Grown-Up Gluten-Free PB & J

Grown-Up Gluten-Free PB & J

making an old favorite new again

If I've learned anything since starting this blog, it's that keeping certain ingredients on hand--Craisins, chopped nuts, coconut, fresh fruits and vegetables--can make gluten-free eating significantly more enjoyable. With just a little creativity and a good dose of gourmet bravery, you can break up your routine and enjoy food again. This sandwich is the perfect example.

My son has requested "peanut butter and jelly" almost every day for the past few weeks, and every once in a while I like to indulge him. At the same time, I like us to share our meals, and I need a little more than jelly and peanut butter to get me excited about lunch. 

Enter the following ingredients to the rescue:

• gluten-free bread, toasted*
• peanut butter**
• your choice of jam or honey
• fresh banana slices
• slivered almonds
• shredded coconut

*My favorites are Glutino's Flaxseed and Grains For Life's Millet & Brown Rice. Gluten-free bread always tastes better toasted.

**JIF is labeled gluten-free

Assemble all ingredients in the order listed above.

Enjoy!

Creative Gluten-Free Tuna Salad

Creative Gluten-Free Tuna Salad

A.K.A. an easy lunch you'll be proud to eat

I would like to start off by apologizing to anyone who thinks this meal is entirely too pedestrian to deserve the title "kitchen (mis)adventure." I understand where you are coming from, but long story short, my health knocked me on my back this weekend, and there was no way I felt up to trying out a new recipe...although I definitely wanted to.

Additionally, I realize that just about everyone knows how to make tuna salad: open a can of tuna, stir in some mayonnaise, and call it a day. At the same time, one of the greatest challenges of the gluten-free diet is feeling stuck in a rut and limited in your food options--especially if you are not into cooking. This post is about a simple way to put a new spin on an old favorite.

All of that said, let me tell you why I love this recipe: It's easy, adaptable, work-lunch friendly, and healthy.

Now, for the directions.

As always, gather your ingredients first:

1. 1 can chunk-light tuna in water
2. 1 stalk of celery, sliced
3. 1 small carrot, cut into matchstick-sized pieces
4. 1 handful of dried craisins
5. 2-3 heaping teaspoons of gluten-free mayonnaise*

*My favorite brand of "safe" mayonnaise is Smart Balance. It is labeled gluten-free, available in nearly every grocery store, and very tasty. 

Next, mix all of the "dry" ingredients together in a small Tupperware container. Yes, technically you could use a bowl. However, substituting a Tupperware container means you can just slap a lid on the leftovers without dirtying an extra dish.

Add the mayonnaise last, a little at a time, so you can control how much you have. I like my tuna salad well-coated in mayonnaise, but not swimming in it.

Finally, serve on your favorite gluten-free bread substitute. For the picture above, I made an open-faced sandwich on a toasted slice of Glutino's gluten-free flax seed bread (my favorite), but you could also try  gluten-free crackers, celery sticks, or rice cakes. Enjoy!

Why is it called "creative" gluten-free tuna salad?

Well, I threw together at the spur of the moment based on the ingredients I had on hand. I've tried craisins and sliced celery before, but the carrots were a bit of a (lucky) gamble.

How can it be adapted?

Truthfully, however you want. In the past, I have used halved grapes instead of craisins, and a friend and I once tried corn kernels, cooked rice (chilled), and ranch dressing--but I wouldn't recommend the latter combination. Throwing in sliced almonds or chopped walnuts would be another great way to change it up, as would using canned chicken or salmon instead of tuna.

Get creative, and let me know how it turns out!

This kitchen (mis)adventure was a delicious experiment gone right!

P.S.

I apologize for the lack of photos. I know the recipe is painfully easy, but we all want a little eye-candy, right? Basically, I was too hungry to bother with pictures--which is why the solo piece of photographic evidence features a half-eaten open-faced sandwich on gluten-free bread.

GoPicnic Ready-to-Eat Meals

GoPicnic Ready-to-Eat Meals

think of them as the gluten-free answer to Lunchables

On a recent trip to CostCo, My husband and I were dawdling in the snack aisle, and I noticed a stack of these GoPicnic lunches. "Ready-to-eat? Shelf-stable? Wouldn't it be amazing if they were gluten-free as well?" I thought to myself. As I headed over to investigate, my husband pointed out the gluten-free label on the side of the box--I couldn't believe my eyes or my luck, and I knew then and there I would soon be blogging about this product.

What are they?

For about $10, you get a box containing 4 ready-to-eat meals--2 each of 2 varieties. The Hummus & Crackers lunches contain hummus dip, crackers, a fruit and nut mix, a seed mix, and a small piece of dark chocolate with sea salt. The Turkey Stick & Crunch lunches (which I seem to prefer) contain a turkey snack stick (similar to a Slim Jim, but better), barbeque Popchips, a seed and fruit mix, peel-a-part fruit, and a small piece of dark chocolate with rice crisps. Everything in the lunches is individually wrapped and free of gluten, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, and added MSG. (Note: One fruit and nut mix includes peanuts.) As an added bonus, each lunch comes in its own small, cardboard box about the size of a good paperback, so they're highly portable.

Why do I care?

If your experience has been anything like mine, you probably recognize how amazing it is to have a cheap, portable, and complete gluten-free meal. At $2.50 a pop, these totally fit the bill.

Here is how I where I have utilized (and enjoyed) them so far:

1. Quick, portable lunch for a crazy day at work High-stakes testing days are nightmares for educators like myself, so my friend and I took our lunches to a nearby hiking trail for some much-needed stress relief. My GoPicnic lunch was the perfect option for dining al fresco.
2. A charitable lunch for two A week or two ago my friend Nicole and I decided to spend a few hours reorganizing the toy cupboards at our church (trust me, they needed it). I knew we would be at it for a while, so I brought two GoPicnic lunches, some fruit, and two water bottles. After a few hours of work, we had an impromptu picnic on the floor of our nursery classroom, and then got back to it.
3. Road-trip insurance policy After 8 years of marriage, my husband finally managed to drag me into the wilderness to go camping. I initially brought several GoPicnic lunches for a back-up to campfire-cooking, and, although dinner went splendidly, I happily busted into a Hummus & Crackers lunch on the ride home. Mobile dining, anyone?
4. Sure beats the mystery of a hospital cafeteria Yesterday, my husband and I spent the day at the hospital with my darling son, Brannon. Although he went in for a minor procedure, a scheduling delay lead to hours of waiting. By the time they took back to the surgery suite, I was exhausted, anxious, and ready for some easy-to-eat comfort food--enter GoPicnic Turkey Stick & Crunch! Man, I love these things.

Do they taste good? 

Yes, they taste good--whether you have celiac disease or not. I am personally delighted with them (obviously) but both Stephanie (anonymous friend mentioned in #1) and Nicole can attest to the deliciousness of these meals. Better yet, they leave you feeling satisified but not weighed down. Steph even plans to buy some to take hiking (she's very active and healthy that way). 

Are they nutritious?

I think they're pretty nutritious, too, but you can decide for yourself:

• Turkey Stick & Crunch Ready-to-Eat Meal: 300 calories, 8 grams of protein, 3 grams (more nutritional info-scroll to the bottom)
• Hummus & Crackers: 380 calories, 19 grams of protein (not a typo--19), 7 grams of fiber (more nutritional info-scroll to the bottom)

Where can I buy them?

I bought them in a pack of four (2 of each variety) at CostCo for about $10, which makes each lunch about $2.50. However, I couldn't find any information or links to the product on Costco website, so you'll need to check with your local store.

If there are no CostCo's nearby or your store doesn't carry it, check out the manufacturer's website, gopicnic.com. The prices are rather higher, but it offers a wide-variety of read-to-eat meals, including both gluten-containing and gluten-free options. Before you order, double-check that the items you're purchasing are gluten-free options.

Another option is using GoPicnic's store locator. Simply type in your zipcode, and the store locator will give you a list of stores nearby which sell GoPicnic products. Apparently, they are available in some Targets and in many airport gift shops!

If you find this product anywhere else--in-store or online--please post a comment and let us know!

Where would you take your GoPicnic lunch?

Share your answer in the comments area.