Category: Breakfast

Posted on

Product Review: Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters

Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters
Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters

Product: Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters – $4.99+

Gluten-free granola is becoming a staple in my apartment.  Why?  Because it is so versatile…and personally, I love the texture and flavor that it adds to my morning breakfast parfaits.  Honestly.  The most important part, for me, however, is to find one that is more nutritious than it is indulgent.  Indulgent is all fine and good, but I’m trying to cut down on sugars in a lot of goods…and my breakfast shouldn’t be just a wash of sugar.  I’ll burn through that in no time and then need to snack more.  So, I’m very particular about the granola that finds its way into my pantry.

That being said, I have always…always trusted Love Grown Foods when it comes to their Oat Clusters.  I find that they use real ingredients and cut back on things like sodium and sugar and still manage to put out one of the most fantastic products on the market.

I’ve reviewed quite a few of their products before…but somehow had never blogged on their Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters.  What’s up with that?  I mean…HELLO…chocolate for breakfast?!  Yes please.  Even better when you don’t feel bad about what you are eating.  And when it comes to the products that Love Grown Foods puts out on the market…I never feel guilty.

And when I am able to pronounce every ingredient on the package…well…it’s a safe bet that I’ll feel comfortable putting it in my body.  At Love Grown Foods, founders Alex and Maddy create delicious foods that are full of nutritional benefits that everyone can enjoy.  Everyone.  Even someone like me…who is gluten-free.  In fact, they believe that kids (and adults) should have access to a healthy, wholesome breakfast…and that belief is what helped them create Love Grown Foods…a company with a passion to make true change when it comes to making changes in the food world and, in the bigger picture, improving kids’ nutrition.

As I am running the Chicago Marathon for Action For Healthy Kids, a non-profit charity organization that emphasizes nutrition and exercise to children, you can see how passionate I am about this cause.  Love Grown Foods hits on the exact thing I am running for next month.  It’s a worthy and important cause.  Children are our future and so many of them go without good nutritious food, nor are they learning about proper nutrition.  Processed and unhealthy foods (fast food, etc) is cheaper and more affordable…and that’s what these kids are growing up on.  That…and game systems, computers, and anything that makes them live a more sedentary lifestyle.  It needs to change.  And thanks to the options provided by Love Grown Foods…it’s happening.

With that being said…let’s talk about chocolate for breakfast!  Mmmm.  Doesn’t sound very nutritious does it?  Sort of sounds like the complete antithesis of what I just rambled on about.  But, guess again.  We’re talking about Love Grown Foods here…and they actually get their Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters a healthy dose of important nutrients.  And with the subtle, sweet flavor of real dark chocolate…kids will be eating healthy and thinking they are totally getting dessert for breakfast.

I thought that too when I opened up my bag of Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters.  For real.  Sweet, indulgent chocolatey goodness was inside.  I had to try some on its own for the sake of the blog.  But after a couple of pinches, I knew it was time to build my breakfast parfait.  And I was making a new one.  With PB2, vanilla Greek yogurt, a drizzle of honey, fresh slices of banana, and now…Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters.  With the initial tasting…I knew this would be one epic breakfast parfait.  And it didn’t disappoint.

Here’s the fantastic thing about this granola, aside from being made from real ingredients, Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness is a sweet indulgence that you don’t feel bad about eating.  Not one bit.  Yes…it is chocolate.  But who doesn’t like chocolate for breakfast?  I live for chocolate for breakfast.  And this is a much better and healthier way of doing it than say…chocolate chip pancakes or a high sugar chocolate cereal.  These oat clusters are little chunks of gluten-free oats that have been sweetened with agave and honey instead of refined sugars or (even worse) artificial sweeteners.  To hit the sweetness right on the money, 63% dark chocolate chips are added to the mix.  So, with no junk this is really a guilt-free chocolate indulgence that you can feel good about eating.  So…it’s sweet, but it comes by it honestly and naturally.  And it isn’t “give-me-a-cavity-with-each-bite” sweet either.  It’s subtle…savory…and decadent without being too much.  And that’s a very fine line when it comes to chocolate.  Trust me…I’m a chocoholic.  I could eat this straight from the bag (and have!) and not need it with anything else.  Seriously…it is that super good.  Mixed in with the contents I chose for the parfait and it was a nice, rich, and deliciously filling breakfast treat.

Ingredients are simple and understated.  Nothing is processed and everything is real and something you would recognize if you were walking down the aisles of your grocery store.  Certified gluten-free oats, honey, organic agave syrup, expeller pressed canola oil, coconut, 63% chocolate, sunflower seeds, pure vanilla, milled flaxseed, 100% pure cocoa powder and sea salt.  Ten simple and recognizable ingredients and you get BIG flavor and epic deliciousness without feeling bad about taking a little more than intended.

Now…down to the nutritional nitty-gritty!  A serving of Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters is 1/4 cup.  In this small, but filling serving, you will receive 130 calories and 4.5 grams of fat.  In addition, you will be served up a scant 35 mg sodium and 8 grams of sugar.  These chocolatey oat clusters also provide you with 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.  Not bad at all!!

We all like a sweet indulgence every now and again.  With Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters you can indulge all you want and never, ever feel guilty.  Love Grown Foods serves up nutritious and delicious products with a whole lot of love.

And that’s why I keep buying the brand.  I believe in what they are selling and the mission they have set out for their company and products.  I’m a believer.  And I’m totally hooked.

“Chunky Monkey” Breakfast Parfait made with Greek Yogurt, PB2, banana, and Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters
Posted on

Product: So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk

So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk
So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk

Product: So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk – $2.49+

You know…I’ve found that even if I could drink it…I have lost my appetite for cow’s milk.  Seriously.  I have no real urge to pour a glass and down it.  That being said…I have been drawn in and become hooked on unsweetened non-dairy milks…such as those made from nuts or coconut.  Honestly.  It doesn’t get much better than your morning cereal swimming in a pool of unsweetened almond milk…does it?  It’s one of my little joys in life.  And I’m not ashamed.

Well, I think the minds at Turtle Mountain, makers of the So Delicious Dairy Free products, have introduced a new line of dairy-free beverages.  From the company that makes, honestly, some of the best coconut milk, some of the best almond milk…and some of the best other products that utilize those…So Delicious Dairy Free has brought Cashew Milk to the market.

Yes.

Cashew.  Milk.

Why this hasn’t been done before, I don’t know.

I mean, I’ve downed soy milk, rice milk, hazelnut milk, almond milk, coconut milk…I even did one of those nut-milk blends that was made from almonds, hazelnuts, and cashews.  But never, ever…just cashew.  Which is sad…because it is my favorite nut.  It’s also the most popular nut in America, with 31% of people naming it their top choice (almonds came in at 16%).  Cashews have a delicate flavor, but are quite rich.  And they are a great source of iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, and zinc.  They also contain high levels of antioxidants that can help lower the risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease.

Cashews are not just delicious…but little powerhouses in their own right!

Currently, So Delicious offers two varieties of their Cashew Milk.  Both of which are unsweetened.  One is the original flavor the other…vanilla.  I’d love to try vanilla, I just have to find it first.  As it was, this was tucked away on the bottom shelf at my local Whole Foods.  I didn’t see it, but my roommate spotted it and I commenced with yet another happy dance in the aisles of Whole Foods.  Their Christmas video of goofy customers will be filled with me this year, I swear.  So, as the only available option is the Unsweetened Original Cashew Milk…that’s what I bought.

This morning…it made its debut.  Actually, I opened it up last night to pour into my Maple Raspberry Overnight Oats, but…I didn’t taste the milk.  My roommate did…and said it tasted like almond milk.  That’s her palate for you.

So, I’m working on polishing off a box of Vanilla Chex…so this morning, my cereal got a nice, healthy dash of So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk.  I found it to have a bit more body to it than unsweetened almond milk, meaning it was a bit thicker…more like cow’s milk.  I tasted it…and found that it had a very smooth and light flavor.  I liked it.  Maybe not as much as my unsweetened almond milk…but I liked it.  I liked it enough to slurp it up by the spoonful with my cereal.  Now…lunch today, I retrieved my Refrigerator Oats and sat down to devour it.  The cashew milk was SO good in that.  I mean, it had a thicker consistency, so it wasn’t as soupy as it usually is.  It really softened up the gluten-free oats, mixed well with my dairy-free yogurt, my pure maple syrup, and the raspberries I added for flavor.  It was fantastic.  I’d use the So Delicious Cashew Milk in that every single time I make it…if I could.  I was blown away.  And I think I ate them faster than I ever had before.  I loved that both varieties that are out are unsweetened.  I only buy unsweetened almond milk, so that was how I wanted my cashew milk.  It has a bit of a richer texture and flavor…and I liked it.  As a cashew lover…well…that’s a good thing.

Let’s talk ingredients now…because I have been cutting certain additives out of my diet wherever possible.  I was so happy to see that So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk did not have carrageenan listed.  Total win.  What this milk is made up of includes: cashew milk (filtered water and cashews), non-GMO canola oil, calcium phosphate, magnesium, magnesium phosphate, locust bean gum, gellan gum, guar gum, vitamin A acetate, sea salt, vitamin D-3, L-Selenmoethionine (selenium) zinc oxide, folic acid, and vitamin B-12.

As for the nutritional information I like to pass on…keep in mind that this is milk derived from a nut.  Therefore…it is going to have more fat than other non-dairy products.  And…this one actually has a lot of fat in it.  A serving of 1 cup will only serve you up 35 calories, but 30 of those calories are calories from fat.  Yeah…that’s…a lot.  One cup will also provide you with 3.5 grams of fat and 85 mg sodium.  This beverage has no fiber, no protein, no cholesterol, and no sugar.  I’m bummed about the protein part.  At least I get 1 gram with almond milk.

So…overall…a delightfully tasty beverage from So Delicious.  The Unsweetened Cashew Milk is just as good as it sounds.  I hope to track down the vanilla version of it sometime because I love my unsweetened vanilla almond milk and treat myself to it every now and again.

So Delicious…you are definitely living up to your name…as you tend to do.  Thank you for introducing my favorite nut to milk form and livening up my breakfast and lunch.  SO DELISH!

Posted on

Recipe: Paleo Cinnamon Glazed Pumpkin Donuts

Baking makes me as happy as cooking does.  Especially when I am doing it for other people.  And it has become a bit of a habit for me to spend my Friday nights in my little closet of a kitchen, baking up something for all the runners who come out and do their long distance run on Saturday morning.  I am a part of this group.  And, I think we all need something to run for, when it comes down to it.  Why not a little treat…a reward for pushing through all those miles and ending up back at the coffee house where those who didn’t go as far, or perhaps ran a little faster, congregate and catch-up for a bit.

There is one member of this group of amazing people who has been having so many issues with the foods she eats.  She is currently trying the Paleo diet, but working in some of those “forbidden” foods…because she is an athlete and she needs certain things to power her through.  It’s just been a matter of seeing how her body reacts to certain things.  Have I ever been there, done that.  While most of my goodies are gluten-free (the Paleo diet is gluten-free), they haven’t always had items that she could eat.  I was determined to change that this week.

As I have donut pans that are always begging for use…I went out, purchased a small bag of coconut flour (for an ungodly amount of money) and spent the later hours of the evening making donuts for my group the following morning, using a recipe from FastPaleo.  Paleo donuts.  Donuts she could, in fact, eat.  Who would have thought?  And I made them with two of my favorite things…pumpkin and cinnamon.  Yummy!

Recipe: Paleo Cinnamon Glazed Pumpkin Donuts

Paleo Cinnamon Glazed Pumpkin Donuts
Paleo Cinnamon Glazed Pumpkin Donuts

Servings: 10
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 25 minutes

Ingredients for Donuts:

  • 1 cup pumpkin
  • 2 eggs (room temperature)
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice

Ingredients for Glaze:

  • 2 tablespoons coconut crystals
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Directions:

The Donuts:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Grease doughnut pan with coconut oil.

Combine all ingredients in a mixer, food processor or blender (anything works) except for the glaze.

*Note that coconut oil and maple syrup is needed for the doughnut and the glaze.  Optional ingredient if it appears too dry: 1 cup room temperature applesauce (the kind with cinnamon would rock).

Evenly distribute onto the baking pan and bake for 20 minutes.

Cool on a cooling rack.

When cool, flip over to allow them to fall off pan.
The Glaze:

Combine the coconut oil and maple syrup in a dish.

Combine the coconut crystals and the cinnamon in a bowl.

Use a pastry brush to brush the top (or all sides) of the donut and then dip it onto the dry mix.

~*~*~

It’s really that easy.  I didn’t need to add applesauce to my mixture of ingredients.  And these donuts were soft, moist, and really, really packed with flavor.  I was beyond impressed.  So was my group, apparently.  Because I ended up baking 20 of these and only 3 of them were left on Saturday morning after we all finished our runs.  And the leftover three were devoured by my roommate and I this morning for breakfast.  Even gave them a little warm-up in the microwave, as if they were fresh out of the oven.  Honestly…SUPER delicious.

One of the group was raving to me afterwards about the donuts.  It makes me happy to share something I love to make with those I enjoy being around.  And with those I know appreciate the time and effort I put into these.

My Paleo runner was not there this past week…but after this three week hiatus where I am out of town…I’ll resume my baking trend and see what I can create that will be safe for her as well.

Until then…I intend to make many many more of these donuts.  And at 104 calories and 6 grams of fat per donut…it’s a treat that is definitely worth indulging in.  Epic yum!  Try them.  You don’t have to be gluten-free or Paleo to enjoy them.  Obviously.  My running buddies proved that.  High marks and high praise all around.

Posted on

Product Review: Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal

General Mills' Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal
General Mills’ Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal

Product: General Mills’ Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal – $3.29+

It’s been awhile since Chex cereal came into my pantry.  Honestly.  While I have previously touted it as one of the more affordable gluten-free cereals, the fact of the matter is that some of the ingredients just don’t fit into my lifestyle anymore.  While I’m not doing Clean Eating 100%…where I can cut out the processed food and the additives and such that I don’t need to be consuming…well, I cut them out.  There are better, healthier cereals out there.  Yes…I might have to pay a little more for them, but I feel better about the ingredients.  Peace of mind.

That being said, I also know that since I heard about the newest and latest Chex cereal flavor…and that it was one of their gluten-free options…I did want to try it.  I didn’t really go searching for it, but one day while in a local grocery store, I spotted a couple boxes on sale…mostly because the boxes were dented.  Hell, I don’t care what the box looks like.  As long as the inner packaging is still sealed…

So, into my arms came General Mills’ Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal.  And home it went in a grocery bag.  I put it into the pantry, as I was polishing off an all natural chocolate cereal at the time (which was SUPER yum!).  But yesterday was the big day for the Vanilla Chex.  I had used up the last of my previous cereal and this one was about to have its moment to shine.  It had a few spoonfuls to win me over.  So, I wished it luck and poured out a serving of the cereal, snatching a few pieces to try dry before adding my unsweetened almond milk to the mix.

First of all, this cereal, as with the other flavored varieties of Chex cereals, is a blend of regular Rice Chex, and then the flavor-dusted cubes.  The vanilla variety has this dusting of a sugary-sweet vanilla powder on them.  My first taste, without the almond milk, was not one to win me over.  While the flavor is awesome…think…Rice Krispies meet Nilla Wafers…it was really, really, really sweet.  I mean…SWEET!  And I love sweets.  This was almost a little too sweet though.  And it’s not often you’ll hear me say that.  Trust me.

I was about to head to the gym for an hour of cardio and strength training, so I hoped that the almond milk tamped down the sugary-sweet flavor and also prayed that it wouldn’t revisit me after the workout.  I poured in a splash of almond milk and settled in for breakfast.

Adding the milk helped.  Probably because some of that vanilla sugar on the squares washed off and into the milk.  That was fine.  It definitely made the cereal easier to eat.  And it really, for the life of me, tasted like I was eating a bowl full of Rice Krispie treats.  Now, I love Rice Krispie treats (thank you gluten-free Rice Krispies) as much as the next person…but I like them in moderation.  And this serving feels almost too big (though it is a standard serving) given the sweetness factor of this particular variety of the Chex cereal.

So…for me…this one is okay…but I’d rather snatch up the Honey Nut or Cinnamon or Chocolate varieties first.  This one…while good…just was…too much for one sitting.

But, as always, I have to break this down for you.  Why doesn’t Chex Cereal come into my house much anymore?  Well, it’s this little additive called BHT.  This version also has a lot of sugary ingredients, including sugar, fructose, and molasses.  No wonder it tastes like a never-ending dose of Rice Krispie Treats.

As for the nutritional information, a serving of Vanilla Chex is 3/4 cup, which will provide you with 120 calories and 2 grams of fat.  In addition, this cereal is cholesterol-free and only contains 190 mg of sodium.  For being so sweet, the fact that it contains only 8 grams of sugar is shocking…but that’s what the nutrition panel tells me.  Finally, you will be consuming a scant amount of fiber and very only 1 gram of protein, so expect to feel hungry soon after you eat it.

For a sugar rush or an occasional treat, I think Vanilla Chex would be a good stand-in for something.  I also think it would rock some gluten-free Muddy Buddies and the like.  But as a cereal I found it way too sweet for my liking.  So, now that I’ve tried it…I’ll polish off the box and move on to the next gluten-free cereal to come my way.

It’s good.  It’s just too sweet for me.  That’s all.

Posted on

Recipe: Gluten-Free Peach Almond Muffins

Every Saturday ushers in my long run.  Some weeks I go longer than others.  It all depends on my training plan.  Usually, whenever possible, I like to treat the runners from my Saturday morning clan, to something rewarding at the end of their efforts.  We all, as small groups, run different mileage, or different paces, so I usually have my roommate over at the coffee shop we meet at afterwards with their treats.

As I had four beautiful, amazing peaches from my CSA bin this past week, I really wanted to make something with them.  And it just so happened, that the week prior, I stumbled across an amazing looking recipe from one of my favorite blogs – Two Peas & Their Pod.

All I had to do was modify it to make it gluten-free.  Not so hard when you have a fantastic gluten-free all-purpose flour.  So, later than planned, on Friday night, I turned on my oven, got out the KitchenAid mixer…and got to baking.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Peach Almond Muffins

Servings: 18
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Bake 20 minutes

Gluten-Free Peach Almond Muffins
Gluten-Free Peach Almond Muffins


Ingredients:

For the Muffins:

  • 2-1/4 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (I used Better Batter)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground all spice
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1-1/4 cups diced peeled peaches

For the Almond Streusel Topping:

  • 1/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (I used Better Batter)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup sliced almonds
Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.Line 14 muffin cups with paper liners or grease the cups.  Set pan aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.  Set aside.In a small bowl, whisk together egg, canola oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and almond extract.Pour liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix gently with a spatula.  Mix until just combined.

Gently stir in the peaches.

To make the almond streusel topping, in a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter.  Mix with your hands until you have a crumbly mixture.  It is ok to have pea size chunks of butter.  Mix in the sliced almonds.

Pour muffin batter evenly into prepared muffin cups.

Sprinkle the almond streusel topping on top of the muffins.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.  Let muffins cool to room temperature and serve.

~*~*~

These little muffins did surprise me.  Because when I snagged one fresh from the oven…split it in half…and taste tested it…I couldn’t really tell that it had much flavor.  So, I wasn’t exactly sure that they won me over.  My roommate said she really thought it tasted good and encouraged me to go ahead with the plan to package them up and share with my running group.

I am so glad I did, because everyone had high comments on them.  I was part of the last group getting back (I ran 16 miles, but the heat and humidity were killer…so it took a little longer), and everyone was finishing up their coffee and post-run refueling.  And I saw quite a few muffin wrappers on the plates.  Everyone thanked me for them and said they were delicious!  Hmm…

Fact is, I do think these muffins are even better on the following day.  Give all the flavors a chance to sit and soak into the muffin itself.  Because when I had mine…it was fantastic.  A little denser than I usually like my muffins, but the streusel topping was awesome and the peaches were really complimented by the different spices that were mixed throughout.

I’d make this again in a heartbeat.

So, if you love peaches and you love muffins…I encourage you to give this recipe a try.  Super delicious.  Runner approved.

Posted on

Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oats

As part of trying to do more of a Clean Eating diet, per the recommendation of my sports nutritionist…I have decided to attempt to make my usual oatmeal for lunch habit continue…but with me making the oatmeal.  This way I have more control over the nutritional value.  And, especially, the amount of sugar that goes into each helping.

While I love my Bakery On Main gluten-free oatmeal and the multitude of amazing flavors…it is super expensive.  So, it also wracks up my grocery shopping budget.  But thanks to Pinterest…I found a way around that.  And…especially with the hot and humid summer days here…an even more refreshing way to enjoy my oatmeal in the afternoon.  Of course, this would be good any time of day…but oatmeal for lunch is my thing.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal

Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal (Overnight Oats)
Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal (Overnight Oats)

Servings: 1
Time: Prep 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats (I used Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Rolled Oats)
  • 1/3 cup skim milk (I used unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt (I used vanilla Greek yogurt)
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds (I didn’t have these…so I didn’t use them)
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup (more or less to taste)
  • 1/4 cup blueberries (or enough to fill jar)

Directions:

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds (if using), and maple syrup.

Put lid on jar and shake until well combined.

Remove lid, add blueberries and stir until mixed throughout.

Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.

Eat chilled.

~*~*~

It’s simple.  It’s easy.  It’s SUPER delicious.  I loved taking bite after bite of this.  The chia seeds definitely would have made it less soupy…but I don’t have any on hand and I wasn’t going to go out and buy some specifically for this.  Maybe next grocery trip if the budget allows.  It worked out just fine without them, however.  Lunch was very nutritious and I knew everything that went into my oats.  And wow…was this every filling!

My little jar of goodness had only 185 calories and 2 grams of fat.  It also had 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein in it.  How’s that for a powerhouse meal?!  There are lots of other recipes available via Pinterest and especially from The Yummy Life blog, which is where the pin takes me when I click on it.  I can’t wait to try other versions!  Total win!

Posted on

Annie May’s Sweet Café packs up delicious take-home treats for every sweet tooth

Annie May's Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls and Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin
Annie May’s Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls and Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin

Products: Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls – $3.00; Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin – $2.00; Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar – $2.00

I can’t stop myself.  It’s an addiction.  It’s a routine.  But every time I am in town on Saturday…I head over to Frankfort Avenue to Annie May’s Sweet Café, where, depending on what time I hit there (which is often dictated by how long my Saturday run ends up being), I indulge in amazing gluten-free and allergen-free breakfast offerings, or the most amazing gluten-free pizza in the area.  Hands down.  Either way, I’m a happy girl on Saturday mornings because I know it means a trip to Annie May’s!

There was only one difference this past weekend when I went to get my gluten-free doughnut and gluten-free vegan sausage and “cheese” breakfast sandwich.  I was going straight home afterwards.  And, Cathy…the best roomie ever…told me to pick a couple of items from the case to take home to have for breakfast and dessert on the following day.

I was thrilled!!  THRILLED!

The hard part was choosing.

As I am a cinnamon roll lover, I did opt to get two of their allergen-free cinnamon rolls that were on display.  They looked fantastic, with their cinnamon and sugar goodness and even given a drizzle of icing.  I was trying hard not to drool, because…cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast.  And I don’t get them very often.  Now, I’ve gotten the Take-And-Bake variety from Annie May’s Sweet Café before, but these were already made and ready for consumption.  The fantastic looking blueberry muffins were calling my name.  Blueberry muffins are my absolute favorite muffin to make and devour.  And hers looked golden and moist and had this amazing sugary crust on the top.  Oh yeah…that was a must.  We got one that we decided we would split between us.  And then my roommate spotted the Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake bars in the case…and we decided to get one of those to split as well.  Done.  Kenna was delightful and boxed everything up for us and we left with some delicious looking baked goodies from our favorite little eatery/bakery in town.

Fast forward to a late morning wake-up.  I rocked out a second 13 miles this morning for my Sunday run, and returned home.  After showering, I went to wake up Cathy, knocking on her door.  She was sleeping later than usual because we had been up in Indianapolis rocking out with Maroon 5…and didn’t get in until around 2 a.m.  My run took place later…her wake-up call came later.  It all worked.

But breakfast was going to be a cinch!  And it was.  I simply opened up the signature pink box with the Annie May’s Sweet Café sticker on it and pulled out the spoils of our shopping on Saturday.  Two allergen-free cinnamon rolls and one ginormous blueberry muffin.  I simply decided to slice the muffin in half and then warmed that half up in the microwave with the cinnamon roll, individually.

Let’s start with the Allergen-Free Cinnamon Roll ($3.00).  These were fantastic.  Even having sat on my counter all day and night, it was still cinnamon-sugar perfection.  The roll stayed together so well.  It had that heft of a cinnamon roll without being super dense and hard to eat.  It was crusty and flaky and sweetened to ultimate perfection.  I also liked how the icing was simply drizzled across the top, ensuring that the icing didn’t overtake the awesomeness of the cinnamon roll itself.  These cinnamon rolls contained no dairy and no gluten (of course) and they were awesome.  I hope they keep these in the case more often because I will make a habit of eating them whenever possible.

Now…one of Annie May’s muffins was a new choice for me.  Where I had the cinnamon rolls in a take-and-bake format before (but never from the case already done), I had never purchased a muffin.  So, this was a first for me.  The Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin ($2.00) was huge.  And hugely moist too.  Yes…even after it had an entire day to sit in a box, it was still super moist.  I mean, I sliced into it and it was just…awesome.  I could tell it wasn’t dry at all, and this made me happy.  One of the little joys of these muffins was the sugar coating on the top.  It gave the muffin this nice bit of texture and sweetness…and I loved the crispness that it gave and the sound it made when my knife glided through the baked goodie to half it between my roommate and I.  And the taste…melt-in-your-mouth blueberry muffin perfection.  Moist.  Light.  Not at all dense or overdone.  The sugar struessel on top was the perfect touch to keep each bite sweet and interesting.  I am in love with these blueberry muffins.  And blueberry muffins are my most favorite thing when it comes to muffins.  So, I hope to see more of these in the very near future.

This leads us to dessert tonight…and the ever-epic sounding Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar ($2.00).  Completely gluten-free.  It was described by Annie May’s Sweet Café as some crazy cinnamon roll brainchild.  Okay…I was definitely intrigued!  Because, as we all know…CINNAMON ROLL FREAK HERE!!  So, dessert tonight had to be epic and awesome.  It just had to be.  After dinner, I went and retrieved this morsel of gluten-free goodness from my fridge and sliced it in half…ready to see if it lived up to its epic sounding description.

It was creamy, smooth, and it honestly did taste like some sort of cheesecake-cinnamon roll hybrid.  You can only imagine my joy upon first taste.  The crust was crunchy and delicious…held up perfectly overnight in the refrigerator.  As for the cheesecake portion…I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet.  Cheesecake can run too sweet, but this one was perfect.  The caramel and cinnamon that were swirled into it gave it the right amount of flavor without taking away from the cream cheese and the crust.  Perfectly balanced.  And not heavy at all.  Sometimes cheesecake can just be too much.  Here, it was just perfect.  Especially when the bar was cut in half to split with my roomie.  She enjoyed it too, especially the swirled caramel and cinnamon topping on the cheesecake itself.  We were both overly delighted with our dessert tonight.

And I think anything that tastes like a cinnamon roll should applauded.  This was well done!!

Continuing on the trend of her amazing products, Annie May’s Sweet Café provided the perfect way to start my day…and the perfect way to end it as well.  The cinnamon rolls and the muffin were both perfect and not too filling…just filling enough to get me through to lunch, when ended up being later in the day from the norm.  And dessert…that cheesecake bar was the perfect ending to a day filled with perfect food.

Compliments of Annie May’s Sweet Café.  Whether you need to eat gluten-free or have food allergies or not…Annie May’s is the perfect place to pick up a baked item, grab a bite to eat, or even place a special order for one of her breads, cakes, cookies, whatever it is you desire.  Her standards are high and her food reflects it.

Always.

I’m already looking forward to breakfast on Saturday this coming week…

Annie May's Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar
Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar
Posted on

Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties bring vegetarian sausage back to my favorite meal of the day

Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties
Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties

Product: Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties – $3.49+

Breakfast.

I have said it once…I’ve said it a million times.  Breakfast is my favorite…absolute favorite meal of the day.  I can eat breakfast foods all day and be completely content to do so.  And, sometimes, this is exactly what I do.  And why not?  It should be the most nutritious meal of the day.  And often, that’s very true for me.

Then there are mornings where my roommate and I decide to revisit classics and make them so that I can eat them.  For awhile, I would bake up cheddar biscuits and slap some Morningstar Vegetarian Sausage Patty between them and have a vegetarian sausage biscuit.  It worked.  It was delicious.  And I loved it.  But Morningstar products, as delicious as they are, are not gluten-free.  So, when I had to cut gluten out of my diet…the breakfast sausage sandwiches went with it.

Until one day when Cathy and I were wandering around Whole Foods.  We never go into the freezer section, but we had time to kill, so we were browsing.  And that was when I spotted them.  A beacon in the frozen food aisle.  Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties.  Right there on the front of the box it listed that they are vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free, free from saturated fat, low fat, and made with hearth healthy soy.  GLUTEN-FREE VEGAN SAUSAGE PATTIES!!  (*DANCE OF JOY*)  I had tried other Sol Cuisine products…and it’s hit or miss.  So, I made note that they were there and then for weeks kept talking myself out of purchasing them.  Then, on drunken grocery shopping night with the roomie, I took advantage of her tipsy state and managed to snag a box of these to try.  FINALLY!!

They made the journey home to the apartment and into the freezer.  And that was where they remained for a couple of weeks.  Until one night I made a batch of gluten-free rosemary cheddar biscuits for my running group.  I had leftovers…so I promised to do up Sausage Biscuits for my roommate on Friday.

Well, this morning brought about the morning she had been waiting for.  And so…I got the box of Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties out of the freezer, preheated the oven to 350 degrees, and opened up the box.

Sol Cuisine Veggie Sausage Patties
Sol Cuisine Veggie Sausage Patties

The patties come in two clear packages, each containing three patties.  The first thing I noticed was that these were not all golden brown like the box showed.  Nope.  They were gray.  And in my past experience, I know for a fact that food…should…NOT…be gray!  So, needless to say, I was a little concerned.  I removed four patties from their sealed packages and laid them out on a lightly oiled cookie sheet, preparing them to bake for 20 minutes.  I was hoping that this might put some brown color into them…so they didn’t look gray still.  Into the oven they went for 10 minutes.  Then, I flipped them over and polished off their baking time with another 10 minutes.

They never did get to be that gorgeous golden brown that you think sausages should be.  Even vegan sausages.  So…these biscuits were just going to have to hold a gray vegan sausage.  I’d just attempt to overlook the color.  I plated my roomie’s biscuits first and delivered them to her while I compiled my own gluten-free and vegetarian sausage biscuits.  As it takes me a moment due to having to photograph things for this blog, I saw her nibbling away…so I naturally inquired as to what she thought of the sausages.  I always get nervous when I ask her that.  She is honest to a fault.  Her response…”They taste like sausage!”  Considering my roommate is neither a vegetarian nor necessitating a gluten-free diet (she eats that way at home because I cook and I am a gluten-free vegetarian), this is one of the best statements that can be made about a vegan product.  Honestly.

I settled in with my own sandwich, opting not to throw hot sauce on it this time because I really wanted to taste the sausage itself.  Cathy was right.  These vegan sausage patties are hearty and meaty and have an amazing texture to them.  They may be gray in color, but that can be overlooked.  The flavor is astounding.  By baking them, the outside got this nice crispiness to it, but the inside was soft and chewy.  It honestly tasted like sausage.  It had no strange aftertaste, nor did it taste off.  It was vegan breakfast patty perfection.  I don’t think my freezer will ever not have these in it from here on out.

So…let’s break this all down as usual.  First of all Sol Cuisine is a non-GMO company, which I appreciate and love.  The Veggie Breakfast Patties, in particular, have 80% less fat than pork sausage.  For real.  And with how amazing they taste, you could probably fool any carnivore thinking it was real meat.  Seriously.  They are that good.  As mentioned before, these products by Sol Cuisine are gluten-free, wheat-free, saturated fat free, as well as kosher.

Nutritionally speaking, yes…I do realize how highly processed these are.  But…when you’re a gluten-free vegetarian…you roll with it.  The serving size for Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties is one patty.  This will serve you up only 60 calories and 2 grams of fat.  These patties are also low carb, only providing 3 grams per patty.  In addition, the sodium for a processed frozen food is not so bad, standing at 260 mg.  One patty will also provide your body with 2 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein.  They are filling…and delicious…and quite healthy when you break it all down.

I absolutely rave over these.  RAVE.  Honestly, if you have a Whole Foods store near you (I seem to only be able to find these at Whole Foods) go and purchase some.  You’ll see why these have won me over completely.  They are just the epitome of vegan (and gluten-free) breakfast sausage patties.  They are so versatile and I can’t wait to utilize them in other recipes and with other components in the near future.  For now, however, at least I know whenever I bake up some gluten-free biscuits, I can certainly treat myself to an epic breakfast sandwich.

Sol Cuisine…you brought sunshine back to this gluten-free vegetarian’s life.  Thank you for redefining breakfast for me!

Gluten-Free Vegetarian Sausage Biscuits made with Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties
Gluten-Free Vegetarian Sausage Biscuits made with Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties
Posted on

A sweet and gluten-free Crispy Cocoa Rice cereal hit in the mornings by Mom’s Best Cereals

Mom's Best Cereals Crispy Cocoa Rice
Mom’s Best Cereals Crispy Cocoa Rice

Product: Mom’s Best Cereal Crispy Cocoa Rice – $1.99+

I am trying, really hard, to watch how much sugar I take in a day.  Despite this, it just happens that most of my sugar gets used up bright and early in the morning.  This is before I have dinner…sometimes before I have lunch.  And I know part of the culprit is…well…my Greek yogurt.  But on the mornings where I have cereal…sometimes that’s where much of the hit comes from.

Due to a fantastic Manager’s Special deal at my local grocery store, my roommate returned home from one of my “Oh my God, I’m in the middle of cooking something and we’re out of ______ and need it…NOW!” shopping errands with a surprise for me.  She picked up one of her favorite brands of cereal – Mom’s Best Cereals – but this time, it was for me.  Why?  Because it was their gluten-free cereal – the Crispy Cocoa Rice.

This morning…was the day for chocolate in the morning.  And, I mean, who doesn’t love a little chocolate to start out their day.  I retrieved the crumpled (part of the reason it was on Manager’s Special) box from my pantry and dished up a serving (3/4 cup) of the cereal.  I smiled a little…as it reminded me of Cocoa Pebbles (gluten-free)…or the Cocoa Krispies (not gluten-free) that were out on the market.  It was just…familiar without being exactly the same.  The thing about Mom’s Best Cereals is that they keep their products free of artificial flavors and preservatives, use no hydrogenated oils, and do not allow high fructose corn syrup to make an appearance on the ingredient list.  So, it would seem to be a healthy…or at least…healthier choice, right?

Well…for the most part.  Do keep in mind that this is a chocolate cereal.  It might be puffed rice…but it’s still chocolate.  And with chocolate comes that dreaded “s-word”…SUGAR.  So before I get into the flavor of this cereal…let me just set up this comparison.  Mom’s Best Cereals Gluten-Free Crispy Cocoa Rice contains 13 grams of sugar per 3/4 cup serving.  The same serving size in Cocoa Pebbles contains only 10 grams of sugar.  And for that same serving in Cocoa Krispies (despite the fact that those of us who can’t have gluten can’t eat these…this is for comparison only) contains 12 grams of sugar.  So, the all-natural cereal has the most amount of sugar than the brands that contain hydrogenated oils and artificial flavors and artificial preservatives.  I hate seeing that…but in the end, I’ll take the extra few grams of sugar over the hydrogenated oils, BHA and BHT.  Seriously.

So…how did it taste?  A-MAZ-ING!  No, really.  It’s sweet.  It’s sweeter than I like most of my cereals…but it is really, really good.  I mean, it’s chocolate in the morning.  And…the added bonus is it turns my unsweetened almond milk into chocolate milk.  Which is always a plus.  These puffs of rice stay crispy, even when swimming in a sea of almond milk.  They provide great chocolate flavor.  And it’s sweet…without being overly sweet.  It’s just sweeter than I’m accustomed to at breakfast.  But…who turns their nose up at a chocolate hit in the early morning?  Not me…as I am definitely a choco-holic!

This was my fuel prior to hitting the gym…the downside of that high sugar content, however, is that I burned through it quickly…and was hungry about halfway through my cardio exercises.  Some of that might also have to do with the fact that this cereal provides no fiber at all and only 1 gram of protein.  Therefore…it’s not very filling.  Mostly sugar.  But…CHOCOLATE!!!

Mom’s Best Cereal Crispy Cocoa Rice cereal is low in fat, naturally cholesterol free, and gluten-free.  As for the rest of the nutrition information…a serving size, as stated before is 3/4 cup.  This will provide you with 120 of your daily calories with only 1 gram of fat per serving.  Aside from the high sugar content, the lack of fiber and small amount of protein, you will be taking in 150 mg sodium.  That’s not bad.  And…as far as ingredients go, this cereal does keep it all natural: rice, sugar, coconut oil, cocoa, salt, caramel color, and natural flavors.

Much better than the hydrogenated oils and artificial preservatives and flavors that come with the other two previously mentioned cereals.  The rest of the nutrition information is relatively the same otherwise.

So, if you are looking simply to satisfy a sweet tooth…Mom’s Best Cereals Crispy Cocoa Rice will definitely do the trick.  It’s one of the more nutritious chocolate cereals on the market…and it is definitely made with better ingredients than others provide.  But do recognize that it won’t fill you up…and eventually that sugar rush does wear off.  So keep this in mind.  Aside from that…who doesn’t love sweet chocolate first thing in the morning.  Treat yourself without all the extra junk.  Mom’s Best Cereals at least keeps their ingredients natural.  And that speaks volumes of the quality of the cereal they put on the market.  Trust me…the extra grams of sugar are totally worth it in the end.

Posted on

Bakery on Main packs a fiber punch (but no crunch) into every serving of Triple Berry Granola

Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola
Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola

Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola – $5.99+

Oh…Bakery on Main.  Maker of amazing granola and delicious oatmeal.  Whenever someone inquires about gluten-free oatmeal…I immediately point them in your direction.  After all, I’ve been doing the gluten-free lifestyle now for two years.  I know what is good.  I know what is great.  And I know what is worth raving about.  You are a fantastic company that does great things for the gluten-free community by offering quality products.  Even better though…you back up your quality products with a statement that says if the customer is not 100% satisfied…a refund will be given.

How many companies do that?  I can tell you…not many.  Not these days.  And I love how strongly you believe in your company, your products, and your standards to put that out there.  Amazing.

A couple of weeks ago, I was preparing for a long road trip from the Louisville, Kentucky area up to Utica, New York.  I was going to be participating in the Boilermaker 15K.  Being an athlete with food allergies, I always pack snacks for long trips.  I mean, you just never know when you might get hungry and all that is available is establishments you don’t feel comfortable dining in, or the possibility of not having options at all.  It has happened to me before, and I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

As fueling up properly before a race is important, I packed a variety of items.  Raisins, vegan (and gluten-free) jerky, gluten-free granola and protein bars, and finally…granola.  I had hit up the grocery store early one morning in search of easy items that would travel and pack well.  None of these were my specialty stores, but thankfully this particular grocery store had a few different gluten-free granola options in the natural food section.  After deliberating between two different companies…I finally settled on Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola.  I had already had the other company’s granola…and loved it.  But this flavor…this one from Bakery on Main…was new to me.  And I was curious.  After all, I already am a huge fan of granola.  Now we’re tossing in some freeze-dried raspberries, strawberries and blueberries…can you say heaven?

As it happened, I didn’t ever break into the granola on the road trip…however, I am famous for my breakfast parfaits, consisting of gluten-free granola, Greek yogurt, and fresh berries.  As my roommate and I had polished off our last granola, this now because the crunchy portion of the parfait.  Way to default, yes?

Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola
Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola

As always, though, I make a habit to try the granola on its own.  Because I want a clear taste of the product before it gets added to fresh fruit and Greek yogurt.

The first thing I noticed was that this granola didn’t have the crunch I expected it to have.  In fact, while it is baked well, with flavors infused properly, I found this particular variety to lack the crunch that toasted oats usually have.  The flavors were all there, although the freeze-dried berries are few and far between the sea of oats.  They didn’t taste soggy…but they definitely didn’t add the desired texture I had hoped for in my breakfast parfait.  But…it wasn’t bad.  It wasn’t what I was hoping for, but I find it edible.  The flavor is there.  The texture is just not what I expected.  But it works.  And, in the grand scheme of things, that is a minor fault.

So, let’s talk nutrition, shall we?  Well, the Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola is a great choice for people on a gluten-free diet.  Why?  Because often we lack in consuming enough fiber throughout the day…so this is a great way to balance it out.  A serving, which is 1/2 cup, dishes up 240 calories.  I know that seems like a lot…and it is…but this is for 1/2 cup, while most granola stops at 1/4 cup serving size…so it actually balances out in the end.  With the 24o calories, you also will be taking in 6 grams of fat.  The sodium in this granola is low, topping out at 50 mg per serving.  This granola actually has only 7 grams of sugar, which was why I chose it over the other brand there at the store.  In addition to that, the Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola has 9 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein per serving.  You have to love that, right?

Of course.

So, while I wouldn’t call the Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola by Bakery on Main a success…I would say that it is passable.  I mean, honestly, are there better options out there…yes.  But was this granola unpleasing in any way?  Of course not.  If only it had some crunch in each bite…

Ah well…

If you have been searching for a good way to get more fiber into your life…this is a good choice.  A fantastic choice, actually.  Look past the soft oats, enjoy the intermittent bursts of sweetness from the freeze dried berries, and simply savor.

Greek yogurt and fresh berry breakfast parfait made with Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola
Greek yogurt and fresh berry breakfast parfait made with Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola