Archive for Food and Drink
Tea Time
Time for time is something I remember from my childhood, having spent some time in Canada. It is like the proverbial “coffee break” but much more relaxed. As Americans we tend to rush out, get the coffee, drink it, and get back to work! Tea time should be a mini-vacation during the day; 15 minutes or so to reflect on what you are actually doing or thinking about what you should be doing!
There is something quite civilized about sipping a cup of tea with a cookie. There are now some great cookies and biscuits on the market too. When I was diagnosed as a Celiac 20+ years ago, the choices were slim to non-existent. Your options were dry rice cakes, dry rice cakes with peanut butter, or dry rice cakes with cream cheese and capers. Not the tea time I’ve come to enjoy.
Now there are gluten-free scones that can be served with clotted cream and jams, and breads to be enjoyed with a bit of cheese or a slice of meat or just plain butter.
So get yourself a few tasty gluten-free teas and treats and stop and enjoy your mini-vacation in the middle of your day.
-Estelle
Cookies on Display
As I’ve previously posted, Apple’s Bakery’s fresh gluten-free products are now available at all Chicagoland Treasure Island Foods stores. Here’s a picture of our scrumptious cookie display at one of the Treasure Island stores:
Thanksgiving Fit for a Celiac!
It’s nearly Thanksgiving! Soon, many families will be gathering around the table to share a wonderful holiday feast. Succulent turkey, flavorful stuffing, buttery rolls, and mouth-watering pie. But what about the celiac who wants to enjoy the holiday meal?
The traditional Thanksgiving meal includes many foods that are full of gluten, many you might not have thought of. While turkey is gluten-free, the liquids used to bast it, or the gravy, often contain gluten. Rolls and other breads, not to mention pie crust, also may contain gluten.
To accommodate your gluten-intolerant guests, or if you’re interested in alternatives, Apple’s is here to help! We offer a variety of ready made gluten-free holiday goodies for everyone to enjoy. Stop in to the store or visit our home on the web for online ordering: Apple's Bakery Online Store.
I’d also like to share the following gluten-free recipes, perfect for the Thanksgiving meal:
Green Beans with Buttered Garlic Bread Crumbs
A Partnership to Treasure
Apple’s has officially partnered with Treasure Island Foods in the Chicago area! The store will stock Apple’s delicious gluten-free baked goods.
Treasure Island has been a Chicagoland staple grocery store since 1963, when the first store opened. The market was created with the mission to “provide a supermarket that would combine the conventional with the best of specialty, imported and domestic products at competitive prices.” The late chef Julia Child referred to Treasure Island as “the most European supermarket in America.”
I am excited at the opportunity to provide my gluten-free products to the Chicago area. Stay tuned for future Apple’s sampling events at Treasure Island stores.
Lager Lovers-Gluten-Free Beer is Here!
It’s football season! Time to sit in front of the flat-screen with friends and root for your favorite team (go Bears!). But what would game day be without some cold ones? Unfortunately, for the celiac, most beer is off-limits.
Nearly all beer contains barley malt, a grain that a celiac simply can’t stomach. Luckily, beer companies have taken notice of the nearly 3.2 million people with celiac disease and have developed alternatives.
And in our effort to offer alternatives, Apple’s Bakery now carries Redbridge gluten-free beer, perfect for game day gatherings with friends. Redbridge is made from sorghum, a cereal grain safe for a celiac and those who avoid gluten. Sorghum is produced in large quantities in Africa and has been used to make beer internationally for years.
Redbridge assures us that no wheat or barley comes in contact with the beer and “no blending or mixing of the ingredients takes place” in the brewing process in order to maintain purity. Redbridge is committed to providing a gluten-free alternative and has even partnered with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness to get the word out about celiac disease.
Even better, this is a great tasting beer. As the company describes it, the beer “is a rich, full-bodied lager brewed from sorghum for a well-balanced moderately hopped taste.” Decide for yourself: stop in to Apple’s for a six-pack!
We also carry Arico’s Cassava gluten-free potato chips for your game day needs. Made from the cassava root, the chips come in four flavors. Barbeque Bliss is my personal favorite.
Check out Arico Natural Foods and Redbridge on the web for more information.