Goodie Goodie Gluten-Free®

Two weeks ago I was visiting my family in Long Island when I noticed how much weight certain family members had lost.  I was shocked.  It was a good 20-30 pounds!  I said to both, how did you loose so much weight and what diet are you on?  They told me point blank Dr. Gullo.  Dr. Gullo  believes that if you follow a strict plan that includes 3 meals and 2-3 snacks per day you will lose weight, but the catch is that your meals and snacks must be healthy and portioned.  (For example: natural popcorn, 7 strawberries, 1 Chocolite Bar, 1 apple, fiber Crisps, Greek Yogurt as snacks and plenty of fish, chicken and greens for meals...). He recommends these  Chocolite Bars .  Chocolite bars have a lot of protein and fiber.  This bars keeps you full and in addition gives you that chocolate fix you wouldn't be able to have on other diets. These bars are low in fat and only 95-115 calories per bar with great flavors like Chocolite Turtle, Cookies And Cream, Cashew Caramel,

There is nothing more that I love then seeing a fabulous trendy restaurant with an excellent Chef cater to me, one of the members of the gluten-free community.  Stanton Social  has been recognized for it's amazing tapas created and designed by Chef Chris Santos.  Located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan this sexy bistro serves multi-ethnic shared dishes like Red Snapper Tacos, Lobster Salad Lettuce Sliders and Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi.  The best part is the gluten-free menu is amazing!  I have dined there at least three times since going gluten-free and I am satisfied everytime. Upon my diagnosis I thought this bistro would be ruled out forever.  I figured with CD how could I eat here.  Then I heard a while back, Chef Chris Santos felt the need to add in a gluten-free menu.  Well bravo.  More restaurants should be doing this. Now this doesn't mean that cross contamination is ruled out, but according to the wait-staff and Chef, they do their best to eliminate cross co

For those of my readers that are Jewish, I hope you all had an easy fast!  I was home this weekend for Yom Kippur and upon arrival it had occurred to me that I had forgotten to bring my frozen gluten-free bagels with me for Break-Fast.  I was annoyed.  I thought, where was I going to get GF Bagels in Muttontown, Long Island, and on Yom Kippur.  Arrgh. My sister and I were out picking up bakery platters when I phoned my step-mom.  She's not so up on the gluten-free lifestyle, but I remembered her mentioning a market nearby that has a gluten-free section.  She reminded me that it was called Christina's .  This is a gourmet market in East Norwich, Long Island.  It is a supermarket that has a bit of everything with that WholeFoods ambiance.  It's gourmet. Chocolate Covered Coconut in divine Milk, Dark or Vanilla Chocolate Upon walking in I thought for sure that the gf section would never be as big as Whole Foods or Westerly Market.  I was proven wrong.  I have n

For those of you who don't know, guess who's stadium has a gluten-free stand??  This time it's Giants Stadium joining the list.  Woo hoo!! Right on.  Spread the word! xoxo Julie http://www.goodiegoodiegluten-free.blogspot.com/

Lately I have been experimenting in the kitchen.  There are times that I never follow recipes and I just make it up as I go.  That's what I love about cooking, you can just play and sometimes make a great recipes out of it.  Like in this instance.  I mixed Sesame oil with Extra Virgin Olive oil, a bit of balsamic vinegar and basil.  It's a magical experience on my palate, one that is fragrant. In a saute pan over medium to high heat add the following: 1/4 cup extra virgin light olive oil 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar a few sprinkles of sesame oil-just a few drops-it goes a long way bring to a boil add thin chicken fillets into saute pan let each side brown for a few minutes  Reduce heat to medium. add more oil (both sesame and olive) add more balsamic vinegar add Marsala Cooking Wine (Holland House is gluten-free) add anywhere from a few teaspoons to 1/4 cup of each, depending on how well your chicken is cooking. Cook long enough that the chic

I think in this world of processed foods we forget the yummiest recipes can be the easiest to make-And the healthiest.  As much as I love Arugula and Spinach, I often enjoy eating a Basil salad with Tomatoes.  They have to be grape tomatoes, because the Basil is a perfect match with the tomato.  You only need the smallest amount of Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar, because you want to taste the basil aroma.  The Basil aroma is extraordinary.  It has a fresh smell that tastes just as good. It's even quite exquisite with no dressing at all.  The Basil herb is a pungent herb, you don't want to mess with its aroma. 1/2-1 cup grape tomatoes cut in halves 2 cups shredded Basil **Can add in 1/2 cup of arugula Sprinkle with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar Enjoy! xoxo Julie http://www.goodiegoodiegluten-free.blogspot.com/

Gluten-Free Snack and Candy List -This is a great list to give to teachers, babysitters, daycare or any caretaker of your child during school or afterschool hours when you as a parent are not able to care for your child.  We as parents always want what is best for our children, and especially when dealing with a Gluten-Free child we always want to be there to make sure they are not eating, digesting or playing with anything that has gluten.  However, there are going to be times when we cannot be there.  So a list like this is great to pass on.  Please add to this list that Betty Crocker frostings and GF Mixes are now being offered. Gluten Free Basics -is a great list re-organizing your life to be gluten-free with tips on what to avoid, how to simplify.  The obvious and un-obvious rules of cross-contamination and where gluten hides.  This list also gives you ideas and planned gf menus on what to serve for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Gluten-Free Candy List -This is an older li

In the past I have posted about  Mozzarelli's , but I don't think my posts have given this amazing Italian Pizza joint enough applause.  This is one of the only two restaurants in NYC where you can go in and order a slice.  In most pizza spots around town you have to order a whole pie like at  Slice  or  Bistango . I am always stopping at Mozzarelli's for a slice.  It is located in the heart of Chelsea on 38 E. 28th Street near Park Avenue South.  (212) 475-6777 The pizza is cripsy and square shaped topped with oodles of veggies or pepperoni and anything other topping you might desire.  They can even do a white pizza gluten-free.  When ordering "to go" you can order a slice or design your own pie, or choose from one of their great "mobster" pies.  These are pies already made that represent the characters from the hit T.V. show The Soprano's; like Paulie's Pesto Pie- Pesto with sun dried tomato's, Mozzarella and Ricotta

I have heard so much buzz about  Larabar 's since going gluten-free.  Larabar's are nutrition and fruit and nut bars. You can find these bars in most drug stores, grocers, cafe's, Health Markets and bodega's across NYC and Long Island.  But do they taste good is the question. I have never been a fan of the bar, though there are mixed reviews.  They have a variety of flavors like Cherry Pie, Pecan Pie, Peanut Butter Cookie or Apple Pie but they taste nothing like their title.  Their names make the bars sound dreamy and tasty, though it is the complete opposite.  They taste like a chunk of mush.  They seem to all taste the same. The only good thing? They happen to be gluten-free.  So if you are in a bind and need a bar, check out Larabar.  I personally am not a fan. For all of you Larabar lover's out there you can buy these  online at the Larabar store. xoxo Julie http://www.goodiegoodiegluten-free.blogspot.com/

I know I have blogged briefly about Hampton Chutney's naturally gluten-free Dosa's...but it was brief.  And I had to write a more detailed post about this cafe.  I was first introduced to their naturally gf dosa's when my mom took me to their Amagansett, NY location.  This is on the far tip of Long Island; the place where celebs and trendsetters vacation for the summer. I was there last summer, and that started my love affair for Hampton Chutney.  They have a large variety of dosas which are made from lentil flour and filled with eggwhites or chicken and goat cheese.  The possibilities are endless and the dosa's are huge.  There are 13 different dosa variations to choose from and 5 different chutney's. A Dosa is a light, crispy, sour-dough crepe made from rice and lentils.   My favorite is the Breakfast Dosa which has eggwhites, spinach, avocado, sundried tomatoes and your choice of either jack cheese or goat cheese.  It comes with your choice o

One of my favorite places to stop by during my lunch break is Health King.  It's a hidden gem on Seventh Avenue and 38th Street, NYC.  I have worked in this neighborhood for the last ten years and have never walked into this fantastic juicer until this year.   The juice joint is small and there is no place to sit.  You order your fruit juice, vegetable juice, smoothie, frozen yogurt or parfait and you scurry out.  The fruit and veggies are fresh as can be and they make your selections right in front of your very eyes. Over the Summer I had read in a magazine that Watermelon juice is a healthy option to an ice pop.  Just add ice.  That is called a Fruit  Icy.  Watermelon juice over crushed iced.  It's the best treat I have had all summer.  I also recently tried Cantaloupe juice over ice and also delicious.  It is a blander juice then the watermelon but it is so refreshing. You can make your own juice medley or choose from Health King's variety

Today I took a trip to Food Emporium on 31st St. and 3rd Avenue to do my weekly grocery shopping.  I usually go down all the aisles to check if anything gluten-free has hit my grocer's shelves and today I almost toppled into my shopping cart when I saw Natures's Valley Roasted Granola Bars GLUTEN-FREE in my cereal isle.   They come in two flavors Peanut Butter Crunch and Almond Crunch.  I bought the Peanut Butter Crunch and I was surprised by the wonderfully sweet and salty taste.  They were extra crispy and crunchy and delightful against my palate.  This bar is a great snack.  Not only were there nuts but the bar was binded with sunflower seeds and sugary coating so it didn't crumble in my hands.   These bars are also made from corn flour. The only catch is that these bars are high in fat! 13 grams of fat, 190 calories and 180 grams of sodium. xoxo Julie http://www.goodiegoodiegluten-free.blogspot.com/

Loving that D'Agostino's on 38th Street and 3rd Ave has a small gluten-free section! That's good news.  Well, not all D'Agostino locations has a gluten-free section.  The section was not huge but it was big enough to hold a variety of gluten-free products like bars,  pastas, cookies, wafers, breadcrumbs and more.  D'Agostino's is now carrying Schar, Lara Bars and Glutino. The items I grabbed were Schar Bread Crumbs, Schar Chocolate Wafters, Schar Shortbread with Chocolate and Glutino Pretzels. So if you are in the Murray Hill NYC neighborhood don't forget to stop by their 38th and 3rd avenue location. Enjoy! xoxo Julie http://www.goodiegoodiegluten-free.blogspot.com/

Yay!  I'm so excited!  Laughing cow cheese is all gluten-free!  What a relief!  I had a laughing cow cheese wedge over the weekend with veggies and I contemplated if it was really gluten-free.  I didn't react but I didn't double check either.  As per my research tonight, their  website  confirms that their products are gluten-free. For all of you dieters out there, this is a great snack on  Buckwheat  toasts or some veggies like carrots, celery and string beans. Enjoy! xoxo Julie http://www.goodiegoodiegluten-free.blogspot.com/