Gluten Free Food Reviews

Yes, my blog has a different look- again! I am hoping this will be my temporary look until I can get a designer to help me tweak it just the way I want. I know it is a little, well, boring, but at least I can post reviews again.

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Amy’s gluten free pizza is found in the frozen foods section, and I wanted to compare it to Glutino’s spinach and feta pizza that I just LOVE ( as soon as I can find it locally, a review will definitely be posted!). This medium sized pizza could feed about two hungry people and cost $6.19. Kind of pricey, but I hoped it was worth it.

Well, right away I was disappointed. the actual pizza fresh from the box seemed to lack cheese in a huge way- much less coverage than I expected. But really, I guess I shouldn’t bee too surprised, since most packaging tried to make the product look good enough to buy it. I guess I was a sucker it his regard.

After i baked the pizza for 13 minutes, I noticed a strong garlic scent. Hmm, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all . . .

. . .or, maybe it was.

The crust on this Amy’s gluten free pizza tasted mealy and coarse, although it baked very soft, comparable to a warm slice of rice bread with a touch of crispness on the outer edges thanks to a touch of olive oil.

The toppings boasted an overpowering fresh spinach flavor with tangy tomato sauce. So-so- flavor -not super yummy, but definitely edible. The soy based mozzarella and ricotta cheeses were just “OK” as well, si nce i am used to the flavor of dairy based cheeses. The pizza could definitely use more cheese since it seemed more like a garnish than an actual topping. The cheese also requires broiling for it to really melt and cook. The funny thing is, I thought this pizza tasted better cold than fresh from the oven.

Overall, this pizza was average for a gluten free pizza. I would eat it if I were really hungry, but I wouldn’t consider it a staple in my freezer for a quick meal option. I guess I am just really picky.

PROS: fresh topping flavors, 8 grams of protein per serving, 4 grams of fiber

CONS: crust is too soft and coarse, high in fat- 20 grams per serving

Rating: 3 stars

Since the ingredient list so sooo long, click HERE to view it and see the packaging as well!

To purchase this pizza, your best bet is to check your local grocery store’s natural foods section or a local natural foods store.
Read what PaperGirl, Lisa B. from Vegsource.com, Ken from Vgean Lunchcast, Roseann from Supervegan, Jenny from LivingVegan, and Jim from EZ GFCF have to say about this gluten free pizza product!

Also, feel free to check out my review on Amy’s Rice Crust Cheese pizza!

If you like Pamela’s Products Brownies, you will just LOVE this cake mix! And if that isn’t a good enough reason, every inch of the packaging is covered with a variety of gluten free recipes to try. Yum! Recipes include mocha cake, egg free chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, chocolate chip cake, chocolate pound cake, ultra rich chocolate cake.

This Pamela’s mix is easy to prepare, just add 2 eggs, oil and water; mix by hand, and pour into two 9 inch cake pans or into cupcake liners. I opted to make cupcakes, and found the batter easy to work with since it has a thicker, more traditional consistency.

These cupcakes were easy to frost once they cooled, but I honestly preferred them “naked,” since the flavor was so rich; It really didn’t need anything to dress up the mix. The flavor of these cupcakes is almost exactly like their brownies, but in a lighter form. However, I found the cupcakes to be somewhat dense compared to other mixes, so I would suggest using the 3 egg option listed on the instructions for a lighter, more traditional cake. This mix is sweeter, but not overpowering. The chocolate tastes more like a dark chocolate base, which I really enjoyed.

I froze extra cupcakes and they held up very well. The flavor and texture was not affected; However, the tops of the cupcakes did become extra moist on the top and slightly sticky when thawed completely. Overall, a yummy product I would buy again.

PROS: easy to prepare, freezes well, great rich chocolate flavor, many recipes on the package

CONS: tastes like their brownie mix, add the extra egg for a fluffier cake.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy This Mix?

GlutenSolutions.com

Ingredients: Organic natural evaporated cane sugar, Brown Rice Flour, Organic Cocoa Powder (processed with alkali), White Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Chicory Root, Sweet Rice Flour, Grainless & Aluminum Free Baking Powder (Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Potato Starch), Sea Salt, Gluten-free Natural Flavor (contains corn derivative), Xanthan Gum.

See what glutenanddairyfree.com has to say about this mix!

I came across this cookie flavor as I browsed a newer natural foods store on my last visit to see my parents. I am a sucker for dark chocolate, and it is not a secret I like many of Pamela’s Products, so I took the dark choco splurge. My mom is a chocoholic as well, and her enthusiasm definately helpd edge me closer to the check out line.

I purchase the box of nine cookies for $3.89, fairly average price for Pamela’s Products items. When I opened the package I discovered these cookies were on the smaller side, and fairy thick. As I took one out of the box and took my first bite, I noticed these cookies were not as soft as the other Pamela’s cookies and had a distinctive crunch to them. The texture seemed grainy to me with a thick, rich dark chocolate flavor that I really enjoyed. The chocolate chunks are evenly and generously distributed throughout the cookie. The flavor is very sweet and rich, but not too sweet- just right for such a chocolatey creation. This is a decent cookie if you need a chocolate fix, but not a product I would call my gluten free sister about.

Pros: Excellent chocolate flavor

Cons: Grainy texture, somewhat crunchy

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy These Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies?

Pamela’s Products - Dark Chocolate Chunk Chocolate Cookies
From: glutenfree.com

INGREDIENTS: Organic Natural Evaporated Cane Sugar; Organic Non-hydrogenated Palm Oil;, Organic Chocolate Chunks (Organic Natural Evaporated Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Paste, Organic Cocoa Butter, Non-GMO Soy Lecithin/emulsifier, Gluten-free Organic Vanilla. Chunks may contain traces of milk protein due to the manufacturing equipment.); Organic Rice Flour Base (Organic Brown Rice Flour, Organic White Rice Flour, Organic Tapioca Starch, Organic Sweet Rice Flour, Xanthan Gum); Organic Cocoa Powder (Processed with alkali); Grape Juice and Rice Syrup; Organic Eggs, Gluten-free Natural Flavor; Gluten-free Organic Vanilla; Grainless & Aluminum Free Baking Powder (Monocalcium Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cornstarch); Sea Salt; Xanthan Gum.

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Yummm, another example of peanut buttery perfection from Pamela’s products.

Each box contains nine cookies and boldy states on the packgaing that these cookies are “soft, chewy, nutty perfection.” These cookies are medium sized and just one or two is perfectly satisfying. The cookies have a really nice aroma and peanut butter flavor accented by bits of real chopped peanuts. The texture is suberb with no hint of grittiness or crumbling.

These cookies make a great substitute if you are not up to creating some great homemade peanut butter cookies in your own kitchen. Even my gluten-consuming kids love them with a glass of ice cold milk, and that’s a big deal. My only warning is to be careful of the fat and calories in each cookie, they can really add up.Perfection comes at a price, I guess.

Pros: great flavor and texture, yummy aroma, satisfying and chewy

Cons: Watch the calories and fat content!

Rating: 5 stars

Where Can I Buy These Yummy Cookies?

GlutenSolutions.com

ShopByDiet.com

INGREDIENTS: Peanut Butter (Peanuts and Salt); Molasses, Eggs, Rice Syrup and Grape Juice; Flour Base (Brown Rice Flour, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Sweet Rice Flour, Xanthan Gum); Dry Roasted Peanut Pieces, Gluten-free Natural Flavor; Baking Soda; Sea Salt.

I have used this mix to make bread with great success, so when I realized the packaging displayed a recipe for pizza crust, I knew I just had to try it.

Mixing the dough was not problematic. I easily shaped the dough on my pizza stone. To reduce stickiness I used GF canola oil spray on my fingertips. With this particular mix, I baked the crust naked first, then added toppings and baked it again until my cheese was bubbly and veggies appeared browned. For this pizza, it had a mexican flare, topped with cheddar, salsa and fresh veggies.

The bottom of the crust provided a decent crunch when consumed, with a softer, chewy center. I did not have any complaints about texture or appearance. However, my beef is with the taste. It was AWFUL. Yes, that’s right. AWFUL. This particlar mix is way too sweet for a pizza, in my opinion. I could barely choke down my first slice! Who would want a sweet flavored crust? I then remembered that the Pamela’s bread does have a mildly sweet flavor thanks to the evaporated cane sugar, honey and molasses. I was really disappointed.

Pros: nice texture

Cons:Â too sweet for a pizza with traditional toppings

Rating: 1 1/2 stars

Ingredients: Sorghum flour, tapioca flour, sweet rice flour, brown rice flour, organic natural evaporated cane sugar, chicory root, white rice flour, millet flour, molasses and honey, rice bran, sea salt, xanthan gum, yeast packet ( active dry yeast.)

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I purchased these cookies from my local natural foods store for $3.79;Â a 7.25 ounce box of 9 cookies. The cookies are medium sized and fairly thick- no thin and crispies in this box.

The box described these cookies as “sweet pecans mixed with lots of butter.” So true, and SO GOOD. These cookies are just as good, if not better, than any other shortbread cookie I have tried- even the “regular” gluten cookies. These cookies have a slight, but soft crunch to them and almost melt in your mouth. The pecans are generously sprinkled throughout the cookies and add a wonderful nutty sweet flavor. What I really liked about these cookies is that they are rich, but not overly sweet or sugary. There are no issues with texture or grittiness, just a really good cookie to enjoy.

Pros: wonderful buttery pecan flavor

Cons: Watch the calories! 130 per cookie!

Rating: 5 stars

Where Can I Buy These Cookies?:

Amazon.com

Glutensolutions.com

INGREDIENTS: Flour Base (Brown Rice Flour, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Sweet Rice Flour, Xanthan Gum); Butter (salted); Organic Natural Evaporated Cane Sugar; Pecans; Xanthan Gum; Gluten-free Vanilla Flavor.