Thursday, January 28, 2010

Recipe: Banana Nut Muffins by Gluten Intolerance Group

One of the things I love about Sunflower Farmer's Market website is their recipes, which includes a dedicated section for gluten free diets. This is one of the recipes, and it works well in a few variations! Try chocolate chips, blueberries, chopped cherries, etc. Courtesy of Gluten Intolerance Group.

Banana Nut Muffins:
1 1/2 c Gluten Free Flour Blend** (I used Jules Gluten Free Flour)
1/2 c brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon (I used Pumpkin Pie Spice)
1/2 tsp xanthan gum (guar gum can be substituted)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c melted butter OR applesauce
2 eggs
1/2 c milk OR milk substitute
1 c mashed bananas
1/2 c chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, xanthan gum and salt in a bowl. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix the mashed bananas, eggs, butter, and milk. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and blend thoroughly. Add walnuts if desired. Spoon into lined muffin pan (or sprayed with oil if you don't have liners). Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center come out clean.


**To make your own gluten free flour blend:
6 cups brown or white rice flour
2 cups potato starch
1 cup tapioca flour

Mix well. Use as a 1-for-1 substitute for regular flour.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Product Review: NuGo Free Carrot Cake Bar


I was expecting a chewy, dense bar that was more cakelike, but this is actually a rice crisp based bar that has flaxseeds, almonds, walnuts, and a lightly drizzled frosting.
This is heavy on the cinnamon, which is ok for me, but if you like a lighter cinammon flavor, this might be too overpowering for you. There carrot flavor is lacking here - but this makes a good snack if you need something on the run. Nuts, seeds, raisins, and rice crisps make this a crunchy, satisfying bar.
No dairy or soy here, but it does have nuts and seeds. There are two other bars available: Dark Chocolate Trail Mix and Dark Chocolate Crunch. Approx $2 per bar. Available online at nugonutrition.com or in health food stores.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Product Review: Talenti Sorbetto Sonoma Strawberry

Ok, I admit, this one is a bit of a cheat on the gluten free/wheat free diet lifestyle, but since so many of us also have to be dairy free, I thought it was well worth mentioning this product.

I was having a craving for strawberries, and in the middle of winter, fresh ones just aren't in season. I saw this and the bright beautiful red color was calling my name. A quick ingredient list check reveals only strawberries, water, sugar, dextrose, lemons, and carob bean gum.

This is the perfect, refreshing sorbet - not too sweet, not too sour (or bitter), and it simply melts on the tongue. The different containers are all slightly different colors - a testament to the fact that this is made by hand in smaller batches. Tastes just like a summer smoothie with fresh strawberries. Many sorbets either have an acidic taste or a syrupy sweet taste, but with Sonoma Strawberry, there is none of that. With all natural ingredients, no fat, no cholesterol, and no sodium, it's a treat you can feel good about giving yourself. Especially at only 110 calories for 1/2 a cup!

Other flavors include Hill Country Peach Champagne (doesn't that sound heavenly?), Lisbon Lemon, Malaysian Mango, and Roman Raspberry. I definitely plan to try others - and if you have children who miss ice cream, this is a good substitute! Available online at talentigelato.com or in your local health food store. Gelato also available!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Product Review: Blue Horizon Natural Albacore Tuna Bites

These were in the frozen fish section of my local Whole Foods. Proudly displayed as gluten/wheat free. When reading the information, I see it touted as Albacore Tuna Appetizers with Sweet Chili and Ginger. So I'm thinking to myself, sweet chili... hmmm... is that the same as spicy hot, burn your mouth chilis? When I checked the ingredient list, the sweet chili seemed innocent enough... but oh how I misjudged.
First let me say - use the oven method of heating and NOT the microwave. You will be sorely disappointed if you end up with soggy, greasy little lumps of tuna. It really is worth the extra time to put them in the oven.
Biting into these, at first it was screaming hot because of the heat. Do give them time to cool off! After a minute or two, your tastebuds register those chilis - and they are not the sweet, innocent little chilis! They are spicy hot chilis. Luckily I had a cold iced tea next to me, otherwise my mouth might still be on fire.
It's hard to taste the ginger when all you taste are chilis, so that being said, I think they would be well advised to back off on the amount of chilis in this delicate little appetizer. Too much is overpowering and takes away from the true flavor of the tuna. The bites are tender, and the canola oil provides a lot of moisture - so again, avoid the microwave.
There is a Fish & Chip Bites available made with just potato flakes as the breading, but we only bought this one this outing due to the cost of these. ($6 each for 12 small appetizers) The Blue Horizon Natural website also shows Crab and Salmon Bites being available as well.