Tasty Bite Indian Meals

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Cassandra

I can’t tell you how excited I get to see all of the different readily-available cuisines in gluten-free varieties these days.  I am constantly finding new gluten-free foods in new cuisines, even in new places.

Tasty Bite

One of my new favorites is Tasty Bite Indian Meals.  I first heard of Tasty Bite a few years ago at a gluten-free event, but I rarely ever saw them.  A couple of months ago, my mom bought me a big box of Tasty Bite’s Madras Lentils from Costco, which featured in our chili for awhile.

I recently received some samples from Tasty Bite, and so far, it’s been a wonderful, tasty experience for me.

Luckily for me, I’ve always loved rice.  One day last week, when I wasn’t feeling too well, I found comfort in a bowl of Thai Lime Rice, with a sweetly subtle blend of coconut, ginger, and lemongrass.  It had enough flavor to be great rice without being too powerful for my ailing self.  Today, I’m spicing it up with some Ginger Lentil Rice, which even has protein from the lentils.  Growing up with my uber-picky father, I rarely had a chance to try different cuisines (I don’t count tacos or spaghetti), and certainly not much with spices.  I LOVE trying new dishes and the intertwining flavors from other cultures.  When I was a child, I thought ginger was only for cookies and ginger ale.

The Vegetable Korma is a sweet/spicy curry, which  if eaten by itself, is like a thick soup.  It has big chunks of veggies with a really excellent taste (which I might be better able to describe if I ate Indian food more often).  It would be great over a bed of rice or with some fish or chicken.  In fact, I got halfway through my bowl the other day and decided I needed to try it with fish.  I’m glad I did!  I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful complements of flavors.Vegetable Korma over Fish

Tasty Bite meals are vegetarian/vegan and many are gluten-free.  They come in a shelf-stable microwaveable pouch, which makes them excellent options to take to work or for travel (but probably not on a plane, unless you’re taking one of the rice varieties).

Tasty Bite is now available in many stores, including some Wal-Marts.  You can also find Tasty Bite on facebook, pinterest, and twitter.

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On Being a Personal Chef – Chef Janet K

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Cassandra

For awhile now, I have wanted to share with you some of the gluten-free “careers” in the market. Today we have a special guest post by Personal Chef, Janet K.  Not only is Janet a trained chef, but she utilizes her Masters in Education’s teaching skills to help people across the country.  Located in Los Angeles, Chef Janet helps create customized gluten-free menus and does in-home cooking classes, including via Skype for those not in the LA area.

Cooking has always been a part of my life. I grew up with a working single mother and helping cook dinner was one of my chores that I always enjoyed. My grandmother was known for being a great cook in her community and I loved her food. So I learned from the best.

About 15 years ago I discovered my gluten-intolerance. Back then gluten-free food in the market was almost nonexistent and honestly, pretty terrible. Finding a way to still eat my favorite foods was a huge motivation to cook.

When a career change became necessary a few years ago I decided to brave culinary school. Being gluten-free in a French culinary school was quite a challenge. Fortunately my instructors encouraged me to experiment with gluten-free substitutions. We had some fun utterly failing at gluten-free rice pasta but there were many successes as well. My goal was to be able to compete on par with my classmates. My food had to be as good or better. I didn’t want it to be “good for gluten-free,” I wanted it to be good period! And my food easily passed the test of culinary school standards.

For me, being a gluten-free chef is about re-creating everyone’s favorite traditional dishes in a gluten-free version that is as good as or better than the original. My clients long for the food they used to eat so they can feel “normal” again. Parents are concerned that their young children will feel left out if they have to eat different food. Gluten-free people want to be able to host their friends and family for holidays and not feel the burden of cooking separate gluten-free dishes in addition to the regular menu. So it’s a bonus that I can teach people to prepare gluten-free meals that are so good, everyone at the table will love it.

Fortunately these days, as any gluten-free person knows, finding good gluten-free products is easier than ever. I can skip over the part where I have to make everything from scratch and focus on the techniques that produce amazing gluten-free dishes.

-Chef Janet K.

GF Spring Rolls - Chef Janet K

Online, you can find her at Chef Janet’s website, her facebook, and her twitter.

Posted in GF Education | 1 Comment

thinkThin Bars and Giveaway

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Cassandra

I have a thing for protein bars.  Not only are they quick and easy to eat (no preparation is nice sometimes), but they also fuel me when I need it most.  Take this coming summer, for example.  The thought of teaching an hour and a half cycling class immediately followed by an hour and a half Pilates class has me ready to stuff my bag full of protein bars.  :)

thinkThinkThankfully, thinkThin has got us covered.  thinkThin products are certified gluten-free and designed to taste great and fuel our bodies.  The Crunch variety is non-GMO — partnering with Whole Foods to find and develop readily available sources of non-GMO proteins, connect them with their current suppliers and get them on the path.

The Brownie Crunch high protein bar is a not-too-sweet, chocolatey, dense brownie  with crispies inside, all wrapped up in chocolate.  The Chocolate Peanut Butter high protein bar is like a fluffy, less sweet version of a Reese’s.  I haven’t had a chance yet to try any of the Crunch or Bite varieties, but thinkThin would like you to give them a try.

One winner will receive a Wellness Box, which includes:  one 10 bar box of thinkThin® high protein bars (with 0g sugar), one 10 bar box of thinkThin® Crunch (with 10g protein and 70% less sugar than leading fruit and nut bars), and three boxes of thinkThin® Bites.WellnessBox[11]

 

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post about your favorite time/reason to have a protein bar.

This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses and will close at 9:00 p.m. central on Monday, June 3, 2013.

Posted in Giveaway, Reviews | 6 Comments

Plush Puffs Marshmallows

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Cassandra

Marshmallows.

Roasted Bacon Marshmallows

What do you immediately think of when I use the word “marshmallows”?  Do you think of bacon?  What?  Why not?

Well, I have just had my maiden voyage into the seas of bacon sweets with the limited edition Maple Bacon Marshmallows from Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows.

I have to admit, I’m still not sold on the whole bacon+candy idea, though it might be growing on me now.  It was definitely the most interesting roasted marshmallow I have ever had (I had to use a lighter – it’s too darn hot for a fire :) ).  I have a number of friends who have fallen in love with bacon ice cream and bacon cupcakes who would definitely love these.

Artisan marshmallows are popping up in restaurants around the country.  What makes Plush Puffs special?

“Our goal is to offer the highest quality, all-natural, deliciously flavored marshmallows ever. This is a marshmallow that is not only good enough to eat on its own, but amazing when melted in hot drinks, used in any number of recipes. Each flavor is actually intensified when it is roasted. Quite simply: we want to provide a product that delights the senses.”

Plush Puffs Varieties

Plush Puffs are made without high-fructose corn syrup and many varieties are gluten-free.  The Toasted Coconut marshmallows really delight my senses.  Coconut is infused throughout the marshmallows, not just stuck to the top.  The flakes of coconut on the outside have that rich toasted flavor.  They make an excellent  S’mores, though the coconut flavor is very faint with the chocolate and the cookies.  If you melt the marshmallows in the microwave, watch out.  These marshmallows were in my microwave for a whopping 9 seconds.Smores

I used Enjoy Life’s Vanilla Honey Grahams for this S’more.  I bet they would be even more coconutty awesome with a coconut cookie like the Coconut Oatmeal Bliss from Ginnybakes.

If that’s not enough to tempt you, you can buy a 2-pound marshmallow.  That’s right, one big ol’ honkin’ marshmallow that weighs two pounds.  A new cake idea, anyone?

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Ginnybakes

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Cassandra

When I bake, I bake with love.  Why else would we do it?

Well, Ginnybakes feels the same way.  Ginny has created her cookies with love (some of them even have love in the name).  Her cookies are certified organic and certified gluten-free.  On the package, it reads “ginnybakes are preservative free so eat them now or freeze and indulge later!”  You certainly don’t find that on too many cookies.

To celebrate their expansion to shipping nationwide, to Amazon.com, and to many Whole Foods stores, Ginnybakes sent me some samples to entice you.  :)

Braden and I tried the Sunshine Biscotti Bliss. I’m not really a fan of biscotti, so Braden had no idea what it was. He wasn’t sold on the idea of biscotti itself, but we love the pistachio and cranberry flavor.

Chocolate Chip Macadamia Love

Three words describe the cookies: crispy buttery goodness.  I’m usually a chewy cookie kind of girl, but man, these are great.  I don’t know how much butter is in these, but I think Paula Dean would be proud.  Not only is there Chocolate Chip Love, but there is also Chocolate Chip Macadamia Love!  Boom, baby!  I won’t say how much I enjoyed those cookies for breakfast dessert.

Coconut Oatmeal Bliss puts a new twist on a classic flavor.  It’s like eating an oatmeal cookie on an island (which really makes me desperate for a vacation :) ).  It’s the first time I’ve ever had coconut in my oatmeal cookies, but it definitely won’t be the last.

If you like to make them yourself, Ginnybakes also has some mixes, including a divine-looking Peace Love & Crumble Muffin mix.

I bet Ginnybakes cookies would make an awesome cheesecake crust or even a crumb topping for a pie or crisp.  Hmmm…so many ideas…

The chocolate chip macadamia are definitely my favorite so far.  I’m a little sad I shared them.  ;)

Give them a shout out on facebook and twitter!

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