Gluten Free Dumplings: Feel Good Foods Handmade Asian Style Shrimp Dumplings

PRODUCT NAME:                    Handmade Asian Style Shrimp Dumplings

BRAND:                                     Feel Good Foods

COST:                             $8.40

SIZE:                                           10.75 OZ 

COST PER OZ:                           $0.78             

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:        UNKNOWN

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

ORGANIC:                                  NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:        N/A

VEGAN:                                      NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:           NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:         NEW YORK, NEW YORK

SHELF LIFE:                                UNKNOWN

*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 several dumpling dinners my friends have enjoyed and I have had to sit out from, I was excited for my chance to enjoy safe, gluten free shrimp dumplings at home. Feel Good Foods makes their handmade shrimp dumplings with a wrapper made of a blend of sweet rice flour, rice flour, potato starch, and corn starch, these dumplings were savory, chewy, and not too filling. Since my celiac diagnosis, I have been taking steps to wean myself off of an eight-year long vegetarian diet so I can have more food choices instead of less. I am still a bit squeamish about eating any meat or fish, and I found Feel Good Foods’ Shrimp Dumplings not overwhelmingly fishy. They combined the shrimp with vegetables and herbs, like carrot, green onion, ginger, garlic, and cilantro to make a savory, well balanced filling. The provided dipping sauce tasted like tamari with a bit of a kick. It was dressed up with a little added ginger, garlic, and black pepper to dress it up a little bit.

My only gripe with this product was the instructions for preparation. It says the dumplings should be placed in a non-stick pan with 3/4 of a cup of boiling water (which will turn milky in color and texture as the dumplings cook) where they would sit and steam with a lid on, for approximately 13 minutes. The water was supposed to evaporate. However, when I prepared the dumplings, the water never evaporated; instead it turned into a thick, white, glue-like paste. Upon second glance of the directions, I noticed this note, in small font below the instructions:

“For best results dumplings must be prepared in a non-stick pan.”

I was using my perfectly seasoned, slick cast iron frying pan, which I cook everything in. I grabbed a Teflon-coated pan from my cupboard, and scooped the dumplings, which had turned into gooey blobs, into the new pan. I fried the dumplings on all sides until they were golden brown, and managed to salvage the meal. I wish Feel Good Foods had explicitly instructed me to use a Teflon pan instead of a cast iron, because I consider my cast iron to be non-stick.

Taste:   These dumplings were salty, chewy, and flavorful. The filling, made of shrimp and vegetables was not too fishy or dense. I found these dumplings to be a perfect appetizer or main course.

Labeling: The front of the package stated that these dumplings were made with all natural and gluten free ingredients. The back has a symbol indicating that Feel Good Foods is part of the Celiac Spure Association, and the package is created with wind power. There is also information about the company, preparation instructions, an ingredients list, and nutrition facts.

Packaging:  

Eight dumplings were inside of a plastic bag housed inside of a cardstock box.

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RATING:

Texture:      3

Taste:           5

Value:          3           

OVERALL:    3.7

Reviewed by: Jennie L.

Gluten Free Rice Cakes: Lundberg Tamari with Seaweed Rice Cakes

PRODUCT NAME:                  Tamari with Seaweed Organic rice cakes

COMPANY NAME:                  Lundberg

COST:                                    $3.49

SIZE:                                      8.5 oz

COST PER OZ:                       $0.41                            

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      Unknown

ORGANIC:                              YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      USDA organic

VEGAN:                                  YES                            

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:       YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:       Richvale, CA  

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:

Taste: 

Lundberg rice cakes have come to be a staple in my life.  Originally I discovered them when I was sick. My stomach had turned to a churning mess, and almost every food item that I could possibly conceive of made me feel terrible to recall. I needed sustenance and I needed it bland. I tapped all my resources and after thinking long and hard they all came to one conclusion: rice cakes.

I hobbled over to my local health food store and grabbed a (surprisingly dense!) bag of tamari and seaweed flavored brown rice treats. Paired with a hearty vegetable soup I popped them in my mouth, one by one. It seemed no coincidence that the grumble in my gut calmed exponentially and that my taste buds suddenly seemed to smile.

Stereotypes had taught me that rice cakes were gross little hockey pucks, nothing to get excited about. Lundberg seems to have single handedly changed all that. I mentioned before that my rice cakes were surprisingly hefty in weight and there is a reason for this. Lundberg’s website reveals that they imbue each tasty little cake with about double the amount of rice that one might find in your average rice cake. The result is a crunchy and airy denseness that does much more to satisfy a craving for something substantial.

I have a past obsession with tortilla chips and although in my current life I eschew the deep fried I do sorely miss the pizzazz of a crunchy treat. Lundberg rice cakes are baked, which works in delivering that crunch I so sorely miss. While baked chips will simply never do it for me (blech!), these rice cakes tap into a snack-y goodness I thought I had long left behind.

On to the flavor; I mentioned that I was searching for a bland treat, but I simply couldn’t resist the call of tamari and seaweed. Since going gluten free I have truly missed soy sauce’s salty tang and anything with tamari (the gluten free equivalent) peaks my interest. Each cake is gently kissed with the deep rich flavor of tamari and sprinkled with seaweed. The even and careful hand of seasoning provides a bit of nuance without overpowering the earthy flavor of the brown rice. While seaweed and tamari both have the potential to dominate, Lundberg’s careful application is perfect for subtly adding a little something special to each bite.

Calorically, rice cakes are a dieters dream. At sixty calories a piece they are not necessarily as low-cal as one would guess but despite this fact, the density and volume of them fills a belly up at about three maximum, so it becomes nearly impossible to over eat. While I could shove deep fried and heavily caloric chips into my mouth all the live long day, Lundberg’s rice cakes satisfy much more quickly.

Labeling:

Labeling of this product was clear and concise. It included all the nutrition facts, some benefits of brown rice, and a little company history for a consumer to sink their teeth into.

Packaging:

Lundberg rice cakes are wrapped in plastic and then put in a plastic bag. Although it is not the most environmentally sound way to wrap these treats, it seems appropriate for the freshness of the product.

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:             4

Value:            4

OVERALL:      4.3

Reviewed  by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Frosting Mix: Pamela's Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix

PRODUCT NAME:                   Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix

BRAND:                                  Pamela’s Products

COST:                                    $4.49

SIZE:                                      12 oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.37/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

ORGANIC:                               NO                        

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

VEGAN:                                  YES                                        

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        NO, but Dedicated Machinery   

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Ukiah, 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:

Frosting mix is always a good thing to keep around because in a pinch, and we know that that pinch inevitably occurs more often than not, it’s there, it’s quick and it’s a no brainer.  Pamela’s Dark Chocolate Frosting mix would be my mix of choice.  It is delightfully rich and chocolate-y.  It is a pretty sweet frosting, but has a hint of the bittersweet in there.  It is what a good dark chocolate should be and has the intensity of true cacao flavor.  Its texture is creamy and spreads really well.  A big plus with this mix, is that you can control how thick the frosting is by how much liquid you add to it.  It’s nice to have the flexibility as some recipes might be better with a slightly thinner frosting while others require a dollop of thick chocolate goodness.  Also, it doesn’t leave that pasty texture on your tongue like a lot of mixes do. 

The recipe for the mix is right on the back of the bag and couldn’t be easier.  You add butter or margarine and some water and voila!  I used soy-free dairy-free butter and it worked great with that too.  One of the great things about a good frosting mix is that it becomes the base for a lot of different kinds of frostings.  You can manipulate this mix into many different styles of frostings by just adding cream cheese, sour cream or milk, if you do dairy, or you can opt for the vegan versions of any of these if you don’t.  One bag can be the go-to base ingredient in whatever you might need it for and it is this versatility that I like keeping in my cupboards.

The bag has a lot of extra recipes printed on it that you can add to the frosting to take it to the next level.  They suggest mocha frosting, chocolate orange frosting, chocolate raspberry frosting to name a few, and they all sound really delectable.  I am planning on trying the chocolate orange frosting next time myself and baking some caramelized orange cupcakes to go with it.  Should be a nice treat for the gorgeous fall weather we’ve been having.

There are 12 servings in the bag, each of which is about 180 calories if you prepare it the way they suggest.  That’s quite a heavy dose of calories, but this is more of a treat than anything.  Just remember…everything in moderation.   Pamela’s is a local company here in Northern California, which I love to support.  They have a really great website with all kinds of recipes as well as detailed product information if you want to find out more about their line.  All in all, this is a great frosting mix with a wonderful chocolate flavor and one I would recommend to keep in the cupboards when you need a good chocolate frosting.  For more information about this product or any of Pamela’s other products, visit their website at: www.pamelasproducts.com.  You can find this and many other Pamela’s products at GFR Grocery. 

Taste: sweet with hints of cacao and bittersweet chocolate

Labeling: Bright colorful packaging with clear gluten free labeling

Packaging: simple bag with mix inside.  Not a lot of packaging which reduces waste

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:                 4                             

Value:                3             

OVERALL:          4             

Reviewed by

Krisztina L

Gluten Free Crackers: Crunchmaster 7 Ancient Grains Crackers Hint of Sea Salt

PRODUCT NAME:                    7 Ancient Grains Crackers Hint of Sea Salt

BRAND:                                   Crunchmaster

COST:                                     $2.69

SIZE:                                       3.54 oz

COST PER OZ:                        $0.76/ oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       GFCO

ORGANIC:                               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       NA

VEGAN:                                  YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Loves Park, IL

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:

Crunchmaster 7 Ancient Grains Hint of Sea Salt crackers are a wonderfully satisfying snack.  They are crisp yet bold, with a full-bodied crunch.  They stand true to their namesake, having only a hint of saltiness, nothing too overpowering that masks the slightly nutty flavor of the grains that are packed into each cracker.  These are great snacks all on their own, having a whole grain flavor that combines well with the toasty quality of the rice.  They are actually quite addictive.  I certainly wasn’t able to stop at just one.  They also make excellent vehicles for hummus, cheese, olive spread or a slice of your favorite veggie to name a few ideas.  Their strong taste combines well with savory things of all kinds, which makes them a really good cracker to have around just for yourself or when you are expecting guests.  They are really tasty and are certainly a snack that everyone can enjoy.

Crunchmaster has a very thorough website where you can find out all sorts of facts about their company.  They grow their rice in Japan and follow pretty strict rules of harvesting and aging to create their rice crackers.  They seem to respect traditions of the East and combine them with our Western expectations of flavor and the result is indeed, a very delicious cracker.  Fifteen crackers are 130 calories with 2.5 grams of fat, which really isn’t so bad at all.  Their ingredients are honest and simple, actually containing the grains that they advertise on the packaging.  They have quinoa, amaranth, millet, and flax packed in there, which all combine to make a well rounded multi-grain cracker.

Check out the website for other flavors, products and more info: http://www.crunchmaster.com/

Taste:  crispy full-bodied multigrain flavor with a undertone of toasted rice

Labeling:  Inviting “healthy-looking” label clearly written and informative

Packaging: cardboard box with non resealable bag inside

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 by Krisztina L

Gluten Free Tamales: Primavera White Corn and Zucchini Tamales

PRODUCT NAME:                    White Corn and Zucchini Tamales

COMPANY NAME:                    Primavera Tamales

COST:                                     $9.99

SIZE:                                       18 oz

COST PER OZ:                        $.55                                   

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:      NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

ORGANIC:                              YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

VEGAN:                                  YES                         

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:        NO

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        N/A      

SHELF LIFE:                           1 Week Refrigerated

*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:

Taste:  The tamale is, in my opinion, a wheatless gold mine. It is almost always free of those little gluten buggers that make us sick, and its probability for deliciousness is through the roof. That being said, it is extremely difficult to find tamales that use ingredients that I consider healthy, and ones that are also vegan. In steps the lovely saviors at Primavera Tamales, a company out of Agua Caliente, CA.

Karen Taylor, owner of Primavera Tamales, has clearly made a commitment to the excellence of her product. Her website reveals that she has gone to many lengths to synthesize the authentic (traveling to Oaxaca, Mexico City, and Michoacan to take cooking classes) and the political (she uses only local and organic produce and eschews hydrogenated oils and shortenings.)

These White Corn and zucchini tamales are absolutely awesome. Despite the vegan-ness of them they are nowhere near being the  dry, crumbly, and bland corn pocket you might imagine. Primavera's tamales are moist, well formed, and tasty. The masa is flavorful, delicately spiced with hints of garlic and cumin. The white corn creates a textural nuance that surprised and delighted me, while the zucchini was marinated in a slightly spicy red sauce that rounded out the creamy texture of the outer encasing. There was no dairy present in my tamale but a milky mouthfeel was created just by the melding of fats and corn. Although Primavera DOES indeed offer a variety of dairy filled tamales, it almost seems completely unnecessary to imagine adding anything to the beautiful simplicity that is the vegan version.

Calorically, I was pleasantly surprised by Primavera’s facts. Each tamale clocks in at 250 calories (which is very little for a tamale, probably because there is no added cheese). When paired with a simple salad and some salsa, I find one (maybe one and a half if you’re really hungry) to be a perfectly sufficient meal. Although they are indeed high in fat (how do you think they get so moist?) the product ultimately satiates and keeps a consumer full for quite a while so in the end, it all seems worth it.

Labeling:

I found labeling of this product to be very sufficient. All the nutrition information was very clear and concise which I particularly appreciated as Primavera is a small scale company and many of those do not bother to glean nutrition information of their products.

Packaging:

Packaging of this product was a double plastic bag wrapped with a zip tie. It seemed appropriate for the freshness of the product and could easily be frozen without having to transfer containers.

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:      4.5

Reviewed by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Gnocchi and Pesto: Emilia Rice Gnocchi & Cucina & Amore Pesto Alla Genovese

PRODUCT NAME:                             Pesto Alla Genovese

BRAND:                                              Cucina and Amore

COST:                                                  $3.99                   

SIZE:                                                    7.9 OZ                 

COST PER OZ:                                    $0.50/oz                          

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                N/A

ORGANIC:                                          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                N/A

VEGAN:                                              NO   

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:                   YES   

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                 Richmond, CA  

SHELF LIFE:                                        UNKNOWN

PRODUCT NAME:                             Rice Gnocchi    

BRAND:                                             Emilia Brand                       

COST:                                                 $6.99                   

SIZE:                                                  16 OZ                            

COST PER OZ:                                   $0.44/oz                          

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                 UNKNOWN

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                 N/A

ORGANIC:                                         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                 N/A

VEGAN:                                             YES   

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:                   UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                   ITALY

SHELF LIFE:                                       UNKNOWN

*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:

I have never had the pleasure of trying gnocchi before today. It makes me slightly resentful of my parents for raising me on macaroni and spaghetti, and not introducing me to these delicious buttery dumplings sooner. I have nothing to compare Emilia Brand’s Rice Gnocchi to, which was made with rice flour and potato instead of the traditional wheat and potato combo, but I found the texture and flavor very satisfactory.  I found these dumplings soft, chewy and the stick to your ribs type of filling. The dumplings were slightly salty, and made from a smooth dough with a nice texture.

I tossed my gnocchi in Cucina and Amore’s Pesto alla Genovese Basil, and the two products made an ideal match. The soft saltiness of the gnocchi paired with the richness of the pesto made for a decadent dinner that kept me rubbing my belly long into the evening. As I said, this pesto was rich, therefore a little bit goes a long way. It melted nicely on the gnocchi and coated each dumpling evenly, filling all the cracks. The pesto was very smooth and finely ground. I have made simple pesto at home, using only olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, basil, salt, a little lemon, and parmesan. Cucina and amore used more exotic ingredients like chestnuts in addition to pine nuts, potato puree, and Grana Padano Cheese, giving it a more complicated, gourmet taste. Since the flavor is so rich and you only need to use a little bit at a time, I used the leftover pesto on sandwiches and on top of scrambled eggs with veggies, giving all my meals, breakfast lunch and dinner an extra kick of basil.

Taste:  The gnocchi pesto combination was pleasant, filling, and decedent. The gnocchi was soft, chewy, and buttery (without actually containing butter!). The pesto was rich, savory, and very enjoyable. All in all, this was a lovely main course.

Labeling:

RICE GNOCCHI

The label was on the front of the rice gnocchi package and stated nutrition facts, cooking instructions, and an ingredients list. There was no label stating that this product was gluten free or made in a gluten free facility, but upon reading the ingredients list, I didn’t find any gluten ingredients used.

PESTO ALLA GENOVESE BASIL

The front of the package stated that this product was made with all natural ingredients and had no preservatives, the back and sides had information about the product, an ingredients list, and nutrition facts. This product also did not state anywhere that it was gluten free, but like the gnocchi, it used no gluten ingredients.

Packaging:  

The rice gnocchi was inside of a plastic, vacuum, sealed bag. The pesto was packaged in a glass jar with a cardstock label wrapped around the 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:         3          

OVERALL:   4.3