gluten-free food reviews

Review: Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks

July 21, 2018 By Joi Sigers

Some people are “snackers” and some aren’t. Some love to pass through the kitchen and grab a handful of something crunchy and salty (or soft and sweet) before heading to the den for some quality time with the TV.

Personally, I can’t imagine not being a snacker. Seriously… don’t the non-snackers know what they’re missing?!

I’m not just a snacker, I’m a snacker’s snacker. Top in the business. Funny thing is, I don’t eat a lot at one sitting or swipe a lot in one passing…. but I enjoy the heck out of what I do nibble on.

I came across something exciting in Target last week – come to think of it, I always come across something exciting in Target…. like in evry aisle, to be precise. This time, I happened to be in the potato chip and popcorn aisle (of course I was). A bag of Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks caught my eye. If you have to eat gluten-free, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say the magic words, gluten-free, jump out from a mile away.

It’s like the verbal equivalent of Popeye’s spinach.

Naturally, a bag went straight into my cart – right between a gorgeous new set of bright kitchen towels (personal obsession) and cat food (another obsession… cats, not the food).

I may or may not have sampled them before I even got out of the parking lot. The first thing I noticed was how similar they look and feel (and smell… Heavenly!) to regular pretzel sticks. Anyone who doesn’t have to eat gluten-free may not realize this, but finding legitimate substitutions for the “real deal” is tough, tough, tough. Like most gluten-free bread.

I’ve had other gluten-free pretzels and pretzel sticks that, while tasty, looked more like cookies and tasted more like hard bread. Snyder’s of Hanover has hit the nail on the head with these gluten-free pretzels. They’re excellent.

While I’m excited to have these beauties for snacking, I’m even more excited to have them for other reasons. Each holiday (and often on birthdays), I make chocolate-covered pretzels and pretzel sticks. The gluten-free varieties have never played quite as well as the regular pretzels I remember from my salty past. Since these look, feel, and taste like the real McCoy, I can’t wait to take them for a dip in chocolate and white chocolate.

I also look forward to using them in Chex Mix for the holdiasy,I’m also over the moon excited about an old favorite, Strawberry Pretzel Salad. Again, other gluten-free pretzels on the market just don’t lend themselves to this type of dish. Snyder’s of Hanover’s Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks will be perfect and I CANNOT wait to make this favorite from the past a favorite of the present again.

Check your favorite store for a bag – you’re going to love them as much as I do. They’re also available on Amazon (in various sizes AND flavors) – easiest way to shop known to man or womankind!

Easy Gluten-Free Lasagna with Explore Cuisine Green Lentil (No Boil!) Noodles

September 6, 2017 By Joi Sigers

Gluten-Free Lasagna with Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Noodles

Gluten-free lasagna just got easier and healthier – and if you love lasagna like Garfield the cat and I do, this is the kind of good news you’ve been waiting for.

Explore Cuisine makes a wonderful line of gluten-free pastas that will change your entire pasta game. They’re delicious – dare I say far more delicious than they sound like they’d be. I mean, let’s be serious, even those of us who love vegetables to distraction would be a little skeptical about Green Lentil Lasagna Noodles. I know I was! When I first used them to make lasagna, I was half-tempted to make one with traditional gluten-free noodles too, you know… just – in – case.

I didn’t take this crazy precautionary step and it turns out I didn’t need to. These noodles have a really wonderful, understated flavor that couldn’t work more beautifully with tomato sauces if it had to.

Not only are these noodles gluten-free and delicious, they don’t have to be boiled before building your lasagna. I am so over the process of handling limp HOT lasagna noodles, so that’s a dream come true for me and my hands.

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Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Lasagna on Amazon

About Explore Cuisine:

Explore Cuisine products are vegan, organic, gluten-free, and kosher, ensuring your health and igniting your taste buds! For example, our delicious bean pastas contain nearly 20-25 grams of protein per serving and are low in carbs and sodium while simultaneously containing a high fiber content. With Explore Cuisine, you’ll experience the incomparable taste of pasta with all the benefits of nutritious beans! Read More…

There is a wonderful recipe for Vegetable Lasagna on Explore Cuisine’s blog – just click the link to check it out. It’s out of this world – fresh and delicious.

The first lasagna I made with these noodles was, however, my “go to” lasagna I’ve been making for 112 years. The recipe is below and, thanks to these no-boil noodles, it couldn’t be easier.

A Few Notes:

If you use a pasta sauce that already contains garlic – leave the garlic out of the recipe. The same is true of one with bell peppers, or onions.
You can add a small (drained) can of sliced mushrooms in with the onion and bell pepper.
I like my lasagna extra saucy, but if you prefer your lasagna a little more “traditional,” only use one jar of pasta sauce instead of 1-1/2.
Always check pasta sauce for the gluten-free label. Some actually are not gluten-free. Always, always check.

Easy Gluten-Free Green Lentil Lasagna

Ingredients

2 Packages Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Lasagna
2 lbs Ground Chuck
1/2 Cup Finely-Chopped Bell Pepper
1 Cup Finely-Chopped Sweet Onion
3 Cloves Garlic, Finely Chopped
1 TBS Kosher Salt
1 TBS Oregano
1 TBS Basil
1-2 28 oz Jars Prego or Ragu Pasta Sauce (I usually use 1-1/2)
2 Cups Ricotta Cheese
2 Eggs, Slightly Beaten
1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan
1 Pint Ricotta Cheese
16 oz. Cottage Cheese (small curd)
8 oz Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large skillet cook ground beef until brown.
Add onions, bell pepper, and garlic and saute until onions are transparent.
Add the salt.
Stir in pasta sauce and heat on medium low for a few minutes.
In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, and the two slightly beaten eggs.
Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 13x9 inch pan or dish.
Layer with the uncooked Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Lasagna noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella cheese, and meat sauce.
Continue layering until all ingredients are used, reserving 1/2 cup of the mozzarella.
Cover pan with aluminum foil.
Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover, and top with remaining half cup of mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 15 more minutes.
Remove from oven, and allow lasagna to stand 10 to 15 minutes before cutting.

CedarLane Cauliflower Pilaf Review

March 17, 2017 By Joi Sigers

I frequently write about CedarLane foods on Get Cooking.

Why?

I frequently eat CedarLane foods in my kitchen.

Simple as that – delicious as that. The CedarLane Roasted Chile Relleno and CedarLane Sweet Corn (and vegetable) Tamales are a few of my grocery staples. I buy them each and every week.. to the tune of two at a time.

I spend a lot of money on CedarLane, if we’re being honest – but I can’t help myself, nor would I want to. They’re simply among the most flavorful, delicious, and healthiest frozen foods out there – whether (always, like me) you’re looking for gluten-free food or (sometimes, like me) looking for vegetarian meals. If you’re a gluten-free vegetarian… allow me to introduce you to your new best friend.

CedarLane recently told me about a new product they’ve come up with, Cauliflower Pilaf – and, just as I was about to head off to the store to look for it, they said they’d seen me one to sample.

Even sweeter!

When the CedarLane Cauliflower Pilaf arrived, I made a huge Chef Salad to go with it for supper. Why wait, right? I was not in the least bit surprised to discover that it was FULL of vegetables and flavor.

A favorite combination, if I ever had one. CedarLane GETS (as well as it’s ever been gotten) that flavor matters. If a vegetarian or gluten-free or ANY meal for that matters is to be taken seriously, it has to taste good. The flavor has to be there. CedarLane packs an unreal amount of flavor into everything they make – including this exciting new Cauliflower Pilaf.

Not only do I strongly appreciate and enjoy the flavors CedarLane provides in every bite, I love that they put vegetables in the center of the stage. We all know that for optimum health, we need to eat an optimum amount of vegetables. When’s the last time a doctor, nurse, or nutritionist said, “Be sure you don’t eat too many vegetables.” or “You might want to cut back on your Cauliflower and carrots.”

The fact that CedarLane allows you to have nutritious, filling, delicious, AND flavorful (seriously, seriously flavorful and delicious) in such a quick and easy manner is nothing short of perfection. While I, most of the time, enjoy CedarLane’s foods for lunch, I often invite them for supper as well.

For Example…

The Cauliflower Pilaf was absolutely delicious served with a salad, but it’d also be a healthy side for grilled chicken, hamburgers, meatloaf, steaks…. absolutely anything that could be accented with a delicious, wholesome, and filling side dish.
The Roasted Chile Relleno begs to be served on “Taco Night.” Simply buy two boxes and heat them up – just don’t blame me when they steal the the show from your tacos. They do that. Seriously, these are out of this world – I could drink the sauce, it’s so darn good.
The Sweet Corn Tamales (fun to make, funner to eat) and Vegetable Tamales are ridiculously delicious. I top them with mild Salsa Verde (Herdez is my favorite brand) and serve them with salads (yes, I am a salad fiend) or tomato soup when having them for dinner.

I, personally, haven’t seen the CedarLane Cauliflower Pilaf in stores yet, but trust me, I’m looking! It is fantastic – I love the thought of having a side that’s so vegetable-licious. When it comes to veggies, he more, the better, and CedarLane has found a clever way to up the ante.