products

Gluten-free products will be your best friend. There are some amazing packaged products out there that will make your life so much easier. To find these products, check your local health food stores, like Windmill Farms, Keil’s, SproutsBoneys or Jimbo’s here in San Diego, as well as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. But typically, you may also find many of these products at Ralph’s, Kroger, Fred Meyer and Safeway.  It’s probably easiest to check the link to the product below and you can locate a store that way. Here is a list of my favorites.

Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix
A staple in my kitchen, this mix makes delicious, light, fluffy pancakes and wonderful muffins and scones. My entire family are devotees of Pamela’s Products. Most of Pamela’s mixes contain potato starch, which is a problem for those of us with nightshade issues. Purchase bulk at Amazon, or your local health food market.

Tinkyada Pasta
Tinkyada produces the best rice pasta I’ve found. I’m hoping one day they’ll do an organic version, but in the meantime, this is a favorite with my kids. I’ve had people tell me they could tell no difference between this and traditional pasta (especially with a meaty red sauce or a flavorful pesto on top).  I prefer the fusilli and the elbow macaroni. This is good for people with nightshade allergies.

bionaturae Pasta
I personally can’t eat this because it contains potato starch, but my family absolutely loves this and can’t tell the difference between this and the “real” thing. You can buy it at Whole Foods and even your traditional supermarkets. Buy it bulk at Amazon.

Bob’s Red Mill Organic Quinoa
If you like the texture of couscous, you’ll love quinoa. Originating from the Andean region of South America, quinoa provides more protein than any other grain. I like to buy Bob’s because I can get it bulk at Costco.

Ancient Harvest Organic Quinoa Flakes
If you like a hot, creamy breakfast, Ancient Harvest provides a great alternative to oatmeal. It cooks quickly and served with a drizzle of agave some fresh fruit, is a nutritious and hearty breakfast. Ancient Harvest is a good source for any kind of organic quinoa.

Udi’s
A real treasure. It looks, tastes and smells like “real bread.” Udi’s white and whole grain sandwich breads are wonderful and the bagels are a treat for anyone who hasn’t had a one in a few years.

Brown Rice Tortillas
These have grown on us…now we’re addicted. They don’t keep long because there’s no preservatives in them (happily), so keep them in the fridge. My kids love one of these wrapped around turkey or chicken as an after school snack. With eggs and bacon inside, they’re a quick breakfast to go. Trader Joe’s hit a home run with these.

Nana’s
I absolutely love Nana’s cookies. Sweetened with fruit juices, they melt in your mouth. They’re all good, but lemon and ginger are my absolute favorites. My son’s too. They come in  a variety of shapes and sizes and some are pre-wrapped to be thrown in the lunch.

S’moreables Graham Style Crackers
Kinnikinnick makes these and although they don’t taste much like a traditional graham cracker, they are a great vessel for peanut butter and banana or marshmallows and chocolate.

Trader Joe’s Nutty American Trek Mix
This is a great snack that I love because German-owned Trader Joe’s uses really good chocolate. Don’t get me wrong, all the ingredients are just right, with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, but the chocolate is worthy of cherry-picking. Plus, I like any food manufacturer with a sense of humor. Nutty American?

Gluten Free Pantry Perfect Pie Crust by Glutino
Wonderfully flaky and light, this is fairly easy to work with. When I rolled it out, the dough broke a bit and required some patching, but the flavor and texture are just right. Opening a door I once considered shut, the options are endless with seasonal fruit and custards if you can tolerate dairy. Glutino makes lots of products, but I think this is my favorite. I bought mine at Whole Foods.

123 Gluten Free Biscuits
I made a batch of these up and before I could get a photograph, my kids and their friends inhaled them.  These are the REAL deal. I couldn’t believe how flaky they were and how high they rose. The picture on the front of the 123 Gluten Free Biscuit box is a true representation of what you get. I know, I’m gushing, but these are amazing. I got them at our local Keil’s Market, but Whole Foods now carries this brand. Or just go to your local market and beg them to order for you. Seriously.

Pamela’s Baking & Pancakes Mix and Pamela’s Chocolate Cake Mix
Pamela’s got these just right. Her mixes are my best shortcut. The pancakes are amazing and the Chocolate Cake Mix make wonderful cupcakes. I buy this bulk at Amazon. It is Gluten-free but contains a small amount of milk. For GFCF, try their Cornbread & Muffin Mix.

Shabtai Gourmet
If you can’t find a retailer near you, send one of these delicious desserts to that special loved one with food allergies, or take a break from the kitchen yourself and order these delicious GFCFSF, kosher treats treats online at Shabtai Gourmet. For a flat fee of $5.95 per order, Shabtai will ship anywhere in the U.S. At a recent tasting, the Raspberry Roll was a hit with both kids and adults. The vegan Florentine Lace Cookies were the other clear adult favorite, while the little ones went crazy for the Swiss Chocolate Roll.  The BonBons (also vegan) got a thumbs up from those of us with an admitted sugar tooth.