KIND Bars

                   Since I don’t eat a lot of meat, I am often looking for something fast I can grab that also has a lot of protein.  This is not always easy to do.  My own allergy prevents me from eating a lot of items on the market.  Some of the ones I can eat have far too many ingredients for my liking.  Others are too sweet for me and I end up only being able to eat a little bit.  Fortunately for me, my mother and I have found KIND bars.  With them I don’t have any of the problems I listed above, and they taste great too.

                There are a lot of different flavors of KIND bars, and they’re not all chocolate.  One of my favorites does not have any type of frosting at all.  It is great to grab when I know I’ll probably need some protein but don’t want any additional sweet taste.  Other days I do want a little bit of chocolate or some sort of extra sweetness.  With KIND bars I have those options too.  Pretty much there is a flavor option for whatever taste I feel like having that day.

                To make these bars even better, I have yet to find one that is not gluten-free.  Every bar I have enjoyed has all its benefits clearly labeled on the package.  Gluten-free is always near the top of the list, making it easy to spot.  I’m not saying every bar is gluten-free, because I do not know that for sure, but a good many are, which gives those who are gluten-free a lot of possibilities. 

                After discovering KIND bars at Woodman’s, I have found myself seeing them all over the place.  There have been a number of times where I have happened to turn and a KIND bar has caught my eye.  Other than Woodman’s, the places where I have primarily found KIND bars are at Sendik’s Food Market and Target.  As there are so many flavor options, each store has their own varieties and you’ll never know when you may come upon a flavor you have never seen before.   

                www.kindsnacks.com   

Sandwiches at O’ What a Day Café

   It is said that the Earl of Sandwich invented the sandwich so he didn’t have to leave the gaming table to eat.  The Colonists, as we are still sometimes called, have made the sandwich an art form.

        At O’ What a Day Café they have interesting combinations of ingredients for their sandwiches.  You can choose to have just the sandwich or opt for the sandwich combination which comes with fruit and your choice of kettle chips or the side of the day.

           On a recent trip we sampled the Ham Sandwich made with ham, Muenster cheese and apples.  The apples were a good contrast to the ham.  The side of the day was roasted carrot curls. 

            O’ What a Day Café makes all their sandwiches with the option for gluten-free bread. Think of this restaurant the next time someone suggests going out to lunch. They are located at 17385 W. Bluemound Rd, Brookfield, WI 53045. Check website for directions. www.owhatadaycafe.com 

Whole Foods GlutenFree Bakehouse Pie Crust

                   One of my favorite pie flavors is not one I have ever found in a store.  While strawberry rhubarb pie is a flavor that can be frequently found, raspberry rhubarb is not.  That is why we have to either make it ourselves, or go down to the Chicago restaurant where we first discovered it.  Usually we end up making it, along with many other flavors depending on what fruit happens to be around.

                With Valentine’s Day next month, it is a great time to experiment with different pie flavors and create a unique dessert for the holiday.  This is where Whole Foods comes in.  Their GlutenFree Bakehouse has a ready-made gluten-free pie crust.  If you buy one, you can have a bottom-crust pie.  If you buy two, you can use one as a top crust and create a filled pie.  Both options give you many possibilities to experiment and create your favorite flavor for Valentine’s Day.

                The Whole Foods GlutenFree Bakehouse Pie Crusts are only found at Whole Foods.  They are located in the refrigerated gluten-free case.

              Update: My mom went to Whole Foods yesterday and took another look at their GlutenFree Bakehouse Pie Crust.  She noticed there are actually two pie crusts in each package, not just one.  This is great, because with one package you have the choice of making either a bottom-crust or a filled pie. 

Glutino Gluten Free Pantry All Purpose Flour

              Over the years we have found that when people first discover they are gluten intolerant they become concerned about no longer being able to eat pasta, pizza, and (believe it or not) toaster pastries.  Then the reality of not being able to eat cake, pie, bread, and other baked goods settles in.  The market is getting better at creating these items, but it is not the same as the homemade goods people have enjoyed throughout their lives.

                I have tested many all-purpose gluten-free flours with very mixed results.  Sometimes it is the taste and other times it is the texture of the final product that creates problems.  Recently I found Glutino Gluten Free Pantry All Purpose Flour.  I used it for a batch of madeleines.  While the batter had a gritty texture (as have many other gluten-free flours, in my experience), once the madeleines were baked the texture was gone.  There also was not an unusual aftertaste, which made a better tasting baked good.

                Glutino Gluten Free Pantry All Purpose Flour can be found at Woodman’s and Whole Foods.