Monday

Gluten Free Grocery Shopping Makes My Head Spin




Sometimes (okay, more often then not) I wander through some serious mental dilemma when I'm grocery shopping for my Gluten Free pantry. I get this "what if" anxiety. It goes a little like this...




If I love this product, will I ever get to see it again?

What if it tastes great and then the manufacturer tweaks the recipe, in turn ruining said great product?

If I take a chance and stock up on a new product, what are the odds that I will not like it?

What if my local grocery stores stop carrying something that I buy regularly?

Does this have Oates in it? I can't tolerate Gluten Free Oates. They make me very ill and seeing them in more GF products frustrates me. 

Will the price increase if word gets out that this item is awesome? You know, just because it can happen.

Do I actually need this? Or am I buying it just because it's new and Gluten Free?

How often will this item be on sale? Maybe I should buy a lot and then play tetris with my freezer to make it all fit.

What if said item is only ever on sale once? I've seen this happen.

WHEN will the rest of Betty Crocker's Gluten Free line fill Canadian shelves? Population density baloney or not, we have the NEED and desire to purchase it! FYI they are manufactured in Canada. Yep.

Why do Organic / Natural  labelled non GF products always get shelved with my beloved Gluten Free items? 


Will I use this product before it expires? In my experience, the expiry dates are extremely varied.




Tuesday

BlueWater Seafoods Review and Giveaway



I was approached by BlueWater Seafoods and asked if I would like to review one of their Gluten Free products. After thinking about it, I said yes and was sent a very useful sling bag and a free product coupon to redeem for one of their Gluten Free items.

I chose to take on this review because I feel that BlueWater Seafoods truly wants and values my honest opinion. To me, that is VERY important.



I chose to try the Haddock Classic Grill. 






Out of the box
Ever hear the phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover"? Well we have a case of that here.  Upon opening the box, you are presented with two packaged fillets that leave a lot to the imagination. 

Frozen food is not pretty. It's convenient.


I followed the instructions for oven use. If anyone is brave enough to try the microwave route, please let me know how that goes for you. 




In the oven
Being Celiac, its hard to find fish that you can just pop in the  oven and eat. Almost everything is breaded *cringes* in wheat. I had not explored eating fresh fish very much as all that pin boning and prep scares me to be honest.




I have to say that I am really impressed with the Gluten Free indication on the top right corner of the box! If more companies took little steps like this, my grocery shopping time would be cut in half. 



BlueWater Seafoods  participates in the Trusted Catch program.


"BlueWater is committed to protecting and enhancing the sustainability of seafood resources and is working actively to support this under our Trusted Catch program. Trusted Catch encompasses all of our sustainability initiatives, from sustainable seafood sourcing to other green efforts including a more efficient plant and distribution network.
Regardless of where our seafood is caught and processed, BlueWater uses the same strict, rigorous quality control processes to ensure that we provide you with the safest, most wholesome and delicious seafood products on the market – not only for today, but for generations to come."


Eighteen minutes after oven entry (oven temperatures vary) dinner was ready. What a transformation! The frozen brick turned into a beautifully cooked piece of fish. My first impressions of this fish were boldly changed upon taste. It was moist and flavorful. Usually, I'm the first person at the table to add a sauce or a dip to what I am eating. Not this time though. The seasoning really enhanced the flavor of the fish without overpowering it. No need for anything extra here.

The verdict? Pretty sure that I will by this product again as it is very simple to make and the price point of $4.99 per box is not overkill. I like that this is something  I can make for myself on a busy night, without a hassle. Since I only cooked the one piece of fish, I am eager to try out a recipe from the BlueWater website with the next piece.


Finished baking

Don't forget to visit the BlueWater Seafoods website and make sure you check out their  awesome Gluten Free recipe section.

Dinner!



The great folks of BlueWater Seafoods have supplied me with THREE prize packs to host a give away with.



 Each prize pack consists of


  • A Free Product Coupon to sample a Bluewater Seafood product of your choosing
  • A BlueWater Sling Bag
To enter the contest, follow the Rafflecopter instructions below. Good luck everyone! :)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday

Product Review: President's Choice Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

Presidents Choice deserves a well earned shout out for their Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins. I actually don't (although I should) cringe at paying $5.99 for these gems. They are that good! To top it all off , they are sold fresh, not frozen! This makes for a positive change from all of the freezer burnt Gluten Free muffins out there.




I have to say that these muffins have become a staple in my pantry. They are my go to snack when I'm on the run, want a quick breakfast or even a late night snack. You will notice that they are a great size and do not fall into the everything Gluten Free must be miniature to it's counterpart trap. 



Highlights

  • Moist 
  • Perfect amount of blueberries 
  • Great size 
  • Texture is soft and light
  •  Fresh tasting, not frozen
  • It does not fall apart after one bite
  • No need to chase each bite with a drink






If you have not tried these yet, I recommend that you give Presidents Choice Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins a go. If you have tried them, let me know what you think.

The Gluten Free Differences Between Us


I'm so very tired of people fussing over "unhealthy" Gluten Free products. 

Instead of complaining,  chastising and pitching a fit, why not be thankful for the Gluten Free options out there. If we don't like what is available, then it is up to us as a community to be active and let the manufacturers know what we want. There is no need to blast someone who gets excited over a new Gluten Free product that does not fit into everyone's vision of what is an acceptable food choice.

We DO need to see a healthier selection of Gluten Free products on the market. But that does not mean that I wish to forgo my chocolate chip cookies. And no I'm not endorsing Diabetes.

Moderation is a key ingredient that people often forget about. There is nothing wrong with a snack in conjunction with a well balanced diet.


Being Gluten Free does not mean we follow the same food pyramid if you will. We are all different and for different reasons. 

Vegan
Vegetarian
Paleo
Sugar Free
Lactose Free
Dairy Free

The beat goes on....


We need to respect each other and be understanding. I would never look down on someone for eating something that I avoid. In fact, I am curious by nature so I would probably want to learn more. That doesn't mean that I would jump on board but it does mean that I would not be judgmental. 

Sometimes I just want to enjoy my overpriced Gluten Free cookie without being judged. 

That is all.













Presidents Choice Gluten Free Banana Loaf - Review

PC Gluten Free Banana Loaf


I bought this product having no expectations at all. Horrible of me, I know. It's hard to get excited for a new product sometimes. Why? Well, because what if it sucks? Or what if I love it and can never find it again? Both  situations have happened to me on many an occasion. So I went into this with a we'll see kind of attitude.

Price: 5.99

While not outrageously high for a Gluten Free product, I must say that I am slightly disappointed with the price point. Presidents Choice is a very large company with a lot of pull. I guess I was expecting them to have a more competitively priced Gluten Free line. 



To my delight and surprise, I loved it! The Banana Loaf is sweet, but not too sweet. It is light, moist and and fluffy. The loaf is great with a dab of butter or on its own. 
I pre sliced the loaf and placed it back in the resealable container that it came in. This made for a quick and easy snack on demand.


You can purchase PC Gluten Free products at stores under the Loblaws banner such as No Frills, RCSS and Extra Foods. Items can vary by location. To find a store near you, use the PC Store Finder









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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