice a week, drink 6 - 8 glasses if water daily.

Cream Hill Estates is a small, privately-owned business producing and distributing guaranteed pure oats as rolled oats, oat flour and whole oat kernels (groats).

http://www.creamhillestates.com/

I ordered these oats online at www.specialtyfoodshop.ca/specialtyfoodshop/ .  It's run by Toronto's Sick Kids Hospital, all proceeds go to support research, patient care and initiatives at this hospital.