Gluten Free Chips: RW Garcia Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips - Product Review #99

Gluten Free Chips: RW Garcia Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips

 PRODUCT NAME:                        Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips

BRAND:                                        RW Garcia

COST:                                           $3.49

SIZE:                                             7oz        

COST PER OZ:                              $0.50 

                                               

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            GFCO

ORGANIC:                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            QAI

VEGAN:                                        YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              San Jose, CA & Lincolnton, NC

SHELF LIFE:                                  6 Months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:
RW Garcia’s Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips are the perfect gluten free snack.  Finally, a gluten free snack that is not only good for you, but tastes great too!  The other week, the manufacturer sent us a few packs of these delicious chips that completely won over the taste buds our staff. 

RW Garcia’s Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla Chips come in 4 flavors; Soy, Spice, Thai, and Blue Flax.  The soy flavor is similar to a regular tortilla chip, the Spice flavor is a slightly smoky savory flavor and the Thai flavor is a sweet and spicy flavor.  There’s a flavor for everyone.  A lot of times, chips are salty and have way too much flavor powder on them.  They end up being way too salty.  You won’t find that here with these RW Garcia Flaxseed and Corn Tortilla chips.  Each chip is perfectly seasoned with just enough flavor powder so you still taste the natural taste of the flaxseed and corn.  The texture is great too.  We saw very few broken chips in the bag.  They are crispy and firm and do very well with dips. 

Nutrition Facts for Thai Flavor

The chips tasted great and we were even happier when we saw how healthy these chips are.  With just 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, no cholesterol, 80mg of sodium and 2 grams of protein per serving for the Thai flavor, these are actually really healthy.  The spice flavor has similar nutrition facts, but an even more impressive 5 grams of protein.  The Soy flavor has just 50 mg of sodium and an impressive 5 grams of protein.  Similar chips flavored tortilla chips I’ve seen have well over 200 mg of sodium per serving, so it’s surprising to see that this one has under 80mg.  These chips also contain flaxseed, which is known to be very healthy.  It is probably the reason for the high protein content.  It also makes these chips a great source of Omega-3s with over 500mg per serving.

Overall, we loved these chips.  They taste great, they have great texture and they are healthy.  Priced just a little higher than your typical flavored tortilla chip, it isn’t a bad value either for such a high quality snack.  For more information about these chips and for store locations, visit their website at: www.rwgarcia.com.

Taste: This chip packs great flavor and texture in a very healthy snack form.

Labeling:  Great labeling that is very easy to read.  These chips are also certified organic and gluten free.  One thing we saw on here that we’ve never seen before is the high capacity barcode on the back that brings you to great recipes for these chips. 

Packaging:  Sealed chip bag

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              4.3

 

Reviewed 3/30/11 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Pasta: Hodgson Mill Brown Rice Penne with Milled Flax Seeds - Product Review #98

Gluten Free Pasta: Hodgson Mill Brown Rice Penne

PRODUCT NAME:                       Penne with Milled Flax Seeds

BRAND:                                      Hodgson Mill

COST:                                         $3.39

SIZE:                                           8oz                        

COST PER OZ:                            $0.42/oz                          

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

VEGAN:                                      YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            USA

SHELF LIFE:                               30 Months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:
We have tried many gluten free pastas here in our studio.  There have been white rice pastas, brown rice pastas and corn pastas, but we’ve never seen any made with flax seeds.  That’s exactly what makes Hodgson Mill’s Brown Rice Penne pasta so special.  Not only is it made with brown rice, but it is also made with Golden Milled Flax Seeds.  Hodgson mill sent a few packs of this pasta to us the other week and when we received them, we were really excited to try it out. 

Cooking this pasta up is as easy as any other pasta.  Just boil it in for 4-6 minutes and it’s ready to be tossed with your favorite pasta sauce.  Although I served I didn’t follow their serving suggestion, Hodgson Mill has included a Greek Pasta Salad recipe on the back of the box.  We decided do something a little uncommon with this pasta.  We decided to toss it with some roast duck.  The flavor of the duck is really strong and there is tons of oil that comes out of the duck that is perfect for coating pasta like this.  It was delicious.  The pasta had a good texture.  It was a soft, but just a tad grainy.  I’m not sure if this was caused by the brown rice or the milled flax seed, but it wasn’t very noticeable.  The flavor of the pasta was also pretty good, although the duck sauce might have some part in that. 

Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

As far as pastas go, this one was pretty healthy too with just 209 calories, 1 gram of fat, no cholesterol and no sodium.  The flax seed in this pasta make it a great source for omega 3 oils, which you might know helps lower cholesterol and boosts immunity among many other benefits.  Hodgson Mill is dedicated to doing something special for all of their customers, as their box says.  They put a lot of care in their products.  Not only is this pasta produced in a strictly maintained gluten free facility, but they also test each batch using the ELISA Gluten Assay test to ensure that you are truly getting a gluten free product. 

Overall, we liked this pasta a lot.  It’s gluten free, it’s kosher, it’s produced in a gluten free facility and it has a lot of health benefits.  What’s not to like about it.  For more Hodgson Mill products or for a list of retail locations, visit their website at: www.hodgsonmill.com.  

Taste: This pasta was good.  It had good flavor and other than being just a little grainy, it had great texture as well. 

Labeling: The labeling on this package was very clean and simple.   

Packaging:  Pasta packaged in a recycled paperboard box

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s 

other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                  4             

Taste:                      5             

Value:                     3

OVERALL:               4

Reviewed 3/25/11 by Calvin C. 

Interesting Articles: Gluten Free Restaurants in San Francisco

Over the weekend, a friend of ours sent us an article he saw in the SF Chronicle written by Beth Winegarner who happens to be gluten intolerant herself.  The article, titled "Gluten-Free Gastronomy in San Francisco" talks about gluten free options in San Francisco restaurants.  Once non existent, gluten free options in restaurants are now growing.  Beth points out several restaurants in San Francisco with gluten free options and some that are even completely gluten free.  Check out the article at: SFGate: Gluten-Free Gastronomy in San Francisco

Gluten Free Pasta: Tinkiyada Organic Brown Rice Penne Pasta - Product Review #97

Gluten Free Pasta: Tinkiyada Brown Rice Penne

PRODUCT NAME:                        Organic Brown Rice Penne

BRAND:                                       Tinkyada

COST:                                          $4.49

SIZE:                                            12oz

COST PER OZ:                             $0.37/oz                              

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

ORGANIC:                                    NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

VEGAN:                                        Unknown

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:              YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             Canada

SHELF LIFE:                                3 Years                 

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.      
     

REVIEW:
Tinkyada out of Canada is a company that is dedicated to making good tasting rice pasta.  They specialize which means that all of their machines are dedicated to process only rice and no other grain or cereal.  Not only is this pasta gluten free, but it is also corn free, egg free, dairy free, casein free, meat free, soy free, nut free and peanut free.  It’s the perfect allergy friendly pasta. 

Cooking this pasta is just as easy as cooking any other pasta.  All you need to do is it on medium-high for 16-17 minutes.  The cooking time seems a little high compared to other pastas, but it was surprisingly accurate.  The package claims that this pasta is not mushy, is al dente, and has good consistent texture.  All of these statements are accurate.  As long as you follow the directions, you will have consistent pasta every time. 

The taste and texture of the pasta was perfect.  This pasta is made of brown rice and you can tell right away.  Usually, pasta is really bland and really doesn’t taste like much, but this one had tons of flavor.  This pasta had the distinct, slightly sweet, brown rice flavor.  The texture was spot on too.  We were afraid that we overcooked the pasta with such a long cook time, but it held up perfectly.  It was firm, yet chewy and held its form.  The package was right; it was al dente, not mushy and had good consistent texture. 

Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

Overall, we loved this pasta.  It was everything you can ask for in a pasta; great flavor, good consistency and good texture.  With 200 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and just 25mg of sodium per serving, this is a fairly healthy pasta too.  The only downside is that it is a little pricy at $4.49 for a 12oz package.   

Taste: This is a great tasting pasta with good texture.  It is definitely one of the best we’ve ever had.   

Labeling: There is a lot of writing on this packaging.  While it can get confusing at times, it is all there for informational purposes. 

Packaging: Vacuum sealed plastic packaging. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    3             

OVERALL:              4.3

Reviewed on 3/24/11 by Calvin C   

Weekend Edition Hot off the Press #16: Shelf Life of Gluten Free Products

After you peruse the grocery aisles and take home your favorite gluten-free foods, have you noticed that some of them spoil much faster than their gluten-containing counterparts? Believe it or not, besides being tasty, food is a science. Even though they're sometimes unrecognizable on the label, every ingredient has a purpose. When food manufacturers make a gluten-free version of a food, it changes the entire recipe, and can affect the shelf life as well.

Gluten-free bread is one food that is most susceptible to spoilage. Since bread's main ingredient is wheat flour (i.e. tons of gluten), food producers must use various combinations of gluten-free flour to create breads for the gluten intolerant community. The issue is that these newly substituted flours may spoil faster than wheat flour if they are left in the wrong environment. For example, both brown rice flour and soy flour contain more oil than wheat flour. If more fat is present in the flour, then its chances of going rancid quickly increase. Another flour made from millet is sometimes used in GF breads. This flour won't necessarily go rancid, but it will cause the bread to absorb more moisture if it's left out. Added moisture is one factor that can also make food spoil (think about how long dried fruit lasts).

Usually, gluten-free breads should last about seven to 10 days at room temperature. This shelf life is usually true for other flour-containing GF products, too, like cookies or cakes. If you want your foods to last longer, then place them in the fridge or freezer and only thaw out the serving you need each time. Freezing the bread should extend the shelf life by months.

If you are searching for longer lasting gluten-free foods, then try to shift your focus to foods where no flour substitutions have been made (e.g. not breads). Obviously there are plenty of gluten-free foods that occur naturally. Eat foods like nuts, fruits, lean meats, or dairy products and store the foods as you usually would.

By Julia L.  

Gluten Free Mixes: Sof'ella All Purpose Baking Mix - Product Review #96

Gluten Free Mixes: Sof'ella All Purpose Baking Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                     All Purpose Baking Mix

BRAND:                                    Sof’ella Gourmet Natural Foods 

COST:                                      $5.10

SIZE:                                        16oz

COST PER OZ:                          $0.32/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:        NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

ORGANIC:                                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         N/A

VEGAN:                                     OPTIONAL

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:          UKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          CALIFORNIA

SHELF LIFE:                              2 Years                        

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Man, it’s difficult to find good pancake mixes that aren’t gluten free. We’ve reviewed Sof’ella products before, so I was excited to bust open this beautiful box of mix  that they sent to us to try– their chocolate cake was lusciously moist and super satisfying.  The Sof’ella crew got it right again with this all-purpose baking flour, which promises to create everything from fluffy pancakes to cookies to gorgeous muffins.

The brand promises products that are “both rich and moist without the gritty or artificial taste associated with most gluten free flours.” Not to be cheesy, but they’re pretty right on.  I made the amount of batter recommended in the instructions on the back of the box, which turned out to be immense. I proceeded to make one large, fluffy pancake that morning then saved the remaining batter for a family breakfast the next day. The batter managed to feed a family of three multiple pancakes – and I’m pretty sure I could have stretched the batter out even more with a couple of tablespoons of water.

The batter called for one large egg, 1½ cups of water and 1 tablespoon of oil. With an egg substitute or two egg whites, you could have a stack of cakes virtually free of fat, cholesterol and animal byproducts. The batter was thick, and became even thicker overnight, which had an impact, obviously, on the girth and texture of the cake. While I prefer a more hefty meal, some diners requested that the batter be made thinner – simply a matter of personal preference.  In terms of value, the amount of batter was substantial, and there is still enough mix in the bag for another round, though probably not enough for cookies or muffins.

I primed a nonstick pan with butter before doling out a mound of batter. The mix was thick enough that I had to smooth and flatten it into a pancake shape with the spatula. The box recommends that you watch for little bubbles to form on top before you flip, just like normal pancakes, but don’t wait too long. I saw a few bubbles, but not nearly the amount you would see with traditional batter.

Pancakes made with Sof'ella Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Mix

I simply peeked underneath for that golden brown color, and flipped when I thought it sufficient. All in all, one medium-sized cake took about 3-4 minutes. The butter really soaks in during the cooking process to create a fantastic crunch, so I didn’t add any more once the cake was cooked. A couple tablespoons of jam or syrup, and you’re good to go.  The taste was simply amazing. Sweet hints of vanilla even suggest a faint trace of buttermilk, although there is no such ingredient in the mix. Heck, there isn’t even milk! Even with such a thick pancake, the inside was fully cooked and fluffy as can be. The texture wasn’t gummy or gritty, and it soaked up the syrup perfectly.  Both family members (disclaimer: they are not gluten intolerant and unused to the unique tastes and textures of alternative flours) thought the cakes were “surprisingly good,” and truly enjoyed their meal. When asked if they wanted seconds, both refused, but I prefer to think that two pancakes were more than filling and they just couldn’t eat another bite.

Not that I’m a calorie counter, but I loath to eat heavy breakfasts. To me, eating heavily in the morning slows things down for the entire day. Plus, I like food so much and I prefer to spread meals out into several delicious encounters throughout. So, my favorite part of Sof’ella’s pancakes have to be the ingredients. The mix itself contains zero fat and only 200 calories per 8-inches of prepared pancake. With a small amount of butter and a bit of jam, this is a piping hot, delicious breakfast that I can whip up quickly without feeling weighed down.

Pancakes are no longer a Sunday-only meal! Batter can even be prepared the day before and refrigerated overnight. With a slather of peanut or almond butter and a drizzle of honey, this might just be a new pre-workout ritual.

Check out www.sofellafoods.com for recipes and high altitude baking tips. 

Taste: Fabulous crunch on the outside, with a fluffy center. The batter contains just the right traces of vanilla and buttermilk, which is strange because buttermilk is not on the ingredient list.

Labeling: Beautiful photo of all the potential baked goods one could make from this base on the front of the box: pancakes, muffins, waffles and cookies. While I have only tried the pancakes, I do believe all things are possible with this sweet flour. Ingredients and directions are easy to read. Their Web site is also super navigable and highly recommended for tips and

Packaging: Paper bag in a cardboard box. Both are recyclable and the bag is easily sealed with a clip, ready for later use.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:               5

Taste:                   5

Value:                  4

OVERALL:            4.7

Reviewed 3/24/11 by Mallory L.

Gluten Free Cookies: WOW Lemon Burst Cookie - Product Review #95

Gluten Free Cookie: WOW Lemon Burst Cookie

PRODUCT NAME:                          Lemon Burst Cookie

BRAND:                                         WOW Baking Company

COST:                                           $9.00 (6-pack)

SIZE:                                             2.75oz each 

COST PER OZ:                              $1.50/cookie $0.54/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:            YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             GFCO

ORGANIC:                                     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             N/A

VEGAN:                                         NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              Washington

SHELF LIFE:                                 21 Days

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:
WOW Baking Company has an entire line of delicious Certified Gluten Free baked goods.  The other day, WOW Baking Company sent us their new cookie, Lemon Burst, to try.  What started off as a seasonal flavor for spring and summer has been such a big hit, that it is now available year round.  WOW Baking Company describes it as a light and soft baked cookie with a refreshing burst of lemon flavor.  This is a perfect description of this cookie and boy is it delicious. 

The flavor of lemon is a very strong flavor that can be very tricky to master.  After tasting this cookie, it looks like WOW Baking Company has done just that.  The flavor of the cookie is great.  It’s basically a sugar cookie with just a hint of lemon citrus flavor.  WOW uses lemon oil to flavor, rather than pieces of lemon or lemon zest, to flavor this cookie.  I think this was a great choice.  Instead of the strong lemon flavor, you end up with just the aroma of lemons.  Combine that with the light and soft texture of the cookie and you’ve got a home run here.  WOW uses their special gluten free flour in these cookies, which is a blend of brown rice, sweet rice and tapioca.  The texture of the cookie is most like that of a butter cookie.  It is soft, moist and extremely light.  It almost has the texture of a fine cake.   

Overall, we thought this cookie was excellent.  After having one, you’ll know right away that it’s one of those cookies that you will end up craving because it’s so good.  This is probably one of the best tasting gluten free cookies I have ever had and at $1.50 each for a fresh baked cookie, it’s actually a pretty decent value.  The shelf life is pretty impressive too at 21 days.  It might not seem like much, but you have to remember that this is a fresh baked cookie.   For a full list of retail locations or more information regarding this cookie, visit WOW’s website at: www.wowbaking.com.

Taste: The taste of this cookie is very refreshing.  It is basically a sugar cookie that has a slight hint of lemons.  The cookie itself is great too.  It is extremely light and soft much like a butter cookie and cake hybrid.    

Labeling:  The labeling on this cookie is very simple.  Everything is on 2 stickers; one of the logo and one of the ingredients.  One thing that I noticed was missing was the nutrition facts, which can be found on their website. 

Packaging:  This cookie is individually wrapped in plastic. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    4

OVERALL:              4.7

Reviewed 032111 by Calvin C. 

Gluten Free Pizza: Conte's Gluten Free Pizza Shells - Product Review #94

Gluten Free Pizza: Conte's Gluten Free Pizza Shells

PRODUCT NAME:                       Gluten Free Pizza Shells

BRAND:                                      Conte’s

COST:                                         $5.99

SIZE:                                           2 Shells                

COST PER SHELL:                      $3.00

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

VEGAN:                                       NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            New Jersey

SHELF LIFE:                               Up to 1 Year Frozen

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:

Conte's Pizza Shells with Sausage and Green Onions

Yesterday, we posted a review of a pizza crust we had tried.  What we left out was that we actually tried 2 different pizza crusts that day; the other was Conte’s Gluten Free Pizza Shells.  Conte’s calls them shells and Udi’s calls theirs crusts; really these two terms can be used interchangeably.  Conte’s sent these to us a couple months back and they have been sitting in our freezer for the perfect occasion to review them.  Much like Udi’s pizza crusts, Conte’s pizza shells also come in packs of 2 however the Conte’s ones are a little larger at 10” a piece.  So how did these pizza shells stack up against the competition?

We prepared these pizza shells exactly the same way as we prepared the Udi’s version.  First we spread a layer of gluten free pizza sauce over the shell then topped it with cheese, chicken sausage and green onions.  The cooking directions call for baking these pizzas in a 425 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.  We opted to stick with the lower temperature of 375 degrees like the Udi’s version because we were afraid it would burn and it paid off.  The pizzas were baked for about 10 minutes and they came out perfectly done. 

There are many different types of pizzas.  There’s thin crust, thick crust, stuffed crust, bread stick crust and the list goes on and on.  Then of course, there are different textures to pizza as well.  You might like your pizza crispy, doughy or maybe a combination of both.   Conte’s pizza shells are very unique.  It contains several different traits.  First off, it is definitely a thin crust pizza; the pizza is probably about a half inch thick.  Then we go into the texture of the pizza.  It is all going to depend on how you cook the pizza.  We cooked it at 375 for about 10 minutes.  The bottom came out slightly browned and crispy, but when we bit into the pizza, the crust was also doughy.  It was much chewier than the Udi’s version; not in a bad way though.  Whether you like this pizza dough or not will all depend on how you prefer your pizza.  If you prefer a pizza that is crispy almost like a chip, you may or may like this pizza.  If you’re a fan of doughy yet crispy pizzas, you will love this pizza crust.   

In our research about these pizza shells, we found several other reviews for this product.  A lot were good, but there were some that weren’t so good.  The main complaint was that these pizza shells arrived broken.  We inspected our shells when they arrived and we did notice some small cracks in the crusts, however it maintained its overall shape fairly well.  My recommendation to Conte’s would be to add a piece of cardboard to the packaging so that the shells will not bend as easily and keep their shapes better. 

As far as nutrition goes, we know that pizza isn’t always the best for you and that you should always practice portion control when eating it.  While this pizza isn’t the worst thing for you, in fact it has only 1 gram of fat per serving, which is pretty good.  What concerned us a little was the 330mg of sodium per serving.  The serving size is 1 slice and there are 8 per container so that means a quarter of a pizza shell contains 330mg of sodium.  That means 1 whole pizza shell contains 1320mg of sodium. This is a pretty high number, but you also have to remember that we haven’t even accounted for the pizza sauce, the cheese and other toppings that are also usually high in sodium.  So here’s a tip, when making a pizza like this, make sure you look at the nutrition facts of the crust and the toppings you plan to put on it and of course, when enjoying your creation, practice portion control. 

Taste:  The taste and texture of this pizza crust were pretty good.  It is best suited for people who prefer a doughy crust although if baked correctly, it can also be crispy. 

Labeling:  The labeling on this package was very simple.  It consisted of 2 stickers, one of the product label and the other of the nutrition facts. 

Packaging:  The packaging was very minimalistic.  The pizza shells were just shrink-wrapped.  I think the addition of a cardboard backing would help provide the necessary support to keep the shells intact. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 4                             

Taste:                     4             

Value:                    4

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed 3/23/11 by Calvin C.

Gluten Free Pizza: Udi's Gluten Free Pizza Crusts - Product Review #93

Gluten Free Pizza: Udi's Gluten Free Pizza Crusts

PRODUCT NAME:                         Gluten Free Pizza Crusts

BRAND:                                        Udi’s Gluten Free Foods

COST:                                          $5.00

SIZE:                                            2 Pizza Crusts (8oz)

COST PER OZ:                             $2.50/pizza crust ($0.63/oz)

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:            YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             GFCO

ORGANIC:                                     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             NA

VEGAN:                                         NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              Colorado

SHELF LIFE:                                  Up to 6 Months Frozen

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:

When you hear Gluten Free Pizza, what do you think of?  After tasting a pizza we made using Udi’s Gluten Free Pizza Crusts, it has me thinking Udi’s.  A few weeks back, Udi’s Gluten Free Foods sent us a pack of their Gluten Free Pizza Crusts to try.  The pizza crusts come in packs of 2 and have a shelf life of 7 days on the counter, 21 days in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer.  It is just a pizza crust so you have full control over what toppings you want to put on it.  It is a great base to start with. 

I have never made a pizza before, but making this one was easy.  The hardest part was probably deciding what toppings to put on the pizza.  After a little thought, we decided to make a chicken sausage pizza with garlic and sautéed green onions.  After spreading gluten free marinara sauce on the pizza, we sprinkled 3 cheeses over the pizza.  Finally we spread the pieces of chicken sausage over the pizza and topped it with sautéed green onion.  We cooked the chicken sausage beforehand so really all we needed to do was to melt the cheese.  We tossed the pizza in the oven at 375 degrees for roughly 5-7 minutes just like the packaging instructed.  A little tip, we decided to brush a little olive oil on the bottom of the pizza crust so it would be crispy and also to prevent burning.  We ended up with a delicious pizza that was extremely crispy.

The best word to describe this pizza is crispy.  If you’re a fan of crispy thin crust pizzas, then this is the pizza crust for you.  It doesn’t even matter if you’re on a gluten free diet it or not; you will enjoy this pizza.  What separates this pizza crust from many of the other, gluten free or not, is the fact that the Udi’s dough is very light.  This pizza crust is made with a blend of tapioca starch, brown rice flour and potato starch.  It is probably the lightest pizza I have ever had.  Bite into it and you will notice right away that this is something special.  The texture is just so light and airy.  Flavor wise, it is good too.  You won’t find any weird aftertaste with this pizza. 

Overall, we loved Udi’s Gluten Free Pizza Crusts.  This is definitely something I would buy to eat at home.  It has a texture I have never seen with any other pizza I have tasted.  Comparing this pizza crust to other on the market, at just $2.50 per crust it’s a great value for such a good product.  If you’re a fan of light crispy pizzas, do yourself a favor and try this pizza crust.  For a full list of retail locations, visit Udi’s website at: www.udisglutenfree.com.

Taste: Udi’s makes great gluten free pizza crusts.  They are extremely light and crispy and have just the right amount of flavor, letting the toppings do the rest of the work. 

Labeling:  The labeling on this package is very simple.  Like on their other packages, Udi’s Gluten Free Foods utilizes little labels showing that the product is gluten free, dairy free, soy free and nut free.  On top of that, this product is also certified gluten free, certified kosher and contains 8g or more whole grain per serving. 

Packaging:  The packaging is very minimal.  The pizza crusts are placed in a plastic bread bag that is tied at the top with a bag clip.  I had concerns that it wasn’t enough protection in the freezer, but it proved to hold up perfectly fine as I tasted no freezer burn in the pizza. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5                             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              5

Reviewed  3/21/11 by Calvin C.

Interesting Articles: Quinoa's Global Success Creates Quandary in Bolivia

We were reading the New York Times and we ran across an interesting article titled, "A Food's Glabal Success Creates a Quandary at Home" by Simon Romero and Sara Shahriari.  The article talks about how the success of the highly nutritious quinoa grain has helped the incomes of some of the region's farmers, but had increased the price of quinoa to a level where many of the locals can no longer afford it.  It is an extremely interesting read and it can be found at: Quinoa's Global Success Creates Quandary in Bolivia

Gluten Free Tart: Crave Apple Frangipane Tart - Product Review #92

Gluten Free Tart: Crave Apple Frangipane Tart

PRODUCT NAME:                   Apple Frangipane Tart

BRAND:                                  Crave Bakery

COST:                                     $5.49

SIZE:                                       5.6oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.98/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

ORGANIC:                                Partial

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

VEGAN:                                    NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:         Designated GF Equipment

LOCATION OF FACILITY:          California

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:
We have seen a lot of good things come out of Crave Bakery’s kitchen. This Apple Frangipane Tart is no exception. Cameo Edwards brought it over to us a few weeks back to try and I’m glad she did. We didn’t get to try it before closing up shop for the holidays, so we decided to freeze it. It held up perfectly. As you may recall, we thought that the tart crust was a little too soft for our tastes. Being that the crusts on this tart was the same as the last. We attempted to firm the crust up a little by putting it in the oven for a few minutes. This did the trick. It firmed up the outer layer of the crust just enough to our liking.

If you’re wondering what a frangipane tart is, it is a tart with an almond flavored filling. This one was great. It had a nice light crust and a perfectly sweet filling. The aroma of the almonds was a nice added touch. Combine the gluten free crust and the tasty frangipane filling with some apples spread over it, and you have a great gluten free dessert alternative.

This is just one of Crave Bakery’s many gluten free treats. They are a company that specializes and really cares about providing the gluten free intolerant and the celiacs high quality baked goods. You can see it in her ingredients...she uses locally grown free range eggs and organic brown rice flour just to name a few. If that wasn’t enough, is dedicated to making sure there is the least amount of cross contamination in her products. Those of you with severe gluten allergies, you will be pleased to hear that Crave tests to 5ppm, which is higher than many certification agencies. They also make everything on dedicated gluten free equipment.

Those of you who are looking for a delicious gluten free dessert, look no further than Crave Bakery’s Apple Frangipane Tart. These tarts are good for just about everyone except for those of you that have allergies to eggs and tree nuts. If you enjoy a nice soft crust, enjoy it as is, but if you enjoy a firmer crust, take our recommendation of putting it in the oven for a few minutes to firm it up.

Taste: Despite being in the freezer for a couple weeks, this tart held up great. It had great almond flavor with just the perfect amount of sweetness. This time around, we decided to put it in the oven for a few minutes to firm up the crust, and it paid off as our mouths were greeted by a crust with great texture.

Labeling: Same labeling as found on Crave’s other baked goods. I didn’t notice it before, but they have actually put allergy information on the label to warn of potential allergy risks. Those of you with other allergies will appreciate that label.

Packaging: Great packaging that we have come to expect from Crave. We put it in the freezer and there was no weird freezer aftertaste so you know the package is doing its job to keep the tart fresh.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:          4
Taste:              5
Value:             3
OVERALL:       4

Reviewed 011211 by CC

Weekend Edition Hot off the Press #14: 2011 Natural Products Expo West

Natural Products Expo West

This past weekend, I got the opportunity to go down to Anaheim, California for the 2011 Natural Products Expo West held at the Anaheim Convention Center.  It is an annual event, this was the show’s 31^st, put on by New Hope Natural Media.  According to their website, www.expowest.com, it is the largest natural, organic, and healthy products trade show with over 3,000 exhibits and over 58,000 industry members in attendance.  The purpose of the show is to allow industry members to showcase and discover the newest products and latest trends in the industry. 

My first impression of the show was that it was HUGE!  I said the same thing about the Fancy Food Show here in San Francisco, but after seeing this show, I can say that that the Fancy Food Show was small in comparison.  While the Fancy Food Show had over 1,300 exhibitors in 2 halls, the Natural Products Expo West had over 3,000 exhibitors in 5 halls.  The show was split up into 8 sections: Hot Products Pavilion, Health and Beauty, Pet, Natural and Specialty Food, Natural Living, organic, supplements, and the Supply Expo.  It’s safe to say that there was something for everyone at this show.    

At this year’s show, gluten free was definitely a hot topic.  Just walking around the show, I overheard many people talking about the latest gluten free products they saw and making comments about how big of a showing Gluten Free was making at the show.  This is all good news at the show because it is a topic on the minds of many people.  This extra publicity will only help the gluten free product base grow and I can see that the future for gluten free products is bright. 

There were a lot of gluten free products at the show.  There were some familiar companies like Mary’s Gone Crackers, Bob’s Red Mill and WOW bakery, but there were also a lot that were new to me with very innovative and unique ideas.  One of the companies that stood out was Crunchies Natural Snacks who produces freeze dried fruits and vegetables and has these corn snacks that are basically freeze dried corn kernels that are healthy delicious.  Another company is Hodgson Mill who makes brown rice pasta made with flax seeds which is a good source of Omega-3 oils.  After a generation where we saw many unhealthy snacks created and still doing well, it’s nice to see that many companies are producing healthier alternatives.   It’s not to say that unhealthy snacks are going to vanish, but the public is a lot more educated and we are moving in the right direction.

Overall, I thought that the show was a valuable experience.  It allowed me to find a lot of gluten free products that I probably wouldn’t have found otherwise.  After seeing how big of a showing gluten free products had at this large show, I can’t help but be optimistic about the future for the gluten free community. 

Gluten Free Pasta: Lundberg Brown Rice Spaghetti - Product Review #91

Gluten Free Pasta: Lundberg Brown  Rice Spaghetti

PRODUCT NAME:                      Brown Rice Spaghetti

BRAND:                                     Lundberg

COST:                                       $3.95

SIZE:                                         10oz                      

COST PER OZ:                           $0.40/oz  

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          N/A

ORGANIC:                                  YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:          CCOF

VEGAN:                                      YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:           YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:           California

SHELF LIFE:                               1 Year

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:
The Lundberg Family Farms have been producing high quality rice products since 1937.  It’s no wonder they make some of the best rice products around today.  They have a large variety of products including rice, rice cakes, rice chips, risottos and pastas.  Recently, we picked up their Organic Brown Rice Pasta Spaghetti that just happens to be gluten free. 

Cooking this pasta is as simple as just boiling it in water.  I tested the cooking directions on the box and the cooking times were accurate.  The directions called for bringing 4 quarts of water in a large pot to a boil with the option of adding 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of oil.  The salt is to flavor the pasta a little and the oil is to prevent it from sticking together.  There are plenty of arguments for and against, but it’s really left up to you to make the final decision.  I will recommend that if you are on a low sodium diet, leave the salt out.  I decided to add the salt and oil in my cooking process.  The box directions say to boil the pasta for 9 minutes, or 8-9 minutes for al-dente, making sure to keep a rolling boil throughout the cooking process.  Following these directions, we ended up with perfectly cooked spaghetti. 

The important part of pasta is its texture.  If it’s too hard, it doesn’t absorb the flavor from the sauce enough and if it’s too soft, it falls apart and makes your bowl of pasta mushy and watery.  Lundberg’s Brown Rice Pasta is perfect.  It is soft enough so it chews very nicely and it absorbs the flavor from the sauce just right and it is firm enough that it maintains its form.  We tossed this pasta with some chicken pesto sauce with some parmesan cheese.  It was delicious. 

Overall, we thought that this pasta was great.  It is definitely something we would buy again.  It’s gluten free, whole grain and vegan.  What more can you ask for.  The only drawback to this pasta is that it is a little on the pricier side at $3.95 for a 10oz package, but you have to remember that this is a high quality product that is gluten free, kosher, non gmo, vegan, and organic; all of which are makings for a great pasta.

Lundberg Brown Rice Spaghetti Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

Taste:  The taste and texture of this pasta was great.  It was the perfect consistency to toss with pesto sauce, but I think it would do great with marinara or any other sauce you want to toss it with.   

Labeling:  The labeling on this package is great.  The graphics are nice and the font is easy to read. 

Packaging:  The pasta is sealed in plastic and then placed in a 100% recycled paperboard. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    2

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed 031611 by Calvin C.  

Gluten Free Cookies: WOW Oregon Oatmeal Cookie - Product Review #90

Gluten Free Cookies: WOW Oregon Oatmeal Cookie

PRODUCT NAME:                         Oregon Oatmeal Cookie

BRAND:                                        WOW Baking Company

COST:                                           $3.89

SIZE:                                            13 cookies / 8oz

COST PER OZ:                             $0.30/cookie $0.49/oz        

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            GFCO

ORGANIC:                                    NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

VEGAN:                                        NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             Washington

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:
After trying WOW Baking Company’s chocolate chip cookie and seeing how much we liked those, we decided to give their Oregon Oatmeal a try as well.  I’m not quite sure what Oregon Oatmeal is, but my best guess is that it is WOW Bakery Company’s own creation.  The packaging states that this cookie is “A new “TWIST” on an old favorite.”  By adding bits of cranberries and apricots they have improved a classic, and boy did they do a good job. 

Bite into this cookie and you’re truly in for a treat.  The cookie is soft and textured like your traditional oatmeal cookie.  The thing that surprised me was that this cookie was actually chewy.  Gluten is usually what makes a cookie chewy; the more gluten in it, the chewier it is.  WOW has obviously figured this out and has added chewy dried fruit to the mixture to make up for it.  You end up with a great tasting cookie with the perfect blend of textures.  I can honestly say that if I didn’t know prior to tasting it that it was gluten free, I would never have guessed it. 

Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

This cookie is all about balance.  As we talked about, the texture of the flakey gluten free cookie is balanced with the chewiness of dried fruit, but that’s not the only role the dried fruit is playing in this cookie.  The dried cranberries and apricots also play a big role in the flavor balance of the cookie.   Let’s face it, an oatmeal cookie on its own is pretty boring.  It has great texture and has some flavor, but in the end it is just an oatmeal cookie.  The addition of dried fruit to an oatmeal cookie is what makes it stand out.  WOW did their homework when selecting sweet dried apricots and tart dried cranberries.  The two balance each other very well and we all get to enjoy a great tasting oatmeal cookie that WOW has dubbed Oregon Oatmeal. 

After tasting this Oregon Oatmeal Cookie and their Chocolate Chip Cookie, we are becoming big fans of WOW Baking Company.  For a full list of retail locations or more information regarding this cookie, visit WOW’s website at: www.wowbaking.com.

Taste: This oatmeal cookie is the perfect balance of textures and the perfect blend of flavors.  It is a soft chewy cookie that is perfectly flavored with tart dried cranberries and sweet dried apricots.    

Labeling:  The labeling on this package is much like their packaging for their chocolate chip cookies.  The graphics are simple and clean.  One thing that I noticed about these cookies is that the “enjoy by” box is empty.  I’m not sure if it was missed or if you are supposed to fill it in yourself, but I think that is something the manufacturer should specify.      

Packaging:  WOW say that you should eat these cookies within 2 weeks if left out, but if frozen, they can last up to 12 months.  To make this possible, they have packaged their cookies in a freezer safe package. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    4

OVERALL:              4.7

Reviewed 031611 by Calvin C.