Category Archives: Review

Book Review: Celia and the Glue Man

I don’t often get asked to review something outside of the food/ beverage world. I was recently asked to check out a wonderful gluten free children’s book titled Celia and the Glue Man: A Girl’s Journey to Becoming Gluten-Free and Happy by Maggy Williams.

As a Director of a very special Celiac Camp for kids I am very sensitive to the many levels Celiac Disease impacts a child’s life. Beyond the health issues and pain of being sick these kids need to deal with always being different, often feeling left out in activities when food is involved. Having to double check before eating and often remember to bring food just in case something is not avalaible makes being spontaneous almost impossible. This book does an outstanding job of showing the many challenges. “Celia” the main character  learns to navigate learning what to eat and the consequences of making the wrong choice by using the image of an imaginary glueman monster as the “gluten”. This book truly paints the full picture of what gluten free kids deal with but all in a fun, easy to read  very colorful read. 

If you have a gluten free school age child I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this wonderful book. Check it out today on Amazon.

Teasia Coffee Review + Small Batch Cold Brew Recipe

Coffee is my fuel every day. I have tons of favorite coffee creations – iced coffee, espresso, macchiato and most importantly cold brew. I have worked in many cafés in the past and truly have a good sense of when coffee is super fresh. This is the key to a good cup of coffee. Freshness from the producer, freshness from bean to grind and freshness from brewing.     

Teasia reached out to me again to sample a new product they are now carrying: single origin coffee. This product is high quality, roasted in small batches and sourced from single producers by country. Origins include locations from Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and a few other countries..

I sampled flavors from Nicaragua, Segovia, Malawi and Costa Rica. All three types are bold, smooth, rich and clearly top quality coffee. I personally feel that the best way to sample a really great bean is using it for a cold brew. By brewing the coffee only in cold water and not exposing it to any heat, it reduces the acid and also avoids the flavor change that occurs when heating grounds. Cold Brew coffee really allows you to taste coffee for what it really is. If done well, sugar and milk may not be needed because the final product is great and the taste is smooth and rarely harsh.

I have included my small batch cold brew recipe below. Feel free to adjust depending on how strong you like your coffee.

Want to give Teasia coffee a try? Check them out on their website here http://teasia.com/our-teas-shop.aspx or Facebook http://www.facebook.com/teasiateas .

Cold Brew

Supplies:

¾ cup freshly ground Teasia Coffee

4 cups water

1 nut milk bag (coffee filter and funnel can be used in a pinch if needed)
Start by adding the fresh ground coffee to the nut milk bag. If you do not have a bag, pour coffee directly in to the container. Next, place the nut bag or grind into a beverage container or pitcher that holds at least 6 cups of liquid or more. Then pour the 4 cups of water into the container slowly mixing with the beans. Seal the container and store in the fridge for at least 24 hours. When complete, remove the bag, squeeze out any extra liquid and discard the grinds. If you are not using a nut milk bag, slowly filter the grinds out using the coffee filter and a funnel.

Serve over ice and enjoy!



Rise Buddy

Some of my readers know that I am the Lead Chef at Camp Celiac every summer. One important part of that role is to spend time finding great products to have at camp that campers will love and may not be aware of. I was recently approached by Rise Buddy to try an outstanding snack product.

Rise Buddy is a healthy snack option when your looking for something salty, savory and fun. Its easy to find gluten free crackers on the market but hard to find one that comes in fun flavors and shapes. They taste similar to a normal cracker but are made from whole grain 100% brown rice. They come in four great flavors including sea salt, BBQ, Sour Cream and Onion and my favorite PIZZA!!

Rise Buddy Healthy Snacks Have it ALL:
Gluten-Free
Trans-Fat Free
Over Baked, Not Fried
Education Smart Snack Approved
Whole Grain from Brown Rice

Buy them online today!! Shop NOW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Brea Bakery Bread

A good, sliced gluten-free bread is the hardest thing to find in the gluten-free world. Many of us just stick to one of the few name brands we see in stores but most of them are never that great. I recently received samples from La Brea Bakery. This is an outstanding product and available to buy online!

 La Brea Bakery is the #1 selling artisan bread company in the country. La Brea Bakery created award-winning gluten free breads that taste different than most other options available.

They offer two outstanding flavors.  A classic white that is soft with a thin crust. Also a multi-grain that is soft on the inside with a nutty crust. You can find more about each option here . 

I have sampled a great number of gluten free sliced bread and this product clearly stands out. Has all the characters a gluten-free eater is looking for. The flavor of both option is spot on tasting clean and full of fresh baked flavor. Quality is spot on, clearly coming from an artisan company and not a mass produced item. Slice size is nice, not to big or small, great for toast or sandwich. No air holes in the slices which is always important and hard to find. Both options have an actual crust that has its own character and is part of the loaf. Texture soft, smooth, fluffy and not chewy at all. Toast’s up great and hold’s up to anything I have put on it yet. 

Where to buy:

Amazon Fresh 

Find Store Locations Here

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Teasia Tea

I always love to review new products, but practical products are always my favorite to sample. K-cup machine’s have become staple in many households. Easy to use, easy to clean and always ready when you need it. K-cup machines are not just for coffee anymore they make a great cup of tea. I was recently sent a case of k-cups from the Teasia company. It included a wonderful mix of both decaf and caffeinated tea’s. No need to mess with the teabag or with looseleaf teas, just brew a k-cup just like you would coffee. The best part is k-cups can be reused so that they each make 2 great cups of tea.

Teasia Tea makes a line of natural teas from the highest quality ingredients with no artificial additives or chemicals. Teasia strives for purity, integrity, and authenticity in all teas with a goal to create a healthy alternative beverage to enjoy guilt-free in the most convenient form.

Check them all out here http://www.teasia.com/index.aspx

The flavors are all wonderful. Each is nice and smooth with a full flavor profile. I would have to say my favorite was the Chamomile Mint and Rose Black.
Do you want to win a mix of some of these great teas? All you need to do is leave a comment on this post or Facebook of why you would like to try Teasia and then follow them at one the social media links below:

www.facebook.com/teasiateas

www.instagram.com/teasiateas

www.twitter.com/teasiateas

www.pinterest.com/teasiateas

Tag them #teasiateas

Below are the prizes for 3 winners for the giveaway! Giveaway Dates 12/1- 12/20

1 box Jasmine Green Tea (36 count)

1 box Chamomile Mint Tea (36 count)

1 box Floral Variety ( Jasmine Green Tea, Rose Black Tea, Rooibos Lemongrass Tea, Chamomile Mint Tea) 36 Count

U.S. Winners Only, One Per Household, Winner will be Chosen at andom

 


Type of Tea Caffeine Level*
Black Tea 60-90 mg
Rose Tea 60-90 mg
Roasted Oolong Tea 55-80mg
Oolong Tea 50-75mg
Jasmine Green Tea 14-60 mg
Green Tea 35-70 mg
Rooibos Lemongrass Tea -None
Chamomile Mint Tea- None


General estimates of caffeine per 8 oz cup. Second brew will naturally have lower caffeine levels.

Loeb’s Crunch

Who does not love something crunchy? A crunchy snack, crunchy coating on meat, crunchy salad or sandwich topping. Finding gluten-free options can be limited. Well Loeb’s Crunch has done it! They have created a line of gluten-free ingredients / toppings that will take your next meal to a whole a new level.

I recently sampled three of Leob’s Crunch gluten-free all-natural products including quinoa crunch, onion crunch and jalapeno crunch. The onion crunch reminded me instantly of green bean casserole on thanksgiving. The jalapeno crunch was my husbands favorite topped on gluten-free quinoa mac&cheese and zesty guacamole. My favorite of them all was the quinoa crunch. I have salads everyday and a handful of these little puff balls make any salad something special. I found myself snacking on them all week. Croutons tend to be greasy, dense and lack flavor but quinoa crunch was light, crunchy, full of flavor and fun to eat.

Pick a bag up at a store near you. Loeb’s crunch can be found at Walmart, Shoprite, ACME, HEB and many more stores. Find them near you at: http://loebscrunch.com/store-locator

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Visit the site: http://loebscrunch.com/ to learn more.

First Fresh Chicken Sausage Review

I am always happy to review new gluten-free product that are something special. Recently, I received a sample of  delicious Chicken Sausage.

Sausage is one of those items that can have hidden gluten. Between the seasoning, flavors and outer casing it is important to read labels and ask questions. The family that created this product has experience with Celiac Disease first hand and have created a product that is both completely gluten-free and healthy. Chicken sausage has 78% less fat then the tradition products on the market. Made with a short list of real ingredients:

Ingredients: Chicken breast filet, chicken skin, water, contains less than 2% of: salt, spices, natural flavorings, dextrose, sodium citrate, sodium diacetate, packed into a collagen casing.

It browned well and was great both on its own and in a simple tomato sauce. The flavor of the herbs and spices really was evident.

Check out there website and find a location to pick some up:

Our Sausage

SUNWARRIOR Review

Shakes have become my healthy meal option on the go. After a good workout or running out the door, my daily routine includes a nutritious shake of some kind. Adding protein to a shake can be difficult since many of the powders on the market are filled with junk and not gluten-free.

Sunwarrior is a clean plant based protein and natural supplement option. Sunwarrior offers a large selection of products with items the are raw, organic or all-natural. Can’t beat an option that is gluten-free, soy free, non-gmo, dairy free and vegan.

Many different options are available:

Classic Protein is made from fermented brown rice. This simple formula is suggested for those with food allergies and our more granola customers.
Warrior Blend is a synergistic combination of pea, goji berry, and hemp proteins with the bonus of medium chain triglycerides from coconut. Warrior Blend has a slightly better amino acid profile and includes the anti-inflammatory power of coconut to speed recovery.

Classic Plus relies on brown rice, pea, quinoa, chia, and amaranth for ancient grain goodness without the gluten or carbs. It has a similar amino acid profile to Warrior Blend, but a slightly different texture and flavor.

Read more about this product or buy online at: https://sunwarrior.com/store/

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Fresh n’ Lean Food

Tons of new meal deliver options continue to pop up. Complete meals, pre-packed and ready to go. Being gluten-free it is hard to take advantage of most of these options. Luckily the need for gluten-free and more healthy options is becoming clear. Fresh n’ Lean Food delivers prepackaged, ready to eat meal directly to your door.

All of Fresh n’ Lean meals are organic, gluten-free, plant based, vegan and all natural. The meals come in containers that food can be heated in.

A convenient and affordable option. $27.99 for a full day of meals. Choose individual meal options or go with a pre-made menu.  Options include granola, oatmeal, pasta, lentils, quinoa, rice dishes and much more. Check it some options here: https://www.freshnlean.com/weekly-menu-2/

To get started visit Fresh n’ Lean online: https://www.freshnlean.com/order-fnl/