In the Lap of Gluten Free Luxury

The title of this post came to me while in Florida visiting family this past week. I could write about the white sugary sand beaches, the tropical green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and go on and on about the fun we had fishing on a fantastic charter boat, but all I really want to write about is FOOD! I spent five days in what can only be described as the lap of gluten free luxury. When traveling, things become unknown as far as food options unless you do your homework. I admit I did not give food a lot of thought before going to Florida. To me, Florida meant fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, all gluten free options. I really did not consider a whole pantry full of gluten free packaged goods. But that is exactly what I found when we arrived.

I felt as if I had been gently dropped onto my own personal gluten free island. Brownies, crackers, chocolate wafers oh my! There were so many options I had to bring some home before even trying them. My favorite products were Sam Mills Gluten Free Corn Pasta, and Glutino Sans Gluten Free Wafer Cookies.

Sam Mills Gluten Free Corn Pasta came as such a surprise to me. I had always been told when buying gluten free pasta to buy a rice variety. I have had success with rice brands, but Sam Mills has made me a believer that rice has some competition. There were seven people at our dinner table, only two follow a gluten free diet. Everyone loved the pasta. In fact the hostess (who is not on a gluten free diet) said she will buy Sam Mills from now on. The texture and taste cannot be beat. Best of all No Sticking!

Glutino never ceases to amaze. People who complain that gluten free food is bland with no flavor haven't had anything from Glutino. They make pretzels, crackers, cookies, wafers, bread and much much more. Today, I am writing about the Milk Chocolate Coated Wafers. Crispy wafers layered with chcocolate and deliciously dipped in yes, more chocolate. In appearance they remind me of something I ate as a child, but in taste they are so grown up. I see these gems on a dessert platter at a cocktail party or yes at your five year old's birthday bash!

P.S. The fish, fruit and vegetables were just as I thought, plentiful and mouthwatering. Many thanks to my family and to Florida for the southern hospitality I could get used to :)

Nosh & Enjoy Life

I must admit since being diagnosed with celiac disease I bake and cook more at home. Not just out of necessity, but taste too. My family and I really enjoy homemade food. That being said, I also enjoy the convenience of packaged goods especially when they taste oh so good.

Recently I joined a book club and everyone knows that book clubs usually share more than an interest in literary works, they share food. I like to bring snacks, yes so that I know there is something I can nosh that is safe, but I enjoy introducing gluten free foods to folks who may not know how delicious they can be.

That brings me to Enjoy Life Foods . To date, I have only had snack bars and cookies, but what I have had leaves me wanting to try more. For example the No-oats Oatmeal cookies and the Snickerdoodle cookies, yum! At the meeting of my last book club a friend brought the brownie cookies. Right away I noticed a significant change for the better. The brownies are now called "Soft Baked" Double Chocolate. Wow, what a difference! They are soft and moist. I have not had the Snickerdoodle or No-oats Oatmeal variety since the improvements, but I want to.

RECIPE TIP:
These cookies are delicious as is, but if you want to take them to the next level. Smear a generous tablespoon of your favorite frosting onto one of the cookies and then sandwich them by placing another cookie on the frosting. Oooo la la! (pictured above)

Not only have a friend and I brought these Enjoy Life "sandwiches" to book club; I have also sent them into my son's classroom as a treat. There is always someone who does not require a gluten free diet inquiring how to get a hold of these cookies.

I have spent so much time writing about the cookies I haven't mentioned the snack bar variety: Caramel Apple, Cocoa Loco, Sunbutter Crunch, and Very Berry. I recommend you try them all. Sunbutter Crunch is my favorite.

Enjoy Life Foods prints "Eat Freely" on their packaging and that is exactly what they have helped us to do. Congratulations Enjoy Life, you are now listed under the Top 20 products on Gluten Free and You. For those who don't know this label indicates my top 20 favorite gluten free products and/or brands. If I were diagnosed today these are the foods I would want to know about.

My All Time Favorite Cookie

 












Chocolate chip cookies are my all time favorite cookie. I have found that Pamela's Chocolate Chip Cookies made with her Baking and Pancake Mix are simply the best.

Recipe tips: My secret is using white and semi sweet chocolate chips.  I also use about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie, I like them large. It makes less per batch, but I always double the YUM by doubling the recipe! Walnuts are optional. I have never put them in, so if you do, let me know what you think .
The following recipe is from the back of the baking mix bag. SWEET!

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix
1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips  (I use 1 1/2 cups semi sweet chips and 1 1/2 cups white chips)
1/2 cup chopped walnut (optional)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla

Yields approx. 20 cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cream butter and sugar, add egg and vanilla, then beat together. Add Pamela's Mix, chocolate chips and nuts, then mix thoroughly. Place scoops of dough (1 TBSP scoop) onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for fifteen minutes or until edges start to brown.  Let cookies cool slightly and use a spatula to remove from cookie sheet.

Finally prepare to amazed by what I think is the best chocolate chip cookie on the planet.