Recipe: Thai Noodles with Peanut Sauce

This is a recipe that satisfies my Thai food cravings without spending the $$$ at the local Thai place. I use the same brand of rice noodles that they do to get the best flavor. Make it spicy if you like with red pepper flakes!

Thai Noodles with Peanut Sauce

1 Pkg Thai Kitchen Rice Noodles (your choice of size)
1/3 cup Skippy Naturals Chunky Peanut Butter
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
1 Tbsp Paprika
1 Tbsp Crushed Garlic
1/2 Tbsp Sugar
Dash Coriander
1 Medium Red Bell Pepper OR 1 to 1 1/2 cup Frozen Bell Pepper Blend
3 cups Fresh OR Frozen Spinach
1 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
Olive Oil (or Canola if you prefer)

Directions:

Add 1 Tbsp oil to large fry pan. Heat to medium high. Sear chicken breast on both sides, reduce heat to medium. Cook through, approx 10-15 mins per side depending on fresh or frozen breast. Remove from pan and cut into chunks.

While chicken is cooking, prepare rice noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse and hold aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, water, soy sauce, vinegar, paprika, garlic, coriander and sugar. Mix until smooth using a wire whisk. It will look gloppy and chunky to start with, but keep mixing until it's smooth. Set aside.

Again on medium heat, add a touch more oil to the fry pan (if needed) and add the peppers and the spinach. Cook through. Return chicken to pan, and add noodles. Pour sauce over everything and mix thoroughly. We found that using two pasta ladles, one in each hand and "tossing gently" like mixing a salad, worked very well for this.

This made about 4 servings for us, but vegetables and chicken can be increased for more servings.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Product Review: Kettle Cuisine Chicken Noodle Soup

WOW! I can honestly say that after trying this soup, I was inspired to make my own Chicken Noodle. Especially because this one is made with Tinkyada brand noodles, my all-time favorite.

I was so happy to be able to eat this soup. As previously noted, the story is that soup maker Jerry has a daughter, Kate, who was gluten free. She wanted to be able to eat the same delicious soups her father was making for everyone else, and requested he try to make a gluten free line. This soup is one of the results of that successful undertaking.

Big chunks of chicken (no sissy shredded chicken here), tender carrots, celery, onions and sea salt make up the base of this hearty soup. The broth is clear and earthy, with just a hint of saltiness. Because Kettle Cuisine soups are all natural, with no artificial ingredients and are minimally processed, the true flavor of the ingredients comes through. The noodles are fantastic, too. Not gummy or gloppy as they tend to be if they are overcooked.

Out of the entire gluten free line, this soup truly shines. If you are missing Chicken Noodle soup, you simply must try this one. WELL WORTH your gluten free dollars!

Product Review: Kettle Cuisine New England Clam Chowder

Once upon a time, Clam Chowder meant flour. Now, with Kettle Cuisine, it means gluten-free folks can indulge again in thick, delicious, soupy goodness that had been lost to us for a long time.

The story goes that the creator of the soups has a daughter who is gluten free and could not eat the delicious soups her father was making for restaurants. Thanks to daughter Kate, we now have Clam Chowder (and Chicken Noodle!) soup to enjoy.

I was impressed with the flavor of this chowder immediately - the flavor hinted at the classic soup with sherry - except that there is no sherry in this version. The clams are bigger than you might expect, with a deep salty sea flavor. Chunks of potatoes, onions and celery are firm but tender, and the pepper sauce and fish sauce impart a savory, mouthwatering flavor that has you just wishing for a crusty gluten free roll or piece of cornbread to sop up the leftover soup.

This soup was fantastic. I would love it even more with a hint of sherry. But this is definitely worth a try if you have been missing Clam Chowder!

Allergen warning: Milk/Dairy, Clams, Fish ingredients.