Chocolate – Page 14 – The Celiathlete

July 16, 2013May 11, 2015

NuGo offers nutritious on-the-go snacks that taste as good as they sound (and they taste awesome!)

There is always that fear when I hit the road. As a gluten-free (and vegetarian) athlete, grabbing food from a fast food joint just isn’t an option. And, let’s face it, some of the “safe” snacks at those convenience stores along the way are still a bit daunting when you’re on the road. All it takes is for one thing to not be right and you’re down for the count with some stomach issues.

I wasn’t taking any chances this past weekend when I hit the road with my roomie, Cathy, and my good friend Jenn. While those two can eat pretty much anywhere and anything that sounds good…I had to watch it. I needed to be sure nothing I consumed would make me sick…or hit me wrong.

So…now was as good a time as any to test out new protein bars, yes?

Sometimes my logic is astounding, I know.

Anyway…I had packed from home two NuGo bars to eat on the road if needed. And thank goodness I did.

Product: NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar – $3.29+

We left Jenn’s house before the sun was even thinking about rising, having just eaten a few pieces of watermelon to at least get something in our stomachs until we stopped somewhere for food. That occurred shortly after putting gas in the gar, and getting some coffee from Starbucks. Cathy and Jenn were making noises about a quick drive thru at McDonalds. While milling about the convenience store that had the Starbucks attached, I spotted a few things of interest…Chobani yogurt, some fruit cups…but I said I would find something in the food I brought along. After all, that’s why I bring it along. So, we got our coffee (caffeine…finally!) and headed over for them to grab their breakfast orders.

And so…we were off.

And as they noshed on their breakfast…I dug around in the little red duffel of snacks and good stuff and grabbed a small box of raisins and the NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar.

Now, I had previously had NuGo Dark Chocolate Trail Mix Bar while at an airport and starving. I loved it. I remember that much. So, I was having high hopes for this variety as well. And…come on…it’s dark chocolate and mint. That’s the most epic combination…anywhere. Who doesn’t like mint and chocolate? I unwrapped the bar and could immediately smell the hints of mint and that bittersweet aroma of (my favorite) dark chocolate!

I broke off a piece and had to test it out…immediately.

Remember Thin Mint Cookies? You know…those addictive little cookies that the Girl Scouts tempt you with every year? Well, they were my favorite back when I could eat them. And I’ve been without them for two years now. Two long years. Well, I can honestly say that the NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar reminds me of what a Thin Mint Cookie tasted like. Honestly. I think that’s why I somewhat hoovered and somewhat savored this bar. I went between wanting to devour it for sheer nostalgia and the fact that it tasted so damn good…to wanting to make each and every bite last. It was the only one I currently had, after all.

This bar is sheer dark chocolate minty love in an easy to unwrap package. What’s even better…is that it is actually good for you. Let’s take a look at the nutrition.

A serving size is one bar. This one bar will give you a hit of dark chocolate and mint at the cost of only 200 calories and 5 grams of fat. This one bar is cholesterol free and low in sodium (only 160 mg). You will receive 1 gram of fiber and 10 grams of protein. While the fiber count is low…the protein helps bulk it up and make it a filling choice for a bar. The sugar count is a bit high for my liking (14 grams), but it tastes like a Thin Mint Cookie…so…I’ll indulge a little this time.

As far as ingredients go, it starts out with dark chocolate, soy crisps (which sort of gives it some texture and that crispness that gives it that Thin Mint Cookie crackle), tapioca syrup, agave syrup, chocolate rice crisp (more crispiness), soy protein, alkalized cocoa, brown rice flour, natural flavor, peppermint extract, and gum acacia. I’m familiar with the ingredients that these are made out of, putting my mind to ease about what I might actually be consuming. That’s always a nice relief.

For a bar that tastes like you’re indulging in a sweet, dark chocolate treat…I highly recommend NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip. Honestly…one of the best out on the market.

NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Bar (unwrapped)

Product: NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt

Salty or sweet? Some people like one or the other. Me? I’m a fan of the combination. I love having that sweetness of chocolate (especially bittersweet dark chocolate) with something salty underneath. Before going gluten-free, chocolate covered pretzels were my kryptonite. Put them anywhere near me, and the entire bag would be gone in a blink of an eye. I can’t help myself when given something both salty and sweet. For me…it’s the perfect combination.

So, on the way home on this road trip out to Utica, New York for an epic 15K road race (The Boilermaker), my lunch on-the-go (or on the way to ice cream) was the other NuGo bar that I packed from home. This time, it was the NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt variety. Once again, I tore into the wrapper and unveiled a dark chocolate hugged bar. I could see the texture of the crisps that make up the body of the bar. And if the Mint Chocolate Chip variety was any indication of how epic this bar could be…I was already salivating.

Once again, I broke off a piece and popped it into my mouth. I immediately got hit with the sweetness of the dark chocolate that completely coated this bar. The crispy texture from the crisps inside was perfect. And the combination worked. The crispiness of the crunchy pretzels sprinkled with sea salt and the bittersweet flavor of the chocolate just ignited my taste buds. Totally delicious.

So, let’s talk nutrition on this one. One serving is an entire bar. YUM! This serving will serve you 200 calories and 5 grams of fat. Due to the inclusion of sea salt, the sodium count is only slightly higher (360 mg). This bar is still cholesterol free, however. Additionally, you get 2 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein. Once again, the sugar count was a bit high for my liking (15 grams), but every now and again, it wouldn’t hurt to indulge a little in one of these bars.

Trust me…this is definitely worth trying. While I didn’t like this one as much as the Dark Mint Chocolate Chip variety, this one was good for its own reasons and a bar I would certainly eat again.

NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt (unwrapped)

Both of these bars are not only low in fat and high in protein, but they are both also certified gluten-free, vegan, pareve, certified kosher, rich with antioxidants, healthy, and made with real dark chocolate.

And both are super, super delicious!! If you are looking for a good protein bar that doesn’t taste like chemicals…these two flavors from NuGo are good options for anyone. I know they’ll find their way back into my pantry very soon.

Try them…you’ll thank me later.

(Pssst…especially the NuGo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip!)

July 10, 2013

Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom is a decadent, allergen-free, dark chocolate treat

Product: Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar – $1.99+

You know what I love about Enjoy Life?

I love that I feel absolutely safe when I buy and consume their products. There is a reason for that. Enjoy Life wants the food allergic to be able to eat freely. And for that reason, this company takes it upon themselves to exclude the 8 most common food allergens in their products. We’re talking gluten, wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, fish, and shellfish. Considering that I am a Celiac who is (not uncommonly) also lactose intolerant, this means these products fit right into my wheelhouse.

And…yes…they have chocolate.

More specifically, and much to my happiness…they have DARK CHOCOLATE!! I love, love, love dark chocolate. Like…seriously love it. I have never been a big fan of milk chocolate. White chocolate…definitely not a huge fan. Dark chocolate is my vice…and it is actually one of the healthiest vices to have. Seriously. Even the books on clean eating I have been studying have mentioned dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and has been proven to lower blood pressure.

And thanks to Enjoy Life…all those benefits are brought together in a dark chocolate bar. Mmmm…snack time is so bittersweet! (See what I did there?)

With my love of dark chocolate, my roommate surprised me awhile back with the Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar from Enjoy Foods. I tucked this away and had all but forgotten about it…until I ran out of dark chocolate covered edamame and wasn’t heading anywhere near Trader Joe’s for awhile. Then I remembered my chocolate stash…and this bar was right on top. Brilliant.

As I mentioned before, Enjoy Life prides itself on excluding the top 8 allergens from their products. So, I felt very confident breaking off a square of this bar to take with me for a sweet treat when the 2:00 slump hit at the office. And when said time rolled around, I happily retrieved the container I tucked it into, popped the lid, removed my little square of dark chocolate and took a little nibble.

At first, I felt that this chocolate bar was a bit on the chalky side. But once the chocolate gets warmed up in your mouth and against your tongue, it takes on that dark, divine, rich flavor that is associated with dark chocolate. It just takes a moment to get there. This indulgent treat is a powerhouse with the antioxidant properties it contains, which destroy free radicals that are thought to lead to heard disease and other ailments. Dark chocolate…more please!! Actually, with dark chocolate, a little does go a long way. And for this bar, I separated it into the 4 separate squares and took only one with me. It was perfect. And once that initial chalky flavor gave way to the bittersweet dark chocolate…the bar was consumed…and quickly.

And nutritionally speaking, this bar definitely provides a lot of sinful goodness without the guilt. The serving size is actually the entire bar, but if you’re just snacking, why not make it last longer? One square of this chocolate bar provides you with 43 calories and only 3 grams of fat. Not too bad for 8 grams of dark chocolate goodness. One square will also give you only 3 grams of sugar, 1 gram of protein, and 1 gram of fiber. In addition, the Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar contains no sodium and no cholesterol.

As far as ingredients go, it doesn’t get much more basic than this: Natural Chocolate Liquor (Non-Alcoholic), Evaporated Cane Juice, Non-Dairy Cocoa Butter.

Yes…that really is everything.

So, if you have a sweet tooth that needs a little something every now and again, give the Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar a taste. It definitely gave this dark chocolate loving gluten-free, lactose-intolerant girl something to dish about. Mmmm…chocolate! Enjoy!

Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

July 9, 2013

Caramel Fudge a definite flavor-winner for thinkThin high protein bars

Product: thinkThin Caramel Fudge High Protein Bar – $1.99+

It’s sometimes hit or miss when it comes to protein bars. Honestly. They can be amazing…or they can taste like cardboard…or worse. Yes…there have been worse. But, for me, with the exception of one bar so far, thinkThin has not let me down. In fact, a majority of the products I have tried from thinkThin have been good. Some even really good. Some better than really good.

Due to a sale at my local grocery store, I ended up picking up a couple of these bars because, for the most part, I can trust them to be filling and taste good. Hey…I’ll eat something that is just “good.” I might be a little picky when it comes to flavors, but if it’s edible, I will eat it. That being said, I picked up one I previously reviewed…Creamy Peanut Butter…and then the Caramel Fudge.

This past weekend I was out of town…which meant I needed to pack the onslaught of protein bars in case I was hungry and there was nothing around for me to eat. At conventions, that can happen. And it did. Honestly. Thankfully, I have learned to always be prepared.

On Sunday morning, however, after a 7 mile run, I returned to the room to shower and eat breakfast. I had brought apples, raisins, and peanut butter to make apple sandwiches for my roommate and I, but I also knew it would be awhile before we were going to eat lunch…so we decided to split the thinkThin Caramel Fudge High Protein Bar.

Before I get into the taste, I figure I’ll hit up the general nutritional info on these bars. First of all, what I love about thinkThin’s High Protein Bars are that they contain around 15-20 grams of protein per bar (which 1 bar is a serving). That’s awesome. They are gluten-free and sugar-free as well. I appreciate that especially as I start to lean toward more clean eating…while balancing a very active lifestyle. This particular flavor of bar contains 240 calories and 9 grams of fat. In addition to that, you get only 300 mg of sodium and less than 5 mg of cholesterol. One of the Caramel Fudge bars has only 1 gram of fiber and then 20 grams of protein. For the active and protein challenged like me, this is an ideal choice for a snack before or after a run. Honestly.

But…the big question loomed. How would it taste?

I sliced the bar in half, the chocolate coating giving way to the nougat-like caramel filling that it surrounded. Given that this was the Caramel Fudge flavor from thinkThin, this is a good thing. It was also good that this bar smelled like chocolate covered caramel. So far, so good. Taste-wise…well…

It tasted a lot like it smelled…sweet and a little salty. One of my favorite combinations. So, it was a bit like having a chocolate covered salty caramel goodie. And salted caramel is one of the best things in the world, if you ask me. Really. It is. What I loved about the flavor of this one is that it didn’t taste like the protein that is added to it. Too often, that protein powder is so evident in protein bars, but not this one. This had a very smooth flavor. The chocolate had the right amount of sweetness to make it feel like a treat as well. The chocolate shell was soft, but had this crispness to it when it was split in half. It was nice. The texture was moist without being chalky…making it very palatable. Yeah…I totally fell in love with this one. Definitely ranking up as one of my favorites to date. The peanut butter varieties still rank at the very top so far though. Just sayin’.

If you are looking for a delicious protein bar, this one definitely gives you a 20 gram protein punch for your buck. Honestly. thinkThin is one of the products I continue to return to. While not completely void of sugar (they use sugar alcohols), they are one of the better choices out on the market. And I am so glad that my friend Tawn introduced me to these bars a couple of years back when I visited in California. Beyond impressed. And soon…more will find their way into my run snack drawer. Very soon.

Nicely done, thinkThin. I applaud you…and will restock sometime in the very near future.

thinkThin Caramel Fudge High Protein Bar (unwrapped)

July 5, 2013

Arctic Zero gives the gluten-free and lactose intolerant a tasty 150 calorie per pint Chocolate Peanut Butter frozen dessert

Product: Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert – $4.99+

For the past few months, I have been giving googly eyes to my grocer’s freezer. Why? Well…other than my love of ice cream and all things frozen, I had come across a brand called Arctic Zero . What makes Arctic Zero so…interesting?

Well, for those of you who may never have run across these pints, these ice creams contain less than 150 calories in the ENTIRE pint of ice cream. Which means, indulging doesn’t feel as guilt-ridden and laden with sin, right? Of course. Also is the fact that all of their flavors are gluten-free, fat-free and suitable for the lactose intolerant. Loving this even more. You also won’t find chemicals in these pints, for they are made with only organic and natural ingredients. An entire pint provides 8 grams of fiber as well. Oh…and these have no sugar alcohols in them, so they are suitable for children and adults. And to top it all off…kosher and non-GMO!

Love at first sight.

But what about first bite?

That was what I was going to figure out.

The difficult part was deciding which one to start with. But, finally, I decided to go with two of my most favorite things in the world: chocolate and peanut butter.

The Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert is not going to be the rich and creamy ice cream that you find in stores. In fact, it’s definitely more like a sorbet in texture. So, if you are going into this expecting rich, creamy goodness…look for regular ice cream. But…if you’re okay with sorbet, and I am…this is really really good. I wasn’t actually expecting the sorbet texture, so when I was trying to scoop it into a gluten-free ice cream cone, I was a little bit surprised, but everything frozen goes good in an ice cream cone! I got my roomie situated with hers first and I was dishing up my own dessert, I saw her giving hers a taste. I asked how it was…and she liked it.

I settled in with my own gluten-free ice cream cone and took my own taste. Chocolate. That’s what hit me first. And that’s what hit me most. In fact, I can barely make out the traces of peanut butter flavor in this, which is disappointing because I LOVE peanut butter. I was expecting something that would taste like an amazing peanut butter cup. The frozen dessert itself is definitely good. But…you might as well just call it chocolate because the peanut butter is really hard to find in the flavors. Other than that…this was highly impressive on the frozen treat standards. It wasn’t too rich. It wasn’t filling either. And, with a serving only dishing up just over 30 calories (for 1/2 cup), you can’t argue that this is a guilt-free treat indeed. And it does have great taste. Just wish the peanut butter was more in the forefront of the flavor on this one.

I also highly recommend that you let the pint sit out on the counter for at least 15 minutes to let it thaw out some. Otherwise it is really difficult to scoop. Letting it soften up a bit worked very well and I did this just out of being a lactose-free ice cream freak and knowing that they usually have to sit out in order to be able to scoop them. No big deal. It thawed a bit while I ate dinner. And by the time dishes were done, it was ready to be put in the gluten-free ice cream cone. Delicious!!

Let’s talk ingredients! All of the chocolate based ones, like the Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert, from Arctic Zero are composed of purified water, whey protein concentrate, organic cane sugar, chicory root, dutch processed cocoa powder with alkali, guar gum, xanthan gum, natural flavors, sea salt, and monk fruit concentrate. This one also includes the addition of peanut butter!

Nutritionally speaking, a 1/2 cup serving of Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert will provide you with 37 calories and 0 grams of fat. Yep. Fat-free! Each serving only contains 80 mg of sodium, 2 grams of fiber, and 3.4 grams of protein. So, you really don’t feel too guilty if you end up sitting down and indulging in the entire pint. We showed restraint and kept it to a serving (or less) as I was filling up gluten-free ice cream cones.

I’m impressed with Arctic Zero. These were much better than I anticipated. Which is good…because I have two additional flavors in my freezer already. I think the only fault I find with the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor is that the peanut butter flavor almost seemed lost in the rest of it. It was there…but just a hint of it every now and again. But I’m looking forward to seeing how the Mint Chocolate Cookie and Cookies and Cream stack up!

TOTAL WOW. TOTAL YUM! ZERO GUILT!

Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert on a Goldbaum's gluten-free ice cream cone — Arctic Zero Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Dessert on a Goldbaum’s gluten-free ice cream cone

June 12, 2013

Two decadent bites of dark chocolate brownie bliss from Udi’s Gluten-Free

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites – $5.99+

Nothing is quite as indulgent, quite as sinful, quite as delicious as dark chocolate. It is, by far, my favorite type of chocolate. And a little can go a long way. Maybe that’s what I love about dark chocolate. It’s rich and decadent and bittersweet…so overindulging doesn’t really come into the equation.

A long time ago…no joke…I spotted Udi’s Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites in my grocer’s gluten-free freezer section. Being the chocoholic that I am…I had to have them. And, my roommate was feeling generous that day and offered to purchase them for me as a treat. I had just baked something for dessert that would last a week or so, so these went back into the freezer upon our return home that day. And there they sat. When I bought them, they were relatively new to the market and one of Udi’s new products. These…these are probably old news to much of the gluten-free world these days. But, seeing as I finally dug them out of the freezer yesterday…well…it’s my turn to taste and tell.

Udi’s Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Brownie Bites are beyond amazing. Each brownie is baked inside a mini cupcake wrapper and is about 2-bites per brownie. And these are rich and totally satisfying. I want to take smaller bites just to make them last longer, honestly. The dark chocolate brownie base is like a moist, soft cake. I loved it. And each brownie is infused with fudgy bits of dark chocolate, perfect to melt on your tongue as you savor each sweet bite. Do you realize how difficult it was for me to resist going back for more? If it weren’t for the fact that I know how many servings are in that plastic container, I’d probably be swiping some…constantly…because I love that delicious chocolate flavor. It’s just enough, in each bite, to wake up the palate and keep things interesting. Those dark chocolate chips that are baked into each one…are heaven when you find them. I was in brownie heaven last night. It’s not often I say nice things about pre-packaged brownies…but these were so incredibly moist, soft, decadent, and delicious. They needed to be raved about.

Honestly, I’ve come up with dessert ideas that revolve around these little bite-size brownies of awesomesauce!

We are talking a snack and sweet treat here, so nutritionally speaking…keep that in mind. A serving size is two of these little two-bite brownies. That will set you back 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. A serving also provides you with 100 mg sodium, 16 grams of sugar (it’s dessert…it’s dessert…it’s dessert), 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

Treat these brownie bites as they are intended…as a bite-size treat. The entire container doesn’t need to be consumed all in one or two sittings. It’s best to savor…or…expand on it with little touches of your own. A mini scoop of ice cream, some nuts, whatever your heart desires. Just know that when that chocolate craving hits…whether you are gluten-free or not…these are the little treats you should be consuming…because they are just that awesome. I wouldn’t lie. In fact, I can’t wait to get to dessert tonight. Four bites of heaven. I can’t wait.

June 8, 2013

Still nutty for the original Nut Goodies candy bar

Product: Pearson’s Original Nut Goodies Bar – $0.99+

I blame nostalgia.

No…really. Because if it hadn’t been for my aunt pulling down boxes of old pictures from when my family would come to Minnesota from New York each summer to spend two weeks with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins…I wouldn’t have even remembered what a Nut Goodies bar was. Honestly. It had been blocked from my memory until we unearthed an old photo of my mom, dad, brother, sister and myself sitting on the back porch of my grandparent’s lake cabin…all eating Nut Goodies bars.

The family that eats candy together…is awesome!

Well, it was a day or two later that my roommate and I ventured out to the Mall of America on our last day in Minneapolis. And while in one of the stores that specializes in things from Minnesota…I spotted the Nut Goodies bars. As in…they had a Sea Salt Caramel one too. Well, I had to have that because Salty Caramel things are one of my great loves in life. But…I couldn’t not get the original bar. And, as the label clearly read that there were gluten-free…I allowed the splurge and went ahead and picked up one of each flavor, so that my roomie and I could split them and savor.

These made the journey back to the Louisville area with me…in my often crowded and heavy carry-on bag. But…they survived and were in tact. Yesterday…I broke out the Sea Salt Caramel one for dessert…per the request of my roomie. She started with the new flavor…not the original. Interesting. So tonight…that meant we were having the treat of my childhood. The Original Nut Goodies bar.

After we ate dinner…it was time for our tasty dessert treat. I went to the kitchen and snagged the Original Nut Goodies bar from the pantry and tore into the wrapper. I easily sliced the bar in half, giving her one half and keeping the other half for me. I almost didn’t want to eat it. Well, I did…but there was so much nostalgia going on in that moment…

My roomie wasted no time. She bit into it and said…”It’s like a Snickers on crack!” Which, I took as a good thing. So, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes…and took my first bite in ages.

And I immediately remembered that flavor. It was sweet. Crunchy. Smooth. Creamy. Dreamy. DELICIOUS! I mean, it doesn’t get much better than a creamy maple center that is coated with real milk chocolate and unsalted Virginia peanuts. Nope. It really doesn’t. Forget Snickers…this candy bar is much, much, much better. I fell in love with it all over again. It took me back to those childhood days. One bite. I was there. And then, before I knew it…my half of the candy was gone. I licked my fingers clean. No crumb was wasted. Now…I want more.

Pearson’s Nut Goodies candy bar hit the scene in Minneapolis, Minnesota back in 1912. Over 100 years later and the candy is still being made. Minnesota is famous for them. And I guess that’s why my family would devour these whenever we headed that way to visit. It wasn’t like we could find them in New York. Trust me…we couldn’t.

Now…given that this is, in fact, a candy bar…don’t expect great nutritional information. This is…a treat. My roommate and I split our bar in half…but an entire bar would serve you up 240 calories and 12 grams of fat. Thanks to the nuts being unsalted, one bar only has 85 mg of sodium. Not too bad. The nuts also help to provide the 4 grams of protein in each bar. That being said, you will be feasting on 28 grams of sugar. But…like I said…it’s a treat.

Pearson’s created a divine, premium candy bar back in 1912. The fact that they maintain their high standards and still produce an amazing, delicious product is even more impressive. I think Nut Goodies bars will forever be on the ‘bring home with you’ list when I visit Minnesota. And if you happen to spot one out in the wild…trust me…you want one. You want one BAD. So go ahead…treat yourself to one. Or you’ll be missing out on a Minnesota classic.

Pearson's Original Nut Goodies Bar (unwrapped) — Pearson’s Original Nut Goodies Bar (unwrapped)

June 7, 2013

Nutty for Pearson’s Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodies Bar

Pearson's Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodie Bar — Pearson’s Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodies Bar

Pearson’s Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodies Bar – $0.99+

It’s a Minnesota classic. Something I ate when I was a kid…whenever I visited Minnesota, my parents would treat us to one. There are pictures of my family sitting on the back porch of the lake cabin in Minnesota, chowing down on the infamous Nut Goodies Bar.

Ever have one?

If not…you need to change that.

So…as it goes, I was in Minnesota last month to run a half marathon. On my final day in Minneapolis, my roomie and I hit up the Mall of America, where I made a few random purchases. One of which were two varieties of Nut Goodies Bars. What are Nut Goodies Bars? They are AWESOME, that’s what they are. But seriously, Pearson’s Nut Goodies Bars are a Minnesota classic. The company started in 1909, and the Nut Goodies Bar released to the market in 1912 as a premium 5¢ candy bar. These candy bars contain a creamy maple center that is covered with real milk chocolate (and still is today…unlike many of today’s candy bars) and fresh unsalted Virginia peanuts. What you end up with is this nice blend of sweet and salty…which is only one of my favorite combinations…EVER!

But…in honor of their 100 year anniversary, Pearson’s went a bit off the beaten path and released it’s first ever permanent line extension by introducing the Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodies.

Salted Caramel. Please excuse me while I drool for a moment. Because I. LOVE. SALTED. CARAMEL.

I spotted it while at a store full of Minnesota goodness at the Mall of America. I went ahead and grabbed one of the Sea Salt Caramel and one of the Original Nut Goodies Bars. For old time sake. After all, the labels clearly stated that they were…wait for it…GLUTEN FREE! Happiness and joy!

So, they traveled back to Louisville with me in my carry-on luggage. And survived without getting too crushed under everything else I had jammed in there. And since the cookies are winding down in my pantry of gluten-free gorging…I decided tonight my roomie and I would split one of the Nut Goodies Bars that came from the land of 10,000 Lakes and Awesome Chocolate Candy. I told her to choose between the Original and Sea Salt Caramel. I expected her to start with the basic…the bar that started it all…but she chose Sea Salt Caramel. So tonight, we split the Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodies Bar.

This candy bar is basically a new take on the Original. Instead of the maple center, however, there is a center that is made up of delicious sea salt and caramel…then coated with the infamous real milk chocolate and Virginia peanuts.

These are your basic Turtle candies taken up to the ultimate level. I absolutely loved having my half of this candy bar for dessert. I mean…it doesn’t get much better than something sweet with a hint of something salty. The caramel portion is soft and chewy. Which I love. No one likes hard caramel in their candy bar. The nuts are fresh and crunchy…and being unsalted, you get that nice earthy taste with them. The chocolate is sweet and rich. I love that. And the addition of the sea salt brought the right hint of salty to this otherwise sweet treat.

Now…being that this is a candy bar…let’s remember that this won’t be nutritious…but I don’t like to keep the facts out of my blogs. My roommate and I split this to cut down on the hit the entire bar would give us. And, really, you just need a taste. But Pearson’s Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodies Bar will set you back 250 calories and 12 grams of fat (some of that is the good fats from the nuts). Given that this is a sea salt variety, the sodium is a little higher, set at 220 mg per bar. And each bar has 3 grams of protein (thank you peanuts!). As for sugar level…yeah…sugar rush on the way with this topping out at 26 grams. So, remember, this is a treat…but you can also split it with friends and family.

I also love that Pearson’s clearly labeled this Gluten-Free. No questions. No guessing. It’s right there.

And I am clearly falling back in love with a treat from my childhood. Memory lane…taking down a new flavor path. YUM!

Pearson's Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodie Bar (unwrapped) — Pearson’s Sea Salt Caramel Nut Goodies Bar (unwrapped)

June 7, 2013June 7, 2013

Natural Nectar Choco Dreams Rice Sticks didn’t wow me…but, hey…cookies!

Natural Nectar Gluten-Free Choco Dream Rice Sticks

Product: Natural Nectar Gluten-Free Choco Dreams Rice Sticks – $3.69+

I guess this was Natural Nectar’s throwback to those Pirouettes rolled wafer cookies that you can find, usually, around the holidays, that are filled with a chocolate (or other flavor) cream. That’s what the image on the box reminded me of, anyway.

I don’t remember where I got these…or when. I just remember that my roommate spotted them, nudged me, and said that she found straw cookies that I could eat now. Of course, this made me happy, as I was a huge fan of Pirouettes back when I could eat them. I mean, the rolled wafer filled with this delicious, sweet creamy center (normally chocolate). Yeah…it’s all good.

So…I knew then and there that I needed…yes needed to try this version from Natural Nectar.

But…I had (and still have) a plethora of gluten-free cookies looming in my pantry. I can’t help it! I’m a cookie monster!! Don’t judge. So…even though I was thrilled to have these…there were other products that needed to be devoured…eaten…enjoyed…or thrown away first.

That changed…last night.

Last night, after eating a delicious meal, I went to retrieve dessert. We had just polished off the last of my homemade gluten-free strawberry pie, so it was on to the next goody. And that just happened to be Natural Nectar’s Gluten-Free Choco Dreams Rice Sticks. I was pretty stoked about opening this box. They just…looked so fantastic on the packaging.

I had to take pictures for the blog though, so once that was done, I opened the tab on the box and removed two individual white packets. Each packet held two of the little rice stick cookies. Totally excited, I put the box away and tore open the pouch, ready to see how these compared to the Pirouettes of my pre-gluten-free life.

Well…one bite…

…and I was underwhelmed. They aren’t bad. They aren’t even horrible. They actually taste okay. It’s just…they weren’t what I expected.

Let me explain.

These rice sticks are definitely filled with a sweet cocoa spread. That spread is my favorite part. Unfortunately, the cookie part that wraps up that sweet spread is much thicker than the wafer-thin rolls of the Pirouettes. In fact, this cookie is overwhelming in comparison to the delicious chocolate that it is wrapped around. That being said, the rice stick cookie portion does have a great sweet, vanilla flavor that meshes well with the cocoa spread…if you can taste it. The cookie part is very crunchy…without being crumbly. That’s good…except I miss that soft, but crispy, thin wrap that the Pirouettes had. I understand these aren’t the same sort of cookie, but it’s the closest comparison that I have.

These aren’t bad…but if given the choice, I would probably choose a different gluten-free cookie to snack on instead.

Nutritionally speaking (for cookies), these are on the better side of the guilt meter. One packet of two Natural Nectar Choco Dreams Rice Sticks contains 115 calories and 4 grams of fat. Not too bad for cookies. Two cookies at that. And these aren’t just small little rolls of cookie and cocoa. These are quite substantial. With a sugar content of 10 grams, these aren’t too bad for a sweet treat. A chocolate stuffed sweet treat at that. I’m sort of impressed by how low that number is. These are also cholesterol free, which is a nice touch.

Like I said…Natural Nectar gave it a good try with these cookies. And the Choco Dreams Rice Sticks are decent enough. They just didn’t wow me like I had hoped. And they were definitely not the gluten-free throwback to Pirouettes that I had anticipated. Perhaps I had just gotten my hopes up a little too soon. If you like a crispy vanilla cookie with a touch of smooth chocolate…these cookies might be for you. I found them a little unbalanced…but ultimately…tasty enough to continue to nosh on after dinner.

Natural Nectar Gluten-Free Choco Dream Rice Sticks (unwrapped)

May 27, 2013

thinkThin makes decadent and wholesome Caramel Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts Crunch Bar

thinkThin Caramel Chocolate Dipped Crunch Bar

thinkThin Caramel Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts Crunch Bar – $1.99+

Oh, I just can’t stop singing the praises of thinkThin and the amazing, gluten-free, delicious, and nutritious bars that they have out on the market. I have reviewed quite a few along the way, as I often use these as a protein pick-me-up, or even a pre-race or post-race snack. They are portable…and…even more importantly…impressively filling and delicious.

One of the newer bars out on the market are their line of thinkThin Crunch bars. They have a few varieties out there. Previously, I tried out just the regular Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts Crunch Bar…and absolutely devoured it and sang its praises along the way.

Well, my roommate loves a good deal…and while I sent her out to grab something from the grocery store one day when I was in the kitchen slaving away over dinner, she returned with gifts. And one of these gifts was a new flavor of thinkThin Crunch bars.

Happiness. I love new products. Especially by companies and brands that I trust.

Enter…the morning of one of my races. For longer races, I usually dine on a delicious banana about 40 minutes prior to the run. For shorter races…it’s whatever I can grab. Banana works then too…but I haven’t been keeping bananas recently. Sad…I should start doing that again. But, in a rush to get out the door, it was find something quick from the drawer of race morning snacks. I didn’t want something with a lot of chocolate…because I don’t think my tummy would handle that well before a run. The only option, then, that I currently had…was the thinkThin Caramel Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts Crunch Bar that Cathy brought home for me. It still had a small amount of chocolate in it…but far less than the other options in the drawer. It would have to do.

We ended up being way ahead of schedule to the race…but the guy with all the packet stuff was running late that morning. It was a little earlier than I liked, but as we were sitting around waiting on someone before anything else race related could be done…I figured I’d go ahead and eat my bar, giving my body some time to work on digesting not just the bit of chocolate, but the nuts as well.

I unwrapped the bar and took a bite.

It reminded me of something…and I still can’t seem to put my finger on it. But…it was something I used to eat…often. So, trust me when I say…this bar is yummy! It is packed with a blend of peanuts, almonds, and cashews. All of the nuts are bound together and sweetened with a hint of honey, then the bottom layer is dipped in a decadent blend of caramel and dark chocolate. Together, the salty-sweet mix is the perfect blend for any palate. Who doesn’t love a hit of sweetness with salty things? It’s why I loved eating chocolate covered pretzels before I had to go gluten-free (but Glutino makes fantastic gluten-free chocolate covered pretzels)…that combination of salty and sweet just does it for me. And this bar combines everything I love about that combination…into one healthy and satisfying bar.

Nutritionally speaking, when it comes to bars of this nature, this is one of the best you can choose. One bar will only set you back 190 calories and 11 grams of fat. Yes…the fat content may seem high, but most of that is from the nuts, and those are healthy, belly-flattening fats. This bar is low in sugar, topping out at only 6 grams, which is 70% less than most leading fruit and nut bars. In addition to that, a healthy dose of 9 grams of protein (that’s 80% more than leading fruit and nut bars as well) and 4 grams of fiber will help keep you feeling full and satisfied long after this bar is eaten. I ran a hard, hilly 5K race and I wasn’t even starving afterwards like I usually am.

Replace candy bars with this wholesome Crunch bar from thinkThin and you’re right on track to delicious, nutritious snacking. I absolutely loved the flavor combination and that this bar is so healthy on top of it. thinkThin has done me proud in the past…and once again…they live up to the high standards they set. I continue to buy bars from thinkThin because they continue to put out a product worth buying. The crunch bars will replace your sugar-loaded candy bars or granola bars…and give you added nutrients in the process.

Smart thinking, thinkThin.

thinkThin Caramel Chocolate Dipped Crunch Bar (unwrapped)

May 10, 2013

BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery gives Minneapolis a delicious taste of gluten-free living

Restaurant: BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery, Eagan, Minnesota

There are times where I regret waiting so long to get to one of the restaurants or places of interest on my list when I visit a city. That was certainly the case when it comes to BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery in Eagan, Minnesota.

Live and learn!

So, let me set the scene. On Find Me Gluten-Free, Cathy discovered that the Minneapolis area was home to this gluten-free bakery. And it got rave reviews. This meant…I had to check it out. So it was placed on the list with the address to get to while in town. And…life got busy. And before I knew it…it was Tuesday morning, the morning of the day I was leaving. I had gone on a 6.26 mile run that morning. Cathy had some shops she wanted to check out in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Oh, and I had a date with a celebratory banana split after my fantastic race on Sunday morning. I always celebrate races with banana splits. But it was still early and I wasn’t quite ready for ice cream.

As we were heading out toward some of the bookstores that Cathy wanted to hit up, we were driving by the Cliff Road exit. And she remembered…we had the gluten-free bakery to stop into. I’m glad she remembered. I would have cried had I not made it in there. We set the Garmin for the address she had written down and soon we were pulling into this little strip mall. The bakery was open, and it looked like the door was getting repaired as a large piece of wood covered it. No matter…they were open and that was what mattered.

We stepped inside and were greeted immediately. We were asked if they could help us and we mentioned that we were from out of town, that I was a Celiac, and that the very fact that this bakery existed was enough to make me happy. The man behind the counter said he would give us some time to look around and he’d be back in a moment.

The bake case was filled with amazing looking bread loaves, cookies, bars, and the like. The counter top had different gluten-free mixes and even some gluten-free hamburger buns (that I am now kicking myself for not purchasing!). We scoured the case and decided that we would buy one of the half loaves of the Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Bread, a Gluten-Free Lemon Bar (which we would split), and then we each decided we would try one of the various cookies that the bakery made. We were rejoined by the nice gentleman behind the counter where I placed a gorgeous half loaf of the Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Bread. I asked about getting one of the amazing looking lemon bars, and then I chose to have the Monster Cookie and Cathy chose the Lemon Zinger Cookie. He wrapped up the cookies, and placed the lemon bar and half loaf of bread into a bag. We talked about being from Louisville, Kentucky, and he mentioned having been at the 2011 gluten-free expo in Carmel, Indiana. He said so much has changed over the years…and that BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery had been open for nine years now and was still going strong. This spoke very highly to me of their quality and their products…but I had to judge that for myself.

BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery's Lemon Zinger Cookie and Monster Cookie — BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Lemon Zinger Cookie and Monster Cookie

After climbing back into the car, Cathy and I decided we would make our cookies an amuse bouche. I mean, what better lead-in to a banana split than cookies, right? So, she grabbed her Gluten-Free Lemon Zinger Cookie ($1.48) and took a bite of it. Immediately she was elated, saying it reminded her of the Lemon Blossoms my friend Jenn and I make, but in cookie form. I snagged a piece and she couldn’t have been more spot on. The Lemon Zinger cookie was refreshing and zippy. Honestly. I love lemon flavored stuff anyway…and this was awesome. The Lemon Zinger is also a dairy free cookie at this bakery. The other ingredients include white rice flour, sugar, soy shortening, tapioca flour, lemon juice, lemon zest, eggs, aluminum free baking powder, sea salt and xanthan gum. The icing that was zigzagged over the top was a combination of powdered sugar and lemon juice. Just really amazing.

The Gluten-Free Monster Cookie ($1.20) intrigued me immediately. It looked like it had a little bit of everything…and all ingredients that I love. And I couldn’t have been happier when I took my first bite. It was sweet, savory, and just amazing and full of flavor. A party in this cookie monster’s mouth, for sure. This cookie really does have it all. It’s a perfect blend of peanut butter, gluten-free oats, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, raisins, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda. So, it was like getting a peanut butter-chocolate chip- oatmeal raisin- butterscotch cookie all in one. Amazing. Sweet…without being too sweet. I gave Cathy a piece of mine and she thought it was mighty tasty herself. LOVED this cookie. I sort of want to make some for myself. Just…yummy. And as a runner, my love of peanut butter and that salty-sweet combo really was matched with every bite of this cookie. YUM!

Bittersweet Gluten Free Bakery's Half Loaf of Banana Walnut Bread — Bittersweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Half Loaf of Banana Walnut Bread

The rest of the goods sat in the car all day and then made the long flight home from Minneapolis. That following morning, being that we had no groceries in the fridge, meant that I’d simply slice up some of the half loaf of Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Bread ($4.25). First of all…bananas…walnuts…bread. This was going to have to be good. When I opened up the bag that the loaf was in, I could smell the mouth-watering aroma of the banana bread…almost as if I had just pulled it out of my oven. I sliced off two 1/2 inch slices, one for me and one for my roommate. I threw each one into the microwave to warm it up slightly, then kept it simple with a light schmear of Smart Balance and a drizzle of honey.

A slice of BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery's Banana Walnut Bread — A slice of BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Banana Walnut Bread

Bread…perfection. Honestly. This bread is super moist, despite being a couple of days old at this point. We had it this morning for breakfast as well. Still moist. And we’re polishing off the loaf tomorrow morning for breakfast. I just checked…it is still moist. Soft. Delicious. Filled with banana flavor that is only enhanced by the addition of the walnuts. This bread is awesome. I can’t emphasize this enough. Gluten-free bread, when done right, tastes just like any other bread. Regular bread. The kind anyone could eat. If you put this loaf down in front of someone who could eat any type of bread…and had them eat it…they wouldn’t know the difference. I promise you that. This is one of my favorite gluten-free breads I have ever eaten. Just…super yummy!! Super flavorful. Super moist. And super banana-y. This bread is love.

And, last night for dinner, while it was still fresh…Cathy and I decided that we would give that lemon bar a taste at dessert. So, after we ate our gluten-free grilled avocado and vegan cheese sandwiches, I got out the plastic container that held the lemon bar and pulled it open. And that…was where I realized that the flight and the car ride weren’t too kind to the lemon bar. The icing came off with the lid. Whoops. No matter…I could fix that.

BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery's Lemon Bar — BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Lemon Bar

The Gluten-Free Lemon Bar ($3.05) is actually a light, airy lemon cake. I sliced it in half and placed one piece on a plate. I then scraped the icing off the lid and began to attempt to reapply it the best I could to the lemon bar itself. This was…a slight success. You work with what you have. I took the first slice out to Cathy and she immediately dove in. Before I even had icing on mine, she was raving about it. So, this was happy news to me. I put my slice on a plate, reapplied the icing to the top and went out to enjoy.

Cathy was so right. The light cakey base made this unlike the other gluten-free lemon bars that I have had in the past. I absolutely loved this take on this treat. The cake itself was very light, not heavy and dense. The icing…wow…that icing. Just like the icing on Cathy’s Lemon Zinger cookie, the frosting was simply a combination of powdered sugar and lemon juice. As for the light, delicious cake…that was simply eggs, sugar canola oil, white rice flour, potato starch flour, tapioca flour, lemon juice, lemon peel and xanthan gum. I loved how different this lemon bar was compared to the others I have tried from other gluten-free bakeries. The ingredients all worked well together well and baked up lemon perfection. Happiness in every tart lemon bite.

I was so happy with everything that I got from BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery that it has been decided that next time I’m in the Twin Cities…I immediately head to BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery and buy items to feast on the entire visit. This must happen. This WILL happen.

As for you, BitterSweet Bakery…you are amazing and completely delicious. Just the four items that my roommate and I purchased and enjoyed were enough to make me want to continue to go back for more…as often as possible…every time I’m in Minnesota. BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery…this out-of-towner can’t wait to get back into town to visit you again.

Your food is love. And I’m head-over-heels for you!

BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery's Lemon Bar (with reassembled icing of awesome!) — BitterSweet Gluten Free Bakery’s Lemon Bar (with reassembled icing of awesome!)