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A Gluten Free Lunch At Epcot’s Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar

Our morning in Epcot was filled with fun for all, from meeting some of little one’s favorite characters like Mickey and friends and Snow White to riding some of Epcot’s best rides. By lunch we were all famished and ready to give some place new a try. Dan and I love wine so we’ve been looking forward to giving Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Epcot’s Italy a try for quite awhile leading up to this trip, unfortunately I had a pretty bad sinus infection the week of our trip so the wine tasting didn’t quite happen except for one of my favorite glasses of wine. Food wise though I was very eager to test the waters and see how Tutto Gusto could lend itself to the gluten free diner. 

Tutto Gusto’s menu is amazing, including a large variety of meats and cheeses, paninis, and tasting portions of some more diverse dishes. After being seated, I spoke with the chef and he recommended a pasta dish using their gluten free pasta, topping it with a roasted tomato sauce, burrata mozzarella cheese, and basil. I was a bit hesitant to order something so heavy for lunch but by then at Epcot we certainly had walked up a huge appetite. I simply couldn’t resist the deliciousness that he had described so I was on board for the Pomodoro pasta dish done gluten free. After I had placed my specialty order, my husband ordered the Tuscan Pork Ribs and we ordered the chicken fingers for my little girl to enjoy. While our order was being made, we couldn’t help but to look around and enjoy the authenticity of the wine cellar architecture.

Dan and myself have been incredibly fortunate to travel to Europe both on our honeymoon and another time after that visiting a number of places in Italy, Greece, and Spain. We fell in love with every Italian city we had spent time in, most notably Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples (the Island of Capri). We hope to one day go back and bring our children there so they too can enjoy the beauty of one of our favorite countries but for now we relive our memories through pictures and visiting places like this. Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar reminded us of the small restaurants that we once had the pleasure of dining in in Venice and Florence. It was such a wonderful memory to relive but this time with our little girl by our side. We can’t wait to introduce her to our favorite country’s beauty in the years to come, but for now we love being able to walk her around the world thanks to Epcot’s World Showcase.

Soon enough our food was placed on our table and all of the sights and smells were incredibly overwhelming. It was love at first glance for me, I couldn’t wait to dive in and take my first bite of my Gluten Free Pasta Pomodoro. 

Gluten free rice pasta topped with a tomato sauce, basil, and burrata mozzarella.
Gluten free rice pasta topped with a tomato sauce, basil, and burrata mozzarella.

Presentation wise this dish was exquisite. The whole roasted tomatoes scattered throughout and the mound of burrata mozzarella cheese placed in the center made my mouth water. And I must say, the portion was huge. I’m not sure if this was typically a lunch size portion but it was incredibly large, more than enough for two to share. 

Soft and creamy burrata mozzarella cheese.
Soft and creamy burrata mozzarella cheese.

Now onto the actual taste of this dish. The actual pasta component of the dish was very tasty and perfect in texture, not mushy in the slightest bit, just how gluten free pasta should be cooked. As far as the tomato sauce, I’m usually not a huge fan of tomato sauces but this one was very light and not overwhelming in the slightest bit. The burrata cheese was a smooth and creamy version of fresh mozzarella and was the perfect addition to the light tomato sauce and gluten free pasta. My first bite of pasta, tomato sauce, burrata cheese, and a smidgen of basil was pure heaven. The flavor combination was absolute perfection for my picky palate! I shared a bit with my husband when he had finished his Tuscan Pork Ribs and he too agreed that the gluten free dish was truly amazing! Thank you Tutto Gusto for such a filling and satisfying lunch, I can see many a gluten free lunch and dinner here in our future!

Gluten free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries.
Gluten free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries.

While we were certainly all filled after our pasta, ribs, and chicken fingers, who could seriously resist the temptation of a Gluten Free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries? We just had to give it a try, so we ordered one and shared it between the three of us. My little one who had become especially picky with food on our vacation (more than likely because of her brewing ear infection, which I’ll tell you more about that scary experience in another post) absolutely loved this treat! It was light and fluffy, and not too sweet but with the addition of the cherries, it was a perfect ending to a wonderful lunch! 

Just a few tips about Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, you can’t use your dining plan here, however the experience and different food options were totally worth an out-of-pocket dining for us. Also, they do not take reservations which I kind of like so you can just spontaneously stop in and give it a try if you’re in the mood for that type of cuisine. Most of their dishes are either small plate or large enough to be shared which they indicate on their menu, if you’re unsure just ask your server. To take a look at their menu in its entirety just follow this link. I personally can’t wait to stop in here again and either order my beloved Pomodoro pasta dish or a gluten free non-pasta dish (fingers crossed)! 

Stay tuned next week for more of my Disney dining likes and dislikes!

For now, have a magical holiday weekend,

Lindsay

Gluten Free Disney Family Favorite: Dinner At Be Our Guest Restaurant

Disney Day 1 at Magic Kingdom was filled with all of the classics from Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion to Peter Pan and Cinderella’s Carousel and some of the newer rides too like Ariel’s Under the Sea and Winnie the Pooh, each was so much fun and made my little girl smile from ear to ear. After an afternoon of rides we were ready for our first extra special dinner reservation at Disney’s new Be Our Guest Restaurant. Having eaten at this one on our previous vacation in the fall I knew how fantastic they were at catering to the gluten free diner so I couldn’t resist paying them another visit. 

Be Our Guest offers a number of amazing dinner options from Chicken and Grilled Strip Steak to Ratatouille and a Puff Pastry Seafood dish. For me, I narrowed my choices down to the Chicken Provencal or the Grilled Strip Steak. As with every one of my Disney dinners I always request to speak with the chef to review each of my options so I can choose the safest and tastiest dish for me to enjoy. As per usual, the chef greeted our table within moments of being seated and reviewed the gluten free options on the menu. Hearing that the Grilled Strip Steak could be made as seen on the menu with its garlic-herb butter sauce and pommes frites the decision was simple for me and I went with the steak. Only moments after ordering our food while I was entertaining my little girl I was shocked to see our appetizers and bread coming out and minutes after that our main courses quickly followed. Their speedy service at Be Our Guest is fantastic and greatly appreciated by this mommy of a toddler who although is quite patient and loves too color is still a 1 1/2 year old who has places to go and people to see. 

My first bites at Be Our Guest were of their delicious gluten free dinner rolls, which I later inquired to find out that they were Ener-G brand. These were a perfect start to the meal, warmed and covered in butter, so good!

Be Our Guest Gluten Free Dinner Rolls
Be Our Guest Gluten Free Dinner Rolls

For me, it’s just refreshing to even be able to participate in the bread course of a meal, when usually I just sit and gaze at the gluten filled rolls that were placed in the center of the table. Disney is superior at making all of their diners happy from the start of a meal to the finish, as evident by their offering of gluten free rolls! Just moments after my first few bites into these rolls I caught a glimpse of my main course arriving and I couldn’t have been more excited to give the garlic-herb butter that I was promised a taste. 

Be Our Guest Grilled Strip Steak
Be Our Guest Grilled Strip Steak

As you can see, this dish is gorgeous! You get a generous size piece of steak accompanied by a large helping of both green beans and pommes frites. First comes first though, I couldn’t wait to taste the steak along with the garlic-herb butter that was free of gluten. The steak was cooked to perfection, well done just how I like it, and the garlic-herb butter sauce that topped it was absolutely DELICIOUS! It added so much flavor and was incredible, I’m so glad that the chef informed me that this one was gluten free! 

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Be Our Guest’s gluten free grilled strip steak with garlic-herb butter sauce.

The green beans were equally as tasty, but I have to say the second star of the dish were the pommes frites or rather their french fries. They were a lovely cross between a thin and steak size french fry and were seasoned to perfection. They had a delicious mix of seasonings that made them irresistible to both myself and my daughter. Just talking about them is making me wish that I could just enjoy one more bite! 

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Perfectly seasoned gluten free pommes frites, the perfect accompaniment to Be Our Guest’s grilled strip steak.

I’m so grateful for Disney’s Be Our Guest Restaurant who creates an amazing dining experience. Although their food is divine, the world that you step into truly takes over and makes you feel as though you’re in Beauty and the Beast. If you haven’t dined here you absolutely must give it a try, you won’t be disappointed by the food nor the environment. And if you’re gluten free, ease any fears of safe dining, Disney is superior at catering to diner’s needs in all shapes and forms and Be Our Guest certainly lived up to this standard. The meal was amazing from start to finish, my only wish being that I could take this restaurant home with me so I could enjoy their gluten free service all of the time!

It was the perfect food ending to our first day in Disney! We couldn’t wait to enjoy a bit more of the sights and sounds of Magic Kingdom before turning in but thanks to Be Our Guest our bellies were all full and happy!

TIP: Not so much as a tip but more of a tidbit of information that I learned about Be Our Guest Restaurant. My husband and I just marveled at the attention to detail in the castle and throughout the restaurant so as we were dining we spoke with the waitress about the restaurant and learned quite a few interesting details about it. One of our favorite features was the ceiling of the ballroom that was covered with cherub angels and gold chandeliers. My husband commented that the angels looked extremely realistic like they were real pictures of babies. Our waitress actually informed us that the imagineers who worked on the project were given a gift to pick one of their family member’s baby pictures and incorporate it into the ceiling of the ballroom as the cherub angels. So next time you take a walk through pay special attention to the ceiling and you’ll be able to see the realness in this piece of art. For now, I posted a picture that I captured of the ceiling so you could take a quick look!

Be Our Guest Restaurant
Be Our Guest Restaurant

Have A Magical Day,

Lindsay

Goat Cheese Pesto Pizza, A Gluten Free Delight!

I love playing around with gluten free pizzas, trying to make new and tasty options as opposed to my usual cheese and sauce. From white pizzas with ricotta cheese to tomato pies topped with grilled chicken and tomato slices, each concoction I’ve tried, I’ve loved! One ingredient though that translates well not just smothering pasta but also on pizzas is pesto sauce. I’ve always loved pesto sauce, which thank goodness is gluten free by nature! I’ve thrown pesto sauce on a number of gluten free pizzas, and no matter which crust or toppings I chose, each time the sauce married perfectly. 

In search of a different take on my pesto pizza, I came upon Musings of a Housewife’s Pesto and Goat Cheese Pizza. What a fantastic twist on my usual mozzarella cheese, goat cheese! I actually don’t eat goat cheese very often so I was excited to add it to a pizza. Short on time, rather than mixing up my pizza dough from scratch, I opted to use my favorite thin crust pizzas by Udi’s. With my husband and daughter not requiring a gluten free crust, I used a premade regular crust for them and my Udi’s gluten free crust for myself. And voila! A unique twist with some of my favorite ingredients that my whole family enjoyed! Yes, even my 16 month old enjoyed the unique flavor and creaminess of the goat cheese combined with the pesto sauce. I can’t wait to make this dinner again, which by the way took only 15 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook!

Ingredients: 

  • 2 Udi’s gluten free pizza crusts
  • 1/2 – 3/4 cup pesto (you can prepare your own as I did or use your favorite jarred version; my favorite jarred pesto sauces are Wegmans store brand which states gluten free on the label (how fantastic!), Cento (states gluten free on website), and Bellino (states gluten free on website))
  • 2 plum tomatoes, sliced or diced
  • 3.5 – 4 oz crumbled goat cheese (Alouette or Chavrie, both brands state gluten free, might be on the packaging, but definitely on their websites)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Homemade Pesto Sauce Ingredients:

  •  1/3 cup olive oil and 2 additional tbsp for blending (I like Pompeian which states gluten free on its label)
  • 2 cups firmly packed fresh basil
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts (make sure these are gluten free; although these by nature are gluten free, they can share equipment with wheat products)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • pepper to taste
  • Add all ingredients to food processor blender; cover and process or blend until mixture is smooth (make sure you stop and scrape sides); while blending or processing, add up to 2 additional tbsp of olive oil to reach creamy consistency; add black pepper to taste.
  • This recipe makes about 3/4 cup of pesto sauce, enough for this recipe!

Homemade Gluten Free Pesto Sauce
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Ingredients
  1. 1/3 cup olive oil and 2 additional tbsp for blending (I like Pompeian, which states gluten free on its label)
  2. 2 cups firmly packed fresh basil
  3. 1/2 cup pine nuts (make sure these are gluten free; although these by nature are gluten free, they can share equipment with wheat products)
  4. 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  5. 3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
  6. 1/4 tsp salt
  7. pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Add all ingredients to food processor blender.
  2. Cover and process or blend until mixture is smooth (make sure you stop and scrape sides).
  3. While blending or processing, add up to 2 additional tbsp of olive oil to reach creamy consistency.
  4. Add black pepper to taste.
  5. This recipe makes about 3/4 cup of pesto sauce!
Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook
Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook
Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/
Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Add 2 Udi’s pizza crusts to baking sheets.
Udi's thin gluten free crust.
Udi’s thin gluten free crust.
  • Prepare pesto sauce using the recipe above. My pesto recipe is derived from my favorite cookbook from my pre-gluten free days, Better Homes and Garden Cookbook, but of course is made to be gluten free. Even though they certainly don’t have an allergy friendly section in this one, I still refer to it for recipe ideas and cooking staples, like sauces. If you are short on time or just prefer to use a jarred pesto sauce, just make sure to choose one that is gluten free (I recommended a few of my favorites in the ingredients section).
  • Once pesto sauce is ready, divide evenly between the two pizza crusts, adding to the center of each. Using the back of a spoon, gently spread the pesto sauce across the surface of the pizza crust, to about half an inch from the edge.
Pesto sauce layered onto pizza crust.
Pesto sauce layered onto pizza crust.
  • Slice or dice two plum tomatoes. I prefer slices on my pizzas, but use whatever you’d like. 
  • Layer tomatoes on top of pesto sauce.
Sliced tomatoes layered on top of the pesto sauce.
Sliced tomatoes layered on top of the pesto sauce.
  • Add crumbled goat cheese to tops of pizzas.
  • Finish pizzas with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. 
Gluten Free pesto goat cheese pizza ready for the oven!
Gluten Free pesto goat cheese pizza ready for the oven!
  • Cook pizzas for about 5-7 minutes until crust turns a light golden brown. 
  • Cool slightly and slice to enjoy!
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Enjoy!

If you love pesto sauce as much as I do and haven’t tried adding it to a homemade pizza, you absolutely must give it a try! There’s just something about the combination of the olive oil based basil sauce and the pizza crust that just works. Top the sauce with any cheese or toppings of your liking, but if you’re in the mood for something a bit different, pick up some goat cheese and tomatoes and put this Gluten Free Goat Cheese Pesto Pizza together. The creaminess of the goat cheese combines perfectly with the pesto sauce and sliced tomatoes. It’s so simple and easy to put together and will quickly become a family favorite!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

Goat Cheese Pesto Pizza, A Gluten Free Delight!
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Ingredients
  1. 2 Udi's gluten free pizza crusts
  2. 1/2 - 3/4 cup pesto (you can use homemade or jarred, my favorite jarred pesto sauces are Wegmans store brand which states gluten free on the label (how fantastic!), Cento (states gluten free on website), and Bellino (states gluten free on website))
  3. 2 plum tomatoes, sliced or diced
  4. 3.5 - 4 oz goat cheese (Alouette or Chavrie, both brands state gluten free, might be on the packaging, but definitely on their websites)
  5. salt and pepper to taste
Homemade Gluten Free Pesto Sauce
  1. 1/3 cup olive oil and 2 additional tbsp for blending (I like Pompeian which states gluten free on its label)
  2. 2 cups firmly packed fresh basil
  3. 1/2 cup pine nuts (make sure these are gluten free; although these by nature are gluten free, they can share equipment with wheat products)
  4. 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  5. 3 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
  6. 1/4 tsp salt
  7. pepper to taste
  8. Add all ingredients to food processor blender; cover and process or blend until mixture is smooth (make sure you stop and scrape sides); while blending or processing, add up to 2 additional tbsp of olive oil to reach creamy consistency; add black pepper to taste.
  9. This recipe makes about 3/4 cup of pesto sauce, enough for this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Add 2 Udi's pizza crusts to baking sheets.
  3. Prepare pesto sauce using the recipe above. My pesto recipe is derived from my favorite cookbook from my pre-gluten free days, Better Homes and Garden Cookbook, but of course is made to be gluten free. Even though they certainly don't have an allergy friendly section in this one, I still refer to it for recipe ideas and cooking staples, like sauces. If you are short on time or just prefer to use a jarred pesto sauce, just make sure to choose one that is gluten free (I recommended a few of my favorites in the ingredients section).
  4. Once pesto sauce is ready, divide evenly between the two pizza crusts, adding to the center of each. Using the back of a spoon, gently spread the pesto sauce across the surface of the pizza crust, to about half an inch from the edge.
  5. Slice or dice two plum tomatoes. I prefer slices on my pizzas, but use whatever you'd like.
  6. Layer tomatoes on top of pesto sauce.
  7. Add goat cheese to tops of pizzas.
  8. Finish pizzas with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
  9. Cook pizzas for about 5-7 minutes until crust turns a light golden brown.
  10. Cool slightly and slice to enjoy!
Adapted from Musings of a Housewife
Adapted from Musings of a Housewife
Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

Udi’s Has Redefined The Gluten Free Tortilla, Making Them Soft And Tasty, Perfect For Any Meal!

Flour tortilla wraps used to be one of my favorite lunches or dinners prior to going gluten free. In fact, in my college days I probably ate these at least a few times a week, mostly for lunch, stuffing them either with egg salad, grilled chicken, or a caesar salad. These were such a flexible and healthier option for a lunch or dinner. Flash forward two years and those days were long gone, as my once beloved flour tortillas, as suspected by the term flour, were chock full of gluten and strictly off limits in my new lifestyle. 

Over the past few years of dining gluten free, I’ve tried a decent amount of tortillas, whether they were corn or brown rice. For me, these gluten free options were always a bit too strong in taste and brittle or rubbery in texture, unfortunately, just never fitting the bill of the soft and tender flour tortilla that could lend itself to so many different dishes. As a result, any dish involving tortillas has been absent from my gluten free diet for the past two years or so.

Thankfully, my hiatus from soft and tasty wraps has come to an end as I’ve recently discovered a wonderful contribution to the gluten free world! Udi’s has introduced the allergy free community to a gluten, dairy, soy, and nut free tortilla that both tastes and looks like the gluten filled version! Allergy free diners fitting into those categories will no longer have to abstain from tortilla consumption and drool over the soft and delicious tortillas teasing them at stores and restaurants.

Udi's Flour Tortillas
Udi’s Flour Tortillas

They’ve produced tortillas that not only have a mild flavor that do not interrupt with the stuffings, but also a soft and tender product that reminds me of those delicious wraps that I used to enjoy only a few short years ago. Udi’s has put out two varieties of these tortillas, a large size selling in a 6 pack and a small size available in an 8 pack. Pricewise, these sell for about $4- $5, depending on store and size. 

Crispy Chicken Cobb Wrap
Crispy Chicken Cobb Wrap

Being a huge fan of Udi’s products, I couldn’t wait to give these a try and bring back one of my favorite lunch options. I must say, yet again Udi’s did not disappoint. They’ve managed to produce a gluten free tortilla that doesn’t compromise on its taste or structural integrity. They’re soft and flexible, perfect for wrapping, after a quick 30 second warm up in the microwave.

For my first taste test of these tortillas, I decided to bring back a long forgotten Red Robin’s favorite, the crispy chicken wrap. I threw together some cobb salad staples and my favorite crispy chicken, wrapped the mixture up in a tortilla, and eagerly took a bite. Delicious! To check out my recipe for my Quick and Easy Crispy Chicken Cobb Wrap, check out my post here. All I can say is thank you to Udi’s, I can see many gluten free wraps, quesadillas, and soft tacos back in my future. 

Sincerely,

Lindsay

 

Gluten Free Perdue Short Cut Coupon

Perdue has produced a number of certified gluten free products. One of my personal favorites are several of their varieties of shortcuts. These are perfectly seasoned chicken breast strips that make for a quick and easy meal on any busy weeknight. Just throw them on a sandwich or in a stir fry with your veggies of choice and your all set for a tasty and healthy dinner. To check out their entire list of shortcut products and see which ones are gluten free just head over to their website here. If you see something you like and want to give them a try, you can find a coupon for your choice of shortcuts here on coupons.com. 

Note: Not all of the shortcut varieties are gluten free however those that are are clearly stated as such, so always make sure to check the labels. My favorite gluten free flavors are  the original roasted and honey!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

A Gorgeous Weekend And A Gluten Free Pizza

Spring is finally here!!! The weather was gorgeous this weekend, but along with the emerging warmer weather and budding trees come clogged sinuses, invading allergies, and sleepless nights for me. With temperatures in the mid 70s to mid 80s in the end of the April though I mustered up enough energy to get my little one out and about and take advantage of the gorgeous spring weather after a very LONG winter. On our agenda, a morning trip to the zoo, long walks with our furry family member, early morning trip to our local farmer’s market, frozen yogurt, a fantastic Easter egg hunt, and finally Sunday family dinner with dying Easter eggs (whew). It was a busy one but a fantastic weekend nonetheless; little one loved being out in the fresh air, spotting all of the animals and picking out all of those Easter eggs, being sure to add to her basket and everyone else’s too!!! 

In the middle of all of this running around I decided to save myself from making dinner and order pizzas. Gluten free pizzas are certainly way easier to find now than they were even a few years ago, however finding a good gluten free pizza is a task and a half. Although there are a number of local pizza places and chain restaurants that offer gluten free pizza now, sadly not all of them are overly thrilling especially with their extremely high prices. After many trials, I’ve finally found a fantastic gluten free pizza for an even better price. Mamma Mia Trattoria is home to a gluten free diner’s dream menu. They offer an extensive gluten free Italian menu filled with chicken, seafood, vegetarian dishes, pasta, and pizzas. I must admit each time we’ve dined here I’ve only ever gotten their pizza (it’s that good!!!) so I can’t vouch for the rest of the menu, however if it’s like their pizzas, they’ll exceed your expectations. To take a look at their full dinner and pizza menus take a look here.

Now back to the pizza. Unlike other gluten free pizza offerers, Mama Mia lists seven different pizzas, along with of course a plain option. I personally have never seen any other establishments offer anything other than cheese and sauce so this was certainly a pleasant surprise. Among the varieties are their Margherita with fresh mozzarella and basil, Veggie white pizza with sauteed spinach and broccoli, Toscana with tomato slices and mozzarella, Grilled Chicken and roasted red pepper, Capri white pizza with veggies and ricotta cheese, Florentina with chicken and mushrooms, and Eggplant Romma with roasted red peppers and fresh mozzarella. Each of these are either $12.95 or $13.95, which is extremely reasonable for a gluten free pizza. Additionally, you can pick and choose whichever toppings you’d like, from about of a list of twenty or so gluten free toppings, and make your own pizza.

The best gluten free pizza!
Fantastic restaurant offering an extensive gluten free menu.

Like I mentioned earlier, I usually order a plain cheese pizza but I have in the past ordered the Grilled Chicken pizza and it was phenomenal. For this weekend though I went with my standby of a plain gluten free cheese pizza. As usual, I was not disappointed in the slightest bit. One of my biggest gripes with gluten free pizza offerings is the crust. All gluten free crusts are certainly not created equal. In Mama Mia’s case, they offer their gluten free pizza atop a separately cooked premade crust that is quite large as far as premade crusts go (maybe 12 inches, I honestly haven’t measured it but it’s definitely larger than a personal pan pizza). It’s a thin crust, reminiscent a bit of Udi’s, and keeps its form through all of the toppings. They take such pride in their pizzas and are always sure to layer plenty of toppings on top of the gluten free crust, producing a beauty like this one!

Plain gluten free pizza!
Plain gluten free pizza!

It’s been a long time since I’ve honestly felt like I’ve enjoyed a take out pizza or one at a restaurant as much as those that were filled with gluten years ago. However, after my first glimpse of my order I knew this one would be an exception. Each bite was filled with that cheesy goodness that I used to love in my pizzas, making me less and less enviable of my husband and daughter’s large gluten filled cheese pizza. With all of our bellies full and exhaustion setting back in we rested up for another day of fun filled outdoor activities. Thanks Mama Mia for adding to a perfect weekend for my little family! 

This restaurant exceeds any preconceived idea of gluten free dining. They take the necessary precautions to avoid contamination and produce excellent products that will keep you coming back. To make a gluten free pizza look and taste like their normal pizzas is no easy feat and Mama Mia seems to do it with ease. So if you’re in the area, make sure you pay them a visit! If not, take a look online for local Italian restaurants that offer gluten free menus. They aren’t that abundant that’s for sure, however, don’t be afraid to scour the internet and make a few phone calls to possibly uncover an establishment like this one close to home! 

Thank you Mama Mia Trattoria for helping make the gluten free world a bit less scary for a gluten free diner! 

Sincerely,

Lindsay

Gluten Free Pulled Pork Sandwiches Just Like Disney’s Flame Tree Barbecue

One of my favorite lunch locations when we vacation in Disney World is the Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom. While we do make barbecue dishes often at home during the summer months, it’s such a rarity to be able to enjoy it out at restaurants because of the dreaded gluten component, hence making it truly a treat to be able to indulge in some fantastic gluten free barbecue courtesy of Disney. They offer so many options from barbecue chicken to ribs, but by far my favorite is the pulled pork. The pulled pork is perfectly smoked and seasoned and is incredibly tender and juicy. It’s so delicious! While our next trip to Disney is only a little over four weeks away now, I just couldn’t get out of my mind those perfectly flavored pulled pork sandwiches and then I came across this wonderful recipe from Musings of a Housewife. After adding a few personal twists, I made a delicious gluten free pulled pork sandwich which could definitely stand up to Disney’s magical version. So pull out your slow cooker, toss in a few ingredients, and you’ll be set by dinner time with a flavorful gluten free barbecue dish!

Ingredients:

  • crock pot
  • 5-6 lb pork shoulder
  • 1 large yellow onion, sliced into rings
  • 1 jar barbecue sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays Honey Barbecue Sauce, states gluten free on label)
  • salt and pepper
  • gluten free rolls (I used Schar hot dog rolls, lightly toasted)

Directions: 

  • Slice one large yellow onion into rings and add to the bottom of your crockpot.
  • Add the pork shoulder to the crockpot and dust with salt and pepper on all sides.
  • Cover and cook on low for a total of 10 hours.
Gluten free pulled pork on a Schar hot dog bun.
Gluten free pulled pork on a Schar hot dog bun.
  • After 9 hours, add 1/3 of a bottle of barbecue sauce to top and sides of pork shoulder.
  • Cover and cook for an additional hour on low.
  • After 10 hours total of cooking, the pork should easily pull off with a fork. Time may vary depending on slow cooker. Just keep an eye on your pork; once it’s falling apart, you’re ready to remove it from the crockpot.
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Moist pork coated with a sweet honey barbecue sauce.
  • Remove pork shoulder from the crockpot and begin to shred with two forks. Do this until all pork has been shredded.
  • Mix in an additional 1/3 of a bottle of barbecue sauce. You can also add n the onions with the pork as well if you’d like (I’m only a fan of the onion flavor, not so much the actual onions themselves, so I didn’t mix these in). 
  • Reserve the last third of barbecue sauce for serving. Serve on lightly toasted gluten free rolls and enjoy! 
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Perfect barbecue pulled pork!

Note: I made this dish a day ahead and this made enough for our family of three for two nights of dinners and even lunches if you’d like! If you’d like to make it a day early follow all instructions as directed. After mixing in second third of barbecue sauce add pulled pork to an oven safe dish and wrap up tightly. Refrigerate overnight and when you’re ready for dinner the next day turn the oven on to a warm setting. Add a little bit more barbecue sauce to pulled pork to keep it moist while warming, mix making sure all is evenly coated, and warm for about 10 minutes, keeping an eye on the pork making sure it doesn’t dry out. While pork is warming, toast rolls and prepare sides. Enjoy!

The best part of this recipe is that it’s so flexible. Everyone has different preferences on barbecue flavor, so feel free to play around with any kind of barbecue sauce and amounts of them you’d like. I’m not a huge fun of overly saucy pulled pork so I used just the right amount to keep the pork tender, juicy, and flavorful without being too bogged down with sauce. To complement the pulled pork, I paired it with a lightly toasted Schar hot dog roll and the two were absolute perfection! These turned out incredibly well and I can’t wait to bring this dish out for our family cookouts this summer! 

 Sincerely,

Lindsay

Perfectly Seasoned Gluten Free Pulled Pork Sandwiches
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
10 hr
Total Time
10 hr 15 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
10 hr
Total Time
10 hr 15 min
Ingredients
  1. crock pot
  2. 5-6 lb pork shoulder
  3. 1 large yellow onion, sliced into rings
  4. 1 jar barbecue sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays Honey Barbecue Sauce, states gluten free on label)
  5. salt and pepper
  6. gluten free rolls (I used Schar hot dog rolls, lightly toasted)
Instructions
  1. Slice one large yellow onion into rings and add to the bottom of your crockpot.
  2. Add the pork shoulder to the crockpot and dust with salt and pepper on all sides.
  3. Cover and cook on low for a total of 10 hours.
  4. After 9 hours, add 1/3 of a bottle of barbecue sauce to top and sides of pork shoulder.
  5. Cover and cook for an additional hour on low.
  6. After 10 hours total of cooking, the pork should easily pull off with a fork. Time may vary depending on slow cooker. Just keep an eye on your pork; once it's falling apart, you're ready to remove it from the crockpot.
  7. Remove pork shoulder from the crockpot and begin to shred with two forks. Do this until all pork has been shredded.
  8. Mix in an additional 1/3 of a bottle of barbecue sauce. You can also add n the onions with the pork as well if you'd like (I'm only a fan of the onion flavor, not so much the actual onions themselves, so I didn't mix these in).
  9. Reserve the last third of barbecue sauce for serving. Serve on lightly toasted gluten free rolls and enjoy!
Notes
  1. I made this dish a day ahead and this made enough for our family of three for two nights of dinners and even lunches if you'd like! If you'd like to make it a day early follow all instructions as directed. After mixing in second third of barbecue sauce add pulled pork to an oven safe dish and wrap up tightly. Refrigerate overnight and when you're ready for dinner the next day turn the oven on to a warm setting. Add a little bit more barbecue sauce to pulled pork to keep it moist while warming, mix making sure all is evenly coated, and warm for about 10 minutes, keeping an eye on the pork making sure it doesn't dry out. While pork is warming, toast rolls and prepare sides. Enjoy!
Adapted from Musings of a Housewife
Adapted from Musings of a Housewife
Gluten Free Mom To Be http://www.glutenfreemomtobe.com/

Weekly Highlights in the Gluten Free World 4/5/14

I learned so much from some fantastic articles about celiac disease and gluten sensitivity this week! Take a look below to learn the truth behind gluten digestion medicines, tips on healthy gluten free living, great options to satisfy your carbohydrate cravings, and finally research regarding pregnancy health with undiagnosed celiac!

Can Glutenase Pills Help Digest Gluten?: Similar to Lactaid, which assists with lactose digestion for those that are lactose intolerant, there exists products such as Glutenase, Gluten Cutter, and Digest Gluten Plus which, I’m sure you could deduce from the names, are marketed to assist with gluten digestion. Ever since my gluten intolerance began I had always said that there should be something similar to Lactaid that could allow individuals to continue eating gluten containing products without the risk of reaction. Little did I know that products such as those listed above actually exist for that exact purpose. Now, the question popping up in all of our gluten free minds….do these supplements actually work? This is the exact question posed to Dr. Stefano Guandalini of the Celiac Disease Center at the University of Chicago. According to Dr. Guandalini, the likelihood of these supplements to efficiently digest gluten in those whose bodies cannot, is not as simple as we’d like to hope. Research has been done on commercial products which are marketed as gluten detoxifiers and unfortunately they are completely ineffective at reducing the amount of gluten that is toxic for celiac patients and those which are gluten sensitive. Follow University of Chicago’s Science Life here to read this segment in its entirety and learn where current research stands in this area.

The Hidden Risk in Going Gluten Free: In today’s world there seems to have been an explosion of drastic dietary changes, one of which being the “gluten free diet”. While this diet is certainly beneficial for many to follow I personally would never label it as a “diet” per se. Going gluten free out of medical necessity is a drastic lifestyle change that can unfortunately elicit the opposite result if you’re using the diet for weight loss. In the Celiac Handbook here, the pitfalls of the gluten free diet are highlighted along with tips on how to live a healthier gluten free life. When going gluten free, the number of items that you potentially have to cut out from your diet can be overwhelmingly large depending on your current diet. When cutting out or removing so many items from your daily eating regimen many tend to replace them with gluten free packaged products. Unfortunately if you examine the labels of some of these products a bit closer, you’ll notice ingredients such as rice flour and potato starch along with loads of unhealthy fats. While these items are free of gluten and good for you to eat in that area, they sadly usually contain lots of sugar and carbohydrates that can affect weight gain along with a number of other health aspects. What do you do then when you’re gluten free, and nearly half of your diet is eliminated just because of gluten? Well, according to the Celiac Handbook just stick to the goal of obtaining a truly healthy diet (just without the gluten). Meaning, keep everything as fresh and unprocessed as possible, focus on cooking from scratch whenever possible, and read labels and you’ll be on the right track. Learn more about living a healthy gluten free lifestyle here!

29 Gluten Free Ways to Satisfy a Carb Craving: Seeing as there is a section on my blog that is focused on satisfying your pregnancy cravings, I thought it was perfect to introduce you to this list of perfect carbohydrate substitutes. Some of my go to carb options while I was pregnant definitely made the list, including one of my favorites, the bagel. Pictured on this list specifically though is a divine looking bagel option, the super fluffy asiago bagel. A few other amazing suggestions fall into the breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert/snack categories. Some of the best breakfast options include the bagel of course, waffles, and nutella bread. Lunch and dinner highlights can be kind of interchangeable, as I personally eat leftover dinner for lunch the next day on many occasions; some of these include one of my personal favorites macaroni and cheese, chicken and jack cheese sandwiches, pizza, and biscuits and cheese filled breadsticks. Dessert highlights include the blueberry coffee cake (which could of course be an option at anytime of the day), pretzel bites, and chocolate brownie peanut butter cheesecake. Beside the fantastic craving ideas and pictures here on this list, included are the amazing recipes that go along with them so you can make these at home! Take a look and I’m sure you’ll have plenty of ideas next time you’re craving a gluten filled carbohydrate! 

Reproductive Life Disorders in Italian Celiac Women: Several years ago an informative study was done examining women’s health with respect to undiagnosed celiac and reproductive disorders. While we know that celiac and non-celiac gluten sensitivity can cause excessive damage to the intestinal tract we are also thankfully aware that the damage caused by the disease can be fully reversed and healed if a diet free of gluten is put into place. For women though, the repercussions living without a diagnosis of gluten sensitivity early on and not following a gluten free diet can cause innumerable challenges in a woman’s reproductive life. Without diagnosis, women can go on to have delayed puberty, infertility, higher risks of miscarriage and low birth weight, and early menopause. This study stresses the correlation between celiac disease and reproductive disorders especially those associated with pregnancy. If you suspect any type of gluten sensitivity than it is imperative to be tested for celiac as soon as possible so you can improve your health prior to pregnancy. If your body cannot digest gluten, avoiding it is optimal when you’re pregnant as to avoid many complications that can potentially occur. Just remember, if your test results do come back negative for celiac you still can have a gluten sensitivity which similarly requires following a gluten free diet. You can find the results of this case study here and read further to understand the importance of celiac disease screening in women with these reproductive challenges. 

 

   

 

 

Gluten Free Blueberry Sour Cream Pancakes

You’ll soon learn that I am an extremely picky eater, always have been ever since I was little and now am just a picky gluten free eater. My diet is somewhat limited as I do not eat any seafood and am not a huge fan of meats aside from chicken, beef, and pork, and even those I have to be in the mood for. When I was pregnant, the meat repulsion was heightened and I was left scrounging for filling yet healthy dinner options differing from my typical sandwiches, salads, and pastas.

I’m one of those people that enjoys breakfast items anytime of the day, especially for dinner. On many occasions, we would put together omelets stuffed to the brim with veggies and cheese or create our own breakfast sandwiches accompanied by an overflowing bowl of fruit or cereal. One of my favorite breakfast/lunch/dinner options are waffles or pancakes. I’ve always preferred waffles as gluten free pancakes have been a bit too dense for me, however this recipe has surely changed my mind. Some of my favorite recipes have come from Betty Crocker’s site including this one for Gluten Free Blueberry Sour Cream Pancakes, thanks Betty Crocker! Please give this recipe a try, it’s so easy and produces perfectly light and fluffy pancakes with deliciously sweet blueberries nestled inside!

This recipe can make about 12 small pancakes, but mine were on the larger side and made about 8 pancakes.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Bisquick Gluten Free mix
  • 1 cup milk (I use a Skim Milk)
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil (I use Smart Balance oil which is gluten free)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (I use Daisy light sour cream which is gluten free)
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries or frozen blueberries (if using frozen blueberries, do not thaw before adding)
  • Butter and syrup for enjoying
Ingredients for gluten free blueberry sour cream pancakes.
Ingredients for gluten free blueberry sour cream pancakes.

Directions:

  • In a large bowl, combine 1 cup Bisquick mix, 1 cup milk, 2 tbsp oil, and a single egg until well mixed.
  • Gently stir in a 1/4 cup of sour cream.
  • Fold in 1 cup of blueberries until all are combined.
Batter all mixed up and ready to go!
Batter is all mixed up and ready to go!
  • If you have a griddle, spray with non-stick cooking spray before heating and than heat to 375 degrees. If you do not have a griddle or prefer to use a skillet, spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray and heat to medium-high heat. TIP: I use a skillet and tend to keep heat on the lower side as they can burn very quickly. No matter which temperature just keep an eye on them and flip as soon as you start seeing bubbles.
  • Pour about 1/4 of a cup of batter onto the hot pan, cooking the first side for about 2 minutes or until pancakes are dry around the edges and bubbles form throughout. Pay attention to the edges and bubbles rather than the time as the time will vary between cooking utensils and stoves.
Couple minutes to brown on the first side.
Couple minutes to brown on the first side.
  • Flip pancake onto other side and cook until golden brown (depending on heat level, this will only take another minute or so).
Couple more minutes on the other side and it's all done!
Depending on heat level, cook about 1 minute more on the other side and it’s all done!
  • I like to flip my pancakes over on each side one more time to heat for an additional 30 seconds or so just to be sure they’re finished cooking inside.
A plate full of pancakes just for mommy!
A plate full of gluten free blueberry pancakes just for mommy!
  • Finish up the rest of the batter and you’re ready to enjoy! Top pancakes with your butter of choice, syrup, fresh fruit, whatever you’re in the mood for. I prefer a little Smart Balance butter and warmed light maple syrup. Pure maple syrup is perfectly gluten free however is very pricey; alternatively, check out some of the cheaper brands too, looking at their labels for harmful ingredients and calling the companies if gluten content isn’t indicated.
Serve pancakes with a little bit of Smart Balance butter and light maple syrup. I added a banana peanut butter smoothie made with Dream Blends coconut, chia, and almond drink.
Serve pancakes with a little bit of Smart Balance butter and light maple syrup. I added a banana and peanut butter smoothie made with Dream Blends coconut, chia, and almond drink (Delicious! I’ll reveal this recipe soon too!)

In our house, after I’m done making the gluten free pancakes I usually whip up a regular equivalent for my husband and daughter. I could definitely make these pancakes simultaneously but to prevent any chance of cross contamination I wait until all gluten free pancakes are finished and then begin to prepare the regular pancakes. For those, I use the regular Bisquick mix and add in a similar amount of sour cream and blueberries. While these are cooking, I either keep mine warm under a warm setting on my oven or simply reheat them in the microwave.

This is by far one of my daughter’s favorite dinners! I can’t blame her as it’s kind of hard to beat a soft and fluffy pancake stuffed with juicy blueberries and covered with melted butter. I usually make these about once every other week and either wrap up the remaining pancakes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner the next day or freeze them for dinners to come. To freeze any extras just wrap them up in freezer bags and divide them using parchment or wax paper.

I cannot stress how convenient this recipe was as it uses only things that we keep in our cabinets and refrigerator at all times. So if you’re craving a breakfast dinner or just in need for a quick and easy option give this recipe a try!

Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

 

 

 

 

My Go To Gluten Free Bread Crumbs

Bread Crumbs are certainly a must have to keep in your pantry at all times. I personally use them in a good portion of my recipes from breaded chicken to baked macaroni and cheese. A bonus is their shelf life, which usually extends out about 9 months. My personal favorite gluten free bread crumbs are the Schar brand which come unseasoned and in an 8.8 oz bag and cost about $3.49, depending on the store. Another one of my favorites are Gillian’s Foods Italian Bread Crumbs which come in a 12 oz container and cost about $6.19. I personally prefer to purchase the Schar bread crumbs and season them myself, and after a little prep at home and saving a little bit of money, my bread crumbs end up tasting just as good as the more expensive brand

So as I mentioned earlier, Schar bread crumbs are rice flour based and come unseasoned. I prefer seasoned bread crumbs for most of my recipes so I just add my own seasonings to them when I get home and store them in these handy Ziploc containers.

GF Italian Breadcrumb Ingredients
Gluten free seasoned bread crumbs with just 6 ingredients.

These bread crumbs have a great texture and taste in comparison to others that I’ve tried that are either too flaky or are very very bland.

Schar breadcrumbs before spices are added.
Schar bread crumbs before spices are added.

What’s great about getting these bread crumbs is the ability to customize what spices you like in your seasoned bread crumbs. I usually like traditional Italian spices such as basil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, and garlic salt. I typically add the bread crumbs to the container first, then add about one heaping tablespoon of each spice, cap the container, and shake them to mix!

Seasoned Schar breadcrumbs.
Schar bread crumbs seasoned with spices.

Voila! Your seasoned gluten free bread crumbs are ready to use and enjoy! To store just seal and keep in a dry place and you’re set for weeks of yummy recipes!

TIP: A bonus to purchasing Schar products is the potential for coupons. You can sign up with the Schar Club on their website here and keep an eye out. Schar coupons also do occasionally appear on coupon sites and facebook as well. But no worries, as I see them, I’ll direct you to them so keep an eye out here!

Sincerely,

Lindsay

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