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Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/gluten-free

Growing up, my mom was always baking. In an effort to be more like my mom and have homemade goodies for my little one, I decided to make gluten free chocolate chip cookies this weekend. Yes, you can chuckle a little, I didn't totally make them from scratch, I had a little help from Betty.

This was the first time I'd used Betty Crocker's GF Chocolate Chip cookie mix. I always reach for Bob's Red Mill GF Chocolate Chip mix, they are by far the most like "regular" Toll House cookies. http://www.bobsredmill.com/gf-chocolate-chip-cookie-mix.html. Bob's mix is absolutely perfect, except I throw in an extra handful of Nestle chocolate chips because the mix isn't chocolaty enough. I also throw in a handful of GF oats, to make them "healthy".

But, I digress, I picked up Betty's mix because it was in the local grocery store. Yay!!! I can honestly say this is a mix I will pick up again. It was easy to make and the cookies taste great. I have learned to follow instructions carefully when baking GF, so I tried to do so with this mix. On the package it says something like, stir the egg, vanilla, and butter together. So, I stirred. Next time, I will get out the mixer and mix them together. I've had other packages say not to use the mixer, which is why I didn't this time. I just think it will work better with the mixer and then I would blend in the flour.

Like I said, the cookies taste great. I think you could get away with using a little less vanilla and because the mix is a little sweet, I think adding oats is a good idea. The texture is a little grainy, but that wouldn't stop me from purchasing again.

Thanks Betty Crocker!

It's Friday! Let's go to the Yard House

http://www.yardhouse.com/nutrition.asp

You've made it to Friday, all you want to do is eat great food, have a little fun, listen to loud music, and chill with friends. Your friends are going to the Yard House and you can too!

Check out their huge gluten free menu: http://www.yardhouse.com/files/gluten_sensitive_menu_6.pdf

Spinach dip, salads, sandwiches, seafood, steaks, and even sushi! I was excited to see that they serve gluten-free Redbridge Beer. It is my favorite gf beer, classic and not as heavy as some, http://www.redbridgebeer.com. Make sure to mention to your server that you are gluten sensitive. It helps them understand how important it is to get the order correct.

The Yard House has locations in Brea, Chino Hills, Long Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach and LA and San Diego counties.

Get your Friday on!

Carl's Jr. Says "Gluten Free It!"

http://www.carlsjr.com/menu/indulge

Carl's Jr has a new campaign..."Lose the Gluten, Gain the salad". Order any burger lettuce wrapped and receive a free side salad. You can find the coupon on their web site. This is one of the first bold fast food GF promotions I've seen. I don't go to Carl's very often, but I'll have to start! Thanks for thinking of us Gluten Free peeps, Carl!

Is That Gluten Free? iphone/iPod App

http://midlifecrisisapps.com/Midlife_Crisis_Apps/iPhone_Apps.html

There is a new app available on iTunes that will rock your world. How many times are you out and about and want to purchase an item, but aren't totally sure if it's gluten free? Now, you can enter the product name into the "Is it Gluten Free" app and find out in an instant. The app contains over 14,800 verified GF products and is updated frequently. It allows you to search by category, brand, or product name. What could be easier?

Best part? It's just $5.99.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

Brownie Mix Taste Test

Brownies are a staple of any gluten free diet. Easy to make, easy to take, and oh so delicious. The great thing about GF brownies is that no one can really tell the difference between "regular" and GF brownies. They are easy to bring to a potluck, dinner at a friend's house, or for a co-worker's birthday treat. So, with so many choices on the market, which is the best brownie mix?

Bob's Red Mill

http://www.bobsredmill.com/gf-brownie-mix.html

Bob's brownie mix is our family's favorite! Rich and moist, these brownies are great right out of the oven or frozen and enjoyed later. My mom taught me this trick...freeze individually what you won't be eating right away. 15 seconds in the microwave and they are ready to go!

Betty Crocker

http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/gluten-free/

Betty's brownies are not quite as chocolaty as Bob's, but fantastic none-the-less. They are a little less dense, but make a tasty treat. I am eager to try some of the recipes on the Betty Crocker web site that can be used with this mix.

https://www.namastefoods.com

Namaste makes a yummy, fudgey brownie. Also a great value because it makes a bigger batch. A little gooier than I like, but still a mix everyone will enjoy!

For those who love TexMex

http://www.ztejas.com/

Z'Tejas

South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol St. Suite 1876
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

If you crave flavorful food, Z'Tejas is a great gluten-free friendly restaurant. After a day of busy shopping, it's a fun place to sit down, enjoy a drink and rest for awhile! I think I've tried everything on their gluten free menu and the mushroom enchiladas are my favorite! The smoked chicken and black bean salad has an eclectic mix of red peppers, pumpkin seeds and goat cheese on a bed of green tossed greens...it is delicious! Make sure to ask for the dressing on the side, they tend to overdo it.

The only downside is I wish they served gluten-free cornbread. I'm always a little envious when my husband enjoys warm cornbread while we wait for our meals. Seems like an easy thing to add to the menu.