Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Favorite Products: August 2015

Tis the season. Although September has not yet arrived, I'm so excited that this month's round-up of products that caught my eye includes one of fall's signature flavors: pumpkin. While I am not one to relegate pumpkin to a one-season indulgence, I am certainly glad to see the winds shifting towards my favorite season of the year.

The theme that ties together this month's four featured products is that they are quick-and-easy eats that are perfect for back to school. As I transitioned back to college life, finding each of these products has made cooking (or avoiding it) an easy and delicious affair. 

Enjoy Life Foods Brownie Mix Review

This review is part of my coverage of the launch of Enjoy Life Foods' new line of allergen-free baking mixes. For more information about them, click here.

With my first week of classes under my belt, I figured that the perfect way to celebrate a successful transition back to college was a big pan of brownies using Enjoy Life Foods' new gluten-free, vegan brownie mix. 

This new mix, as with the other baking mixes Enjoy Life Foods introduced this summer offers a ton of great features that sets the mix apart from the competition: it requires no additional ingredients besides water and oil, is free from the top eight allergens, and is made with ancient grains and probiotics to create a baked treat that is just as nutritious as it is delicious. 

Nature's Bakery Gluten Free Fig Bars Review and Giveaway

With my fall semester classes gearing up and my free time evaporating, I am quickly turning to grab and go options to help me fuel up for long, busy days, without having to cook or wash dishes afterwards. Luckily, Nature's Bakery has perfect timing introducing their new line of gluten-free fig bars just in time for back-to-school.

As soon as I discovered that these bars were in the works, I reached out immediately to Nature's Bakery, because I was super excited to give these a try. When I could enjoy "regular" food, I was not a big fig bar fan, but in my years without gluten, my heart has grown fond for the fruity snack. 

Nature's Bakery is introducing not just one fig bar, but four delicious fruit-infused flavors of fig bars, including blueberry, pomegranate, raspberry and traditional fig. Without giving too much of my review away, let's just say that they definitely are going to be a morning breakfast staple as I head to early 8 AM classes.

Glory Days Grill Review

While moving back up to Maryland a couple weeks ago, my dad wanted to grab lunch with an old friend of his amidst all of the unpacking and supply runs. Wanting to mesh his tastes with my gluten-free needs, I suggested Glory Days Grill, which was a short drive away, which offered an extensive gluten-free menu as well as plenty of sports-related watching and eating to satisfy his friend and him. 

While I am not normally a sports bar person, I certainly recognize that there are definitely restaurants for every interest and taste, so will right off the bat go ahead and say that Glory Days Grill is not a restaurant I would go on my own, which indeed instilled a sense of a lack of enthusiasm going into this review.

As it turned out, Glory Days did impress me with their service and gluten-free know-how, and earned my respect as a chain restaurant in the area that understands how to take care of gluten-free customers.

Tortilleria Sinaloa Review

For my first foodie excursion back in Baltimore, I had to carefully choose which of the many restaurants on my to-eat list I would indulge in. Winning that honor was Tortilleria Sinaloa, on the premise of fresh-made homemade tortillas and a 100% gluten-free menu.

After a day of unpacking and putting together my dorm room 2.0 configuration (I am in the same dorm and room this year), I knew that a late lunch, early dinner would be the optimal time to swing into the city to check Tortilleria Sinaloa out.

Nestled in the ethnic melting pot that is Fells Point, Tortilleria Sinaloa definitely scratches the taco itch I often get up in here Maryland, where non-Chipotle tacos are rarer than they are back in the sunshine state. After my recent rash of gluten-free taco finds this summer, Tortilleria Sinaloa definitely puts up a fair fight and proved themselves worthy of all the hype.

Enjoy Life Foods Pancake and Waffle Mix Review

This review is part of my coverage of the launch of Enjoy Life Foods' new line of allergen-free baking mixes. For more information about them, click here.

One of life's little luxuries is a stack of fresh-made pancakes or a nice, big Belgian waffle to start the day. For those of us avoiding gluten, dairy, or other allergens, these breakfast staples are so often off limits at restaurants. Luckily, allergen-conscious pancake/waffle mixes are pretty user friendly and make recreating these griddle cakes easy and delicious.

Already a fan of some other brands' pancake/waffle mixes, I couldn't wait to see how Enjoy Life Foods' new pancake and waffle mix would compare. Packed with protein, probiotics, and ancient grains, the mix definitely made an impact before I even pulled out my waffle iron.

Justin's Gluten-Free Pretzel and Nut Butter Snack Packs Review

As a college kid ever on the go, I'm all about grab and go snacks. Between classes, an on-campus job, homework, and other activities, I am always looking for delicious, nutritious ways to refuel that last all day and do not need extra attention such as refrigeration.

Luckily, the nut butter experts over at Justin's have innovated a new product that has hit Target shelves nationwide just in time for the back-to-school rush. The pretzel packs come in three delicious flavors: hazelnut butter, classic almond butter, and maple almond butter; all of which are perfectly pack-able, snack-able, and perfect for anyone on the go.

Whispering Canyon Cafe Dinner Review

One of the coolest things about being a food blogger is getting to share great food with other people. When I can share that food with others with dietary restrictions and everyone feels safe and comfortable to eat, it is the ultimate win/win. 

That's why when my friends Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Sarah from Gluten Free and Dairy Free Walt Disney World invited me for dinner at Disney's Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge, I marked the date on my calendar and looked forward to sharing good eats with good friends.

Yumbutter Go Review

As a nut-butter enthusiast and socially conscious millennial, I'm pretty sure that I am squarely in the demographic for Yumbutter. Founded with the belief that nourishing, delicious food can and should be a vehicle to promote good, Yumbutter has been a company I've had my eye on for a while, but have not been able to find it in stores near me. 

Luckily, Target is bringing Yumbutter to the masses (see a location listing here), which had me on the lookout for it at my local store. Luckily, I didn't need to wait long, and soon brought home a potion (the term for the delicious concoction) to taste test to see if it could live up the the hype.

Enjoy Life Foods Pizza Crust Mix

This review is part of my coverage of the launch of Enjoy Life Foods' new line of allergen-free baking mixes. For more information about them, click here.

Of the five boxes of Enjoy Life Foods' new baking mixes that arrived on my doorstep last month, I admit that their pizza crust was one that I knew I just had to try right away. Away from all of my favorite pizza places in Baltimore for the summer, and uninspired by my options here in Orlando, I really wanted a great pizza crust mix that would help me satisfy my love for the Italian-American delicacy. 

Enjoy Life's pizza crust brings extra oomph to pizza night, with it's included probiotics, top eight allergen-free ingredients, and a protein boost thanks ancient grains. With a laundry list of healthy attributes, I couldn't wait to see if it could hold it's own in taste and texture.

Whispering Canyon Cafe Allergen Dinner Menu

It's no secret that there's been a huge foundational shift for gluten-free and allergen-free guests at Walt Disney World with the introduction of new menus that show the presence, or lack of, the top eight food allergens. 

Until recently, I had yet to interact with these menus, because I am not a frequent Disney diner. Luckily, before my Orlando summer ended, my friends Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Sarah from Gluten Free and Dairy Free at Walt Disney World and I decided to go out for dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe, which proved to be a good introduction into the allergen-free menus.