Saturday Spotlight: Pure Bred Gluten Free Breads

Well, the holiday season can be a little tough for coeliacs or those with gluten intolerances. 

A slice of delicious Christmas pudding? Forget it!
Turkey stuffing?! What did you put in it?!
Er.. do you have the ingredients list? 
NO! YOU CAN'T USE THE SAME SPOON!!! 

But don't worry - there are good gluten free products out there..... 

and I've just found a new one! 





PureBred is a new range of Gluten Free bread available in Australia. These breads are quite different to what you're used to seeing on the shelves - they're light, fluffy and contain half the amount of fat of the leading brand of gluten free bread. Not only that, they also have three times the amount of fibre!

If you've been reading Southern In-Law for a while, you'd know I'm the queen of Food Intolerances. Unfortunately their Seeded Wholegrain Rolls and the Multigrain Farmhouse Loaf contain Plum Puree which is a big no no for my stomach! Nonetheless, their Super Soft White Sandwich Rolls and White Farmhouse Loaf were Kristy-friendly and by jove were they good!

Both the rolls and the bread are super soft with a sourdough like flavour. They weren't squeaky like some gluten free breads and they don't sit like a brick in your stomach like others. The bread was light, fluffy and perfect fresh or toasted.

Now... let me tell you something. On the packet it says Not suitable for freezing. Well as an experiment (read: there's no way one coeliac can devour and entire loaf of bread and 3 bread rolls before they go bad) I froze them so that I could tell you how they went. 

The results? Perfect! They aren't affected by freezing whatsoever - just leave the bread out on your counter to defrost when you need it or gently defrost it in the microwave on a low setting. So you have my word - they're totally freezable (sorry Pure-Bred, I freeze everything!) 

The PureBred range is available at Coles stores Australia-wide, so do yourself a favour and get some ASAP! 

Kristy received PureBred products courtesy of PureBred and Communicado - all of the opinions expressed in this review are her own. 

Saturday Spotlight: Choices Gluten Free Bakery Breads - Part Two!

It's the weekend! Finally! This week feels like it has dragged on forever and to make things worse, I've been sick all week!

Now that you know why I've been missing, you should also know that I won't be missing for too much longer. Jesse and I have sent off all of our visa paperwork and it is en route to Washington! In some ways, it's a weight off our shoulders - but in others, it's a weight that we no longer have control over! Eeeep! 

But lets talk about good things - like carbs. I have no shame in saying that I'm a bit of a carboholic. Choices Gluten Free Bakery have sent me to carb heaven, and I never want to leave. 

See that bagel up there? It's Gluten Free! and no, this isn't some cruel joke. 

Have you been searching for Gluten Free bread that tastes incredible too? I found it.

If you're in Australia, I beg you to either order bread online or run to your closest Choices bakery to grab some - your tastes buds will thank you. 

Above was Wholemeal Bread Rolls, Dinner Rolls and of course the Blueberry Bagels. 

The wholemeal rolls are perfect for anyone who was previously a fan of wholemeal breads. Often, eating gluten free breads, I miss the nuttiness of wholemeal and wholegrain breads - but this is a good replacement! The dinner rolls were smaller than I expected, but so delicious when warmed in the oven! Their outsides are crusty and crunchy whilst the middles are soft and delicious. 

Now, the bagels. Where do I get a lifetime supply of gluten free bagels (and the three seed bread, for that matter - and pretty much all of the breads)? If you know, please put my name down on the list! Holyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yum. 

But wait - there's more! How on earth Choices manage to make not one, but dozens of different delicious and stomach friendly gluten free breads, I will never know! I have not had one single disappointment. 

The Fruit Loaf is another favourite - or should that be obsession. Filled with juicy raisins and the perfect amount of cinnamon and spice, this bread tasted like real raisin bread when toasted - ridiculously good. You don't even miss the gluten for a second! This is definitely one to add to my never ending supply wishlist. 

The Crusty Italian Loaf was made for soup dunking (though, I kind of think all breads are made for soup dunking). It has a delicious crusty crust with a soft middle and is delicious toasted or freshened up in the microwave. 

The Paninis are the perfect toasted sandwich vessel. They're thin and crunchy and perfect if you're like me and prefer a higher filling to bread ratio :P 

So tell me - are you a carboholic too? It's okay to admit it! 

What's your favourite type of bread?

Also, if you take a visit to a Choices Bakery or order their bread online - Let me know, I'd love to know what you think! :) 

Kristy received Choices Bakery Breads courtesy of Choices Gluten Free Bakery. All of the opinions expressed in this post are entirely her own (she really is a third person speaking carb-devouring weirdo!) 

Saturday Spotlight: Choices Gluten Free Bakery

 Why hello, lovelies! I haven't stopped by much at all this week, but how about I fill you in? 

Operation: Complete Visa is in full swing. We have filled out all of the forms, wasted thousands of trees (so sorry, environment - I think the Immigration Department is out to get you!) printing off proof documents, have our beautiful family and friends madly filling out statutory declarations (thank you all, I love you and I promise you will have VIP seats at our wedding), have paid visa fees, booked medicals and pulled about 306 hairs out of each of our heads, respectively - and I probably have a few grey ones too. 

But it's all good. We're excited and ready to see how long this takes. We are hoping for not very long at all as everything is completed, but you never know!

I have spent the morning on the phone to my incredible future husband finalising everything so I'm having a superb day! But something else fantastic that has been happening lately comes from Choices Gluten Free Bakery. 

 If you can't eat gluten, think about this; you take a piece of bread, pick it up, put it in your mouth, take a bite and cruuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnch. 

Don't worry, you're not going to be feeling rotten in a few hours because this bread is gluten free. That can't be true?! That's what I thought a few weeks ago. 

However, Choices know their stuff - and they do it magnificently. Their bread is so good that I would seriously be happy if someone bought me a loaf or a baguette as a present. It's that good. 

Their Baguette is deliciously crunchy when popped into the oven to crisp and freshen up and their English Muffins toast beautifully with the perfect crusty edges. 

Choices have four bakery stores across NSW and deliver their bread to different parts of the country. They are made fresh each day and then shipped off or bought in the stores - and oh are they good!

The Classic Loaf is your basic gluten free white bread that is great toasted. I wasn't so much of a fan fresh, but when toasted it was divine! If you don't want to toast it, pop your slices in the microwave for a few seconds to freshen up and you're good to go.

My favourite of this bunch had to be the baguette. When it was warmed in the oven it was crunchy and delicious and perfect for dipping into soup!

My second delicious delivery from choices included the Three Seed Loaf, Hamburger Buns and the High Top Loaf. 

Let me tell you about the Three Seed Loaf. Holy gluten free heaven. Eaten fresh, it's delicious - freshened in the microwave, delicious - toasted, delicious. It can't lose. If I ever won the lottery, I may just eat only this bread for the rest of my life - or buy a never ending loaf. A-maze-ing.

I gush, but seriously - if you were previously a fan of seedy grainy breads and can no longer eat them (as I was), do yourself a favour and order a loaf ASAP!

The High Top Loaf was also delicious! Crunchy with that delicious chew on the crunch and great toasted or fresh! 

The Hamburger Buns would be perfect for entertaining, just pop them in the microwave to freshen up, add your fillings and you're good to go! I'm not a hamburger bun but I just filled mine with regular sandwich fillings and it was perfect!

The best thing about Choices Gluten Free (other than their yummy bread, of course) - they get food intolerances and allergies. I can sometimes feel like a hassle having to check things for ingredients (which often involves contacting companies), however, choices have everything written up on their site - you can even search for products by allergies!

All of their products have no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and none of the above breads made me sick. None! They're made in a strictly gluten free facility so there's no contamination - and they're serious about keeping potential contaminants away from other breads.

So what's my verdict on Choices? Please go buy some for yourself - ASAP! Especially that three seed loaf, mmmmmmmmmmmm.  

I received the above gluten free bread products from Choices to try. The opinion expressed above is completely my own - and I honestly am an incredibly satisfied carbaholic who will stick with Choices for years to come.
 

 
 

Saturday Spotlight: Aribar Gluten Free Snack Bars!

Yay! It's the weekend! After a very busy week of work, I am very happily taking the weekend off! 

This week I have some yummy treats to share with you that I've already been told by quite a few readers that they're a must have! Hi Sammy, Maria and Lisa! 

My friends at Aribar were lovely enough to send me some of their Aribars (including the new Caramel Crunch Aribar that both Sammy and Lisa told me were to die for!) 

I even dusted off my lightbox to photograph the Aribars a little differently! Plus... I feel a little bad that it just sits there, unused :P 

 

Aribars are; 

• gluten free
• wheat free
• dairy free
• free of artificial additives 
• made with wholegrain brown rice
• low in salt
• DELICIOUS!

The Caramel Crunch Aribars are the newest flavour.

It's not often you find caramel flavoured treats that are gluten free, but these bars certainly make up for the disappointment!

My favourite thing about the Aribars is that they're not too sweet! I can't handle foods that are too sweet so these are perfect - and don't give me that awful cheek aching feeling followed by a huge sugar crash!

 



The Chewy Cocoa Aribars are quite possibly my favourite.

What can I say? I'm a chocolate loving girl!

They're crisp and crunchy with a delicious cocoa flavour and are a hit with both kids and parents!

 To me, Vanilla Blast Aribars are a far greater version of your typical Rice Krispie Treat or LCMs bar. 

They won't give you a huge sugar spike and sickening sugar crash and they won't make your teeth hurt from all of the sugar.

These bars have the perfect amount of vanilla flavour and were a huge hit with everyone I shared them with - especially my vanilla loving friends. 

Aribars are the perfect fun treat for kids that Mums and Dads (and Grandparents and Nannies - for that matter) will love too. 

They're readily available at Coles, Woolworths, Franklins, IGA, Harris Farm Market, Thomas Dux and Health Food stores across the country and are perfect for everyone - whether you have food intolerances and allergies or not. 

Aribars would be an excellent halloween or anytime party food - or even for the little trick or treaters who can't enjoy what everyone else can! They can also easily be kept on hand for when friends with food issues come around!

So tell me, what's your pick - Caramel, Chocolate or Vanilla?

Like I said, I'm totally a chocolate girl!

Saturday Spotlight: Vitality Bakehouse - Gluten Free Has Never Tasted So Good

Why hello there! Sorry I've been a bit absent this week. I haven't been sick (thankfully!), KISS Freelance has been keeping me busy! I'm beginning to realise that being a freelance writer is what I will do for the rest of my life - and the fact that I also do social media management and consulting is an added bonus!

This week I left Sydney for a little while, taking a day trip down to Melbourne to work. It was a whirlwind trip, but airplanes are always fun.

Another highlight of my week was receiving this package from Vitality Bakehouse. It was like all my gluten free Christmases had come at once!

Vitality Bakehouse have the tagline of "Gluten Free has never tasted so good" and they are exactly right. All Vitality Breads are:

• Gluten Free
• Nut Free
• Egg Free
• Wheat Free
• Dairy Free
• 99% Fat Free
• Free of Artificial Colours and Flavours
• No added Fructose

And even this GF/Soy Free/101 Food Intolerance lady can enjoy them! Whilst the breads contain small amounts of soy lecithin as an emulsifier, that's one soy derived ingredient my stomach doesn't mind (thank goodness or I wouldn't be able to eat Nutella either!)

Vitality actually make some of my favourite gluten free breads! They're soft and taste incredible - you don't even need to toast them! 

On the left are Traditional White, Roasted Seed and Herb and Garlic - three of four of Vitality's Savoury Bread options.

The Traditional White is exactly that. Gluten free white bread topped with a sprinkling of sesame seeds. Obviously it has a different texture to gluten breads, but its soft and moist and is perfect eaten fresh or toasted. It doesn't even need to be stored in the fridge!

The Roasted Seed contains a blend of seeds and lentils, giving it a nutty flavour and a little bit of crunch. Yep, I can't eat lentils - but thankfully they're easy to pick out - and worth it because this bread is delicious! 

The Garlic and Herb bread is full of flavour and perfect eaten on irs own fresh or toasted or used in a sandwich for a flavour sensation!

But the deliciousness doesn't stop there, Vitality Bakehouse also make sweet breads! 

The Traditional Fruit Loaf is my gluten free love and my favourite vessel for peanut butter sandwiches. It's full of juicy raisins with a hint of spice and is moist and delicious. It can be toasted as raisin toast - but I love eating it fresh.

The Banana Bread is a new addition to the Vitality range and oh boy is it good! It's moist, buttery and full of banana flavour - even my gluten eating family loved it. My mum actually bought me a loaf for my birthday because that's how good it is! 

But not only do Vitality Bakehouse have your breakfast and lunch sorted, they've got you covered for tea time too! They have a range of cakes and muffins and their biscuit range is perfect for sharing with friends over a cup of tea!

The Vanilla Honey and Vanilla Cream cookies are divine and melt in your mouth! I shared them with gluten eating friends and they loved them - and even commented that you could pull them off as homemade!

Vitality Bakehouse products are available across the country - and the easiest way to find out where you can buy some near you is to "like" them on Facebook and ask where your closest stockist is!

My list of must try Vitality products? 

The Traditional Fruit and Banana Breads, followed by the Traditional White! 

So tell me - what's your favourite sandwich combination?!