Chocolate – Page 15 – The Celiathlete

May 1, 2013

Flippin’ the best gluten-free pancakes at Nashville’s The Pfunky Griddle

Restaurant: The Pfunky Griddle, Nashville, Tennessee

As a gluten-free vegetarian, sometimes eating while on the road can be a challenge. Fast food joints don’t work for me. And I’ve never been big on fast food regardless. This often means, especially when I travel to visit my family, that finding a restaurant to stop and eat is a priority. Thankfully…in this brave new world of smart phone apps, there is an app for that.

Find Me Gluten Free.

If you have not put this app on your phone…do so now and then continue reading this blog. I’ll wait.

…

Okay…congratulations! Your dining life just got a lot easier. Trust me.

The midway point between my home and my parents home is…Nashville, Tennessee. There is no shortage of places to eat in Nashville. There are also plenty of places that have gluten-free options. Normally, we’d probably make it easy and stop off at Taco Mamacita or even go to McCreary’s Pub in Franklin, Tennessee. But…while I know there are things I could eat at either one of those places (McCreary’s does not have a gluten-free menu, FYI, but Taco Mamacita does), I just wasn’t feeling the usual haunts. So this necessitated a search.

And naturally…I find a place that specializes is…breakfast and brunch.

When breakfast is your favorite meal of the day…this is one hell of a find. It had brilliant ratings on Find Me Gluten Free, so my roommate and I decided we would stop there on the way home and dine on some pancakes for lunch. Breakfast for lunch. Yep…my favorite way to eat.

The Pfunky Griddle is located on Bransford Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a quaint neighborhood with houses done up into businesses and offices. My kind of area. Parking, however, was a nightmare. We arrived sometime just after noon and there were already parties of people standing around outside. No parking was available in the lot, so Cathy dropped me off to go check on the wait time and she went to circle around and see if she could find somewhere to park. I ducked into the building and stood in a short line at the front where the coffee drinks were being made. I asked about wait time for a party of 2 and was told it would be about 25 to 30 minutes. That wasn’t unreasonable, so I put my name in and went to go see if I could find Cathy and tell her. She had just managed to find a parking spot, so we stood around outside for a moment before I asked if she’d like some coffee while we waited.

The Pfunky Griddle's Honey Child Latte with Almond Milk — The Pfunky Griddle’s Honey Child Latte with Almond Milk

Caffeine while on the road is never a bad thing. And…The Pfunky Griddle has almond milk. Could I love this place any more already? Is it possible? After giving it a little bit of thought, Cathy agreed that caffeine might be a good idea (DUH!) so I told her I would treat us to our café order. She went with a Peppermint Mocha with skim milk ($3.75). As for me…I went with something that I couldn’t get anywhere else. Not that I’m aware of, anyway. Stepping away from my order of a Cafe Au Lait for a moment, I opted for what they call a Honey Child Latte with almond milk ($3.75). The Honey Child Latte is a double shot of espresso, combined with honey, cinnamon, vanilla and your steamed milk of choice. Never heard of anything like it…but it sounded epically delicious. So, I had to have one. Besides, I can get cafe au laits anywhere. This was something I had only seen here. Why not go for it?

The coffee orders were backed up, so it took around five minutes to get our actual drinks. No worries though, Cathy and I weren’t in any hurry. And it gave both of us time to stand in line to use the bathroom before getting seated. Her peppermint mocha was up first, and she commented on how awesome it smelled when I passed it off to her. My Honey Child Latte was up next and when I received it…I couldn’t wait to try it. Photos first…then the taste test.

One sip and I was in love. The combination of the rich espresso worked so well with the spice from the cinnamon, the sweetness of the honey, and the smooth vanilla after tones. It all just meshed so well. Love at first sip. I even made Cathy try it and even she commented on how delicious it was. Smooth, dreamy, and sweet. Just how I like it!

Dedicated gluten-free griddle (placed over the one built into the table) at The Pfunky Griddle

I was about halfway through my latte when my name was called. We eagerly followed the hostess to our table in the back room near the window. The table was outfitted with a griddle in the middle because at the Pfunky Griddle…you flip your own pancakes, bitches! Sorry…but it’s a really, really awesome concept. As we were handed menus, I looked at Cathy and said, “I don’t know what they are going to do, but I need this hot griddle completely cleaned…or I can’t eat on it. Cross contamination.” She nodded and went back to the menu…and lo and behold…there at the bottom was a note that said if you were a Celiac, a special griddle would be provided for you.

I admit…I smiled. I smiled a lot. I was already feeling better about the situation. Our waitress came over to take out drink orders. As we both still were downing or pre-game coffee drinks, we opted for water. Cathy went ahead and told her that I was a Celiac…so the waitress said she would send someone out with a new griddle for us. A few moments later, one of the other employees was flipping off the griddle in the center of the table and putting a new griddle across our table. He had it wiped down and left it there. I felt a whole lot better.

And, when eating at The Pfunky Griddle…you get something you put on that griddle. Cathy and I already had our mind made up. They have an all-you-can-eat pancake deal going. So, we opted for that. We got the gluten-free pancakes ($6.99 per adult per person, including 1 topping each). Cathy chose chocolate chips for her included topping and added walnuts for another option ($0.75). For my included topping, I went with blueberries, then added bananas for an additional choice ($0.75). As we were really hungry, we each got a side with our pancake order. Cathy opted for the 2 biscuits ($1.00), which came with butter and jam. As for me, as it was labeled gluten-free, I stuck with the potatoes ($3.00). Order in.

I noted that our griddle wasn’t turned on, so I went ahead and turned it on, giving it some juice. I wasn’t sure how high to set it to cook, so I opted for around 300 degrees, because I didn’t want to burn anything, so I figured a little extra time on the griddle wouldn’t hurt anyone. Not one bit. Our waitress came out with a a bowl that had packets of ketchup and hot sauce in it. And soon…or food followed.

We received a pitcher of gluten-free pancake batter and little plastic containers that contained our toppings of choice. The waitress set this heaping bowl of potatoes down in front of me and told me to cook them for three minutes on each side. I could handle that. With that…we were left to our own devices to cook up our meal at our table. FUN!

Cathy poured her first pancake and went to sprinkle just her chocolate chips over the top. I would have thrown the nuts in too, but she kept them to just sprinkle over the top after her pancake was plated. I got a couple of spoonfuls of potato working on the griddle then poured my own pancake. I poured way more than I expected and had this monster to start off with. I went ahead and tossed some blueberries and banana slices onto it and let it sit to brown on the one side. The heat was definitely too low as both the pancakes and my potatoes were taking awhile to cook. Cathy went ahead and dived into eating her biscuits, really enjoying the flaky, lightness of them. I turned the heat up slightly, which helped. Soon I found myself flipping her pancake and my own because her first attempt was pretty much a fail. But, I cook pancakes on a griddle at home…so I’m sort of a master.

Gluten-Free pancakes and potatoes on the dedicated gluten-free griddle at The Pfunky Griddle

With the other side working, I went ahead and tried the potatoes.

Oh. My. GOD! No, these were honestly some of the most amazing breakfast potatoes ever. Laced with a delicious garlic flavor, these mashed up spuds were crispy from the griddle on the outside, soft on the inside…and really freakin’ fantastic. The flavor was awesome. I told Cathy she had to try some, and she said she intended to. She went ahead and scooped some up for herself to get it working on the griddle while I plated our first pancakes and poured more batter for our next round. We threw on toppings and then settled in for our first taste.

The batter cooks up beautifully. We each achieved this gorgeous golden color on our pancakes. My bananas even caramelized after I flipped my pancake over and the toppings began to work into the pancake itself. I love a light pancake. Nothing is worse than eating one pancake and feeling stuffed. And here, you can make them as big or as small as you want. You can add one topping, both, or more. Whatever your whim…it’s yours to create. And these pancakes really hit the spot. They were sweet, without being overly sweet. And thin. And light. And just plain delicious. The batter wasn’t heavy at all, making the pancakes almost as light as air when I removed them from the griddle and onto our respective plates. And those potatoes. Oh…hell yes!! Those potatoes were one of my favorite thing. Cathy and I both enjoyed them, getting them golden on each side then moving them to the plate. I added hot sauce to mine, just a dab, which only enhanced the amazing flavor. All together…a carby, delicous, amazing, happy dining experience. One of the best gluten-free pancakes I have ever tasted…and I eat a lot of gluten-free pancakes.

This may be a new go-to place in the near future when passing through Nashville. Very happy. I never felt like I needed to worry about my food. The spatulas were rubber, not the metal ones other tables got, so I am certain they were for gluten-free foods only. I felt completely safe, and completely satisfied with my experience there. I’d go back and stuff myself silly with more of their gluten-free pancakes and potatoes.

For the record, they also have gluten-free bread, so you could have one of their sandwiches, or even French toast if your little heart desired it. The point is…this is a business doing gluten-free right. And I am forever thankful for them. And I’m also glad we stopped in and ate here. On the way out, I even purchased a bag of their gluten-free pancake mix for $5.50. So now I can make some at home too.

My gluten-free joy knows no bounds. Doing flips over everything at The Pfunky Griddle.

Love in brunch form!

My Gluten-Free Blueberry and Banana Pancake with Gluten-Free Potatoes that I safely prepared at The Pfunky Griddle

April 19, 2013

Gluten-free Chocolate O’s sandwich cookies get the Schär treatment

Product: Schär Gluten-Free Chocolate O’s – $4.89+

Oreos.

It has been forever since I’ve had an Oreo. Going gluten-free takes simple pleasures like a simple sandwich cookie and sometimes makes them…untouchable. But…not with sandwich cookies. Quite a few brands are actually out on the market. Some are better than others. But…that’s to be expected.

Another treat to myself when I was last in Minneapolis, Minnesota was these Gluten-Free Chocolate O’s, Schär’s version of the gluten-free sandwich cookie. In every sense of the world…an Oreo. Chocolate cookies with a vanilla cream center sandwiched between them. I saw the box while at Cub Foods, and again, at the time, had yet to see that in my area. Since then, they have been incorporated into at least a few of the natural foods stores that I frequent. But, I’m just a little backed up on my cookie obsession in my gluten-free pantry. I’m getting there! So, naturally, since these were not available, at the time, in my region, I purchased them and carried them home with me.

Mmmm…sandwich cookies!

And, after all this time, they were next up in my gluten-free cookie backlog of epic proportions! So, two days ago, I broke into this box and pulled out a serving of Schär’s Gluten-Free Chocolate O’s. That, by the way, is 3 cookies. Yes…THREE cookies. Don’t get too excited though. These are definitely not the size nor stuffed portion you would find in Oreo cookies. These cookies are about the size of, or maybe slightly bigger (very slightly) than a quarter. Yep. One bite delight. But, that’s the good part…they are at least delicious!

The chocolate biscuits that make up the cookie portion of these little bite-size cookies are a rich and have that crisp softness to it. Sound contradictory? Well, you won’t break your teeth biting into these, but they aren’t soft either. They have just the right amount of crispness to them to make them taste like a cookie. And the center…so delicious. Not too sweet, but so reminiscent of the Oreo stuffing (just less of it), that it wowed me. I was in sheer heaven, looking for a glass of almond milk to dunk these in for good measure. Yes…they are truly amazing. I loved them. The chocolate is rich, but balanced by the cream in the middle. Just delicious bite-sized cookie goodness.

While these cookies are wheat-free and gluten-free, they do contain milk and soy. So be aware! The chocolate cookie is simply made from sugar, palm oil, corn flour, cocoa powder, soy flour, milk powder, potato starch. The filling is a blend of palm oil, milk powder, dextrose, sugar, lactose, soy lecithin, and natural vanilla flavor.

The three cookies in your serving will only set you back 170 calories and 8 grams of fat. Not too shabby for sandwich cookies, I think. The sodium is low (135 mg). As for sugars, for sandwich cookies, 11 grams per serving isn’t bad. And each serving does offer 3 grams of protein. Keep in mind…these are sandwich cookies you are eating. Indulge a little. You can have broccoli tomorrow.

While these are not at the top of my list for gluten-free sandwich cookies, these were very delicious and I have enjoyed indulging my inner cookie monster with a these dunkable, sweet, bite-size treats. Would I buy them again…sure. Would they be the first ones I reached for? Nope. But they are definitely worth the money.

April 17, 2013

Flipping over fluffy, hearty gluten-free pancakes, compliments of Namaste Foods

Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Waffle & Pancake Mix

Product: Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Waffle and Pancake Mix – $5.99+

I can be pretty particular about certain foods. And anything pertaining to breakfast…well…that’s my favorite meal of the day, so it needs to impress. It needs to be good. I don’t want my breakfast to go to waste. I live for breakfast. I sometimes eat breakfast three times in a day. That’s how much breakfast means to me.

I’m working on clearing out a good bit of my pantry overstock in the gluten-free items I have stockpiled. And my roommate had a craving. Pancakes. Well, we had quite a few pancake mixes kicking around on the shelves, so I grabbed the next one up as far as expiration dates, and it was a company I had yet to try any products from. Namaste Foods. Being a yoga enthusiast, I already loved the name of it.

So, I ended up with this gluten-free pancake and waffle mix from Namsate Foods because it was one of the items marked down when my local grocery store decided to put almost all of its gluten-free shelves on closeout and totally freak me out into thinking that I was going to lose a store to get gluten-free foods. False alarm. I think they just needed to make room for new items. These items I bought on the big, panic, closeout are still on the shelves there. Ah well…worked in my advantage.

Anyway…it was the morning after the Boston Marathon bombing and I was really feeling my fellow runners that morning. What better way to honor runners than to make one of their favorite carby meals? Pancakes. To add to the runnerific awesomeness of pancakes…I thought to make peanut butter and jelly pancakes. Mine just had to be gluten-free…for the sake of my digestive system. And this mix made it simple.

Normally, the Namaste Gluten-Free Waffle and Pancake Mix calls for the addition of 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 eggs, and milk or water. Well, I don’t like to use oil or eggs in my pancakes, so I decided to gamble…and added applesauce and melted peanut butter instead. I used water to keep the calorie count down with the peanut butter being a big portion of the mix. I wasn’t sure what this would do to the texture, but I figured gluten-free cooking is all about taking risks anyway. And pancakes can be saved someway if it turns out to be a bust on the flavor.

That being said, I mixed everything together, added 2 cups of the mix, and blended it all together. At first the batter was way too thick, so I added a little more water and that helped even out the consistency. Onto the griddle it went. And it took a little while to get that crisp, golden layer on one side. But…it got there. I didn’t want to turn the heat up, because I tend to burn pancakes that way, but trying to cook them faster. It’s one of the biggest complaints I have with gluten-free pancakes…getting that perfect golden crust on the outside. It’s difficult at times. Anyway…I flipped them and continued to cook the batch, making a total of 8 pancakes with one batch of the batter. Nice.

Then…to conclude the epic breakfast to honor the Boston Marathon, I spread some organic strawberry preserves across the top of each pancake, drizzled some melted peanut butter over the top, then added a swirl of dark chocolate because…I was upset about the marathon and needed chocolate, then topped each one off with a fresh, organic strawberry. Work of pancake art, let me tell you.

So, the moment of truth was upon us…how did they taste? My roommate was the first to dig into the perfect pancake breakfast…and she didn’t have any complaints. In fact, she hoovered the pancakes down. It had been a long time since I’d seen her do that with any product. So, this was a very good sign. I settled in with my two pancakes and sliced into one. Oh…oh yes…these were good!

While they didn’t have that perfect golden crust on the outside, the pancakes themselves were fluffy and packed with flavor. The texture of these pancakes is light and fluffy. But, they are filling. Just two was all I needed and the breakfast stayed with me all the way to my snack time, about 4 hours later. I loved that. It was nice not to eat breakfast and be hungry about an hour or so later. It was very nice, indeed. I loved that each bite had a hint of vanilla to it, which I could still taste, even with my toppings and additions. And the lack of eggs and oil didn’t affect the flavor or texture at all, in my opinion. This was one of the better pancakes I had made from a gluten-free mix. I tested the gluten-free pancake gods again later on that day because I needed to make easy pancakes for workout mornings. I left the eggs and oil out again and substituted pumpkin, then folded in some chocolate chips. Same thing. The pancakes were a little more dense this time around, but they cooked all the way through. They still didn’t get that golden color, but the pumpkin sort of distracts from that anyway. But yeah…filling…and fantastic. Loved the flavor, the texture, the chewy nature of the pancakes. Delicious. Very pleased with this mix.

The Namaste Foods Waffle and Pancake Mix contains no wheat, gluten, soy, corn, potato, dairy, casein, peanuts or tree nuts. It is all natural, has no preservatives, and is non-GMO. LOVING it. You will recognize all eight ingredients that go into the mix itself, starting with sweet brown rice flour, tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, rice milk powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and ground vanilla bean. It’s always a comfort when you can identify what goes into your processed and packaged foods. I think so anyway.

As I said, this was the first product I tried from Namaste Foods, and now I am eager to try other mixes that they have on the market. Total win. Pancake perfection when I needed it most.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancakes made with Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Waffle & Pancake Mix

April 13, 2013

Cookies taken from great to super with Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Super Cookies

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Super Cookie – $3.99

I’ve stated it in the past two posts I have done on cookies from Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky. Nothing will ever, ever top their allergen-free chocolate chip cookies. For real. They are, by far, the best and most amazing gluten-free cookies that I have ever had the pleasure of sinking my teeth into. For real. They don’t get much better than this. Buttery, smooth, soft, chewy, sweet…perfection.

Could it get any better?

Oh…believe it or not…it can.

How, you might ask?

By making a chocolate dipped cookie sandwich out of them, of course. I mean, when something is already as amazing as a single allergen-free chocolate chip cookie…take two of them, place some amazing icing between them and dip half of the cookie in dark chocolate. What emerges is what Annie May’s likes to call their Super Cookies.

Super sinfully satisfying, that’s for damn sure. Be prepared to share, because these cookies are epic big and epic filling. But worth every calorie-filled sweet, indulgent bite.

For real.

I have been eying the Super Cookies for a long while now. Especially after the amazing yumminess of the chocolate chip cookies on their own. How could two with filling and chocolate be bad? It can’t. It can only elevate the already amazing flavor of the cookies. I can guarantee that.

After a long run this morning, my roomie and I decided to head to Annie May’s for our usual Saturday breakfast. But, as an added bonus, we picked up one of the Super Cookies after I stared longingly at it the entire time we were there. Hey…my sweet tooth was acting up. I can’t help it. We agreed that we would get one cookie to split between us as dessert tonight, so we got it wrapped up to go and headed out for a day full of grocery shopping and hitting up a few stores in search of some items we have been searching for.

Then, after dinner tonight, I excitedly pulled out the Gluten-Free Super Cookie (this is not vegan) from Annie May’s Sweet Café and carved it in half. One half went to Cathy…the other half was mine.

One bite. One sinful bite and I was transported back to the days my sister and I would fill up on The Great American Cookie Company’s Double Doozy cookies. Except…these were far tastier…far more delicious…far more indulgent…far more…EVERYTHING. Take what you know about chocolate chip cookie sandwiches and multiply it to the nth degree. Because that is how amazing the Super Cookies are from Annie May’s Sweet Café. I wanted to savor each bite. I tried. But the sweetness kept luring me in for another bite. Then another. And before I knew it…I was left only with crumbs and the lingering taste on my palate.

Yeah…my favorite gluten-free chocolate chip cookie elevated to the next level. Not a thing wrong in the world with that. Not one thing.

Just bliss. Sweet, satisfying, sinful bliss. Creamy, chocolatey, cookie goodness…bite-for-bite. Entice your inner cookie monster today. Head to Annie May’s Sweet Café and get one for yourself. Super delicious Super Cookies from the super bakery…Annie May’s!

Something this sinfully sweet never tasted so good.

April 13, 2013

A food truck ruckus in order with Louisville’s gluten-free Sweet ‘N Savory crepe truck

Restaurant: Sweet ‘N Savory Food Truck, Louisville, Kentucky

Food trucks are amazing things. They are just so…cool! Let’s face it…street food is huge right now, and thankfully, Louisville, Kentucky is quite the foodie town these days. One of the best things to come of this…have been the growth of the food truck presence in this city.

A year ago, I attended the Food Truckus Ruckus…and sadly couldn’t eat anything offered because there was nothing for a gluten-free vegetarian. I was bummed out and ended up with grocery store sushi. Not what I wanted…but it worked for the time. I was hungry and needed some form of sustenance. And since the food trucks couldn’t help me out, I had to turn to the next best thing…on the go…

And so…to be fair…my roommate never mentioned food trucks again.

The next peep about food trucks came…from me!

Because, thanks to a post from the local allergen-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café, on their Facebook, I discovered that there was a new food truck in town. And this time…it was geared toward people like me!

Enter to the Louisville street food scene…Sweet ‘N Savory.

Sweet ‘N Savory is a local food truck that offers gluten-free crepes (pardon me while I shad a few tears of absolute JOY!), Carpe Diem Smoothies, gelato, coffee, hot chocolate, and tea! All of their crepes are gluten-free and dairy-free, made with local, free-range eggs. Their ingredients also incorporate as much local meats, cheese, fruits, and vegetables as possible. You gotta love a local business that tries to keep it all local as well. I appreciate that sort of care with ingredients and pride in the products that come out of this area.

Friday evening, after getting off work, my roommate and I had plans. And they involved food trucks. From Sweet ‘N Savory’s Facebook page, I learned of an event that that they were attending, along with other food trucks. It was the Louisville Street Food Alliance and they were putting on the LSFA Rocks Your Friday Night! event at Apocalypse Brew Works in Louisville, featuring seven of Louisville’s best food trucks: Lil Cheezers, Holy Mole, Grind, French Indo Canada, Bluegrass Brick Oven Pizza, Johnny’s Diner Car, and, of course, Sweet ‘N Savory. These food trucks all have their specialty types of food and it sounded like a great event. So, following a day at the office…my roomie and I set out across the river to hit up Louisville for dinner that night. She had her eye on a grilled cheese from Lil Cheezers, the Legalize Marinara (Pepperoni, Mozzarella, Sliced Tomatoes with a touch of Garlic), FYI, with a side of sweet potato fries and curried ketchup ($8.00) with a soda for a drink ($1.00).

However, I finally got to enjoy the Louisville street food scene now too. I immediately bounded over to Sweet ‘N Savory, inquiring if they were serving yet. We had no traffic on the bridge and got their quicker than anticipated. They were, so after eyeing the menu for a little bit…I decided to have dessert for dinner…opting for a sweet crepe. My choice? The Nutty Banana Crepe ($5.00), which is sliced bananas smothered in Nutella, wrapped up beautifully in a delicate crepe. To accompany that on a very chilly and windy April evening, I got a small cup of hot tea ($1.25). The best part was…I got to stand right there and watch it all get made.

First of all, my tea order sort of blew a fuse in the truck. Whoops. So, while they attempted to figure that out, truck owners Ricky Giannini and Ashley Giannini got my crepe working. Ricky was on crepe duty. I watched him pour the batter and spread it around to cook. Then, with great precision, he folded it over, added the banana, then poured over delicious Nutella. As he was letting it finish, he joked with me about the sweet crepe spoiling my dinner. I told him it was my dinner. The dinner of champions! I mean…banana and sinful Nutella…oh yes. That can be dinner any night for me.

He laughed. And I watched as he folded the crepe the rest of the way, dusted it with powdered sugar, and then plated it for me. They said they would bring me the tea as soon as they could figure out their generator. That was fine. I was holding a very warm and fresh Nutty Banana Crepe at the moment…and I was ready to dig into it and devour.

The last time I had a gluten-free crepe, I was in Denver, Colorado. It was the only other place I have ever found them…and it means I often crave but can do nothing about it, until my annual pilgrimage to Denver. Not so anymore. And let me tell you…I am in love with this food truck. Absolute love.

The crepe was light and delicious…a thin pancake surrounding an amazing filling. I mean, I am not only a Nutella fan, but huge on banana as well. And Sweet ‘N Savory doesn’t skimp on either. This crepe was busting with it. I loved the play of the banana with the sweetness of the Nutella and the crepe itself. Add to it the dusting of powdered sugar…and dinner was epic and sweet!! I was in love with every bite. I did share one bit with my roommate, because she had to try it herself…and she agreed…AWESOME!

My tea arrived just as I polished off the crepe…perfect timing.

Thanks to food trucks making a surge here in Louisville, I have become quite proud of the foodie status this city had received. But, now, thanks to Sweet ‘N Savory…I can indulge in the street food scene as well. And for that…I am forever grateful.

I’m already looking forward to the next time I get to eat from their truck. I think I might give a savory crepe a try. I’m already eying their Caprese Crepe.

Next time can’t get here soon enough.

Sweet ‘N Savory…you are a welcome addition to my gluten-free world.

Sweet 'N Savory's Gluten-Free Nutty Banana (Banana & Nutella) Crepe — Sweet ‘N Savory’s Gluten-Free Nutty Banana (Banana & Nutella) Crepe

April 9, 2013

Sunstart Chocolate Wrapped Golden Crunch Cookies a disappointing and sad gluten-free cookie

Product: Sunstart Chocolate Wrapped Golden Crunch Cookies – $6.50+

There are very few cookies in this life that I have met that I haven’t wanted to just shove into my mouth and devour. Honestly. There are flavors I prefer to others and certain brands I would buy ahead of others. There are ones I would make before I made others. But there aren’t a lot that I would take one bite and just…feel so unimpressed.

But that was how I felt when I cracked open my box of Sunstart Chocolate Wrapped Golden Crunch Cookies.

I had never seen this brand before in my life. However, the Gluten-Free Trading Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin had them on their shelves. And as I was making a conscious effort to purchase products from that store that I had never found anywhere else, these cookies made the cut. And I was pretty excited about them. I mean…chocolate makes everything worth biting into, yes?

Eh…not really in this case. Which I am truly sad to report because I was pretty excited about these cookies. For one thing, they are imported from Northern Ireland. One of the draws of this particular brand is that it is gluten-free, wheat-free, egg-free, cholesterol- free, and yeast-free. Hence part of the “Freefrom” branding that this company does. One reason I was stoked about trying these was how allergen-friendly it was. According to the box, these cookies are reminiscent of British digestive biscuit, coated on one side with chocolate.

Like I said…chocolate = delicious. Sadly, the chocolate was my favorite part of these cookies. One bite and I was less than impressed. Not to say that they were horrible. They weren’t. But I have so many gluten-free cookies in my pantry, I’ve decided not to waste my time on ones that don’t wow me. And these didn’t. At all. The actual biscuit part has a slight coconut flavor and texture…which didn’t work for me, oddly enough. Also, while the photo on the box shows a cookie liberally coated in chocolate, the reality is…quite different. In fact, you can see the golden biscuit through the light chocolate coating on the actual cookie from the box. So disappointed. I was expecting this thick layer of chocolatey goodness…and was left with just enough to put some sweetness into each bite.

Granted, these cookies are actually a decent size (about 2.5 inches across) and clock in at only 85 calories per serving with 5 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a cookie, especially a gluten-free cookie. But the flavor was just…not there for me. The texture was rather dry and crumbly, more like shortbread without that buttery flavor. In fact, this cookie was more like a Girl Scout Samoa…just lacking that caramel flavor. But…overall…just such a disappointment. I had high hopes for these, especially with those nutrition facts…but…they were just…eh.

And this cookie monster doesn’t want to waste time on cookies that fail to impress.

While Sunstart makes other gluten-free cookie options, I think I’m done with them on just this cookie itself. Not impressed to pour any more money into their products. I wanted to like these…I really did. And I liked them…I just didn’t love them. Nor did I feel the urge to go back for more or hide them so I didn’t eat the entire box in one setting. That, in and of itself, speaks volumes.

April 4, 2013

Sweetness abounds in Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Easter Box of Awesome™

Restaurant: Annie May’s Sweet Café, Louisville, Kentucky

I know. I know. I’m an adult. A responsible, reliable adult.

But when I saw Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky, announce their Easter boxes of goodies ($25.00)…I had to have one. I’m like a kid in a candy store whenever I go in there for breakfast or to purchase an allergen-free/gluten-free treat. I can’t help myself. Everything I have had there has been a delightful party in my mouth. Honestly. I enjoy taking my non-gluten-free friends there because…you can’t tell that these products are allergen-free. You just can’t. Annie May and Kenna do amazing work. And their box of Easter goodies is no exception.

I picked up my Easter box when I stopped in for breakfast on the Saturday morning before Easter. Along with the Easter box, I went ahead and purchased two other items that I would enjoy on Easter. Take-and-Bake Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls (with a vegan icing) ($12.00) and Take-and-Bake Allergen-Free Biscuits ($12.00). Happiness is carby goodness in a delicious form that I can actually savor, enjoy, and devour.

Annie May's Sweet Café Easter Box of Awesome™ (plus 4-pack Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls and 4-pack Allergen-Free Biscuits) — Annie May’s Sweet Café Easter Box of Awesome™ (plus 4-pack Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls and 4-pack Allergen-Free Biscuits)

So…what all was included in this Easter box that made me feel like a kid again? Well, you basically got to assemble it yourself…as in, pick 5 items from a list that they provided. So, after a little deliberation with my roomie, we made our final choices and I called in the order. I chose to make my Easter box up with a 2-pack of allergen-free Chocolate Cupcakes, a 2-pack of allergen-free Chocolate Chip Cookies, 1 gluten-free Peter Rabbit Sugar Cookie, 1 allergen-free Sunbutter Candy Bunny, and a 4-pack of allergen-free Chocolate Boulders. Also offered for these Easter boxes were an extra-large allergen-free sugar cookie on a stick (if you can’t have eggs…as the Peter Rabbit Sugar Cookie had egg in it) and an egg-shaped Whoopie Pie of your flavor of choice.

All week I was anticipating picking up my box of Easter goodies as well as my Easter day additions. I went in for breakfast that morning (again, if you haven’t tried their breakfast sandwiches, you are missing out!) and then picked up my goodies. I think I skipped happily out of the bakery that morning, carrying this box of wonderful goodness to my car. Easter came early for me. And I couldn’t wait to dive in.

So…where to start?

Annie May's Sweet Café's Allergen-Free Chocolate Cupcakes — Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Allergen-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

The first item from the basket that my roomie and I decided to try was the cupcakes. Why not? They looked absolutely sinful and decadent. And…it had been awhile since I had a cupcake. My attempts to make allergen-free cupcakes at home usually result in…my cupcakes getting soggy. I haven’t figured out why yet. So…cupcakes…it had to be cupcakes.

Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Chocolate Cupcakes are a rich and moist treat. I was so happy when I first bit into this item. They often have cupcakes in their case, but I’m normally in there for breakfast and have yet to really just go in there and pick up a bunch of sweets to try. It will happen. So, this was my first ever taste of one of their cupcakes. Let me tell you…I am hooked. The cake was moist and soft and packed with rich chocolate flavor. It was heaven. I’m not much of an icing person, but the chocolate ganache icing was amazing. It really elevated the richness and the sweetness of the cupcake to that perfect dessert level. It wasn’t too much. It was just enough to make you feel like you were truly indulging after dinner. I savored every bite of it. And even saved a chunk of the cupcake with the icing on it for last. Which is very weird for me…but it happened. Cupcakes were an epic and total chocolate win! I must sample more cupcakes in the very near future. YUM!

So, Easter morning rolled around…

I went for my morning run and returned home very excited and eager to get started on breakfast. Why? Because it was Easter Sunday, which meant the first treat I got would be popped into the oven and warmed to a golden, ooey-gooey goodness. Ah…it would be the perfect start to the holiday.

Annie May's Sweet Café's Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls with Vegan Icing — Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls with Vegan Icing

This treat, of course, is the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls with the Vegan Icing that I purchased separate from the basket. Now, I’ve indulged in Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Take-And-Bake Cinnamon Rolls before…but I was at a friend’s house and for some reason, her oven was on crack. And despite baking these rolls longer than advised, they were still doughy in the middle. Disappointment. But…not in my house and definitely not in my oven. Annie May stuck the sticker with the directions right on my cinnamon roll packaging. I was to bake them in the oven at 325°F for 20 minutes. Annie May did tell me that sometimes it does take longer to get them golden…it all depends on the oven. Well, I stuck them into my oven for about 25 minutes total, and when they emerged…they were beautifully toasted to a golden perfection. They smelled amazing. And I gave each roll a healthy schmear of the vegan icing provided with them. As I settled in, my roommate was already about halfway through one of her rolls, munching diligently and happily. I took this as a good sign. I sliced into one of the cinnamon rolls with my fork and took a bite of the hot roll. Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Heaven in cinnamon roll form. These were light, and had the right amount of cinnamon tucked inside each roll. The pastry outside was crisp and golden, but that inside was soft and chewy and perfect. I had to remind myself to chew slowly and enjoy or I might have devoured both of my rolls in seconds. That is no exaggeration. These were so delicious and very, very filling. Which was good…because Easter lunch was going to be running about an hour and a half behind schedule…

After doing a bit of cleaning around the apartment and slicing up some fresh pineapple to take to Easter lunch, it was time to get to work on my other Easter treat for myself. Those amazing sounding Take-And-Bake Allergen-Free Biscuits. Annie May’s Sweet Café had been talking about these on their Twitter and Facebook feeds for awhile…and I just never had a reason to pick them up…despite wanting to…desperately. But, I figured these would be the perfect starch for me to bring to Easter lunch with me…as the bread that everyone else could eat would be off limits to me. And much of the food being cooked up wouldn’t work with my food allergies or my vegetarian diet. So, some hearty allergen-free biscuits sounded like just what I needed. I decided to cook these up ahead of time at my apartment to not interfere with what my roommate’s sister was doing at her father-in-law’s house for Easter lunch. Best to streamline and make things easier. That kitchen can be hectic on the holidays as it is. Why add to the insanity? Besides, this ensured no cross-contamination. Which is always a good thing.

Annie May's Sweet Café's Allergen-Free Biscuits — Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Allergen-Free Biscuits

So, into an oven at 325°F these little biscuits of dough went for about 40 minutes. The instructions said 3o minutes, but Annie May told me that there was a chance they would have to bake a little longer. Simply slice into one of them with a knife and check to make sure the center wasn’t still doughy. I did that, and they needed only a bit more time. Ten minutes, and they were perfection. I covered the tray with aluminum foil and wrapped it in a towel. Then, I drove to Corydon for Easter lunch. And the plan to eat at noon turned into eating at 1:30…but my biscuits were still warm the way I packaged them up. So that meant no reheating in the microwave. WOOHOO! I took two and Cathy took two and I immediately broke off a piece and popped it into my mouth. I had been anticipating eating these all morning; I was wasting no time now.

These allergen-free biscuits are phenomenal. Absolutely what I thought they should be. I wish I had been able to slice into them and enjoy fresh out of the oven. Next time. Because I can only imagine how epic they are having not sat around for 2 hours. BUT…given the circumstances of the holiday…what can you do? Honestly, these are really delicious. The inside bakes to this fluffy and soft consistency. And the outside gets golden. These have the best bread-flavor ever and would be awesome to build a sandwich with or…even use as a burger bun. Seriously delicious. And two of them filled me up. I didn’t need the pineapple, green beans or boiled potatoes. I would have been fine making a meal out of two of these biscuits. Trust me…these will be purchased again…and eaten straight from the oven. I can’t complain…even after 2 hours of sitting after baking…these were made of total win.

As full as I was on Easter, I didn’t get to eat any of the desserts I provided for the get-together. One of them had dairy in it…so that wasn’t happening anyway (hello peanut butter cheesecake bars!). The other was lemon bars, which I intended to eat a small square of…but I was just so full from dinner, dessert didn’t sound good at all. So, I skipped it and when I returned home, went to work on cleaning the rest of the apartment. Before I knew it, it was past 7 p.m. And I was now ready for my dessert. As I had this great Easter box of goodness…I went to decide what to have from it this time.

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

For Easter…it was the allergen-free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Now, I’ve had these chocolate chip cookies before. There was a morning when the waffle maker at Annie May’s was giving their dough hell, so for our wait, we were given free chocolate chip cookies. And, in my post about it…I said that they were, perhaps, the best I had ever tasted. We all know how much of a cookie monster I am. Well, after having the chocolate chip cookies…again…I can honestly declare them my favorite gluten-free chocolate chip cookie I have ever eaten from anywhere. Love is finding that right consistency for a cookie…and people can be so subjective when it comes to what the perfect cookie is. Annie May’s chocolate chip cookies are sheer perfection. They have this beautiful golden crust on the outside…but they are so soft and chewy. The mini chocolate chips give the perfect amount of sweetness in each bite. And they don’t crumble or crack when you bite into them. I savored mine. As much as I could. Each bite was slow and I made sure I enjoyed every bit of that cookie until it was gone. Oh, these cookies are going to be coming home with me more often. That’s what happens when you fall in love.

Annie May's Sweet Café's Gluten-Free Peter Rabbit Sugar Cookie — Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Gluten-Free Peter Rabbit Sugar Cookie

Skip ahead two days. Monday meant no treats from my Easter box because it was my group run with my running store. That meant I get home at a non-dessert time, so these sweet treats had to wait an extra day. No worries though. Because I already knew the next item that was going to be up for noshing. The extremely adorable gluten-free Peter Rabbit Sugar Cookie. This cookie comes attached to a stick, which definitely makes me feel like a kid. Which, I love. It’s those little touches that bring out that giddy, kid-side, and I do enjoy showing that side of me. I feel like I have to be so serious at the office most of the time, it’s nice to have something as simple as a cookie on a stick and feel like a kid in a candy store. And these cookies are extra special…and here’s why. That adorable image of Peter Rabbit in the icing…that’s hand painted. Yes…hand painted. Almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Sugar cookies aren’t usually my thing. I’ve always been a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies. Or snickerdoodles. I love snickerdoodles. But, these sugar cookies were really, really delicious. The icing itself is more like a candy coating. It’s sweet, but doesn’t take away from the sugar cookie itself. And as for the cookie…perfect. Not too sweet. Not gritty. Cookie perfection. Honestly. My roommate and I split this cookie in half (because there was only one in the basket) and we both agreed that, while we both loved the chocolate chip cookies more, this was really good. It was just such a shame to eat all that beautiful handiwork that went into decorating it. Well…not really. It was delicious and perfectly balanced. Who knew Peter Rabbit could taste so sweet?

Annie May's Sweet Café's Allergen-Free Sunbutter Bunny — Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Allergen-Free Sunbutter Candy Bunny

So, naturally, the next goody that came out of the basket was the other item which we only had one serving. The Sunbutter Candy Bunny. Completely allergen free. And super, mega, delicious. Think of a Reeses Cup on crack. Because that’s what this is. The chocolate was a rich, dark coating. Inside this cute bunny shape was a delicious helping of sunbutter. Sunbutter, for those of you who may not know, is a peanut butter alternative made from roasted sunflower seeds. And it’s really, really good. Completely allergen free as well. I have always loved the combination of chocolate and peanut butter (or a peanut butter substitute) because you get that sort of salty-sweet aspect working. This was no exception. This was to die for. I sort of wish I didn’t have to split it in half and share it, because it was really that amazing and delicious. I need to find out if Annie May’s creates other chocolate and sunbutter delights because I was blown away by this candy. Melt-in-your-mouth good. Oh…so good!

Annie May's Sweet Café's Allergen-Free Chocolate Boulders — Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Allergen-Free Chocolate Boulders

Which, naturally brings us to the final chapter of the Annie May’s Sweet Café Easter Box of Awesome™…the allergen-free Chocolate Boulders. What are Chocolate Boulders, you ask? At first glance, they look like dark chocolate covered cake balls. I was…almost right on that assessment. These rich, chocolatey balls of goodness are fudgey, on the inside and covered in a dark chocolate coating on the outside. The result…a smooth, creamy, amazing bite. My roomie and I had intended to eat one tonight and save the other one…but then…we each ended up eating two tonight for dinner. We couldn’t help ourselves. These were so delicious. But, they are rich…in the best of ways. If you’re going to do chocolate boulders of extreme yumminess…you go big or go home. And Annie May’s really delivers with these. If you have a major chocaholic in your family…this would be the treat to gift them. I was in a state of chocolate nirvana with each tasty bite.

As I have now and forever dubbed the box of Easter treats from Annie May’s Sweet Café the Easter Box of Awesome™…it is safe to say that everything inside of it lives up to that title. In one word: AWESOME!

If you live in or around Louisville, Kentucky…or if you find yourself just passing through…do yourself a favor and stop into Annie May’s Sweet Café for a treat or for lunch. They have special Tuesday through Saturday. And on Saturday, you can even grab some breakfast…and treat yourself to one of their amazing allergen-free donuts. Trust me…the calories are totally worth the splurge.

Like I said…their products are AWESOME! So are the two ladies in charge – Annie May and Kenna. Drop in and pay them a visit…purchase some of their amazing products…and enjoy. You’ll be so glad you did.

They’ve certainly made my life a little more indulgent and delicious…and awesome!

March 31, 2013

KIND-ly enjoying a hit of dark chocolate and peanut butter in an amzing snack bar

Product: KIND Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein Snack Bar – $1.99+

Well, yesterday rounded out the sample box of KIND bars that I purchased with the help of a Groupon that came through awhile back. And the final bar to get it’s chance to shine was none other than KIND Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein Snack Bar.

Peanut butter and dark chocolate. This sounded like a match made in heaven to me. After all…that is exactly two of my most favorite ingredients in life. Anything with dark chocolate. Anything with peanut butter. But put the two of them together…and you have made me one very, very happy girl.

Needless to say, the very thought of sinking my teeth into this bar prior to running on Saturday morning at the park was…mouth watering. For real.

It was a chilly, foggy Saturday and my roommate and I were up quite early. The reason being I wanted to hit up Cherokee Park to run some hills before a 5K race was scheduled to kick off at 9 a.m. This meant we needed to be at the park about the time it was getting light outside. So, breakfast that morning at home was a serving of our cereals…but for in the car, to provide some fuel for her trail hiking and my running…I packed the final KIND bar in my run bag.

Being that it was a colder morning (come on, Spring…it’s freakin’ the end of March!), this bar was a bit chilled. So, the ooey-gooey texture I prefer over brittle and hard was not happening. But, a little warm up in my toasty fingers and everything would be okay. As we hit the highway, I busted out the KIND bar and split it in half, handing her one half while I kept the other.

Bite one…was, as I said, a bit hard. Damn cold weather. Messing with my snacks. But after that, things started to get interesting…and flavorful.

The KIND Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein Snack Bar is…just what it sounds like. Dark chocolate and peanut butter crack. Every bite bursts with this sweet and salty flavor that I love. And the dark chocolate adds the right amount of sweetness to counter balance the peanut butter and nuts that are throughout the bar. I loved it. It, surprisingly, wasn’t my favorite bar. That still has to be the Fruit & Nut Bar…but this one…this one comes close.

The KIND Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein Snack Bar is a healthy and satisfying mix of a variety of nuts. So, not just peanuts. Nope. They go all out and include peanuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, macadamias, and Brazil nuts. All of those are blended with peanut butter, honey, and soy crisps. Then the bar is coated on the bottom with dark chocolate and a dark chocolate drizzle beautifully adorns the top. This means every bite is guaranteed that sweet/savory taste.

Nutrition-wise, this bar isn’t too far off the mark. Not for what it contains. The entire bar will set you back 200 calories and 13 grams of fat. Keep in mind, however, that the fat is derived from nuts, and therefore is at least the healthy kind of fat. This bar is very low in sodium, only 50 mg, and relatively low in sugars, topping out at 10 grams. And with all that peanut butter and nutty goodness, this bar offers up a dose of 7 grams of protein. NICE! These snack bars are also gluten-free

KIND offers up a variety of different flavors and nutritional benefits with their KIND Snack Bars. The KIND Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein was a nice addition to their satisfying and delicious line up. I didn’t like every flavor in the box, but none of them were inedible. And that is a great thing. I intend to continue to sample flavors that were not offered in my cube of goodness and see what else KIND has to offer.

But so far…highly impressed.

KIND Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein Snack Bar (unwrapped)

March 26, 2013

Ian’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons a cute pop-and-go snack

Product: Ian’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons – $5.29+

In the realm of gluten-free cookies…these are by far the most adorable.

And yes…food outside of Japan can be adorable. Trust me. When I opened up my package of Ian’s Gluten-Free/Wheat-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons, I wasn’t expecting little dime-sized cookies. But…that’s what I got. Mini-mini-mini chocolate chip crunchy cookies. No wonder an entire serving was 23 cookies. Now I understand why.

Well…you know how I am about cookies. And I spotted these on a shelf at Publix while I was in Birmingham, Alabama for the Making Tracks for Celiacs event. Yes…I realize how long ago that was…but I’ve had a lot of food to cypher through since then. Trust me, it was never my intention for these to make a home in my pantry. And that’s why tonight…they became dessert.

A little bit about Ian’s, first and foremost. Ian’s, as a company, set out with a mission to provide high quality, all-natural and allergy-friendly foods to the market that consumers can trust. The company takes great pride in providing quality foods they feel customers will enjoy. And they are always experimenting and coming up with fun and delicious allergy-friendly items to bring to the table.

Fun…I think cookie buttons fall under that category.

So, what are cookie buttons? Well, they are miniature chocolate chip cookies. Honestly. That’s all they are. These crunchy little cookie buttons are the tiniest chocolate chip cookies I have ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot of chocolate chip cookies. I’ve eaten a lot of chocolate chip cookies too…but that is beside the point. These itty-bitty Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons are one of those snacks that just call out to be fed to children. I mean, they are bite-size and perfect for snacking. They are sweet without being overly sweet. The crunchy texture is perfect, not too hard, not too soft. And they are just one of those snacks your fingers will find and pop in your mouth. The chocolate chips give each cookie a nice hint of sweetness, and the cookie part itself is sweetened just enough without it being too much.

A serving of Ian’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons is 23 cookies (or 30 grams). This serving will set you back only 130 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. That’s awesome for a cookie treat, yes? This serving also provides 11 grams of sugar, which isn’t bad considering…these are cookies. While these cookies do contain soy, egg, and milk, they are completely gluten-free and wheat-free.

I admit…they are nowhere near being the best gluten-free cookies I have ever tasted. They don’t even slot into my top 10. But…there is something very…intriguing about these. Would I buy them again? Eh…perhaps. I’ve had one too many amazing gluten-free cookies out there to really just settle on these…but they aren’t bad. And the size of them makes them fun and easy to travel with. So, they aren’t fantastic for kids or for a quick snack if you are on the go or just in a hurry. And…come on…they are mini chocolate chip cookies.

Cuteness counts for something, yes?

A serving of Ian's Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons — A serving of Ian’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Buttons

March 24, 2013

Liz Lovely perfects gluten-free peanut butter cookies…and coats it with dark chocolate love

Liz Lovely's Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Cookies — Liz Lovely’s Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Cookies

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Cookies – $3.99+

Just when I thought I had tried every gluten-free, vegan Liz Lovely cookie out there, I find one that I missed. Or that is new. But whichever is the case, this cookie monster somehow needed to have this new variety in my life…and my belly.

I was out at our local natural food store. It’s the only place in the area where I have found Liz Lovely cookies. Which, is too bad, really, because these cookies are beyond awesome. I’ve tried every variety that I could find…and according to the Web site…I had tried them all.

That is up until a couple weeks ago, when I stopped in to see if they had an item I’ve been searching for…and lo and behold…this little cookie was staring up at me from its little basket. I wanted to buy it then and there, but I was on a budget. I had a Groupon for this food store and vowed to return the following week to shop there. And, naturally, that flavor cookie was gone.

But on Saturday afternoon, when my roommate and I stopped in for some gluten-free dinner rolls…it was back. And I grabbed it and made sure this time I didn’t leave without it.

What made this cookie so…intriguing to me? Well, it was the simple combination of two of my favorite things in life: peanut butter and dark chocolate.

Oh yeah…you read that right.

Liz Lovely’s Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Cookies turned out to be dessert that very night. I mean…come on…you know that wasn’t just going to sit around the apartment. Heck no. Peanut butter and chocolate never lasts long in this place anyway…put them together…and…yeah…gone in a blink of an eye.

First…the basics of these cookies. A serving size is…half of a cookie. Yes…you only get half. This works out great for my roommate and I because we just split one cookie in half and then eat the other one for dessert the following day. That half of a cookie will set you back 170 calories and 8 grams of fat. Yes…for a half of a cookie that seems a bit steep, but these cookies are rather large anyway in the grand scheme of things. So…just remember that this is a treat. And, like most desserts, you only need a taste. You might be tempted to eat the entire cookie…and I wouldn’t blame you or judge you. They are awesome.

Here’s why…

Liz Lovely cookies are soft, chewy, and taste like they are fresh from the oven. No joke. I mean, minus the whole piping hot part. But…they still have that doughy taste and feel to them, which I absolutely LOVE in a cookie. The base of this cookie is a soft, gooey peanut butter cookie. The bottom of the cookie is coated in a nice layer of dark chocolate. And then the top of the cookie is drizzled with more dark chocolate. It’s captivating to the eye. It makes your mouth water. You eagerly take that first bite…and chewy heaven. The chocolate on the bottom of the cookie is adding not just sweetness…but texture. And the salty-sweet combination of the dark chocolate and the peanut butter is God’s gift to gluten-free cookies. For real. This cookie is, by far, one of the best gluten-free and vegan cookies I have ever eaten in my life. Perfectly balanced, perfectly made, and perfectly delicious.

According to the Web site, the peanut butter cookies were discontinued prior to the release of this cookie because the peanut butter and the gluten-free ingredients were not playing nicely together. With some recipe tweaking, and a little luck…this cookie is what emerged. And the gluten-free cookie world celebrates this creation. I know I’m not the only cookie monster out there applauding this. Or devouring it.

I’m kind of sad that they’re gone.

Making a note to add them to the grocery list again…soon!

Liz Lovely's Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Cookie — Liz Lovely’s Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Cookie