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Blue Horizon Fish and Chip Bites, a Gluten-Free Vinegar Odyssey and Valuable Lessons Relearned

I have been sitting on this post for about a month now (researching one thing has led to another and yet another), so some of the information in this post is a bit outdated (the ingredients and labeling of the Blue Horizon GF Fish & Chip Bites have been changed since I first bought them). What started out as a simple post to help other gluten-free advocates “clear up the confusion” over the labeling of this product, has turned out to be a GREAT gluten-free learning experience for me, and I have been trying to navigate this lifestyle for 5 years now. Which only further proves to me that no one person knows everything, and living gluten-free safely and happily is a collective effort, at least until the FDA officially defines the term “gluten-free.” Hopefully you will find some useful information in this post too. So grab a cup of coffee and sit down, this is definitely one of my longer posts, LOL! If you are in a rush or already know about the labeling confusion regarding the Blue Horizon Seafood Bites, be sure to check out the last part of this post on Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar.

Several months ago while on a shopping trip to Whole Foods, I bought some Blue Horizon Fish and Chip Bites that were clearly marked gluten-free on the front of the package. I will be honest and admit that I purchased them based on that gluten-free label alone (it happens sometimes), and I didn’t read the ingredient label on the back before buying them. When I got home, I promptly tucked them into my deep freezer and forgot about them (I do that all the time too). Anyway, back in March, I was in need of a quick meal for the boys one afternoon, so I pulled out the Fish and Chip Bites, placed them on a cookie sheet and into the oven the went. I am really thankful for having started to photograph the ingredient labels to share on my blog, because it was then that I first read the ingredient label (I don’t recommend doing that!).

I’ll admit this too, I automatically thought the same thing that many other gluten-free people thought… uh-oh! But before I acted impulsively and made a blog post about it, I Googled the Blue Horizon Fish and Chip Bites and came across many forums already discussing the topic, like this one on Celiac.com (I encourage you to read this message board thread, because it gives you a great idea of how frustrated and confused other celiacs can become over what we thought was a black/white issue suddenly becoming very gray).

The confusion and alarm makes sense due to the fact that we are often taught to avoid Malt Vinegar on the gluten-free diet, because it is usually made from barley (although it can also be made from corn, but neither barley or corn are one of the top 8 allergens that the FDA requires to be listed on an ingredient label), AND Malt Vinegar is not distilled (or so I thought, until I read this article (you really should read this link too, Jen Cafferty does a great job demystifying the malt vinegar confusion).

I am going to go even further into vinegars in a minute, but will tie up the Blue Horizon Fish and Chip Bites first. I contacted Blue Horizon and they were very gracious and explained the vinegar source and even included the lab test results showing that no gluten was detected in the products! That was really cool, if you ask me and I will buy their products again because of it.

Good Morning Heidi,

Thank you for contacting us with your question on the Blue Horizon Fish
& Chip Bites.

We use distilled malt vinegar which has no gluten in it. I have attached
the report form an independent laboratory showing this product is
gluten-free. Also we have changed this ingredient from the original
formula and are now using apple cider vinegar.

If you can respond with your address I can send you some $1off coupons
so you may try these gluten-free products.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us.

Kind Regards,
Phyllis

Here are the Lab Test Results for Blue Horizon Gluten-Free Seafood Bites:

Tiffany Janes, another great advocate for the celiac community, wrote an insightful article on the Blue Horizon Seafood Bites and you can read that here. I also encourage reading that article because Tiffany touched on some things that I think every gluten-free person needs to consider more often.

So on to the vinegar odyssey I have been on!

Did you know that there was a distilled malt vinegar? I sure didn’t! I actually got excited about it, thinking I needed to score some so I could have “real” fish and chips again (I have been using Red Wine Vinegar as my Malt Vinegar substitute since going gluten-free, it’s actually pretty good!).

So what is Distilled Malt Vinegar?

According to this website, distilled malt vinegar is:

This is a clear, white vinegar, also known as spirit vinegar, made by distilling ordinary malt vinegar to produce a very strong, colourless liquid high in acetic acid. It is less pungent than malt vinegar.
Uses: In home-made pickles, and especially where the colour of the food needs to be retained for example, pickled pears.

So, I had to see what my GF pals on Twitter thought and if anyone knew where I could find distilled malt vinegar. One response I received was from a pal in Ireland, where it is quite common, he even sent me a photo of an Irish Distilled Malt Vinegar (seriously, how cool is that?). To make a long story short, after quite a bit of chatter on the gluten-free status of the different types of vinegar from various parts of the world, and a bit of confusion after I wasn’t overly clear on another question I had asked (something as simple as another person thinking I had made a statement of fact because they did not see the ? after something I wrote). It was an innocent oversight but it took off like wildfire! Remember playing the “telephone” game as a child?

I realized just how easy it is to add more confusion (even if it is unintentional) to the swirling whirlpool of misinformation flowing in the gluten-free community. I highly recommend reading a GREAT article titled “The Gluten-Free Rumor Mill” by Tiffany Jakubowski (make note of when Tiffany talks about similar products by the same company but in different countries) Whether you are new to the GF lifestyle or have been doing it for many years, it is useful “continuing education.”

Anyway, I now realize that much of the confusion caused by my Twitter bomb could have been avoided if I had paid closer attention to some information on the Heinz website (see below… I told you this was a vinegar odyssey, right?).  And this just speaks to the greater problem that I think many of us face on a daily basis: how many products have we become so comfortable with that we just drop them in our shopping cart week after week without realizing that we haven’t “checked” on them for a few years?  How many products have similar sounding names but different formulations that we don’t even think to check the label for that extra word or two that signals the difference?

From the Heinz Website:

Are Heinz^® Vinegars gluten-free?

Heinz^® Distilled White Vinegar is sourced from corn, not from wheat, rye, barley, or oats. Wine Vinegar and Apple Cider Vinegar are sourced from grapes and apples, respectively, not grains. Therefore, they would all be appropriate for gluten-sensitive individuals. However, Heinz^® Apple Cider FLAVORED Vinegar is NOT gluten free.

Ah, yes. I had completely forgotten about the Heinz Apple Cider FLAVORED Vinegar! I cannot recall ever seeing it at the store, and I buy my vinegar in bulk at Costco anyway, so I do not even use Heinz to stay acquainted with the products.

So, I probed deeper into the Heinz Website, looking for more information on the Apple Cider FLAVORED vinegar. I visited their products page and found nothing about the flavored vinegar. I did a Google Image search looking for a picture of the label… nothing. I eventually ended up on their foodservice site, Club Heinz (scroll down to the Products section, then a little further down to the subcategory “Bulk Vinegar,” and that is where I saw it, still no picture though)!

I started to relax thinking this was just a commercial foodservice product (that lasted a millisecond before I thought.. oh no, how many restaurants/manufacturers use this product, unknowingly? So, I sent an email to Heinz and the following is what transpired:

March 22, 2010

Dear Heidi,

Thank you for contacting us to find out where you can purchase Heinz Apple Cider Flavored Vinegar. This vinegar is distilled white vinegar with an apple flavoring. The other kind is the Apple Cider Vinegar that is made from apples. Both are gluten free. The labels will be on the bottles and if you have any additional questions please feel free to contact us.

If the above stores (I omitted these to save on space) are not close to your area or the item is out of stock, we suggest that you speak with your store manager.

While we would like to be able to offer you the option to purchase this item directly from our company, we unfortunately are not set up for direct sales to consumers at this time.

Thank you again for your interest and continued patronage.  We hope that you will soon have a convenient source for all the products that you enjoy.

Heinz Consumer Resource Center
Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com

When contacting us, please refer to the following reference number: 003159252A

HEINZ/cl

PS – We love hearing from Heinz® Ketchup fans. So we’ve created a place on Facebook where Heinz® Ketchup lovers can share thoughts, ideas and stories. Stop over and fan us. You’ll find recipes, videos, info, and have a chance to chat with your fellow Heinz® Ketchup aficionados. Plus you’ll be among the very first to get the latest news from Heinz® Ketchup.  Join us at:  http://www.facebook.com/HeinzKetchup

Okay, did I read that first paragraph right? Did the Heinz representative say that BOTH the regular Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar and the Apple Cider FLAVORED Vinegar ARE gluten-free? Does the Heinz website not say the exact opposite?? Hmmm.. so, I had to send an email back to them for clarification (I have been known to read things wrong before!):

You are saying that the Heinz Apple FLAVORED Vinegar IS gluten-free?

Then why does your website list it as NOT gluten-free? http://www.heinzvinegar.com/faq.aspx (Last question on the page)

Just want to make sure I have it correct before making a post on my blog.

Thank you kindly,

Heidi Kelly

Response back:

March 23, 2010

Dear Heidi,

Thank you for your interest in Heinz Products. We certainly understand how difficult it can be to find foods that meet the requirements of a restricted diet.

As you requested, the following is a listing of all of our products that do NOT have gluten containing ingredients. If the product you asked about is not on this list, then it may contain gluten containing ingredients.  Also, please note that recipes can change without notice.  Therefore, we recommend you always check the ingredient statement on the label.

HEINZ PRODUCTS:
Heinz BBQ Sauces  (Original, Chicken & Rib, Garlic, Honey Garlic Only)
Heinz Chili Sauce (All Varieties)
Heinz Cocktail Sauce (All Varieties)
Heinz Horseradish Sauce
Heinz Ketchup
Heinz Organic Ketchup
Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup
Heinz No-Sodium Added Ketchup
Heinz Hot Ketchup
Heinz Mustard   (All Varieties)
Heinz Pickles  (All Varieties)
Heinz Peppers  (All Varieties)
Heinz Relish  (All Varieties)
Heinz Sloppy Joe Sauce
Heinz Tartar Sauce
Heinz Traditional Steak Sauce
Heinz Worcestershire Sauce
Heinz Vegetarian Beans
Heinz Distilled White Vinegar
Heinz Red Wine Vinegar
***Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar
***Heinz Apple Cider Flavored Vinegar
Heinz Red Wine Vinegar
Heinz Garlic Wine Vinegar

Jack Daniel’s BBQ Sauces  (Original #7, Honey Smokehouse, Hickory Brown Sugar, Spicy BBQ Only)
Jack Daniel’s EZ Marinader — Teriyaki, Garlic & Herb, Steakhouse
Jack Daniel’s Steak Sauce (Both Varieties)
Lea & Perrins White Wine Marinade
Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce (All Varieties)
Lea & Perrins Traditional Steak Sauce
TGI Fridays Salsa  (All Varieties)

CLASSICO PRODUCTS:
Classico Red Sauces  (All Varieties)
Classico Alfredo Sauces (All Varieties)
Classico Pesto Sauces  (All Varieties)
Classico Bruschetta (All Varieties)

DELIMEX PRODUCTS:
UPC CODE:          PRODUCT NAME:
1769600019        Tamales, 12 ct. Delimex Chicken & Cheese
1769600024        Tamales, 6 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600028        Taquitos, 25 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600029        Taquitos, 25 ct. Delimex Chicken
1769600048        Taquitos, 36 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600095        Taquitos, 12 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600096        Taquitos, 12 ct. Delimex Chicken
1769600155        Tamales, 15 ct. Costco Beef
1769600159        Tamales, 20 ct. Delimex Beef, Costco
1769600180        Taquitos, 60 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600186        Taquitos, 60 ct. Sam’s Club Beef
1769600214        Taquitos, 25 ct. Delimex 3-Cheese
1769600565        Tamales, 20 ct. Beef, Sam’s Club
1769600684        Taquitos, 66 ct. Costco Beef
1769600685        Taquitos, 66 ct. Costco Chicken
1769600315        Taquitos, 50 ct. Delimex Beef
1769600316        Taquitos, 50 ct. Delimex Chicken
1769602630        Taquitos, 50 ct. Delimex Chicken Grande
1769602640        Taquitos, 50 ct. Delimex Beef Grande
1769600189        Taquitos, 60 ct. Delimex Chicken

ORE-IDA PRODUCTS:
UPC CODE:           PRODUCT NAME:
13120XXXXX-        ALL VARIETIES of Ore-Ida® Tater Tots®
1312001879         Ore-Ida® ABC Tater Tots®
1312000080         Ore-Ida Golden Patties® (9 ct.)
1312000258         Ore-Ida® Golden Fries® (32 oz.)
1312000278         Ore-Ida® Golden Fries®  (5 lb.)
1312000286         Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (32 oz.)
1312000291         Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (5 lb.)
1312000296         Ore-Ida® Pixie Crinkles (26 oz.)
1312000377         Ore-Ida® Cottage Fries (32 oz.)
1312000392         Ore-Ida® Southern Style Hash Browns (32 oz.)
1312000428         Ore-Ida® Country Style Steak Fries (28 oz.)
1312000455         Ore-Ida® Zesty Twirls (28 oz.)
1312000469         Ore-Ida® Potatoes O’Brien (28 oz.)
1312000647         Ore-Ida® French Fries (8 lb.)
1312000654         Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (6 lb.)
1312000784         Ore-Ida® Steam N’ Mash Cut Russets®
1312000785         Ore-Ida® Steam N’ Mash Cut Sweet Potatoes®
1312000787         Ore-Ida® Steam N’ Mash Garlic Seasoned Potatoes®
1312000483         Ore-Ida® Golden Twirls® (28 oz.)
1312000484         Ore-Ida® Zesties® (2 lb.)
1312000800         Ore-Ida® Steak Fries® (28 oz.)
1312000801         Ore-Ida® Shoestrings® (5 lb)
1312000828         Ore-Ida® Shoestrings® (28 oz.)
1312000833         Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (30 oz.)
1312000862         Ore-Ida® Country Style Hashbrowns (6 lb.)
1312001036         Ore-Ida® Crispers® (20 oz.)
1312001176         Ore-Ida® Waffle Fries® (22 oz.)
1312001260         Ore-Ida® Extra Crispy Crinkle Cut (26 oz.)
1312001280         Ore-Ida® Extra Crispy Seasoned Crinkle Cut® (26 oz.)
1312001417         Ore-Ida® Extra Crispy Fast Food Fries (26 oz.)
1312001461         Ore-Ida® Country Fries  (30 oz.)
1312001492         Ore-Ida® Fast Food Fries (4 lb.)
1312008564         Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (8 lb.)
1312008565         Ore-Ida® Golden Fries (8 lb.)
1312008572         Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles® (8 lb.)  CLUB
1312001320         Ore-Ida® Sweet Potato Fries
1312001330         Ore-Ida® Sweet Potato Fries

SMART ONES PRODUCTS:
UPC CODE:           PRODUCT NAME:
2580002011         Smart Ones Broccoli & Cheddar Potatoes
2580002247         Smart Ones Lemon Herb Chicken Piccata
2580002254         Smart Ones Fiesta Chicken
2580002360         Smart Ones Santa Fe Rice & Beans
2580002918         Smart Ones Chicken Santa Fe
2580002931         Smart Ones Cranberry Turkey Medallions
2580002290         Smart Ones Honey Dijon Chicken

Again, we appreciate you taking the time to contact us.   If you need further information, feel free to call us at this toll-free number (1-800-255-5750).  Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 6:00 PM, Eastern Time.

Heinz Consumer Resource Center
Heinzconsumeraffairs@us.hjheinz.com

Huh! I love how they did not address the issue that there is conflicting information on their website! It was probably an “auto-reply!”

So, one day while shopping at my local Smith’s, I saw the elusive Heinz Apple Cider FLAVORED Vinegar (so yes, it is in some grocery stores) and bought it, as well as a bottle of the regular apple cider vinegar so I could take photos of the labels for you!

A closer look:

And closer still:

Is it just me, or do these two labels look very similar?? At least similar enough that you might not catch the distinction?

The two Ingredient Labels:

Talk about a paradox!

Now, knowing what I know about the distillation process (by Megan Tichy) and the gluten-free status of caramel coloring, (Nancy Lapid is another great source of information for the celiac community). I would personally lean towards the fact that the Apple Cider FLAVORED Vinegar is probably indeed “gluten-free,” but should I take the risk?

This little “adventure” has really got me thinking about the products I buy for me and my gluten-free family. Several months ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mary Schluckebier, Executive Director of the Celiac Sprue Association. We were originally discussing McDonald’s french fries and whether or not they are in fact “gluten-free,” (I will leave that one alone ) and she said something that has really resonated with me over the past several months. In a nutshell, Mary planted the following seeds in my head:

• As celiacs, our heath is a matter of personal responsibility.

• It all comes down to personal RISK, as to the products we choose to buy and consume. Reducing risk when possible should always be our main priority.

• We all need to learn to “ask the next question.”

• The term “Gluten-Free” does not necessarily mean “free of gluten.”

Here are few things I have been pondering over the past several months as a result of those “seeds” (these are just my personal thoughts):

• If a product tests at 19 ppm of gluten (less than the 20 ppm proposed rule for defining products labeled gluten-free), it still has some gluten in it, right?

• So if one eats 10 products a day that have been tested to be under the 20 ppm limit, but still registers some level of gluten, does that have a cumulative effect?

• If a product is tested to contain, say 6 ppm of gluten, is that per serving or the entire package?

• If it’s per serving, and you eat the entire thing and it is technically 4 servings (how many folks actually eat a true serving size?), would that not be equal to eating something that contains 24 ppm of gluten? What is the daily maximum threshold of gluten consumption for someone with celiac disease?

I cannot seem to find any concrete answers to those questions (and yes, I do realize that I may be the only “wackadoodle” that thinks of these things!). But I have celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis and my son has celiac disease too. I want us to LIVE a healthy, happy and long life if possible, and in order to do that, I need to know what I am eating (have you seen Food, Inc. yet? )

On that note, I want to recommend a video on the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center website, that I really encourage folks to watch. I cry each time I hear the kiddos talk, I feel the pain of the parents and am inspired to do whatever I can to help spread awareness. While you’re there, if you can spare a buck or two, please consider donating to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center.

Sour Cream Fudge Cupcakes

I know, I know… it’s January 5th and everyone is dieting, trying to eat healthier and going through sugar detox from the holiday season. But what if you could have your “cake and eat it too?” Sorry, couldn’t resist that one!

I was going through my recipes that have been piling up and this one in particular caught my eye. My 2 year old is a bonafide chocoholic so I had a thought for 2010, I am going to be putting his love for chocolate to good use! I will be occasionally using chocolate as the delivery vehicle for good nutrition. Chocolate actually has a few great health benefits, but I am talking about REAL chocolate (Dark Chocolate) and not the milk chocolate or “chocolate flavored” junk that is often marketed toward children in the form of candy bars, etc. Now just because dark chocolate can be a mostly guilt-free dessert option, moderation is still very important!

What really piqued my interest was the fact that the recipe calls for a single gluten-free flour and not a blend of GF flours. The flour you ask? Quinoa, my friend. Check out this page on a website called Body Ecology regarding quinoa. Did you know that quinoa was a relative of spinach? Very cool! I have always heard that of all the whole grains (even though it is a seed and not an actual grain), quinoa is the cream of the crop.

The recipe also does not call for xanthan gum so I was really interested in seeing how they would turn out! Anyhoo, this recipe was printed on the back of the bag of Quinoa Flour that I bought by Bob’s Redmill.

Sour Cream Fudge Cupcakes

1/4 cup Unsalted Butter (I used Smart Balance but Earth Balance, which is dairy free, would work great too)

1/2 cup Water

1/4 cup Cocoa Powder (I used Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa, click here for a link to Hershey’s allergen statement)

1 cup Sugar

1 1/4 cups Bob’s Red Mill Quinoa Flour

1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

2 Eggs, separated

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

1/4 cup Sour Cream (I used Lowfat Sour Cream because I always try to follow a recipe exactly as written the first time I make it, except for butter because I rarely use the real stuff. Next time, I am going to try these with plain Greek yogurt or maybe even the Chocolate Coconut Milk Yogurt, which is dairy free, by So Delicious… Luke LOVES it!)

• Preheat oven to 375° F.

• Place the butter (or equivalent) and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and whisk in the cocoa powder.

• Sift together the sugar, quinoa flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. (I like to throw all of the ingredients that I need to sift together in a bowl first. I then use a whisk to incorporate everything first THEN I sift. I also do not use a “sifter.” I have gone through 4 in the past 5 years and they either rust, get jammed or something. I actually just use a mesh strainer and the handle of a wooden spoon to swirl the flour thru. I have come to love re-purposing items that I already have, saves money and precious space!).

• Add the cooled cocoa mixture, egg yolks, vanilla and sour cream (or equivalent) and blend well.

• Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Fold into batter.

• Spoon into a muffin tin lined with paper cupcake liners.

• Bake for 20 minutes (mine were done in 15 minutes using a convection oven), or until a cake tester (toothpicks work great!) inserted in the center comes out clean.

I was a bit skeptical when making these. Quinoa flour has that earthy/nutty aroma that for whatever reason makes me think of a barn, just like sorghum, millet and amaranth does for me. But, once the cupcakes were completely cool…that taste was barely present so the chocolate worked for Luke and for me! Very sneaky indeed. I think I am going to also try adding some shredded zucchini, pumpkin puree, sweet potato puree or even mashed bananas next time to add more moisture and nutrition.

I did add frosting to some of the “muffins” too, which was quite the side adventure in itself. The recipe calls for 3 cups of powdered sugar and I only had one, so I took the opportunity to try and make my own powdered sugar! I followed a recipe I found on Recipezaar but I used arrowroot powder instead of cornstarch so if it worked, then it would be a good option for those that are allergic or sensitive to corn… or if you have watched the film King Corn, like me, one too many times! Click here for information on thickeners, arrowroot is a 1:1 replacement for cornstarch.

Homemade Confectioner’s/Powdered Sugar

For each cup of powdered sugar that you need add the following together (so if you need 3 cups of powdered sugar, you will need 3 cups of granulated sugar plus 3 Tbs. of arrowroot powder or cornstarch)

1 cup Sugar

1 Tbs. Cornstarch (or Arrowroot Powder)

Combine the two and process in blender (I used my food processor) until powder forms. I stopped after 10 minutes when I realized the homemade powdered sugar was not going to be the same consistency as the store-bought powdered sugar. While the taste was great, my food processor did not produce that “powdery” texture. If anyone has any tips, I would love to hear them! So as you will see in the cupcakes, the frosting has a certain “texture” from the granulated sugar. It tastes like frosting but if you are a texture person, you may not like it.

While I do monitor the boys intake of sugar, I am sometimes a *little* lax because at least 95% of what they eat is homemade and does not contain preservatives, etc. They also do not eat at McDonald’s and the like, in fact we rarely eat out at all (only on special occasions), so I figure there is room for a little sugar here and there and it makes for great parent bribery! But seriously, homemade has a lot of advantages. Not only can it save on fat, calories, and chemicals/preservatives, but you can save SO much money, which can really offset the expense of a gluten-free diet! I would really like to start incorporating a cost breakdown for cooking at home. My husband is a financial advisor so I am going to try and put his number crunching skills to good “domestic” use!

Here is something new that I want to start doing from time to time. I have been having a lot of fun finding new uses for products that I already have. I recently came across another blog; Curious Gypsy, and the author had an entire list titled “Fun Facts – Useful Household Hints.”

One of the items listed (#2) was to use Pam cooking spray (Original, Butter Flavor and live Oil are gluten-free) to dry nail polish! This is actually a pretty cool thing for people that are either:

A.) Really sensitive to gluten where even coming in physical contact with it can cause a reaction like a rash, etc. (If you are newly diagnosed with celiac disease, talk with your doctor about this. I think it is still up in the air on skin care products containing gluten. Some people say it is absorbed through the skin and could cause problems for celiacs. On the other hand, my GI doctor told me that if I do not ingest the substance that contains gluten, then it cannot hurt me. The biggest risk factor then of course is cross contamination by having a lotion, etc. that contains gluten on your hand that ends up on your sandwich that then ends up in your stomach, etc. I personally prefer to err on the side of caution and omit gluten whenever and wherever I can. I do not mess around with Lip Sticks and Lip Balms, mine are ALWAYS gluten-free).

B.) For any celiac that gets manicures where nail enamel dryer is used, which could lead to gluten cross-contamination if you put your hands in your mouth or on something that will end up in your mouth, after being sprayed. While I do not know about all brands, I do know that DeMert (see photo below) contains Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (among other things like Butane…)!

If you have any cool ideas like this and would like to share them, I would love to hear about them! Also, feel free to email me with questions, recipe ideas or if you need help “tweaking” a recipe of your own, I would be happy to try and help! My email address is: heidikelly13@gmail.com

Tom’s Bugles

Remember Bugles?  The cone shaped corn snack?  The little chips that were so much fun to put on the tips of your fingers and pretend like they were a witch’s fingernails?  Okay, maybe that was just me.    Tom’s Bugles, which I found at my local gas station a while back, are Gluten Free! The manager of the convenience store will order a case from her supplier for me because I cannot seem to find a place to buy them online, in fact when I called Tom’s, the lady did say that you cannot order them online.  So, if you are lucky enough to live in an area that sells Tom’s brand snacks, or are road trippin’ and stop at a convenience store and happen to see them..  .go ahead, relive a childhood memory (yes, I am 35 and will still try to put them on my fingertips, although they don’t fit so well anymore!) the Bugles are gluten free!

I called the phone number on their website, 1-800-99-LANCE and the lady said that Tom’s Original Bugles are in fact gluten free.  It is always a good idea to call the company and get updated gluten-free information, as product ingredients can change at any time.

DO NOT confuse Tom’s brand Bugles with the General Mills Bugles, the General Mills Bugles have wheat in them.

Order Udi’s Products Online!!

I think for celiacs this is as huge as the parting of the Red Sea!

I have been blogging about Udi’s for a few months now.  I think I called their gluten-free bread something like…  oh yeah, the “Holy Grail” of the gluten free world.  I’m not joking either!

The sandwich bread is moist and tender just like the Wonder Bread days of my youth.  Right out of the bag!!  No toasting required!  The whole grain bread (my personal favorite) is equally as tender and moist but with a more whole (shhh…”wheat” flavor), minus the wheat of course.

You can even leave an opened bag of Udi’s GF bread on your countertop for a few days (just like gluten bread), before you need to freeze it.

For me, the very best thing about Udi’s GF bread (being a mom of a celiac child), is that school lunches are a lot easier to pack everyday.  Sam proudly takes his very own PB&J to school and feels “normal” alongside his buddies.

While I am slowly coming out of my bag lady phase (bread bag that is…  yes, I carried a loaf of Udi’s GF bread with me everywhere just to have random folks try it)!  The best replies were always, a blank stare and the reply, “what’s the big deal?  It’s just bread.”  Bingo!

You can now Udi’s gluten free products online.  Breads, pizza crusts, lemon streusel muffins, blueberry muffins and something new for me to try, gluten free granola.  REAL granola, with GF Oats!!!!  Yipee!

There is one very disappointing thing about Udi’s gluten free online store though. WHERE ARE THE CINNAMON ROLLS???????  What happened to them?  I loved them and I only have one left.  I have been rationing my supply since July.  I have been reduced to licking it on occasion, just for a taste, since they seemed to have disappeared and I cannot get anymore…  sniff.

Anyhoo, if you have not tried Udi’s gluten free products yet, go online and order some today!!  By the way, I was kidding about licking the cinnamon roll, but now that it is in my head, I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens.    LOL!

Udi’s son, Etai tweeted about this funny Udi’s review on You Tube a while back and it is great.

Mac and Cheese

I am a homemade Macaroni and Cheese kind of girl. My hubby makes a very good one with a blend of 4 different cheeses, prosciutto and a bread crumb topping. But lets face it, not all kids will embrace this type of macaroni and cheese! My 6 year old likes it, my 2 year old will either put it on his head or throw it on the floor for the dogs to eat!

I make my own copycat version of Kraft’s “Mac and Cheese” because I have had Annie’s GF Rice Pasta and Cheddar and Trader Joe’s GF Rice Pasta and Cheddar and I personally do not like either of them. Mostly, it is because I don’t like the pasta. It is either too chewy or if you cook it a little longer to avoid the chewiness then it is mushy. My boys had gone without mac and cheese since we became a GF household simply because they would not eat it when I bought it. I know a lot of people do like it, but I am not convinced it is because of the taste, but rather because of the convenience!

I started to look around for other ideas to make this quintessential kid favorite and got the idea to use Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Topping in the blue can and just sub in my own pasta. Not bad but not great.

So looking further I decided to try  Frontier Natural Products Mild Cheddar Powder and Frontier Natural Products White Cheddar Cheese Powder (as you can see, it is A LOT cheaper, less shipping, on Amazon). I called the company and while they would not say whether or not these products were definitely gluten free, the woman I spoke to said they use Good Manufacturing Practices and clean the lines between products. She said what is listed on the ingredient label is what is (intentionally) in the product. She said because they do not test for gluten in the end product (from cross-contamination), then they cannot say for sure it is gluten free. This is where you will have to make a decision for yourself.

That’s the rub. Do you strictly buy products that are labeled “gluten-free”, and/or “made in a dedicated gluten free facility” or “no gluten ingredients used” or “manufactured in a facility that uses Good Manufacturing Practices,” etc. etc. That is a personal decision that each one of us needs to make until the FDA formally adopts a definition of “Gluten Free.”

After speaking with Frontier, I decided to accept the risk. I think both powders are tasty and thus far I have never had a gluten reaction. BUT, just because I haven’t exhibited any symptoms, does not mean my insides are not reacting… I do however get the celiac blood panel run each year to check my levels and I just had a biopsy in May that showed very happy villi!!

When it comes to pasta, Tinkyada is pretty much it for me, and I always buy the Tinkyada with Rice Bran. It has THE BEST texture of all the GF pastas I have tried. The pastas with Rice Bran also have 2 grams of fiber per serving.

I hardly use butter at all anymore…I use Smart Balance and so far, it has proven a worthy (if not better) replacement in just about everything I have used it in (not so much on popcorn though). I have fried, baked and used it on bread…

So here is the breakdown on making your own Mac and Cheese (I bought a box of Kraft a while back and cut out the directions and adhered it to a recipe card. I also weighed the packet of cheese).

GF “Kraft Style” Mac and Cheese

4 Tbs. Margarine ( I use Smart Balance)

1/4 cup milk (I use Skim)

1 1/2 oz. Cheese Powder

7 1/2 oz. GF Macaroni or other shape

Prepare macaroni as directed. Drain (Do Not Rinse)

Add Margarine, milk, and cheese powder to the pasta and stir well.