Gluten Free Shredded BBQ Beef

It took us a while to try this recipe.  We usually make pulled pork, or a shredded BBQ chicken.  But never a shredded beef.  But the recipe from America's Test Kitchen turned out to be delicious.  We froze leftovers in two packages (it made a lot!)

The recipe is a slow cooker recipe, that could probably be adapted to for the instant pot.  There is a lot of prep for this recipe.  So if you are going to run the slow cooker during the day while at work, I suggest doing some of the prep the night before.


Ingredients

4 oz bacon (about for slices), chopped small
2 onions (medium)
2 tbsp chili powder (optional)  It should give it some tang
1 tbsp paprika
1.5 cups ketchip
1.5 cups coffee
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbsp mustard
5lbs outside round roast / boneless beef chuck trimmed and quartered
1 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
1 tbsp cider vinegar

Directions

1.  Cook bacon over medium heat until crisp.  Add onions, chili powder, paprika, and cook until onions are softened. (8 to 10 minutes)
2. Stir in ketchup, coffee, brown sugar, and 1 tbsp of mustard.  Simmer until thickened and measures about 4 cups.  Transfer 2 cups of mixture to slow cooker and keep reserve for later.
3. Season beef with salt and pepper and nestle in slow cooker.  Cover and cook in slow cooker for 9 to 11 hours on low or 5 to 7 hours on high.
4. When beef is tender, transfer beef to a large bowl and shred into bite size pieces.
5. Let sauce settle for 5 minutes and skim fat from top and strain
6. Simmer sauce for 20 to 30 minutes until reduced to 1 cup.  Whisk in reserved mixture, with hot sauce, cider vinegar, and 1 tbsp of mustard.  Simmer for a few minutes and add salt and pepper to taste
7. Toss shredded beef with 1.5 cups of sauce and keep remaining for serving and keeping the beef moist.

Panago Pizza's Gluten Free Menu

I am going to start off by saying, Yes, I agree, pizza places are a disaster for cross contamination.  So like any other pizza place, even though they serve a gluten free pizza, they are unable to guarantee no cross contamination.  This is true for any restaurant that is not 100% gluten free.

With that being said, we wanted some pizza and so we went to Panago Pizza.  They do a good job at keeping their menu up to date with the latest allergen info.  They break it down for their recipe specials, their sides and their individual toppings.

Gluten Free Catering Tip - Let's Talk Cross Contamination

Why they do this?  I am really not sure.  It can't be that expensive to just have racks that insert into the trays to lift up from the grease instead of laying in grease soaked bread.

This is not just a lesson for caterers, but a lesson for everyone that requires a gluten free diet.

For the caterers, pay attention to your process and cross contamination when you label.  If something is gluten free, but may be crossed with a shared fryer, or something like this.  Indicate it.  In this case,  noticed it before anyone that required gluten free ate it, and it was corrected and a fresh batch was offered up.  The staff were thankfully receptive, but I imagine they may not always be.

For those the customers, always talk to the wait staff, ask questions!  This is your health.  You are always eating at restaurants with caution, and eating at catered meetings at conference centers or hotels is still the same.  If the staff can't answer you, or you did not get the answers you need ask to speak with the catering or banquet manager.  Get the answers you need so you can make a good decision if the food is safe for you.

Lastly, for everyone.  Be respectful. 

Lets be respectful and understanding that not everyone understands are concerns, so lets continue to educate everyone thoughtfully and respectfully.  Lets ask the staff questions, lets listen to what they have to say and talk about it.

Lets be respectful to everyone dietary needs.  For the most part, this probably seems like an inconvenience.  Lets ask the customers about their needs, lets listen to why it is important and lets talk about it.

Cactus Club Update on Gluten Free 2018

We recently went on a date night to the Cactus Club at West Edmonton Mall.  Amanda has been several times with friends, but it has been a while since we went together.

Cactus Club is actually one of the first places we went to after Amanda's diagnosis of Celiac Disease.  Although the menu has changed, their ability to deliver tasty gluten free food has not.

They do have a separate gluten free menu if you ask.  They indicate what menu items are gluten free, and what the modifications are from their standard menu.  Check out their life style choices menu online which include, gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options items separated out.

What we tried this time was so delicious.  One of the newer trends are Poke Bowls.  Which is  basically deconstructed sushi/sushi in a bowl.

There is only one sauce omitted and crispy tempura from the Poke Bowl.  It is beautifully arranged with tuna, edamame, mango, avocado, cucumber, radish, lettuce and rice.  Not to mention deliciously seasoned!

Gluten Free Sweet Potato Bread Anyone?

Okay lets be honest here.

I really wouldn't call this sweet potato bread.

Will that be one aisle or two? Shopping gluten free at Save-on-Foods

I've posed this question before... how do you shop gluten free?  Do you prefer to shop down 1-2 aisles or stroll through all of the aisles?

The way Save on Foods has it setup is pretty cool.  They get a lot of gluten free products in the two aisles! 

Benefits:

• Easy to find the gluten free products you love
• Possibly lower your shopping time.

Disadvantages:

• You may feel obliged to purchase a gluten free product vs. a product you usually by but is just not labelled gluten free
• You don't get to compare all the options for that food category, because for example the sauces have been separated out, but all VH sauces are gluten free, but none were on these aisles.

So what is your preference? and why? 

While you think about it, check out all these photos and how much they pack into these two aisles.

Sweet Pea Cafe & Playhouse - Vegan with gluten free options

Okay, so I know it is kind of weird to say this, but gluten free and vegan often get mixed up.  I'm not sure why gluten free is always associated with vegan, but it is.

I don't mean to add to the confusion but a new vegan cafe has opened up in Edmonton;s Laurier Heights west end called Sweet Pea Cafe & Playhouse.  The vegan cafe happens to have some gluten free options as well.


I went to a private party there for a friends birthday.  This used to be a Wild Earth Cafe, I was told it is still the same ownership, but with a couple new owners backing the concept, including Canadian skater and former Olympian Jamie Sale.

The food served at the party was delicious.  They served meatless meatballs, chips & dips and dessert treats that were both vegan and gluten free.  Which when it comes to the "vegan meats", they are typically not gluten free, because it is gluten that usually holds it together or gives it some texture.  Although I am not vegan, it was nice to see this option available.

I took a picture of their savoury menu before the party started.  Just click on the menu to enlarge.


The fun part of this place is going to be the most amazing playhouse I have ever seen for the kids that will be opening shortly!  Here is a sneak peak of the playhouse I got.  Everything mini sized for kids, but if a parent ducks into the playhouse, there is room for them to stand.







Here is an Instagram post of Jamie Sale proudly showing off the construction of the playhouses!

View this post on Instagram

We are thrilled with the playhouse progress! Here is a little sneak peek inside...Stay tuned for the official opening date 😀 . . . ↠↠↠ #peasplease #sweetpea #sweetpeacafe #yegfoodies #yegcafe #yegkids #playhouse #edmontonliving #exploreedmonton #yeglife #yegliving #edmontoneats #780 #yeggers #edmontonkids #plantbased #eatlocal #playroom #yegmoms #vegan #vegetarian #yegvegan #peasonearth #yegfood #yeg #edmontonfood #edmonton

A post shared by Sweet Pea Cafe & Playhouse (@sweetpeacafeandplayhouse) on Oct 10, 2018 at 6:38am PDT

Gluten Free Splash Poke

To me, Poke bowls are like a suhsi bowl.  Just like a burrito bowl is a burrito in a bowl, a poke bowl is sushi in a bowl.

Splash Poke in West Edmonton Mall seems to have things going on for gluten free Poke bowls.


I just walked up to check it out to see if they had anything and bang, at the toppings station there are signs listing what is gluten free and what is vegan.  They even have a specific order called The Friendly that is gluten free.

I think contamination is reduced because there is no wheat flying around and the base is all rice base or veggie based.  The sauces are contained in squeeze bottles, so not dropping into each other.  When I ordered the friendly they, they put a card on the tray that said "Friendly" which seemed to start up an allergy protocol, which was nice to see.

The Friendly

2 in 1 gluten free stuffed french toast and crepe recipe

• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• pinch nutmeg
• 8 slices of Kinnikinnick Gluten Free cinnamon raisin bread(Or kinnikinnick multigrain) - OMIT IF YOU WANT CREPES
• 4 tbsp or 1/2 stick of unsalted butter
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup Kinnkinnick gluten free all purpose flour

1. Heat small non stick pan with butter
2. On medium heat, use no more than a 1/4 cup of batter and pour evenly on heated pan.  Lift off of heat and turn pan to spread batter as thin as possible.
3. Cook until bubbles and flip
4. Cook until slightly coloured and remove from pan
5. Spread filling, fold crepe and enjoy!

Gluten Free Instant Pot Apple Crumble

Amanda tried out and adapted an apple crumble recipe to be gluten free.  This recipe tasted so delicious and was easy to make in the Instant Pot.  We served warm with vanilla ice cream for dessert.  I also had it for breakfast on top of cottage cheese warmed up.



Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 sliced and peeled apples
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/4 c. Gluten free rolled oats (we use gluten free Only Oats)
• 1/4 c. Gluten free Kinnikinnick all-purpose flour
• 1.5 tsp. cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 3 tbsp melted butter
• 1/3 c. apple cider

Directions

1. In a small bowl mix all ingredients together until apples are all coated.
2. Pour into Corning ware that fits inside Instant Pot
3. Cover tightly with foil
4. Put trivet into Instant Pot or pressure cooker + 2 c. water 
5. Lower Corning ware with apples on to trivet
6. Set to manual, pressure, high for 35 minutes

Check for desired cook of apples. If you want it cooked more try another 5 minutes.

Canadian Brewhouse has an amazing gluten free menu.

Love the cutlery!

Recently Amanda went out with some friends to The Canadian Brewhouse in Spruce Grove, AB.  She wasn't sure what to expect, but her friend wanted meet there, and she figured she would be able to find something there to eat.

What she didn't expect was the extent of the menu that was available gluten free, and what they do to try and accommodate.

So before I go any further, just a reminder, ask about food prep every time, because you never know how each location operates from location to location, or if a location changes its kitchen processes.

So a few things she found out and confirmed at the Spruce Grove location:

• They have a dedicated fryer for gluten free items.  They noted that all locations do.
• You can get gluten free beer battered fish, but its a packaged gluten free battered fish.
• You can get gluten free pizza's including their perogy pizza which is made with sliced potato.

Although Amanda only tried a really awesome Quinoa salad, there were gluten free hamburgers, pizza's, and even nacho's available to eat off the menu.


Menu items that are gluten free are marked with a symbol and a statement that gluten free options are available.

Updating Campbell's Gluten Free Product List - 2018

On Instagram last week, I asked people what company do you want me to research a list of gluten free products for.  The most common answer was Campbell's.

Before you read this list, I just want to remind everyone to read every label every time!

As of August 17, 2018 this is what Campbell's Soup Company is marketing as gluten free:

Campbell’s® Chunky® Chicken & Sausage Gumbo (540 mL)
Campbell’s® Chunky® Split Pea with Ham (540 mL)
Campbell’s® Condensed Chicken with Rice
Campbell’s® Condensed Tomato with Basil and Oregano
Campbell’s Everyday Gourmet Red Pepper Black Bean
Campbell’s Everyday Gourmet Thai Tomato Coconut
Campbell’s Everyday Gourmet Fire Roasted Sweet Pepper & Tomato
Campbell’s Everyday Gourmet Roasted Potato & Spring Leek
Campbell’s Everyday Gourmet Sweet Potato Tomatillo
Campbell’s Everyday Gourmet Tomato Basil Bisque
Campbell’s® Healthy Request® Curried Cauliflower Lentil
Campbell’s® Healthy Request® Spicy Vegetable Turkey with Rutabaga
Campbell’s® Herbed Chicken with Rice
Campbell’s® Ready To Use Beef Broth
Campbell’s® Ready To Use Vegetable Broth
Campbell’s Stock First® Beef stock
Campbell’s® Chunky® Homestyle Chili (425 g)
Campbell’s® Chunky® Hot & Spicy Chili (425 g)
Campbell’s® NEW Ready to Use Mushroom Broth
Campbell’s® NEW Ready to Use Pho Broth
Habitant® Pea Soup with Garden Vegetables
Pace® Hot Chunky salsa 428 mL
Pace® Medium Chunky salsa (1.7 L)
Pace® Medium Chunky salsa 428 mL
Pace® Medium Chunky salsa 642 mL
Pace® Medium Picante sauce 1.7 L
Pace® Medium Picante sauce 648 mL
Pace® Mild Chunky salsa 1.7 L
Pace® Mild Chunky salsa 428 mL
Pace® Mild Chunky salsa 642 mL
Pace® Mild Picante sauce 1.7 L
Pace® Mild Picante sauce 648 mL
Prego® Mushroom & Green Pepper Pasta Sauce 645 mL
Prego® Original Pasta Sauce 645 mL
Prego® Tomato Onion & Garlic Pasta Sauce 645 mL
V8® Low Sodium Vegetable Cocktail 1.89 L
V8® Original Vegetable Cocktail 1.89 L /950 mL
V8® Original Vegetable Cocktail 340 mL
V8® Original Vegetable Cocktail 354 mL
V8® Smooth & Seasoned Vegetable Cocktail 1.89 L/950 mL
V8® Smooth & Seasoned Vegetable Cocktail 156 mL
V8® Smooth & Seasoned Vegetable Cocktail 354 mL

I found this information all on the Campbell's Soup Company website.  Check out full product details about any of these listed gluten free Campbell's Soup Company products.