Wednesday

Product Review: Barilla Gluten Free Pasta



Some exciting news in the world of pasta - Barilla is introducing a line of Gluten Free pasta! It's made with non GMO corn and rice in a dedicated Gluten Free facility. With four varieties to choose from (spaghetti, penne, rotini and elbows) the meal possibilities are endless. I was happy to learn that this pasta was created with Celiac's in mind and not just for the diet hungry fadsters. The wonderful folks at Barilla kindly sent me some pasta to sample.

When I first opened the box of spaghetti, I noticed the colour right away. It is just like "regular" spaghetti, not gritty or gray like some of the other brands that I have tried. The instructions on the box are very simple and to the point. Ten - eleven minutes in boiling water while stirring occasionally. 

My family and I really enjoyed the spaghetti. It has the texture that I remember (pre Celiac diagnosis) growing up with and it tastes great. The only items that I added to the pasta were tomato sauce and frozen peas. Sometimes simple really does pay off. It was a great meal that paired nicely with an Udis bun doubling as garlic bread.

Not sure what to make? Check out Barilla's  recipe page for some inspiration.
As for the price point of 2.79- $3.29, no complaint's there.

Barilla Gluten Free pasta is in the process of hitting stores. Expect to see it widely available by the end of 2013.

If you have had the chance to try Barilla Gluten Free pasta, let me know what you think.

Sunday

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Saturday

Blame Gluten....When It's At Fault

Sometimes people make me laugh, shake my head and then wonder.There seem to be a lot of folks out there who blame Gluten for just about everything. I have seen enough silly statements to draw a comparison to an old Country music joke. No offence to anyone who enjoys Country music ;)
Lets remember that misinformation spreads like wildfire. Celiac is not contagious but stupidity and ignorance seem to be. Believe it or not, many of the points below have been wildly debated about in Celiac forums. I certainly do not blame the newly diagnosed - it's a learning curve. There just seems to be so many people that add fuel to the fire by constantly spreading falsehoods about this complex and misunderstood disease. Heck, most Doctor's don't even correctly understand.


  • Celiac Disease is not responsible for your fear of heights
  • The dog did not do it's business inside to protest your Gluten Free ways
  • A mosquito landing on a piece of regular bread and then biting you, will not make you ill. Unless it's some West Nile Virus kinda thing.
  • Meat from a cow that enjoys wheat will not cause a Celiac reaction.
  • The scent of the bakery section at your grocery store is not making you ill. That's called anxiety and you are making yourself sick by fearing a reaction.

All jokes aside, the problem with blaming Gluten/Celiac for everything is quite serious and could be detrimental to ones overall health. As no two Celiac's are alike, it is up to us to understand our reaction(s) to Gluten. By blindly condemning Gluten when it is not the real culprit, we risk further harm by not seeking medical attention when necessary.



Wednesday

Chapters Introduces Stonewall Kitchen Baking Mixes Online


Chapters now carries select Stonewall Kitchen Gluten Free baking mixes online. 










I tried the Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Mix and it worked beautifully in my mini doughnut maker. Can't wait to try the rest of the line! Just make sure you are clicking on the GF items when ordering as there are some non GF items as well.




 

Monday

Gluten Free Not By Choice



life-style
plural life·styles

[count: a particular way of living : the way a person lives or a group of people live 
 She envied the lavish lifestyles of wealthy people.  Eating right and exercising are essential to having/leading/living a healthy lifestyle.



I'm really beginning to wish that we could go back in time and have someone coin a new term for those of us who eat Gluten Free out of medical necessity. Seeing the words diet or lifestyle next to Gluten Free really cranks my gears. It often implies choice. Something someone with a dietary restriction does not have.



I guess I just feel that Celiac Disease needs to be separated from the mainstream. Put in the forefront if you will. If someone wants to eat Gluten Free by choice that's a-okay. However, I would like that to get less hype. Celiac/Intolerance needs to be the star of the show here. No one ever confuses people watching their sugar intake to lose weight with Diabetics. Nor does anyone ever say that they maintain a shellfish free lifestyle. 

Many people see me eating something that is Gluten Free and feel the need to mention that they "tried" it (Gluten Free) once and just couldn't handle the restriction. Talk about a pet peeve. I wish people understood how silly they sound. Yes, it's frustrating gibberish that I can roll off of my back. But the hard part is the shear lack of education out there about Celiac Disease. Sometimes I think that the blissfully ignorant are worse to deal with than the disease itself.

Disclosure

This policy is valid from 23 February 2013

This is a personal blog written and edited by me. All opinions are that of my own. I am not a healthcare professional or an expert. All information presented in this blog is purely that of my own experience and or opinion. Please consult a medical professional before making any changes to your diet.

I write this blog as a hobby that I am passionate about. From time to time, I may receive monetary compensation for a sponsored post. I only work with brands that I trust and would use in my own home.

This blog accepts complimentary products for review. The opinions I have of a product will never be swayed by a company sending me an item(s) for free. I take into consideration the opinion of family members who are gluten-free due to Celiac Disease and I also value the opinions of non-gluten free family members. Taste is a matter of personal opinion so please use your own discretion and don't take my opinion as a gold standard.

Any ingredient or gluten-free claims should be verified with the restaurant/manufacturer as things can and do change.

For questions about this blog, please contact: sandra@glutenfreedoll.com

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