Friday, February 27, 2009

My Gluten Free Obsession

For those of you who have never tasted Conte's gluten free pasta, you are majorly missing out on some delicious gluten free cuisine!

Conte's Pasta Company has an amazing line of gluten free pastas. Ever since I discovered their pastas this summer, I've been hooked. My favorite is the Gluten Free Spinach & Cheese Ravioli! This pasta is so good that it can be eaten plain, although to make it extra special I usually top it off with Rao's Marinara Sauce.

The gluten free selection of products by Conte's Pasta Company includes:

Mushroom Florentine Pizza
Margherita Pizza with Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil
Cheese Ravioli
Spinach & Cheese Ravioli
Cheese Stuffed Shells
Potato & Onion Pierogies
Potato, Cheese, & Onion Pierogies
Gnocchi
Cheese Lasagna
Meat Lasagna
Vegetable Lasagna
Cheese Manicotti with Tomato Sauce
Spaghetti & Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
Cheese Ravioli with Tomato Sauce
Cheese Stuffed Shells with Tomato Sauce

Conte's Pasta Products are available at select supermarkets and health food stores. For more information, visit www.contespasta.com.

The Spinach & Cheese Ravioli (My Favorite) and the Cheese Ravioli are available at Ms. Celiac's Market. So, get shopping! It will be well worth it!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

SALE SALE SALE!!!

I wanted to let everyone know that Amazon is having a sale on Tinkyada Gluten Free Pasta. This is one of the best brands of gluten free pasta and would be great used in combination with the Rao's Pasta Sauces.

Available at Ms. Celiac's Market! Buy at SALE PRICE for a limited time!

The Perfect Pasta Sauce

So, if you are looking for a tasty Italian pasta sauce that is gluten free look no further than Rao's Pasta Sauces. They come in an assortment of varieties including Marinara, Arrabbiata, Cuore Di Pomodoro, Puttanesca, Siciliana, Pepper and Mushroom, and Vodka sauce.

Rao's is an Italian restaurant that was first opened in New York City's East Harlem in 1896 at the corner of 114th Street and Pleasant Avenue by a man named Charles Rao. After Charles passed away his sons Louis and Vincent took over at the restaurant. Louis Rao ran the restaurant until his death in 1958. In 1974, Vincent's wife, Anna, joined him in running the restaurant.

Currently, the owners of Rao's are Ron Straci (Vincent's nephew) and Frank Pellegrino (Anna's nephew). Frank Pellegrino also sings at the restaurant. Rao's is open for dinner Monday thru Friday but only has 10 tables and one seating per evening, so reservations far in advance are a must. Rao's also has one other location at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The great news is that their pasta sauces are available at most supermarkets and can also be ordered individually or in gift packages at their website, www.raos.com.

My favorite Rao's Homemade sauces are the Marinara sauce, the Siciliana (Roasted Eggplant) sauce, and the Vodka sauce.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post where I will suggest an excellent gluten free pasta to use with the Rao's pasta sauce.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Get Glaceau!

If you're looking for a refreshing drink, I completely recommend Glaceau Vitamin Water. Now, I mostly drink water and very rarely drink anything else. However, when I do need that extra boost I always set out to get a bottle of Vitamin Water.

Available in 13 varieties, there is a flavor to satisfy everyone's taste buds. Each flavor also has a specific combination of vitamins, so you can also choose a flavor based upon the result you need.

Vitamin Water is endorsed by a slew of athletes and celebrities including Carrie Underwood, 50 Cent, Brian Urlacher, Shaquille O'Neal, David Ortiz, Carl Edwards, Tracy McGrady, David Wright, Gilbert Arenas, Tony Parker, Chauncey Billups, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, Elton Brand, Ray Allen, Daniel Briere, Kirk Herbstreit, Deron Williams, Henrik Lundqvist, Jeff Green, Lamarcus Aldridge, Derek Roy, and Danny Way.

Here is a list of the different drinks, their flavor, and their vitamin combo:

*Power-C (Dragonfruit) = C + Taurine

*Defense (Raspberry Apple) = C + Zinc

*Focus (Kiwi Strawberry) = A + Lutein

*Balance (Cranberry Grapefruit) = C + Glucosamine

*Endurance (Peach Mango) = E + Ribose

*Essential (Orange) = C + Calcium

*Energy (Tropical Citrus) = B + Guarana

*B-Relaxed (Guava Jackfruit) = B + Theanine

*Rescue (Green Tea) = C + EgCg

*Multi-V (Lemonade) = A + Zinc

*Formula 50 (Grape) = 50 % of your daily dose of vitamins

*Revive (Fruit Punch) = B + Potassium

*XXX (Acai Blueberry Pomegranate) = Triple Antioxidants

Glaceau Vitamin Water is available to purchase at a wide variety of supermarkets, drug stores, etc.

For more information, visit www.glaceau.com.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Get Silky Smooth Skin...

Normally, I feature food products that are gluten free. However, today I'm going to do something different by showcasing a line of gluten free skincare products. Now, for those of you with Celiac Disease it is not absolutely necessary for you to use gluten free products on your skin as the gluten molecule is too large to seep into your pores and be absorbed by your body. However, it is generally recommended to use gluten free products on areas that might come in contact with your mouth. For example, you would want to use only gluten free products on your lips and on your hands. And with anything that comes in contact with your face, it might be a good idea to make sure it's gluten free too, as you never know when something might get into your mouth.

Well, one of my favorite dermatologists is Dr. Frederic Brandt (dermatologist to the stars) and his line of products, Dr. Brandt Skincare, are all gluten free. I have been using his products for a while and always knew they were gluten free as I had spoken to him about the ingredients. However, recently when I ordered some more I noticed that they now come with the label, "gluten free" in bold letters across the front of the product. This made me ever so happy!

Dr. Brandt Skincare features a wide range of products including cleansers, toners, exfoliators, uv protection, daily moisturizers, night moisturizers, anti-aging, and water boosters. His anti-oxidant water boosters are delicious drops that you can add to your water in a variety of flavors including original, blueberry, green apple, and pomegranate (my favorite!).

He even has a new book entitled, 10 Minutes 10 Years - Your Definitive Guide to a Beautiful and Youthful Apperance. If you log onto his website at www.drbrandtskincare.com you can receive a FREE skinalysis and after answering a few questions, you will receive a personalized skincare regimen.

For an appointment with Dr. Brandt he has offices in both Miami and New York City. His products are also available to purchase at SEPHORA stores nationwide and other select retailers, as well as, through his website.

For more information, visit www.drbrandtskincare.com.


Monday, February 23, 2009

Yo Quiero Chipotle!

If you are craving some tasty Mexican food, then you must head to the nearest Chipotle. Everything is gluten free with the exception of the large burrito tortillas, the small taco tortillas, and the hot red tomatillo salsa.

You are free to eat the burrito bowls, the crispy corn tacos, and the corn chips! And they have an assortment of ingredients so you can create your own dish. You may choose from romaine lettuce, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, roasted chili-corn salsa (medium), fresh tomato salsa (mild), chicken, steak, spicy shredded beef, pork, pinto beans, black beans, fajita vegetables, and cilantro-lime rice.

Chipotle has locations throughout New York and in several other states such as Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

For more information, visit www.chipotle.com.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Weekend Update

Hey Everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed this month's Italy feature! If you haven't checked out the 4 exclusive Italy posts, check them out here:

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

This week we have received an outpouring of new visitors from states such as Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and South Carolina and from countries such as Italy and Spain. Since I've started Ms. Celiac Says... in January 2009, we have received visitors from 27 states and 9 countries!

Thank you for all of your support! It truly means a lot.

This week I have so many exciting products and restaurants to tell you about, including a line of top skin care products that now feature the words "Gluten Free" boldly across the label.

And if you liked the Italy feature, stay tuned for more spotlights on places outside of New York City.

~Paige

Friday, February 20, 2009

Hotel Cipriani is a Celiac Heaven!

The best gluten free experience I have ever had in my life was at the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy. The hotel staff are very aware of Celiac Disease and the importance of maintaining a gluten free diet. They also serve the best gluten free food, I have ever eaten.

The hotel is located on the Giudecca and features 3 restaurants. The formal restaurant, Fortuny Restaurant and Terrace is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and in nice weather it makes for a beautiful setting (see photo). For a gluten free breakfast you can choose from an assortment of fruit, gluten free rolls, eggs, smoked salmon, sauteed sole, and cold meats. For lunch and dinner, my favorite selections were the sliced raw tuna flavored with black pepper, ginger, and served with a seasonal salad seasoned with balsamic vinaigrette, a crispy breast of duck with honey and figs flavored with cinnamon and balsamic sauce, pasta with rucola, cherry tomatoes, and smoked ricotta cheese, pasta with freshly chopped tomatoes marin
ated with basil and black olives, and pasta with pesto sauce (see photo below).

Another more casual restaurant at the hotel is called Cip's Club. They also serve an amazing selection of gluten free pastas. And if you are spending the day at the pool, you should also check out the Pool Snack Bar which serves a variety of gluten free snacks including an amazing bruschetta (featured in Tuesday's post).

Hotel Cipriani uses BiAglut pasta and gets their rolls from Crosara Claudio.




For more information, please visit:

Hotel Cipriani
Giudecca 10
30133 Venice, Italy
+39 041 520 7744
www.hotelcipriani.com

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Take Me to Milan

Although Milan is know for fashion, it also is the home of some excellent gluten free cuisine. Two of my favorite restaurants while staying in Milan were Acanto and Da Giacomo.

Acanto is a restaurant at the luxury 5 star Hotel Principe di Savoia. The restaurants features a menu of classic Italian cuisine for both lunch and dinner. They make several delicious gluten free pasta dishes (see photo).

Another great restaurant in Milan that serves Tuscan cuisine is the Ristorante Da Giacomo. It also offers both lunch and dinner and is known for its amazing seafood. They have gluten free pasta and will serve a selection of gluten free crackers to their Celiac diners. Da Giacomo is a favorite of the fashion-industry set.

For more information:

Acanto
Hotel Prinicipe di Savoia
Piazza della Repubblica 17
Milan, Italy
www.hotelprincipedisavoia.com

Ristorante Da Giacomo
Via Benvenuto Cellini
Milan, Italy
+39 2 7602 3313

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Ciao Italia!

In Italy, the gluten free products are mostly sold at pharmacies. Some of the best brands of products that I have tried are BiAglut, Happy Farm, and Giuliani.

BiAglut is one of the most well-known gluten free companies in Italy. They make a variety of breads, bread crumbs, crackers, flours, cookies, muffins, pasta, snack bars, wafers, puddings, and beer.

My two favorite BiAglut products that I tried when in Italy were the Biscottino (cracker) and the Meredine con Crema Gianduia (Muffin with Hazelnut Filling).

The good news for those of us in the United States is that BiAglut pasta products will be available for us to order on the website, www.quattrobimbi.com, in early March 2009.

Another great gluten free brand is called Happy Farm. They make some delicious Biscotti Moreschi (biscuits covered in a milk chocolate medallion).

The brand Giuliani can be found througout Italy and using their famous Giusto Mix (aka the G-Mix) they have made a variety of fabulous gluten free products. This mix is a combination of sunflower seeds, linen seeds, corn, rice, and buckwheat. This formula provides a great source of Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B6.

So, make sure to keep your eyes open for these great gluten free products when traveling through Italy!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Too Good To Be True?

If you have Celiac Disease and only have the option of traveling to one place in your lifetime, Italy should be on the top of that list. Italy is every Celiac's dream! Almost every restaurant serves gluten free pasta and most of them have some sort of gluten free bread and/or cracker too. And the gluten free cuisine in Italy is so much better than that anywhere else in the world!

While in Venice, I had these delicious dinner rolls at my hotel. They tasted so real that I had to be assured several times that they were indeed gluten free or "senza glutine."

So, of course I begged the hotel staff to tell me where they got them. They finally revealed to me that they were from a local bakery on the Giudecca. The bakery is called, Crosara Claudio.

I must have enjoyed these gluten free dinner rolls at least 3 times a day while in Venice. The first day I arrived at the hotel they even prepared me a delicious bruschetta using these rolls (see photograph). And to my surprise, the day I left they allowed me to take as many rolls as I could fit into my suitcase!

When I write about gluten free food that is amazing on a regular basis, it may be pretty great, but nothing compares to these rolls! They are...simply the best!

Crosaro Claudio
Panifici e Pasticceria
"L'Arte del Pane"
Giudecca, 655
Venezia, Italia
tel. #: 041.5206737


Monday, February 16, 2009

It's Coming Soon...

Just wanted to let everyone know that the feature on Italy will start tomorrow (February 17th) and last for 4 days! Stay tuned...

Friday, February 13, 2009

Be Mine!

Still looking for the perfect restaurant to bring your gluten free Valentine's date to? If you're on the upper east side of Manhattan, I recommend Lumi Restaurant and if you're on the upper west side of Manhattan, check out Sambuca!

Lumi Restaurant is the place where Charlotte ran into Mr. Big and then went into labor in the Sex and the City movie. It was also a featured restaurant in the Sex and the City television series. This Italian restaurant is located at 963 Lexington Avenue (NE corner of 70th Street). Their gluten free menu features an array of salads, soups, appetizers, pastas, fish, meat, gelato, sorbetto, fruits, and berries.

Across the park, another great Italian restaurant is Sambuca. It is located on West 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. Their gluten free menu features dinner rolls, salads, appetizers, pastas, fish, meat, brownies, and a seven layer cake.

To book your reservations:

Lumi Restaurant
963 Lexington Ave. (NE corner of 70th St.)
212-570-2335
www.lumirestaurant.com

Sambuca
20 West 72nd St. (btw. CPW and Columbus Ave.)
212-787-5656
sambucanyc.com

Also, next week we will be taking a break from NYC and focusing on the bakeries, products, and restaurants of Northern Italy. You're in a for a delicious treat!

Have an amazing weekend!

Paige

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Here's The Perfect Valentine's Day Gift

For those of you who are trying to find a delicious gluten free gift for your significant other, I recommend Tate's Bake Shop's Fudge Brownies! As of now, these are only available at their store in Southampton, NY, but if you can find the time to get there, it will definitely be worth it!

These are the best brownies (gluten free or not) that I have ever eaten! And when heated the chocolate scent that they exude will melt even the coldest of hearts. You can also rest assured that the product is all natural and contains no preservatives (To make them last longer you can freeze them).

At Tate's Bake Shop, they make all of their products from scratch! As of now, the fudge brownies are the only gluten free product that they sell, but they are absolutely delectable! So, what are you doing still reading this post? Start making your way to Southampton!

Tate's Bake Shop
43 North Sea Road
Southampton, NY 11968
#631-283-9830
www.tatesbakeshop.com

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Eat A Sweet Breakfast Treat!

This morning after having to fast and then give blood, I wanted something sweet for breakfast. However, I also wanted something healthy. So, I chose a delicious Glutino chocolate breakfast bar!

If you have tried these bars in the past and thought that they were just OK, you need to try them again! They are made using a brand new and improved recipe and are absolutely delectable!

The breakfast bars are available in 4 flavors which include Apple, Blueberry, Chocolate, and Cranberry. All of their bars are free of trans fast, cholesterol, dairy, and, of course, gluten. They are also an excellent source of fiber!

And even better news, is that you can now purchase the Glutino Chocolate Breakfast Bars (my favorite) at Ms. Celiac's Market!

They are also available at Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Hannaford Supermarkets, Bashas', Stop and Shop Markets, Trader Joe's, Wegman's, and many other natural food stores.

For more information, visit their website at www.glutino.com.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

I'm Addicted to Cassava!


So, I wanted to tell everyone about my absolute favorite salty snack. They are Cassava Chips and are made by the Arico Natural Foods Company. These chips are both gluten free and casein free and are available in 4 delicious flavors including Original, Sea Salt Mist, Barbeque, and Ginger on Fire. It is not possible for me to choose my favorite flavor as it depends on what I'm craving and the mood I'm in at the time. Each one is equally satisfying!

Cassava is a root plant that grows much like a potato. They originated in ancient South American civilizations and now cassava is consumed as a staple food by more than 500 million people around the world.

Not only are they more delicious than potato chips, in my opinion, but they are healthier too! They contain twice the fiber and 40% less fat than the leading brands of potato chips.

The Arico Natural Foods Company also produces other products beside Cassava Chips. These include Cookie Pouches and Cookie Bars. Their Cookie Pouches are available in Double Chocolate, Chocolate Chunk, Almond Cranberry, Triple Berry, Lemon Ginger, and Peanut Butter. Their Cookie Bars are available in Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chunk, Almond Cranberry, and Double Chocolate.

You can also trust that a product made by Arico is going to be super healthy for you too. All of their snacks are gluten free, wheat free, casein free, dairy free, yeast free, and contain no trans fats, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, sulfites, preservatives, and colorings. They are also Kosher and Organic Certified.

The flour used to make their cookies is organic brown rice quinoa flour and organic evaporated cane juice and organic agave nectar is used to sweeten their cookies.

You can purchase products by the Arico Natural Foods Company at their website, www.aricofoods.com or at a variety of different retailers. If you are not located in NYC, then check out their website for more details. If you are in NYC, you can find their products at:

A Matter of Health

Commodities Natural Market

East Side Health Food

Fairway Market

Integral Yoga Natural Vitamins

Health & Harmony

LifeThyme Natural Market

Natural Frontier

Natural Green Market

North Elm Health Corp.

The Health Nuts

Westerly Annex

Whole Foods Market

Monday, February 9, 2009

Jamba Jamba!

This week in NYC, we are experiencing some unseasonably sunny, warm weather. I figure that this makes it the perfect time for a nice, cold, icy treat. If you're thirsty, warm, are craving something sweet, or just need some antioxidants then head on over to Jamba Juice!

Jamba Juice has 36 gluten free drink options and 15 of those are dairy free, as well. All of their smoothies are gluten free with the exception of Pomegranate Heart Happy and all of their boosts and super boosts are gluten free with the exception of Daily Vitamin, Energy, and Heart Happy. And for those of you that are gluten free vegans, you have 14 delicious drink options!

The following products are the gluten free drink options (ND = Non Dairy, V = Vegan) :

*Orange Carrot Banana - ND, V
*3G Charger Super Boost - ND, V
*Flax & Fiber Boost - ND, V
*Matcha Green Tea Shot - Soymilk - ND, V
*Matcha Green Tea Shot - Orange Juice - ND, V
*Protein Berry Workout w/ Whey
*Calcium Boost - ND
*Whey Protein Super Boost
*Weight Burner Super Boost
*Antioxidant Power Super Boost - ND, V
*Soy Protein Boost - ND, V
*Immunity Boost - ND, V
*Mango Metabolizer
*Carrot Juice - ND, V
*Orange Juice - ND, V
*Bright Eyed & Blueberry
*Orange Dream Machine
*Aloha Pineapple
*Caribbean Passion
*Mango-a-go-go [MY #1 FAVORITE]
*Peach Pleasure
*Banana Berry
*Razzmatazz
*Strawberry Surf Rider
*Strawberries Wild
*Peanut Butter Moo'd
*Matcha Green Tea Blast
*Acai Super-Antioxidant
*Protein Berry Workout w/ Soy Protein
*Coldbuster
*Mango Mantra
*Strawberry Nirvana
*Mega Mango - ND, V
*Strawberry Whirl - ND, V
*Peach Perfection - ND, V
*Pomegranate Paradise - ND, V

Jamba Juice is located in AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, HI, ID, IL, IN, MD, MA, MN, NV, NJ, NY, NC, OK, OR, PA, TX, WA, and WI. For exact locations in each of these cities, visit their website at www.jambajuice.com.

Jamba Juice has 19 locations in NYC. They are located at the following addresses:

Upper West Side:
-2341 Broadway (and 85th St.)
-10 Columbus Circle (Whole Foods)

Upper East Side:
-1291 Lexington Ave. (and 86th St.)
-1026 3rd Ave. (and 60th St.)

Midtown:
-1381 6th Ave. (and 56th St.)
-1700 Broadway (and 54th St.)
-599 Lexington Ave. (and 53rd St.)
-712 7th Ave. (and 47th St.)
-625 8th Ave. (Port Authority)
-9 West 42nd St. (Bryant Park)
-1440 Broadway (and 40th St.)
-325 5th Ave. (and 32nd St.)

Downtown:
-238 7th Ave. (and 24th St.)
-249 8th Ave. (and 23rd St.)
-176 5th Ave. (and 23rd St.)
-125 University Place (Union Square South)
-498 6th Ave. (and 13th St.)
-25 West Houston St.
-88 West Broadway (and Warren St.)

For more information, visit www.jambajuice.com.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Here's Your Weekend Update

Hey Everyone!

Another weekend has gone by and I have so much to tell you! First of all, I noticed that the pizza parlor at the end of my street, Viva Herbal Pizzeria, serves gluten free pizza. It is located at 179 2nd Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets. Hopefully, I will get a chance soon to check it out and report back to you with more details.

For those of you in Europe or who travel to Europe, you may want to be informed about the new standards for Gluten Free Food labels. Now, all products that are labeled "gluten free" in the EU must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. Previously, gluten free products just had to have less than 200 ppm. Therefore, grains that have been specifically processed to contain gluten levels of less than 100 ppm can no longer be labeled, "gluten free." They must now be labeled, "gluten reduced" or "very low gluten." Foods that are naturally gluten free cannot be labeled "gluten free." If they choose to be labeled, they must be labeled, "naturally gluten free." The official method of testing gluten levels is by the ELISA method. These new labeling laws will be mandatory starting January 1st, 2012.

Ms. Celiac Says...has now opened a new store in addition to Ms. Celiac's Shop. I am pleased to announce the opening of Ms. Celiac's Market. The market will contain gluten free food products that have been taste-tested by Ms. Celiac herself. There will be no products in the marketplace that I do not approve. From now on, I will inform you whenever a product mentioned in a blog post is available to purchase through Ms. Celiac's Market. So, go get some gluten free goodness at Ms. Celiac's Market!

Again, I want to remind everyone that this month I will be featuring gluten free bakeries, products, and restaurants of Northern Italy. In the coming months, I will feature a variety of other international and domestic cities on Ms. Celiac Says.

Thank you again to all of our new and returning visitors. Ms. Celiac Says... has received a variety of international visitors from countries such as Australia, Belize, Canada, Chile, India, and Israel and domestic visitors from 21 states including: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachussetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, and Wisconsin.

~Paige

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Time For Spaghetti and Meatballs!

This week I came across a recipe for Spaghetti and Meatballs that is still delicious when altered to be gluten free, as well as, free of red meat. It has been passed down from generation to generation.

The ingredients that you will need are:

For Meatballs -
* 1 lb. ground turkey
* 3 slices gluten free white bread (remove crust)
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
* 1 tablespoon basil
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 finely chopped garlic clove

For Sauce -
* 1 2 lb. 3 oz. can of plum tomatoes with basil
* 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon basil
* 1 tablespoon parsley
* a dash of pepper

Directions for meatballs:
1) Break bread into small pieces and place in large bowl.
2) Add milk and mix with hand.
3) Put turkey in bowl and mix with moist bread.
4) Add egg, cheese, parsley, basil, salt, and garlic into bowl and mix with meat until everything is blended.
5) Pick-up some meat and form into meatballs.
6) Have hot oil in frying pain about 1/8 '' deep.
7) Brown meatballs and put into sauce.


Directions for sauce:

1) Strain tomatoes and put in large pot.
2) Add paste, salt, basil, parsley, and pepper.
3) Let cook on low heat covered for about 3 hours.

*Serve over gluten free pasta. I recommend Tinkyada Brown Rice Spaghetti.


Enjoy!


[I apologize for there being no post yesterday. I had other medical issues that needed attention. Today's post is in place of Friday's. Thanks! ~Paige]


Thursday, February 5, 2009

Aleia's - A Brand To Watch!

Aleia's Gluten Free Bakery is a new gluten free brand that I am loving! So far, everything I have tried has been beyond my expectations. I must admit that the products are priced very high but, in my opinion, they are worth it!

The company's slogan is "Life Is Sweet Without Wheat" and they make a variety of different cookies, croutons, breads, bread crumbs, and stuffing. And their products are available in New York at Whole Foods and at select retailers throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.

The current list of products include...

*Cookies:
-Chocolate Chip
-Peanut Butter
-Ginger Snap
-Snickerdoodle
-Almond Horn [MY FAVORITE!]
-Pignoli Nut

-Coconut Macaroon
-Chocolate Coconut Macaroon

*Croutons:
-Classic
-Parmesan

*Breads:

-Farmhouse White
-Cinnamon Raisin

*Bread Crumbs:
-Italian
-Plain

*Stuffing:

-Savory
-Plain

For more information, please visit www.aleias.com !

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Go Nuts For Nutella!


Have you ever tried Nutella? If not, you are definitely missing out. Nutella is marketed as "the original creamy, chocolaty hazelnut spread." And better yet, it is gluten free and free of peanut ingredients!

Back in the 1940s, a man named Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker and the founder of the Ferrero company created Nutella. This was during WWII and because of rationing cocoa was in short supply. However, hazelnuts were plentiful in northwest Italy.

At this time, the product was called pasta gianduja. Then it became referred to as supercrema gianduja and in 1964 it was renamed to Nutella.

In 1983, Nutella was first imported from Italy to the Northeastern region of the United States. Over the next decade, the popularity began to spread in the US. Eventually, the Ferrero company decided to build a plant in Somerset, New Jersey. Today, Nutella is available in over 75 countries and outsells all brands of peanut butter worldwide!

One can eat Nutella spread over bread, crackers, fruit, or simply on its own. My favorite way to enjoy Nutella is to spread it over an Enjoy Life Classic Original Bagel.

For more information, visit their website at www.nutellausa.com, and make sure to enter the contest for a chance to win a case of Nutella!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Enjoy Life!

When I was first diagnosed with Celiac Disease there were very few foods that I could eat without feeling sick. Breakfast became the most difficult meal, because I couldn't seem to tolerate any of the gluten free cereals. Finally, I found Enjoy Life Classic Original Bagels. This was the only thing that didn't make me feel horrible!

Enjoy Life Foods are gluten free, soy free, dairy free, nut free, and casein free. They are also vegan and kosher. They make products such as cookies, granola, snack bars, bagels, trail mix, chocolate chips, and chocolate bars. My favorite Enjoy Life cookies are the double chocolate brownie cookies and the snickerdoodle cookies!

For the past year, I have been completely addicted to the caramel apple snack bars that I enjoy every morning for breakfast. Even after a year of eating them, I still wake up every morning looking forward to my delicious breakfast treat.

Enjoy Life Foods are available at grocery stores throughout the United States such as Whole Foods, ShopRite, Publix, and Kroger. They are also available at most natural food stores.

In NYC, you can find them at Whole Foods, Westerly Health Foods, Fairway Market, The Health Nuts, Columbus Natural Foods, etc.

Or you can buy them online at the Gluten-Free Mall.

Visit their website at www.enjoylifefoods.com for more information and to download coupons!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Bring It On, Bistango!

This weekend, I got to experience a great Italian restaurant called Bistango on the corner of third avenue and 29th street. I was in amazement when I learned that absolutely every item on their menu, with the exception of the ravioli, can be prepared using gluten free ingredients!

To start they have some fantastic gluten free bread that they bring to the table. I included a photograph of this to the right. Also, served with every entree is a choice of either salad with gluten free dressing or a gluten free soup. I chose the salad. It was amazing and so nice to not have to eat a dry salad!

For my entree, I tried both the tomato and cheese pizza with an excellent crust from the Still Riding Pizza Company and a delicious gluten free penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, and broccoli in a pink sauce!

The chocolate torte with a mocha glaze that I enjoyed for dessert was also absolutely delectable. I included a photograph below. And there were several other gluten free dessert options as well including an apple pie, a pear torte, etc.

So, if you are feeling hungry and want a hearty Italian meal at a nice neighborhood restaurant, then be sure to check out Bistango!



Bistango
415 Third Avenue
212-725-8484
www.bistangonyc.com