Free From Gluten

One challenge you may find yourself with on Superbowl Sunday (other than your favorite team’s absence, perhaps) is with what sort of beverage you cheer, jeer, celebrate or commiserate. Mixed drinks can take your focus off the game, or commercials, as the case may be. Wine is likely to jump out of your glass when you are gesticulating wildly and stain everything from the ceiling to the carpet. Beer seems the only sensible candidate, but since it is brewed with wheat, barley, rye or oats, it is not gluten free.

Thankfully the rising number of celiac diagnoses across the country means that people everywhere are paying more attention to the gluten free lifestyle. Bread and pasta products abound, as does gluten free soy sauce, oatmeal, lotion and pretzels. The last product just coming over the horizon is gluten free beer, made from gluten free grains like sorghum, rice or corn.

Redbridge (United States) is a light, tasty alternative to your basic pilsner. Brewed by Anhauser-Busch, it is the most readily available GF beer. Estrella Damm Daura (Spain) guarantees a gluten content below 6 ppm. In 2011 it won a Gold Medal at the World Beer Championships, a Gold Medal at the International Beer Challenge and the World’s Best Gluten-free Lager Award at the World Beer Awards. Bards Beer (United States) is brewed from 100% sorghum. Not only will it sate your needs for a quality brew, it will pose thought provoking and amusing questions found on the bottom of the box!  New Planet Beer (Colorado) is found in about 30 states, but with three choices, (the Tread Lightly, 3R Raspberry, and Off Grid Pale Ale), you might want to day trip to the nearest location for a six pack! Or you can head to Brewforia to order yours today.

Of course, you can always pick up a six pack of hard cider, which is naturally gluten free. A few excellent choices are Strongbow (United Kingdom), Original Sin Cider (New York), and Woodchuck (Vermont).

Glutenfreeda focuses on bringing the joy back to food after a diagnosis of celiac disease with recipes, community support, and delicious products. Their mission is “to help people with dietary restrictions return to a normal life of eating, cooking and entertaining.” And how! Their oatmeal is a staple in the Free From Gluten test kitchen, and now we are hooked on the delight and ease of their wraps and burritos.

Glutenfreeda Pizza Wraps will impress you with their authentic flavors and healthful ingredients. The Italian Sausage is loaded with spicy Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese and pizza sauce. The Three Cheese is filled with mozzarella, cheddar and ricotta cheeses and pizza sauce. A favorite here at Free From Gluten, the Pesto Chicken is packed with all natural chicken, fresh pesto, mozzarella cheese and sauce. Each hand-held pocket is perfect for a quick meal on the go. To prepare, simply bake in the oven or warm in the microwave. It contains all the flavors of your favorite pizza wrapped up in a handheld taste treat that’s quick to prepare and easy to eat. Best of all, the wraps contain no trans fats or hydrogenated oils.

Glutenfreeda also makes five burritos, the Beef & Potato, Chicken & Cheese, Shredded Beef, Vegetarian Bean & Cheese, and Vegetarian & Dairy Free. The Shredded Beef Burrito contains all natural beef, cheese and tasty refried beans. Aimed at the oft-neglected dairy free crowd, the Vegetarian & Dairy Free Burrito contains organic corn, rice and tofu; the gluten free tortilla shell keeps everything wrapped up tight. It’s a convenient way to eat lunch or dinner without sacrificing taste or quality. In fact, it can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Each single serve burrito can be prepared in a matter of minutes in the microwave for an easy and portable meal.

It is a new year, and we at Free From Gluten are here to help you eat not just a gluten free diet, but a diet that promotes health and wellness. With that in mind, we are excited to tell you that Doctors Tanda Cook and Sarah Marshall have published their long awaited cookbook, Food That Grows. It is a selection of over one hundred recipes developed using a ‘back to basics’ approach to meal preparation, combining whole foods, gluten free, dairy free and farm fresh ingredients in flavorful and creative ways. Their collection of recipes is growing constantly, and below is a savory side dish discovered after publication for roasted brussels sprouts with prosciutto and walnuts.

Brussels sprouts are a Brassica vegetable in the mustard family (with cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale).  These tasty vegetables are full of antioxidants like carotenoids and vitamin C and have anticancer properties.  They are well known in nutritional medicine for their immune strengthening abilities as well.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs brussels sprouts, trimmed of any discolored leaves and halved
• 6 ounces prosciutto, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• Sea salt to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, tossing in olive oil.  Place on a cookie sheet or in a roasting pan. Roast for 30 minutes or until brussels sprouts are lightly browned. You can add root veggies, red bell peppers, broccoli, or cauliflower for more diversity and different flavors. Serves 8.

Check out FoodThatGrows.com for ordering information.