Crystal Noodle Soup...

It's another overcast day here in Ohio today....where has all the sunshine gone? Days like today remind me of Fall, except for the site of the lush green foliage I can see out my front living room window. I was just recently diagnosed with having a very low Vitamin D level, and gloomy days like today sure don't help.

I sat around for awhile wondering what could boost my mood...BESIDES chocolate :-) If it is going to be gloomy out I needed  to think about what I could make to lift my spirits for lunch. Mmmmm...
I have always loved a good bowl of soup and a sandwich on a dreary day, so today would be perfect.

Last week I had received three different varieties of soup from Crystal Noodle to sample and review. Since I have a special love for onions I decided to try their Caramelized Onion soup. I enjoy making home made soup on a cold Winter day, but being we are in the middle of summer with just one of those completely gloomy days looming overhead and no place to go, I decided to try something quick and easy.

I had some cooked bacon leftover from yesterdays breakfast so I threw it on some gluten free rye with a slice of cheese, and made a bacon-grilled cheese sandwich. Then I threw some water in the microwave to boil to add to the soup cup. While the soup steeped I finished the grilled sandwich and then sat down to a very tasty lunch.

The Caramelized Onion soup is as delicious as any onion soup you will find in a restaurant, minus the bread and cheese of course, but never the less very delicious. I enjoyed the taste of the onions with the texture of the mung bean noodles. These noodles are a clear thin noodle made from the mung bean, and are flourless, making them gluten-free, and always non-fried. The cup makes a 1.09 oz serving of soup and was quite filling  with only 110 calories. It did not disappoint! I am anxious to try their other varieties as well.

Although the Sodium percentage was slightly higher that the regular canned onion soups I currently stock in my cupboard, I would definitely add this to my grocery list in the future. The fact that these soups are gluten-free, have no added MSG, 0 Trans fat, are great for Vegetarians, and ready in three minutes make them great time savers. Not to mention it was great tasting as well, as all the fresh ingredients are freeze dried to preserve the taste.

You all know how I love to experiment....I believe by adding just a touch of cornstarch as a thickening agent that this could make a wonderful glaze for pot roast.....Mmmmm...

Well until next post, have a great gluten-free day, and check out Crystal Noodles site where you can purchase the soups. You'll be glad you did...

Sharon

Mrs Bickel's pizza crusts...

A few months back I had received several of Mrs Bickel's pizza crust to sample. Needless to say I had placed them in the freezer and they got overlooked until yesterday when I had a real hankering for pizza. Suddenly it was as if a light bulb went off in my head when I remembered them!

With all the traveling I have done the past few months visiting family,  they had just got pushed to the back of my mind...This was a big error on my part, because I have to tell you that these pizza crusts are the best gluten free crusts I have tasted to date! Wow!!!

Even though I had to dice and chop fresh ingredients, it was well worth the effort. I had received their Original crust as well as the Italian Herb, so I decided to make both as they were  the 8 inch versions.

It didn't take long for the crusts to defrost after taking them from the freezer, actually just the right amount of time to slice my tomatoes, onions, and green peppers, along with my fresh spinach leaves.
On the Original crust I added my sauce then topped with the green peppers, onions and cheese.

The Italian herb got the workings of the sliced tomatoes and fresh spinach leaves....yum! Both were equally delicious although I preferred the Original, only because I love onions almost as much as I love my chocolate :-)

The crusts are thin and baked up crisp and crunchy, not soggy like so many other gluten free crusts I have tried. OK...I admit that in my pre- gluten free days I absolutely loved the doughy, gooey crust of pizza, but life throws you a curve ball sometimes, and I am proud to say I have adapted fairly well to my gluten free lifestyle, thin crust and all....

I am really drawn to companies such as Mrs Bickel's that personally know what it is like to be gluten intolerant or who have Celiac disease themselves, because they really seem to get it right. The owner of this company is no exception as she found out at a early age that gluten was something that was to be avoided in her life. She has worked over 20 years perfecting this crust and I have to say she has done a excellent job.

If you check out their home page you will find several restaurants that carry their pizza crusts, so if you live local to one of  them I hope you will stop in and enjoy. Better yet...have your favorite restaurant owner stop by the site and order some samples to try, or order your own crusts to make at home. Yum!!! As always, their shipping is FREE...I don't know many companies now days who can say that!

I really enjoyed the pizza crusts, in fact I have a few slices left over for today's lunch in just a few minutes. So until next time....Have a great gluten free day!

Sharon