All about buns (that got your attention) for 4th of July

What's the worst gluten free product? Bread.  What's the most desired gluten free product? Bread.
Do you see a theme here?

Well, WalMart (of all stores) did, too. They have taken the plunge and have gone with varied assortment of SCHAR products that are, almost as great as regular bread in the "rolls and buns" category.

The Schar bread products include ciabatta rolls that will rival the best of any bakery (especially when toasted or grilled) and the new sandwich rolls that are like small hoagie/submarine rolls. There are even good hamburger rolls.  The key if to toast, grill, or warm them up for flavor and texture that is just like REAL bread.

There is the chew, flavor, and consistency of real bread. And these two items, as well as many more are available of in WalMart grocery stores in the section for "gluten free foods" (marked with a yellow sign).  Even more exciting, WalMart has an extensive collection of products online (over 1000!). If you order over $50 of any food products, shipping is FREE.

Have a Happy G-Free 4th of July!

(photo credit: SCHAR.com)

Carrabba's North Dallas - tasty Italian food for everyone

Italian food is more than just great pasta - and it should always include great pasta. One restaurant that does this well is Carrabba's North Dallas (https://www.carrabbas.com/) with locations also found throughout the U.S. (click on my link to the 'Find Me Gluten Free' on the right side column to find a location near you).

With a dedicated gluten free menu, you can enjoy a wide variety of dishes, and so can your friends and family.  Check this out and MANGIA!

SMALL PLATES
GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH PROSCIUTTO - Wood-grilled asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and fontina, drizzled with balsamic glaze

APPETIZERS
TOMATO CAPRESE WITH FRESH BURRATA - Creamy burrata mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh basil, red onions, balsamic glaze, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil

SOUPS AND SALADS
MAMA MANDOLA’S SICILIAN CHICKEN SOUP - Spicy chicken soup that has soothed the family for generations. Available in cup or bowl sizes. Request without pasta.

MINESTRONE SOUP - Traditional Italian vegetable soup. Available in cup or bowl sizes.

SOUP & SALAD COMBO - Your choice of a cup of soup paired with a side salad

ITALIAN SALAD - Mixed greens, garden vegetables, kalamata olives and our Italian vinaigrette dressing

CAESAR SALAD - Romaine hearts, croutons, parmesan cheese and caesar dressing. Request without croutons.

JOHNNY ROCCO SALAD - Wood-grilled shrimp, scallops, roasted red peppers, olives, ricotta salata, romaine lettuce and mixed greens in our Italian vinaigrette

ITALIAN SIDE SALAD - Fresh Romaine hearts and mixed greens with carrots, grape tomatoes, red onions, and kalamata olives served with a side of our vinaigrette dressing

HOUSE SIDE SALAD - Romaine hearts tossed in our creamy parmesan dressing with carrots and shredded red cabbage topped with sliced radish, pepperoncini and Kalamata olives

PASTA
LINGUINE POSITANO - Featuring our Gluten-Free Casarecce pasta along with Wood-grilled chicken, crushed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and basil

SHRIMP & SCALLOP LINGUINE ALLA VODKA - Featuring our Gluten-Free Casarecce pasta along with sautéed shrimp and bay scallops tossed with basil in our tomato vodka cream sauce

FETTUCCINE CARRABBA - Featuring our Gluten-Free Casarecce pasta along with Alfredo sauce, wood-grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms and peas

SPAGHETTI POMODORO - Featuring our Gluten-Free Casarecce pasta along with our Pomodoro sauce

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE - Featuring our Gluten-Free Casarecce pasta along with our Bolognese meat sauce

FETTUCCINE WEESIE -    Featuring our Gluten-Free Casarecce pasta along with Alfredo sauce, sautéed shrimp, scallions, basil, garlic and mushrooms in our white wine lemon butter sauce

CHICKEN, PORK AND VEAL
TUSCAN-GRILLED CHICKEN - Wood-grilled and seasoned with our signature grill baste, olive oil and herbs

TUSCAN-GRILLED RIBEYE - 13oz

CHICKEN BRYAN -Wood-grilled and topped with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, basil and our lemon butter sauce

CHICKEN MARSALA -Wood-grilled and topped with mushrooms and our Lombardo Marsala wine sauce

POLLO ROSA MARIA -Wood-grilled chicken topped with fontina cheese, prosciutto, mushrooms and our basil lemon butter sauce

PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED PORK TENDERLOIN -Medallions wrapped in prosciutto, wood-grilled and topped with our port wine fig sauce

STEAKS & CHOPS
TUSCAN-GRILLED FILET -Available in 9oz

TUSCAN-GRILLED PORK CHOP -Available with one chop or two chops

STEAK & CHOPS - TOPPINGS / The following toppings are gluten-free: Spicy Sicilian Butter, Gorgonzola Sauce, Marsala Sauce and Bryan Topping

SEAFOOD
WOOD-GRILLED TILAPIA -With olive oil and our signature grill seasoning, topped with roasted tomatoes, basil and balsamic glaze

SALMON CETRIOLINI -Wood-grilled and topped with diced tomato, cucumber and dill in our lemon white wine sauce

COMBINATIONS
THE JOHNNY -Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin Marsala & Chicken Bryan

CHICKEN TRIO -Chicken Bryan, Pollo Rosa Maria and Chicken Marsala

SIDES
SAUTÉED BROCCOLI -GRILLED ASPARAGUS -GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Freshly - a gluten free meal service everyone can enjoy

                      For more than two years, 'meal kit' home delivery service has been popular among those who don't enjoy an aspect of cooking, but do enjoy eating every night. Some people don't like to grocery shop or some don't like detailed labor in the kitchen. The two most popular meal kit companies are eager to help you with these issues. From other reviews, they both seem to put out a good product but neither of them has more than two gluten free options. 

                      And then FRESHLY (https://www.freshly.com/) came onto the market and upped the game in the meal kit grocery category.  Meals come to your home already prepared and they are all gluten free.  With a surprisingly impressive nutritional value, each meal is a good portion for any adult, and if needed a salad you provide will make it a feast.

                     Anyone who can push the button on a microwave and follow the re-heating directions on the back label can have a delicious and nutritious meal in about 3 minutes. Here's a partial list of entrees that have been ordered and eaten more than once and proven to be consistently delicious.

Shrimp and Andouille Paella     

Steak Peppercorn with mashed potatoes and green beans                        

Grilled Chicken Risotto

Cod Cakes with spicy chipotle sauce and succotash    

Penne Bolognese
Sausage & Peppers with tomato rice

BBQ pulled Pork with squash cakes                   

Three Bean Ancho Turkey Chili   

Veggie Baked Penne              

Roasted Turkey with Quinoa stuffing       

Turkey Meatballs with spicy Butternut squash noodles 

Chicken with rice pilaf and green beans

                   If you are interested in trying Freshly, a $40 off coupon ($20 each on 2 deliveries) can be sent to you to redeem.  Leave your email address in the comments (all comments are moderated and not made public until review) and a link will be sent to you (and your email address will be kept private and deleted from the comment).

                  Finally, there's a home delivery meal kit service for everyone!

Tomorrow's the day.. GFAF Expo comes to Dallas

There will be vendors with their products on display and lots of sampling... but the best part of this Expo is all the new information you will receive.

When you know better, you can make better choices with your nutrition. Eating gluten free and healthy takes being conscientious by reading product labels and ensuring you get the proteins you need.

There are lots of tasty, empty-calorie gluten free products on the market. Take the time to educate yourself about the choices you have.  There are delicious (high protein, high vitamin) gluten free foods... it just might take you a little time and research to find them.  But, you ARE worth it. And tomorrow many, many, many products will all be in one place for you.

I hope to see you there!

The best bagels ever... and, they're gluten free, too!

If you're a fan of the traditional 'Brooklyn Bagel,' then you are aware of a few facts:
1) an authentic, traditional bagel is about 3 1/2 inches in diameter.
2) it has a crunchy crust and a soft inside.
3) it freezes well, defrosts in a microwave for 50 seconds and toasts up perfectly.

The Great Knead is a company who will delight you with several flavors of bagels, and they are ALL gluten free! http://www.thegreaterknead.com/

Started in 2012 as Sweet Note Bagel by some amazing young women (and some terrific men, too), the company grew its presence online, in stores, and at restaurants. Their baking practices are top notch, and they also ship anywhere in the US.  You can even open a wholesale account for your own personal freezer with a minimum of 18 packages (and get a break on shipping costs).

Not to be missed... the Fall Flavor: Pumpkin - with just a hint of seasonal spice, this bagel lends itself to breakfast, as a sandwich with chicken and cranberry sauce, and even as the base for french toast.
Get on their email list for periodic specials, sales, and new product information, too. They've recently added bagel chips!

The Greater Knead will meet and exceed your needs for an amazing bagel everyone can enjoy.

                                                             (photo credit: The Great Knead)

Think cool thoughts - October in Dallas for the GF&AF Expo

It's only July, but planning an October visit to Dallas for this event that can meet all your needs for a good time - interesting, fun, and lots of food!

At the GF&AF (Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly) Expo on October 28 - 29, you will have every major gluten free manufacturer and many speciality vendors sampling their products (and giving away coupons for future purchases, too).

There also will be relevant speakers, classes, and information booths where you and your family are celebrated, not ignored because of dietary and nutritional needs.

To learn more about the event visit: http://gfafexpo.com/about-us/

And, all the details about tickets can be found here: http://gfafexpo.com/locations/2017-dallas-tx/

Y'all come for a visit, and I will see you there. 😊

P. S.
If you can't make it to Dallas, there are 14 other locations across the country throughout the year!
http://gfafexpo.com/locations/

Susie Cakes... great cakes for everyone!

On Saturday, November 5, I walked into a new bakery that I thought was only going to be for those who can eat gluten. Happily, I was mistaken.

This bakery is a wonderful place that makes cakes, cupcakes, and cookies in flavors that offer something for everyone with readily available gluten free goodies.

WELCOME TO WEST PLANO, SUSIE CAKES!

Here is their website: http://susiecakes.com/  Check it all for all their locations and treats! They are eager to take, bake, and make your special orders.

I tried their naturally gluten free 'Flourless Chocolate Cupcake'... decadent, dense, moist dark chocolate cake is topped by luscious buttercream with tasty (high-quality) sprinkles.  It's the best gluten free cupcake I've eaten in North Texas to date. And, you can serve it to your whole family or bring a half-dozen as an amazing hostess gift.

There is so much more to tell... but here are a few pictures (and I'll save the thousand words.)