Time For Ice!

With all of this hot weather, one could really go for some Italian Ice! Luckily, Rita's Italian Ice is gluten free! In addition to being gluten free, they are also a great fat free and cholesterol free snack. Rita's Italian Ice is also kosher certified!

Their large selection of flavors includes:

*Alex's Lemonade
*Banana
*Blueberry
*Blue Raspberry
*Caramel Apple
*Cherry
*Chocolate
*Cotton Candy
*Georgia Peach
*Green Apple
*Island Fusion
*Key Lime
*Kiwi-Strawberry
*Mango
*Passion Fruit
*Pina Colada
*Pineapple
*Raspberry
*Raspberry Lemonade
*RitaBerrious
*Root Beer
*Strawberry
*Strawberry MargaRita
*Swedish Fish
*Sweet Tea
*Tangerine
*Tropical Punch
*Twisted Melon
*Vanilla
*Watermelon
*Wild Black Cherry

Their sugar free flavors include:

*Cherry
*Chocolate
*Mango Peach
*Pineapple
*Pink Lemonade
*Root Beer
*Tangerine

Rita's stores are located throughout Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

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

Be A Health Nut!

I've been living in NYC for the past 5 years, and I've visited many different markets looking to find what places sell the best gluten free products. This year, I finally discovered a gluten free gem!

The Health Nuts is a natural food market with 3 locations in NYC. One is on the upper west side, one on the upper east side and one in midtown east.

The best location for gluten free products is the location on the upper east side! They have the widest selection of gluten free products that I have seen in Manhattan. And they don't just have the usual products too, they have an assortment of gluten free products imported from Italy as well!

They carry some of my favorite gluten free brands such as Joan's Gluten Free Great Bakes, Schar, Conte's Pasta, Pamela's Products, and Kinnikinnick. If you haven't been to The Health Nuts yet, I definitely recommend you go their immediately and check it out.

Their locations are as follows:

*835 2nd Avenue (btw. 44th and 45th St.)
#212-490-2979

*2611 Broadway (btw. 98th and 99th St.)
#212-678-0054

*1208 2nd Avenue (btw. 63rd and 64th St.)
#212-593-0116

Enjoy!

Get Some Ener-G!

Ener-G Foods is a brand of gluten free products that have been around for quite some time. I'm sure everyone is familiar with seeing them at their local health food store! In addition to offering a wide selection of gluten free and dairy free products they also offer an assortment of products for those on low protein diets!

In addition to the above, Ener-G Foods' products are also free of peanuts, tree nuts and are kosher certified. Their bakery is completely dedicated to gluten free baking!

Their current product list includes:

Bread Products -

*Tapioca Loaf - Thin Sliced
*White Rice Flax Loaf
*Hi-Fiber Loaf
*Seattle Brown Loaf
*Yeast Free Sweet Loaf
*Light Brown Rice Loaf
*Light White Rice Flax Loaf
*Brown Rice Loaf
*Egg-Free Raisin Loaf
*Papas Loaf
*Four Flour Loaf
*Yeast-Free Brown Rice Loaf
*Light White Rice Loaf
*Corn Loaf
*White Rice Loaf
*Raisin Loaf w/ Eggs (soy free)
*Rice Starch Loaf
*Regular Sliced Tapioca Loaf
*Yeast-Free White Rice Loaf
*Light Tapioca Loaf
*Bread Crumbs
*Broken Melba Toast
*Communion Wafers (soy free)
*Plain Croutons

Cookies -

*Sunflower Cookies
*Chocolate Cookies
*Vanilla Cookies
*Chocolate Chip Potato Cookies
*Cinnamon Cookies
*White Chocolate Chip Cookies
*Chocolate Chip Biscotti
*Ginger Cookies

Cakes & Pastries -

*Brownies
*Plain Doughnuts
*Brown Rice English Muffins with Flax
*Cinnamon Rolls
*Poundcake (soy free)
*Plain Doughnut Holes
*English Muffins (soy free)

Buns, Rolls, & Pizza Shells -

*Brown Rice Hamburger Buns
*Tapioca Hamburger Buns
*Tapioca Hot Dog Buns
*Yeast Free Rice Pizza Shells - 10''
*Yeast Free Rice Pizza Shells - 6''
*Seattle Brown Hamburger Buns
*White Rice Hamburger Buns
*English Muffins (soy free)
*Brown Rice English Muffins with Flax
*Tapioca Dinner Rolls
*Seattle Brown Hot Dog Buns
*10'' Rice Pizza Shells
*6'' Rice Pizza Shells

Crackers & Snacks -

*Wylde Pretzels (A FAVORITE OF MINE)
*Wylde Sesame Pretzels
*Wylde Poppy Seed Pretzels
*Ener-G Crip Pretzels
*Ener-G Sesame Pretzel Rings
*Ener-G Gourmet Crackers
*Gourmet Onion Crackers
*Cinnamon Crackers
*Seattle Crackers
*Chocolate Chip Snack Bars

White Rice Pasta -

*White Rice Lasagna
*White Rice Macaroni
*White Rice Spaghetti
*White Rice Vermicelli
*White Rice Small Shells

Milk & Egg Substitutes -

*Egg Replacer

Cereals -

*Rice Bran

Flours -

*Brown Rice Flour
*Tapioca Flour
*Gluten Free Gourmet Blend
*Potato Starch Flour
*Sweet Rice Flour
*White Rice Flour
*Potato Flour

Baking Ingredients & Mixes -

*Baking Powder
*Corn Mix
*Xanthan Gum
*Calcium Carbonate (Baking Soda Substitute)
*Potato Mix
*Chocolate Chips
*Rice Mix

Soups & Sample Kits

*Cream of Mushroom Soup (not for dairy/casein free diets)
*Bread Sampler
*Gluten Free Sample Kit / Gift Pack

Ener-G Foods are available in the United States, Europe, Canada, Latin America, and Asia and at most health food stores! You may also purchase their products at Ms. Celiac's Market.

For more information, visit their website at www.ener-g.com!

Try Some Yummy Corn Muffins!

Pamela's Products were kind enough to send me a bag of their gluten free Cornbread & Muffin Mix recently. This weekend, I decided to give it a try and bake some corn muffins!

I was amazed by how easy and quick the recipe was. All I needed in addition to the mix were eggs, sugar, and oil (or butter). I mixed everything together and then poured the batter into my muffin pan and cooked for approximately 15 minutes. The bag made 12 muffins! I tried one last night after my baking and it was delicious! They tasted just as I remember corn muffins that were not gluten free to taste!

Even better the baking mix contains nothing artificial and absolutely no trans fats. Pamela's Products uses only premium all natural ingredients too! For those of you who want to be more creative, Pamela's Products offer a variety of recipes to use the baking mix for right on the bag. These include recipes for:

*Buttermilk Cornbread
*Cheddar Cheese Cornbread
*Green Chili Cheese Cornbread
*Green Onion and Sour Cream Cornbread
*Corn Kernel Cornbread
*Sweet Pepper Cornbread
*Pamela's Southern Skillet Cornbread
*Pamela's Southern Cornbread Dressing
*Pamela's Cranberry Orange Corn Muffins
*Pamela's Savory Tart Crust
*Pamela's Sweet Tart Crust

Pamela's Products are available at many health food stores. For more information on where you can purchase their products, please visit www.pamelasproducts.com.

You may also purchase the Gluten Free Cornbread and Muffin Mix at Ms. Celiac's Market by clicking here!

Several of Pamela's Products are available at Ms. Celiac's Market. So, check it out!

Go Shopping at Ms. Celiac's Market!

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to remind you about Ms. Celiac's Market and all of the delicious gluten free products we sell! Since the market opened, we have added an assortment of great gluten free brands for you to choose from!

Ms. Celiac's Market sells everything from books to baking mixes to breads to chips to drinks to treats!

We currently sell gluten free products from the following companies:

Pamela's Products
Cherrybrook Kitchen
Arrowhead Mills
The Gluten-Free Pantry
Ener-G Foods
Jennie's Macaroons
Glutino
Mrs. May's
Tropical Source
Glenny's
Lundberg
Kinnikinnick Foods
Enjoy Life
Celestial Seasonings
Glaceau
Dr. Brandt Skincare
KIND Bars
Balance Bars
Tinkyada Pasta
Conte's Pasta
Blue Diamond
Schar
Crunchmaster
Mary's Gone Crackers
Rao's
Jelly Belly
Cadbury
Just Born

Please check us out by visiting, Ms. Celiac's Market!



Thanks!
~ Paige

Weekend Update

Hey Everyone!

First of all, I wanted to thank everyone for all of the kind comments that are being sent my way! Ms. Celiac Says... has grown so much from when it first started back in January 2009 and it continues to keep growing!

For those of you that don't know, Ms. Celiac is now on TWITTER. To follow us, please visit:

www.twitter.com/msceliacsays

You may also join our FACEBOOK group at:

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55563995406&ref=mf

Coming the 1st week of June, I will hold a week long feature of the gluten free restaurants and stores of Long Island, New York.

And since I haven't yet posted a recap of the brands and restaurants featured during the month of April on Ms. Celiac Says, here they are:

KIND Bars

Coffee Shop

Lakewood Matzoh

Jennies Macaroons

Shabtai Gourmet

Jelly Belly

Cadbury

Just Born

Dietary Card

Hotel de Crillon

Buddha Bar

La Cantine du Faubourg

Naturalia

La Vie Claire

Biocoop

Valpiform

Laduree

Starbucks

Bissinger's Chocolates

Curious Cookie

The G Free Diet

Nizza

The Grainless Baker

Lundberg Family Farms

Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse

Foods By George

Tinkyada Pasta

Katz Gluten Free Bake Shop

Gaga SherBetter

Have A Good Holiday Weekend!

Hey Everyone,

Due to the holiday weekend, there will be no posts until Tuesday, May 26th.

So, have a good, gluten free Memorial Day weekend!

Ciao,
Paige

I Love Stogo!

Last night, I decided to check out a new vegan ice cream place in my neighborhood, the East Village, after finding out that their ice cream is also gluten free! I ordered a cup of chocolate coconut ice cream and I was in heaven! The ice cream tasted like gelato and did not taste dairy-free at all!

As I waited for my ice cream to be scooped, my eyes glanced into a case of cupcakes. I almost fell over when I noticed the sign that said "gluten free." Then I realized that the cupcakes were from Babycakes, a vegan bakery further downtown that also makes some gluten free products. In addition to both vanilla and chocolate and red velvet gluten free cupcakes they also had a gluten free brownie and a selection of gluten free cookies!

Stogo is a gourmet organic dairy-free ice cream parlor at 159 2nd Avenue (entrance on East 10th St. btw. 2nd and 3rd Aves). Their ice cream contains no refined sugars, no animal products, no preservatives, and no artificial flavorings!

The current selection of soy-based flavors includes:

*Bananas Foster
*Cardamom Pistachio
*Chocolate
*Chocolate Chip
*Chocolate Coconut
*Coconut
*Coffee
*Mango
*Mango Berry
*Mexican Spiced Chocolate
*Mint Chocolate Chip
*Mixed Berry
*Peach
*Peanut Butter Fudge
*Pina Colada
*Pomegranate Chocolate Chip
*Salted Caramel Pecan
*Strawberry

Coconut-Milk Based Flavors:

*Chocolate

Soft Serve Flavors:

*Chocolate
*Mixed Berry

For more information, please visit stogonyc.com!

An Old Favorite!

One of the 1st brands I came into contact with when starting the gluten free diet, was Arrowhead Mills. They produce a wide selection of gluten free products from baking and dessert mixes to flours to beans to grains to seeds to rice to nut butters to cereals!

Arrowhead Mills uses no genetically engineered ingredients and no preservatives. My favorite Arrowhead Mills cereal is their Maple Buckwheat Flakes. That is actually my favorite gluten free cereal overall!

Their product list includes:

Gluten Free Baking & Dessert Mixes -
*All Purpose Baking Mix
*Brownie Mix
*Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
*Pancake and Waffle Mix
*Wild Rice Pancake and Waffle Mix
*Pizza Crust Mix
*Vanilla Cake Mix

Gluten Free Flours -
*Blue Corn Meal
*Brown Rice Flour
*Buckwheat Flour
*Millet Flour
*Organic Flax Seed Meal
*Soy Flour
*White Rice Flour
*Yellow Corn Meal

Gluten Free Beans -
*Adzuki Beans
*Anasazi Beans
*Chickpeas (Garbanzos)
*Green Lentils
*Green Split Peas
*Pinto Beans
*Red Lentils
*Soybeans

Gluten Free Grains -
*Amaranth
*Buckwheat Groats
*Hulled Millet
*Quinoa

Gluten Free Seeds -
*Flax Seeds
*Mechanically Hulled Sesame Seeds
*Organic Golden Flax Seeds
*Sunflower Seeds
*Unhulled Sesame Seeds

Gluten Free Rice -
*Brown Basmati Rice
*Long Grain Brown Rice
*Short Brown Rice
*White Basmati Rice

Gluten Free Conventional Nut Butters -
*Almond Butter, Creamy
*Almond Butter, Crunchy
*Cashew Butter, Creamy
*Cashew Butter, Crunchy
*Honey Sweetened Peanut Butter, Creamy
*Honey Sweetened Peanut Butter, Crunchy
*Valencia Peanut Butter, Creamy
*Valencia Peanut Butter, Crunchy

Gluten Free Organic Nut Butters -
*Organic Valencia Peanut Butter, Creamy
*Organic Valencia Peanut Butter, Crunchy
*Sesame Tahini, Organic

Cold Cereals -
*Puffed Corn
*Puffed Millet
*Puffed Rice
*Organic Corn Flakes
*Maple Buckwheat Flakes
*Sweetened Rice Flakes

Arrowhead Mills products are available at most natural food stores. You may also purchase them at Ms. Celiac's Market. For more information, please visit www.arrowheadmills.com.

Let's Go Nuts!

If you are in the mood for a healthy snack, why not try Mrs. May's Naturals? All of Mrs. May's products are vegan, non-GMO, cholesterol free, dairy free, wheat free, gluten free, and contain zero trans fats and no artificial colors or flavors!

My favorite product by Mrs. May's are the Classic Crunches! Mrs. May's Naturals also produces Trio Bars and Fruit Chips with Sugar. The product list is as follows:

Classic Crunches -
*Almond Crunch
*Cashew Crunch
*Cran-Blueberry Crunch
*Coconut Almond Crunch
*Pom-Raspberry Crunch
*Black Sesame Crunch
*Cran-Tropical Crunch
*Pumpkin Crunch
*Ultimate Crunch
*Strawberry Pineapple Crunch
*Sunflower Crunch
*Walnut Crunch
*White Sesame Crunch

Trio Bars -
*Blueberry
*Cranberry
*Strawberry
*Tropical

Fruit Chips w/ Sugar

Mrs. May's Naturals are available throughout the United States at Costco, Smart & Final, Marukai, BJ's Wholesale Club, Hannaford, Metropolitan Market, and other select health food stores. Mrs. May's Naturals are also available at select retailers in Canada, Mexico, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and the UK.

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

To purchase Mrs. May's Naturals, visit Ms. Celiac's Market.

I've Gone Crackers

If you are looking to try a nice, tasty, flavorful cracker, you must try Mary's Gone Crackers. Their signature product is a cracker made with organic brown rice, organic quinoa, organic flax seeds and organic sesame seeds. They also sell Mary's Gone Crackers Crumbs and Sticks & Twigs. All of their products are gluten free!

In addition to being gluten free, their products are organic, vegan, and certified kosher. They are made in a dedicated nut free and gluten free facility. The crackers are available in 5 flavors including original, caraway, herb, black pepper, and onion. The crumbs come in original, caraway, and savory blend. The sticks & twigs come in Chipotle Tomato, Sea Salt, and Curry.

Mary's Gone Crackers products are available at a variety of health food stores. In NYC, you can find them at Whole Foods, Fairway, Health Nuts, Westerly Health Foods and many other health food stores. You may also purchase them at Ms. Celiac's Market.

Soon, Mary will be launching more gluten free products including cookies, flour blend, and other snacks. For more information, visit www.marysgonecrackers.com. Stay tuned...

SALE SALE SALE!!!

Enjoy Life products are 20% off until May 31st at Ms. Celiac's Shop on Amazon Marketplace.

Just enter the code ENJOYLIF at checkout! And if you spend over $25, you will also get FREE SHIPPING.

Remember To Spread Celiac Disease Awareness!

Hey Everyone,

There will be no usual post today as I've been preoccupied this week taking care of my new puppy (a toy poodle). However, I did want to remind everyone that this month, May, is Celiac Disease Awareness Month. I hope all of you are doing your part to spread the word about this under-diagnosed condition.

I wanted to pass along a report that was sent to me from the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University. It discusses a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases and also mentions Celiac Disease. Here is the link:

http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/722FC3D9-B5EC-47AE-8BF5-6DBB8900EAB3/0/NCDD_04272009_ResearchPlan_CompleteResearchPlan.pdf

Have a good weekend!

~Paige

Fast Food!

So, I'm not really a fan of fast food, but sometimes you're in a place where that is the only option. Thankfully, there are several fast food restaurants that offer gluten free choices! These include: In-N-Out Burger, Burger King, Wendy's, and Subway.

In-N-Out Burger has several locations on the west coast. If you are on a gluten free diet you can order a 100% beef burger "protein style" and it will come wrapped in a lettuce leaf. Their french fries are made from real potatoes and are fried in 100% cottonseed oil with no risk of cross-contamination. The spread they use on the burger is gluten free and dairy free too! For more information, visit In-N-Out Burger.

Burger King's french fries are made in a dedicated fryer and do not contain gluten. The apple fries are also gluten free, as are the plain beef patties. For more information, visit Burger King.

At Wendy's you can order a hamburger patty, a grilled chicken breast, a baked potato with several of the toppings, chicken caesar salad without croutons, southwest taco salad, and some other items. For more information, please visit Wendy's.

Subway has a huge selection of gluten free salads and meats (too many to list). For more information, visit Subway.

Contest Winners!!!

Hey Everyone!

First of all I wanted to thank everyone who entered the contest! We had a great turn out! 2 winners were randomly selected, they are:

Sarah Oldre of Iowa

and

Ashley McDaniel of Washington, DC

Sarah's favorite restaurant is the Brown Bottle in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It is an Italian restaurant with a gluten free menu. For more information, please visit the Brown Bottle.

Sarah's favorite product is Bob's Red Mill White Rice Flour.

Ashley's Favorite restaurant is Pete's New Haven Style Apizza in Washington, DC. For more information, please visit Pete's Apizza.

~If you didn't win this time, there will be many more future contests to enter!

~Paige

Coming Next Month!

A while ago I mentioned that Betty Crocker would be coming out with a line of gluten free baking mixes. Well, they have finally updated their website with more information!

The new line includes 4 products:

*Gluten Free Brownie Mix
*Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
*Gluten Free Devil's Food Cake Mix
*Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix

The ingredients are made in a Gluten Free Processing Facility and are also certified kosher. These dessert mixes will be hitting shelves at traditional grocery stores this June! By Fall 2009, all flavors of Betty Crocker's Ready-to-Spread Frosting will be labeled "gluten free."

For more information and for gluten free recipes, please visit: Betty Crocker Gluten Free

Contest Ends Tonight!

Just a quick reminder -

The contest to win Tinkyada Pasta ends tonight at 7 PM EST. If you haven't entered yet, there is still time. Send an email to MsCeliacSays@gmail.com with:

*Your Name
*Your Favorite Restaurant (that accommodates a G Free Diet)
*Your Favorite G Free Product

Good Luck!

~Paige

Try Some Celiac Specialties!

Celiac Specialties is a 100% gluten free and now nut free bakery located in Michigan. They sell a variety of delicious products ranging from breads to brownies to cookies to donuts. In addition to being gluten free, some of their products are casein free.

And if you don't live near Michigan, Celiac Specialties Gluten Free Bakery products are available at retail locations in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. You may also order their products online at www.celiacspecialtiesshop.com.

The current product listing includes:

Breads -
*White
*White Sandwich Bread
*Onion Poppy Bread
*Cinnamon Raisin Bread
*Cheddar Herb Bread
*Flaxseed Bread
*Navy Bean Bread
*Multigrain Bread (contains Gluten Free oats)
*Mock Rye Bread
*Sub Bun
*Hot Dog Buns
*Hamburger Buns
*Wraps
*Dinner Rolls

Crumbs and Croutons -
*Seasoned Bread Crumbs
*Graham Cracker Crumbs
*Complete Stuffing Mix

Dry Mixes, Flour, and Oats:
*Buttermilk Pancake Mix
*Plain Pancake Mix
*Flaxseed Pancake Mix
*Muffin Mix
*Corn Bread Mix
*Xanthan Gum
*Expandex (Modified Tapioca Starch)
*Navy Bean Flour
*Gluten Free Flour Blend
*Gluten Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
*Brownie Mix

Frosting -
*Chocolate
*Vanilla

Brownies, Cakes, and Cupcakes -
*Chocolate Coated Brownies
*Brownie Tray
*Chocolate Cupcakes
*Vanilla Cupcakes
*Pumpkin Cake
*Angel Food Cake
*Double Layer Cake
*Angel Wings
*Pumpkin Muffins

Mini Muffins -
*Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
*Lemon Poppy Muffins

Breakfast Items -
*Cinnamon Rolls
*English Muffins
*Granola

Strudel -
*Baked Blueberry Strudel
*Baked Apple Strudel
*Baked Cherry Strudel

Donuts -
*Glazed Donuts
*Plain Donuts
*Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
*Powder Sugar Donuts
*Coconut Donuts
*Double Chocolate Donuts

Cookies -
*Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
*Chocolate Chip Cookies
*Sugar Cookies

Gummies -
*Gummy Worms
*Sour Gummy Worms
*Gummy Bears
*Red Raspberry Gummies
*Blue Raspberry Gummies
*Butterfly Gummies

Pies -
*Sawdust Pie
*Blueberry Pie
*Apple Pie
*Cherry Pie
*Pie Crust (unbaked)

Pizza Shells -
*Pizza Crust 6''
*Pizza Crust 10''

Shipping is available to all 50 states and parts of Canada.

For more information, please visit their website at www.celiacspecialties.com or visit them at:

Celiac Specialties
48411 Jefferson Ave.
Chesterfield Township, Michigan 48047
#586-598-8705
customer_support@celiacspecialtiesshop.com

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday - 8 AM to 5 PM
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday - 7 AM to 2:30 PM
Saturday - 7 AM to 4 PM
Sunday & Monday - Closed

The Bakery On Main

Another great treat that I got to try at the Suffolk County Gluten Free Vendor Fair were these gluten free granola bars by Bakery On Main. Their granola bars come in 3 delicious flavors including:

*Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
*Cranberry Maple Nut
*Extreme Trail Mix

In addition to gluten free granola bars, they also make gluten free granola in the following flavors:

*Cranberry Orange Cashew
*Rainforest Granola
*Apple Raisin Walnut
*Nutty Maple Cranberry
*Extreme Nut & Fruit

The Bakery On Main products are produced in a plant that is certified Kosher by the Orthodox Union and is certified for organic production. Their granola is 100% natural and has no artificial flavors or trans-fats and no refined sugars.

Bakery On Main products are available in AL, AR AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, Washington DC, WI, WV, and WY.

In NYC, you can purchase Bakery On Main products at:

A Matter of Health Inc.

Food For Health Inc.

Westerly Health Foods

Gourmet Garage

Healthfully Organic Food Market

Space Market

Health & Harmony

Natural Green Market

Whole Foods Market

The Health Nuts

West Side Health Foods

Savor Some Chocolate!

When I attended the Suffolk County Gluten Free Vendor Fair, I learned about a brand of gluten free chocolates that I had never heard of before. The brand is called, Azure Chocolat and they make gluten free, kosher, and all natural chocolates. At the fair, they were handing out samples which were delicious and I decided to buy a S'more- absolutely delicious!

They make a variety of chocolate products including:

*5 Spiced Candied Pecans

*Chocolat Smothered Grahams

*Chocolat Marshmallows

*Naked Grahams

*Azure Munch

*Shortbread Cookies

*Truffle Brownies

*Fondue for Two

*Classic Toffee

*Classic Dark Toffee

*Provencal Almond Bark

*Beauty Bark

*Tamari Almond Bark

*S'mores D'Azure

They also make a delicious selection of gluten free truffles with flavors that change seasonally. For the Spring (available until May 31st), are the following flavors of fresh cream truffles:

*Strawberry Almond Swirl

*Walnut Lavender Honey

*Black & White

*Hazelnut

*Bergamot

*Dubbel Dark Ale

*Hibiscus Passion

*Mexican Rose (Vegan & Dairy Free)

*Cindo de Mayo

*Jasmine Flower

*Champagne & Roses

*Irish Coffee

*Peanut Butter & Banana

*Wild Orchid (Vegan & Dairy Free)

*Beurre Vanille

Azure Chocolats can be shipped to anywhere in the United States. They also have a store located in Centerport, New York.

For more information, visit their website at http://www.azurechocolat.com/ or call 1-631-425-1885.

I Love My ADEKs!

I've always had difficulty finding a multi-vitamin that didn't make me feel ill and one that my body was also able to absorb. Finally, at the recommendation of my doctor I started taking ADEK tablets by AXCAN PHARMA and I love them! They have a sweet, pleasant taste and don't make me feel nauseated as so many other pills do.

These vitamins are specially formulated for those suffering from gastrointestinal diseases and disorders and for people with malabsorption conditions including:

*Bacterial or Parasitic Infections

*Celiac Disease

*Chronic Pancreatitis

*Crohn's Disease

*Cystic Fibrosis

*Lactose Intolerance

*Liver Disease

*Ulcerative Colitis

*Stomach or Bowel Surgery

*Medications that affect intestinal absorption

These vitamins are unique because they are highly absorbable and antioxidant rich! The upgraded formula of ADEKs, called AquaADEKS contains higher amounts of vitamins D & K, as well as, Coenzyme Q10, Beta Carotene, and Gamma Tocopherols. Both ADEKs and AquaADEKs help people who suffer from the malabsorption of fat-soluable vitamins (A, D, E, K).

ADEK vitamins also may decrease oxidative stress which is cell damage caused by free radicals.

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

As with all medications, vitamins, and supplements always check with your doctor first in regards to whether or not this product is right for you.

_________________________________________________________________

Don't forget to stop by Borders Park Avenue in NYC tonight for a discussion and signing by Elisabeth Hasselbeck of her just released book, The G Free Diet at 7 PM!

Hooray For Starbucks!

Have you tried Starbucks Gluten-Free Orange Valencia Cake? If not, I suggest you run to the nearest Starbucks (no excuses - there is one on every corner) and try it now!

Of course, the first thing that I did yesterday morning was go to my local Starbucks in search of this new product. There it was sitting by itself on a raised tray with a sign that read, Gluten- Free Orange Valencia Cake. With the exception of the display cake, the others were all sealed in plastic wrap to protect them from cross-contamination!

I must say I've been waiting for Starbucks to release gluten free products ever since they teased the NYC market with gluten free brownies two years ago and promised to sell gluten free products in the near future. However, I would have preferred if they released a product that was more mainstream (in my opinion, at least) like something containing chocolate (my favorite!), as I'm not a huge fan of oranges with the exception of in juice form.

That being said, I really did enjoy the Orange Valencia Cake. Thankfully, the orange flavor was subtle and not overwhelming. The cake was sweet and moist and soft and much larger than I expected. One was definitely filling enough for my breakfast.

For those of you who are dairy free too, you are in luck because this cake is dairy free. The ingredients include:

*Whole Eggs
*Valencia Orange Pulp *Almonds
*Sugar *Orange Peel
*Gluten Free Baking Powder (Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, and Rice Flour)
*Orange Oil

The nutritious value of this gluten free treat has its pluses and minuses. On the plus side, it contains 9 grams of protein and 30% your daily value of Vitamin C. On the minus side, it contains 290 calories, 16 grams of fat and 23 grams of sugar.

Here is the complete nutrition information, which can be found on the plastic wrap:

Calories: 290
Calories from fat: 140
Fat: 16 grams
Sat. Fat: 2 grams
Trans. Fat: 0
Cholesterol: 125 mg
Sodium: 40 mg
Carbohydrates: 32 grams
Dietary Fiber: 4 grams
Sugar: 23 grams
Protein: 9 grams
Vitamin A: 4%
Vitamin C: 30%
Calcium: 10%
Iron: 8%

Starbucks Gluten-Free Orange Valencia Cake retails for $1.95 throughout the United States with the exception of Hawaii where it sells for $2.25.



Thank you Starbucks!!!

Reminder!

Elisabeth Hasselbeck will be promoting her new book, The G Free Diet, on the following television programs tomorrow (Wednesday, May 6th):

*Rachael Ray on ABC (check your local listings)
*Larry King Live on CNN at 9 PM EST
*Showbiz Tonight on HLN (check your local listings)

Also, she will be discussing and signing the book at Borders Park Avenue in NYC on Thursday, May 7th at 7 PM!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Today is Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May) and in celebration of this holiday, I have a great recipe to share with you all. It is the recipe that was the Grand Prize Winner of Pamela's Greatest Gluten-Free Recipe Contest by Pamela's Products.

The recipe is for a Tamale-Style Stuffed Bread and was created by Ken H. from Texas. This recipe was made using Pamela's Gluten-Free Bread Mix.

Here is the recipe:

Tamale-Style Stuffed Bread

1 cup Pamela's Gluten-free Bread Mix
1 cup masa harina for tamales (naturally gluten-free corn flour)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup lard or vegetable shortening
1-1/2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans red enchilada sauce
1 can low-sodium Chicken Broth
2, 4oz cans diced Green Chiles
Salt & Pepper to taste
Yield: 1 loaf, serves 4-6

Preheat oven to 375°.
In a bowl, combine the flours. Mix chicken with 3/4 of one can of enchilada sauce. With a mixer beat together the lard and baking powder on medium speed, about 1 minute. Slowly add the combined flours as you continue beating. Gradually add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of room temperature broth until the dough becomes like a soft cake-like batter. Salt & pepper to taste.

Line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, with plenty of overlap and extended edges. Remove paper and flatten on work surface. Spread dough in a 9-inch x 15-inch rectangle about 1/2-inch thick. Spread a layer of chicken on the dough, followed by the black beans and green chilies. Pour on remaining enchilada sauce.

Roll up the dough jelly-roll fashion and lower gently, using the parchment paper, into the loaf pan. Trim and fold over the paper, then cover the loaf pan with foil and bake for 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

When done, the loaf should feel firm in the center when pressed. If soft, return to oven for a few minutes longer. Let rest 10-15 minutes while you heat the remaining can of enchilada sauce. When done, turn loaf out onto a serving platter and gently remove the parchment paper. Slice into 1-inch thick rounds and pour a little sauce over them.

Chef's Notes: The second time I made this dish I used a French bread pan, that has a curved bottom, instead of the loaf pan, and the shape was more like a giant tamale! The corn crust is so good you won't believe you made it. It was a little easier rolling it up and putting it into a round pan.

For ease of rolling, I also used less sauce in the roll, and served more at table to compensate.
Use plenty of parchment paper and the pan hardly gets messy, and it works just as well as corn husks. Remember, you can use any filling; I used my leftover turkey from Thanksgiving and it was a hit with the family. I have some Chile Colorado in my freezer that is just begging to be made into one of these crowd pleasing wonders.



To find out more information about Pamela's Products and for other great recipes, please visit www.pamelasproducts.com.

Enjoy!

I Love Celiac Awareness Month!

For those of you that don't know, the month of May is National Celiac Awareness Month, and this May we have so many great things going on for us in the Celiac community!

Today Elisabeth Hasselbeck's book, The G Free Diet, was released! I hope you picked up your copy! Don't forget, she will be discussing the book and signing copies at Borders Park Avenue in NYC on Thursday, May 7th at 7 PM. Also, she has launched a website for the book and you can visit it at www.gfreediet.com.

For those of you who missed it, Elisabeth Hasselbeck was on Good Morning America and the View today to promote her book. You can watch the interviews here:

GMA Interview

the View


Also, tomorrow Starbucks will debut it's first gluten free product nationwide, the Orange Valencia Cake. So, make sure to check-out your local Starbucks and try this new treat!

Eat Some Nuggets!

One of the newest gluten free products that I have been addicted to lately are from Applegate Farms! Recently, they released their Natural Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets. These chicken nuggets are breaded with a combination of rice and corn flour and are absolutely addicting.

I've enjoyed them with ketchup or plain and both ways they are still good! And the awesome thing about them is that they come fully cooked. In the microwave, they only take 1 minute and 30 seconds to heat. So, if you are in a rush to make dinner this is definitely a great option!

Applegate Farms Natural Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets are available in the freezer section of your supermarket or health food store. In addition to being gluten free they are also dairy and casein free.

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

_________________________________________________________________________________

***Reminder -

THE G FREE DIET By Elisabeth Hasselbeck is released today! Go out and buy your copy now!

And don't miss her discuss the book on the following media outlets today:

8:10 AM - Good Morning America on ABC

11 AM - the View on ABC

3 PM - Barbara Walter's Sirius Radio Show

9 PM - Hannity and Colmes on the Fox News Channel

Get Your Tango On!

Today between 12 noon and 4 PM, Red Mango will be giving out free cups of its newest flavor, Tangomonium. Even better, it's gluten free! Go get some!

Mr. Ritt's Has Ridiculously Good Gluten Free Food!

One of my favorite brands that has been at the Suffolk County Gluten Free Vendor Fair for the past 3 years is Mr. Ritt's Gluten Free Bakery. The store used to be based in Pennsylvania but is now located in Millville, New Jersey and is open from Thursday - Sunday.

Mr. Ritt's Gluten Free Bakery sells an assortment of delicious gluten free products ranging from breads to pizza crusts to cakes to cupcakes. Mr. Ritt's Gluten Free Bakery products are available in select health food stores in New Jersey, Iowa, Rhode Island, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. You may also order his products by calling 1-877-MR-RITTS (677-4887). However, not all products are available for shipment. Soon you will be able to order his products online at www.mrritts.com.

The current product list includes:

*Challah Bread
-Challah Loaf
-Challah Hamburger Rolls
-Challah Hotdog Rolls
-Challah Hoagie Rolls
-Challah Dinner Rolls
-Challah Braided Loaf

-Cinnamon Bread
-Cinnamon Raisin Bread

*Artisan Breads
-Olive Bread
-Sundried Tomato Basil
-Buckernickel (Mock Pumpernickel) [A FAVORITE OF MINE]

*Italian Baguettes
-Indicate with or without seeds

*Lite N White Bread
-Loaf
-Hamburger Rolls
-Hotdog Rolls
-Hoagie Rolls
-Dinner Rolls

*Buckwheat Bread
-Buckwheat Loaf
-Buckwheat Hamburger Rolls
-Buckwheat Hotdog Rolls
-Buckwheat Hoagie Rolls
-Buckwheat Dinner Rolls

*Pizza Crusts
-White Crusts
-Buckwheat Crusts
-Italian Herb Crusts

*Frosted Cakes (NOT AVAILABLE FOR SHIPMENT)
-Lemon Torte
-Dairy Free Vanilla Cake
-Dairy Free Chocolate Cake
-Carrot Cake
-Yellow Buttercream
-Chocolate Cupcakes
-Vanilla Cupcakes

*Luncheon Cakes
-Jewish Apple Cake
-Dairy Free Apple Cake
-Lemon Pound Cake
-Vanilla Pound Cake
-Budapest Pound Cake

*Cheesecakes
-Blueberry
-Vanilla (Plain)
-Crumbtop
-Pineapple Crumb

*Joan's Bagels & English Muffins [A FAVORITE OF MINE]
-Bagels
-English Muffins

*Coffee Cakes
-Blueberry
-Crumbtop

*Angelfood Cakes
-Almond
-Cherry Vanilla
-Chocolate Chip
-Lemon
-Marble
-Vanilla (Plain)

*Deetees Pizzelles
-Check availability

*Celiac Specialties Donuts [A FAVORITE OF MINE]
-Cinnamon
-Glazed
-Powdered Sugar

*Mr. Ritt's Flours & Waffle Mixes
-Flour - Original White Blend
-Flour - Buckwheat Blend
-Buttermilk Original Waffle Mix
-Buckwheat Waffle Mix
-Dairy Free Waffle Mix

*Conte's Products [A FAVORITE OF MINE]
-Cheese Ravioli
-Spinach Ravioli
-Stuffed Shells
-Pierogies - Potato & Onion, Potato, Onion, & Cheese
-Pizza's

*Glazed Cakes
-Boston Cream
-Sachertorte

*Unfrosted Cakes
-Yellow
-Chocolate
-Carrot

*Unfrosted Cupcakes
-Yellow
-Chocolate
-Carrot

***And many more products, that you can discover by emailing Mr. Ritt's Gluten Free Bakery at info@mrritts.com or by calling 1-877-MR-RITTS***