Schar Ciabatta Parbaked Rolls

A couple weeks ago, D.D. and I had a shopping day. She needed some new summer clothes and we needed some time together. We had a very strict budget (and she's a ten-year-old tomboy) so we decided to hit the thrift stores rather than the trendy shops. Well, thanks to superior bargain sniffing skills, we came in way under budget. Somehow we ended up at the grocery store with the surplus... Yes, we are big enough food geeks to spend the extra money in a grocery store.

We had a lot of fun! There were so many treats on the shelves that I hadn't seen yet that we spent an hour making choices. Surprisingly, I have not been disappointed by any of them, including today's gluten free product review: Schar Ciabatta Rolls.

Regular readers of GFPR will probably have noticed that I don't do many bread reviews. This is because I am a total bread snob and most gluten free bread is not so great. I get nervous whenever it comes to trying new gluten free bread, and I avoid it. Occasionally, though, I have to branch out a bit and these rolls looked good! Besides, D.D. reminded me that it had been too long since we had made any Ultimo Egg Sammiches- and you need good, sturdy rolls for that.   

Sandwich Petals

I'm so excited to share this gluten free product review with you today! Mainly because I've been enjoying this product for a week :) I've been hearing about Sandwich Petals (@GFPetals) on Twitter for a long time now, and didn't have a clue what they were.

I was excited to try them until I opened the box and found out they were tortillas (wraps, flatbread). I have only had one other experience with a gluten free wrap and it wasn't pretty. (This was before the days of GFPR, I don't even remember the brand)

Luckily, Sandwich Petals bear absolutely no resemblance to the wrap fiasco of old. On the contrary, they are amazing! I am more than happy to tell you why.

Ease of Use

Gluten Free Sandwich Petals are so easy! You can make a tasty, healthy meal in just a couple minutes.

Appearance

There are three flavors of Sandwich Petals, each with their own color:

• Spinach Garlic Pesto (green)
• Chimayo Red Chile (Dark red-orange) 
• Agave Grain (Light brown/tan)

All three flavors are oval shaped (they look like flower petals!) Each of the flavors has a visible texture. They are very pretty.

Taste and Texture

It's hard not to be enthusiastic, here. Sandwich Petals are awesome! They have a thick texture to them (in spite of being very thin) and are great to bite into. Each one has a blend of seeds and grains that are very hearty and make you feel like you are eating something very healthy (which you are).

The taste is out of this world! Sandwich petals are so good that you believe you are not eating healthy :) Spinach Garlic Pesto was our favorite, which is saying a lot because I am not fond of pesto (and my daughter makes the "yuck" face every time I mention spinach). It has an earthy, hearty flavor that complimented everything we topped it with. Chimayo Red Chile was perfect for our fajitas, and not spicy. Agave Grain has a slightly sweet flavor that reminded me of honey wheat.

Versatility

Sandwich Petals are super versatile. You can use them for anything you can imagine, and the flavors enhance everything.

Overall Value

A variety pack of 36 Petals can be ordered online for $25. They offer free shipping in the Continental U.S. and buy one get one free on Mondays. My initial thought was that $25 dollars is a lot to spend at once, but I broke it down quickly-

1. You only need one Sandwich Petal to have a full lunch.
2. These are so good!
3. They would last longer than the same amount spent on gluten free bread (and in most cases be healthier and tastier).

After the breakdown I decided that they are well worth a measly $25.

Rating

I cannot say enough good things about Sandwich Petals!

Udi's Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread

I miss great bread, mostly because it is necessary for great sammiches.  Who doesn't love a BLT or a gooey grilled cheese?  These tasty hand meals are a right of all humanity, not just the gluten eating ones.  Therefore, it is my pleasure to do this review.  Udi's Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread is good enough that I "review" it quite often!  Let me tell you why:

Ease of Use

Udi's Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread comes frozen from the grocery store.  Once it's thawed, it is great to eat right out of the package.

Appearance

Udi's gluten free bread loaves are about half the size of "regular" loaves.  Each slice looks like a smaller version of wheat bread.  It has texture and color that make the tummy rumble.  It has just the right amount of holes in the crumb (interior) and the crust is a rich golden brown.  There is a light coating of white powder on the crust, but it doesn't interfere with the taste.

Taste and Texture

Unbelievable!  Udi's Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread is soft!  I have been eating these tasty slices right out of the bag (sans toppings even).  There is no need to toast it, though it does make delicious toast.  The texture is what you would expect from whole grain bread, hearty and nice to bite into. The crumb is soft and chewy and the crust is firm, but not hard.

The taste is wonderful.  There are no odd flavors to disguise with extra butter. 

Versatility

I would use this bread for just about anything.  It makes great french toast and sammiches (of any kind).  My only complaint is that I had to use extra cheese for my grilled cheese because the bread seemed to absorb some of it.  It dries out a little after the first four days or so, but then it is perfect for bread crumbs and croutons. 

Overall Value

Udi's Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread can be purchased online for (are you ready for this?) $5.00!  Unheard of!  It seems that the shipping would be a little steep to buy a loaf at a time, but they offer an 8-pack as well.  It is also pretty widely available at retail stores.

Rating

I cannot say enough good things about this product.  From the taste to the price, and even the packaging: I love it!

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.

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!