Baked Goods – Page 23 – The Celiathlete

July 27, 2013July 28, 2013

El’s Gluten-Free Snacks gives great flavor and crunch in Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps

Product: El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps – $4.49+

I’ve noticed these little brown bags of gluten-free snacks on the shelf of one of my local grocery store. I noticed them immediately because I had never seen them before. They are El’s Gluten Free Snacks…and there are two different varieties…Medleys and Snaps.

Well, while frequenting a couple of my favorite blogs, a giveaway was happening for the chance to win a bag of El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon and Sugar Snaps. So, since I was there…and reading…I figured why not enter? I do this all the time, actually…I just never win.

But then, Anna from the Gluten Free? Give Me Three blog sent me an e-mail. I had actually won the giveaway. So, she was going to wing a bag of El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon and Sugar Snaps. I was thrilled. I never win these things…but here…here I had actually won. WOOHOO!! I provided my shipping address…and a couple of days later, a box arrived containing a bag of El’s Gluten Free Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps.

I was so excited about these. But…I had a few more snacks ahead of this one…so I set this in my pantry and worked my way through the other items first.

But…this past week…the big day arrived.

So, here is the thing about gluten-free snacks. They can either be really, really amazing…or not be good at all. And these, at first glance, look as though they might be in the latter category. After all, they are little bagel crisps (think of the highly off-limits Gardetto’s snack mix…the rye chips that people usually love the most) that are lightly dusted with cinnamon and sugar. I normally have my roommate try my snacks…but she just had her last wisdom tooth out, so this time…the opinion rested all on my shoulders.

Based on feel alone, I noticed that these weren’t heavy like Gardetto’s rye chips were. These were very light and airy. I loved that. I hate when gluten-free snacks are dense and hard and…bland. I haven’t gotten to that yet. These are very light and it makes you feel good about the snack as you dole out a serving.

Snack time arrived at work and I popped open the lid of my container holding a serving of this product. The moment of truth had arrived. One bite. A crunchy, crispy, delicious bite. The texture was awesome. You get this great snap with each bite. And the cinnamon and sugar that is lightly dusted over these doesn’t overpower the rest of the crisp itself. In fact, the taste and crunch is identical to the bagel chips I used to be able to eat. Not to mention, these are baked, which help keep them light, airy, and savory. It’s hard to not devour the entire serving in one quick flick of the wrist. These are honestly that good.

So…let’s talk ingredients and nutrition. As far as what these snaps are made from…its a gluten-free flour base, water, non-GMO canola oil, flax seed, cane sugar, and cinnamon. It’s that simple. Not a whole lot going into this, which I appreciate as I’m trying to cut back on processed foods…and when I do eat them, I try to limit the number of ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, not only are these products gluten-free, but they are also free of eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, and nuts. Love the allergy-friendly snacks!! This means I could share them with my nephews if I so choose. I think they’d like them.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 1 ounce (28 grams). From this serving, you will be receiving 100 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. These crisps are low in sodium, with a serving only providing 240 mg. There are 9 grams of sugar in one serving of the Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps, so it’s not too bad. That’s better than most cereals on the market. And you will also be given 2 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

If you are a fan of chips, but don’t want to snack and feel guilty…I highly recommend replacing those chips with these Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps from El’s Gluten Free. Trust me…they go above and beyond as a replacement. I was already looking forward to snack today when I helped myself to another serving of them. Honestly…one of the best gluten-free snacks out on the market. Why? Because at El’s…they believe that good taste matters.

I believe they have created the ultimate gluten-free snack foods…and with their focus on taste, texture, and flavor…it’s no wonder I fell in love with them.

July 26, 2013

Katz Gluten Free once again sets the standard with moist, fluffy Sponge Cake

Product: Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake – $5.79

A long while back, I purchased a Gluten-Free Saver deal (sort of like Groupon for the gluten-free) that gave me more than half off a certain dollar amount of products ordered from Katz Gluten Free. If you have never tried Katz Gluten Free…get thee to their Web site now and order their sampler pack. It’s a great way to get introduced to their products. And if you don’t think that’s for you…trust me…order the doughnuts. Especially the powdered sugar and cinnamon ones. You can’t go wrong.

The thing is…I have yet to eat something that Katz shipped to me that I haven’t liked. There are some products I have liked better than others, but when it all comes down to it, Katz is honestly the top-of-the-line when it comes to baked goods. And, thanks to the magic of Internet ordering…you can have their amazing products shipped right to your door.

Well, as I said, awhile back I latched on to this deal. And as I was pressed for time, I gave my roomie carte blanche to log onto Katz Gluten Free and to go ahead and pick out some items for us. So…she went for a few of our favorites (hello doughnuts, doughnut holes, English muffins, and pizza crusts) and then put in a few surprises. One of these surprises was none other than…their newly introduced Gluten Free Sponge Cake.

I was elated when I received the box via UPS. But…as it goes in this apartment…there is always something else that needs to move out ahead of the item I’m dying to try. So, for months now, the Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake has sat in my freezer…just begging me to make something with it. To eat it. To just try it. It was silently vowing not to let me down.

Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (unwrapped)

After a very busy winter and spring, the perfect opportunity to dig it out finally came around when our good friend, Greg, had space in his calendar to head this way and visit for the weekend. I had a plan…I’d make gluten-free baked ravioli with my gluten-free cheesy onion pull-apart bread…and then for dessert…I’d whip up some Vegan whipped topping, use some fresh blueberries provided to me by a good friend of mine, and put all of that over some of the Sponge Cake from Katz Gluten Free.

It sounded like a plan to me. Now…time to put it into action.

Dinner went well. The ravioli was a huge hit, but the bread still needs to be paired with the perfect cheese as it tends to get a little lost. But now I’m digressing. The fact was…dessert time was nigh.

While I do love cooking and baking and even just bringing out gluten-free goodies for guests, I always get nervous that they won’t like it. And this was a new product. I had no idea what it would be like. All I knew was that it was made by Katz Gluten Free. And, that was actually a relief. Because, if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a trillion times…I TRUST KATZ GLUTEN FREE!!

But…there are just some people you don’t know how they will take to something that they know is gluten-free. There are so many preconceived (and often correct) notions about gluten-free food. And when people are unfamiliar with it, they automatically assume that it will be heavy, dense, and probably taste like cardboard.

Let Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake prove all of that wrong. It was love at first slice. I mean, despite the fact that this loaf had been chilling in the freezer for months now…after I set it out to thaw, it didn’t dry up, nor did it become hard, brittle, or just fall apart. It was beautifully moist. My knife slid through the cake easily, and I could tell how soft it was with texture. Just like any moist sponge cake, I pressed my fingers against the center and it bounced back. Beautiful.

So…it was passing on texture and looks alone. I mean, beautiful golden crust with a gorgeous creamy white center that was moist, fluffy, soft…and just perfect to gaze upon. But…it was time for dessert. So, I sliced the three of us up a serving and topped it off with some of the vegan whipped topping. Then, fresh blueberries were scattered over the top and voila…dessert was served.

And…oh…it lived up to expectations. One bite and it was like eating a lightened up version of a shortcake. Airy, fresh, and just beautiful. It had this great flavor on top of it all…vanilla with a hit of citrus. It was a fluffy, filling dessert and one that I returned to in the nights following until the entire cake was used up. I even experimented with it slightly on a couple of nights, tossing the slice into the microwave for about 20 seconds and then topping it off with the vegan whip and berries. And, it was like taking a bite out of a freshly baked sponge cake. If you didn’t tell someone this was gluten-free, they would never know. Honestly.

Let’s talk nutrition on this baby, shall we? The Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake serves 8 people. One sizable slice will serve you up only 90 calories and 4 grams of fat! Loving those numbers so far, aren’t you? In addition, this fluffy cake will provide you with 40 mg of sodium, 7 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. It’s a lightened up version of a regular sponge cake. And I’m loving these nutritional facts. You almost don’t feel guilty about indulging a little.

As for the ingredients used to make this amazing dessert…it’s a combination of Katz Gluten Free Four (a mix of white rice flour, corn flour, and tapioca flour), sugar, eggs, canola oil, orange juice, water, baking powder, xanthan gum, and vanilla. That’s it. And the end result is one of the finest, softest, lightest sponge cakes you will find out there. I’d stack it against any regular sponge cake and still believe this one would come out on top.

Katz Gluten Free puts quality at the head of their business and it honestly shows with their products. I’m proud to say that I would be more than happy to order this from Katz again. And I intend to. In the very, very near future.

Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (topped with vegan whipped topping and fresh blueberries)

July 12, 2013

Wellaby’s gluten-free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips a bland, unsweet, tasteless snack

Product: Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips – $2.29+

My local grocery store was having a closeout on a lot…a lot of items in their gluten-free section not too long ago. This, of course, sparked a huge panic by me, thinking they were getting rid of a lot of these products and, perhaps, even shrinking the section down. Thankfully, I was not right on either account, but what this sparked was a splurge purchase of everything I had been meaning to try and was now worried I would never find again.

It’s amazing what I tossed into my cart.

Gluten-free pita chips? You better believe those went into my cart! I mean, I hadn’t had pita chips in two years…and I used to eat the hell out of pita chips. So, I grabbed the only variety they had on the shelf…Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips.

And then…they sat in my pantry for a month because I was working through the myriad of other snacks I purchased that expired before these. But today…today that was changing. Because I used up the last of the older stuff…so now…now as the moment I had been waiting for.

PITA CHIP DAY!!

I was so thrilled and excited about it…and I eagerly opened up the little pouch that held these little crisps and doled out a serving into a glass container. I, as always, took one over to my roomie to sample. She didn’t look too impressed when she bit into it. I asked her what she thought. And, after considerable thought she finally said that she felt they were bland. I asked if she thought I would like them…but she never actually got back to me on that. So, I decided I would find out at the office.

Snack time hits at 3 p.m. and I was ready to enjoy my Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. Really, really ready! I opened up my container and grabbed a crisp off the top. I loved the thickness of the chips themselves. Just like real pita chips. Honestly. The feel of them was spot on. This felt like it would bode well. So, I took a bite…

And Cathy was completely right in her assessment of these chips. They were totally bland. Every now and again, a hint of sugar of cinnamon will touch the tongue and you get…a little bit of flavor, but it’s really underwhelming and not at all what I expected. I feel these had the right texture for a pita chip. They were crunchy and thick. But the flavor…ugh…the flavor was lacking. I expected a little sweetness and I just got…pita chip flavor. And not every very good pita chip flavor.

While I love that these snack chips are baked and not fried, giving them a little bit more of a health factor, they just didn’t work for me. Without bold flavor, the sweet and savory flavors of cinnamon and sugar were not working. I actually missed the seasoning…it just fell flat in the end. Great on texture and crunch…but a very poor showing when it came to how it tasted. I was completely bummed. But, I finished them off. They were, after all, my snack.

So, should you still feel the need to try the Wellaby’s Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips yourself…let me give you the nutrition and ingredient run-down. These chips are made from a mixture of different gluten-free flours and starches. In addition to that…some items I really can’t pronounce, which means, these wouldn’t be making it back into my pantry regardless. As far as nutrition facts go, however, as serving of 28 grams will provide you with 100 calories and 3 grams of fat. Not too bad for a chip, right? Exactly. These are low in sodium (200 mg) and cholesterol free. In addition, these pita chips provide only 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of protein. And, for being a cinnamon sugar flavored chip, these only have 2 grams of sugar. I’m okay with that part. But…give it some good flavor. Something bold. Something that makes me want to eat more.

Needless to say, I was highly disappointed with Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. I had been so high on trying them and, in the end, they only served to let me down. The hard crash of a snack that you really expected to blow you away…but then it didn’t. Yeah…that’s happened to me countless times. But it feels even worse when it is something you’ve been dying to have back in your life…like pita chips. Maybe I’ll find a different brand that understands that gluten-free doesn’t have to be bland. It can taste good, be healthy, and all that. Until then…I might just have to attempt to make my own.

Not recommended. I wish I could say differently…but these just didn’t sing or excite the taste buds. They were just a bland crispy snack that fell flat on flavor in the end.

Disappointment…once again.

July 9, 2013

Everything right about Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels

Special Delivery of Udi’s Gluten-Free Goodies – including brand new products!

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels – $6.49+

Ah, bagels!!

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.

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) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Everything Inside Bagels (one full, one halved)

July 5, 2013July 5, 2013

Recipe: Gluten-Free Zucchini Muffins

I love to bake. No, really…I do. Just as much as I love to cook. But baking…baking sort of gives you that extra level of difficulty. All measurements have to be precise. Nothing can be off. Not even one bit.

Want to add another level of difficulty to the mix? Try converting a recipe to gluten-free! It’s not always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes measurements have to change. Sometimes other ingredients have to be added.

I had a lot of zucchini due to my CSA bin being laden with it this time of year. I love squash and zucchini. I love playing around with cooking it different ways. And growing up, I was always a huge fan of zucchini bread. No need for that chocolate stuff that gets added to it. Nope. The zucchini and the other ingredients can definitely speak for themselves.

So…every Saturday when I am in town, I have been meeting up with a great group of people to go running. This gets my long run in and I am able to enjoy it with some company…and really focus on the long slow distance (LSD) pace that I am supposed to be practicing. I’m no good at this running slower thing, but I’m learning. It’s important to build up stamina and strength.

That being said, a great group was taking me on a 13 mile run last weekend and I wanted to supply some eats for afterwards. I stumbled across a recipe for Zucchini Muffins in a blog called Eat, Live, Run…so it was maintained by a runner…and it sounded easy and delicious. Plus…I had every ingredient necessary. BONUS. The result? Everyone who took a muffin LOVED it. And so…here is my adapted recipe to make it gluten-free and delicious…and, loved by runners and non-runners alike!

Recipe: Gluten-Free Zucchini Muffins

Servings: 16
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Bake 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1.5 cups all purpose flour (I used Better Batter Gluten-Free All Purpose)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1.5 cups grated zucchini (about two small-medium sized zucchini)
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract (or, vanilla paste)
1/3 cup canola oil
2 tsp baking powder
Cinnamon and sugar for topping

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.

In a medium sized bowl, combine the grated zucchini, eggs, vanilla and oil. Stir well to combine and then gently stir into the flour mixture. Be careful not to overwork this—it will lead to dense muffins!

Fill lined muffin tins about 3/4th of the way up with the batter and then sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on each.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden.

~*~*~

These were so moist and delicious. I did feel, however, that the nutmeg almost overpowered the rest of the muffin, so I think next time I’ll do maybe 1/8 tsp nutmeg. Aside from that, these were fantastic. And they keep well too. My roommate and I polished these off this morning after hitting up the gym and they were still as moist and delicious as they were the night I baked them. I received a lot of praise and compliments from my running group on these muffins, so I would say they were a definite hit.

The recipe is super easy…and super delicious. Each muffin has only 136 calories in it

June 24, 2013May 11, 2015

Remembering just how much Udi’s rocks Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies

Special Delivery of Udi’s Gluten-Free Goodies – including brand new products!

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies – $5.99+

Want to win me over?

No…I mean it. For real. If you want to win me over…completely…heart, body, mind, soul, and spirit…then there is one key ingredient that you need to wave before me.

A gluten-free snickerdoodle cookie.

Go ahead. Scoff. Laugh. Mock me.

The fact of the matter is, growing up, my mom used to make the most fantastic snickerdoodle cookies. They were sweet with that little kick of spice from the cinnamon. To me, the perfectly balanced cookie. Sugar and spice…and everything nice. My mom made the best snickerdoodles. The absolute best.

I miss her cookies.

I miss snickerdoodles.

Back in November 2011, I picked up a container of Udi’s Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies. For a long while now, I had been reading about the epicness of these little bite-size cookies. I was intrigued. Surely they couldn’t measure up to my mom’s. Nothing is as good as mom’s cookies, right? Well…they may not have been my mom’s cookies…but they were close. They came really close.

So, why am I revisiting these cookies? Well, Udi’s sent me a delicious box of some goodies awhile back. Some old products; some new products. I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to not just revisit some of the classic products, but also get a taste of what Udi’s is bringing to the market that is new to their already expanding product line. And what a line-up it is too!

Of the classic products, I was delighted to see a container of the Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies among the other products. I might have hugged it as I lifted it out of the box. There were no witnesses, so no one can know for sure.

Were they as good as I thought they were back in 2011? After all, I was quite new to the gluten-free world back then. And after being deprived of many things, sometimes things just taste…amazing…due to not being able to have them.

Well, tonight I was on a mission to find out. I retrieved the container of Udi’s Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies from the pantry after eating dinner. I allow myself a small dessert every night, because we all need to treat ourselves. And I was feeling cookies. Snickerdoodles. How I resisted ripping that container open before now I will never know.

Anyway…two cookies. That’s the serving size. These cookies are three-bite cookies. Meaning…in three bites, they are gone. They aren’t big, but given that you get to devour two of them, it’s like eating a full-size cookie. I settled in, watching the second series of BBC’s “Sherlock” with dinner and finishing it up with dessert (appropriate, yes?).

I can attest that my love for Udi’s Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies remains high and perched atop a throne of gluten-free glory. These are just as good as I remembered them. Sweet with that kick of cinnamon, lending just the right amount of spice. Oh, and chewy. So soft. Moist. They are so easy to eat. And snickerdoodles are supposed to be a soft cookie. These practically melt in your mouth. They just have that right hit of sweetness from the cinnamon and sugar combination, mingled with the soft cookie texture. It makes for the perfect way to round-off any night. A soft-baked chewy delight of cookie monster glory.

I am still smitten.

Udi’s cookies are made from evaporated cane juice, Udi’s blend of flour (a mix of tapioca, potato starch and brown rice flour) butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, xanthan gum, non-gmo vegetable oil, and baking soda. Nothing unfamiliar or chemical sounding there…which makes me a happy girl. I love a product that I recognize every single ingredient that goes into it.

Nutritionally speaking…these cookies are a dessert and a treat. So, don’t be too shocked at these stats. As I stated, the serving size is two cookies. From these two cookies, you will be taking in 200 calories and 8 grams of fat. Each serving only contains 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein, so these will do little to fill you up and keep you feeling satisfied. Save for the fact that they really do satisfy that sweet tooth. And they should…as these cookies contain 16 grams of sugar per serving.

So, remember that these are a dessert, a snack, a treat. Not something that you should sit down with the entire container and devour while mindlessly watching Benedict Cumberbatch play Sherlock on the BBC network series. Not that I would do such a thing…

*AHEM*

What it boils down to…is everything in moderation. Unfortunately, many gluten-free foods get laden down with more calories and fat and these cookies seem to fall into that category. But, treating them as what they are…a treat…it’s a nice way to round off a day. And the fact that they are super-yummy does help ease the blow of the calorie and fat content…somewhat. Focus on the fact that you are taking six delicious bites of amazing soft and chewy gluten-free snickerdoodle cookies. Then go for a walk. You won’t feel as guilty.

Or…indulge. They are, after all, the most amazing gluten-free snickerdoodles I have treated myself to. Udi’s…you continue to rock my cookie-loving world.

Udi's Gluten-Free Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies — Udi’s Gluten-Free Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies

June 21, 2013

Loving the Gluten-Free Iced Lemon Cake from Truly Wize Bakery

Product: Truly Wize Bakery Gluten-Free Iced Lemon Cake – $6.95

Lemon.

Who doesn’t love lemon. There is just something so refreshing about a dish that is flavored with lemon. It’s crisp. It’s delicious. It’s my favorite flavor to use as a palate cleanser. And…one of my favorite flavors for a dessert. Like I said…it’s refreshing.

Remember that Cinnamon Coffee Cake I picked up at the gluten-free expo I attended in Carmel, Indiana? Well, my roommate got to pick a cake too, and as she is as much of a lemon freak as I am, she went with the Iced Lemon Cake from Truly Wize Bakery. So…here we were…two girls…two cakes…and a freezer. And a time span of a couple months. I knew they were in there…it was just a matter of getting the pantry down to managable levels before hitting up the freezer. My biggest concern was that these cakes would suffer for having spent so much time in the freezer.

They didn’t. Not at all.

As I mentioned previously in my blog on the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Truly Wize Bakery, a gluten-free and allergen-free bakery, is based out of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Their Web site states that their mission is simple: they want to provide delicious, healthy, premium quality gluten-free and allergy-free cookies, cakes, brownies, and other confections without the use of wheat, gluten, dairy, butter, soy, peanuts, artificial colors and flavors. They carry this out by using the finest selection of premium natural and organic ingredients from growers and suppliers who are committed to the highest environmental standards. Everything they make is from scratch in a dedicated gluten-free facility and baked to order so that everything is also fresh. You gotta love that.

The bakery was brought to life by the Chef/Founder Caren Weaver, who was on a mission to create healthier desserts for her children. Her passion for baking kick-started this plan and she finally decided to really only incorporate organic and natural ingredients in her handcrafted, gluten-free products. With the evolution of the gluten-free market, and the fact that one of her friends was a diagnosed Celiac, Caren set out to make gluten-free products that her friend could enjoy. They had to taste great.

So…obviously if my roommate and I sampled the lemon cake…and then bought it…it actually must have tasted great.

The fact was, it had been so long since we had those samples…I couldn’t remember.

Since the cake was frozen, I set it out on the counter while I was at work that day to allow it to thaw. I wasn’t sure what this would do to the cake. It didn’t seem to harm the Cinnamon Coffee Cake I had a few days before…but this actually had icing on it. So, it was a little bit different. That night, after having leftovers for dinner, dessert was just as easy as slicing into the cake and serving it up. The icing survived the thawing process better than anticipated, though it was nowhere near the beauty it was when I originally purchased it. But…it’s one of those little sacrifices. Aside from that, flavor-wise, you’d never guess this cake was frozen…ever!

Luscious lemon flavor explodes across your taste buds with this fantastic cake. It’s that right balance too. Sometimes lemon can take over and just overwhelm your palate. Not in this case. The lemon cake with the lemon icing finds that perfect citrus balance so that it doesn’t cause your eyes to water and your lips to pucker. This cake is incredibly rich and incredibly moist. And I loved every bite of it. I tried not to hoover it and devour it without any thought, but took time to taste…get the full effect of the flavor and the texture.

And, nutritionally speaking, the nutrition facts attached to this cake aren’t so bad. Not for…a cake. The Iced Lemon Cake serves 4 people and one square of this cake will provide you with 95 calories and 5 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a slice of cake. I love having a dessert under 100 calories. It tastes like it should be laden with calories and fat…but thankfully, it’s not. This cake is rich and moist and tastes so refreshing, it’s hard to believe it’s only 95 calories per serving. Trust me…you won’t believe it either. But…a healthier option for a dessert is always welcome. And while you do only get a little square of cakey goodness…it’s just enough after a meal. A couple of bites and dessert is done.

I know that we don’t all have gluten-free expos that crop up near where we live. I also realize that Truly Wize is based out of Pennsylvania. But, never fear. The Web site is set up to take orders that will be shipped to you. So, yes, now even you can give these fantastic products a try. I highly recommend their fantastic cakes. But now I’m seriously thinking about heading over to their Web site and trying out their cookies, brownies, and OMG…they have cinnamon rolls!!! Go and browse through the goodness (with pictures) at the Truly Wize Bakery Web site and, trust me, order something. If the two cakes I purchased are any indication of how the rest of their products are, then everything is a real treat. A healthier version of a real treat!

I was truly surprised by the products that Truly Wize Bakery offers. The cakes were both fantastic. One was refreshing, the other was sinful. And both were fantastic. I love this lemon cake…because the lemon isn’t too much, nor is it too subtle. It makes that last bite after a meal a truly memorable one. And with it being gluten-free and allergen free as well…even better.

Find their products…or order online. But trust me…this bakery is not to be missed.

A slice of Truly Wize Gluten-Free Iced Lemon Cake

June 21, 2013

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake a Truly Wize splurge

Product: Truly Wize Bakery Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake – $12.95

Oh, great Gluten-Free Expo that I attended back in October…I returned with so many fond memories…and some great items that I either was given to sample or purchased to try. That was a good time. And I came across vendors, brands, and foods that I didn’t even know existed. And that’s saying something being that I have been a member of the Celiac club for over two years now.

But, these tasting fairs and expos are great experiences and a good way to learn about other brands, other companies, local businesses, restaurants, and the like who do cater to the gluten-free community. This particular expo was taking place up in Carmel, Indiana. It was the Gluten-Free Living Now Expo…and unlike the last expo I attended in Indianapolis, this one was HUGE. It filled a banquet hall from end-to-end, rows and rows of vendors, grocery stores, local bakeries, not-so-local bakeries, restaurants, etc. filled the space. I was happily overwhelmed.

My roommate and I took our time, walking the aisles, taking samples, talking to the people at the tables. We wanted to really soak in the experience and not feel rushed like we normally do at these events. We even made some splurge purchases. There are so many great deals at these expos…prices on products you can find in stores that you’ll never get anywhere else. Like I said…we splurged a little.

One such splurge came from a bakery that was giving out samples of some of their cakes. I love cake. And two of these weren’t frosted. Even better…since I don’t like frosting. My roommate and I stepped up and spoke to the nice woman at the table. She offered samples of either the Chocolate Decadence Cake, the Cinnamon Coffee Cake, or the Iced Lemon Cake. Cathy immediately jumped on the sample of the lemon cake. Me…I went with the cinnamon one, as cinnamon is one of my favorite things in the wold.

Moist. Delicious. OMGSOGOOD!

Splurge purchase. We bought two of the three cakes…the two we sampled. SOLD…with one little bite. That’s how you know you’re doing something right.

The bakery is actually based out of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. And it is Truly Wize Gluten-Free Bakery…which is a gluten-free and allergen-free bakery. Their Web site states that their mission is simple: they want to provide delicious, healthy, premium quality gluten-free and allergy-free cookies, cakes, brownies, and other confections without the use of wheat, gluten, dairy, butter, soy, peanuts, artificial colors and flavors. They carry this out by using the finest selection of premium natural and organic ingredients from growers and suppliers who are committed to the highest environmental standards. Everything they make is from scratch in a dedicated gluten-free facility and baked to order so that everything is also fresh. You gotta love that.

Well, that mission was definitely a success.

Like I said…this expo took place back in October, so the cakes that we purchased have been taking up space and residence in my freezer. But, with this past week being so crazy and I needed a break from the pre-packaged cookies I’ve been going through in my pantry of gluten-free doom…I reached into the freezer and grabbed the Truly Wize Bakery Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake. I put it on the counter while I was at work to allow it to thaw out. I wasn’t sure how this would affect the cake…but I went with it. Hoping for the best.

Returning home, I had a busy night, including a circuit workout and a dinner to make. I’ve been very pressed for time lately as my schedule is getting kind of crazy and hectic. But…I do get by. With an already hectic day behind me and a super-busy evening, the fact that dessert was ready and waiting for me on my counter made my night. Honestly. I’m a dessert girl…it’s something I always treat myself to. Nothing big. Just a little palate cleanser after a meal. I have to have it.

So, after devouring dinner…it was time to give Truly Wize Bakery’s Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake a try. The expo where I first sampled the cake was so long ago, the flavor memory had left me. I pulled off the top of the eco-friendly packaging and sliced into it. I expected it to be dry from the months it sat in the freezer. Quite the opposite. This cake was moist and soft. I was already elated. I scooped out a slice for my roomie and then one for me. We settled in for dessert…

…and…there it was. The reason I purchased this cake in the first place. Amazing. Moist. Flavorful. Not heavy or dense. This coffee cake is light. Airy. Perfection. The reason I was blown away by it at the expo was just how fantastic it tasted. Texture was better than any coffee cake I had ever had. The balance of cinnamon and coffee…perfection. The crumble on the top…pure decadent heaven. I mean, who doesn’t like a good cinnamon-sugar crumble?! It really just added to the already awesomeness of the cake. This cake was moist. If you pressed your fork to it, it would spring back without any crumbling. Cake perfection. Truly one of the best gluten-free cakes I have ever tasted. That’s saying something. You can tell that only the best ingredients go into this product because it is so damn good!

And…nutritionally speaking…they do provide a healthier option as far as baked goods go. According to the attached nutrition info on the Cinnamon Coffee Cake, the cake serves 4 people and one square of this cake will provide you with 95 calories and 5 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a slice of cake. I love having a dessert under 100 calories. Especially when it tastes like it should have at least 300 calories in it. Not kidding, peeps. This cake is rich and moist and tastes so sinful, it’s hard to believe it’s only 95 calories per serving. LOVING IT!!

I know that we don’t all have gluten-free expos that crop up near where we live. I also realize that Truly Wize is based out of Pennsylvania. But, never fear. The Web site is set up to take orders that will be shipped to you. So, yes, now even you can give these fantastic products a try. I highly recommend their fantastic cakes. But now I’m seriously thinking about heading over to their Web site and trying out their cookies, brownies, and OMG…they have cinnamon rolls!!! Go and browse through the goodness (with pictures) at the Truly Wize Bakery Web site and, trust me, order something. If the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake is that foodgasmic…then the rest of their stuff has to be just as good, if not more amazing.

Truly Wize Bakery definitely surprised me…wowed me…and won me over. Proof, once again, that allergen-free and gluten-free doesn’t mean taste-free. My local bakery proves that time and time again…and here is another bakery doing the exact same thing.

This is a trend I would love to see continue.

So, if you haven’t tried anything from Truly Wize Bakery…either visit Pennsylvania and stop in…or…trust me when I say their products, especially their cakes, are worth ordering online. So hop over to their site and place an order. You’ll thank me for it. Trust me!

And…I highly recommend the Cinnamon Coffee Cake. Seriously. To. Die. For. (In a good way!)

A slice of Truly Wize Bakery Gluten-Free Cinnamon Coffee Cake

June 20, 2013

Purely Elizabeth keeps it simple but tasty with Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal

Product: Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal – $6.99+

Pure. Simple. Original. Natural. Organic. Gluten-Free.

That is a love letter of goodness if you ask me. Because this only proves that you don’t need to dress up something to make it taste good. You can let the pure, simple, clean ingredients speak for themselves. And that is exactly what Purely Elizabeth brand Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal does. Let me tell you, I could eat this stuff by the handful, without anything to top it off or add flavor. Honestly…it’s amazing on its own.

But I tend to use granola in my infamous breakfast parfaits, teaming it with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit of some variety (whatever may have been in the CSA bin that week). So, if it works well on its own, chances are it will be brilliant when paired with something else of equal deliciousness. And Greek yogurt and fresh fruit…is definitely winning!

So…let’s start with the basics of this very basic (but highly impressive) granola. The Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal is a blend of organic certified gluten-free oats, organic coconut palm sugar (for sweetness), organic raw virgin coconut oil, organic puffed amaranth, organic quinoa flakes, organic sunflower seeds, organic chia sees, organic cinnamon, and sea salt. I think I spy some organic, all-natural ingredients. Not one chemical or preservative is listed. This is the real deal and it’s packaged to be as clean and as healthy as possible. This granola is non-GMO project certified, free of refined sugar, soy-free, loaded with good-for-you fats, sweetened with organic coconut sugar. It is certified vegan, contains no artificial colors or flavors. All of it is hand baked and obviously made with love.

Don’t let the fact that it isn’t paired with dried fruits or something to bring it extra flavor deter you from this variety. This version doesn’t need it. Honestly, it is full of amazing flavor all on its own. The oats, puffed amaranth, quinoa flakes, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds are perfectly coated with the right amount of sweetness, pulled from the organic palm sugar. The hint of cinnamon adds a little bit more flavor. And all of it, the taste, the texture, the fantastic flavor…it is just rockstar. I can’t even imagine going back to other granola after continuing to be impressed by each variety of Purely Elizabeth granola cereals that I have tried.

So…nutritionally speaking, a serving of Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal is 1/3 cup. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. There are 2 grams of fiber in each serving and 4 grams of protein. In addition, this granola is cholesterol free and low in sodium (110 mg). So…delicious and oh, so good for you. Loving it.

If I were to purchase only one brand of granola from here on out…Purely Elizabeth would be the brand I would choose. It’s addictively good…and good for you. Give it a try…you won’t be disappointed. And don’t think Original means plain. There is nothing plain about this version of the granola. Simply put…it’s purely delicious.

Fresh Strawberry and Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait with Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grain Granola Cereal

June 16, 2013

GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit is exactly what NOT to do to gluten-free pizza

Product: GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit – $10.99+

Let’s face it, my gluten-free friends. When it comes to pizza crust, we usually have two options – make it ourselves…or use the frozen pre-packaged cracker crust pizza shells made by numerous gluten-free companies. While these aren’t all bad…I have been fortunate enough to go to a few restaurants that actually make gluten-free pizza crust that isn’t crunchy thin and tastes like…real…awesome…pizza…crust.

But, tradition for me is a gluten-free pizza before the night of a big race. For 5Ks…I’m apathetic on the tradition, but on a 10K or higher…you better believe I want my gluten-free pizza the night before. I’m a superstitious athlete…and this has just been my magic night-before-the-race fuel. It just works for me. But…recently I’m on a tighter-than-usual budget (I blame race fees!), so instead of dropping money at a restaurant, I decided to pull out this kit I purchased at my local Earth Fare awhile back and give it a shot. It would be…the best of both worlds. A crust made from a mix that I got to roll out like a real pizza…without it feeling or, hopefully tasting, like those gluten-free cracker crusts of gluten-free pizza monotony.

I should trademark that…

Anyway…

It had been a long day at work and I was rather hungry when I walked inside from a long day at the office. Immediately I settled into the kitchen to get this pizza working. I opened up the kit, pulled out the vacuum-sealed pizza crust mix, the sauce packet, and the baking paper that they provided. I preheated the oven to 450 degrees and put my pizza stone in there to warm up. So far…so good. Now came the fun part.

I call this the fun part because this is where I felt like I was really, truly, making a real…yes a REAL pizza. The crust was vegan, which means it had no eggs added to it and no dairy was involved in making it. In fact…it took 1/2 cup of water, warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then the pizza crust mix that was provided. This was a simple blend of organic brown rice flour, organic buckwheat flour, teff flour, sweet rice flour, yeast, organic raw sugar, sea salt and vitamin C. Seems legit, yes? Well, I did as instructed and poured the mix into the warmed water, stirring it until it was all incorporated and then making a dough ball, as instructed, in the bowl, covering it with the provided baking paper, and letting it sit for 10 minutes to rise.

While that was happening, I prepared the rest of the toppings…which is whatever you want. For me…vegan Daiya cheese, avocado, pinapple, tomato, onion, green pepper, and broccolette. Mmmm…veggie pizza with a hit of sweet pineapple. It would be epic. I just knew it.

With my veggies chopped and ready for the pizza, I removed the baking paper…and noticed my dough ball hadn’t even altered in size. It looked just like it did when I rolled it into a ball and left it there. Hmmm…

Well, I ran with it. The baking paper was placed on the counter and I put two teaspoons of olive oil on it. The dough ball was plopped onto the paper and rolled around into the olive oil, then I grabbed my rolling pin and rolled it out into a 12-inch circle as best I could, doing a horrible job at crimping the edges. No surprise. This isn’t my forte. Anyway, I slid the baking paper with my crust base over to the warm pizza stone and set it on the low rack to begin cooking for about 10 minutes.

GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit includes a gluten-free pizza crust mix, a sauce pack, and baking paper

When that 10 minutes was up, I pulled it out and did as I was instructed by the kit…I poured the sauce packet on top and spread it out to coat the crust. The sauce, by the way is a simple blend of organic whole peeled tomatoes, organic tomato paste, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic garlic, organic raw sugar, organic basil, organic oregano and more organic spices. It sounded organically awesome, honestly. Pure, natural ingredients. I like it. Then, over the sauce I added all the toppings and a scattering of my Daiya mozzarella shreds. Vegan pizza…is awesome. Trust me. And back into the oven it went for another 10 minute baking session, allowing the crust to cook more, the toppings to warm, the cheese to melt, and that pineapple to caramelize.

When 10 minutes was up…the pizza stone came out and my pizza was done and ready to eat. All of this is around 30 minutes time. Not too bad for a dough you prep by hand. That was, actually, my favorite part of this process. I felt like I was eating something real. Not just a frozen mass of dough already pre-made for my convenience. I like getting my hands into things and making and rolling the dough was a nice step in that direction.

So…here it is…the truth, the whole truth…and nothing but the truth.

GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit let me down. It just…let me down hard.

I went to slice through the crust and found that it was…very difficult to slice into. My hopes of having this beautifully crisp yet soft pizza crust flew immediately out the window. I was already frustrated with the crust and I hadn’t even tasted it. Once I managed to slice it into fourths and then into smaller pieces for consumption purposes, I took a serving (1/4 of the pizza) to my roommate and served up another serving for myself. I settled in, hoping the taste would make up for the tough to slice through crust.

Nope. This crust turned out to be completely tasteless. It was crunchy and bland…reminding me more of the cardboard flavored gluten-free products of yesterday rather than the amazing flavor, texture, and taste that can come with gluten-free products that are done right. SO frustrating and aggravating. I was let down. The underside of the pizza crust got this amazing crunch to it, but the top, the part that was sauced, turned into a soggy mess. I’m sorry…pizza crust should not be soggy. Ever. It was lackluster, uninspired, bland, and just plain…disgusting. I almost didn’t want to save the other half of the pizza for the following evening. But I did…because I didn’t want to waste money. Ugh. I reheated it the following night in a skillet, hoping it might improve the crust some. Nope. Still a bland, soggy mess of a pizza.

GalloLea…you did everything wrong with this mix. I mean, who says that pizza crust has to be bland and just…not worth the effort to make it. I was so disappointed with the time I spent rolling out this dough and preparing it. The sauce was bitter and didn’t taste good at all. I’d recommend using your own sauce if you happen to have one of these in your pantry. I’m just saying.

As for the nutritional worth of this bland pizza crust…with the sauce included…the serving of 1/4 of a pizza will set you back 170 calories, and that’s without counting the toppings you add to it. There is only 1 gram of fat in the mix and sauce, however, and it does provide 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. This mix is also low on sodium (220 mg) and contains only 3 grams of sugar. It is cholesterol free as well.

Unfortunately…it is also disgusting. And I was so disappointed that once again I was stuck with a less-than-satisfying pre-race pizza. I want a good pizza before a race, dammit. Is that too much to ask?

My recommendation…make your own gluten-free crust. Don’t rely on mixes. And if you are pressed for time, there are plenty of tasty, frozen, pre-made gluten-free pizza crusts out there to throw into the oven with your own sauce and toppings. Don’t waste your time and money on the GalloLea Gluten-Free Pizza Kit. You will regret it. I sure did.

GalloLea Pizza Crust stopped with my amazing toppings. The toppings were the best part. The crust was horrible!