Book Review: Celia and the Glue Man

I don’t often get asked to review something outside of the food/ beverage world. I was recently asked to check out a wonderful gluten free children’s book titled Celia and the Glue Man: A Girl’s Journey to Becoming Gluten-Free and Happy by Maggy Williams.

As a Director of a very special Celiac Camp for kids I am very sensitive to the many levels Celiac Disease impacts a child’s life. Beyond the health issues and pain of being sick these kids need to deal with always being different, often feeling left out in activities when food is involved. Having to double check before eating and often remember to bring food just in case something is not avalaible makes being spontaneous almost impossible. This book does an outstanding job of showing the many challenges. “Celia” the main character  learns to navigate learning what to eat and the consequences of making the wrong choice by using the image of an imaginary glueman monster as the “gluten”. This book truly paints the full picture of what gluten free kids deal with but all in a fun, easy to read  very colorful read. 

If you have a gluten free school age child I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this wonderful book. Check it out today on Amazon.

Teasia Coffee Review + Small Batch Cold Brew Recipe

Coffee is my fuel every day. I have tons of favorite coffee creations – iced coffee, espresso, macchiato and most importantly cold brew. I have worked in many cafés in the past and truly have a good sense of when coffee is super fresh. This is the key to a good cup of coffee. Freshness from the producer, freshness from bean to grind and freshness from brewing.     

Teasia reached out to me again to sample a new product they are now carrying: single origin coffee. This product is high quality, roasted in small batches and sourced from single producers by country. Origins include locations from Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and a few other countries..

I sampled flavors from Nicaragua, Segovia, Malawi and Costa Rica. All three types are bold, smooth, rich and clearly top quality coffee. I personally feel that the best way to sample a really great bean is using it for a cold brew. By brewing the coffee only in cold water and not exposing it to any heat, it reduces the acid and also avoids the flavor change that occurs when heating grounds. Cold Brew coffee really allows you to taste coffee for what it really is. If done well, sugar and milk may not be needed because the final product is great and the taste is smooth and rarely harsh.

I have included my small batch cold brew recipe below. Feel free to adjust depending on how strong you like your coffee.

Want to give Teasia coffee a try? Check them out on their website here http://teasia.com/our-teas-shop.aspx or Facebook http://www.facebook.com/teasiateas .

Cold Brew

Supplies:

¾ cup freshly ground Teasia Coffee

4 cups water

1 nut milk bag (coffee filter and funnel can be used in a pinch if needed)
Start by adding the fresh ground coffee to the nut milk bag. If you do not have a bag, pour coffee directly in to the container. Next, place the nut bag or grind into a beverage container or pitcher that holds at least 6 cups of liquid or more. Then pour the 4 cups of water into the container slowly mixing with the beans. Seal the container and store in the fridge for at least 24 hours. When complete, remove the bag, squeeze out any extra liquid and discard the grinds. If you are not using a nut milk bag, slowly filter the grinds out using the coffee filter and a funnel.

Serve over ice and enjoy!



Gluten Free Fudge Brownie

I cannot believe I have been making brownies from a box all this​ time. This recipe is super easy unbelievably delicious. No one would ever guess that they’re gluten free. 

Ingredients:

1 stick melted butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup gluten-free flour

3 eggs

3/4 cup coco powder

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Start by combining melted butter and sugar well. Add vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda and flour then mix until combined. Next, add three eggs and continue to mix. Finally, add coco powder and chocolate chip. Combine all ingredients and pour into a square baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Enjoy!

Rise Buddy

Some of my readers know that I am the Lead Chef at Camp Celiac every summer. One important part of that role is to spend time finding great products to have at camp that campers will love and may not be aware of. I was recently approached by Rise Buddy to try an outstanding snack product.

Rise Buddy is a healthy snack option when your looking for something salty, savory and fun. Its easy to find gluten free crackers on the market but hard to find one that comes in fun flavors and shapes. They taste similar to a normal cracker but are made from whole grain 100% brown rice. They come in four great flavors including sea salt, BBQ, Sour Cream and Onion and my favorite PIZZA!!

Rise Buddy Healthy Snacks Have it ALL:
Gluten-Free
Trans-Fat Free
Over Baked, Not Fried
Education Smart Snack Approved
Whole Grain from Brown Rice

Buy them online today!! Shop NOW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New England Clam Chowder

With a big snow storm in town and temperatures low, it is a great time for a big pot of a good creamy soup. New England clam chowder is a great classic very easy to make.

Ingredients:

2 large potatoes (peeled and chopped)

8oz clam juice

4 stalks celery (chopped)

3 medium carrots (peeled and cut into rounds)

1 onion

2 teaspoon pepper

3 tablespoon butter

1/3 cup flour

32 oz chicken broth

1/4 cup white wine

1 bay leaf

2 teaspoon garlic powder

38oz chopped clams with juice

1 1/2 cup half & half

In a small pot start by boiling potatoes in clam juice. In a large pot melt butter and cook carrot, celery and onion. Once onion starts to become translucent add pepper and flour. Mix until combined. Add broth and bring to a simmer. Now, add wine, bay leaf, garlic and half&half. Continue to cook for 5 minutes and then add clams with juice. Cook an additional 5-10 minutes until soup is at a low boil. Serve hot.

La Brea Bakery Bread

A good, sliced gluten-free bread is the hardest thing to find in the gluten-free world. Many of us just stick to one of the few name brands we see in stores but most of them are never that great. I recently received samples from La Brea Bakery. This is an outstanding product and available to buy online!

 La Brea Bakery is the #1 selling artisan bread company in the country. La Brea Bakery created award-winning gluten free breads that taste different than most other options available.

They offer two outstanding flavors.  A classic white that is soft with a thin crust. Also a multi-grain that is soft on the inside with a nutty crust. You can find more about each option here . 

I have sampled a great number of gluten free sliced bread and this product clearly stands out. Has all the characters a gluten-free eater is looking for. The flavor of both option is spot on tasting clean and full of fresh baked flavor. Quality is spot on, clearly coming from an artisan company and not a mass produced item. Slice size is nice, not to big or small, great for toast or sandwich. No air holes in the slices which is always important and hard to find. Both options have an actual crust that has its own character and is part of the loaf. Texture soft, smooth, fluffy and not chewy at all. Toast’s up great and hold’s up to anything I have put on it yet. 

Where to buy:

Amazon Fresh 

Find Store Locations Here

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Teasia Tea

I always love to review new products, but practical products are always my favorite to sample. K-cup machine’s have become staple in many households. Easy to use, easy to clean and always ready when you need it. K-cup machines are not just for coffee anymore they make a great cup of tea. I was recently sent a case of k-cups from the Teasia company. It included a wonderful mix of both decaf and caffeinated tea’s. No need to mess with the teabag or with looseleaf teas, just brew a k-cup just like you would coffee. The best part is k-cups can be reused so that they each make 2 great cups of tea.

Teasia Tea makes a line of natural teas from the highest quality ingredients with no artificial additives or chemicals. Teasia strives for purity, integrity, and authenticity in all teas with a goal to create a healthy alternative beverage to enjoy guilt-free in the most convenient form.

Check them all out here http://www.teasia.com/index.aspx

The flavors are all wonderful. Each is nice and smooth with a full flavor profile. I would have to say my favorite was the Chamomile Mint and Rose Black.
Do you want to win a mix of some of these great teas? All you need to do is leave a comment on this post or Facebook of why you would like to try Teasia and then follow them at one the social media links below:

www.facebook.com/teasiateas

www.instagram.com/teasiateas

www.twitter.com/teasiateas

www.pinterest.com/teasiateas

Tag them #teasiateas

Below are the prizes for 3 winners for the giveaway! Giveaway Dates 12/1- 12/20

1 box Jasmine Green Tea (36 count)

1 box Chamomile Mint Tea (36 count)

1 box Floral Variety ( Jasmine Green Tea, Rose Black Tea, Rooibos Lemongrass Tea, Chamomile Mint Tea) 36 Count

U.S. Winners Only, One Per Household, Winner will be Chosen at andom

 


Type of Tea Caffeine Level*
Black Tea 60-90 mg
Rose Tea 60-90 mg
Roasted Oolong Tea 55-80mg
Oolong Tea 50-75mg
Jasmine Green Tea 14-60 mg
Green Tea 35-70 mg
Rooibos Lemongrass Tea -None
Chamomile Mint Tea- None


General estimates of caffeine per 8 oz cup. Second brew will naturally have lower caffeine levels.

Gluten Free Dump Cake – Easiest Cake Ever

Finding an great crowd pleasing gluten-free dessert is not easy. I have been reading dump cake recipes for a long time but finally gave it a try with my own gluten-free redo. 

Ingredients:

1 20 oz can cherry pie filling ( I used a low sugar option but make sure it is also labeled gluten free since this product often contains food starch)

1 15 oz can crush pineapple (drain and save the juice)

1 box gluten-free vanilla cake mix 

1 stick butter

Start by adding the cherries and drained pineapple into a deep square baking dish that is well sprayed with non stick cooking spray. Next, slowly top with one pack of cake mix speak evenly across the fruit and pressed down a bit. Then, sprinkle about 3 tablespoons of pineapple juice over the top. Finally, evenly distribute pieces of the butter all over the top of the cake. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-65 min or until golden brown on top. Serve hot with ice cream or whip cream. Enjoy!!!!

Confetti Bars

Looking for a fun Halloween treat? Looking for something different? This treat is it. Similar to a rice crispy treat but packed with color and fruity flavor. With fruity pebbles now being labeled gluten-free this is a safe a addition to your next get together or exciting lunch box addition.

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons salted butter

26 marshmallows

8 cups Fruity Pebbles Cereal (make sure the box says gluten-free)

Use a large pot because mixing the cereal can get very messy. Start by melting the butter over medium heat in the pot. Once melted, add the marshmallows and continue to cook over low to medium heat. Mix slowly until butter and marshmallows are fully melted and combined. Be careful not to burn or carmalazie the mixture. Once melted, remove from heat and add cereal to pot. Gently combine the mixture. Pour mixture into baking dish and gently press down. Any size dish works depending on how thick you want to cut the bars. Let mixture cool in pan for 45 mins. Finally, cut into bars or fun shapes. Enjoy!!

Loeb’s Crunch

Who does not love something crunchy? A crunchy snack, crunchy coating on meat, crunchy salad or sandwich topping. Finding gluten-free options can be limited. Well Loeb’s Crunch has done it! They have created a line of gluten-free ingredients / toppings that will take your next meal to a whole a new level.

I recently sampled three of Leob’s Crunch gluten-free all-natural products including quinoa crunch, onion crunch and jalapeno crunch. The onion crunch reminded me instantly of green bean casserole on thanksgiving. The jalapeno crunch was my husbands favorite topped on gluten-free quinoa mac&cheese and zesty guacamole. My favorite of them all was the quinoa crunch. I have salads everyday and a handful of these little puff balls make any salad something special. I found myself snacking on them all week. Croutons tend to be greasy, dense and lack flavor but quinoa crunch was light, crunchy, full of flavor and fun to eat.

Pick a bag up at a store near you. Loeb’s crunch can be found at Walmart, Shoprite, ACME, HEB and many more stores. Find them near you at: http://loebscrunch.com/store-locator

crunch 2 crunch

Visit the site: http://loebscrunch.com/ to learn more.