Is Dominoes Pizza Chain's Gluten Free Crust Safe to Eat?

While the gluten free community is always looking for new gluten free dining options, the first priority is figuring out if the foods offered are safe to eat. The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) has released a statement regarding the release of Dominoes Pizza chain's effort to introduce gluten free pizza crust.  Here is an excerpt from that statement: "While GIG appreciates Domino's desire to offer a gluten-free pizza, we do not feel the effort put forth demonstrates a true commitment toward making a safe environment for producing gluten-free food."  To read GIG's entire statement regarding Dominoes gluten free crust on Examiner.com click here.

I trust GIG's opinion on gluten free restaurant safety; based on their statement I personally will not be purchasing the Dominoes gluten free pizza for my daughter who has Celiac Disease.  I find it unfortunate that Dominoes does not understand the need for adequate cross contamination practices when offering gluten free food to its customers.

Review: Exotic Gluten Free Simmer Sauces from Saffron Road

I enjoy preparing from scratch home cooked meals for my family, but on especially busy weeknights I sometimes use a few prepared foods to help speed up the process.  Prepared foods typically contain less than healthy ingredients, so I opt for all natural products such as the new gluten free Simmer Sauces from Saffron Road.

Saffron Road’s gluten free Simmer Sauces come in four flavors, each a unique taste of world cuisine.  My family had the pleasure of sampling the following simmer sauce flavors, which I am happy to report are also dairy free:

A light sauce with the authentic Thai flavors.  

A slow simmered sauce bursting with exotic flavors. 

Indian flavors in a slightly spicy sauce with peppers and authentic spices.  

My family agrees that Saffron Road's new gluten free Simmer Sauces are delicious and very fresh tasting.  I intend to keep a supply of them in my pantry for quick and tasty weeknight meals!

Note:  Most of Saffron Road’s products are certified gluten free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO), including all four Simmer Sauces.  Saffron Road is proud to offer certified Halal cuisine.

Celiac Awareness Music Video!

Thanks to Kate from the Gluten Free Gobsmacked blog for posting this fun Celiac awareness music video; it's a parody of Simon & Garfunkels song Cecelia. Enjoy!

Consumer Alert/Product Recall: Jelly Belly Deluxe Easter Mix (contains gluten!)

Beware... Jelly Belly Deluxe Easter Mix candies are being recalled due to the fact they were made with undeclared wheat.  The candies are falsely labeled gluten free.  The recalled product was distributed nationwide.

Details:

Assortment of seasonal Peter Rabbit Deluxe Easter Mix “Gluten Free” candies
2.7 ounce bags
UPC number 071567992794
Lot codes of:

11111, with Best Before date of January 11, 2013
111215, with Best Before date of February 15, 2013
Lot code 120120, with Best Before date of March 20, 2013

The Jelly Belly Candy Company of Fairfield, California initiated the recall.  The reason for the recall is that the Deluxe Easter candy mix contains wheat and malted milk balls, which contain gluten.

If you have a question or need more information, contact Jelly Belly Customer Service at 1-800-323-9380 from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm PST (Monday through Friday).

Review: Madrid Coffee Cakes - Naturally Gluten Free!

A small family bakery in Massachusetts called Madrid Bakery had so many customers praising their nutty, gluten free, dairy free, all-natural coffee cakes that they became their best selling item.  In fact, so many of their loyal customers asked if they would ship their coffee cakes to loved ones across the United States that they created Madrid Coffee Cakes to accommodate them!

Madrid Coffee Cakes is a family operation that takes great pride in utilizing traditional European methods and recipes; they actually make all of their cakes from scratch. All of their delicious gluten free coffee cakes are baked to order, to ensure maximum quality and freshness.

Madrid Coffee Cakes are gluten free, "Prepared using special isolated methods and with special care taken to exclude "hidden" Gluten, making any of our coffee cakes appropriate for those eliminating Gluten from their diet for nutritional or intolerance reasons." 

Madrid Coffee Cakes use thousand year old European coffee cake recipes, that just happen to be Gluten Free. This is why they taste so much better than cakes that have been made with revised recipes to try to make them taste like "regular" cake.

In addition to be gluten free Madrid Coffee Cakes are also dairy free and "Free of ingredients with "trace" casein. They are prepared using special isolation procedures and are appropriate for those eliminating dairy from their diet for milk allergy and lactose intolerance reasons. and 100% natural, made with no preservatives, artificial colors, or artificial flavors!" 

How do they taste?

I had out of town house guests staying with me and decided to serve a Chocolate Hazelnut Coffee Cake form Madrid Coffee Cakes for dessert.  The cake was packaged in a lovely gold tin with the Madrid Coffee cake logo on it, which made a nice presentation for my guests - they knew they were being served something special. 

The coffee cake was moist, had a wonderful nutty flavor and was not overly sweet, which we all appreciated.  The cake held up beautifully to slicing and didn't crumble. The chocolate chunks in the cake complimented the flavor with out being overwhelming, and we all agreed it was delicious.  So delicious in fact that the next evening there was nothing but crumbs left in the gold tin, thanks to my Dad and his sweet tooth!  My guests are not on gluten free diets and they gave the cake rave reviews, as did my family.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was not compensated for this review. I received complimentary product for review purposes from the product company and/or their PR agency. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are solely my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Rudi's Gluten Freebies Giveaway... Cameras, Toasters, & Other Prizes!

Throughout February, you can log on to the Rudi's Gluten-Free Facebook page each day and enter for the chance to win terrific prizes like a Cuisinart toaster, a Kodak digital camera, Rudi’s Gluten-Free products, Crofter’s Organic jams and other awesome prizes to celebrate gluten-free life!

In the meantime, definitely check out the Rudi's Gluten-Free website for information on their delicious gluten free line of bakery products.  You can also check out Rudi's Gluten-Free store locator to find their products at a store near you.

Best of luck!

Review: Lucy's Gluten Free Cookies - Three New Flavors!

Valentine's day is approaching! Instead of spending hours searching for allergy-friendly Valentine's candy for your loved ones, why not consider offering safer sweets with Lucy’s cookies? If you haven't had the pleasure of tasting them yet, Lucy’s cookies are delicious treats that are gluten-free, vegan, and made without milk, eggs, peanuts or tree nuts, but they taste like "regular" cookies! My favorite thing about Lucy's cookies (beside the great flavor) is the airy crunch; these cookies truly hold up beautifully when dunked in your beverage of choice.  

There are seven different flavors of Lucy's cookies to choose from, including the new Chocolate, Maple Bliss and Ginger Snap varieties. I am happy to report that there are only 120 calories for three cookies, so you and your Valentine can ditch the guilt and enjoy these delectable treats together. My favorite flavor is the Chocolate, but I am also quite partial to the Maple Bliss... decisions, decisions. :-)

I feel good knowing that Lucy’s cookies are made in a dedicated bakery where they use the best available testing methods to exclude specific allergens: gluten, milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts.

Who is Lucy?  "As an M.D. and mother of a child with severe food allergies, Dr. Lucy Gibney brings understanding and a first-hand knowledge of the importance of strict quality standards and how to achieve them. With clear ingredient and allergen information on our packaging and careful selection of all raw materials, we employ the very best methods for quality control."