Chocolate – Page 3 – The Celiathlete

February 16, 2016February 16, 2016

Product Review: Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli Shells

Product: Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli Shells – $15.99+

20160214_175010[1] — Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli Shells

So, one of my roommate’s favorite desserts is cannoli. She can indulge quite a bit when we go out to Italian places that offer it as a dessert…but it is a very rare treat for me. Gluten free cannoli is just…not often found. Sweet ‘N Savory Food Truck did it once during Cluster Trucked…and I had one at Da Luciano in Chicago the night before the Chicago Marathon…but otherwise, I’m normally not able to partake in this classic Italian pastry dessert.

Which is too bad. Because I’m the one who introduced this amazing treat to my roommate, prior to the Celiac diagnosis.

But, over the New Year holiday, my roommate, my friend Jenn, and I all ventured out to Jungle Jim’s International Market, and went on a small, tightly budgeted shopping excursion. Because…it’s sort of become a tradition. We wound our way through the store, finally reaching my favorite destination…the gluten-free aisles.

YAY! Let my shopping begin.

And…breaking the budget bank happened almost immediately when my roommate spotted a big yellow box on the top shelf of the first row…

GLUTEN. FREE. CANNOLI. SHELLS.

Oh hell yes. So…with most of the budget gone for this high ticket…the shopping got a little more picky. But I was elated…because I had gluten free cannoli shells in my basket and could easily pick up Kite Hill ricotta to make a vegan cannoli filling.

The brand was Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet. Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet came about from Neil Russo, a professional chef who was hard at work on gluten-free recipes, which he was striving to perfect after hearing about the many people connected to himself that were having a hard time finding food while on a gluten-free diet due to intolerance or Celiac disease. After experimenting on his Italian bread loaves and Tiramisu, Russo was ready to give his food to the world. He first introduced the gluten free food in his restaurant, where he got high praise. Soon, he opened up Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet. And from there…the frozen versions of some of the classic Italian foods he perfected in gluten-free form. So good, that people even would ask if he was certain it was gluten free. All of Russo’s products are prepared in a strictly gluten-free facility.

We decided to do it on our least favorite “holiday”…Valentine’s Day. And with all that in mind, after a quick jaunt out to the grocery store before the weather hit yesterday…I prepped the filling and made dinner (Smokey Zucchini Cakes with a Vegan Lemon Cream Sauce) and, afterwards, went to fill a cannoli shell for each of us.

I pulled the box of Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli Shells down from the top shelf of the pantry and went to work. The shells looked amazing. Golden and crisp…they weren’t broken, which was my main concern to be honest. I was terrified they would be these fragile little rolls…but they held their own for sure. I put some of my vegan ricotta cannoli filling into a piping bag and piped it into each of the shells I had removed for us. I passed one off to my roomie and then went to get mine. She was already diving in.

And that’s when I knew…this was not going to live up to the expectations I had built up in my mind. Nope. I was just finishing up filling mine and I look up and cautiously ask…”How is it?”

“The filling is delicious. The shell…” When her voice trails off…I know. I know it can’t be good. “…is nothing special.”

Hmmm. So, I settled in, wine glass in one hand, cannoli in the other. And take a bite. Or, at least I attempted to. This gorgeously constructed, perfectly golden, durable gluten free cannoli shell is…solid. It was the hardest thing to actually bite into. It was crispy alright…to the point I was almost concerned about chipping a tooth. And…trust me…these were marked as good through April…so they weren’t over their best by date. UGH. But, I was determined to have my cannoli, dammit. It was Valentine’s Day. I owed myself that much. I finally managed to bite through it and then loud crunching ensued. It was…really flavorless. Didn’t taste like much. Tough as bricks (literally). And heartbreakingly disappointing. I had this grand image of devouring cannoli on Valentine’s Day…just me, my wine, and my dessert smorgasbord (I had vegan and gluten free cookie dough from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe as well). And here I was, with sub-par, tough-as-a-rock, cannoli shells. UGH. They were really too tough to eat. My roommate and I persevered, said a prayer for our teeth…and then today, decided not to risk it again…and tossed them out. I hate when expensive gluten-free products don’t live up to their price tag. I wouldn’t pay $5.00 for these, and here I payed $16. Just to trash them. Since my filling was awesome, I did dig out my gluten-free cinnamon graham crackers and made up a new recipes…that was much easier to eat and much kinder to my teeth.

Sorry, Russo’s. Your other products have been good…but these…were horrible. And I was not impressed. In fact, I was beyond let down and a little angry I paid that much for a product I didn’t enjoy. Not even a bit.

Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli shells are not made of cement, as you might make yourself believe if you ever tried to bite into one. In fact, these dessert vehicles are made from rice flour, corn starch, tapioca dextrin, xanthan gum, rice extract, water, marsala, eggs, butter, sugar, salt, and vegetable oil.

As for nutrition, I believe you will burn more calories than you consume just trying to gnaw through these, but with that being said, a serving of Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli Shells is 1 shell and there are 6 shells in the box. This serving will give you 70 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 80 mg sodium, 14 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 1 gram sugars, 1 gram protein.

When people conjure up an idea in their mind of what gluten-free foods taste like (cardboard, tasteless, etc)…this would definitely not convince them otherwise. It has been awhile since I’ve actually been disappointed with a product. And I am beyond disappointed with Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Cannoli Shells. Take my advice…don’t spend your money on these. Your craving for cannoli is not worth the letdown you will endure if you decide to break the bank and try these. It’s not worth it. Trust me.

February 15, 2016

Top 10

Another weekend has come and gone, and what a weekend it was. This week, I had a fantastic meeting with my physical therapist. She had me working so much more on strength and balance. Afterwards, she did a strength test on me and discovered that my legs and hips are FINALLY equal in strength. That took awhile. And, with 6 days that day to the day the injury began to really bother me…she was very excited about my first upcoming double-digit run on Saturday. 10 miles was the goal…and I was both terrified and excited about it.

And then…my other hip/quad started to act up. It felt like a muscle strain, but it was enough that got me worried about Saturday morning. So, on Friday, I contacted Katie (my amazing physical therapist) and we went back and forth as to where the pain was, how it felt, and what I should do. In the end, she told me to stretch, foam roll, and give the run a shot. If I didn’t hit 10…then to try again the following week.

On Saturday morning, in air temps that felt like 1°F…I struck out on my run…on a steep hilly course…and got through it. Pain free. No limping. No pain. Nothing. It made me feel confident and amazing and strong…all at the same time. And relieved. This is an ongoing battle, for sure…but I needed that run. More than I even knew until I was done.

Anyway…here is a list of 10 fantastic and wonderful things for this week…just because sometimes you find blessings…

1. A short, but amazing visit from my sister and nephew

12728779_10100114844982120_2660799171343200042_n — Me, Chace, and Karla

Side-by-side or miles apart, we are sisters connected by the heart. Seriously, my sister and I have always been close. We have seen and done so much together. We have been with each other through thick and thin. Our bond is amazingly strong. When we get together…watch out. Insanity ensues. She wanted to come and visit and chose Valentine’s Day weekend to do so. And we had an absolute blast. Added bonus…she brought one of her boys with her…Chace (age 6). And we had SO much fun. We braved the cold air and the snow…which Chace loved…we ate good food…we shopped…we played video games…we attempted to play Chinese jumprope, we laughed, snorted, and curled up together to watch a movie. Chace and I baked a special cake. Chace told me that he loved me. Do you know how much that made me want to cry (in the good, happy way)? These are the moments I live for…and miss out on…because I live away from the rest of the family. I hated it when they had to leave. I cried a little this afternoon. But, she’s already planning another trip…and bringing Landon (age 9) this time. I love my sister. And next time, the weather should be better so she and I can finally get that run in together.

2. BOSU
I am now the proud owner of a BOSU. I have wanted one for a long time now, but when this became part of my physical therapy, not having to go to the gym to do it became a bit of a priority. The BOSU Balance Trainer is an exercise tool that targets multiple areas of fitness like endurance, strength, balance, and stability. The squishy dome side on top offers a bouncy surface for everything from cardio to strength training. Flip it over…and you work your on your core, lower body , and flexibility. Due to lots of amazing Dicks coupons and a gift card…I didn’t pay anything out of pocket for this. I love it. It’s pink…not blue like they normally are (because…princess). And now I can work on the strength and balance exercises that Katie (the PT) gave me to work on…in the comfort of my own home. SO happy!

3. Feeling like one of the group again

IMG_20160213_103112[1] As I mentioned, this Saturday I was set to run 10 miles. I had originally made plans to do this early to have a bit more time with my sister and nephew…but those plans didn’t pan out. Probably for the best, with how cold it was. All that being said, I got up and went out to run with the training group, and ended up striking out for the first 3.5 miles with people from my old running group. It felt so good to be back out with them. They ended up not tackling the heavy hill climb at Iroquois, but since I skipped hill day due to weather, I decided I needed to climb, even though my PT said to try to stick to flat roads. Seeing them, running with them, talking to them…it all just lifted my spirits. I hadn’t felt that good in a long time. I knew I missed it…but I really miss them.

4. New Running Shoes
Sometimes something as simple as a new pair of shoes can make the world feel better. Everyone knows that I love running in Newtons…but…I also love me some bright colors on my feet. And the new version of my Newton running shoes are…silver. Life’s too short to be stuck with boring running shoes. And, as I was in need of new shoes, I went out to fleet feet and went to see Jackson (it was his last day there)…and tried on the shoes I originally went in for…the Adidas Pure Boost X (the ones that were made by women for women). They were…not what I expected. Very different. And, while they felt good, I was a bit worried about lack of support on the arch of my foot. So, Jackson went to work. After I said no to the Adidas Energy Boosts (too much shoe)…he brought out a few more to try. After I gave the Asics Gel Cumulus a try (liked them), and then the Brooks Women’s Launch 3 (loved them), and then the Nike Pegasus Air Zoom 32 (really loved them)…I did something I didn’t expect. I went back to a Nike shoe. Of course, I still have to really road test them, but they felt really good in store. I have heard only good things about the Pegasus…so here’s hoping! THANKS, JACKSON!

5. My nephew’s reaction to the snow this morning

I’ll just let the video speak for itself…

He wanted to see snow…he got his wish. He was so excited. And so cold. Love this boy!

6. Being treated to a cake by Chace
Chace is like his Auntie KJ…he loves to cook and bake. And this weekend, he brought the chef hat and apron I got him for Christmas and go to work baking a cake for dessert and to take home to his dad, brother, and sister. It was a gluten-free funfetti cake (sprinkles rule!) with a strawberry frosting and decorated with some red sprinkles for the Valentines Day holiday. He’s an amazing little boy in the kitchen, and he’s got quite a future as the chef he talks about becoming. The cake…for the record…was super-moist…and super-yum! Afterwards, we all snuggled on the couch and watched Pixar’s Ratatouille.

7. Morning smiles on an early, cold, running day

12742614_533123900192145_892004465850865809_n I have met some of the best people through running. After taking an entire (basically) year off due to this nagging injury, it feels good to be out and running (even if it is slower than I would like) with people. Sometimes, I end up alone and on my own. But I always start with a group. And in these groups, there are people who just make you feel welcome. That’s how Melissa made me feel on Saturday, when I was standing around, arms crossed, just dreading going out in the cold. She pulls me into a picture…and everything just felt better that morning. Sometimes it is the smallest gesture that makes all the difference. Thanks, Melissa!!

8. Gluten-Free and Vegan Cookie Dough
My local allergen-free bakery…Annie May’s Sweet Cafe…sold out, but reserved a cup of their cookie dough for me…because Valentine’s Day isn’t much fun when you’re single…so a big cup of cookie dough is a good meal choice, yes? The hardest decision after getting it out of the fridge today was to have it with red or white. HA! I love my bakery!!

9. Funny Faces
Sometimes you just have to be goofy…in a nice restaurant…with your nephew who requested to sit by you. Because life only happens once. Just be goofy! I love him!

10. Chocolate!!
Forget Valentines Day. Just give me chocolate. Dark chocolate, especially. I’ll love you for life. And, trust me, I ate plenty of chocolate this weekend. Because I love enjoying the sweeter things in life with the sweetest people in my life. And we are a family of chocoholics. It’s a lifestyle.

~*~*~

Heading into a new week…here’s hoping this upward trend in my recovery continues. Here’s hoping that the winter weather goes away for good. Here’s hoping for many more good days over bad.

Have a great week, friends!

February 2, 2016

Life’s Too Short to Miss the Sweeter Things

Two fun facts about me:

1. I love eating healthy
2. I love sweets (especially chocolate)

What we have here, my friends, is a constant battle of sheer willpower. But, the fact of the matter is…sometimes you just have to find a way to treat yourself. Naturally, I stick to my necessary gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian lifestyle…however, this doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy some of the finer things in life.

That being said, 2016 is a year of change for me. I’m trying to improve myself, my body, my soul, my mindset…I’m trying to reach both long-term and short-term goals. And part of that is definitely making certain tweaks to the diet.

I’m not saying I am cutting out sweets and desserts entirely. That’s inhuman. But, I am cutting back on them. And once the current ones in the pantry are moved out…they aren’t coming back in. I buy gluten-free…so I’m too cheap to just toss the stuff away.

That being said, I’m always game for trying new ways to make an indulgence healthier. And awhile back, the amazing Lottie Bildirici, better known in the social media world as “Running on Veggies” posted about the treat she made for Kara Goucher (yes…THE Kara Goucher) when she was coming to NYC to run the NYC Marathon. Kara chose blondies as her treat and Bildirici got to work researching and coming up with a recipe that would not only seem like a treat, but be made with real ingredients, nothing processed, and be healthy. When the recipe posted, I was beyond intrigued. Granted, my foray into baking using beans as a base resulted in brownies that tasted like black beans, so I did have my reservations going into this…but I decided to give it a try.

Blondies made without flour…and by using garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and dates as the sweetener. Well…there was only one way to find out how this would turn out. I hoped for the best, since Kara Goucher was a fan…but…hey…some things you have to try yourself.

So this was what I put into my food processor this past Sunday afternoon:

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Everything but the dairy-free dark chocolate chips, that is. Any nut butter (or nut-free butter) will work, but I’m a huge fan, and an ambassador, for NuttZo…and it really is the best stuff on the market. Find it. Trust me…it’s worth the price!

After giving everything a whirl in the food processor, I was left with a light and fluffy fatter. I folded in the chocolate chips, sprayed down some muffin tins and began to evenly distribute the batter into 24 muffin tins.

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After baking for around 40 minutes, I removed the pans from the oven and let everything sit, untouched for over an hour. At that point, I moved everything to a sheet pan (carefully) and then into the freezer. But not without trying one.

First of all, they don’t taste bean-y…and they don’t taste like dates either. They actually taste like a decadent little dessert or muffin. Especially when warmed up in the microwave for about 30 seconds or longer. Although, I love them frozen too…but I’m weird like that. These are an amazing treat and one that I don’t feel bad about eating because…it was made from real food.

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I know a lot of people look down on those who enjoy a treat every now and again…but the fact of the matter is…we’ve got it all wrong. Not all calories are created equal. Just like now not all carbohydrates and fats are either. That’s the being said, I am a firm believer in counting nutrition, not calories. And that’s what making something like this is all about.

And trust me…they are SO good.

If you want to give them a try…you can get the recipe here! They are easy to make, and delicious. Trust me…you’ll want to keep these on hand! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack or dessert…these are truly a delicious and healthy treat.

Eat real food. These treats are more like a healthy choice than an indulgence. And what’s not to love about that?!

November 23, 2015

Product Review: Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Holidrizzle Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn

4deb8ef5-48fb-471b-b5a8-575408a22f2b_zpsrksmisr2 — Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Holidrizzle Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn

Product: Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Holidrizzle Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn – $4.99+

Thanks to my dear friend, Jenn, I was able to get my hands on a bag of the latest Holidrizzle flavor from Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Kettle Corn line. Because, I never did get my hands on a bag around here. I just couldn’t find it.

So, up until then, I figured the Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Holidrizzle Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn was simply a rumor. But, I have friends who are beyond aware of my obsession with pumpkin…EVERYTHING (save pumpkin pie…gross!).

Yep. I’m one of those pumpkin freaks. But…even more important, I am a popcorn freak. It is, by far, my favorite snack. EVER! I love popcorn and could eat it every day. And when Angie’s came along with their extensive lineup of Boom Chicka Pop popcorn flavors…life got a little sweeter for sure. And then…one winter season around Christmas…the first of the Holidrizzle bags arrived. And I was hooked for life. The original two flavors: Dark Chocolatier Sea Salt and White Chocolatier Peppermint – and, trust me, they were beyond addictive. I could eat an entire bag if I didn’t dole out serving sizes to nosh on. They are that amazing.

So, when summer faded into fall and the first of the Pumpkin Spice treats began emerging (I think everyone waits on Starbucks and the latte). And I had heard of this new Holidrizzle flavor from Angie’s. But, all I could find out here was the Candy Corn flavor. I don’t like candy corn, so I wasn’t interested. I was, however, beyond interested in the Pumpkin Spice variety.

And Jenn picked me up a bag. And last night…after my delicious dinner…it was dessert.

Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop began in a garage in Minnesota where Dan and Angie Bastian wanted to do something fun with their kids, while showing them the value of hard work. And, from that decision, their amazing kettle corn recipe emerged into a business, with product being sold at local events. Soon, even the NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, took notice. The rest was history. The Boom Chicka Pop kettle corn recipes are all non-GMO and certified gluten-free. Every product. All of them. Every variety is a better-for-you snack with simple ingredients, calorie transparency, and great taste. It pairs well with EVERYTHING and ANYTHING. Trust me. I ate mine after eating Chinese food. HA! It doesn’t get much better than small-batch popcorn being made with simple ingredients and wowing even the casual popcorn lover with flavor and taste.

So…the Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Holidrizzle Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn was ripped into last night. I breathed it in. And it smelled…like buttery popcorn. Huh. Interesting. I dished out a serving in a really awesome skull and crossbones bowl and served it up to my roommate. From the initial handful, I noticed that the popcorn pieces were dusted (some more heavily than others) with different seasonings. I didn’t see a drizzle anywhere. But when I went to dish up mine…my fingers round the melty bit of white chocolate on one of the pieces. There was my delicious, sweet, and addicting drizzle. I was trying to figure out how it could be a Holidrizzle without a drizzle…so, thankfully, the drizzle was there. Panic averted. I asked Cathy what she thought of it and she said, “It tastes like cinnamon…I don’t really get pumpkin.”

And…she’s right. So, if you’re “not a fan of pumpkin” then you will actually like this. Because when I tested it, I got the warm fall spices (cinnamon, nutmeg…and then the sweetness from the very light drizzle that some of the pieces were treated to. It was definitely delicious. And I would certainly eat and eat and eat these quite happily…but if you are one who wants that powerful pumpkin flavor, this is not the mix for you. Not at all. But, if you like a pumpkin spice latte…that’s what this is. That’s the flavor. Delicate spices…but not really pumpkin. Just…pumpkin-y…without any real…pumpkin. It’s a gentle, generous flavor and it blended so well with the sweet and salty nature of the kettle corn. Beyond addictive for sure.

Let’s look at ingredients, shall we? Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Holidrizzle Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn is made with cane sugar, popcorn, sunflower oil, palm and palm kernel oil, whey powder, nonfat milk powder, spices, sea salt, natural flavors, and soy lecithin (emulsifier). This popcorn is certified gluten free. And certified tasty.

As for nutritional information, Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Holidrizzle Popcorn is not bad…or a drizzled treat. A serving of this popcorn is 1-1/2 cups (28 grams). There are about 4.5 servings per bag. In this serving, you will be consuming 140 calories, 8 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 80 mg sodium, 18 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 11 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein. Not a filling treat, but then again, it doesn’t need to be. Careful though…it’s addictive.

While I think a part of me expected a little more of that BOOM…PUMPKIN flavor in Angie’s Boom Chicka Pop Holidrizzle Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn, it doesn’t deminish the fact that this popcorn is awesome. It’s light, salty, sweet, and tastes like fall. If you are a snob about your pumpkin flavor, this may not be the product for you. But, if you love something that screams pumpkin spice flavors…with a little drizzle of sweet heaven…then I encourage you to purchase a bag of this popcorn and eat it at your own risk. Trust me, it won’t last long.

November 16, 2015

Product Review: Nature’s Path Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Chip Waffles

Product: Nature’s Path Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Chip Waffles – $4.99+

There is just something so decadent about having a bit of chocolate with your breakfast, isn’t there? Growing up (and even now), one of my favorite things to have for breakfast (and it was only done on nights I had sleepovers or special occasions like my birthday) was chocolate chip pancakes. I mean…it’s the perfect amount of chocolate, so you sort of feel like you’re being wicked…but really, you’re just indulging that sweet tooth a little bit.

Well, I often do my own take on something with chocolate in it for breakfast every now and again. The problem is…I’m in charge of making it. And there are definitely mornings when the last thing I want to do is stand around in the kitchen and attempt to make a decent (and decadent) breakfast when I’m already short on time or just…busy.

I’m often busy.

Well, it just so happens that Nature’s Path has released a new product in its gluten free line-up. And I just happened to be shopping in a different Kroger this past weekend and stumbled across it. You better believe the moment I saw it, it was going into my shopping cart. My grocery list wasn’t very long this week so I had a bit of wiggle room. And having something quick and easy on hand for breakfast is never a bad idea.

Especially when it involves dark chocolate.

Nature’s Path Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Chip Waffles…are a gift from heaven. The gluten free heaven. Where chocolate reigns and waffles are all the rage. Seriously. I love chocolate chip anything…but chocolate chip waffles are a rare frozen find…in the gluten-free realm of the grocery store. Homestyle…perhaps blueberry…maybe an oddball pumpkin or berry…but…dark chocolate…that’s not a common find.

Nature’s Path is known for their healthy, great-tasting organic foods. One of their biggest incentives is to promote sustainability…and that’s why growing organic, healthy food is their passion and the cornerstone of this family company. But, in addition to that, they naturally want to put out products that they can stand behind, making sure that everything that hits the market is delicious and exciting. Because healthy food doesn’t need to be boring and tasteless.

And, I can promise you that there is nothing boring about the Nature’s Path Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Chip Waffles. Nothing. I toasted them in my oven this morning while I took a shower after my spin class. I gave 2 waffles to my roommate and I settled in with another two. A drizzle of agave maple syrup was the only flourish I had on these. And they were spectacular. They got to this amazing golden color in the oven, crisping up gorgeously on the outside. Inside, aside from the rich dark chocolate chips was a soft center that just begged you to carve off another bite and indulge once again. It was amazing that my waffles weren’t just hoovered off the plate this morning. But I did take my time, to chew and to enjoy, each and every single bite. What good is food if you don’t savor it a little, right?

So, let’s discuss the ingredients that Nature’s Path puts into their Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Chip Waffles! These waffles are made from water, organic brown rice flour, organic potato starch, organic corn flour, organic chocolate chips (organic granulated sugar cane juice, organic chocolate liquor, organic cocoa butter, soy lecithin, organic vanilla extract), organic soy oil, organic tapioca starch, organic granulated sugar cane juice, baking powder, organic potato flour, organic soy lecithin, organic pear juice concentrate, organic flavor, and sea salt. These waffles are vegan, gluten free, and contain 10 grams of whole grains per serving and are a fantastic source of ALA Omega-3, meaning they are nutritious…indulgent…and tasty. What a great combination from the freezer aisle, yes?

As for nutritional information, for waffles with dark chocolate in them, these aren’t too bad on the caloric scale. A serving size is two (2) waffles. There are 3 servings per box (I hate this…I wish I could at least get an even number of servings). Each serving will provide you with 220 calories, 7 grams fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 3.5 grams polyunsaturated fat, 2 grams monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 490 mg sodium, 34 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 2 grams of protein. I think my biggest complaint was that after I feasted on two of these waffles, I was hungry about an hour and a half later. The lack of filling fiber and the small hit of protein are much to blame for this. And…even with only 7 sugars…it is still a waffle. So, definitely pair this (or just 1) with something with protein. Instead of maple syrup, perhaps a spoonful of nut butter would be nice. Actually…that does sound frickin’ fantastic. I think I want to do that tomorrow with the last couple of waffles. YUM!

Dark chocolate chip waffles sound decadent, but they just bring one of the best flavors in the world (chocolate) to your breakfast table. And now, even the gluten-free consumer can easily pop these into their toaster and have an indulgent, delicious breakfast…without having to whip them up themselves. Leave the waffle mix, mini chocolate chips, and the waffle iron in the pantry. Thanks to Nature’s Path…you just have to reach into your freezer.

And for that, I am one very happy chocoholic.

November 15, 2015

Product Review: Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix

Product: Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix – $4.49+

You know…I don’t shop at Wal-Mart often. I don’t. But, there is this gorgeous Neighborhood Market version of Wal-Mart (it is all groceries!) in Louisville, and if I happen to be on that side of the city, I’ll stop in for some essentials that. I mean, the prices are right and it’s not all sketchy like some other Wal-Marts are. Nor is it busy, so that is also a plus!

I rarely go off my grocery list these days…but one day while searching an aisle for something, I spotted a box of gluten-free banana bread. We all are aware that my forays into gluten-free banana bread have been epic fails…every single time. And here…here was a mix that would do all the difficult stuff for me…and all I had to do was add a few things and pop it in the oven.

Easy peasy, right?

So, yeah…you better believe that box came home.

For the record, the box just happened to be a new baking mix from the amazing Pillsbury, who seems to have embraced the gluten-free market as of late, having started with refrigerated dough for pizza, cookes, and pie. Since then, it has introduced gluten-free funfetti cake mix (I have some of this in my pantry), gluten-free funfetti cookie mix, gluten-free multi-purpose flour, and gluten-free quick bread and muffin mix. They also have already made gluten-free muffins out there…I have yet to find them though.

That being said…the great pantry purge is underway and this weekend, with all the horrible events going on in the world, I needed to comfort myself with a little baking. So, I pulled out the box of the Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix and decided I was going to give it a try. But why just bake it up as bread? Why do the easy thing? Instead, there was a recipe on the side of the box for Gluten Free Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. Which sounds…frickin’ fantastic. I didn’t have any chunky peanut butter on hand, so I used my PB2 powder from the pantry and it worked out just fine. No peanut chunks…but…hey, I saved some calories and fat, right? HA!

So, this recipe was really, really easy.

Simply preheat the oven to 375°F. Put the mix into a large bowl and add water, extra crunchy peanut butter (I used PB2 and it worked great! No little peanut chunks though…so there is that…), vegetable oil, 2 eggs, and some miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips (or dark chocolate chips…which is what I used) and beat the conglomeration of ingredients into a thick batter. Spoon it into 18 muffin cups and bake for about 20 minutes until they are golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let them cool for about 10 minutes in the muffin tin before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

I get a little skeptical, at times, when it comes to big-name companies jumping onto the gluten-free bandwagon. But Betty Crocker managed to do it well, and, to be honest, Pillsbury really hit it out of the ballpark with this particular mix. I was beyond impressed. The muffins fluffed up and cooked to a beautiful golden brown. So often, these mixes turn out pale products, regardless of sitting in the heat of the oven. They centers were moist and rich. The muffins themselves bold with banana flavor, and the PB2 gives it a nice peanut butter thought, without overpowering the banana. Because, after all, I bought this because I suck at making gluten-free banana bread. The dark chocolate morsels (I used Enjoy Life, for the record), were a nice, sweet touch. I had to make myself stick to just one of the muffins, because I easily could have eaten three right then and there. So good. Moist, rich, and delicious!!

So, as we all know, I usually steer clear of mixes like this due to ingredients and trying to eat a bit cleaner. But we all have to indulge a little bit, right? Right! So, Pillsbury makes its Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix from rice flour, sugar, tapioca starch, potato starch, dried banana, dextrose, and it contains 2% or less of: leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, calcium phosphate), canola oil, cellulose, propylene glycol esters of fatty acids, distilled monoglycerides, xanthan gum, salt, natural and artificial flavors, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, nonfat dry milk, citrick acid and bht (antioxidents). Whew. A lot of preservatives and the such, but I don’t make this stuff often…and I just really wanted to see how it worked out. Totally worth it for an every-now-and-again fill-in, especially if I want banana bread. At least until someone can give me a recipe that I can actually master and make without it being…gross.

As for nutritional information…the Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix makes 12 servings. Each serving will dish up 120 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 220 mg sodium, 28 grams carbohydrates, 13 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein. If prepared (as the banana quick bread or plain banana muffins), the calories per 12 servings goes up to 170 calories, 6 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 35 mg cholesterol, 230 mg sodium, and 2 grams protein. Not too bad for a quick bread mix…and really not bad for a gluten-free product!

I have to say, I was beyond amazed with the quality and the taste of the Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix. These muffins were moist, delicious, and so easy to prepare and make. I would be more than happy to try other Pillsbury mixes (I guess the funfetti cake mix is up next), because this blew me away. The texture was perfection. The flavors were bold and pronounced. And it only took me 10 minutes of prep time at most. Can’t beat that convenience. Way to go Pillsbury! Thank you for your gluten-free awesomeness!

November 14, 2015

Product Review: Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit

Product: Scratch & Grain Baking Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit – $6.99+

It was on a whim and by sheer luck that I ran across the gluten-free cookie kits that Scratch & Grain Baking Co. have out on the market. I was, actually, walking around Target with my roommate on my lunch break, scoping out the various clearance end caps, because this is what we do for fun. We live in a wild and crazy town, you see?

*sigh*

But…this actually turned out to be a good thing. Because one of the sections happened to have a couple boxes of Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Cookie Kits. No joke. First of all, I had never heard of these. Second of all, it involved cookies. Third of all, I wanted to try them.

Granted, I have been working on trying to not eat as many sugary treats…and I’m getting better, but sometimes, you just need to have a cookie. And this looked easy enough.

Scratch & Grain Bakery Co. grew out of an unfortunate baking experience, leading two (2) moms (Taya and Leah, from Portland, Oregon) to make homemade baking fun and easy. After Leah spent 3 hours in her kitchen baking cardboard cookies with her daughters, she texted Taya and told her she had a business idea and asked her to come over and discuss it. The seed was planted and the two women began discussing the concept and vision of the products and company. They focused on wanting to make homemade baking fun, delicious, easy…and a little healthier. And so, they got to work creating a baking kit that included all of the BEST ingredients, already measured out and wrapped individually so you know what is in your food…and the actual baking process is made easy and fun. After testing thousands of variations for the kits, Taya and Leah put together the perfect recipes. Then, they set out to learn the ins and outs of product development and design – not outsourcing any aspect of their product, keeping all of the product components production right there in Portland. They even included a few gluten-free products, although neither of them are gluten-free. They both have close family members who do have Celiac, and as they are not fans of most gluten-free products, they knew they had to make a few products that were gluten-free, but still tasted amazing, delicious, and as close to any whole-wheat version. They wouldn’t produce a product that they were unwilling to eat, so that means…quality is guaranteed.

So, tonight, just before I set out to get dinner ready, I pulled this little box out of my pantry and gathered up the two additional ingredients needed to prepare these cookies. No joke…you just need an egg (or egg replacer)…and 2 tablespoons of butter. Except, I used 1.5 tablespoons of applesauce instead, to make it lower in fat. Also, I was just being lazy and didn’t feel like melting butter in my microwave. HA!! So, it was time to mix up the ingredients and get my Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie on.

Individually Packaged Ingredients in the Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit

This kit included 10 individually packaged ingredients. These included baking powder, vanilla powder, salt, cane sugar, flax, cocoa, flour, chocolate chips, walnuts, and finishing salt. In a bowl, I put the apple sauce (or butter if you do butter) and add the ingredients per package instructions, stirring to blend them each time to perfection. Then, once everything is added and mixed well, you put 1 tablespoon of batter (mine was a little runny…but it worked in the end) onto a baking sheet and pop it into the oven for about 11-13 minutes. Do not overcook them, or they will flatten. Let them cook for 5-10 minutes before stuffing your face…er…moving them to a cooling rack.

So…here’s the deal…I was not impressed with the batter, as the tablespoons I dropped began to spread and run together. But the magic happened in the oven. When I pulled these out, they had puffed up a little, and were soft and chewy just from the look of them. I let them cool on the rack while I ate dinner…but after that…dessert was so happening. I handed a cookie to my roommate and I took another one…and we both took a bite.

While, at first, I had been unimpressed and ready to give up on them and just toss it…I am so glad that I didn’t. These cookies are rich, chewy, amazing chocolate cookies of yumminess and awesomeness. OH. MY. COOKIE. GODS. I was skeptical and ready to just call it a failure, but these cookies are amazing. Not only are they easy and quick to mix up and prepare, they also make for perfect portion control. Both my roommate and I were quick to devour the cookie I served each of us. We literally didn’t even sit down…just noshed them down there in the tiny apartment kitchen. Impressed doesn’t even begin to cover it. We were loving every bite of these. I moved the rest of them over to a rack to cool down and have stored them away for dessert for the next 5 days.

WOW.

Let’s talk about the ingredients that go into the Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit. This kit is made from semi-sweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, dextrose, soya lecithin), cocoa (sugar, cocoa potassium carbonate unsweetened chocolate and pure vanilla, organic evaporated cane sugar, walnuts, multi-blend flour (brown rice flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca starch, cornstarch, potato starch, xanthan gum), organic ground flaxseeds, sea salt, organic vanilla powder (organic sucrose and organic vanilla bean extractives), baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate). The kits use all-natural GMO-free ingredients (because they taste better!), and most of the ingredients are also certified organic.

As for nutrition, the Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit is great for a cookie option. A kit will make between 9-12 cookies. A serving size is 1 cookie (24 grams dry mix). This serving will serve you 130 calories, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 19- mg sodium, 16 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams dietary fiber, 13 grams sugar, and 2 grams of protein. It’s a cookie, but one you know exactly what you are putting into it and one that you can change up (like use applesauce like I did). It’s a fun and easy way to enjoy cookies and bake them on your own, not relying on the packaged, and not always delicious, or soft, or chewy, premade gluten free cookies on the shelf at your grocery store.

Needless to say, Scratch & Grain Baking Co. really won me over with the end result of their Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit. I hope to discover other varieties out at Target, as their gluten-free lineup includes Snickerdoodles and Peanut Butter cookies.

Sounds amazing to me. And now…I know the high quality product that will emerge. SO happy with this little kit. Let’s hear it for going out on a whim and having it pay off in spades…or cookies.

Baked Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookies from Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Cookie Kit

November 10, 2015

Product Review: Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough

Product: Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough – $3.99+

My neighbors are awesome. Let me just reiterate that fact now, if I haven’t said it enough in my previous blogs.

MY. NEIGHBORS. ARE. AWESOME.

I was downstairs having dinner with my amazing neighbors and friends on Sunday night (after a very entertaining game of cornhole), and we were just talking about anything and everything, as we very often do. For awhile, they were trying out a gluten free and casein free diet for their young son, but it wasn’t making much of an impact…so they dropped off the wagon for now. That being said, for a few weeks now, Michelle (that’s one of said neighbors) had been mentioning that Kroger now carried gluten-free and casein free cookies in the refrigerated section. I am rarely over that way, so after feeding me delicious red lentils for dinner (they had bison burgers, but she made these AMAZING lentils for me and for others to use as a side), she was packing up leftovers. They were keeping the remaining gluten-free and vegan corn pudding I made and she surprised me with a package of the very cookies she was talking about.

The Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough!

Immaculate Baking began with a cookie. Now that’s the best start to any story, don’t you think? Creator, Scott Blackwell used his garage to manifest a simple dream…to create perfect, mouth-watering, wholesome, homemade cookies that he could share with the world. Today, that dream is becoming a reality. Immaculate Baking offers cookies, sweet rolls, biscuits, pie crusts, and even…gluten-free cookies. All products remain true to the company’s commitment to use simple and carefully-selected ingredients…so that every bite is packed with amazing, mouth-watering, crave-worthy flavor and texture.

I have had the Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough that is made by Immaculate Baking, and have to still give the Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie Dough a try…but last night was all about chocolate. My roommate was craving it and I never say no to a cookie or chocolate. Two of my favorite things. So, out of the refrigerator (after being in there less than 24 hours) and onto a baking sheet these went. Yep…it is that easy. These break and bake cookies are little balls of dough that you pull apart and then set on the baking sheet. Place in a preheated 325°F oven for about 13-15 minutes and…at the end…you get an amazing, chocolatey-scented home…and fantastic little rounds of cookies.

Of course, the test is always with the taste. And so, I dished one up to my roommate and one to me. One bite…one bite and I was in chocolate cookie heaven. This reminded me, at first bite, fresh from the oven, of a warm pudding cake that I used to beg my mom to make for me. Fantastic chocolate flavor. Rich, chewy, and decadent. These are an amazing, chewy bite of cookie. Think about merging a dense, chewy brownie with a cookie…and that happy marriage is what this cookie is all about. I was enamored with it. I was lucky to hold myself to one. That’s how good these are. This is everything a cookie, gluten-free or not, should be. I’m beyond impressed.

Let’s talk ingredients, shall we? The Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough is made from palm fruit and canola oil, semisweet chocolate pieces (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), powdered sugar (cane sugar, corn starch), potato starch, cane sugar, tapioca starch, rice flour, eggs, molasses, cocoa pressed with alkali, water, vanilla extract, xanthan gum, sea salt, guar gum and baking soda. These cookies are certified gluten free.

As far as nutrition goes, the decadent Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough makes 12 cookies…and a serving size is 1 of these cookies. This one cookie will provide you with 150 calories, 8 grams fat, 3.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 55 mg sodium, 19 grams carbohydrates, less than 1 gram fiber, 12 grams sugars, and less than 1 gram of protein. A sweet, not going to fill you up treat.

When a cookie that you don’t even have to dirty a bowl by mixing up a bunch of ingredients can spark memories and satisfy the biggest chocolate craving, you know something is amazing about them. Immaculate Baking made a cookie that is for the serious chocoholic. This cookie monster was beyond impressed…because it was everything I wanted in one perfect cookie. And, with the chewy and fudgy texture, you’d never guess these were gluten free.

I’m in a chocolate cookie coma…and I’m happy there. Join me!

November 6, 2015

Restaurant Review: Bake Me Happy, Columbus, Ohio

Restaurant: Bake Me Happy, Columbus, Ohio

Okay…technically this is not a restaurant. There is no open seating, no tables, no hostess…none of that. This is a bakery. Not just any bakery though. This bakery has huge kitchen space to work out of, and in turn, offers up quite a lot of gluten-free goodies in their store.

Bake Me Happy was started by the lovely Wendy and Letha, committing themselves to making each and every bite that you have from their products the most decadent thing you’ve had since sliced bread. Sliced bread, however, is not on their menu. After being self-diagnosed with gluten intolerance in 2006, Wendy immediately felt relieve from a life of digestive issues. The only problem was…the gluten-free food choices available lacked flavor and texture, seriously limiting what she would be willing to consume (and who can blame her!?). After many years of self-study, she decided to take the plunge and signed up for an immersion course at the Culinary Institute of America, experimenting with recipes and trying them out on unsuspecting friends. Soon, both friends and family began requesting her treats for parties, and none of them were gluten intolerant. From there, Wendy expanded and began offering her products to the public. And from the huge response she got from her goodies…Bake Me Happy, the bakery, was born. And because Wendy understands what it is like to have a food intolerance , you can guarantee that she takes great care and pride in the products that she puts out for the public. Not only does she understand the importance of what she does, she also knows that a perfect recipe cannot be rushed and that the best things in life are worth waiting for.

Just over a month ago, I wrote up a review on Bake Me Happy’s Cream-Filled Spongies (think Twinkies), which I found in the freezer at Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio. While they were…okay…they didn’t wow me. And in response to my post about their product, the owners very kindly invited me to check out the bakery the next time I was in the Columbus area. As one of my best friends lives in that area, I make the trip there numerous times a year. And…this past Halloween weekend…that was where you found me. And, I recalled their invite to check out what fresh goodness they had at their bakery, instead of a freezer at a natural foods store…so…that morning after breakfast, my friends and I journeyed over to their Merion Village retail location to check out what fresh goodies awaited.

First of all, I was completely blown away by the amount of space they had in there. HUGE location. I am so accustomed to my gluten free bakeries being little, tight spots that have a few seats and a small kitchen. Not to say they don’t turn out quite a lot of products (Annie May’s Sweet Cafe and Cherbourg Bakery, I’m looking at you!), but this kitchen space was unbelievable. You step inside and it’s just open and not congested, even if there is a line. It was nice. Their storefront contains a counter that was jammed full of fresh baked goodness, and a smaller fridge that kept items like their cheesecake bars and other dairy-based goodies chilled and fresh. It was organized. It was adorable. And I already knew I wanted one of their soft t-shirts before I left. HA!

Bake Me Happy's Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin — Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin

So, after going back and forth on a few items (I really wanted one of the huge Apple Dumplings, but the roomie, who I was splitting everything with, was less enthusiastic), we finally got our turn at the counter and we made our selections, keeping it reasonable and promising to return to try more. So, four items. It was hard to narrow it down. In the end, we ended up going with a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, a Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin, a Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and (not pictured above because I devoured it on the car ride home) a Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone. In addition to that (and for a later blog) I purchased a box of their Take-And-Bake scones in the Blueberry, Goat Cheese & Basil flavor (roomie’s choice!).

So, let’s start with what I ended up eating first. The (not pictured) Gluten Free Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone ($3.50) sounded like a dream to me. Like…a baked treat version of an Almond Joy. Delicious, right? Absolutely right!! This is the first time I have had a gluten-free scone that lived up to the scone name. I make scones, but none of them get the layers of pastry, and that flaky and crumbly texture to them. This one had exactly that. It was the most perfect scone I have had since going gluten free. It had that hard outer layer and inside was a dry, crumbly, but not dense. More biscuit-like. I was in love. And the blend of the sweet coconut and chocolate with the nuttiness of the almond made for more love and praise than I can even convey in words here. Needless to say, the scone was devoured in record time. And I loved every single bite. I might have licked my fingers clean too. You can get Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Scones in the following flavors: Almond, Coconut and Chocolate Chip; Ham, Cheese and Chives; Maple Cream, Bacon and White Cheddar; Blueberry, Goat Cheese and Basil; Jalapeño, Pepper Bacon and Pepper Jack Cheese; Apricot, White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut; and Dill, White Cheddar and Stone Ground Mustard.

As I visited the bakery on Halloween, they had quite a few Halloween themed treats. One of these was the adorable Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart ($3.50 (I think…)). I mean, come on…they are tarts that look like mummies. Eyes and everything. Bonus…pumpkin flavored. YUM YUM!! This was the first thing I ate the next day when I set out to devour half of each pastry (with my roommate, who is not gluten-free) consuming the other half and giving me her thoughts. I loved, loved, LOVED the light and flaky pastry that these tarts are made from. It reminded me of puff pastry…flaky, buttery, amazing, delicious, heavenly. And the pumpkin cream cheese filler was the perfect amount. Not too much. Not heavy handed. But just enough to make it feel like you were taking a bite out of an amazing pumpkin pie. I was in pumpkin-everything heaven, let me tell you!! So happy. The first thing I said to Cathy when I took a bite was, “OH MY GOD THIS PASTRY!” Blown away. This was the first pastry crust that has actually impressed me since I’ve been gluten free. Total win. Totally want another one…or ten.

The Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt ($4.50) was Cathy’s (the roomie) choice when it came to items that we selected. She is a sucker (see what I did there?) for anything lemon. So, I had a feeling when we were making our selections that she would go that route. Next time I want a flippin’ apple dumpling. Because I have never seen a gluten free apple dumpling before. But…no matter. The bundt cake was dense, but not heavy. I loved how moist and sticky good this little cake was. The blueberries brought a nice pop of sweetness. Cathy didn’t think there was enough lemon flavor in it, but I thought it struck a nice balance. The lemon was complimentary to the blueberry, not overpowering or underwhelming. Just right. I might have saved this for my last bite because, while dense, I found the texture quite light, airy, and amazing. And I thought the flavor was above and beyond what I expected. Crazy good.

And, last but not least, falling under the category that if it’s pumpkin I want to eat it…is the Gluten Free Pumpkin Donut Muffin ($3.00). Strangely enough, this turned out to be Cathy’s favorite thing that we bought at Bake Me Happy. I was shocked when she told me that. But, quite honestly, this was one of the most perfect gluten-free donut anythings that I’ve had in a long time. The texture was perfect. Not too dense, but not too light either. Perfect balance. The flavor was AMAZING. Seriously. It was pumpkin, and it was rolled in this fantastic cinnamon sugar topping that made each bite both savory and sweet and I loved it. I devoured each and every forkful. And I wish I had bought more of them. Pumpkin flavored or their standard donut muffin, it wouldn’t matter. This is the consistency of donuts that I’ve been searching for…for years now. Nailed it. And I loved it enough to lick the plate. No joke.

I have to say…fresh beats a freezer any day and Bake Me Happy sure did impress me with their fresh, made right there in the bakery, treats. There was so much to choose from and not enough room in my budget or stomach for all of it. That being said, I happily am ready to bake up some scones this weekend. And I can’t wait to add this place to my list of stops for every single time I visit Columbus, Ohio. I was beyond impressed. And the staff was so friendly and helpful. I didn’t get to meet the owners, as they were at the Celiac Conference that was going on (and that I didn’t know about until Friday as I was traveling), so hopefully next time I will be able to talk them up some.

If you are in or around Columbus, make it a point to drop by Bake Me Happy. Buy a shirt (they are SO SOFT!) and buy up their goodies. You won’t be disappointed. Not one bit. They certainly changed my tune. Fresh is best. And why not get some great gluten-free treats fresh out of the kitchen of a place that loves to bake up happiness?

November 4, 2015

Product Review: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams

Product: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams – $4.99+

It’s fall. And while, to most people (me included), that means pumpkin everything…it also holds another significance. Bon fires. And with bon fires…S’mores!

In fact, this had been the plan for my friend Jen’s wedding party on the night of the rehearsal dinner. The dinner was hosted at her parents house, and the fire pit was to be lit later that evening and the wedding party was going to eat a round of S’mores while just hanging out.

We were all too full from dinner to actually make this happen, so the vegan marshmallows and the gluten-free graham crackers I had my roommate bring up from Louisville…remained untouched.

Until this past week.

Because dessert is awesome and one of the groom’s sisters (a bridesmaid) mentioned how she ate her S’mores with a peanut butter cup instead of a Hershey’s bar. And this peeked my interest. So, while out, we picked up some peanut butter cups and brought them home.

Now, I have tried out a few gluten-free graham crackers…from Kinnikinnick’s S’morables to Schär’s Honeygrams (I’ve sampled, never actually purchased them myself) to Pamela’s Gluten Free Mini Grahams (I have reviewed the Cinnamon and the Chocolate). But, when I spotted the full-size Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams, I knew they had to be what came to Upstate New York with me. After all, I wanted S’mores too. So, that’s how I ended up with a box…and that’s why they lasted longer than usual. That being said, this past week, with cooler weather and a some vegan marshmallows taking up residence in my pantry…S’mores became dessert.

As I have found with all gluten-free graham crackers, the Pamela’s Products Honey Graham variety is definitely a thicker cracker than it’s glutenous counterpart. That being said, these particular crackers had a good feel to them, and weren’t all busted apart. In fact, when you snapped them in half…they actually broke along the perforation, instead of in random spots making them nonuniform and more difficult to build a perfect S’more.

And so, with peanut butter cup and two (2) vegan marshmallows, I created, in the comfort of my own kitchen, the ultimate gluten-free S’more. With a promise that Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams would “bring back a taste from your childhood,” I was holding them to this, expecting to bite into something amazing and life-changing (when it comes to gluten-free versions of anything).

I’m not going to lie…these were fan-damn-tastic!! Just…WOW!! With the exception of being thicker than an average graham cracker, these were the closest I have found to the treats that I enjoyed as a kid (and not always in S’mores, mind you!). The flavor was perfect. A little sweet with the kiss of honey and still had that graham cracker crumble that everyone knows too well. The texture was a bit sturdier than standard graham crackers, but that isn’t such a bad thing. I thought that these had the right amount of sweetness, the right amount of crispy, and the perfect amount of YUMMY-DELICIOUS-MMMMM…for even the casual graham cracker consumer. And, with a sturdier chocolate portion on the S’mores I built at home (ie: peanut butter cup), having the thicker and sturdier cracker was a blessing in disguise. My kitchen torch toasted up the marshmallows to perfection and…when put together…it was fall in one perfect, sweet, peanut butter, gooey treat! I was beyond impressed, beyond elated, and beyond satisfied. If heaven was made of chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallow, Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams would be the sandwich to their filling.

So, let’s talk about the ingredients that go into Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams. These crackers are made from a gluten-free flour blend that includes brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, and xanthan gum, as well as organic non-GMO butter (salted), brown cane sugar, sorghum flour, gluten-free oat bran, molasses, organic non-GMO honey, gluten-free flavors, grainless and aluminum free baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, potato starch, sodium bicarbonate), baking soda, cinnamon, and sea salt. This product is gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, corn-free, nut-free and egg-free. There are no artificial flavors or additives, no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, and no corn syrup. These grahams are certified gluten-free by GFCO and made in a gluten-free facility.

As far as nutritional information goes, a serving of the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams is two (2) crackers or 36 grams. There are six (6) servings per box. One serving will provide you with 180 calories, 8 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 26 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 9 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein. A nutritional powerhouse they are not…but DAMN…they are totally worth indulging in every now and again!

If you want to bring back childhood memories of sitting around a campfire, then the best and most gluten-free friendly way is by choosing Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams for your S’mores-eating needs. And for any other needs you might have that involve graham cracker goodness. Pulse them up for a pie crust…eat them on their own or topped with nut butter…or build some S’mores. Whatever your heart desires, make sure you build it with the best ingredients out there. For me…that means Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams, peanut butter cups, and some vegan marshmallows. YUMMY!