Contes Margherita Pizza

This gluten free product review comes from a lazy day and a search for convenience : )  I'm still looking for that perfect gluten free pizza experience.  Contes Margherita Pizza with roasted garlic and olive oil offered me another option to try.

Ease of Use

In the grand tradition of frozen pizzas, Contes Margherita Pizza is super simple.  Heat the oven, pop the pizza in and you're done.  I cut mine before eating, but nothing says you have to...

Appearance

Before and after it is cooked, Contes Margherita Pizza looks like any other frozen pizza.  The cheese is a big shred size and covers very well.  The crust is thin and looks crispy.  There are no chunks on the pizza, despite what the picture on the box shows.

Taste and Texture

The flavor of this gluten free pizza is fantastic!  It has a fresh tomato and garlic flavor that is quite pleasing.  Be prepared to have pretty potent garlic breath for awhile after you eat it.

The outside crust is nice and crisp.  It has a good flavor and texture.  The crust under the toppings is a different story.  It doesn't crisp up and stays very soft and "stick to the teeth chewy".  It still tasted good, but gave the impression of being undercooked (even after baking ten minutes longer than specified).

Versatility

You can top Contes Margherita Pizza with just about anything.  Other than that, despite my best efforts, I haven't been able to use pizza for anything other than pizza.

Overall Value

 Contes Margherita Pizza costs about ten dollars for a 16 oz. pizza.  It's a decent size and value.

Rating

For the fresh tomato and garlic flavor, I would recommend this gluten free pizza.

Gluten Free Life Muffins

Muffins!! Yay! I love muffins, but good gluten free muffins are hard to find! Either they are muffin-cicles that could double as hockey pucks once thawed or they are so sweet and sugary that I might as well be eating cake. This is not to say that there aren't great recipes out there, just that they are few and far between.

Well, Gluten Free Life, a great local (ish) bakery has supplied the inspiration for this gluten free product review. They offer four different flavors of muffins and since I got to try them all, they are all taken into account for this review. The flavors are Apple Pie, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Chip and Blueberry.

Ease of Use

The wrappers on Gluten Free Life Muffins are pretty well sealed, but that is definitely the biggest challenge here. You might want to make sure to have a plate or napkin handy as a crumb catcher.

Appearance

In the package, all four flavors of Gluten Free Life Muffins look the same. They are a normal size that I remember from my youth (as opposed to the gigantor size that is common today). They are light brown in color and have a coating on top that appears at first glance to be sugar.

Taste and Texture

Gluten Free Life Muffins are so moist and delicious! They even impressed my gluten eating dad who is not big on gluten free food. They are crumbly, but just the way any muffin should be. There is no dryness in site!

The only failing here is that there are not many chunks. There were only a few pieces of fruit and chocolate in each. The muffin itself makes up for it though. I really enjoyed eating them!

Versatility

As a prebaked gluten free muffin, there is not a whole lot of versatility. They would lend themselves well to a lot of different toppings, jam, cream cheese, butter- but they don't require anything. They are perfect to eat as is.

Overall Value

Each 4 oz. muffin from Gluten Free Life costs $2.79. They are a bit pricey. The major selling point here, aside from the fact that they taste fantastic, is the use of all natural ingredients. They are made from sorghum flour and sweetened with organic cane juice. This is pretty rare when you consider that a good majority of gluten free goodies have no nutrition to them at all due to the use of sugar and rice flour. The nutrition factor has a way (in my mind) of balancing out the price a bit.

Rating

I will definitely eat Gluten Free Life Muffins again, and I recommend that that everyone should try them at least once.

Gluten Free Pantry Spice Cake and Gingerbread Mix

In honor of the holiday season, I decided it was time to do something festive. What could be more festive then the spicy notes of spice cake and gingerbread? This gluten free product review is all about the holiday flavor found with Gluten Free Pantry Spice Cake and Gingerbread Mix.

Ease of Use

Gluten Free Pantry Spice Cake and Gingerbread Mix is super easy to use and modify. Just remember that if you are going to make gingerbread you will need to have some molasses on hand.

Appearance

The mix itself is a fine powder. You can see the spices in it and smell them from the moment you open the package.

After baking, the finished products are exactly the right shade of brown. You can still see the spices interlaced in the goodies. The cake rises perfectly and has a springy look.

Taste and Texture

I have never in my life found a better blend of spices for spice cake. There is just enough bite to it to make your mouth water. Nothing is overpowering about it.

The texture of the cake is amazing! It is soft, moist and springy. I didn't have any molasses on hand, so I can't say how cookies would be. If they are anything like the cake, though, you won't be disappointed.

Versatility

There are a lot of uses for Gluten Free Pantry Spice Cake and Gingerbread Mix. Any of your holiday recipes would be good to use it for. I made Cranberry Apple Spice Cupcakes that were amazing!

Overall Value

Gluten Free Pantry Spice Cake and Gingerbread Mix costs around $5. That will make one cake, a dozen cupcakes or 3-4 dozen cookies. Very good value!

Rating

I love Gluten Free Pantry Spice Cake and Gingerbread Mix!

Tropical Traditions Coconut Flour

Gluten free flour can be a tricky thing. To be honest, I don't bake a lot because the exacting science can be a bit much. This gluten free product review seemed like it was going to be quite a challenge because of that. I realize that having reviews of flour here is important. They are one of the most important products to know about. So, I took the plunge.

For this review I made brownies, using the recipes off of the bag of Tropical Traditions Coconut Flour. I also made Chicken Cacciatore using a recipe from the Tropical Traditions recipe site. Using coconut in savory food was scary for me, but the results prompted me to bump this review to the top of my list.

A quick note about the Tropical Traditions recipe site: There are a ton of gluten free recipes there. I also found a lot of recipes that were not in the gluten free section that actually were gluten free.

Ease of Use

Tropical Traditions Coconut Flour is very easy to use. Likewise, the recipes I found for it are pretty simple. As with any flour, it can be very easy or very complicated, depending on it's use.

Appearance

Tropical Traditions Coconut Flour is a fine powder, slightly off white in color. It clumps a little bit, but not in hard clumps. The appearance of the finished brownies and chicken were great. There was no flour in site:)

Taste and Texture

The flour itself smelled and tasted like coconut. (Because it's ground coconut)

The brownies were great! They were chewy and fudgy. They rose well and looked very good. The coconut flour gave them a slight coconut flavor and a thicker texture. There were no big pieces of coconut, but you could tell it was there. I am a huge fan of the chocolate and coconut combo, so I loved it.

The Chicken Cacciatore was a big surprise for me. Not only did this recipe use Tropical Traditions Coconut Flour to coat the chicken, but it was cooked in coconut oil. I was really afraid that all that coconut would not blend well with the tomato sauce.

I was wrong! This stuff was good! The coconut flour added a pleasant hint of sweetness. It was not at all overpowering. The coconut flour browned up beautifully when cooked in oil. I will definitely be using it again for coating fried foods.

Versatility

Tropical Traditions Coconut Flour has unlimited potential! It can be used for everything that flour can, but it also has other uses. Due to the fact that it is made of pure, ground coconut, it can be eaten alone, sprinkled on food or blended in smoothies.

The only limitation comes when you are making food that should absolutely not taste like coconut. I've learned from my chicken experience that there are not as many things in this category as I once thought.

Overall Value

Tropical Traditions Coconut Flour costs $10.95 + shipping for a 2.2 pound bag. This is pretty comparable to other gluten free flours. My recommendation is to buy in bulk to reduce shipping costs if you plan to use this product often.

Rating

I really like this product. I can't say I'm in love with it yet, but I may get there:)

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Gluten Free Cheese Based Crust Pizza

Van Harden has introduced the Cheese Based Crust Pizza. The slogan is, "No bread, no kidding!" A pizza with no bread? This I had to see.

It is an interesting concept. With no bread, there is no gluten, but what about crust? I set out to do this gluten free product review with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Ease of Use

Super, super easy! This pizza even comes in it's own pan. You pop it in the oven for ten minutes. After it is baked, let it stand for about five minutes to firm up the crust. After that you can cut it just like any other pizza.

Appearance

Cheese Based Crust Pizza is very thin. It bakes up the perfect golden brown color. It is very greasy, which really comes as no surprise when you consider that the entire gluten free pizza is made of cheese.

Taste and Texture

I was shocked by the fact that the Cheese Based Crust actually had a texture like bread crust. It was firm and held up pretty well.

The crust had a sharp, complex flavor that proved the claim on the box that several cheeses had made the whole thing possible. It was great! I loved both the taste and texture, but the grease was a bit much for my stomach.

Versatility

You can change the toppings a million different ways. Either way you slice it, pizza is still pizza.

Overall Value

Gluten Free Cheese Based Crust Pizzas cost ten dollars each in the store. One pizza will give you eight average sized slices. The price itself is comparable to most pizzerias, and less than a lot of other gluten free pizzas. Most gluten free pizza crusts by themselves run about the same price and you have to top them yourself.

Rating

Tough call on this one. As great as this gluten free pizza is, I can't give it the highest possible rating. The grease is just too much. I definitely recommend it for an occasional late night pizza fix.

Namsaste Cookie Mix

This gluten free product review is for Namaste Cookie Mix. I'm pretty fond of cookies. Each one is like a happy little bite of yum! Namaste Cookie mix managed to surprise me in spite of the plethora of cookies I've tried.

Ease of Use

No joke, this mix is so easy that my nine-year old daughter mixed up the dough by herself while I was doing other things. Once the dough was mixed, it was easy to grab rounded tablespoons and plop them on the pan. They only take about ten minutes to bake. From start to finish, the entire batch of cookies can take less than 45 minute.

Appearance

At first, the dough looked really strange to me. I had expected a light colored dough like sugar cookies. What we had was darker and speckled through with black dots. I wasn't worried about the dots, but when I found the big black chunk of what looked like potting soil, I did begin to wonder. A quick check of the ingredients assured me that what I had was ground vanilla bean, a good thing in cookies. The clump broke up very easily and I was able to redistribute the bean with a few stirs.

As for the finished product, gluten free cookies never had it so good! They had a slight sheen to the outside, almost like a glaze but not thick. They were really pretty!

Taste and Texture

Namaste Cookie Mix has an earthy, rich flavor that is just the right amount of sweet. The care it took to develop this recipe shows in the fact that all of the ingredients are natural and recognizable, but the gluten free cookies don't taste gluten free. They almost taste healthy, but not in a health food way. More that they are natural and you can tell.

The texture is unbelievable! They are crunchy, chewy and soft all at once. They are definitely on the must try list for any cookie connoisseur.

Versatility

Namaste Cookie Mix is very versatile. It has recipes for variations right on the bag. I made jam thumbprint cookies that were awesome! There is also a recipe for Blackberry Crisp with Streusel Topping which shows great promise. This mix has a complexity of flavor that will blend well with any dessert recipe.

Overall Value

A little over $5 gets you a 20 oz. bag of Namaste Cookie Mix. That is a great value when you consider that most gluten free cookie mixes are sold for the same price and only contain 12 to 15 ounces.

Rating

I love it!

Pancake and Waffle Mix from Maple Grove Farms in Vermont

This gluten free product review comes with a confession. I am apparently pancake making challenged. It took me several tries to do this review and I really don't think it has anything to do with the Pancake and Waffle Mix from Maple Grove Farms in Vermont.

Ease of Use

A lot easier than I made it. When I followed the instructions, the batter was very thick. I added more liquid to thin it out. Due to this and over mixing, I ended up with very flat pancakes.

The attempt where I actually followed the instructions and the rules of not beating pancake batter to death was much better. Human error can complicate anything, but this mix should be very easy to use!

Appearance

Pancake and Waffle Mix from Maple Grove Farms in Vermont makes pretty pancakes. They are golden brown and have a sweet smell.

Taste and Texture

They actually cooked all the way through! This is quite a feat in the land of undercooked gluten free foods. When made correctly, they had a soft, fluffy, bubbly interior and a crispy exterior.

These gluten free pancakes had a sweetness all their own and barely needed any syrup. They were very good.

Versatility

To be perfectly honest, I didn't get to explore the versatility myself due to the fact that I used most of the mix on pancakes. The box does have a recipe for Pineapple Upside Down Cake that is rather promising. I'm sure you could use Pancake and Waffle Mix from Maple Grove Farms in Vermont for a variety of gluten free baked goods.

Overall Value

You get 14-15 pancakes or waffles for $3.65. Not too shabby!

Rating

I recommend trying Pancake and Waffle Mix from Maple Grove Farms in Vermont.

*Note* Make sure that you are purchasing the gluten free version! Maple Grove Farms makes lots of mixes. The one you want says "Gluten Free" in large red letters on the box.

Create a Bug Fruit Snacks from Betty Crocker

This week's gluten free product review takes me back to childhood and the simple things in life. In order to properly try Create-a-Bug fruit snacks I had no choice but to open a few packages and play with them. My daughter made some pretty silly looking creatures and had a lot of fun.

Ease of Use

Open package, eat. You can take as much time creating between step one and step two as you want.

Appearance

Betty Crocker Create-a-Bug fruit snacks come in a variety of shapes and colors. There are heads, wings and bodies in colors ranging from yellow to electric blue. Admittedly, it is hard to tell what some of the pieces are, but that made it more fun in the long run. With those pieces we had to use our imaginations and come up with uses. Thus, a head became feet and wings became fins.

Taste and Texture

Create-a-Bug pieces come in strawberry, orange, cherry and grape flavors, at least that's what it says on the box. I'm convinced there is more flavor than listed though. The bright blue ones are downright tangy and I couldn't attach a certain fruit flavor to them. They are all very good though.

As for texture, I love it! To quote the little one, "These are the good kind." Fruit snack connoisseur that she is, I must defer to her judgment. These are not the jelly-like fruit snacks that are like gummy bears. They are the softer, chewier versions. They have a bit of a bite to them.

Versatility

Art projects and ice cream toppings come to mind.

Overall Value

No gluten free pricing here, folks. A ten pack of these fruity cuties will run under three dollars.

Rating

These really are fun. I recommend you pick up a box.

*Note: From now until November 14, 2009, you can enter in a giveaway to win your own box of Create a Bug Fruit Snacks from Betty Crocker along with a lot of other great stuff!

Nature's Path Sunrise Cereals

Nature's Path is introducing two new gluten free cereals. The Sunrise Cereals are made to be great for everyone. The idea is that no matter what age you are, whether you eat gluten or not, these cereals are for you. Pretty cool concept!

Sunrise Cereals are available in Crunchy Maple Sunrise and Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise flavors.

Ease of Use

Nature's Path Sunrise Cereals are as easy as could possibly be to use. They are gluten free cold cereal after all.

Appearance

Interesting (in the good way). Sunrise cereals are full of different shapes, sizes and textures. There are flakes, crunchy balls, rice crisps, and smaller little balls. The Crunchy Maple Sunrise is a golden brown with a sweet looking sheen to it. The Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise Cereal is lighter in color and looks pure (strange adjective, I know, but it fits).

Taste and Texture

Oh my goodness gracious! These are so good! I ate them with vanilla soy milk (regular milk and I don't get along). The textures in both of Nature's Path Sunrise Cereals is amazing! They are crunchy, and fun to eat.

Normally I play the cereal race game. You know, when you pour the milk and eat as fast as you can before it gets soggy. I discovered that the race was not a necessity. I'm not saying there's no soggy factor, there is. As the flakes soften up the balls stay crunchy. It's a whole new texture.

Crunchy Maple Sunrise has a rich and buttery maple flavor. It is a deep and complex flavor that is just the right amount of sweet.

Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise has a rich vanilla flavor that is not too sweet. It has great flavor without making you feel like you're eating candy.

Versatility

Nature's Path Sunrise Cereals make the perfect toppings for yogurt, ice cream or anything else. It seems that these cereals could prove to be very versatile.

Overall Value

I don't actually have a price on these yet. I would guess that they will run about the same as Nature's Path's other gluten free cereals.

Rating

My sister, who is not gluten free, said she would buy Sunrise Cereals on a regular basis. Her favorite was the Crunchy Maple Sunrise. Me? I opted for the Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise, but agree that I loved them both.

Quinoa Veggie Curls Pasta

In the land of gluten free pasta there are a lot of choices. Some are great, some not so much. Trying new pasta is always a new adventure. That is the case with Quinoa Veggie Curls. I bought them to break up the monotony a bit. Fun shape, fun colors, just fun all around.

As you know by now, the compulsion to try new things is directly linked to the drive to write about them. Here's the scoop!

Ease of Use

Velly easy, Dahlink! Boil the water, toss in the pasta, stir... Veggie curls took about ten minutes for me. Insert usual cautions about not over cooking gluten free pasta here.

Appearance

This one got the kiddo excited. Red (orange), green and regular pasta colors made this fun to look at. (Think earth tone colors, not a Christmas scheme.) Each piece is a narrow tube that spirals around. It clung to the sauce like a hug! Pretty neat.

Taste and Texture

Quinoa Veggie Curls Pasta is nutritious and delicious! No joke. The ingredients are: Organic corn flour, Organic Quinoa flour, dried organic red bell pepper and dried organic spinach. That's it! It tastes good. You get a slight hint of veggie flavor, very real and earthy. it feels healthy to eat, but not in the unpleasant health food way.

The texture is perfect! The spirally tubey thing really works. It cooks al dente and holds up nicely to any sauce.

Versatility

The shape of Veggie Curls make them perfect for gluten free casseroles. From mac and cheese to gourmet pasta creations, this stuff can do it all. This pasta can hold up against baking and adds a bit of extra nutrition to any dish.

Overall Value

An 8 oz. box runs less than $3 a box. Great value!

Rating

Healthy, tasty and fun. I love the stuff!

Queen of the Night Facial Cleanser and Oil from Marie Natural Botanicals

Today's gluten free product review is another wonder out of the goodie box from Marie Natural Botanicals. Two of them, actually. Queen of the Night Facial Cleanser and Queen of the Night Oil. The name is a mouthful, but the good kind. It brings to mind images of strong women doing great things. And Cleopatra, which also fits the former... So, aside from the name, what does this product offer?

Everything! My skin was never horrible, but it has never looked so good.

Ease of Use

Queen of the Night Facial Cleanser and Oil are easier to use than the results would suggest. For the cleanser; just shake the bottle, wet your face, massage on with a cloth or fingers, let sit a minute and rinse off. No big production here, but it feels good! It begins to tingle a bit when it sits, almost feels like your skin is waking up.

For the oil, just spread a few drops on your face and throat. (Upward motion of course:) The oil has the opposite effect of the cleanser. It relaxes and moisturizes.

On a side note, I was terrified of putting these oily products on my face. I've used facial oils before and the results were not pretty. I'm so glad I took the plunge though! Like the body balm, Marie Natural Botanicals has delivered more oil that is not oily.

Appearance

Queen of the Night Facial Cleanser is separated into oil and other until you shake it. Then it is a milky, light yellow color.

Queen of the Night Facial Oil is amber colored and comes in a teeny tiny bottle- so cute! I figured I'd go through it in no time, but you'd be surprised how long it can last at only a few drops a day.

Scent and Texture

Both the oil and cleanser carry the same exotic scent. If the name reminds you of Cleopatra, the scent will take you to her. It is musky, spicy, romantic, soft and sharp all at the same time. It's a scent that stays with you and makes you feel a bit sexy.

There is no weird texture or oddities to report here. The only thing I can say is that the cleanser is pure liquid, so don't expect it to pour like a gel.

Versatility
Queen of the Night Facial Cleanser is also listed as a body shampoo, but I say bite your tongue! I would not waste one drop of either product looking for other uses. Not when it makes my face so fabulous to see and touch.

Overall Value

Queen of the Night Facial Cleanser costs $32.00, Queen of the Night Facial Oil is $30.00. There is also a toner in the line (which I have not tried) for $25.00. These prices are better than what I've seen online for facial systems, and with fabulous results. My ever shrinking pores lead me to declare this product priceless!

Rating

I love this product! I never want to wash my face with anything else again.

On a side note: Marie Natural Botanicals is sponsoring the Gluten Free Thanks for Giving Contest! Check it out and nominate someone who who has made a difference in your gluten free journey. They could win a gift basket worth $75 from Marie!

Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil from Tropical Traditions

Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil has so many uses! I was mystified as I read the book Virgin Coconut Oil, how it has changed people's lives and how it can change yours by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy that came with my bottle. There were so many health benefits and uses listed that I knew this gluten free product review was going to be no short project.

I decided to give this one awhile, to test many of it's uses. I even went so far as to take a few days and not use any butter or oil, just coconut oil. Here's the scoop:

Ease of Use

Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is easy to use. It comes in a large, big-mouthed jar that is easy to scoop out of. The oil was solid when I received it and stayed so in my chilly kitchen. I used a spoon to scoop large amounts and a knife for smaller portions.

Appearance

Normally this would apply to a finished product, but since the coconut oil disappears in recipes I will cover the oil itself. Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, when solid, is milky white in appearance, for the most part. It carries a swirly translucent look that is really cool to look at!

When warmed into liquid, the oil is clear. Completely clear, like water. It is the same basic consistency as olive oil.

Taste and Texture

There is virtually no taste when mixed into a recipe. Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil carries a slight flavor of coconut, without any of the sweetness I usually associate with that flavor. It does add a richness and depth of flavor to most recipes.

It smells like coconut! This was the only problem I had. I used it the first time to make an herb sauce for my steamed veggies (fabulous, by the way). The smell of coconut was there, but not the taste. It took awhile for my mind to get around.

Versatility

If the book is to be believed (and I have no reason to believe otherwise) then there is no limit to the uses of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. You can cook with it, spread it on bread, cure lice and medicate your animals. It has a super long shelf life so you can use it for a long time.

Overall Value

A 32 oz. jar retails for $37.50, on sale right now for $27.50. It is pretty pricey, but you really can use it for everything! If you're not sure you're ready to commit, try the 16 oz. size for $25.00, it comes with a money back guarantee.

Rating

I recommend Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil from Tropical Traditions and the book that goes with it. There is plenty more to say about this product that won't fit in a review. Watch for follow-ups on Examiner.

Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup

I don't miss Ramen anymore! It is very freeing to be able to say that. Convenience was the main factor with all that noodlely goodness, but now I've got that covered. Thank you Thai Kitchen! My favorite flavor is Spring Onion, and that will be the main reference for this gluten free product review.

Ease of Use

Thai Kitchen makes their Instant Rice Noodle Soup super easy to make. There are two main ways of preparation, and they yield slightly different results, both of which are great. With the stove top prep. directions, you boil the noodles for a few minutes. This gives very soft noodles, and the rice starch begins to come out a little and thicken the broth so it sticks to the noodles.

You can also use hot water prep. For this, you boil the water first and then add the noodles. Cover the dish to trap in the heat and your noodles cook (still in just a couple minutes) without releasing starch. The noodles are a little firmer and the broth stays this and clear.

Appearance

This gluten free noodle treat is actually very pretty. The seasoning packet includes real onions and flavored oil. The end result is long noodles and a flavor filled broth that doesn't feel instant at all.

Taste and Texture

A slight hint of spice gives these gluten free instant rice noodles a lot of extra body. They taste really good! Thai rice noodles are not as finicky as most gluten free noodles when it comes to overcooking so there is not as much danger of overcooking. (They are noodles, so the possibility always exists) The noodles have a nice firm texture that is great to slurp!

Versatility

I'm sure there are a million and one uses for Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup. Unfortunately, my creativity button is stuck today and all I can think of is, "eat, yum!" You're on your own for this one.

Overall Value

The dollar per package price tag is bigger than a package of Ramen, but the quality is better and I can actually eat this. A gluten free meal for a dollar? I can get behind that.

Rating

I keep several packages in the pantry for quick eats. Absolute must have as far as I'm concerned.

Ener-G White Rice Loaf

There are just not enough gluten free bread reviews here. After today, I'm not sure how many more I'm willing to do:)

As far as gluten free products go, bread is one of the most wanted and most despised. In an effort to get a wide range for my gluten free product reviews, I took the plunge and ventured into the bread basket. See how the Ener-G White Rice Loaf did against the criteria.

Ease of Use

It is very easy to use Ener-G White Rice Loaf, once you get it out of the package. This bread is sealed air tight. Not such a bad thing!

Appearance

It looks like other loaves of gluten free bread. Like a smaller, perfectly shaped version of a regular bread loaf. It has a smooth textured appearance.

Taste and Texture

This bread is dry, crumbly and virtually flavorless. The texture is somewhat like a dry sponge. It is much better toasted, but you still need to add a lot of butter to get a good flavor. On a lighter note, it did have slight hints of sourdough flavor, which I like.

Versatility

Bread is infinitely versatile. This bread would be good for making croutons or using as bread crumbs.

Overall Value

A loaf of 12 slices costs about $5.50. It is priced comparably to other gluten free breads.

Rating

I will not buy Ener-G White Rice Loaf again. With all of the great new gluten free products out there, I am looking to spend my money on something else.

Purely Decadent non-dairy frozen dessert- in gluten free chocolate chip cookie dough flavor

This gluten free product review is dedicated to my daughter. Her favorite ice cream has always been chocolate chip cookie dough. Due to minor issues with dairy, she doesn’t get ice cream often at all. Being gluten free makes it impossible for her to have the cookie dough flavor. Imagine her delight, when, on a Live Free Gluten Free Tour at Whole Foods last week she was handed a carton of Purely Decadent non-dairy frozen dessert- in gluten free chocolate chip cookie dough flavor!

We bought it, of course, and the next night we grabbed a couple spoons and had at it. Purely Decadent makes their “ice cream” with coconut milk, so it was a totally new experience for both of us.

Ease of Use

Gluten free chocolate chip cookie dough coconut milk ice cream is a lot to say, but easy to eat. Watch out for brain freeze!

Appearance

It looks like ice cream! This creamy white concoction is full of chocolaty flakes. In my opinion, it could use more chunks of gluten free cookie dough, but that's because I'm a bit of a glutton.

Taste and Texture

The texture of Purely Decadent non-dairy frozen dessert is not as rich as regular ice cream (and not as fattening, I'm sure). It is very smooth and creamy. The chocolate flakes were great, no tooth jarring chunks here. The gluten free cookie dough was great! Perfect texture.

You can definitely taste the coconut flavor here. It was a bit disconcerting with the flavor of the cookie dough at first. Not bad...just different. I liked it enough to finish off the pint with my daughter.

Versatility

You can put toppings on it.

Overall Value

Here's the rub. The one pint container of Purely Decadent non-dairy frozen dessert was almost $6. My reaction? "Well, I'll buy it for you this time as a treat, but don't get attached to it."

Rating

It was good. I'd recommend it for anyone who is really missing cookie dough ice cream.

Kneaded Specialties White Sandwich Bread

Last week I had the pleasure to visit a new local gluten free bakery. I enjoyed my visit there very much, but enjoyed the food more. The gluten free product review for today will be Kneaded Specialties White Sandwich Bread. I do believe my search for great gluten free bread is over. Read on to find out why.

Ease of Use

This bread is good enough to eat right out of the bag, but why limit yourself? It has enough elasticity that it survived peanut butter and jelly with no problem. The BLT experiment had a bit of crumbling, which is expected because I used very fresh and juicy tomatoes.

What amazed me was when I tried to toast Kneaded Specialties White Sandwich Bread. It is so moist that it needs a very dark setting to toast, a medium setting just warmed it. There is no need for butter either, as the heat just enhances the already fantastic flavors.

Appearance

The loaf of bread itself is a very generous size. This surprised me because I am used to the downsized versions that gluten free bread usually come in. It is a lovely golden color with texture and bubbles obvious in every slice.

Taste and Texture

"WOW" is not a big enough word to describe Kneaded Specialties White Sandwich Bread. It tastes and smells like "real" bread. The crust provides a soft but firm framework to support the super moist interior. This bread has such a great flavor that when she offered me water to wash it down I turned it down. The heavenly aftertaste deserved to be savored.

Versatility

Kneaded Specialties White Sandwich Bread has infinite possibilities. It is bread at it's best. Here are a few ideas:

• Sandwiches (duh)
• Croutons
• French Toast
• Cinnamon Toast

Really, I could go on forever. But it really will be something you want to use for everything!

Overall Value

You can get a half loaf (about the size of the average gluten free loaf) for $5.50. I recommend going for the full loaf ($10.50).

Considering the fact that the price is very comparable to a lot of the other gluten free breads offered and tastes worlds better, I declare it a great value.

Rating

I absolutely cannot get enough of Kneaded Specialties White Sandwich Bread!

Love Yourself Body Balm by Marie Natural Botanicals

Facing the gluten free product review criteria today is Love Yourself Body Balm by Marie Natural Botanicals. The sneak peak pack I received from Marie Natural Botanicals was so full of good stuff that I wanted to spread the love a little and switch up the reviews a bit.

I am happy to announce that, although this killer company does not yet have a home on the web, there is now a number you can call for product information and ordering. It is: 888-666-0894.
Okay, on to the Body Balm!

Ease of Use

Love Yourself Body Balm by Marie Natural Botanicals is like a wicked fun science project! It comes in a cute little tin and is a solid consistency. It almost reminds me of lip gloss, but in a bigger container. When you scoop some of the Body Balm out of tin it is slightly grainy and textured. Once you begin rubbing it between your hands, though, all texture disappears and you have nothing but oil. I was a bit nervous about this at first, because I hate to be greasy. I took the plunge and spread it on.

Here is where it gets really cool... Within five minutes there was no greasiness, no residue at all! My skin was baby soft and I didn't have to stay off the furniture! So, not only is Love Yourself Body Balm by Marie Natural Botanicals easy to use, it's really cool!

The only thing I would change is that there would be a mini scoop or something to help it out of the tin. I just hate getting things stuck under my nails.

Appearance

Love Yourself Body Balm by Marie Natural Botanicals is a creamy color with a slight shimmer. It looks like it might be a bit dry and hard to spread.

Scent and Texture

I think I covered the texture section pretty well in the description of use, but the scent is as yet untouched :)

The scent is soft, fresh and clean. It has notes of citrus and spice, but also something softer, like baby powder. Also, the scent lasts all day, all night too for that matter.

Versatility

There is a bit of versatility to this gluten free skin care product. The scent is made in such a way that it will blend with and complement virtually any perfume.

Overall Value

A 4oz. tin of Love Yourself Body Balm by Marie Natural Botanicals will run you about $14.50. The tin will last about a month with regular use. It seemed a bit pricey to me at first glance, but when you factor in the fact that it will replace all of your other lotions and creams with no need to re-apply during the day, it's well worth it.

Rating

I am seriously addicted to this product. It is an absolute must have.

Schar Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers

As promised, today is the second installment of the search for fantastic gluten free wafer cookies. This has been a great gluten free product review for me to do because I love these crispy delights! Okay, admittedly, all my reviews are fun, but this one is like a series...almost.

I started with Glutino Strawberry Wafer Cookies, and now am moving on to a vanilla wafer. Schar Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers to be exact.

Ease of Use

Usually here I insert a witty remark about how easy cookies are, but this time is different. Schar Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers actually have an element of difficulty to them. They are packed very tightly in a foil lined package that needs to be cut open. The tight package is a good idea in theory because it reduces breakage on the shelf, but try getting the first two cookies out without breaking them.

Appearance

These gluten free cookies are the perfect vanilla wafer color. Creamy colored wafers with sparkling white cream inside. They are covered with a fine dust of the crumbled corners of their package buddies.

Taste and Texture

Schar Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers are paper thin and crispy. They have a very nice texture to bite into. You could eat a million of these and not get full.

Unfortunately, the wafers themselves carry a bit of the "gluten free funk" that I am not fond of. The redeeming quality is the vanilla cream which is tangy, flavorful and delicious.

Versatility

No real versatility here. It seems like if you tried to crush or crumble these at all you will be left with nothing but powder. They are even a little too fragile to dip or use as garnish.

Overall Value

Schar Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers will run you about $4 for 16 cookies. I'm not sure that will make them my go-to brand.

Rating

I recommend Schar Gluten Free Vanilla Wafers as a sometime treat.

Glutino Strawberry Wafer Cookies

I love wafer cookies! Before I went gluten free I would buy the variety pack, with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors in it. They were fun to eat and even though they were packed with sugar they felt like they were better for me than heavier cookies.

It stands to reason, then, that I would seek to find that same happiness with gluten free wafer cookies. I've tried two brands now, but will review them separately because this is not a comparison site. The gluten free product review for today is Glutino Strawberry Wafer Cookies. Look for Schar Vanilla Wafer Cookies to follow.

Ease of Use

I honestly cannot think of a way to make eating a cookie hard. I do need to point out that wafers are very sensitive to temperature, humidity and breakage. Once the package is opened you should transfer the cookies to an airtight container or they will be stale in a day.

Appearance

Four thin flaky layers of cream colored wafer separated by thick light pink filling. These cookies are thicker than the ones I used to by in bulk and promise to be a real treat.

Taste and Texture

How does Glutino do it? Wafers are picky things. They are often either too brittle or too soft or (gluten free or otherwise) carry a strange flavor. My personal opinion on Glutino Strawberry Wafer Cookies is that they are perfect. Not too hard or soft. They have enough layers that they don't break immediately when you touch them.

The wafers themselves taste very good. The strawberry cream layers are tangy and sweet. Delicious!

Versatility

These are great to dip in puddings or custard. I wouldn't recommend using them as a crust because they will get very soggy very quick.

Overall Value

There are about 18 cookies in every box. Remarkably, none of them are broken in the box due to the packaging. There is a foil bag containing the cookies that has been nestled inside a cardboard box. This matters in value because most people will pay more for cookies than crumbs. They sell for $4.59 a box online.

Rating

I love them!

Annie's Homegrown Macaroni and Cheese

As I sit down to write this gluten free product review, I can't help but sing, "Just give me the blue box please". Though the fun commercials for Kraft Macaroni and cheese have a catchy tune, that's the only part of that product that we of the gluten free elite can enjoy. Luckily there is a blue box made specially for us.

Annie's Homegrown Macaroni and Cheese, rice pasta and cheddar flavor, boasts words like "Homegrown", "Totally Natural" and my favorite feature, the Rabbit of Approval. Though Bernie the Rabbit is hilarious, I'm forced to ask; what could he possibly know about Macaroni and cheese, gluten free or otherwise?

Ease of Use

Annie's Homegrown Macaroni and Cheese is easy to use and has variety built in to the instructions. While you boil the pasta, mix the cheese powder and milk together. Drain the pasta, add the cheese and you're done.

Appearance

Gluten free macaroni and cheese looks exactly like every other box of mac and cheese out there. Same size and shape to the noodles, same color.

Taste and Texture

The texture of Annie's Homegrown Macaroni and Cheese is great, as long as it's not overcooked. Cook it for even a minute too long and you have cheesy mush.

Again, I find myself facing the issue of rice pasta ick. It's a personal preference, I know, but there is definitely an aftertaste here. The cheese sauce has a good flavor and there is enough of it to completely coat the pasta.

Versatility

Annie's Homegrown Macaroni and Cheese is fairly versatile. There are some instructions for rich and tangy preparation on the box. I found that I liked it best with 1/4 cup sour cream, a few slices of crumbled bacon and some chopped green onions.

Overall Value

Just a little over $2 a box. Fantastic!

Rating

I recommend this gluten free macaroni and cheese to anyone who likes rice pasta.

*Note* Annie's products are made in a facility that also processes wheat. They do test at the legal levels for gluten, but extremely sensitive people may still have issues.

Marie Natural Botanicals Scrubby Bar with Lavendar Seeds

This will be the very first gluten free product review to feature an item you can't eat. I figured it was time to start branching out a bit and offering a little more information, since I'm told that bathing is almost important in life as eating.

The number of products claiming to be "all natural" and gluten free is on the rise. This is a good thing for those who have skin reactions to gluten. Marie Natural Botanicals is one company that really does have 100% natural products. I couldn't wait to try them, and was lucky enough to get a sneak peek. The Scrubby Bar is the focus of today's review. (Look for others in the future.)

Ease of Use

Marie Natural Botanicals Scrubby Bar with Lavender Seeds is very easy to use. Just rub it on in the shower or bath. It rinses away very clean and easily. There's no strange residue, oily or otherwise.

Appearance

Marie Natural Botanicals Scrubby Bar with Lavender Seeds is a very pretty green color with a generous amount of seeds scattered throughout. It is curved on the top and fits perfectly in your hand.

Scent and Texture

This thing is like a massage in the shower! It's fantastic! It scrubs, exfoliates and cleans all at the same time. Seeds will come off as you wash, but they don't stick to you.

Marie Natural Botanicals Scrubby Bar with Lavender Seeds has a refreshing minty smell that fills the shower. It also carries a hint of flowers. The mint gives a slight tingly feeling as you wash.

Versatility

There's not a lot of versatility here, but in this case that's not a bad thing. You won't want to waste a Scrubby Bar as a hand soap.

Overall Value

Marie Natural Botanicals Scrubby Bar with Lavender Seeds will sell for $6 a bar. Each bar should last about three weeks. Considering how excellent this gluten free product is, that's not bad in the value department. The company has not fully launched yet.

Rating

I love Marie Natural Botanicals Scrubby Bar with Lavender Seeds! It is a great way to wake up in the morning.

Schar Gluten Free Pizza Crusts

Pizza is one of the staples of American life, at least in my house. One of the most disappointing things about being gluten free has been the lack of great pizza. Schar Gluten Free Pizza Crusts make for a great gluten free product review for just this reason. The box advertises that Schar is Europe's #1 in gluten free products. Find out why.

Ease of Use

Schar Gluten Free Pizza Crusts are easy to use, but hard to open. They seal those puppies in tight so have a pair of scissors handy. Once you get them open they are easy to top and bake.

Appearance

There are two crusts in each box of Schar Gluten Free Pizza Crusts. I topped one with sauce, pepperoni and cheese and the other with sauce, cheese, herbs and red pepper. Both looked delicious! The cheese was hot and bubbly and the crust was golden brown.

They were baked directly on the oven rack. There was no curling of the crust and the edges did not fall over the edges of the rack.

Taste and Texture

Schar Gluten Free Pizza Crusts are the best gluten free pizza crusts I've had so far. They are light and crisp on the edges and just soft enough in the middle. The sauce did not soak in and make the crust soggy. It stayed right on top where it's supposed to.

There was no bad taste to these crusts at all. They have a hint of sweetness and a pleasant aftertaste. My daughter and I both had them and there were no crusts left behind when we finished eating.

Versatility

The taste and texture of Schar Gluten Free Pizza Crusts make them perfect to top with anything! They would make a great dessert pizza as well as being dinner pizza. They are light enough in flavor to be topped with olive oil, garlic and herbs and served as a dinner bread. You could even use them as a topper for a casserole or pot pie.

Overall Value

Here is the only problem with this gluten free product. One box (2 crusts) of Schar Gluten Free Pizza Crusts runs almost ten dollars. That is a pretty high price point.

Rating

I love this product, but the price compared to my budget makes this a sometime treat rather than a pantry staple. They are absolutely recommended for a great pizza fix.

DeBoles Corn Spaghetti

Ahhh, pasta. One of the things most missed by people new to a gluten free diet. There are so many options available, and some are not so great. Some, however pass the test. DeBoles Corn Spaghetti did, read on to find out why.

Ease of Use

Cooking gluten free pasta can be a bit of a challenge, and DeBoles Corn Spaghetti is no exception. Bring the water to a full boil. Add the pasta and then stir and separate the strands until the water boils again. If you don't, the pasta will clump up.

The instructions say cook 8-10 minutes, but I recommend you begin checking for doneness at 6 minutes. This will ensure that you don't overcook, giving you a pot of mush.

Appearance

DeBoles Corn Spaghetti has strands that are a light yellow-orange color. It looks like spaghetti.

Taste and Texture

DeBoles Corn Spaghetti has the closest taste I've found to regular spaghetti. It works well with any sauce, including olive oil, and has no unpleasant aftertaste.

If cooked right, the texture of this gluten free pasta is perfect. It has a nice bite to it and has no problem winding around a fork.

Versatility

Top it, mix it, anything goes! I've even used it as a crust for a spaghetti pie.

Overall Value

You can buy DeBoles Corn Spaghetti for about $2.39 a box. Not too shabby!

Rating

This has become one of my favorite gluten free products, and a must have pantry staple.

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie Mix

When I first heard that put out a gluten free brownie mix, I was amazed! I honestly thought I had heard wrong. Well, what is there to do but subject this new product to the Gluten Free Product Review Criteria.

Ease of Use

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie Mix is super easy. Mix 1/2 stick of melted butter and two eggs into the mix. They are not kidding when they say the batter is thick, you can practically mold the stuff (not that I recommend doing that). Then just put the batter in a pan and bake it.

Appearance

These brownies do not rise a whole lot, most gluten free products don't. The size of the pan you use will determine the look of your brownies. Brownies made in an 8x8 pan will be thicker than brownies made in a larger pan. Other than that, they look mighty tasty!

Taste and Texture

Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie Mix produces brownies that are warm, dense and fudgy. They are moist and absolutely delicious!

Versatility

The great thing about anything made from batter is that you can easily add to it. Chocolate chips, caramel sauce, marshmallows, nuts or anything else that strikes your fancy. The Betty Crocker website is full of recipe ideas for the gluten free brownie mix. It seems the possibilities are endless.

Overall Value

A whole pan of scrumptious brownies for around $5! Now who can argue with that.

Rating

Delicious! Everyone should buy these.

RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps

Looking for a new gluten free product review, I came across RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps. A gluten free whole grain snack?! Sign me up. There are several flavors available, including:

• Sweet Chili
• Sea Salt
• Salsa Fresca
• Parmesan and Sundried Tomato
• Wasabi
• Baked Cinnamon

I've only had the opportunity to try the Parmesan and Sundried Tomato and Salsa Fresca flavors. This review will cover both.

Ease of Use

Be careful not to break your chips while opening the bag!

Appearance

RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps look healthy. You can see the whole grains spread through every inch of these crispy triangles. You also get a good veiw of the flavor powder, which appears generous.

Taste and Texture

Yum! RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps crunch well without the teeth jarring effect that is common with brown rice husks. That, right there, is a bonus. I would eat these crisps for the texture alone.

The flavoring used is just the right amount. The flavor of the crisps blend very well with the flavorings added. There is no irritating aftertaste either, which is fantastic.

Versatility

RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps are fairly versatile. Munch 'em, dip 'em or crunch 'em up for a great salad topper. Who needs croutons?

Overall Value

I don't have an exact price to offer, but I can tell you that RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps are a bit pricier than a regular bag of potato chips, and worth every penny.

Rating

I'm hooked. I can't wait to try the other flavors! I think everyone should buy RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps just to keep them on the market.

Side Note

I always check the website of the products I review to make sure my facts are accurate. The RiceWorks website is fun! It is very user friendly and includes recipes and ideas for girls night parties. Along with producing a great product, they get an extra thumbs up for customer service!

Soft Baked Snickerdoodle Cookies from Enjoy Life

Gluten free cookies and milk anyone? How about a soft baked Snickerdoodle cookie from Enjoy Life? This bright and colorful box promises that the product contained within is free of just about every allergen known to man. I say that's great! Bring it on!

It did make me wonder, though, with all that's being left out, what's left to make cookies out of? Not chemicals, apparently. There was not one ingredient on the list that I couldn't pronounce. That, in itself, rates pretty high with me.

Ease of Use

Open mouth, insert cookie.

Appearance

These gluten free cookies are pretty small. Some would call them bite sized, though I prefer smaller bites. They are the delicious brown color of cinnamon.

Some of the cookies were a bit squished, though not reduced to crumbles. Initial impression: These smell pretty darn good!

Taste and Texture

Gluten free Snickerdoodle cookies from Enjoy Life taste pretty darn good too. They have a cinnamon sugar goodness spread throughout, not just an outer coating. The warm cinnamon taste is well balanced, not too much of anything.

They really are soft! Not the kind of soft where they crumble in your hand, the kind that holds together well and is nice to bite into. There are chewier bits spread through these gluten free cookies that have a texture like crystallized honey. It didn't detract from the taste at all and left me wondering whether the texture came from the date paste or the brown sugar.

Versatility

You can make these cookies as versatile as you want. Snack food, pie crust, ice cream topping- cookies are cool like that.

Overall Value

Soft Baked Snickerdoodle Cookies from Enjoy Life sell for $3.65 for a box of one dozen cookies. They are more of a sometime indulgence rather than an every week buy.

Rating

I recommend these gluten free cookies. I will definitely buy them again.

DeBoles Rice Lasagna

I love pasta! That being said, I had a very hard time beginning my gluten free diet due to what I was giving up. When exploring gluten free pastas, I found that I really did not like the flavor of rice pasta (except for Asian varieties). Therefore, I was very skeptical when I came across DeBoles Rice Lasagna. This Gluten Free Product Review is for all of you who are as skeptical as I am when exploring the grocery store.

Ease of Use

DeBoles Rice Lasagna is incredibly easy to use! You don't need to boil them. Just layer the dry noodles with sauce and topping, then bake. Like any lasagna, baking time is pretty long (about an hour) But if you plan ahead a little you can still easily have lasagna on a weeknight.

Appearance

The appearance of DeBoles Rice Lasagna will vary greatly by the kind of lasagna made. The noodles themselves thicken a bit while cooking and look very appetizing.

Taste and Texture

Here is where I must admit my shocked pleasure over this product. As previously mentioned, I am not fond of rice pasta. DeBoles Rice Lasagna has become the exception to that rule.

I made a Spinach Chicken Lasagna and a traditional Beef Lasagna, both turned out great! They taste wonderful, with no weird aftertaste and the texture is amazing.

I will caution you to use plenty of sauce, however, otherwise the top layer of your lasagna will be a little too al dente.

Overall Value

For $2.79 a box (plus the cost of your other ingredients) DeBoles Rice Lasagna can make a lasagna big enough for 4-6 people. If you stretch portions with salad and gluten free bread you could feed up to 8 people. That's pretty good value!

Rating

I love this product. It does exactly what it claims with no unpleasant surprises.