Carol's Culinary Cues - October 2006

(c) Carol Fenster, Ph.D. - President, Savory Palate, Inc.

8174 South Holly St., #404, Centennial, CO  80122

800.741.5418

ISSN 14244

N THIS ISSUE:

New Gluten-Free Products

As I mentioned last month, I attended Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, MD this past weekend and want to share some new gluten-free and dairy-free solutions that are just coming to market. I have been attending this show for 10 years and this year, for the first time, I truly felt that the gluten-free diet was generally well accepted. The exhibitors seemed to understand what it meant and many products were clearly labeled "gluten-free."


IN THIS ISSUE:


.Gluten-Free Tortillas/Wraps

One of my more exciting finds was gluten-free flour tortillas made with teff, both ivory and dark variety. They are soft, supple and taste great and should be available in grocery stores and  independent health food stores later this year. Hopefully they will be in the large chains (Whole Foods and Wild Oats) by spring. These teff tortillas are made by La Tortilla Factory (a familiar name in tortillas) and should be on the same shelf as regular tortillas. If you don't see them, ask the store or department manager. The product is so new that it isn't even on the web site at www.latortillafactory.com, but keep looking because it will be there soon.

Some of the many gluten-                  free products at Expo East.

Another new wrap was the Healthy Hemp Foods version made from amaranth, hemp, and various seeds including sunflower, sesame, and flax . These wraps are dark in color and hearty in flavor, but are very soft and supple and extremely healthy. Learn more about them at www.healthyhempbread.com.


Dairy-Free Solutions

I was pleased to find a new soy-based whipped (aerosol) topping called Soyatoo. It looks and tastes like real whipped cream, but without the fat, lactose, and casein that many of us don't want. It is made by www.soyatoo-usa.com or www.ceresorganic.com.

 

I also tasted a new hemp-based milk (also called drink or beverage). It is a welcome solution for those can't drink cow's milk, but also don't want rice, soy, nut, or potato-based drinks. It comes in plain, vanilla, and chocolate flavors and tastes great. It is Living Harvest at www.livingharvest.com.

 

Good Karma (www.goodkarmafoods.com) introduced a wonderful rice-based cream that is a great substitute for ice cream made from cow's milk. It comes in Very Vanilla and Carrot Cake flavors.

 

Soyco (www.galaxyfoods.com) removed the casein from it's "dairy-free" cheeses and and offers them in 3 flavors: American, Cheddar, and Pepper Jack. They were always lactose-free, but now the casein is gone, making them appropriate for far more people.


Gluten-Free Choices Offer More Convenience When Frozen

Our gluten-free food choices are becoming more and more like regular food choices. Glutino/Gluten-Free Pantry introduced frozen cookie dough in little balls that you just put on the cookie sheet and bake. They come in Chocolate Chunk and Buckwheat Raisin flavors. Glutenfreeda.com also introduced frozen cookie dough in 4 different flavors (including Chocolate and Peanut Butter) that bake into wonderful cookies. If you don't subscribe to their online cooking magazine, you're missing some wonderful ideas.

 

Glutino/Gluten-Free Pantry also introduced  5 frozen entrees ranging from pasta dishes to pizza. Reheat in the microwave or oven and you have dinner.


Cookies Take a New Twist

Gluten-free cookies are not new, but Glutino/Gluten-Free Pantry's new Vanilla and Chocolate Dream Bites have cream in the centers (how did they do that??) and take gluten-free cookies to new heights. And, Pamela's Products now offers mini-cookies, little bite-size cookies that are delicious and travel well. I was especially taken with the Ginger Mini-Snapz. I always take a package of Pamela's biscotti with me to Europe where I can dunk them in the marvelous espresso.  Because they are already crisp, they travel well and don't get stale.


Breakfast Just Got Healthier and Easier

Hemp is the new hot item and it's showing up in more breakfast choices. Hemp protein powders, featuring lots of healthy Omega-3 fats, make great smoothies and shakes for breakfast for people who can't eat soy or rice-based powders. www.ruthshempfoods.com.

 

Gluten-free granola doesn't have to include oats to taste great, as I saw in granola from Bakery on Main (www.bakeryonmain.com). Not too sweet, this crunchy granola tastes great alone or with yogurt or when eaten plain as a trail mix.

 

If you miss oats, go to www.creamhillestates.com to find pure, uncontaminated rolled oats that are wonderful. Make them into oatmeal, granola, oatmeal cookies or toppings for fruit desserts such as apple crisp. I had a fabulous bowl of oatmeal at 5 AM before I walked in the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure. This "stick to your ribs" breakfast powered me through the next 5 hours. They also sell oat flour and oat groats (kernels).


New Mixes Make Life Easier

Bob's Red Mill (www.bobsredmill.com) introduced 3 new sorghum-based mixes: Cornbread, Cinnamon-Raisin, and Multi-Grain. I developed these mixes so I know they taste great. 123GlutenFree (123glutenfree.com) and Manna from Anna (www.glutenevolution.com) featured many new mixes and 123Gluten-Free Mixes were finalists in the new product competition at Expo East this year, which is a great tribute to them.


New Sweeteners Make Life Sweeter

While sweeteners are not actually a gluten-free concern, many of you want control over your sugar intake. Stevia, a sweet leaf from Uruguay, isn't new but it now comes in 12 flavors that make water taste great. www.sweetleaf.com. I put a few drops in my bottle of water at the show for a flavor boost that turned ordinary water into a treat. I also use them to flavor my after-dinner coffee, especially when I'm not having dessert.


Food for Thought

“Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.”---James Beard (1903-1985)

 


Where in the World is Carol?

No travel in October, except to the Expo East trade show which I've discussed in this edition.