What Lines the Shelves

Of Our Gluten Free Pantry?

Looking for the best Gluten Free Bread? Donuts? Crackers?  Look no further, the following is The Best of the Best Gluten Free Foods.

PASTA & PIZZA

• Pasta and Other GF Grains

Maninis Fresh Pasta If you are lucky enough to find a store that sells this pasta, do not hesitate to buy it.  Made from alternative grains and free of rice and corn, it is pure delight.  Taste better than any wheat pasta.  And it comes in a lasagna noodle size.  Made in a dedicate GF facility.  Click HERE to see where you can purchase it.

Bi-Aglut Our favorite pasta with a great texture that is not starchy.  Order it from Quattrobimbi or  from Amazon.com. It is made in Italy which has strict laws making it obligatory to guarantee a content of less than 20 parts per million (ppm). 

Bionaturae Gluten Free Pasta This has become our regular pasta.  It taste great, is not starchy at all and holds up well in casseroles.  Plus it is easy to find at the grocery store. And it is made in a GF facility in Italy and regularly tested. 

Conte's Pasta Co. We particularly like the Cheese Ravioli and Stuffed Shells.  So good you will not believe it is GF and it is made in a dedicated GF facility.  Find it in the freezer section or order from Amazon.com.

Quinoa Ancient Harvest Pasta  Great tasting with the added benefit of being a high quality protein grain that is free of rice.  Ancient Harvest Quinoa is “grown exclusively in the high Andean Altiplano regions of Bolivia . . . insuring no possibility of potential field contamination with such grains. Our Traditional, Inca Red and Black whole grain quinoa is then cleaned, processed and packed in our quinoa-only organic and gluten free facilities."

Quinoa Ancient Harvest Traditional Quinoa  A staple in our diet.  Cook it like rice in a rice maker, but it is much more nutritious. Try it with green apples.

Lundberg Farms Rice and Risotto Great for lunch or as a quick side for dinner.  Produced in a GF facility.

Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup Add water and microwave for 3 minutes.  We only use about 1/3 of the included spices.  Available at most grocery stores. Thai Kitchen states they use a "plain English" labeling method and that "gluten is listed as "wheat" or "barley" in our ingredient statements."  Even though the FDA has not enacted the proposed regulations for gluten yet, they also state that their "labeling policy adheres to the FDA regulations that were implemented as of January 1, 2006. The testing limit is less than 10ppm."  Serve your Thai Noodles with San J Organic Tamari Wheat Free Soy Sauce.

Annie's Homegrown Gluten-Free Rice Pasta & Cheddar Mac & Cheese This receives thumbs up from all of our kids.  To make it thicker and creamier, after cooking and draining the pasta, add a spoonful of butter and the cheese packet.  Do not add milk.  You will have to stir it longer, but makes a much cheesier pasta.  NOT produced in a dedicated GF facility.  Annie's states that products labeled GF "meet the proposed US and Canadian Gluten Free standards of less than 20ppm."

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• Pizza

Dry Mixes

Chebe Pizza Mix Takes a little bit of work, but is well worth the effort.   Produced in a dedicated GF facility! 

Ready Made Crusts It is very easy to make a homemade pizza when the crust is pre-made;  Just top with a Basic Tomato Sauce and cheese and bake at 375 degrees for ten minutes. Here are our favorite ready-made crusts:

Udi's Pizza Crust So good and made in a dedicated GF facility.

Kinnikinnick Pizza Shells Ready made pizza shells that also come in a smaller size that is perfect to take to sleep overs.  

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 BREAD, COOKIES & BAKED GOODS

• Bread

Udi's White Sandwich and Whole Grain Bread, Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns, and Bagels Upon tasting this bread you will not even be able to tell that it is gluten free. The first gluten free bread that you can leave on the counter top and eat without toasting. Udi's Gluten Free White Sandwich Bread now available by the case from Amazon.com.

Canyon Bakehouse Watch out Udi, there is some competition in town.  The Canyon Bakehouse bread pleasantly surprised me.  The 7-grain bread taste like the whole grain bread we used to eat.  The Rosemary and Thyme Focaccia will leave your taste buds satisfied!  Certified GF! 

Schar Ciabatta Parbaked Rolls and Sub Sandwich Rolls Rolls Love these delicious deli-style rolls that have a harder crunchier crust with a moist soft inside.  Perfect for a sub sandwich.

• Bread Mixes

The Gluten-Free Pantry Favorite Sandwich Bread Mix  Our favorite sandwich bread mix that is easy to make in the bread machine and the oven.  My GF Teen has been making this herself since she was ten.  The best bread machine for making this bread is the Zojirushi BB-CEC20 Home Bakery Supreme 2-Pound-Loaf Bread maker. The main benefit of this bread machine is that you can program the cycles so it will work with a vast array of gluten free mixes and recipes.  

• Cookies

 WOW Wheat and Gluten Free Cookies and Brownies These are the best of the best; Large, soft and delicious.  Much like you would find at the local bakery.  The price reflects the quality of the ingredients - organic ingredients, high quality butter, and cane juice. 

Glutino Vanilla Creme Dream Cookiesand Chocolate Vanilla Cream Your answer for gluten free oreo's!   Not certified gluten free but extensive testing is done to ensure all products meet the standard of less than 20 ppm.  My kids love the Chocolate Vanilla Cream with a little peanut butter smeared on top.

Lucy Sugar, Cinnamon Thin, Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cookies I have yet to find someone who has not loved these cookies!  They are crisp and crunchy with great flavor and oh so sweet.  We love them all but the Cinnamon Thin is my favorite. You can buy these with confidence that you will love them and they are manufactured in a dedicated bakery.

Jo-Sef's Square Cinnamon Cookie  Looking for a GF graham cracker? Perfect for Smores.   These disappear in a hurry at our house and they are certified GF by CSA to be less than 5 ppm. 

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BAKING MIXES AND FLOUR

• Gluten Free Flour

 

Maninis Multipurpose Mix A perfect combination of ancient grains this multipurpose mix is free of rice, soy, beans and casein.  They use only organic ingredients and it is made in a dedicated GF facility.

Jules All Purpose Flour Great gluten free flour that you can use as a 1 to 1 replacement in most of your "wheat" flour recipes. 

Pamela’s Artisan Flour Blend A basic GF mix that works great in most recipes as a replacement for wheat flour.  And it is free of dairy, nuts, salt, leavening, corn and soy.  Try this recipe for GF piecrust.

King Arthur Multi-Purpose GF Flour Lately I have been using this flour with very good results in my baking and cooking.  Certified GF!   

Authentic Foods Makes wonderful fine brown rice flour and pre-mixed packages of GF Flour blends.  We like the Classic GF Blend for most GF baking needs.

Bob's Red Mill One of the most popular makers of gluten free flour.  Be sure and check for the crossed out wheat on the label to confirm it is gluten free as Bob also makes whole-wheat flour. I am not crazy about their mixes but use their bags of flour regularly.

For a longer discussion on flours go to Gluten Free Flour Mixes.

• Birthday Cake Mixes The following are our favorite cake mixes, in order of preference.  Top with home made frosting.

Dowd and Rogers Cake Mixes Gourmet cake mixes.  You will not be disappointed in the flavor and texture.

123 Gluten Free Yummy Yellow Cake Mix Prefect birthday cake mix.

Betty Crocker GF Cake Mixes Happy to recommend both the Devils Food and the Yellow Cake Mix.  Taste great and easy to find at most grocery stores.   They are made in a gluten free facility. 

• Other GF Baking Mixes

William-Sonoma GF Cupcake This premium mix uses high quality ingredients like Guittard cocoa powder, Madagascar Bourbon vanilla and Chef Thomas Keller’s Cup4Cup gluten-free flour, which produces a classic texture without any ingredient substitutions—just add eggs, oil, milk and water.  At $17.00 per 12.4 ounces this is not an expensive mix but my kids thought it was more moist and creamy than other GF mixes.

123 Gluten Free Sweet Goodness Pan Bars   A family favorite for years.  We make these with pumpkin and top with cream cheese frosting. 

 King Arthur Chocolate Brownie Mix  Makes a delicious chewy and soft brownie that is not griddy at all! I dare you to try to tell the difference between this brownie and a wheat one!  Certified GF! 

Betty Crocker Mixes These mixes get two-thumbs for being reliable, readily available and easy to make.  Try Streusel Cake with the Betty Crocker Yellow Cake mix.  Made in a GF facility. 

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BREAKFAST FOODS

• Cereal

General Mills Honey Nut Chex General Mills now makes six gluten free cereals so your GF kids can keep on enjoying some of the brands they ate before going GF. General Mills states, "we follow the FDA guidelines for a product being gluten free. We do clean the lines and we do test regularly."  If the cereal is not clearly labeled GF, then you should not consider it as such, as they state "if there are no gluten- containing ingredients listed in the product ingredient label, but the product does not make a gluten free claim, it is because we cannot fully assure that this product is gluten free. While we have not added gluten-containing ingredients, factors such as sourcing, conditions of manufacture, etc. do not allow us to provide the full level of assurance that a gluten free claim requires."

Nature’s Path Organic Enviro Kids Cereal Make several brands of gluten free cereal.  They are not manufactured in a gluten free facility or on dedicated GF lines, but the company has extensive procedures they follow and they "feel confident" that this cereal meets the standard of less than 20 ppm of gluten.  

Nature's Path Organic Honey'd Corn Flakes Cereal, 26.4-Ounce Eco-Pac Bags  Not manufactured in a GF facility but steps are taken including independent testing to ensure they are gluten free and they are certified GF.

A Complete List of GF Cereals

• Donuts, Muffins and Toaster Pastries

Kinnikinncik Maple Dipped Donuts Travel well so good for trips or sleepovers.  If a microwave is handy, we like to warm them up.  Very good and more filling than traditional donuts. 

Katz Gluten Free Donuts An assortment of GF donuts – powdered, frosted, jelly, glazed!  Certified GF.

Celiac Specialties  Great tasting GF donuts including Old Fashion Plain and Chocolate Glaze.

Dough Buddies Make your own GF donuts with this mix.

Udi's Lemon Streusel Muffins Once again bring on the Udi's!  I am not sure that this dedicated gluten free bakery makes anything bad, but these are moist, flavorful, an absolute family favorite.

Kinnikinnick Chocolate Chip Muffins For special treats or great to throw in the suit case when traveling.

Glutino Apple Cinnamon and Strawberry Toaster Pastry  Yes, you can even find GF Poptarts!  Look for them at Whole Foods.

• Frozen Waffles

Nature’s Path Wildberry Frozen Waffle I have to admit that this is my favorite thing for breakfast.  For a satisfying breakfast, toast and top with almond butter. a satisfying breakfast. 

Van’s Gluten Free Waffles  A fun treat for the kids on a Saturday morning.

• Hot Cereals

Pocono Cream of Buckwheat Top with a little sugar and cinnamon.  Make an extra batch to refrigerate for the next morning then simply rewarm in the microwave. 

Certified Gluten Free Oats by Bob's Red Mill or Gifts of Nature.

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SNACKS - CANDY, CRACKERS, CHIPS AND BARS

• Candy It is fairly easy to find GF Candy. Check our blog around Halloween and Easter for your most up to date information.   Also go to My Gluten Facts.com for detailed information on GF candy and other products. 

Endangered Species Chocolate  I am slightly addicted to these chocolate bars.  If I am going somewhere that I know will have dessert I can’t eat, I slip one of these in my purse and never feel deprived.  Certified GF.

Gimbal's Fine Candies A great selection of candy, including Jelly Beans, produced in a gluten and dairy free facility. 

• Crackers  In order of preference:

Glutino Gluten Free Original Crackers Our favorite everyday crackers.  They taste great!   But buyer beware, a lot of times we find that 1/3 of box has broken cracker crumbs in it.

Zero Grano Straight from Italy these are saltine-like crackers but actually much better!  Light and crunchy with a hint of rosemary.  Great with soup.

Schar Table Crackers Another saltine-like cracker.  And I remember the day when you could not find one good gluten free cracker.  All of the Schar products and facilities are 100% dedicated gluten-free.

Cheddar Crackers by Outside the Breadbox Craving a gluten free cheesy cracker that will remind you of a Chez-it?  Look no further we have found them and they are made in a dedicated GF bakery.

Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers A lighter cracker that works well with a dip or spread.  Certified GF!  You can find these at Costco.

Edward & Sons Brown Rice Snaps Our favorite flavor is cheddar cheese flavored.  The kids like these with sliced cheddar cheese and Boar's Head meats.

• Pretzels, Chips and Salty Snacks

Snyder's of HanoverGluten Free Pretzels. Snyder's has taken the extra step to certify their pretzels are GF.  A snack I can count on!

Glutino Original Bagel Chips Love these GF Bagel Chips – great for dipping!

Food Should Taste Good A cross between a chip and a cracker, these are my favorite go to snack item. Certified Gluten Free.  We love the Sweet Potato chip dipped in hummus. 

The Better Chip These Chips are surprisingly good for a healthier snack item - made from double corn masa, 40% fresh veggies and enhanced with a smidgen of sea salt or natural seasoning for a better tasting chip. They only use natural ingredients. No preservatives. No gluten. Nothing genetically modified.   Naturally gluten free and processed on GF lines. However, "they are packaged in the same facility and sometimes on the same pack lines as gluten-containing products. Through 3rd party certification we have verified that The Better Chip® line exceeds current FDA requirements for gluten free labeling and we perform ongoing testing on finished products to ensure continued compliance with our strict gluten-free standards."

Frito lays has an extensive list of gluten free chips that they have "validated through analytical testing that the following products contain less than 20 ppm of gluten."  They seem to add more and more chips to the list every few months.

Halfpops Are just that – partially popped kernels with great flavor.  Gluten, trans fat, corn and preservative free!  Love these!

Lesser Evil Kettle Corn What is better than the taste of sweet chocolate and salty popcorn?  No trans fatty acids and low fat as well.  Best of all, my kids love it. 

• Gluten Free Bars and Granola

PureFit Nutrition Bars My kids are not as crazy about these but they are my favorite bars.  What I like best is that they are very filling for those days when you don't have time to sit down for a complete lunch. 

KIND Bars My GF Teens favorite snack bar – she loves the Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew bar.  Perfect for a quick mid-afternoon snack.

Zing Bar Surprisingly tasty gluten and soy free bars. I really like the chocolate and peanut butter flavored bar.

Kind Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters My GF Teens favorite snack!  A protein packed blend of peanuts and natural GF grains.

Udi Crunchy Original Granola  Perfect topping for yogurt or as a trail snack.

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FROZEN FOODS

Amy's Kitchen offers an extensive line of GF foods from frozen pizza to Cheddar Burrito.  Find them in most grocery stores – if your grocery store does not have a GF section look in the section called “Natural or Organic.” Their GF selection is good and convenient.  Note that they are made in a dedicated GF facility but according to the website meet “the FDA guidelines for "gluten free"  (i.e., <20 ppm gluten).”

Kettle Cuisine Frozen Soups These GF soups are so good.  Chicken Soup with Rice Noodles is perfect when you are down and out with a cold.  The Thai Curry was a little spicy but so satisfying.  I think you will enjoy them and the convenience of a frozen soup is awesome. Certified GF and tested to be less than 5 ppm of gluten!

Conte's Pasta Co. All of these frozen pasta products will not disappoint!  We particularly like the Cheese Ravioli and Stuffed Shells.  So good you will not believe they are gluten free and made in a dedicated GF facility.

Bell and Evans Gluten Free Chicken Products Recommended without doubt, these are the best gluten free chicken breast nuggets and tenders.  Healthier when baked, but absolutely delicious when fried.  No one would ever guess they are gluten free.  Their processing plant is monitored sensitive to less than 10 parts per million.

Ian's Chicken Nuggets Free of gluten, casein, eggs, nuts and soy.  Great for a quick lunch or date night out for the parents.  Ian’s states that it "secures independent laboratory testing to ensure that our wheat-free, gluten-free products fall well below this World Health Organization requirement of less than 10 ppm."

Ian's GF Onion Rings  Oh my goodness these are so good! I am actually not sure if they are that good, or if it was just because we had not had onion rings in years!  Either way, we loved them!

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OTHER GF FAVORITES

Vidazorb Chewable Probiotics Gluten and dairy free, chewable and do not need refrigeration. Probiotics help maintain the body's digestive health and overall wellness.

Little Soya Soy Sauce  Low sodium and great tasting GF soy sauce.

Ians Gluten Free Panko Breadcrumbs.  Light and flaky, you are going to love them.  Perfect for home cooked GF chicken nuggets!

Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips I use these in so many of my baked goods.  Both gluten and dairy free.

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WHERE TO SHOP:

Shopping for gluten free food has gotten much easier.  Local grocery and health food stores carry more and more gluten and casein free items.  However, we still have some favorites that we order over the web. 

Websites:

• Gluten Free on Amazon Honestly if you cannot find it in your local grocery store, then Amazon is one of the best places to buy GF food. Some items only come in bulk, but just store the extra food.  You will save money this way and it all gets eaten in the long run. Plus, I like to keep extra stashes of food on hand in case of an emergency.

• Gluten Free DeliversGluten free food products at great savings delivered right to your door, nationwide!

• glutenfree.com - your #1 source for everything gluten-free. Over 650 products available!

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