Author Archives: Leslie Morris

Cupcake Wars is a Food Network TV show where four bakers compete in a cupcake bake-off for $10,000. They are judged on taste and appearance. One of my children loves this show and together we’ve watched many episodes.

I was very happy to see that Crave Bake Shop, a gluten-free bakery in Portland, Oregon won the 100th episode. This just goes to show that living without gluten doesn’t mean sacrificing taste.

Crave is owned by Kyra Bussanich, who was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder when she was 20. Part of staying healthy meant switching to a gluten-free diet, avoiding all wheat and overly processed foods. Often Kyra would run to Whole Foods or her local market to look for gluten-free substitutes.

After being disappointed in the gluten-free products that were available on the market, Kyra thought she’d have to live without Click to continue reading »

David Lebovitz, one of our favorite food bloggers, came up with this foolproof, gluten-free dessert. He calls it Chocolate Idiot Cake, since any idiot could make it…and only an idiot could screw it up. We offer this recipe now because you’re going to need something to offset all that fruit people bring to all of those early summer celebrations – Memorial Day picnics, graduation parties, end-of-year school year sporting events.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Idiot Cake
One 9-inch (23 cm) cake

Adapted from Ready for Dessert (Ten Speed Press)

This cake is extremely rich, and tastes like the most delicious, silkiest, most supremely-chocolate ganache you’ve ever had. Use good chocolate —you’ll appreciate it when you taste your first melt-in-your-mouth bite. Click to continue reading »

ShirleyJ sent us a box of gluten-free Mugging! samples, which Eldest Daughter tore into the moment I walked in the door with them. From the box she pulled out a cute red mug, opened the packet and poured the contents into the mug. She added five tablespoons of water and a hand full of chocolate chips. Then she stirred the whole thing together with a fork and threw it in the microwave on high for 90 seconds. I was still debating what kind of chicken to make for dinner as she shoveled the Chocolate Brownie Cake into her mouth claiming it was an appetizer.

I don’t imagine that this same scene will take place in your house. However, our product testers, the ones who are actually gluten-free and not just hungry, agreed with Eldest Daughter: these are good! The Brownie Cake was the right combination of cakey and fudgey and at the intersection of sweet but not cloyingly sweet.

They’re just the right size for dessert and would be a great thing to send along with a child who cannot eat the gluten-laden treat being served at the event s/he is attending. ShirleyJ, based in Orem, Utah, offers these in individual gift packs and larger quantities. The company has been in business for more than 30 years and also offers gluten-free Whisk Bliss, a universal cooking base that creates quick and delicious sauces and soups without flour. Click to continue reading »

Our friends at Better Batter recently introduced gluten-free snack bars. The bars are a bit different than your regular gluten-free treats. Each supports one of the company’s causes and is named for the child that chose the philanthropy. The brownie batter, Caedon’s, supports providing clean water for kids in developing countries. Cherry chocolate Kaylee’s promotes Celiac awareness. Zion’s chocolate mint supports Autism awareness and research.

Our testers found these bars dense and flavorful. They’re easy to throw in your purse or your kid’s backpack in case you end up somewhere with limited food options. Click to continue reading »

We’re loving on these gluten-free, dairy-free, low glycemic index biscotti right now. Pastry Chef Lauren Hoover-West developed these in response to her food allergies and we’re glad she did. Like so many others with dietary restrictions, she grew tired of going for coffee with friends and not being able to find a cookie or dessert to go with her hot beverage.

Lauren’s Double Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Raisin and Cardamom cookies hold up well as dunkers in your favorite beverage. These Biscotti are great for lunches or popping in your purse to eat on the run. They contain:  Click to continue reading »

One week remains to vote in the Triumph Dining Best of Gluten Free Awards. Lucky for you we’re sweetening the deal by adding two new prizes to the mix. People who complete the survey can also win a one of five sets of the Essential Gluten-Free Baking Guides. This is in addition to the Kindle Fires and sets of Triumph Dining European Baking Cards!

It is very important that we recognize the manufacturers of our favorite gluten-free products. This Click to continue reading »

Being in the business, we come across great gluten-free products all the time. The fun part of our job at Triumph Dining is sharing those things with you, knowing you might not discover them on your own.

Here are a few products that won 2012 Best of Gluten Free Awards, ones that might not yet be on your radar. This underscores the importance of voting in the 2013 Awards. If you have not already done so and asked your friends to do the same, please join the cause. Without this continual knowledge, new products might not gain market awareness and these manufacturers might not continue to manufacture them.

Click to continue reading »

One of our Triumph Dining Staff Favorites has been recalled. Udi’s Healthy Foods of Denver, CO, is recalling its 12-ounce bags of “Udi’s Gluten Free Au Naturel Granola” with UPC 6-98997-80615-8 and “Best By 041913 12265 1.”

The product may contain undeclared almonds. People who are allergic to almonds run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Recalled “Udi’s Gluten Free Au Naturel Granola” products were distributed through retail stores in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington beginning on or about September 24, 2012.

The product comes in a 12-ounce, clear plastic bag marked with BEST BY 041913 12265 1 on back of the bag, underneath the Nutrition Facts panel. The recall is limited to products with “UPC 6-98997-80615-8″ and “Best By 041913 12265 1.” It does not extend to any other Udi’s products or lot codes.

Consumers who have purchased the product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

We look forward to continuing our long relationship with Udi’s and its products. Udi’s provides many options for the gluten-free community and we’re proud to be fans.

Join us in voting for your favorite gluten-free products! We’re happy to announce that voting is now open in our third annual Best of Gluten-Free Awards.

These awards provide recognition and thanks to the best gluten-free products on the market and let the manufacturers know how much we,the gluten-free, celiac community, appreciate their efforts.

You can vote in more than 40 categories ranging from Best Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread to Best Gluten-Free Cookbook. Last year just shy of 10,000 of you voted for your favorite products.

This being Triumph Dining, we’re sweetening the deal. Participation earns you a chance to win prizes including Kindle Fires and Triumph Dining European Dining Cards.

Voting is open through March 31, 2013. The winners s receive a trophy, bragging rights and a Best of Gluten-Free Awards Logo to use with their marketing materials.

Vote by clicking here. See the 2012 winners by clicking here.

Earlier in December, we brought you the low-down on gluten-free gift baskets: what to watch out for and where to find allergen-friendly treats.

Now, how about if you could have your own gluten-free gift basket delivered every month of the year?

With Healthy Surprise you can have just that! For a monthly fee they will deliver a variety of tasty gluten-free snacks right to your front door.

The kind of snacks you can expect in your monthly box are dried, dehydrated and freeze dried fruits, nuts, trail mixes, all types of bars, crackers, chocolates, kale chips and other new and interesting products. All of the snacks are full-sized and they are all gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.

Click to continue reading »