Gluten Free Mixes: Orgran Pizza & Pastry Multimix

Gluten Free Mixes: Orgran Pizza & Pastry Multimix

PRODUCT NAME:                      Pizza and Pastry Multimix

BRAND:                                     Orgran

COST:                                        $5.99

SIZE:                                          13.2 oz.

COST PER OZ:                            $0.45/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           Allergen Free International

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

VEGAN:                                      YES               

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            Australia       

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:

Nutrition Facts

Taste:  Pizza! Is this not the untouched promise land for a gluten free vegan?

Friends often use these delectable triangle shaped slices of delight as conduits for good times. Many late nights of the past have found me sadly sulking in pizzeria corners while companions indulged. I’ve gazed on wistfully and even found myself pondering the act of simply chugging the marinara sauce to satiate my craving. This thought was always second guessed by the distinct possibility that even the sauce could be sweetened with barley malt, a decidedly gluten rich ingredient- Boo! Just like alcohol or coffee, pizza is a social lubricant: it just makes fun times funner.  This is a food a simply needed to get in on.

Here in steps Orgran’s Pizza and Pastry Multimix. A bit of research revealed that this company offers a very extensive line of gluten free products and flour mixes. When given the opportunity to focus on the pizza dough mix for review I was ecstatic: get this girl up on that pizza train!

The product, to be clear, is a blend of flours and rising agents. One is instructed to add yeast, sugar, oil, and water, top with whatever ingredients they want on their pizza, and bake. I, personally, topped mine with homemade arugula pesto, balsamic marinated red onions, and olives. I imagine that a cheese and meat topped pie may produce different results. Please keep that in mind.

The taste of the dough itself was quite satisfactory. Before my gluten free days I became accustomed to the nutty, earthy taste of whole wheat products and this is definitely not that.  Orgran’s crust had a bit of a Wonder Bread appeal: not to imply that the product itself is overly processed, but simply to say that the taste recalled more on the bleached-white taste of pizza crusts I ate as a kid- you know, before the health freak adult in me decided to mostly eat whole grains. Most people would see this more generic white flour flavor as a plus-I know I did.

Labeling:    I found this product to have a confusing and excessive amount of text and directions. The box contained instructions in nine different languages and stated that most of the additional ingredients were “optional”. The oil measurement called for 0.7 ounces. When you find an average kitchen with a 0.7 ounce measuring device please let me know. I know that kitchen scales do exist, but as a lay person chef (like most of us) this device simply doesn’t exist in my home.

Packaging: The packaging seemed appropriate for the freshness of the product. It was a plastic bag encasing the flour in a recyclable cardboard 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:           3
Taste:               4   
Value:              3   
OVERALL:        3.3

Reviewed by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Mixes: Arrowhead Mills Brownie Mix - Product Review #101

Gluten Free Mixes: Arrowhead Mills Brownie Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                        Gluten Free Brownie Mix

BRAND:                                           Arrowhead Mills

COST:                                              $6.49

SIZE:                                                 17.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                               $0.37/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:         NO     

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         NA              

ORGANIC:                                       YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:         TEXAS DEPT OF AGRICULTURE

VEGAN:                                             OPTIONAL

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            UNKNOWN        

LOCATION OF FACILITY:           Boulder, CO       

*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:

Arrowhead Mills has played a vital role in the natural and organic baking market since 1960, so I was excited to try this gluten-free brownie mix – especially in such close proximity to our previous experience with Cherrybrook Kitchen's brownies.

I made the Arrowhead treats for my family, and tasted them periodically over 24 hours – directly out of the oven, the next morning and again after dinner – really trying to put my finger on what was bothering me about them.

But first – the baking process. This mix was simple enough to prepare, with ½ cup vegetable oil, two eggs (or egg substitute) and ½ cup water. A quick stir, a pour into the pan and we were done. The ingredients are similar to those in Cherrybrook's mix: evaporated cane juice, rice flour, potato starch and chocolate chips that contain things like chocolate liquor and cocoa butter.

However, I could not account for the strange "after-texture" (I'll get to this in a minute) of the Arrowhead brownies. Everyone who tried them agreed that the initial taste was great – not too sweet, with those special little melted chocolate chunks. Even the consistency at first was pretty amazing, with a soft chewy inside and that well-known crusty coating every brownie should have. This is different than my experience with Cherrybrook's mix, which resulted in powdery soft brownies that melted as they hit the tongue.

And then, in the middle of an enjoyable gluten-free, chocolate-laden experience, everything goes downhill. A strange aftertaste ensues, from what I'm assuming to be the natural flavoring. Hey, I'm a fan of natural sweeteners, but let's just be honest with ourselves, we're dealing with brownies here, not applesauce. In addition to the aftertaste, there is an after-texture that follows, with what appears to be a coagulation of mix. Tiny beads form in the mouth, evoking the thought of seeds (my sister actually thought there were seeds in the batter), and just as quickly as they appear, they dissipate.

It is, of course, possible that I didn't mix the batter long enough. But the more I thought about it, the less I understood the reason for it.

All in all, a chocolaty, chewy, satisfying brownie. I suggest using melted butter in the place of vegetable oil and maybe adding some nuts. In terms of value, you get quite a bit of brownie for your buck, so if the taste and texture are right for you, this mix will be a great staple for your gluten free repertoire.

Taste: Satisfying in the chocolate department. The tiny chocolate chunks were a highlight when the brownies were still warm from the oven. They weren't too sweet, which I enjoyed, but there was a strange "health food" aftertaste, which is due to the natural sweeteners, I suppose. Overall, I was left a bit wanting, probably due to the distracting texture.

Labeling: Labeling is well done, with pleasing graphics and easy to read copy. Directions are in 1, 2, 3 form and simple to follow.

Packaging: Plastic bag within a cardboard 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:                  2

OVERALL:        3.7

Reviewed 3/18/11 by Mallory 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.