Gluten-Free From A to Z

FREE Gluten-Free Grab Bag!!!

2010-01-24T17:49:00.004-07:00

UPDATE: The GF grab-bag has been awarded. Thanks so much for your interest and your kind words about our blog!! We hope it can still serve as a useful database for you in the future! ~A&Z~

We know it's been a million years since our last post, but that's because Z's gluten-free adventure has come to an end. As far as we can tell, it did not have much of an effect on her rheumatoid arthritis. And since Z has so many other health-related issues to deal with, she has decided not to maintain the gluten-free diet. But we hope this blog can still serve as a database when it comes to purchasing gluten-free products.

This experience has made us aware of how difficult it can be to live (and especially travel) on a gluten-free diet. We still have our eyes open for gluten-free eating all the time! In fact, we were just in Australia and you would probably be amazed at how many restaurants offered gluten-free meals - including baked goods! It was everywhere! So if you're gluten-free and looking for a stress-free vacation, we highly recommend Australia! In fact, we loved it so much that we even got engaged while we were there! ~;o)

I don't know if anyone is actually reading this blog anymore, but since Z is no longer gluten-free we'd like to offer a thank you to our readers by giving away the massive supply of gluten-free products that we have left in our pantry. And that's where the FREE Gluten-Free Grab Bag comes in!! Some of the products are things we have already reviewed while others were on the list to be reviewed. Maybe you can continue our project and review them yourself!!

If you live in/around Boulder, CO: the first person to respond to this post by emailing glutenfreeAtoZ@gmail.com can come pick up this huge bag of gluten-free goodies!!

If no one from the area can come get the goodies, we might be able to work out mailing it somewhere, so shoot me an email if you're interested in that.

Here's what's in the FREE Gluten-Free Grab Bag:

1 Pamela's Cornbread Mix
1 Pamela's Bread Mix
1 Bob's Red Mill Hot Cereal Mix Sample
1 Bob's Red Mill Brown Rice Flour Mix
1 Simply Boulder Honey Mustard Sauce
1 Namaste Spice Cake Mix
1 Glutino Cranberry Bar
2 Envirokidz Cereal Bars (A-Z Review!)
5 Lara Bar Cherry Pie Bars
1 Gluten-Free Pantry Pizza Mix
1 365 Pizza Mix (A-Z Review! 3rd place in A-Z pizza blind taste test)
2 Trader Joe's Pancake Mix (A-Z Review!)
2 Trader Joe's Ginger Snaps bags (A-Z Review!)
1 Betty Crocker's Chocolate Chip Cookies Mix
1 Betty Crocker's Brownie Mix
3 Trader Joe's Brownie Mix (A-Z Review! 1st place in A-Z brownie blind taste test!)
1 Ian's Pasta Kit
1 Tinkyada Spirals Pasta (A-Z Review!)

Please let us know if you're interested in these goodies!!!

Thanks again.

~A&Z~

A Message from A & Z

2009-08-09T16:47:00.007-06:00

We have now posted on this blog 5 days a week for the last 28 weeks! We have reviewed 127 gluten-free products from 37 different brands. We've tested 9 gluten-free recipes and dined gluten-free at 28 different restaurants. We've also conducted 6 blind taste tests comparing various gluten-free products.

Why are we telling you all this? Well, there's good news and there's bad news.

The good news is that Z is doing a lot better with her RA! In fact, she's feeling well enough that she is planning to go back to law school in about two weeks. The bad news is that law school is a lot of work, so we don't foresee Z having enough spare time to keep up with this blog. While we will still try to post here occasionally, unfortunately we won't be able to keep up the five-reviews-a-week pace.

We're sure at least some of you are wondering about our conclusions concerning RA and the gluten-free diet. To be perfectly honest, we don't think the gluten-free diet has directly played a role in controlling Z's RA. In fact, Z has been experimentally eating gluten again for about three weeks and she's still feeling great.

However, we've still learned a lot from our experiences eating gluten-free. The gluten-free diet has taught us to pay attention to all the food we put in our bodies and, as a result, we have adopted much healthier eating habits that will be with us for the rest of our lives. Being gluten-free has helped us adjust our attitudes in order to be able to make the major life changes that have been necessary to adapting to living with Z's RA. This blog has also been a fabulous project for keeping Z sane while she's been out of school!

We want you to know how much we appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read and comment on this blog. You have all helped A&Z figure out how to be healthy and live with Z's RA, and for that we are extremely greatful. Whether your interest in gluren-free food is a choice, a necessity, or an experiment, we hope you have found this blog useful and that it can continue to serve as a database of gluten-free products.

~A & Z~

EnviroKidz's Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs

2009-08-07T09:00:00.002-06:00

Brand: EnviroKids

~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs

Location Purchased: Safeway

Cost: $3.29

Total From A to Z: 3 Stars

A's Review: * * *
I personally like Peanut Butter Bumpers better, but since they use oat flour, that doesn't do us any good here. The flavor of the Panda Puffs was more subdued, which might not bother some people. I really like peanut butter, so I found that aspect disappointing. It held up well in milk though and the company does good things for conservation.

Z's Review: * * *
At first I wasn't sure if I liked the peanut butter flavor. In fact, I wasn't sure it tasted like peanut butter at all! But I enjoyed it more and more as I ate it. Also, I love EnviroKidz since they encourage organic and healthy eating in kids and part of their proceeds go to wildlife conservation. Personally I'm not sure I would buy this cereal again, but I do think kids would really like it - either with milk or as a dry snack.

Food For Life's Brown Rice Bread

2009-08-06T09:00:00.001-06:00

Brand: Food For Life

~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: Brown Rice Bread

Location/Cost Info: Food For Life's website

Total From A to Z: 3.5 Stars

A's Review: * * *
For better or for worse, this bread is dense. It needs toppings and condiments to go with it, but otherwise the flavor is nice. And it held together better than many GF breads we've tried.

Z's Review: * * * *
My sister brought me this bread. I'm not sure where she got it but I think she bought it fresh instead of frozen. I don't know if it was because this bread wasn't frozen or if the brown rice had something to do with it, but it was a lot less crumbly than the white rice version. This made the bread a lot easier to use. The texture of this bread is quite a bit more dense than regular bread, but I thought the flavor was quite satisfying.

Trader Joe's Loaded Fruit & Nut Granola

2009-08-05T09:00:00.003-06:00

Brand: Trader Joe's

(Other reviews of this brand!)

Product Name: Loaded Fruit & Nut Granola

Location/Cost Info: Trader Joe's website (why oh why isn't there a Trader Joe's in Colorado?!?)

Total From A to Z: 4.5 Stars

A's Review: * * * *
I've never been a huge fan of granola, but as is so often the case with TJ's, I am starting to come around. Big, crunchy chunks of fruit and nuts that go very well in yogurt or even just by the handful. It is also not overly sweet, which is a plus.

Z's Review: * * * * *
This "granola" is quite chunky - maybe more like trail mix than granola. It's full of pecans, sunflower seeds, almonds, raisins, craisins, and some sort of gluten-free crunchy cracker. The whole combination is sweet and salty and crunchy and amazing. It would be great over yogurt or even straight out of the bag as a snack.

Chebe's Frozen Pizza Crust

2009-08-04T09:00:00.004-06:00

Brand: Chebe
~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: Frozen Pizza Crust

Location Purchased: King Soopers

Cost: $5.99 for 2 frozen crusts (5'' X 6'')

A to Z Review: 5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *
I love this crust. Thin and crunchy, it is not a regular or deep dish crust experience, but the flavor and texture are great. Just heat them up, throw on some toppings, heat for a few minutes more, and you are ready to rock.

Z's Review: * * * * *
For quick, easy, and tasty gluten-free pizza, Chebe's frozen crust is the way to go! You bake the crust in the oven for a few minutes, then add your favorite toppings and bake a few minutes more. The crust is a bit on the crunchy side, but it is really satisfying. I think Chebe's Pizza Crust Mix is still my favorite gluten-free pizza crust, but the frozen version is a whole lot quicker.

Glutino's Pretzel Twists

2009-08-03T09:00:00.003-06:00

Brand: Glutino

~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Pretzel Twists

Location/Cost Info: Glutino's website

Total From A to Z: 4 Stars

A's Review: * * * *
Pretzels were up on my list with beer and pizza as things that I would miss if I were GF. Having crossed off the last two, I was pleased to find these pretzels from Glutino. Crunchy and salty, just like a pretzel should be. And you could feed them to anyone and they'd never realize there wasn't any gluten in them.

Z's Review: * * * *
I find Glutino to be a very inconsistent brand. Some of their stuff is really bad and some of their stuff, like these pretzels, are actually really good. These pretzels are salty and crunchy and really quite enjoyable. They taste a little bit buttery, but all in all a nice replacement for regular pretzels.

Coming Up Next Week!

2009-08-01T09:00:00.001-06:00

What will be gluten-freed next week on A-Z?

Pretzel Twists!
Frozen Pizza Crust!
Fruit & Nut Granola!
Brown Rice Bread!
Peanut Butter Puffs Cereal!

Check back on Monday for another gluten-freed week!

~A&Z~

LARABAR's Cherry Pie

2009-07-31T09:00:00.005-06:00

Brand: LARABAR

~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Cherry Pie

Location/Cost Info: LARABAR's website

Total From A to Z: 3 Stars

A's Review: * * *

It is hard to screw up cherries. Adding nuts and mashing them together must have struck the LARABAR crew as the perfect stopping point and these bars are tasty just as they are. Not a meal replacement, but a very good snack to hold you over.

Z's Review: * * *
The ingredients in this bar are as follows: dates, almonds, and unsweetened cherries. That's all! And the bar tastes just like eating cherries! It is a whole serving of fruit too! A good, healthy, gluten-free snack if you just need a little bit of energy.

Glutino's Cranberry Gluten Free Breakfast Bars

2009-07-30T09:00:00.001-06:00

Brand: Glutino

~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Cranberry Gluten Free Breakfast Bars

Location Purchased: Whole Foods

Cost: $5.49 for five bars

Total From A to Z: 1 Star

A's Review: *

This was...weird. And not in a good way. Strangely artificial tasting.

Z's Review: *
No. No. No. This is not tasty. Like a spoiled fig newton. I'm not a fan.

Trader Joe's Vanilla Meringues

2009-07-29T09:00:00.004-06:00

Brand: Trader Joe's

~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: Vanilla Meringues

Location/Cost Info: Trader Joe's website (why oh why isn't there a Trader Joe's in Colorado?!?)

Total From A to Z: 4.5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *

Much like the buckets of Red Vines from Costco, I will just keep eating them until they are not in front of me anymore. Love them. Crunchy, smooth, and very good.

Z's Review: * * * *
Dry and crunchy when you bite into them, these melt into a great vanilla flavor in your mouth. Even better with a cup of tea or a big glass of milk. A satisfying vanilla treat!

Kinnikinnick Foods' KinniToos Chocolate Sandwich Creme

2009-07-28T09:00:00.005-06:00

Brand: Kinnikinnick Foods

~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: KinniToos Chocolate Sandwich Creme

Location/Cost Info: Kinnikinnick Foods' Website

Total From A to Z: 5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *

You know Oreos? OK. You love Oreos? OK. There is an option for GF people to end their Oreo drought and it is called KinniToos!

Z's Review: * * * * *
Tastes just like regular Oreos, only gluten-free!!! 'Nuff said!

Orgran's Garlic & Parsley Rice Pasta

2009-07-27T09:00:00.004-06:00

Brand: Orgran

~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Garlic & Parsley Rice Pasta

Location Purchased: Whole Foods

Cost: $3.99

Total From A to Z: 4 Stars

A's Review: * * * *
More aesthetically pleasing than anything else, these shells made a good impression when plated. They were pretty close to regular pasta in terms of texture and flavor as well.

Z's Review: * * * *
I quite enjoyed these medium-sized pasta shells. The texture was pretty close to regular pasta and they had a really good consistency. They didn't get mushy and they didn't fall apart. I have to admit that I didn't really taste the garlic or parsley in them, but it did make them attractively speckled with green. I would certainly use this pasta again.

Coming Up Next Week!

2009-07-25T09:00:00.002-06:00

What will be gluten-freed next week on A-Z?

Garlic & Parsley Rice Pasta!
Chocolate Sandwich Creme Cookies!
Vanilla Meringues!
Cranberry Breakfast Bars!
Cherry Energy Bars!

Check back on Monday for another gluten-freed week!

~A&Z~

Boulder Soup Works' Red Lentil Dahl

2009-07-24T09:00:00.002-06:00

Brand: Boulder Soup Works

~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: Red Lentil Dahl

Location Purchased: Whole Foods

Cost: $7.99

Total From A to Z: 4 Stars

A's Review: * * * *
This soup is called Red Lentil Dahl, but it's really yellow. However, it is tasty and satisfying. I had it for lunch and wished there had been more!

Z's Review: * * * *
I was offered a sample of this soup at Whole Foods and I enjoyed it so much I immediately bought it for dinner that night! Not only is this soup gluten-free, it is also vegan and dairy-free. But it certainly isn't taste-free - it's delicious! The lentils make a nice thick soup and the curry gives it just enough spice to make it really satisfying. On their website, Boulder Soup Works suggests having this soup over rice - which I think is what I will try next time!

SIDE NOTE: Boulder Soup Works soup can be purchased at seven Whole Foods locations near Boulder, Oliv You & Me in Boulder, and at the Boulder Farmer's Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you live near Boulder, this soup is a great way to eat gluten-free and buy local. I'm looking forward to trying their other soups soon!

Thai Kitchen's Mushroom Rice Noodle Bowl

2009-07-23T09:00:00.003-06:00

Brand: Thai Kitchen

~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Mushroom Rice Noodle Bowl

Location Purchased: Sunflower Farmer's Market

Cost: $1.69

Total From A to Z: 3 Stars

A's Review: * * *

I left the mushrooms off of this, not being a fan of mushrooms. Unlike the other Thai Kitchen bowl, this one was disappointingly flavorless. I wanted to toss in some Mongolian Fire Oil, but I didn't have any on me at the time. In the grand scheme of noodle bowls, this one wasn't bad, it just wasn't that great either. High quality, just not much flavor.

Z's Review: * * *
I do like the idea of a quick rice noodle bowl, but this one isn't my favorite. It came with a yellow oil that wasn't particularly spicy or flavorful. And the dried mushrooms remained chewy no matter how long I let them soak in the hot broth. It wasn't bad, but I don't think I'd choose this flavor again. The spring onion flavor was much tastier.

Ancient Harvest's Linguine

2009-07-22T09:00:00.002-06:00

Brand: Ancient Harvest

~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Linguine

Location Purchased: Sunflower Farmer's Market

Cost: $2.59

Total From A to Z: 5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *

The only difference between this and other Ancient Harvest quinoa pasta is the shape. The flavor and texture are still better than wheat pasta (for me anyway).

Z's Review: * * * * *
I am in love with this quinoa pasta. It is honestly some of the best pasta I have ever had - gluten or no gluten. It's extremely flavorful and the texture is always great. I have to admit that the linguine did break a bit after it was cooked, so they weren't always super-long strands. But it tasted great!

Mrs. Leeper's Cheeseburger Mac

2009-07-21T09:00:00.004-06:00

Brand: Mrs. Leeper's

~ Other reviews of this brand!
~ This item is in A&Z's Store!

Product Name: Cheeseburger Mac

Location Purchased: Whole Foods

Cost: $3.99

Total From A to Z: 5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *
We made this with ground buffalo meat instead of beef, but that was the only change. The noodles were the perfect texture and the sauce was excellent.

Z's Review: * * * * *
This smelled amazing while it was cooking - it made my mouth water. And it was pretty simple to make, too. We used ground buffalo (instead of beef) because it is healthier for you. The meal turned out being more of a chili consistency (meat that happened to have some noodles in it instead of noodles with a little meat in it) but it made for a really enjoyable and tasty dinner. I think we'll be having this again for dinner sometime soon!

Amy's Tamale Verde

2009-07-20T09:00:00.003-06:00

Brand: Amy's

~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: Tamale Verde

Location Purchased: Safeway

Cost: $4.29

Total From A to Z: 3.5 Stars

A's Review: * * * *

Amy and her crew have tasty frozen meals dialed. Just spicy enough and very satisfying.

Z's Review: * * *
This was a pretty decent frozen meal. However, I did have to zap it about a minute more than suggested on the package to get the tamale to heat all the way through. The tamale was slightly bland, but the green chile was enjoyable. I didn't think the rice and beans were anything special.

Coming Up Next Week!

2009-07-18T09:00:00.001-06:00

What will be gluten-freed next week on A-Z?

Tamale Verde!
Cheeseburger Mac!
Linguine!
Mushroom Rice Noodle Bowl!
Red Lentil Dahl Soup!

Check back on Monday for another gluten-freed week!

~A&Z~

Green's Quest Tripel Blonde Beer

2009-07-17T09:00:00.005-06:00

Brand: Green's

~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: Quest Tripel Blonde Beer

Location Purchased: Liquor Mart (a local Boulder liquor store)

Cost: $6 for one large bottle

Note: This product was part of Z's Blind Beer Taste Test! See the results!

Total From A to Z: 2.5 Stars

A's Review: * * *
This beer has a darker taste and really reminds me of sake. It was my third favorite of the blind taste test.

Z's Review: * *
This beer has a weird rice-y taste. It reminds me more of grain alcohol or sake than beer. Also, it is really expensive. It was my least favorite of the blind taste test.

Anheuser-Busch's Redbridge

2009-07-16T09:00:00.005-06:00

Brand: Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: Redbridge

Location Purchased: Liquor Mart (a local Boulder liquor store)

Cost: $8.49 for a six pack

Note: This product was part of Z's Blind Beer Taste Test! See the results!

Total From A to Z: 5 Stars

A's Review: * * * * *

It's sort of bitter...roughly along the same lines as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It has a slightly sweet aftertaste, but all in all, a good beer. It was sort of hoppy and my favorite of the blind taste test.

Z's Review: * * * * *
I would say that this is more of a reddish beer. It reminded me of what I remember Killian's tasting like, only this beer is made from sorghum. However, I think of you handed someone this beer and just said it was a red beer, they wouldn't have any idea that it was gluten-free. It tasted like beer - and that's a good thing! I think this one was less bitter than some of the other gluten-free beers. It was my favorite of the blind taste test.

Lakefront Brewery's New Grist Beer

2009-07-15T09:00:00.004-06:00

Brand: Lakefront Brewery, Inc.
~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: New Grist Beer

Location Purchased: Liquor Mart (a local Boulder liquor store)

Cost: $8.79 for a six pack

Note: This product was part of Z's Blind Beer Taste Test! See the results!

Total From A to Z: 3.5 Stars

A's Review: * * *

This beer had a subtle taste and looked like white wine. It was my least favorite of the blind taste test.

Z's Review: * * * *
This beer had a robust taste but not too much of an aftertaste. I want to say that it tasted "malty," but honestly I'm not sure what exactly that word means! In any event, it was cold and tasted good with my dinner and I really enjoyed it. I've never been overly fond of beer, but I have to admit that sometimes a beer just tastes really good with your food, so it's nice to still have that option! Of the four in the taste test, this one was lightest in color. It looked like white whine and had a light taste too. It was my second favorite of the taste test.

Bard's The Original Sorghum Malt Beer

2009-07-14T09:00:00.006-06:00

Brand: Bard's
~ Other reviews of this brand!

Product Name: The Original Sorghum Malt Beer

Location Purchased: Liquor Mart (a local Boulder liquor store)

Cost: $8.99 for a six pack

Note: This product was part of Z's Blind Beer Taste Test! See the results!

Total From A to Z: 3.5 Stars

A's Review: * * * *
Very smooth, with a golden color. Bight with a citrus and a rice flavor. Best when very cold. My second favorite of the blind taste test.

Z's Review: * * *
I think this beer was a little bit more bitter than the other gluten-free beers I have tried so far. It had a little bit more of an aftertaste. I think that's what they call a "hoppy" flavor? I do think that this beer tasted better with food and it was good and cold and satisfying, though sort of bitter. It was my third favorite of the blind taste test.

Blind Taste Test #6: Gluten-Free Beer

2009-07-13T09:00:00.006-06:00

Z's Blind Taste Tests are a monthly feature on Gluten-Free from A to Z!

Z's Blind Taste Test #6: Gluten-Free Beer!!

How It Works: Z will cook/bake/prepare four different versions of the same gluten-free product and randomly label each version with a number. Then A and friends will try all four versions and rank them from most favorite to least favorite. The results will allow us to see exactly how different brands of gluten-free products compare to each other!

The Contenders:

Bard's The Original Sorghum Malt Beer
Lakefront Brewery's New Grist Beer
Anheuser-Busch's Redbridge
Green's Quest Tripel Blonde Beer

The Final Results:

Most Favorite: Redbridge (4 of 5 votes!)
2nd Favorite: Bard's (3 of 5 votes)
3rd Favorite: New Grist (1 of 5 votes)
Least Favorite: Green's (3 of 5 votes)

A's Blind Rankings:
(For A's comments on each beer, please see the individual A-Z reviews - coming soon!)

Most Favorite: Redbridge
2nd Favorite: Bard's
3rd Favorite: Green's
Least Favorite: New Grist

Our Friend MS's Blind Rankings:

Most Favorite: Redbridge - "Smooth, slight bitter, a bit of a hop-like flavor"
2nd Favorite: Bard's - "Slightly sweet, very smooth, sharp, bitter but not overbearing."
3rd Favorite: New Grist - "Very smooth finish, slight fruits. A bit chewy and sweet. Not really beer-like. Closer to cider."
Least Favorite: Green's - "Sweet aroma, fruity flavor, slightly bitter. Almost like a cider/beer mix. Almost like a bubbling wine."

Our Friend RK's Blind Rankings:

Most Favorite: New Grist - "very light, almost like wine. Soft without a bitter note anywhere. Very mild and not very beer-y."
2nd Favorite: Bard's - "More malty, not much bitterness"
3rd Favorite: Redbridge - "Malty, bite to finish"
Least Favorite: Green's - "light, fruity head with slightly bitter end"

Our Friend GW's Blind Rankings:

Most Favorite: Redbridge - "In terns of comparing this to regular beer, this one is my favorite. Slightly fruity but smooth and mellow. Nice aroma and not to sugary."
2nd Favorite: New Grist - "Kind of fruity but nice. More like a cider than a beer, but good and not too sugary."
3rd Favorite: Green's - "Not bad but not something I'd go out of my way for. Too fruity and too citric, but I'm not a big fan of cider and that was my first thought."
Least Favorite: Bard's - "Kind of like fruity water. Not very tasteful and kind of bland."

Z's Not Blind Rankings:
(For Z's comments on each beer, please see the individual A-Z reviews - coming soon!)

Most Favorite: Redbridge
2nd Favorite: New Grist
3rd Favorite: Bard's
Least Favorite: Green's