Gluten Free Ingredients

Barilla Has Finally Produced Gluten Free Pasta!

All I have to say is THANK YOU BARILLA!

Several of the mainstream pasta brands have finally joined the gluten free world and I for one couldn’t be more grateful. Barilla has introduced a number of gluten free pasta shapes, including penne, rotini, elbow, and spaghetti, all made with a perfect blend of corn and rice creating a pasta that both tastes and feels like regular pasta. Having tasted my fair share of gluten free pastas I must say I’ve never quite taken to either the brown rice or corn varieties that have existed. The new Barilla offerings have truly embraced the eternal goal of producing quality gluten free food that doesn’t taste free of gluten at all.

Welcome to the gluten free world Barilla!
Welcome to the gluten free world Barilla!

An added bonus of the debut of the larger pasta brands like Barilla is not only the increased variety of choices but also the much more competitive pricing. It unfortunately is not a secret that to eat with dietary restrictions is a much more costly way of life; to even consume pasta, which tends to be a cheaper dinner option for most diners, gluten free eaters must pay more. Now myself and my fellow gluten free eaters can indulge in a pasta dish for under $3.00 a box, in fact at my local grocer these varieties are available at just $2.69.

Now that gluten free pasta is much more economical to enjoy, it can be enjoyed more often  by all. The versatility of cooking with these pastas is endless so don’t be afraid to dig out your all time favorite family pasta dishes or try something new off of Barilla’s list of gluten free recipes here.

TIP: Keep an eye out for these pastas to go on sale, it isn’t often but it certainly does happen. More importantly, keep a watch for coupons for these items, either on their website or couponing sites, they do exist, not commonly but I have seen them. I’ll keep you posted as I discover these coupons so we can all take advantage of finally getting a good deal on gluten free pasta and finally gaining a little bit of control over our gluten free grocery budgets.

Sincerely,

Lindsay

My Go To Gluten Free Bread Crumbs

Bread Crumbs are certainly a must have to keep in your pantry at all times. I personally use them in a good portion of my recipes from breaded chicken to baked macaroni and cheese. A bonus is their shelf life, which usually extends out about 9 months. My personal favorite gluten free bread crumbs are the Schar brand which come unseasoned and in an 8.8 oz bag and cost about $3.49, depending on the store. Another one of my favorites are Gillian’s Foods Italian Bread Crumbs which come in a 12 oz container and cost about $6.19. I personally prefer to purchase the Schar bread crumbs and season them myself, and after a little prep at home and saving a little bit of money, my bread crumbs end up tasting just as good as the more expensive brand

So as I mentioned earlier, Schar bread crumbs are rice flour based and come unseasoned. I prefer seasoned bread crumbs for most of my recipes so I just add my own seasonings to them when I get home and store them in these handy Ziploc containers.

GF Italian Breadcrumb Ingredients
Gluten free seasoned bread crumbs with just 6 ingredients.

These bread crumbs have a great texture and taste in comparison to others that I’ve tried that are either too flaky or are very very bland.

Schar breadcrumbs before spices are added.
Schar bread crumbs before spices are added.

What’s great about getting these bread crumbs is the ability to customize what spices you like in your seasoned bread crumbs. I usually like traditional Italian spices such as basil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, and garlic salt. I typically add the bread crumbs to the container first, then add about one heaping tablespoon of each spice, cap the container, and shake them to mix!

Seasoned Schar breadcrumbs.
Schar bread crumbs seasoned with spices.

Voila! Your seasoned gluten free bread crumbs are ready to use and enjoy! To store just seal and keep in a dry place and you’re set for weeks of yummy recipes!

TIP: A bonus to purchasing Schar products is the potential for coupons. You can sign up with the Schar Club on their website here and keep an eye out. Schar coupons also do occasionally appear on coupon sites and facebook as well. But no worries, as I see them, I’ll direct you to them so keep an eye out here!

Sincerely,

Lindsay