Gfree Goodies

It's time for.... Gfree Haul #2... the October edition!

Anyway, this post is all about the snacks that I've been munching on this month and want to share with all of you lovely gfreers out there.

So, without further ado...

MUNCHIE 1: Glutino Chocolate Vanilla Creme Cookies

Even before I was diagnosed, I wasn't a frequent buyer or eater of Oreo cookies-but when I did get the chance to eat them, boy, did they satisfy my chocolate cravings! Let me tell you now that these cookies taste THE SAME as the regular Oreo cookies...so all you gfree Oreo fans out there, get excited to once again experience the crunchy, creamy dream of these chocolate cookies. Only thing with these cookies is that the sweetness ratio is still the same and I'm not a huge fan of foods that are too sweet, so I'll take out 1/2 point. Rating: 4.5/5

MUNCHIE 2: Trader Joes Crunchy Curls- A Potato Lentil snack

Okay, so this snack I'm divided about. The picture on the front looks incredibly good, but the product itself... meh, it's alright. It certainly deserves the title of being "crunchy" but these curls didn't wow my taste buds. They have a kind of peppery taste and you can definitely taste the lentils. The only thing I like was that the curls aren't dripping with oil like most chips- its light on oil so it will decrease your chance of getting heartburn while you're eating these. Conclusion: if you're not a fan of lentils or pepper, my advice is to stay away from these. But if you like the latter, and you happen to be vegan and gfree, well then, this may be the perfect snack for you!

Rating: 2/5 

MUNCHIE 3: Glutino Gluten Free Original Crackers

 I absolutely am in love with these crackers. I was always a big fan, in my gluten days, of those Carls water table crackers, and these totally have replaced them. These crackers are SO addicting. They have a bit of a sour aftertaste, that is not unpleasant (kinda like sourdough...?) and they are perfectly crunchy and just the right circumference to stuff the whole cracker in my mouth. Too bad the box only has two packages. I can easily finish one bag in one sitting and be tempted to open up the next one right afterward. These are a must try for all cracker fans and they work great as appetizers with different toppings- peanut butter, salmon, cheese, you name it!
Rating: 5/5

What are some awesome gfree snacks/food that you are eating this month and are raving about? Leave us a comment!

Okay, that's all for now! Keep checking back to see more updates on our blog- some recipes are coming up soon as well as new thought provoking articles and much more. T and I are working hard to get them out for you so please continue supporting us! :)

-Kris



Hi everyone!

I've noticed that our "Gfree Goodies" page has been quite lonely for some time now. So, in order to give it some more company, here are some awesome (and also not-so-awesome) gfree snacks and foods that I've tried that I want to share with you!

1) Trader Joe's Gluten free/Wheat free Waffles (Toaster Style) Rating: ****

Ever since my gluten free days, I have had some serious waffle cravings. But TJ's Gfree/Wheat free waffles more than satisfy my cravings! These waffles not only toast great but are also really similar to the Eggo waffle taste and texture. Of course, I bet these are a smidgen of a bit healthier, no? :P Add a bit of 100% pure maple syrup or honey and fruit and you're in for a yummy breakfast to start your day! I also like to sneak it some butter too, but for the health conscious, you should just skip that step! 

2)  Trader Joe's Mini Pancakes Rating: 1/2*

I was in the mindset that if the TJ's gfree waffles were good, the pancakes wouldn't be far off in star ranking, right?

I was oh-so-wrong about this one. Thinking back to when I was eating these, I actually feel apologetic to my poor taste buds and stomach who had to finish these off to avoid it sitting and rotting in the freezer. 

No matter how many different methods and cook times I tried to make these taste better, I ended up seriously disappointed. The mini pancakes always turned out incredibly gooey and gross inside even if the outside was super crispy. I think TJ should stop investing time in making these and stick to making waffles. 

3) Van's Frozen Gfree Waffles Rating: 1/2*

 I found these while I was browsing the frozen section at my local Winco, and I was curious to see if these would match up to my awesome experience with TJ's waffles. And.... 

I was disappointed. Again. 

You would think that these waffles and TJ's pancakes would discontinue because they taste so bad, but I guess some people think it's adequate. Well, I'm here to tell you that gluten free food has come a long way from it's nasty days and if it tastes bad, it literally tastes bad, and not because it's marked "gfree." Do yourself a favor and stay away from these, unless you like your waffles disgustingly soggy even after high heat in the toaster oven. 

4) EnviroKids Cereals Rating: ****

   You can count on my pantry always having some version of EnvrioKidz gluten free cereal. Why? Despite the fact that my local TJ's in Berkeley only carries a limited collection of gluten free cereal (and this happens to be one of them), EnviroKidz has never disappointed me in taste and texture. The cereal featured above is one that I eat ALL the time. And when I mean ALL the time, I mean, if it's in my pantry and it's open, chances are that it will be eaten everyday for breakfast, especially if I ran out of Udi's bagels and TJ's waffles of course! I reckon that EnviroKidz gluten free cereal tastes better and healthier than MANY other cereal brands that claim all these "healthy" things they put in their cereal. I don't think you have a good chance at convincing me otherwise especially if you compare this with Lucky Charms. Plus, all those smiling animals just put you in a good mood in the morning (unless you're scared of wild animals, of course!)

5) EnviroKidz Crispy Rice Chewy Bars Rating: 1/2*

Oh lord, if I had to eat another one of these crispy rice bars, I think I would become a diabetic. I thought these bars would taste similar to rice krispies (which are my favorite) but to my great disappointment, these are SO sweet. Way too sweet. And I have a sweet tooth!
These just taste artificial to me (which is odd because it's probably way better than actual rice krispy products) but I think I'll stick to making gluten free rice krispies at home than buy these again. Yay for the cute penguin though!

6) Midel's Cookies Rating: **

 I love cookies. Well, who doesn't, right? If you're looking for chewy cookies like those of Chips Ahoy and such, this is not the cookie for you. In fact, these cookies are the exact opposite.
Mi-Del's cookies (of which I tried the chocolate chip brand and ginger snaps) were, how to put this....meh. I could literally care less about these cookies. My sentiments are if it's in my pantry and open, I may or may not reach in and grab a cookie. I don't crave them and they don't have an amazing flavor that would make me jump up and down and advertise it on a poster on the street corner of my local supermarket. If you like crispy cookies with a definite crunch (oh the alliteration!), then I could suggest for you to try these, but if you're on the prowl for delicious cookies, I would skip these on your next shopping trip.

7) Pamela's Cookies Rating: ***

   So.. these are a definite step up on the gluten free cookie tower I've created in my mind. These cookies still have a crunch to them, but in the middle of the cookie, I have found the chewiness my heart desires. The flavors are awesome too! I only had one bad experience with these cookies in that my lemon shortbread ones were really stale when I opened the package and I had to throw all of them out. But other than that, I would buy these again to satisfy my cookie cravings.

8) Udi's Sandwich Bread Rating: ***

I miss bread. Not being able to eat that hot-out-of-the-oven artisan French baguette drives me nuts every time I pass it to buy some frozen gfree bread. But, you can't fight your own body (and honestly, if it was a fight between me and my body, it would be a losing battle.) So, I try to not breathe in the wonderful smells of that bread and focus on what I CAN eat. Thus, I find myself making a grab-and-go move where I snatch the gfree bread and make a run to the register while holding my breath so I don't breathe in the artisan gluten temptation! (Ah, I'm just kidding, but the scenario was quite action packed, was it not?) But in all seriousness, Udi's sandwich bread is exactly what you need if you want to make yourself a sandwich or eat some toast. Texture and taste is decent. It can't beat the artisan taste and texture, but it's a good alternative. If I had to name some negative parts of this bread, it would be that 1) It's tiny (estimate about 3.5"x 3"). Don't expect to get full on two pieces of bread that sandwich your sandwich and 2) The package is small 3) It's pricey and 4) It gets stale quickly so don't leave it for too long in your freezer. BUT, despite all the negativity, this sandwich bread is fairly good and worth a try.  

I realize now, after looking back on all the things I wrote down, that I seem like a very unhealthy eater. Just look at all the carbs!!

Anyhow, I hope that my reviews have helped some of you in your quest to find yummy gfree snacks/food. If you happen to have tried one of these and disagree with me, let me know! Also, if you have some other product that you would like to share with T and I that you've tried and you think is awesome, leave us a comment and we'll try it out next time we do a gfree food haul.

-Kris

Angie’s popcorn and Pamela’s Simplebites Ginger Mini Snapz 

Pamela's Ginger Snapz

White Cheddar Kettle Cor

Some of my favorite go-to gluten free snacks is the popcorn brand Angie’s and Pamela’s Gluten Free products!

Angie’s Kettle Corn is a nice substitute for my beloved and expensive PopcornopolisJ. I have tried all their flavors, but my ultimate favorite is Angie’s White Cheddar Kettle Corn. Sounds weird right, white cheddar with sweet kettle corn? The white cheddar is not super strong and in combination with the sweet crunch from the caramelized sugar it is the BEST combo! I highly recommend. 5/5

Perfect balance of sweet, creamy, & salty 

The brand Pamela’s Products is exclusively gluten free. I have tried some of their baking mixes and cookies and I have yet to have a disappointing experienceJ.

The Simplebites Ginger Mini Snapz were exactly that; very crunchy just like any regular ginger snap cookie. I give these cookies’s texture 5/5 because they remind me of real ginger snap holiday cookies. As for the gingery-ness, I give the Mini Snapz a 4/5 because although they were plenty gingery for me, they don’t pack a punch compare to other ginger snap cookies.

Crunchy yummy!

I also like to use these cookies for mini ice cream sandwiches. SOO GOOD, I wish I had one right now. Here’s a quick pic I managed to snap before I devoured the gingery melting goodnessJ. 

I couldn't really wait to take bite. 

Health Bar Ice Cream with Ginger Snapz. YUM

Happy Snacking,

- T 

Natural Food Works: Davis Gfree Bakery and Kitchen

Hello all!
I was rummaging through my freezer today and happened to stumble upon some frozen baguettes from Natural Food Works, a gfree bakery located in Davis, CA. Seeing as how I haven't reviewed this kitchen's products yet, I thought I would take the chance to talk a bit about them!

I was actually introduced to this small company and their products from my good friend who works at the UC Davis dining commons as the food manager (big shout out to Weilan, my best buddy! :) ). At their DC's, there is a small refrigerator that houses all sorts of gfree goodies that students can eat when they swipe in. Of course, I was jumping up and down with excitement when I saw this since most of Berkeley's DC's don't have this luxury. 

I periodically get a haul of leftover gfree food that will be thrown out if no one takes it, so I, of course, willingly offer my freezer for storage! ;) 

Since then, I've tried quite a few products from this bakery and have some thoughts about them. So, without further ado....

Cinnamon roll! :)

1. Cinnamon roll- 5 stars
-Great texture and taste; not overbearingly sweet and tastes even better after microwaving 30 sec then letting them sit in the toaster to get crispy around the edges and all warm and gooey in the middle. Oooo yummmy :)  

2. Baguette- 1 star
-Honestly, I was a bit disappointed with this bread. The taste didn't really light my taste buds on fire, and it doesn't toast amazing. The outside crust is an interesting rosemary flavor (I love rosemary, but I wasn't digging this taste). It's also pretty crumbly. I would take Mariposa's dinner rolls any day to this.  

Not the apple pie from Natural Food Works, but the gfree version tastes similar!

3. Apple Pie- 4.5 stars
-Who doesn't love pie? I seriously missed me some warm apple pie fresh from the bakery, but this gfree replacement will make up for that craving! The pie crust itself has a pretty nice buttery taste and when lightly toasted, the overall flavor was really similar to the old pies that I enjoyed in the past. Definitely recommend this to anyone who misses some old fashioned pie! Only complaint is that there's a top crust, but no bottom crust! Why that is, I have no clue. But, nevertheless, this apple pie is still pretty darn good. A side note: the pie comes in small containers instead of a whole pie. I'm certain you can buy a whole pie at the store location though! 

4. Carrot Cake- 5 stars
-I'm not the biggest fan of carrot cake, but the gfree version from Natural Food Works makes me think otherwise! Their carrot cake has a wonderful texture (similar to the inside of banana bread) and the frosting is simply sweet! 
5. Mushroom/Squash Ravioli- 3.5 stars
-I have mixed feelings about this product. The first time I had them, the ravioli filling burst out when I put them in boiling water from the frozen state, so I was stuck with a boiling pile of pasta bits and filling soup. It looked pretty gross. But I found out that the problem was that these raviolis have a very short shelf life. I realized this when I tried a different batch that was fresher, and the result was significantly better. If you plan on trying these, I would buy them fresh and eat asap. They really don't do that well if frozen for too long. The dough is a little chewy but the filling is tasty for both flavors. I would try them only if you can buy these fresh and if you plan to have them for a meal very soon after you purchase them.  
6. Brownie- 5 stars
-I love brownies! These brownies have a great fudge texture and no bean taste that lots of gfree brownies have. This is due to the fact that they use brown rice flour which has a great flavor and no nasty aftertaste. I highly recommend this if you have chocolate cravings like I do! (I can't live without my chocolate!!)   
7. Sugar cookies- 2 stars
- Maybe I give this the low rating because they didn't really do it for me, but there could be other reasons why these didn't make it to my top rated sugar cookies. These cookies were crumbly and overly salty for some reason- I mean, they're sugar cookies, why the hell are they so salty?? Ahem. Anyway, I would rather bake my own gfree cookies than eat these again. I ended up eating two and throwing the rest away. These could perhaps be better tasting if baked fresh at the bakery, but I don't expect to be eating these again anytime soon. 

Anyway, that's all I've tried so far. I might update this post again with Part 2 if I happen to try some other goods from their bakery/kitchen. These are only my personal experiences with these products, and so I encourage you to try them yourself and let me know what you think. I hope if you do try some of the products that I rated poorly, that your experience will be loads better! 

Until next post,
Kris



Popcornopolis

Roseville Galleria Location

I LOVE POPCORN. All types salty, savory, sweet, sweet & salty plus it’s naturally gluten free! Popcornopolis is an addiction guys so beware it is SO SO good, once you start eating it you can’t stop.

I’ve been gradually trying all the flavors and I have come to the conclusion that they are ALL good. My top picks is the Chicago 50/50 because you get the best of both worlds: the famous Caramel and Cheddar all in one, the Zebra is a fan favorite because everyone loves chocolate and popcorn, the Sourcream & Onion and Poppa Parmegiana are similar but good, and the rest of their gourmet popcorn are all decadent and luxurious.

Chicago 50/50

Famous Zebra Popcorn

Premium Popcorn: Cupcake Flavor, which I highly recommend.

Whenever I go to the Galleria Mall in Roseville CaliforniaI always have two mandatory stops: FOREVER21 and POPCORNOPOLIS.

Good stuff, good stuff go try some now!

- T



Glutino Pretzel Twists

Who doesn’t like pretzels?!

Crunchy and salty, perfect when you have the munchies!

The brand Glutino makes a ton of gluten free snacks: Pretzel, cookies, wafers, crackers, granola bars, frozen meals, breads, glazed donuts (LOVE), and a variety of baking mixes. 

I think these pretzels are going to be a staple in my pantry. In California the chain grocery store, Grocery Outlet, was having a huge sale on these pretzels! $1.99 for a family pack! Sign up on Glutino’s website and they send you coupons on any GLUTINO product, now that’s what I call a bargain J
Sometimes for a heartier snack I like to dip them in peanut butter. They taste just like the peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets that you find in the grocery store! Delish J

 Sign up @ Glutino’s Website for coupons:

 http://www.glutino.com/

What’s your favorite gluten free snack?! Salty? Savory? Sweet?!

Happy snacking!
- T


The Joy of Udi's!

Hello all!

I'm actually feeling quite in a good mood (my grades came back and I didn't totally fail!) so now I would like to take the opportunity to blog about what else puts me in a fantastic mood.

That's right: Udi's Bagels.

Now, before I was diagnosed and all, I really didn't like the taste of bagels. Well, it couuuld have been that small little thing called gluten that was making my tummy churn like crazy, BUT we're talking taste here.

Bagels were not really my thing, and I didn't enjoy eating them.

But now, my distaste for bagels has made a full turnaround!

Udi's Bagels are light, chewy, and not crumbly at all. They are even more delicious when lightly toasted and spread with some cream cheese. Oh boy, I'm getting hungry and I just ate a bagel!

I would highly recommend not only the Udi's bagels but also some of their other products. They have pizza crusts, cookies, bread, and also hamburger buns. Also, if you subscribe to their newsletter via email you can get coupons for your next Udi's purchase! (If you're a student going gfree like me and you don't have much cash to spare, you're gonna want to get the coupons.) Udi's products, like all gfree brands, are marked up from regular food items so if you want to have the Udi's taste experience (and don't want to go broke buying all of it once you've tasted one bite) then I would highly suggest trying to save money in any way possible!

EAT ME! :)

Look for more gfree product reviews in the near future. Until then, happy bagel eating! haha. ^^


Alternative Baking Company: Gluten Free Cookies Pumpkin Delight & Lemon Dream

What’s a gluten free snack staple on Sac State’s campus?

Alternative Baking Companies COOKIES!

Pumpkin Delight

 So far I have tried Pumpkin Delight and Lemon Dream, but they also have other yummy flavors like Coconut Fantasy and Fudge Indulgence.

Rating: 3.5/5

 The overall flavor is there. The pumpkin delight has pumpkin spice and the lemon delight cookie was plenty lemon-y, but I could still taste the garbanzo bean flavor that a lot of gfree products have. The texture is soft and chewy so if you’re looking for a buttery shortbread-like cookie this is NOT the cookie for you.  

However it’s still a great sweet treat alternative for gluten free people, and with a cup of coffee it makes studying more bearable!  LOL    

xoxo,

T