Product Review: Blue Horizon Wild's Albacore Tuna Bites

I am trying, as creatively as possible, to introduce more seafood into mine and my family's diet.  The issue is that I don't really like seafood that much.  I grew up in a fishing area on the gulf coast, have fishing in my blood (dad's side), and I even love to fish.  It's just been the eating part that I've had issues with!

Soon after I met my boyfriend, we began fishing regularly and eating a lot of flounder, and the occasional trout.  The flounder was great, but that was likely because I stuffed it with all sorts of goodies which masked the "fishy" flavor.  The trout I basically drowned in sauces.  I have recently opened my palette up to fish once again, slowly introducing different species and cooking methods.  I'm pretty sure even the pickiest eater, once diagnosed with Celiac, soon became a lot more adventurous.

I frequently use tilapia, which is a white, mild flavored fish and great for family-cooking, because it's fairly cheap.  We also love shrimp in my home, whether boiled or sauteed, with pasta, cocktail-style, or in fajitas.  I'm always looking for new ways to eat more seafood, so I was super excited to find Blue Horizon Wild's seafood appetizers in the freezer section at my health food store.

They have a large variety of appetizer bites and also burgers, like salmon or tuna.  We picked up the Albacore Tuna Bites with Sweet Thai Chili and Ginger.  There are 12 bites per package, and are about the size of a half dollar.  I baked them in our toaster oven and made a sauce by reducing the Asian dressing that I swear by.  We had a few with some grilled BBQ pork and coconut rice last night..and they were awesome!

Check out that giant gluten-free logo! Love it!

They were full of wonderful, spicy flavor and the perfect addition to our meal.  I only wish they were a bit crispier but I didn't mind much at all.  I saved half of the package for another night (at nearly $7.00 a box, I can't afford to devour all 12, although I'd love to!).  Check out their website and browse all the different products: I counted twelve gluten-free options!  I can't wait to try more, especially the burgers and crab cakes.

An entire week of meals

I carried out my meal plan from the budget post with great results.  Along with not having to run to the store every other day, I also love that I don't have to think "What the heck am I going to cook for dinner?" every afternoon.   Check out everything I cooked after the jump!

Gluten-free in Fort Myers, FL (and Pensacola too!)

(Updated 6/19/2011)

I absolutely love eating out at restaurants, but as any Celiac knows, it's risky and you have to be very picky about where and what you eat.  I was very excited about all the new food possibilities when I moved to Fort Myers from Pensacola, Fl.  There are many more gluten-free accommodating restaurants down here, although Pensacola will always hold a special place in my heart stomach.

In Fort Myers, we have the normal chain restaurants that have gluten-free menus, such as:
Outback - gluten-free menu (.pdf)
Carrabba's - gluten-free menu (.pdf)
Bonefish Grill - gluten-free menu (.pdf)
Jason's Deli - gluten-free menu (.pdf) Many Jason's Deli locations now carry Udi's gluten-free bread! 
P.F. Chang's - gluten-free menu One of my favorites!
Uno Chicago Grill - gluten-free menu
Cheeseburger in Paradise -  gluten-free menu You can order a gluten-free bun here and a side of fries with your burger!  It is a shared building with Lee Roy Selmon's.

And some fast food restaurants that have gluten-free options, like Chick-fil-A and Wendy's. 

The best places to eat in Fort Myers aren't huge chain restaurants though!  We have smaller franchises and some locally owned businesses that blow away most of the competition.  My boyfriend is not gluten-free and would give all of the following restaurants his seal of approval, so take a date!

Pizza Fusion
This is an incredibly cool restaurant.  It's centered on being eco-friendly and serving organic food.  A gluten-free pizza is a bit pricey here but it's definitely worth it.  The crust is thin and crunchy, and the toppings are always fresh and flavorful.  During one of my visits, the owner told me he could exchange the typical flatbread with the gluten-free crust to make their dip trio appetizer.  I tried it and it was delicious!  They serve Red Bridge beer here as well, and also have gluten-free brownies.   

Chef Brooke's Natural Cafe
If you are visiting or live in Fort Myers, this is a must.  Chef Brooke is passionate about creating healthy foods, many of which are free of gluten and/or dairy, and meat.  She told me that she is gluten intolerant and prides herself on the safety of her food.  I had macaroni and cheese, a salad with the sesame dressing, fresh mango juice, and the most gigantic banana muffin with chocolate chips and peanut butter icing. 

Lee Roy Selmon's
If you have missed grabbing some wings and a beer and watching a game at a sports bar, Lee Roy Selmon's is the place for you.  Their wings are grilled, not battered, and the awesome wing sauce is gluten-free.  So is the pulled pork!  Lee Roy Selmon's even serves Red Bridge beer, what more could you ask for from a sports bar?

Saigon Paris
Go here if you are looking for some Vietnamese food.  Granted, there aren't many Vietnamese restaurants in Fort Myers, but Saigon Paris (a Vietnamese and French cuisine restaurant) can serve up some tasty Pho and summer rolls.  Ask for no hoisin, soy, or peanut sauces (or bring your own).

Zushi Zushi
This is a super modern Asian restaurant on Fort Myers Beach.  Once you get over having to pay for parking (this is the one major drawback of Fort Myers Beach!! I'm still bitter about it), you will have a great experience here.  Ask your server about any gluten concerns when ordering, and don't forget to get the green tea ice cream and people-watch out the large windows.  Check out my full restaurant review here!

Where To Shop
For gluten-free specialty products, like flours, pastas, breads, etc, there are a few choices.  Publix carries some items, such as rice pastas, some Bob's Red Mill flours/mixes, and Udi's, however they sell out very quickly.  They usually have cheaper prices though, unless you are ordering bulk from Amazon (can't beat those prices).  The Skinny Pantry is a gluten-free and diet food store.  They have a lot more variety (this is where I bought my Against the Grain pizza crust).  There are also a few Mother Earth locations, but I have not been very often because they don't carry my favorite products.  It's worth checking out though.  My favorite health store, whether I am searching for a gluten-free product or groceries in general, is Ada's Whole Food Market on 41 and Colonial (next to Burlington Coat Factory).  Don't be deceived: the place is huge inside, despite the small entrance. 

Gluten-free budget shopping

Shopping gluten-free on a budget is actually really easy!  After first beginning a gluten-free diet, it seems overwhelming to go to the grocery store and read label after label.  Everything labeled "Gluten-Free!" is at least $5.00, and everything else seems out of the question.  It's easy to forget how much food is naturally gluten-free, simply because it's hard to not think about what you can't eat.  Bread, pasta, cereal, etc etc etc.  Forget about replacing these gluteny foods with gluten-free versions.  Stay out of the middle of the grocery store (except to grab essentials like rice, tea or coffee!) and play it safe on the perimeter.  This is where you will find naturally gluten-free foods like produce, meats, and cheeses.  Here are my top three shopping tips:

Plan ahead.
Look through your pantry and freezer and take note of what you could use during the week.  Create a weekly meal plan, using some of the items you already have, and write out what you need to purchase for each meal.

Collect savings.
Check store ads (available online, or you can pick one up while you are running errands) for sales and discounts, print out online coupons if you need to buy something like bread or pasta.  Udi's is offering a $1.00 coupon for their gluten-free bread, and Publix's current price is $3.99.  You could pay $2.99 for something that is typically around $5.00 at a health food store.  Publix also recently had Udi's on sale for $2.99 without a coupon, but it was only advertised in the store's weekly ad.

Smart sides.
Eat cheaper sides!  Think of all the great things you can do with rice (lemon rice, fried rice, coconut rice, rice-stuffed peppers or tomatoes, Spanish rice, or Arborio rice for an entire meal of risotto).  The favorite side in my house is a huge salad, and for many meals, the salad is the entire base (chicken Cesaer salad, Asian steak salad).  Potatoes are inexpensive (mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, sweet potato fries).  Examples could go on forever!

For this week, I first gave a good look at my pantry and freezer.  Here are a few items that stood out:
Corn tortillas
Lemon
Frozen corn
Corn meal (lots of corn products!)
Frozen edamame
Parmesan cheese
Quinoa linguine (I bought a case of this on Amazon.com for just over $25.00 with free shipping, saving $15.00 compared to what I would have paid buying each box individually from my health food store

From there, I figured out the week's meals:

I paid $40.00 total for the entire week's worth of dinners, and with two people it divides down to $4.00 per person, per meal.  Not too bad!  I try to make the proteins last since they are usually more expensive.  The frozen tilapia fillets I bought were $8.99, but this will be at least two meals worth (six fillets per bag).  The thin sirloin steak was a steal at $3.51, and huge flavor items like ginger, garlic, green onions, and limes were each under $1.00.  Cabot cheese was $1.98, and they are a proudly gluten-free company!  They even had a booth at the recent South Florida Gluten-free Expo in West Palm Beach.

Sticking to naturally gluten-free foods will cut your grocery costs, and you will feel better eating all these clean, healthy foods.

Product Review: Against the Grain Pizza Shell

The perfect gluten-free pizza is like the holy grail: everyone is searching for it!  I have certainly had my fair share of dough mixes, frozen pizzas, and a few from restaurants.  My search would not be so difficult and at times, a huge let down, if I wasn't pizza-spoiled before my Celiac diagnosis.  Our grocery store, Publix, sells pizza dough in the bakery area.  It was such a treat to make these fresh pizzas at home, my boyfriend showing off with his dough tossing, flour dusting everything in the kitchen, and trying all sorts of toppings.  Having to switch over to frozen rice crusts was a heartbreaker.  And why are they so dang expensive?

The closest product I have found to make a "normal" tasting pizza is a frozen shell from Against the Grain.  Once baked, it is flakey with a buttery taste which reminds me of that long lost real bread flavor.  I chose parmesan and mozzarella cheese, peppers, spinach, and some of the sauce I previously made and froze.

Could that crust look any better?

It was a splurge for me at nearly $9.00, but at least it wasn't a measly 6" across.  At a full 12", it was enough pizza for two meals.  The price will keep this off my frequent purchase list, but convenience and the great taste have made it a special, once-in-a-while treat.

(Where to buy: I have not seen Against the Grain products in a regular grocery store.  I picked this one up from my local health food store in Fort Myers, The Skinny Pantry, and I saw the frozen pizza with toppings included at Whole Foods in the freezer section.  Check their store locator out on the website.)

Coming soon:

Saving while shopping gluten-free

Gluten-free in Fort Myers

Lasagna

Lasagna is one of my ultimate comfort foods.  It has pasta and cheese, and the warmth of a big square of lasagna is like a food hug.  There are so many variations, but I've found the best way is to just use whatever is in your fridge.  If you have vegetables, use them!  If you like lasagna with meat, by all means use it.  There are no strict guidelines for lasagna.

For me, it's all about the sauce.  I make my own using San Marzano tomatoes, sauteed onion and garlic, and the following to taste: red wine, brown sugar, dried basil, dried oregano, salt and pepper.  This is the easiest for me to make because all of these ingredients are typical pantry items of mine, so that means no rushing out to the store!

Gluten-free ingredients and leftover sauce

This recipe calls for very little adaptation.  I used gluten-free Bisquick for a quick dusting on my zucchini before throwing it in the pan.  The only gluten-free lasagna noodles I have found are these brown rice Tinkyada noodles.  I normally don't care for brown rice pasta, but parcooking and baking the noodles definitely helps the texture.

If you have any leftover sauce, put it into ice cube trays and save it!  I use this sauce all the time, and it is amazing on pizza.

Lasagna

Serves 4 (or 2 + a few leftover meals)

gluten-free lasagna noodles

any vegetable or cooked meat (optional)

28 oz crushed tomatoes

1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
red wine
brown sugar
dried basil (or fresh, if you have it)
dried oregano
salt and pepper
mozzarella cheese
parmesan cheese

For the sauce:
Saute onions and garlic until lightly brown.  Stir in the tomatoes.  Add, to taste: red wine (just a couple tablespoons will be enough), a pinch of brown sugar, 1/2 tsp basil, 1/2 oregano, salt and pepper.  Let simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Cook your vegetable and/or meat if including.  I had a zucchini, so I dusted Bisquick on one side to give a crunchy texture and fried them in a large pan.  While these are cooking, shred the cheese if not already shredded. 

Parcook noodles.  The package says 13-14 minutes for noodles that will be baked.  Once down, rinse with ice water and drizzle with a little olive oil to keep from sticking.

To assemble:
Spoon a little bit of sauce at the bottom of your baking dish, and spread it around.  Place your noodles (you may have to cut them down), overlapping the edges a bit.  Now this is where you can get pretty creative, because the layering can be done in any order.  I then layered more sauce, then cheese, then zucchini, noodles, sauce, cheese, noodles, sauce, and cheese.

Bake at 350° for about 30 minutes, and allow 10 minutes to cool and set.

Before cooking, with layer of zucchini, and after cooking.  Look at those crunchy edges!

This is a great meal to make a day in advance, and warm it up in the oven for a few minutes before serving.  It seems to taste better the next day, and it always sets up perfectly.