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Mixes From the Heartland Brown Rice Pasta Shells

I received an invitation to accept a box of gluten free products from Mixes From the Heartland in my Facebook inbox. I gladly accepted with the knowledge that I would need post about each product I received and tried. A couple of products came in my box that I will not be able to try due to severe food allergies but to the person or people who end up trying these in my stead, I will want a full report about it as compared to other similar products.

The first thing I have tried obviously is the brown rice pasta shells which can be found on Mixes From the Heartland for $3.99 for a one-and-a-half pound bag. And the first thing we did with these at my house is make a mac & cheese using Velveeta cheese. It was a little starchy and the shells turned so white, but otherwise, it was quite tasty!

So, if you are looking for some exceptional gluten free products, I would recommend Mixes From the Heartland as one of your resources.

Gluten Free at Church

Sometimes, it takes little and sometimes it takes a lot, but as they say, faith as small as a mustard seed can move some mighty big mountains. Okay, so I'm not 100% quoting that verse from the Bible, but you get my point, right?  


Well, I'd mentioned the possibility of it last year, but after I had an asthma attack the last time I ate a McDonald's cheeseburger, made with of course a wheat bun, I noticed that some mountains moved at my church in Birmingham, Alabama area.  


Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church now joins the ranks of a cluster of churches who are making the move to provide a gluten free alternative to the traditional communion cracker they usually use so people who have celiac disease, gluten intolerance and wheat allergy can still participate in its monthly communion service.  


Although there may not be a percentage yet as to how many people are benefitting from this option, it is a sign of the changing times and the growing acceptance of people who have issues with gluten and wheat.  


It also shows that they have compassion for a growing population of people who cannot tolerate gluten and wheat.  


Now, I wonder what it would take for them to become a peanut free zone for those who have asthma attacks just from smelling peanuts?

Pamela's Products giveaway on Gluten Free Frenzy

http://www.glutenfreefrenzy.com/2010/04/pamelas-products-big-spring-giveaway.html


Gluten Free Frenzy is outdoing themselves again. They have this super huge giveaway of Pamela's Products. This product line is dedicated to gluten free and wheat free baking mixes and other products. They are available in nearly every grocery store, including the grocery section at many Wal-marts.

Almond Dream Praline Crunch

Almond Dream Praline Crunch ice cream has one of those delectable tastes that you just can't put down easily. I certainly was in for a surprise when I took that first bite.

The best thing about Almond Dream Praline Crunch is that it is gluten free.

This ice cream certainly met my expectations of a non-dairy alternative to regular ice creams.

Almond Dream is made by the same people who also make Rice Dream and Soy Dream.

Bob's Red Mill

Bob's Red Mill gluten free flours are really starting to frustrate me. I've tried at least four different kinds for different breads. I've tried in the bread machine. I've tried in the oven. I just can't get any of it to rise properly. Does anyone else out there have this problem? What are some solutions to get past it? Is there an ingredient missing or something? Is there another brand I might be able to try?

Nature's Path EnviroKidz Koala Chocolate Crispy Rice Bars

Nature's Path EnviroKidz Koala Chocolate Crispy Rice Bars are quite an interesting treat. Being gluten free, I thought I would give them a shot. Although when I open the individually wrapped bar, it smells strongly like those cocoa cereals my mother usually eats, it's the impression of the first bite that told me they weren't that bad. I think they are more of an acquired taste as apparently, I am getting to a point where I just don't like chocolate much. One thing I learned though: They do melt and get extremely sticky when they somehow get too hot! And that was from being in my backpack indoors!