Category Archives: Gluten-Free Entrees

My Gluten-Free Deep Dish Pizza Discovery in Chicago

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This is really GF!

This is really GF!

The title of this post is no joke, my friends! I recently heard from a friend of mine that there was a pizza place in Chicago, Chicago’s Pizza,  now offering gluten-free deep dish pizza, as well as thin crust and stuffed pizza.  They also offer baked calzoni that is gluten-free as well! Since being diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance back in 2010, I have missed deep dish probably more than anything. Lots of restaurants now offer gluten-free thin crust pizza but until now, I had not discovered anyone that has perfected deep dish like I remember and loved so very much.

On a recent visit with my mom, I discovered that Chicago’s Pizza had a location not too far from her. We decided to go check it out. My son wanted gluten-free thin crust as he has not found one he has been super fond of since being diagnosed back in August of 2011. We were all excited and anxiously awaited our pizzas. While we were waiting, they brought us some gluten-free foccaccia bread and olive oil to dip it in. I find it was easier to dip the “glutenous” foccaccia in the olive oil in the past, this was more like a flatbread, but still good to have something while we were waiting, nonetheless and was quite tasty.

Great dipped in olive oil!

Great dipped in olive oil!

Our pizzas came out and we all loved them! My deep dish was the “Chicago Special”, with green pepper, onion, mushrooms and sausage. The sauce is very tasty as was the crust, which was their own special recipe and tasted SO much like I remember deep dish tasting like. I think I actually prefer to have it gluten-free now, it doesn’t seem to form a big lump in my tummy like it did before.

As incredible as it looks!

As incredible as it looks!

My son ordered the gluten-free thin crust in just cheese. He couldn’t believe how awesome it was and keeps telling everyone “you would never know it was gluten-free!” As you can see as witnessed in this photo, I couldn’t shoot it fast enough as my son dove into it as fast as he could. 

Gluten-Free Thin Crust pizza

I am also in pure amazement that this awesome pizza exists. Well worth the hour plus drive to pick some up on occasion. Whenever I drive into the city now, my son reminds me not to come home unless I pick up some of their pizza for him. So far, I have only been making the drive for his favorite cupcakes from Swirlz Cupcakes….ahhh Swirlz…., their cupcakes are so good that they deserve their own post! Continue reading →

Z is for Zema’s Madhouse Foods’ Chicago-Style Deep Dish Za!

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I heard about Jill Motew and her company Zema’s Madhouse Foods from my good friend, Roh Doylida. I heard about how great her recipes and gluten-free flours are from Roh so I decided to check them out. I came across this picture and couldn’t believe my eyes!

Oh, how I’ve missed Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza! Hailing from the Chicago area, it is something that I am proud we have an abundance of. The only current gluten-free deep dish pizza that I am aware of being offered in the Chicago area is crustless. The crust is the best part!  What I love about this recipe too is that is healthy and dairy-free. Even better for someone like me who is becoming a health nut and is trying to stay as dairy-free as possible to avoid inflammation.

Jill developed gluten-free flours that use clean ingredients and ancient grains. Jill wanted ingredients that are clean, organic  and minimally processed so they could be as healthy as possible for her and her family and at the same time offer vitamins, minerals and nutrients that we all need.

Jill now sells the flours under the name Zema’s Madhouse Foods. Jill came up with the name Zema’s using the initials of her children. Her flours are great for those who eat gluten-free, athletes, allergen-free and those who just love eating healthy. Zema’s mixes commit to being free of dairy, soy, rice, sesame, yeast, tree nuts, peanuts, sulfites, additives, trans fats, preservatives and sugar. The mixes are organic and contain natural superfood ingredients like teff, quinoa, amaranth, chia, flax and hemp seeds. In addition to the Seeded Multigrain flour used in the deep dish pizza recipe, Zema’s also has other flours available: GF Dedicated Cinnamon-Oatmeal, Rosemary-Millet, Vanilla-Cocoa Teff and Peruvian Sweet Potato-Pumpkin.  Jill can be contacted at jill@zemasfoods.com or you can order through her Facebook page, click here. Her website zemasfoods.com is currently under construction.
As my grand finale for my A-Z countdown, I now bring you the recipe for this wonderful deep dish pizza, courtesy of Jill Motew from Zema’s Madhouse Foods.  Enjoy!

Continue reading →

Q is for Quick Gluten-Free meals!

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I am excited to bring you a post today for “Q” Day from Betsy Thompson…aka Gluten Free Betsy! It’s always nice to meet fellow Gluten-Free Bloggers, especially when they live close by. I really love Betsy’s blog and her wit and spunk. I was thrilled when I got to meet her in person recently at the dinner we had at Wildfire in Chicago with Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery. Here we are with Maggie Garner from Rudi’s! We also got to hang out a lot  after the dinner when we were both at the Gluten-Free and Allergen-Free Expo that following weekend and then again recently at the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center’s Spring Flours event. Betsy is a lot of fun!

That's Betsy in the middle!

I now would like to bring you today’s post from Betsy….. Continue reading →

When I’m pressed for time or away from home, cooking a gluten free meal from scratch can be a challenge.  Many fast food items are off limits and the last thing I want to worry about is the chance of cross-contamination.  That’s when prepared gluten free meals save the day!  Whether I’m at work, getting home late or traveling, these are a few of the gluten free options that rock!


  • Conte’s Pasta – Every Italian dish you can imagine – Ravioli, Stuffed Shells, Pizza, Lasagna, Gnocchi, and Pierogies.  All at your fingertips.  These are great for more than one person…or if you’re really, really hungry!


  • Gluten Free Cafe – Frozen Meals and Soups are ready in minutes.  The Lemon Basil Chicken is superb!


  • Go Picnic Gluten Free Meals – Like a little picnic basket, these little boxes are filled with multiple items such as crackers, meats, nuts, and desserts.  Perfect to throw in a backpack or purse.


  • Sunshine Burgers – These frozen vegan veggie burgers are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  I tried several flavors when I went on my vegan stint and these were magical.  The breakfast burgers were perfect to get me going and last through the morning.  Just pop them on a toasted Ener-G tapioca dinner roll (which is the perfect size and only 100 calories) and you’re good to go!  I’ve even put ketchup, mustard, and hamburger pickles on the Original flavor and it tasted exactly like a hamburger.  Delicious!

Yes, I know these are mostly frozen meals and filled with sodium, but they make for a nice break from salads, yogurt, or leftovers.  Many of these choices also come dairy free which is an added bonus for those with dairy issues. I keep a few always on hand in the freezer, so if I’m running late in the morning and don’t have time to make lunch, I’m all set.

What is your favorite quick gluten free meal?

Southwest Chicken Pizza Recipe – Please vote for me!

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Hello everyone! I’m making a second post today to let you all know that I have entered Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery’s “Unbelievably Good Gluten-Free Recipe Contest” on Rudi’s Facebook Fan Page. I posted about the contest earlier in the month and I would love it if you are on Facebook and could vote for my recipe! The top 10 votes become Finalists and since I entered the contest late, I have a lot of catching up to do because voting has been underway. Votes will be accepted until June 6th and you can print out the recipe when you vote. Click here to vote and view/print the recipe.  Please vote often! You can vote every day. I really appreciate all your help and support! I would love a chance to win a trip to Boulder, CO and possibly get my own online cooking show! Thank you!!  Here is my Southwest Chicken Pizza….doesn’t it look yummy??

I promise to publish the recipe once the contest is over for those of you who are not on Facebook. I will give you a hint…I used the new Pizza Crust that Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery just put on the market. It is also made with dairy-free cheese for those of you who eat dairy-free. :) I’m sure you could substitute real cheese and it would be just as great!