Amazon – Gluten Free Finds

A Celiac Traveler’s Best Friend? HotLogic Mini Personal Portable Oven

HotLogic Mini Personal Portable Oven by Hot Logic

From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:

Enjoy a delicious meal wherever your day takes you
Use flat-bottomed, sealed-top containers-metal, plastic, glass, cardboard, ceramic food containers
Can accommodate food containers up to 8.75″W x 6.75″L x 2.5″H
Insulated tote with aluminum lining to maximize heat retention
Patent Pending
Enjoy a delicious meal wherever your day takes you
Use flat-bottomed, sealed-top containers-metal, plastic, glass, cardboard, ceramic food containers

As a Celiac Disease Sufferer, my options are severely limited when I’m driving. Whether it’s a 5 hour trip to the Twin Cities or a 13 hour trip to Denver, my options are generally – cold food out of a cooler or whatever gluten free junk food I can find at a roadside gas station.

Enter the HotLogic Mini Personal Oven. I received one of these as a gift and… love it. It allows me to have safe, hot meals when taking a road trip. I have the 6 cup AC version. Other sizes and power options are available.

You can use a 6 cup Pyrex container (included with mine) to warm up leftovers or warm up frozen entrees or something like a Freshly meal. Note that heating times are much longer compared to the microwave. Read the directions you receive with your until, but generally speaking, we’re talking about a couple of hours. When I warm up Freshly meals (that are not frozen) and hour and a half seems to work pretty well.

I’ve mainly used this on driving trips, but it’s certainly small enough to fit in a carry on or checked bag.

I think this is a fantastic unit and I’m really glad to have more options when I’m out and about. This saves me from having to eat junk food, go hungry, eat cold food or worry about finding a safe place when I’m on a trip.

Hot Logic – on Amazon

Related: Gluten Free Travel Tips

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Gluten Content Test: Counter Culture Coffee Forty Six Coffee Beans + Nima Sensor False Positive

After being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2016, I wrote Counter Culture Coffee to see if the coffee beans I get from them (Counter Culture Coffee Forty Six) are gluten free.

My email to them:

“I have recently been diagnosed with gluten intolerance. Because of that, I need to eliminate gluten from my diet. Does counter culture coffee contain gluten or any gluten containing additives? I can’t imagine you use gluten anywhere in the process, but I wanted to double check.”

Their reply back (dated 3/8/16): “Thanks for contacting us! Coffee is naturally gluten-free and we do not add anything in the process of roasting, so you should be good to go!”

Note: This is their reply to me personally, not an official position, contact Counter Culture Coffee with questions and verify currentness of information.

Fast forward to 11/2017. I decided to double check this with my Nima Sensor

Result: Gluten Found! What the what?!!!! This result baffled me and sent me into a spiral wondering – Just what can I trust??? Single ingredient item from (what I consider) to be a high end coffee roaster, that has told me their process includes not gluten ingredients. After some digging, I realized that this was false positive result. Nima has issues with intensely colored things. See link below.

I decided to perform a GlutenTox test on this coffee. GlutenTox allows you to choose between 5 and 20 PPM. I performed this test at the 5 PPM (parts per million) sensitivity level.

I used a cooled down shot of espresso to complete this test.

The bag of coffee, two glutentox solutions and test strip

Close up of the results

The test stick has two lines, the one on the left is the blue control line and should always become visible. There is another possible line just to the right of that, that one is red. That becomes visible if gluten is detected at the selected concentration. As you can see in this photo only the control line is visible. According to this result the sample I tested has a lower than 5 PPM gluten content.

Order has been restored in the world

More About GlutenTox

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Each GlutenTox test comes with single use pipettes, extract solution, dilution solution, sample scoop and a test stick. The testing process is relatively simple and the instructions are clearly written. This test gives you some flexibility as you have the choice between testing at 20 PPM (parts per million) or 5 PPM. Under 20 PPM allows manufacturers to label certain foods as gluten free.

GlutenTox Home is a quick, user-friendly test to detect gluten in foods, drinks, cosmetics, or any other substance. It’s useful for anyone who suffers from celiac disease, or keeps a gluten-free diet for any reason.

Adjustable sensitivity: test for 20ppm or 5ppm of gluten depending on your specific needs
No special equipment required; everything but the test material is included in the kit
Safe, non-toxic, and easy to use
Quick response: a reliable answer in less than 20 minutes
The included G12 antibody recognizes the toxic fraction of gluten in wheat, barley, rye, and even oat.

Kits contain everything you need to test for gluten in foods, drinks or cosmetics. Kits are available in 2-, 5- and 10-test quantities.

Price varies based on how many kits you buy

Visit GlutenTox

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A note about gluten content tests: These are performed in non-lab environments with small samples. Processes and ingredients change over time. Tests found on Gluten Free Finds should not be considered authoritative in nature. Always check product labels and consult manufacturers for additional information on ingredients and processes.

Annie’s Double Chocolate Chip GF Granola Bars, 5 Pack

Annie’s Chewy Gluten Free Granola Bars, Double Chocolate Chip, .98 oz, 5 Count from Annie’s Homegrown

Gluten free, no high fructose corn syrup. Non-GMO.

Update: Since this post was published the price, availability or promotion has changed. Check the product page for up to the minute description, price and availability. Also: Today’s Deals on Amazon

Annie’s Chewy Gluten Free Granola Bars, Double Chocolate Chip, .98 oz, 5 Count

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Triumph Dining Gluten Free Dining Out Cards – English & Spanish + Review

Gluten Free Dining Out Cards (English and Spanish Edition) by Triumph Dining

These cards help to explain to restaurant staff (in both English and Spanish) that you need to dine gluten free. I have these and have used them for foreign travel. In my opinion, they are an amazing help. Check out my review.

Gluten Free Dining Out Cards (English and Spanish Edition)

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Schar Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns – Two Tips

On the Fourth of July, I finally broke down and got some Schar Hot Dog Buns. Normally, I do not miss buns. I have no problem eating something with a knife and a fork and skipping the bun altogether. There are a couple exceptions. There is something about eating a hotdog or a brat in a bun with your hand that makes the experience so much better.

We grilled up some brats and I excitedly cracked these open. The first brat was, well… bad. The second one was much, much better. Here’s what I did…

The rolls were cut, but now I’m wondering if they are intended to be only partially cut. The cuts weren’t near deep enough. Our brats nearly sat on top of the buns. I cut the rolls a bit more to let the brat sit in the bun lower and hold toppings and such.
I microwaved each bun for 15 seconds or so.

After these two modifications, my son’s eyes lit up. He said.. “I didn’t want to complain before, but that last one was bad, these are so much better now”

Big difference. The warmth provided by a short microwave of these, makes them soft and chewy and makes a world of difference. That combined with cutting them a bit more moved them from a 1 or 2 star to a 4 star to me.

Schar Gluten Free Hot Dog Rolls – via Amazon

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Celiac Disease For Dummies

Celiac Disease For Dummies by Ian Blumer and Sheila Crowe

About, from the book description: “Celiac Disease For Dummies is the ultimate reference for people with the disease and their family members. The book helps readers identify symptoms of the disease, and explains how doctors definitively diagnose celiac disease. It outlines how celiac disease affects the body, and what its consequences could be if untreated. The authors explain how celiac disease is treated, not only through the elimination of gluten from the diet, but with additional nutritional measures and alternative and complementary therapies. Written by two practicing physicians, the book also offers practical, helpful guidance for parents of children with celiac disease, whose treatment may be a particular challenge.

Celiac Disease For Dummies Paperback

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6 Pack, Van’s “Lots of Everything!” Crackers

Van’s Simply Delicious Crackers, Lots of Everything!, 5 Ounce (Pack of 6) by Van’s Simply Delicious

Crispy, baked whole grain crackers made with oats, brown rice, millet, quinoa and amaranth. No artificial flavors, colors or hydrogenated oils.

Non-GMO and certified gluten free.

Van’s Simply Delicious Crackers, Lots of Everything!, 5 Ounce (Pack of 6)

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Corabella Gluten Free Gnocchi

Gluten free rice and potato gnocchi. 0 trans fat; 0 saturated fat; 0 cholesterol. Pack of (10) 17.6 ounce packages.

Corabella Gluten Free Gnocchi, Potato and Rice, 17.6 Ounce (Pack of 10)

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12 Pack Vita Coco Natural Coconut Water [GF]

12 x 11.1 oz/330 ml Vita Coco Coconut water. Kosher, gluten free and vegan approved. Comes in eco- and socially-responsible Tetra Pak packaging with a convenient resealable cap.

Vita Coco 100% Pure Coconut Water, 11.1-Ounce Containers (Pack of 12)