Everyday Product Review Part 3

Continuing on our theme, we have moved on to the final part of our product review posts- baking mixes and misc. products! We do tend to mix flours and make our own starchy sides from scratch, but we can't fool ourselves into thinking they taste just like their regular counterparts. And while we have gotten used to the unique tastes and textures that gluten free products take on, we know many of our friends and family still prefer the real deal. All of these products are so close to normal when prepared they are well worth any cost.

Part 1: Baked Goods

Part 2: Snacks

Pasta – Tinkyada - We went through quite a few gluten free pasta brands before settling on this one. We had originally received it as a gift from east coast relatives, but it has since shown up at the Safeway near us, so we no longer need it shipped! The ‘not mushy’ on the front of the package says it all- it doesn’t get soggy and break down over time, like many gluten free pastas.

Jason here. I love the “not mushy” it says on the front. These are a little more finicky to cook then regular pasta, but when done right they come just fine and of course, not mushy.

Brownie mix – Gluten Free Pantry Double Chocolate Brownie Mix - This was actually the first ‘gluten free’ product I purchased- seemed like a quick and easy option. They come out very moist and chewy, with tiny chocolate chips sprinkled throughout to give surprise bursts of flavor. We tend to keep a box in the pantry for last-minute gatherings.

Jason here. This chocolate brownie mix creates really good brownies quickly. The key part for me is that it is nearly zero work to actually make these, and they taste just like regular brownies. For a nice addition, I like to drizzle some chocolate syrup into the brownie ban just before putting it into the oven. This creates some interesting swirls and can sometimes leave chocolate syrupy areas.

Pancake Mix – King Arthur Gluten Free Pancake or Waffle Mix - Fantastically simple to whip up, perfect for a sleepy Sunday morning when you just want to enjoy the peace and quiet a bit longer. They come out fluffy, springy, and slightly sweet- just like what you would find at an old fashioned diner. If you feel like putting in the extra effort, figure out some add-ins like chocolate chips, blueberries, or pecans, or make some sort of fruit compote to top them. Worth the extra effort!

Jason here. One of my favorite breakfast items is chocolate chip pancakes. I don’t know why every restaurant doesn’t offer these, as all you have to do is add chocolate chips to the batter or drop them right in the pancake as it cooks. The pancake mix we used did make fluffy pancake that tasted great. However, making your own homemade pancake mix is fairly easy.

Everyday Product Review Part 2

Jason and Kayleigh here, moving on to part two of our gluten free food reviews.This part of the list is more about quick, grab and go snacks- something you can pick up in a grocery store (or convenience store, if you are lucky!) and enjoy without any muss or fuss. Food without any prep- a rare thing to find in the gluten free world!

Part 1- Baked Goods
Part 3- Baking Mixes and misc.

Pretzels – Glutino Pretzels - Really cannot think of much to say on these, since they taste just like any decent snack pretzel. Crunchy, salty, holds up well to dipping- a great addition to a snack stash for long vacations! They come in a couple different package sizes, too, so you can choose between the personal/travel size and the party bag- not something you can often say about gluten free snacks!

Jason here. I also don’t have much to say about the pretzels themselves. They taste identical to regular pretzels. I used to eat pretzel rods and dip them in Franks hot sauce, something I learned from my Dad.

Energy/protein bars – Luna Protein Bars - We’ve tried at least half of the brands out there, since these little guys are perfect for a breakfast on-the-go, and hold up pretty well in a purse/backpack. While I am hard-pressed to think of a truly bad tasting bar, the Luna Protein bars bring me back to my childhood, getting a Kudos or a granola bar for an afterschool snack. Combining a fantastic toothsome texture with a not too sweet flavor, then coating it all in rich chocolate- it almost feels like a dessert!

Energy/protein bars, second choice – Larabars - While these are not quite our top choice in flavor, Larabars win out for being the most widely available gluten free snack, found in pretty much every grocery and convenient store. The Apple pie flavor is our standout favorite (the flavor of the dried, lightly spiced apples is very prominent), but the other varieties with different dried fruits included are

Jason here. To be honest, the energy bars we’ve tried have not been super great. The flavors are okay, but the texture is just awful. The texture is something like super dense paste. They try to break it up with nuts sometimes, but it just doesn’t add enough. I won’t go too much into the flavors, because you find just about anything. My recommendation is go ahead and buy a variety and see which ones you like the most. Make sure to write those down so you don’t forget like me!

Granola bar – KIND bars - Even though you find these in the same aisle as the two above bars, they deserve a second category because of the vastly different texture, satisfying a different need. While Lunabars and Larabars are soft and chewy, KIND bars consist of whole nuts, fruits, and crispy bits with just enough honey to hold everything together. Grab these in place of a chewy granola bar next time you are on a hike- they pack a nutritional wallop, with well-balanced flavor to boot!

Jason here. These granola bars are great. Unlike the energy bars, these have a great crunchy texture. On top of that, I think they also taste better! Seriously, if you are looking for a quick snack on a trip I highly recommend these. I like to keep a few handy in the house just in case.

Crackers – Crunchmaster Gluten Free Crackers – Right up front- Jason is not a big fan of these. A bit too seedy and strong tasting for him, but Kayleigh appreciates their ability to scoop into heavy dips without breaking. They also go well as an accompaniment to soups- they just need a long while soaking for them to start softening up.

Jason here. Yeah I’m not a big fan. It’s not that they are bad crackers, it’s just I don’t like these type of seasoned crackers. Why use these with dips when I can use tortilla chips?

Everyday Product Reviews Part 1

Kayleigh here. When Jason was first forced into the gluten-free lifestyle, it was easy enough to just give up breads and pastas- after all, who wants to eat something they associate with two weeks of stomach twisting pain? But as time went on, and symptoms became a fuzzy memory, those cravings start to edge in.

Part 2- Snacks 
Part 3- Baking Mixes and misc.

Jason here. What I wouldn’t give to be able to just buy a random candy bar that strikes my fancy. Or eat that cookie that my co-workers have baked. Overall though, with some effort you can cook just about anything. Kayleigh often will surprise me with something home cooked, which I have been mentioning missing. My favorite so far was the homemade Twix bars she made.

While our baking and cooking repertoire was rapidly expanding through trial and error, it still took months before we were able to make a basic loaf of bread into something semi-edible. While we tried to avoid resorting to purchasing goods from the pricy pre-made section of the supermarket, it sometimes became necessary when our culinary efforts resorted in a BIG flop. So the following list is accumulated from our occasional splurges, or friendly/concerned relatives making sure we were still getting a balanced diet. I am not saying that these are absolutely the best of each category in the market- you will have to judge that for yourself. But I can guarantee that these products are at least quite enjoyably edible!

Sandwich Bread – Scharr’s Deli-style Bread- Now, we have tried quite a few gluten free breads from the supermarket. Most of the national brands are…okay. A bit dry, very small slices, but at least the taste is usually fine. But when we first got our hands on the Scharr deli bread, we thought it must be mislabeled. Moist, chewy, and full-sized- this was everything we had yet to find on the shelves! Just a plain, versatile sandwich bread. The only downside is the package size of five slices. You’ll just have to use the last one for toast. Or buy another package.

Jason here. The Scharr’s bread is certainly delicious, but also equally hard to find. Additionally, it is fairly expensive especially since it only comes with five slices. However, if you can find this bread in your local super market, I definitely suggest picking up a bag and making sandwiches for a week.

Bagels – Glutino Bagels - These have become our go-to breakfast for weekend mornings when neither of us feel like baking or cooking, or we have to be out the door fast and just do not have the time. I’ll be the first to say that they are not quite the same as a regular New York style bagel, but they do have a very enjoyable taste/texture all their own. Very filling, and fantastic for days where you are not sure when you’ll be able to stop and get a meal later.

Jason here. Bagels used to be a staple breakfast food for me. Growing up whenever I was over my Grandmom’s house she would toast up an onion bagel and cover it tons of butter. Ever since then I have eaten my bagels the same way, and it’s a nice happy memory for me. Unfortunately, we haven’t been successful in finding gluten free onion bagels, but have found some decent gluten free plain bagels.

Muffins – Udi’s - These muffins have been a lifesaver for last minute gatherings/parties for us. With their lovely dense texture and vibrant flavor, these are surprising equals to buying muffins off the bakery shelf. In fact, we tend to recommend them to people for emergency breakfast runs, since they don’t require any advanced prep, or a trip to a specialty store. We’ve heard their cinnamon rolls are equally good- we hope to be a judge of that soon!

Jason here. Mmm, I love the double chocolate muffins. They make for absolutely great quick breakfast on the run.