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Products I Love

Rao’s Homemade Sauces

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Rao's Homemade Sauces

When I discovered that my son had a problem with gluten, I also started taking a hard look at the food we were eating. It is amazing what you can find when you read the ingredients on the label. Products that I thought were “safe” were actually loaded with sodium, added sugar, MSG, preservatives, unknown chemicals, etc. This is so prevalent among the products we buy, I decided that the only way to avoid it was to make everything myself. Well, that is a lovely idea, but unrealistic nowadays. I do the best I can by making as much food from scratch as possible, while leaning on products that use real ingredients.

Pasta sauce is a huge example of this. I have found that 99.9% of pasta sauce at the supermarket contains added sugar and vegetable oils, such as canola and soybean. I just can’t imagine a bowl of sugar and soybean oil on the counter of an Italian grandmother cooking a pot of sauce on the stove. Yuck. When I think of marinara sauce, I think of tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, onion, spices, herbs, salt and pepper. The end.

Now I should just make my own sauce, but for me, that is just not going to happen. I’d love to someday… However, I am ok with this because I found Rao’s Homemade Sauces©.

Rao's Homemade Sauces

Rao’s Homemade Sauces

Rao’s Specialty Foods, Inc.© was founded by Mr. Charles Rao back to 1896 in New York City. It still remains in the Rao family today. They produce a range of products, including 13 different varieties of sauce, which are made from real, simple ingredients. They also make pasta, marinades, dressings, oil, and vinegar.

Here is an ingredient breakdown of my 4 favorite flavors:

  1. Tomato Basil: Imported Italian tomatoes, pure olive oil, fresh onions, fresh basil, salt, fresh garlic, black pepper, oregano
  2. Roasted Eggplant: Imported Italian tomatoes, fresh eggplant, pure olive oil, fresh onions, salt, fresh garlic, fresh basil, black pepper, crushed red pepper, oregano
  3. Roasted Garlic: Italian plum tomatoes, Italian cherry tomatoes, olive oil, roasted garlic, carrots, salt.
  4. Marinara: Imported Italian tomatoes, pure olive oil, fresh onions, salt, fresh garlic, fresh basil, black pepper, oregano

I use Rao’s Homemade Sauces© on pasta or vegetable noodles and on pizza. Their sauces taste deliciously homemade and have that distinctive bright red/yellow color from good tomatoes and olive oil. It is hearty and coats pasta well. My only complaint is that I wish they were organic.

You can find Rao’s at most grocery stores, Whole Foods, Amazon and directly from their site. One sticking point may be the price. For a 24 oz bottle, I usually pay about $6. This may seem high for a jar of pasta sauce, but I promise you pay for what you get in both ingredients and taste. Try some on my baked meatballs and check out my review of my favorite pasta, Jovial.

The goal of my product posts is to get others excited about products that my family use and love. However, it is also important that they meet the same criteria as the food I prepare myself. It has to taste great and use quality, whole, ingredients. Rao’s Homemade Sauce is a fantastic product in taste and quality. I hope you and your family enjoy it too.

Disclaimer: I am not paid or compensated in any way to review gluten-free products. I only review products that I love, use in my daily life, and feel that others can benefit from too. I cannot guarantee that you will think these products are awesome too, but it is highly unlikely.

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Products I Love

Van’s Simply Delicious Cereal

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Van's Cereal

Let’s talk cereal. Gluten-free cereal wasn’t a huge stretch. There are endless variations of puffed corn or puffed rice cereal that I enjoyed even prior to going gluten-free. However, I am always on the lookout for new options of gluten-free cereals. My kids have never been big fans of puffed rice or corn cereals. I think they get soggy quickly (toddlers and young kiddos can dawdle at the breakfast table) and, to be honest, they have a rather boring taste and texture.

As the gluten-free wave increases, so has our consumption of rice and corn products. They are great at mimicking some of wheat’s properties and giving us the comfort foods we love, like cereal. However, everything in moderation, right? Nobody really fully understands why the incidence of celiac disease and gluten intolerance is on the rise. However, there are some theories, which include our over consumption of wheat (it is a staple in every meal of the American diet) and the genetic modification of the wheat plant (creating more, unnatural gluten proteins). As we give up gluten and trade it in for “substitute foods” containing rice or corn, are we now heading down the same path as wheat?

Here are some examples of red flags I see. Recent reports have suggested that rice contains higher than expected levels of arsenic. The impact of this on our bodies over time is not well understood, but those of us who are gluten-free, tend to consume more rice products. The reports go as far as to suggest that children have more limited rice products in their diet, including rice cereal and rice milk. The concern with corn mainly involves the genetic modifications and pesticide use going on in this industry. Corn is seeing higher incidence of food allergies along with gluten.  Is there a connection between the genetic modification of corn and use of pesticides that is causing this increase?

This is just a small snippet of what I see in my research every day. The field of nutrition is not well understood and not well regulated. My take is, absorb the information and make educated and rational choices. As more and more information about rice and corn arise, I am choosing to watch how much of these grains are in my family’s diet. If I see places where I can make a better choice for my family, I’ll do it.

So, back to cereal. Based on the points I’ve made above, what is a better choice? One product I’ve chosen to replace our rice/corn puffed cereal is Van’s™ Simply Delicious gluten-free cereal. Overall, I am a big fan of Van’s™ Simply Delicious gluten-free products. They seem to be thoughtful about their ingredients, including their fiber and sugar content. I like that their cereal contains oat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, and amaranth flours, instead of just rice or corn alone.

Van's Simply Delicious Cereal

Van’s Simply Delicious Cereal

Van’s™ International Foods is based in Vernon, California. They carry a wide variety of gluten-free products that are readily available at many chain grocery stores. I actually have found this cereal at Target. We also like their frozen waffles and breadcrumbs. Their website provides a great list of gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. Their Simply Delicious cereal is certified gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, corn-free, Non-GMO, and kosher.

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The final selling point for me is their taste and the approval of my kids. My son will easily finish a bowl of Van’s™ Simply Delicious Cinnamon Heaven cereal with almond milk. We are shocked when he finishes all of anything. The cereal is tasty, crunchy and holds up well in milk. Even non-gluten-free folks can enjoy this cereal without batting an eye at the “gluten-free” label.

Becoming part of the gluten-free world has opened my eyes to where our food comes from and what is really good for our bodies. It isn’t easy to decipher the vast amount of information out there. However, as I look beyond wheat, being sure that my family receives a variety of whole, unprocessed foods is really the key. That means taking a hard look at rice and corn. Although my family and I are happy to have gluten-free pasta, bagels, cereals and breads made using rice and corn, I think it is important to limit these foods and explore other grain alternatives.

Disclaimer: I am not paid or compensated in any way to review gluten-free products. I only review products that I love, use in my daily life, and feel that others can benefit from too. I cannot guarantee that you will think these products are awesome too, but it is highly unlikely.

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Products I Love

Raw Revolution Bars

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Raw Revolution Bars

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a product review, but my policy is, I will only review products that my family and I use and love on a regular basis. Lately, we have been taking advantage of local produce and haven’t been shopping around for new products. However, I am always on the look out for something I can grab and go, that both the kids and I enjoy.

We have had our fill of gluten-free granola bars. None of the products on the market really stand out and they all basically do the same thing – oats, nuts, sugar. Overall, there isn’t much there nutritionally. Lately though, even the allure of chocolate chips doesn’t get the kids jazzed up to have a prepackaged granola bar. We needed to find something else to grab out of the cupboard when we are rushing out the door. It had to be tasty, but also have nutritional hit that will keep my kids full and energized and I can feel good unwrapping. I also wanted something I can enjoy too, with “adult flavors”, such as dark chocolate, coconut, flax, etc. Then I found Raw Revolution® bars.

Raw Revolution® bars are made by a company called Raw Indulgence, Ltd© based out of Hawthorne, NY. They currently produce 14 flavors of bars. All of the bars are certified organic, therefore, non-GMO. The bars are also vegan, kosher, and gluten-free (except for the Apple Cinnamon flavor which contains wheat grass and barley grass powder). Each bar also contains sprouted superfoods such as sprouted flax, and they are minimally processed. The ingredients list is small and typically contains nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate, coconut, and agave nectar as a sweetener.

They distribute to many of the major supermarkets in my area (Stop&Shop, Shaws, Whole Foods) and their website will help identify stores in your area, though not all the flavors will be available. You can also order all the flavors straight from the website or off Amazon.

Almond Butter Cup

Almond Butter Cup

My favorite flavor by far is Almond Butter Cup. It has big chunks of chocolate and almonds, among a background of dates, sunflower seeds and sprouted flax. I recently threw one in my bag for an outing and brought along some gluten-free granola bars for the kids. I never got a bite of my Almond Butter Cup Raw Revolution® bar because both kids were begging for it as they handed me back their granola bars. I can completely confirm that these bars are kid-friendly.

So, if you are looking to change up your go-to snacks, check out Raw Revolution® bars. They are definitely a delicious and healthier alternative to your average gluten-free bar.

Disclaimer: I am not paid or compensated in any way to review gluten-free products. I only review products that I love, use in my daily life, and feel that others can benefit from too. I cannot guarantee that you will think these products are awesome too, but it is highly unlikely.

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Products I Love

Lotus Food Rice Ramen Review and Bonus Miso Soup Recipe

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Miso Soup with Lotus Foods Rice Ramen

Ramen reminds me of my college days. My roommate and I would share a sodium and chemical goldmine of cup-o-soup. Back then I hardly cared about the food I ate, but a part of me still retains fondness for those curly noodles. If you haven’t noticed, ramen is making a comeback, but in a healthy way. Though traditionally made with wheat flour, Lotus Foods has created a great line of products so we can relive our youth and feel nourished.

Lotus Food Rice Ramen

Lotus Food Rice Ramen

Lotus Foods Rice Ramen comes in 3 flavors of individual servings with miso soup or simply noodles:

  1. Millet and rice: brown rice flour, millet, and white rice flour
  2. Jade Pearl™: brown rice flour, white rice flour, and bamboo extract
  3. Forbidden®: black, brown, and white rice flour

All of Lotus Foods Rice Ramen products are organic, vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Lotus Foods started in 1995 and is based in California. The company focuses on sustainable global agriculture with an emphasis on traditional heirloom rice varieties. They produce a large variety of exotic rice, ramen, and heat and eat rice bowls. You can find their products at Whole Foods, Amazon, and on their website.

I really love that they provide the option of their ready-to-go individual rice ramen miso soup packs or just noodles, so you can make your dish of choice. All three flavor varieties have a unique taste and slightly different texture, while maintaining their curly noodle shape.

Lotus Foods Miso Soup Packs

Lotus Foods Miso Soup Packs

The ready-to-go individual ramen miso soup packs contain 25-33% less sodium versus typical wheat-based ramen soup packs. They also contain real ingredients, including miso powder (soybeans, rice, salt), spices, herbs and dried seaweed or vegetables. No unknown ingredients or preservatives. They have a nice miso flavor with the ability to take on add-ins like veggies and meat/seafood. They cook quickly (a few minutes in boiling water) and satisfy my need for a quick bowl of comforting noodles.

The rice ramen packs with just noodles come with 4 ramen cakes and are prepared the same way as the soup packs. However, you are in control of the flavors. I am a sucker for miso soup, but I am eager to try these rice ramen noodles in other dishes. Below I have added my quick and easy miso soup with mushrooms and scallions. I like brown rice miso, but you can use any miso paste variety of choice. Miso is a fermented food, so it’s a great digestive aid and it restores probiotics in the small intestine, among a variety of other health benefits. Just be careful of the sodium content, as it can creep up there.

Miso Soup

Miso Soup

I hope Lotus Foods Rice Ramen brings you back to younger days while giving you assurance that you are eating a healthy gluten-free food. Not much can be as comforting as grabbing a mound of curly noodles with chopsticks and gobbling them up!

Disclaimer: I am not paid or compensated in any way to review gluten-free products. I only review products that I love, use in my daily life, and feel that others can benefit from too. I cannot guarantee that you will think these products are awesome too, but it is highly unlikely.

Quick Miso Soup Recipe with Rice Ramen
 
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Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Vegan
Author:
Recipe type: Soup
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 1 cake of Lotus Foods Millet and Brown Rice Ramen
  • 3 Tbsp brown rice miso paste (or any miso paste of choice). This is my taste preference, but you can adjust miso content based on your own tastes.
  • ½ cup thin sliced mushrooms (any variety, but I like baby portobellos)
  • 1-2 scallions sliced into ¼ inch slices
Instructions
  1. Prepare rice ramen per package directions.
  2. When noodles are soft, add miso and mushrooms and cook for an additional minute or until miso is dissolved.
  3. Top soup with scallions and enjoy!

 

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Products I Love

Jovial Pasta

Products I Love 1 Comment
Jovial Pasta

One of the biggest downers about going gluten-free, was pasta by a long shot.  There are so many brands on the market, I thought it would be a no-brainer.  However, my hopes were quickly squashed as I tried brand after brand, resulting in mushy, starchy, cloudy, inedible bowls of pasta.  I tried everything, brown rice pasta, corn pasta, quinoa pasta, and every combination of grained pastas you can think of.  Nothing left me satisfied.  I had accepted the fact that I would be left with Asian style rice vermicelli noodles or bean thread noodles, which are delicious, but don’t translate well beyond Asian cuisine.  Then a miracle happened…

I was reading a cookbook by one of my favorite gluten-free authors, Shauna James Ahern and her husband, Daniel Ahern, of the Gluten-free Girl and the Chef.  They are fantastic, I highly recommend their gluten-free cookbooks.  In the cookbook, they wrote that Jovial pasta is best and everyone they cook for loves it.  I put my trust in the Gluten-free Girl and the Chef and went out and purchased some Jovial spaghetti and penne rigate.  I will never purchase another brand of gluten-free pasta ever again!

Jovial pasta is awesome for 2 reasons.  First, it has a taste and consistency that is identical to wheat pasta.  I swear that someone would have a really hard time thinking this pasta was anything but regular wheat pasta.  It holds it shape and takes on sauces or meats and veggies with ease.  Secondly, the ingredients are: organic brown rice and water, that’s it!

Jovial Foods is based in Italy and got its start in 2010.  They focus on high quality ingredients while keeping people with food intolerances in mind.  Jovial Foods has a variety of products including gluten-free pastas and cookies, as well as, Einkorn (ancestral version of wheat) based products. Recently, America’s Test Kitchen evaluated the top gluten-free pasta brands and it only recommended Jovial Pasta.

Jovial Spaghetti

Jovial Spaghetti

You can find Jovial pasta in spaghetti, capellini, penne rigate, fusilli, caserecce, tagliatelle, and lasagna varieties.  I can find Jovial pasta well stocked at Whole Foods, but I usually just buy it on Amazon, since I can get exactly what I want and qualify for free shipping.

Please don’t make another mushy, tasteless bowl of gluten-free pasta.  Buy some Jovial pasta and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Disclaimer:  I am not paid or compensated in any way to review gluten-free products.  I only review products that I love, use in my daily life, and feel that others can benefit from too.  I cannot guarantee that you will think these products are awesome too, but it is highly unlikely.