Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Don't Forget The Protein...

I'm not actually a vegetarian because I eat limited amounts of poultry and fish, however I do not eat any other source of meat. However, when I need to remember to get my protein in, I will grab some slices of turkey cold cuts from Applegate Farms.

Applegate Farms produces organic and natural meat products. Their animals are never given antibiotics and are fed a completely vegetarian diet. The cattle are grass fed and the hogs and poultry are fed a grain diet. The animals receive no growth hormones or artificial growth promotants and are minimally processed. They also do not contain any nitrites or nitrates and, instead, are preserved using celery juice and sea salt.

They produce a wide variety of meats and cheeses including bacon, burgers, hot dogs, cold cuts, cheese, sausages, and frozen foods. Below is a list of their gluten free products by category:

COLD CUTS -

Organic Herb Turkey Breast
Organic Roast Beef
Organic Roasted Chicken
Organic Roasted Turkey Breast
Organic Genoa Salami
Organic Smoked Chicken
Organic Smoked Turkey Breast
Organic Uncured Ham
Natural Herb Turkey Breast
Natural Black Forest Ham
Natural Coppa
Natural Genoa Salami
Natural Honey and Maple Turkey Breast
Natural Honey Ham
Natural Hot Genoa Salami
Natural Hot Soppressata
Natural Pancetta
Natural Pepperoni
Natural Prosciutto
Natural Roast Beef
Natural Roasted Turkey Breast
Natural Slow Cooked Ham
Natural Smoked Turkey Breast
Natural Soppressata
Natural Turkey Bologna
Natural Turkey Salami

HOT DOGS -

the Greatest Little Organic Smokey Pork Cocktail Franks
the Great Organic Hot Dog
Organic Turkey Hot Dogs
Organic Stadium-Style Hot Dogs
Organic Chicken Hot Dogs
Organic Beef Hot Dogs
Natural Turkey Hot Dogs
Natural Chicken Hot Dogs
Natural Big Apple Hot Dogs
Natural Beef Hot Dogs

SAUSAGE -

Organic Sweet Italian Sausage
Organic Spinach and Feta Sausage
Organic Pork Kielbasa Sausage
Organic Pork Andouille Sausage
Organic Fire Roasted Red Pepper Sausage
Organic Chicken and Apple Sausage
Organic Andouille Sausage
Organic Pork Bratwurst Sausage

BACON -

Organic Turkey Bacon
Organic Sunday Bacon
Natural Turkey Bacon
Natural Peppered Bacon
Natural Dry Cured Bacon
Natural Canadian Bacon
Natural Sunday Bacon

FROZEN FOODS -

Organic Beef Burger
Organic Turkey Burger

Natural Chicken and Maple Breakfast Sausage
Natural Chicken and Maple Sunday Sausage
Natural Chicken and Apple Breakfast Sausage
Natural Chicken and Apple Sunday Sausage
Natural Chicken and Sage Breafkast Sausage
Natural Chicken and Sage Sunday Sausage

Natural Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets

SNACKS -

Natural Joy Stick (made from pork)

CHEESES -

Organic Mild Cheddar Cheese
Organic Monterey Jack Cheese
Organic Muenster Kase Cheese
Natural American Cheese
Natural Cheddar Cheese - Medium
Natural Emmentaler Swiss Cheese
Natural Havarti Cheese
Natural Monterey Jack Cheese with Jalapeno Peppers
Natural Muenster Kase Cheese
Natural New York Extra Sharp Aged Cheddar Cheese
Natural Provolone Cheese
Probiotic Yogurt Cheese

Applegate Farms products are available in NYC at Whole Foods, The Food Emporium, The Health Nuts, Fairway, Westerly Health Foods, and other select health food stores. For more information, visit their website at www.applegatefarms.com.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Gimme Some Gluten Free Granola!

A brand that I've previously featured on Ms. Celiac Says, Enjoy Life Foods, has been kind enough to send me an early preview of their New and Improved granola that will be hitting stores shelves in April!

The granola is available in 3 flavors that include Cinnamon Crunch, Cranapple Crunch, and Very Berry Crunch. One of the great things about Enjoy Life Foods that I've mentioned in the past is that their products are Allergy Friendly. They are free of the 8 most common allergens (wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish). Their products are also gluten free and sulfite free. The crunchy granola is both vegan and Kosher Pareve, as well.

This weekend when I tried out their new gluten free granola, I was blown away. It tastes just like what I remember "real" granola to taste like: small chunks with bits of dried fruit mixed in. The Cinnamon Crunch was my favorite with tiny raisins tossed throughout. Immediately upon opening the bag of Cranapple Crunch, the aroma of fresh apples filled the room and the cranberries delighted my taste buds. The Very Berry Crunch was also delicious with the sweet flavors of raspberries and strawberries.

I also must say that I loved the cheerfully colored bags of granola (purple, green, and red - pictured above). It will definitely make them stand out on a store shelf. In New York City, Enjoy Life products are sold at Whole Foods and many health food stores.

For more information and to find where Enjoy Life products are available in your area, please visit their website at www.enjoylifefoods.com. Currently, you may also download a 55 cent off coupon at their website, as well.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

A Quick Update

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that there will be no post tomorrow (Friday 3/27) as I will be starting full-time employment. However, I will be back with posts at a regular schedule on Monday morning!

Next week you can look forward to a review of Enjoy Life's New & Improved Granola recipe that will be on shelves in April!

Have a good weekend!

~Paige

Run To Risotteria!

Risotteria is a gluten free landmark located in NYC's West Village on Bleecker Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. They have been around for a long time and are constantly striving to make their gluten free experience better and better.

I stopped by their restaurant the other day and was absolutely amazed by the selection of baked goods! They also have an entire line of frozen foods that you can buy and save for a later date. In addition to this, they have baking mixes that you can purchase too.

Risotteria is open 7 days a week from noon to 11 PM. They serve a huge selection of gluten free salads, soups, risotto, pizza, paninis, breadsticks, and baked goods. My favorites are the tomato sauce and mozzarella pizza and the mozzarella and pesto panini! If you are vegetarian, they have a ton of options to choose from too!

Tuesday is Gluten Free Pasta Day where you can choose from a selection of 4 pasta dishes with the Gluten Free Rice Pasta imported from Italy.

Risotteria also has a great selection of gluten free baked goods that include brownies, chocolate chip cookies, carrot cake, cream filled sprinkle topped cupcakes, black and white cookies, chocolate creme sandwiches, twinkies, chocolate chip fudge filled cookies, vanilla pound cake, chocolate tiramisu, lemony crust less cheese cake, and a selection of pies.

For more information:

Risotteria Restaurant
270 Bleecker Street
212-924-6664
http://risotteria.com


Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Chinese Food!!!

It can be very difficult to find Chinese food when you're on a gluten free diet. However, if you are in NYC, then you are in luck. There is a restaurant on the upper east side called Lilli and Loo that serves gluten free Chinese cuisine.

Their gluten free menu includes a selection of tasty starters, soups, salads, pasta, fried rice, grilled entrees, seared and crispy entrees, and sauteed entrees. They serve everything from BBQ Boneless Ribs to Pad Thai Noodles to Manchurian Beef to Saigon Shrimp.

Even better is the Gluten Free Lunch Special which is available Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 4 PM. This includes 1 entree from a selection of 8, served with a green salad and steamed white or brown rice (except noodle dishes) for $10.95.

Lilli and Loo also has a variety of Gluten Free Sushi Rolls that include the Hard Rock, Tuna Lover, Rainbow Volcano, Black Angel, Phoenix, and Red Forest.

For more information, please visit their website at www.lilliandloo.com.

Lilli and Loo
Chinese Asian Cuisine & Sushi Bar
792 Lexington Avenue (btw. 61st and 62nd Street)
New York, NY 10021
Tel: 212-421-7800
Fax: 212-421-8700

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Time For A Research Update!

This afternoon, I received an email from Cynthia Beckman, the Director of Development at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, on behalf of Dr. Peter Green. The message was to notify patients of a recent publication from the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center. You may download the article below:

ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF INCREASED DIAGNOSIS OF CELIAC DISEASE from the Journal of Insurance Medicine by Peter H. R. Green; Alfred I. Neugut; Afzal J. Naiyer; Z. Collette Edwards; Susan Gabinelle; Vijit Chinburapa.

I also included some highlights from this study below -

"The average delay in diagnosis for adult patients with celiac disease ranges from 4 to 11 years in North America."

"We found the higher the number of associated conditions exhibited by members, the higher the likelihood of celiac disease diagnosis over the 4-year study period. The top 5 conditions with the highest occurrence of celiac disease diagnosis in the study period were dermatitis herpetiformis (1 in 34), followed by Down syndome (1 in 53), nutritional marasmus (1 in 65), cachexia (1 in 98), and pancreatic insufficiency (1 in 123)."

"This study, involving over 10 million subjects enrolled in managed care programs, from all regions of the United States, reported that the age- and sex-adjusted rate of new diagnosis for celiac disease increased over 2-fold from 2000 to 2003."

"The overall savings after celiac disease diagnosis was confirmed when we examined the mean direct medical expenditures per capita among members who received diagnosis for the celiac disease diagnosis. These expenditures increased substantially at the time of diagnosis and for the 12-months after the diagnosis of celiac disease, when compared to 12-months prior to diagnosis. The increase in expenditures was attributed mainly to an increase in the facility inpatient component. However, over time the mean medical expenditures decreased from $8502 per capita to $7133 and $7854 for 24-month and 36-month after diagnosis."

For more details, download and read the complete publication above.

Happy Reading!

~Paige

I Could Not Live Without Amy's Kitchen

Amy's Kitchen has provided me with truly delectable and healthy meals for the past several years. While I was in college, I lived on their frozen meals when I didn't have the time to cook. It was nice to know that even though it was a frozen meal, what I was eating was both gluten free and healthy and provided me with protein and vegetables.

All of Amy's products are vegetarian and, therefore, contain no meat, fish, poultry, or eggs and the cheeses used in some of the products are made from pasteurized rBST hormone free milk and they do not contain animal enzymes or rennet.

They also offer many allergy free and special diet options besides their gluten free selections. They have products that are dairy free, lactose free, soy free, corn free, tree nut free, as well as, many low fat, cholesterol free, vegan, Kosher, and light in sodium choices.

Amy's Kitchen makes a variety of products from frozen meals to pasta sauces to soups to salsas. Here is a product list, where I noted my favorites:

KOSHER + VEGAN + CORN FREE + SOY FREE + TREE NUT FREE =

Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Organic Family Marinara Pasta Sauce
Organic Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce
Light in Sodium Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Curried Lentil Soup
Organic Lentil Soup
Organic Split Pea Soup
Organic Lentil Vegetable Soup
Organic Lentil Vegetable Soup - Light in Sodium
Organic Lentil Soup - Light in Sodium
Organic Split Pea Soup - Light in Sodium
Organic Tuscan Bean & Rice Soup
Organic Vegetarian Baked Beans
Organic Black Bean Chili
Organic Traditional Refried Beans
Organic Refried Black Beans
Organic Refried Beans with Green Chilies
Organic Traditional Refried Beans - Light in Sodium
Organic Refried Black Beans - Light in Sodium
Southwestern Black Bean Chili
Organic Medium Salsa
Organic MIld Salsa
Organic Roasted Chipotle Salsa
Fire Roasted Vegetable Salsa
Cream of Rice Hot Cereal Bowl

VEGAN + CORN FREE + SOY FREE + TREE NUT FREE =

Organic Low Sodium Marinara Sauce

KOSHER + VEGAN + CORN FREE + TREE NUT FREE =

Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's Pie - Light in Sodium
Mexican Casserole Bowl
Brown Rice, Black-Eyed Peas & Veggie Bowl
Light in Sodium Brown Rice & Veggies Bowl
Organic Medium Chili
Thai Stir-Fry
Tofu Scramble

KOSHER + VEGAN + SOY FREE + TREE NUT FREE =

Mexican Tamale Pie
Black Bean Tamale Verde
Roasted Vegetable Tamale
Organic Cream of Tomato Soup
Organic Black Bean Vegetable Soup
Organic Chunky Vegetable Soup
Organic Fire Roasted Southwestern Vegetable Soup
Organic Cream of Tomato Soup - Light in Sodium

KOSHER + VEGAN + TREE NUT FREE =

Bistro Burger
Light in Sodium Black Bean Enchilada
Black Bean Enchilada Whole Meal
Teriyaki Bowl - A MS. CELIAC FAVORITE
Baked Ziti Bowl
Organic Medium Chili
Organic Medium Chili with Vegetables
Organic Spicy Chili
Organic Medium Chili - Light in Sodium
Organic Spicy Chili - Light in Sodium
Organic Black Bean & Corn Salsa
Asian Noodle Stir-Fry - A MS. CELIAC FAVORITE
Indian Mattar Tofu

VEGAN + KOSHER =

Rice Crust Spinach Pizza - A MS. CELIAC FAVORITE
Single Serve Non-Dairy Rice Crust Cheese Pizza
Organic Thai Coconut Soup
Indian Vegetable Korma
Baked Ziti Kids Meal

KOSHER + CORN FREE =

Rice Crust Cheese Pizza
Garden Vegetable Lasagna - A MS. CELIAC FAVORITE
Onion Garlic Mushroom Pasta Sauce
Puttanesca Sauce
Organic Chunky Tomato Bisque
Organic Chunky Tomato Bisque Soup - Light in Sodium
Indian Paneer Tikka

KOSHER + SOY FREE =

Rice Mac & Cheese - A MS. CELIAC FAVORITE
Cheese Enchilada
Cheese Enchilada Whole Meal
Cheese Tamale Verde
Brown Rice & Vegetable Bowl
Mexican Casserole Bowl - Light in Sodium
Summer Corn & Vegetable Soup
Indian Mattar Paneer
Indian Palak Paneer
Indian Mattar Paneer

KOSHER + TREE NUT FREE =

Santa Fe Enchilada Bowl
Tortilla Casserole & Black Beans Bowl
Mexican Tofu Scramble

Amy's Kitchen products are available at mainstream and specialty health food stores. For more information, please visit their website at www.amyskitchen.com.

Monday, March 23, 2009

I'm Nuts For Nut Thins!

Blue Diamond Nut Thins are a tasty and addicting snack cracker! Throughout college, there were times when I probably consumed a box in one sitting! Thankfully, they are fairly healthy and that wasn't as bad for me as it sounds.

Nut Thins are low in fat and have no cholesterol and contain 3 grams of protein per serving. They are gluten free and each production run is tested to confirm that the gluten levels are less than 20 ppm. Blue Diamond is also a proud sponsor of the Celiac Disease Foundation and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

Nut Thins are available in 6 delicious flavors including Almond [My Favorite!], Hazelnut, Pecan, Country Ranch, Cheddar Cheese, and Smokehouse. They are available to purchase at the Blue Diamond website and at Ms. Celiac's Market.

They are also available at many mainstream supermarkets and health food stores.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Exciting Weekend Update!

Hey Everyone!

I hope you are all having a great weekend! I've got several exciting things to tell you all about.

Enjoy Life Foods will be releasing their NEW and IMPROVED granola this April and they are kind enough to give me a sneak peek. I will be letting you know my review toward the end of the week. I can tell you now that there are 3 flavors that include Cranapple Crunch, Cinnamon Crunch, and Very Berry. I am very much looking forward to sampling these new products!

This week Starbucks celebrated their 1 year anniversary of their "My Starbucks Idea." Due to the requests of people around the globe, Starbucks has initiated several new ideas into the Starbucks experience. This includes some great ideas such as the splash sticks, the VIP cards, and the free Wi-Fi internet. In the newsletter that Starbucks sent out to their loyal customers, they mention that Gluten Free food offerings are "Currently In Review." Hopefully, we will soon be hearing more information in regards to this and we will finally see gluten free products at Starbucks.

I have also received confirmation from General Mills that their Betty Crocker line will be introducing Gluten Free Baking Mixes in June 2009. These 4 products will be Gluten Free Cake Mix in Yellow and Devils Food Flavors, Gluten Free Brownie Mix, and a Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix.

And for those of you who cannot wait any longer for the Suffolk County Celiacs Vendor Fair in April, why not check out the Westchester Celiac Sprue Support Group Meeting and Vendor Fair at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York on Sunday, March 29th at 1:30 PM. The following vendors will be at the fair: Jake Bakes, Millers Gluten Free Bread Company, Curious Cookie, DeCicco Marketplace in Ardsley, Kettle Cuisine (featured on Ms. Celiac Says), Glow Gluten Free, and Katz Gluten Free. For more information, visit their website at westchesterceliacs.org.

Also, be sure to keep checking back at Ms. Celiac's Market as new products are frequently added. Currently, we sell products from the following list of brands:

*Pamela's Products
*Cherrybrook Kitchen
*Arrowhead Mills
*The Gluten-Free Pantry
*Jennie's
*Ener-G Foods
*Glutino
*Mrs. May's
*Tropical Source
*Glenny's
*Kinnikinnick Foods
*Enjoy Life
*Josef's
*Celestial Seasonings
*Vitamin Water
*Dr. Brandt
*Kind Bars
*Balance Bars
*Tinkyada Pasta
*Conte's Pasta
*Lundberg
*Blue Diamond
*Crunchmaster
*Rao's

And after the tremendous success of our week long feature on the gluten free products and restaurants of Northern Italy, I will soon be doing another week long feature on the gluten free products and restaurants of Paris, France. So, you will want to stay tuned for that!

-Paige

Friday, March 20, 2009

A WHOLE New World...

Whole Foods Market is a great place to shop when you're on a gluten free diet. They have a wide selection of gluten free products, but you need to know where to look. Unlike some grocery stores / health food markets that have a specific section with all of their gluten free products, Whole Foods Market has them throughout the store.

I'm going to tell you some of the best places to look when trying to find gluten free food at Whole Foods Market. I usually go to the location in Union Square but pretty much all of their stores have a similar aisle layout. The following are some of the items that are gluten free or are available in gluten free varieties in the following aisles:

*Asian / Soup Aisle - Thai Noodle Dishes, Thai Soups, and Vegetable Puree-style Soups

*Cracker / Chip Aisle - Rice-based crackers, Nut-based crackers, Pretzels, Potato Chips, Corn Chips, and Cassava Chips

*Cereal Aisle - Nutrition Bars, Cereals, Granola, Soy and Rice-based milks

*Pasta Aisle - Tomato Sauces, Rice-based, Corn-based, Soy-based, and Potato-based Pastas

*Cookie / Tea / Chocolate Aisle - Biscotti, Cookies, Teas, Chocolates

*The Bakery Section - Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakery products along with a few other gluten free brands' bakery foods

*The Ready-Made Food Section - Check all the clearly labeled ingredients on the prepared foods. Also look around for gluten free cookies, cupcakes, and brownies. There are also soups and cold cuts located here too.

*The Frozen Food Section - Frozen Meals, Chicken Fingers, French Fries, Soups, Ice Cream, Soy Cream, etc.

Whole Foods Markets are located throughout the US, UK, and Canada. In NYC, the locations are as follows:

-Union Square [The closest one to me and, therefore, the one I frequent most often]
4 Union Square South

-Bowery
95 East Houston Street

-Chelsea
250 7th Avenue

-Tribeca
207 Greenwich Street

-Columbus Circle [My favorite location / Best GF selection]
10 Columbus Circle

-97th Street
808 Columbus Avenue

Whole Foods Market also has their own blog that you can visit here or visit their website at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Have Some Vegetarian Cuisine!

If you're looking for a vegetarian restaurant with several gluten free options, look no further than Zen Palate. Zen Palate prides itself on using no MSG and no partially hydrogenated oils in its food. In addition to the vegetarian menu, there are also an assortment of vegan options.

The gluten free vegetarian dishes one can choose from are:

All Salads (without dressing)
Basil Peanut Rolls [My Favorite!]
Stir-Fried Brown and Red Rice
Curry Rice Noodle Soup
Curry Supreme (substitute the Spring Rolls with Basil Peanut Rolls)

Zen Palate has 2 locations in NYC. One is in the theatre district at 663 Ninth Avenue at 46th street and the other is in the financial district at 104 John Street. There is also a location in Princeton, New Jersey.

Online ordering is also available and you will receive 15% off your first online order. Please visit their website, www.zenpalate.com, for more information on delivery areas.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Try Some Delicious Simple Baking Mixes

In one of the first posts on Ms. Celiac Says, I gave the recipe for delicious Holiday icing cookies. The sugar cookie mix that I used to make those was by Cherrybrook Kitchen.

Cherrybrook Kitchen, "the sweet solution for food allergies," produces baking mixes, frosting mixes, frosting, and cookies that are gluten free, peanut free, dairy free, egg free, and nut free. Their products are also vegan and certified Kosher by the Orthodox Union.

My two favorite mixes are the Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix and the Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix. You can see some of the Chocolate Chip cookies I recently made photographed below.

Their gluten free product line includes:

Cookies -
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies
Gluten Free Vanilla Graham Mini Cookies

Frostings and Frosting Mixes -

Chocolate Frosting
Vanilla Frosting
Chocolate Frosting Mix
Vanilla Frosting Mix

Baking Mixes -

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix
Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Mix
Gluten Free Pancake Mix

Cherrybrook Kitchen products are available in NYC at Whole Foods
Markets and Pier 1 Imports. For a location where these products are sold near you, please visit their website at www.cherrybrookkitchen.com.

You can also purchase their products at Ms. Celiac's Market.


Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Get Some Balance

As someone on a gluten free diet, I understand how it isn't always easy to find gluten free food when you're traveling or even when you're just going to be out of the house for a long time. That is why I like to bring some sort of nutrition bar with me, just in case, I need something to eat and there is nothing around me that is gluten free.

One of my favorite bars to bring on long trips are Balance Bars. There are not may gluten free bars that are high in protein, but these are and they are a delicious and filling snack or meal substitute.

The Balance Original bar is based on the balanced ratio of carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fats. It is available in 7 gluten free flavors including Almond Brownie, Chocolate, Honey Peanut, Peanut Butter, Yogurt Honey Peanut and my 2 favorites Chocolate Raspberry Fudge and Mocha Chip. Although the company has told me that these are gluten free, the packages are not labeled gluten free so you may want to double-check with the company on your own.

However, the company makes it clear that all gluten ingredients will always be labeled clearly on the product, as well as, if an allergen is manufactured on the same machine as the product.

Balance has also recently come out with a line of bars that they are advertising as gluten free. These are called Balance Pure and are composed of real fruit and nuts and have 9 grams of protein. I haven't tried these yet, but I plan on tasting them real soon. These bars are available in 2 flavors: Cherry Pecan and Chocolate Cashew.

For more information on Balance Bars, please visit their website at www.balance.com.

Balance Original and Balance Pure are available to purchase at Ms. Celiac's Market.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Word On The Street...

General Mills' Betty Crocker will be releasing a line of gluten free baking mixes this summer. This will include chocolate chip cookie mix, brownie mix, cake mix and possibly more.

Stay tuned to Ms. Celiac Says...for more details regarding this development.

Good Ole Glenny's

One of the first gluten free products, I encountered when starting on the gluten free diet was Glenny's Low Fat Soy Crisps. For the first year on the diet, I lived on this light, tasty snack that comes in a variety of gluten free flavors that include: Lightly Salted (My Favorite!), Apple Cinnamon, Barbeque, Cool Ranch, Cheddar, Onion & Garlic, Unsalted, White Cheddar, and Salt & Pepper.

More recently, I also discovered that they make a range of chips called Spud Delites. These are absolutely delicious as well. My favorite flavor is the Sour Cream & Onion but they also are available in Sea Salt and Texas BBQ.

In addition to the above mentioned gluten free snack options, Glenny's also makes Marshmallow Treats available in Raspberry Jubilee, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Peanut Caramel and Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies available in Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin.

The great thing about Glenny's is that they are available in not only most health food stores but in many mainstream markets too! For more information on Glenny's, please visit www.glennys.com.

Glenny's Soy Crisps and Spud Delites are available to purchase at Ms. Celiac's Market.


Friday, March 13, 2009

Let's Get Healthy!

For all of you gluten free health nuts out there, Josie's restaurants are a great option. Not only do they provide a wide array of healthy meal options, but they also are very aware of gluten and can alter most of their items to be gluten free. Once you alert your server about your need for a gluten free diet, you will be amazed at their familiarity with the diet.

There are several restaurants in New York City within the Josie's family. These restaurants include the original and my favorite Josie's West, Josie's Restaurant East, Josephina, Citrus, and Josies Kitchen.

Another great feature is that the restaurants deliver. A few nights ago, I ate at Josie's Restaurant East and I enjoyed a delicious gluten free roast chicken with a side of string beans and carrots. It was a huge portion and enough for two meals which was nice.

So, be sure to check out at least one of the Josie's Restaurants!

Original Josie's West
300 Amsterdam Avenue at 74th Street
212-769-1212

Josie's Restaurant East
565 Third Avenue at 37th Street
212-490-1558

Josephina
1900 Broadway btw. 63rd and 64th Street
212-799-1000

Citrus (Latin Fare / Asian Flair)
320 Amsterdam Avenue at 75th Street
212-595-0500

Josies Kitchen
1614 2nd Avenue at 84th Street
212-734-6644

For more information, please visit www.josiesnyc.com.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

It's Returning...

The 3rd Annual Suffolk County Celiacs Vendor Fair & Fundraiser will take place on Sunday, April 26th, 2009 in Hauppauge, New York from 11 AM to 4 PM.

Over 50 gluten free vendors will be selling their products and as I can attest from the past two that I attended, there are many free samples!

The event will also feature special guests:

-Dr. Peter Green (Director, Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University)
-Suzanne Simpson (Registered Dietition, Columbia University)
-Cynthia Kupper (Registered Dietition, Director, Gluten Intolerance Group)

The entrance fee is $10 and must be paid on the day of the event in cash. Children under the age of 12 years may attend for free. Profits will be donated to the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University.

As of now, the following vendors are confirmed as attending the event. I will place an asterisk next to the ones that have been featured on Ms. Celiac Says...

*Joan's GF Great Bakes
Gilbert's Gourmet Goodies
The Diet Shop
Meadow Foods
Get Healthy America
Gluten Free Passport
Mari Productions
Food Tek
Gaga's
*Schar USA
*Enjoy Life Natural Brands
Everybody Eats
Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods
*Pamela's Products
Little Bay Baking Co.
Mr. Ritts Bakery
Two Fresh Chefs
Mama's Restaurant
*Shabtai Gourmet Bakery
The Silly Yak Bakery
Azure Chocolate
Allergy Friendly Foods
Outrageous Foods
The L. Lodico Walk For Celiac Disease
Organic Bistro Whole Life Meals
Full Flavor Foods
Caesar's Pasta Products
Kitchen Table Bakers
Domata Living Flour
*Kettle Cuisine
The Gluten Free Choice
NuGo Nutrition
*Aleia's Gluten Free Foods
Nutritional Health Technologies
Jake Bakes
Aunt Gussie's Cookies & Crackers
Good Day Sunshine
The Grainless Baker
Claire Rose Distributors (Red Bridge Beer)
Smokin' Sloe's Restaurant
Jolie's Gourmet
Miller's Gluten Free Bread Co.
Rose Door Inc.
*Kinnikinnick
Marble Slab Creamery

For more information and the event location, please visit: www.suffolkcountyceliacs.com.


"Gluten Free Has Never Tasted So Good"

Most brands have some sort of slogan, but Kinnikinnick Foods Inc. "Gluten Free Has Never Tasted So Good," is one you can believe!

Kinnikinnick makes a wide assortment of delicious gluten free products. From breads to baking mixes to bagels to donuts to cookies. I have never tried a product by this brand that I didn't enjoy! I must add that their donuts are to die for and are the best donuts I've had gluten free or not and they are even dairy free too!

If you are in Edmonton, Canada then you are very lucky as you can check out their retail store which is entirely gluten free with over 200 items. You can also order special event cakes and wedding cakes here if you are in the area. However, if you are not in Canada, there products are available at many health food stores throughout the United States or you can order them online at their website www.kinnikinnick.com.

In addition, to being gluten free most of their products are dairy free as well. Below I will provide a list of their gluten free products with a special note if the product contains dairy.

Breads -

White Sandwich Bread
Brown Sandwich Bread
Cheese Tapioca Rice Bread (CONTAINS DAIRY)
Italian White Tapioca Rice Bread
Many Wonder Multigrain Rice Bread
Raisin Tapioca Rice Bread
Robins Honey Brown Rice Bread
Sunflower Flax Rice Bread
Tapioca Rice Bread
True Fibre Multigrain Rice Bread

Yeast Free Breads -

Candadi Yeast Free Multigrain Rice Bread
Yeast Free Tapioca Bread

Buns -

Tapioca Rice English Muffins
Tapioca Rice Hamburger Buns
Tapioca Rice Hot Dog Buns
Tapioca Rice Multigrain Seed and Fibre Buns
Tapioca Rice Tray Buns
Tapioca Rice Hot Cross Buns

Mixes -

Kinni-Kwik Bread & Bun Mix
Pancakes & Waffle Mix
All Purpose Mix
Angel Food Cake Mix
Candadi Yeast Free Rice Bread Mix
Chocolate Cake Mix
Cookie Mix
Cornbread and Muffin Mix
Muffin Mix
Kinni-Kwik Sunflower Flax Bread & Bun Mix
Pastry & Pie Crust Mix
Pizza Crust Mix
Sponge Cake Mix
Tapioca Rice Bread Mix
White Cake Mix

Breakfast Items -

Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Homestyle Waffles
Original Homestyle Waffles
KinniKrisp Rice Cereal

Baking Products -

Bread Cubes
Chocolate Cookie Crumbs
Bread Crumbs
Graham Style Cracker Crumbs
KinnActive Baking Powder
All Purpose Celiac Flour
Easy White Fiber Mix
Pea Hull Fibre
Corn Meal
Guar Gum
Potato Starch
Rice Bran
Soya Flour
Sweet Rice Flour
Tapioca Starch
Xanthan Gum
White Rice Flour
Corn Starch
Brown Rice Flour
Icing Sugar
Corn Flour

Bagels -

Tapioca Rice Cinnamon Raisin Bagels
Tapioca Rice New York Style Plain Bagels
Tapioca Rice Sesame Bagels

Cookies -

S'moreables Graham Style Crackers
KinniKritters Animal Cookies (A FAVORITE OF MINE)
KinniToos Chocolate Vanilla Sandwich Cookies
KinniToos Vanilla Sandwich Creme Cookies
Ginger Snap Cookies
Montana's Chocolate Chip Cookies (A FAVORITE OF MINE)
Double Chocolate Almond Cookies
Lemon Cranberry Cookies
Almond Biscotti
Chocolate Covered Almond Biscotti (CONTAINS DAIRY)
KinniBetik Chunky Chocolate Cookies (CONTAINS DAIRY)

Desserts -

JB Brownie Squares
Tapioca Rice Cinnamon Buns

Donuts -

Chocolate Dipped Donuts (A FAVORITE OF MINE)
Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Maple Glazed Donuts
Vanilla Glazed Donuts (A FAVORITE OF MINE)
Glazed Chocolate Donuts

Muffins -

Blueberry Muffins
Carot Muffins
Chocolate Chip Muffins

Pizza -

Pizza Crust - 10 inch
Pizza Crust - 7 inch

All of these products are available at www.kinnikinnick.com and the Montana's Chocolate Chip Cookies are available at Ms. Celiac's Market.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Mozzarelli Madness!!!

I've been wanting to feature this pizzeria since I started the blog but I've been patiently waiting as every time I go back they have a new gluten free product and are continuously expanding.

Yesterday, I went back to grab dinner and the storefront had been transformed into a gluten free paradise. Not only do they serve gluten free pizza but they have a variety of pizzas that you can buy by the slice (!!!) and you can choose from several different toppings. The tasty crust is made from a secret recipe of brown rice and beans.


In addition to pizzas, they serve a selection of gluten free pastas including baked ziti, penne vodka, basil pesto, penne alfredo, and penne goat cheese primavera. Recently, they also started to make a variety of delicious gluten free wraps including a turkey wrap that I love.


For dessert, not only do they have a variety of gluten free cake slices and cupcakes, but they also have a huge assortment of gluten free cookies (including flavors such as raspberry white chocolate, oreo, and banana sundae).


Mozzarelli's is now open 7 days a week and is located at 38 East 23rd Street between Park Avenue South and Madison Ave.



For more information, contact:

Mozzarelli's
212-475-6777
www.mozzarellis.com


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Crunch Crunch Crunch!

Recently, I've had the good fortune of discovering Crunchmaster Crackers (manufactured by TH Foods). They are both a tasty and healthy snack! As many of us on a gluten free diet know, it is very hard to find a gluten free cracker that is worth eating, but these are delicious!

Crunchmaster makes a variety of different types of crackers including Baked Rice Crackers (available in Sesame, Toasted Sesame, Cheese, and Artisan Four Cheese), Multi-Grain Crackers, and Multi-Seed Crackers (available in Roasted Garlic, Rosemary & Olive Oil, Original, and Sweet Onion). All of their products are certified gluten free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization.

In addition to being a great snack for those on a gluten free diet, they are also suitable for those on Kosher, sodium restricted, low fat, and/or vegetarian diets.

Crunchmaster Crackers are available for sale at select locations throughout the United States and Canada. You may also purchase them online at the Crunchmaster Online Store or at Ms. Celiac's Market.

For more information on Crunchmaster Products, visit their website at www.crunchmaster.com.

FYI: My favorite cracker is the Multi-Seed Rosemary & Olive Oil. ~ Paige

Monday, March 9, 2009

Monday Update

Hey Everyone!

I do apologize that there was no post this morning. I had quite a hectic weekend / day today and the product I was hoping to feature ended up not existing, which was a disappointment.

To clarify, a few weeks ago I had heard about this place called Lenny's that has several locations throughout NYC. Apparently, they were selling a gluten free Pumpkin Gingerbread and a gluten free Banana Bread by Better Bread at two of their locations according to this website: Better Bread.

However, when I went to the Lenny's location on the Upper West Side they weren't quite sure that they ever had sold a gluten free bread and mentioned that they used to sell some sort of small gluten free cake but that they don't sell it anymore. But no need to worry, I will keep you updated if I hear anything more.

Also, last week I featured the brand Kettle Cuisine on my website and I mentioned the 2 new soup flavors that will be available this spring. Well, they will actually both be available starting Fall 2009.

Alright, well tomorrow morning there will be a brand new article on a tasty gluten free cracker, so you don't want to miss it!

~Paige

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Are You Ready For Your Weekend Update?

Wow, wow, wow! Ms. Celiac Says...has received over 1000 visitors since I first started blogging in January 2009. We have people reading this site from 33 states. The latest states to add to our growing list are Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Tennessee. We also have an assortment of international visitors from 14 countries including the most recent additions of visitors from Denmark, Germany, Greece, Jamaica, Turkey, and the United Kingdom!

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! WE APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY READER AND ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT MS. CELIAC SAYS...!

This past Monday, we featured a brand of gluten free soups called, Kettle Cuisine. Just to let everyone know, they will be releasing 2 more gluten free and vegan soups this spring: a Three Bean Chili Soup and an Organic Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Soup. So, make sure to keep your eyes open for those great new flavors.

I'm a little late with posting this, but here is a wrap-up of all of the brands featured on Ms. Celiac Says during the month of February:

Conte's Pasta Company

Rao's Pasta Sauce

Glaceau Vitamin Water

Dr. Brandt Skincare

Chipotle

Hotel Cipriani

Hotel Principe di Savoia


Ristorante Da Giacomo

Bi-Aglut

Crosara Claudio

Lumi Restaurant

Sambuca

Tate's Bake Shop

Glutino

Arico Natural Foods Company

Jamba Juice

Viva Herbal Pizzeria

Tinkyada Pasta

Aleia's Gluten Free Bakery

Nutella


Enjoy Life Foods

Bistango

I hope everyone is having an excellent weekend!

~Paige


Friday, March 6, 2009

Tinkyada Pasta!

I have tried numerous brands of gluten free pasta, and most of them I find unbearable. They are too mushy and do not taste at all like the wheat-based pasta of my past. However, there is one brand of pasta that I enjoy eating especially with Rao's pasta sauce and that is Tinkyada rice pasta.

Tinkyada rice pasta is gluten free, casein free, corn free, dairy free, egg free, meat free, nut free, and soy free. It is also free of cholesterol, Kosher certified, and easy-to-digest! And some varieties are certified organic by the OCIA.

This pasta comes in a variety of shapes including brown rice spaghetti, spirals, penne, shells, grand shells, fusilli, elbows, little dreams, lasagne, spinach spaghetti, vegetable spirals. The organic varieties include spaghetti, spirals, penne, elbows, and lasagne.

Tinkyada pasta is available at many health foods stores and is also available at Ms. Celiac's Market.

For more information, please visit www.tinkyada.com.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Take Action!

Congress is re-evaluating the child nutrition programs in the United States that includes both the School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

The American Celiac Disease Alliance is asking you to write to your lawmakers asking them to consider the needs of Celiac students and to urge them for funding to provide special diets to these students so that ALL children can have lunch at school.

For more information, visit: American Celiac Disease Alliance


Scream For Ice Cream!

If you are craving some truly flavorful ice cream, then you will be happy to know that Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream has gluten free flavors! Not all of their flavors are gluten free, but many are and if you are ever unsure they provide an easy to understand ingredient list for you to double-check.

The following flavors are gluten free:

ICE CREAM -

Banana Split
Mint Chocolate Chunk
Coffee
Everything But The...
Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch
Butter Pecan
Chunky Monkey [My #1 Favorite]
Phish Food [My #2 Favorite]

Vanilla Caramel Fudge
Vanilla
Chocolate
Karamel Sutra
Turtle Soup
Creme Brulee
Peanut Butter Cup
Cherry Garcia
Pistachio Pistachio
New York Super Fudge Chunk
Coffee Heath Bar Crunch

LIGHT ICE CREAM -

Phish Food
Strawberries & Cream
Raspberry Chocolate Chunk

ORGANIC ICE CREAM -

Strawberry
Vanilla

FROZEN YOGURT -

Strawberry Banana
Cherry Garcia

SORBET -

Strawberry Kiwi Swirl
Jamaican Me Crazy
Berried Treasure

If you are in NYC, check out the following Ben & Jerry's locations at:

*41 Third Avenue
*2722 Broadway
*Macy's Herald Square
*Rockefeller Plaza
*Grand Central Terminal

For a location in a state near you, please visit their website at www.benjerry.com.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

New Updates to Ms. Celiac's Market...

Hey Loyal Readers!

I wanted to let you know that I have added several great gluten free products to Ms. Celiac's Market. You can now purchase Celestial Seasonings Tea, Glaceau Vitamin Water, Rao's Tomato Sauce, Dr. Brandt Anti-Oxidant Water Boosters and Skincare products.

You can rest assured that the only items available for sale have been taste-approved by myself so no need to panic about wasting money on awful gluten free items.

Go Get Shopping!!!

http://astore.amazon.com/mscelsay-20


~Paige

Eat At A Deli

Since, I started on a gluten free diet I haven't been able to walk into a deli and order much of anything except a plain salad or some deli meats until I found Bloom's New York Deli.

Bloom's New York Deli is located near Grand Central Station and has a gluten free menu that features salads, eggs and omelettes, burgers (no bun), french fries, smoked fish, and deli meats served on gluten free toast!

The deli has lots of seating but you can also take-out or get free delivery between 7 AM and 9:30 PM if you spend over $10. Even better they are open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The other day I ordered a turkey sandwich with a side of french fries. The turkey sandwich was just what I was looking for - some nice plain turkey on toast with a little lettuce. The french fries were a little bit too thick and greasy for my liking, but I know many others who rave about them!

I must say that the place is extremely expensive - $16.55 for a gluten free turkey sandwich with a side of fries! But, it is definitely convenient to be able to go to a deli and order gluten free.

For more information:

Bloom's New York Deli
124 East 40th Street (and Lexington Ave.)
212-922-3663
www.bloomsnewyorkdeli.com

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tea Time!

My favorite brand of tea is Celestial Seasonings bagged teas. There is nothing like a cup of their Peppermint tea to calm a bad stomach or their Chamomile tea to relax tense nerves. Although, not all of Celestial Seasonings teas are gluten free they do offer a wide assortment of gluten free flavors. For those of you maintaining a Kosher diet, you are in luck because they are Kosher too. And some of the teas are organic.

The gluten free teas that are made by Celestial Seasonings include:

Herbal Teas -

Acai Mango Zinger
Bengal Spice
Black Cherry Berry
Caffeine Free Herbal Tea
Chamomile [A FAVORITE OF MINE]
Cinnamon Apple Spice
Country Peach Passion
Cranberry Apple Zinger
Honey Vanilla Chamomile
Lemon Zinger
Mandarin Orange Spice
Mint Magic
Peppermint [A FAVORITE OF MINE]
Raspberry Zinger
Red Zinger
Sleepytime
Sleepytime Vanilla
Sweet Apple Chamomile
Tangerine Orange Zinger
Tension Tamer
Tropic of Strawberry
True Blueberry
Wild Berry Zinger

Black Teas -

Devonshire English Breakfast Black Tea
Fast Lane Black Tea
Golden Honey Darjeeling Black Tea
Morning Thunder
Tuscany Orange Spice Black Tea
Victorian Earl Grey Black Tea

Green Teas -

Antioxidant Green Tea
Blueberry Breeze Green Tea
Cranberry Pomegranate Green Tea
Decaf Honey Chamomile Green Tea
Decaf Mandarin Orchard Green Tea
Decaf Mint Green Tea
Goji Berry Pomegranate Green Tea
Green Tea
Honey Lemon Ginseng Green Tea
Lemon Zinger Green Tea
Raspberry Gardens Green Tea
Tropical Acai Berry Green Tea
Tropical Grapefruit Green Tea

White Teas -

China Pearl Decaf White Tea
Imperial White Peach White Tea
Perfectly Pear White Tea
Powerfully Plum White Tea

African & Rooibos Teas -

African Orange Mango Rooibos Tea
Madagascar Vanilla Red Rooibos Tea
Moroccan Pomegranate Red Rooibos Tea
Peach Apricot Honeybush Tea
Red Safari Spice Rooibos Tea

Teas for Wellness -

Diet Partner Wellness Tea
Echinacea Complete Care Wellness Tea
Honey Peach Ginger Wellness Tea
Sleepytime Extra Wellness Tea
Sleepytime Throat Tamer Wellness Tea
Tension Tamer Extra Wellness Tea
Throat Soothers Wellness Tea
Tummy Mint Wellness Tea

Cool Brew Iced Teas -

Blueberry Cool Brew Iced Tea
Peach Cool Brew Iced Tea
Raspberry Cool Brew Iced Tea
Tropical Fruit Cool Brew Iced Tea

Chai Teas -

Chocolate Caramel Enchantment Chai
Decaf India Spice Chai
Honey Vanilla White Chai
India Spice Chai
Vanilla Ginger Green Tea Chai

Latin Flavors -

Apple Banana Chamomile Tea
Cinnamon Apple Tea
Honey Lemon Diet Tea
Linden Mint Tea

Special Occasion Teas -

Giftable Love Tea - Vanilla Strawberry Rose
Holiday Tea - Candy Cane Lane
Holiday Tea - Nutcracker Sweet

Organic Teas -

Sweet Clementine Chamomile Organic Herb Tea
Mango Darjeeling Organic Tea
Organic Black Tea
Decaf Lemon Myrtle Organic Green Tea
Organic Green Tea
Vanilla Apple White Organic Tea

Celestial Seasonings teas are available at most supermarkets. For more information, please visit www.celestialseasonings.com.