Gluten Free Product Review: Rudi's Gluten Free Bread

Gluten free bread has come a long way since I first found out that I have celiac disease.  I remember my first experience with gluten free bread was with the small brick loaves of brown rice bread stocked at the local Trader Joe's. And when I say small brick loaves, I mean just that... small, as in each slice was about half the size of regular bread, and brick, as in if you threw a loaf of that bread at someone, it could seriously hurt them!  The slices were so small I'd have to turn off the toaster so I could use a fork to fetch them out.

These days the slices are getting larger, the bread is getting softer, and you barely have to toast the bread anymore to soften it.  I recently tried out Rudi's Multigrain Gluten Free Bread and I was impressed.  Not only was it soft right out of the bag, but it was tasty and the slices were big enough feel like the good ol' days when I could walk into a grocery store and just pick out the best loaf on sale.  I tore through that loaf in no time, with PB & J's, toasted egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches, and toasted ham and swiss. Back when getting a good loaf of bread was as easy as walking to the corner store, I would have never imagined eating the end pieces, but I have no problem doing that now, especially when the GF bread is that good; no slice is taken for granted:)

Gluten Free Kasha Chili

A lot has been going on these days. Teaching two undergraduate social work classes, one on sexuality and one on research methods.  An upcoming weekend conference to attend where I'm also presenting, a couple more speaking engagements on the horizon, and a dissertation fully underway.  Not to mention the pleasurable effort cultivating some sense of a social life... a remaining New Year's resolution not yet abandoned.  In times like these I love leftovers.  I love not worrying about picking food up, or putting the time into whipping up a meal.  It's nice to know there's tasty food ready and waiting, no effort, no fuss, just eat and back to the busy.

This Kasha chili was deeeeeeee-lish!  I loved the texture of the Kasha mixed in with the ground turkey, tomatoes and beans. Yum!  Want this to be vegetarian?  Leave out the ground turkey and substitute the gluten free chicken stock with vegetable stock.  With the spices in this, it'll be tasty no matter what!

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 2 tblsp olive oil
• 1 14oz. can stewed tomatoes
• l medium tomato (chopped)
• 1 small onion (diced)
• 1 can pinto, black or kidney beans
• 3/4 cup whole uncooked kasha
• 1 tblsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp celery salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 4 cups gluten free chicken or vegetable stock

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.  Add the turkey and season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned.
2. Add all the remaining ingredients, except the kasha, to the skillet.  Bring to a light boil for 12 minutes.
3. Add the kasha, cover, and reduce to simmer.  Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the kasha is tender.
4. Serve & Enjoy!

Gluten Free in Roma Italy

Rome was a beautiful place.  The final part of a three-week international journey... Rome proved to be an excellent ender. I was excited to arrive in Rome, not only because it was what it was, but because  I've read that Italy is a sweet place for living gluten free.  From what I've read, it is common to find restaurants offering a variety of gluten free pasta, breads and desserts.  Soon after arriving in Rome, we met a friend, who had a friend with Celiac Disease; and said he would be happy to bring us to a nearby restaurant that specialized in gluten free options called Il Maggiolino. So we said "let's go!"... and we did.  My very first meal in Italy was completely gluten free.  It was pure heaven!

I started with a small bottle of local red wine and gluten free focaccia bread drizzled with olive oil
and dusted with freshly chopped herbs. Yum!  The menu was loaded!  It took me a while but I finally settled on the gluten free gnocchi.  I have not had gnocchi for more than 5 years.  The last time was a gnocchi and Gorgonzola cheese dish I put together in our little dorm kitchen at Buffalo State. That was real good, but this was even better! I ate my gnocchi slowly and deliberately, not uttering a word for blocks of time.  Awesome...

For dessert I ordered the gluten free tiramisu.  It was drizzled with a cream cheese sauce and covered in cocoa powder.  I thought the presentation could use a little work but the taste was out of this world.  When I left the restaurant I was drunk with food more than wine.  It actually heart to move for an hour or so.  The remainder of my stay was filled with being a tourist, going to some of the historical areas, eating great gluten free meals, snacking on gelato, sipping cappuccinos and watching the world do its thing.  Italy...  We're far from done... I'll be back.

Here's all the information off the card from the restaurant "Il Maggiolino": Ristorante - Pizzeria Forno a Legna Pesce e Carne. Specializzati anche in PRODOTTI FRESHI Pizza - Pasta - Pane - Dolci - Gelati SENZA GLUTINE.  (Address) Via Alessandro Cruto, 9 - 00146 Roma. Tel. 06 557448.