Celebrating 10 Years of Gluten-Free: 10 Things I’m Thankful For

As Celiac Awareness Month ends, this is the perfect time to reflect on how gluten-free life has improved in the past 10 years. It was 2007 when I was first diagnosed with celiac disease. At the time, I remember how hard it was to find gluten-free products in local stores, let alone delicious tasting ones. I remember family members helping me to research online about celiac disease and buying products for me to try.

In December 2008, I started my blog to focus on the positive side of gluten-free life. I never could have imagined then that starting my blog would ultimately lead to a new career for me in social media. You may remember the reviews my daughter did of gluten-free books for kids when she was in elementary school. Now, she is a freshman in high school and has her own blog where she reviews books for teens! 

10 Things I’m Thankful For

 

1. Being Diagnosed with Celiac Disease – That’s right, I’m thankful that I was diagnosed with celiac disease. After five years of health problems and countless doctor visits, it is great to finally have a diagnosis and treatment that resulted in improved health! 

2. FDA Standard for Gluten-Free – It is fabulous to finally have a standard for gluten-free labeling and to see many more products labeled gluten-free as a result. 

3. More Celiac Disease Awareness – I remember how exciting it was years ago to simply see a news story about celiac disease or a mention of gluten-free on TV shows, like Emeril or Cupcake Wars. Now we even have Olympic athletes with celiac disease!

4. More Gluten-Free Products in Local Stores – While I still shop at many different stores, it is great to be able to do my weekly grocery shopping at one major chain.

5. Generic OTC Meds Labeled as Gluten-Free – I remember how happy I was when I could finally buy a gluten-free generic pain reliever. No more paying for brand names!

6. Udi’s Gluten Free – Before Udi’s Gluten Free was even available on the East Coast, they sent me a big box of their delicious products to review. I still remember the first time I saw Udi’s in a local store, and now they are everywhere! We especially love their hamburger buns and cookies.

7. Wegmans – I’m so thankful that Wegmans finally opened in my county, as it truly is a gluten-free mecca. I have discovered many new gluten-free products there, but my favorite is the Wegmans generic gluten-free Rice Krispies. When Kellogg’s first announced gluten-free Rice Krispies, I immediately blogged about it, and it became one of my most popular blog posts. Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived as Kellogg’s eventually discontinued them, and I desperately sought a replacement for what had become a staple cereal for me. Thank you Wegmans!

8. Not Your Average Joe’s – This restaurant chain has one of the largest gluten-free menus I have seen, featuring a variety of delicious entrees and even a gluten-free bread basket! 

9. Gluten-Free Bloggers – It is truly fantastic to now see so many passionate gluten-free bloggers spreading celiac awareness and sharing gluten-free reviews and news! I fondly remember the gluten-free bloggers that supported me when I first started blogging.

10. My Job at NuGo Nutrition – Teaching myself gluten-free blogging and social media led to my wonderful job as a social media specialist at NuGo Nutrition. When I first started working for NuGo six years ago, they made less than 10 gluten-free bars. Now, they make 27 certified gluten-free protein bars. While I eat several NuGo Dark, NuGo Slim, and NuGo Family flavors, my favorite is NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip, which tastes like Thin Mints! 

I can’t wait to see the gluten-free and celiac disease advancements in the next 10 years!

 

The Best Gluten-Free Waffles

I have tried nearly every brand of frozen gluten-free waffles, including the new gluten-free Kellogg's Eggo waffles. The texture of some brands leaves a lot to be desired. Sometimes, frozen waffles don’t hold up to spreading toppings or eating them as sandwiches. I regularly buy Van’s gluten-free waffles simply because they are sold at my local grocery store, but have been disappointed with their lack of consistency. Occasionally, I purchase Nature’s Path gluten-free waffles.

The best frozen gluten-free waffles are definitely Wegmans brand, and they are also the cheapest! For only $1.79, you can enjoy a box of eight waffles in comparison to other gluten-free brands that cost significantly more and contain only six waffles. While the Homestyle flavor is good, I absolutely love the Wegmans blueberry waffles! With Wegmans vegan and gluten-free waffles, you know you will get a delicious waffle that comes out toasted perfectly each time – no inconsistency! They are slightly sweet, and hold up perfectly to spreading cream cheese or butter.

It is well worth the 30-minute drive each way to Wegmans just for their waffles! My teen daughter, who isn’t gluten-free, loves them too and is always asking for them for lunch. I must admit I am not a fair sharer when it comes to these. I stock up when I go to Wegmans every few months and save them mostly for myself. That is the true measure of a great product – when you need to hide them for yourself instead of sharing!

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Review: Russo’s Frozen Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks

On a recent trip to Wegmans, I was pleasantly surprised to find Russo’s frozen gluten-free mozzarella sticks. I was so excited to eat mozzarella sticks for the first time in seven years! These gluten-free mozzarella sticks cost $6.99 and were in the gluten-free Nature’s Marketplace freezers at Wegmans, right next to another great gluten-free find, Tonya’s gluten-free soft pretzels. They are made in a dedicated gluten-free facility.

After heating the mozzarella sticks in the oven for eight minutes, they were absolutely fantastic dipped in marinara sauce. They satisfied my craving for mozzarella sticks. Despite the calories and the fact that there are only three serving in the package, I will certainly be buying them again! It is definitely worth driving for 30 minutes to Wegmans to buy them and other gluten-free products.

 

My 10 Favorite Gluten-Free Foods

After six years of eating gluten-free, a long house hunt, finally becoming a homeowner again, and recently moving, this is the perfect time to share my current list of ten favorite gluten-free foods. These foods, in random order, were essential during my recent move and most are staples that I usually have on hand. While I was packing to move, I found a list from six years ago of gluten-free products I tried and rated as good or bad. It sure was slim pickings back then compared to the plethora of gluten-free options available today!

1. Moo Goo Gai Pan at P.F. Chang’s – Is there anything better than a gluten-free meal at PF Chang’s of Egg Drop Soup, Moo Goo Gai Pan, and the Chocolate Dome? I always say light on the sauce when ordering, which significantly cuts back on the sodium content.


2. NuGo Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip Protein Bars – Yes, I work for the company, but this is one of several NuGo Dark and NuGo Slim flavors that I regularly buy. REAL Dark Chocolate plus protein equals a yummy satisfying snack!

3. Blue Diamond Almonds – A perfect low glycemic snack or addition to any meal.

4. Wegmans Blueberry Waffles

5. Udi’s Whole Grain Buns – These are a staple for quick dinners with Sunshine veggie burgers or Trader Joe’s or Jennie-O turkey burgers.

6. Amy’s frozen entrees – Sometimes you just need something quick to nuke, so Amy’s mac and cheese or veggie lasagna are our favorites.

7. Uncle Ben’s Instant Brown Rice – Combine with frozen veggies for a quick Meatless Monday meal.

8.  Smart Flour Foods Pizza Crust - This is our favorite crust for adding our own toppings. It is sold at Whole Foods in a pack of two for a reasonable price.

9. Conte’s Cheese Ravioli – These ravioli are so yummy, it is hard to believe they are frozen in a bag, ready so quick, and lower in sodium than similar products. 

10. Chobani Greek Yogurt – Pineapple, Blueberry, Black Cherry – I can’t pick a favorite, so I get them all!

This list was updated in June 2015.

My 200th Blog Post: Looking Back, New Favorite Foods, and an Important Jennie-O Alert

I can’t believe this is my 200th blog post, and it has been almost 2 years since I started blogging in December 2008! It is amazing how much has changed in the gluten-free world in the past two years. If you also count my DC Gluten-Free Examiner articles and my Gluten-Free Social Media Tips blog posts, that adds up to over 360 gluten-free articles! So, what gluten-free news did I blog about in December 2008?

• Chicago Tribune investigation found high amounts of gluten in "gluten-free" Wellshire Farms chicken bites & corn dogs.

• Emeril Green aired three gluten-free episodes in Fall 2008 on Planet Green.

• The regular price of Rice Chex at Target was only $1.67.

• Gluten-Free Fox, the first gluten-free search engine, was launched.

One of my first blog posts was a funny one: My own “You know you have celiac disease if…” list. Some of the items are a little outdated now, but I hope some of them are still funny.

In January 2011, it will be four years since I was diagnosed with celiac disease. I definitely have a more positive outlook about gluten-free and life in general than when I first started blogging and a big part of that is the amazing online gluten-free community!

My list of favorite foods that I first posted in December 2008 and last updated in October 2009 is also outdated. Here are some of my new favorite foods.

• Udi’s Gluten-Free whole grain bread

• Udi’s granola

• Deboles corn pasta

• Nature’s Path Sunrise Cereals

• Chobani Greek Yogurt

• Larabar Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

• KIND Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio plus Antioxidants

• Gluten-Free Café Pasta Primavera

• Food Should Taste Good Cheddar Chips

Sadly, one item that I intended to include on this list was Jennie-O Turkey Meatballs Italian Style, which used be clearly marked on the website with the no gluten icon. When I went to the website today to link to it, I discovered the new red packaging and that the no gluten icon had been removed. I called and it turns out that the new bags have new ingredients that now include oat bran. They aren’t gluten-free and have been removed from the Hormel gluten-free list. I really hope I can still find some of the old bags that are gluten-free.


As some things change over the years in the gluten-free world, some things remain the same. It is essential to always keep reading labels each time you purchase a product!

WOW Cookies and Brownies: Review and Free Cookie Promotion

WOW cookies and brownies are certified gluten-free and made with all natural ingredients. After hearing so many good things about WOW products, I emailed the company to see if they wanted to send me free samples to review. They sent me samples of all of their individually wrapped cookies and brownies.

The gourmet cookies and brownies are very moist and not crumbly. Each thick large cookie and brownie contains two servings, and one serving is very filling. My daughter and I enjoyed sharing these products, which taste homemade. All flavors were great, except for the Ginger Molasses, which I didn’t like. My daughter’s favorite was the Chocolate Brownie and then the Peanut Butter cookie. Here is my ranking of the products I liked.

1. Oregon Oatmeal – It contains apricots and cranberries, but tastes simply like a fantastic oatmeal raisin cookie.
2. Snickerdoodle – A perfect version of a classic cookie.
3. Peanut Butter – A strong peanut butter taste and very sweet. This was the first cookie we tried, and I said to my daughter, "WOW, that is sweet!"
4. Chocolate Brownie – It contains large chocolate chips and is not too rich.
5. Chocolate Chip – Also contains many large chocolate chips and tastes good, but the texture wasn’t as good as the other cookies.

"Because WOW Cookies are made from all natural ingredients without the use of preservatives we recommend eating them within 2 weeks of their arrival, if left out at room temperature. To save some for later simply place them in the freezer; their high freezer grade packaging will protect them from freezer burn for up to 6 months. To thaw leave on the counter for 30 min."

You can receive a free WOW cookie in the flavor of your choice by completing a brief form on the WOW Baking website. The cookies and brownies can be purchased online in a 6-pack for $9 or a 12-pack for $17. Tubs and boxes of mini cookies are available as well as cake mixes. WOW also makes gluten-free cookie dough. WOW is not sold in stores in the DC area, but is available at many retail locations throughout the country.

My Dear Roll: A Valentine's Day Love Poem

You caught my eye a few days ago on the internet,
Last night, you arrived at my door and we met.

There were four of you vacuum sealed in the pack,
I turned you over and saw your beautiful plump back.

You are fluffy, soft, and hold up well,
You are the best gluten-free roll any store could sell!

Sadly, once opened you expire in only 2 to 3 days,
But you, my Schar classic roll, will always be the object of my starry gaze!

Top 10 Gluten-Free Brands

This list is based on my opinions as well as many positive reviews I read on other gluten-free blogs and on twitter. While people may disagree on the rankings, most people who eat gluten-free will agree that these brands make some great products.

1. Jules Gluten Free
2. Udi’s Gluten Free
3. Bob’s Red Mill
4. Kinnikinnick
5. Foods by George
6. Amy’s Kitchen
7. Glutino
8. Enjoy Life Foods
9. General Mills
10. Glutenfreeda

Honorable Mentions: Bell and Evans (best chicken tenders), San-J (cooking sauces), Nature’s Path (cereals and Envirokidz line), Schar, Tinkyada, Pamela’s Products, Van’s, and Gillians Foods

Review: Bionaturae Gluten-Free Pasta

To kick off the new decade, we decided to create some New Year’s Eve traditions. My daughter had the idea that we would say our New Year’s Resolutions while eating dinner. This morning, I woke up with the idea that we should eat something new on New Year’s Eve. Luckily, earlier this week I purchased a different pasta, Bionaturae, at Whole Foods.

After reading the glowing review from Karen Fine at Mom Cooks Gluten Free, I decided to splurge and spend $4.39 for this organic gluten-free spaghetti made in Italy in a dedicated gluten-free facility. Here are two quotes from the Bionaturae website describing their pasta.

“It took over a year of experimenting to create the recipe for our gluten free pasta. The pasta is made with organic rice flour, organic rice starch, organic potato starch and organic soy flour. It cooks like traditional pasta to an "al dente" texture and there is no need to rinse it before adding your favorite condiment.”

“The manufacturer is one of a select few in Italy who are authorized by the Italian Ministry of Health to produce gluten free pasta. The factory tests for the presence of gluten during each production cycle. Independent testing is also done at a laboratory in the United States on each lot before the products are distributed in this country.”

We liked the pasta. The recommended cooking time is six minutes, but since we prefer softer pasta, I cooked it a bit longer. The texture and taste was good, and I would buy it again. However, my new favorite pasta is two dollars cheaper than Bionaturae – Deboles corn pasta.

Happy New Year to you and your family! May the New Year bring you joy, good health, and the patience and persistence to achieve your New Year’s Resolutions!

Review: Gluten-Free Brownies and Blondies from Freedgoods

I received two free brownies and one blondie from Freedgoodsco to review. Their gluten-free and yeast-free products are sold in Connecticut and can also be ordered online. Each flavor is available online as a box of four for $14 or two flavors can be selected in a box of 8 for $25. They are made in a shared facility with wheat, and they “take all possible steps to eliminate cross-contamination”. The brownies and blondies are thick and large, perfect for sharing.

I tried the chocolate original and chocolate walnut. Both flavors were very fudgy, moist, rich, and dense. My daughter and I loved them! The blondie contains large chocolate chips and some coconut. It was extremely moist, fluffy, and the coconut taste was evident, but not strong. If you love coconut, then try the chocolate coconut brownie. They also make a chocolate peanut butter brownie, which I am eager to try.

The brownies are made from a flour mix that contains garbanzo bean flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, sorghum flour, and fava bean flour. Despite the use of bean flours, there is absolutely no unpleasant after-taste, and they taste better than most gluten brownies. In fact, the taste is so good that you will cherish every bite!

Freedgoodco was founded by Stephanie, a former corporate lawyer. She donates 5% of the profits to infertility research, education, and treatment. Infertility is a complication of undiagnosed celiac disease. Read Stephanie’s story here. If you are looking for a delicious gift for others or yourself, order from Freedgoods!

Udi’s Review: The Best Gluten-Free Bread and Muffins

Most Udi’s Gluten Free products are soy-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. They are made in a dedicated gluten-free bakery in Denver, Colorado and sold in Udi’s cafes. While several of their products can be ordered online, Udi’s Gluten Free is also sold in some Whole Foods stores. Their gluten-free bagels are sold at three Einstein Bros bagels in Denver!

Udi’s sent me five products to review: white sandwich bread, whole grain bread, lemon streusel muffins, blueberry muffins, and pizza crusts. When I opened the box, the smell of the products was wonderful. The products are shipped frozen and intended to thaw during shipping.

They are good for 5-7 days on the counter, 21 days in the fridge, and 6 months in the freezer. The pizza crusts have directions to cook from frozen, so I froze them. I stored the muffins on the counter and in the refrigerator. The label on the breads said that they dry out in the refrigerator, so it is recommended to keep them in the freezer and then thaw on the counter as needed. No microwaving or toasting is needed to eat this bread! I kept the white sandwich bread on the counter and froze the whole grain bread.

Both muffin flavors are fantastic! They are surprisingly soft and fluffy. The air pockets throughout the muffins create the great springy consistency. The muffins are large and filling. Fortunately, the lemon flavor is not too strong. The blueberry muffin has 240 calories and 8 grams of fat. The lemon muffin has 280 calories and 11 grams of fat. They are made from a blend of brown rice flour, tapioca starch, and potato starch. After storing the muffins for one week in the refrigerator, they tasted very fresh when warmed in the microwave.

My daughter, who can eat gluten, loved the muffins and the white sandwich bread. In fact, she loved the white sandwich bread more than Wonder bread and ate many slices, including every last bit of crust. On the fifth day of keeping the bread on the counter in a Ziploc bag, she ate it for her school lunch. It was still soft, but not as soft as a few days earlier. She did not like the pizza crust because of the extra flour dusted on the bottom, but I liked it. The thin pizza crust had a nice crisp on the bottom and was doughy too. It is low in calories and fat.

I tried the whole grain bread last, and was extremely impressed. The whole grain bread is the best gluten-free bread I ever ate! I do not make my own bread, so I am comparing it to other store bought brands. Udi’s white sandwich bread is also good, but I liked the whole grain one better. My second favorite bread is Mr. Ritt’s Quinoa bread. So, what makes Udi's Gluten Free whole grain bread so good?

· soft and fluffy
· thick slices
· stays soft on the counter for days after thawing, which makes it great for travel and lunches
· no toasting or microwaving needed
· soft crust
· no crumbs
· stays together well, even for spreading and overstuffed sandwiches
· good mild taste
· tastes like gluten, similar to Roman Meal wheat bread
· contains teff flour and flax seed meal (also contains brown rice flour, tapioca starch, and potato starch)
· cost is only $5.00, which is cheaper than a loaf of other gluten-free bread.

 

Review: Balance Pure Chocolate Cashew

I tried many energy bars sold at Whole Foods (LARABAR, Thinkthin, Kind, and PranaBar) and Balance Pure chocolate cashew is by far my favorite. Recently, I finally found one flavor of Larabar that I like, the new peanut butter and jelly, but it is higher in fat and calories and only six grams of protein. The Balance Pure price is good at only 99 cents each.

Only Balance Pure bars are gluten-free, not the other Balance bars. They are available in three flavors: cherry pecan, chocolate cashew, and berry chia. The website lists banana cashew, but that flavor is not in stores, not sold on the Balance website, and Whole Foods was unable to order it, despite having that flavor on their list. Perhaps, it is a new flavor? I certainly hope so because it sounds wonderful. I did try to contact Balance about it, but even the customer service representative did not know if the banana was new or old.

The chocolate cashew has 170 calories, six grams of fat, nine grams of protein, four grams of fiber, and only eight ingredients. Compared to the high protein bars that I like, PureFit and ANDI, these are not as wide and not as filling. They are probably about the width of an Enjoy Life bar, but much longer and denser. For a quick snack on the go or at home with a very chocolate taste and some cashew crunch, Balance Pure is a great choice!

Review: Nature’s Path New Sunrise Cereals

I was so excited when Nature’s Path wanted to send me free boxes of their two new gluten-free cereals: Crunchy Maple Sunrise and Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise. I love cereal. I find cereal is best enjoyed when at least two different kinds are mixed together. One of my favorite combinations is Nature’s Path Crispy Rice and Nature’s Path Whole O’s, which has been my breakfast of choice lately.

Well, Nature’s Path has now mastered the art of cereal mixing with these two new Sunrise cereals. They combined corn puffs that resemble Gorilla Munch, Mesa Sunrise flakes, and Crispy Rice. Then, they added two delicious flavors to produce cereals that are truly unique from other gluten-free cereals.

The cereals are nutritious, low in sugar, and contain “an organic blend of corn, rice, flax, quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth”. They are both sure to be a hit with consumers, including kids and people who can eat gluten. There is really only one word to best describe Nature’s Path new Sunrise cereals – perfection!

Review: Gluten-free Fruit Roll-ups and Fruit Shapes

After trying several fruit roll-ups and fruit shapes, my favorite brand is FruitaBu. Since the many varieties of Betty Crocker fruit snacks are now labeled gluten-free, my daughter and I decided to buy some. First, we tried the Create-A-Dino fruit shapes. They are various colors, which don’t correspond to the assorted flavors, so we found that confusing and they ended up stuck in our teeth. Neither of us could figure out how to create the dinosaur without looking at the box.

Next, we tried another Betty Crocker product, Fruit by the Foot. We purchased the strawberry flavor, which tasted artificial. My daughter liked it, but was very surprised when I told her that there are no strawberries in it. In fact, the only fruit in it is pears from concentrate.

Florida’s Natural Au’some Fruit Nuggets are labeled gluten-free and contain 66% real juices and fruit. Well, to put it simply, these nuggets are hard wax pellets, which I quickly threw away. Next up was strawberry fruit roll-ups called Simply Fruit made by General Mills. The box says “more than 90% fruit juice and real fruit”. They look and taste similar to the fruit roll-ups I remember eating as a kid. We liked the taste, but they were too thin. They only flavor is strawberry, and the only store near me that carries them is Target.

Finally, we tried FruitaBu organic smooshed fruit and our search was over. According to their website, all of their products are gluten-free. FruitaBu products have “over 90 percent real fruit and juice”, and no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. While boxes of FruitaBu fruit rolls (also called twirls) are $4.99 at Whole Foods, the strawberry variety is sold at Target for only $2.99! There is one serving of organic fruit in each and the taste, texture, and thickness is perfect. While my daughter likes the strawberry variety we purchased, she said the Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot is her favorite. However, I will not be buying the Betty Crocker fruit snacks again because of the artificial ingredients.

FruitaBu also makes fruit flats, which are made from a few simple ingredients and each small flat has ½ serving of fruit. My favorite flavor is apple and the ingredients are “organic apple puree concentrate, natural apple flavor, and organic lemon juice concentrate”. They are the perfect thing to satisfy a sweet craving. The fruit flats can be purchased individually at Whole Foods for 69 cents. FruitaBu is made by the Stretch Island Fruit Company.

My Favorite Gluten Free Teriyaki Sauce: Seal Sama

I have tried three brands of gluten free Teriyaki sauce. I recently bought at Whole Foods the new San-J Teriyaki sauce, one of five new certified gluten free sauces. When I first started eating gluten free, the only Teriyaki sauce I could find was Premier Japan, and I wasn’t impressed with it.

About one year ago, I heard that the Drink More Water store near where I lived carried gluten free products. I was amazed to see that the owner decided to carry an extensive selection of gluten free foods and I discovered Seal Sama Teriyaki sauce. This sauce was great, flavorful, and the clearly the best gluten free Teriyaki sauce. Unfortunately, when I went back to buy more, I learned the store discontinued their gluten free products. The sauce is not carried in any other stores in my area.

When I tried the San-J Teriyaki sauce last night, I hoped it would be similar to Seal Sama. It was not and made me want Seal Sama even more. I think I may need to finally order it. If you are lucky enough to find the unique and memorable gluten free Seal Sama Teriyaki sauce in a store, be sure to buy it and let me know what you think of it!

Caution: Check the label to ensure you have the gluten free Seal Sama as they make three other Teriyaki sauces that contain gluten.

Ingredients: Water, soy sauce (water, soybeans, salt, alcohol (to preserve freshness)), sugar, pineapple juice, corn starch, rice vinegar (water, rice), garlic. Contains soy and corn.

Nutrition Facts: serving size 1 Tbsp, 20 calories, 230 mg sodium, and 3 grams sugar

Review - Cornito Noodles

Cornito pasta is egg, gluten and cholesterol free. It is also lactose, casein, and nut free. Cornito pasta is made from corn and potato and is vegan and lowfat. Each serving contains a significant amount of iron - 51% of the daily value. It also contains some calcium - 11% of the daily value.

Cornito noodles are delicious! They taste exactly like regular noodles! They have a good texture and do not stick together when cooked. The package recommends cooking for 6-10 minutes depending on the pasta type. I suggest 6-7 minutes for the noodles. Surprisingly, the taste and appearance is similar to pasta made from rice, not corn. My daughter said, "These are great - I want to eat them every week!".

Cornito pasta comes in six shapes - noodles, sea waves, elbow macaroni, rotini, rigatoni, and spaghetti. All shapes can be ordered from the Gluten-Free Trading Company for $2.79 each. Glutenfree.com sells three shapes - noodles, sea waves, and rotini for $3.19 each. I just ordered more noodles and some other shapes from the Gluten-Free Trading Company. I will put an update at the end of this post after I try some of the other shapes.

Update - Jan. 16, 2009 - We tried the Cornito elbow macaroni and spaghetti. They were great! Cornito pasta seems durable - there were no broken pieces before or after cooking. The spaghetti is packaged as four "nests" and is about half the size of typical spaghetti. The spaghetti did fully separate after lots of stirring while cooking. Cornito is made in Hungary and imported by the Gluten-Free Trading Company.

Article includes Rice Chex on list of 2008 favorite new products

Happy New Year! In the daily press article, Some new products were better than others, Rice Chex is included on a list of favorite new products in 2008. The author says “Barley malt came out and molasses went in to make this one of the few reasonably priced mainstream cereals that can be enjoyed by the millions of Americans with celiac disease (and everyone else).” I hope that more major manufacturers will resolve in 2009 to follow this example from General Mills and come out with new and affordable gluten free products!

A gluten free story written by my 7 year old daughter

When Mommy found out that she had Celiac Disease, I was 5 years old and worried that I would not like trying gluten free foods. I do not have Celiac Disease, but I do like to eat some gluten free foods, but not all the gluten free foods. I love trying gluten free foods with Mommy. First, we tried some foods that were bad. Then, foods that were okay. Finally, we found foods that were great.

Sometimes, it is hard to find gluten free foods. At some stores, they put gluten free foods on the same shelf with gluten foods. It is like an adventure going to stores and hunting for gluten free tags. Mommy and I get really excited when we see a new gluten free product.

Mommy still misses eating gluten foods, but not as much as she used to. I won’t be worried if I get Celiac Disease because I know many gluten free foods are yummy and there will be even more gluten free foods when I grow up. It was so cool watching Emeril Green and seeing him shop at Whole Foods like we do and cook gluten free foods.

My two favorite gluten free foods are turkey meat sauce with gluten free pasta and chicken parmesan. I absolutely love them! I drew a picture of myself eating chicken parmesan. Here are some other gluten free foods that I like: hot dogs, peanut butter on George English Muffins, Gorilla Munch cereal, blueberry muffins and waffles, Utz potato chips, Glutino pretzels, turkey and cheese wraps, Yoplait yogurt (key lime and peach are my favorite flavors), and scrambled eggs. Sometimes I get jealous of gluten free foods that Mommy is eating. I like eating gluten free foods. I am glad that eating completely gluten free made Mommy feel better!

My favorite gluten free foods

Foods by George English Muffins - plain
-I love them with Jif peanut butter, Philadelphia cream cheese, and as a crust for pizza. These are better than gluten English muffins!

Bell and Evans black box chicken tenders
-With some added Prego traditional tomato sauce and Kraft Italian blend mozzarella and parmesan shredded cheese, it is amazing how these taste just like the chicken parmesan I remember eating at a pizza place before being gluten free. Flip tenders after 14 minutes, add sauce and cheese and cook for another 9 minutes. Quick, easy, and delicious!

Dove chocolate
-I love the caramel filled promises and the positive message inside each wrapper is an added bonus. What a yummy replacement for gluten fortune cookies!

Hormel pepperoni

Kozy Shack pudding
- European rice is my favorite

Utz potato chips

Wellshire Farms Beef Hot Dogs
-Wrap in a mission corn tortilla wrap and add a slice of cheese. The steam from the hot dog with melt the cheese. Yum!

Nestle hot chocolate
-The label is funny - 99.9% caffeine free, 100% gluten free

Envirokidz peanut choco drizzle bars

Rice Chex
-It is so great that these are now gluten free!

Van's blueberry waffles
-You know they are really good when take a bite and run back to the freezer to make sure you bought the gluten free box!

Update - Jan. 28, 2009 - More Favorite Foods:
Cornito Noodles (see my January review)

Blue Diamond Nut Thins

Enjoy Life Cocoa Loco bars

Kunzler Chicken Hot Dogs (see my January 2009 review)

ANDI bars (see my January 2009 review)

update- October 15, 2009
McCormick taco seasoning

Old El Paso taco shells

Chobani Greek yogurt

Nature's Path Crispy Rice and Whole O's cereal

Kinnikinnick bagels and white sandwich bread

FruitaBu Fruit Flats and Rolls (see my October 2009 review)

Corn Chex

Jif peanut butter

Prego traditional sauce

Annie Chun's brown rice bowls

Julie's gluten free ice cream sandwiches (see my June 2009 review)

Shabtai Gourmet brownie bites

Silk soy milk - light vanilla