Your eyes are not deceiving you – that is gluten-free cake at Starbucks!  While the national launch doesn’t hit stores until May 5, 2009, employees are getting a preview this week.  The Starbucks blog gives more information:

“The Orange Valencia Cake is a delicious moist citrus cake bursting with Valencia oranges and topped with crunchy almonds.  Not only is it gluten-free, it is also prepared with 7 simple ingredients: Whole Eggs, Valencia Orange Pulp, Almonds, Sugar, Orange Peel, Gluten Free Baking Powder, and Orange Oil.  Plus it delivers 30% of your daily value of vitamin C.

Keep on the look out for it in the pastry case with a sign that says “gluten-free.”  A single cake will be displayed unwrapped so you can see it clearly, but don’t worry.   They all come individually packaged to prevent cross contamination.  And with the ingredient list right on the package, it’s easy to see exactly what you are eating.  Whether you are gluten-sensitive or not, this product is delicious and satisfying and I hope you will all enjoy it soon.”

You can see in the out of focus cell-phone photo that each cake IS “wrapped for gluten-free goodness.”  Each cake is about the diameter of a baseball and is considered a “single-serving” [Nutritional info: Calories – 290, Fat – 16g, Carbs 52g (23g sugar), Protein 9g]

What a wonderful change – to have access to gluten-free food across the country without fear of cross-contamination.

And the best news?  My source on the inside says it tastes good – sweet and a little bit like orange but not overwhelming so.  It’s very moist and doesn’t crumble like many gluten-free cakes. She’s a gluten-glutton and gives it a thumbs up!  I should have one of my own to taste later this week.  Any one in the test market get to try it yet?

Let’s hope it’s such a smashing success that Starbucks and other chains continue to add gluten-free options to their menus!

Here is my review of the Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix

Here is my review of the Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Links to Amazon:

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Brownie Mix

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake Mix

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix

That’s right – B to the C, the queen of baking, Betty Crocker.  It seems like a dream, but it’s true – June 1, 2009 Betty Crocker gluten-free baking mixes will be available nationwide.  Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix!!! Gluten-Free Devil’s Food Cake Mix, Gluten-Free Chocolate Chunk Brownies and Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Here are the ingredients of each of the mixes:

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix Ingredients: Rice Flour, Potato Starch, Sugar, Potato Starch, Leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), Xanthan Gum, Salt.

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Devils Food Cake Mix Ingredients: Sugar, Rice Flour, Potato Starch, Cocoa Processed wtih Alkali, Tapioca Starch, Leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), Salt, Guar Gum.

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies Mix Ingredients: Sugar, Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), Cocoa Processed wtih Alkali, Rice Flour, Potato Starch, Corn Starch, Xanthan Gum, Salt.

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Mix Ingredients: Rice Flour, Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), Brown Sugar, Sugar, Potato Starch, Potato Flour, Leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate) Salt.

Now the real test will be if they are better than my gluten-free yellow cupcake recipe and the best gluten-free brownies recipe…

Here is the letter I received from General Mills (who I already love for Gluten-Free Rice Chex, Gluten-Free Corn Chex, Honey Nut Chex and more):

“Thank you for contacting General Mills.  Your comments are important to us.

We are committed to making a difference in the lives of our consumers.  Feedback such as yours is important to the nature of our business.

We have enclosed the information that you have requested below.  The products will begin national distribution on June 1, 2009.

We appreciate your loyalty and the time you took to contact us.  Please be assured that we will share your thoughts with the appropriate individuals.

Sincerely,
Consumer Services

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Products:

·         Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix - UPC: 16000-27791

o   Size:  15 oz

o   Consumer adds:  1/2c butter softened, 1 t gluten-free vanilla, 2 eggs and ½ c milk/or water

o   Makes an 8-inch square or 9-inch round pan

·         BC Gluten Free Devil’s Food Cake Mix – UPC:  16000-27792

o   Size: 15 oz

o   Consumer adds:  5 T Butter-softened, ½ t. gluten free vanilla, 2 eggs, 1c low-fat buttermilk or low-fat yogurt

o   Makes an 8-inch square or 9-inch round pan

·         BC Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Brownies – UPC:  16000-27793

o   Size:  16 oz

o   Consumer adds:  2 Eggs and 7 T butter, melted.

o   Makes an 8-inch square or 11×7-inch pan

·         BC Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix – UPC: 16000-27794

o   Size: 19 oz

o   Consumer adds: 5 T butter-softened, 2 t. gluten-free vanilla and 2 eggs

o   Consumer should line the cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper.  “

Here is my review of the Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix

If a trip to Italy for gluten-free ravioli isn’t realistic, you can order gluten-free ravioli from Everybody Eats or Conte’s and FoodMatters makes gluten-free lasagna that would fool any palate.  Gluten-free pasta is also available at several NYC restaurants: Bistango, Mario Batali’s Otto, Opus on the Upper East Side, Lumi, PizzaBolla, Sambuca, Mozzarrelli’s gluten-free weekends and now even at Blue Smoke you can order gluten-free mac and cheese (thanks to allergic girl’s work).  But for the ultimate gluten-free pasta overload of cheesy goodness – check out S’mac on the Lower East Side. 

It’s great to see more gluten-free recipes in mainstream food sites and the NYTimes.  What is your favorite gluten-free pasta brand?

Triumph Dining is giving away FREE American Dining Cards until the end of August. There’s absolutely no purchase necessary. You can simply visit Triumph Dining’s Web site to participate and get a free dining card.

The purpose of this give-away is to raise money for Celiac Disease Awareness. If they get 15,000 people to sign up for free dining cards, Triumph Dining will make a $10,000 donation in support of a national celiac disease awareness campaign. When they hit their goal, they’ll let us decide which non-profit(s) receives the donation.

They’re trying to build awareness on two fronts: With 15,000 more dining cards on the street, we’ll be educating more restaurants about the gluten free diet faster. And, with $10,000 funding behind a national campaign, we can diagnose and educate more Celiacs.

I highly recommend getting the free cards AND buying the full set. It’s by far the most useful gluten-free purchase I have made. I used my ‘Mexican Cuisine’ card to get this incredible and safe gluten-free meal at Rosa Mexicano restaurant in NYC.

Thanks to David and Kelly for the heads up. Since their posts, the Gluten-free big idea has moved from second place to an overwhelming first. Keep the votes coming.

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness is working with the celiac community (that means us!) to get the word out there. They are asking for our help in contacting local TV Stations to ask that they air thePSA.

Join the 50 Station Challenge!!

If you’re ready to join our 50 Station Challenge, here’s what you need to do:

1. Contact the stations you’d like to air the PSA. You can find their contact information in your local telephone book or online at their website. Ask to speak to the person in charge of handling public service announcements.

2. Ask this person if the station is airing PSAs and if they might be interested in celiac disease. If you have celiac disease, tell them your personal story. Telling your personal story will show why it is so important for the station to air the PSA.

3. Ask them to view the PSA at http://www.celiaccentral.org/Other/PSA/358/ or to contact Vanessa Maltin 215-692-2639 or Vanessa@celiaccentral.org. Some stations may request a DVD or BETA copy. In this case, please ask for the address of the station and the name of the person whose attention the package should be sent to. Send this information to Vanessa Maltin and she will send the DVD or BETA version to the station.

4. About one week after you’ve emailed them the link or NFCA has sent them the DVD or BETA copy, it is very important for you to follow up to see that the person received your email or our package and to find out whether they’d like to air it.

5. If they say yes, FANTASTIC!! If they say no, don’t be discouraged. Pick another station and try again!! .

To join the 50 Station Challenge, please contact:
Vanessa Maltin
National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
215-692-2639
Vanessa@celiaccentral.org

PS – I loved Elisabeth when she was on Survivor Australia (yes I am a reality TV junkie)! Apparently going on Survivor was how she figured out she had Celiac. Surviving on fish and rice made everyone else weak, but suddenly she had tons of energy because she was no longer consuming gluten.

Here is the official announcement from the NFCA:

NFCA’s Alice Bast to be guest on The View
On Wednesday March 14th, “The View,” a national daytime talk show on ABC-TV with hosts Rosie O’Donnell, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, will air a segment on celiac disease. Dr. Peter Green of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University and Alice Bast, executive director of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness will be guests for the segment. “The View,” recipient of the 2003 Daytime Emmy® Award for “Outstanding Talk Show,” is ABC Daytime’s morning chatfest, featuring a team of dynamic women of different ages, experiences and backgrounds discussing the most exciting events of the day. The program has received critical acclaim since premiering August 11, 1997. It’s broadcast live Monday through Friday from NYC (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, ET; CLOSED-CAPTIONED; broadcast in stereo; TV-14). Check your local listing for times.