GFIW: True Lemon/Lime, Aug. 1, 2011

This is my favorite thing to add to my water, after real fruit. I first discovered these from the dietician at the University of Chicago Celiac Center. True Lemon makes these packets one can add to water to make water more interesting, and not so boring. The best part is that they contain nothing artificial, or sweeteners...unlike so many other ones I see on grocery store shelves. This is just dried citrus fruit, and that's it! These packets come in lemon, lime, orange and now grapefruit and they are all gluten-free..whoo hoo!!

I always add these to my water, even my water I bring to the gym, when I get myself there. Lime is my favorite.

Please note...these can be tough to find at the grocery store. I usually find them in the baking aisle or near Jell-o. I have also seen them with the tea and coffee. Maybe because these can be used in recipes and flavorings. But if you go in the aisle with beverages and you see the countless other packets that artificially flavored and sweetened and you do not see these, do not despair, check the baking aisle, tea/coffee, or ask someone who works at the store.

GFIW: Wellshire Farms uncured pepperoni, July 24

I am not much of a meat eater, but my daughter loves her pepperoni pizza, so this is what we use, since I try to think of it as "happy" meat. And I definitely have my share of pepperoni slices as I make her pizza (oops, and yum). Wellshire Farms has loads of gluten-free items. For a complete list, check out this page on their web site.

Giveaway: Joy Bauer's Food Cures

Recently, Joy Bauer's people contacted my people (meaning me), and asked me if I would like to review her new book and offer 2 copies as a giveaway. How fun! Getting food, in a giveaway. is always nice, but it is also nice and a much longer-lasting gift when it is something that can help us with that food we are eating.

As many of us can agree, being gluten-free does not necessarily mean that we are eating healthier. I am the first to admit, that since eating gluten-free, I am eating many more refined grains and probably more processed foods. Bad me. But I have been trying hard to fix that.

This books spells it out in simple terms how we can not only reach our weight-loss goals but how to eat in order to feel better and look great. This book also has sections addressing readers who have certain conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, cataracts and macular degeneration, celiac and PMS among others. With recipes, shopping lists and helpful tips particular to each condition, she approaches each of these in easy-to-follow 4-step programs.

Step 1 - Learning the basics of the specific condition/issue

Step 2 - Making a grocery list

Step 3 - Going above and beyond with extra tips

Step 4 - Suggested meal plans

Of course, I flipped straight to the celiac section. I thought it had a nice general overview for someone getting started, or for someone to learn about it because of friends and family members. She also lists easy to follow recipes and snack ideas which I love.

The one thing that stuck out at me was that she tackles the issue of oats and the issue of cross-contamination and also how some people who are new to being gluten-free can not yet handle oats. Great. But then she goes on to say that McCann's Irish Oats are safe. I was surprised when I read this, so I looked on their website, and sure enough they say they cannot guarantee they are 100% gluten-free due to the possible risk of cross-contamination in the supply chain with other grains. Personally, I love oats, but stick with Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats.

Ok, now for the fun part...I have 2 books to giveaway.

In order to enter the giveaway, please:

1. Leave a comment to this post about what healthy change you would most like to make;

2. "Like" Gluten-Free Musings on Facebook;

3. Follow me on Twitter;

4. Post a tweet announcing this giveaway including the tag @gfreemusings, with a link to this post.

I will randomly choose two winners on Monday, August 1, at midnight, and announce the winner on Tuesday, August 2nd.

The contest is only open to US residents.

Good luck!

Joy Bauer, is the nutrition expert for the Today Show and Yahoo.com, and monthly weight loss columnist for SELF magazine. She has built one of the largest nutrition centers in the country, with office in Manhattan and Westchester County, New York. Her clientele includes high-profile professionals, celebrities, Olympics gold medalists, and the New York City Ballet.

Small disclaimer

I just wanted to interrupt my regular musings with a small disclaimer. I don't normally do many reviews on my blog. Usually, I will write reviews on celiac-disease.com, but the same disclaimer stands there as well. I am always thrilled to receive samples from companies of their new products, and am happy to review them. With that being said, I feel it is important to say it like it is. I want to be honest about my opinions, because that is what I would want to read of a review.

I know some who try products to review and if they don't like it, they just don't review it, but then, what is the point? I understand every product comes from the love and passion of an individual, a company wanting to help out the gluten-free community, and I get that. But I also feel it is important to improve the quality of gluten-free offerings and not just settle, and that is why it is important to be honest and credible. Products and services won't improve unless we say what we really think.

When I come across something new and I search online for reviews, I want to know what people really thought. I don't want to spend $10 for a cookie to find out it is really hard and tasteless.

Basically, the point if this post is to say I will always be honest. If I like, if I love something I will be happy to shout it out. If I am not feeling it, I will say that too. Everyone has different tastes, so one thing I may love, someone else may not and visa versa. I just wanted to point out I will always be honest about my opinions whether I purchase the item myself, or it is given to me for free.

Genius has landed, but.......

...there's a catch, read on...

Having friends and family in England, I hear lots about what gluten-free goodies they get to indulge in, and it can sometimes make me extremely envious (mince pies, people!!). I kept hearing about this gluten-free Genius bread, and how delicious it was, and how even the Starbucks across the pond was providing gluten-free sandwiches with it in their shops. Why doesn't our Starbucks carry gluten-free sandwiches????? (ok, that is a whole other topic which I won't get started on right now.)

When my mother-in-law came to visit in May, I begged her to bring me a loaf of this hyped-up bread, and it definitely lived up to its name. Before my mother-in-law had her bags unpacked, I was scarfing down a slice..and another, and....

So, when I found out shortly after that, Genius was coming to grace us yankees with their fabulousness, I was ecstatic!

The Genius people over here were nice enough to send me a loaf to try out, and as soon as that sucker arrived on my door-step, I was knocking out sandwiches for a pool picnic that afternoon.

I happened to also have a loaf of Udi's on hand, so let's compare....

Hmm......

And... (Genius is on the right)

I loved how Genius was bigger, and fluffier, and there was more bread per loaf than my current love, Udi's. I hate to admit, but Udi's had been disappointing me lately with bread that just seems dry. I still buy it, but I have felt the need to try other breads for the past few months. Though, I am still a very loyal fan of their bagels and pizza crusts!

I loved that with Genius, I could have a normal size sandwich! Making sandwiches with Udi's sometimes feels like I am eating a mini sandwich...and if you cut the crusts off for a little one...well, then they are really mini.

But....look what happens when I spread the Nutella on my bread (see below)....the bread came off with the Nutella! Total disappointment. The bread would not stay together. It was light and fluffy, but I think it was actually too light and fluffy. It is as if it was too airy. I guess too much of a good thing, can be a not so good thing. M and I also tried to make grilled cheese and egg sandwiches with it, thinking maybe if it is toasted it will work better. Well, that didn't really help either. It still fell apart when we tried to flip it.

My excitement over the US launch of Genius bread has been brought down a bit. I have contacted their people and will let you know when their people get back to me. Let's hope it is just a glitch in the system that needs to be worked out. The US Genius is being made, and distributed, on this side of the pond by Glutino.

I really wished it was the same as the UK version. That one did not fall apart, and made perfect grilled cheese sandwiches.

Genius bread will be available nationwide in the freezer section in August. For a more complete breakdown of the new US Genius bread, and how it compares to Udi's, see my review here.

GFIW: Stubb's BBQ sauce, July 18

This week's product is Stubb's BBQ sauce. It says GF right on their sauces and marinades!

Get grillin'!

Yeah! Burger: Where's the bun??

**update 7/25/11**

I heard back from Yeah! Burger's marketing person today, after following up on the new bun. She had said the other week that she would bring this up at the next management meeting. She responded saying that they owners decided to stick with Rudi's for now.

I found this really disappointing, as 1) it is not local; and 2) frankly, I just don't like it. the bun does absolutely nothing for me. The Pure Knead bun made the whole burger taste fabulous, but the Rudi's bun tastes like a burger on a once frozen, dry bun. Blech. It was great while it lasted though.

If I go back I will definitely go bunless. Though I think it is time to check out Farm Burger where they still use Pure Knead.

C'est dommage :(

-------------------------------------

Most locals in Atlanta have heard of Yeah! Burger, and if not, they should. This is the place that basically transformed me back into a meat eater. The first time I had one of their burgers I was giddy. I forgot how good a hamburger could be. And the best part...they serve gluten-free buns, French fries and onion rings!!! They are very conscious about the gluten-free diet, super friendly and love to show them my support. I can't say enough about them.

This month their special is a lamb burger, so I had to go and try it, and I know I shouldn't, especially being a previous non-meat eater, but it was so good! However, what totally caught me by surprise is that their tasty gluten-free bun, has been switched to something not nearly as good. What happened?? Where was the good gluten-free bun, I had come to love, which was baked by local gluten-free bakery Pure Knead?? Unfortunately, I wasn't crazy about the fries this time either..they were thicker, which I did like, but tasted really bland compared to previous times, like someone forgot to season them.

I asked them what happened, and it seems they have switched to Rudi's multigrain buns. I am extremely disappointed to say the least. The Rudi's bun was tough and just tasted blah. Ema Carr, Yeah! Burger's marketing and communications manager said that the owners thought the Rudi's bun tasted more "authentic". I am not sure what this means, but I just don't like it. And for a place that is very into sourcing local foods, Rudi's is definitely not local. Others may think it's great, but I definitely miss my Pure Knead bun. And I am definitely not going to pay an extra $1.25 for the pleasure of the Rudi's bun next time.

I have heard lots of great things about Farm Burger in Decatur, which is probably even closer to me. But for some reason I haven't gone there yet because I know they don't offer GF fries, but really...do I need fries, when I heard they have boiled peanuts! And, they do carry Pure Knead buns. I think I may have to give in, and finally give them a try!

I don't mean to diss Yeah! Burger...my daughter and I really do heart them, but without loving the entire burger package, I am just not craving it like I used to.

Fellow Atlantans...who do you prefer...Yeah! Burger or Farm Burger, and why?