Archive for category General Information
Alexandra’s “Gluten-Free” Pizza Not Safe for Celiacs
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in General Information, Reviews on July 30, 2014
A few weeks ago, local pizza chain Alexandra’s joined Twitter (and followed our blog). I got extremely excited about their first tweet:
I immediately tweeted at them asking for more information. They put me in touch with their marketing consultant, who has family members with Celiac and who seemed to really understand my concerns about gluten-containing ingredients and cross-contamination. Her first e-mail gave some information, including the fact that the dough is made off-site to reduce the chance of cross-contamination.
But then something weird happened.
Taste Testing Bread by Rudi’s!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in General Information on July 16, 2014
In May, I picked up some Rudi’s tortilla wraps from Jane’s Gluten Free. They were delicious, so I was excited to see their bread in Sobeys grocery stores a few weeks ago. (Jane’s also carries the bread, but due to travel restrictions, I hadn’t picked it up on our last trip.) I tried a loaf of Rudi’s original bread; multigrain and cinnamon raisin flavours were also available.
At $5.99 a loaf, it seems comparable to other gluten-free breads, including my current favourite (Udi’s white bread). However, there is a real difference in size: Udi’s loaves are 340 grams, while Rudi’s are 510 grams. That means that the slices of Rudi’s bread are much bigger. Below, you can see Udi’s on the right and Rudi’s on the left:
Costco Eliminating Gluten-Free Products from Nova Scotian Shelves
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in General Information, Products, Rants on April 27, 2014
I’ve posted a few times about the great gluten-free options at our Costco stores in Dartmouth and Halifax, including pizza, pastas, crackers, deli meats, and pretzels. Last year, we visited Costco stores in Calgary and Edmonton and saw even more gluten-free options. We were excited, thinking that this meant more gluten-free options were coming our way.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true. The Bayers Lake and Dartmouth Costco stores have stopped selling Breton gluten-free crackers, gluten-free pasta, and even some types of quinoa. Who knows what products will get the axe next. It’s hard to believe that last fall people were told that there would be a gluten-free section in the Bayers Lake Costco!
This is even more disappointing considering that posts that I’ve seen recently on Facebook and Twitter indicate this is not part of Costco’s overall strategy. Some Costco stores in the United States now carry supersized loaves of Udi’s bread. The Costco in Quebec carries Glutenberg beer.
If you’re disappointed in Costco’s decision too, please fill out a comment card the next time you’re at the store and put it in their suggestion box. We’ve been told that this box is emptied and read daily and that the store does listen to suggestions. We’ll keep you up to date with any developments!
Filling Your Gluten-Free Easter Basket
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in General Information on April 17, 2014
Holidays can be a tricky time for Celiacs and anyone with food allergies or intolerances. Holiday treats are often manufactured in bulk, meaning that your favourite chocolate treat is no longer gluten-free. Or, well-meaning friends and family might fill an Easter basket for you and unwittingly include gluten-containing treats.
Here are some of our favourite gluten-free Easter treats. (Remember, always check the label!)
- Skittles
- Jelly Belly jellybeans
- Kinder Surprise eggs
- Peeps marshmallow bunnies
- Cadbury mini eggs
- PEZ candy dispensers
- Dare marshmallow eggs
The Canadian Celiac Association also recently shared this gluten-free candy list from My Gluten Facts. It is a few years out of date but it might give you a good starting point for your Easter shopping.
Here are some items to specifically be aware of:
- Most Lindt chocolates contain barley.
- Licorice usually contains wheat flour as its main ingredient.
- Watch for “May contain wheat” on store brands.
Happy Easter!
Saving Money on Gluten-Free Shopping
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in General Information on March 26, 2014
Although prices are starting to come down, there’s no denying that gluten-free food is expensive. We’ve got a few tips for helping you save money on gluten-free groceries.
The basics still apply!
Doing some basic preparation like budgeting, meal planning, flyer shopping, and coupon clipping can help you be prepared when you hit the grocery store. We’ve really focused on smart meal planning over the last year and have seen our grocery bill drop by about 30%.
We love the ShopWise app for flyers and keep an eye on BrandSaver and Save.ca for coupons.
Stock up on sales.
When gluten-free items are on sale, stock up if you have the room. Buying in bulk can also save you money. As well, Costco has started carrying many gluten-free products, including pasta, crackers, and baking mixes.
No More Missing Out On Breakfast Sandwiches!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in General Information, Products, Recipes on March 12, 2014
For Celiacs, those delicious fast-food breakfast sandwiches are out of the question. You know the ones I’m talking about… those delicious greasy packages of eggs, cheese, and bacon squished inside a delicious bagel or biscuit.
You can, of course, make them at home. It can be a bit time consuming, but there’s a new gadget that makes it easy! It’s made by Hamilton Beach and it’s simply called the Breakfast Sandwich Maker. I purchased one for my father as a Christmas gift, and was pretty skeptical of how it performed. He loved it so much that I bought one for us to try.
There are two things that I liked about this gadget before I even tried it.
One, it’s pretty small, so it doesn’t take up a lot of cupboard space. Two, it was only about $25 at Wal-Mart. This means that if you live in a household where other family members like their gluten-filled bread, you can buy two and keep one gluten-free.
Here’s how it works: you put the bottom half of an English muffin, mini bagel, biscuit, etc. in the bottom of the maker. You then add cheese, pre-cooked meats (bacon, sausage, etc.), and vegetables. Next, the second part comes down. Crack a raw egg in there, break the yolk, and put the top half of your bun on it. Now, put the top down and let it cook for five minutes. When it’s done, you simply slide the plate aside (dropping the now-cooked egg into the sandwich) and open the cover. Voila! One perfect breakfast sandwich.
We tried it out with Glutino English muffins (and cooked up some home fries) and here was the result:
It does take some practice to get the top part of the bun in the right way (hence the egg you see spilling over the edges) but the result was very delicious. I can’t wait to try some more breakfast sandwich recipes!
Gluten-Free on the Run (The 2014 Edition)
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in General Information on January 19, 2014
We’ve updated our popular Gluten-Free on the Run post (originally published in 2011) with the latest and greatest information. There have been some big changes to the menus at McDonald’s, Tim Hortons, and Subway in particular!
Is Blue Cheese Gluten-Free?
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in General Information on December 9, 2013
As you are all probably well aware, I love cheese. I would eat cheese at every meal, on everything, if I could. Much to Michael’s chagrin, one of my favourites is blue cheese. Unfortunately, blue cheese used to be on the list of foods not allowed on a gluten-free diet. This is because the mold that gives the cheese its distinctive blue/green veins is usually grown on rye or wheat bread. However, researchers have done significant testing since then and have determined that the cheese itself does not contain gluten. (There is a great report summarizing the findings here.) That being said, always read the label to ensure that the cheese has not been contaminated by additives or processing.
After that, you can go ahead and enjoy that delicious slice of fragrant blue cheese!
What’s For Dinner This Week? We’ve Got the Answers!
Posted by glutenfree4hfx in General Information, Recipes, What's For Dinner on December 6, 2013
Last year, we did a seven-day meal plan to give you a helping hand during the holidays. Since you enjoyed it so much, we thought we’d do it again! Below, we’ve listed a main entrée, side, and dessert for each day. Each item is linked to its recipe (where necessary), so click away and enjoy!
| Weekday | Entrée | Suggested Side | Delicious Dessert |
| Sunday | Spaghetti | Garlic bread | Better Than Anything Cake |
| Monday | Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia | Roasted Parmesan Potatoes | Berry Mousse Cups |
| Tuesday | Market-Fresh Pot Roast | Steamed vegetables | Chocolate chip cookies |
| Wednesday | Sticky Chicken Wings | Oven-baked French fries | Peanut Butter-Brownie Pie |
| Thursday | Maple-Balsamic Salmon Fillets | Rice | Citrus-Infused Strawberries |
| Friday | Nachos with Garlic-Lime Chicken | Salsa, sour cream, and guacamole | Homemade chocolate pudding |
| Saturday | Treat yourself and eat out! We have plenty of reviews and recommendations – just search for “Review!” | ||
Don’t forget: read every label to make sure that all your ingredients are gluten-free!
Gluten For Punishment 