Namaste Muffin Mix: Cranberry and Cinnamon-Pear Muffins

I've been craving baked goods lately but there is no way I will pay $3 for a tasty treat if I have time to make my own at home.

I found Namaste Foods Muffin Mix at Winners the other day. Winners actually has a wide selection of gluten-free products. Although Winners is known for being where higher end products have their last-ditch chance in the retail world, their food products were nowhere near the "best before date". Also, I am aware that Winners/ Homesense has retail rights to Better Batter gluten-free flour and mixes in Canada.

The Namaste Foods Muffin Mix is free of: gluten, wheat, soy, corn, potato, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy and casein. It is also kosher and free of carageenan.

I followed the package instructions (add 2 eggs, 1/4 cup of oil, 1 cup water to mix) and incorporated some of my own flavours (as recommended on the package).

I made some 5 muffins with dried cranberries and 10 muffins with fresh rosamarie pear chunks and cinnamon with a brown sugar top. 15 muffins for $6.99 in muffin mix + about $2 in other ingredients comes to about 60 cents/ muffin. Not only do I save some cash, I also know exactly what is in my food!

The cinnamon-pear muffins were tasty and approved by my roommate and my boyfriend (neither of whom have dietary restrictions). I have yet to try the cranberry muffins- those seem more portable so they will be for breakfasts/ snacks on the way to school.

Article: "Dilemmas of a gluten-free convert"

I read this article on Salon.com a while back. I think the author really nailed it on how to deal with eating gluten-free when sharing a meal often means much more than satisfying hunger. The article gives a great perspective on how to navigate the social and cultural waters of a gluten-free lifestyle.

http://www.salon.com/2012/03/06/dilemmas_of_a_gluten_free_convert/singleton/

Gluten-free cereals

Lately gluten-free foods have received a lot of media attention. In particular, I'm referring to the TV commercials for Rice Krispies Gluten-Free with Brown Rice and Gluten-free Chex.

I was never a fan of Chex but I ran to the grocery store almost immediately after seeing the Rice Krispies Commercial. Kudos to you Kellogg's! Thank you for bringing back one of my favourite treats- Rice Krispie treats! I've made them 3 times this week- just follow the recipe on the box.

The only other cereal I've bought since going g-free is the President's Choice Organic's Crunchy Corn Cereal. The package says "wheat-free" and according to "Strawberries are Gluten Free" blog, this is a "use at your own risk item". The author at "Strawberries at Gluten Free" actually went through the run-around of calling the manufacturer to ask about facilities and potential contamination. I'm still okay eating products like this because I know I don't have celiac disease, but if you have celiac, you know what's best for you.

I'm glad that Kellogg's and General Mills are recognizing that many consumers are gluten-intolerant. I wish that restaurants were more aware (even though most are). Even though I have a lot of choices out there, they are still expensive and I feel like I'm treated with kid gloves at restaurants. It is worse when I enter a restaurant I would love to eat at (usually an ethnic one) and there is nothing on the menu I can eat! This is tough for someone who loves food as much as I do. Any other allergy sufferers out there who can commiserate with me?

Nevertheless, I'll take what I can get. And for now, that's my Rice Krispie treats!