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Archive for 2014

Quick Meal Fixes for the Holidays

December 10, 2014

By: Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN

You’ve got a million things on your to-do list and the list seems to just be getting longer. With extra social engagements, school commitments with your kids and general holiday nuttiness, this “most wonderful” time of the year often becomes the most stressful for many of us. And, on top of all the present wrapping and cookie baking, we’re supposed to still make dinner for our families. Oh yeah, right.

 

Let’s all take a deep breath and remember that we can’t do everything perfectly all the time. The next few weeks are about prioritizing what’s really important: spending time with family and friends, celebrating the season and taking time to reflect on the past year. I hope these tips help you do just that.

 

1. Avoid the pre-dinner sugar binge. With so many treats around the house, your little ones may just help themselves to some gingerbread or chocolate once their stomachs start rumbling. Keep everyone happy until dinner with Rudi’s Gluten-Free Double Fiber Bread with Goat Cheese and Apples. I created this recipe with kids and adults in mind. It has a great sweet-savory combination and can be made in minutes. It’s just enough to hold everyone over until dinner, without filling them up. Keeping cut up veggies on hand also does the trick.

 

2. Make friends with the freezer. I’m a huge fan of fresh vegetables, but let’s face it, most of them take a little time to prepare. For those nights when washing and chopping just aren’t in the cards, I keep an assortment (broccoli, peas, corn) of organic frozen veggies on hand. I also always have frozen pie shells at the ready so I can whip up a quiche with whatever I have on hand—leftover veggies, chicken sausages, quinoa and a little bit of cheese.

 

3. Use my 1+1+1 rule. Make a meal from one frozen/packaged/purchased item, one fresh thing and one leftover. That way you never feel like you’re just heating and eating, and you’ll also help avoid the sodium overload that can come from packaged and processed foods. An example might be sautéed frozen shrimp + red bell pepper + brown rice = Shrimp Stir Fry.

 

4. Go big. If you’re going to take the time to make one lasagna or quiche or soup recipe, you may as well make two and freeze the extra. It may take a wee bit more time, but how nice will it feel when you come home from that office happy hour knowing you’re moments away from a home cooked meal? If you’ll need to defrost something in the morning, put a reminder on your smart phone to stick it in the fridge. That way you’re not dealing with a frozen solid mass when you get home.

 

5. Power down. Kindles, iPads and smart phones can be great tools for keeping kids busy and even have some educational merit, but they shouldn’t be at the dinner table. This goes for moms and dads, too! Technology is too distracting and takes away from those few moments we have each day to really connect as a family, especially during the most hectic time of the year.

 

Stay healthy, have fun and have a very happy holiday season!

Frances

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Friends, Family, and GLUTEN during the holiday season

November 24, 2014

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and there is nothing better than spending loads of quality time with close family and friends… and of course EATING! If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Celiac disease or switched your diet to a gluten-free diet, being surrounded by so many of your favorite past time foods can be really extremely tempting to resist. It’s easy to get in the mindset that you’ll pay for the consequences later and enjoy what is in front of you now. The truth is, is that temptation is always going to be around – not just during the holidays. Like anything else, how do we make something like eating 100% gluten-free a habit and lifestyle? Here are some tips to help you stay motivated and inspired to continue eating the way you’d like to be eating.

1. Persistence wears down resistance: This is a mantra that is good for anything you’re trying to achieve and can easily be applicable to staying gluten-free. The more you say no to eating gluten, the easier it becomes. Eventually, the urge will go away itself.

2. Keep yourself and your gluten-free friends accountable: Forming a gluten-free support group helps keep you accountable. They can help remind you why staying gluten-free is doing your body good instead of harm and can help inspire you to avoid gluten-free foods.

3. Host holiday parties at your house: If you’re in charge of cooking, you don’t even have to tell your friends and family that everything is gluten-free.

4. Bring your most favorite holiday food to the party: By allowing yourself your favorite dessert or treat in it’s gluten-free form, there will be nothing to feel guilty about. I’m sure your friends and family will also take a liking to it as well!

 

 

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Gluten-Free Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas

August 25, 2014

Gluten-Free Quesadillas

Ingredients:

(Makes 2 quesadillas)

  • 2 Rudi’s Gluten-Free Plain Tortillas
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 cup organic chicken breast, shredded
  • 1/2 organic red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 cup organic romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup organic tomatoes, chopped

Ingredients for dipping sauce:

  • 1/2 cup organic sour cream
  • 1/4 cup organic buttermilk
  • 1 tsp. prepared horseradish
  • 1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Preparation:

  1. Preheat grill on medium
  2. Lay out one Plain Tortilla on plate and sprinkle 1/2 cup cheese evenly on top
  3. Take the chopped bell pepper and combine with lettuce and tomato. Sprinkle 1/2 of the mixture over tortilla
  4. Spread out 1/2 of the shredded chicken over tortilla
  5. Fold tortilla in half and place over grill for 4 minutes or until cheese is melted and tortilla begin to crisp. Turn over and grill for another 4 minutes.
  6. Repeat steps 1-5 for second quesadilla
  7. In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, buttermilk, horseradish, hot pepper sauce, and ground black pepper. Place in refrigerator until ready to serve

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Berry Yogurt Parfaits with Cherry-Almond Granola

Berry Yogurt Parfaits with Cherry-Almond Granola

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

4 Rudi’s GF Cherry-Almond bars, crumbled (1 cup)

11/4 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt

11/2 cups mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries and quartered strawberries)

2 teaspoons honey

Preparation

1. In each of four parfait glasses, spoon 2 tablespoons yogurt, 2 tablespoons crumbled bar, ¼ cup berries, another 2 tablespoons yogurt, 2 tablespoons berries, and any remaining granola.

2. Drizzle each parfait with 1/2 teaspoon honey. Serve immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 hours before serving.

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Egg Salad Sandwich on Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bread

July 31, 2014

Our guideline to making the perfect egg salad sandwich is to use fresh ingredients so that the flavors remain distinct. Check out our recipe below with our favorite recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 2 slice of your favorite Rudi’s Gluten-Free sandwich bread
  • 3 eggs, hard boiled (see below)
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 leaves lettuce
  • 1 tbs. fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tbs. fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbs. fresh lemon juice
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preparation:

  1. To hard boil your eggs, bring 5 cups of water to a rolling boil. Place eggs in boiling water for 10-12 minutes. (The longer the eggs are in the water, they softer they’ll get!) Remove and place eggs in a small bowl in the fridge until they’re cool enough to peel.
  2. Chop up peeled eggs or lightly mash them in a mid-size bowl. Add mayonnaise and mix gently until eggs are well coated.
  3. Slowly mix in bell pepper, lemon juice, cilantro, parsley, salt, and pepper.
  4. Place egg mixture on one slice of toasted Rudi’s Gluten-Free bread. Top with fresh lettuce and cover with second slice of bread. Serve immediately.

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Finish Out Your Summer STRONG!

It’s nearing that time of year again! Time to welcome in August, start back-to-school shopping, and dust off the coats in preparation for colder months ahead. But before you start thinking about arranging a school carpool for the kiddos, remember that there are still a few more weeks left to enjoy SUMMER! Now the question is… how are you going to spend this time and finish up summer with a BANG?

With just enough time to plan a short getaway, day trip, or get-together, you can be sure to find tons of fun, family oriented summer ideas! Here are a few of the hundreds of ideas for summer-end fun to get you started.

Plan a camping trip!

Having our offices in Boulder, CO means there are tons of places to go camping throughout the area. All you really need is a tent, some food, and a couple piece of wood to build the perfect toasty fire to roast marshmallows on! Don’t forget to throw in your hiking boots, mountain bike, and bathing suit to get even more fun in the sun! If you live in an area that doesn’t have a lot of public outdoor space, you can always pitch a tent in your backyard (or even living room!) for a closer to home experience.

Chart out a road trip!

Flights can be pricey, especially last minute. So instead, how about mapping out a mini-excursion road trip to the nearest National Park or big landmark!? One of my favorite road trips of all time included visiting the Grand Canyon, Arches National Park, and going cliff jumping into a lake during one of our daily lunch breaks. Road trips are also a great opportunity to spend quality time with the family (hey, you’re gonna be in a car together for a looong time!) so come prepared with an arsenal of games to play together while you’re on the road. Don’t forget to bring snacks!

Get WET!

Summer is HOT. Like really hot. Take a day to visit your neighborhood pool, go lounge at the lake, or take a tube down the nearest river! Getting out and about in the water is a great way to cool down and get in a good workout. Don’t have a big body of water to swim around in? No worries! Having a water balloon toss or playing in a backyard sprinkler is just as good if you’re looking to cool off!

Plan a backyard bash!

One of my favorite parts about summer is being able to hang outside late at night since it stays so warm out! Next weekend, channel your inner host or hostess and plan an evening party in your backyard. Whether you’re going to turn up the grill for a BBQ or set up a movie screen and projector for a late night outdoor movie screening, anything that involves getting together with friends and family is sure to be a good time.

Have any other great last minute summer fun activities??

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Rudi’s Gluten-Free Avocado Toast

July 8, 2014

 

Ingredients:

Preparation:

  1. Toast bread slices until slightly golden-brown.
  2. In a small bowl, mash up avocado. Gently squeeze in juice from the lime and stir. Add in garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
  3. Spread avocado mixture over toast. Top with addition red pepper flakes or spices if desired.

TIP: For even more flavor, try topping your toast with other items like fresh or sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, sprouted lentils, or even salsa!

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Kale and Blue Cheese Crostinis

July 7, 2014

For this recipe, we used our Gluten-Free Ciabatta Rolls. The size of these rolls are perfect for crostinis or bruschetta AND the insides of the rolls stay soft and fluffy after you bake or toast them!

 

Ingredients (for ~30 crostinis):

  • 1 bag Rudi’s Gluten-Free Ciabatta Rolls (either flavor works!)
  • 9 oz 100% baby kale 
  • 2 tbs. unsalted butter
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

 

Preparation:

  1. Slice Ciabatta Rolls into quarters and toast on low until slightly golden-brown
  2. In a small pan, cook kale until just tender (3-4 minutes). Drain, squeeze, and chop finely
  3. In a large skillet, melt butter and add garlic. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 2 minutes or until just starting to brown. Add kale and cook an additional 2 minutes, adding in red pepper and cream. Let sit on simmer until cream has thickened. Slowly stir in the blue cheese
  4. Spread creamed kale over tops of toasted Ciabatta Rolls and garnish with more cheese and/or and fresh parsley if desired.
  5. Best served warm.

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Hard-boiled Eggs on Rudi’s Gluten-Free Deli-Style with Caraway Seeds Bread

June 23, 2014

Looking for a delicious (and easy) GF breakfast recipe? We made a gluten-free egg sandwich using our NEW Deli-Style Bread with Caraway Seeds!

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices Rudi’s Deli-Style with Caraway Seeds sandwich bread
  • 2 eggs, hard boiled
  • 1 1/2 tbs. Hain Safflower Mayonnaise 
  • 1/3 cups green cabbage, sliced thin
  • 1/3 cups red cabbage, sliced thin
  • 1/3 cups red onion, sliced thin
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preparation:

  1. Toast the two slices of  Deli-Style with Caraway Seeds bread until brown.
  2. In a bowl, mix together the green cabbage, red cabbage, and red onion.
  3. In a separate bowl, break the eggs by mashing them with a fork.
  4. Place toast on a plate and spread Hain Safflower Mayonnaise  on the top.
  5. Add mashed eggs and then top with the cabbage mixture. Salt and pepper the top to taste.

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Spicy Ranch and Ciabatta Rolls

June 17, 2014

We can say with some certainty that we’re pretty good at baking bread. After all, we’ve been at it since 1976! Now, we’ve expanded our horizons in the kitchen beyond our delicious sandwich breads and tortillas. 2014 brought in a wave of new products including our one-of-a-kind gluten-free Ciabatta Rolls! For a complete list of our new products, click here.

As the only par-baked roll of this kind in the entire gluten-free market, we take pride in our creation and want you to enjoy it as much as we do! As with our entire gluten-free product line, our Ciabatta Rolls are baked with two ideals in mind: 1. excellent taste and 2. a simple and entirely non-GMO ingredient list!

Our Ciabatta Rolls come in two flavors: Rosemary Olive Oil and Plain. They’re super easy to cook either in the oven OR microwave and have a taste that’s hard to top! They’re perfect to ensure that everyone at your family dinner can enjoy a delicious, warm, and fluffy roll with their plates. You can also serve the rolls by themselves or use Cosmo’s Spicy Ranch as an excellent dipping sauce!

In fact, we paired our rolls with Cosmo’s Spicy Ranch for this recipe. Not only are they our hometown neighbors (go Colorado!), all of Cosmo’s ranch recipes are gluten-free, vegetarian, and contain absolutely no preservatives!

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag Rudi’s Gluten-Free Ciabatta Rolls
  • Cosmo’s Spicy Ranch (any flavor!)

Preparation:

  1. Cook Ciabatta Rolls in toaster over at 350 degrees for 4 minutes or until toasted.
  2. Pour 1 cup Spicy Ranch into a bowl, place rolls on a plate, and serve!
  3. Optional: cut rolls into 1/2″ slices and arrange for more people to enjoy!

Also try Rudi’s Ciabatta Rolls with Cosmo’s ranch on a party platter! Simple slice rolls into 1/2 inch pieces and place them on a tray with a small bowl of Cosmo’s Ranch in the middle!

 

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