Gluten Free Casein Free Little Chef's Product Review Debut! So Delicious Almond Milk Products 03/14/2012
When So Delicious announced their new almond milk products and asked if I would try them, I was disappointed. Don't misunderstand. I absolutely LOVE cooking and baking with So Delicious coconut milk products. I use them almost daily. I knew their almond milk products would be delish, too! But I'm allergic to nuts. That's where the disappointment comes in. I really wanted to conduct this review so I could share a brand new, good-for-you product with you. Just as I was writing an email to Denise at So Delicious to decline, it occurred to me... These new almond milk products would be terrific for Little Chef! After all, they're full of 9 essential amino acids and 5 grams of muscle-sustaining protein in every 8-ounce glass! Pretty awesome, isn't it?! Then I thought, maybe Little Chef was the one to conduct this review since she's gluten free and casein free, but can eat nuts. So, with blessings from So Delicious, it was only a matter of days before Little Chef was digging into these yummies... And now, she's ready to tell you all about them! 10 Comments  Tealish ~ Artfully crafted gourmet teas When was the last time you had one of those weeks? You know the kind... the kind where it seems you have more to do than there are hours in a day. I had that kind of week last week. By the time the weekend rolled around, I was way ready for a relaxing cup of tea (or two!) and perhaps something a little stronger later! Uncommon Goods ~ Find Anything but Ordinary 06/11/2011
 Uncommon Goods is the perfect place for one-of-a-kind eco-chic gifts! Brooklyn, NY-based Uncommon Goods is one online store you must consider adding to your "A" list! Their tag line, "Find Anything but Ordinary", says it all. One quick scan through their offerings I know you will agree... Are you looking for a gift? Something for yourself? Consider the two unique, eco-chic wine accessories I tried...  This double-walled carafe keeps cocktails at the perfect temp! I adore this insulated Happy Hour Carafe for keeping summer drinks cool! It's perfect for lemonade, wine, or your favorite chilled cocktail. The possibilities are only limited by the imagination. It's a fantastic, eye-catching addition on any summertime table!  Pretty and functional... Rosemary Lemonade stays cool in my Happy Hour Carafe! Now, my guess is you have a savory gluten free appetizer to pair with that cool cocktail! Try presenting it on this 100% recycled glass Wine Bottle Platter. It's the perfect, colorful summertime serving dish.  The ideal serving dish for appetizers & sides! Let's not limit ourselves to just food... imagine covering it with candles to illuminate your dining experience! You may need to get yourself two of these beauties... one for the food and one for the decorations!  Makes the perfect tray for candles! At Uncommon Goods gifts for wine lovers are only the beginning. This special online boutique carries everything from home decor to jewelry to educational children’s games! It's one of my go-to places to find one-of-a-kind treasures! Don’t forget Father’s Day... you’ll love all the distinctive and fantastic gifts for men! ~g~ Won’t you meet me back here tomorrow for Sipping Sunday? I’ve got a trio of summer flavors that I can’t wait to sip & share! See you then… xo, Gigi  Is YOUR detergent allergen free? I’m not sure what was more shocking. Was it the teen shriek or the fact I forgot to buy laundry detergent? Detergent was on the list. Of course, the list never made it to the market. At least I remembered to buy beets. In my teen’s defense, I promised to have her white shirt washed and ready for date night. There would be no date without the white shirt. It’s the only one that goes with the indigo skirt. There would be no time to run out for more detergent. The night would be ruined. One innocent lapse in memory would end the romance of the ages. Because of me, the world would have to settle for lesser romances… Like that of Will and Kate. Then, as fast as I had ruined her life, I rescued it. I remembered the box in my basement office. Inside, No Gluten Natural Girl Products awaited my review. One of those products was... LAUNDRY DETERGENT!  From top, clockwise: Sourdough Boule, Onion Caraway, Cinnamon Raisin, & Flax Millet Once told they must adopt a gluten free lifestyle, most people realize a major dietary obstacle: finding delicious gluten free bread. Appearing as toast with jam for breakfast, a vegan sandwich for lunch, or a basket of rolls with dinner, bread makes an appearance multiple times each day on most tables. Seems there may be a degree of truth in that English saying, Bread is the staff of life. The right bread certainly can be a staff on which one rests their health. And that right bread just may be gluten free. That's because gluten free breads tend to incorporate novel flours such as millet and sorghum, both of which are whole grains containing a multitude of vital nutrients. In a recent conversation with a 35-year veteran of the grain industry, I learned about the unique properties of grains such as these and how important they can be to achieving optimal health. Finding quality breads that incorporate healthful grains rich in macrominerals like magnesium and phosphorus is essential for the newly diagnosed gluten free eater, especially if there is a diagnosis of Celiac Disease. I strongly believe that consuming the right nutrients can lead to a much faster healing of a gluten-ravaged gut.  Smart Treat breads - packaged with care to insure that they are bakery fresh upon arrival! While I enjoy baking, there are those occassions when it's nice to rely on the convenience of a quality ready-made bread when time is short. Because I know you're busy, too, I decided to conduct some research to find a product that we can trust. And that is how I found Smart Treat bakery just outside Asheville, NC, where Bonnie and Chef Brian are baking up fresh gluten and allergen free bread for you! It’s ready to ship from the bakery to your front door! Smart Treat bread will not arrive frozen, so you can dig right in and have that sandwich you’ve been missing (I did!). I sampled several varieties of bread from Smart Treat, and when my new friend, Dorothy (she handles Smart Treat customer care like she's taking care of her own family) asked which is my favorite, I couldn't choose just one! These are my findings: Flax & Millet slices have a smooth texture and mild flavor, making the perfect partner for your favorite fruit spread or nut/seed butters. Toasted and cut into triangles, this bread substitutes for pita wedges - I enjoyed it with roasted red pepper hummus! Cinnamon Raisin bread and a cup of coffee or tea will get you off to a terrific start each morning! Moist and full of plump juicy raisins and plenty of cinnamon flavor, this bread is fabulous on its own; however, if you prefer something more substantial, try this: slather warm slices of the bread with sunflower seed butter (or nut butter) and top with finely grated carrot and thin slices of apple. The kids will be begging for this healthy sandwich! Onion Caraway bread has the mild flavor of sweet onion and the perky zip of caraway seeds throughout, lending just the right amount of flavor to your lunchtime sandwich! The Sourdough Boule will complement your favorite gluten free Italian meal! The dense, yet tender, crumb of this pure white round is ideal for toasting and pairing with a roasted garlic spread, then dipping in your favorite marinara. It also makes a grilled (vegan) cheese like no other – the slices toast to a golden brown in the skillet with a crisp outer crunch, while remaining soft inside. Smart Treat didn’t stop with bread! They’ve got you covered for dessert, too!  Krispies & Brittles...you will not believe these treats are allergen free! From Krispies to Brittles to cookies, there’s an option for everyone! I tried Chocolate Brittle, Apricot Raspberry Krispies, and Vanilla Macaroons. The rest of the family sampled the Lemon Cookies (they contain soy, so I wasn’t able to taste those). Although my family supports my blog and reads every post, I’m hoping they will skip this review. I have a confession: I hid the Vanilla Macaroons. I tucked them behind the 2 large cans of roasted red peppers in the pantry, and I ate one each and every day until they were gone. It wasn’t my intention at all. I share. Usually. The macaroons were an exception. I even melted dairy and soy free chocolate and enrobed the macaroons. You have no idea. These little rounds of coconut goodness are currently in first place on my list of favorites. With their moist texture throughout, an abundance of finely grated coconut, and more flavor than any purchased treat I’ve ever eaten, I will be placing my order soon!  Vanilla Macaroons & Lemon Cookies All of the Smart Treat products that I tried were completely delish! The Lemon Cookies were gone in 2 days. There were so many openings and closings of the pantry door, I finally left the container on the kitchen counter. Little Chef dipped hers in milk and they held up beautifully, which surprised me because Mr. GFGigi commented on how delicate they are and their “buttery” tenderness. I didn’t bother telling him they are totally free of anything remotely close to butter. Why bother? One more confession: I hid 2 pieces each of the Chocolate Brittle and the Apricot Raspberry Krispies. If you try them, you'll understand Want your own secret stash? Visit Smart Treat on the web! And take my advice, order extras... Complimentary samples provided by Smart Treat bakery did not influence the opinions expressed in this review. Perhaps the a-MAY-zing part of this month is how quickly it's racing past me.  With week 3 now a sweet memory, I'm eager to charge on for the final full week of May and make it our best yet! Did you have a look at my review of Indie Candy? If not, check it out to see where you can find fantastic allergen-free, natural gourmet confections!  Want a little spice to balance that sweet? Check out my review of Zatarain's New Orleans style rice mixes ~ 20 varieties, all gluten-free. Go ahead, get your N'awlins on! And congrats to Cheryl F., who won the giveaway! But we didn't stop with a taste of New Orleans...  we kicked up our heels in the Med, delighting in the enticing flavors of Greece with this vegetarian menu...   A tremendous week indeed! But I say we can top it! Coming up next week, I've got new product reviews for you, a peek at where I spent my Sunday, and our best giveaway yet! I've partnered up with my pals at JoyBauer.com to be able to give 4 of you a gift that will help you stay on the path to optimal health! I cannot wait! See you then! xo, Gigi  Free of the BIG 8 allergens, Indie Candy is THE place for your sweet tooth! I thought it was time I gave you a treat. You deserve one - for following along, for reading, for your valuable feedback via the comments. You are why I'm here, and I adore you all!  Dark Chocolate Teddy Bear Pop, Mango Gummies, Watermelon Lollipop And even though it's not possible for me to give you an actual treat, I can share a product review with you for my new favorite "naturally gourmet sweets". Only the best for you, baby!  Indie Candy is Little Chef approved! Teddy was the 1st to go! These exceptional treats can be found at Indie Candy in Mountain Brook, Alabama, where gourmet, allergen-free confections are hand-crafted in-house by people who understand food allergies and gluten intolerance because they deal with these issues personally.  Here's a little allergy-free LOVE for you! And to make it even sweeter, Indie Candy also procures the highest quality allergen-free candies available on the market from other independent makers that may be difficult for some of us to locate. You will be dazzled by these gorgeous edible works of art, and the taste will sweep you right off your feet! Real fruit flavors, mild rich dark chocolate...these candies are much more than sweet nothings! All in-house artisan cadies are produced in a dedicated facility and are free from the Big 8 allergens. You will also find candies suitable for a variety of diets, including GFCFSF, vegan, and Feingold friendly. All products used in the Indie Candy kitchen are also certified Kosher , and most are organic! Now, isn't that sweet? You can find them on the web: Indie Candy Natural Candy Store or you can visit them at 73 Church Street in Mountain Brook, AL between 10am - 6pm Monday through Saturday. Indie Candy specialty seasonal offerings are available at the following vendors: Whole Foods Markets Southeast Navan Foods Squirrel's Nest Thank you to Indie Candy for providing complimentary candy samples for review. All opinions expressed in this independent review are my own. Congratulations to Cheryl F., who won this giveaway! The giveaway is now closed  Over 20 GF options to help you jazz up your next meal! You already know that I don't stock a pantry full of "quick to fix" mixes, but lately, some excellent gluten-free options have come to my attention, and I can't help but share them with you! It's a wrap! An a-MAY-zing Week 2 ~ Recap! 05/13/2011
 Organic strawberries from the garden! We've packed a ton of gluten-free temptation into this week, so I thought you might want an easy-to-access recap...here we go!  White & Walnut-Date Bread ~ fantastic GF artisan breads! The internet is a wonderful tool. It allows us to connect with people and places we would otherwise never meet or experience. Remeber that first post about our a-MAY-zing month together where I told you we would experience gluten-freedom by exploring international dishes from native cooks? Well, without the internet, this would be nearly impossible. For example, I'd never have met my new across the pond friend, Lorraine, co-owner (with her daughter, Jenni) of The Cake & Crumb, an artisan bakery in County Monaghan, Ireland. | 
 
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