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.