Gluten Free

GoPicnic Ready To Eat Meals

January 4, 2011 By FabGrandma

GoPicnic Meals To Go

“Water, water, everywhere,

Nor any drop to drink.”

That quote from the old classic” The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner” is how I feel about food now that I have to eat gluten free. It used to be that when we traveled, it was easy to just stop anywhere and pick up something to eat. Now, I have to really think about it all the time. In a convienience store, I can usually find two choices–potato chips or nuts. And I get so tired of eating those two things when we go on a long trip.

: Sports Munch Box

GoPicnic is a really great new product offering. Each package contains a complete meal, ready to eat. Now, while everyone else is enjoying their snack or fast food meal, I can have something filling and tasty, too.

These samples arrived in the mail right before we went on our three day trip to Georgia, 250 miles away. About half way through the day, I opened my Sports Munch Ready To Eat Meal. The outside of the package looked like it was aimed at children, but let me tell you, as an adult, I was really pleased with the contents of the box. It contained Turkey Pepperoni Slices, Cheddar Multigrain Chips, Natural Cinnamon Applesause, a Pumpkin Crunch bar, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. All of the items were packaged in small serving sized packages, that were easy to open even for someone with arthritis in her hands. The box even included a plastic spoon and a moist towelette for cleaning up afterwards.

: Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese

The second day, I tried the Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese pack. This is a very good combination of flavors. Again, all the different items were packaged in small, one serving sizes. This one had Multi-grain crackers, Asiago spreadable cheese, dried cranberries and pineapple, and a buttercrunch toffee. It filled me up and tasted very good.

As an adult who travels, I would never be embarrassed to take out one of these packaged meals. They fit great into a small tote or backpack, and the way the box opens up, it makes a little serving tray from which to eat. I am going to be ordering some for my lunches when I go back to work at the Grand Canyon.

The Sport Munch Meal has 400 calories and 51 grams of carbohydrate

The Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese has 290 calories and 28 grams of carbohydrate

Not all varieties of GoPicnic Ready to Eat Meals are gluten free, so be sure to read carefully before you buy. They also have vegetarian and kosher meals available. The prices range from $2.50 to $4.99 for the packaged meals.

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Misc, Snacks Tagged With: Gluten Free, gluten free snacks

gluten-free girl and the chef

October 24, 2010 By FabGrandma

I have been reading Shauna’s blog for, like, forever. I have also been anticipating the publication of her cookbook, “gluten-free girl and the chef” ever since I found out they were writing it. So, I was soooooo excited when their publisher emailed me and asked me if I wanted to receive a review copy. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? YES, I do want one. So, as we neared the end of our time at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and were preparing to leave, I was getting antsy hoping the book would get here before we left. It came on Thursday.

Can't wait to try the recipes in this book!

First of all, let me say a big Thank You to Shauna and Daniel for sending me this book. Second, it is one of the most beautiful cookbooks I have ever seen. Just knowing that I can eat anything made from the recipes in it, makes it soooo much more of a treasure for me. While I haven’t had time to sit down and actually read the love story of Shauna and Daniel, I have looked through it several times, drooling over the photos in it. I can hardly wait to get to a town with a real grocery store so I can buy the ingredients to make some of the recipes.

And the recipes! OMG! can you imagine picking up a cookbook in your gluten free life, and seeing pictures like this:

Home made gluten free pasta

I am going to be making some of that gluten free pasta soon. And the Crab Cakes with Shrimp Mousse. And the Gluten Free Crackers. And the Carrot Cake with Ginger Frosting. I’ll come back here in a couple of weeks and let you know how they turned out.

This photo makes me drool!

You can buy your copy of Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef by clicking here.

Filed Under: Gluten Free, gluten free Books Tagged With: cookbook, Gluten Free, Review

Meals To Live

October 20, 2010 By FabGrandma

I received a package of a variety of frozen dinners from Meals To Live. Meals To Live is strong advocate for diabetes prevention, healthy lifestyles, and proper nutrition. They have recently added several gluten free choices to their line of frozen meals.

Spinach Omelet

The first one I tried was the Spinach Omelet. I am not usually a fan of frozen eggs, but this omelet was pretty good. Ingredients include Egg Whites, Milk, Mushrooms, Spinach, Onions, Turkey Breakfast Sausage Links , Rice Flour, and Cheddar Cheese. The flavors went together very well. This would make a good breakfast or lunch on the go.

Calories per serving: 190

Carbohydrates per serving: 18 grams.

Next up was Sliced Turkey with Balsamic Sauce and Butternut Squash. This was delicious. I loved the sauce and the butternut squash, and the fact that it cooked up in 4 minutes in the microwave in the entrance station.

Sliced Turkey

Turkey with butternut squash

Ingredients in this meal include: Butternut Squash, Turkey Breast Meat, Orange Juice Concentrated, Water, Balsamic Vinegar, Corn Starch, Salt, Parsley, Black Pepper, Thyme.

Calories per serving: 230

Carbohydrates per serving: 28 grams

Grilled White Chicken with Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans

Other choices in the line by Meals to Live include Grilled White Chicken with Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans; Shrimp Jambalaya; White Chicken Fajita with Santa Fe Rice; and Grilled White Chicken with Brown Rice Pilaf and Vegetables.

Meals To Live provides quality meals with great taste that are affordable! With national roll-out of these delicious frozen meals, look for them at your favorite retailers like Walgreens, Rite-Aide and Foods For Less throughout the new year.

Filed Under: Frozen, Gluten Free Tagged With: frozen meals, Gluten Free

Gluten Free Bisquick!

October 20, 2010 By FabGrandma

Gluten Free Bisquick prize pack

The good folks who make Gluten Free Bisquick and My Blog Spark sent me a package so that I could try out the new Gluten Free Bisquick. Before I found out that I had to eat a gluten free diet, I used Bisquick all the time, and I have really missed it. So, when the new gluten free version came out, I was very excited about it. I was not disappointed!

The first thing we tried was pancakes. They turned out soooo yummy–even the non-gluten free hubby enjoyed them. I LOVED using that pancake pen they sent me, too.

Bisquick gluten free pancakes

Second, I made some biscuits. They were good the first day, but did not hold over to the second day well. I would say, if you’re going to use this product to make biscuits, make just enough for one meal. But they did taste good, and they browned up really well. I’m going to try gluten free sausage balls next!

gluten free biscuits

Bisquick and My Blog Spark are going to send one of my readers the same prize pack that I received. For a chance to win the pack that includes a Pancake Pen, a box of Gluten Free Bisquick, a blue silicon spatula and a cast iron silver dollar pancake pan, leave a comment telling me what you’ll make first with the new Gluten Free Bisquick. I’ll pick a winner on Saturday, October 30. Be sure you leave me an email address so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Filed Under: Bread Mixes, Give Aways, Gluten Free, Mixes, Review Tagged With: Give Aways, Gluten Free, Review

Kozy Shack Puddings

April 11, 2010 By FabGrandma

Kozy Shack has been making their puddings since 1967, using real ingredients and no preservatives to create some really good desserts. They sent me some last week. These puddings are gluten free, and taste really good. FabGrandpa and I loved them all. He said the Original Rice flavor tasted home made.

My favorite was the Simplywell Dark Chocolate. It was so smooth and had a wonderful chocolately flavor. The Simplywell line is a good source of Vitamin D and antioxidant Vitamin E, and also supply natural fier to help maintain digestive health.

Kozy Shack Puddings come in a variety of flavors, including Original Rice, Chocolate, Banana, and Tapioca. The Simplywell line has some delicious sounding ones like Lemon Ginger, French Vanilla, and Mangosteen Pear as well as the Dark Chocolate that I tried. They come in a several sizes, too, so there should be one that fits your needs.

Ingredients:

Original Rice Pudding: Milk, rice, sugar, eggs, salt, natural flavors.

Calories per 1/2 cup serving: 130 Carbohydrate per 1/2 cup serving: 22 grams

Simplywell Dark Chocolate: Low fat milk (vitamin A and D), sugar, modified tapioca starch, breakfast cocoa processed with alkali, inulin (natural dietary fiber), natural flavors, fruit and vegetable juice blend (color), salt, cocoa extract, carageenan, vitamin E acetate.

Calories per 4 oz serving: 100 Carbohydrate per 4 oz serving: 17 grams.

For more information on Kozy Shack products, visit their website.

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Refrigerated, Snacks Tagged With: Gluten Free, gluten free snacks

Applegate Farms Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets

March 4, 2010 By FabGrandma

If you are a someone who eats gluten free, when was the last time you had some chicken nuggets? For me, it has been since April 2007. That changed yesterday when my samples of Applegate Farms Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets arrived.

These nuggets are delicious! Even my non-gluten free husband enjoyed them. And they were so easy to prepare: Just pop them in the oven for 12 minutes, turn them over one time half way through the cooking time, and they are done. They can also be cooked in the microwave. The package says “Our gluten free chicken nuggets are ready to heat, so you can spend more time tickling your kids.” Don’t you just love that?

Applegate Farms Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets would be a perfect choice for hot hors d’œuvres at a party, as an after school snack, or served with vegetables for dinner. I served mine with a homemade honey mustard sauce, and sides of steamed spinach and potatoes.

These chicken nuggets are all natural, contain no nitrates or nitrites, no fillers or preservatives, no artificial colors or flavors, and no MSG. They are produced from vegetarian grain fed chickens, and no antibiotics are used. All these healthy details have created a delicious, good for you chicken nugget that you will be able to feed your family with confidence.

Ingredients: Chicken, water, cornstarch, salt, extract of oregano. Battered and breaded with: water, rice flour, tapioca dextrin, cornstarch, salt spices and spice extractives including extractive of paprika and extractive of turmeric, garlic powder, onion powder, ground celery. Breading set in vegetable oil.

Calories per 7 nuggets: 170 Carbohydrate: 11 grams Protein: 12 grams

For more information on Applegate Farms products, check out their website. You’ll find lots of information about their products, a store locator, some great recipes, and a printable coupon for $1.00 off any of their products. Some of their products DO contain gluten so be sure to read all label information carefully. Suggested retail price is $6.59 for an 8 oz box containing approximately 18 nuggets.

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Meats, Snacks Tagged With: Gluten Free