Review: Trader Joe's (Baker Josef's) Gluten Free All Purpose Flour

I used to bake. And it was good. I have not yet reached that level of skill with GF baked goods. And I don't do it enough to justify buying all those different flours to custom blend for each recipe. So, for now, I look for a pre-made GF blend that has a good (neutral) taste and texture.

Enter Trader Joe's (Baker Josef's) Gluten Free All Purpose Flour.

I've used it for a basic cake and pancakes - and we're all happy with it. No weird, grainy texture, no beany taste and no weird chemical after-taste. Quite pleasant. And inexpensive.

Thumb's Up!

Trader Joe's article

Review: Against The Grain Pesto Pizza

I'll admit it. I used to be a pizza snob. BFS (Before Gluten Sensitivity). The crust was supposed to be crisp on the bottom and airy and chewy and just salty enough and... You get the idea. And that is one of the things I grieved most when I learned I had to give up gluten. There was the chain restaurant with the crust that tasted like wet saltines. And the frozen pizza that had crust like dense cornbread...

And then I met Against the Grain Nut-Free Pesto Pizza.

The crust is NOTHING like what I wanted to eat again. But I like it. Instead of finding something just like I remembered, I found something that tastes good, is firm enough to hold a piece in hand, and survives as leftover in the fridge.  And there is no red sauce, which is good for those who avoid tomatoes. The price is a little steep ($10-13 for a frozen pizza), but I'll spend that gladly when I know I can count on it to be very good.

They have other options, including a no-topping crust - which is quite good, too. But I don't love the red sauce on the Three-Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza.

Thanks, Against the Grain!

Company website:   http://againstthegraingourmet.com/

Review: Sweet People Marshmallows

Most marshmallows are gluten-free, so it is not a tremendous victory to find GR marshmallows. It IS a delight to find guaranteed-GF marshmallows and it is a special delight to find such delicious varieties as are offered by Sweetpeople Confectionery of Murcia, Spain.

I was feeling adventurous when I tried my first bag: Watermelon Marshmallows. They were beautiful and delicious and I am hooked. The watermelon and citrus flavors are my favorites. Sweetpeople responded to my query that so far, they are sold through TJMaxx and Marshall's here in the US.

The Sweetpeople Web site: http://www.sweetpeople.es

Review: Anheuser-Busch Redbridge Beer

I love Guinness. That is what I wish I could order.

My favorite beers are Killian's Red, Amstel Light, Dos Equis, Corona, most Magic Hat choices and some Sam Adams varieties.

I do not love Michelob, Budweiser, or Coors.

I greatly dislike wimpy beer with weak aftertaste.

And I never expected to like Redbridge.

I was wrong.

Maybe I was so anxious for a beer that any would have tasted good, but I think that's just not so.

I like Redbridge. And had I tried it before going GF - I would have had it again.

It isn't wimpy and it is hearty enough for me - and no weak, shadow-of-itself aftertaste.

Thanks, Anheuser-Busch!

The Redbridge Web site: www.redbridgebeer.com

GF Candy Lists

It's almost Halloween and there are a lot of new and updated lists of GF candy and snacks.
Here are just a couple.
Most of the items listed never have had gluten.

PLEASE always check with manufacturers unless the labels promise there is no chance of gluten.

From Celiacs Online, Web site of the Chesapeake Celiac Support Group
http://rtburns.com/celiacs/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Gluten-Free-Candy-List.pdf

From the Web site of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA)
http://www.celiaccentral.org/SiteData/docs/2010%20Glute/7fe94d7929e448a0/2010%20Gluten-Free%20Candy%20List.pdf

From Gluten-Free InfoWeb (which hosts many food lists)
http://www.glutenfreeinfo.com/FoodList/fd/FD-candy.htm