Gluten Free Mom To Be | A Blog About Gluten Free and Pregnancy

July 8, 2014

A Reliable Gluten Free Dining Experience That Can Be Enjoyed By All: Thank You P.F. Chang’s!

Okay so I guess I’ve been bitten by the Chinese food bug lately. I blame Disney; ever since our trip a few months back and I enjoyed that fabulous Pan-Asian noodle dish at Kona Cafe, I’ve been craving Asian inspired cuisine like crazy. As I eluded to yesterday, when I’m not enjoying my homemade Chicken And Green Veggie Stir Fry at home, I’m getting my Chinese food fix at our local P.F. Chang’s. For those of you who haven’t been to a P.F. Chang’s, you absolutely must try it, their gluten free menu is fairly large and offers some very tasty Asian cuisine.

Now, anytime I venture out of the house to attempt a gluten free meal I feel incredibly nervous, with a bit of anxiety. It’s actually kind of sad to feel that way about having a night off from cooking and enjoying a meal out with your family, but unfortunately everywhere in the world is just not quite as prepared to offer entirely gluten free food causing myself to be glutened. Sadly I have been glutened before and it is an excruciating experience for me, so I never take eating out lightly at all. I usually only go to places that have had a great reputation as far as allergy free cooking is concerned, also they have phenomenal reviews from other gluten free diners, and finally that offer an impressive gluten free menu that truly demonstrates their desire to accommodate gluten free diners by not only offering a large variety but also items that include all of their parts and not just a plain piece of meat. That being said, it’s obvious that I’m extremely selective on our locations when we dine out, but hey I have to be.

Over the past few years, we’ve dined at P.F. Chang’s and will keep dining there as each and every experience that we’ve had has been nothing but impressive and enjoyable. Their staff is always extremely knowledgeable and they can accommodate not just gluten free folk, but allergies of all shapes and sizes, as even my dear nephew who has seemingly every food allergy under the sun has even successfully dined there without any reactions. You feel the love after just sitting down and taking a look at the menu and seeing their pretty large gluten free section, right there in the main menu, that’s right no separate menu for us! (Just a tip, if you have any other kind of food allergy, just request another menu that specifically addresses that allergy.)

While P.F. Chang’s menu is intended for items to be shared, for us we usually don’t do this since my dishes are gluten free and my husband usually prefers to order a seafood, non-gluten free item. So, ordering for me is pretty simple, I typically go with the gluten free Chicken Lettuce Wraps and a Beef and Broccoli entree. I’m a creature of habit I guess and usually order the same thing, but I know what I like and I’ve never really gone wrong with either one of these. While ordering, I usually remind the waiter of the severe gluten intolerance that I have again, even though I already did that when ordering my drinks, but it makes me feel better if I state it a few times, impressing upon the staff the dire consequences of a slip up.

Soon enough, my gluten free Chicken Lettuce Wraps arrive on a beautiful allergy plate with a logo and line circling around it; that’s right, P.F. Chang’s identifies allergy free dishes with a different plate from other diners, a great identifier for yourself when your dish is placed down in front of you. When my husband hasn’t ordered an appetizer for himself then we usually do share this one since it’s usually way too much for just myself to finish. However, his new favorite small plate, non-gluten free appetizer are the steamed pork dumplings, so when that’s the case then it’s leftover Chicken Lettuce Wraps for tomorrow’s lunch, which is fine by me!

Now, down to the taste of these wonderful wraps! They are DELICIOUS! Every single time I order them I love them more and more. Chicken, green onions, and water chestnuts smothered in a gluten free soy sauce and all scooped into a lettuce cup, it’s such a great bite of food and a perfect appetizer. While these are a total winner for us adults, not everyone at our table agreed though on this dish.

On our most recent visit to P.F. Chang’s, which has really only been my daughter’s second time there her entire year and a half of life, we decided to leave behind a dinner from home and give her some of our meals. First up, were the chicken lettuce wraps which after my little girl’s first bite produced some type of sour face and shiver. Let’s face it, I knew it was a gamble giving her Asian cuisine, especially a dish with all new flavors and textures, like ground chicken and water chestnuts. Thankfully though our waiter came to the rescue and brought out some fresh veggies for her to munch on, which she LOVES, and she actually happened to really enjoy my husband’s steamed pork dumplings too. So, while little one enjoyed her Daddy’s dish, Mommy actually was able to gobble down a few lettuce wraps uninterrupted!

A few minutes later and our entrees had arrived. My gluten free Beef and Broccoli looked just as tasty as always. A huge allergy free, logo lined plate was placed down in front of me and was filled with thin, bite size pieces of flank steak and broccoli florets all cooked with fresh ginger, green onions, garlic, and a beautiful sauce. I love everything in this dish, but the star for me is the sauce that flavors it all. The seared beef and broccoli are perfectly flavored thanks to it and I always leave wishing that I knew how to recreate such a spectacular dish. Although I love this dish, I rarely am able to finish it in the restaurant. So even better, I always have leftovers for the next day’s lunch or dinner and let me tell you the Beef and Broccoli reheats perfectly, tasting just like it did the day before.

Every single meal at P.F. Chang’s we’ve enjoyed, while all for the great food and even better company, others thanks to extra special memories like watching our little girl enjoy a different cuisine for the first time. It means so much to my family to be able to create memories like these and enjoy a meal together where all of us are eating dishes that are equally tasty and safe. So many thank yous go out to P.F. Chang’s for offering a restaurant that not just myself, but many other allergy diners too can sit down with their families and share in the enjoyment of dining out. If you have a local P.F. Chang’s near you, make sure you pay them a visit and check out their gluten free menu ahead of time to pick out your favorite dishes!

TIP: One of the perks that I love about P.F. Chang’s is that they offer lunch sized portions of their gluten free menu so you can enjoy their dishes at either meal. In fact, since we usually don’t share dishes, we’ve sometimes ordered lunch takeout on Saturday before 4 pm and have paid considerably less for plenty of food for dinner (not many leftovers, but certainly enough for dinner). Another feature that I love with P.F. Chang’s, is that they offer pretty good happy hour deals too. These typically run until 6 pm, I believe, and you can save a few dollars on their Chicken Lettuce Wraps, which happen to come in a gluten free version! Yay for saving a little bit of money while being gluten free!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

July 7, 2014

How About Dinner In? Try This Gluten Free Chicken And Green Veggie Stir Fry!

Mmmm I just love Chinese food. Okay so not really all Chinese food but really just my absolute favorite dishes that I always ordered, which were lomein and chicken with broccoli. I LOVED lomein with veggies, the noodles were just perfection, flavored with just the right amount of a beautiful soy sauce. Over the years my family and I enjoyed Chinese food here and there, and after meeting my husband the tradition continued. Unfortunately after our first three years together, the tradition had come to an end, at least the part where we could order from our favorite local Chinese food restaurant right around the corner. On the brighter side though, we discovered P.F. Chang’s, a fantastic Chinese food chain that offers some really great gluten free alternatives to your traditional Chinese food dishes. Our enjoyment of this cuisine thankfully didn’t end with my diagnosis, in fact I’ve enjoyed many a Chinese food night safely thanks to P.F. Chang’s. Stay tuned for for a sneak peak at some of my favorite gluten free eats at this chain.

Thank goodness there is a restaurant that offers gluten free Asian cuisine, but many a night we’re just not in the mood to eat out or make the longer trek out to P.F. Chang’s. Thankfully, a few brands have released gluten free versions of their soy sauces so we can enjoy a little gluten free, Chinese inspired concoction at home. I’ve dabbled a bit with these gluten free soy sauces, with my favorite being Kikkoman, but haven’t quite mastered Asian cooking yet. Thanks to my Dad, who is always on the hunt for new recipes to try for my mom, he stumbled upon a stir fry in one of their diabetic magazines. After tweaking some of the ingredients in the sauce to be gluten free friendly and mixing in my two favorite veggies with chicken I made my Gluten Free Chicken And Green Veggie Stir Fry. The chicken is so flavorful thanks to the gluten free soy sauce, and the extra thin green beans and broccoli are just as spectacular and by far the favorites for my veggie loving little girl. Just like my little one, I too love this recipe, it’s so quick and tasty, a perfect dinner for those busy summer days and freezing cold winter nights. So when you’re not in the mood to eat out for your favorite Chinese food, why not make this stir fry and dine in.

Ingredients:

12 oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts (Cut these into small bite size pieces or thin slices,)
2 tsp freshly grated ginger
1 heaping tbsp minced garlic
1 cup extra thin frozen green beans (My family loves these so we always keep a bag from Wegmans.)
1 cup frozen broccoli
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
Vegetable oil (I use Smart Balance.)

Sauce:

1/3 cup cold water
2 tbsp gluten free soy sauce (I like Kikkoman. (I prefer to use reduced sodium however I’ve found it’s a bit difficult to find one in a gluten free variety.))
1 tbsp reduced sodium chicken broth (I use Progresso which marks gluten free on their packaging.)
2 tsp cornstarch

Directions:

Trim and slice 12 oz chicken breasts into thin strips or bite size pieces. Set aside for cooking shortly.
Next, stir together sauce ingredients by first combining 1/3 cup cold water and 2 tsp cornstarch. Then stir in 2 tbsp gluten free soy sauce and 1 tbsp reduced sodium chicken broth. Set prepared sauce aside to add in at the end.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a little bit of vegetable oil to lightly coat bottom of skillet.
Add 1 heaping tbsp minced garlic and 2 tsp freshly grated ginger to skillet and saute for about 30 seconds (garlic will barely begin to brown).
Then add 1 cup each of frozen broccoli and extra thin green beans to skillet with garlic and stir fry for about 6-8 minutes or until veggies are soft and tender.
Remove cooked veggies from skillet and add to bowl, set aside.
To warmed skillet, add chicken strips/pieces and cook on medium-high heat for about 2-4 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
Once chicken is cooked, stir soy sauce mixture and add to skillet. Stir to coat chicken with sauce and cook until sauce has thickened and bubbles.
Add green veggies back into skillet, mix with sauce and chicken, and heat for an additional minute or two until all components are warmed and flavors have combined.
Thinly slice 1/2 cup green onions and sprinkle on top of stir fry or mix in.

Gluten Free Chicken & Green Veggie Stir Fry

Empty stir fry ingredients into serving dish or serve in skillet.
Enjoy!

This was one of my favorite dishes to make this past winter, since it was quite a doozy in my neck of the woods. With frozen veggies up the wazoo in our freezer and a stockpile of chicken to boot, it was so easy to throw them together in this quick and tasty stir fry. With the extra thin green beans still having a little crunch to them and the broccoli scattered throughout, each bite was the perfect ratio of tender veggies and flavorful chicken. Not to mention the amazing sauce and minced garlic that coats it all, delicious!

Now that summer is here, this being one of my daughter’s favorite dishes, it still makes a frequent appearance in our house with either fresh or frozen veggies; honestly, I usually just throw in whatever veggies I have on hand at the time, whether they are fresh or frozen, either way they’re equally as healthy. So feel free to combine your two favorite fresh or frozen veggies and put this dish together. Just make sure you cook all of your veggies to become nice and tender before adding in your chicken and sauce and enjoy!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

Gluten Free Chicken And Green Veggie Stir Fry

2014-07-07 08:19:50

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Ingredients

12 oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts (Cut these into small bite size pieces or thin slices,)
2 tsp freshly grated ginger
1 heaping tbsp minced garlic
1 cup extra thin frozen green beans (My family loves these so we always keep a bag from Wegmans.)
1 cup frozen broccoli
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
Vegetable oil (I use Smart Balance.)

Sauce

1/3 cup cold water
2 tbsp gluten free soy sauce (I like Kikkoman. (I prefer to use reduced sodium however I've found it's a bit difficult to find one in a gluten free variety.))
1 tbsp reduced sodium chicken broth (I use Progresso which marks gluten free on their packaging.)
2 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

Trim and slice 12 oz chicken breasts into thin strips or bite size pieces. Set aside for cooking shortly.
Next, stir together sauce ingredients by first combining 1/3 cup cold water and 2 tsp cornstarch. Then stir in 2 tbsp gluten free soy sauce and 1 tbsp reduced sodium chicken broth. Set prepared sauce aside to add in at the end.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add a little bit of vegetable oil to lightly coat bottom of skillet.
Add 1 heaping tbsp minced garlic and 2 tsp freshly grated ginger to skillet and saute for about 30 seconds (garlic will barely begin to brown).
Then add 1 cup each of frozen broccoli and extra thin green beans to skillet with garlic and stir fry for about 6-8 minutes or until veggies are soft and tender.
Remove cooked veggies from skillet and add to bowl, set aside.
To warmed skillet, add chicken strips/pieces and cook on medium-high heat for about 2-4 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
Once chicken is cooked, stir soy sauce mixture and add to skillet. Stir to coat chicken with sauce and cook until sauce has thickened and bubbles.
Add green veggies back into skillet, mix with sauce and chicken, and heat for an additional minute or two until all components are warmed and flavors have combined.
Thinly slice 1/2 cup green onions and sprinkle on top of stir fry or mix in.
Empty stir fry ingredients into serving dish or serve in skillet.
Enjoy!

By Gluten Free Mom To Be

Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

July 3, 2014

Gluten Free Chocolaty Eclair Cake, A Light And Sweet Treat For Your Summer Cookout

Any pastry stuffed with a cream and smothered with chocolate is my kind of dessert. Although it’s been a long time since I tasted the sweet heaven of an eclair, I’ve been so lucky to enjoy a gluten free cream puff that mimicked my favorite parts of the eclair, thanks to Wildflour Bakery/Cafe (take a peak at this gorgeous gluten free cream puff). Since my gluten free baking skills are not quite up to snuff with the professionals, I’ve yet to attempt some of my bakery favorites. But, after some searching through Google and the magic of pinterest, I’ve found a great recipe that makes a tasty substitute to the pastry form of an eclair, and with a little tweaking, the Gluten Free Chocolaty Eclair Cake has been born (Thanks to The Kitchen Is My Playground for the inspiration).

This recipe is really genius. It’s kind of a cross between an eclair and a s’more, combining the creaminess of the eclair filling with the crunchy graham crackers that sandwich the s’more. You simply layer gluten free graham crackers, my favorites are these Honeygrams by Schar, with a vanilla pudding and light cool whip filling, and smother the top with a chocolaty topping. After setting overnight, the graham crackers absorb the deliciousness of the vanilla pudding/whipped topping filling and soften to be just like a cake! It’s truly a delicious dessert and takes only a few minutes to throw together!

Ingredients:

2 3.5oz boxes of gluten free vanilla instant pudding
3 cups skim milk
1 8oz container light whipped topping (I used Wegmans brand which states gluten free.)
16.8 oz gluten free graham crackers (I used three 5.6 oz boxes of Schar graham crackers.)
16 oz jar of chocolate frosting (Pillsbury states gluten free on their label.)

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, combine two 3.5 oz packets of vanilla pudding mix with 3 cups skim milk.
Stir in one whole 8 oz container of light whipped topping.

Light whipped topping mixed with vanilla pudding packets and skim milk.

In a 9″ x 13″ dish, cover the bottom with a layer of gluten free graham crackers.
To the layer of graham crackers add half of the vanilla pudding/whipped topping mixture, making sure to cover the graham crackers.

Bottom layer of gluten free graham crackers topped with half of the vanilla pudding/light whipped topping filling.

Add another layer of graham crackers on top of the vanilla pudding/whipped topping layer.

Second layer of gluten free graham crackers.

Layer remaining vanilla pudding/whipped topping mixture on top of the second layer of graham crackers.

Second layer of remaining vanilla pudding/light whipped topping filling.

Finish the dessert with a final layer of graham crackers.

Top and final layer of gluten free graham crackers.

For the final touches, empty a 16 oz jar of chocolate frosting into a small microwavable bowl and warm for a few seconds to make it creamy.
Gently spread frosting across the top layer of graham crackers. You may not need the entire bowl, just use what is needed.

Finishing touches, a chocolaty frosting layer atop graham cracker and eclair-like filling.

Refrigerate dessert over night and enjoy!

For me, this dessert was love at first bite. It was just the right amount of filling and graham crackers, all topped with a sweet icing topping, the perfect finish. This dessert takes literally 10 minutes to throw together and a somewhat painful length of time to let everything set. My advice, put the dessert together first thing in the morning and it’ll be ready for dessert after dinner the same day, just make sure you lick the spoon of the amazing filling for a little taste. But trust me, a little patience and it’ll be worth the wait because once the pudding has set and you’ve given a chance for all of the flavors to melt together, you end up with a perfect summer dessert of cake-like graham cracker layers mixed with fluffy pudding that tastes just like an eclair filling, all smothered in a sweet chocolaty icing. So add these ingredients to your shopping list for your 4th of July cookout this weekend and whip this dessert up, you’ll definitely have some happy diners on your hands!

Happy 4th of July!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

Gluten Free Chocolaty Eclair Cake

2014-07-03 11:02:58

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Ingredients

2 3.5oz boxes of gluten free vanilla instant pudding
3 cups skim milk
1 8oz container light whipped topping (I used Wegmans brand which states gluten free.)
16.8 oz gluten free graham crackers (I used three 5.6 oz boxes of Schar graham crackers.)
16 oz jar of chocolate frosting (Pillsbury states gluten free on their label.)

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, combine two 3.5 oz packets of vanilla pudding mix with 3 cups skim milk.
Stir in one whole 8 oz container of light whipped topping.
In a 9" x 13" dish, cover the bottom with a layer of gluten free graham crackers.
To the layer of graham crackers add half of the vanilla pudding/whipped topping mixture, making sure to cover the graham crackers.
Add another layer of graham crackers on top of the vanilla pudding/whipped topping layer.
Layer remaining vanilla pudding/whipped topping mixture on top of the second layer of graham crackers.
Finish the dessert with a final layer of graham crackers.
For the final touches, empty a 16 oz jar of chocolate frosting into a small microwavable bowl and warm for a few seconds to make it creamy.
Gently spread frosting across the top layer of graham crackers.
Refrigerate dessert over night and enjoy!

By Gluten Free Mom To Be

Adapted from The Kitchen Is My Playground

Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

July 2, 2014

Now It’s Time To Save On Your Favorite Gluten Free Ice Cream

I thought it was only fitting to share a great Turkey Hill Coupon that I stumbled upon. Turkey Hill offers 62 frozen treats that are gluten free. Check out more on Turkey Hill’s allergen labeling and gluten free flavors on my post here. After you pick out your favorite gluten free flavor, print out this fantastic $1/1 coupon and save a little on your sweet frozen treat!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

July 1, 2014

Summer Is Here And So Is The Season Of Gluten Free Ice Cream

One of my favorite desserts, pregnant or not, is a delicious bowl of ice cream. I think I probably had ice cream or frozen yogurt during about 90% of my pregnancy, yup it definitely ranked as my top snack. Some of my favorite flavors are those usually with a little bit of fruit to them like strawberry banana and cherry with chocolate pieces, but then I always love my peanut butter flavors, like peanut butter ripple and chocolate with peanut butter swirled throughout. Ah, yummy!

Since my last days living the non-gluten free life, I have yet to step back into our local ice cream parlors. While you can always order ice cream in a cup rather than a gluten filled cone, having worked in an ice cream shop I for one know that scoops are shared between flavors so cross contamination is an absolute yes. With the explosion of allergen awareness though, our world is slowly changing. We now have a local self serve frozen yogurt shop that labels all of their flavors with allergen info (thank goodness this was present during my pregnancy!). Also, many thanks to Joy for releasing gluten free ice cream cone options that us gluten free diners can enjoy with our favorite gluten free ice cream flavors at home.

With summer upon us, I thought it was only appropriate to recommend some of my favorite ice cream brands that provide allergen or gluten specific information:

Breyers: On their site, Breyers indicates that most of their ice creams are naturally gluten free, however some do contain gluten as well as other allergens. For this reason, they will indicate in the ingredient label if any of the 8 most common allergens are contained in the product. As far as labeled gluten free Breyers’ ice creams, they’ve just recently released over 30 of their flavors with a gluten free symbol marked on their packaging (this is so exciting). Some of my favorites among these include the Black Raspberry Chocolate, Peach, and Vanilla Fudge Twirl. To see this complete list just head over to Breyers’ website. So next time you’re in the ice cream section keep an eye out for these specially labeled gluten free varieties but also make sure you check out others that may not have been marked yet. I personally have studied every label before buying, only ever purchasing those that clearly do not contain any wheat or gluten sources, and have never had a problem even with those that have not been labeled with the gluten free mark. As always though, if there is any question on gluten content call their contact number on the product.

Turkey Hill: This brand is top on my list mainly because they offer my all time favorite flavors, peanut butter ripple and chocolate peanut butter cup. Turkey Hill offers 62 frozen treats that are gluten free. My favorites include the peanut butter varieties of course but also Chocolate Marshmallow and PomBlueberry Chocolate Truffle. Pick out your favorite gluten free Turkey Hill flavors on their website. As far as labeling, the last time I purchased Turkey Hill ice cream I did not see any gluten free markings (it looks like they may add these according to their website labels); however they do clearly state which of the common allergens are in the product. I usually just check the label thoroughly and make sure no allergens or sneaky ingredients are present that could cause a problem, but you could also bring along their list of gluten free flavors to help you in your choosing.

Blue Bunny: At this time, Blue Bunny doesn’t validate or certify that any of their products are gluten free. However, they will indicate allergen content clearly on their ingredient labels. I love this brand and purchase their ice creams frequently, when the sale is right that is. I’m always a bit more hesitant buying products that are not labeled gluten free; however, without this label, and even with it too, I always study the ingredients very carefully and don’t hesitate caling if I fear of any hidden gluten, although I can honestly say that I’ve never had to do this. Some of my favorite Blue Bunny varieties include their Frozen Yogurt flavors like Bordeaux Cherry Chocolate and Strawberry Banana. While they offer some very tasty flavors with allergen information listed, hopefully in the near future they tackle the gluten free label as well.

Friendly’s: Similar to Blue Bunny, it appears that Friendly’s doesn’t directly label their products as being gluten free. However, just like Blue Bunny they will indicate allergen content on their ingredient labels. For this reason, I have purchased a number of their ice creams without any gluten reaction. Just as I always advise though, I do call if I ever have a question of any ingredient in particular but have rarely needed to since most of the labeling across all of the flavors is incredibly clear. Check out Friendly’s huge list of flavors and just click on your favorites to see their nutrition and allergen information. One of my new favorite flavors is the Black Cherry Chocolate Chunk, fruit and chocolate combo is obviously a winner for me.

Wegmans: As with all of Wegmans brand products, if a product is gluten free, they are marked as such on their label. I love Wegmans! Check out Wegman’s ice cream selection, they definitely have some yummy gluten free flavors and at such a reasonable price.

So as far as the ice cream department, we certainly do have a number brands and flavors to choose from. While all of my recommendations mark allergen content, some even indicate if a product is gluten free. It certainly seems like the ball is definitely rolling in the right direction, so let’s hope it continues and many more brands pop up with gluten free labels.

What I do love is that we really do have so many choices across each brand, allowing us all to pick out exactly what we want and save money too by buying with a sale. Ice cream can certainly be pretty expensive so it’s a real treat to not have to be committed to just one brand and to be able to join the rest of consumers out there and take advantage of great sales, especially during summer time. So while you cool off with a sweet frozen treat and pair it with a Joy gluten free ice cream cone, maybe even pass along a thank you email to the brands that are working so hard to add to our gluten free selection!

TIP: Keep an eye on all of these websites for coupons posted during the summer and make sure you pair them with your grocery stores’ sales so you get the best deal!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

June 30, 2014

Great Recipes This Week On Musings Of A Housewife And Sassy Moms In The City Recipe Roundup

This week’s a big week for the Gluten Free Mom To Be as two of my favorite gluten free recipes, Baked Pesto Chicken Parmesan and Blackberry Swirled Cheesecake, were added to the Musings of a Houswife’s weekly meal plan. Also, check out some great new recipes and a few of my newer gluten free ones, including my Garlicky Focaccia Appetizers and Fruity Oatmeal Bake, on Musings of a Housewife and Sassy Moms in the City Real Food Recipe Roundup!

June 30, 2014

Gluten Free Garlicky Focaccia Appetizers, Perfect For Any Occasion

I’m always on the lookout for a delicious new gluten free bread option that bears some resemblance to non-gluten free bread that I once enjoyed. A few years back, I used to enjoy Panera sandwiches on all sorts of different breads, but one of my favorites by far was their focaccia, it was so light and perfectly seasoned. Flash forward several years and Panera sandwiches are off of our list of safe gluten free dinners out. I’m not going to lie, not being able to enjoy a soup and sandwich at Panera is a hard one to lose, especially since this restaurant holds a special place in my heart. I still remember my years in college when my parents would come up and visit me and we would head over to the local Panera. It was such a great environment for us to sit, eat, and catch up on my days at school. Not to mention, we would top it off by sharing a dessert or two and they’d always send off their poor college student with a to go bag of treats.

All grown up now with no more gluten allowed, my Panera days are something of the past and so are those delicious bread choices (tear). Much to my surprise though, a couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon gluten free focaccia by Canyon Bakehouse. They’ve accomplished the impossible it seems in the gluten free world and have produced a fantastic product. Their focaccia is soft and moist and perfectly seasoned with rosemary and thyme, take a peak at how beautiful Canyon Bakehouse’s Focaccia is. It is definitely one of my new favorite breads and is perfect for a sandwich, dipping in some olive oil and seasonings, or something a bit fancier like my Gluten Free Garlicky Focaccia Appetizers, topped with caprese and spinach artichoke toppings. Top with either set of toppings and you’re good to go with some delicious appetizers or a side to your dinner. My little one and husband gobbled these up so quickly, I’m just lucky I got to try some too! Enjoy!

Note: Feel free to use as much or as little of each topping ingredient as you’d like. This recipe only lists the combination of topping ingredients you should use but really depends on which variety and how many of the focaccia appetizers you wish to make.

Ingredients:

Canyon Bakehouse Focaccia
Butter (I use Smart Balance.)
4 tbsp minced garlic
Shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to season

Caprese Toppings:

2-3 plum tomatoes
Fresh basil leaves

Spinach Artichoke Toppings:

Spinach (I like the frozen steamer bags of spinach.)
Artichokes (Jar of Cento artichokes are gluten free.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice focaccia lengthwise and cut into four long slices (2 from the top of the bread and 2 from the bottom).
Spread a thin layer of gluten free butter across each slice of bread.
Add 1 tbsp minced garlic to each slice of buttered focaccia and spread across the slice.

Cut focaccia in half lengthwise and spread butter with minced garlic on top.

Toast focaccia in the oven for 15 minutes.
While focaccia is toasting, prepare desired toppings to either do half caprese and half spinach artichoke or to do all of one or the other.
Slice 2-3 medium tomatoes.
Prepare frozen spinach.
Rinse and chop artichokes.
In a small bowl, combine even parts (about 1/2 cup, this amount really depends on which route you go with toppings) spinach and artichoke and add 2 tbsp shredded part-skim mozzarella and 2 tbsp parmesan cheese.
Remove toasted focaccia from the oven and carefully cut into small squares.
To sliced focaccia bites, add toppings. For the caprese garlicky focaccia bites, add a single slice of tomato and basil leaves on top. For the spinach artichoke garlicky focaccia, add 1 tbsp of spinach/artichoke mixture to bread.

Toast focaccia for 15 minutes at 350 degrees, then top with caprese or spinach artichoke toppings.

On both versions, top with part-skim mozzarella cheese (I used slices, but I’d use shredded next time I make these.).

Toast focaccia bites in the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese has melted and begun to brown.

Carefully remove hot appetizers and add to serving dish.

Carefully remove bread from baking sheet and add to serving dish.
Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper if you’d like.
Serve warm and enjoy!

After making both varieties and having them taste tested by my toughest critics, the non-gluten free eaters in the house, seeing as not a crumb was left of each of them, I’d say that both are winners! The fresh basil combined with the tomatoes was so delicious, just like my favorite caprese summer salad; while the spinach artichoke bites reminded me my creamy spinach artichoke dip that I love to make, but instead of the dip part, a delicious piece of garlicky butter bread was in its place. In my opinion, you certainly can’t go wrong with buttering up and adding garlic to a tasty piece of bread, but why not take it a step further and add your favorite appetizer flavors too.

Thanks to Canyon Bakehouse, these focaccia bites will be making an appearance in our house on a number of occasions in the future and will surely please all of our diners. The possibilities are truly endless with this kind of bread, so if you have any extra after making these appetizers, feel free to use it for your next lunch meat sandwich or cut it up and dip it in your favorite spices and olive oil! I can’t wait to incorporate this bread into another one of our meals in the near future!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

Gluten Free Garlicky Focaccia Appetizers

2014-06-30 07:54:25

Toasted focaccia garlic bread, topped with caprese and spinach artichoke toppings.

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Ingredients

Canyon Bakehouse Focaccia
Butter (I use Smart Balance.)
4 tbsp minced garlic
Shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper to season

Caprese Toppings

2-3 plum tomatoes
Fresh basil leaves

Spinach Artichoke Toppings

Spinach (I like the frozen steamer bags of spinach.)
Artichokes (Jar of Cento artichokes are gluten free.)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice focaccia lengthwise and cut into four long slices (2 from the top of the bread and 2 from the bottom).
Spread a thin layer of gluten free butter across each slice of bread.
Add 1 tbsp minced garlic to each slice of buttered focaccia and spread across the slice.
Toast focaccia in the oven for 15 minutes.
While focaccia is toasting, prepare desired toppings to either do half caprese and half spinach artichoke or to do all of one or the other.
Slice 2-3 medium tomatoes.
Prepare frozen spinach.
Rinse and chop artichokes.
In a small bowl, combine even parts (about 1/2 cup, this amount really depends on which route you go with toppings) spinach and artichoke and add 2 tbsp shredded part-skim mozzarella and 2 tbsp parmesan cheese.
Remove toasted focaccia from the oven and carefully cut into small squares.
To sliced focaccia bites, add toppings. For the caprese garlicky focaccia bites, add a single slice of tomato and basil leaves on top. For the spinach artichoke garlicky focaccia, add 1 tbsp of spinach/artichoke mixture to bread.
On both versions, top with part-skim mozzarella cheese (I used slices, but I'd use shredded next time I make these.).
Toast focaccia bites in the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese has melted and begun to brown.
Carefully remove bread from baking sheet and add to serving dish.
Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper if you'd like.
Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

Feel free to use as much or as little of each topping ingredient as you'd like. This recipe only lists the combination of topping ingredients you should use but really depends on which variety and how many of the focaccia appetizers you wish to make.

By Gluten Free Mom To Be

Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

June 27, 2014

Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse Offers Cranberry Orange Scones

I LOVE scones; they’re a perfect breakfast treat on occasion or dessert now and then. Fruity or chocolaty, either way, they are a delicious start to the day or sweet finish to a meal! Since going gluten free I’ve tried my baking hand at preparing gluten free scones but haven’t quite been able to find the perfect recipe. While I’ve been figuring out the best recipe and ingredients, I’ve been so fortunate to find gluten free scones at not one, but two locations in the area. My husband and I first spotted gluten free store brand Cranberry Orange Scones at Whole Foods Market, a local grocer; soon after, we stumbled upon some Cranberry scones at a gluten free bakery nearby, Wildflour Bakery/Cafe. For more information and a sneak peak at Wildflour Bakery/Cafe’s Cranberry Scones, check out my review.

Whole Foods, along with Wegman’s, is one of the only grocery stores to offer store brand gluten free products. While Wegman’s labels all of their store brand products with gluten free symbols, if necessary, Whole Foods has produced a separate line of gluten free bakery items. Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse offers gluten free scones, cakes, cupcakes, pies, breads, stuffing, and biscuits. Although I haven’t tried nearly all of their products, what I have tried so far have been amazing and better yet, they’re priced competitively with other gluten free name brands.

Whole Foods Gluten Free Cranberry Orange Scones — Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse Cranberry Orange Scones

In the freezer section of Whole Foods, you’ll find separate freezer cases for gluten free products. The cases are packed full of breads and pastries by Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse, Udi’s, Rudi’s, and a couple of other gluten free brands. Nestled in the cases are these delicious gluten free cranberry orange scones. Coming in a pack of four, the scones are a substantial size that I usually cut in half to enjoy for breakfast or dessert. Keep them stored in the freezer until you’re ready to enjoy one of these pastries, then just pull one out, let it defrost at room temp (this doesn’t take too long) or zap it for a few seconds in the microwave, and enjoy by itself or with some gluten free butter along side of it.

I personally love these scones. They’re perfectly firm with sweet cranberries scattered throughout and an essence of orange floating around. I’m partial to enjoying these a little on the cold side or room temp but have also dabbled in them warmed up with a little butter in the middle too! Either way, they’re delicious and I highly recommend them. So head over to your local Whole Foods and pick up your favorite bakery treat in their Gluten Free Bakehouse section!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

June 26, 2014

Pick Up Your Favorite Udi’s And Glutino Products With These Coupons Today!

Two of my all time favorite gluten free brands are Udi’s and Glutino. Udi’s bagels, thin pizza crusts, tortillas, and muffins along with Glutino’s bagel chips, crackers, and pop tarts have all been stocked at one point or another during my gluten free years. These companies have returned some of our once favorite products to us minus the gluten, adding safe and tasty alternatives back into our diets. Print both an Udi’s and Glutino coupon here for $2.50 off two products. Save today on two of your favorite Udi’s and Glutino products!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

June 24, 2014

Dining Gluten Free At Outback Steakhouse

After the magic of dining out in Disney World wore off, we were back to our normal routine without chefs catering to my every gluten free wish and characters wandering around during our meals. Ah, really makes me miss Disney just thinking about it. Well anyway, back in our neck of the woods it was business as usual on the eating out front. One of our go to dining out locations is Outback Steakhouse, a reasonably priced chain that offers a huge gluten free menu.

This restaurant got us through many a dinner in my very pregnant months. In fact, I craved their chicken and swiss sandwich, minus the sandwich part, at least once a week, making my husband a recognized regular at the curbside take out. Now, with baby out and about, we still enjoy a meal now and then at Outback with my new standby being the Alice Springs Chicken (only because the sandwich was taken off of the menu). This consists of a chicken breast, layered with bacon and cheese, along with a side of your choice, I typically get either a baked potato or a baked sweet potato.

Outback's Alice Springs Chicken — Outback’s Alice Springs Chicken

Now, when I order the gluten free Alice Springs Chicken, I pretty much recreate the sandwich by ordering the extras on the side so I can put it together with my favorite gluten free bread at home. So for me, I usually order a revamped Alice Springs Chicken which consists of a chicken breast with extra crispy bacon and cheddar, american, or provolone cheese on top, along with pickles, honey mustard sauce, tomatoes, and lettuce on the side. I just love the combination of the chicken with their honey mustard sauce and pickles (these were one of my all time favorites while I was pregnant and have kind of stuck around since)!

This chicken can definitely be enjoyed without the sandwich fixins, but for me I can’t resist assembling my grilled chicken sandwich with all of these flavors; while I have brought a roll along with me to the restaurant, their carry out process, which was our best friend in my last month of pregnancy, definitely makes my gluten free sandwich assembling a bit easier. Either way, after a little prep, my sandwich is ready to be enjoyed and indeed it is. They season the chicken so well and with the addition of bacon and cheese, who can really go wrong with that. On the side, I like to enjoy a baked sweet potato topped with their gluten free butter and brown sugar, This is a sweet side to complement the savory sandwich and perfect with the melted butter and brown sugar mixed in.

All together, we always enjoy a meal at Outback Steakhouse. They offer so many gluten free options including chicken dishes, steaks, seafood, salads, and sandwiches/burgers without the bread part. Along with each dish tasting great, their prices are just as fantastic, allowing a party of two to get away with a bill of about $25. Outback offers an affordable and tasty dining experience for the whole family, but as a gluten free diner, I always leave with a full belly and a smile on my face. My only hope is that one day in the near future Outback joins its fellow chains, like Uno’s or Red Robin, and offers their gluten free diners a bread option, making a whole side of the menu a bit more appealing. Fingers crossed!

Sincerely,

Lindsay