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The other day I came home to find a parcel from my friends at the Canyon Bakehouse and thanks to everyone’s favorite gluten-free public relations person Gluten Free Dee.  Now we all know that gluten-free bread has long been a sticky wicket among Celiacs.  Yes, there are now quite a few brands doing the gluten-free bread thing but in actuality very few (read I can count on one hand) do it exceptionally.  Well, my friends Canyon Bakehouse out of Loveland, Colorado has just raised the gluten-free bar.

Before I start gushing (oh, and I will be gushing) about their products I want to give you a brief little background about the company.  Canyon Bakehouse is a gluten-free facility that came about when Christi Skow, one of the owners along with her husband Josh and Master Baker Ed Miknevicius, was diagnosed with celiac disease during a routine physical.  She found going gluten-free to be a challenge (we have ALL been there) but really had a hard time finding a great tasting gluten-free bread.  So, the trio set out to make their very own great tasting gluten-free breads…nice.

So on to the products.  I was lucky enough to sample their entire current portfolio of gluten-free breads.  There is San Juan 7-Grain, Mountain White, Cranberry Crunch Muffins, Rosemary and Thyme Focaccia, and rounding out the group…wait for it…Cinnamon Raisin bread, yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus.

I have to first confess that I actually ate my way through all of the products in two days.  No, not the entire packages but I normally tend to eat one variety down and then move on.  Given the diversity of these products I just could not wait and found myself ripping through the packages like a kid at Christmas.

The San Juan 7-Grain bread was out of this world.  I never thought I would see the words 7-grain and gluten-free in such close proximity to one another.  The bread has a fantastic texture and (as with all of the breads) is great straight from the package.  It is moist and the taste is phenomenal.  You get really nice nutty tasting notes with just a hint of sweetness from sugarcane molasses.  Delicious.

Next came the Mountain White variety.  This one is a hard one to get right and many have tried and failed quite miserably.  Not here.  The white is just as moist as the others and has a rich, full-texture.  The flour mix of brown rice, tapioca, sorghum, white rice, and garbanzo is just perfect.  It is sweetened with agave syrup and sugar which provides a really nice homey sweetness to the loaf.

What’s next on the list you ask?  Well the Rosemary and Thyme Focaccia of course.  Now this I found to be most intriguing.  I was really apprehensive about this one but it was so soft in the package I somehow knew it would be delicious.  If you miss focaccia then head on over to their Web site and order this immediately.  This was a real highlight of the tasting and really out of this world.  The focaccia has just the perfect amount of denseness you expect in a focaccia without being a brick of bread.  I ate this one every which was – with cheese untoasted, toasted with cheese, as bruschetta, and all by itself.  The flavors are amazing.  You get the woodsy notes of the rosemary and thyme with just a very subtle hint of the extra virgin olive oil that helps tame the bite of the herbs.  The balance is perfect and I truly cannot say enough about this one.

For dessert there was the Cranberry Crunch muffins.  Now there are other brands out there that claim crunch but Canyon Bakehouse is the only one I know of that delivers.  These muffins while moist and delicious actually have a crunch to them.  These are truly complex muffins with a wonderful flour mix that is paired with poppy seed and tangy (but sweet) cranberries.  Just one of the muffins will easily fill you up, satiating your sweet tooth without leaving you feeling like you just ate a heavy item.

I have saved, in my opinion, the very best for last.  Now, all of the products really stand out among the competitive landscape but one in particular had me over the moon.  The Cinnamon Raisin loaf is the most unexpected (next to the focaccia) and I ate my way through the loaf in record time.  I am not a huge breakfast person but I actually found myself taking slices to the office and toasting it for brekkies.  This moist loaf does not disappoint.  It is chock-full or wonderfully sweet raisins with sunflower seeds scattered throughout and sesame sees on top.  It is the most complex raisin bread I have come across gluten-free or otherwise. Toast it (or not) and spread a little cream cheese love atop and prepare yourself for gluten-free nirvana.  Seriously, it is just that good.

Run, don’t walk over to their Web site and place an order.  You can view their entire product portfolio, learn more about the company, and follow them on all your favorite social networking tools.  Oh, and the final selling point (as if you needed it) is that the loaf breads are just 90 calories a slice, yes, there are delicious and calorie-friendly.
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I recently had the opportunity to sample some of the gluten-free wares (thanks Heather) from this Denver-based company that also operates cafés in the Centennial State.  I have heard many of my gluten-free friends out there rave about Udi’s but could never seem to locate them in my area (though this has recently changed).  Perhaps what makes Udi’s so unique is that they function as a normal café and caterer but also have a terrific gluten-free line for Celiacs prepared in a dedicated gluten-free facility.  Their products are also dairy-, nut-, and soy-free.

The first product I dug into was their White Sandwich Bread.  This was perhaps the product that carried the biggest buzz among my fellow Celiacs and it did not disappoint.  While there are other good gluten-free breads out there, Udi’s has a very big leg up on the competition – you can eat it right from the bag without re-freshing or toasting and it is SOFT and MOIST.  That’s right my fellow Celiacs, we now can have a fresh loaf on the counter and eat it whenever we fancy.  And eat it I did – for breakfast, lunch, and with dinner.  That bag (which is a good size) did not know what hit it as is quickly emptied.  The bread has the most gluten-like texture and consistency that I have yet come across.  It had that familiar white bread kiss of sweetness that instant transported me back to my pre-celiac days – Bravo Udi’s!  Oh, and for the record it toasts up a dream and made fantastic grilled cheese sandwiches.

Next up was Udi’s Whole Grain Bread.  Like its white counterpart, this too was perfect straight from the bag.  It had a wonderfully complex nuttiness to it that complemented whatever you put between the slices without being too overpowering.  It also toasted to perfection and was robust enough to hold whatever toppings you care to pile on.

On the sweeter side of their portfolio are Udi’s Blueberry Muffins.  These were moist and chock-full of sweet ripe blueberries.  A light coating of sugar added a welcomed crunch factor to the muffins while adding just the right amount of sweetness.  The individual muffins are a good size and one will certainly be more than enough to keep you satisfied.

Udi’s Lemon Streusel Muffins were perhaps my favorite flavor of muffins because I am a sucker for anything lemon.  These came complete with a nice streusel topping that would appease even the most hardened muffin aficionados out there.  These were moist and had just the right amount of sweetness to balance the zesty lemon bite.   I actually just finished one as I wrote this review.  Popeed it out of the freezer onto the counter and in a few minutes was ready to eat – and totally de-lish.

The final product in the tasting line up was Udi’s Pizza Crusts.  Now I have had other gluten-free crusts before and they were okay but they are typically so dense that I find myself full after eating just half of the pie.  Udi’s crusts are actually thin – yes, you read that correctly thin.  All you need to do is top with your favorite sauce, cheese, and toppings and throw it in the oven.  The crust crisps up like you will not believe and does not go all limp and soggy no matter what you top it with.  My non-GF other half also raved about these crusts.  Living in NYC we have great pizza and great GF pizza, but now I can make it whenever I want and have it taste like it was just delivered.

Earlier I mentioned that I had some difficulties finding Udi’s locally but that problem is no more (and my Tri-State friends take notice) as Udi’s is now carried by the fabulous grocery delivery service Fresh Direct here in the City.  I can honestly say that Udi’s has already been added as one of my Favs in my Fresh Direct preferences and there will not be an order that arrives without something from Udi’s.  The best part about Udi’s is their products freeze very well so you can keep them on hand (and fresh) to indulge anytime you like.  Perhaps their tag line says it best, Sit down. Eat up. Be Udiful. 

If you cannot find Udi’s in your area, fear not.  Just head on over to their Web site and place an order for delivery – they ship throughout the 50 States.
 
Lucky Number 7 12/22/2009
 
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If you are looking for a gluten-free company that makes decadent and EASY mixes – look no further than Gluten-Free Essentials (GFE).  This company out of Kansas makes truly fool-proof mixes (and I mean they could not be more simple) that are absolutely out of this world.  Whatever your taste preference, GFE has something to placate your sweet tooth.  I actually still have a few more items to review in their portfolio but will be making them for the coming holiday as GFM will have his in-laws in from Bermuda.  These cakes and cookies are so good that no one will ever know they are gluten-free – but you might have a tough time sharing them.  Just remember Christmas is all about giving so don’t hesitate serving these to your family our any guests that might show up (either planned or last minute because they whip up in mere minutes).  I actually made a batch of their famous Mudslide cookies and brought them into an office fundraising bake sale and they were a real hit.  Though in full disclosure I actually bought the entire lot back myself (hey, it was for a good cause) and then distributed the cookies to my very appreciative colleagues.  Oh, and Johnita and Maryclara the faces behind the company could not be, well, sweeter.  Be sure to check out Gluten Free Essentials' website to order and for a complete listing of their entire gluten-free product portfolio.

Gluten Free Essentials Decadent Brownie Mix
Continuing with my sampling of Gluten Free Essential’s baking mixes I recently ordered the Decadent Fudge Brownie mix (among others) and it did not disappoint. 

First things first, the mixes are just so simple to make you do not need any advanced planning or a weekend to bake any more.  In fact, I made the brownies yesterday after a long day at the office.  It was a whim, but I felt like something sweet and the oven was already on heating-up dinner so I though Why Not?  The brownie mix requires one additional ingredient than some of the cookie mixes I have had before – apple sauce – so make sure you have some on hand when these arrive.

So, I melted one stick of butter, combined it with some apple sauce and two eggs, mixed and voila, Brownies.  Well, almost – you do actually have to bake them J.  So about 30 minutes later, just as dinner was coming out of the oven so too were the brownies for cooling.  What I love about GF Essentials is that their products are decadent but not overly sweet.  I actually tweaked this mix just a bit as I has some chocolate chips laying around and decided to add them to the already generous amount in the mix.  Hey, I just could not resist!  These brownies also rose much more than Betty Crocker’s GF variety (which I like as well) but these were more cake-like in texture.

The end result?  A fabulously moist brownie that was rich but light and airy at the same time.  I have the remaining brownies chilling in the fridge for a cool treat this evening.  

Gluten Free Essentials Vanilla Sugar Cookie Mix
I wanted to make these cookies a week ago but when the mood struck me I realized I was out of eggs.  While luxuriating in a day off yesterday, and with my egg coffers replenished, I decided to make these sugar cookies.  I have always been a fan of the sugar cookie with its uncomplicated sweet goodness.  It makes no pretentions and is quite possibly the most versatile cookie out there.

The mixes from Gluten Free Essentials could really not be easier (see my previous review of their Cocoa Mudslide cookies).  You simply dump the mix into a bowl, add 1 stick of melted butter (delicious), and stir in two beaten eggs.  Oh, and then you chill it for half an hour.  I mean really, does it get any easier.  Well, I suppose they could arrive baked but GFE mixes let me pretend that I am actually a baker and know what I am doing.  Both mixes I have tried were completely fool proof.

These cookies were delicious.  They remained soft after cooling and were not sugary sweet – just the right amount of sweetness to bring out the wonderful vanilla undertones.  My non-GF partner also raved about these cookies so if you have a GF/non-GF household these are sure to please even the most hardcore cookie fanatics.  Next time I make these I might even get bold and add a few mix-ins or toppings.  Somehow the thought of a Hershey’s kiss centered in each cookie seems quite perfect.

Gluten Free Essentials Cocoa Mudslide Cookie Mix
I recently had the opportunity to sample a brand that I had never seen before and was excited to give it a try.  As many of you know, I am not a baker by any stretch of the imagination so welcome any product that can help me become just a little more like Betty Crocker.  Well Gluten Free Essentials was just the little helper that I needed.

I tried the Cocoa Mudslide Cookie Mix, because quite frankly can you go wrong with chocolate and marshmallows?  First, the instructions could not be simpler – all you need to do is add 2 eggs and a stick of melted butter, mix in the cookie mix, and chill for at least a half hour in the refrigerator.

Once the dough was chilled all I had to do was form it into balls, place on a cookie sheet, and put it in the oven to bake.  It really was fool proof and prep took no time at all.  I had reserved making these on a weekend but now realized that these are so simple, I could easily whip them up after a long day at the office.

The cookies were really delicious.  They were moist and full of chocolate chips and marshmallows but at the same time were not overly sweet.  Their consistency was really smooth and not at all mealy as is sometimes the case with gluten free mixes.  Honestly, you could serve these cookies up to any non-Celiac and they would never be able to tell that they were gluten free.  Gluten Free Essentials clearly got their flour mix right (in this case sorghum and rice) and even when you look at the mix in the bag you can tell it is finely milled to an almost powder-like consistency.

One 16 oz. bag yielded 9 rather large cookies which were my personal size preference.  If you made more normal-sized cookies you could easily double that amount.  I also have Gluten Free Essentials’ sugar cookie mix to sample next and I am definitely looking forward to it – just as soon as I finish these cocoa mudslide treats.