Gluten-Free Tailgating Tips

Football season is well under way and nothing says “Go Team” like tailgating with your favorite game day foods.   Times like this can be stressful for those following the gluten-free diet (an estimated 43 million Americans  – including those with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivity).  I like to plan in advance to make sure that my experience is as stress-free as possible and there is no better way to do this than with the help of Udi’s Gluten Free.  As the quote by Harvey MacKay goes, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.”

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Udi’s Gluten Free has everything you need for a successful tailgate party.  Their buns and breads don’t require refrigeration or toasting to store or eat and are free of soy, dairy and nuts in addition to gluten. 

Tailgating Tips from Udi’s Gluten Free:

1. BYOB- Bring Your Own Buns. Forget lonely hamburger patties and hot dogs, Udi’s Gluten Free Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns are delicious enough that even the most discerning fan won’t be able to taste the difference!

2. Make an Impression with a Signature Drink. Since beer isn’t gluten free, create a signature cocktail. Extra points for a drink name with team spirit.

3. Keep Food Flavorful with Your Own Marinades and Spices. Did you know that many marinades and seasoning mixtures contain hidden gluten? Read the labels to avoid ingredients like soy sauce, malt and modified food starch*, or simply make your own.

4. Chips and Dips. Avoid a foul by leaving behind the flour tortilla chips. Instead, buy corn tortilla chips or cut Udi’s Gluten Free Tortillas into triangles and bake homemade chips. Raw vegetables also make for a great surprise dipper that is both naturally gluten free and nutritious!

5. 4th Quarter Desserts. Don’t lose steam in the final stretch. Serve Udi’s Gluten Free cookies and brownies. The amazing taste and texture consistently win fans even if they don’t eat gluten free, so everyone can enjoy the same sweet treats.

*modified food starch is usually gluten-free in the US and will be clearly labeled if it is not.

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The hot dog buns hold up well to the weight of a bun-length hot dog and toppings.  Jon likes to add chopped pickles to the top of his hot dogs, but I managed to snap this picture before he added them. 

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Hot dogs or burgers not your cup of tea?  Deli sandwiches are another great game day choice.  Serve gluten-free deli meats, cheese and toppings along with Udi’s Gluten Free breads, gluten-free pretzels and a veggie tray. 

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Last, but certainly not least, dessert.  Udi’s Gluten free offers a nice variety of desserts, including these Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites.  This was the first opportunity I had to sample these decadent little bites of perfection and I quickly fell in love!  They were so good that Jon tried to convince me that they were “mini muffins” so that he could have them for breakfast.  Nice try, Jon! 

If you are at a loss for what to serve at your tailgate party or bring to another, make sure to check out the recipes section on the Udi’s Gluten Free page.  There is sure to be a recipe there that will catch your eye and please your tummy. 

Udi’s Gluten Free products can be purchased in stores across the US and online

**The products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for the purpose of reviewing and sharing with you all.  The thoughts and opinions shared here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

Easy Fruit Dip

As the holiday season is quickly approaching, parties and get togethers quickly fill up the calendar.  Whether you are hosting the party or attending it, a healthy, gluten-free option to serve guests is a tray of fresh fruit & cream cheese dip. 

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The fruit dip is one that my sister first introduced me to several years back, but modified slightly.  The version Kelly shared with me incorporated Heath bits and was finished off with a dusting on top, while this version is three basic ingredients, all of which are naturally gluten-free.

Easy Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

  • 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla

1.  Blend cream cheese and vanilla in a stand mixer.  Gradually mix in brown sugar.  Mix until blended and fluffy.

2.  Serve along side fresh fruit pieces/chunks.

3.  Enjoy!

Simple, yet impressive.  Food doesn’t have to be complicated to impress. 

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Weekly Menu Plan–November 12, 2012

This past weekend was absolutely gorgeous!  Temperatures across central Ohio were in the high 60’s and low 70’s.  It doesn’t get much better than that in mid-November in Ohio.  Unfortunately I believe this will be the end of the nice, warm weather and we should prepare to hunker down and prepare for winter.  BRR!  The high today is 55 and low is 26 – 70% chance of rain.  Hello, cold!

I have been working through some leftovers in my refrigerator that need to be put to use in the next few meals.  Wait until you hear about some of these creations I have up my sleeve!  Dinner last night was a toasted French roll from Trader Joe’s with melted smoked gouda, drizzled with Nakano Balsamic Blend Vinegar and topped with chopped basil.  It was AMAZING!  I need to make sure to buy this cheese again!

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I believe that dinner tonight will knock the socks right off of anyone who likes Buffalo Chicken Dip.

Monday – Buffalo Chicken Dip grilled cheese sandwich and salad

Tuesday – Easy Enchilada Bake, corn and salad

Wednesday – Leftovers

Thursday – Take-out

Friday – Make your own pizza with a new crust mix and salad

Saturday – Italian grilled chicken, sweet potato puffs, zucchini and salad

*For more gluten-free weekly meal ideas, make sure to visit Musingsofahousewife.com.


Week in Review

Recipe: Mozzarella Caprese Bites

Review: MI-DEL Gingerbread Men

A list of Hurricane Relief efforts going on – check to see what you can do to help!

Do you like nut butter?  Check out The Healthy Apple’s post on “10 Ways with Nut Butter” – Brilliant ideas!

Have a great week!

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Review: Kitch+Table Gluten-Free Brownies

I love chocolate.  If I were to be stranded on a remote island, as long as I had chocolate, red wine and water, I could survive.  When I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing some mixes from Kitch + Table, and brownies were included as one of the two mixes, I may have done a little happy dance! 

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More about kitch+table":

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The double chocolate brownie mix is just as easy to make as it claims on the front of the package.  I simply mixed 2 eggs and a half cup of melted butter together, stirred in the brownie mix and popped into my oven for 30-35 minutes.  The brownies cooked up evenly.  I allowed them to cool and then sliced for serving at my friend’s housewarming party.  They were a hit!  The plate full of brownies was devoured and only 2 were left when I last checked before I headed home.  The brownies were moist and fudgy, just the way I like them!  My friend, Melissa, topped hers with a dab of cream cheese dip and sliced of strawberry!  Divine!  My non-gluten-free and picky child also gave her stamp of approval = asking for seconds. 

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The ingredients: Sugar, Gluten-Free Flour Blend (white rice flour, non-GMO cornstarch, potato starch, brown rice flour, tapioca starch), Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder, Leavening (sodium bicarbonate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), Salt, Natural Flavors, Xanthan Gum.

The kitch+table mixes can be purchased right from the kitch+table website.  The brownie mix is $5.99 and one of the best ones I have tried!  Definitely add this one to your list of “don’t miss” gluten-free products!  I still have to make and sample the pizza crust, and I can assure you that will be happening sooner than later after I tried the brownies!

*This mix was sent to me free of charge for review purposes.  The thoughts and opinions shared here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

Weekly Menu Plan–November 6, 2012

A day late – bad blogger!  Been busy around here with hockey tryouts, our 12th Anniversary and puppy training! 

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Good news, though, Jon made the varsity team!  Go Jon!  I am excited to watch the team play in the very near future! 

Since today is Election Day, Pei Wei is offering 20% off of the online orders!  Twist my arm!  Simply enter the code “ELECT” when checking out online.  Also, if you weren’t aware, the Sriracha Chicken is gluten-free!

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Monday – Rotisserie chicken salad

Tuesday – Election night Pei Wei

Wednesday – Soft tacos, black beans, corn and salad

Thursday – Appetizers & Cocktails for a girls get together

Friday – Make your own pizza (using a new pizza mix that was sent to sample) and salad

Saturday – Friend’s housewarming party


Week in Review:

Review: Trader Joe’s Gluten-free Pizza

So Delicious debuts holiday beverages

Review: Urban Raccoons Granola Bars

Recipe: Inside Out Thin Mints

Review: New GF NuGo Dark Bars

The Little Things–Inside-Out Thin Mints

Do you ever find yourself trying to find out what will make you truly happy?  What is happy?  Don’t worry, this post isn’t going to delve deep into what makes a person happy.  Rather, it is the small things that can add up to make you happy.  One of those small things happens to be simple gluten-free treats.  There may be many things that are now off limits due to having to follow the gluten-free diet, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things out there that can be enjoyed. 

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This is not your normal chocolate sandwich cookie.  Nope.  This is what I shall call an Inside-Out Thin Mint.  A couple weeks back I was able to sample Lucy’s Chocolate Merry Mint Cookies and my idea was born. 

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I simply took touch of Betty Crocker’s Rich & Creamy Dark Chocolate Frosting and schmeared it between two of Lucy’s Chocolate Merry Mint Cookies.  This, my friends, is happiness in a small package. 

Both the cookies and frosting can be purchased on the Gluten Freely website. 

I love to show that eating delicious gluten-free food and goodies doesn’t have to be complicated.  It doesn’t have to involve a lot of time in the kitchen or expensive ingredients.  I think it is really important during the first few months of the gluten-free diet to focus more on simple gluten-free foods that are safe to eat, as opposed to complicating things trying to learn how to bake gluten-free.  That can and will come, but all in good time. 

Review: New GF NuGo Nutrition Dark Chocolate Bars

Chocolate is one of my favorite foods.  There aren’t many things that I will turn down if they have some kind of chocolate in or on them, gluten-free, of course.  NuGo Nutrition has some of the best protein bars on the market and they just made two more of their Dark Chocolate bars gluten-free!  The two newly gluten-free bars are the Mocha Chocolate and Chocolate Chocolate Chip

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I ordered samples from the website – 3 bars (including the Dark Chocolate Mint bar that tastes like Thin Mints) for $6.00, including shipping!  I knew that I would fall in love with these bars, just like I had the rest of the NuGo Dark line.  The quality of the ingredients shines through in each bite.  While I love these new flavors, I adore the Dark Chocolate Pretzel and Dark Chocolate Mint.  I know what to ask Santa to put in my stocking this year!  The bars are also free of dairy in addition to gluten!

The newly gluten-free bars will be working their way into stores close to you, but please exercise caution.  Check the Mocha Chocolate and Chocolate Chocolate Chip bars to ensure that you have picked up the newly certified GF bars and not the older bars that are not gluten-free

One of the reasons I like the NuGo Dark line so much is because NuGo Nutrition uses real dark chocolate as opposed to fake dark chocolate made from vegetable oils (including palm oil).  The FDA currently doesn’t have any standards in place for the labeling of dark chocolate, only for milk and white chocolate.  Dark chocolate has many health benefits and some consumers are being deceived by companies that are falsely labeling their products as containing dark chocolate, when they really contain fake dark chocolate.  NuGo has put together a petition to urge the FDA to stop the deception and require proper labeling. 

Check this out:

Have you tried any of the NuGo Dark bars?  Do you have a favorite?

Recipe: Pumpkin Shrimp Pasta

A short time ago I had the pleasure of reviewing a pumpkin pasta sauce.  I love all things pumpkin and this sauce is no different! Since my first taste, I have been dreaming up new ways to use this pasta and my latest creation is paired with shrimp. 

Pumpkin Shrimp Pasta*

  • 2 oz Tinkyada spinach fettuccine
  • 1/2 cup Cucina-Antica Tuscany Pumpkin pasta sauce
  • 8-10 shrimp
  • Sea salt & pepper
  • 1/2 to 1 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil

1.  Boil water for the pasta.  Cook and drain pasta and set aside. 

2.  Heat pasta sauce in a pan on the stove.

3.  Heat oil to cook shrimp in a saute pan.  Cook shrimp until cooked through and then toss with sauce and cooked pasta. 

4.  Enjoy!

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*Since I was the only one eating this specific night, the measurements above are for 1 serving.  The dish can easily be made for as many you would like. 

I was extremely pleased with the flavor combination in this dish.  The creaminess of the pumpkin sauce was the perfect compliment to the pasta and shrimp. 

The Cucina-Antica Tuscany Pumpkin sauce can be purchased right on the Cucina-Antica website or in select stores

*The product reviewed in this blog post was sent to me free of charge for review purposes.  The thoughts and opinions shared here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

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Halloween Weekly Menu Plan–October 28, 2012

BRR!  It was 80+ degrees on Thursday and it is very chilly and windy here in Ohio.  While we aren’t in the direct path of Sandy, we are definitely feeling some of the effects.  Halloween may be very cold and possibly snowy.  If you are anywhere in the path of this nasty storm, please stay safe!

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That won’t stop Hannah, though, she is all ready in her “Candy Corn Spellcaster” costume.  She has been asking to wear this since the day we bought it 2 weeks ago.

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Sunday – Teriyaki chicken, brown rice and asparagus

Monday – Chicken fettuccine Alfredo with broccoli and salad

Tuesday – Easy Enchilada Bake, corn and salad

Wednesday – Trick or Treat = Pei Wei Take-Out

Thursday – BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans and salad

Friday – Make your own pizza and salad

Saturday – Dinner out – Anniversary


Week in Review:

Gluten-Free “Holiday How-Tos” Webinar

Glutino Gluten-Free Snack Attack

Fat Toad Farm Goat’s Milk Caramel – Salted Bourbon is out of this world!

Review: Annie’s Deluxe Mac & Cheese

 

Have a great week!!

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