Product Test - The Really Great Food Company

The Really Great Food Company is based out of St. James, NY which is close to home, here on Long Island. Since 1991, The Really Great Food Company has produced the highest quality baking mixes for people with special dietary needs,including gluten free, wheat free, soy free, dairy free and casein free baking mixes.

We recently got to try two of their products which came with a catalog of all they carry for future orders. They are also available online and you can click their banner at the bottom of this post to view their site. 

The first product we tried was The Really Great Food Company Classic Pancake Mix. 

The directions were easy to follow, and there is even the option of using soy or rice milk in the mixture to keep it gluten free. We have tried other brands of Gluten Free Pancake mixes, but the was the best so far. The pancakes were fluffy and golden brown, and absolutely delicious. In the "sneak" test on the children, they had no Idea it was Gluten Free. 

The next product we tried was The Really Great Food Company Brownie Mix. Like the pancakes, the finished product did not disappoint at all! The brownies were perfectly moist and and were gone in a flash as soon as everybody got a taste. 

We would definitely recommend  The Really Great Food Company for all of your Gluten Free needs, and their online ordering makes it easy to enjoy many  different gluten free products that may not be found in your neighborhood grocery store. 

The Really Great Food Company

Gluten Free Quinoa Summer Salad

2 Cups Quinoa

4 Cups Chicken Stock

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Cucumber 

1 Large Celery Stalk
1 Tomato

1 Carrot 

1 Onion
GF Italian Dressing
Salt and Pepper 
Basil for Garnish

1. Combine chicken stock and quinoa in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until all liquid is absorbed (about 15 minutes).   
2. Peal, slice, and quarter cucumber. Slice celery, onion, and tomato and mix in large salad bowl with cucumbers. 
3. When quinoa is done, remove from heat, place in a colander and run under cold water. 
4. Add quinoa to vegetables and mix will. 
5. Stir in desired amount of GF Italian dressing to desired taste. Season with salt and pepper as needed.  
6. Refrigerate until cool. When ready to serve, add more dressing if needed and serve in a bowl and top with basil. 

Product Test - Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Chip Cookies

Another Hit!!

We've tried "Store Bought" Gluten Free Cookies, but they lacked that homemade taste. We decided to give Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix. Once again, the directions were very easy to follow, and the final results were amazing!! If I didn't tell you they were Gluten Free, you wouldn't know! I  didn't tell my son they were Gluten Free and I found myself hiding the remainder of the batch so he didn't eat the rest of them. As with the other Gluten Free mixes available from Bob's Red Mill, I would highly recommend their Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix!! It is the closed to homemade that I have tried so far!

Gluten Free Turkey Chili

1 Lb Ground Turkey

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Medium Onion Chopped

3 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar

1 Cup Gluten Free Beer

1 28 Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes

1 Roma Tomato Chopped

1 Tomatillo Chopped

1 16 Ounce Can Kidney Beans (Drained and Rinsed)

4 - 5 Cloves Garlic Crushed

2 Tbsp GF Chili Powder

1 Tsp GF Paprika

1 Tsp Dried Oregano

1/2 Tsp GF Cayenne Pepper

1/2 Tsp GF Ground Cumin

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/2 Tsp Ground Black Pepper

(More Salt & Pepper to Taste May Be Necessary)

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat and cook ground turkey until browned. 
2. Stir in onion and cook until just slightly tender. 
3. In a food processor add crushed tomatoes, beans, crushed garlic, chopped tomato, and chopped tomatillos. Pulse until well blended and to desired consistency. 
4. Deglaze pan with red wine vinegar, and stir tomato mixture into pan. 
5. Stir in 1 cup Gluten Free Beer. 
6. Add the remaining seasonings and stir until well blended. 
7. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30-40 minutes until slightly reduced.
8. Serve Hot with your favorite toppings. 

Can be served alone or with your favorite dish, such as hot dogs or chips and salsa if you are entertaining. 

Product Test - Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Cake Mix

Over the next few weeks, we will be testing 4 of Bob's Red Mill Mixes, and we chose to start with the Chocolate Cake Mix. All I have to say is Wow!!! Since we have been Gluten Free, this has been the best cake we have tasted. The instructions were super simple to follow, and didn't require any special ingredients such as buttermilk as others did, and no extra steps such as stand time before baking. Aside from the the packaging, this was the closest thing to conventional "glutenous" cake mix. I didn't have 2 eight inch cake pans, so I used 1 ten inch round deep cake pan. The cake was done at exactly in the time  the instructions called for. For the icing you could use a Betty Crocker pre-made, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone and make homemade. I used the recipe on the back of the Hershey's Cocoa. Here it is:

1 Stick of Butter

2/3 Cup Hershey's Cocoa

3 Cups Powdered Sugar

1/3 Cup Milk

1 Tsp Vanilla (Pure)

1. Melt Butter. Stir in Cocoa. 
2. Alternately add powdered Sugar and Milk, beating on med speed to spreading consistency. Add more Milk if needed. Stir in Vanilla. 

It was Absolutely Delicious!! Liz even had 2 pieces and she doesn't have a sweet tooth. To repeat an earlier post, Gluten Free does not have to be difficult. You don't have to make sacrifices, only substitutions. The key is to make the right substitutions, and we hit the Bull's Eye With this one!!

Bob's Red Mill products are available at most supermarkets, or online at the link below:

Click Here To Order Online

Healthy Eating Helps Cancer Patients

Healthy Eating Helps Cancer Patients

Eating well is vital to living a healthy life, and is even more important for cancer patients. A nutritious diet helps to boost energy levels, the immune system, and an overall sense of well-being. Whether a cancer patient has just received the dreaded diagnosis, is undergoing treatment or is in remission, it is never too late to incorporate a more healthful way of eating.

Improve Immunity

Because it may be difficult to eat well during cancer treatment, it’s a good idea for patients to begin nourishing their bodies as soon as possible. A proper diet can improve the immune system, which will help the patient cope with the treatments and fight the disease. Furthermore, proper nutrition can help keep patients strong during these treatments and aids in the rebuilding of body tissue as patients recuperate

What to Eat

While it’s important to consult a doctor about any special diet restrictions, experts generally advise eating plenty of food with phytonutrients. These include dark, leafy vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, legumes and whole grains.

Dietary fiber, between 25 and 35 grams per day, has been recommended for cancer prevention. Many cancer patients may be asked to continue that regimen when possible. Omega 3’s are also important. They’re most often found in fatty fish such as salmon, but can also come from berries, mushrooms and brussels sprouts.

Difficulty Eating

Good intentions aside, eating enough food each day is often a challenge for some cancer patients, according to the National Cancer Institute. Various side effects from chemotherapy treatments often lead to difficulty eating. Reasons for this include loss of appetite and changes in sense of taste or smell. Vomiting and nausea are common in patients undergoing treatment for many types of cancers, including asbestos exposure-related mesothelioma.

A patient’s doctor may also advise against eating certain foods. He may, for example, suggest limiting the amount of fiber, which is often touted as beneficial for maintaining a healthy life. Doctors recommend that patients not eat when they’re nauseous, but rather eat very well when they are feeling better. Eating small nutrient- and protein-rich meals several times a day can help maintain a good immune system and adequate energy levels.

By:  Jillian Mckee of:  The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance

Gluten Free Pierogi & Ham

Another Home Run By 

Conte's Pasta Co., Inc.

If the package did not say "Gluten Free", you would not be able to tell the difference. Pierogies and Ham have been a staple in our home for years. When we went Gluten Free, we thought we had eaten our last pierogies. Thanks to Conte's Pasta Company based in New Jersey, we can once again enjoy a family favorite. They are delicious prepared boiled as instructed on the package, but the following is our recipe for Sauteed Pierogies and Ham. 

1 Pkg Conte's Pasta Company Gluten Free Pierogies

1/4 Lb Boars Head Deluxe Ham Diced or Shredded

1 Small Green Pepper Sliced

1 Small Onion Sliced

1/2 Tsp Italian Seasoning

3 Tbsp Butter

Salt and Pepper to Taste 

1. Prepare pierogies as directed on package. 
2. In a large skillet, melt butter and add onions and peppers.
3. Saute over medium heat until onions begin to become transparent.  
4. Remove pierogies from boiling water with a slotted spoon and add to skillet.
5. Stir in ham and seasonings and continue to saute until pierogies just begin to get crisp. 
6. Remove from pan and serve hot.