Soup-er side

Photo/Vitacost.com

I'm always on the lookout for new additions to my lunch, side dishes to go with my gluten-free sandwiches. They have to be nutritious (at least somewhat), taste good and help keep my afternoon hunger at bay.

I discovered Dr. McDougall's Pad Thai Noodle Soup through Taste Guru, the subscription service that mails a monthly box of six gluten-free foods at their choosing. The soup was a little too spicy for my taste, but I liked it. The broth was flavorful and infused with vegetables, and the noodles were cooked to perfection in the microwave at my workplace. It's taste, texture and convenience all scored points.

However, the Pad Thai Noodle Soup didn't earn a spot at the top of my regular roster of lunch items, for two reasons.

O'Sweet! Irish-inspired treat

Photo/GF Garden State: A pan of finished Irish Potatoes

St. Patrick's Day can mean green beer or corned beef and cabbage to other people. In my house, we're all about Irish Potatoes.

These small, oblong pieces are NOT real potatoes, but rather dessert confections. A sweet treat that's naturally gluten-free, they're easy to make at home and quite delicious.

GFGS Community Calendar: March 2014

Updated March 17, 2014

As a service to our regular readers and the Celiac community at large, Gluten Free Garden State has started an ongoing list of upcoming events of interest. We will feature events local to New Jersey, those regional program within driving distance and some that may be worth a longer trip. Restaurants, retailers, event planners and charities are encouraged to submit their gluten-free events to gfgardenstate@gmail.com for possible inclusion.

The calendar will appear on the second Sunday of each month. Links will be posted to Facebook and Twitter using the hashtages #2ndSundaySked and #savetheceliacdate.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 18: Northern NJ Celiac Disease Support Group Meetup: Monthly meeting held 7-9 pm at the Dorothy B. Kraft Center, 15 Essex Rd., Paramus (Bergen County). According to the group, this meeting will feature a sampling of specialty baked goods by Lizzie's GF with a visit by business owner Liz Schaeffer, and tastings of products by Frontier Soups and Libre Naturals. Cost to attend is $2; children are free. Open to the public. RSVP and find more information here.