NYPD PIZZA Gluten Free Style!

Before I start my review, sorry for my lack of posts this week, I have been very under the weather. I actually started to feel ill last week and Steve decided to take me to dinner so I wouldn't have to cook. I love how considerate my partner is!

We decided to pick up pizza from New York Pizza Department. Steve ordered their non-gf pizza and wings and I ordered the GF pizza with fresh basil and pepperoni for toppings. We were out of their delivery zone, so we made the trek to pick up our order. We had made the decision to try a slice when we got there, even though we had placed "To-Go" orders so we could try the food fresh from the oven.

My slice was amazing! I was in Heaven , the combination of basil and pepperoni was out of this world. It was worth the drive! My only wish was that NYPD would make gluten free chicken wings in a dedicated fryer. I only know of one place where I can get those and they are very far away from me. NYPD is much more geographically desirable for me to drive to and Steve said his wings were wonderful.

Steve and I did get to speak to the manager, Christina,whom was very knowledgeable about not only the gluten free pizza but also the gluten free lifestyle. It was very refreshing to go to a restaurant and find staff that actually knew what they were talking about. I have only found this in a small number of establishments and I was very pleased to find this at NYPD.

Christina explained that all of the gf pizza is not only prepared in a separate part of the kitchen but it is made in its own oven.  The crust comes from Still Riding and I can vouch that the crust does not come apart easily and it is very delicious. If you are out of delivery zone, like me, you can order the pizza frozen with your desired GF toppings (only some toppings at NYPD are gf) and you can take the pizza home to cook. The pizza tastes best fresh from the oven.

I would definitely recommend NYPD to all my fellow gluten free enthusiasts. If you are in AZ, I suggest that you try it!

Joy Bauer Slim & Scrumptious

So remember when I posted that Joy Bauer is my # 1 Fan? Ok, she isn't really, but someone at her website reads me and knows who I am, so Joy Bauer loves me by association...right....not really! But, let's pretend!

I mentioned in my previous Joy Bauer post that I was sent two books to review. This is the latter of the two and I spent my time cooking away and mainly forgetting to snap pictures because the food was pretty amazing.

Slim & Scrumptious is not specifically a gluten free cookbook but it has health conscious meals that many can enjoy. I was able to cater many of the meals to the GF lifestyle. 

These were my favorite:

• Italian Sunday Brunch Bake
• Apricot Almond Oats (Use dedicated GF Oats!)
• Sicilian Quinoa Salad
• Pistachio Chicken Salad
• Lemon Sage Chicken Breast
• Crispy Kale
• Frozen Hot Chocolate (MY FAVORITE!!!)

Check out the book for yourself and let me know what you think! Does the book not being a GF cookbook exclude it from being used in your home?

Mediterranean Snacks:Baked Lentil Chips

When I received some Baked Lentil Chips at the GFXcon and I cant wait to get my hands on more! These were so good! Humus has never been so amazing...I usually eat it with cucumbers but this was just superb!

When Is a good time for a Whenever Bar? Whenever!

Pamela's Products has a new line called Whenever Bars and they are delicious. I was so relieved to have them one morning at my desk at work, because they saved me in a jam when I neglected to eat breakfast, that I even tweeted my thanks.

There are four varieties, Oat Blueberry Lemon, Oat Chocolate Chip Coconut, Oat Cranberry Almond,  Oat Raisin Walnut Spice. I have tried all four varieties and I like specific things about each one.


Oat Blueberry Lemon: I specifically like this flavor for breakfast. It compliments tea very well. I often enjoyed this in the car. Sad that I am so busy, but I guess they are called Whenever Bars for a reason!

Oat Chocolate Chip Coconut: This flavor was my favorite! It was as though I was eating dessert!

Oat Cranberry Almond:  I also enjoyed this one as a breakfast treat. I kept this variety in my purse for GF emergencies. If I couldn't find a place to eat or if I went to a restaurant and they did not have a gf friendly option on the menu that I liked, I knew I could eat a Whenever Bar and I would be ok!

Oat Raisin Walnut Spice: This flavor reminded me of Autumn. It tasted really delicious and made me excited for the upcoming season.


I really like the new line and I hope you guys do too! Let me know what you guys think of it!

Lucy's Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had a snack sized bag of Lucy's at my desk at work. I thought it would be the perfect afternoon snack...I was somewhat mistaken. These were not the delicious chocolate chip mouth explosion I was hoping for. Instead, my mouth was "treated" to a grainy,remotely-bearable,  cookie that had to suffice because there was nothing else at my disposal at work to replace it.

Harsh? Maybe. But, hey...now that I have been GF for a long while, I have standards. I would eat these again? But, I would not spend my hard earned cash on them. These would be eaten on the rare occasion that I had nothing else at hand and I really needed a cookie fix.


The Stats:

Serving Size: 3 cookies, 1.3 Servings per container
Calories: 130
Total Fat: 5 Grams
Total Carbohydrates: 20 grams
Sugar: 12 grams
Protein: 2 grams

I am Fine...Are you?

I mentioned on my Q&A post about an upcoming beauty product I wanted to introduce my readers to,  well this is it!

 I was introduced to I Am Fine Pure Skin Products at the GFXCon by Anne Marie Fine. Anne Marie is the CEO and the Founder.  She created the line because she wanted to revolutionize skin care one face at a time, with pure ingredients. Her products are gluten free and amazing. Her credentials are impressive and she has been featured in Martha Stewart twice!

I have been using the Youth Serum since the expo and I have been loving it. It makes my face softer than ever and I cannot think of one negative thing to say. I was worried because it looked oily when you first rub it in and I have very sensitive skin, but I did not break out, my skin remained blemish free. I even received compliments from a friend telling me that I had a glow about me.

I was given the opportunity to interview Anne Marie! Here are her insights on beauty and exciting new news on  her skin care line:

What made you decide to invent your skin care line?

As a environmental medicine doctor, I decided to formulate my skin care line to address the skin stressors resulting from a broad range of environmental toxins, nutrient deficiencies, and UV exposure from the skin- the main contributors to skin aging! As a national and international lecturer on toxins in personal care products, I have done the research to know what is really in those skin creams and lotions out there, and concluded that most skin creams are actually aging your skin due to their poor quality ingredients. My line is focused on being a solution to the problem of both premature aging and the role of toxicity in skin care products.


 I have been using your product for a couple weeks, how long does a bottle of the Youth Serum last?
A bottle of Youth Serum lasts approximately one month.



Do you prefer the Youth Serum or the Purifying Mask?
I like and use them both! The Purifying Mask has been called The 15 Minute Facelift! It lifts, tones, and draws out the toxins while exfoliating and reducing pores. It is a special kind of clay that pulls out environmental toxins and leaves the skin impossibly soft, fresh, and youthful. And the Youth Serum works to deeply hydrate and nourish skin, revealing younger looking skin very quickly. They are best used together!


Are you planning on developing more beauty products to your line?

I am right now formulating more products to be added to the line.



 At what age do you think a person needs to worry about anti-aging products?



I think the question of what age to begin an anti-aging program would be better viewed as when should someone start taking care of their skin. Good skin habits and pure products that aren’t irritating and inflaming the skin are appropriate at any age.



Aside from I Am Fine, what are your top five beauty tips?

1. Use organic, pure products for the face and body.


2. Use sunscreen on your face every day to prevent sun damage which is very aging
3. Detox your face at least once a week.

4. Avoid an inflammatory diet- it will show on your skin!
5. Make sure to include sources of Omega-3 essential fatty acids in your diet to moisturize from within

 What are your top five health tips?
1. Detoxify, detoxify, detoxify- this is the missing link in health.

2. Adequate pure clean water
3. Adequate sleep- at least 7 hours per night.
4. Move your body everyday
5. Keep stress under control

Is there anything that you see people doing to their skin that it totally damaging? What are the best ways to reverse it?

The most damaging thing people do to their skin today is slather on chemically laden creams and lotions that create inflammation and free radicals- both processes lead to premature aging of the skin.




Thank you so much for the interview and for sharing your words of wisdom with the readers of Gluten Free Gluttony.

Email Questions Anwered!

I have been receiving a lot of reader questions, which I love! Keep sending questions! I selected two to post to the blog! If you have questions, please feel free to send them to my email. If you do not want them posted, please enclose that in your email.

1. Michelle,

I work in a bakery, how do I not get glutened at lunch time? How do I keep myself from getting gluten all over myself?
            
 Respectfully,

   Marge



Marge,

I am assuming that your bakery is not gluten free. I suggest that you wash your hands as often as possible. Wear an apron to keep your clothes free of gluten. Try to avoid touching your face. Bring your own food from home and create a gluten free zone for it. If that is not possible, do not introduce your gf food to your work environment and eat out.
 - Michelle





2.   Dear GF Glutton-

Do you use GF skin care? What are your GF beauty tips?

- Sarah

Dear Sarah,

I have a skin care post coming up soon, I will mention a new product I have been using...so keep a look out for it!

I am rather sensitive to gluten in products. For a while my scalp broke out and was itchy and I couldn't figure out why, finally...ok, after a few months of being unhappy (I bought the largest bottle ever of this shampoo), I read the ingredients and there was WHEAT in it! This isn't the 1st time that this happened to me. I have found wheat in my lotion and in my lip products before.

So currently, I am using an all natural, GF shampoo that I really like-

Desert Essence Red Raspberry Shampoo smells really good and I don't have to worry about my scalp hating me. I use essential oils to condition my scalp. I get regular trims (4-6 weeks) to keep my hair healthy and I either straight iron my hair or use hot rollers to curl it. If I am lazy, I let it dry naturally.

I also wear SPF daily, year round. My co-workers tease me for being so pale. I try to sleep as much as possible and I am trying to be better about my water consumption.

-Michelle

Sometimes, you just need thank people...thank you Brendi from Venezia's Pizzeria!

Last week , Steve, Jacob and I went out for a nice night out. We went to our favorite local book store and we went to get some pizza before hand. Venezia's does not have a gluten free pizza, I called before hand, however they did have salad options, so I decided to give them a try.

When we got there, they had football on the TV, so I knew my son would be thrilled...he was for the entire time we were there.

When I ordered, Brendi carefully took my order. I explained my situation regarding my celiacs and she made sure that the cooks understood "NO CROUTONS"! She was so carefully made sure to let them know that this was an allergen situation and that they could not just remove the croutons if they made an error. She was simply amazing.

It really makes a difference when people pay attention to the needs of a celiac when they go out to eat. I want to thank Brendi and Venezia's for there help. Even though they do not have a gluten free pizza, my salad was delicious and I cannot wait to go back there again.  My family had a great time and our service was excellent.

So, celiacs- I encourage you all to think outside the gf pizza box when we go out to eat at pizza restaurants...this may not always be an option for us. We just have to be very vocal of our needs. Also, know that cross contamination is a risk...there is flour everywhere in a pizzeria. However, if we are willing to work with establishments, often they are willing to work with us.