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.

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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.

Easy Gluten-Free Black Forest Cake

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

I have been wanting Black Forrest cake for what seems like FOREVER. It was a favourite of mine when I was growing up before I was diagnosed with Celiac. To put things in perspective, I have been navigating the gluten-free waters for well over ten years now. Enjoying some black forest cake, gluten-free of course has been long overdue.

What's a girl to do when she can't find a ready-made gluten-free version of her most favourite cake?! 

Make It At Home

Don't worry I am by no means a super amazing baker, which means you can totally pull this off too! Short-cuts and hacks are my best friends in the kitchen and I used a couple in this recipe.

You Won't Believe How Easy This Is

Seriously, it's a piece of cake.

All you need for the cupcakes is a boxed gluten-free chocolate cake mix. I used Betty Crocker because I love how moist and fluffy the final product turns out. But, you can use any boxed mix which you prefer. 

Ingredients

Chocolate Cake Mix

Whipping Cream

Sugar

Vanilla Extract

Maraschino Cherries

Chocolate Sprinkles

Red Sugar Crystals

Homemade Whipped Cream 

1 1/2 cup Whipping Cream

2 Tbsp Sugar 

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Place above ingredients for homemade whipped cream in a large bowl. Stir to combine. That's it for now, but ensuring everything is cold is super important. 
Place the beaters from a hand mixer in the bowl and cover with saran wrap. 
Put bowl, in the fridge for 30 minutes. 

Once chilled, beat with hand mixer until stiff peaks form.

Stiff Peaks

*Follow directions on chocolate cake mix box to make the cupcakes.

Once the cupcakes come out of the oven and cool, they are ready to be transformed. 

First up - deconstructed black forest cake... a trifle of sorts. 

To do this, I cut a cupcake into four layers. I then alternated between the following components:

cupcake slice

whipped cream

chocolate sprinkles 

red sugar crystals

maraschino cherries

For my more traditional cupcakes, I used the OXO 1261080BK GG Cupcake Corer. It literally cores your cupcakes with little to no effort at all, leaving room for a surprise filling. Once I had created room for a filling, it was time to assemble. In the cupcakes vacant centre, I layered the whipped cream, maraschino cherries, chocolate sprinkles and red sugar crystals. The top of the cupcakes a capped off with a swirl of whipped cream, sprinkles, and sugar crystals. A single maraschino cherry completes this sweet treat.

Just Look At That Goodness 

Have you created anything inspired by a favourite dessert? Let me know below.

Confessions Of A Former Gluten-Free Hoarder

The beginning of my gluten-free journey was marred with often out of stock and usually overpriced product. I endured frustrating travel throughout the GTA (greater Toronto area) just to obtain a variety of items. Sometimes I would snap up new products by the dozen for fear of never seeing them again. This was a very real possibility back then.

Living a few hours from the United States gave new meaning to cross-border shopping. Instead of getting excited about deals on clothing and electronics, I focused solely on gluten-free food. I would visit 4 or 5 American grocery stores every trip. Each visit to the US brought home a haul of food that just wasn't (and sometimes still isn't) available in Canada. 

And so began a gluten-free hoarding problem

Sale? I'll take 7 

New product? Give me 3

Not many left? I'll take the rest

Out of town shopping? Fills a suitcase

Believe it or not, there is a certain kind of stress that comes with gluten-free food hoarding. Products sometimes expired before I could use them. I would get bored of eating the same things repeatedly. Sometimes I ended up not enjoying something which I bought in bulk. Not wanting to be wasteful, I would try finding a new owner for these items. A difficult task which usually resulted in food being tossed in the bin.

I have a petite kitchen at best. Putting an excessive amount of groceries away was like playing a well-organized game of Tetris. I got so creative with my storage that I often forgot about these items. Other times, I would grab a box of gluten-free cereal and half the pantry would tumble onto the floor. It was like these poor boxes were screaming to be acknowledged.

Another drawback was that I lost sight of what is naturally gluten-free, like fruits and vegetables. I developed a need for pre-packaged food and lost sight of food prep. Super unhealthy. It was also questionable financially as the gluten-free label goes hand in hand with an often inflated price.


Over time, I eventually realised that gluten-free isn't going anywhere and have thus drawn a line between stocking up and hoarding. In fact, it's getting better. Almost every supermarket has a decent gluten-free selection. Stores are also far better at consistently ensuring these items are on shelves. Companies are also clearly labeling their gluten-free goods so that they are easy to spot. This is such a win!

As things are different now. I no longer stock up en masse. I feel healthier, happier and no longer stressed out.

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.

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.

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.

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! 




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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 

Kid Friendly Game Day Snacks

Fall is finally upon us. This means that both NHL and NFL fans everywhere are excited and cheering for their favourite teams.

Hockey fans and football fans have a couple of things in common:

1 . They are passionate about their favourite sport

2 . Game day goes hand in hand with awesome food

The most talked about tailgating dishes tend to be on the not so healthy end of things. Tasty? Sure! Great idea every game? Not so much. I've come up with three game day snacks that are yummy, fun to eat, easy to make and KID Friendly!

For this snack, you will need:

Apples
Vanilla Yogurt
Honey
Chia Seeds
Cinnamon Sugar

• Wash, peel and core the apple
• Cut the apple into french fry style wedges
• Toss apple wedges in cinnamon sugar
• Mix vanilla yogurt with honey and chia seeds

Now it's time to dip the wedges into the honey chia yogurt mixture and enjoy!

For this snack, you will need:

Gluten-Free Wraps (I used Udi's)
Bananas
Peanut Butter
Nutella

• Microwave gluten-free wraps for about 20 seconds so they are pliable
• Cut wraps into one-inch strips
• Slice bananas so they are an inch wide
• Spread peanut butter on some strips & Nutella on the remaining ones
• Place banana on wrap and roll up until wrap is secure

Plate and eat!

For this snack, you will need:

Grapes 
Kielbasa
Cheese 

• Wash grapes
• Cut kielbasa and cheese into bite-sized cubes
• Place items on skewers

Voila! You have a quick and healthy snack!

What are some of YOUR go-to game day snacks?

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

Stretch Your Gluten-Free Dollar With These Tips

1 .  Buy In Bulk

You can save a lot of money with a membership to a club store such as Costco. If you don't want to pay for a membership, many regular grocery stores offer family packs or club size items as well. Keep an eye out for those "stock up and save" promotions as well.

2 .  Bargain Hunt

This is worth making the extra time for. 

• Look at flyers to find sales
• Visit clearance racks
• Price match
• Take advantage of discount produce with minor imperfections
• Buy private label brands

3 .  Frequent Discount Stores

There are actually a lot of places you can find gluten-free food with a price cut. 

Almost Perfect deals directly with major manufacturers. Prices are kept cheap as items are the result of overproduction, cosmetic imperfections and or packaging changes.

Marshalls, HomeSense and Winners sell brand name gluten-free items at 20%-60% less than you would see in other stores.

Dollaramma has many gluten-free items including cereal, snacks and beverages. 

4 .  Use Coupons

There are several ways to find coupons for gluten-free items. Some companies offer printable coupons direct from their website. Signing up for an email newsletter is another great way to get coupons. You can also visit the sites below, to either print coupons and or have them mailed to your home.

GlutenFreeCoupons.ca

WebSaver.ca

Save.ca

SmartSource.ca

5 .  Shop Online

There is an abundance of gluten-free shopping to be done online! Many online retailers even offer free shipping with a minimum order. Not sure where to get gluten-free goods online? Read up on Where To Find Gluten-Free Groceries Online here.

6 .  Use Your Freezer

Once a month, prepare several freezer friendly meals. If you don't have time to do that, make a little bit extra with every meal. This way, you will have food to put aside for freezing. Having something available that can be effortlessly popped in the oven will save you money in the long run. By transforming leftovers, you will also be less tempted to head out to eat.

7 .  Look For Naturally Gluten-Free Food

Fresh fruits
Vegetables
Seeds 
Nuts
Eggs
Brown Rice
Lean Meats
Popcorn

8 .  Keep Those Receipts

Canadian's who have been diagnosed with Celiac can submit a Doctor's note with their taxes. They can then claim the incremental cost of gluten-free food as a medical expense every tax season. Please visit the Canada Revenue Agency for more information.

9 .  Grow Your Own Produce

There are several benefits to starting a garden. 

• Taking care of a garden involves exercise and time outdoors
• You will be more likely to eat healthy
• It's a great family activity
• You will learn something
• Gardening is a great way to relax
• You will also save money

7 Gluten Free Mistakes You Don't Want To Make

7. Assuming You Don't Need a Support Network

Adjusting to the gluten-free diet is a big lifestyle change and it's not easy.Surrounding yourself with people who are supportive is vital. Celiac associations, friends, and family should all be a part of this circle. Just as important is distancing yourself from those who bring you down. You know, the people who get offended that you won't can't eat gluten-containing food.

6. Being in the Dark About what Celiac Disease actually is

Celiac is a life-long autoimmune disorder, so understanding what it's all about is paramount. While you won't become an expert overnight, reading an educational book or two on Celiac will certainly help you out. The more you understand it, the more likely you are to maintain the diet. Knowing what Celiac is all about and sharing that knowledge with those around you is a double win.

5. Overindulging In Gluten-Free Junk Food

Just because it's gluten-free doesn't mean it's magically good for you. Junk food is still junk food and moderation is key. True story. Since we are being honest, eating a healthy gluten-free diet requires some extra work. Why? Well, most gluten-free food is full of sugar and various other substitutes to make up for that missing wheat stuff. This means it's even more important to be aware of what you're eating and not over do it with the junk.

4. Failing to do Your Own Research 

Please don't accept everything you see or hear as fact. Although the interwebs are full of great resources, rumours and inaccurate information lurk everywhere. Myths are abundant and a Facebook meme doesn't come with guaranteed authenticity. Fact-check legitimate resources such as the CCA or NFCA. Also, if there ever is a pill/cure/therapy etc. Those two sites will list it front and centre. Until then, everything is either in research mode or non-existent hocus pocus.

3. Focusing on What You Can't Eat

There is an entire world of "yes" food out there just waiting for you to dig in. Seriously, the gluten-free food department has come a long way. You're going to have to get creative and shop around more, but you will discover great products.You may even learn new kitchen skills in the process. By focusing on what you can enjoy, you will bypass that feeling of missing out.

2. Not Creating a Celiac Safe Area in Your Kitchen

This is a big deal. Without a safe zone to prepare your gluten-free food, cross contamination is just hanging around, waiting to happen. It's important to keep your food clearly labelled "gluten-free" and away from any non-safe items. Designate the top two shelves in the fridge for gluten-free only. Also, pick a cupboard to house all of your gluten-free pantry items. You can and should keep a separate cutting board, strainer and dish sponge in a special non-gluten zone.

1. Forgetting To Be Your Own Advocate

I can't stress how important it is to look out for number one - that's you!
Not everyone has an in-depth understanding of Celiac Disease, so speak up, be firm and when in doubt go without.

My Gluten Free Bucket List

1. Master the art of Gluten-Free baking. Seriously, I need help.

2. Visit Feast in Toronto. I've known about this gem for some time now and I really need to get there!   *Visited July 2015

3. Read:

• Gluten Freedom by Alessio Fasano, MD 
• The Gluten-Free Revolution by Jax Peters Lowell
• Mayo Clinic Going Gluten Free: Essential Guide to Managing Celiac Disease and Related Conditions by Joseph A. Murray

4. Take another Walt Disney World resort vacation, aka Gluten-Free paradise

5. Add final touches to the Gluten Free Doll website and officially launch it

6. Attend a Gluten-Free expo/conference

7. Cross-border shop for Gluten-Free goods which are not available in Canada

8. Encourage Rogers Centre to host a Celiac Awareness night

9. Help rid Celiac of the fad stigma

10. Find a delicious Gluten-Free croissant and eat it