Review: Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cooking

When I was offered the opportunity to review this cookbook, I jumped at the chance.  General Mills and Betty Crocker were some of the first mainstream grocery providers to initiate gluten-free lines. They seem to have a commitment to making gluten-free products affordable and widely available. I have enjoyed their gluten-free website, Live Gluten Freely, which includes recipes, product information, online shopping, and gluten-free blogs.  I was hoping that this cookbook might include some of the recipes on the website.  It does, and much more.

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cooking offers recipes for what I would consider basic comfort food.  Recipes are coded “easy,” “quick,” and “low fat.”  It would be a good book for someone who is a novice cook or new to the gluten-free diet. The photographs are gorgeous!  Most of the recipes are very-kid-friendly.  Those that do include dairy are easy to adapt for our dairy-free kiddos.

I was particularly impressed that Betty Crocker contracted with Silvana Nardone, author of Cooking for Isaiah: Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy and Delicious Meals who wrote the forward and Jean Duane, author of Bake Deliciously! Gluten andDairy Free Cookbook.   Both of these great GFCF cooks submitted recipes for the book.

The introduction to Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cooking offers an overview of the basics of gluten-free cooking and Celiac Disease. I was amazed at the amount of information packed into a few pages and written in an easy to understand style.  Topics covered include nutritional considerations for those on the gluten-free diet, sources of gluten, tips for working with GF ingredients, tips on dining out, and how to read labels.

Although some of the recipes call for Betty Crocker Gluten-Free mixes, many do not.  Several use Silvana Nardone’s Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour Blend, or Juan Duane’s Gluten-Free Quick Bread Mix (recipes for both are included).

The appetizers are delightful, easy, little bites; such as Basil and Roasted Red Pepper Bites, Greek Salad Kabobs, and Bacon-Wrapped Figs.  There are a couple of recipes using Rice Chex, such as Italian Chex Mix and Chili and Garlic Snack Mix. Ginger-Rice Crunch was the favorite at our house, which includes banana chips, almonds, peanuts, dried cranberries and coconut.  Several of the appetizer recipes call for cheese, but you could substitute casein-free cheese in most cases, or just leave the cheese out.

The breakfast section features Silvana Nardone’s Hazelnut Streusel Coffee Cake recipe, several variations of "bacon and egg” recipes (frittatas, quiches, scrambles).  The main course selections include many kid-favorites, such as pizzas, meat loaf, and chicken pot pie. The Prince loved “Ultimate Chicken Fingers” which uses GF Bisquick (the recipe calls for parmesan cheese, but I omitted it and replaced the butter with Earth Balance buttery spread).  For more adult tastes, the Champagne Shrimp Risotto and Chickpea and Tomato Curry were easy and delicious.  I also was happy to see a simple recipe for Cranberry-Orange Stuffing which uses cornbread and a gravy recipe.

The bread and dessert chapters, in my opinion, are the best in the book.  Duane and Silvana’s expertise shines here.  Duane’s quick bread mix is the basis for several yummy recipes, such as Cinnamon Raisin Bread, Applesauce Quick Bread, and Gingerbread-molasses Flax Muffins.  All of Duane and Silvana’s recipes are GFCF, so you do not need to worry about converting ingredients.  There are two scone recipes and even one for doughnut holes!  Banana bread, sandwich bread, pretzels, there is a recipe for any kind of bread, muffin, or roll that you can imagine!

The dessert section is decadent!  Duane’s Chocolate Snack Cake with Creamy Butterscotch Frosting is a knockout.  The Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake is super easy and delicious (I used Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese in place of the Cream Cheese). Nardone’s Blueberry Pie with Cornmeal Crust looks fabulous, though I have not tried it yet, but I will.  There are several berry pies which have innovative crusts.  I happen to love crisps and Duane’s Apple-Cranberry Crisp is easy to make and Prince-approved.  There are several brownie, cookie, and cookie-bar recipes.  I am looking forward to trying Nardone’s Peanut Butter and Jam cookie bar recipe.

If you are looking for gourmet fare, this book may not be for you (you might enjoy Barbara Kafka's  The Intolerant Gourmet, but that is another post!).  But if you are looking for easy to prepare, every day meals for busy school nights, this book is for you.  I was very impressed and can tell I will use these recipes quite a bit.  I highly recommend it and am grateful to Betty Crocker for pulling this together.  I know it will benefit many families facing the challenges of cooking without gluten and casein.

Betty Crocker Gluten-FreeCooking retails for $19.99 but it is currently on sale for $14.99 if you purchase it here.  If you are trying to decide if this book is for you, check out the recipes at Live Gluten Freely here, and Duane and Nardone’s websites, here and here.  If you like what you see, you will love this book.

Bob's Red Mill Birthday Club

Bob's Red Mill has long been a favorite of GFCF Mommy and many with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance.  The company has more than 70 gluten free and casein free flours, cereals, baking mixes, and grains.  Their website is a terrific resource for gluten-free information and recipes.  They also have gluten free "start-up kits" with samples of their gluten-free products that you can read more about here.

I was delighted to learn that Bob's Red Mill has partnered with Autism Speaks to create Bob's Red Mill Birthday Club.

Here's how it works:  if you are interested in signing a child up for the birthday club, go to this link at Autism Speaks.  With a donation of $30 made to Autism Speaks through the link, you can register a child for the club. The birthday child will receive Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Vanilla Cake Mix, a recipe card puzzle, a child-sized cooking apron, and a measuring cup.  The kits are limited to the first 1,000 people who sign-up.

"As a leader for the past 30 years in providing safe and delicious gluten free and casein free products, we saw Bob's Birthday Club as a way to enhance the birthday celebrations of autistic children who are on gluten-free diets," said Dennis Gilliam, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Bob's Red Mill.

South Florida Autism Parents: Check Out The PlayGround Theatre's Sensory-Friendly Performance!

Brochures with a picture-story study guide describing what to expect when you attend a theater performance are available. Use these with your children prior to the event to prepare them for the experience.  The theatre will provide modifications to sound and lighting, noise-cancelling headsets, and a quiet room with GFCF snacks and staff from UM-NSU CARD, our local university autism resource center. Tickets are only $5. For tickets and additional information, contact Judy Litt at The PlayGround Theatre, 305-751-9500.

The PlayGround Theatre was the first in the State of Florida to present a shadow performance where specially trained American Sign Language Interpreters performed as "shadows" on stage alongside the Company's actors.  They have an innovative and comprehensive approach to making a live theatre performance accessible for all children.  Special accommodations are available so children with sensory, motor, cognitive, and other developmental challenges can enjoy the performance, giving them a sense of empowerment and inclusion.  Now, they have created a special program for children with Autism and Sensory Integration Disorder.

The Prince, Professor, and I will be there, along with my local parent posse, and we will be bringing The Prince's Autism Service Dog, Annie too!



GFCF Diet Rule Number One: NO CHEATING!

I was reminded recently that the first rule of being on a gluten-free, casein-free diet, or any other diet required for allergies or other health reasons, is don’t cheat.   I am suffering terrible “Mommy Guilt” as a result and wanted to share our experience as a cautionary tale.

 The Prince has not had a gluten infraction in years; neither has the Professor, or myself.  We all have varying degrees of gluten-sensitivity and Celiac Disease runs in my family as well as the Professor’s, so we are cautious. I write this blog, for heaven’s sake!  I know better!

But while on vacation, skiing in beautiful Crested Butte, Colorado, in an effort to grab a quick lunch in order to spend more time on the mountain, we ate at a fast food place on the mountain, designed to feed hungry skiers en masse.  I ordered a hamburger, no bun, and fries for the Prince.  I forgot to ask if there was a dedicated fryer or if the fries were coated in flour.  We went back to skiing and had a fun afternoon.

That night was not fun, however.  The Prince woke us up crying because he had terrible diarrhea. It was only then that I realized my mistake.  My poor little guy was really suffering and it was all my fault.  The Prince usually does not have problems with cross-contamination, but I believe that was the case this time.

Although he felt better the next day, The Prince was afraid to eat anything unless I cooked it. I indulged him in this for a day, but decided we needed help calm his fears.  I told him it was my fault for not asking the cook about how the food was prepared.  So we made a reservation at one of the pricier slope side restaurants and I asked the chef to come to the table.  He was very accommodating and made a big deal over Eric, made him feel special, and that really made the Prince feel safer.

However, due to my mistake, the Prince is still having some tummy troubles, even a few weeks later.

So I am repeating this, as a public service to all GFCF moms and dads, DON’T CHEAT, EVER! 

 

Allergy Watch Label: Innovative Idea by Conrad Foundation's Spirit of Innovation Finalists

Sarah and Jan McCarl, two enterprising young high school students from Utah, wrote me and asked me to help them promote their project, Allergy Watch Label, which is a finalist in the Conrad Foundation's Spirit of Innovation Competition in the Health and Nutrition category.

Because their father has Celiac Disease, they know firsthand how confusing food labeling can be.  They came up with this graphic which allows consumers to view at a glance if a product is safe for them to consume.

You can read more about their idea on their website, Allergy Watch Label where you will find links to their Facebook and Twitter pages.

If you like the idea, please vote by March 23, 2012, for Allergy Watch Label on the Conrad Foundation's Spirit of Innovation Competition website, here. 

I am very impressed with these young women and their desire to make food labeling safe for all of us.  They are also very savvy about the use of social media as a marketing tool.

Good luck, girls!

And the Winner of the Publix, "Best Meals Happen at Home" Giveaway is...

And the lucky winner of a Publix $25 gift certificate, chosen at random by The Prince is...Mami2jcn!  Please email me your name and address and I will forward it to the good folks at MyBlogSpark.com who will mail it directly to you. 

Thanks again to Publix, General Mills, and MyBlogSpark.com for making this giveaway possible.

Publix: Best Meals Happen at Home Event

I have always shopped at Publix, but have become an even more loyal customer now that they are making a concerted effort to label shelves containing gluten-free items with a blue “GF” sticker.  My local store does this in every department and it is really helpful.  While many health food stores do this, and some grocery store chains have health food sections, I really appreciate having the labels at Publix.  I have also found that the manager at my store is very open to product suggestions, so do not be afraid to speak up if there is something you would like them to carry. As I am sure you have noticed, gluten-free is the new hot thing, we are a sought-after target market, thus giving us power; although many of us were gluten-free before gluten-free was cool!

Because I am so loyal to Publix, I agreed to publicize their “Best Meals Happen at Home” event, being held March 8-14, with coupons valid through March 28, 2012.  Be on the lookout for in-store coupons for General Mills products, many of which are gluten-free, such as Progresso Soups, Gluten-Free Betty Crocker Mixes, Gluten-Free Bisquick, and more.  You can sign up to receive recipes and coupons at BestMealsatHome.com. All recipes are easy to make in 30 minutes or less. Note:  these recipes are not necessarily gluten-free, though they are pretty simple to adapt andI figure one can always use coupons for products you regularly purchase.  I have always been grateful to General Mills for having the business sense to create gluten-free versions of their products, and to launch Live Gluten Freely, a website with blogs, tips, recipes and gluten-free products available for purchase online.

In addition, I am a big believer in the importance of eating family meals together.  Even though the “Best Meals Happen at Home” campaign is a marketing event, I think the message is sound.  For those of us with food intolerances and allergies, it is a necessity to cook for ourselves to be sure we know the safety of the ingredients we are using.

In appreciation for telling you about this event, Publix, General Mills, and MyBlogSpark have graciously provided me with a $25 gift card to offer as a giveaway to one lucky reader.  In the comments section please tell me about a special moment or a funny moment you shared during a family meal at home.  As usual, The Prince will draw a name at random on March 15 when I will post the name of the lucky winner.