Archive for Product Advisory
Blue POM Cosmo
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The good folks at POM Wonderful sent me a case of Blueberry Pomegranate juice in the mail last month. It’s very good, and very strong on the blueberry flavor. I can’t drink too much of it straight, but that’s OK because even a small bottle of it is full of antioxidants. That makes this a healthy drink, right?
When I first received the juice, I thought of lots of different ways to use it: sorbets, dressings, sauces, etc. And for some reason (fast and easy, perhaps?), the only way I’ve used it so far is in drinks. I’ve added it to lemonade, other juices, iced tea, even champagne. It added a nice flavor to all of them.
Then, I got this crazy idea to use it in a Cosmopolitan drink. I don’t even drink Cosmos. Anyway, I gave my husband some ideas on the ingredients, and he tried mixing a couple versions. I think we came up with a very yummy recipe. It’s really very good, and very blueberry, despite the red color. So, if you’re looking for a fruity, fun drink for happy hour or girl’s night out, give it a try.
Blue POM Cosmo Recipe
Ingredients:
2 oz. vodka, chilled
1 oz. Triple Sec
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 oz. POM Blueberry juice
Blueberries for garnish (optional)
Directions:
- Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker.
- Add a few ice cubes, cover and shake the cocktail.
- Pour the cocktail, straining out the ice, into a martini glass.
- If desired, garnish with a few blueberries.
Additional Notes:
- As you can see, I used blueberries for garnish. To keep the swizzle stick from falling out of the glass, put some blueberries on the end of the stick in the glass, too. Or, just lay it across the rim of the glass.
Notable Links:
- There are lots of good-looking recipes at POM Wonderful.
- The origins of the Cosmopolitan Cocktail, according to Wikipedia.
- Pomegranate-Blueberry Albacore Skewers recipe is posted at The Gluten-Free Hippie.
- Reindeer Antlers, an pomegranate alcoholic punch is posted at Gluten Free Easily.
- Recipes for Pomegranate Popsicles and Pomegranate Sorbet are at Gluten Free Gidget.
- POM Glazed Chicken Salad can be found at Gluten Free Expedition.
- Pork Chops with Pomegranate-Mushroom Sauce is posted at Gluten Free Works.
- Pomegranate Marinade for lamb and salmon can be found at Gluten Free Portland Oregon.
Gluten-Free Granola
Posted by: | CommentsMy husband started a new job this summer that comes with a longer commute and fewer easily accessible options for gluten-free food. So, I’ve been trying to have lunches and snacks at home that he can easily take with him. I hadn’t tried Bakery on Main‘s granola products, yet. So, I was happy to get some samples in the mail to try. They sent me some granola bars and the Fiber Power granola to try.
I often hear from people starting on the gluten-free diet that they don’t get enough fiber from a gluten-free diet. (Well, that’s a whole other subject, that I won’t get into in this post.) If you happen to feel the same way, then the Fiber Power Granola may be the product for you. It contains gluten-free whole grain oats and 9 grams of fiber per 1/2 cup serving. My husband enjoyed the Fiber Power granola mixed in with yogurt.
The first thing that struck me about these products was their aroma. Each time I opened a package I was surprised they were so fragrant. True to its name, the Triple Berry Granola had a wonderful berry scent. The Maple Cranberry bars smelled of maple syrup, and the Extreme Trail Mix bars smelled like sunflower seeds. Maybe my nose was just sensitive on that day, but I was immediately drawn to the delicious smells.
The next thing I noticed were all the whole grains and seeds. Wow. Lots of sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, rice crisps, and cornflakes. All three bars are soft and chewy, not too crunchy, and have a light sweetness to them. I think the size is perfect, too. Not too much to ruin dinner, and easy to carry around in a briefcase, purse, or backpack. The dried cranberries in the Maple Cranberry bars and Trail Mix bars added a nice flavor and sweetness. The Extreme Trail Mix bars also had large pieces, if not whole, almonds, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts which added an extra crunch to the bars.
I let my kids give them a try, too. But, apparently the bars are not to their liking. I guess the flavors are a little too strong for them. Of the three, the Chocolate Peanut Butter one was the most palatable. If it weren’t for the chocolate chips, they probably would pass. OK, so the bars aren’t exactly kid-favorites. But, my husband and I were able to appreciate them for their taste, texture and natural goodness.
You should check out the Bakery on Main website for all the nutrition details, but I will mention a few things about the granola bars. Each one contains 170 calories with 3 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, and 11 grams of sugar. The granola bars are sweetened with rice syrup, honey and evaporated cane juice.
For more opinions on these and other Bakery on Main products check out these other recent reviews:
Eating Gluten Free on Road Trips
Posted by: | CommentsEating gluten free can be a big adjustment to your diet, but really not that difficult to do at home once you’ve made the commitment. You can even eat gluten free at restaurants — look up menus on the Internet and/or call the restaurant before you leave for dinner. However, driving cross-country and finding restaurants along the Interstate highways that provide gluten-free meals is another challenge. Having Internet access and a good GPS while on the road is helpful, but isn’t much help finding restaurants with gluten-free meals at a specific exit, say 90 miles down the road when you need to fill up the car with gas. Fortunately, I found two books extremely helpful in making it a whole lot easier.
the Next EXIT
This is a great book to have for road trips. As you are traveling on the Interstate highways, you can look ahead and see what restaurants and services are listed for each exit. McDonald’s aren’t hard to find at any random intersection, but Chik-fil-a, Outback, and P.F. Chang’s may be a little more difficult to find without this book. The book also lists gas, lodging, grocery and retail stores, rest areas, etc. and which side of the highway you will find them.
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Triumph Dining Restaurant Guide
This book lists, by state, restaurants, bakeries and cafes that offer something gluten free to eat. It also has a list of gluten-free menu items from national chain restaurants. I found it very helpful when trying out eateries that I hadn’t been to before. I have the second edition, but have realized that I really need to get the current, fourth edition that I’m sure has a lot of updates in it.
So, start with the Next EXIT to see which restaurants will be at the intersection where you want to stop. Then, look in the Triumph Dining Restaurant Guide to see if it has menu information on the restaurants. Then you’ll know exactly where and when to stop to find gluten-free meals for everyone in the family. No need to worry about battery life or Internet connection. Just look through the books to find what you need.
Notable Links:
- Check out the page Eating Out for links to restaurants which provide information on their websites about eating gluten free in their establishments.
- Triumph Dining also has dining cards in various foreign languages (perfect for authentic ethnic restaurants) and a grocery guide for helping you find gluten-free food at the grocery stores.
Disney Princess Vitamins Gluten Free!
Posted by: | CommentsJust wanted to share the good news: The Disney Princess chewable vitamins (Complete Multi-Vitamin and Mineral Supplement) are now gluten free. In the past, the princess vitamins we checked listed wheat starch in the ingredients, so we avoided them. But, when I saw them again last month, I decided to give it another try. Boy, was my daughter glad I checked them again! It says right on the label that there is no wheat and no gluten.
I took a picture of the label (posted below), in case there are other ingredients you avoid. But check out what isn’t in them: milk, lactose, gluten, wheat, yeast, shellfish, and sodium. That works for us! (Be sure to check the label before you buy them. There may still be some bottles on the shelves that contain wheat starch.)
My daughter loves to pick out the princess shape and color to have each morning with breakfast. She prefers the chewable vitamins over the gummie vitamins. However, if your child prefers the gummies, you can also purchase Disney Princess Gummies Vitamins. Last I checked, these were also gluten-free.
Notable Links:
- Celiac Family writes about Flintstones, Spider-Man Gummies, CVS brand, and more
- Celiac Family writes about Wegmans W-Kids chewables
- For information about the gluten content of other medications, check out www.glutenfreedrugs.com.














