The chicken is coated in corn flour crumbs, not bread crumbs, so it is a gluten-free option. The chicken is then cooked with aged parmesan cheese, Italian seasonings and topped with a tangy marinara sauce.

Chicken Parmigiana is one of the newest additions to Dietz & Watson’s extensive list of gluten-free offerings. In honor of the launch, the company shared this gluten-free recipe:

Gluten-Free Chicken Parmigiana Hoagie

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Dietz & Watson Chicken Parmigiana, thinly sliced (about 4 ounces per hoagie)
• ½ pound fresh spinach, prewashed
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 1 red onion, sliced thin
• ¼ cup Dietz & Watson Mixed Pepper Mayonnaise
• ¼ cup Dietz & Watson peperoncini
• ¼ cup Dietz & Watson roasted red peppers
• Dietz & Watson hoagie dressing
• 4 gluten free hoagie or sandwich rolls
• salt and pepper to taste
• bunch of fresh basil, for garnish

Directions:

1. Toast the rolls until golden brown.

2. Spread ½ Tbsp of the Mixed Pepper Mayonnaise on each side of all the rolls.

3. In a skillet, heat olive oil and add fresh spinach. Sauté until just wilted, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Layer 4 ounces chicken Parmesan slices, 3 tomato slices, ¼ of the onion slices, 1 Tbsp. roasted red peppers and 1 Tbsp. peperoncini on each hoagie roll.

5. Sprinkle hoagie dressing on each sandwich to moisten all ingredients.

6. Top with cooked spinach. Garnish plate with fresh basil.

Share on Facebook

As someone who typically opts for a simple splash of balsamic vinegar, I like the fact that a light coating of Briannas can add a ton of flavor to my greens. The salad dressings run thinner than the typical Ranch or Caesar dressing, but I’m a believer in more goodness, less goop. And if you must have a thick coating, you can easily mix these dressings with a spoonful of mayo or Greek yogurt for a gourmet veggie dip.

Here were some highlights:

Dijon Honey Mustard Dressing: A favorite in my family, this dressing is also entirely versatile. Kristin took the bottle’s suggestion and tried it over avocadoes. The verdict? “The most unexpected delicious combo,” she said.

Rich Poppy Seed Dressing: One of the thicker options, this dressing is a great topping for fruit. Kristin tried it over peaches and found it to be a delightful addition. She suggested grilling the peaches for an extra punch of flavor.

Champagne Caper Vinaigrette: This is a new product, and I’d describe it as honey mustard mixed with a light Caesar dressing. It’s mild, but still flavorful. I used it in lieu of honey mustard in the recipe for Sweet Potato and Avocado Sandwich listed among these Lunch Ideas  (use gluten-free bread), and it was delicious.

Blush Wine Vinaigrette: This is for the sweet fans. I went classic and poured this over a spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts. Tangy and acidic, but not overpowering. I imagine this would be a fantastic marinade for sautéed fruit.

There are even more Briannas Fine Salad Dressings to explore beyond these flavors. To find out which ones are gluten-free, see their product information sheet. Remember, product formulations may change, so always double check the ingredients before purchasing.

If you have a favorite use for Briannas dressings, share your secret in the comments section below.

Share on Facebook

As soon as it is warm enough to use the outdoor grill, Kielbasa served with horseradish sauce starts showing up at many of our family gatherings. Kielbasa, also called Polish sausage refers to a particular genre of sausage, common to all Eastern European countries but with substantial regional variations. Sausage is a staple of Polish cuisine.

Sausages, along with many other types of flavored, cured, or precooked and packaged meats are a common source of hidden gluten. This can be difficult for many people suffering from celiac disease, especially when it comes to family gathering requiring traditional foods. Fortunately, there are a variety of gluten-free options available, many of which can be found in almost any grocery store.

Boars Head:
They are a favorite of mine, since their products are high quality and taste great. All their meats, cheese, and condiments are gluten-free and taste great and they even offer a brochure that contains great information on their gluten-free products.

Johnsonville
A Polish Kielbasa is among their other gluten-free options. Their site is very helpful at identifying gluten-free products.

Hillshire Farm:
Hillshire Farms Turkey Polska Kielbasa, as well as many other of their products are known to be gluten-free. However, I’d feel happier about this product if they clearly listed it as gluten-free. Not all of Hillshire Farms products are gluten-free, though this company stands by a strict labeling system that list all ingredients. So if you have any doubts and maybe even if you don’t check the label.

With these as well as many other products it is always a good idea to practice label checking. If you have any doubts it can be helpful to contact the manufacturer directly.

Happy gluten-free grilling.

Share on Facebook

When Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery announced that it would release a gluten-free bun this summer, I was eager to give it a try. To be honest, I went in with pretty low expectations. Perfecting a gluten-free loaf is one thing, but capturing the unique texture and density of a hamburger bun was a whole other challenge.

To my pleasant surprise, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Hamburger Buns fit the bill. They’re big, round and have enough heft to handle a burger with all the fixings. They’re not quite like the plain white buns you may remember from childhood, but I think they actually do a better job of holding in all the ketchup and juices without getting soggy. As the name indicates, the buns are multigrain, so their appearance and texture is a lot closer to the whole wheat and multigrain buns that emerged in the mainstream market over the last few years. (Make sure to keep gluten-free foods separate if you’re having a joint BBQ!)

Nutrition-wise, the buns fare pretty well. Each bun is 170 calories and contains 6g of fat. They could use a boost of fiber and vitamins, but that’s a problem that affects gluten-free bread and buns across the board. And considering that you’ll be sandwiching that bun around a burger, the 2g of protein in each serving will certainly get some backup.

Where this bun really shines is in the satisfying bite it yields. Forget using two slices of gluten-free bread as a makeshift bun; this is a much better option. The top half is domed , so you can really sink your teeth in. The bottom part is sturdy and flat, perfect for supporting that patty while you slap lettuce and tomatoes on top. Best of all, it’s the perfect height to get every layer all in one bite. It gets a little flaky after too many days in the fridge, but nothing a quick shot in the microwave couldn’t fix.

Of course, if you don’t have a grill you can still enjoy these gluten-free burger buns. For a vegetarian spin (or if you just feel like something new), try this recipe for Raspberry Black Bean Burgers – a great option you can make in a skillet!

Note: Today is your last chance to enter Rudi’s Unbelievably Good Gluten-Free Recipe Contest! Submit your gluten-free recipe now for the chance to win a trip to Boulder, CO, and a starring role in an upcoming Alternative Appetites video from NFCA.

Share on Facebook

So, with out much more delay onto the first review.

MI-DEL S’mores:

In addition to classic and organic cookies, MI-DEL offers a full line of Gluten-Free Cookies. For our review, Mambo Sprouts sent us a multi-pack box of MI-DEL’s Gluten-Free S’mores. The box contains 5 conveniently sized and nicely proportioned 90 Calorie “lunchbox” packs. With back to school season fully underway this product review seems timely.

The cookies that fill these packs are bite-sized chocolate graham cookies with a hint of marshmallows. They are pretty tasty and have a pleasant balance between the lightly sweetened and very crunchy chocolate graham cracker and the very sweet and fluffy marshmallows pieces flecked through out each cookie. It is a bonus to have these cookies proportioned out in since the cookie itself is yummy and crunchy enough to over-snack on. Though not extremely healthy, these packs would make a welcome appearance as a treat in child’s or adult’s lunchbox, and a convenient sweet snack to pack along in picnics or long car trips.

If you would like to learn more about this product as well as all of the other gluten-free products MI-DEL offers visit them at www.midelcookies.com.

Share on Facebook

Today’s review is for a fun and fabulous product produced by a great company called GoPicnic. GoPicnic are the creators of healthy, delicious and easy ready-made meals. Some of their meals are designed to fit specific dietary requirements such as kosher, vegetarian, vegan, and thankfully Gluten-free. Among the ready-to-eat meal choices they offer are five gluten free versions of their MightyMunch and Break Meal lines. The MightyMunch and Break Meals are like healthier, far more balanced versions of Lunchables. Each box is filled with delicious well known gluten free products such as Copper Cowbell Cheeses, Old Wisconsin Salami, Ortega salsa, Mrs. May’s, and Enjoy Life dessert just to name a few. No refrigeration or heating is required and they even come with wet napkins and a spoon. This makes these meals a great choice for school or work lunches, field trips, sporting events, road trips, after school snacks, or any time that you want to fit in a healthy well balanced yet convenient meal.

ExploreMunch, SafariMunch, and SportMunch, are aimed more toward children, though I think any adult would be glad to find these meals in their lunch box. A great example of one of these meals is the ExploreMunch, which contains Old Wisconsin turkey snack stick, Copper Cowbell white cheddar cheese slice, Sweet Perry Orchards natural strawberry applesauce, Calbee baked snap pea crisps, Mrs. May’s sunflower seed crunch, Surf Sweets natural gummy bears. The AnywhereBreak, and Zesty Break are more adult orientated. The AnywhereBreak includes Jack Link’s beef steak nuggets, Corazonas Squeeze of Lime tortilla chips, Ortega mild salsa, Copper Cowbell white cheddar cheese slice, Mrs. May’s cashew crunch, Mariani dried cranberries, and Swiss Delicato dark chocolate. All Five choices of ready-to-eat meals are made with natural ingredients and no artificial flavors or colors. Every meal is filled with a variety of high quality, healthy products and are affordable priced.

To learn more about these and other GoPicnic products visit www.GoPicnic.com. There you will find full product details and learn how you can purchase some of them for yourself.

Share on Facebook

Bone Suckin’ sauce is a must have barbecue item. This sauce is great for all your grilling, marinating and barbecuing needs. I especially enjoy it on chicken but it is equally great on all meats. It is thick and full of flavor. In addition to being gluten-free, this product has no high fructose corn syrup in it. To learn more about this delectable sauce go to
www.bonesuckin.com .While you are there check out their other Gluten-Free tasty products.

When you are cooking hot dogs this summer you won’t have to worry about skipping the buns or the flavor with Grianless Baker’s Hot dog buns. These buns are gluten-free yet have a great taste and constancy. To learn more about these buns and other gluten free backed goods by this company go to www.grianlessbacker.com

To make your picnics and barbecue complete don’t forget the salad. Maker your salads extra healthy and tasty by topping them off with one of Walden Farms 17 different salad dressings. These dressings have no fat, carbs, added sugar, or gluten in them. It’s a delicious way to stay healthy this summer. They also have a gluten free mayo for your potato salad needs. Learn more at www.waldenfarms.com .

Happy and healthy summer eating.

Share on Facebook