Gluten-Free Product Review: Saffron Road Simmer Sauces

It has come to my attention that when it comes to lengthy, complex meal prep, I am an outlier: I enjoy spending an hour or so chopping, dicing, mincing, blending, and preparing ingredients for a recipe. Often, I gain more satisfaction from the prep work than I do actually eating.

Probably because by the time the dish is served, I’ve tasted and tasted to the point where I’m full! Continue reading “Gluten-Free Product Review: Saffron Road Simmer Sauces”

Gluten-Free Product Review: EVOL Cups

As I recovered from gallbladder surgery, my desire to cook was a bit lagging. Conveniently, I had a freezer stocked with items I’d cooked, and, happily, a supply of the Cups from EVOL. These freezer-to-microwave products are the perfect “I need something fast and easy” products, with meals geared toward breakfast and lunch.

Plus, they are all gluten free.

(Disclosure: EVOL sent a large sample of Cups to me to try and review, if I desired. This review is based on those free samples.) Continue reading “Gluten-Free Product Review: EVOL Cups”

Gluten-Free Product Review: Banza Pasta

As you know, I’m not huge on most gluten-free speciality items. They tend to be overpriced, and, often, just not that good. I do make exceptions for pasta as it can’t be beat for fast weeknight meals. And gluten-free pastas tend to be reasonably priced and reliable.

Okay, that final statement was a bit of lie. You have to buy quality gluten-free pasta. I cannot count the number of times I’ve had cheap pastas — often made from rice (white or brown) — go from not-quite-there to well-it’s-time-to-fall-apart in a blink of an eye. Bad gluten-free pastas give the whole genre a bad name. Continue reading “Gluten-Free Product Review: Banza Pasta”

Blue Diamond Nut-Thins

One of the first gluten-free crackers I discovered was the Almond Nut-Thins from Blue Diamond. Made with almond and rice flours, these crunchy crackers are perfect with just about anything from cheese to hummus. Oh, and there is one flavor made from pecan flour!

Of course, you don’t have to be gluten free to love these crackers. Every time I serve them at a party, guests keep reaching for more. The Nut-Thin bowl is almost always the first one that empties. Continue reading “Blue Diamond Nut-Thins”

Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix

With an exception of gluten, with its myriad side effects, I pretty much have a cast-iron stomach. Hot, hot, hot chiles? Love ’em. Highly acidic foods? No problem. Pretty much the only food I won’t ingest are those foods I simply don’t like (looking at you, calamari!).

As a runner, however, I have a more complicated relationship with food and beverage. I’m not a morning eater, so struggle to find something that my stomach will tolerate while it’s still waking up — because I need *something* on those long run days. Since the obvious carb-heavy choices are a bit of challenge for me, I, well, let’s just say, ingest some pretty weird stuff. But it works. Continue reading “Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix”

Gluten-Free Product Review: Essential Baking Super Seeded Multi-Grain Rolls

As you know, I don’t get too excited about gluten-free baked goods. Most commercial brands are okay, but not amazing. GF bakers continue to make great strides when it comes to flavor, texture, and even lifespan for these products, which is why I test new products I see. When I saw Essential Baking’s Super Seeded Multi-Grain Rolls, I decided they looked enough to, well, eat.

And they were good. The flax and sunflower seeds gave the rolls a great mouth-feel — the rolls had body and texture — while the slightly sweet flavor complemented the grains. The rolls also contain a good amount of fiber, which is always a nice addition. They surprised me…and my husband. Normally he tolerates gluten-free baked goods, but he actually requested the Essential Baking rolls a second time. There’s an endorsement right there! Continue reading “Gluten-Free Product Review: Essential Baking Super Seeded Multi-Grain Rolls”

Gluten-Free Product Review: Mission Soft Taco Tortillas

I’m just going to say it up front: I have found the gold standard for gluten-free flour tortillas. They are soft, they wrap around food without a problem, they smell amazing when you heat them, and, yes, they last for over a week on the counter (sealed up tightly in their original packaging). For a GF product, this is an amazing feat!

(Before you get much further, I don’t see this product listed on Mission’s website. I’m hoping it’s just due to slow updates, but here’s a link to their contact page so you can encourage their efforts to make more products gluten free.) Continue reading “Gluten-Free Product Review: Mission Soft Taco Tortillas”