One thing I wish I could still eat is the simple and tasty Egg McMuffin. Think about it: Of all the fast foods you can buy, an Egg McMuffin is probably the healthiest and most real items you can get at a mainstream fast food restaurant. You know what's in it. You can't hide much. It's an English muffin, a slice of Canadian bacon, an egg, and cheese. Fake cheese, okay. But cheese.
I have tried to mimic this with some success. I had some rice buns in Japan that were good enough for mimicking English muffins. I could use one of those microwave egg poachers and then ordinary sliced ham to make a replica that was delicious enough. But what I really wished I had was an actual English muffin. *sigh*
I saw these in the store long ago but had no desire to buy them. I finally bought a pack ($6.09) with the hope that I could make some attempt at mcmuffining.
The first time I ate one of these muffins, I actually opted for jam and butter. They are already somewhat split and need to be cut the rest of the way and toasted. I was apprehensive because the muffin literally felt like drying cement as I was putting the knife through it. It was dense and heavy, and I worried that it wouldn't turn out very well.
But actually, after two rounds of toasting (real English muffins are also persnickety like this) it was crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, somewhat dense, and tasted ... like an English muffin.
I later tried it as a sandwich, and it worked quite well. Sometimes the muffins aren't split in a very symmetrical fashion, so you end up with a tiny lid and a big, heavy bottom. This is sort of a problem, but not a huge one. Overall I think they satisfy a need that we all have for living a normal life, including enjoying the various types of breads we enjoyed before and make a very good substitute.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Fast Food: Whole Foods Cheddar Biscuits
I tried once to make the gf version of the Red Lobster cheddar biscuits. Ohhhh fail. Fail fail fail. It was cheddar starch soup. I couldn't get xanthan gum in Japan and thought if I just put a bit more starch in there it would be nice and firm. It ended up being a pretty tasty cracker at first, then I put it in a brownie pan and made some kind of cheesy cornbread.
I wondered if the cheddar biscuits at Whole Foods would be anything like the Red Lobster biscuits of my dreams.
Well ... not quite. They're undoubtedly good. I put it in the oven for 10 minutes and it browned a little bit and was quite good in the texture department (except right in the center). However, I couldn't get over the feeling that it tasted like ... soup. It's a cheddar biscuit full of chives! Chives! Like soup! So mostly I tasted bread and chives and not enough cheddar or anything else.
Pretty good. $10 worth of good for 8 biscuits? Well ... I don't know about that. But pretty good.
I wondered if the cheddar biscuits at Whole Foods would be anything like the Red Lobster biscuits of my dreams.
Well ... not quite. They're undoubtedly good. I put it in the oven for 10 minutes and it browned a little bit and was quite good in the texture department (except right in the center). However, I couldn't get over the feeling that it tasted like ... soup. It's a cheddar biscuit full of chives! Chives! Like soup! So mostly I tasted bread and chives and not enough cheddar or anything else.
Pretty good. $10 worth of good for 8 biscuits? Well ... I don't know about that. But pretty good.
Evol Fire Grilled Steak Bowl
http://evolfoods.com/bowls/
Today at Whole Foods I spied these bowls, and despite the $6 pricetag I picked up the fire grilled steak. I've been needing beef lately. NEEDING.
Anyway, I prepared it in the oven and mixed it all up when it was finished. It contains corn, peppers, beans, rice, steak, and some mixture of lime and cilantro. There's also some cheese on top.
The first thing I thought when I saw the contents all mixed up was, "Wow! There's a lot of steak in this!" I had thought the three or four pieces I saw on top were IT, but there was literally enough that you could have a piece of steak in every bite.
The flavor was good, and nothing tasted off or unnatural. The cilantro and lime flavor was reminiscent of the grilled steak tacos at Taco Bell, which I miss immensely.
If I had to make a complaint about it, it's that it's a bit small. I couldn't imagine eating JUST that for a meal. It could stand to be ... I don't know ... 1/3 larger, or maybe have more beans or something filling. That said, it's really tasty, beefy, balanced (protein, starch, veggies, and cheese!) and I wouldn't mind trying one of the other varieties in the store ... whenever I win the lottery. (Why can't any mainstream dinners be truly gf?? I can't afford $6-7 per meal.)
Today at Whole Foods I spied these bowls, and despite the $6 pricetag I picked up the fire grilled steak. I've been needing beef lately. NEEDING.
Anyway, I prepared it in the oven and mixed it all up when it was finished. It contains corn, peppers, beans, rice, steak, and some mixture of lime and cilantro. There's also some cheese on top.
The first thing I thought when I saw the contents all mixed up was, "Wow! There's a lot of steak in this!" I had thought the three or four pieces I saw on top were IT, but there was literally enough that you could have a piece of steak in every bite.
The flavor was good, and nothing tasted off or unnatural. The cilantro and lime flavor was reminiscent of the grilled steak tacos at Taco Bell, which I miss immensely.
If I had to make a complaint about it, it's that it's a bit small. I couldn't imagine eating JUST that for a meal. It could stand to be ... I don't know ... 1/3 larger, or maybe have more beans or something filling. That said, it's really tasty, beefy, balanced (protein, starch, veggies, and cheese!) and I wouldn't mind trying one of the other varieties in the store ... whenever I win the lottery. (Why can't any mainstream dinners be truly gf?? I can't afford $6-7 per meal.)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Amy's Rice Mac & Cheese
I often think about how much I used to enjoy the rich, creamy taste of Stouffer's macaroni and cheese. I think by far, their mac and cheese is the absolute best. It's cheddary and fantastic, with extra flavor added by the parts that get slightly burned in the oven. Yum.
Yes, I think about it and dream, for I can never have it again. And I wondered, "Isn't there a gluten free mac and cheese that is comparable to Stouffer's??"
There is. Almost.
I bought Amy's Rice Mac for $5.50 at the store (ouch, seriously, ouch) and took it home to eat it almost immediately. It didn't burn quite as I had hoped it would (a little brown on top is always pretty tasty), but it was bubbly and cheesy, and I stirred it up well before taking a first bite.
The pasta was firm, not mushy. After my experience with Glutino's pasta falling apart in the cooking process, it was kind of surprising. (Although I did bake this and microwaved Glutino.) The cheese was almost like Stouffer's. It was somewhere between that and Swanson. (Those two would be my absolute favorites.)
At first I thought there wasn't enough food in the tray, but as I got to the last few bites, I realized it was pretty much a perfect amount, as long as you don't inhale it all at once. One package is 400 calories, so it's a pretty good size for a meal.
Amy's also makes a version with ordinary pasta and a version with soy "cheese." I can't speak for soy, but I imagine if you are not on the gluten-free pathway, you could enjoy the regular variety very easily. Or heck, enjoy the rice version, although I think it costs at least a dollar or two more than the other variety, and that totally sucks. As a poor college student I really hate looking at two products (one gf, one not) and seeing that the gf one costs twice as much. Makes me wonder if it REALLY does or if the stores are screwing with me because they think gf is some kind of wacky health fad.
(Yes, there are people who think it's a wacky health fad.)
Yes, I think about it and dream, for I can never have it again. And I wondered, "Isn't there a gluten free mac and cheese that is comparable to Stouffer's??"
There is. Almost.
I bought Amy's Rice Mac for $5.50 at the store (ouch, seriously, ouch) and took it home to eat it almost immediately. It didn't burn quite as I had hoped it would (a little brown on top is always pretty tasty), but it was bubbly and cheesy, and I stirred it up well before taking a first bite.
The pasta was firm, not mushy. After my experience with Glutino's pasta falling apart in the cooking process, it was kind of surprising. (Although I did bake this and microwaved Glutino.) The cheese was almost like Stouffer's. It was somewhere between that and Swanson. (Those two would be my absolute favorites.)
At first I thought there wasn't enough food in the tray, but as I got to the last few bites, I realized it was pretty much a perfect amount, as long as you don't inhale it all at once. One package is 400 calories, so it's a pretty good size for a meal.
Amy's also makes a version with ordinary pasta and a version with soy "cheese." I can't speak for soy, but I imagine if you are not on the gluten-free pathway, you could enjoy the regular variety very easily. Or heck, enjoy the rice version, although I think it costs at least a dollar or two more than the other variety, and that totally sucks. As a poor college student I really hate looking at two products (one gf, one not) and seeing that the gf one costs twice as much. Makes me wonder if it REALLY does or if the stores are screwing with me because they think gf is some kind of wacky health fad.
(Yes, there are people who think it's a wacky health fad.)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Pamela's NY Style Cheesecake
I've been aching for some good cheesecake for a while. Cheesecake is one of those things that wouldn't really contain gluten if not for the crust (although some recipes include flour), but it's really hard to find one that both does not have crust and does not contain that pesky flour.
What Pamela brings us here is a cheesecake that not only has a crust, but is completely gluten free. There are several varieties, but the one at my local store was the NY style cheesecake in the miniature size. One 3 inch cake? Almost $7. OUCH.
But I've been really sick recently and reasoned that I deserved a little sweet, creamy happiness. I bought a single cake hoping to make it last a few days. Or two. I think I can do two.
The first thing I noticed was the lovely flavor of rich, creamy cheesecake. My second bite included some of the crust, which was an interesting ginger snap flavor that didn't overpower the cheesecake itself. In fact, it complemented it quite well. It's an absolutely super cake. I can't really say anything bad about it except for the fact that it cost almost as much as my loaf of Udi's. I can justify the bread with the fact that there's about 14 slices in there, but one cake at almost $7 is hard to justify as a broke college student, especially when I'm basically forced to pay more for food or else suffer the consequences. :/
What Pamela brings us here is a cheesecake that not only has a crust, but is completely gluten free. There are several varieties, but the one at my local store was the NY style cheesecake in the miniature size. One 3 inch cake? Almost $7. OUCH.
But I've been really sick recently and reasoned that I deserved a little sweet, creamy happiness. I bought a single cake hoping to make it last a few days. Or two. I think I can do two.
The first thing I noticed was the lovely flavor of rich, creamy cheesecake. My second bite included some of the crust, which was an interesting ginger snap flavor that didn't overpower the cheesecake itself. In fact, it complemented it quite well. It's an absolutely super cake. I can't really say anything bad about it except for the fact that it cost almost as much as my loaf of Udi's. I can justify the bread with the fact that there's about 14 slices in there, but one cake at almost $7 is hard to justify as a broke college student, especially when I'm basically forced to pay more for food or else suffer the consequences. :/
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Gluten Free Cafe - Chicken Noodle Soup
Of all the foods I think I missed, soup was near the top of the list. Just about every commercially available soup has some sort of noodle or gluteny thickener in it. Progresso has a few varieties of soup that they label as gluten-free (clam chowder, mushroom, and some kind of chicken/corn chowder) and which are pretty good. But sometimes you want one of those less fatty soups. You want a toasty cheese sandwich and a bowl of vegetable soup.
You want some freakin' chicken noodle.
I bought this at a local store. It cost a bit, as cans will when you're halfway across an ocean. I'd had the mushroom variety when I was living in Japan, so I trusted it to not be awful.
It isn't awful.
I'm not sure if I love it, though. My first impression was that the broth has a very distinctly celery-ish flavor. I'm not sure that anything but celery should ever taste like celery (I am anti-celery in soups). The soup does include celery and carrot, as well as noodles and the rare piece of chicken (just like Campbell's!). The chicken doesn't taste so awesome (just like Campbell's!) and the noodles won't stay on my spoon. I'm kind of sure the noodles don't even have a flavor. Maybe the broth is just too strong.
It isn't ... horrible. I ate the whole can. I just think it's a bit too seasoned for my tastes.
One can is about two servings. One serving will give you 90 calories, 760 mg of sodium, 2g of fiber, 4g of protein, 30% of your vitamin A, and 25% of both calcium and iron.
Sweet! I just got 50% of my iron!
You want some freakin' chicken noodle.
I bought this at a local store. It cost a bit, as cans will when you're halfway across an ocean. I'd had the mushroom variety when I was living in Japan, so I trusted it to not be awful.
It isn't awful.
I'm not sure if I love it, though. My first impression was that the broth has a very distinctly celery-ish flavor. I'm not sure that anything but celery should ever taste like celery (I am anti-celery in soups). The soup does include celery and carrot, as well as noodles and the rare piece of chicken (just like Campbell's!). The chicken doesn't taste so awesome (just like Campbell's!) and the noodles won't stay on my spoon. I'm kind of sure the noodles don't even have a flavor. Maybe the broth is just too strong.
It isn't ... horrible. I ate the whole can. I just think it's a bit too seasoned for my tastes.
One can is about two servings. One serving will give you 90 calories, 760 mg of sodium, 2g of fiber, 4g of protein, 30% of your vitamin A, and 25% of both calcium and iron.
Sweet! I just got 50% of my iron!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
What's Wrong With Gluten-Free Products
I find Glutino is the worst at this, but it's a common enough problem.
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