Sunday

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. ///




7 Tips For A Stress Free Gluten-Free Christmas



Hey, everyone! Christmas is just around the corner and I'm super excited! With my gift shopping complete, I am working on a menu for our holiday dinner. If you are worried about hosting a meal for your loved ones, have no fear! I've put together a few tips to help keep you calm and on track. 
Remember to read all labels and when in doubt, go without.





Saturday

Look No Further For a Great Gluten-Free Lip Balm



Did you know that eos lip balm spheres are gluten-free?! 

These adorable little gems are also free of:
paraben 
petrolatum
and
phthalate

Evolution of Smooth, aka eos, is top notch if you ask me! I'm ordering this eos Limited Edition Lip Balm Trio. It comes with DIY Decorative Jeweled Stickers which I can't wait to play around with. Sometimes you just gotta treat yourself!
Can't find these in a store near you? Visit well.ca to get your hands on this set before it sells out.



Monday

Let's Talk About Bread




Gluten-free bread has come a long way since I had my first slice, over ten years ago. No longer does it require cringing and toasting. Better yet, gone are the days of tasteless crumbs. Unfortunately, gluten-free bread continues to be haunted by its cardboard-like predecessor.

I know what you're thinking - there is no comparing gluten-free bread to the soft lusciousness of "regular" bread. To put it simply, you're right. Gluten-free bread will never be exactly like its wheat-filled counterpart because well, science. What I can tell you, is that although there will always be room for improvement, the overall taste, quality and texture has improved immensely!

Let's talk about some of the fantastic gluten-free bread options available across Canada.



All But Gluten

Canyon Bakehouse 

Compliments (Sobeys store brand)

Genius by Glutino

Gluten Zero

Kinnikinnick Soft Breads 

Promise Gluten Free

Rudis

Schar

Udis


I have had the opportunity to try all of the above brands over the years. While they are all good in my opinion, some are more easily found than others. Also worth noting, prices vary widely. No longer do you have to pay $6.99+ for gluten-free bread!

Kinnikinnick is tops in my book! No toasting necessary and it holds up pretty darn well. Promise Gluten Free is a staple in my home for hamburger buns and chicken sandwiches. All But Gluten offers wonderful buns as well. The Compliments brand via Sobeys is pretty impressive as well. They make really great rolls that can be used for hot dogs and subs.

Canyon Bakehouse is a recent addition to stores in my area and I am enjoying their products thus far. I would like to see Schar and Rudis more widely available. As they are so difficult to obtain, I don't get to enjoy them often and that really bums me out.

Remember that it's okay to have a preference that differs from other gluten-free bread eaters out there. We all have individual pallets and likes. While one brand may be great toasted, it may miss the mark for sandwich making. Gluten-free bread also varies in size for a variety of reasons, mostly likely due to varied ingredients. 


The gluten-free bread industry is massive and full of competition. I'm confident that future innovations will hold impressive improvements! I'm always on the hunt for new and great gluten-free products so I can't wait to see what the future has to offer!


What are some of YOUR favourite gluten-free bread's?! Let me know in the comments below.



Wednesday

Cinnamon-Sugar Lasagne Crisps {Catelli® Reinvent Gluten Free Lasagne Challenge}




Who says you can't have lasagne for dessert? I created the recipe Cinnamon-Sugar Lasagne Crisps as part of a Catelli Blogger Challenge. The challenge is to create an original recipe which reinvents lasagne and celebrate the launch of Catelli Gluten Free Lasagne.


I had a ton of fun developing this recipe and I am thrilled with how it turned out. It's clear my family must be too- because they devoured the Cinnamon Sugar Lasagne Crisps! Served warm, these are a delightful and cozy little snack. I can't wait to make more!



About Catelli Gluten Free Pasta

  • Produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility
  • Certified by the Canadian Celiac Association's Gluten-Free Certification Program
  • GMO Free
  • Cholesterol and preservative free
  • Low in sodium
  • Oven ready (no need to boil noodles)


Catelli Gluten Free Lasagne is the sixth cut of pasta to be featured in the Catelli Gluten Free Pasta line. The line also includes Penne, Fusilli, Macaroni, Spaghetti and recently introduced Linguine


You know I love sharing giveaways with you guys right? 


Catelli is giving away one case (12 boxes) of their gluten free lasagne to a lucky Gluten Free Doll reader! 




a Rafflecopter giveaway



Keep scrolling for the Cinnamon-Sugar Lasagne Crisps recipe




Cinnamon Sugar Lasagne Crisps 


Ingredients  
1 box Catelli Gluten-Free Lasagne
1 pinch of salt 
vegetable oil  
1 cup cinnamon sugar  

Instructions 
1. Fill large pot with water and a pinch of salt. Place on med/high heat and bring to boil 
2. Break lasagne noodles into halves  
3. Place noodles in water once it has reached a roaring boil 
4. Boil for about 7-9 minutes, stirring occasionally 
5. Remove noodles from water and place on parchment paper 
6. Let noodles dry for about 30 minutes 
7. Once noodles are no longer soaking wet,  add about 2 inches of oil to a large pot and set to med/high heat 
8. Oil is ready for frying when a small cube of gluten-free bread browns in 60 seconds
9. Place noodles in oil, a few at a time to prevent crowding 
10. Fry until noodles are golden brown then remove from oil and place on parchment paper 
11. Dust  noodles with liberal coating cinnamon sugar 
12. Serve warm with frosting  

Frosting Ingredients  
2 cups icing sugar 
2 tablespoons milk 
¼ cup cream cheese 
1 tablespoon butter 
½ teaspoon vanilla  

Instructions 
1. Place 2 cups of icing sugar in mixing bowl
2. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add to icing sugar, along with 2 tablespoons of milk and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. 
3. Melt ¼ cup of cream cheese and add to mixture 
4. Whisk ingredients until they develop a smooth and creamy consistency 






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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