Product Review: Mi & Stu

I recently had the opportunity to sample some gluten-free treats from Mi & Stu. If you reside outside of Quebec, you may not be familiar with this cool little bakery. I think it's time for that to change, don't you? Mi & Stu is located in LaSalle, Quebec and run by the lovely Mimi and Stephanie. You can find their products in select grocery stores, restaurants and on major International Airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, Qatar. It's comforting to know that safe gluten-free food is available when traveling by air.

Mi & Stu is more than just gluten-free. They also avoid using nuts, casein, and whey in their products. This allows those with one or more dietary restrictions to enjoy the products.

Product Review & Contest: Inspired by Happiness Gluten Free Cakes

Cake is almost always part of an important, celebration - birthdays, weddings, graduations, holidays and the like, cake is there. Sometimes even just because. 

For someone with Celiac, this can be synonymous with being left out.That doesn't have to be the case thanks to Inspired by Happiness and their gluten-free line of cakes! These cakes are certified gluten-free by the Canadian Celiac Association's Gluten-Free Certification Program. That extra level of trust makes my heart happy.

Inspired by Happiness uses only the highest quality ingredients

Natural flavours

No artificial colours

No artificial trans fat

Kosher

I sampled the two cakes below

Cravin' for Cookies & Cream Layered Cake

This cake is for those who want to indulge in an old-time favourite. It's covered with a dark chocolate ganache and swirls of white chocolate. The layers of melt-in-your-mouth light shortcake, cookies and a silky vanilla cream mousse will leave you wanting more.

Dreamin' of Chocolate Dark & White Chocolate Layer Cake

This cake was designed with those who love chocolate in mind. Belgian white chocolate mousse is layered between dark chocolate sponge cake and topped off with a chocolate ganache. 

As someone who has indulged in her fair share of gluten-free cakes, I can happily say that Inspired by Happiness knows how to make great gluten-free cakes! You will be pleasntly impressed with how light and moist the cakes are. With just the right amount of sweetness, they avoid being overly rich. Even the gluten eaters in my family were left wanting more. 

You can connect with Inspired by Happiness on social media through 

Facebook, Twitter and Google+

*I received complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are my own*

You can find Inspired by Happiness cakes at select locations below:

Want to try these cakes? Inspired by Happiness was kind enough to send me some coupons to give away!

One Winner will receive FIVE free product coupons for one package of  Inspired by Happiness gluten-free cake.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Review: Oven Fresh Bakehouse

How do you feel about having fresh gluten-free baked goods delivered right to your door? Personally, I think it's an incredible idea! If you live in the GTA (greater Toronto area) or Durham Region then Oven Fresh Bakehouse is your new best friend. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Gluten free fresh delivery service

Oven Fresh Bakehouse is a new company based out of Mississauga, Ontario. The products are 100% gluten-free and dairy-free. There is a minimum order requirement of $40 and delivery is via courier at a $12 flat rate with a max weight of 10kg. 

Also worth noting:

"Ingredients are all responsibly sourced from fully audited suppliers, as an extra layer of food security every ingredient used to produce your bakery goods are independently tested to ensure 100% gluten free status."

The product range is pretty great. You can order everything from sliced bread and bagels to pound cake, pancake mix and muffins. Another highlight, everything is baked fresh to order. That bakery fresh smell is divine.

How the products stack up

I sampled various items, including buns, dinner rolls and sliced bread. Not only do these products taste phenomenal, the texture is impressively similar to that of gluten based bread's. They are light, fluffy and not at all crumbly. On a side note, they freeze and thaw out immaculately! I had some of the products in my freezer for well over a month. When I wanted one to enjoy, I simply took it out of the freezer and left it in my pantry to thaw out. No need to heat, toast or nuke in any way! Impressive, right?!

Overall, I am quite happy that I was introduced to this brand. Keep an eye on the Oven Fresh Bakehouse website for delivery expansion updates!


If you like keeping up to date with gluten-free companies on social media, you can follow Oven Fresh Bakehouse on facebook here.



* I received complimentary products for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Product Review: Robin Hood Gluten-Free Banana Flavoured Quick Bread

When the folks at Robin Hood sent me a box of their Gluten-Free Banana Flavoured Quick Bread Mix to review, I was a little skeptical. Like most people, I've had my ups and downs with boxed mixes over the years. Unlike most people, I have the added challenge of needing to eat gluten-free. This makes finding a great boxed mix even more of a feat.

Let's Talk FAQ's

• Robin Hood Gluten-Free Banana Flavoured Quick Bread Mix is certified by the Canadian Celiac Association

• You will be pleasantly surprised with how simple it is to make. Just add water, oil, and eggs to the mix. Give it a good stir with a spoon, pour into a loaf pan and pop into the oven for 45 minutes. No fuss, no worries. 

• Bananas are not required, as dried banana is already incorporated into the mix. This is pretty great because, mashing bananas can get a little messy. Plus, who wants to wait around for bananas to go brown when they want banana bread now? Not me!

Taste Test

As with all my gluten-free adventures, I shared this creation with the gluten eaters in my home. Their thoughts and taste buds are always appreciated. We quickly agreed that Robin Hood Gluten-Free Banana Flavoured Quick Bread Mix gets two thumbs up. 

Robin Hood really gets it right with this mix. It is packed full of banana flavour and smells divine. The texture of the loaf is soft and light. No crumbling mess here!

While we enjoyed the mix plain, you can customise with the addition of fruit, nuts, and chocolate. You can also get creative and create muffins, pancakes, cookies and much more.

/// DISCLOSURE: I was sent a complimentary box of Robin Hood Gluten-Free Banana Flavoured Quick Bread Mix for review purposes. All opinions are my own. ///

Feast - Gluten-Free, Done Right

I need to share with you guys a fantastic shop in Toronto. It's called Feast and boy, is it heavenly! A friend of my husband's suggested the shop to him a while ago. Unfortunately, we don't visit the city much due to the travel distance. We did, however, see a Blue Jays game recently. This gave us the opportunity to visit Feast!


The first thing I noticed when we got to Feast  was the sign out front. The inside of the shop is cozy and cute. What's super cool is that the owners have done a stellar job creating a cafe which doubles as a pantry shop.

Feast isn't your average everyday store. It's top eight allergy friendly fine food. The owners have strict allergen standards in place to ensure safety. They create a lot of food in house, as you can tell by the awesomeness that is below. Just look at those gluten-free Pocket Pies!

Gluten-Free Donuts. Need I say more?

I went for the "Tripple Chocolate Donut" which retails for $3.50 and it was divine! I would compare it to the awesomeness that is Erin Mckenna's Bakery (formerly Babycakes) in Disney Springs, Orlando. The donut is epic so make sure to try this light and delicious piece of heaven!

I did some pantry shopping as well. One of the many items I bought was this Spice Market gem. Three 5 inch mini pizza crusts for $5.00. Taste, texture and all sorts of goodness in this product!

Check out that sweet little sit-down spot inside. Perfect for enjoying a Pocket Pie and Salad.

Feast is located at 881 Queen Street W. Toronto, ON.

Can't make it to Toronto but want to check out the goods? No problem! Items can be shipped across Canada. Simply visit their online shopping catalogue and you can order all sorts of gluten-free products.


They have also teamed up with Hurrier to deliver Feast made products to addresses within a 3km radius. Items will be at your door in an hour.



Check em out online and send some gluten-free love!

Feast Facebook

Twitter: @thisisafeast

Feast Instagram

Mini Donuts: Gluten Free & Homemade

I made the above yummy donuts with my Babycakes mini donut maker. I followed a recipe from Mini Donuts: 100 Bite-Sized Donut Recipes to Sweeten Your "Hole" Day, by Jessica Segarra. The recipe I worked with is called "Nutella Mini Donut".

I simply swapped out the regular flour for a gluten free one. In this case, I used President's Choice Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour Blend. 

Overall, I was really quite happy with how these little donuts turned out! Even the gluten eaters in my family enjoyed them. So much so, that they have been requesting that I make more!

Crispy Minis Now Certified Gluten Free

Quaker Oats sent me a lovely "mini moment" care pack to announce that Crispy Minis are now certified gluten free. This means that they have met the strict criteria set forth by the  Gluten-Free Certification Program, which is endorsed by the Canadian Celiac Association. This is great news for the 30 percent of Canadians living with Celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity!

I appreciate how clear and noticeable the gluten-free label is on the front of the package. Anyone with special dietary needs knows how time-consuming label checking can be. This seal of approval ensures safety while making shopping easier.

“The demand for safe and reliable gluten free snacks is growing,” says Paul Valder, President of the Allergen Control Group, owners of the GFCP. “By displaying the GFCP endorsed trademark, Crispy Minis rice chips provides consumers with a trusted and easily identifiable source of safe, gluten free products.”

Of the 10 gluten-free flavors to choose from, I sampled BBQ, Cheddar, and Ketchup. I'm not much of a BBQ snack fan, but I did really enjoy the Ketchup and Cheddar minis. Two classic not-to-be-missed flavors if you ask me.

My 1st grader seems to be a huge fan of the Cheddar flavour. These snacks are also perfect for the lunch box as they are packed full of flavour, without the junkiness. 

Overall, I am a fan of the product. It's great for light snacking and perfect for on-the-go munchies.

Which Crispy Minis flavour will you take a mini moment with?

Crispy Minis rice chips are available at grocery retailers across Canada in 10 Gluten Free flavours:

– Quaker Crispy Minis Cheddar rice chips


– Quaker Crispy Minis BBQ rice chips


– Quaker Crispy Minis Ketchup rice chips


– Quaker Crispy Minis Butter Popcorn rice chips


– Quaker Crispy Minis Dill Pickle rice chips


– Quaker Crispy Minis Salt & Vinegar rice chips


– Quaker Crispy Minis Sea Salt & Lime rice chips


– Quaker Crispy Minis Sweet Chili rice chips


– Quaker Crispy Minis Caramel Kettle Corn rice chips


– Quaker Crispy Minis Sour Cream & Onion rice chips

Review: Simply... Gluten-Free Quick Meals

The title Simply... Gluten-Free Quick Meals says it all. It avoids the over complicated route that that many gluten-free cookbooks take. You will find that it is filled with simple gluten-free meals, which are easy enough for even a novice to conquer.

Something that caught my eye right away was the practical way in wich the book is organized. Most of the recipes are sorted into meals. This is a major time saver as you don't have to flip through pages and pages to find recipes which pair together. 

* I was provided with a complimentary copy of Simply...Gluten-Free Quick Meals for review purposes.

• Each menu contains a quick cook strategy to ensure you get the entire meal on the table together.

• Weekday dinners that can be prepared in 30 minutes

• Single dish recipes which take 15 minutes or less to prepare

• Holiday meals

• Basic recipes for gluten-free flour blends, biscuit, pancake mixes and spice mixtures

• Tips for stocking your gluten-free pantry

All-American Meat Loaf  Dinner

I have tried several recipes from the cookbook so far. The family favourite has been The All-American Meat Loaf Dinner. The mini meat loaves were really easy to make. I did omit the Worcestershire sauce as it's not something we normally have in our pantry. I was super impressed with how moist the meat loaves were! The recipe suggests using a muffin pan which has been sprayed with gluten-free non-stick cooking spray. I'm going to pass on that next time around and just bake the mini meat loaves on a sheet pan. Even with the cooking spray, I found the muffin pan was difficult to get the meat loaves out of in one piece.

One of my favourite things about any cookbook is the pictures. A must in my opinion. They help you envision how the final product should turn out. This is especially helpful when tackling an unfamiliar recipe. Simply Gluten-Free Quick Meals has 16 pages of pictures. While the photos are beautiful, I did find them to be a bit of an afterthought. They are lumped together in the middle of the book which was a little frustrating at times. I would prefer to see the photos at the beginning of each recipe or menu.

Overall, this cookbook was a hit in my house. We love that it is full of hearty meals that don't require a lot of fuss to make. It's also full of familiar family favorites with a nice twist. We are a busy family. Work, school and assorted family activities often leave us in a time crunch. I appreciated how quick these down to earth meals could be put on the table. 

JK Gourmet - Review

Recently, I received a package of items to review from JK Gourmet which is  a Canadian company that was started in 2001. They are devoted to making all natural foods which taste as good as they are healthy. Visit their website to view the impressive variety of products available.

Fig & Apricot Granola

I love that this granola is completely grain free! That's right, no oats either. Just nuts, seeds, dried fruit and honey. It offers the perfect amount of crunch and is sweet without being too sweet. I found the granola to be really hearty and a fantastic way to liven up a salad. It's also quite filling on its own. I can see this granola being a great addition to a variety of recipes.

Fig & Apricot Granola

GG Bites

These are pretty great. Again, JK Gourmet does an excellent job of providing a sweet product without going overboard. I really enjoy how crunchy these are. As I am a snacker, GG Bites are great as they are quite filling. They remind me of something you would eat to refuel while hiking or camping.

GG Bites

Almond & Cherry Chocolate

As a self-proclaimed lover of chocolate, this really hit the mark. There is something really special about dark chocolate and fruit. This particular chocolate is sweetened with honey and has almonds and cherries in it. It looks quite pretty right out of the package. I nibbled a wee bit right away (couldn't help myself) then did as the directions suggested - I cut it into chunks and placed in the fridge. The result was even better. This is the only item which I did not offer to share with anyone. Can you really blame me though?  It's that good, I promise you.

Almond & Cherry Chocolate

Overall, I think that JK Gourmet is really on to something. All three items were great. They filled the need for sweet, without being excessive. That is a total plus in my opinion. Anything that can be indulgent and healthy is golden!

You can find these items in both the USA and Canada. If you live near or will be visiting Toronto, you can also place a pick up order here.

Promise Gluten Free Double Chocolate Muffins - Review

Promise Gluten Free sent me a Free Product Coupon so I could review one of their products. I chose the Double Chocolate muffins. Because, let's face it - CHOCOLATE.

I was super impressed with how moist and flavourful these muffins are! Promise Gluten Free provides chocolaty goodness without the dense grittiness, that is all too often part of Gluten Free baked goods. Muffin number two remained in the package for a mere 24 hours before I devoured that as well. Safe to say I am a fan!

I think it would be a wonderful advantage to see single packages of these muffins available for purchase at Tim Hortons locations across Canada. How cool and convenient would that be?! If Dunkin Donuts can sell pre-packaged gluten free donuts and muffins in America, I'll bet there is nothing stopping Timmie's from doing the same, here. Especially so when there is a fantastic product, like this to team up with.

The Double Chocolate muffins are sold two to a pack, for $3.99  and can be found at Metro stores. Not sure if your store carries the Promise Gluten Free line? Check out their store locator.

For more information on all things Promise Gluten Free, visit their Facebook page here and give them a follow on Twitter: @PromiseGF




I am looking forward to exploring the rest of the product line. Have YOU tried Promise Gluten Free? If you have, feel free to comment with your thoughts.

Circulon Griddle - Review

I have a new favourite item in my kitchen. It's the Circulon Griddle! 

This innovative piece of equipment is part of the Prime Collection and replaces the clunky, and heavy griddle that I have dreaded using for years. It's amazing how something so sleek can provide a fair amount of cooking space! Think outside the box with with me - griddles are not just for breakfast. So far, I have enjoyed preparing grilled cheese, chicken and even homemade tortillas on the griddle. The meal options are endless.

Features:

The griddle is 9.8x17.7 inches

3-Layer Total Non-Stick System

Metal Utensil Safe

Removable Temperature Probe (ranges from 200F-440F)

PFOA, Lead and Cadmium Free

Hard Anodized Construction

What I Love:

The griddle has a non stick surface, so there is no need for oils and fats

It's extremely lightweight and takes up very little space 

Clean up is a breeze. Simply remove the power cord and the griddle can be immersed in water

There is a pour spout in a corner of the griddle, which provides an easy way to dispose of grease

The griddle heats quickly and evenly

Easily stored in cupboard

What I Don't Love:

The handles. Although stylish and functional, they become hot as the griddle heats up. I would suggest that the Circulon team add a silicon gripping to correct this issue.

Interested in getting a Circulon griddle of your own? It's available 

 exclusively at Canadian Tire for $69.99

You can follow Circulon via Twitter @CirculonCanada and Facebook here

*** I received a complimentary Circulon griddle in exchange for review. Opinions are my own.

Thornhill Farms - Review

I'm a snacker. Everyone knows it. Having to bring a "just in case there are no safe options" snack with me when I'm out, most likely plays a roll in it.

So when Thornhill Farms sent me some of their products for review, I was up for the challenge.

Rice Bites flavors 
Sea Salt

                                              Black Pepper

Sea Salt & Vinegar

Applewood Smokey BBQ Flavor

 Snack Cracker Thins flavors 

Sea Salt

Cheddar Cheese

Sour Cream & Onion

Lime & Black Pepper Flavour

I appreciate that both the Rice Bites and Cracker Thins are baked instead of fried. They are also certified Gluten Free, which lets face it, is AWESOME!

Thornhill Farms gets the flavours right, without overdoing it. I don't feel like I'm overindulging with these products. They are very light to eat and don't leave you feeling weighed down like other snacks do.

Overall these are great snacks. Bonus points for being able to munch on them in the car sans mess. If you have been on a long car ride with munchkins, you know exactly what I mean.

My personal favourite is the Apple Smokey BBQ Flavour Rice Bites! I could honestly down a whole bag myself. But I didn't. I shared with my lovely family who really enjoyed our little snack! This flavour in particular, would be great with a BBQ meal or picnic.


You can find Thornhill Farms Rice Bites and Snack Cracker Thins across Canada. They retail for a reasonable $3.49  and can be found at the locations below.

Quebec :  Tao
Maritimes : Sobeys

Ontario :  Bulk Barn and natural food stores

Western Canada: London Drugs and natural food stores

You can also order by the case, through Thornhill Farms directly (Canadian orders) or Better Batter (US orders)  here .

Happy Snacking!

Nakd Fruit And Nut Bars - Review

I'm always on the hunt for Gluten Free snacks that I can take on the go with me. 
So, I was happy as can be, when offered the chance to review Nakd Raw Fruit & Nut bars.

What makes Nakd Bars different from other cereal bars on the market? The impressive lack of ingredients! They are simply fruit and nut and are made with natural ingredients with no added sugar.


The 4 Gluten Free bars I sampled are : 
Berry Delight
Cocoa Delight
Cashew Cookie
Cocoa Orange


While all four are tasty, the Cocoa Delight is by far my favourite! If you are wondering what to compare these to, they are similar to Lara Bars. I think you need to be a fruit and nut bar fan to begin with, in order to appreciate this product as it is definitely not your average cereal bar.

Hubby and our little man tried these bars as well. Hubby was impressed and will most likely dip into my pantry for more. Little man is on the other hand was less than enthused. I think he was actually kind of mad at me. That's okay though as it leaves more for me to snack on! 

WHOLE FOODS SMOOSHED TOGETHER!

NO ADDED SUGAR

GLUTEN, WHEAT & DAIRY FREE

Product Review: Dempster's GlutenZero Bread

When you see the new Depmster's GlutenZero bread in the grocery store, you may think that it's just another Gluten Free bread on the market and pass it by. Well, it is most definitely not your average Gluten Free bread and it wows in several ways!

I was a little skeptical the first time I held a package of Dempster's GlutenZero. Lets be honest, it's small and sorta feels like a dense banana loaf when you pick it up. On the bright side, this just goes to show that we should never judge before we taste! I nibbled on a piece before deciding what to do with it and I don't recall plain bread ever tasting or smelling so good!


Dempster's GlutenZero may be small, but it is mighty! It is available in both Whole Grain and White bread for about $5.99 per loaf. I spent some time having fun with both varieties. I made everything from grilled cheese sandwiches and plain old toast to a hearty BLT sandwich and yummy french toast.

As far as texture goes, this bread hits a home run. Not only does it hold together while eating a sandwich (take that, crumbly breads!), it doesn't leave that all-too-common, sand-lodged-in-throat feeling. There is something different about this bread. Perhaps, it's the use of Tapioca Starch which helps the bread stay soft without becoming gummy in texture. It's great to finally have a light weight, Gluten Free bread that does not disintegrate upon touch!



I love that this is a non-frozen bread and it can last (resealed, of course) at room temperature  for about 5 days. Not a common thing in the Gluten Free world. No more waiting for a slice of bread to defrost!

Another highlight is that the bread is produced in a Canadian, dedicated gluten free, facility. Dempster's has also gone the extra step of becoming part of the Canadian Celiac Association's Gluten Free Certification Program. It's great to see more and more manufacturers get on board with this program. It certainly makes me feel safe and like a valued consumer.




*Disclosure -  This is a sponsored post and I received compensation for it. My opinions are my own. I only work with brands that I trust and would use in my own home. 

Product Review: Catelli Gluten Free Pasta

Catelli recently sent me a box of their new Gluten Free pasta to see what I thought of it. It is produced in a dedicated gluten free facility and certified by the Canadian Celiac Association. In my opinion, any company that goes the extra mile to have their Gluten Free product certified by the CCA, is one that truly has Celiac consumers on it's mind.

*All opinions are my own and I have not been financially compensated in any way.

I can happily tell you that hubby, who is super critical of anything Gluten Free and our 5 year old grilled cheese and pizza pocket lover really enjoyed the pasta right along with me. 

Catelli is a great example of just how far we have come with Gluten Free pasta. It cooks in under 9 minutes and stays nice and al dente. It does't fall apart in the water, nor is it mushy on the plate. This pasta will not disappoint even the most harsh critic in the family.

I love preparing pasta for my family just as much as they enjoy eating it. It's one of those staples that  is great to have in the pantry when you want a no fuss meal. But it can also be so much more than that! The only limit is personal creativity and time. To save on time, I try to have a few vegetables in the fridge that are pre cut and ready to go. Add sauce and you are all set.

While supplies last, you can grab a coupon for $1.00 off of any Catelli Gluten Free pasta product here

With American Thanksgiving soon upon us, the Catelli recipe below is sure to be a quick and easy hit for those who are celebrating.

Festive Fusilli Stuffing

Create a new holiday tradition by serving this stuffing-inspired pasta dish alongside your roast turkey and trimmings.

 Prep Time: 25 min                                                   

Serving: 8 to 10 (makes about 7 cups/1.75 L)

 Ingredients:

2 tbsp (30 mL) each butter and olive oil

1 large cooking onion, chopped

1 cup (250 mL) each chopped celery and grated carrot

3 tbsp (45 mL) finely chopped fresh sage leaves

1 tbsp (15 mL) each finely chopped fresh rosemary and thyme leaves

1/2 tsp (2 mL) each salt and pepper

1 1/4 cups (300 mL) chicken or vegetable broth

3/4 cup (175 mL) dried cranberries

1 pkg (340 g) Catelli Gluten Free Fusilli

1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped fresh parsley leaves

 1.      Heat butter and oil in a nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrot, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Sauté for 8 minutes or until softened and fragrant. Stir in broth and cranberries; simmer for 8 minutes.

 2.      Meanwhile, cook fusilli in a large pot of boiling salted water for 7 minutes. Drain well; transfer fusilli to a large bowl. Add the skillet mixture and parsley; toss well to coat. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately.

 Tips:

·        This stuffing can be served any time of year along-side roast chicken, pork or pan-fried fish.

·        For a vegan stuffing, use all olive oil and vegetable broth. 

·        Make the stuffing up to 1 day ahead. Transfer the fusilli to a casserole dish. Drizzle with a little extra broth and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 20 minutes. 

 Per serving (about 3/4 cup/175 mL): 213 calories, 6 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 6 mg cholesterol, 226 mg sodium, 38 g carbohydrates, 2 g fibre, 7 g sugars, 3 g protein.