It’s simple. It’s fast. And, wow…is it ever full of flavor and epically delicious. This is no exaggeration. And the most surprising part is this isn’t made from scratch. It comes from this little microwavable pouch. A simple 90 second zap and something to serve it with (I love pouring this over jasmine rice) and dinner is ready in less than five minutes.
LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES!
Is it possible that something tasty can come from a little microwavable pouch?
You bet your Indian-food loving self something can…and it does. So far I have been highly impressed with the line of Indian meals from Tasty Bite, but none have really wowed me as much as the Channa Masala. And the surprising part is just how simple this dish really is.
The night before, to save on time, I cooked up some jasmine rice on the stove top and stored it in the fridge for the following evening. Monday is my evening fun run with my running group, so dinner has to be fast…not too heavy…but substantial enough to see me through at least three miles of road. So, it’s usually grilled cheese or something equally as easy…and since I have a pantry shelf of Tasty Bite meals…these make a quick, easy, and perfect meal for such busy days.
Channa Masala is a slightly spicy Indian dish that uses chickpeas as the main component. Tasty Bite does just that with their version. In addition, they add simple, natural ingredients to the mix. Not one item listed on the pouch is something I am unfamiliar with. In fact…I’ll list the ingredients here: onions, water, chickpeas, tomatoes, sunflower oil, coriander, salt, spices, chilies, bay leaf, and turmeric. Vegetables, beans, a little oil, and some spices. Like I said…all natural ingredients. All ingredients are vegan, vegetarian, kosher, gluten-free…and yes…non-GMO! Here is something I can totally get behind.
So with all that being said, let me dive right in. The Channa Masala was LOVE at first taste. Honestly. One bite and I was hooked. There is a bit of a warm spice…that heat you get when you eat really good Indian food. Not overpowering or overwhelming. Let’s just say my roomie is a heat wimp and this is also one of her favorites so far. It’s just enough to make the bite interesting. Honestly. The chickpeas heat up to perfection and the sauce has that perfect blend of spices and flavor from the vegetables. It went so well over the rice and the entire meal was just amazing. I had to keep myself from hoovering the entire bowl and pace myself, let the flavor linger on my tongue, enjoying every bite. It may not be much to look at, but wow…the flavor, texture, and just outright sheer awesomeness of the meal itself is enough to make you rush out to the store and buy up every pouch on the shelf.
Nutritionally speaking, this is a very healthy meal, for a prepackaged meal. One serving is half of the Channa Masala inside the pouch. This serving dishes up a 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. One serving only has 400 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad for packaged food on the shelf of a grocery store, honestly. It is also cholesterol free. Thanks to the chickpeas, this serving provides a filling 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein as well. Like I said…it’s filling without being heavy…making it the perfect quick meal to turn to on busy days.
As you can tell, I am absolutely LOVING the variety, the flavors, the versatility, and the natural goodness of the Tasty Bite meals that I have had the honor of trying. Channa Masala, however, has quickly worked its way up to the top of my list. I am in love with this one…and already am pondering different ways to dish it up next time. Perhaps in tacos. Mmmmm…fusion!
Take my word…these affordable, healthy, and amazingly quick meals are one of the most fantastic products on your grocery store’s shelves. Purchase them. Enjoy them. Quick doesn’t mean it has to be bad for you. Tasty Bite puts out some of the best packaged food out there. I can attest to that. And with them catering to so many varieties of special diets…it means there is something for everyone.
I’m a New Yorker. I grew up loving bagels. I was raised eating bagels. And I was okay with that. They are filling, and delicious, and you can top them however you want. What’s even better…there are varieties of bagels. Blueberry, cinnamon raisin, you name it…it’s probably a bagel.
But a constant favorite among bagel eaters is the Everything Bagel. What is an Everything Bagel? Simple…a bagel…with just about everything in it. In the most basic, standard format, a real Everything Bagel has poppy seeds, carraway seeds, and sesame seeds baked into it and coating the top. In addition to this, the nice flavor of salt, garlic and onion are baked into the bagel. It’s a mess…but a delicious mess. And it is definitely a New York thing…not to mention one of the most flavorful things you will ever sink your teeth into.
And, sadly, the gluten-free community was missing out on this amazing treat. But no longer…thanks to Udi’s Gluten-Free…once again putting on it’s gluten-free cape of awesome and saving the gluten-free shelves from monotony!
You see, a little while back I was sent a nice box that contained an assortment of Udi’s Gluten-Free products, some classics and some new products. And I went through each and every one of them. The last item from the tasty box of gluten-free awesomesauce that I chose to eat just happened to be Udi’s Gluten-Free take on the Everything Bagel. They call it the Everything Inside Bagel…and I was really, really excited about sinking my teeth into this one.
Let’s start off with the basics…those nitty-gritty nutrition and ingredient facts.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels are composed of water, tapioca starch, brown rice flour, canola oil, egg whites, evaporated cane sugar, tapioca maltodextrin, tapioca syrup, xanthan gum, millet seed, flax seed, poppy seeds, dehydrated onion, yeast, salt, dehydrated garlic, and cultured corn syrup solids (used as a natural mold inhibitor. While some of this definitely reads as foreign to me, I went and found out that tapioca maltodextrin is a food starch that can add a sweet flavor to it. Good to know. I recognized everything else on the ingredient list…but I wanted to know what all I was consuming.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels
Nutritionally speaking, the Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagel is a very healthy choice. Honestly. One serving is an entire bagel. This one bagel will provide you with a hearty 290 calories and 10 grams of fat. Okay, the 10 grams of fat is a little high…but no bagel is without a higher level of fat. But, keep in mind, many gluten-free items can be a little higher in fat than regular products. It’s just the truth. These bagels are cholesterol free, contain only 490 mg of sodium, and only 5 grams of sugar. Not too bad. And… you also get a filling serving of 3 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein! Trust me, you will feel filled when you finish devouring this bagel.
And devour you will. Because now we will talk about flavor.
OH MY GOD! These bagels are fantastic. I love the blend of the onion and garlic flavor baked into the bagel. The addition of the various seeds (a different, and perhaps healthier take on the regular version) throughout the bagel is a nice addition to not just the flavor but also the texture. These are packed with flavor. My roommate said that they were “REALLY YUMMY.” This is a good sign. When we go out to eat at one of our favorite brunch places, she always enjoys their Everything Muffin, which is sort of the muffin take on the bagel. So to have her send such high praise up for this gluten-free bagel, which I added a schmear of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese to, is saying something. REALLY YUMMY indeed. These might have just taken over as my favorite bread-like product from Udi’s. I am blown away by these. Texture, taste…the entire package. Fantastic. Seriously good eats.
Find these. Hunt them down. Request them at your grocery store. Do whatever you can to get your hands on these. Definitely my new favorite easy-to-make breakfast. A simple toasting and top it however you like…and you’re in delicious breakfast heaven. Yep…I’m definitely anticipating the next time I can stock my freezer with these!
Thank you, Udi’s…for your sample pack of your amazing, versatile, and never-boring products. This gluten-free girl has been in heaven with each and every bite!
Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels (one full, one halved)
Product: thinkThin Caramel Fudge High Protein Bar – $1.99+
It’s sometimes hit or miss when it comes to protein bars. Honestly. They can be amazing…or they can taste like cardboard…or worse. Yes…there have been worse. But, for me, with the exception of one bar so far, thinkThin has not let me down. In fact, a majority of the products I have tried from thinkThin have been good. Some even really good. Some better than really good.
Due to a sale at my local grocery store, I ended up picking up a couple of these bars because, for the most part, I can trust them to be filling and taste good. Hey…I’ll eat something that is just “good.” I might be a little picky when it comes to flavors, but if it’s edible, I will eat it. That being said, I picked up one I previously reviewed…Creamy Peanut Butter…and then the Caramel Fudge.
This past weekend I was out of town…which meant I needed to pack the onslaught of protein bars in case I was hungry and there was nothing around for me to eat. At conventions, that can happen. And it did. Honestly. Thankfully, I have learned to always be prepared.
On Sunday morning, however, after a 7 mile run, I returned to the room to shower and eat breakfast. I had brought apples, raisins, and peanut butter to make apple sandwiches for my roommate and I, but I also knew it would be awhile before we were going to eat lunch…so we decided to split the thinkThin Caramel Fudge High Protein Bar.
Before I get into the taste, I figure I’ll hit up the general nutritional info on these bars. First of all, what I love about thinkThin’s High Protein Bars are that they contain around 15-20 grams of protein per bar (which 1 bar is a serving). That’s awesome. They are gluten-free and sugar-free as well. I appreciate that especially as I start to lean toward more clean eating…while balancing a very active lifestyle. This particular flavor of bar contains 240 calories and 9 grams of fat. In addition to that, you get only 300 mg of sodium and less than 5 mg of cholesterol. One of the Caramel Fudge bars has only 1 gram of fiber and then 20 grams of protein. For the active and protein challenged like me, this is an ideal choice for a snack before or after a run. Honestly.
But…the big question loomed. How would it taste?
I sliced the bar in half, the chocolate coating giving way to the nougat-like caramel filling that it surrounded. Given that this was the Caramel Fudge flavor from thinkThin, this is a good thing. It was also good that this bar smelled like chocolate covered caramel. So far, so good. Taste-wise…well…
It tasted a lot like it smelled…sweet and a little salty. One of my favorite combinations. So, it was a bit like having a chocolate covered salty caramel goodie. And salted caramel is one of the best things in the world, if you ask me. Really. It is. What I loved about the flavor of this one is that it didn’t taste like the protein that is added to it. Too often, that protein powder is so evident in protein bars, but not this one. This had a very smooth flavor. The chocolate had the right amount of sweetness to make it feel like a treat as well. The chocolate shell was soft, but had this crispness to it when it was split in half. It was nice. The texture was moist without being chalky…making it very palatable. Yeah…I totally fell in love with this one. Definitely ranking up as one of my favorites to date. The peanut butter varieties still rank at the very top so far though. Just sayin’.
If you are looking for a delicious protein bar, this one definitely gives you a 20 gram protein punch for your buck. Honestly. thinkThin is one of the products I continue to return to. While not completely void of sugar (they use sugar alcohols), they are one of the better choices out on the market. And I am so glad that my friend Tawn introduced me to these bars a couple of years back when I visited in California. Beyond impressed. And soon…more will find their way into my run snack drawer. Very soon.
Nicely done, thinkThin. I applaud you…and will restock sometime in the very near future.
thinkThin Caramel Fudge High Protein Bar (unwrapped)
So, I’m in Indianapolis. That morning, I ran 10 miles for training. My lunch was a gluten-free cookie and an orange. It was after 6 p.m. and I was starving. I had just finished up a string of back-to-back panels at a local sci-fi convention in Indianapolis, the entire reason I was in Indianapolis in the first place. My initial thought was a gluten-free sandwich from Jason’s Deli, but that would require leaving the convention hotel, driving out to the restaurant, which wasn’t nearby, and sitting and eating. And I honestly just didn’t have the energy.
So, my roommate and I hijacked the computer in the business center and started surfing Find Me Gluten Free.
And pizza…that’s not only convention food…it just sounded really, really, really good.
The most highly recommended place on the search was a local place called Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza. We pulled up the Web site, and…there it was…a 10 inch gluten-free crust. Awesome. We wrote down the number and checked the delivery area. And we were just a block or two outside of the delivery region. Cathy decided it was worth a try to ask if they would deliver to us, as they weren’t that far away. So, she called. And they were more than happy to accommodate. That was awesome.
We placed our order…one gluten-free pizza with mushrooms, red onion, and pineapple ($14.00). It just sounded…really good. With the order in, we were told it would be about 35 minutes, as it was a Saturday. So, we decided to keep ourselves occupied until we got the call that they were nearby. We’d meet the delivery guy in the lobby. We walked around and talked with some people while we waited and when they asked where we ordered pizza from, and we said Jockamo…they all melted and practically salivated on the spot. If that is any indication of what we were in for…I was beyond excited. And really, really hungry to boot.
It felt like no time had passed at all when Cathy’s cell phone rang. We skittered to the front lobby and had only a few minutes to wait before the delivery guy walked through the door and tracked us down. The pizza was handed over and we paid him, extra tip for coming outside of the delivery area. And then…no waiting, we hurried back to the hotel room to dive in and get some food in our stomachs.
I flipped open the pizza box and found the typical pizzeria gluten-free pizza. A cracker crust topped with red sauce, our toppings of choice, and cheese. I snapped a picture and then it was game on. We were starving and the pizza smelled fantastic.
So…we dove in. And devoured the pizza in less than 10 minutes, if that is any testimony as to how good it tasted. And this wasn’t just the “OH MY GOD I AM SO HUNGRY I WILL EAT WHATEVER IS IN FRONT OF ME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT TASTES GOOD OR NOT” sort of hungry. It honestly tasted really, really good.
Let’s start with the crust. The thin crust was cooked almost to perfection. Almost. It had a really good flavor, but it just didn’t have that golden crustiness that I prefer with my pizza crusts, which meant, it came across as being a little soggy. Of course, some of that could be a reflection of the fact that it was cooked, packed in a box, put in a car and delivered to us. So, I’m not saying the crust was bad at all. It just didn’t have that crunch to it when I bit into it. The red sauce was fantastic. I’m not just saying that. The tomato flavors were rich and bold and seasoned to perfection. The toppings we selected were fantastic. The mushrooms, onions and pineapple were all cooked to perfection, the pineapple’s sweetness being a nice contrast to the umami flavor of the mushrooms and the bite of the onions. And then…the cheese. A nice hit of saltiness that the pizza needed…creamy and gooey and just…the entire package was phenomenal. Yep. I was impressed.
Like I said…we devoured that pizza in less than 10 minutes, each of us getting three slices each. No holds barred. It was gone as quickly as it had arrived and we were left licking marinara off our fingers and happily discussing how every bite of that pizza was beyond delicious. We were now fortified for the long evening ahead of us.
Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza really surprised me. I didn’t know what to expect, just that all the locals were salivating whenever we mentioned where we ordered pizza for our dinner. And that was enough testimony to put my mind to ease. If we had scrolled a bit further through the menu, we also would have discovered that they also offer gluten-free cookies, made by Deihdre Alltop. I didn’t know about these…but now that I do…next time I’m in Indianapolis and order from Jockamo (there will be a next time…YUM!), I think dessert will have to happen as well. Because with a choice of three different gluten-free cookies…you just can’t go wrong.
Needless to say, the service at Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza, their willingness to come just outside of the delivery area and deliver to us at the convention hotel, spoke volumes of their service. Their food…especially that house made marinara…did the rest of the talking. Honestly, one of the best sauces I have ever encountered on a pizza. It was cooked up really well…the toppings were fresh and complimented the sauce, the crust, everything. I was beyond impressed.
If you are in the Indianapolis or Greenwood area, go by Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza and get a pizza. Dine in, take out, have it delivered. Just trust me…you really want to try it. I was one happy gluten-free pizza loving girl, let me tell you. And I’ve had a lot of gluten-free pizza in my life. This one…is definitely near the top of the list.
Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza’s Gluten-Free Pizza with Mushrooms, Red Onion and Pineapple
UGH…what a week. What a terrible, draining, awful week. Lack of sleep, a lot of tears, and…my relaxing weekend was anything but relaxing. In fact, it only served to make me more self-conscious of myself. And that’s what sucks. I wanted to be able to escape everything that was weighing down on me this week…and instead I caught it once again. Seems the only place I feel like myself these days is when I’m out running. And that bothers me.
That being said, my first month of Marathon training is in the books. I am so proud of myself and everything I have accomplished these past four weeks. I’m already anticipating the next month…all the miles, the speed work, the pacing, every easy run, and every hard one as well. I’m going to earn these 26.2 miles…while I am running a couple of other races, I’m treating them as training…not as races. My main focus is that big 26.2.
As many of you might have previously read, I had some very hurtful things said to me this past week by someone I considered a good friend. It stung. It hurt. And, wow, did it every set my self-confidence back, especially on body image. I was heading into a weekend at a sci-fi convention, and I normally never worry about this sort of thing, but it was still weighing (no pun intended) heavy on my heart and in my mind. And then…while at the convention I caught crap from people as well. I am SO tired of feeling as though I am the ugliest person because of my size, build, and the fact that I RUN!
YES!! I run. I’m in training…so I am running a lot. But my body is strong, my heart is strong, and my willpower is stronger. I am no stranger to hurtful words about appearance…I got that a lot growing up. Always picked on. But, we’re all adults here. I don’t want to be told that should I ever get cancer I would never survive. WTF?! I run my body…and my body, in return, runs perfectly. I take care of myself. I eat plenty. I exercise to stay healthy. When I’m in a place I am hoping to escape my problems, I don’t need them thrown at me, loudly.
And…for the record…RUNNING WILL NOT KILL ME!
That being said…my marathon training this week started off fantastic, and then…began to suffer. Mostly because I let things get to me. I let words cut me down and scar me. In fact…I lost my spirit this week…the run just felt so hard. It might have been the humidity. It might have been the hurtful words of friends running through my head. Maybe it was both.
In the end, more nice things by true friends were said to lift me up and help me find my center again. And that…is what got me through.
Sunday is my easy run or rest day. As is usual with me, I took my feet out for a spin on the pavement that morning. It was humid, humid, humid out there on Sunday, so I kept it close to home and headed out before the sun was up. I finished up just as it was cresting over some of the hills. It was a relaxing run and while the humidity was a drag, I managed to press on through. And that was after running an accidental 15.5 miles the day before. I was feeling good.
Monday means it’s back to running in the dark. That’s fine, except the added challenge on this particular Monday was that I was out until about 2:00 a.m. at a concert in Cincinnati. The concert was The Goo Goo Dolls with Matchbox Twenty…and it was wonderful…but the 5 easy miles called for in my training was quite hard on weekend-weary and concert-weary legs and total sleep deprivation. I actually went out running an hour later than usual, because I felt sleep was more important…but I was still just tired at the end of it all. Of course, Monday also means it’s Fun Run night, so the Monday Daily Double was still on. I really just wanted to take an easy run, so Harry and Natalie took me on a great run that went by Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, then through some of the neighborhoods in the Highlands before ending 3 miles later back at the store. We let Natalie set the pace…and, wow, she has a kick there at the end. She promised she’d teach me all about finding that strength at the end of a run. That’s good, because I need it. Monday…was a tiring, but good day. Got in late after running some errands, trying to prep for this weekend.
Tuesday is the usual cross training day. This week I was scheduled for 40-50 minutes of cross training. No problem. I hit up the gym and did 45 minutes on the Arc Trainer on the Pike’s Peak setting. The Boilermaker is this coming weekend in Utica, New York, so hill work is important. I haven’t been taking on hills as often as I should be so I’m feeling a little unprepared for this course. But, as I sad, I’m to be treating these races as training runs, not races, per my sports nutritionist. So…I’ll just do what I can and leave the rest up to how I feel. I set the Arc Trainer for Level 5 so I could have some more resistance and steeper inclines. It was a challenge and one I met. Felt good. The rowing machine was next. UGH. Rowing. It’s a great core workout, working a lot of your upper body, legs, back, arms, and core, but it can be very boring and very, very difficult. I struggled, but managed 1.2 miles on the machine in 10 minutes. Not too shabby. I capped off my gym day with some strength training. Then headed to work.
Wednesday is my speed work or pacing day and this week called for a 7 mile Fartlek run. I used the first mile to warm up and then hit the pavement for some intermittent bursts of speed with some recovery in between each part. I felt good coming in from this run. My legs felt up to the challenge, though they were screaming at me toward the end. I pushed through the morning humidity, and just felt like I had really accomplished a great run. Speed work is something I’m trying to focus more on, but it’s not always easy to do around here. So, this felt like a victory. Then, as I was sitting down on my computer with some water and some time to relax, I got hit up by a friend with some very hurtful words. My legs were taken out from under me. And after I lengthy blog on the subject, I felt I could put it behind me. Wow…was I ever wrong.
Thursday called for 5 easy miles. I really just wanted to get out there and run this day. There was still a lot on my mind. The words that were said to me were still lingering in my brain, and still breaking my heart. I thought I could run it off…but my body had other ideas. I pretty much kept stopping after each mile or less, finding the need to catch my breath or just take a moment. The humidity was awful and stifling. Then, the rain started to come down soon after I came in from my run, because when I left for the gym, it was non-stop rain. And it never really let up that day. My gym workout was awful and disappointing as well. My elliptical effort was not there. I tried to push it…but it wasn’t happening. I felt defeated and deflated. Nothing was going right. The stationary bike was my 10 minute effort that day. And as much as I hate the stationary bike, it was the only part of my workout where I felt I accomplished something amazing. My legs just needed to go fast…and they finally did. I 3.85 miles that morning in 10 minutes. And it made me feel a little better about life. Some strength training followed.
Friday…the rest day. I spent the morning wanting nothing more than to just go out for a short run. Two miles wouldn’t hurt, right? I just felt like I needed to prove to myself I still had my passion for the run. But…it is the day of rest and I vowed to respect and honor that day, so, in the end, I finished packing my suitcase and getting everything ready for the convention I was attending this weekend. I prepared breakfast, went to work, and went for a walk at lunch. I need to just let these rest days do their job. Letting my muscles and body recover from a week of a very draining and hard week just needed to happen. I didn’t want to rest…but I made myself rest.
Saturday was my Long Slow Distance (LSD) pace long run for a scheduled 10 miles, per my marathon training. The trick here was…I was in Indianapolis for a convention. What to do? Well, I knew BlueMile (my favorite running store in Louisville) had two locations in Indianapolis, so I contacted them to see if they had any running groups heading out on Saturday morning for training runs. Both the Broad Ripple and Carmel stores did, but Broad Ripple was closer to where I was staying. So, after a night of being up past midnight, not being able to sleep, and general…BLAH…I hauled myself out of bed at 5:50 a.m. to get ready to head out to Broad Ripple. I got dressed, put on sunscreen, ate half of a granola bar, giving the other half to my roomie. We headed out of the hotel a little later than planned…and discovered that it was raining. Great. Joy. Ah well…I need new shoes anyway. On the way to the store, I ate my banana I had brought with me. We arrived and went into the store. I stretched and soon they were making announcements and telling which races had to run for how long that day. I don’t run by time, I run by miles, so I figured I would head out with them and then just go to the 5 miles, turn around, and head back. I basically did that. There was 95% humidity that morning and a steady misting of rain for most of the run. But we headed out on the beautiful Monan Trail and ran it for 3 miles. At the 3 mile point, there was a water/Gatorade stop and everyone turned around. I did as well, running two miles back down, then turning back around, heading back toward the Kroger water stop to get me to 7 miles. Then, it was three miles back to the store. In the end, I ended up going 10.25 miles that morning…in the humidity and the rain. And I felt good at the end of it. My effort was kept easy due to that humidity, but I was loving my run that morning. New scenery, new people, and just a new experience. Then it was back to the convention and a very late night…er…early morning.
And that was the round-up for my first month of training. In the end, what I’m finding out is…there are so many misconceptions about this sport out there. There are also a lot of people who don’t understand the mechanics of a distance runner. And…they probably never will. I feel rattled and scarred from the hurtful words that were said, and I’m trying so hard not to continue to dwell on it. I have a 15K race coming up this weekend and the best part is…I get to see a lot of friends from high school who I haven’t seen since…well…high school. And that is going to be a fun and amazing time and I really just can’t wait to make it happen.
Here’s hoping I learn to soar again this coming week…
Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert
Product: Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert – $4.99+
For the past few months, I have been giving googly eyes to my grocer’s freezer. Why? Well…other than my love of ice cream and all things frozen, I had come across a brand called Arctic Zero . What makes Arctic Zero so…interesting?
Well, for those of you who may never have run across these pints, these ice creams contain less than 150 calories in the ENTIREpint of ice cream. Which means, indulging doesn’t feel as guilt-ridden and laden with sin, right? Of course. Also is the fact that all of their flavors are gluten-free, fat-free and suitable for the lactose intolerant. Loving this even more. You also won’t find chemicals in these pints, for they are made with only organic and natural ingredients. An entire pint provides 8 grams of fiber as well. Oh…and these have no sugar alcohols in them, so they are suitable for children and adults. And to top it all off…kosher and non-GMO!
Love at first sight.
But what about first bite?
That was what I was going to figure out.
The difficult part was deciding which one to start with. But, finally, I decided to go with two of my most favorite things in the world: chocolate and peanut butter.
The Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert is not going to be the rich and creamy ice cream that you find in stores. In fact, it’s definitely more like a sorbet in texture. So, if you are going into this expecting rich, creamy goodness…look for regular ice cream. But…if you’re okay with sorbet, and I am…this is really really good. I wasn’t actually expecting the sorbet texture, so when I was trying to scoop it into a gluten-free ice cream cone, I was a little bit surprised, but everything frozen goes good in an ice cream cone! I got my roomie situated with hers first and I was dishing up my own dessert, I saw her giving hers a taste. I asked how it was…and she liked it.
I settled in with my own gluten-free ice cream cone and took my own taste. Chocolate. That’s what hit me first. And that’s what hit me most. In fact, I can barely make out the traces of peanut butter flavor in this, which is disappointing because I LOVE peanut butter. I was expecting something that would taste like an amazing peanut butter cup. The frozen dessert itself is definitely good. But…you might as well just call it chocolate because the peanut butter is really hard to find in the flavors. Other than that…this was highly impressive on the frozen treat standards. It wasn’t too rich. It wasn’t filling either. And, with a serving only dishing up just over 30 calories (for 1/2 cup), you can’t argue that this is a guilt-free treat indeed. And it does have great taste. Just wish the peanut butter was more in the forefront of the flavor on this one.
I also highly recommend that you let the pint sit out on the counter for at least 15 minutes to let it thaw out some. Otherwise it is really difficult to scoop. Letting it soften up a bit worked very well and I did this just out of being a lactose-free ice cream freak and knowing that they usually have to sit out in order to be able to scoop them. No big deal. It thawed a bit while I ate dinner. And by the time dishes were done, it was ready to be put in the gluten-free ice cream cone. Delicious!!
Let’s talk ingredients! All of the chocolate based ones, like the Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert, from Arctic Zero are composed of purified water, whey protein concentrate, organic cane sugar, chicory root, dutch processed cocoa powder with alkali, guar gum, xanthan gum, natural flavors, sea salt, and monk fruit concentrate. This one also includes the addition of peanut butter!
Nutritionally speaking, a 1/2 cup serving of Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert will provide you with 37 calories and 0 grams of fat. Yep. Fat-free! Each serving only contains 80 mg of sodium, 2 grams of fiber, and 3.4 grams of protein. So, you really don’t feel too guilty if you end up sitting down and indulging in the entire pint. We showed restraint and kept it to a serving (or less) as I was filling up gluten-free ice cream cones.
I’m impressed with Arctic Zero. These were much better than I anticipated. Which is good…because I have two additional flavors in my freezer already. I think the only fault I find with the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor is that the peanut butter flavor almost seemed lost in the rest of it. It was there…but just a hint of it every now and again. But I’m looking forward to seeing how the Mint Chocolate Cookie and Cookies and Cream stack up!
TOTAL WOW. TOTAL YUM! ZERO GUILT!
Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert on a Goldbaum’s gluten-free ice cream cone
Special Delivery of Udi’s Gluten-Free Goodies – including brand new products!
Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Granola Bars – $5.49+
Udi’s continues to expand on its gluten-free product line-up and I couldn’t be happier about it. After all, you have to grow and expand to get anywhere in this gluten-free product explosion that is facing the market these days. Luckily, I do have my favorite brands and, while I do sample others at times, there is no forgetting who is trusted in this market.
Everyone knows Udi’s. Their gluten-free bread was the first I ever tried that I actually liked. I mean, it tasted like bread. Sure, it’s smaller in size…but the texture, the taste…it was all good. It was all just as I wanted it to be. And from there, more and more of their products have made it into my home. And, with only one exception so far (the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls), I have loved everything I have purchased and sampled from Udi’s. I even have my favorites. Some of them…are even on the new products list!
You see, a while back, I was the proud recipient of a box of goodies from Udi’s Gluten-Free, containing some of their old products and a few of their new products. Pure joy in the mail, let me tell you. I enjoyed revisiting some of their classic products, but even better…I loved being able to give their newest products a try as well. This was super exciting to me and I was looking forward to diving into each and every single product they provided for me.
This week, with my gluten-free pantry drying up, I reached in and removed the box of Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Granola Bars. Perfect. This would be the ideal snack to have in the late afternoon to get me through to when I could get home and cook dinner. I was really excited about trying these. They are one of the newly introduced products in Udi’s gluten-free snack line. In fact, there are actually three flavors that are out on the market now: Cranberry Almond, Chocolate Chip, and Ancient Grains. All of them sound really good…and if I find the other two varieties in my local stores, I’ll definitely give them a try as well.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Granola Bars
As it was, one of these little granola bars came to work with me on Wednesday and at 3:00 p.m. I was ready to give it a try. The blank white wrapper gives no indication as to what awaits inside. Thankfully, the box that this came in was brightly decorated with a larger-than-life depiction of the granola bar waiting behind the mysterious white wrapper.
The Ancient Grains Granola Bar contains gluten-free oats, rice crisp, milled flaxseed, amaranth, and quinoa. These grains provide the structure and base from which the sweeteners, oils, raisins, and nuts are added. To sweeten and bind this granola bar, I note that Udi’s uses honey, brown rice syrup, evaporated cane srup, non-GMO canola oil, inulin, tapioca maltodextrin, palm oil, water, vegetable glycerine, natural flavor and something called Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086. And before you start to panic, that Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6068 is the Probiotics that are added to this granola bar to elevate the health factor. Yep. Probiotics. Good for digestion and all that.
But…what about the texture? The taste? I’m getting there.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (wrapped)
After unwrapping this granola bar, I took a moment to examine it. You could see the variety of ingredients all mashed together into this granola bar. Nothing was indiscernible, which is always a nice touch. And, upon first bite, I discovered how soft and chewy these were. I guess the box indicates this, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was thinking…”WOOHOO! Gluten-free granola bars!” But, that was a nice surprise. I am not a fan of crunchy granola bars. I like to chew them, not crunch them. I like a soft, filling texture and that’s exactly what Udi’s provides. They aren’t overly sweet, thank goodness. They also aren’t a sticky mess and they don’t leave your fingers covered in residue. They are clean, and perfect. Bite-for-bite goodness. I was very impressed with these. They make a great, easy on-the-go snack or something light to chew on to get you through to dinner time or even lunch. It’s the right amount and fills you up just enough. And, wow…the flavor. Without being hidden under a layer of sugar or unnecessary chocolate, the ingredients of these bars speak for themselves. You taste the texture of the grains, get the sweetness from the honey and raisins, get that bit of crunch from the almonds that are added. It is a perfect snack, a good size to tuck away for later without fearing it will be too much.
Nutritionally speaking, an Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar will provide you with 140 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. One bar will also provide you with 40 mg of sodium and 10 grams of sugar. The sugar content seems a bit high, considering these aren’t very sweet…but with all the sweeteners added, I’m actually surprises it isn’t higher than that. I have definitely seen far worse for granola bars. The Ancient Grains Granola Bar also will provide your body with 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not too shabby!
Add this one to the long list of Udi’s Gluten-Free products that I have loved from the start. It’s a very long list. Because with Udi’s…they strive for perfection. They want their food to taste good. And, when consumers spoke out about their cinnamon rolls, they changed the recipe and reformulated them. I haven’t tried the new version…but I’d like to think I’d like them better the next time I do purchase them. I’ll keep an open mind for sure. Because when it comes to gluten-free companies, Udi’s has made a name for itself for the quality and attention they give their products and their customers. And that’s why people keep coming back to them.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (unwrapped)
Something happy happened to me the other day when I was in Whole Foods. Something that I had been hoping for for a very long time.
I discovered…gluten-free vegan “chicken.” Normally…any vegan/vegetarian protein has some sort of ingredient that contains gluten, normally used for texture purposes. Sure, it can be left out, however, that is what the leading brands will tell you…it is for texture. So, for these past two years, save for the Health Is Wealth Gluten-Free Vegan Not Chicken Nuggets, my not chicken food habits have been non-existent. And…to top it off, my grocery store no longer carries the Health Is Wealth Gluten-Free Vegan Not Chicken Nuggets because they were told they were discontinued. I think I cried…no…I did cry when I was told that.
But then Whole Foods saved the day.
The brand…Beyond Meat. Their objective is simple – to become the market leader in the development and introduction of new plant protein products, specifically focusing on perfectly replacing animal protein with plant protein. And to be able to pull this off cost effectively…not just for the company, but the consumer.
Beyond Meat was founded by Ethan Brown, who learned all about animal-based agriculture at his father’s dairy operation in Western Maryland. As he grew up, he developed a career in the clean energy sector and contemplated whether the world would continue to raise and eat animals in such staggering numbers if a plant-based replication of the meat existed. So, he began searching for a way to do just that. Along the way he met Fu-hung Hsieh and Harold Huff at the University of Missouri, and after several years of collaboration, Beyond Meat was born with the sole purpose of driving innovation and progress on meat-free plates around the world.
Enter my little happy dance of joy…because not only is Beyond Meat’s products vegan…but they are also gluten-free. And they come in three varieties: Lightly Seasoned, Grilled, and Southwest Style.
I grabbed the two kinds they had. And I already had a dish in mind. I was going to make my mom’s famous Mexican Chicken Casserole…but do it with the vegan chicken product and vegan cheese. These strips were actually perfect. And with the fact that it was a Mexican sort of dish, the Southwest Style Chicken-Free Strips would be ideal. The Grilled was the other version…and those got tucked into the freezer for the time being.
So…how does this stack up?
Beyond Meat Southwest Style Chicken-Free Strips
For a gluten-free and vegan meat alternative…this is actually quite palatable. The texture reminded me of the Quorn variety I ate before having to go gluten-free. And the flavor was just as good…maybe more on the Morningstar level for taste…but that’s not bad. In fact, I could actually, despite it being in a casserole, taste the not-chicken strips. And what I loved about the Southwest Style variety was that little kiss of lime flavor you got with each bite. It was a really nice surprise and a great addition of flavor to the entire dish. These chicken strips didn’t turn to mush when they were cooked in the casserole. In fact, they remained in full strips as real chicken would. I was very impressed. Both with the taste and the texture. This is definitely a substitute I would do again.
Nutritionally speaking, the Beyond Meat Southwest Style Chicken-Free Strips have 4 servings per container. Each serving dishes up only 130 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. That is awesome!! A serving also contains only 370 mg of sodium and no sugar. That’s always nice to see. And, you will also receive 2 grams of fiber and a whopping 20 grams of protein. Yes…20 grams of protein in each serving. How amazing is that?!
So…what are these not-chicken strips made out of? Well…the basics are water, soy protein isolate, pea protein isolate, amaranth, vegan chicken flavor, expeller-pressed canola oil, soy fiber, carrot fiber, and they contain 0.5% or less of: white vinegar, salt, lime juice concentrate, garlic, black pepper, chili powder, onion, sugar, cumin, coriander seed, sodium alginate, dipotassium phosphate, titanium dioxide (color), calcium sulfate, oregano, paprika, red and green pepper powder, cayenne pepper. If anything looks confusing to you, the website for Beyond Meat lays out what each unfamiliar ingredient may be. It takes any guess work out of it. And you’ll be happy to know…those couple of chemical sounding ingredients aren’t chemicals but things that appear naturally in nature. Yep. I learned something too.
If you are looking to cut back on meat, or perhaps are vegetarian or vegan, Beyond Meat is a fantastic choice. While there is a literal sea of vegan/vegetarian meat alternatives out there, very few of them on the market are gluten-free. Beyond Meat finally brings the protein back to the gluten-free vegan/vegetarian plate. And for that, I am forever grateful.
With how much I enjoyed the Southwest Style Chicken-Free Strips, I am totally anticipating giving the Grilled ones a try too. These were just what I needed!
Mexican “Chicken” Casserole using Beyond Meat Southwest Style Chicken-Free Strips
I might have mentioned previously how lucky I am to be in an area that actually has a food truck that is dedicated gluten-free and serving the gluten-free (and non-gluten-free) community amazing food. Sweet ‘N’ Savory is the food truck I speak of, based out of Louisville, Kentucky and run by the most amazing people, Richard and Ashley Giannini, who chose to open a food truck specializing first and foremost in gluten-free crepes, with the additional inclusion of smoothies, gelato, and coffee. They are the first and only place to offer gluten-free crepes to the Louisville area. And, let me tell you, this truck is worth hunting down for those crepes. Both sweet and savory versions are to die for and made to perfection. I was hooked on one bite the first time I was ever able to check them out.
You see, Louisville is growing in the foodie world and food trucks are starting to emerge in this city. Nothing could make me happier! Honestly. Especially since I can actually eat at one! Food trucks are amazing things, and thankfully Louisville has places and events where these food trucks gather and people come and choose between the offered menus…making an easy and fun way to dine out every now and again. This past weekend, Apocalypse Brew Works hosted yet another food truck gathering…this time called Cluster Trucked.
What is Cluster Trucked? Well, for one night only, the usual menus offered by Louisville’s finest food trucks got turned upside down. What these trucks would normally offered weren’t anywhere on the menu. In fact, they were serving up something unique and different…and it just made for a fun and interesting event.
The usual suspects…the usual menus…then…the Cluster Trucked effect…
Holy Mole – Usually serves gourmet tacos – went to serving chicken wings (Pok Pok – Vietnamese fish sauce wings w/ fried garlic; Korean Fried Chicken (Yangnyeom tongdak) – Korean BBQ fried chicken w/ sesame; Salsa Verde – green jalapeno/cilantro w/ queso fresco-green onion sauce; Spicy BBQ – spicy sweet tangy BBQ sauce wings; Traditional Buffalo w/ blue cheese and celery)
French Indo Canada – Usually serves a banh mi sandwich from Vietnam and the decadent poutine from Canada – went to serving Indian cuisine (Saag Paneer – curried spinach & mustard greens with fresh cheese; Aloo Gobi – curried potatoes and cauliflower; Tikka Masala – grilled chicken served in a spiced tomato cream sauce; Vegetable Pakoras – onion and cauliflower fritters…all gluten-free, mostly vegetarian and half vegan)
Lil Cheezers – Usually serves gourmet grilled cheese – went to serving hot noodle bowls (choice of Hoisin Beef, Teriyaki Chicken or Sweet Chili Pork, or no protein for vegetarian option, served with Udon noodles with bean sprouts, carrots, pickled cabbage and cilantro, or in a traditional Miso Soup broth….with a gluten-free/vegan option of Banh Pho (rice noodles))
Johnny’s Diner Car – Usually serves steak sandwiches and fries – went to serving loaded baked potatoes (“Comfort Food 101” – one pound Idaho Russet Potato with clarified butter, covered in pot roast slow cooked in reduction of Old 502 Winery Bourbon Barrel Red with special seasonings, portabella mushrooms, onions, carrots, garnished with house-made roasted garlic sour cream; “The Elegant” – one pound Idaho Russet Potato with clarified butter, goat cheese crumbles, truffle oil, fresh chives, served with side of house-made roasted garlic sour cream; “The Old Fashion” – one pound Idaho Russet Potato with house-made rosemary/garlic infused butter, fresh grated aged Parmigiano Reggiano, whipped sour cream, fresh chives, and hardwood smoked bacon; “Sweet Potato Sundae” – one pound North Carolina Sweet Potato, clarified butter, special blend of brown sugar, korintje cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ground orange peel, cloves, & ginger, toasted pecans, whipped cream and a cherry)
Grind – Usually serves gourmet burgers – went to serving low country food (shrimp & grits, crab cakes, etc) (fresh, never frozen sustainably caught Atlantic shrimp served with cheese grits and a spicy tomato gravy; custom-made Stone Cross Farms andouille sausage with cheese grits and spicy tomato gravy; jumbo lump crab cake served with cheese grits and a spicy tomato gravy with a tangy remoulade)
Sweet ‘N’ Savory – usually serves gluten-free crepes, gelato, smoothies, coffee – went to serving gluten-free ravioli and gluten-free cannoli (Shrimp & Crab Ravioli with a Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce; Chicken, Pacetta & Goat Cheese Ravioli with a Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce; Three Cheese Ravioli with Homemade Marinara)
As stated before…my focus was on Sweet ‘N’ Savory…although I could have easily eaten at French Indo Canada as well. Nice to have the option…but I am loyal to my favorite food truck and it had been forever since I was able to actually eat a hand-made ravioli. Yes…the prepared all their ravioli options from scratch. Impressive, yes? When I placed my order, I got the Three Cheese Ravioli with the Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce (it was the vegetarian option) instead of the Homemade Marinara ($10.00). I spoke with Richard and Ashley for awhile…anticipating my first real (as in not bought out of the freezer section) ravioli since…I had to go gluten-free, honestly. I was practically salivating.
The line was getting longer, so I let them get back to work. I loved seeing their truck flooded with orders. And everything was made to order, which means nothing was done ahead of time, save the actual making of the ravioli. These raviolis were dropped into boiling water to cook until they were soft and ready. They were then finished off in a pan with the sauce. It took a little while, but I was happy to wait. Quality food is always worth the wait. I was watching other orders come up ahead of mine and getting really giddy about the moment they would call my name.
Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Gluten-Free Three Cheese Ravioli with a Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce
It happened and I hurried over to claim my gluten-free ravioli and duck out of the warm sun into a shady spot to enjoy. My roomie was already devouring her meal. She opted to go with the chicken wings that Holy Mole offered…and went Korean as an added twist…and was already devouring them. She had sauce all over herself. Which meant she was eating them right. So, with my tummy rumbling and this amazing looking pasta feast in front of me, I was ready to dive in to the eight…yes EIGHT gluten-free ravioli that Sweet ‘N’ Savory prepared.
One bite…and I was almost in tears. The ravioli was, perhaps, one of the most perfect foods I have ever had the option of eating since going gluten-free. The pasta was cooked to perfection. So light, soft, and that perfect al dente that you want. The cheesy filling was melt-in-your-mouth savory goodness. Literally, the ravioli just melted against my tongue. It was the most perfect thing I have eaten in a long time. And holy ravioli, that red pepper cream sauce…I want that recipe because it was the perfect topping for this ravioli. Honest to goodness great food. I gave a ravioli to my roommate to try and she said, “I like your food better!” HAHA!! Victory. We both finished off our meals of choice, me taking my time to just let the various flavors sing across my tongue and taste buds. It was still gone way too fast.
But…there was also mention of gluten-free cannoli ($4.00). Now, I like cannoli and haven’t been able to have it in years. My roommate, however, calls cannoli one of her most favorite desserts to eat…ever. In fact, if we go to an Italian restaurant or any place that offers cannoli…you better believe she’s getting it for dessert. We skittered back over to Sweet ‘N’ Savory and placed an order for two of the cannoli. Ashley got to work on that one as Richard continued to push our the growing number of ravioli orders. Like I said…I love seeing my favorite food truck so busy. This is only a good thing. A short wait later and Ashley was handing over a plate of two fried rolls filled with cream and pistachio, dusted with powdered sugar. They looked…awesome!!
We got out of the way and each took our dessert in hand. This was no ordinary cannoli. The cream on the inside had a fruity flavor…I think it was strawberry. And they had chocolate bits scattered within it as well. Nice touch. It was definitely unexpected. The pistachios on the outside gave a bit more texture and flavor. And then…that sweet confectioners sugar…it was the icing on the cake, as it were. Every bite was just…fantastic. Crunchy, sweet, and bursting with fresh flavors. It was my ideal dessert that night. Nothing could have been better. Not even ice cream.
I loved that this event happened. It was so much fun to come out to a Louisville Street Food Alliance event and see the regular food trucks serving up something out of their comfort zone and norm. It was an absolute blast. And I loved going around and seeing what each truck did to their menu. It was definitely a great time.
Thank you, Sweet ‘N’ Savory…for once again providing this vegetarian and gluten-free foodie a food truck option of amazing, homemade, hand-prepared goodness. Nothing compares to the care, dedication, and love that you put into your business. Your products reflect it. I can’t wait to see you next time!
I lead a very busy life. No, really…I do. There are some weeks that I just never really find a moment to relax. Between my training sessions, my gym time, my yoga, my JOB, life can sometimes spin wildly out of control and just keep me too busy for my own liking. Honestly. I sometimes have to eat breakfast standing up in the kitchen, I can be that busy.
Monday is one of my busiest and most hectic days. Not only does it mean the start of the work week, but it also brings in my fun run. Every Monday night and I hate missing it. This, however, does require bolting home from work, changing into my running gear, and shoveling some sort of dinner down my throat. I have to be particular though…because in less than 30 minutes after that, I’ll be out running. Not hard…but still. Nothing worse than something not sitting right in your stomach before a run (eggs, anyone?).
Normally, a gluten-free (and vegan) grilled cheese sandwich is my go-to option on Monday night. But…I have a lot of “easy meals” in my pantry and I’m attempting to sort through all that craziness. After all…can’t change up the eating habits until the old stuff is out.
One of the best choices in my pantry, however, is a heap of Indian-inspired meals that are ready in 90 seconds. No…really! These little pouches of deliciousness are made by Tasty Bite and I have found them in regular grocery stores and natural food stores. This past Monday morning, I cooked up two servings of jasmine rice, because that’s easy to reheat in minutes when I get in from work. I figured I could grab one of the Tasty Bite pouches from the pantry and serve up a filling, but not going to kill my stomach when I run, sort of meal.
My flavor of choice – Spinach Dal.
For those of you unfamiliar with Indian food, Dal is simply lentils. And I am a huge fan of lentils!! The Tasty Bite Spinach Dal is a blend of spinach, yellow lentils, and spices. Nothing hot. A lot of people just assume Indian food is going to be hot. I wouldn’t want to eat something spicy before a run either. The Spinach Dal is the perfect balance of mild Indian spices with delicious lentils and spinach, cooked down, and served over the rice I made that morning.
And it only takes 90 seconds. Told you…it’s an easy, go-to, and VERY tasty meal.
I actually prefer spice, but the milder choices make for great Monday Run Day meals, I’ve found. The combination of the carbs from the rice and the protein from the lentils is that perfect balance I need to fuel my body for what is always my second run of the day. The spinach was soft and spiced to perfection. The lentils added a nice hit of texture and flavor…and a bit of meatiness to this vegetarian meal. I found the spices to mesh perfectly with the ingredients.
Speaking of ingredients…what all went into this? You’d be surprised at the short list of natural ingredients. This is why I love having these on hand. The Tasty Bite Spinach Dal meal contains simply water, spinach, lentils, tomatoes, onions, sunflower oil, salt, cornstarch, ginger, garlic, sugar, chilies, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, pepper, and spices. I recognize every ingredient on that list. Every single one. And while there are more than the 6-7 ingredients I prefer to see, most of them are spices and I’m okay with that. The less salt and sugar used, the better.
Nutritionally speaking, this is a healthy choice for a meal as well. One pouch contains two 100 calorie servings. Each of these servings also deliver 5 grams of fat to your daily intake. For being a packaged meal, the fact that it only contains 480 mg sodium per serving is awesome. In addition, you get a healthy dose of 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. While sugar is listed on the ingredient list…only 2 grams are found in each serving. The Tasty Bite Spinach Dal is also vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and kosher! Awesome!
Healthy. Tasty. Delicious. You really can’t go wrong with these. If you love Indian food as much as I do…and need something easy to prepare for dinner one night…look no further than Tasty Bite. And, if you aren’t afraid of cooked spinach and lentils…than the Spinach Dal makes for one of the best choices they have. Very delicious! Very…well…tasty!
The Celiathlete 