Highlights from the Gluten Free Expo

This past weekend I went to the Celiac Disease Foundation’s Gluten Free Expo in Pasadena, California. I found some really great products that I wanted to let you know about.  I spoke with Steven Rice of Authentic Foods to talk about his gluten free flours, Ashley Khteian from Dare Foods to find out about the new gluten free Breton Crackers, as well as Evan from Cheerios….have you hear they are going fully gluten free?  You can read more below OR watch  Gluten Free Avenger Episode 13:  Highlights from the Gluten Free Expo– by clicking below or using this link in your browser- http://youtu.be/WxpajWSFDcA

I spoke with Steven Rice of Authentic Food and he has made a gluten-free flour that he says mimics wheat flour. He used plant fibers instead of the gums usually used (xanthan gum, guar gum, etc) to bind gluten-free flours and according to him it makes for a very wheat-like flour.  This flour has a lot more fiber than regular gluten-free flours too. I have a sample of his cake flour that I’m going to be using for some cookies, so I will definitely let you know. Steve says that I should be able to use one cup of his flour for each cup of wheat flour that’s called for in my recipe.  I will definitely keep you posted. You can learn more about his flour products as well as order them on his site at http://www.authenticfoods.com/.

I also spoke to Ashley from Dare Foods, for me they are best known for their Breton Crackers. The gluten-full version of these crackers are huge hit in my house, my husband loves them and so do many of my friends.  It’s probably my fault because I used to serve them at all my gatherings.  Now Dare Foods has gluten-free Breton varieties and they’re yummy. You can find them at your local Safeway/Von’s, Ralphs/ Kroger or buy them on Amazon.com.

I don’t know if you’ve heard about this, but Cheerios is going certified gluten-free! This makes me so excited, because I grew up eating regular Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios and I always loved them.  Soon we will be able to eat them again.  Nothing is changing in the recipe except now they will be using certified gluten-free oats, so it’s going be the same Cheerios you grew up eating.  Really exciting stuff!  The new versions will be coming later this year. Go to the Cheerios website.

I hope you like the awesome stuff that I found for you at this year’s Gluten Free Expo.  I will certainly keep posted when I learn about more stuff.  Please let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions.  I certainly want to know what you think, please let me know in the comments below.