Let's Host A Gluten Free Super Bowl Party!

The Super Bowl is going to be coming up soon - Sunday, February 6th - and perhaps, you are hosting a party or maybe you're just going to one?  Either way, it is traditionally a game watched while consuming tons of food.

You may have decided that you'll just make food that you cannot eat for your guests or if you're going somewhere, plan to eat beforehand.

Well, this year you don't have to do that.

I will tell you some easy steps on how to host your own exclusively Gluten Free Super Bowl party that even those on a regular diet will enjoy!  Or if you are attending someone else's party, you can just bring with you one or more of these items.

CHIPS -

• Ruffles Original Potato Chips
• Tostitos Restaurant Style with a Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips
• Pirate's Booty
• Snyder's of Hanover Gluten Free Pretzels
• Arico Foods Cassava Chips
• Popcorn Indiana's Chip'ins

DIPS -

• Tostitos All Natural Chunky Salsa (serve with tortilla chips)
• Tribe Hummus (serve with fresh veggies)

PIZZA -

• Joan's GF Great Bakes NY Pizza
• Foods by George Gluten Free Cheese Pizza

CHEESE and CRACKERS -

• Glutino Gluten Free Original Crackers
• Blue Diamond Barbeque Almond Nut Thins
• An assortment of cheese from Applegate Farms

MEATS -

• Applegate Farms Natural Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets w/ Heinz Ketchup

DRINKS -

• Coca-cola
• Pepsi-cola
• Sprite
• 7-Up
• Mug Root Beer
• Canada Dry Ginger Ale
• Anheuser-Busch Gluten Free Redbridge Beer

Now, for those of you that are more adventurous and want to make some delicious snacks, here are some great gluten free recipes from an assortment of excellent gluten free bloggers that you should check out:

• Gluten-Free Goddess's Guacamole
• Gluten-Free Goddess's Nachos
• Adventure's of a Gluten Free Mom's Pigs in a Blanket
• The Sensitive Pantry's Buffalo Chicken Wings

The above gluten free items can be found at most major supermarket chains along with select health food stores.  You may also want to check out Ms. Celiac's Market's Super Bowl section for additional items.

Spanish Lessons!

One of the great things about being on a gluten free diet is that it encourages you to explore new foods that you otherwise may have never tried.

The other day I made 3 delicious gluten free Spanish-themed recipes.  This included the classic Gambas al Ajillo, Guacamole, and Plantains in Thyme and Garlic.

Each item turned out more delicious than the next and everything was very easy to make!


Guacamole (serves 4) -

Ingredients:

• 2 Haas avocados
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• Sea salt (to taste)

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine avocados and lime juice.
2. Mash until you reach desired consistency.
3. Add sea salt to taste.
4. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Plantains in Thyme and Garlic (Serves 4) -

Ingredients:

• 2 large green plantains
• 2 cups water
• 4 teaspoons Spanish olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp thyme

Directions:

1. Cut the tips off each end of the plantains and remove the skin.
2. Chop in thin slices.
3. In a large skillet, bring the water to a boil over medium heat.
4. Add plantains to the skillet and cover until tender (approximately 15 minutes)
5. With a slotted spoon, remove plantains from skillet and onto paper towels to dry.
6. Dry skillet.
7. In a large bowl, combine the thyme, paprika, and salt.  Add the plantains and toss.
8. Add the olive oil to the skillet and heat over medium-high heat.  Add the plantain slices.  Cook until they are golden on the bottom (approximately 3 minutes).  Flip sides. Scatter garlic over the plantains.  Cook another 3 minutes.
9. Serve!

Gambas al Ajillo (serves 4) -

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Spanish Olive Oil
• 2 1/2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
• a dash of Red Chili Pepper flakes
• approximately 20 medium-large shrimp
• sea salt (to taste)

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil, garlic and chili flakes over low-medium heat.
2. When oil starts to bubble, add in the shrimp.  Sprinkle with sea salt.
3. Cook for 1 minute and then turn over and cook for another minute.
4. Remove the shrimp from the pan and wipe pan dry with paper towels.
5. Add 2 tbsp olive oil to the pan and turn to high heat.  
6. Return the shrimp to the pan and cook for about a minute on each side until just browned.
7. Serve!

Katz Gluten Free - Still One of My Favorite Brands!

In case you haven't noticed, Katz Gluten Free is one of our sites newest advertisers!  I am thrilled to have them advertise on my site, as they have been one of my favorite gluten free brands for quite a long time.

I have wrote several features on their delicious assortment of gluten free products.  You can check those articles out below:

Keep It Kosher

Delicious New Bread By Katz

Katz Gluten Free - New Products

In addition to being gluten free, their products are also dairy free and nut free.  Many of their products are also corn free!  Some of their items that I recommend you check out are:

• Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes with Colored Sprinkles
• Honey Loaf
• Whole Grain Bread
• Chocolate Strip
• Cinnamon Rugelech
• Raspberry Hamantaschen

For more information and to purchase these products, please click on their ad above!

Martha Stewart's Gluten Free Special -

Tomorrow, January 27th, the Martha Stewart Show will go gluten free!  According to TvGuide.com,

Gluten-Free recipes with "View" cohost Elisabeth Hasselbeck; allergen-friendly kettle corn with entrepreneurs Angie and Dan Bastian.

Check your local listings for the exact time this will be airing near you!

Bakery on Main Releases Fiber Power!

Gluten free food, in general, lacks fiber.  That is why Bakery on Main took it upon themselves to create a gluten free product that was not only high in fiber but delicious too!

Fiber Power is their new line of high fiber gluten free granola.  It contains 9 grams of fiber per serving!  The product gets its' fiber from two sources - whole grain certified gluten free oats and prebiotic Inulin fiber from Jerusalem artichokes.  In addition to being gluten free, this product is also dairy free, casein free, trans fat free, cholesterol free, low in sodium, low in saturated fat, all natural, and certified Kosher Parve (OU).  It is currently available in Cinnamon Raisin and Triple Berry varieties.

Bakery on Main also produces an assortment of other delicious gluten free granola products.  This includes:

Gluten Free Granola -

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

Gluten Free Granola Snack Bars -

• Extreme Trail Mix
• Peanut Butter Chocolate
• Cranberry Maple Nut

Soft & Chewy Gluten Free Granola Bars -

• Peanut Butter & Jelly
• Chocolate Almond
• Apple Cinnamon

All of Bakery on Main's products are made using only the best whole nuts and unsulfured dried fruits.  They are manufactured in a plant that is certified gluten free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization.  Their products are also free of trans fats, cholesterol, dairy, and casein and are certified Kosher Parve (OU).

Please visit their website, www.bakeryonmain.com, where you can join their "Eat Better Live Better" club.  Upon joining, you will receive a $1.50 coupon and will also be sent the latest recipes, coupons and special offers.

Bakery on Main products are available at select health food stores and major supermarket chains.  You may purchase the Gluten Free Granola and the Gluten Free Granola Snack Bars at Ms. Celiac's Market.  

For more information, please visit them at Bakery on Main.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck's nogii bars are delicious!

I was lucky enough to be sent samples of Elisabeth Hasselbeck's gluten free nogii bars plus her soon-to-be-released men's nogii bar!

Over the years, I have tried out practically every gluten free nutrition bar on the market from Larabar's to thinkThin bars and everything in-between.  Although, I did enjoy some of these bars, I always felt like each bar was lacking in some way - whether there was barely any protein in the bar, it was made of mostly artificial ingredients, or it just didn't provide the nutrients I needed.

So, you can imagine how thrilled I was when I heard about the nogii bar.  It is high in protein (20 grams), I recognize every ingredient on the label, and it is nutrient dense - containing 10% Iron and 10% Calcium!

However, the best part is that the nogii bar is delicious and filling!  It has a strong "peanutty" taste, a chocolate-coated bottom with chocolate drizzled over the top!  It is sweet, but not too sweet and tasted more like a dessert than a healthy nutrition bar.  And unlike many of the gluten free bars on the market that leave you starving soon after eating, this kept me satisfied for several hours afterward.

Living on a gluten free diet, we have all been in situations where we need to be out the entire day and know that there will be no place to buy gluten free food and we can't exactly be carrying around a cooler containing our gluten free meals or taking the time to prepare a gluten free meal.

In the past, I have carried around other gluten free bars that have left me with a headache and feeling faint by the end of the day - not to mention absolutely starving as if I had been fasting all day!  Now, I will be sure to carry around the nogii bar, so that I have the energy to complete a busy day!

I was also able to sample the Men's nogii bar.  This bar contains 30 grams of protein and 15% Calcium and Iron.  It was also delicious!

Currently, the only bar available is the Peanut Butter & Chocolate All-Natural High Protein nogii Bar.  You can purchase it at Ms. Celiac's Amazon Marketplace or at Smoothie King locations.

Coming soon you will also be able to purchase the Men's Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crisp All-Natural Super Protein nogii Bar and the nut-free nogii Kids Bar.

To stay up-to-date on the latest nogii products, please visit www.nogiidiet.com and subscribe to the email newsletter!

Chip'ins!

Popcorn Indiana has introduced a brand new snack to the marketplace!  

Chip'ins are a combination of popcorn and chips!  The delicious taste of popcorn with the crunch of a chip is the end result!

Chip'ins are a gluten free, all natural, whole grain snack!  They contain zero trans fats and have no cholesterol, artificial flavors and/or preservatives.  

Currently, they are available in 4 flavors:

• White Cheddar
• Buffalo Wing
• Sea Salt
• Jalapeno Ranch

You can purchase Popcorn Indiana's Chip'ins at Costco, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens or by visiting their website at www.popcornindiana.com.