Gluten Free Food Reviews

I just love pancakes for breakfast in the morning with my girls. They prefer chocolate chips as their topping of choice, while I like banana, walnuts and a drizzle of real maple syrup. And, because I like pancakes so much, I am very picky when it comes to the gluten free variations. I still miss “real’ gluten pancakes. But you know what? With this buttermilk pancake mix, I don’t miss them anymore. These pancakes are fantastic!

I purchased this 12 ounce mix for $4.99 at a natural foods store on my last trip home to Minnesota. This gluten free pancake mix makes makes two large batches of pancakes that will feed 2-3 hungry people per batch.

Mixing the pancake batter was a breeze- just add oil, and egg and buttermilk. Since I didn’t have any buttermilk, I followed the enclosed directions for a great buttermilk substitution that combines milk with lemon juice that worked perfectly in the mix. I whisked the batter easily with no lumps to be found. Unfortunately the batter was so thin that my first attempt at a pancake turned out more like a crepe, and that was not was I wanted. However, adding 2-3 more tablespoons of the mix did the trick, and even though the pancakes still appeared to be on the thin side, they tasted perfect. I found that adding any more mix, or reducing the milk by more than a few tablespoons resulted in thick pancakes with a sticky, gooey texture.

These gluten free pancakes are only slightly sweet,and have a smooth, slightly fluffy gluten-like texture that is ideal for any topping your taste-buds are craving. There is no hint of a mushy rice texture or flavor that I have often experienced with other gluten free pancake mixes. The flavor of the pancakes is subtle, but pleasant. The edges of the pancake are slightly crisp and the pancake itself cooks evenly- perfect if you like tall stacks of tasty pancakes. On the Sylvan Border Farm website, they have a dairy free substitute that may work as well. Overall, I really liked the Sylvan Border Farm Pancake & waffle mix, and will definitely buy it again.

PROS: excellent texture and flavor, easy prep, makes thin pancake perfect for stacking and toppings.

CONS: thin batter, resist the urge to add too much extra pancake mix to thicken

Rating: 5 stars

Want to try this mix out ?Buy it from:

GooddayGlutenFree.com-(product packaging photo at this link)

Sylvan Border Farm website

Ingredients: Potato Starch, White Rice Flour, Brown Rice Flour*, Amaranth Flour, Quinoa Flour*, White Cornmeal*, Garbanzo Bean Flour*, Sugar, Soy Flour*, Aluminum-Free Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt. ( * organically grown)

Another home-style favorite of adults and kids alike- good ‘ole mac & cheese. I found this on my last trip to Minnesota and just had to try it out and compare it to one of my frozen food favorites- Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheese. No stores in my local area carry this gluten free frozen product, and I was curious to see how the two compared. I purchased this 10.6 ounce box cost $5.29.

Fresh out of the package, this is what the gluten free mac and cheese looked like:

To be honest, it looked a pretty bad- a little freezer burn going on? I popped this product in the microwave for a total of five minutes, and this is what the mac& cheese looked like straight from the microwave:

It came out very soupy and not very appetizing. Yuck. So, I cooked it for another 40 seconds and let it cool until the sauce thickened up. The final result is the picture at the top of this review. Thank goodness it ended up looking OK.

The brown rice noodles seemed very dense and chewy, and the sauce tasted quite mild due to the fact that this product features a three cheese blend of monterey jack, cheddar and parmesan. The sauce tasted creamy and smooth, but appeared clumpy on the noodles, similar to Amy’s gluten free Rice Mac and Cheese . This Glutino Mac & Cheese tasted less homemade than Amy’s and reminded me of a gluten free version of Kraft mac and cheese flavor, minus the neon orange coloring. When I read the nutritional information on the back of the packaging, I almost fell off my chair! This product contains a whopping 20 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat. WOW!

Overall, this is a good gluten free version of macaroni and cheese, but I have to say I still prefer the strong, cheesy, homemade flavor of Amy’s.

PROS: easy prep, mild flavor for those that aren’t sharp cheddar cheese fans

CONS: soupy at first, pricey, high in fat

RATING: 3 1/2 stars

Please click HERE to view the packaging, ingredients and nutritional information.

Do you have some extra time and want to whip up a batch of homemade gluten free mac & cheese? Check out Shauna’s recipe at Crazy Orange Turtle’s Gluten Free Kitchen- it looks like a winner!

In response to questions and comments from my readers, I tried to figure out why no one can find our beloved Glutino bagels anywhere, and this is what I found:

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TO: Open Letter to Customers

FROM: Steven Singer, President – The Glutino Food Group

RE: Bagels Availibility Issue

DATE: January 18, 2008

I’m writing to apologize.

All of us at Glutino are incredibly committed to putting “you”, our most valued customers, first. Your letters and calls regarding the lack of availibility of our bagels were taken very seriously and touched all of us profoundly. We understand your frustrations and deeply regret the inconvenience this has caused you.

In the past few months, the demand for our bagels has grown dramatically across North America. As a result, we have not been able to cope adequately with the production constraints this situation has engendered and some of our valued customers have not been able to purchase our bagels. We recognize that this situation is inconsistent with what you’ve come to expect from us, as a leader in the gluten-free industry. But please rest assured that we are working diligently to meet this growing demand which is why we have invested heavily in automating our bagel production line in order to have bagels available as soon as it’s possible.

Please note that we hope to be able to fill orders and have bagels available in stores summer 2008 when our automated bagel production line is up and running. Meanwhile, we are working in a reduced capacity to sustain smaller inventory levels in stores.

At Glutino, our desire is to serve customers’ needs better than anyone else, and our values are honesty and integrity. We are doing everything within our power to be back in stock just as soon as it’s possible. Please visit our site regularly for bagel availibility updates.

Thank you for your understanding and for your continued support.

Steven Singer

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Well, it looks like most of us will have to wait until this summer for their yummy bagels. Boo!

To read the letter at glutino.com, click HERE

Hooray! My new computer finally came in, so sit back and get ready for the great reviews I have been waiting to post. I have been MIA for a bit since my old computer decided to misbehave. Now I am back and am excited to share some great new gluten free products with you.

Who doesn’t like a bowl of steaming hot soup on a cold winter evening?

I used to eat lots of chicken soup in the winter when I was growing up in Minnesota- it was great for taking the bitter edge off the long, cold winter. The winters in Pennsylvania aren’t quite as frigid or snowy, but a good bowl of soup still hits the spot after a day of being out and about. However, quickly heating up a jar or can of Campbell’s soup just isn’t an option anymore since my celiac diagnosis. When I come in from the cold, the last thing I want to do is wait an hour or more for homemade soup to simmer.

What’s a girl to do?

This Leahey Gardens No Chicken Rice Soup may offer a nice option when you want soup in a pinch, but don’t have the time for homemade. This soup comes in a powdered mix packaged in a single serving 42 gm golden yellow pouch, and I purchased it for $1.79 at Nature’s Pantry, the local natural foods store in my area.

This soup is certified vegan, and the title is clear that there isn’t any real chicken. But I really like real chicken soup, so I hope this tastes good. And you know what? I am pleasantly surprised. It’s actually really tasty!

Preparation couldn’t be easier- mix the pouch with 1 1/2 cups of water. A quick zap in the microwave for two minutes, let it rest for five minutes, and it is ready to eat.

This soup consists of a incredibly flavorful broth accented by tiny bits of red bell pepper, spices and white rice. The bits of “chicken” are made from textured soy protein. The soy “chicken” bits are OK, but they look odd and have a strange texture and appearance. In fact, I ended up spooning them out of my bowl, because the rest of the soup was good enough without them.

This is not a thick and hearty soup- basically a great broth with a little veggies and rice thrown in, and in reality, you could probably make easily make it yourself . However, it is great as a last minute meal idea if you want something hot and tasty, or even as a quick lunch at work.

PROS: great price, easy prep, flavorful and filling

CONS: the soy “chicken” bits have a strange texture and appearance

RATING: 4 stars

Ingredients: precooked long grain white rice ( enriched with iron, niacin, thiamine mononitrate ( vitamin B1), folic acid), food starch- unmodified, yeast extract, fructan, veegtable fiber, dried bell pepper, sunflower oil, onion powder, salt, maltodextrin, natural flavor, spice

To but this gluten free soup mix, please ask your local foods grocer- I was unable to find an online source for purchase.

Want to try making homemade gluten free chicken and rice soup?Visit Gluten free Mommy’s blog for her fabulous recipe!

This Lundberg creamy parmesan risotto mix has become a staple in my pantry. It is great for those rushed, no fuss evenings because I know it will be hot and ready to serve by the time my chicken is off the grill. I purchased this 5.5 ounce mix for $2.19 at my local grocery store, it serves my family of four perfectly.

To prepare this mix, you saute the rice in oil or butter until lightly browned, then add the seasoning mix and water. Simmer for 20 minutes or so, and it’s ready! This gluten free parmesan risotto is the perfect density- not too mushy, not too firm. The sauce is indeed creamy with a nice balanced herb and strong parmesan cheese flavor, and pairs well with grilled chicken or fish. There is no hint of a processed or “boxed” flavor as with some side dish mixes- gluten free or not. This is another reason I like it so much. It’s yummy!

The packaging indicates that this risotto dish is best served piping hot, and they’re not kidding. It tastes best straight from the stove- literally. The longer you wait to eat it, the consistency and flavor quality declines, and it just isn’t as good. Also, forget about leftovers and reheating it- it’s not nearly as tasty and flavorful.

PROS: Great flavor and consistency, risotto is perfectly cooked, quick and yummy option for dinner.

CONS: Eat it quick! Doesn’t taste very good as leftovers

Rating:Â 5 stars

Wanna try this mix? Click the link or picture below:

Lundberg - Creamy Parmesan Risotto
From: glutenfree.comIngredients: Eco-Farmed California Arborio Rice, Parmesan and Cheddar Cheese Blend, Salt, Natural Flavors, Buttermilk Powder, Onion and Garlic Powder, Cane Juice Powder, Butter Powder, Whey Powder, Rice Flour, Dehydrated Parsley, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Black Pepper, Turmeric, Expeller-Pressed Safflower Oil (Less than 2% Added as a Processing Aid).

Since I enjoy Amy’s frozen version of gluten free macaroni and cheese, I was curious to see what this packaged product would taste like. I purchased the 9.1 ounce bag for $4.59 at my local natural food store. After tasting it myself and researching this gluten free macaroni and cheese online, I have found that you will either love the Heartland Finest white cheddar macaroni & cheese, or you will hate it. Unfortunately, I did not love it.

This gluten free macaroni and cheese is fairly easy and quick to prepare. Just boil the noodles for a mere four minutes, then mix in butter, milk, and the cheese pouch, just like most boxed or prepared macaroni products. This mac and cheese was ready and on the table within 10 minutes! That was impressive! What was also impressive was the fact that each serving provides a whopping 14 grams of protein and six grams of fiber. Very nice. It’s too bad I didn’t like the flavor.

The noodles seemed dense and chewy with a heavy bean flavor and a hint of corn. To me, they just didn’t taste that good, but that may be because I am not a huge fan of bean flour used in noodles and baked goods. The sauce was thick and creamy, but had a slightly sour aftertaste that did not compliment the flavor of the noodles. To me, it isn’t as good as some of the other gluten free macaroni and cheese products out there. I prefer a softer, lighter pasta with a heavier cheddar flavor, and this product featured neither.

Did you try it and like it? Post your comments!

PROS: fast cooking time, high in protein and fiber

CONS: heavy bean flavor, cheese has an odd taste

Rating: 2 stars

Wanna try Heartland’s Finest White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese for Yourself?

Click HERE to purchase from glutenfree.com.Â

Ingredients: Navy Bean Flour, Yellow Corn Flour, Cheddar Cheese (milk, salt, cheese cultures, enzymes), whey, buttermilk, salt, disodium phosphate.

The Glutenfreefoodreviews.com First Annual Birthday Give-Away winner is Heather with her comment of:

Thank you so much for the great reviews!! My favorite product is Pamelas pancake and baking mix. I am a baker and have used it with great success in many recipes. Please enter me in the contest and keep up the good work.

Heather, please email me at glutenfreefoodreviews[at]gmail[dot]com with your contact information! You have until Saturday, midnight EST to claim your prize before it goes to our runner up. Congratulations!

After I hear from Heather I will post about all the great and FREE gluten free food products that will arrive in the mail!

If you didn’t win this time- no worries! Every month I will offer a free gluten free food product give-away to kick off the theme for each month in 2008. Maybe next month you’ll be the lucky winner!