Make your request

Since the Ralphs here in Orange located off of Chapman Ave near the CA-22 doesn't offer gluten-free products, I thought I would check out their website to see what they have to offer.

I mosey on down to ralphs.com and work my way through a bunch of nothing to find the Search section under special orders. I type in Gluten-free. Up pops a listing of Bob's Red Mill products, some McCormick's meatloaf/seasonings mix, and my favorite Tumaro's Tortillas.

Ok FIRST of all, three things? I mean really now, a huge supermarket only offers three things that are "gluten free" on their ONLINE purchasing section?

Second of all, McCormicks and Tumaros are NOT gluten free! I went to their websites to check and Tumaros Tortillas are clearly made of wheat flour and McCormicks warns that they cannot declare any of their seasonings as gluten free.

Not Only is Ralphs failing to deliver GF products. They are LYING!
They say you can special request items by listing the product brand and name of product with a description, but they don't guarantee they will get it.

I'm not asking Ralphs to stock shelf after shelf of gluten-free product, that's why there is Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and smaller health food stores. I'm just asking for some basics, and for them to not lie.











for: Ralphs
love: Me


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Todays Recipe

Crépes w/Chicken, Asparagus & Mushrooms











Recipe and Photo Courtesy of Glutenfreeda.com


Ingredients:
For filling:
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons gf flour
1/2 cup, plus 2 Tablespoons milk
1/3 cup gf chicken stock
2 Tablespoons shallots, chopped
2 large button mushrooms, chopped
1 cup cooked chicken, chopped
1-1/2 Tablespoons dry Sherry
1/2 lb. thin asparagus, trimmed
1 teaspoon unsalted butter

For crépes:
1/2 cup gf flour
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Pinch of salt
Few grates of nutmeg
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

For topping:
1 large egg yolk
5 Tablespoons chilled heavy cream
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter


Directions:
For filling:
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons gf flour
1/2 cup, plus 2 Tablespoons milk
1/3 cup gf chicken stock
2 Tablespoons shallots, chopped
2 large button mushrooms, chopped
1 cup cooked chicken, chopped
1-1/2 Tablespoons dry Sherry
1/2 lb. thin asparagus, trimmed
1 teaspoon unsalted butter

For crépes:
1/2 cup gf flour
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Pinch of salt
Few grates of nutmeg
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

For topping:
1 large egg yolk
5 Tablespoons chilled heavy cream
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

Serves 4

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I think we, the gluten-free community, should work to make our supermarkets cater to us. We need gluten-free items. They need customers

It's a Biggie

Ralphs is a part of the Kroger corporation. Who are they?








That's just a few of the supermarkets associated with the Kroger Company. With so many supermarkets reaching so many people...why can't they reach us? The consumer who needs something a little different. A little less gluten.

How is it that the Kroger company will put gluten free items in the City Market in Winterpark, CO when they can't put any in the Ralphs in Orange, CA?

It's been awhile...

That week long break of skiing with my parents threw me off my game. Fear not, however! I'm back, and I have lots
to say.

I'll start off with my ski trip.


I met my parents in Denver, CO (the process to get there was hellacious, and i spent a full day in the airport only to go back to my dorm room. that's not the point here though). We were to embark upon a week of skiing in Winterpark, CO. I, along with my two wonderful GF parents, have never been skiing or done any sort of snow sports. I'm from Texas. We don't know what that white cold stuff is. At first I though I would try snowboarding, but after the first day I had twisted my knee and decided to give up. I got food poisoning and was out of commission the next day. Eventually I got on some skis and had a grand ol' time flying uncontrollably down the mountain.













Dad, Me, and Mom...after our first (terrifying) day down the mountain


Winterpark is pretty small. So I figured there wouldn't be very much my family could really eat. My parents felt the same way and brought an abundance of GF things including pancake mix, brownie mix, and corn pasta. It turns out that Winterpark has a little store that advertises all the wonderful gluten-free products it sells! In fact, the grocery store (CityMart) across from our resort/lodge had gluten-free products. They had a variety of GF flours. Ralphs doesn't even do that.

Hear that Ralphs? This little store in this little town in Colorado carries gluten-free products, but YOU! You who are located in BIG metropolitan areas in California have nothing. nada. zilch. rien. I'm ashamed of you Ralphs. Being shown up by small town grocers.


My parents and I ended up feasting on an array of gluten free dinners and with delightful brownies and chocolates. I must say, I will whole-heartedly declare that GF pancakes are so much better than regular pancakes. They are naturally sweet, and my dad knows how to make them light and fluffy. mmmm I could go for a short stack right now actually.

When we went out to restaurants the waiters all seemed to know what gluten was. One of the bar tenders at a restaurant at the bottom of the mountain has Celiacs. Strange how a small town is more educated about gluten than Orange County.

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Today's Plate!



Breakfast:
Fat-Free Strawberry Yogurt with my favorite brand (Bakery on Main)of Gluten-Free Granola with some English Breakfast Tea


Lunch:
Grilled salmon and salad greens sprinkled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, Raspberry frozen yogurt w/ sprinkles



Dinner:

How's a picture work for you?











That's Thai Kitchen Noodle Cart. They have a fantastic array of gluten-free microwavables. They are low in calorie and taste AMAZING. I absolutely love asian cuisine! mmmm

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My parents are in NYC right now, and they went to Risotteria. I spoke about Risotteria in a previous entry, and I am insanely jealous of them. I'll find out what they thought and let ya'll know!

Wheat Gluten: pet killer

My dog is my baby, and she will be my puppy till she passes on. Even though I never see her because she is back in Texas, I want the very best for her. That includes food.
From when they are this big









To this big










isn't she cute? that's mybabies, baby.


I bring pets up (in all their adorableness) because there has been a case of pet food poisoning and killing pets, dogs and cats. I was flipping through the channels today and saw it on FoxNews. I don't typically watch any news station, but when it has to do with pets dying...well I tune in.

Anyhow, the connection between the poisoning and my blog topic are very close. According to MSNBC.com there is a huge recall of over 100 brands of the "cuts and gravy" pet food. So what's the culprit that has caused the death of cats and dogs? The FDA thinks it might be Wheat Gluten. The food manufacturing companies, based in New Jersey and Kansas, use wheat to thicken the gravy sauce.


So there we have it! Gluten isn't meant for humans, so it sure as hell isn't made for pets. How are they possibly meant to eat such a thing in nature? Cut down the stalk of wheat with their claws?


I think it's time more places offer gluten-free foods for humans and pets, because frankly whole foods and trader joes type of stores aren't available to everyone. So come on Ralphs, Vons, Publix, Cost-Co, Sam's Club, etc. get with the program and feed your customers and stop denying them their nutrients!!!

Not so super market

Living in Southern California, there is an abundance of the same stores within a few miles of each other i.e. Ralphs, Starbucks, Del Taco, Rite Aid, etc

In fact there are two Ralphs on one street near my school. The difference for me is that one Ralphs carries gluten-free cereal and the other doesn't. But that's just it. Cereal. Nothing else gluten-free. Shouldn't a big, chain, supermarket carried food for everyone?

Grocery stores back home in Sugar Land, TX carry gluten-free foods.

I'd always thought of California as more health aware and food forward, especially orange county.

So come one Ralphs!!! Stop disappointing me and feed me!!

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Today's Plate!

Brunch: Omelet with sausage, mushroom, onion, and cheese. Hashbrowns and tea.

Dinner: Crispy Brown Rice Cereal with Mixed Berries***and a Non-Fat, Sugar-Free Vanilla Steamer froms Starbucks. Followed later by a dark chocolate caramel from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.


***

















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Somedays your meals just aren't balanced