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Celiac.com Update: Yehuda Kosher Gluten-Free Matzo Crackers - Celiac.com: Celiac.comYehu... bit.ly/Z8UOZQ
— Scott Adams (@celiac_disease) March 22, 2013

Just a Friday "micro" blog!  Time to stock up on gluten-free Matzo Crackers.  This is only one brand, but they are the closest thing to a good, old fashioned "Saltine" I have ever tasted.  They are, of course, delicious for their real purpose, a matzo cracker, for Passover celebrations but I just eat these non-stop during the season.

Kendall

“Best of the West

This year I was bowled over by the depth and breadth of gluten-free food introduced at Expo West.  It would be hard to mention everything, but I want to whet your appetite with a few of the things I tasted.

Pasta:

Jovial (www.jovialfoods.com) introduced a new tagliatelle noodle with egg in the pasta. Pappardelle’s (www.pappredellespasta.com) introduced some new flavors, sweet potato and dark chocolate, and a chipotle lime orzo style pasta.  RP’s Pasta (www.rpspasta.com) featured fresh GF Lasagna Sheets.  Le Veneziane has microwave pasta dishes…penne al pomodoro e basilico that is ready in nine minutes (www.quattrobimbi.com).

Sauces:

San J introduced a new Mongolian Beef stir fry & Marinade (www.san-j.com) and Saffron Road burst on to the scene with a bevy of simmer sauces (www.americanhalal.com).

Breakfast:

Kinnikinnick has a blueberry bagel made the old fashioned way, boiled first and then baked.  It really bursts with blueberry flavor (www.kinnikinnick.com).   Bakery on Main introduced two new instant oatmeal flavors, Blueberry Scone and Carrot Cake (www.bakeryonmain.com) and Glutenfreeda also introduced portable instant oatmeal in a cup (www.glutenfreeda.com).  I tasted the Komplete Meal Replacement Shakes packed with 21 superfoods and the Jav ‘a Latte was my favorite (www.katefarms.com).

Snacks:

So much good stuff, it is hard to know what to report.  Ener-G showcased Garlic Pretzels that were stuffed with garlic goodness, thank goodness for the post snacking breath mints (www.ener-g.com).  Simple Squares Organic Snack Bar, once again I loved the coffee bar. (www.simplesquares.com). Mary’s Gone Crackers introduced a new graham cracker that is coming to stores soon (www.marysgonecrackers.com).  Lucy’s introduced Combo Snack & Go packs and a new pumpkin cookie (www.drlucys.com)

Easy-Peasy GF Dinner ideas:

Starfish Seafood introduced a new line of gluten-free fish sticks and a parmesan encrusted cod filet (www.star-fish.com).   Glutenfreeda also launched a Pocket Sandwich; I tried the Hickory Smoked Ham and Cheese (www.glutenfreeda.com), my always hungry, always growing 13 year old son is going to be so happy when I buy these.  Second Helping featured Corn Puppies; gluten-free batter dipped cocktail size franks (www.secondhelping.com), really a great idea and totally delicious.   If you prefer a bun for your franks, Schar launched hot dog rolls (www.schar.com).

Baking:

King Arthur Flour introduced its new all purpose baking mix (www.kingarthurflour.com) and Pamela’s had their Artisan Flour Blend (www.pamelasproducts.com).  123 Gluten-Free showcased their sugar free Pound cake Mix (www.123.glutenfree.com) which is coming to stores soon.  This adds to their line of sugar free mixes so the consumer may choose the sweetener!

What’s the category?

For those of you who make a green bean casserole for Thanksgiving and miss those crunchy onions, Brad’s Raw Foods introduced Brad’s Raw Onion Rings in a variety of flavors…another time I was thankful for breath mints!  (www.bradsrawfoods.com)

Numi’s introduced Savory Teas, I tried the Tomato Mint and I have to say this is a great idea as something warm and soothing without caffeine to get through a long winter’s afternoon. (www.numitea.com)

Mr. Dewie’s Almond Milk frozen dessert (www.mrdewies.com) was my absolute favorite thing…right now this is only available in the Bay Area of California, you lucky Californians!  Oh.My.Gosh….this is a creamy “iced almond milk” frozen dessert that I could easily sit down with a pint and eat the whole thing.  Hopefully store distributors agreed with me….

I have stacks of sell sheets for new gluten-free items like Evol Burritos and Pure Bars that I haven’t even mentioned!  There was Wallaby Yogurt, Glutino Pop Tarts, Hope Hummus in single serve squeeze tubs, Lotus Foods exotic rice and so much more…

As more and more people care about what they eat, gluten-free or just healthier, these new businesses will grow and I intend to look for them, buy them and vote for my food preferences at the cash register.

Kendall Egan

The Typically Hungry Return Trip

Room Service Tray

As a celiac, I diligently pack food for a trip TO someplace so I don’t end up really hungry on the flight or totally without food options if I get stuck somewhere.   The problem is always the return trip…usually I don’t have anything for the return so I scrounge a salad at the terminal or buy the overpriced cheese and cracker box on the plane and just eat the cheese.

 

Travel is fraught with challenges aside from dietary issues, specifically air travel.  Take my return trip home yesterday.  First off, it was the weekend we “spring ahead.”  Typically my phone does that for me, but as I was watching Saturday Night Live…my phone did not spring ahead.   On Saturday, New York was two hours ahead of Arizona and on Sunday it was three hours ahead?  Did you know that parts of Arizona do not “spring ahead?”  I did not!  Luckily, I relied on a wake up call and just muddled around until I asked the front desk what time it was and why.

Portable Lunch

My trip home was challenging in other regards too.  I had the aisle seat…yeah!!!  But the gentleman in the middle seat was so large that I could not put the arm rest down between us.   The guy across the aisle was chatty, loud and his politics were to the right of Rush Limbaugh.  The guy next to him had multiple facial piercings that kind of made my stomach buckle with queasiness because most of them looked really painful.  Four rows ahead, a little girl who I saw in the terminal chowing down a monster breakfast burrito and 20 ounce lemonade regurgitated it all over the place due to our incredible turbulence.

Fun and games for five hours in flight!

But, here is the great news.  It was my return flight and I was not hungry.   Early that morning I had selected a gluten-free English muffin from the room service menu at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix.  I had a GoPicnic Lunch from my time at Expo West and I even had a snack, my favorite Walnut Cappuccino True Bar!

Snack time

Typically when I land, I am just racing for home and the gluten-free snack cupboard.  This time, I strolled in and chatted with everyone, found out about the weekend’s basketball games and opened up a bottle of wine.  Dinner was an hour later and for the first time ever, waiting for dinner after a return flight wasn’t a big deal at all!

Kendall Egan