Cracker Jacks

The original Cracker Jack is manufactured by the Frito Lay Company.  Although Cracker Jacks do not contain any gluten containing ingredients, they are manufactured in a shared facility on production lines that manufacture other products containing wheat and/or gluten.
I am impressed by the Frito Lay website and their comprehensive lists of their U.S. - Gluten Free Products and U.S. Products Not Containing Gluten Ingredients.  Frito Lay provides a clear description(disclaimer) of the U.S. Products Not Containing Gluten Ingredients stating,

The Frito-Lay products listed below do not contain wheat, rye, barley or oat ingredients (we include oats in this list as a precaution as oats are often commingled with gluten-containing grains).  Please note however, some of the products listed below may be manufactured on the same lines as products that contain gluten.  Although our lines are cleaned between production runs, Frito-Lay has not tested these products for gluten content and the ingredients in these products may have come into contact with gluten-containing products prior to manufacturing.  Individuals who are sensitive to gluten should take these factors into consideration in consuming these products.

Please note: The information provided pertains only to products made and distributed in the U.S. Products sold in other countries under similar brands may be made using slightly different recipes and ingredients to accommodate local needs and preferences. 

In 2011 we reformulated Doritos Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips to remove wheat from the recipe. While some older packages may show "wheat" on the ingredient statement, please be assured that all Doritos Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips currently being sold in the US do not contain wheat.

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So, if you are gluten sensitive or gluten intolerant - enjoy your Cracker Jacks!  If you have Celiac Disease check out this link and have fun making your own Caramel Popcorn!

My Frozen Yogurt Obsession

Since discovering silicone molds, which are primarily used for baking, my kids and I have had a lot of fun this summer creating naturally gluten-free frozen yogurt pops.

For our latest version we used vanilla yogurt, gf chocolate cookie crumbs from Kinnikinnick, and banana yogurt. 

Simply fill 1/3 of your mold with vanilla yogurt and freeze for 15 minutes.
Then, add a layer of gf cookie crumbs, top of with banana yogurt and insert your popsicle stick.

Put the mold back in the freezer for an additional 15 minutes and enjoy:o)
The Kinnikinnick Cookie Crumbs are great as a yogurt topping, frozen yogurt or ice cream topping, or for making your own ice cream cake!

Frozen Honeydew Monster Pops

Ingredients

4 cups diced honeydew melon

1/3 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

1/3 cup light agave syrup

Combine in a blender.  Pour into ice pop mold.
Freeze and Enjoy!
makes 6-8 pops
We made monster pops!  However, we only have 4 monster pop molds, so we poured the extra into plastic cups.  After 2 1/2 hours the cups were frozen enough that we were able to stick in popsicle sticks and let freeze for another 2 hours.

A healthy and refreshing treat!

Frozen Fruit & Yogurt Star Pops

My kids and I were at it again having fun creating frozen fruit and yogurt pops!  Such a simple, fun and creative way to get kids involved in the kitchen and creating a healthy dessert.  

The necessary ingredients, tools & supplies are simple.  Fresh strawberries, organic strawberry yogurt, a cutting board, strawberry slicer, popsicle sticks, a tiny star shaped cookie cutter and most importantly a fun silicone mold.  If you'd like more specific directions, please visit one of our other frozen yogurt posts. 

Cool and healthy on a steamy summer day!

Pamela's Zucchini Cake

I headed out to my vegetable garden once again to pick some zucchini.  Our veggie garden isn't big - about 3ft x6ft.  But, it's just big enough to fit 1 zucchini vine, 1 beefsteak tomato, 1 cherry tomato, 1 cucumber vine and some herbs.  1 zucchini vine provides enough zucchini for our family for the entire summer.  If you don't have a veggie garden don't worry, head to your local farmers market instead.

Pamela's Gluten-Free Pancake and Baking Mix has a zucchini cake recipe right on the back of the package.  I simply followed the recipe.

Everyone loved the warm, cinnamon flavored cake.  The only criticism came from my toughest food critic who declared, "just take out the hard lumps".  Meaning - the walnuts.  Well, I love walnuts so they're staying in.

Frozen Yo'nana Star Pops!

  

A simple, fun, naturally gluten-free, healthy frozen treat!

These were so much fun to make, my kids loved the treat and I was so happy to serve them a healthy dessert.

Supplies and Ingredients

designated gluten-free cutting board

mini star shaped cookie cutter (if you have one)

silicone star mold or any fun shape

6 popsicle sticks

1 large banana

16 oz organic banana yogurt

After gathering our ingredients and supplies, we simply peeled and thinly sliced a large banana.  Using a small, star shaped cooked cutter we made banana stars.  But if you don't have a small cookie cutter - don't worry - you don't need one.  Just use the thinly sliced banana round.

We placed a star 'nana inside each silicone mold to secure the popsicle stick. Insert a popsicle stick into the center of each star 'nana.  Spoon in the banana yogurt, freeze for about 4 hours and enjoy