Taste Testing Pillsbury Pizza Dough!

The Product

Before you get excited, I’ll confirm that Pillsbury gluten-free pizza dough is not yet available in Canada. However, hopefully their recent Canadian launch of other gluten-free products has done well enough that they’ll consider bringing it here.

I picked up a 360-gram tub of Pillsbury gluten-free pizza dough at Whole Foods Market while in the U.S. recently for $3.99.

 

The Test

We had friends over unexpectedly on the weekend, so I decided this was a good time to try out the new dough. I prepared and baked it pretty much as instructed: cut the dough ball in half, flattened each piece into a pizza shape, par-baked it for 11 minutes, added toppings, and baked for about 5 more minutes. The only thing different was that I didn’t flip it between the two baking steps since I had put it in the pan incorrectly the first time (with the crust part up instead of down).

We made a classic margherita-style pizza with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and Italian seasoning, as well as a caramelized onion and bacon pizza.

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Taste Testing Bread by Rudi’s!

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:

 

 

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What’s For Dessert? Gluten-Free Turtle Brownies!

Why We Love It

We love a good brownie! This recipe takes brownies to a whole new level with caramels, nuts, and extra chocolate.

Ingredients

• 1 package gluten-free brownie mix (enough for an 8×8 or 9×9 pan)
• Ingredients called for on brownie mix box
• 25 gluten-free caramels, unwrapped (we used Kraft caramels)
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream
• 1 cup gluten-free semisweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup coarsely chopped pecans or peanuts

Method

1. Heat oven and prepare brownie mixture as directed on box. (We recommend a 350° or 325° oven.)
2. Grease an 8×8 or 9×9 baking pan. Spread about 2/3 of the brownie mixture on the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 10 minutes.
3. While the brownie mixture is baking, place the unwrapped caramels and whipping cream in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about two minutes on high, stirring every 30 seconds, until the mixture is smooth.
4. Remove the brownie base from the oven. (Leave the oven on.) Drizzle the caramel mixture over it. Sprinkle half the chocolate chips and half the nuts over the caramel. Then, drop the remaining brownie batter by spoonfuls on top of the chocolate chips and nuts. (It will probably appear quite sparse, but don’t worry – it all bakes together nicely!) Finally, sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips and the nuts over the brownie mixture.
5. Place pan in the oven at 325° for an additional 20 minutes, until brownie mixture appears dry on top.
6. Serve warm and enjoy!

Tips

• Carefully read the ingredient list on packages of nuts as they are often cross-contaminated with wheat. We used Barbour’s coarsely chopped peanuts.
• The original recipe calls for Betty Crocker gluten-free brownie mix, which is currently only available in the U.S. (not in Canada). However, if you can get your hands on some we highly recommend it!
• Why not make it à la mode with a scoop of ice cream? We enjoy Chapman’s line of gluten-free ice cream.

 

(Source: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/gluten-free-turtle-brownies/1a7ee612-1484-4352-92b1-c6765aff186e)

Jane’s Gluten-Free Foods is Worth the Drive

I’ll be honest: I’m not a huge fan of health and natural food stores. Sure, they might have some gluten-free stuff, but it’s often super expensive and so health-ified that no normal person would want to consume it. Because of this, I haven’t made too much of an effort to get to Moncton to visit Jane’s Gluten-Free Foods.

However, we passed through Moncton on our way to the United States last week, and I finally decided to stop in. Am I ever sorry that I didn’t make it up sooner! The entire store is gluten-free with lots of vegan, vegetarian, organic, and dairy-free options. You’ll find brands that you recognize as well as lots of unique items. I’ve never seen a bigger selection of Udi’s products in one place! As well, the store is extremely clean and well-organized, making it easy to find what you’re looking for.

I wished that we were going right home so that I could really stock up. However, I eventually decided on the following items:

• Schar’s cheese puffs
• Cup 4 Cup flour
• Bakery on Main granola bars
• Rudi’s plain tortillas

Most of these brands are very hard to find in Canada – I usually drive to Bangor for Schar’s products, for example.

The best place to get information about what Jane’s is currently carrying is on Facebook or Twitter. They have a new website, too, that’s just getting set up. If you make the trip, we’d love to hear what kind of goodies you bring back!

Sobeys’ Compliments Brand Launches Gluten-Free Line!

Updated with more products!

Last year, Loblaws’ President’s Choice brand launched a gluten-free baked goods line. Since then, they’ve expanded into baking mixes, pastas, and crackers. The other day, we were picking up some Udi’s bread at our local Sobeys, and we noticed that there is now a Compliments line of gluten-free baked goods, rolls, and breads!

The product list includes:

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Gluten-Free on the Run (The 2014 Edition)

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!

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What’s For Dinner? Ultimate Brunch Casserole!

There is something so decadent and comforting about having breakfast food for supper, especially in the fall. It’s even better when it can all be prepared beforehand and put in the oven when you get home from work (or get up in the morning).

Why We Love It

This is a great dish for brunches, lunches, or supper! It can easily be customized depending on what your family likes.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 pound (half a kilogram) frozen hashbrown-style potatoes (small dice)
• 6 eggs
• One tsp. butter or margarine
• Salt and pepper
• Approximately half a cup of processed cheese loaf, such as Velveeta (you can use more or less as desired)
• 8 slices gluten-free bacon
• Approximately ½ cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (you can use more or less as desired)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. While the oven is preheating, cook the potatoes and the bacon separately, as directed on each package.
3. Crack eggs into a bowl. Whisk with salt and pepper.
4. Melt the butter in a medium-size frying pan over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, pour in the eggs. Cook and stir until eggs are set and scrambled (usually about five minutes).
5. Cut the processed cheese loaf into small cubes.
6. Once all ingredients are prepared, spray a 9×9 inch pan with cooking spray. Put the hashbrowns in the bottom of the dish and pat down. Place cubes of processed cheese on top. Spoon eggs over top of the cheese cubes. Put the bacon slices on top of the eggs. (You can crumble the bacon if you want, but slices work well too.) Top with shredded cheese.
7. Cook for 30 minutes.
8. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

• Don’t forget to read all the labels to make sure all ingredients are gluten-free!
• This dish can be made beforehand and refrigerated. While the oven is preheating, take the dish out of the refrigerator to bring it up to room temperature.
• Feel free to customize this dish to create a theme. For example, to make this dish Mexican-style, you might add paprika, garlic, and cumin, and serve it with salsa. For an Italian flavour, add parsley and oregano to the eggs, and add Parmesan cheese on top.
• For a healthier option, add finely chopped vegetables to the hashbrowns.
• For a bigger crowd, double the ingredients and use a 9×13 pan.

Zero8 Offers the Ultimate Gluten-Free Experience

We get a lot of people asking us if Halifax has a dedicated gluten-free restaurant. Pete’s Gluten-Free Eatery and Coffee Bar is dedicated gluten-free and offers snacks and lunches, as does Odell’s Gluten Free Bakery and Café. As well, Get Stuffed in New Glasgow (which offers lunch, supper, snacks, and take-home options) uses ingredients free of gluten, although they are still obtaining full ingredient and sourcing information and therefore are not Celiac friendly. That leaves a pretty big gap for suppertime!

As far as we can tell, the closest full-service gluten-free restaurant is Zero8, located in Montréal. They’re not just gluten-free either. The entire restaurant is free of the eight major allergens: fish/seafood, all nuts, sesame seeds, milk, soy, eggs, and wheat/gluten. They also mark dishes containing sulphites and mustard on the menu, and are happy to accommodate any other allergens. They serve supper every day except Monday, and also have a lunch service on Saturday. You can also pick up meals to take home and cook.

We were in Montréal last month, so we stopped by on a Tuesday evening shortly after they opened.

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Gluten-Free Finds On the Road!

Last week, Michael and I went on a road trip to Toronto, and we stopped at a ton of cool places on the way! Although the language barrier was a bit of a challenge in Québec, I didn’t get sick at all and actually enjoyed the opportunity to try some different places.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the places we visited and what I ate.

Pump House Brewery (Moncton, New Brunswick)
Not a ton of gluten-free options, but they have the most amazing locally-made gluten-free pizza crust. The $4 upcharge is totally worth it.

La Captive (Amqui, Québec)
We had an amazing spread of local cheeses for about $12. Just ask for no bread!

Saint-Alexandre Pub (Québec City, Québec)
Their sole gluten-free option (Toulouse-style sausage with salad) is incredible, and they have Glutenberg Blonde by the bottle (although it is pricey).

Les Salons d’Edgar (Québec City, Québec)
We loved the old-style French feel of this restaurant, and the spontaneous ballroom dancing by guests! Although we didn’t eat here, the menu looked quite gluten-friendly, with items like grilled steak and quinoa salad.

Le Saint Bock (Montréal, Québec)
This pub has Glutenberg Red, American Pale Ale, and Blonde by the bottle. Extremely cool spot, especially during a Canadiens game!

Zero8 (Montréal, Québec)
This place is a must-visit for anyone with Celiac disease or food allergens. Their restaurant is 100% free of the eight major allergens: gluten, fish and seafood, all nuts, sesame, soya, dairy, and eggs. They also mark items with mustard and sulphites on their menu, and are happy to accomodate any other allergens. Watch for a review coming soon!

Shoeless Joe’s (Toronto, Ontario)
We were surprised by how gluten-friendly this sports bar chain is, with gluten-free pizza and burgers. There is a small upcharge for gluten-free pizza ($1.99) and no upcharge for burgers.

Il Fornello (Toronto, Ontario)
This Italian restaurant serves gluten-free pasta, pizza, and the most amazing chocolate souffle I’ve ever had.

More Mainstream Options for Gluten-Free Crackers Appearing on Store Shelves

Gluten-free cracker options used to be pretty slim. My favorites were Blue Diamond Nut-Thins. Glutino also makes a ton of different cracker options, as do CrunchMaster and Mary’s Gone Crackers. However, all of these options are quite pricey, typically ranging from $4 to $7 a box.

Lately we’ve been seeing more mainstream companies offering gluten-free crackers at much lower prices ($2.50 to $3.50 a box). Some examples:

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