Tuesday

5 Must Haves For Your Gluten-Free Pantry

Pasta





Hearty comfort food at it's best, pasta is extremely versatile and widely available. In a pinch for time? Ready in about 9 minutes, pasta is quick to make. You can prepare anything from a refreshing salad to a hearty hot dish. Feeling creative? Give my dessert recipe a try. Another bonus, pasta is one of the few more affordably priced gluten-free foods. 




All Purpose flour



XO BAKING Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend


I personally prefer to use an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend. I've had success using Xo Baking, Presidents Choice, and Cloud 9. Find the right all purpose blend to suit your needs and you will be in baking heaven. Pre-made blends are also great as they save time - no more hunting down hard to find ingredients to prepare a homemade blend.


Cereal



Cereal can be enjoyed any time of the day. As a snack or as a meal. It's also great for traveling. Just store some cereal in an airtight container (don't forget the spoon) and you're good to go. Purchase a small carton of milk at your destination and voila! You can take things up a notch by adding fruits or different types of milk. I like a sliced banana, sprinkled with a touch of sugar in my Rice Krispies. Aside from cereal, Rice Krispies are also great for dessert treat bars - perhaps a homemade chocolate covered rice bar or a much loved Rice Krispie Treat. 


Soup



I love this soup! Oddly enough it's dairy free, despite the title. It's rich, creamy and super satisfying. A twist off lid caps the carton top, making things super simple - no can opener required! Soup is such a great pantry staple as you can either have it as a quick side dish (we love BLTs and tomato soup) or a main. It also travels extremely well. Fill a travel mug with some soup and you can really drink it anywhere!


Bread



Whether it's a lettuce wrap, bun or taco, some foods just need a serving vessel. Chebe Cheese Bread Mixes are one of my favorite gluten-free boxed mixes. It requires little effort to make and is ah-mazing. The easily made cheese bread is fantastic as a bun and delicious to dip with. A great thing about this mix is you are not just limited to cheese bread, though it is divine. I've had fun making pizza pockets, savory stuffed muffins and breadsticks. Wanna change things up a bit? Add garlic paste for a yummy twist.




Btw, this post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thanks for your support.



Saturday

Ottawa Senators To Host Celiac Disease Awareness Night


The Canadian Celiac  Association has teamed up with the Ottawa Senators to host a Celiac Awareness night


 When I received an email from the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) advising of this event, I was thrilled! As a Celiac and a hockey fan, this is a double win. I have emailed an inquiry as to whether or not there will be any Celiac safe food at the event and will post an update once a response is received.


     When:
     Saturday, March 4th 2017

     Where:
     The Canadian Tire Centre
     1000 Palladium Drive Ottawa, 
       Ontario K2V 1A5



       How to purchase tickets:

Please visit this page to ensure that part of your ticket price will be donated to the CCA. 

You NEED to use the promo code CELIAC when you complete checkout.
Not a hockey fan, but know someone who is? Senators tickets make a great Christmas or birthday gift! Plus you will also be helping fellow Celiac's - A portion of ticket proceeds will support important awareness, research, and restaurant training programs. All brought to you by the CCA.                  
 

For more information, kindly email cca.communications@celiac.ca with your inquiry.


Monday

Review: Uncle Steve’s Italian Specialties




We enjoy a lot of pasta in my home. It's a simple, quick and cost-effective meal. You can't beat the versatility of it - a comforting hot dish in the winter, and a refreshing salad in the summer. Seriously, you've got to appreciate that.


When I was offered the chance to review some gluten-free pasta sauces, I jumped at the opportunity. I'm always eager to try new products and I love sharing reviews with you guys! So what am I reviewing today?


Uncle Steve’s Italian Specialties- Marinara, Tomato Basil, and Arribiata.



Trio of Uncle Steve's Italian Specialties



Who Is Uncle Steve?


Uncle Steve aka Steve Schirripa is an Actor, Host, and NYT Best Selling Author. The name sounds familiar, right? You probably know him from Sopranos fame and you can see him currently on Blue Bloods. Full disclosure - I haven't seen either of these shows.

Information About the Sauces


Made with imported Italian organic tomatoes
Gluten Free 
Non-GMO 
Kosher Certified
Dairy Free
Vegan
Paleo Approved
No Added Sugar

How did the Sauces do?


I made a separate meal for each sauce.

  • Tomato Basil Sauce: Vegetarian Penne Rigate
  • Marinara Sauce: Chicken & Rice Stuffed Tomatoes 
  • Arrabiata Sauce: Spicey Meatball Subs

 All 3 sauces smell spectacular!


The Tomato Basil Sauce is thinner than what I'm accustomed to.That being said, the sauce packs some vibrantly impressive flavour. It's nicely tart and slightly sweet, without being too sweet. Overall, I could get used to the delicateness of this sauce as it turns what could be a heavy pasta dish, into lighter fare. Really tasty!
The Arrabiata Sauce is for fans of heat. In fact, "spicy" is very clearly displayed on the label. If you're not a fan of spicy foods, I can't really recommend this particular sauce to you. If you do enjoy some fire in your life, you will appreciate the kick of spice and zest. It has a nice bite that is not at all overpowering, but it does linger on the tongue. I'd like to try this with nachos in the future.
The Marinara Sauce is conveniently versatile! While I used it to fancy up my stuffed tomatoes, the dish ideas are endless. If I had an Italian Nona, this is what she would make. The presence of fresh tomatoes is abundant in the flavour. I love how rich in flavour and hearty this sauce is! I plan on baking some cheese smothered chicken with it in the future.



Where To Find Uncle Steve's Specialties


Fellow Canadians, you can purchase Uncle Steve's products online and they can be shipped anywhere.

For my American friends, the sauces are available in stores across the US. You can find it in major supermarkets such as Whole Foods, Albertsons, Stop and Shop, Shop Rite, health food stores, and mom and pop shops. Plus, you can shop online through Uncle Steve's website through the above link as well.



Visit Uncle Steve's website to learn more. You can also keep up to date by following  along on Twitter @StevenSchirripa @UncleStevesNY 


Disclosure - Samples of the product were provided to me free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

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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