French Meadow Bakery: Chocolate Cupcakes

Picture taken at Jacob's 7th birthday

Parties are always a toughie to be gluten free at because there is usually an abundance of non-gf food. My son's 7th birthday party was no exception. I ordered 10 pizzas, none were gf so I packed Blaine and I lunch and I had a ton of veggies around to much on should any other guest have food sensitivities. My sister and her boyfriend jumped on the gluten free bandwagon so I decided to bring French Meadow Chocolate cupcakes  as our dessert. I love Whole Foods chocolate cupcakes, they are moist, large and they taste fresh. I was not able to get to Whole Foods prior to the party so I stopped by Sprouts where I spotted this particular brand of cupcakes. I had high hopes. I LOVE cupcakes.

These cupcakes, however, were not at all worthy of praise...far from being described with any sort of affection. These cupcakes were stale and rock hard.  It was as though they were old and they had been sitting on the shelf for a long time. They were not even in the same league of my dear Whole Food Cupcakes.

After many jokes at the expense of the cupcakes, we actually tried to eat them. We were only successful in eating the frosting. We stayed away from the "cake" in fear of needing dental work if we actually tried to bite the rock hard food.

So, do I recommend eating French Meadow Chocolate cupcakes? Absolutely not. I would actually like a refund.

Mina's Purely Divine Chocolate Cake Mix

I have been sitting on this review for a while...mainly, because I really dislike giving bad reviews. But, this product earned it. I used Mina's Purely Divine Chocolate Cake Mix to make GFCF cupcakes for Blaine's first birthday party. I sampled one the day prior to the party when I baked them and they were so gross that I was relieved I made a non-gfcf cake for our guests. I would have been mortified to serve this cake to them. I have had so many delicious GFCF products that put this mix to shame.

The birthday boy with his cupcake

I will say that Blaine did love his cupcake. I have to keep that in perspective though. Blaine had never had a cupcake before. He didn't know how mouth watering awesome they should be.

I do have other Mina's products to sample and I hope that they are good.  I love that there are so many gluten free companies out there and I want to support our community, not bash it. I hope my next Mina's review doesn't leave me with a sour taste in my mouth!

Pasta Prima Gluten Free Butternut Squash Ravioli

I had high hopes for this ravioli. Decadent pasta is one of the dishes I miss most. I miss amazing filled raviolis. I hunger for stuffed shells. So, when I stumbled across this overpriced pasta creation I thought my heart had been heard.

I didn't want to bury the flavor in a tomato sauce, so I drizzled olive oil, a little melted butter and herbs on the pasta.

This pasta was very dry. I could have had it soaking in butter (Paula Deen style) and it would have still be awful. I will never purchase this again.

Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust Mix

We were having family pizza night a few weeks ago, Steve and Jacob were decorating their personal sized pizza crusts and I was going to make a gluten free pizza for myself.

I made my pizza first in order to prevent cross contamination. The dough was easy to make. I put fresh mozzarella cheese, turkey pepperoni, and black olives as topping. The pizza looked decent when it was finished.

Steve and Jacob's pizza looked and smelled wonderful and they said that their pizza was delicious. I had high hopes for my Bob's Red Mill Pizza Crust. However, when I tried it, I was greatly disappointed. The crust tasted like a salty mess. It was inedible. I peeled off my toppings and just consumed those. I wont be making this mix again.

Gluten Free Pantry French Bread & Pizza Mix

It doesn't matter if you are new to being gluten free or not,it is still probably hard to pass by the bakery or bread isle problem on some days. The smell of fresh bread still is especially hard. Sometimes I just want to grab a croissant and shove the buttery flavor in my mouth knowing that it would cause me to have  dash into the bathroom, because  it will ultimately lead to being glutened and me crying on the toilet! Who am I kidding? Sometimes having to lead a GF lifestyle sucks.  So I have to resist all of those amazing foods in the bakery and  and search for equally amazing gluten free products. Most of the time I can find awesome products and I let you, my wonderful readers know about them.

It really sucks when I have high hopes for a product and it lets me down. I cannot tell you how badly I wanted the French Bread & Pizza Mix from Gluten Free Pantry to be delicious but I cannot lie, it sucked. It did not rise well. It was not fluffy like French Bread is, so it did not have the potential to make an amazing sandwich that I had been dreaming up. I was pretty bummed out.

This product will never be purchased again. Ever. I am still on the quest for GF French Bread. Anyone know where I can find that?

Bisquick Gluten Free Pancake and Baking Mix

I have become a snob.A pancake/ waffle mix snob that is. I was stoked when I saw this on the grocery shelf and I was dancing in the kitchen when I was cooking this because Bisquick diving into the gluten free foods world is good for the community...or so I thought. However, when I tried the mix, I realized what a snob I have become...I hated the mix. It isn't that it is horrid but I have had better. Betty Crocker and General Mills are all companies that are now known for entering the gluten free market with good tasting products, I expected the same of Bisquick.  There are amazing companies that are soley GF that do it better!

Gits: Matar Paneer

I had high hopes for this meal. It was too spicy (it claimed to be of a medium spice level) and was too runny. Maybe if I would have put rice in it or something. Sometimes finding new and exciting GF vegetarian meals can be challenging. I would have to label this a FOOD FAIL.

Hodgson Mill Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix With Milled Flaxseed

I was not a muffin person until I discovered Udi's Muffins. I now love muffins because Udi's made me appreciate them.

When I saw Hodgson Mill Apple Cinnamon Muffin Min with Milled Flaxseed I picked up a box at my local Supermarket. I wanted to have fresh muffins at home! I liked that the box said that the muffins were free of trans fats and cholesterol. Plus, flaxseed is really good for you!

My boyfriend and I decided to bake these together and it was fun. However I think I set my hopes too high. He loves muffins more than I do and he is not gluten free. I discovered that maybe I only like Udi's muffins.

These muffins were pretty dry. The only time they were moist was when I would bite a piece of apple. The only way I could eat it was by cutting it up in small pieces, cutting up butter, sprinkling cinnamon all over the muffin and then microwaving it until the butter was melted. That just seems like a lot of work to try and make a muffin moist when they should already be.

I would not buy these as my go to muffins. If you want your moneys worth, purchase Udi's. I am sorry Hodgson Mill but you boast of having "Premium Quality Since 1882", I think it is time to reinvent yourselves.

Alexia Crunchy Snacks: Waffle Fries

I had movie night with my friend Rachel tonight and I have to say it was a success...well almost successful. You see, I purchased these waffle fries at the store today expecting spectacular snacking goodness and I was pretty let down.

I had my movies laid out on the table, M&M's in a bowl and I opened the bag of chips and put them in a serving bowl. I decided to try one before my guest arrived just in case it was awful. I didn't like it at first taste so I tried another hoping it was just a funky chip...yeah, second chip also was crappy. I decided to put all the chips back in the bag, these were NOT WORTHY of my guest.

However, when Rachel did arrive, I told her of these awful chips and she said she wanted to try them! She did and she liked them! What? Huh? How is that possible? I think I just have high standards now as a food blogger! I stand by my gazillion tastes...yes, that is right...I kept trying it over and over again to see if I would change my mind but I didn't. I found these to be down right disgusting.

My mother even tried them and she fancied these too. So, now I leave you with a call to action...you try them and tell me what you think! Do you like them? Have you tried them?

Chili's Update!

Thursday night I was getting ready to eat dinner with my family and the phone rings, the gentleman on the other end asks for me by name. I, sounding uncertain confirm that he is speaking to me and he tells me that he is from the Chili’s Corporation and that he got my email from the corporate office. I go over the story again. Henry, my Chili’s contact, was very nice and apologetic, he agreed that the server was very insensitive and out of line. He also agreed that getting sick was unacceptable. He spoke to me for a very long time and listened to my concerns and suggestions. He was not only sorry for the incident, and he wanted to apologize to me on behalf of the company. He said he would normally offer me gift cards but he could tell that wouldn’t be appropriate in this circumstance, he was right. I never, ever want to go back to Chili’s ever again. So, he took additional information and he was going to refund my dinner! He was going to track down my receipt to give me back the refund but also find out the servers name and they were going to take to her about being more sensitive to her customers. They were going to talk to their cooks about being more careful in the kitchen about cross contamination. He also gave me his cellular number in case I do not receive my refund or anything else should arise. I am very happy with the way Chili’s handled the issue. Thank you Chili’s for taking care of this properly, I just wish it wouldn’t have happened in the first place! Or should I say, thank you Henry!

Chili's Gluten Free Menu....A Winner...Right?

I had heard that Chili’s had a gluten free menu from a few of the blogs I visit but I couldn’t remember if it was a good menu or not. Then I remembered reading about Stephanie’s glutening but I thought that it wouldn’t happen to me because, what would be the odds? Plus, I would not only tell the server about my intolerance but also I would go prepared with my handy-dandy cards!

Was I naive? Maybe, I was. Maybe it is because I have put too much faith in people or maybe it is because I expect that if you actually have a gluten free menu, it means that you know the meaning of what gluten free is and what cross contamination is. Is that too much to ask? Do I sound harsh? Well, keep reading. I am more than just a little upset, this ladies and gentlemen is by far the worst culinary (if you can call Chili’s culinary) experience I have ever had.

My boyfriend and I were meeting his sister, her husband and their adorable daughter for dinner. I mistakenly suggest Chili’s for dinner because of the gluten free menu. Jared and I get there first, we sit down and we talk the game plan. The game plan includes how I am going to order. I always think this through because I get nervous and never want to leave anything out. Jared orders for me often because it makes me uneasy and he has great attention for detail, but I ordered for myself last night. His family arrived, they decided on their order and the waitress came. She was not very pleasant but I was nice to her.

When it was my turn to order I chose: A hamburger. No bun, with cheese and the garnish. No French fries. Instead of the fries can I please have a side salad? She nodded. I continued: No Croutons. No dressing of any kind. Instead I would like lemon wedges. I have Celiac Disease meaning I cannot have any gluten or wheat because it will make me very sick. It is all on this card. Can you please give it to your cook and their staff?

She took the card and gave me a look. I didn’t care though. I have no clue if she gave it to the cook or not. When she returned with my order, she brought me my burger with a side of ranch on the plate. The ranch was in a separate container so I didn’t freak out but I was still annoyed. Ranch was not on the gluten free menu and I didn’t order it. She wasn’t listening to my needs. I told her again “I am highly allergic to gluten and I don’t want to take a chance, could you please take the dressing back.” I know that celiac is an autoimmune disorder but I didn’t feel like explaining it to her, she wasn’t getting it. I figured the word allergy would work better with this chick. Then she really crossed the line, she replied with, “Yeah, I would be PARANOID too.” I didn’t want to make a scene. I was at dinner with my boyfriend and his lovely family and I was on the verge of tears. It had been such an amazing week for the gluten free community with the release of the G-Free Diet and all of the promotion surrounding it and also with the launch of the Starbucks gluten free dessert. I wasn’t going to let this girl get me down. I wasn’t being paranoid, I was protecting my intestines.

Dinner was awful. My salad tasted old. I couldn’t even finish it and my burger kind of sucked. I started not feeling well during my dinner. My boyfriend said it was the worst steak he ever had. My boyfriend's sister didn't really like her dinner either. I left still hungry since I didn’t finish my meal so my boyfriend took me to In & Out for some french fries. I had a bad feeling about the food I had eaten at Chili’s so I took some Pepto while we were still there, especially since I wasn’t feeling well. I know that Pepto isn’t cure at all, but maybe it helps a little? Hey, kept me from having the craps! So, I would like to think that maybe it lessens it a bit…right?

We were going to this arcade called Golfland to play games and by the time we got there I had this massive headache. After ten minutes I threw up in the restroom. I threw up a total of four times while we were there, but I didn’t want to leave and let stupid Chili’s get in my way. I was in so much pain that it hurt to walk and I felt really bloated. On the way back to my boyfriend’s we stopped at the store and picked up some things so I would feel better.

I can honestly say that Chili’s was the worst restaurant experience I have ever had. It wasn’t the worst glutening of my life but it was by far the worst customer service and pretty awful food. I do not like being insulted by people when I am trying to have a good time. I am saddened by the lack of humanity that waitress showed for me, it is hard enough trying to eat out. I know that there are more and more options for gluten free people showing up all the time but when restaurants like Chili’s has gluten free menus, I expect their staff not to insult patrons and not to cross contaminate them. I am really disheartened by Chili’s. I normally try to not give bad reviews but Chili’s you gave me really crappy service and maybe you should give your servers a bit of sensitivity training.

Trader Joe's Organic Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats

I was a big fan of Rice Crispy Treats and I am really bummed out that they are not gluten free. I know that Rice Chex treats are even more delicious (OK, my opinion) but I liked the convenience of unwrapping that blue, sinful package and indulging in some yummy goodness! My mother came home with from Trader Joe's recently with a box of ORGANIC BROWN RICE MARSHMALLOW TREATS! I was so excited I couldn't wait to try them! Plus, the box advertises that it is gluten free, vegan, free from high fructose corn syrup and low in sodium! Sounds like a winner...right?

The Review:

These caught my eye before dinner and I wanted to try them so badly. However, I had to follow the advice that I now give my own child and I resisted the urge to eat sweets before dinner. I quickly ate my dinner and waited until I was no longer full. I unwrapped the package and noticed a funky smell coming from the treat. Hum...did I want to eat this? I was committed. I had already unwrapped it and the curiosity was already too high, I had to find out if it tasted like those treats I once loved so much. I bit in expecting ecstasy and all I got was a nastiness with a kicking after taste. Yuck. I was not feeling nostalgic one bit. Maybe that smell was a warning? I should have known better.

The Verdict:

The Stats:
Serving Size: 1 Bar
Calories :100
Total Fat: 2.5 grams
Carbs: 18 grams
Protein: less than 1

ENJOY LIFE: COCOA LOCO SNACK BARS

"Have you heard of a belly laugh? At Enjoy Life our business is making smile-good foods that keep your insides happy too." Hum...that little diddy is on the back of the Enjoy Life Cocoa Loco Snack Bars...read more to find out if my insides were happy eating these snack bars!

The Review:
I have previously mentioned my son's love of cereal bars and my adoration of the Envirokidz Bars but could the Enjoy Life bars be yummy too? Could they really make me enjoy life? OK, so food shouldn't make you enjoy life, bad frame of thought, but you know, if you are gluten free you tend to think about food a lot. Thoughts always are can I eat this, can I eat that, and should I pack a snack? So, is this Enjoy Life Cocoa Snack Bar one of the snacks I should be packing? Hum, it had this crunchy oddness to it that slightly reminded me of Nana's Cookie Bars and I didn't like those very much. I noticed that odd crunch in bite one. OK, I told myself that bite two wouldn't have the crunch factor, it must have been a mistake. I told myself that they were an Enjoy Life product. I am not very familiar with them but the name sounds like a lot to live up to. Bite two...yup, still there and not very yummy. I am NOT ENJOYING LIFE WITH THIS IN MY MOUTH. Bite three, forced. I forced myself to finish this with milk. I did it for the blog. I wanted to give it a review that I could feel good about and if I didn't finish the bar I didn't feel that I could give it a good fighting chance. I was hoping to change my mind on the product that sounded like it should be so promising.But, the rest of the box was chucked.

The Verdict:


The Stats:
Serving Size: 1 Bar
Calories: 120
Total Fat: 3.5 grams
Carbs:22 grams
Protein: 2 grams

I abhor hospitals

( Posted on 11/14/08 on the Endless Possibilities Blog)

So, on Wendesday, I had four seizures in less than 24 hours, lip numbness, a terrible migraine and ringing in my ears. Jared witnessed three of the seizures (I will write in the love blog when I am up to date with homework) and the fourth occurred outside of the er in front of a nurse and some EMTs...mortifying to say the least.

They admitted me into the hospital on Wednesday. They did a slew of test. The seizures showed up on none of the tests.

Then I got some news that I am not yet ready to share on here. I am still sitting with it. Only my close family and Jared know. When I am ready to write about it, I will. It isn't anything to worry about so, please, no one go into a panic. I just need time to process things.

A bunch of tests later...including the one I have written about twice...the one with the glue that always gets stuck in my hair took place. I forget the name of it. I am drained.
My heart was in bradycardia. I think it is always beating slow. They woke me up from sleep a few times to make sure I was ok.

I was discharged today. I just feel tired. I still have the ringing. I still have the numb lips. I still have the headaches.

But I have love.

I have the love of Jacob, who was super sweet with me after his nap.

I have the love of my incredible boyfriend. He is my amazing ear and my comforting embrace through this. He hears me complain. He hears my ups and downs through this all. His hugs provided me comfort. He was my ride home today. My sushi lunch date too because gluten free hospital food is even worse than normal hospital food.

I have the love of my awesome friends. Kelly came to visit my drug induced self in the hospital. I was on pain pills most of the time and she was there. She also came to visit today. Then there is Ashley who is also my ear. She has a medical background so she is giving me advice, thoughts and just being there.

And I have the love of family. I feel so blessed and surrounded with warmth. There were times during this where I felt dismal. I think the only one who heard this was Jared during one of my sedated rants.

I am glad to be home.

I missed a ton of homework. I had no internet and I felt so miserable while I was there, that I would have been unable to do it anyway. Tonight I spent most of the night looking at the screen.

Like I said, I will update the love blog soon. I have a new pic to post and some other stuff to write about.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

GLUTENED { contains Too Much Information and profanity)

(Posted on the Endless Possibilities Blog on 11/11/08)

After our walk and the music store, Kelly and I went to Whole Foods. I have been craving éclairs for months. I need to have one. Stephanie sent me a recipe for gluten free éclairs but they just seem like too much work...she even thought so.

I found an easy recipe for this thing that promises to taste like an éclair that is half of the work. You just can’t pick it up and eat it like and éclair. I am not sure what it looks like because it doesn't provide a picture. I am going to make it soon and I will review it...with a picture.

So, Kelly and I went to Whole Foods so I could get some of the things I needed to make it and also to see if I could get a gluten free pastry from their bakery. I have been dying for a pasty.

The only time I really hate having celiacs is when I pass by the baker’s case and know that everything is off limits, at Whole Foods they were bound to have something I could have...hopefully. We get there and ask.

The BAKERY BITCH (she earned the name because I feel lied to and deceived, my intestines hate her), pointed out the gluten free items. She then points to these amazing looking things covered in chocolate with this mouse inside. It says wheat free on the label. I point that out. She said something like it was gluten free and I would be fine.

BAKERY BITCH was so convincing. BAKERY BITCH swears it won’t get me sick. BAKERY BITCH gives me a description of this pastry, that for someone that has not had a proper baked goods in a long time could almost have a big O ( and by big O...I am not referring to Oprah) from listening to them. Oprah surely would have had a big O and she doesn’t have celiacs.

Yet again BAKERY BITCH says they are WHEAT FREE but with NOTHING IN THEM that would make anyone GLUTEN INTOLERANT sick. I purchase the baked good.

I eat the baked good. I praise BAKERY BITCH in my head, but for that short moment she was not BAKERY BITCH but BAKERY GODDESS. She had given me the satisfaction that I had been seeking for months. A really good pastry; I had great tasting cakes on my birthday but I craved a yummy pastry! I had now had it!

Well, it was short lived. I felt the all too familiar rumble in my stomach. I felt the hot and colds. I felt the impending doom. Jacob was up. My mom was not home. I felt sick and I knew it was BAKERY BITCH'S fault. I was trying to avoid getting sick.

Poor Jacob must have hated me. He had to be in the bathroom with me. As my insides ruptured in the bathroom I think I casted a plague on BAKERY BITCH'S house and her first born.

There were times where I thought the glutening was over and then it came back. My mom ended up going to the gym last night. I had to make Jacob dinner and put him to bed while dealing with one of the most violent glutenings of my life.

I got this horrible headache. It was so bad that I had to ask for an extension on my homework and I don’t even know if I got it. I couldn’t look at the computer. I was in bed early. I woke up through the night...GLUTENED.

This lasted for hours. I never had a glutening last so long.

I should have known better. I should have gone for the specific gluten free sign. BAKERY BITCH was too convincing.