Nick's Pizza, Subs and Pasta Review

Local Restaurant/ Deli Nick's Pizza, Subs and Pasta!

This local restaurant located on Chili Ave is wonderful. The pizza is delightful, the desserts are to die for and the service is fantastic. I really enjoy the selection of gluten free items that they offer. They have: pizza, breads, rolls, desserts, chicken parm and pasta to choose from. Some  of the meals are frozen so that you can take them home and bake in the oven or you can call ahead for pizza. By far my favorite thing on their menu would be their almond cookies.

The atmosphere is very personable, family like and the owner is very friendly. They take great pride  in their gluten free items and their safety which is very important to me. I would recommend their Deli to anyone in the Rochester area :)

Check out their website!

http://www.nicksdeliandpizza.com/Gluten.html

Happy Labor Day

Photo Source: Google

Happy Labor Day my Yummies!

Lets talk about holiday safety!!! If you're like me, the food at parties can get overwhelming. You're not sure what is what and who made which items let alone if any are gluten free. Well, don't be afraid to ask! Don't be afraid to be the first one to grab your food and don't feel embarrassed. If you do, then just avoid the food all together... This is something that I've dealt with and have been embarrassed about for a long time. Now, my friends and family always set food aside for me and know what is considered "safe" in my book. It's really important to have those aware and understand the importance of your health!
So, on this Labor Day, enjoy some good food, friends and family!

Angela

Just going to ramble a bit

Hi my Yummies,

I'm just going to ramble a bit. The past few weeks have been quite challenging as I've mentioned before, I have been battling some personal health issues. I'm still dealing with them and haven't really been able to play as much as I've wanted to in the kitchen. I have some plans for this weekend which I'm really looking forward to! I'm going to be making a banana cream pie for the holiday party. There is going to be so much food there I look forward to writing about it!
On a side note... I get to start making baby food this month and I am just beyond excited. It's so hard to believe my baby is almost 6 months old! I am going to start a mini series on baby food making and I'm hoping to find some good recipes for him.
I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend and enjoy the sun! Summer is almost over!

Happy Cooking,

Angela

Product Review

Photo Source: Google

Hi my Gluten Free Yummies!

Best invention in the world! I have tried the Chocolate Chip Cookies and Pizza Crust. This review is of the cookies. I will be posting about the pizza crust very soon...
These cookies were fantastic. When I think of chocolate chip cookies, these are what I think of. They had a great texture and consistency, they weren't gritty or dry. They were very moist and tender. I have purchased these two times now. I will continue to purchase them and keep them in my fridge for when I'm in the mood for cookies and don't really feel like making them from scratch. The online site has a few different recipes you can try with the different products! There is also a coupon on the website to save $1.00! This is the website for the Pillsbury Gluten Free.
http://www.pillsbury.com/products/gluten-free?nicam1=PAID_SEARCH&nichn1=GOOGLE&nipkw1=pillsbury%20gluten-free&niseg1=BRAND_GlutenFree

Give these a try!! So yummy and pleased with this product!

Enjoy!

Recipe Review! Zucchini Bread

I found this recipe online so I thought I'd alter it a bit and make some zucchini bread because we had a TON of zucchini! My husband and I loved this bread! Now, I have altered this a bit but you will find my notes either italicised or with ** next to what I've done differently! So easy to make! Here is the link to the website:
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/zucchini_bread/
This Zucchini Bread was amazingly moist, sweet and flavorful. It reminds me of fall, the aromas of cinnamon with nutmeg and the warmth of the bread right out of the oven. So delicious. I would make this again and not change a thing!

Zucchini Bread Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 cups grated fresh zucchini
• 2/3 cup melted unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• Pinch salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour**
• 1TSP Xanthan Gum
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)**
• 1 cup dried cranberries or raisins (optional)**

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter two 5 by 9 inch loaf pans.
2 In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in the grated zucchini and then the melted butter.
3 Sprinkle baking soda and salt over the mixture and stir it in. Add the flour, mix in Xanthan Gum and add that a third at a time, stirring after each incorporation. Sprinkle in the cinnamon and nutmeg over the batter and mix. Fold in the nuts and dried cranberries or raisins if using.
4 Divide the batter equally between the loaf pans. Bake for 55 minutes (check for doneness at 50 minutes) or until a wooden pick inserted in to the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks to cool thoroughly.

Yield: Makes 2 loaves.

** I used Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Gluten Free Flour and White chocolate chips!!! I don't like walnuts, cranberries or raisins in my baked goods most of the time so I just omitted those!
Again, I found this recipe online at simplyrecipes.com! It was very easy to convert gluten free!

Enjoy!
Happy Baking!

Angela

Product Review

Schar Gluten Free Rolls:

These are my favorite go to gluten free rolls! Actually, this brand is amazing. They are soft, and moist with a nice crust on the end. They hold burgers well and don't fall apart as long as you use the oven. It is imperative to bake these for just 5 minutes in the oven. If you don't they will fall apart in crumbles and be dry. I don't know about you but, I don't like dry buns! I have yet to be disappointed in this brand of products. They are quite pricey, about $5 for 4 rolls. So we don't get them too often! They're a real nice treat for us when we do!

I hope you give them a try and enjoy! They were awesome with my sloppy joe recipe! :)
If you missed that recipe, you can find it here:
http://glutenfreeforyummies.blogspot.com/2013/08/sloppy-joe.html

Angela

Sloppy Joe

This is my take on a Sloppy Joe! Just a few ingredients that you more than likely would have on hand! This is an affordable, amazing meal that costs just a few dollars.

One pound ground beef
One 4oz can tomato sauce
1/2 Cup mushrooms
2TBS ketchup
2TBS Worcestershire sauce (it's important to check to be sure it's gluten free)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Ground beef, drain fat
Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes. Yep, that's it!
Serve on top of a gluten free roll, with green beans and mashed potatoes or your favorite sides.

Where have you been???

Hi my Yummies,

I am so sorry I haven't posted in a few days. Things have been very rough around here lately. I've been having some personal health problems which have made me less than able to cook much. So, we've been haven't been eating anything worth talking about around here.
Have no fear, I am doing much better now and have a few new reviews coming up this week along with some new recipes!
I am happy to be back in the kitchen after a much too long battle of these health issues!!
Happy Cooking!!

Angela :)

Biscotti Recipe

Biscotti, they pretty much mean twice baked cakes! These biscotti are amazingly delicious and not too difficult to make. My family enjoys anise flavored biscotti but you can really use this recipe for any flavor you'd like.

2 1/2 C Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
1 TBS baking powder
1 TSP Xanthan Gum
1 pinch of salt
6 Eggs
1 1/2 C White Sugar
6 TBS vegetable oil
1 1/2 TSP anise extract
1 Package dark chocolate chips

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees
Lightly grease 9x13 pan
In a medium bowl add; flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt. Sift to remove lumps, set aside
In a large mixing bowl beat eggs until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar 1/2 cups at a time. Beat for 3 minutes on high. Stir in vanilla, vegetable oil and anise extract.
Fold in dry ingredients.
Spread into pan
Bake 26 minutes. Or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove from oven 20 minutes until cool enough to cut.
Cut into 1/2 inch slices.
Place slices onto cookie sheet and return to oven at 375
Bake 15 minutes, flip and bake another 15 minutes.
Let cool.
Melt chocolate and dip ends into the melted chocolate. Put on parchment to harden.
Enjoy

Happy Cooking,

Angela

Let's Talk Gluten Free on A Budget

I think with any form of a budget you need to have a plan. Going into shopping gluten free is overwhelmingly expensive. Your pocket book is the first thing to take the hit. Well, for our family budgeting is very important. Having a plan before heading to the store is going to help you be successful in your gluten free shopping. Here are a few different tips I have:

• Plan your week out in meals. (Makes your grocery list easier to maintain also eliminates the frequent trips during the week)
• Don't buy too many gluten free food products in one trip (those add up QUICK)
• Buy ON SALE (stock up)!!!!
• Use one night during the week for left overs

Tonight's meal cost us $6.00 total. I grilled up some kielbasa and made some rice to go along side. Add a salad and you're all set. A quick and easy meal that doesn't cost much. I didn't have to go fancy with a bunch of different gluten free products to have a gluten free meal.

:o)

Look for budget friendly recipes every Monday

Happy Cooking

Angela

Carrot Cake Recipe

I had a request for a cake recipe. This is my favorite carrot cake recipe. I hope you will enjoy this as much as my family and I do! I cannot remember where this recipe originated from but I've had it in my cookbook for years!

Be sure to grate the carrots yourself. This is the key to a moist cake.

Cake:
2C Sugar
4 Eggs
1 1/2 C light olive oil
2C Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
2TSP baking soda
2TSP baking powder
2TSP Cinnamon
1TSP Salt
2TSP vanilla extract
1C unsweetened coconut flakes
3C freshly grated carrots

Frosting:
4TBS unsalted butter (room temp)
3Ounces Cream Cheese (room temp)
1TSP vanilla extract
2 1/2 C powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350

Use two 9-inch round cake pans or muffin tins, whichever you're in the mood for. Lightly grease and line with parchment paper or use muffin tin liners.

Cream sugar and eggs. Add oil and vanilla then beat until smooth.
Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Sift to remove lumps. Mix with sugar and eggs.
Fold in carrots and coconut.
Bake 45-55 minutes for cake. Bake 30-35 minutes for muffins. Or until toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.

While cake is baking prepare frosting.

Cream butter and cream cheese, add vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. Mix in mixer until smooth and creamy.

Once cake is out of the oven and cooled. Frost.

Happy Cooking

Angela

Under Construction

Photo source: Google

Hello My Gluten Free Yummies,

I am in the process of moving my blog over to wordpress. It won't be changing too much just the layout. I wanted to give you a heads up that I might have a few days where I won't be posting too much as I'm trying to transfer all of my stuff over! My website will not change. I will still be located at www.glutenfreeforyummies.com :)

Happy Cooking
Angela

Just For Your Information!

Hello my Gluten Free Yummies,
I just wanted to make a little disclaimer: I do not get paid by these companies to do reviews or to say certain things about the products. They're my own thoughts and my own honest reactions to each product I try: good or bad. I give my honest thoughts about what I'm trying. I just feel like many of the gluten free products can be expensive and not worth the money. I mainly do these reviews because I know how much it stinks to spend $5-$10 on a new product only to not enjoy it.
So with that, I'm opening this up for anyone with suggestions for a product review. Is there anything YOU would like me to try and review before you purchase it? If so please leave me a message, comment or email and I would be happy to try something new and make a review for you!

Photo Source: Google

Gluten Free Scone Mix Review

These Scones were amazing! I love to bake from scratch but with a 5 month old lately, I'm all for convenience- these took me three minutes to mix and 10 minutes to bake!
My grandma found these at a local organic shop. They weren't too sweet and they had a great texture. The blueberries were tiny and almost candy like. The consistency was light and fluffy.I dusted them with powdered sugar once they came out of the oven. They were more like a cookie than a scone but they were a hit when I served them to my friends. The only negative I have for these were that I wish they made more. I only got about 10 scones out of the mix. If you can find these give them a try!
:)

Happy Baking,
Angela

Kind Bar Review

These KIND bars are amazing, they come in four different flavors. I purchased the Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt and I was so glad I did now, I'm hooked. There is an incredible blend of flavors packed into these snacks. Salty, sweet, and crunchy are what come to mind when describing them. They're not hard to chew like many gluten free bars, they do have a crunch but they are chewy as well. The combination of sweet and salty really hit that craving for me. I'm  not a huge maple fan but the subtle maple flavor and the soft pumpkin seeds really balance it out! I like that there are tiny salt crystals that pop in your mouth with every bite.
I will purchase these again, and again, and again! Can't wait to try the other flavors too!

Enjoy

Angela

Gluten Free on a Budget? What's coming up next:

Photo Source: Google

Hello my Gluten Free Yummies,
I think going gluten free can be intimidating for many people as they feel they're not going to be able to afford it.. Honestly, gluten free living is expensive. For some of us, we have no other option but to add that extra $50 a week to our grocery bill. I am going to be starting a new series "Gluten Free on a Budget." I hope you'll follow me along as we experiment with different gluten free foods for, not necessarily using gluten free products but using what we have in our pantries!!
Also, beginning in September, I will be making our own baby food for our son and I can't wait to share that with you all too!!

Follow me along as we explore gluten free on a budget!!

Angela

Food Safety

My Mom sent me an interesting article about food safety around the holidays. So, I thought why not take a moment to talk about proper food handling.I think it's one of those topics that isn't really talked about as much as it should be. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind in the kitchen!

1. Proper handling and preparation for thawing food. I bet you all are guilty (raising my hand) of thawing food on the counter, going to work and coming home and cooking the meat? That is a big No, No! When thawing meat if you're in a pinch, put it in an ice cold water bath, this will take approximately 20-30 minutes. The best way to thaw meat is to put it in the refrigerator overnight and thaw at 40 degrees.
2. FAT TOM: Keep this in mind, it's an easy way to remember what food born bacteria NEED to grow... All of these items are what food needs to grow bacteria so make sure you're keeping proper safety when using them.
1. F- Food high in protein and carbs; meats, cheese, dairy, ect.
2. A- Acidic foods
3. T-Time, bacteria grow at specific times of food being prepared and stored
4. T-Temperature danger zone! 41-135 Keep prepared food cold at 40 degrees or below and hold hot food at 136 and up.
5. O- Oxygen,some bacteria thrive on oxygen, cover and package properly
6. M- moisture, keep moisture away from food
3. Always temp your meat when cooking to ensure proper temperature. Here is a list of the types of meat and their proper temperatures:
1. Poultry: 165
2. Ground Meat: 185
3. Pork: 145

These are just a few simple things to keep in mind while you're preparing food :)

Happy Monday,

Angela

Confessions!

Hi my Gluten Free Yummies!

As much as I enjoy being in the kitchen; baking, cooking, entertaining and creating, I must admit I don't enjoy photographing my food! I have so many recipes that I haven't posted because quite frankly, I'm not a photographer! I am really bad at taking pictures and remembering to do so! It actually takes me longer to get a good photo of my recipe than getting it made and put together! Another confession of mine is that I am by no means artistic, I can decorate a cake and make a plate look fantastic but I cannot draw a stick figure to save my life! Often times I wish I had the talent to capture the beauty and excitement with photographs! Practice makes perfect!

Just a little bit of a confession from yours truly,
Happy cooking!

Angela 
:)

Blueberry Vanilla Crumble Muffins

Blueberry Vanilla Crumble Muffins:

What you'll need:

Muffin tin and liners

For the muffins:

1C All Purpose gluten free flour (Bob's Red Mill)
1/2 C Oat flour
3/4 C Granulated sugar
2TSP Baking powder
1TSP xanthan gum (Bob's Red Mill)
1/2 TSP Salt
1/3C Vegetable Oil
1 Egg
1tsp Vanilla
1/3 C Milk
1 C fresh blueberries

For the crumble:
1/2C raw sugar
1/3C oat flour
1/4 C Cold butter
1 1/2TSP Cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400

Combine; flour, sugar and all the dry ingredients. Sift to remove lumps
Place vegetable oil in a 1 Cup measuring cup. Add one egg and enough milk to fill to the one cup line.
Add vanilla.
Mix the wet into the dry. Don't over mix, you want it to be lumpy. Fold in blueberries.

Line muffin tin with liners and spoon in mixture.

In a separate bowl combine raw sugar, oat flour, cinnamon and cold butter. Mix until tiny beads appear from the cold butter sprinkle over top of each muffin before baking.

Bake 20-25 minutes. Take out and cool on a rack (if they make it there :) )

Product Review Marshmallow Treats

Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats:

These were my least favorite treat so far. These were really dry and grainy, they were hard to chew and difficult to enjoy. I have made my own rice crispy treats with the brown rice cereal and they were much better than these. I don't suggest spending your money on them, if you want a marshmallow treat, make them yourself! I think that they were a waste of money. I guess you can't like everything you try, right?

Bummer!

Perhaps, I will share my recipe in the next few days?! Stay tuned :)