Caramels at Glorioso’s Italian Market

                 My mother and I first came upon the caramels of Becky’s Blissful Bakery a few years ago at the Tosa Farmer’s Market.  There were some samples out and my mother and I were intrigued.  We gave them a try and found the caramels to be very good.  Then we heard that the caramels were gluten free.  That was fantastic news.  It meant we had yet another treat we could send off to California.  We bought some and off they went.  I do not know for sure, but I suspect the caramels did not last long once they hit my brother’s door.  They were probably eaten pretty quickly, especially since they contained cashews.       

                Not too long after discovering the caramels at the Farmer’s Market, I began seeing them appear in stores.  The first place I recall coming upon them was at Outpost Natural Foods.  I was really happy to see the business of Becky’s Blissful Bakery growing.  Now the business has grown even more and I see the caramels all over the place.

                When I saw the caramels at Glorioso’s Italian Market on Mother’s Day, I knew I wanted to write about them.  They are a great product, and as I said, they have been popping up all over the place.  I still see them at Outpost and I have come across them at Cermak Fresh Market as well.  The website for Becky’s Blissful Bakery has a list with far more retail locations than I mention here.  If you do not happen to live near any of the locations, the caramels can be ordered from the website.  There are also descriptions of each caramel flavor and whether or not it contains gluten.  Currently only one is labeled as having gluten and that is the Beer and Pretzel Caramel.

                I have not seen Becky’s Blissful Bakery at the Tosa Farmer’s Market recently, but I have a feeling that is because during the Farmer’s Market’s operating hours, Becky’s Blissful Bakery has its own store open in Pewaukee.  That I have not been to yet, but I think it would be fun to visit.  For more information on everything to do with the caramels of Becky’s Blissful Bakery, visit their website www.beckysblissfulbakery.com.

Note: Since this post was originally published, these caramels became no longer available at Cermak Fresh Market.  Please check the Becky’s Blissful Bakery website for the most up to date retail locations. 

Pasta Dishes at Noodles & Company

                  For a limited time, Noodles & Company is serving Garden Pesto Sauté, a dish made with gluten free noodles.  It’s fusilli pasta with vegetables and feta cheese.  But that isn’t the only gluten free noodle dish.  You can substitute wheat noodles for rice noodles in six other dishes.  My daughter tried the rice noodles and she said she couldn’t taste the difference.

                View the nutritional information on the Noodles & Company website.  It includes not only gluten free information but other allergies and diet restrictions as well.  www.noodles.com

Lemon Cookies at Cermak Fresh Market

                  There is something about cookies.  I do not know anyone who does not like one kind or another.  With so many cookies on the store shelves, it can be hard to choose which one to pick up and try.  This is especially true when it comes to gluten free cookies.  Some have an odd taste or a gritty texture which can lead one to think there are not any good gluten free cookies on the market.

                The truth is there are good gluten free cookies in the world.  One of my favorites is the Lemon Sugar Cookies made by Schroeter’s Gluten Free Bakeshop.  They are really good.  Made with just the right amount of lemon, I could not even tell these cookies were gluten free when I ate them.  What makes them even better is they are made in Milwaukee.  The travel to the store is very short which leads me to believe they are quite fresh when I buy them.  I have found these lemon cookies at both Cermak Fresh Market and Outpost Natural Foods.    

Puffins Cereal at Outpost Natural Foods

            Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  So try Barbara’s Puffins Multigrain Cereal.  These tasty squares are great for breakfast but can be eaten as a snack.  I bought the cereal at Outpost Natural Foods but I have also found it at Whole Foods.

Bunny Cookies at Whole Foods

           Whenever I am feeling down, just the sight of the Annie’s Graham Friends box makes me smile.  There is something about the tie-dyed family size box and the cute bunny shaped cookies that give me the feeling not everything is so bad.  All this has happened without eating a single cookie.  When I do finally begin to eat them, I enjoy every moment.  A mix of three different cookie flavors; honey, chocolate chip, and chocolate; I do not need to eat many to be satisfied.                 
              Unfortunately, the Graham Friends do not come in a gluten free option. Annie’s does, however, have other bunny cookies that are gluten free. There are three different flavors: Chocolate and Vanilla, Ginger Snap, and SnickerDoodle. I have it on good authority that the Chocolate and Vanilla are quite good. Ginger Snap and SnickerDoodle I have not heard about, but I am sure they are worth a try. I have never been disappointed by an Annie’s product. All three types of gluten free bunny cookies can be found at Whole Foods.

Nut Crackers at Balistreri Sendik’s Food Markets

              It’s time for parties, tailgating, and the Final Four.  This means out come the snacks.  With your sausage and cheese spreads you need a good gluten free cracker.  I recommend Blue Diamond Natural Nut-Thins.  They come in a variety of flavors including Pecan, Cheddar Cheese, and Country Ranch.  Almond is the favorite flavor for our gluten free person.  I have purchased the Nut-Thins at my nearby Balistreri Sendik’s Food Market, but they can also be found at Pick ‘N Save, Outpost Natural Foods, and A Gluten Free Frenzy.

Toaster Pastries at A Gluten Free Frenzy

                 For a long time my mom and I looked everywhere for gluten free toaster pastries.  It appears to be the most missed food for those who live gluten free lives.  I do not know how often my mother and I have heard them talked about.  They were even mentioned during a gluten free dinner at a local restaurant.  One of the presenters brought the subject up.  That is how popular toaster pastries are.

                After an extensive search, and attempts at making our own, we finally found gluten free toaster pastries.  We walked into A Gluten Free Frenzy, located on Bluemound Road in Brookfield, and there they were.  Made by Eco-Planet, their Gluten Free Frosted Toaster Pastries come in three flavors: Brown Sugar & Cinnamon, Blueberry, and Strawberry.  The first day we saw them, at least one flavor was sold out.  It may have actually been two.  That is how happy people were to have toaster pastries back in their lives.  They did not even stay on the shelves.

                As I have never eaten one myself, I cannot tell you how the toaster pastries taste. But if you, or someone you know, have missed toaster pastries, I suggest going to A Gluten Free Frenzy and giving them a try.