gluten free vancouver: children

Showing posts with label children. Show all posts

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Edible Canada at the Market: gluten free in Granville Island

a great new restaurant opened recently in Granville Island, across from the Public Market, called Edible Canada at the Market! the best part is, they have a lot of gluten free dishes including gluten free bread supplied from a local baking company, High Crow Gluten Free Baking! we recently wrote about how much we love High Crow, and you can read our review here. Andrea and I have said for years that while we love Granville Island to buy local produce, meats and cheeses (you may recall our post about Oyama Sausage in the market), there has always been a lack of gluten free dining options...until now.

Edible Canada at the Market focuses on seasonally based ingredients that are also local, and sustainable. they have also created a unique patio herb garden around the restaurant which we loved, and their menu is inspired by their neighbours - the vendors and suppliers from the Public Market. we also appreciate that they indicate which menu items are gluten free, vegetarian and dairy free with three unique symbols. the staff are very aware of gluten sensitivities, including celiac disease, making this a very enjoyable and relaxing dining experience. Edible Canada at the Market is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus weekend brunch. our favourites include the breakfast taco's which are made with a gluten free soft corn tortilla, scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, chorizo sausage,and avocado crema. and to our absolute delight and amazement, there are gluten free fish and chips and onion rings on the menu that tasted great.

here is the full list of amazing gluten free items that you can choose from:

breakfast:

breakfast taco's
island breakfast

brunch:

breakfast taco's
island breakfast
farmer's salad
fish and chips

lunch:

seafood soup
slik spiced albacore tuna
roasted north arm farms baby beets
spring salmon salad
pemberton meadows streak frites
grilled bc salmon
fish and chips
fries
market salad
onion rings (although not marked gf on the menu, they are gf)
wild cultivated bc mushrooms
canadian burger (ask for gluten free bun)

dinner:

seafood soup
slik spiced albacore tuna
roasted north arm farms baby beets
cornmeal crusted fanny bay oysters
farmer's salad
spring salmon salad
fried fraser valley chicken and duck crispy terrine
pemberton meadows steak frites
birch syrup and kasu roasted sablefish
grilled bc salmon
sloping hills pork belly and loin
fries
market salad
onion rings (although not marked gf on the menu, they are gf)
wild cultivated bc mushrooms

we were also delighted to see high chairs and booster seats, and coloring books and crayons to keep little ones occupied! let us know what you think of Edible Canada at the Market! Robyn + Andrea.

edible canada | high crow gluten free | oyama sausage | granville island public market

Friday, August 12, 2011

gluten free s'mores, a serious indulgence

I recently saw a very inciting photo of homemade s'mores on the blog cooking with my kid, and decided to see how I could make it gluten free! the two primary ingredient obstacles are graham cracker crumbs, and marshmallow fluff. I had actually never heard of marshmallow fluff so I had to google it. apparently it is something you can buy, but I had no idea if it was gluten free, and honestly I wasn't even sure I could find this type of product in a store in Vancouver as I was reading an American blog.

I searched online for recipes and when I found one I was happy to discover that the ingredients in the marshmallow fluff are gluten free already! as for the graham crackers, most websites suggested substituting them with crushed gluten free cookies, like shortbread, or even almonds. so, I went to the store intending to buy Pamela's shortbread cookies, but while I was cruising the cookie aisle, I found Kinnikinnick's gluten free graham crackers, which they call S'moreables. they are gluten free obviously, but also nut and dairy free.

for those with egg or dairy sensitivities, the ingredients in the smore's and marshmallow fluff recipes include eggs and butter. however, these can easily be substituted with an egg replacer like Ener-G's egg replacer which is gluten free. instead of butter try Earth Balance's non-dairy butter spread. I like the 'red' container as it is also soy free. I have used both butter and Earth Balance spread for this recipe, and found real butter worked much better, and resulted in a tastier s'more. the marshmallow fluff requires corn syrup, but brown rice syrup works too, Lundberg makes one.

the gluten free s'mores taste just as amazing as they look, and each time I've made them, the whole batch is gone within hours!

let’s make it gluten free!

s’mores ingredients:

1/2 cup of butter at room temperature, I like Avalon’s organic butter because it contains no color, try Earth Balance for an non dairy alternative
¼ cup brown sugar
½ cup sugar, I like Roger’s organic sugar
2 large baking chocolate bars, I used Camino’s semi sweet baking chocolate, it comes with two bars but I only used one because they are very thick
1 large egg, or use Ener-G egg replacer
1 ½ cups marshmallow fluff (see recipe below)
1 tsp vanilla, I use Simply Organic’s vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all purpose gluten free flour, I used Bob’s Red Mill
¾ cup graham crackers processed fine. I used Kinnikinnick’s gluten free S’moreables graham style crackers, half a box makes approx. ¾ cup. a food processor works great for this, or a simple rolling pin will do.
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt

s’mores instructions:

preheat the oven to 350 degrees
grease an 8-inch square baking pan
using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy
beat in egg and vanilla
set aside
in another bowl whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, salt
slowly add flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture until combined
divide the dough in half and press half of the dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan
spread the marshmallow fluff over the dough
break the chocolate bar into squares and place evenly on top of the marshmallow
place the remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff , this can be tricky as the dough is kind of sticky, and so is the marshmallow! (one of the original blog post commenters suggested rolling it out on wax paper first the flipping it over and placing on top of the chocolate, a fabulous idea!)
bake for 30 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned.
cool completely before cutting into squares, makes 16

marshmallow fluff ingredients:

3 egg whites, room temperature (I never knew how important this was, cold eggs will not fluff!) use Ener-G egg replacer for an egg free version
2 cups of light corn syrup, or Lundberg’s brown rice syrup
½ tsp salt
2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted, I like Wholesome Sweeteners fair trade certified organic powdered sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, I like Simply Organic’s vanilla extract

marshmallow fluff instructions:

in a large bowl of an electric mixer, or a regular bowl if you are using a hand mixer, add egg whites, corn syrup, and salt
mix for approximately five minutes on high, or until the mixture is thick and the volume has almost doubled, it will look like fluff!
on low speed add the powdered sugar and mix until well blended
add the vanilla extract and mix until well blended

note:

you only need to make half of this recipe to complete the s’mores recipe above. if you make the whole amount, you can keep the extra in an air tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

you will love these s'mores, and they won't taste gluten free! warning, they are very addictive, and very sweet! happy baking, Andrea.

kinnikinnick smoreables | camino semi sweet baking chocolate | ener-g egg replacer | earth balance dairy free spread

Monday, April 25, 2011

quick and perfect grilled cheese

photo credit André Baranowski, saveur.com

grilled cheese sandwiches are one of my all time favorite foods, especially since they are so easy to make. however, making a good gluten free version of the classic grilled cheese has not been so easy. my grilled cheese woes quickly disappeared recently after finding two fantastic products that are the secret to the most perfect gluten free grilled cheese sandwich: Udi’s gluten free bread and Toasta Bags!

Andrea and I recently reviewed Udi’s gluten free products, and we both think their breads taste great and toast well! Udi's whole grain or white sandwich bread are ideal for grilled cheese sandwiches, read our review of Udi's products here.

the cheese that I like to use is called Tre Stelle sliced cheese packs, and they come in a variety of flavors such as marble, cheddar, or swiss. if you are vegan, then you are most likely already aware of Daiya vegan cheese, and I hear it melts well too. there are some incredible variations to the classic grilled cheese, and Tastespotting has several pages of great recipes. add tomatoes, mushrooms, prosciutto, bacon and arugula, or even avocado and apples!

I found Toasta Bags at Ed’s Gluten Free Specialty store recently, and they are excellent for making the perfect toasted sandwich! Toasta Bags are made with a soft Teflon material that fits right into your toaster, eliminating the need for frying pans or sandwich makers!

Toasta Bags work best in a variable width toaster, and cooking times vary depending on the toaster you have, but generally they toast any sandwich to perfection and they also spare your toaster from a cheesy mess!

besides grilled cheese sandwiches, you can use your Toasta Bag for cooking other foods like pizza, french fries, pastries, and even salmon fillets quick and easy. each bag can be re-used up to 100 times and is dishwasher safe.

the best part about Toasta Bags is the fact that they aid in preventing cross contamination if you use a shared toaster at home or work. they are also great for traveling as well!

enjoy! Robyn.

udi’s | toasta bags | ed’s gluten free specialty

Monday, April 18, 2011

gluten free mom: rice crispy squares!

image copyright gluten free vancouver

a long time favorite childhood treat, rice crispy squares, can now be made gluten free thanks to Dandies Marshmallows, which are gluten free and vegan! we first discovered these recently at Ed's Gluten Free Specialty's new Vancouver store, and we were thrilled to find such a unique and truly missed product! finally someone thought to make gluten free marshmallows! it was the same feeling when we found gluten free ice cream cones last year!

even though my daughter is not gluten intolerant, I still prefer to make everything gluten free for her since she is still small, 'two half' as she likes to say. she is still messy, and she likes to share what she is eating with me. so once I found these gluten free marshmallows I was now free to make her one of my all time favorite treats--rice crispy squares! well...not exactly 'rice krispy' squares since Rice Krispies are not gluten free. however, Kellogg's has announced that they will be introducing a new gluten free version of the famous Rice Krispies in June! to read more about this, click here.

since the gluten free Rice Krispies are not available yet, I chose another product—Perky's Crunchy Rice cereal, which is now part of the Enjoy Life brand. you can also use Nature's Path Crispy Rice cereal, both are gluten free. I bought the cereal at London Drugs on sale, which sells both cereal brands. if you would like to ensure your rice crispy treats are 100% vegan, then you should use the Nature's Path cereal as the Enjoy Life cereal uses honey as a sweetener.

for the recipe, I just googled rice crispy squares, and followed the instructions. I used one package of Dandies Marshmallows, and one box of Enjoy Life Crunchy Rice cereal. making these treats brought back so many memories, I think this was one of the first recipes I learned to make by myself, and now I can share this experience with my daughter! enjoy! Andrea.

ps. Dandies Marshmallows are now available through SPUD organic delivery, and they are on sale this week for $4.99! if you are not a spud member but would like to become one, please quote my account number to receive discounts on your first four orders, worth $25! CRVAN-MCLAND. thanks!

dandies marshmallows | ed's gluten free specialty | london drugs | spud

Monday, February 7, 2011

cookie of the week: glutino chocolate vanilla creme cookies

welcome to a new feature on our blog called 'cookie of the week.' we had been planning to do a review of a few different cookies a while ago, but it seemed like there were too many for just one post. the longer we waited (procrastinated) there seemed to be even more cookies on the market to choose from. I am not, nor have I ever been a huge cookie fan, but when I see a new gluten free cookie that I have never tried before, I get curious. I think I am strung along by the temptation that maybe, just maybe, I will strike gold and find THE BEST GLUTEN FREE COOKIE EVER. well, I have to admit I have not found that elusive cookie. I have found some decent cookies however, but I have also been met with huge disappointment. it doesn't help matters that the cookies that are often the most disappointing, are the most expensive!

I was very excited recently to stumble upon an Oreo look-a-like, made by Glutino, and I have to admit I was intrigued. as soon as I saw them I started replaying all those warm and fuzzy Oreo television commercials over and over in my mind, I could remember splitting the cookies open and eating the creme filling first, and dipping the rest in milk...I'm sure you get the nostalgia here. these Glutino Oreo look-a-like cookies are called Chocolate Vanilla Creme Cookies. it's not short and sweet like the name Oreo, but that's ok, it kind of reminds of when no name brand foods came along. I am sure for most people a chocolate vanilla creme cookie will always be an Oreo!

so how do they taste? pretty good! certainly not the same as I remember an Oreo tasting like. but they are nicely sweet, and chocolatey, you can pull them apart and follow your heart. dip them in milk, and you will feel like a kid again. these cookies are well priced compared to other gluten free cookies. one package of cookies costs around $5.00, and you get about 24 cookies, sorry I didn't count them, I just ate them! this is pretty good since one of the other cookies we are going to review costs the same but there are only two cookies in the package!!!

the Glutino chocolate creme cookies are of course gluten free, and they are also dairy free, yeast free, and kosher. they do contain soy, eggs, and corn. perhaps the only negative is that they are not organic, but hey, it's an Oreo look-a-like! happy dipping! Andrea.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

easy gluten free cupcakes

if you are looking for an easy fail-safe cupcake recipe, then this post is for you! many of you might be considering baking for the holidays, a birthday party, a baby shower, or just for fun. if the last thing you have time for is baking, then this is definitely the recipe for you because you can whip these up in under an hour!

this recipe is also great because it uses minimal ingredients. for those of you who are not celiac, or gluten sensitive, but you want to bring gluten free baking to a party where there are celiac and/ or gluten free guests (good for you!), then this recipe makes perfect sense, since it uses minimal ingredients. many of the complaints I hear from the non-bakers, and especially non-celiacs, is that gluten free baking requires many ingredients that might not be available at common grocery stores, or used again in your baking; ingredients like sorghum flour, xanthan gum, double acting baking soda, etc. if you are not gluten free yourself, and you are baking for someone else, remember to keep your baking area and baking utensils clean from any gluten, follow our entertaining best practices guide here.

the cupcakes are made with Pamela's Products classic vanilla cake mix, and a cream cheese frosting recipe I found on the Canadian Living website. the best part is that I actually found decorative sprinkles that are gluten free too! here is the recipe for the cupcakes, shown in the photo, which I made for my daughter's first Christmas pageant!

vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese frosting (with colorful sprinkles!)

cupcakes:

1 package of Pamela's Products classic vanilla cake mix

3 large eggs

1/4 cup of oil

1/2 cup of water

-follow package instructions

-mix together until smooth, and fill cupcake liners 3/4 full

-bake at 350 degrees for 18-28 minutes

-makes approximately 14 cupcakes

frosting:

1/4 cup (50ml) of cream cheese softened

1/4 cup (50ml) of butter softened, try Avalon Dairy's organic butter, it contains no color

1/2 tsp. (2ml) of vanilla, read here for more information on vanilla extract and gluten free

1-1/2 cups (375ml) of icing sugar, try Wholesome Sweetener's organic icing sugar

-in a bowl beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth

-beat in the vanilla

-add in the icing sugar in two additions and then beat until smooth

-makes enough frosting for 12 cupcakes

-add natural colors for fun!

I frosted the cupcakes with a pastry bag that I bought at Yokoyaya for less than five dollars, and it came with four tips. it couldn't be easier, and they look so pretty! I found the gluten free sprinkles at Choices Market in Yaletown, but I am sure they are available at all the Choices Markets. the brand is Let's Do...Sprinkelz which makes three flavours: confetti (shown in photo), chocolatey, and carnival. they also make gluten free ice cream cones and sugar cones!

enjoy! Andrea.

pamela's products | let's do...sprinkelz

Monday, July 12, 2010

gluten free mac & cheese

I have seen the Annie's Homegrown brand of instant pastas and mac & cheese many many times while shopping at either Choices or Whole Foods, and once I checked to see if it was gluten free, and sadly it wasn't. since then I haven't really given it much notice. however, last week I was shopping in my new neighborhood (I moved two weeks ago, been busy!), Gastown, and I was combing the aisles in my new local grocery store to see what gluten free items they sell, and I noticed Annie's Homegrown natural products once again. I decided to check them out box by box. and you know what I found? Annie's Homegrown Rice Pasta & Cheddar, and it's gluten free!

I had to try it, so I bought a box. I made it for lunch and it was so good! I was never really a fan of Kraft Dinner, but from what I remember it tasting like, Annie's is very similar, but better! Annie's uses only natural ingredients, one hundred percent real cheddar, and one hundred percent rice pasta. all of Annie's products are preservative free and additive free, and they don't contain anything artificial. Annie's Homegrown has been around since 1989, and they are committed to making the world a better place through Community Giving Programs, and Sustainable Agriculture Scholarships. that is a lot of care put into one little box of mac & cheese! the only thing I think Annie's could do better, is to add gluten free mac & cheese to their organic line.

have you been missing your mac & cheese? you should try Annie's! yes I know you can easily make your own homemade gluten free mac & cheese, but for you busy people, it's a great time saver. it's also nostalgia in a box for many of you I'm sure, you know, when you were a college student eating on the cheap. it's easy to cook, and only requires 1/4 cup of fresh milk or yogurt to make the cheese sauce. it's actually perfect to take camping, both adults and kids will love it!

hope you are all enjoying your summer! Andrea.

annie's homegrown

Thursday, May 20, 2010

the healthy shopper: 2010 edition in stores now!

The Healthy Shopper is a coupon book for natural and organic products, many of which are gluten free! if you haven't heard of The Healthy Shopper, it's really worth checking out. it is available for free at participating retailers in Canada, to find your nearest store click here. you can also order it online free of charge, but you do need to pay for the shipping. if you register online you will have access to the e-coupons, which you simply print as many as you need, and then go shopping!

we first told you about the 2009 Healthy Shopper back in January, and since then, the 2010 edition has become available. the e-coupons have been available for download since Arpil, however I managed to get my hands on my first physical booklet today from Choices on Cambie. I was at Whole Foods on Broadway a few days ago, and they didn't have any left. it isn't a big deal, because as I said you can simply register and download as many e-coupons as you like. in fact, that might be the more environmental approach since you are only printing the coupons you will actually use.

the products in the 2010 edition are slightly different from last year. I have noticed that Glutino, for example, is no longer participating, too bad. there are still many great products with good savings in this latest edition. some of the gluten free products you will find are:

So Delicious lactose free frozen desserts (save $1)
Blue Sky natural sodas (save 50¢)
San-J asian cooking sauces and tamari sauce (save 75¢)
Simply Natural organic salad dressings and condiments (save 50¢)
Pamela's Products baking mixes and cookies (save 75¢)
Barbara's Bakery cereals (save $1)
Liberté conventional and organic yogurts (save $1)
Olympic organic yogurt, sour cream, and cream cheese (save 75¢)
Nature's Path and Envirokidz cereals and snacks (save $1)
Blue Diamond Growers nut-thins crackers and almond breeze almond milk (save $1)
Tom's of Maine toothpaste (save $1)

please note that some of these companies are exclusively gluten free, while others are not. please check with the product websites to verify which products are gluten free. we have already posted on several of these, Simply Natural Organic Mustard, Pamela's Products Classic Vanilla Cake Mix, Envirokidz, and Tom's of Maine.

in addition to savings on gluten free food and beverages, there are some great savings as well on vitamins and supplements, household cleaning products, cosmetics, and diapers! that's right moms and dads, there is a coupon for $2 off the purchase of any package of Seventh Generation diapers.

combine these savings with other grocery store reward programs, like at Choices Markets and Greens Organic & Natural Market, and you can really make a difference in your grocery bill. and if you are Celiac don't forget to save your grocery receipts this year to claim the incremental cost of the gluten free food you purchase on your 2010 taxes. Andrea.

the healthy shopper | choices markets | greens organic & natural market

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