Gluten Free in the IE

November has arrived and it’s time to think turkey!  Here are some links to common brands offering gluten free fresh and frozen turkeys:

Honeysuckle White states that the majority of their products are gluten free.  Here is a list of their products that are NOT gluten free.

The Jennie-O Turkey Store is a great source for many gluten free turkey products including their Oven Ready Turkey.  Just be aware that the gravy packets packaged with several varieties of their turkeys may NOT be gluten free.

Butterball does not label their turkeys as gluten free; however, they state on their contact page that only two of their products currently contain gluten:

Do Butterball® products contain any allergens like gluten?

Butterball product labels let consumers know whether any of the top eight allergens may be present in the product. For example, a label may read “contains wheat and dairy.” Specifically, gluten is not present naturally in turkey. Only two of our retail products currently contain gluten: Butterball^® Frozen Italian Style Meatballs and Butterball^® Frozen Stuffed Turkey. Our gravy has been reformulated to eliminate gluten, but certain gravy packets may still contain gluten; it will be listed on the ingredient statement. Give us a call or use the contact us form on this page if you’d like to check on a specific product.

Shelton’s Free Range Turkeys are gluten free, antibiotic free, and available at Gerrard’s in Redlands.  They have many free range poultry products that are gluten free!  Here is the link to their gluten free and casein free product list.

I recently learned why it is so important that our baby lotion is free of all of my toddler’s food sensitivities.  Although I do not consider lotion to be food, he does.  And in the time it takes me to blink, he can toddle over to the tub, stretch, stretch, stretch, grab the lotion bottle, and enjoy a quick little snack.  I discovered this after finishing my blink, picking him up, and breathing in his sweet and (wait, what?) floral-scented kisses.  Oh, no.  Minutes later, his face was covered in the red rash he gets after consuming milk products.  A quick read-through on the ingredients for his lotion– buttermilk!  He’s that sensitive.

So, I set out to find baby products that are dairy free as well as gluten free.  My first stop was the 100% Pure website.  I located their statement regarding gluten in their FAQs:

Are your products gluten free? If so, where does the Vitamin E come from?

Most of our products are gluten free. We are sensitive to this since we know many people suffer from gluten allergies. One common ingredient that contains gluten is Vitamin E. But the Vitamin E we use is gluten free because it’s derived from cold pressing rice bran.

Excellent!  Next, I investigated whether they use any dairy products:

Why Vegan?

We love animals and refuse to support anything that hurts animals which is why none of our formulas are ever tested on animals (everything we use is food grade and does not require testing, whereas chemical ingredients must be tested). All our makeup brushes are from synthetic fibers. No animals were hurt for their fur and no animals were hurt for any of our ingredients (the only animal ingredient we use is cruelty free honey).

Yay!  We placed our order and were very pleased with how quickly it arrived!

100% Pure makes three products especially for children: 2 in 1 Body Wash and Shampoo (19 oz.), Body Cream (8 oz.), and Bubble Bath (4 oz & 12 oz.)  The products are sold individually or in a gift set which contains all three.  The challenge is choosing the scent!  They come in 3 yummy dessert flavors: Mint Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla.  They are all gluten free!

The 2 in 1 Wash comes in a foam dispenser.  It works well with a bath net sponge or on a (Lightening McQueen) washcloth.  The foam makes it so much easier to wash our sons’ hair than a liquid shampoo/wash.  Two pumps is just right to lather up their locks and it rinses out quickly.  And the yummy scent lingers in their hair a day later!

The Body Cream is really thick and luxurious!  Only a little bit of cream is needed– a little goes a long way.  It goes on smoothly and, best of all, smells delicious!  It is very moisturizing and I have to admit it is now MY preferred hand cream as well!

The Bubble Bath is a little thinner than what we’ve used in the past.  It does bubble up nicely, but it takes a little more product than some other bubble bath liquids.  I believe this is due to the fact that, like their name, 100% Pure Bubble Bath is 100% pure:

no synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents or any other unhealthy toxins. Does not contain water, gum, thickeners, or emulsifiers or any other fillers.

We have been very, very happy with 100% Pure Kid’s products.  I have yet to try Mint Chocolate and Strawberry, but I can say that the Vanilla is absolutely wonderful.  I am continually picking my boys up just to smell them.  A delicious SCENT!  (Although 100% Pure uses only food grade ingredients, we have not taste-tested any of the products!)  Oh, and I no longer blink!

Give them a try and I think you’ll be pleased!  Click here to shop their site online.  They offer free shipping for orders $50 and up!  (If you are headed to northern California, their brick and mortar stores are located in Berkeley and San Jose.)

Gluten is sometimes used as a filler in medications.  Gluten Free Drugs is a very helpful and informative website concerning gluten and medications.  The site is maintained by a pharmacist and updated often.  It can be used to search for both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Check out Gluten Free Drugs at glutenfreedrugs.com.

Also, do not hesitate to call the 800-number on your medications.  I have gotten great information by calling the manufacturers directly.

If you are interested in finding a new GF all-purpose flour or just seeing what’s out there, check out this comprehensive list of gluten free all-purpose flours courtesy of Delight Magazine.  It is great for comparing ingredients and finding one that fits your dietary and baking needs!

Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour Round-Up

Alas, there is no magical grain that can substitute for wheat flour on its own.  Most gluten free all-purpose flours are actually mixtures of multiple flours, starches and/or gums that can be substituted for traditional wheat flour.  In combination, these gluten free ingredients do very well to duplicate the characteristics of baked wheat flour.

Everyone uses a different set of recipes and has a different set of baking needs and dietary needs, so perhaps a different go-to gluten free all-purpose flour?  Or several go-to multi-purpose flours?

I actually have more than one all-purpose flour brand in my cupboard and I find myself reaching for a different bag depending on what I’m making.  I love the Gluten Free Bisquick for pancakes, but I reach for Jules Nearly Normal when I bake bread or cookies.  (Except for chocolate chip cookies, then it’s Authentic Foods GF Classical Blend  and Annalise Roberts’ recipe in Gluten-Free Baking Classics!  Yum!)  Around the holidays, I buy Namaste for my pie crusts, and I know many who swear by Pamela’s for their baking.

Do you have a favorite GF all-purpose flour?  If you do, please share it with us.  And if, like me, you use several, please share what flours you love and in what types of recipes they work best!