Gluten Free Food Reviews

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!

I thought this single serving of gluten free cornbread from the Lean On Me Baking Company would be great with a hot bowl of soup on a drizzly and particularly miserable autumn day, and I really wasn’t in the mood to make a whole pan of cornbread. Perfect. I picked this frozen product for $2.99 at my local natural foods store. I was curious whether a sugar free, protein packed ( 7 grams!) piece of cornbread tasted any good.

This is what the cornbread looke like fresh from the box. A little icy, eh?

This is what the cornbread looked like after thawing for 45 minutes of my countertop.

The box directions suggest thawing for 10 minutes at room temperature. Ummm, this is not nearly enough for it to thaw and warm enough to eat! After 45 minutes it appeared thawed, so I zapped it in the microwave for 15 seconds for the final warming.

This cornbead is surprisingly moist, almost too much so. It has a springy, smooth texture with a mild corn flavor that is borderline bland. The consistency reminded me more of a cake than a cornbread, as it was not crumbly at all. I definately needed some honeybutter for this cornbread! Overall it is a decent product that is great for soups and chili.

PROS: no crumbling, moist, single serve package, sugar free, 7 g. protein

CONS: almost too moist, bland flavor, long thaw time

Rating: 4 stars

Where Can I Buy This Cornbread?

Lean On Me Home Style Gluten-Free Cornbread (Frozen - 0.25 Unit)

Gluten Free Mall

Ingredients: water, eggs, maltitol, soy protein, soy oil, corn bran, cornmeal, baking powder, salt

If you are one of those newly gluten free people that miss your Van de Kamps or Mrs. Paul’s frozen fish fillets, you are in luck my friend. The Dr. Praeger’s Potato Crusted Fish Fillets just might be what you are looking for. I purchased this product from the frozen food section of my local grocery store for $3.69. It contains six all natural medium sized pollack fish fillets.

These fish fillets may be baked in the oven or pan fried in a bit of vegetable oil. Since I am not a fan of oily fried food, I opted for the oven version. I baked these gluten free fish fillets in the oven for the full 15 minutes until the exterior was really golden and crunchy.

The exterior of the fillet is a crispy crunchy shell that somewhat separates from the fish fillets, but not so much that it takes away from the flavor or texture. The potato crust is very mild with the slightest touch of sweetness from the brown sugar and is definitely not salty like other commercial fish products can be. I loved that! The fish inside appeared flaky and moist with a mild flavor that paired well with the potato crust. I am not a huge fish fan, but these fillets were mild enough for both my children and me to enjoy with fresh steamed veggies and homemade baked french fries. Overall, it’s a great product I would consider buying again.

PROS: perfectly crispy exterior, mild flavor, not at all salty, great for kids and adults, all natural ingredients

CONS: Flavor is on the bland side; Fish fillets aren’t for everyone- if you liked Van de Kamps and Mrs. Paul’s products before going gluten free, then you will like Dr. Praeger’s fish fillets as well.

Rating: 4 stars

Where can I buy these frozen fish fillets?

Dr. Praeger’s Potato Crusted Gluten-Free Fish Fillets (Frozen - 0.50 Units)- from the Gluten Free Mall

Ingredients: Pollack Fillets, Potato Flakes, Potato Starch, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Egg Whites, Salt, Brown Sugar

Mmmmm, who doesn’t like a pizza that is quick and easy to prepare? I found this gem at my local grocery store in the natural foods department. For $5.99, I thought this Amy’s Cheese Pizza Rice Crust Made with Organic Rice Flour and Tomatoes was worth a try. It easily serves two to three people.

Fresh out of the box:

To jazz it up a bit, I added some onion, tomato, sharp cheddar, and basil to most of the pizza, leaving just one section plain cheese. I was curious to see how the crust supported extra toppings. Since my pizza stone was used for a gluten pizza, I opted for a foil lined pan for my baking experiment.

The pizza cooked up nicely in a solid 12 minutes; I found the cheese and crust cooked much quicker than the center. To prevent overbrowning, watch it closely as it bakes and cover the edges with foil if necessary. The edges were definately crispy.

The crust baked up crispy on the bottom with a softer center. It tasted of cornmeal and rice, a mild flavor. The crust was on the thicker side and was able to support whatever extra toppings you throw it’s way. The crust was a solid, decent gluten free pizza crust and is probably one of the more decent semi-thick pizza crust you’ll get from a premade frozen gluten free product, despite it’s somewhat mealy consistentcy and texture. However I wouldn’t consider it flavorful or especially yummy. I think I like my crust a little chewier.

As for the toppings, I actually liked the sauce. There was just enough of it for some flavor - it really balanced out this gluten free pizza so it was neither dry or mushy. It had more of a fresher taste with minimal sweetness. I suggest adding a bit of your own cheese for full coverage if you add your own toppings. The cheese tasted really good and melted quite nicely.

Overall, this is a decent pizza that’s great for a last minute pizza craving. Of course it is not as tasty or flavorful as homemade, but it is decent, especially if you add your own toppings.

PROS: substantial crust, great base for extra toppings, nice balance of mild flavors, organic ingredients,

Cons: Crust has a “gluten-free” taste, crust cooks quickly and has a mealy texture

Rating: 4 stars

Where Can I Buy This Rice Crust Pizza?

WellnessGrocer.com

INGREDIENTS : PART SKIM MOZZARELLA CHEESE (WITHOUT ANIMAL ENZYMES OR RENNET), ORGANIC RICE FLOUR, ORGANIC TOMATO PUREE, FILTERED WATER, ORGANIC SUNFLOWER SEED MEAL, TAPIOCA FLOUR, ORGANIC POTATOES, ORGANIC EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, EXPELLER PRESSEDHIGH OLEIC SAFFLOWER OIL, ORGANIC HONEY, SEA SALT, ORGANIC RED ONIONS, YEAST, SOY LECITHIN, SPICES, ORGANIC GARLIC. CONTAINS MILK, SUNFLOWER SEEDS AND SOY.

Read what other sites and bloggers have to say about this pizzza!

CeliacFoodReviews.com

Sea at Book of Yum

Shannon at Digestive Diva

Sneako.com

Today I have a house of sick and grouchy kids, and a husband that is out of town on business ( not a good combination). After coaxing saltines and sips of Sprite and Pedialite, I needed something quick, filling, comforting, and naturally, gluten free for myself. The box of Amy’s Macaroni & Cheese in my freezer seemed to fit the bill perfectly. I believe I purchased this boxed and frozen product for $3.09 at my local grocery store.

The prep for this gluten free propduct couldn’t be easier. I popped it in the microwave for a total of six minutes, pausing after four minutes for a brief stir. I was also pleased to discover this product did not splatter and mess up my clean microwave. There’s nothing I hate more than food splatters that stink up the microwave! I admit, initially the mac and cheese looked pretty scary fresh from the box:

But the final product looked a bit more appetizing!

This product actually tasted pretty yummy! The noodles were great- soft, but firm enough to hold their shape with no mushiness. The sauce was fairly thick, and stuck to the noodles in little clumps here and there. However, the texure of the sauce was smooth, it just looked a bit clumpy because it was so thick. The flavor of the sauce was also quite satisfying- it tastes like a homemade cheese sauce- no artificial or processed flavors here! If you are looking for the thin, kraft-style sauce, this isn’t for you.

Overall, this Amy’s Macaroni & Cheese frozen product is a yummy product that has a nice homemade flavor. The ingredients are high quality and the portion size is perfect for one person. Add a salad or fruit and you have yourself a nice, satisfying meal in a matter of minutes. This product really fit my needs tonight- fast, tasty and filling. I must note, though, that part of the reason it was so filling was probaly due to the high fat/saturated fat content - 16 total grams of fat per serving- yikes! However for ocasional use, I will definately buy this product again.

PROS: Great flavor and texture

CONS: sauce is really thick; high saturated fat content ( 10 grams!)

Rating: 4 stars

Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheese may be purchased at most local grocery stores in the frozen foods section ( Wegmans, Walmart, Giant, Weis etc).

Ingredients: organic rice macaroni ( organic rice flour, water), organic lowfat milk, cheddar cheese, butter, rice flour, sea salt, annato. No trans fat, added MSG, no preservatives

These frozen, ready made pizza crusts were a new item at my local grocery store for $5.29. The package contains four personal size pizza crusts, and I became quite excited at the prospect of a quick cooking option for when I have a pizza craving emergency.

Unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed. On my first pizza attempt, I prebaked/toasted the crust as recommended on the package before adding toppings and the final baking. BIG MISTAKE.  The pizza crust was so hard and crunchy I could hardly eat it. So, I tried again, this time very lightly toasting the crust, thinking that I just cooked it too long the first time. Wrong again! It was very hard and crunchy- again. Ok, so I figure third time is a charm and I don’t toast the crust at all. Viola! An edible pizza is the result.

I realized that when it says on the bag “premium bread”, that’s really all this crust is- a medium thickness piece of rice bread, and a mediocre tasting piece at that. The crust is a combination of grainy and spongey with the distinct ”rice” flavor ( which I am not really find of.) However, the crust help up well under the sauce and ingedients, and did not flake apart or become soggy.  Oh well, I guess I am too picky about my pizza; this isn’t a product I would buy again.

Pros: holds toppings and sauce well, nice personal size crust for easy prep

Cons: so-so flavor, tastes like regular rice bread

Rating: 1 1/2 stars

Ingredients: Coming soon!

 

A gluten-free donut? This, I had to try!  The owner of my local natural foods store swears by them, so I decided to take the plunge. I was hoping they would be pretty good since I shelled out $7.49 for a package of 6.

These donuts are purchased frozen and best when microwaved and consumed warm. The frosting ( or “dipped” part) is gooey and very sweet with a nice cocoa flavor. The actual donut part resembles a traditional cake donut and is milder in taste and not as sweet.  The texture and consistency is wonderful, especially for a white rice-based product ( which often are crumbly, IMO). These make a delicious brfeakfast item or for even dessert.

PROS: Nice chocolate flavor, cake-like texture and consistency, great gluten-free alternative to the “regular” version

CONS: Only tastes really good when warm, really sweet

Rating: 4  1/2 stars

*Since this is a frozen product, I suggest finding it in your local area to purchase*

Ingredients: Coming soon!