This sauce is delicious and the perfect accompaniment to my GF crab fritters (include link)!

INGREDIENTS

½ c mayonnaise
½ c sour cream
1 grapefruit (squeezed of juice)

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine ingredients and heat in a pan until warm.
2. Serve over Gluten-Free crab fritters (include link) or any other recipe of your choice.

Miranda Jade
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Try this really yummy shrimp recipe using Cajun Choice seasoning. It is so good for dinner, for appetizers or just on a salad for a light lunch! Try also with yummy veggies.

Ingredients:

1 Cajun shrimp seasoning packet

Approximately 24 precooked medium sized shrimp

1/3-1/2 butter stick

1/3-1/2 lemon juiced

Directions:

Put all shrimp in a pan on a low-medium heat (if your shrimp are frozen be sure to run room temperature water over them before you cook them to be sure they are defrosted)

Add whole packet of Cajun Choice Shrimp seasoning evenly on top of the shrimp.

Cut butter into small pieces and add directly into pan.

Once butter is all melted stir shrimp, seasoning and butter all together.

Add lemon to mixture.

Stir some more to make sure lemon is all over shrimp.

Cook for about 2 more min and serve.

Serves 2 as a main course or 4 as an appetizer.

Miranda Jade

www.GlutenFreeHelp.Info

k.m.

Now that you’re gluten-free, you don’t have to say goodbye to your favorite recipes. If you have tons of family recipes that have been handed down to you, this can be very good news!

The conversion process is simple: just use gluten-free flour blend (which you can make yourself using my gluten-free flour blend recipe—or buy it prepackaged) one-for-one. This applies to cookies, pancakes, and muffins.

Does your recipe require cake flour? You can make your own by combining 1 ¼ cups of your gluten-free flour blend with ¼ cup of tapioca starch or flour or ¼ cup of corn starch.

The one-for-one substitution doesn’t apply to all recipes, though, such as with Danish sweet rolls and yeast breads.

Miranda Jade
www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

b.a.

One of my lovely readers purchased Cajun Choices Shrimp, Crab and Crawfish Boil and put her own spin on it. Take a look at what she has to say and check out the Cajun Choice review.

“I love to use my “Crab Boil” for other things besides a base for soups. I actually put it into a salt shaker and sprinkle it on top of chicken, fish, vegetables, etc.  I also like to add it to my gluten free flour when i’m breading my chicken to make chicken tenders. I like to use it in replace of salt because of the added spices, which increases the flavor to any dish.”

Miranda Jade

www.glutenfreehelp.info

Riega Foods has four new amazing cheese sauces I had to share with you. Kids and adults alike love them. Not only are they tested to ensure they contain less than 20 ppm of gluten, but they come in four flavors and in easy-to-make packs: Yellow Cheddar, White Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and Alfredo.

Each individual pack makes a delicious cheese sauce for your meal. A delicious sauce, as we all know, depends on its thickness and flavor. To make a thick, creamy cheese sauce without lumps, without it tasting dry, and without it tasting like rice flour can be a challenge for many gluten-free cooks. Most good cheese sauces have wheat thickeners in them. For us celiacs, those days of gluten-containing sauces are long gone, but taste and texture are NOT, thanks to Riega Foods. They make cheese sauces that taste amazing and with a thickness that coats your dishes perfectly. We really love them.

One of my testers made a unique chicken alfredo dish with blackened chicken using the Alfredo Cheese Sauce. She followed the easy directions and was thrilled with the outcome. She reported that although the pack looked small, it yielded a lot of sauce. Just one pack of the Alfredo Cheese Sauce covered enough to feed herself, her husband, and their two hungry, grown boys.

Another test was to sprinkle the White Cheddar Cheese Sauce on top of popcorn. It was gobbled up quickly before we even had a chance to take notes. We all loved the light flavor, and it complemented the popcorn perfectly.

Gluten-free “cheese-oholics,” this is the product you’ve been waiting for. The Yellow Cheddar is perfect for homemade macaroni and cheese. Each cheese sauce is packaged individually for one meal so it makes for easy storage.

I have to admit, I was skeptical. Is this going to be another pack we add water to with a “compromised” flavor for us celiacs? I wondered. NO, it was not. It truly went beyond our expectations, and we are highly recommending it to anyone who enjoys a true cheesy flavor.

One last note: there are a number of ways to use these packs. I always welcome your ideas to share with my readers. So do try them out and send in your recipes too.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

I am celiac. Let me clarify,  I am a highly (and I mean highly) sensitive to “greens”celiac- such as barley grass and wheat grass, so please do read on and get a new take on this very topic and my new view as of this recent testing.

First of all I have a wonderful team in Los Angeles and Florida that assisted me through this particular testing. I wanted feedback and I wanted it from all people, with all sorts of particular body needs or not.  So, this was quite a unique company to review as we elicited a number of kids and athletes to really put it to the test.

Let’s dive a little into Macro Life first. A caring mom, Sylvia Ortiz wanted to help her son loose some weight and out of this desire resulted in the original Macro Greens.  Her son lost 35 pounds, dropped down to 12 % body fat and then Sylvia lost 60 pounds as well.  Since that time Macro Greens® was named the most successful product ever in retail sales over a five-week period at Whole Foods chain markets. Wow!

The owners profess that Macro Greens is non-allergenic, nutrient-rich and will optimize the body’s pH and  surpasses the nutrition of five servings of fruits and vegetables. They also state that if used daily one will experience increased energy, weight loss, increased mental clarity, balanced blood sugar, strengthened immune system and improved digestion. So that was worth testing out for sure. Read on and let’s see what we discovered on a one on one basis here in LA and FL.

Miracle Reds® (a delicious red powder) is stated as being the a superfruit anti-aging blend providing immense antioxidant protection. They go on to share that it will locate and diminish unstable free radicals that damage healthy cells and cause premature aging. Now I am all for that! It has some of my favorite fruits: Goji, Pomegranate, Acai, and Mangosteen.

They also had us test their 3 bars: Macro Green Chocolate and Cinnamon Bar, Miracle Reds Berri Berri Bar and Macro Green Apple Lemon Ginger Bar. Let me just say now that everyone (yes everyone) who tested these found them to be absolutely scrumptious. Of course there are always those that prefer chocolate over fruit or fruit over chocolate (me) but that was the only side comment was, if they had to choose. But they don’t so they loved them all. They are a quick boost of energy, loaded with the greens or the reds, great fiber (which we celiacs NEED) and some protein to top it off. Kids of all ages loved the bars. The athletes (I am speaking triathletes and marathon runners) felt they were a  perfect after train smack or even a mid day snack. Two of the men said they would start buying them now without a doubt.

Ok, so now let’s look at the Macro Green testing:

“Tina, this was the best before training boost of anti oxidants I have ever had.” – One of my athlete testers

“ I can not say enough positive things about both the powders, Macro Greens and Miracle Reds. My husband drank it before heading off to work and he felt much better all day long. I gave it to my kids after school with their snack and they “DRANK IT” and I actually noticed they fell asleep better each eve. I used it  in my water during my work-out and I did not get the wiped out feeling I always get after heavy cardio”- Mother of two celiac kids

I can say that I loved the taste and did not get the terrible troubles I usually get from Barley. I loved knowing I was getting a load of nutrients without having to pop a load of pills. I actually cut down on my minerals. I can overall say it felt like CLEAN food. I can say that if I drank the Macro Greens every day I started to get tummy distress but as I initially said I am HIGHLY sensitive to barley grass. Some celiacs are. So I cut back. I also made some grain-free, gluten-free cookies with the greens. We call them Macro Cookies. I am not sure if heating them destroys any or All of the benefits so I made them in the dehydrator as another test. We call these Raw Macro Cookies

Now let’s discuss these delicious Miracle Reds. Let me share a very special story. One lady was just out of the hospital and was under a lot of stress and lacked decent nutrition before entering. She had little money and little after care. We delivered the reds in single serving packets to her for her ease in taking them. She was told she would be in bed a good 2 weeks healing. After 8 days on the Miracle reds she called me to tell me she felt life like again, for the first time in ages.

I also had several moms and dads call me with all sorts of stories exclaiming how pleased they were with the flavor, the benefits and ease in taking them etc. It was a winner!

The Miracle Reds and Macro Greens come in single serving packs as well as canisters of 30, 10 and a 2 ounce container to test without a big commitment.

According to the owners Miracle Reds® and Macro Greens® are among the most popular whole food supplements currently sold at most supermarkets and specialty health food locations we all know and shop at. After conducting this test, I can see why!

I really am very pleased to have been able to have tested this company’s products and the extremely positive outcome. I am also more pleased to say that this company is one of the finest we have tested in the past two years as far as supplements. These products are top quality, care and consideration for the public’s health and well being.

Please do yourself a favor and try them out: http://www.macrolifenaturals.com/

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

Namaste Foods, L.L.C. prides itself on the concept and purpose of nourishing the body with good food, which in turn nourishes the mind and spirit. I think celiac and gluten-sensitive individuals can agree that this statement is true.

With my testers in Florida and L.A. licking their lips in satisfaction over their Namaste Chocolate Cake Mix outcomes, we had to try another adaptation, the black bottom cupcakes. Our adapted gluten-free black bottom cupcakes are filled with a delicious cream cheese middle, which blends into the entire cupcake through the baking process, making a truly decadent and moist cupcake overflowing on the top. For those of you who enjoy “muffin tops,” you’ll be pleased to know that you get both a whopping top and the cupcake in these desserts. We opted to use honey instead of the sugar called for in the Namaste recipe, and our topping was slightly altered as well. Just perfect!

The Chocolate Cake Mix really tastes exactly like the old gluten-laden chocolate cake mix we’ve all long forgotten and is a perfect mix for any of your cake or cupcake needs. Any frosting just adds to the delight, as you would expect.

We also tested the Taco Pasta, which comes with a premade mix of noodles. We followed the directions precisely yet added chopped tomatoes, chili pepper, and chicken breast as well as cilantro, fresh lemon juice, and a topping of cheddar cheese. It was delicious. It was a good, easy family meal that took less than 15 minutes to prepare.

Namaste offers 18 varieties of pasta and baking mixes, 8 of which are sugar-free and kosher. The owner, Daphne Taylor, has gone the extra step to ensure they are made in a facility that is gluten-, wheat-, potato-, soy-, corn-, dairy-, nut-, peanut- and cashew-free. She also ensures all ingredients are not genetically modified.

Namaste can sit on family tables that serve kids with multiple food allergies. We were pleased to know so many families are supporting Namaste with the results of happy, pain-free, symptom-free children.

Namaste products can be found in many health food stores and are easy to order online at www.NamasteFoods.com. Their site offers many additional recipes, as their mixes are really quite versatile.

With a single mom’s dream and vision, the help of support groups, recognition by health food stores, and word of mouth, Namaste is now run by 14 women from their own homes to its continued growth and success.

We really like their vision, their purpose, and their delicious mixes!

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.

Quinoa, pronounced KEEN-wa, although considered to be a grain, is a seed with a delicious nutty taste packed with protein. In fact, it’s a complete protein, which means it has all of the nine essential amino acids. For people on a gluten-free diet, it’s a great gluten-free source of protein.

Quinoa is prepared in the same way you would cook brown rice, one part quinoa to two parts water, for about twenty minutes after the water comes to a boil. Avoid overcooking it in order to keep the flavor and texture palatable.

You can prepare it for breakfast, adding the same finishings as you would such as maple syrup and nuts, or as a lunch or dinner item, serving it cold as a sort of salad or warm with vegetables in place of rice.

Search my gluten-free recipes page for lots more ideas on cooking with quinoa!

Tina Turbin

http://www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

You are going to love this delicious dessert! It’s a simple, fast, and rewarding dessert to present to the table. It really brings the smiles. Kids love it and so does my chocolate-lover husband.

(1 filling for a pie or 8 little ramekins)

INGREDIENTS

16 oz (2 packs) firm silken tofu

½ c cocoa dark powder (not sugar)

1/3 c maple syrup

2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix with your Bullet, Vita-Mix or blender.

2. Pour in a pre-baked pie shell or in 8-10 small ramekins.

3. Refrigerate.

Optional:  3  Wilmar Truffles (grate them and sprinkle on top) or gluten-free marshmallows

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Reviewing and testing Cajun Choice products was not only an educational experience in the kitchen, it was also an educational experience in the culture of Louisiana, Creoles and Cajuns.

As we tested the various spice seasonings sent to us, we pleasantly transformed the simplest of dishes into delicious meals bursting with flavors perfectly teasing our palates. We all have a new love and appreciation for Cajun/Creole fare.

Cajuns, who are direct descendants of the Acadian French of Nova Scotia (after relocating there from Normandy), eventually relocated to Louisiana after being forced to leave Nova Scotia by the British. Indigenous ingredients introduced to them by the Choctaw Indians combined with their own French flair resulted in the best of flavor combinations. Creoles on the other hand are French, Spanish, African, or Italian by heritage. Louisiana is thus quite a melting pot with the various cultural influences from the many years of immigration and purchases and sales of Louisiana.

I have found through Cajun Choices seasoning packs a true blend of the best of both worlds – known as “Louisiana cooking.”

We used the Blackened Seasoning on a variety of dishes of fish, chicken and beef. The most unique property to this spice was its ability to make each fish dish taste different. No two dishes tasted even remotely alike, despite using the same spice. The oils picked up the spices and evoked their own flavors. Amazing and delicious. This was one of our favorite spices! Try it even on eggs!

The Cajun Shrimp seasoning was a whole new surprise. Shrimp, scallops and burgers never tasted so good. We again took a simple seasoning mix and played with it in a variety of ways only to be pleasantly surprised with each dish.

The Creole Seasoning has a kick! This is truly a spicier, hotter flavor and perfect for anyone wanting a bit more “bite” in their meal or dish. It is incredible added to our Sorgum Popcorn and our Red Pepper Soup that we came up with.

They have a Jambalaya Mix which converts your sausage and chicken into a dish that tastes as if you’re sitting right there on the Mississippi River.

Last but not least, we enjoyed Cajun’s Choice Shrimp, Crab and Crawfish Boil. We followed the directions, adding corn on the cob, smoked sausage and potatoes. It was the easiest one-step boiling meal with a rewarding flavor for so little effort.

Cajun’s Choice was founded in 1985 out of a desire to devise genuine Cajun flavors addressing the misconception that Cajun is only “hot.” Blending the right ingredients in the exact proper rations, without overpowering our taste buds, the small team at Cajun’s Choice have enabled us at home to enjoy one of America’s favorite regional cuisines, gluten-free and true to taste.

We love all the products we tested and will keep these spices as staples in our kitchen from now on.

Tina Turbin

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

k.m.