Ferrara Candy Gluten Free

I recently wrote Ferrara to find out whether or not their delicious Chewy Lemonheads were gluten free.  Here is the awesome response:

Thank you for writing Ferrara Candy Company regarding Chewy Lemonhead & Friends®. Hearing from our consumers better enables us to continue to provide quality products and services. Consumer feedback is very important to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to respond.

Ferrara products contain only Corn Gluten. Ferrara products contain no wheat, rye, barley or oats.  Here is a list of candies you can enjoy:

Atomic Fireballs
All Gummies (Ferrara, Black Forest, Trolli)
All Jellies (Gum Drops, Orange Slices, etc)
Chewy Lemonhead & Friends
Berry Chewy Lemonhead
Tropical Chewy Lemonhead
Grape Head
Cherry Head
Cherry Sours
Juju's
Jujy's
Jelly Beans
Bob's Sweet Stripes
Boston Baked Beans (contains peanuts)
Brach's brand Wild 'N Fruity Gummi Worms
Brach’s Cinnamon Disks
Brach's Lemon Drops (Kosher)
Chocolate (Almonds, Raisins, Peanuts)
Fruit Snacks (Ferrara, Black Forest, Trolli)
Gumballs
Jawbreakers / Jawbusters
Red Hot's

Thank you for contacting Ferrara Candy Company with your request for information on our allergens. 

Please visit our website at www.ferrarausa.com for additional information about our products and services.

Sincerely,

Mallory Gold
Consumer Relations

Best gluten-free sandwich bread and gluten-free hot dog buns

It's official. I have a new favorite brand of gluten free sandwich bread and hot dog buns. And we found them completely by accident. We were in the store shopping for EnerG Tapioca Buns. The store didn't have them. My husband said that he'd seen a new brand in the freezer section that we should try. I reluctantly agreed. Very reluctantly (you know how scary trying a new gluten-free bread can be...). But I came away from our little Memorial Day BBQ wanting to smooch my hubbie!

Udi's is the closest thing (by far) to a normal bun I've had since I was diagnosed (flavor, texture and even shape). So, I decided to try their sandwich bread...and what do you know? I'm eating sandwiches on store bought bread again without using the toaster! The flavor is really normal, and they've done something with the texture to make it light and...fluffy? (I'm not sure that's the word, but think almost the gluten-free version of Wonder Bread).

A bit expensive (like all pre-made gluten-free bread)? Yep. Worth it to not have to pull out the bread machine every time I want a fresh tasting sandwich or hot dog? Yep!

If you head to your freezer section and try them out, I don't think you'll be sorry!! Let me know what you think, and if you've tried the multi-grain version. I think it's next on my list, but as always...I'm a bit sceptical.

Here's a link I found for a $1 off coupon!

Currently Loving: Gluten-free Crackers and Gluten-free "Oreos"

Real crackers and Oreo-esque sandwich cookies = 2 things I never thought I'd eat again.

Recently, I was proven wrong.

I stumbled upon Glutino Gluten Free Cheddar Crackers while in Walmart one day, and decided to splurge. Spending $5 on a little box of crackers seemed like a great idea after going 2 years on only the occasional rice "cracker" (yes, "cracker" in quotes... those things just don't quite do it for the girl who used to devour saltines by the sleeve).

So glad I gave Glutino a try. They are pretty darn normal. In fact, they taste a bit like the hoity-toity designer crackers my mom used to buy to go with Christmas cheese balls. Not quite a Ritz, or a saltine, but a good, "normal" cracker just the same. (One warning: in my humble opinion, avoid the multi-grain version. I'm so glad I tried the cheddar version first, because I never would have bought ANY version again if I'd started with the multi-grain. Ew. They tasted oddly like...black licorice. Yes, strange. The cheddar version doesn't taste cheddar-y to me, by the way. I use them as the norm, because I'm kinda scared to try the other versions after biting into the licoricy goodness of the multi-grain. )

These little babies are tasting so delicious to me as of late. Crunchy... able to be dipped in milk...no glutiny after taste... yummy cream filling. Who needs anything else? Definitely recommend them if you're feeling sandwich cookie deprived!

Big Boo Boo

Well, I just discovered that I've been making quite a major mistake with my gluten-free diet. It all started yesterday after the hot dog buns when me and the hubbie went to mix up some more Nearly Normal Flour. One of the ingredients is Corn Flour, and as I grabbed the bag of Bob's Red Mill Corn Flour, I noticed it didn't say "Gluten-free" like all his other bags. Hm. I immediately ran to Google (how did people survive before the internet) and did some research. When I came across a blog post from about a week ago, talking about how Bob's Red Mill Corn Flour is now going to be gluten-free, I knew I was in trouble. Apparently, all this time I've been using it, not gluten-free due to cross contamination. Sigh. I was pretty upset and frustrated. I've been so so strict, yet all along my flour has probably been contaminating me. After freaking out, and whining to the hubbie, and trying to trace back all the times I've been sick since starting the diet to see if my baking was involved, I finally just said, "Oh well. It's a learning process. Throw out the flour, and we'll start again."

Anyway, that's my story of the day. A lesson learned: always read ALL the stinkin labels oh-so-carefully!

My heart belongs to CHEX!

Just got back from the grocery store and am toting my first box of gluten-free Honey Nut Chex! That's right!! I'd heard Chex was expanding their gluten-free line, but hadn't expected to see them so soon. What a great surprise! From what I hear, Chex will now be offering gluten-free Rice, Corn, Honey Nut and Strawberry Chex! As a cereal girl, I couldn't be more pleased! :)

Haribo Gummies

I am a gummy candy fanatic, and Haribo has always been my brand of choice...so I was thrilled to find this on their website:

"Are Haribo products gluten free?Most Haribo products are gluten free. The following Haribo products are NOT gluten free: Black Licorice Wheels, Red Licorice Wheels, Sour S’ghetti, Fruity Pasta, Pico-Balla, Allsorts and Pontefract Cakes."

http://www.haribo.com/planet/us/info/faq.php

Not only are most of their products gluten-free, but it was also so easy to find! Go Haribo!!!

(You MUST try putting the Gummy Bears in your gluten-free rice krispie treats. Such a yummy addition! Yeah...I'm kinda like a really tall three year old...)

Kemps Greens Ice Cream

I received the following email after inquiring about Greens Ice Cream:

Thank you for your interest in our products.Our ice cream products are gluten free with the exception of flavors that have inclusions such as cookie pieces, cookie dough, malt, etc. We use "corn" as the modified food starch.We value you as a customer and hope you will continue to enjoy our ice cream products.
Sincerely, Julie King
ADMINIS ASST I

Nice. I love ice cream, and it's been nice to not have to eliminate something I love! I think most are actually gluten-free, but checking doesn't hurt.

Brands that I could marry

I just have to give a shout out to a couple of brands that I am absolutely in love with. Any company that is going to make my little gluten-free life easier with great labeling, deserves my recognition!

KRAFT
Kraft says, "We understand how important it is for people who have been medically diagnosed with gluten sensitivity to have accurate information about foods to help plan their meals and diets. Our policy for all Kraft products, including Oscar Mayer and Nabisco brands, is to list gluten-containing ingredients in the ingredient statement on the package label."

AWESOME. If there is any wheat, barley, rye or oats in any Kraft food, it will be clearly labeled. How's THAT for helpful. Finding a for-sure gluten-free salad dressing just got a lot easier. They own a ton of brands, though: Cool Whip, Oscar Mayer, Nabisco...etc.etc.

I am in love with Kraft.

GREAT VALUE
I have to say, GO WALMART! I have noticed that they do an exceptional job of labeling their products as Gluten-Free if they are. There's nothing better than that kind of simplicity. They also do a good job at making little disclaimers on the label about possible cross-contamination, which manufacturers aren't required to do.

Current Gluten-Free Favorites

BREAKFAST:



Can you tell I'm a cereal girl? :) I'll never forget the conversation that went on at my dietitian's office that made my day:

Me: "So I heard that Safeway carries a cereal called Fruity Nuggets that is gluten-free?" Me on the inside: "Please tell me I get to eat something in the mornings besides Chex...I love Chex...but every morning for the rest of my life could get a little dicey."

Dietitian: "Well...real Fruity Pebbles are actually gluten-free too, but they have zero nutritional value."

Me, acting disinterested: "Oh, really. Huh." Me on the Inside: "Sweeeeeeeeeeet!!!! Like I care! They are one of my favorites!"


LUNCH:

String Cheese and Cheese Sticks with Yogurt or Salad



DINNER IN:

Mexican (tacos or enchiladas) with Trader Joes or Mission Corn Tortillas, and homeade sauce


DINNER OUT:

Austin Grill (I'd actually never eaten there til I started the diet. Then I discovered they had a gluten-free menu, and gave it a try and YUM. Just YUM. The Taco Salad...scrumptious.)

SNACKS:

String Cheese

Trader Joe's Buccaneer Joes White Cheddar Corn Puffs

Cheetos

Corn Chips and Salsa (Sam's Choice(Walmart) Southwestern Black Bean and White Corn Salsa....YUM)

Greens or Bryers Ice Cream (any flavor without harmful mix ins)

CSA Gluten-Free Product Listing

I am LOVING my CSA Gluten-Free Product Listing binder! It lists gluten-free products found in normal grocery stores, such as Safeway, Albertsons, Winn Dixie, etc. It also lists national brands that have gluten-free products, and has a great section on label reading. I love the glossary of commonly found label "ingredients", that tells you what each ingredient is and if it's safe. CSA has done a lot of research for me, and I'm all about making my life and shopping easier! It's just filled with lots of good stuff and was worth the $30 to me! I pull it out before many a grocery store run! You might want to check it out:
http://www.csaceliacs.org/ProductListing.php

And if you have any questions about it before you order, let me know! :)