Gluten Free Expo Product Reviews

By Casey Knoll

The Gluten Free Expo, Canada's largest gluten-free event, came to Calgary on March 29 and 30. Giselle and I ventured down to the University of Calgary's Olympic Oval on March 30. To say the least, I acted like a kid in a candy store. There was complete sensory overload of gluten-free goodness.

I picked up lots of interesting products which I'm currently making my way through. Here's what I've chomped through so far:

Live Clean Age Resist: eco-friendly products provide irresistibly soft hair

By Giselle Wedemire

Considering that our skin absorbs about 60 per cent of the products we apply to it, it makes sense that I'm a bit picky about having natural, vegan beauty products at all times. My fascination for vegan haircare and skincare is not quite an addiction yet, but it's safe to say that I'm always on the lookout for new vegan products to add to my collection.

One of my favourite vegan brands of all time is Live Clean (LC), an environmentally-friendly Canadian brand that originally began as a haircare company in 2007. Since that time, the company has expanded exponentially and now offers lip balms, skincare, and bodycare for babies, kids, and adults.

Many Live Clean products are vegan and gluten-free, and all products are completely vegetarian, making them a great bet for any Picky Bitches out there. Plus, they're pretty affordable and easy to find in many Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Walmart locations across Canada, which means you can look and feel fabulous while on a budget. It really is a win-win situation.

Speaking of win-win situations, I had a chance to try out LC's latest haircare line Age Resist and it was amazing!* Here's the lowdown on this new product range.

LC's latest haircare collection, Age Resist, was formulated to address, treat, and prevent the symptoms of aging hair. These symptoms include: 
-a change in hair's texture
-dullness/lack of shine or vitality
-dry, fragile strands
-breakage
-thinning hair

Bitchez on the loose: We were on seven(teen)th Heaven

By Giselle Wedemire and Casey Knoll

After a long time apart, we decided it was time to reconvene for a much-needed Picky Bitchez lunch date. We had seen the signs and had heard the buzz surrounding 17 Avenue's relatively new gluten-free establishment Heaven Artisan GF Cuisine, so naturally we stopped in for an afternoon of tasting, savouring, and gossiping.

Located at 119  1013 17 Ave. SW, Heaven is a cozy and fully-licensed Celiac mecca offering comfort food staples such as mac and cheese and lasagna, and international dishes with a focus on Venezuelan cuisine. The best part? Everything on the menu is 100 per cent gluten-free (and a good portion of the menu is vegan)!

Here's what we both have to say about our experiences at Heaven:

One of the easiest crowd-pleasing desserts ever

By Giselle Wedemire

For family gatherings, I'm usually in charge of making and bringing along dessert. This is often easier said than done considering my family is comprised of two omnivores, one celiac, and three vegans (one of whom is trying to go soy- and gluten-free). Keeping this demographic in mind, the number of fun, tasty, and wallet-friendly desserts I can make dwindles.

Recently, though, I stumbled across a lifesaver of a cake recipe while browsing Finding Vegan, the drool-inducing online recipe gallery. And with popcorn as this easy recipe's main ingredient, you may be a bit dubious, but keep an open mind here. 

Popcorn's not just for the movies anymore! A popcorn-based cake has opened my eyes to its potential for making tasty desserts even more delicious. 

Enter peanut butter popcorn cake.

Valentine's Day plans for the pickiest of eaters

By Giselle Wedemire


Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and if you haven't made your plans yet, allow us to help. Whether you're hitched or hooked up, there are plenty of ways to show your love for  your significant other (if you're into that kind of thing). 

When it comes to spreading the love this Feb. 14, keep in mind these Picky Bitchez-approved local businesses for your dose of wheat- and meat-free V-Day treats.

Image courtesy of morgueFile

Chocolates
It may be too late to order online from great gluten-free/vegan chocolate suppliers like Chocolate Decadence and Premium Chocolatiers, but you can score chocolates for your picky Valentine at Purdy's. Purdy's carries chocolates fit for a Picky Bitch, though scoring them might mean doing a bit of research by means of consulting the company's online allergen guide. But then again, isn't your Valentine worth the time and effort spent researching these treats? (Hint: yes they are.)

Tasty vegan Timbits that failed horribly

By Giselle Wedemire

Since turning vegan two and a half years ago, I can safely say that there are only three things that I occasionally miss from my omnivorous days: Timbits/doughnut holes, Nutella, and peanut punch. 

I'm always on the lookout for ways to work around these infrequent cravings, so when I came across a recipe for vegan Timbits, I jumped at the chance to work some cruelty-free culinary magic.

The recipe itself was easy to follow and the warm smell of cinnamon and pumpkin that wafted through my house when these treats were baking was drool-inducing. Needless to say, my hopes for these bad boys were high.

Pesto Pasta Perfection

By Casey Knoll

I LOVE pasta. Even though there are gluten-free alternatives, the switch from wheat pasta was an adjustment when I figured out I was gluten intolerant two years ago. 

So I'm always on the lookout for easy, tasty gluten-free pasta recipes.

Here's one recipe I tried from the cookbook Weeknight Gluten Free: Simple, Healthy Meals for Every Night of the Week by Kristine Kidd.

I happened upon this cookbook at Winners, and the title immediately caught my eye. When I think about 'weeknight meals,' two words come to mind: 'quick' and 'easy.' 

The pasta recipe I tried -- Penne with Walnut Pesto and Peas -- ticked both of these boxes and I'm excited to try out more of Kidd's recipes (which says a lot, since i'm not the biggest fan of cooking!).

Here's the recipe:

Penne with Walnut Pesto and Peas

Ingredients:

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
2 shallots or 1 garlic clove, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup walnuts
2 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp. kosher salt, plus more, to taste
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup grated pecorino romano cheese, plus more for serving
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/2 lb. gluten-free penne pasta
10 oz. sugar snap peas, strings removed
10 oz. shelled English peas, or 1 package (10 oz.) frozen peas

Directions:

1. In a food processor, combine the basil, shallots, walnuts, lemon zest and the 1/2 tsp. salt. Process until finely ground. With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil. Mix in the 1/4 cup cheese. Season with salt and a generous amount of pepper. Set the pesto aside.

2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and stir well. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes (or 4 minutes less than the cooking time indicated on the package). Add the sugar snap peas and English peas and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, about 4 minutes more.

3. Remove 3/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and reserve. Drain the pasta and peas. Put the pesto in a large bowl. Whisk in enough of the reserved cooking water to thin to a sauce. Add the pasta and vegetables and toss to coat. Thin with more cooking liquid and adjust the seasoning with salt. Serve immediately and pass additional cheese alongside. 

Serves 4.


Have a favourite gluten-free pasta recipe? Let us know!