Gluten Free Food Reviews

Yummmmm, a steaming hot bowl of pasta on a chilly November afternoon. Sounds good to me! As I go about my cleaning and errands during the day, I sometimes keep a frozen gluten free product in the freezer to cook up while I put away groceries or get ready to pay bills. Brown rice pasta is something I have grown to love, and enjoy to even more than the gluten pasta I used to consume. It’s lighter, more flavorful and just tastes GOOD. On one particularly chilly day, I popped one of Amy’s gluten free Baked Ziti Bowls in the microwave for five minutes. You can also bake it in the oven for 55 minutes, but really, who wants to wait that long for something that is supposed to be a convenience food? Each bowl is one serving size.

This is what the pasta bowl looked liked fresh from the freezer:

To my surprise, it actually looked pretty good. A sprinkling of soy cheese graced the top of the noodles with green peas peeking out on the sides. However, it didn’t look that good for long:

Wasn’t there soy cheese on there? Where are the peas? I felt a bit nervous at the scary site- the way the soy cheese cooked with the organic tomato sauce didn’t look tasty at all. Stirring the ziti helped a bit. And, it did smell realllly good!

 The yummy smelling sauce was thick, nicely seasoned, and complimented the ziti noodles with just a touch of sweetness. The addition of soy ricotta, garlic and olive oil were simply scrumptious. However, the noodles cooked unevenly in the bowl; some noodles tasted perfectly cooked, while others were dense and chewy, and not pleasant to eat. The peas cooked nicely without mushiness and held their shape well. However, I am not sure that the peas really complimented the sauce- the peas almost seemed out of place when it came to flavor. I wished the peas weren’t in there at all. But, that may be because I am not used to adding peas to my pasta.

Overall, it is a decent gluten free product that would be great for a quick lunch idea.

PROS: great flavor and aroma, tasty sauce, organic ingredients, non dairy

CONS: noodles cooked unevenly, we want more soy cheese Amy’s! ( it disappeared!), appearance doesn’t look good after cooking

Rating: 4 stars

You can buy this product from Wellnessgrocer.com or in the frozen food section of your local grocery store. This link also lists ingredients.

Read what Cybele of the Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook says about this product!!

I really like making my own chicken tenders and nuggets. IÂ use gluten free corn flake crumbles, a bit of egg and cooking and oil, and sha-zam! A chicken dish that my kids inhale in a matter of seconds. When I saw the Ians gluten free chicken nuggets in my local grocery store, I was really curious. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a quick version of my kids favorite snack right in my freezer? My children are not gluten free and are huge fans of Tysons nuggets, but I try to feed them gluten free whenever I can. With our family history of allergies, the less major allergens the better. It can’t hurt, right?

This eight ounce box contains two servings of nuggets. I actually use the term “nugget” loosely here. These Ian’s gluten free chicken nuggets are more like balls. They may be prepared in the microwave or in the oven. True to form, I tried to microwave first, then the oven. The oven produces a crisper nugget, but I didn’t notive that much of a difference in the overall flavor. The coating on the nuggets is made of corn flake crumbles, cornmeal and corn flower, and definately has a strong cornmeal flavor and texture. The corn coating appears cracked as well after cooking.

The inside of this chicken nugget is interesting at best. It is fairly dry and peculiar. I wasn’t sure it it was actually chicken! After examining the box I realized the filling for these nuggets isn’t just chicken- it is chicken mixed with more cornmeal as a filler. Yuck. The overall flavor and texture of the nuggets was very poor and I will not buy them again. Ever. This might be Ok for a kid who doesn’t know any better ( it is low in sugar and the chicken is made with no added antibiotics and hormones, all natural) but even my kids wouldn’t touch it after seeing the inside. Their reaction? ” No Mom, we want the *real* homemade chicken nuggets- those look gross!”

Enough Said.

PROS: All natural, free from many major allergens, nartural hormone/antibiotic free chicken ingredients

CONS: flavor, taste appearance, interior texture. Yuck!!!

Rating: 1 star

Click HERE for package photo and nutrition information. Ian’s Chicken nuggets is about half way down the page.

Interested in trying these chicken nuggets for yourself? Check out the WellnessGrocer.comÂ

Read what Suzanne at TimesUnion.com/blogs says about these chicken nuggets!

Cheesecake used to be my favorite dessert. I wouldn’t have it very often, but when I did, it was a dessert I would savor. I say “used” to be my favorite because I haven’t had cheesecake in ages, and haven’t taken the time to figure out a yummy gluten free version. Lately I have been wanting to try though, so imagine my delight to find a single serving size gluten free version of cheesecake in the frozen foods section! I tossed the 3.5 ounce box into my cart and barely noticed the $2.99 price tag.

My first mistake: I thawed this Lean on Me gluten free cheesecake on the countertop, just like their carrot cake. Ummm, big no-no. Thirty minutes later I found a warmish pot of custard-like cheesecake. Back in to the freezer it went. Another 30 minutes later I have a firm but slightly icy dessert on my hands. Darn it! I should have read the box- it suggests to refrigerate or keep frozen. Oops.

I must tell you that this cheesecake does not have any type of crust- it is just the filling in a plastic bowl. The consistency resembled a creamy mousse and left me with a strange tangy aftertaste. It reminded me of the “fake” cheesecake dessert in a box mixes they used to make. I’m not a fan, I like a dense and flavorful cheesecake, so mixing cream cheese with cool whip or a packaged mix really isn’t what I prefer. However, this Lean On Me Cheesecake wasn’t even as good as the boxed mix.

However, I liked that the cheesecake wasn’t too sweet. This should not surpise me, though, since it boasts ” No added sugar- only 130 calories” on the box. The flavor also seemed bland to me as it only slightly resembled cheesecake; I was pretty disappointed. I have to say, that I am sure the watery residue and ice crystals at the edges did not help from my thawing and refreezing mistake. I think I’ll pass next time and make one of my own.

PROS: low in sugar and calories, single serving size is great

CONS: bland flavor, mousse like consistency

Rating:Â 1 1/2Â stars

Want to try this cheesecake anyway? Here’s where to shop:

Gluten Free Mall.com: Lean On Me Original Gluten-Free Cheesecake (Frozen - 0.25 Unit)

Ingredients: Cream cheese, fat free cream cheese, light sour cream, half & half, maltitol, egg whites, eggs, natural vanilla

Read what the Jay at glutenfreepost com says about Lean on Me Original Cheesecake

Before going gluten free 18 months ago, I lived on bagels. Loved them. Especially with cream cheese and sliced strawberries, peanut butter, or strawberry jam . . . yummm. And before last week, I hadn’t tried a gluten free bagel because I convinced myself a decent tasting replacement just wasn’t possible. I am not sure why I picked up this package of Glutino Sans Gluten Free Premium Plain Bagels and plopped it in my basket, but I did. And boy am I glad!

These bagels are sold in packages of five for $5.79 in the frozen foods section of my local grocery store, and are double packaged for ultimate freshness.

I first thawed my bagel in the microwave for 40 seconds before slicing it and placing it in my preheated oven on a piece of tin foil ( I don’t have a dedicated gluten free toaster in my home- yet.). I baked it until it was golden brown on the top. I removed it and immediately smothered it with cream cheese, as I used to do before my celiac diagnosis.

Yum.

I found the bagel to have the perfect thickenss and size for a satisfying breakfast or snack. The exterior was crisp and crunchy, the interior soft and chewy, but a bit of a springy texture. However, this did not take away from the product. I found the flavor to be gentle and perfect for spreads and toppings. I did not detect any dryness or graininess.

I don’t miss my “old” bagels anymore. The only thing I like better is the sesame flavor! (Look for the review tomorrow!)

However, on the down side, this bagel must be toasted for maximum flavor and texture. If thawed and sliced, it crumbles more and resembles a typical piece of rice bread- slightly dry and grainy. Therefore, if you wish to make a bagel sandwich, please toast the entire bagel. You’ll be glad you did. This gluten free product is also high in fat- 16 grams of fat per bagel. Note the nutritional information of the package is for 1/2 a bagel, but I don’t know anyone that just eats a half, after thawing and toasting . . .

PROS: Crunchy and chewy when toasted, pleasant but mild flavor, closely resembles a “regular” bagel

CONS: untoasted eating is not recommended, high in fat

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy Glutino San Gluten Free Premium Plain Bagels?

Glutino - Premium Plain Bagels
From: glutenfree.comIngredients: Corn mix (corn starch, skim milk powder, evaporated cane juice, salt, glucono-delta-lactone, pectin, sodium bicarbonate, sodium alginate, modified vegetable cellulose), water, tapioca starch, margarine (palm and palm kernel oils, soy lecithin), skim milk powder, evaporated cane juice, liquid egg whites, safflower oil, liquid yolks, guar gum, yeast, salt, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, iron, calcium Read what Gluten Free For Me  , Going Gluten Free, or Ellen from I am Gluten Free  say about these bagels!

It’s been a while . . . almost a week and a half since my last review frozen foods review- uugggh. Now that my busy/crazy comittments are past, I am back on the GF review bandwagon. I also had high hopes of reviewing a great pie crust mix- Cause You’re Special Homestyle Gluten-Free Pie Crust Mix. However, on my last trip to my local natural foods store, I puchased the last two mixes, and I need those for my Thanksgiving meal. Therefore, it leaves me without a mix to photograph and review for my site! Oh well . . .I used this mix with great success last year an would highly recommend it. I will at least have a review up in time for Christmas baking though. I am interested to see if this mix is as good as I remember.

In the meantime, I just had to review one of my favorite frozen food entrees:Â

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Amy’s Garden Vegetable Lasagna made with organic rice pasta and vegetables. I purchased this gluten free food product at my local Wegman’s Grocery Store for $4.99. This is perfectly portioned for one person, and I think it would make a great gluten free lunch product for work or school.

This is what it looked like straight from the freezer and removed from it’s colorful cardboard box. Not exactly impressive . . .

This Amy’s lasagna may be heated in the mircrowave for five minutes or baked in the oven for 35-40 minutes. If you have read my reviews, you probably know I tend to be impatient with these types of products, and I almost always choose the microwave version of warming and cooking. This was no exception. I heated the lasagna in my microwave for the full five minutes and let it cool for 3-4 minutes before digging in.

When it comes to lasagna, I usually like a hearty meat sauce with lots of cheese. That’s just my style and preference. However, this veggie version really surprised me. I loved it! The vegetables in this gluten free lasagna taste light, fresh and flavorful and balance perfectly with all of the ingredients. There is definately no hint of a processed or prepared taste. The overall flavor is not heavy and hearty in my opinion, it is light and flavorful.Â

This lasagna is very curious- all the tomato sauce is on the top, and the filling between the layers of rice pasta is just the veggies and ricotta. The rice noodles hold up well and taste great. They provide a nice backdrop for the ricotta and veggie medley without mushiness or pastiness. Yum! The tomato sauce on the top is just right- it isnt too sweet and compliments the rest of the ingredients.Â

I did notice that the token sprinking of cheese on the top diasppeared when I cooked the lasagna, and I couldn’t taste it at all, unlike the picture on the box. But then again, I don’t know of any frozen food products that look just like the box! I also noticed that the bottom layer of the lasagna appeared and tasted a bit watery/soggy, but it wasn’t such a problem that would keep me from buying this gluten free product again.

PROS: light, fresh, flavorful, perfect single portion size, orgamic ingredients

CONS: a bit watery at the bottom, more cheese on top would be nice

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy Amy’s Garden Vegetable Lasagne?

WellnessGrocer.com

OR:Â to check the frozen food section at your local grocery store

Ingredients: organic brown rice, organic rice pasta lasagne ( organic rice, four, water), ricoota cheese, organic onions, organic broccoli, organic zuchinni, organic carrots, organic peas, organic spinach, filtered water, parmesan cheese, spices, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, organic garlic, organic evaporated cane juice. (All cheese made without animal enzymes or rennet.)

To kick off my focus on gluten free frozen foods for this month, I just had to begin with an Amy’s product. To me, this line of frozenfood products has been a lifesaver while adjusting to a gluten free way of cooking and eating. Going gluten free often means more cooking from scratch with “new” ingredients. However, I don’t always have the time, energy, or desire to create a meal from square one. Amy’s gluten free frozen meals provided me a quick meal option that is fairly healthy when those rushed and tiring times came along.

One of the first Amy’s products I tried was the Amy’s Bowls Brown Rice & Vegetables with organic tofu. Each package contains one decent sized portion that may be cooked in the microwave or oven. Since the microwave only requires five minutes of cooking time ( and the oven requires a whopping 50 minutes!) I took the quick and easy route of zapping in my microwave.

Fresh from the freezer, this is what the Amy’s Brown Rice & Vegetable bowl looked like:

After cooking for five minutes in the microwave, I stirred the bowl and contents, and this was the result:

Overall, I found this product to be very flavorful and a great find. The vegetables (onions, miushrooms, broccoli, and carrots) semeed perfectly cooked and not too mushy. The flavor of the onion and mushrooms was especially yummy and strong. I liked how the broccoli spears were a nice, large size and still had a nice crunch to them.

The rice was slightly sticky and moist, with just a hint of added spices and tahini sauce that complimented the brown rice and vegetables, instead of competing with them. The tofu pieces are quite large, so I cute them into smaller pieces for more even distribution ( Plus, I am not a huge fan of tofu, so this helped in that regard.) In fact, the tofu absorbed the flavor of the rice bowl, so I hardly noticed the tofu was an ingredient. That was a huge “plus” for me.

Overall, I found this to be a hot and satisfying meal option that I will most likey purchase again.

PROS: tasty flavor and texture, vegetables cooked perfectly, great quick lunch option, lots organic ingredients

CONS: rather large pieces of broccoli, onion flavor may be too strong for some

Rating: 4 stars

Where can I purchase Amy’s Brown Rice & Vegetable Bowl?

Check your local grocery store’s frozen foods section- I know they are sold in Wegmans, Walmart, Giant and Weis in Pennsylvania.

See what IAteAPie.net , Elaine from WebMD has to say about this gluten free product!

So another month has passed and winter is definately trying to creep in over here in my area of the country. My husband and I ventured out to the PSU vs. Purdue football game today, with more than 108,000 other PSU fans, where the temperature was a whopping 35 degrees on the way to the stadium. However,  we were fortunate enough to sit in the full sun during the game which kept us nice and toasty- we have the sunburns to prove it! The brisk weather and frost on my car this morning prompted me to select the theme of

“FROSTY GLUTEN FREE FROZEN FOODS”

for November. With the temperature dropping and holiday preparations coming into full swing, I have a feeling I may be reaching into my freezer this month for some quick and hearty foods that I can prepare with minimal fuss.

However, for Neena at A Moms Life, I will have some gluten free pie crust reviews as well to help make her Thanksgiving pies extra yummy. I think I have just the one Neena; we’ll see if it is as good as I remember . . . until then, if you have products you’d like to see reviewed this month, feel free to post them here or email your ideas to me at

glutenfreefoodreviews[at]gmail[dot]com