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Monday, March 1st, 2010

Gluten-Free Company – Uli Mana

 

Uli Mana is a successful company with nothing but positive energy in every handmade product, founded by single mom Theresa Green. My L.A. and Florida gluten-free test group and I had the wonderful opportunity to test these delectable little morsels of yum. Each and every product has the capability to tease one’s taste buds and offers a smooth taste. They are a delicious treat for anyone needing a gluten-free chocolate fix. Who doesn’t have one of those cravings now and then, especially us women! Sorry men, I don’t mean to leave you out of this but there are just those times of the month- “Hey honey, don’t you dare touch MY Uli Mana.”

Not to side track you, but take a peek at the video review of their company.

Theresa Green started her career with Nirvana Manna (renamed later Maca Manna) after expected success with a home recipe passed to a friend at the Natural Foods Expo 2005. Word spread, and she could only grow and expand to incorporating UliMana. Her made-up name is semi-Huna—a Polynesian and Hawaiian science practiced by the aboriginals of those regions. It means asking the goddess Uli, the “Goddess of Serenity,” for the blessings of life force, energy, and vibrant health—“mana.”

All the chocolates used are raw as well as all of her ingredients, offering the raw food community the opportunity to take advantage of the many health benefits of raw chocolate, which reduces blood pressure, contains antioxidants, relaxes muscles (due to the mineral content), and increases insulin activity.

Theresa’s initial products were all sweetened with raw honey, and she featured many Cacao mixes. Two years ago she developed new products as a result of introducing agave into her test kitchen. The result was new versions of truffles, such as Goji Cherry Truffles, Dark Cacao Truffles, and her to-die-for Truffle Butter.

The new truffles were an immediate hit. As Theresa explains, they were an “eat-now” food and did not require any mixing or processing by the consumer except the process of hand-to-the-mouth-and-enjoy. Sales soared.

The  manufacturing facility is generously supplied by Blue Ridge Food Ventures, founded by Advantage West, funded by the State of North Carolina to help business. She has access to storage space, a loading dock, shipping and receiving, and even legal and accounting advice. She credits much of her ease in the business’s evolution to the opportunities her state offers through this facility, stating she’s never needed to take out a loan or sell shares of the business.

With the incorporation of UliMana strategically placed on a positive astrological day, Theresa continues to hire only positive people with positive energy, and all products continue to be raw and made by hand. I asked her what we can expect in the coming future, and she openly said a rice syrup version of new delectables to cater to the needs of the macrobiotic consumer, who will be very pleased, she’s sure.

We testers are still raving about Uli Mana and all the handmade treats which passed our palates.

Tina Turbin

This food company is given a thumbs up and is HIGHLY recommended by my entire team here at www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

Don’t forget to look at this company’s video review.


Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Gluten-Free Dessert- Calling all Mint Lovers

I have a new absolutely favorite dessert. I feel like I am in the snow and eating clean bright snow as this ice-cream touches my tongue. This magic is the Decadent Coconut Milk Mint ice-cream from Turtle Mountain. No casein and no dairy!

Tonight I was on my way back to my studio in the car, fighting no traffic as my husband and everyone else in the USA ( or so it seemed) was tucked behind the TV watching the SuperBowl. I stopped for a few necessities, such as a dessert to dive into before walking the puppies when I go there. I have tried Turtle Mountain’s Chocolate( delicious) and Vanilla, as this is what my husband always gets us. Tonight it was my choice. I never knew they had Mint! My hubby has been holding out on me. My oh my! How did they know MINT is my absolute favorite ( besides a delicious GF carrot cake with thick cream cheese frosting). I then stopped for a quick meeting with their manager at the Health Food store discussing a GF event I will do and then I had to stop at one other store for another necessity, not so glamorous as a dessert- for Swiffer Sweeper wipes. The puppies are forever tracking in dirt everywhere from the yard with a smile as if this is their job and I appreciate all their hard work.

Anyhow, I got home about 35 minutes after grabbing that little pint of yum- my mint ice-cream. I opened the top, I knew it would be slightly melted but what the heck. Ice-cream is good no matter what. Well, let me tell you, it was perfectly creamy, soft-serve style and the best darn ice-cream I have had in years. No dairy reaction ( all coconut milk) and no sugar shock. It was so minty and had this large very thin shavings of  curled chocolate all throughout. Oh my, I can not even describe the experience and I was not even hungry, so that gives it even a greater rating.

This is not a technical food review. This is a moment of bliss that I am still on a high from and had to run in to my studio and share this with you. Please do yourself a favor and take a moment for yourself one day and give this a try. Let me know what you think.

The company has a number of other types of ice-creams but this is by far the BEST one for any mint lover, like me.

Tina Turbin


Monday, February 1st, 2010

Gluten-Free Food and Company Review: Gotta Eat Sweets

Can you imagine a sublime brownie-meets-truffle without overpowering sweetness and presented as a piece of art? Well, you can now indulge in this vision in your very home.

Gotta Eat Sweets provides for those with allergies, embodies the aesthetics of Japan, tempts the palate with the finest European chocolate, and has been inspired by the eco-friendly movement. Two unique women united on a golf course to marry their individual talents to produce Truffipops and Truffibites. Oh my, it is truly “food-art,” as I have termed it.

Win a free Gotta Eat Sweets gift on the Contest Page.

Truffipops & Truffibites

All the ingredients are made from scratch. Gotta Eat Sweets roast their own organic nuts, create their own brittles and fruit rinds, grind their own butters, and puree their fruits for their multitude of fruit flavors. You won’t find chemical names listed in any of their ingredients—ever!

The presentation arrived in an earth-tone box with a peek-window on the top, all tied with a satin brown ribbon. I opened the box to behold my first sight of triangular Truffipops. Each unique, large “pop” was perched on a carved bamboo stick. Included were the Truffibites, in well organized bags with fine details of handmade truffles about 1 inch in diameter. I tenderly opened the first bag and had my first bite of Truffi-heaven, unlike any I have ever tasted prior to this moment.

Each flavor of “pop” or “bite” satisfied a taste I didn’t even know I had been longing for and was healthy, lightly-sweet, and beautiful. Search no more for gift-giving ideas! I can’t say enough about this company, these two women, and what they offer—quality, beautiful gluten-free delectables, offering seasonal choices and an abundance of flavors, not one alike. My LA taste team FULLY agrees.  Click the following link to watch the full GlutenFreeHelp.info video/review of Gotta Eat Sweets.

Tina Turbin

This FEATURED food company is given a thumbs up and is HIGHLY recommended by award-winning author Tina Turbin and founder of www.GlutenFreeHelp.info. Truffihearts from Gotta Eat Sweets is her February 2010 give-away on the Contest Page.


Monday, February 1st, 2010

“Allergies and Me” Promotes Tina and Browny Muffins

Florida-based organization Allergies and Me is an incredible resource for children and adults with food allergy and intolerance issues.

Therefore I’m very proud to be associated with such a dedicated organization and to have contributed a gluten-free recipe to their website.

I invite you to take a look by clicking on the following links:

Allergies and Me press release

Browny muffins  and more Browny muffins

A short paragraph from their website is excerpted below:

“Tina Turbin is a children’s book author, Danny the Dragon, and provides gluten-free support on her blogsite, www.GlutenFreeHelp.info as well as her main website, www.TinaTurbin.com . Tina has donated one of her favorite gluten free recipes, “Browny Muffins”, and it should become a household favorite. “


Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread- Runner Up January 2010 Contest

Tina, Here’s my chocolate chip banana bread that never lasts long in my house.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

January Contest 2010 Runner Up

preheat 325 degrees

Combine 2 cups gluten free flour mix

(I usually use Bette Hagman’s GF
mix)

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. xanthan gum

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt in a medium size bowl

Add 3 mashed ripe bananas

3/4 cup oil

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix well with a wooden spoon

Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips

Pour into greased loaf pan, 3 mini loaf pans or 6 jumbo muffin cups.

Bake at 325 for 25-45 minutes (depending on the size you are making) until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes
out clean.

Missy Mutchnik- January 2010 Runner Up recipe


Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Irresistible GF Chocolate Frosting – Runner Up January 2010 Contest

Dear Tina, Thanks very much for offering this contest! My recipe entry is one your readers will never, ever forgive you for posting, because it’s just too good! I love Pamela’s Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix, but I wanted something even thicker and more sophisticated for a grown-up GF birthday cake.

 

 

January 2010 Contest Runner UP

Irresistible GF Chocolate Frosting

Time: 5 minutes

1/2 cup Pamela’s GF Chocolate Frosting mix
2 tablespoons Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa powder
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon (real) GF vanilla

Combine frosting mix and unsweetened cocoa. Beat in butter, water, and vanilla. This recipe will frost an 8” flourless chocolate torte perfectly. Hope you and yours enjoy it!

Thanks again very much & all best, Vanessa

© 2010 Vanessa Wright


Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Gluten-Free Blueberry Pie

blueberrypie

INGREDIENTS:

One double gluten-free pie crust
5 cups fresh wild blueberries
¾ cup maple sugar
¼ cup rice flour
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon rice milk, or egg yolk for brushing
1 tablespoon sugar, for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, mix blueberries, maple sugar, flour, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt together until combined. Set aside.

3. Roll out pie crust into two 9 or 10-inch circles, according to your own instructions. Press bottom crust into pie pan.

4. Pour filling into prepared crust. Cover filling with top pie crust and crimp edges together. Slit top crust in a few places for steam to vent.

5. Brush pie crust with rice milk or egg yolk and sprinkle with sugar.

6. Chill pie in the freezer for about 30 minutes before baking.

7. Bake pie in preheated oven for about 60 minutes.

8. Pie is done when hot blueberry filling is thick and begins to ooze through those little holes.


Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Gluten-Free “OH MY!” Browny Muffins

Browny muffins

These are to die for! They are a wonderful result of trial and error but this one does it!

Makes approx. 30 brownies

INGREDIENTS

2 ¼ cups gluten free baking mix for brownies
1 cup maple sugar
1 tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup coconut oil
1 cup applesauce or apple/raspberry sauce
¼ cup vanilla
1 cup warm water
2 cups gluten-free chocolate chips, optional but yummy

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Oil your muffin trays.

3. Whisk together gluten-free flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt.

4. Now add coconut oil, applesauce, vanilla and warm water, stirring until the batter is smooth.

5. Fold in chocolate chips (optional).

6. Fill muffin cups ¾ full.

7. Bake for 4 minutes, rotate, and continue baking.

8. Bake approximately 10-12 minutes.

9. Remove from oven when brownies are firm on the edges but soft to the touch in the center, about 5 additional minutes.

10. Test for doneness, don’t over-bake.


Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Gluten-Free Waffle Cones

Chocolate Ice Cream ConeINGREDIENTS

1 whole large egg
1 egg white
¼ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup light agave syrup or maple “sugar”
2/3 cup rice flour (brown)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Pre-heat wafflecone press to about darkness level 3-4.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the egg and egg white together with the salt, blend well.

3. Add syrup or maple sugar, blend until it dissolves.

4. Add coconut oil, rice flour and vanilla and combine.

5. Make sure that the machine is hot by spooning 2 full tablespoons of batter onto the center of the plate. Press down lid and let cook. Check for doneness, and if more time is needed, go another 30-60 seconds. Your timer will let you know, about 60-90 seconds.

6. When waffle cookie is ready, gently lift off the press with a spatula, and place on a clean flat towel, using the cone shaper tool roll to make into a cone.

7. Repeat as above with the remaining batter.

8. Decorate as you wish and fill with your favorite ice cream or sherbet.

NOTE: Be sure to really seal or pinch the bottom of your cone while it’s still hot.


Monday, December 14th, 2009

Gift idea- Give Away A Cookie KIT!

TERRIFIC GIFT IDEA!
Darneed Best Gluten-Free & Grain-Free Cookies in a KIT

Cranberry Cookies in a Jar copy


I love Elana Amsterdam’s theory about cooking as well as her sincere desire to find healthy alternatives to avoiding the highs and lows of blood sugar without giving up the taste. I have taken her choc. chip recipe and made a fun gift out of  it and made ony a minor adjustment to suit my needs.

NO GRAINS IN THESE COOKIES!

I hope you enjoy and please write in or share your pictures of how your gift-jar turned out, before giving it away.

Place in a  mason jar in layers : use pop top or screw top mason jars

2-1/2 cups blanched almond flour

½ tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

½  cup dark chocolate OPTIONS: or 1/4 cup chocolate and 1/4 cup chopped nuts OR 1/4 cup dried cranberries and 1/4 cup chocolate OR 1/4 cup dried cranberries and white chocolate chips- just be imaginative, it is fun and easy!

Create a little decorative gift tag that says this:

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

In a bowl mix”½ cup light agave

½ cup grapeseed

1 tsp. vanilla-optional( I leave this out)

Add your wet ingredients to your dry( in the jar)

Mix real well – it will be  moist

Refrig 30 minutes

Drop onto parchment paper as 1 TBL balls

Flatten them down to about 1/3 inch thick

Bake approx 7-10 minutes

Thank you Elana Amsterdam

Gluten Free Almond Flour Cookbook , Celestial Arts, 2009

Tina Turbin

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Tina Turbin

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Tina Turbin became extremely interested and involved in the subjects of gluten free, gluten sensitive and celiac disease a number of years ago as a result of...

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