Product of the Month

November 2014: Pamela’s Cornbread & Muffin Mix

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to gather your supplies to make a delicious, gluten-free Thanksgiving meal. Yes, that’s right- you can make lavish Thanksgiving dinner completely gluten-free. No more skipping out on the green bean casserole or stuffing, or the pumpkin bread pudding or gravy. This year, enjoy the feast with your family!

Last weekend, I baked a batch of corn muffins using Pamela’s Cornbread & Muffin Bread. Cornbread is one of those funny things. If you’re just beginning your journey exploring the world of cooking, you may not have known that some cornbread recipes like to sneak in a cup of all-purpose flour. So its not always gluten-free. Actually, most cornbread recipes* contain gluten, hence the gluten-free cornbread mixes. If you want good old traditional corn bread, this is the mix to use. The texture is on the grainer side, and the taste is on the savory side. Although it was neither particularly moist or fluffy, this is hands down my favorite cornbread mix. It would be the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving meal.

Just a couple of tips and suggestions. First off, if you are looking for a sweeter variation, make a batch of corn muffins with some Crasins or dried fruit to add a hint of sweetness. Secondly, whether you bake cornbread or muffins, don’t make them too prematurely. After two or three days, they don’t retain the same degree of freshness and begin to dry out. You can always heat them up, but fresh baked goods are always the best baked goods! Thirdly, if you’re looking for something similar to grandma’s buttermilk cornbread, this isn’t probably isn’t the right mix for you.

Happy baking!

Cheers,

Anika

*I should be more specific. Most authentic southern cornbread recipes don’t use any flour, but given that I live in the northeast, it is a problem that I face.

October 2014: Bai 5

It’s almost here. Daylight savings is one of my least favorite times of the fall. When the clocks fall back, that’s a reminder to all of us that the dark, gloomy months are here indeed. There’s no fooling yourself by wearing shorts and tank tops or drinking iced tea while sporting a pair of sunglasses- we’re officially onto the grueling months of winter. So how are you going to fight through these upcoming months?

Bai5.

This month’s product is a little off the beaten path, but it would nearly be a crime if I didn’t write a post about Bai5 sooner or later. Every night when studying and ringing the midnight bell, I need a little caffeine boost. Instead of opting for tea or coffee, I always grab a Bai5. Simple, fruity, sweet, filled with antioxidants, and only 5 calories! Instead of using the coffee bean as a source of caffeine like a good ol’ cup of joe, Bai5 utilizes the outer coffee fruit, or superfruit. These little superfruits are a great source of antioxidants. Fun Fact!: Antioxidants fight cellular damage in your body. So having a boost of antioxidants does;t sound like a terrible idea, right? In addition to its great benefits, it tastes pretty good too! It’s sweet- naturally sweetened, that is- and comes in a variety of tropical flavors including Brasilla Blueberry, Malawi Mango, Ipanema Pomegranate, Molokai Coconut, Costa Rica Clementine, Tanzania Lemonade Tea, Sumatra Dragonfruit, Congo Pear, Peach Panama, and last but not least Limu Lemon. I have tried the majority of these flavors, but always be on the look out- new flavors and products are always on the not too far horizon.

“The little can that can”. Bai’s most recent attraction is a carbonated version of the original called Bai5 Bubbles. New tropically inspired flavors, same low calories, and always a great bold taste. I’ve been wanting to try Bai5 Bubbles to see if it can even compare to the original, which is hands down, my favorite drink. Honestly, just one sip is powerful enough to bring you to your happy place! You’ll be dreaming of those tropical beaches and yearning for those hot summer days.

Not to shatter your picturesque bubble, but there’s one down side- it’s rather pricey. I’d recommend buying it in bulk at Costco or another wholesale store for the best prices. You can also buy bigger variety boxes online at http://www.drinkbai.com. Please give it a try- it’s something everyone should experience! Tea and coffee don’t even begin to compare…

Comment below with your favorite drinks!

Cheers,

Anika

September 2014: Glenny’s Greek Yogurt Lovers Bar

… And we’re back at it! The school year is in full tilt, however thanks to our dear Jewish friends, we had a little break in the seemingly perpetual cycle. So, what better time to introduce you to an effortless and delicious on the go snack?

Glenny’s Greek Yogurt Lovers Bar. Yes, it may sound strange. A lovers bar? But I can assure you, it is appropriately named. One of the most delicious and healthy gluten-free treats out there with the added benefits of protein and fiber. Even my brother, who is typically a harsh critic and doesn’t like greek yogurt, couldn’t believe how great it tasted!

So let’s start with the essentials. This bar is essentially fruits & nuts and gluten-free oats in the inside with a layer (or rather three layers!) of strawberry filling on top all dipped in a coating of greek yogurt. And it’s what I like to call fun-size! Only 130 calories and 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. This bar comes in three flavors: strawberry, chocolate coconut, and chocolate cherry. I have only had the pleasure of trying the strawberry, however I would expect great things from the other two as well.

It’s a great breakfast bar, midday snack, or post-workout replenisher. You can buy these versatile bars at Wholes Foods or go online and buy directly at Glenny’s website or on amazon. It’s a worthwhile investment! Happy snacking!

Cheers,

Anika

August 2014: Whole Foods Thai Ginger Marinade

“There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart”

These fleeting summer months are coming to an end. So go outside, seize the day, and get a little extra vitamin D! Before you know it, it’ll be Labor Day weekend- the last chance for barbecues and wearing white jeans. These past few months, we have been doing a lot of grilling. From salmon on cedar planks to tandoori spiced chicken to thai peanut veggie skewers.

Now, typically I like to do pizzas or cookies or rolls for the product of the month. Something that’s originally not gluten-free, but I have discovered a great alternative. However, this month, I’m sharing with you a new category of products that you may not have known could contain gluten: sauces, dips, dressings, and marinades. Many sauces use wheat flour as a thickener in addition to or as oppose to cream or butter. Apparently the flour adds “a little something” to the texture. So when browsing for a new red pasta sauce or a new variety of ranch dressing, remember to read the label!

As I’ve had a little more free time on my hands, I’ve actually managed to go to a grocery store! Believe it or not, it’s been months since I’ve been inside one because of my crazy schedule! So at Whole Foods, we recently bought a new thai ginger marinade. We’ve been grilling veggies skewers, chicken kebabs, and even paneer (an Indian cottage cheese like dish) in these marinade. It is finger-licking-ly, lip-smacking-ly delicious. (Yes, I’m going to make up my own vocabulary as we go on.) However, my favorite, by far, was the cedar plank thai ginger salmon. Now, maybe I’m slightly biased because grilled salmon is a treat in my family. We typically bake our salmon- now when I say we bake it, I mean we really bake it. Until the weird whitish yogurty stuff starts seeping out of the pores of the fish- do fish even have pores? So, yes, having grilled, not overdone salmon was wonderful. Simply wonderful. But more importantly, the combination of the thai ginger flavors and the hints of the cedar’s essence were exquisite. So if you do swing by the grocery store, so give this a try before the summer’s up!

Cheers,

Anika

July 2014: Larabars

And I seem to be starting a trend here. Well, what can I say? This summer may actually be busier than the school year! Anyways, I hope y’all are having a  restful summer and are lying on a beach, making those tan lines more prominent, and doing some light summer reading! If you’re headed out to the shore or taking any road trips before the summer wraps up (only one month left… yikes!), snacks are essential. What’s convenient, mess-free, delicious, and healthy? Bars, bars, bars. From KIND bars to LUNA protein bars, they are my favorite on-the-go snack. However, this summer, I’ve discovered a new bar that is slowly but surely taking precedence over the others: Larabars.

Gluten-free. Pure. Simple. Whole foods. Raw. What else could you ask for? And did I mention they’re deliciously scrumptious? The flavors range from Cashew Cookie to Cherry Pie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough to Key Lime Pie. Each bar contains no more than nine ingredients. How they make these little bars of magical joy blows my mind! The four flavors listed above are some of my favorites as well as Chocolate Chip Brownie, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Carrot Cake. Larabars are great as either midday snacks or pre workout fuel.

Comment below with your favorite bars or Larabar flavors!

Cheers,

Anika

June 2014: Goldfish Puffs Mega Cheese

Howdy! It’s been a pretty quiet month on the blog, but I’m excited to say that things are about to change! I have some big plans for this summer… And yes, they involve food and a kitchen! So anyways, as you can tell, I barely managed to squeeze in this month’s product of the month, but as I always say, better late than never, right? I’ve been wanting to try this product for awhile, but initially I couldn’t get my hands on it. As I awaited the day I would  finally eat gluten-free goldfish, I had built pretty high expectations. And unfortunately, the product did not live up to my idealized standards.

I was expecting a gluten-free carbon copy of the much-loved, cheesy snack. Sadly, the snack didn’t smile back! Goldfish Puffs are essentially large, golden, fish-shaped Cheetos. They are nothing like the small, Cheez-It like goldfish. I suppose I should have realized they wouldn’t or rather couldn’t be the same because the packet indicated it was “baked” and they are titled Goldfish Puffs. If you enjoy Cheetos, you will definitely enjoy the light and airy snack with a big flavor. However, they are nothing like the original goldfish. Honestly, a closer gluten-free alternative would be Schar’s Cheese Bites- the only thing missing is the fun goldfish shape! Also, they have other flavors aside from Mega Cheese. The other two flavors are Cheddar Bacon and Buffalo Wing. Honestly, those artificial flavors don’t sound quite appetizing to me, but again, if you are adventurous with your Cheetos flavors, then heck, go for it!

So overall,  this product left me with mixed feelings. As goldfish- they disappointed me because my expectations for one of my favorite childhood snacks were not met; however, as a snack- they are not half bad!

Any new gluten-free products on the market that you’ve tried? Comment below!

Cheers,

Anika

 

May 2014: GinnyBakes Coconut Oatmeal Bliss

“Better late than never”

I’d really like to pretend that I’m not writing my product of the month review on the last day of May. Everything about this screams procrastination. Literally it should be my middle name. Now I may be a pro when it comes to the tips and tricks of living gluten-free, but I’m sure as heck an amateur when it comes to managing and budgeting my time! But we all learn with experience, right? At least I like to believe that.

What a month it’s been. A month full of testing. I’m sure we’ve all had it with the abundance of standardized testing, AP exams, and final exams that the glorious month of May brings. All the same, it’s also been a month of celebration. That’s right, today is the last of Celiac Awareness Month. So, wear your green clothing proudly and be happy for the wonderful reality being gluten-free has now become. It didn’t use to be so easy. But with the ever increasing awareness of celiac disease, we have a bright future ahead of us. And that is something to celebrate.

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Bliss. There isn’t a more fitting word in the dictionary. Have you tried any of ginnybakes‘ products? I am relatively new to this company, but I am wholly inspired by their mission and story. They are striving -and have succeeded- at making gluten-free both healthy and delicious- two qualities I have found are scarcely found together. I have only had the pleasure of making the scrumptious coconut oatmeal cookies. This unique combination may be a risk, but it definitely paid off. The oatmeal adds texture to the cookie while the coconut naturally sweetens it. Now, I bought the baking mix for this product, but it is also sold in a box of eleven cookies. I do want to get my hands on a box to compare them to the ones I baked! I also have bought the pre-made chocolate chip love cookies. However I’m waiting until June comes around to try them out (now that doesn’t mean I won’t dig into them first thing tomorrow!) because I’ve had my fair share of cookies this month. From Hope’s Cookies to Betty Crocker’s GF Chocolate Chip Cookies to my recent discover of ginnybakes delightful cookie products, it’s been a cookie kind of month! I most certainly ended Celiac Awareness Month with a bang!

What are your favorite gluten-free cookies? Feel free to comment below!

Cheers,

Anika

April 2014: Bouchon Bakery GF Carrot Muffin Mix

“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.”  -Marty Rubin

Hello, Spring! It is that time of the year again… the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and people are rejoicing! Although the long-awaited sunshine and happy days are back, that’s no reason to stop, what I like to call, your “cozy winter baking”. Just last week, my mom bought a gluten-free mix for carrot muffins from a brand I had never heard of (believe me, that’s pretty rare!). Believe it or not, the baking mix was from Williams-Sonoma. Little did I know that Williams-Sonoma sold anything but home goods and a delicious peppermint hot chocolate mix (I’ll have to get a post about this hot chocolate up at some point). However, I will warn you that this mix as well as the other GF baking mixes are unquestionably overpriced. But I will say that the muffins were simply scrumptious! These carrot muffins definitely deserve the title of the lightest, fluffiest gluten-free muffin as well as the best textured.

These muffins are very easy to make with step by step instructions on the box. The mix comes with three parts: the carrot muffin mix, sugar mix, and an oat streusel topping. The oat streusel topping (GF oats, of course!) is what makes this one of the best GF muffins I’ve had. The succulent combination of a hearty, rolled-oats based muffin, topped with brown sugar coated oat clusters with a hint of vanilla extract and a pinch of cinnamon is what makes the perfect carrot muffin. Honestly, I didn’t believe it was gluten-free! Just a few tips… this mix can make 12 medium-sized muffins or 6 jumbo muffins. I, however, chose to make mini muffins and used only half of the mix to make about 12-15 muffins. So remember to consider the quantity and if you’re looking for a small snack or a sweet treat for breakfast. Also, don’t let the muffins sit around for longer than a week, they won’t taste nearly as fresh! Anyways,  you won’t want to wait around that long to finish them.

By now, I hope your mouth’s watering and you’re dying to try out this product! So if you do go to Williams-Sonoma, I was eying the other GF baking mix from Bouchon Bakery- the corn muffin mix. If you’re making the trip, you may as well make it worth while and get both, right? Please feel free to comment with your thoughts if you try either one or have any questions!

Cheers,

Anika

March 2014: Chebe Pizza Crust Mix

First and foremost, I have to apologize for lack of posts this month. The abundance of unexpected snow days in January and February have most certainly taken its toll. The aftermath consists of copious amounts of homework, especially with spring break right around the corner!

Anyways, I do want to share my first choice when it comes to making a delicious homemade, gluten-free pizza. Although this may not be quick of an option as Udi’s Thin and Crispy Pizza Crusts, if you have a few extra minutes, it’ll be worth it. I have been using this particular pizza crust mix for over seven years now, and I couldn’t be happier! I was introduced to Chebe’s, when I was first diagnosed with Celiac, by my neighbor who had been gluten-free for years. She was the first person to introduce me to the world of gluten-free foods. As you probably know, gluten-free products require trial and error to find the right assortment of brands and products that appeal to you. So it is a testament to the quality and taste of this pizza mix that it is the only product that I have continued to use from when I was initially diagnosed to current day.

The crust is uniquely flavorful with italian spices and a pinch of garlic. It has a bit of a chewy texture, but that is one of its many characteristics that appeals to me! If that doesn’t sound too tempting, I would recommend baking for about 2-3 minutes longer than specified. You can top the pizza with just about anything. I have had great results with Alfredo sauce, spinach, and garlic (see Garlic-Spinach Pizza recipe); ham and pineapple, or a classic margarita pizza!

Comment below with your favorite pizza crust mixes and recipes!

Cheers!

Anika

February 2014: Glutino Strawberry Toaster Pastry

And we have yet another snow day! It seems like the gloomy winter months will cease to come to an end. However, while staying locked in my warm and cozy house this winter, I have discovered a gluten-free version of a favorite childhood snack of mine: Pop-Tarts. Memories of crazy, cannibalistic Pop-Tart ads on Nick flooded back! At first sight, the biggest difference between the Glutino Strawberry Toaster Pastries and Pop-Tarts is that the new gluten-free product is unfrosted. I was slightly disappointed at first, but as soon as I tried one, I didn’t miss the frosting one bit! According to my brother, the outside pastry tasted just like a glutinous Pop-Tart. It was the perfect texture: a little flaky and crisp when toasted.  I appreciated the pinch of sea salt in the pastry that created the oh-so-addictive sweet and salty combo. I’m a sucker for the combo… chocolate covered pretzels, salted caramel, you name it! Having said that, my main criticism would be that there wasn’t enough strawberry filling to balance out the pastry. Just a little too much salty for the amount of sweet. Both the pastry and filling were delicious in taste, but overall, the toaster pastry was ever so slightly dry because of the lack of strawberry in the center. Nevertheless, even if you don’t typically eat gluten-free, I would recommend trying out this toaster pastry. I compared it to the Strawberry Pop-Tart, and Glutino’s Strawberry Toaster not only had less calories, but it has more dietary fiber. I would suggest buying a couple boxes because they will be gone before you know it!

I am definitely looking forward to trying Glutino’s Apple Cinnamon Toaster Pastry! And happy shoveling to those in the northeast:)

Cheers!

Anika