Gluten Free Food Reviews

Gluten-Free Essentials sent me this mix to sample during cake month in August. At the time, I just tucked it in my own gluten free pantry. In my house, I have a shelf just for my gluten free products. This shelf is located across the kitchen from our regular panrty that is laden with gluten in various forms hiding in the cracks and crevices. If I spend the cash for a GF product, you can bet I will do what it take to keep it that way. Unfortunately I found out the woes of pantry cross contamination the hard way- uugggh. I am not taking any chances!

Recently I was pressed for time as I prepared dinner. I decided to pound out some chicken breasts and smother them in garlic. I also prepped a green salad ( Ok, kind of- it came in a bag), but I still needed a satisfying side dish that would be ready in 15 minutes, while the chicken grilled outside. That’s where this Gluten-Free Essentials Side Kick Italian Herb & Lemon Mix comes into the picture. The packaging boasts that the product is ready in just 10 minutes. Wha-hoo! Perfect. You can buy this 8 ounce mix online for $2.99, and it makes about four servings.

I found this mix super simple to prepare- just add butter and water and you are ready to go. Once the mix boils, you simmer for five minutes, then cover and let sit for another five minutes. That’s it- pretty simple. I was thrilled with the results! However, I found that my mix was actually ready in 15 minutes instead of 10 from start to finish.

The texure of the rice was simply perfect. The grains were seperate and somewhat fluffy- not mushy and clumpy. They tasted perfectly cooked- just the right consistency- slightly dense and chewy, but still soft. The flavor was a wonderful blend of herbs with a substantial spicy lemon kick. I felt the flavors really complimented each other, instead of competing. This mix also did not have a processed flavor, and did not have an unpleasent aftertaste, as some gluten free products tend to have. Kind of like a party in my mouth! This gluten free rice product paired well with my grilled chicken, and helped me have a hot meal on the table in under 30 minutes. I’ll definately buy this mix for a future meal.

PROS: Great texture, balanced flavor, easy prep

CONS: strong flavor may compete or clash with other dishes - be sure to pair with something mild

Rating: 5 stars

Where Can I Buy This Yummy Mix?

GFEssentials.com

Ingredients: Precooked long grain white and brown rice ( enriched with niacin, ferric orthophosphate (iron), thiamin (B-1) and folic acid, lemon juice powder (maltodextrin from corn and lemon juice), GF herbs and spices.

When I opened my sample box from Gluten-free Essentials, the title of this cake automatically caught my eye- an Extreme chocolate cake? This had to be good. With a title like this, how could it not be?

I prepared this cake and again found myself disappointed in the directions. The package indicates you will need applesauce and 2 eggs. No problem, right? However, in the mixing directions it also asks you to add gluten-free vanilla and water. I have learned that with this brand of mixes it is always best to read the directions completely before you begin.

This mix doesn’t rise very much in the pan and has a very smooth and flat top surface. The flavor is surprisingly mild- not very sweet and just a touch chocolate. It is not bad, but definitely not the “extreme” chocolate experience I was expecting based on the name. The texture is ultra fine, smooth, and silky, just what I would expect from a gluten free mix utilizing rice flour. The taste and texture is not like a “regular” gluten cake, but it is still quite good. I would recommend this mix more for snacking rather than a birthday or special event cake. Also, this is a very moist cake, which is a bonus.

PROS: Perfect for snacking, smooth texture, mild flavor

CONS: not the flavor and texture of a traditional cake, package doesn’t list all added ingredients

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy This Mix?

GlutenFreeEssentials.com

Ingredients: sorghum flour, rice flour, sugar, cocoa powder, GF baking powder, guar gum, corn starch, baking soda and salt.

This mix was graciously sent to me from Gluten-Free Essentials to review. I haven’t had any form of lemon poppyseed anything for ages, so I looked forward to trying this mix. Initially I thought this was a muffin mix, but the final product ended up as a lemon poppyseed tea cake. So, viola! The next installment for gluten free cake month!

Preparing the batter for this mix turned out to be quite interesting, thanks to the poor packaging and mix directions. First, the front of the package inidicates that this is a bread and muffin mix. However, when you look on the back for prep directions, it lists the ingredients for “Lemon Poppyseed Tea Bread.” Huh? Where did the “tea bread” description come from? A little confusing.

Second, it specifically says you will need to add butter, applesauce and eggs. Yet, as you read thr0ugh the directions, it also requires club soda, water or milk. Why isn’t this listed in the “You will need” portion of the directions? Because I didn’t have milk or club soda on hand, I used water, although it would have been fun to experiment with the club soda. Third, there are baking directions for two loaf pans or a 9×13 cake pan- NO MUFFIN BAKING DIRECTIONS, even though it claims it is a muffin mix on the packaging. There is also a recipe for a lemon glaze under the directions that I used for my 9×13 pan of tea bread, although to me it seemed more like a cake.

Anyway, I easily prepared this mix by hand and the batter had the consistency of cool whip when it was ready for the pan- very light and fluffy. Fresh from the oven after 33 minutes and topped with the very tangy and sweet lemon glaze, this product looked amazing- the light lemon cake was speckled evenly with poppyseeds. The cake itself is not very sweet and boasted a mild lemon flavor. Immediately upon testing, this cake seemed to be very spongey and squishy- way too moist for my preferences. I think a longer baking time would suit this product better- closer to 37 minutes would be idea, depending on your oven. It had a medium density that gave it substance without feeling too heavy. I also noticed that after cooling for a few hours, the texture seemed to improve and wasn’t as spongy, and tasted even better the next day. My gluten eating husband and family especially liked this mix, so much so that there were no leftovers to be found 24 hours later.

This mix would make a great loaf pan of lemon poppyseed bread, and could be successful as a muffin ( no glaze) or cupcake ( with glaze), just be careful to watch it since there isn’t a muffin baking time listed on the mix.

PROS: subtle lemon flavor, not too sweet, easy to mix by hand, low sugar.

CONS: Prep directions are confusing, be careful not to underbake

Rating: 4 stars

You Can Buy This Mix at:

Gluten-Free Essentials.com

Ingredients: rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cornstarch, GF baking powder, guar gum, baking soda, poppy seeds, lmeon juice powder, maltodextrin ( from corn), salt.

Gluten Free Essentials- THANK YOU for sending this vanilla cake mix my way to review- I just adore it! This mix is specially marketed to children-smaller portions and simple prep makes for a fun and kid friendly product. Go Go Gluten Free!

This mini mix makes one 8×8 cake or six cupcakes- just add applesauce, butter and an egg and you are ready to go. The package even has instructions for a toy oven! Any Easy Bake ovens out there? I opted to make the cupcakes version and used White House natural applesauce in this recipe with fantastic results. The batter was easy to mix and prepare and was an average consistency. I had no problem scooping spoonfuls into the cupcake liners. After baking 30 minutes, the tops of the cupcakes seemed “firm to the touch” so I took then out and let them cool, as instructed on the package.

When cool, these cupcakes were super moist- almost too moist, in fact. I don’t think they would t0lerate any type of frosting without crumbling and rippling the smooth cupcake tops. As I took a bite, the cupcake couldn’t hold it’s shape and somewhat collapsed in the cupcake liner; that is how moist it was. I think baking for 2 or 3 minutes longer would help reduce this problem and produce a firmer product.

The texture was identical to a “regular” gluten cake; it was very light, smooth and flavorful. The applesauce added a mild pleasant sweetness, and masks any vanilla flavor that might be in the cake. Now, the cake doesn’t taste like applesauce, but it is not a true vanilla flavor, either.

This mix is so good, I enjoyed it without any type of frosting or topping; it is perfect as-is. These are great as a dessert, snack, or even breakfast item, and could pass as both a “cake” mix or a “muffin” mix. I will definately buy this mix again.

PROS: excellent flavor and texture, not too sweet, kid friendly in every way

CONS: not a true vanilla flavor, too moist- add a few minutes to the bake time for best results

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy This Mix?

Gluten-Free Essentials.com

Ingredients: sorghum flour, rice flour, sugar, (GF) baking powder, guar gum, baking soda, cornstrach and salt

Read what Jay at the Gluten Free Post.com has to say about this product line!

Who doesn’t love a good chocolate chip cookie? I think I may have found a fast gluten free version you can bake in your own oven with minimal fuss and mess. Now, that’s my style! Sorry, but my great photo of these cookies has gone MIA on my computer, so please feel free to check out a photo HERE at godairyfree.com.

My local natural food store sells this Gluten-Free Essentials chocolate chip cookie mix for $5.99, however, Gluten-Free Essentials generously sent me this complimentry mix to review. Gatta love it! But don’t worry, just because it’s complimentry doesn’t mean it will get a good review. Each package makes aproximately 2- 3 dozen cookies, depending on how big they are. The bright red packaging makes it easy to spot this brand on the shelf.

To make this mix you add melted butter and 2 eggs, although I have heard that you can use a butter and egg substitute with decent results as well. During preparation, I would suggest not adding the eggs directly to the hot melted butter unless you happen to enjoy scrambled eggs in your cookies (trust me on that one). Other than this slight precautiion, this mix combines easily by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula. Seriously, it could not be easier. After mixing, I chilled the dough for 30 to 45  minutes and found that was long enough for a nice result, unlike their Cocoa Mudslide Cookies, that required a longer chill time. I rolled the dough into balls by hand and baked them for 14 minutes and let them cool completely on the pan.

I found these cookies to have a sweet, traditional flavor, comparable to a Tollhouse recipe chocolate chip cookie. The texture was somewhat grainy and seemed “off”, but were not crumbly. The cookies were crisp on the bottom and edges with a chewy, softer top. They tasted a bit dry to me, so I could suggest baking closer to 12Â minutes. The chocolate chips appeared evenly distributed and tasted yummy. Overall, I would definately buy this mix to have on hand for cookie craving emergencies

Pros: traditional flavor, nice combo of crisp and chewy, easy prep

Cons: texture is a bit grainy, long chill time, plan ahead

Rating: 4 stars

Where Can I Buy This Mix?

GlutenFreeEssentials.com

Ingredients: sorghum flour, sugar, GF baking powder, guar gum, salt, chocolate chips (chocolate liquor, cocola butter, soy lecithin sugar, salt, vanilla)

Hmmm, very impressive. I must say, if you are a choc-o-holic but don’t like the fuss of homemeade cookies, this one is for you. Gluten Free Essentials sent this mix in a sample box for me to try, and I knew this particular mix had to be first. This mix sells in my area for $6.99 and makes aproximately 24 cookies. It took Gluten Free Essentials a week to ship, from email contact to the product arriving on my doorstep.

The prep to make these cookies could not be easier. Add melted butter and eggs and mix by hand or by a hand/stand mixer with ease. After mixing, you will need to refrigerate the cookies; the package directions suggested 30 minutes, but I found an hour was preferable so the dough was easier to work with. However, if you get busy, you can simply cover the dough and store it until the next day and still have fantastic results. When I sampled the cookie dough ( yes, I am one of those people that eat cookie dough), it was rich and creamy, not at all gritty like other GF product mixes. I was surprised to find bits of chocolate and marshmellow dotting the dough. What a yummy surprise!

I rolled the dough into small balls and placed them on a cookie sheet and baked for the suggested 12 minutes. if you prefer a rounder cookie, rolling the cookies into balls vs. dropping spoonfuls of dough on the cookie sheet is the way to go. On my first try, I think the oven must have been running hot because they turned out crispy and burnt- umm, not so yummy. On try number two I cooked them for 10-11 minutes, They were very soft and gooey and I let them cool completely and set for an hour on the counter. The wait was definately worth it!

My cookies were slightly crisp at the edges and had little “slides” of chocolate where the marshmellows used to be ( hence the name of the cookie.) I noticed that cooking the cookies at the recomended 12 minutes resulted in marshmellows that completely dissappeared into the cookies, but if they are slightly underbaked some of the internal marshmellows remain intact. The chunks of sweet chocolate add gooeyness and the dark chocolate taste reminds me of brownies. These cookies definately taste “regular” and not at all gluten free. The texture of these cookies is typical of any gluten cookies and only crumbles when the cookies are overcooked or dried out a bit. My gluten-consuming family really enjoyed them.

After a day, these cookies dry out quickly and lose their appeal, so I would suggest eating them right after they have cooled. Remember, you can always save some of the dough in the fridge for the next day or so for fresh cookies another day.

Pros: Simple to mix, great chocolate flavor, excellent texture

Cons: long prep/cook/cool time, kind of pricey, fussy baking time

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy This Yummy Cookie Mix?

Gluten Free Essentials.com

Ingredients: Sorghum flour, rice flour, salt, gluten-free baking powder, guar gum, chocolate chips (chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin sugar, salt, vanilla), sugar, cocoa powder, marshmalows (corn syrup, modified corn starch, dextrose, water, gelatin, natural and artificial flavor, sodium pyrophosphate, blue #1).

Want to hear what others have to say about this mix? Check out Jay at the Gluten Free Post, Alisa at Moove Over Milk, and the writers at GoDairyFree.com