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Gluten-Free Groceries With Amazon Subscribe & Save

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 1 Comment

Gluten-free grocery shopping used to be a very traumatic experience when I first started on the gluten-free diet 4 years ago. While there are times that I wish that I had known sooner that gluten & I didn’t get along, I am somewhat relieved that I didn’t have to experience gluten-free grocery shopping 10+ years ago. From those I have read about or spoken to about shopping for gluten-free groceries “back then”, it sounds like a lot of stress and frustration. Sure there were always fresh fruits, veggies, meats, eggs, some grains & milk that are naturally gluten-free, but shop for any specialty items and the complication factor went way up.

Not only are gluten-free specialty items on the shelves of mainstream grocery stores these days, but they are also available on many different websites. Amazon is just one of the many websites that sell a multitude of gluten-free groceries but with a twist. Amazon offers a unique “Subscribe & Save” program to help you save money on the products that you use the most. As I was going through my email this morning, I came across one from Amazon that showcased just some of the gluten-free items that are part of the “Subscribe & Save” program. I clicked through and found Amazon’s complete list of gluten-free groceries that are eligible for the program and found that there are 864 items!!

There are several benefits to using the “Subscribe & Save” program. The price is 15% cheaper, even if the item is already on sale! The shipping is free. You choose the frequency at which you receive your shipments and you can change this at any time. For example, I received an email yesterday letting me know that on September 21, 2010, my next shipment of Pamela’s Baking Mix was due to ship out. There was a link in the email for me to go edit that if I wanted to. Since I still have 4 packages, I opted to “skip this shipment” and now my next shipment is due to go out on November 21, 2010. A few days before that shipment I will get that same email again asking me if I am ready or not. You can change the frequency at any time. I have this product set up to ship every 3 months but I may need to change that. I receive a lot of products to sample and review, so I haven’t been going through my mix like I used to. Perhaps every 6 months is a better schedule for me. You can also ask for the shipment to occur sooner than scheduled if you are close to running out. At that time, you are also given the option of staying on schedule for your next shipment or changing it.

I have been using this program now for over 2 years and have really only found one negative to it – sometimes Amazon has a product in their “gluten-free” list that is not gluten-free. Take the same care when ordering from Amazon that you would like when shopping anywhere and read the labels. I choose products that I know my family uses regularly and that I can verify are gluten-free.

Have you shopped using Amazon’s “Subscribe & Save” program? If so, which items are you purchasing?

Bake Exceptional Gluten-Free Pizza at Home

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For what seems like forever, people have been touting the positives of Air Bake pizza pans. The pans are said to mimic the effects of cooking pizzas in a pizza parlor oven. Since we never made pizza at home when I was eating gluten, I never had a reason to find out what all the Air Bake pizza pan fuss was about. We made pizzas at home for two years before getting gluten-free pizza dining options in our area and still, we never had an Air Bake pan. Once we could have pizza out again, we stopped making them at home.

We eventually started making pizza at home again because I received some crust samples and mixes to review. Over the last year, I’ve made quite a few pizzas at home. Many of our pies tasted great and none were baked in an Air Bake pizza pan. The one negative thing I can say about the best tasting gluten-free crusts is that they don’t get crispy enough for me. Many crusts get crisp around the edges – some too much so – but the middle tends to sag a bit regardless of the crust used.

That all changed when Target put the nonstick Air Bake pizza pan on sale last month. The price of less than $10 was just too good to pass up. Finally, I’d get to see if all the hype about this magic pizza pan was actually true. The pan is huge compared to the personal sized Udi’s crust I put on it, but I’m glad to report that the pan definitely lived up to its reputation. The crust was browned evenly on the bottom – unlike any other gluten-free pizza we’ve ever made. Because two Udi’s crusts won’t fit on the pan well, I’m now looking into ordering two smaller Air Bake pans made by T-Fal.

It seems like making the best gluten-free dishes require not only specialty ingredients and products, they often call for specialty kitchen gadgets. The best breads are generally made in bread machines – or so I’ve been told. I never got around to getting that pricey gadget and now I’m so glad I didn’t since I’d rather buy Udi’s bread than bake my own any day. In the case of making gluten-free pizza crusts taste as good as possible, the Air Bake pizza pan is well worth the investment. If I’d been paying better attention, I would have bought this pan long ago!

For my first Air Bake pizza pan experiment, I baked the Udi’s pizza in a 425 degree oven. First, I cooked the crust for ten minutes with nothing on it. I removed the pan from the oven, added pesto sauce, turkey, black olives and cheese and baked the pie for another fifteen minutes.  I also cooked the same crust on a plain pizza pan to see what the difference would be and was shocked that the difference in the crust texture was so drastic.  Obviously, it helps if the crust itself tastes very good, but without question, the Udi’s pizza cooked with the Air Bake pan was the best gluten-free pizza I’ve ever made. I’ll be using the pan with the crust from Mozzarelli’s next time.

I still prefer going out for pizza to making my own, but with the fantastic Air Bake pan, we can have pizza parlor quality pies at home when we feel staying in for dinner. In fact, I might actually go to the trouble of making my own crust just so I can have a large 15” pizza for a change!

*Check out my Top 10 crust list if you’re still looking for the perfect gluten-free crust to suit your needs.

Review: Gluten-Free Scratch Bakery

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It seems like every week there is something new and exciting happening in the Atlanta gluten-free scene. Sometimes local businesses contact me to tell me about a new product they’ve introduced or about a new gluten-free menu at a restaurant. However, some tidbits of gluten-free news I literally just stumble into. Such is the case with Scratch Bakery in the Metro Atlanta area. The bakery owner, Amy, was kind enough to sell me a small gluten-free nosh box so I could review several of the gluten-free items she bakes. Please note that such a box is not currently available for purchase.

First up for review were the brownies. The Honeybee Brownies are very rich and very chocolatey. My husband preferred those more than the Cinnamon Pecan Blondie – which was my favorite of the two. The cinnamon flavor is actually subtle and the blondie is egg and dairy free as well. Each version was quite good and had a cake-like texture. There was no odd taste or aftertaste to either one. Neither had a hint of bean flour or the grainy taste that sometimes accompanies lower-quality gluten-free baked goods. The texture was really nice and I doubt any gluten-eaters would know they were gluten-free unless someone told them so. Heating the brownies/blondies up a little and adding ice cream takes them to a whole new delicious level, by the way.

My nosh box included three types of gluten-free cookies. Our least favorites in the bunch were the Chocolate Chipsters. The cookies were not bad, but there was some flavor I could not pinpoint that I wasn’t in love with. The cookies were very soft in texture which is something I’m always on the lookout for. Also in the box were two different types of ginger cookies. My husband loved the crunchier White Chocolate Ginger Crips and I much preferred the super strong flavored White Chocolate Ginger Chunkers. We didn’t think the white chocolate chips were needed in either ginger cookie, though they didn’t detract from the taste in any way.

Other gluten-free goodies from the bakery include Better Bananamagic Bread, Smacaroons, and two other versions of Chipters cookies. Scratch Bakery does not presently have a storefront and gluten items are made in the bakery. The owner is sensitive to cross-contamination issues as she knows people who can’t eat gluten and that is how her gluten-free goods came to exist. Obviously, everyone should eat items they feel suit their personal needs best.

There are several gluten items in the Scratch Bakery line that I think would be fairly easy to convert to gluten-free. Both quick pieces of bread and scones are easy gluten-free items to make. I use unsweetened applesauce in all my quick bread, but it’s not needed for scones. I just use regular recipes and sub either Pamela’s Baking Mix or Jules gluten-free flour for the wheat flour. Whatever Amy makes is likely to be very tasty so I hope she continues expanding her gluten-free product line. Scratch Bakery offers online ordering and there are a couple of delivery options for local orders.

Mimi’s Cafe Gluten-Free Menu

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 5 Comments

Wondering if Mimi’s Cafe offers a gluten-free menu? We recently got a new Mimi’s Cafe in my area and being that they are a national chain, I decided to look into the possibility of gluten-free offerings.

Official Website Menu Information: Mimi’s Cafe Gluten-Free Menu
Location Finder: Find a Mimi’s Cafe Location Near You

As of the date of this post, it doesn’t appear that Mimi’s Cafe has released an official gluten-free menu on their website, however after contacting the company I was directed to the following gluten-free menu information which should be good at any Mimi’s Cafe location. Of course, once this information is available on their official website I will update this post!

Mimis Café Gluten-Free Menu Offerings

Breakfast Safe Gluten-Free Offerings:

  • Low Fat Fitness Omelette: Egg Whites, Mushrooms, Steamed Broccoli, and Tomatoes Served With Tomato Slices
  • Ham, Cheddar, And Broccoli Omelet: Eggs, Diced Ham, Steamed Broccoli, and Cheddar Cheese Served With Seasoned Breakfast Potatoes
  • Monterey Omelette: Eggs, Jack Cheese, Smoked Bacon Strips, And Avocado Served With Seasoned Breakfast Potatoes
  • Smoked Bacon, Link Sausage, Or Ham And Eggs: Eggs Cooked Any Style With a Choice Of Bacon, Sausage, Or Ham Served With Seasoned Breakfast Potatoes

Lunch And Dinner Safe Gluten-Free Offerings:

  • Dinner Salad: Baby Greens, Carrots, Tomato, and Cucumbers Served With No Croutons, And a Choice Of Olive Oil, Lemon, Or Balsamic Vinegar
  • Mimis Chopped Cobb: Iceberg Lettuce, Diced Turkey, Tomatoes, Bleu Cheese ( Safe), Bacon Bits, Green Onions, Hard Boiled Eggs, and Avocado Served With a Choice Of Olive Oil, Lemon, Or Balsamic Vinegar
  • Bleu Cheese & Walnut Salad: Baby Greens, Walnuts, Bleu Cheese, Tomatoes, Bacon Bits, Dried Cranberries, and Strawberries With a Choice Of Olive Oil, Lemon, Or Balsamic Vinegar
  • Chicken, Fruit, And Baby Greens: Broiled Non-Marinated Chicken Breast, Baby Greens, Seasonal Fruit, Dried Cranberries, and Diced Tomatoes With a Choice Of Olive Oil, Lemon, Or Balsamic Vinegar
  • Petite Citrus Salmon: Broiled Non-Marinated Salmon With Baby Greens, Orange, Lemon, And Lime Wedges, and Strawberries With a Choice Of Olive Oil, Lemon, Or Balsamic Vinegar
  • Chicken, Fruit, And Baby Greens: Broiled Non-Marinated Chicken Breast, Baby Greens, Seasonal Fruit, Carrots, and Diced Tomatoes With a Choice Of Olive Oil, Lemon, Or Balsamic Vinegar
  • Salmon Hollandaise: Broiled Non-Marinated Salmon With Broiled Asparagus, Lemon Hollandaise Mashed Potatoes, Jasmine Rice, Or Baby Bakers
  • Broiled Mahi Mahi Dinner: Broiled Non-Marinated Mahi Mahi With Seasonal Vegetables And Mashed Potatoes, Jasmine Rice, Or Baby Bakers
  • Slow Roasted Turkey Breast: Roasted Turkey Hand Sliced, Seasonal Dinner Vegetables, Cranberry Orange Relish And Mashed Potatoes, Jasmine Rice, Or Baby Bakers
  • Cp (Children’s)Slow Roasted Turkey Breast: Roasted Turkey Hand Sliced, Seasonal Dinner Vegetables, Cranberry Orange Relish And Mashed Potatoes, Jasmine Rice, Or Baby Bakers
  • (Cp) Or Adult Naked Turkey Or Beef Chuck Burger: A Turkey Or Chuck Beef Patty Cooked To Order, Wrapped In Lettuce, Tomato, And Red Onion Served With Seasonal Fruit.
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  • (Cp) Children’s Corn Quesadilla: Corn Tortillas Cooked In A Sauté Pan With Cheddar Cheese And Fruit.
  • Broiled Chicken Dinner: Broiled Non-Marinated Chicken Breast, With Seasonal Vegetables And Mashed Potatoes, Jasmine Rice, Or Baby Bakers
  • Broiled Spiced Flat Iron Steak: Broiled Choice Flat Iron Lightly Seasoned With Cajun Spice, Topped With Garlic Mushrooms And Red Onions ( Cooked In Separate Pan), With A Drizzle Of Au Jus ( gluten-free), With Seasonal Vegetables And Mashed Potatoes, Jasmine Rice, Or Baby Bakers
    Desserts:
  • Mimis Mousse Ensemble Or Individual Petite Treats: Lemon W Marinated Blueberries, Chocolate W/ Strawberries, And Raspberry With Whipped Cream
  • Ice Cream And Fresh Strawberries are Available If Ice Cream Is Ok. Also, We Can Hand Cut A Fruit Salad For You Consisting Of, Melon, Watermelon, Orange, Berries, And More.

To read more about this restaurant, check out our recent review of Mimi’s Cafe’s gluten-free options.

As always, when dining out gluten-free, do your due diligence and make sure the staff understands your needs. There are very few restaurants that are 100% gluten-free, so cross-contamination is always a risk. If you don’t feel comfortable with what you are hearing from the staff, perhaps it is best to dine elsewhere.

For information about other gluten-free restaurants menus, check out our gluten-free restaurants page.

Review: Uncle Maddio’s Gluten-Free Pizza

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

Many months ago, a restaurant in the Toco Hills shopping center in Atlanta, Uncle Maddio’s Pizza, began offering gluten-free pizza. There seemed to be a bit of confusion on the part of the restaurant in the beginning about what safe gluten-free service involved. At least that is what several gluten-free customers there reported was happening. With the help of those patrons, the restaurant tweaked a few things about how they prepared the gluten-free pizzas and their gluten-free customer base grew.

The Toco Hills shopping center is a landmark in Atlanta. Thinking about it brings back memories of visiting my Grandmother up here when I was a teenager. She lived near there and one time, my cousin and I got to see a movie (“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” starring Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees) at the shopping center by ourselves. What a big deal that was for two thirteen-year-olds! The theatre has long since closed and the shopping center has gone through many transformations since then. Currently, it’s being renovated yet again.

We found ourselves needing to have lunch in the Brookhaven area on a Sunday and our first choice for lunch was closed.  We decided to trek over to Uncle Maddios to check out their gluten-free pizza for ourselves. We were the first customers of the day and I had called earlier in the week to find out about sauces, dressings, and so forth. We needed to know what we could order when we arrived because like a lot of places in our area, your order upon entering the restaurant.

The team at Uncle Maddio’s Pizza makes fresh sauces and dressings daily. They use good quality ingredients and offer good value for regular and gluten-free pizzas and salads. We decided to order one pizza and one salad and split them between us. We chose a gluten-free pizza with black olives, mushrooms, pepperoni, and a Greek salad. The build-your-own-pizzas comes with three toppings which is not the case with any other pizza joint here that offers gluten-free pizza (that I’m aware of).

After we ordered, we noticed that the cook got out a gluten-free crust and put the sauce on it with a ladle. The ladle touched the crust and then the ladle went into the sauce container. See the problem? It wasn’t an issue for us because our pizza was the first (of any kind) being made the day.  However, it might prove a problem for other gluten-free patrons. This is exactly what so many people had reported was happening months ago, but eventually many also reported that the place seemed to get the hang of safe preparation for gluten-free crusts.

Maybe the guy making our pizza knew that since our pizza was the first made that day, it didn’t matter if the ladle touched the crust since it had not touched a gluten crust. Maybe there are two containers for each sauce – one for gluten pizzas and one for gluten-free. I’m not really sure what their procedure is and I was taking the day off from being the gluten-free police. I’d go back to Uncle Maddio’s again, but would ask for a new container of sauce and a fresh ladle to be used, unless I was the first customer of the day.

In the end, our pizza was very good and truly gluten-free. It was the smallest-sized gluten-free pizza I’ve been served here, but for the cost, it’s still a great value. It’s a thin crispy crust and it didn’t have an odd taste, texture, or aftertaste to it. Hopefully, the staff will review and improve their gluten-free pizza building technique, because if they prepare the gluten-free pizzas the way mine was prepared (after making gluten pizzas), it is likely that some people would have problems with the finished product.