Breakfast – Page 31 – The Celiathlete

December 14, 2012December 14, 2012

No love for Enjoy Life’s Caramel Apple Chewy On-The-Go Bar

Enjoy Life Caramel Apple On-The-Go Chewy Bars — Enjoy Life Caramel Apple Chewy On-The-Go Bars

Product: Enjoy Life Caramel Apple On-The-Go Chewy Bar – $4.29+

It was as though my deepest fear was confirmed upon returning home from the office today. After the horrendous taste the Very Berry Chewy Bar left in my mouth (thank goodness my co-worker had some gluten-free white chocolate peppermint popcorn on hand), I was going to go straight home, pull the box out of my pantry and throw it away.

That’s exactly what I did.

And just as I had thought, the next item up in my gluten-free pantry for consumption as a snack was…Enjoy Life Caramel Apple On-The-Go Chewy Bars.

Sigh.

And the more I did think about it, the more I was absolutely certain these were the snack bars that my mom had tried when she started doing some gluten-free foods and told me to stay far, far away. They were not good, according to her initial report. Somehow that conversation had slinked back into my brain after the disappointing snack that I basically spit out this afternoon.

Determined not to revisit that experience with a different flavor bar, my roommate suggested that we go ahead and open one of the Caramel Apple Chewy Bars and break off a piece. We could each try it (me as the gluten-free girl and her as the ‘I don’t need to eat gluten-free, so I’ll be totally honest with you’) and make a decision as if they were palatable enough me to take for snack tomorrow.

Enjoy Life Caramel Apple On-The-Go Chewy Bar — Enjoy Life Caramel Apple Chewy On-The-Go Bar

After dinner and a very delicious dessert, I started to get things together for lunches and snacks tomorrow…and remembered that I needed to grab these snack bars. I hurried over to the pantry and removed the box from the shelf, cracking it open and removing one of the bars. I tore into the wrapper. There was no onslaught of apple scent like what happened with the Very Berry one. So…that was already different. However, the tiny little snack bar didn’t look much different from the one I had today. But, I was trying to keep an open mind on this one.

Why? Because I love Enjoy Life. I love that they keep their products free of the top 8 food allergens (gluten, wheat, egg, dairy, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, fish). I love that, in the past, I’ve enjoyed every product that I’ve tried. I’m especially a fan of their chocolate granola and their seed and fruit mixes. YUM!!

So, here I stood, breaking off the end of one of the Caramel Apple On-The-Go Chewy Bars and then split that in half so my roommate and I could both have taste. We looked at the little piece in our hand…then at each other…and we popped them in.

Here’s what I can say…the Caramel Apple was a little more palatable than the Very Berry variety. The taste was still cardboardish…and the texture was less than chewy. It wasn’t hard, but it was like gnawing on a wet box. I hated the texture. Very gritty and just…blech. All of that being said, it did actually taste a little like a caramel apple. Very little. But it was there. Especially at the end, when you just manage to get it down. But…that’s not saying much. I wasn’t impressed.

Thankful that I purchased these while they were on stupid super sale…I didn’t feel too bad tossing this box in the garbage can as well.

I hope that in the future, Enjoy Life considers redoing their recipes for the Caramel Apple and Very Berry Chewy Bars. There is so much potential there…but they completely missed the mark with these. And it’s too bad, because I have nothing but good things to say about the rest of their products I have managed to find and sample.

I guess everyone strikes out at some point.

Alright, Enjoy Life…I now need you to redeem yourself again…because the state of these last two products has saddened and makes me a little more apprehensive to try things like…your cereals…which I’ve been eying. Now, I’m not so certain I want to risk the dent they’ll put in my wallet.

Enjoy Life Caramel Apple Chewy On-The-Go Bar (unwrapped)

December 14, 2012December 14, 2012

Enjoy Life’s Very Berry Chewy On-The-Go Bar a tasteless, cardboard-like disappointment

Enjoy Life Very Berry Chewy On-The-Go Bars

Product: Enjoy Life Very Berry Chewy On-The-Go Bar – $4.29+

Oh…Enjoy Life. What went wrong here? All other products I have tried, you’ve hit out of the ballpark…and then…with this one…you completely strike out. I love you as a company, and I have always loved and spoken highly of your products, but this…this was just bad.

No. It was disgusting. It was horrendous. It was a complete misstep in the way gluten-free products should be represented on the market. The Very Berry Chewy On-The-Go Bar should have been good. But it reminded me of the cardboard-like taste and texture of gluten-free products years ago…before gluten-free became more prevalent in society and the quality of such items improved tremendously.

Now, I love snack bars as much as the next person…so when Big Lots had these on sale, I snatched up a box. I mean…I love Enjoy Life’s granola, cookies, seed & fruit mixes, Plentils, and chocolate bars. For real. LOVE. In addition, I was quite happy with the Cocoa Loco and Sunbutter Crunch Chewy Bars that I had prior to this one. So, I was quite excited about picking up the Very Berry and the Caramel Apple variety. Although, now that I think back, my mom might have tried the Caramel Apple snack bar and told me to steer clear of it because it was “no good at all.” Hmmm.

Anyway, with these in my pantry, I decided today would be a good day to open them up and take one to work for my afternoon snack. I was on a bit of a roll with the snack bars, having just devoured (and thoroughly enjoyed) Lärabar Über Apple Turnover bars. Something berry flavored would be quite welcome and refreshing. So, into my lunchbox it went. And when my 3 pm snack time rolled around, I removed this from my desk drawer and prepared to enjoy it.

Enjoy Life Very Berry Chewy On-The-Go Bar

I was rather anticipating greatness with this. When I tore into the wrapper the entire office flooded with the scent of fresh berries. Honestly. Even my teammate who I share an office with asked what I just opened up because it smelled good. I told her…and then went ahead and took a bite.

My teammate glanced over and said, “I have never seen you make that face before.”

Yeah, there have been products that I have tried that I haven’t been thrilled with…but this was just awful. Tasteless. Texture was horrible. And the flavor just was…gross. The entire thing was an abomination of gluten-free snacks. It reminds me of the first time I ate a gluten-free product, years and years and years ago…just to see what it meant…and was totally unhappy with the flavor and texture. And that…that is exactly what this reminded me of. There aren’t a lot of things that I will throw away after I purchase it…but these are hitting the garbage the instant I get home. I don’t even know if I want to risk the Caramel Apple variety.

So, Enjoy Life…I don’t know what to do with you. Love you for some things…cringe with other things. But these Very Berry Chewy On-The-Go Bars were one of my least favorite things I have ever eaten since I had to go gluten-free. That’s no exaggeration. There are so many other companies out there that are doing gluten-free snack bars justice. You…my dear Enjoy Life…company that keeps the top 8 food allergens out of their products…you should be able to step up to those standards and provide the gluten-free community with something tasty and berry delicious.

I’m really let down by this product…and in turn…let down by you. I know you are capable of so much better. Come on, Enjoy Life…time to revamp the product…start fresh…and this time…make it taste good!

Enjoy Life Very Berry On-The-Go Chewy Bar (unwrapped)

December 13, 2012

General Mills’ Corn Chex still a classic and a favorite…and it’s gluten-free!

Product: General Mills Corn Chex Gluten-Free Cereal – $3.19+

I love that General Mills has so many options for the gluten-free crowd when it comes to their Chex cereal. And let me tell you, I enjoy the chocolate and cinnamon and other flavors just as much as the other person. Being able to eat a cereal that actually has different flavors to entice and excite the palate is a very nice change of pace. I have my favorites…oh…I really do.

But the other day while out at Target, there was a bit of a sale on a few of the flavors of Chex cereal. The first one I spotted was the Honey Nut Chex. But upon going back to the cereal section, I managed to snag a big box of the Corn Chex as well.

Corn Chex. I remember the days when only three flavors existed. Corn, Rice, and Wheat. I was always a huge fan of my mom’s homemade Chex Mix…and the corn and rice varieties were always my favorite to pick out. One in particular over the other – Corn Chex.

I imagine that more people get excited about eating the newer flavors in the gluten-free selection over the old standbys, but this morning proved that sometimes you just can’t top the classics. I measured out a cup of Corn Chex into my cereal bowl this morning and snagged a piece to just eat on its own, before I topped off my bowl with a splash of unsweetened almond milk. Immediately I was transported back to my childhood. Breakfast. Snacks. My mom’s Chex Mix. It all came flooding and rushing back. All in one simple, easy taste.

I noticed that in the past, this cereal was marked as gluten-free, but contained Barley Malt Extract (not gluten-free). It looks like the Corn Chex recipe has been revised because the boxes no longer contain that ingredient…so it appears to be safe for the gluten-intolerant and the Celiacs among us. I ate it this morning for breakfast and then went to the gym and have had it all settling for over 4 hours now…without any sort of reaction. I think General Mills put this one in the clear. And I appreciate them taking that sort of initiative.

Corn Chex is back to basics when it comes to cereal. A serving (1 cup) is only 110 calories. It is virtually fat free. And with only 3 grams of sugar, it makes it one of the more healthy choices for a breakfast cereal. The best part…it tastes great. Simple flavors…but they make an impression. Obviously…because these brought back so many memories that now…they’re all I want.

Thank you, General Mills, for making classics like Corn Chex so that those of us who have to eat gluten-free have an inexpensive, classic cereal we can turn to…not just for breakfast, but for snacks and parties too.

December 12, 2012

Katz Gluten Free Powdered Donut Holes a bite-sized sweet morning treat

Product: Katz Gluten Free Powdered Donut Holes – $4.49

Mmmm…donuts!

Even better – Mmmmmm…donut holes!

For awhile, I never thought I’d ever enjoy a donut hole again…unless I made them myself, and trust me…donut making is a lot of tedious work. In fact, I bake my donuts in a donut pan. So, there never really is a donut hole. So, therefore, I never thought I’d enjoy another donut hole again. It was one of those things you don’t realize how much you enjoyed eating them…until you no longer can just run to the store or bakery and just buy some.

And then, Katz Gluten Free introduced their line of donut holes. Two flavors – powdered and cinnamon.

I already devoured my container of cinnamon donuts…leaving me with the package of powdered donut holes, which came free with a special offer order that I placed. Katz Gluten Free was kind enough to make sure I had the powdered donut holes in my order as I had previously ordered the cinnamon ones…and I really wanted to try the other kind. What great customer service from a great company! I was impressed.

Well, I haven’t really had a moment to do my scone baking for gym day this week, so I was looking for something that would work. Lo and behold, my freezer held the key to my problem – Katz Gluten Free Powdered Donut Holes. I’d just pair them with a fruit (in this case, naval oranges) and my roomie and I were set after a hard, long cardio workout for a treat for breakfast.

Yesterday was the moment of truth when it came to the Powdered Donut Holes. I got out of the gym and trudged to the office. I simply placed four donut holes onto a plate and gave them a 10 second heat up in the microwave. Serving it with naval orange slices just sort of made it so that I was eating more than just 4 little donut holes.

I brought my roommate hers first. She doesn’t have to eat gluten-free, but she does because I am the cook in the apartment. So I always love to get her take on products. Her favorite gluten-free donuts are Katz Powdered Donuts, so it came as no surprise that she literally devoured the donut holes.

And who doesn’t love donut holes? I do. Let me tell you…the Powdered Sugar Donut Holes from Katz Gluten Free are the best I have had. I know some reviewers have said that they didn’t have enough sugar on them, but I totally disagree. They taste like bite-size versions of the Katz Powdered Sugar Donuts…and is a good and delicious thing. The texture is awesome. It has the right amount of cakey feel to it, without getting too sweet with the dusting of sugar. I loved it. From the first one I popped to the last. I have another round for my roomie and I in the freezer for tomorrow’s after the gym breakfast and I can’t be happier about that. They are fantastic. It would honestly be difficult not to just sit and devour the entire container. This is why I keep them frozen, thaw out the serving as needed, and then give a little warm up to them to give the illusion that they are fresh baked. It works.

It works deliciously well.

I don’t know the particulars of the nutrition information on these. It looks like the label is that of the powdered donuts…so my best guess is that 4 donuts holes (or about 1 ounce) would provide you with 150 calories. That’s awesome. And they really are some of the best donuts I have ever tasted. Yes…EVER. Back before I even had to eat gluten-free.

If that’s not enough of an endorsement for you, I encourage you to hop over to the Katz Gluten Free site and order yourself some of their delectable, delicious donuts. You won’t be sorry.

Now that my stash is almost gone…looks like it’s time for me to place yet another order.

December 11, 2012

No pastry shell needed for Lärabar Über Apple Turnover bar

Product: Lärabar Über Apple Turnover – $1.99

All the taste of an apple turnover without the guilt-laden pastry shell. I kid you not.

Welcome to the wonderful new line from Lärabar. In early 2012, Lärabar launched their new line of protein bars – the Über. In four flavors, this product combined sweet and salty flavors of classic desserts and brought them into bar form. No joke.

And after a 10 mile run the other day, I was hungry and needing something to satisfy my stomach while I went to an eye appointment before getting a late lunch. I happened to pick up one of each flavor of the Lärabar Über bars on Manager’s Special at my local grocery store. Super sale on a product that is gluten-free…yeah, I’ll buy that. And since they had an abundance of each flavor on the market, I grabbed one of each. The Über bars are available in Apple Turnover, Bananas Foster, Cherry Cobbler, and Fruit and Nut Roll.

First up, by the scientific method of grabbing the box in front…was the Lärabar Über Apple Turnover Bar.

Lärabar is known for making their products strictly from fruit, nuts, and spices/seasoning. That holds true with the Über bars. In fact, the Apple Turnover variety has 9 ingredients in them. That’s it. And they are all things you could find in your pantry. It’s true. They are composed of walnuts, dried apples, brown rice syrup, raisins, dates, pecans, honey, sea salt, and cinnamon. That’s it. Nothing unrecognizable. Defintiely not made up of chemicals that you’d have to Google to figure out what they were (if you dared!) or something completely unpronounceable and unknown to anyone but a chemist. I love that about Lärabar. What you see is what you get.

The Lärabar Über Apple Turnover bar contains only 190 calories for the entire bar. It contains 11 grams of fat, but is very low in sodium (125 mg) and serves up 3 grams of protein. Not too bad, overall.

The best part…the Apple Turnover bar tastes just like an apple turnover would. Seriously! It’s fantastic. The combination of dried fruits, nuts, and seasonings really lend that illusion that you are eating a sinful pastry. But you’re doing it at a fraction of the calories and fat. Honestly, you won’t even miss the flaky, fattening pastry crust. I fell in love with it at first bite. And so did my roommate. We both agreed that the apple flavor is there, without dominating. All of the ingredients get their time to shine, and when they are together…you really feel like you’re sitting down to a fantastic pastry. Just…without the guilt. Love that.

These bars are soft, chewy, and provide a hint of sweet/salty flavor to each bite. Not to mention, the Apple Turnover Über bar is gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, made from all-natural ingredients, vegan, kosher, non-GMO, has no added sulfites and no preservatives, fillers or colorings. It’s wholesome and all natural and for that, I feel confident continuing to purchase products from Lärabar. Not only do they fit my dietary needs, but they are delicious as well.

If you love to indulge in a dessert but want to do so without the guilt, I recommend the Lärabar Über Apple Turnover bar. And if you are gluten-free…I also recommend this variety. Honestly, you won’t even miss the pastry crust. Just indulge in the moment and savor every bite.

Lärabar…the Apple Turnover bar is Über delicious!

December 10, 2012

Another Lärabar treat with Apple Pie flavored bar

Product: Lärabar Apple Pie – $1.99+

It seems apple pie is everywhere these days. I guess it just comes with the time of year. Apples are always in season, but so many people associate them with the fall/winter. It is, after all, the height of apple cider time. And I do love apple cider. Heck, I just love apples. One of my favorite desserts is apple crisp, after all.

That being said, yesterday was another race morning. Nothing big. No reason to cream an entire protein bar down my throat before the run. Thankfully, I have a bunch of Lärabar mini bars still in my run-snack drawer. And the next one up just happened to be…Apple Pie.

I packed this away in my bag to take with me to eat an hour before the short 4K run. After all, the race wasn’t long…but I knew the cereal I ate when I woke up wouldn’t last through to the 9:00 a.m. start time. I always come prepared with a bar on race days now. There is nothing worse than standing at that starting line and hearing your stomach rumble. Or worse…being halfway through and realizing your cereal has burned off and now…you’re running on fumes. Best to just properly fuel.

So, the Lärabar Apple Pie Mini Bar accompanied on my drive over the river to Louisville, Kentucky and the park that was hosting the run. I actually pulled into the park exactly an hour before the race started. So it was perfect timing. Out came the Lärabar. I unwrapped it and took a small bite.

Okay…it actually does taste like apple pie. I can safely say that because my dessert last week was gluten-free apple pie. Honestly…this was just like having a slice. Really good. Although, even though it tastes like apple pie…it isn’t one of my favorite ones. Maybe it is the underlying hint of cinnamon that just kept creeping into my palate. But, while it was good, some of the others have been far better. But, it can be hit or miss with protein bars. That’s not to say this one wasn’t good. I would eat it again if it were offered to me. I wouldn’t turn my nose up at it. It’s just really not up to par with the other ones that have come before it. (Cashew Cookie is still my absolute favorite!)

So, a little information about this little protein bar. The Lärabar Apple Pie Mini Bar is comprised of of six ingredients. That’s it. These are dates, almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts, raisins, and cinnamon. I knew there was cinnamon in there. All together, you sort of get this illusion that you are biting into a slice of apple pie…crust and all. The apples really shine. And the cinnamon gives it that warm flavor to it, though I found it a bit overpowering at times. As for the nuts and the raisins and dates…it just lends to that illusion of crust and filling. The texture was soft and yes…this one was delicious, despite not being one of my favorites.

The mini bar offers you 90 calories and 5 grams of fat. It only has 2 grams of protein to it. Not much on that protein, now that I look at it. The full-size bar, however is a bit more. It would set you back 190 calories and 10 grams of fat. With it, you would get 4 grams of protein. But…it is definitely filling and the fiber count (3 grams in the mini; 5 grams in the full-size) is the reason for that.

Again, this was a really good bar, it just wasn’t as amazing as some of the other ones I have eaten. That being said, if you love apple pie…then you will truly love taking a bite into this bar.

December 2, 2012

Chocolate for breakfast? With Enjoy Life’s Double Chocolate Crunch Granola…you betcha!

Product: Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch Granola – $5.99+

Say it with me…

Chocolate. For. Breakfast.

Sounds sweet, yes? Sounds, perhaps, a little decadent? Perhaps more than a little sinful?

In most cases, you would be right to think so. But there is nothing sinful about Enjoy Life’s Double Chocolate Crunch Granola. It’s sweet. It’s chocolate. And yes…it can be even made into something decadent. But you will be amazed at how good this actually is as far as, not just gluten-free granola (and granola in general) goes, but chocolate granola at that.

My problem with most granola is that it is laden with sugar. I try to eat healthy…and at times I am as guilty about splurging on some sweet treat than every other human being out there. We like to treat ourselves to something at times. This chocolate granola from Enjoy Life foods is all treat without the guilt. I promise…even I was shocked by the nutritional information on this.

But I’ll get to that momentarily.

I actually picked up a bag of Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch granola at Big Lots one afternoon while out shopping. It was a random stop, but I couldn’t turn down the price. Most of the time it is far more expensive than what I found it for at Big Lots. Score. I’d been wanting to try chocolate granola for ages and had seen this at other stores, but had been more than a little reluctant to pay the price for it. Now…I had reason to welcome it into my pantry.

This morning, I had some Chobani vanilla chocolate chunk Greek yogurt to finish off, some pomegranate seeds to use, and a pantry that held the key crunch component of my infamous breakfast parfaits. I reached into my pantry and eagerly pulled out the bag of Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch and eagerly began assembling my gluten-free and mighty tasty breakfast parfaits.

A serving of Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch Granola

In the bowl, a small layer of granola. Over that, some Greek yogurt. Then the pomegranate seeds. Then more granola, more yogurt, more pomegranate seeds, then one last dusting of granola. It’s super simple and super delicious. And it makes for a delicious breakfast treat to start off the morning with. I just knew that the chocolate and pomegranate would be a match made in heaven. In fact, I couldn’t wait to try it so I dug right in.

Super chocolate YUM! No joke. I loved how crisp this granola is. And scattered throughout it are chunks of allergen-free chocolate. Love that. In fact, this granola is free of the top eight food allergens (wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, fish and shellfish). I love that. It is composed of brown rice flakes, evaporated cane juice, chocolate chips, brown rice syrup, rice crisps, cocoa powder, ground flaxseed, vegetable oil, vanilla, salt, and rosemary extract. When combined, what develops is this amazing chocolate granola that is a delight to nibble on, plain, with a splash of milk (I use unsweetened almond milk), or in some sort of a breakfast parfait, dessert topping, etc.

Nutritionally speaking, for a chocolate granola (or just as granola) this is one of the better options. A serving size is 1/2 cup and that will only set you back 180 calories and 4 grams of fat. That’s not bad at all comparatively speaking. But what surprised me and pleased me even more was that the sugar content in a serving was only…only…11 grams. A lot of regular granola pack twice that. Color me impressed.

What also impressed me was the taste and texture of this granola. It was sweet without being overly sweet. The chocolate was a delicious sweet touch and it really popped when I mixed it into my breakfast parfait. On its own, however, it was just as tasty. I love the chocolate chips that are scattered throughout, making a nice pop of chocolate with every bite. I was in love with this granola upon first bite. And I’m already coming up with other ideas of how to use it and use it well.

If you are in the market for a granola and are craving a hit of chocolate…you can’t go wrong with Enjoy Life’s Double Chocolate Crunch Granola. I’m so happy I finally got to try this. And now…I don’t think I can survive without it.

Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch Granola layered with Chobani Vanilla Chocolate Greek Yogurt and Pomegranate Seeds

December 2, 2012

Katz Gluten-Free English Muffins toast up breakfast perfection

Product: Katz Gluten-Free English Muffins – $4.99

How many times can I sing the praises of Katz Gluten-Free? I mean, honestly? They are, far and away, the pinnacle of gluten-free companies when it comes to the products that they provide. I have yet to dislike anything. True, some things are better than others, but I have never out-and-out disliked any of their products.

And this tradition holds true for their Gluten-Free English Muffins.

My roomie surprised me with an order from Katz Gluten-Free awhile back. It had quite a few items in it that were apart from my normal order. One such item were the newly introduced gluten-free English Muffins. I was so excited to have these. And, as with most things I get that are gluten-free…despite my enthusiasm over having them, they sit and wait while I work through other products first. And that was the case with these. My freezer saw more of them than I did.

That is…until this morning.

Katz Gluten-Free English Muffin (thawed and still whole)

Sure, there were plenty of things I could have made for breakfast on a Sunday. Waffles for one thing…as Sunday usually grants me enough time in the morning to put into that sort of a task. But, we had some plans to go see Lincoln in the theaters and that meant, with a couple errands to run first, we needed something easier for breakfast. Well…my freezer is often a good place to start when I need a go-to breakfast item. And there, right in the front of my very, very full freezer, were two sleeves of Katz Gluten-Free English Muffins. I grabbed the older one, already knowing that English Muffins were a simple, easy breakfast regardless. And I had plenty of options to top them off with. Even better.

As I hadn’t planned for this ahead of time, I couldn’t let these thaw out overnight in a plastic bag as I normally would. But that is why there is a defrost button on the microwave, my friends. Though it is not my favorite way to go about thawing out bread products, it does work in a pinch. So, I removed two English muffins from the bag and set to thawing them out via the microwave. Once that was accomplished, I preheated the oven to 425 degrees and put some aluminum foil down on a baking sheet to prep for toasting these up. I don’t own a toaster anymore (got rid of mine when I had to go gluten-free due to cross-contamination) and I have no room, currently, for a toaster oven. The oven is my only method for making anything toasted these days. It’s not simple…but it works.

I sliced each English Muffin in half and placed it on the baking sheet. Once the oven light clicked off, into the oven the pan went for about 7-10 minutes. This allowed the English Muffins to get a nice golden brown without being overly done. While they were busy toasting, I was getting out some toppings. I figured half could have some cream cheese on it and the other half would be topped with a small schmear of Smart Balance spread and some organic strawberry jam. It doesn’t get much better than that when it comes to English Muffins, let me tell you!

Katz Gluten-Free English Muffin (halved and toasted)

With the toppings ready, I removed the English Muffins from the oven and was quite pleased that they didn’t get too overly done. They were a fantastic golden color all the way around and toasted beautifully. I applied my selected toppings carefully to each half, giving one of each to my roommate and I. I carried hers out there and went to go grab my breakfast for the morning. As I settled in, she was already noshing away on her English Muffins and singing their accolades.

Now, let me reiterate that I grew up in New York. Bagels and English Muffins were two of my favorite breakfast carbs to down growing up. Honestly. Nothing beats a good breakfast bread topped with cream cheese or jam. It’s one of my most favorite things in the world. I just hated to give it up when I had to go gluten-free.

But now…now my love for carby goodness at breakfast is back. Because with one bite, my mind was flashing back to the amazing English Muffins I ate up until I had to stop. Katz Gluten-Free perfected these. Honestly. Just like English Muffins I used to eat. Sure…even the ones made by Thomas and other store-brands. These reminded me exactly of those in taste and texture. And it was enough to really make my breakfast mean a lot to me this morning. Honestly. I was beyond impressed.

Katz Gluten-Free English Muffins don’t have all the rivets and divets of the ones in the store or bakery, but don’t count them out on account of that. The butter and cream cheese still soaked in to each bite. Even without the traditional nooks and crannies of an English Muffin, these impressed me because they tasted, felt, and toasted up just like “normal” English Muffins would. I could have cried from joy.

These English Muffins are completely free of soy, eggs, dairy, nuts and gluten. They are made from a gluten-free flour blend of rice and potato flour, water, potato starch, quinoa, tapioca starch, canola oil, sugar, dry yeast, baking powder, guar gum, salt, and corn flour. These ingredients truly are the magic behind the taste and texture that these English Muffins provide. As a gluten-free consumer, I couldn’t be happier with these. Even more…the nutrition facts are fast better than the previous gluten-free English Muffins I found in the store and refused to buy due to how high in calories they were for only half the muffin.

Katz Gluten-Free English Muffins are only 130 calories for the entire English Muffin. Not half. Love that. They contain 3.5 grams of fat per English Muffin and 2 grams of protein. I’m liking these nutritional stats much better already. And if that didn’t sell you on them, trust me when I say that these are the most amazing gluten-free English Muffins I have had to date. Because while I have refused to buy others on the market due to nutrition stats, I have sampled them at Gluten-Free Tasting Fairs and Gluten-Free Expos. NONE of them have come close to tasting like Katz Gluten-Free variety. In case you were wondering…four English Muffins come in a package.

I’m sold. I also think I need to make more room in my freezer and order much more of these. English Muffins are back in my life. Which means…my vegetarian/gluten-free egg muffins can make their way back into my breakfast line-up after being absent for so long.

I don’t know if I’ll stop smiling over these any time soon. Go to Katz Gluten-Free’s Web site…and order some for yourself. You will not be disappointed. That I can promise.

Katz Gluten-Free English Muffin (toasted and half topped with Smart Balance spread and organic strawberry jam and the other half topped with plain cream cheese)

November 27, 2012

Gillian’s Foods brings outstanding gluten-free French rolls to the table

Product: Gillian’s Foods Gluten-Free French Rolls – $3.49+

First of all, let me give a shout-out and a HUGE thank you to my friend, Kathy Lubbers, because she is the person responsible for introducing the awesomeness of Gillian’s Foods to me. No joke. When I was in Hershey, Pennsylvania, we got together for dinner and she told me she had some small gifts for me. One of said gifts was a sack of Gillian’s French Rolls. I had heard of Gillian’s, but have never seen them in the wild before. As in…no one in this area actually carries them.

But…in Pennsylvania, it’s a different story. She picked up some for me from the Annville Natural Market and told me to try them out. I wouldn’t hurt her feelings if I didn’t like them.

So, these little rolls made their way back home with me. And, as I wasn’t sure when I would get to them…they got tucked away in my freezer. And then…along came the holidays. And with holiday insanity comes the burden of being the food allergic girl coming to dinner. I navigated the Thanksgiving meal quite well by providing two of the main components…a fruit and a vegetable. The starch component was compliments of Amanda, the hostess, who pulled out some potato for me before adding milk and butter.

And so, the holiday season of rushing and insanity began. And with it…and the shorter days…I often find myself behind schedule. Be it for breakfast, for dinner, or for just a simple errand. This time of year…nothing is simple.

But…rolls. Those can be simple.

This morning, after a very hectic Sunday and a five mile run in the dark and cold, I came home to change and get ready for work. One thing was on my mind – food, of course. I was hungry. And since my roommate had been ill the day before, I wasn’t too sure what her stomach could handle. In the freezer, I spotted the bag of Gillian’s Foods French Rolls.

Gillian's Gluten-Free French Roll — Gillian’s Gluten-Free French Roll

BINGO! Simple and not too much preparation needed. I pulled out two rolls (the serving size is half a roll…but this was breakfast!) and put them in a plastic bag to thaw. They did that up until the moment my roommate’s alarm clock went off. The directions on the bag say to microwave to warm up. Now…that’s what I’m doing tomorrow, because these rolls are breakfast again tomorrow. But…I decided I wanted to treat them like an English muffin. So, I cut each one in half and put it on a baking sheet. Into the oven it went to toast while I got out the peanut butter and a banana.

It took about 10 minutes to get a nice golden color on these. I removed them from the oven, gave each one a little schmear of peanut butter and then topped each one off with slices of banana. A good, healthy, protein and potassium packed breakfast, if you ask me. But…of course I had to leave some of mine plain. Because I needed to see what these rolls tasted like without being gussied up with condiments and delicious fruit.

Well, let me tell you…I am in love with Gillian’s Foods French Rolls. Honestly. And I can’t wait to see what they taste like when microwaved, like the bag says to do. But, toasting them in the oven as a nice touch, I think. It gave the outside a little bit of a crunch, while the inside remained soft and full of yumminess. Yes…these rolls are definitely full of yumminess. Trust me.

The French Rolls are Gillian’s Foods most popular rolls that they make. Made from a combination of white rice flour, tapioca flour, water, soy flour, guar gum, egg whites, yeast, salt and sugar, these don’t get much more straight forward. Notice how you can recognize every ingredient. No strange chemicals or preservatives are added, which is why these are best stored in the freezer. Even better, unlike a lot of gluten-free bread out there, these do not crumble in your hands or fall apart. They are quite substantial, great texture, not too heavy. They are…in other words…perfection in roll form. And I’ve been searching for the perfect roll. I even tried to make some and it was an epic fail. Gillian’s makes it easy…and super delicious.

Even my roommate devoured these up. And after having been sick to her stomach, these didn’t bother her at all. She was the first to get a bite of one this morning and she absolutely loved the taste and texture as well. And she can have, and does have, regular bread quite often. We were both very highly impressed.

These would be great to build a sandwich with…use as hamburger buns…or even just warm up and serve on the side with a delicious gluten-free meal. Honestly, they are quite delicious on their own. Which is more than I can say for some gluten-free breads out there.

Now…to seek out a local store that might carry these and these products. Because if the rest of the products are as good as these rolls…well, I’m eager to try all I can.

Thank you Kathy, thank you, Annville Natural Market, and thank you Gillian’s…for giving this gluten-free girl a French Roll to rave about.

Gillian's Gluten-Free French Roll (halved and toasted) — Gillian’s Gluten-Free French Roll (halved and toasted)

November 25, 2012

Annie May’s Sweet Café bakes up love in each allergen-free chocolate chip cookie

Annie May's Sweet Café Allergen Free Chocolate Chip Cookie — Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen Free Chocolate Chip Cookie

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie – $2.50

It was Small Business Saturday and I made it known…I wanted to go to one of my favorite small businesses in the area. Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky. And I wanted to have breakfast there. A gluten-free waffle. Perhaps with a gluten-free donut. Maybe I’d get the gluten-free apple cider donut with the glaze this time. I just wanted to support a business that has literally changed my life in this area for the better.

My love affair with Annie May’s began with a simple birthday cake. Because of Annie May’s, I didn’t have to bake my own cake or birthday confection this year. It was done for me. And the result was nothing short of spectacular. I was enamored with them…and so…the love affair continued.

I have returned to Annie May’s as often as possible when I am in the area. I have gone there for breakfast, for sweet snacks and treats, for take and bake cinnamon rolls. If I am in town, I want to stop by for something. And given that this past Saturday was Small Business Saturday, I made a point to go to as many small businesses as possible…and my first stop was Annie May’s for my usual waffle breakfast.

Annie May’s Sweet Café has the best gluten-free waffles. Seriously. I always get the regular ones, served with maple syrup and Earth Balance. I did decide on the Maple Glazed Apple Cider Donut as well…and devoured that as soon as I hit the table. I had not eaten anything since I had woken up bright and early that morning…so, needless to say…I was ready to eat.

And then…sad news was given. They were having some trouble with their waffle batter. It wasn’t working out. So…they were going to make a fresh batch. It would take a little while…and did we mind the wait. I never mind waiting for food. But, soon after we were asked if we would mind having pancakes instead of waffles. No skin off my nose. I keep thinking of trying the pancakes and always returning to the waffles. I’m a waffle addict apparently. They apologized numerous times and said that for our wait and our patience we could get a free cookie before leaving. I don’t mind the wait. I had an amuse bouche of donut, after all…

In the end, however, the waffles were able to be made and were delivered to our table looking all golden and delicious and ready to be consumed. And they died a very messy death right there in the café. Cathy went to clear the table and I was putting on my jacket when the nice woman behind the counter called me over to get my cookie. I was going to leave without it…because I wasn’t upset with them, nor did I mind the wait. But, she insisted. So, she asked me to come over and choose between the cookies or the cupcakes or the brownies on the counter. I had their brownie before (to DIE FOR!) and I wasn’t feeling cupcakes…so I stuck with the allergen-free (yes…it’s even vegan!) Chocolate Chip Cookie. After all…I do love my cookies!

She packed up two of them for me and asked what Cathy was interested in. I waved her off and said the cookies she gave me in the bag were plenty for us and thanked her.

After a busy day of small business shopping, Cathy and I returned home and I went for my 10K run for training. Soon after, I was preparing dinner (leftovers!), which we settled in to eat. And then…dessert. With a bag on the counter with two of Annie May’s Sweet Café Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies…I knew exactly what dessert was going to be.

I carefully opened the small white paper bag and pulled out the paper-wrapped cookies. They smelled amazing. I handed one to Cathy and I took the other one. As I settled in for my sweet treat to cleanse my palate, I took my first bite.

Homemade cookies are the best around. And these, completely vegan and allergen-free, have to be some of the best I have ever tasted. Most of the time, unless I make them myself, my gluten-free cookies are store-bought packaged brands. Not these. These are fresh from the oven at Annie May’s and the time and dedication to their products really shows. The cookie was light and buttery. The flavor was fantastic. They were soft, chewy, yet with that golden crust that gave it a bit of texture. And the mini chocolate chips were awesome. Just the right hit of sweetness in each bite. Not one bit of the cookie lacked in chocolate chips. They were like my mom used to make. And I do love a chewy chocolate chip cookie. These delivered everything I love in a cookie and that…made me one happy girl.

While my visit to Annie May’s Sweet Café on Saturday didn’t initially involve trying their Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies…now that I have, I think I’ll be purchasing more in my future. Honestly…the best gluten-free chocolate chip cookie I have had…to date…anywhere! And we all know how much of a cookie monster I am. So, that is truly saying something.

I really am fortunate to have a small business that caters to people with food allergies in my area. The day I discovered Annie May’s Sweet Café my life changed…and it was all for the better. My life is whole lot more delicious these days too.

Small Business Saturday…I hope you were kind to this fantastic little café on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky…because this café is always good to me.