Product Review: Sam Mills Gluten Free Products

A few months ago, my mother in law came to visit us in Canada from El Salvador, and she brought along several gluten free products that we haven't seen in Canada before. One company in particular caught my eye: Sam Mills USA. My mother-in-law brought along some pasta and some granola from this company, which specializes in corn-based products.

I'm typically wary of pastas that are made from 100% corn because I find that they don't always have the best consistency, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Sam Mills pasta. It cooked up well, and kept its consistency even after being refrigerated and reheated for leftovers. Like all gluten free pasta it sucked up sauce like crazy, so I recommend making extra if planning on having pasta leftover.

Product Review: Goldbaum's Gluten Free Products

A few weeks ago I received a box of samples from Goldbaums, a company that produces and sells gluten free products. I didn't know much about the company, but once I started reading up on them, I was impressed. Goldbaums products are gluten free, and are produced in a facility that is free from gluten, soy, dairy, and nuts, which is an important consideration for people with allergies or other food restrictions. I also noticed that the products I was sent were kosher and GMO free.

I received pasta, flatbread crackers, chips, chow mein noodles, soup mandel (or soup croutons), ice cream bowls, and more. I have to say, everything was high quality and could rival a gluten-filled counterpart. My son was most excited about the dessert cups. They are ice cream cones, but in a bowl shape, perfect for a banana split! I've never seen anything like them before, and they would make great sundaes for two.

Product Review: Heinz Deliciously Gluten Free Pasta

We eat a lot of pasta at our house. In fact, when I first told my Dad my son had to go gluten free and explained what that entailed, his immediate response was "you mean he can't eat anymore pasta?" Pasta is a big deal to Italians, and so I'm constantly on the look-out for brands that make gluten free pasta taste as good as the regular kind. It's been hit and miss. Some brands are outright awful, while others have been as good as the real thing. Where I've been having trouble is finding a good spaghetti. For some reason, short pastas (like penne or rigatoni) tend to be better suited to the whole gluten free thing. Perhaps it's because they are less likely to stick together and get clumpy.

When my friend Penny came to Canada last month from England, she arrived on my doorstep with a bag of gluten free goodies for my son, all of which are unavailable in Canada at this time. One of the items was Heinz Deliciously Gluten Free Spaghetti. Obviously it was the first thing I had to try.

One of the things I noticed was the quantity. Many gluten free brands package small amounts of pasta per bag, making it necessary to use more than one bag of pasta for a meal that serves four. The Heinz pasta comes in a proper size, making a huge bowl of pasta. The product is made in Italy, from a blend of Corn flour, Potato flour, and Lupin flower. An interesting mix, but it works well.

I have to say, I was really impressed with this product. The pasta didn't clump while cooking, and didn't disintegrate into a blob once drained.

Each strand kept its texture, and the spaghetti cooked al dente, with just the right bite. An added bonus? The leftover pasta kept in the fridge and didn't turn rock hard and dry like some brands do. It kept it's texture perfectly.

Now they just have to start selling it in Canada. Or my friend has to ship it to me by the case ;) Are you reading, Penny?

Gluten Free Weekly Menu Plan

Monday: Korean Style Ribs with Steamed Broccoli










Tuesday: Chicken Breast Cutlets with Fig & Balsamic Reduction & Roasted Mini Potatoes & Salad













Wednesday: Creamy Sundried Tomato & Mushroom Pasta (my son can't have dairy anymore, so we'll make his with a dairy substitute) (RECIPE) 








Thursday: White Bean, Spinach & Chicken Meatball Soup (RECIPE)











Friday: Chicken & Pineapple Stir Fry, Black Beans & Rice, Coleslaw (Can you tell there was a sale on chicken this week?) 

Recipe: Gluten Free Sausage Pasta Carbonara

I sometimes like my pasta in a sauce other than tomato or pesto, and this is one of the simplest yet tastiest pastas around.  It can be made mild or spicy.  This pasta is ready in the time it takes to cook the pasta and sauté the sausages.


Ingredients

1 bag pasta (approx. 450g)  I use a short pasta for this, like a rigatoni.
4 Italian Sausages (hot or sweet), meat removed from casings
1 Gluten Free bouillon cube (beef or vegetable flavoured)
3 cloves garlic, minced
Olive oil
Salt & Pepper
Chopped fresh basil or dried basil to taste (substitute parsley or oregano if preferred)
2 eggs
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Shaved parmesan for garnish (if desired)

Directions

1- Heat water for pasta.  While waiting for water to boil, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan.  Remove meat from casings and add to frying pan, breaking up meat with a fork into small pieces.  Dissolve bouillon cube in a small amount of hot water, and add to sausage in pan. 

2- When water boils, add pasta and cook according to instructions.  Continue cooking sausage until no longer pink.  Add garlic, and season with salt and pepper.  Cook until garlic is soft and fragrant, adjust seasonings and turn off heat, another 2-3 minutes. 

3- While pasta continues to cook, in a small bowl, beat eggs, adding the grated cheese a little at a time until combined. 

4- When pasta is cooked, remove one ladle of cooking water before draining and add it to sausage mixture.  Drain pasta, and return to pot. Do not rinse pasta in cold water.  Add sausage mixture and toss.  Pour in egg and cheese mixture, stirring to mix.  The heat from the pasta will cook the egg, but it's important to stir so that you don't get clumps of eggs.  Taste, and adjust seasonings.

Serve immediately, garnishing with shaved cheese or fresh basil if desired.