Eating cheap and Gluten Free at Cantina Laredo

Cantina Laredo in downtown Fort Worth is a good bargain and can be safe for the Gluten intolerant.

I've found that I can have the chips and salsa that are brought to the table as well as an a-la-carte single, chicken enchilada (with the verde sauce and no sour cream) for $2.75!  I don't know about you guys, but I'm always looking for something safe, tasty and at a relatively low cost.  Of course, I always tip like I ordered a real meal.  The rice and beans (not the borracho beans) that come with the full-price enchilada plate are Gluten Free, too, but I'm always too full to eat them.

Eating Gluten Free at Bailey's Barbeque in Fort Worth

Bailey's Barbeque in the heart of Fort Worth at 826 Taylor St (817) 335-7469 has a variety of low-cost Gluten Free meals.  For about $6, you can get any of their sandwiches - minus the bun of course - chips and a drink.  Their standard sauce is safe. One warning, bring cash, they don't take credit cards!

Eating at Pasand - a lot of Indian cuisine is Gluten Free

Eating at Pasand in Irving 2600 N. Beltline Road Irving, Texas 75062
972-594-0693 is like taking a Gluten-Free taste vacation.  Most of the sauces and entrees are naturally gluten free including their scrumptious south-Indian delicacy the dosa (pictured here.)  Dosas are made from rice and a type of lentil called dal.  In the center is a flavorful potato-based filling.  The gluten intolerant can also enjoy most papadam - sort of like tortilla chips made out of lentils.  However, make sure they are not fried in oil where breaded items are fried as well.  Most of the dipping sauces, curries and many dishes are gluten-free-friendly as well.  I have not had problems with getting sick from cross-contamination at Pasand's weekend buffet - which includes dosas!

Hail Merry products are delicious, healthy and Gluten Free

A friend at work brought me a sample of Merry's Miracle Tart - Chocolate.  The Hail Merry products seem to be a fabulous blend of tastiness and nutrition - I haven't tried all of them, yet.  They are raw, gluten free, have no refined sugar and "No processed anything" according to the packaging.  The tart was decadent and fairly reasonable calorie-wise.  Half the tart was listed as a single serving and came in at 180 calories.  It was very rich and filling and I think most people would be content with half.

Give these guys a try - here's a link to where you can get them locally!

Van's Gluten-Free Waffles are not bad

From time to time, convenience wins out and I buy frozen GF treats vs. making my own.  The other day, I found Van's Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free Flax waffles in the freezer aisle at my neighborhood Kroger in Bedford at Central and Harwood.  The waffles themselves are actually pretty healthy for you.  Alas, I added some butter and cinnamon sugar.  Although they are a little crumbly and dry, even with the butter, they taste pretty good and are a lot faster than making your own from scratch!

Gluten-Free Cosmetics Blog

I was looking online to see if my favorite Burt's Bees products were Gluten Free (they are) and came across this nifty blog called "Gluten Free Cosmetic Counter."  It's written by a woman whose husband is Celiac and they have a GF home.  It's definitely worth checking out!

Cypress Midnight Moon - Naturally Gluten-Free Cheese

OK, you might ask, what cheese isn't gluten free?  Well, there's the whole debate on Blue Cheese, which I hope to get to the bottom of.  The point is, this isn't just any cheese, it's my favorite cheese and it happens to be made from goat's milk - although it doesn't have any unpleasant tanginess - sorry, if I offend the goat-milk-cheese fans. 

In the Gluten Free diet it can be a challenge to find something tasty and not horrible for you.  Goat cheese is reportedly better for you than cow cheese.  No matter the health pros or cons, Cypress Grove's Midnight Moon is a cheese worth checking out.  I also like their cheddar.

You can order it online or buy it locally at Central Market in Fort Worth and Southlake or Market Street in Colleyville.  It might be available elsewhere, but these are places I've found it.