Product: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams – $7.99+
After the joyous introduction to My Dad’s Cookies with the Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies, which I reviewed last month, I was back at my new grocery store, Lucky’s, and wanting more. Wanting to see what else My Dad’s Cookies had to offer. Since it seemed Lucky’s carried every single product that this cookie company produced…I wanted to give something else a try and see if it won me over as much as the Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies had recently. As I perused the table which held the offerings, I narrowed it down to two choices…the Vanilla Grahams or the Lemon Drop Cookies.
It was a tough decision…and had the budget been able to stretch a little more, I would have just purchased both. But, as it was…only one could make the journey home with me.
Ultimately, I went with the Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams.
After polishing off the vegan ice cream in my freezer, it was time to put this new kind of cookie from My Dad’s Cookies to the taste test. And that’s what I did one evening last week. It was, literally, all I had in the apartment for a nice dessert. So I doled out a serving of square cookies with a chocolate drizzle on top to both my roommate and I. She got to eating hers first…as I was doing some minor kitchen clean-up after the dinner I had prepared. She took a bite…and when I asked what she thought…I noticed a shoulder shrug and got the dreaded, “Eh…it’s okeedokee.”
Uh oh.
Did the cookie monster voodoo of finding awesome cookies fail me? Did I choose unwisely? I was in a panic…so I grabbed one of my Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams and popped it into my mouth. Yes…the entire thing. Yes…I am capable of doing that.
While the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams aren’t awful…they weren’t great either. I felt my heart sink, actually, upon eating this. I loved the chocolate drizzle on the top as it provided some much-needed flavor, but the rest of the cookie just seemed dry…and bland. It didn’t even have that vanilla flavor that I expected. It was sweet…but not packed with flavor. It was crispy, but seemed…a bit dry and a bit…of a let down. Seriously. I’m a cookie monster. I love cookie things…even graham cracker cookie things. Man…I can eat the hell out of some gluten-free graham crackers. But these were, by far, bland…just bland. With the texture of a cross between shortbread and Nilla wafers…it was just an odd mix. I have decided that the remaining cookies will be doctored up some…using the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams as the graham portion of homemade s’mores. Which will be on the menu in a couple of days for sure. I can’t wait to stuff them with a slab of dark chocolate and some Fluff…which I will then toast with my kitchen torch. Perhaps this will get the much desired effect the Vanilla Grahams failed to deliver the first time I ate them.
Meh.
But…as always I have to at least fill you in on what these cookies are made from, right? Of course. The My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams are made from gluten free flour blend (tapioca flour, brown rice flour, white rice flour, soy flour, potato starch, xanthan gum), sugar, water, organic palm oil, chocolate dip (sugar, soybean oil, cocoa, chocolate liquor, salt, vanilla extract), vanilla extract, cinnamon, agave syrup, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. These cookies are gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free and nut-free.
Nutritionally speaking, these cookies are pretty awesome as far as serving size and calorie/fat content. A serving of the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grams is 3 cookies. From this serving you will be taking in 150 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will be consuming 45 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. That’s not bad for cookies! None of that is. And finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. These are not filling. These are a treat. A dessert. A snack.
After all the praise I gave to the My Dad’s Gluten-Free Cookies Black & White Cookies, these were more than a bit of a let down. My only hope is that by adding some dark chocolate and marshmallow fluff to the center, I can bring out bolder flavors and maybe just turn the flavor profile up a bit on the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams. I so wanted to love these…but I just couldn’t. Not one bit. I like them…but not enough to purchase them again. I hope the next gamble I take with the next product from My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free products is a better one.
I absolutely LOVE Nutella. I love it. There is something so amazing about that flavor combination of chocolate and hazelnut. And while sometimes Nutella and I get along like old friends…there are other times I have a reaction to the dairy that is in it…and then…we don’t get on so great.
So…I stopped with the Nutella. As much as I could. Every now and again…I would risk that small bit of dairy. I don’t get it with me and dairy. Sometimes…a little bit doesn’t affect me. Other times, even the slightest bit of it does. Ah, food intolerance. So much fun! *dripping with sarcasm*
As it was…I would gaze longingly at the Nutella at the grocery store…thinking…maybe…just maybe it would be okay this one time. But, then I would recall how I would feel afterwards and…well…it wasn’t worth it. While naturally gluten-free Nutella does contain skim milk, whey, and soy. I don’t always get along with those ingredients. So, bummer.
Until…until that blessed day I was grocery shopping at my local Kroger and came to the gluten-free end cap that usually holds the same products it has held since…they first put it up. But there was something different. Something…exciting. Foods from my beloved Freedom Foods. I am hooked on their Tropico’s cereal, which my parents have to mail to me. We have a few of their products here now. And, while I didn’t spot it, my roommate did. And she picked it up off the shelf and went…”NUTELLA!”
Sure enough! This little jar of cocoa goodness goes by the name Smudge. Smudge. I love it. It’s so…cute!
And since everything I have tried from Freedom Foods has been delicious, this was a splurge I was willing to pay for. Splurging on Smudge. That’s my life. That had to be done!
So, for an entire week it sat on my pantry shelf with nothing to be spread on. That is until my roomie went grocery shopping and found Udi’s Gluten-Free Bagels on a “huge stupid sale” at one of our various grocery stores we frequent every week. So…bagels!! And I know that Nutella and Nutella-ish spreads are amazing on bagels. Like…dessert for breakfast. So, this morning after my spin class…I came home and put the bagels in the oven to toast while I took a shower and got changed for work. By the time I was out, the bagels were ready. It was time to schmear the Smudge!
This spread was a rich, dark chocolate color and very smooth. It smelled like bittersweet chocolate and happiness. Because if happiness was a smell, it would smell like chocolate. Trust me. It was so easy to spread over the toasted bagel, a tablespoon to each half. I did a test for my roomie, putting the Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread on one of her halves and Nutella on the other half. Just for comparison reasons. She liked both, but I noticed she saved Smudge for her last bite. So when I asked, she said it was good…less sweet than hers. Nice.
As for my thoughts…Holy Chocolate Goodness, Batman!! Freedom Foods just won my heart, my stomach, and the rest of me. If there is a pleasure switch when it comes to taste, this one flipped it. It was just as smooth as it spread on the bagel. It was chocolatey, without being too much. It wasn’t hot fudge chocolate, but perhaps chocolate syrup chocolate. And now I can imagine drizzling this over a scoop of dairy-free ice cream. Oh, Freedom Foods Smudge is one happy spread, bite-for-bite-for bite. You’ll want to lick your fingers clean. I did. And maybe my plate too. This is Nutella without the nuts and the dairy and the soy. This is Nutella on happy steroids for people like me…suffering from food allergies and only being able to pass by the product in the store and think about what could have been.
Smudge…makes it all better. Smudge…makes life better.
I seriously could eat the entire jar with a spoon. I am going to attempt to not do that. No promises though…
Freedom Foods is an Australian company that takes great pride in their products they put out on the market. Since they say something is “free from” something…they mean it. And, they adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, keeping their products free of anything genetically modified. In addition. All of their products are free from nuts and gluten. And, in addition, they use no artificial colors or flavors. All natural. All good!
So, what makes up Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread? Simple. This chocolatey spread is made from vegetable oils, maltodextrin (maize), raw sugar, cocoa (10%), tapioca starch, inulin, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), vegetable gums (locust bean, xanthan), flavors, sweetener (steviol glycosides), sea salt. Not 100% clean…but still…YUMMY!! This product is gluten-free, nut-free, wheat-free, dairy-free and lactose-free.
As for nutrition, a serving of the Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread is 2 tablespoons. This serving delivers 210 calories and 12 grans if fat. So…yes, eating the entire 9.2 ounce jar with a spoon is probably not recommended. A serving also serves up 35 mg sodium and 12 sugars. This product is cholesterol free. Two tablespoons will also provide you with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. In the long run – not filling. That’s why you put it on a carby, fiber-filled bagel. Mmmm…
Trust me on this one…it is amazing. So…it’s not Nutella. For someone like me…it’s so much more than Nutella. And, honestly…I like it better. Thank you, once again, Freedom Foods…because of you Smudge is my new go-to spread. I am in chocoholic heaven!
Also…it’s fun to say schmear of Smudge. HA!
Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread (on a gluten-free bagel)
What are our products free from, and just how ‘free from’ are they?
For us, what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. When we say a product is ‘free from’ something, we make sure it really is.
Nuts
• All Freedom Foods cereals and bars are made in our Stanbridge factory, which does not use, and tests rigorously for, the presence of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.
• We also work with our raw material suppliers to ensure anything we bring into our factory hasn’t been exposed to nuts.
• If our box states the product is nut free, that means no peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts can be detected. (While we’d love to test for every single type of tree nut, there’s just not an approved test available just yet. We’ll get there.)
• Please note: A few of our products are made in other factories that may have nuts, so always check the packaging before you buy or give us a call.
Gluten
• Our Stanbridge factory is completely free from wheat, rye, barley and triticale and we also make sure the oats we bring on site are not contaminated with wheat.
• As for testing, every batch of our finished product is tested ensure no gluten is detected.
Artificial Colours & Flavours
• While other leading snack brands sneak artificial colours and flavours into their foods, we don’t. You won’t find a single artificial colour or flavour in any of our products. And trust us, you won’t miss them.
Genetically Modified Ingredients
• We’re proud to say that all Freedom Foods products are free of genetically modified ingredients. We adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, if you’d like to learn more about our standards.
How can we guarantee our foods are free from all of the above? Check out How We Do It.
For us, what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. When we say a product is ‘free from’ something, we make sure it really is.
Nuts
• All Freedom Foods cereals and bars are made in our Stanbridge factory, which does not use, and tests rigorously for, the presence of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.
• We also work with our raw material suppliers to ensure anything we bring into our factory hasn’t been exposed to nuts.
• If our box states the product is nut free, that means no peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts can be detected. (While we’d love to test for every single type of tree nut, there’s just not an approved test available just yet. We’ll get there.)
• Please note: A few of our products are made in other factories that may have nuts, so always check the packaging before you buy or give us a call.
Gluten
• Our Stanbridge factory is completely free from wheat, rye, barley and triticale and we also make sure the oats we bring on site are not contaminated with wheat.
• As for testing, every batch of our finished product is tested ensure no gluten is detected.
Artificial Colours & Flavours
• While other leading snack brands sneak artificial colours and flavours into their foods, we don’t. You won’t find a single artificial colour or flavour in any of our products. And trust us, you won’t miss them.
Genetically Modified Ingredients
• We’re proud to say that all Freedom Foods products are free of genetically modified ingredients. We adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, if you’d like to learn more about our standards.
How can we guarantee our foods are free from all of the above? Check out How We Do It.
For us, what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. When we say a product is ‘free from’ something, we make sure it really is.
Nuts
• All Freedom Foods cereals and bars are made in our Stanbridge factory, which does not use, and tests rigorously for, the presence of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.
• We also work with our raw material suppliers to ensure anything we bring into our factory hasn’t been exposed to nuts.
• If our box states the product is nut free, that means no peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts can be detected. (While we’d love to test for every single type of tree nut, there’s just not an approved test available just yet. We’ll get there.)
• Please note: A few of our products are made in other factories that may have nuts, so always check the packaging before you buy or give us a call.
Gluten
• Our Stanbridge factory is completely free from wheat, rye, barley and triticale and we also make sure the oats we bring on site are not contaminated with wheat.
• As for testing, every batch of our finished product is tested ensure no gluten is detected.
Artificial Colours & Flavours
• While other leading snack brands sneak artificial colours and flavours into their foods, we don’t. You won’t find a single artificial colour or flavour in any of our products. And trust us, you won’t miss them.
Genetically Modified Ingredients
• We’re proud to say that all Freedom Foods products are free of genetically modified ingredients. We adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, if you’d like to learn more about our standards.
How can we guarantee our foods are free from all of the above? Check out How We Do It.
Product Review: Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars – $5.99+
Maybe it was my non-existent trip to the Comfy Cow today…because that happens every weekend. But I’m broke. And I’ve been craving chocolate. Like…totally craving chocolate. Ice cream always sounds amazing, but it sounds phenomenal on a hot, humid June day too. The problem was…it was not even 2 p.m. when the chocolate craving hit. I also knew…I crave chocolate a lot…so the craving would remain all day until I finally got dessert.
It’s WORLD CUP, baby! And lately I’ve been having this thing with serving up “pub grub” type meals while we watch the matches. Tonight…it was a gluten-free and vegetarian bar-b-que “chicken” pizza. Because pizza is bar food…HA! It’s also delicious. I never turn down gluten-free pizza (especially when I get to piece it together at home…on top of an Annie May’s Sweet Café Vegan & Gluten-Free Crust)!
And for dessert…chocolate. It has to be chocolate. Because I have wanted chocolate all day. Thankfully…I remembered that I had received a free box of Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars from my local Earth Fare during one of their great deals that came over my app one day. Spent $5 and get free frozen dessert box. Heck yeah…I’ll take advantage of that deal.
I have heard about Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss frozen desserts for years. They have won numerous awards for their ice cream treats. All of which, mind you, are dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. Award winning ice cream in numerous magazines and food awards? Yes…I needed these in my life. And by getting a free box of them at Earth Fare…I totally could finally justify it. Now…it was time to see what all the fuss was about…
OH. MY. FROZEN. GOD.
Seriously. Let all others go. (See what I did there?) This was one of the most delicious, rich, decadent, non-dairy treats I have had the wonder of feasting on. And feast, I did! It’s a high-class fudgsicle. The dark chocolate and coconut milk is the perfect blend. No coconut aftertaste. Just really fantastic frozen goodness. This is a treat to be enjoyed. I polished mine off and it took all of my will power not to go grab another one from the freezer. Yes…these are seriously that amazing. I was blown away. Rich, chocolate flavor…just the right amount. Sweet, but not too sweet. And a major serious yum factor.
Ingredient-wise…the Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars are made up from organic coconut milk, organic agave syrup, organic fair trade cocoa, and organic vanilla extract. Clean eating dessert right there. LOVE IT!! And these frozen delights are free of dairy, soy, and gluten…three things that can and do mess with my system! Could this BE any better?
Nutritionally speaking…a serving size is 1 bar. This one little dark chocolate treat will serve up 170 calories and 11 grams of fat. Don’t freak out…these are made from coconut milk. It’s a healthy fat. These bars also will dish out 10 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. These are cholesterol free. And, finally, these bars provide your body with 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Mmmm…dark chocolate filling frozen dessert bars. *licks lips*
After finishing the Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bar, I turned to my roomie, who was finishing hers off as well, and said, “Now we need a pint of their ice cream!” She totally agreed. So next time I have some room in the budget…a pint of the Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss ice cream is coming home with me. It will happen because this was a taste of frozen heaven. For real! Coconut bliss for sure!
Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)
I love berries. Love them. I haven’t met a berry I didn’t like. I will EAT ALL THE BERRIES! And sometimes…I do.
Thanks to my good friend, Harry, I have a nice supply of freshly picked blueberries. And I really wanted to make the most of them. So, over the weekend, while doing some meal prep, I decided to do some baking…utilizing some of the blueberries.
Lucky for me, this month’s Vegetarian Times was featuring blueberries in their “One Food Five Ways” feature. SCORE! And the one recipe that really stuck out to me was the Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones. So…that’s what I made…for breakfast at the office on my gym mornings. It just will involve some reheating. And since I love scones, this seemed like a great recipe to attempt. The only difference is my version had to be gluten-free. So, I crossed my fingers and said a prayer to my gluten-free baking gods that this recipe might like my gluten-free all-purpose flour.
These pastries are so simple to make and don’t take a lot of time. They bake up beautifully and look amazing. Oh…and you might want to eat them the moment they come out of the oven because they make your home smell SO good!
Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (I used Better Batter)
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (I used Earth Balance)
3/4 cup low-fat milk, plus more for brushing (I used unsweetened almond milk)
2 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels)
3/4 cup fresh blueberries
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Work in the butter using your fingertips or a pastry cutter, until only small crumbs remain in the mixture.
Whisk together milk, egg yolks, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix just until incorporated (the mixture will be crumbly). Gently stir in the chocolate chips and blueberries. Gather dough into a ball.
Transfer the dough to a floured work surface, and press into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Dust a knife with flour, then cut dough into 8 equal wedges. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, and brush tops lightly with milk.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until lightly browned on top and bottom.
~*~*~
This recipe embodies everything that is amazing and wonderful in this world. Fresh blueberries. Dark chocolate. Breakfast. These scones are a fantastic treat in the morning…and actually not too bad as far as nutrition goes…for scones. I loved the flavor of the bittersweet chocolate with the burst of sweetness from the blueberries. Harmony in breakfast form. I will be making these again…that’s for sure! Simple recipe…simple breakfast pleasure.
Did you figure out why I had to have this in my life? Did you?
I’ll give you a hint. Two words.
Not “dairy free” (although my stomach is thankful that it is)…not “gluten-free” (although…if I’m eating it, obviously it is).
Keep looking. Ah…you saw it too?
COOKIE DOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you aware that, growing up, cookie dough ice cream was my absolute favorite thing in life. I mean, it blended two of my all-time favorite things in life…ice cream and cookies. Not just cookies…but that soft, rich cookie dough that everyone (save me) just ate out of the bowl. I love the ice cream…we were just never a cookie dough out of the bowl kind of family. But…COOKIE DOUGH ICE CREAM THAT IS VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE!!!
Yes…that is in my freezer. In fact…two pints of it are in my freezer. HA!
The ice cream itself is actually labeled to be a “frozen dessert,” as technically it doesn’t contain any cream…but…we all know it’s ice cream. Made by the coconut milk people, So Delicious (a brand and name I trust!), makers of much epic goodness! Seriously, I’ve yet to find a product of theirs that hasn’t just been amazing! They are called So Delicious for a reason. That’s quite the reputation to live up to…but they do it with style!
This product is just what it sounds like…a vanilla coconut milk based ice cream that is packed with gluten-free cookie dough chunks and crispy chocolate flakes. Happy memories flooded my mind as i pulled this out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter for about 10 minutes. When you have dairy-free ice cream, you need to let the it sit out to thaw a little so it’s easy to scoop. Just…trust me on this. I am a pro. I haven’t indulged in cookie dough ice cream in ages. And I really haven’t since I had to go gluten-free three years ago. SO…EXCITED!
As it is mega hot and stupid humid outside…ice cream just sounded amazing. Ice cream always sounds amazing though. I grew up in New York and ate ice cream year round…even when it was negative something degrees outside. Ice cream is just one of my comfort foods. And, trust me, not all dairy-free varieties are up to par.
But this one is. I never doubted it since it was made by So Delicious. In fact, I found it to be really good. You can’t even taste the coconut in the base. It just tastes like a light vanilla ice cream. The gluten-free cookie dough balls give this great body and texture. I loved getting to one of the hunks of cookie dough and letting it melt for a moment on my tongue. Mmmm…
…must not raid freezer for other pint…
And the flakes of chocolate give it a great crunch as well. That’s the key to cookie dough ice cream…creamy, gooey, crunchy, sweet, and a bit of salt (from the dough). It’s the most magical ice cream, because it literally can trip every switch on your taste buds. Mmmm…
…put the spoon down…
As you can guess…I LOVED IT!
Let’s take a look at what So Delicious pours into their So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert (which is a tasty mouthful…literally!), shall we? The ingredients are listed as containing: organic coconut milk, organic dried cane syrup, cookie dough (made from rice flour), chicory root extract, chocolate flake, carob bean gum, guar gum, natural vanilla flavor.
How’s that for ingredients, eh? And remember, this ice cream is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher.
As for nutrition…well…it’s ice cream. A fantastic dairy-free ice cream…but still ice cream. A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. This serving will dish up 170 calories and 9 grams of fat. Do not freak out over the fat. Yes…some of it is from the “dough” part of this ice cream…but some of it is the healthy kind that you find in the coconut milk. This ice cream is cholesterol free, contains only 35 mg sodium and 16 grams of sugar. Yeah…that is a lot of sugar. But…it’s a treat. A serving will also provide you with 7 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.
As I tuck the pint back into the freezer and lick my bowl clean…I just want to reiterate how happy this frozen dessert made me. I can’t thank So Delicious enough for putting a dairy-free and gluten-free cookie dough ice cream out on the market. I’ve been craving cookie dough ice cream for years now…and finally…I have the liberty to indulge.
As you can tell…that’s never a problem with me! If you haven’t tried the So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert…then you’re missing out. So get to your grocery store and snag yourself a pint. It’s a taste of cookie heaven in a creamy, dreamy ice cream base. It’s…all that is good in life! It is, simply put, amazing.
And yes…so delicious! (See what I did there? So clever!)
A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
I am not going to lie…I’ve been eying the Garden Lites Veggie Muffins since the day I first spotted them in my local natural food and grocery stores. Why did it take me so long to get a box? Well…it probably would have taken me longer, but my roomie surprised me with a box one day after I sent her out on a grocery expedition. I obviously forgot some sacred ingredient to something I was cooking right then…or I would have gone. But the roomie often picks up little surprises when she’s sent on these emergency runs. Maybe it’s to tame me, since I’m usually wound up about missing something I need. Whatever the reason…she brought me a box of Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. And I was all too excited to try them.
I just…never did. They just remained in my freezer.
I think I got all caught up in making my Breakfast Banana Splits and other such “real” food items, that opening the freezer for breakfast hadn’t happened in a long time. I knew they were in there…
Lo and behold…after a week of Cathy being down with a cold and sitting out of gym workouts (meaning I’d go really early and get mine in, then come home and make breakfast instead of hauling it to work post-gym), I had no idea what to have after our time at the gym. I began to search the pantry and fridge. I found grapes…but those only get you so far. I’d include some…but what to eat to refuel and recover?
And then…I remembered the box of Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. Problem…SOLVED!
I know what you’re thinking…zucchini with banana with chocolate chips…how could that possibly be good? Well…zucchini bread is good. Banana bread is good. Both types of bread with chocolate chips are damn good. So…why not combine them? It should work, right?
I won’t lie…even I questioned it this morning as I packed the box of muffins in the cooler. After the workout, we walked to our office and I got to work on breakfast. These little muffins couldn’t be easier to prepare. They come individually wrapped. And all you have to do is pop the wrapped muffin into the microwave for 35 seconds. Carefully remove the muffin from the microwave and then the plastic wrapper…and viola…your muffin is ready.
I think my biggest fear was that these were going to be soggy. Or mushy. Or just…gross. But, I cooked up all four of them, two for me and two for Cathy, and our breakfast was ready. In less than three minutes. That has to be a new record!
I settled in at my desk with my first batch of work and my breakfast. And after one bite, I knew the stack of paperwork was going to have to wait while I gave my full attention to the Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. Oh. My. God! No…really…who knew that a muffin made primarily from vegetables and fruit could taste this fantastic. Or this moist. It was like biting into a luscious piece of banana bread. But with zucchini in it. You can’t even taste the zucchini, you just sometimes get those green flecks in the muffin. And the chocolate chips…just enough to sweeten the deal without consuming the flavor of the muffin itself. This was truly one amazing product and the love I have for it surprises even me. I never would have thought about pairing zucchini with banana…but…damn…it works. It works in delicious ways!
I don’t think my morning could have started any better…
So, let’s take a look at the ingredient list for the Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins, shall we? These muffins are made from zucchini, pasteurized egg whites, sugar, pasteurized whole eggs, certified gluten-free oats, soluble corn fiber, semi-sweet chocolate chips, banana, sorghum flour, brown rice flour, corn starch, baking powder, canola oil, natural banana flavor, salt, and vanilla extract.
Recognize all those items? I sure do. And when mixed together and baked…epic things happen, both flavor, texture, and food-wise.
Now, how about the nutritional aspect of these muffins? A serving is only 1 of the Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. As all we had before working out was a breakfast fruit, yogurt and granola parfait, Cathy and I each had two. But…if you stick to the serving size, you will be consuming 120 calories and 3 grams of fat. In addition, you will be taking in 20 mg cholesterol, 170 mg sodium, and 11 grams of sugar. I know the sugar seems high, and while some of that comes from the chocolate chip, some of it comes from the real banana that is included in the ingredients of the muffins. One serving will also give you 5 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein! These muffins are gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free!
Nutritional and yummy too! Gotta love it. And I sure did. I want to try the other varieties of muffins. Yes…they have other flavors. In fact, in addition to the Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins, Garden Lites has Veggie Muffins in the following flavors: Carrot Berry, Golden Corn, Veggie Blueberry Oat, and Zucchini Chocolate! So…I must try all the Veggie Muffins. Because these honestly did impress me. And I lasted all the way through my snack time. And that doesn’t always happen. Good quality food…great product…
I’m hooked. On muffins made with veggies and fruit.
My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Black & White Cookies
Product: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies – $7.99+
I grew up in Upstate New York. And one cookie that New York prides itself on is…the Half Moon Cookie (sometimes called Black & White Cookies). It has been ages since I’ve eaten one…and I miss them terribly. And when I got the Celiac diagnosis…well…I pretty much figured that unless I made my own (which I could, but it wouldn’t be pretty!), I’d never have these delights I grew up eating ever again.
That all changed, however, two weekends ago, when I stepped into Louisville’s newest food market, Lucky’s. With a plethora of gluten-free offerings throughout the store, I was the most excited to spot a brand of cookies called My Dad’s Cookies. I had never seen them before, but there were some really delicious sounding choices. What I didn’t realize was that a table further back in the store housed the cookies that would be the game-changer for my budget that week. Because, as we were getting ready to leave, my roommate told me that I could pick out one item to try. And as I thought about it and pondered…my eyes spotted a familiar looking cookie.
And then the words…GLUTEN-FREE.
I knew the package cost $7.99, which is outrageous for cookies, but I didn’t care. Cookie Monster wants. Cookie Monster gets. Cookie Monster pays extra this week because…GLUTEN-FREE BLACK & WHITE COOKIES!!
Ahem!
Sorry about that…it’s the little things in life.
So, what is the deal with the brand, My Dad’s Cookies? The company itself was started by a baker named Elan Molina, based out of New York City (HA! That’s why he makes black & white cookies!). He began the company back in 2010 for children who have Celiac in order to give them the opportunity to eat their favorite cookies as their friends were eating. Molina set out with a mission and a goal to create cookies that looked and tasted like the real ones, so no child had to feel left out or get bullied about eating a cookie made from potatoes and rice. He wanted to make sure that all of the cookies he produced would be made with the finest ingredients, be non-dairy, nut-free, and also Kosher. In 2013, his vision became a reality, after countless tastings and trial-and-error baking, My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free brand was created.
The rest…is history.
The My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies made their way from the store, to the register, to a shopping bag, to my pantry. And tonight…as the USA Men’s National Team took on Ghana in the World Cup…I busted these out for dessert.
What is a Black & White Cookie, you ask? Traditionally, I believe, the cookies are chocolate. But I’ve also seen them like these are made…as a spongy, vanilla base. The cookies themselves are a sponge-cake like cookie (so…soft and moist) that is covered with half vanilla and half chocolate icing. New York tradition. And now…I was finally getting to indulge again! My mouth was watering just thinking about the first bite.
I bet you’re wondering if it lived up to my expectations. Well…
YES! Yes they did. They were lacking that usual chocolate base for the cookie, but it didn’t take away from the simple deliciousness of this cookie. FOR REAL! It’s not too sweet. And the spongy cookie is the perfect consistency. The icing…is divine. It adds the right amount of sweetness without being too little or too much. Delicious. I savored…as long as I could…before jamming the rest of the cookie into my mouth. SO delicious. They brought back happy memories of days I’d purchase these cookies at the grocery store and just devour them. They may only be three bites, but they are three bites worth taking. I am already anticipating dessert tomorrow! Cookie Monster is back with a vengeance and I really want all of the cookies that My Dad’s Cookies produces…to see if they equal up to this one. Honestly…I hope so. They are worth the hefty price tag if that’s the case. Beyond impressed…even when I was certain I wouldn’t be.
Let’s talk ingredients for a moment, shall we? My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies are made from a gluten-free flour blend (white rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, xanthan gum), egg, vanilla dip (made from sugar, vegetable shortening, emulsifier, and vanilla), chocolate dip (made from sugar, soybean oil, cocoa, chocolate liquor, salt, and vanilla extract), sugar, fructose, organic palm oil, natural flavors, baking powder, salt, and agave syrup.
As stated before, these cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and kosher.
How about nutrition? Well…they’re cookies…so let’s keep that in mind. A serving size of My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Black & White Cookies is…ONE cookie. Yes…only ONE of these small cookies (about three bites!). This one cookie will provide you with 120 calories and 6 grams of fat. The cookies also have 25 mg cholesterol, 45 mg sodium, and 10 grams of sugar. Okay…10 grams of sugar does seem like a lot…but…it’s a cookie! With icing. Two kinds of icing. Take it for what it is. A treat. In addition, you will be also taking in no fiber and only 2 grams of protein. Unless you eat them all in one sitting…then these will not fill you up.
If memories were cookies…these remind me the most of my childhood in New York. Half Moon (or Black & White) cookies are a New York staple when it comes to cookie goodness. And I was thrilled that I found these, but even more thrilled that they tasted so amazing. Love…in cookie form.
Product: Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter – $2.39+
So, I’ve been slowly working my way through different high protein bars…because…I am. Because, sometimes I have to eat on the go, and they are an easy-to-grab snack/meal. They are also great on race days when I might not be going anywhere fast and will need something to hold me over until I next get to eat.
That was what happened today.
I ran a 10K race in Frankfort, Kentucky…and since I placed in both the race and the racing series…I was now staying at the scene of the crime…er…race…for a bit longer than anticipated. No problem. I come prepared for these such occasions.
For quite a long while now, I’ve been hearing my friends rave about Quest Bar. But I couldn’t find them. Anywhere. What it took was a trip to Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were in the gluten-free section…and I grabbed a few to try. They didn’t have the flavor everyone was raving about, but they had some that sounded beyond delicious…so…why not give them a try?
Except…despite toting these places with me, I never really needed them. That’s not a bad thing…it just means I was around actual food instead. But today…today that changed.
So, as I settled in on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol, I removed my Quest Bar from the backpack my roomie has with her. It was a bit misshapen. Unfortunately. That’s from toting it around to all those other events…in the heat…and having it soften and then harden back up. That’s fine. If it tastes good…it doesn’t have to look perfect.
But that was the question…would it taste good?
I broke off a bit for my roommate to try and she took a bite…and chewed…and chewed…and chewed…
“How is it?”
“Chewy.”
Thanks for that! Since it was the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar…I was hoping it would taste like a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. I took a bite. And began to chew…and chew…and chew…damn…it was chewy…
It didn’t taste like a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. Not at all. It tasted like a really chewy hunk of chocolate…with a bit of nutty flavor and texture mixed in. It wasn’t bad. But…my jaw was already starting to hurt from working so hard on this bar. I am seriously hoping that this chewy texture (overly chewy!) was really brought on by having the bar melt a couple times in the heat and then reform. Because…by the third bite…my jaw was done with chewing and I still had half a bar left. Which I did manage to finish. And then give my jaw a much needed break. Back to the flavor though…the peanut butter part was really hidden under the flavor of the chocolate. It was just an undertone. And I don’t know if that was on purpose or not…but peanut butter is my favorite thing in life…so I was just expecting more of it to shine through. Peanut butter and chocolate are best mates and a classic combination…so this works. The flavor was good. Like eating dessert…without it being overly sweet.
It will be interesting to see how the next bar is as far as chewiness. Because now I’m curious!
Let’s look at the ingredients in this high protein and low carb bar, shall we? The Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter is made from a protein blend (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides* (Prebiotic Fiber), peanuts, water, erythritol, and cocoa. This bar also contains less than 2% of the following: sea salt, stevia, lo han guo, and natural flavors. This bar is High Fiber, Gluten Free, and sweetened without the use of sugar or artificial sweeteners.
A serving size of the Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter is 1 bar. This bar provides you with 160 calories and 5 grams of fat. You also will be taking in 5 mg cholesterol, 25 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. This bar provides your body with 255 mg potassium. And finally, you will be consuming 25 grams carbohydrates, 17 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein.
Trust me…you’ll feel full!
So, as I said, this bar wasn’t bad…it was just…not really what I was expecting. It was the perfect thing after my race though, when I knew it would be awhile before I ate anything. It definitely held me over for hours and I ran some errands and even settled in a bit at home before I even thought about making an early dinner. The flavor was good…and I’m really hoping the next one isn’t as chewy.
Guess we’ll find out.
Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter (unwrapped with a chunk torn out of it)
Product: Gone Pie Vegan Bakery Coconut Brownie – (part of Cuisine Cube and no price online)
Are any of you familiar with Cuisine Cube? I wasn’t either. Not until a special offer came across my Groupon-like gluten-free saver sort of mailing that I belong to. I showed the e-mail to my roomie and said I wanted to try it. She said to go for it. Want to make me happy? Tell me I can get Cuisine Cube.
So, for those of you who don’t know what Cuisine Cube is…let me explain. Cuisine Cube is a subscription-based, monthly delivered box of gluten-free foodie goodness. The concept was crafted by a team of enthusiastic eaters, food professionals, and allergy sufferers from New York City who were on the hunt for great gluten-free food. They became aware that gluten intolerance is more prevalent today. And, while gluten-free brands are more readily available in supermarkets all over the country…sometimes the bigger the brand the more preservatives and additives they contain. Gluten-free foods are a lot of processed foods. And, they…much like me…want to cut out as much processed food as possible. And…at the same time…keep the food we do eat tasty. We all know, even the biggest brands in gluten-free foods don’t always taste the best. So, the creators of Cuisine Cube sought out lesser known brands made by small artisan producers, which they found often tasted better and were better for you. Not to mention, it meant supporting small businesses. But sometimes finding these smaller and lesser-known brands can be hard. Thankfully, Cuisine Cube does the leg work for you. They select different foods in each meal category and the box is delivered to my door. All of it is gluten-free…and affordable. Seriously.
I received my first Cuisine Cube in May. And, with the exception of one product inside, I hadn’t ever heard of any of the other brands inside. Gotta love it.
So…tonight…it was time to give one of these products a try.
And I made the most obvious choice…
Dessert.
The dessert category in May’s Cuisine Cube was by Gone Pie Vegan Bakery. And the item…the Gluten-Free and Vegan Coconut Brownie.
I had never heard of Gone Pie Vegan Bakery before. And for good reason. Gone Pie is a Brooklyn based brownie maker who went from shop owner to wholesale producer. Listening to the customer’s needs, all items that Gone Pie produces and sells are gluten-free as well as vegan.
This…is my happy face.
So after eating my fantastic gluten-free pizza for dinner…dessert was the next logical step. Time for some Gone Pie Vegan Bakery Coconut Brownie! I opened up the plastic wrapper and removed this very moist and chocolatey brownie. It looked so rich and smelled amazing. On top, you could see toasted coconut flakes. I couldn’t wait to take a bite. But…first I needed pictures for the blog and to split it in half so the roomie could indulge too.
She took the first bite…so I had to know what she thought. She said it was pretty good…and it tasted…familiar. That didn’t tell me much and since she’s congested, I decided just to go off my own thoughts on this one. I settled in…and took a bite.
Soft. Moist. Amazing. You could really taste the toasted coconut that is baked inside and toasted on top. I loved the richness of this brownie, and how it was kept soft and decadent with the inclusion of dates. But the dates don’t overpower or take away from that brownie feel, so don’t worry about that at all. The chocolate is the star…and it is prevalent in each bite…without being too sweet. So fantastic. I wish I had more of these. Seriously!
While these have no nutritional information, I can give you a run-down of the ingredients! The Gone Pie Vegan Bakery Coconut Brownie is made from vegan fairtrade sugar, gluten free flour blend (sorghum, buckwheat, amaranth, garfava, tapioca, potato, brown rice), dates, brown rice syrup, coconut milk, gluten-free vegan fairtrade semi-sweet chocolate, gluten-free vegan fairtrade chocolate liquor, non-GMO canola oil, vegan fairtrade unsweetened cocoa powder, aluminum-free baking powder, and spices
Thanks to Cuisine Cube, I am being introduced to some fantastic and unique products I never would have even known existed. I never would have even known about Gone Pie Vegan Bakery or their amazing products if not for Cuisine Cube. In fact…I have since visited Gone Pie Vegan Bakery’s Web site. Their variety of gluten-free goodies sound so good. And now, I will make a point to order something else and give it a try.
Yes…this brownie impressed that much.
Thank you Cuisine Cube and thank you Gone Pie Vegan Bakery!
It’s no secret around here…my go-to food for…whatever emotion I’m feeling…is peanut butter.
PEANUT-FREAKIN’-BUTTER! When I’m stressed, sad, lonely, hungry, angry, confused, and yes…even happy or content…I have a jar…and a spoon…and I eat all the peanut butter.
Well, that’s not what I set out to do…but that’s normally what happens because when it comes to the creamy, rich, sweet and salty flavor of peanut butter…I sometimes can’t stop myself. Honestly, it would be best for me if I had Cathy hide the peanut butter. This may have to happen.
That being said, this morning I opened up a new dreamy jar of a new kind of peanut butter. My friend Jenn found a jar of PB Crave (my local World Market seems to be the one place locally I can get this!) and was kind enough to pick one up for me. The flavor – Cookie Nookie. As in…cookie flavored peanut butter. And, before you fret, it is gluten-free! It’s been sitting, standing on it’s lid (it’s all natural, so the ingredients separate), in my pantry, since I brought it home from Columbus, Ohio. But the time had come. I didn’t want to wait any longer. That and Cathy really seemed to want the gluten-free bagel thins instead of eggs this morning…and I needed something to schmear on them. Congratulations PB Crave…your time to shine.
I uncapped the jar this morning and got out a butter knife to begin the task of stirring the ingredients together. Hey…I don’t mind working for my peanut butter. Honestly. It smelled amazing…like peanut butter cookie dough, so I couldn’t wait to get it on that bagel. I worked for about 5 minutes, making sure the oil was mixed in well and that there were no clumpy bits. I hate clumpy bits in my peanut butter. Then, I recapped it and got the bagels out to toast in the oven. They were lightly toasted and I was ready to top them off.
PB Crave is the brainchild of Curt Riess, who was raised on traditional peanut butter and (gasp) hated it! But that all changed one day when he tried a combination of peanut butter, raspberries, and chocolate. The new twist on an old classic was what sparked the idea to begin his own peanut butter company. Curt’s Peanut Butter Company was born and soon developed four very unique flavors for their line PB Crave. The company is based out of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, and they believe in quality, citizenship, and innovation. They are not only re-inventing peanut butter (and doing a fine job of it too!), and focusing on quality products, they are setting out to change the world. No joke. Their Web site has a link to Project Peanut Butter, where the company donates a minimum of 2% of the profits from every jar of PB Crave to Project Peanut Butter, a non-profit organization that focuses on treating malnourished children. So, PB Crave is actually setting out to make a difference. You gotta love that!
But, I digress…
Kinda.
So, the gluten-free bagel thins were now dressed up in PB Crave Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter and ready for their first taste test. I handed Cathy her plate and went to clean up a little and pour myself some coffee. As she is fighting off a cold, I didn’t bother to ask her what she thought of it. I always get the same response anyway these days and I grow weary of hearing it every time. So, I settled in with my own plate and took a bite.
Rich. Creamy. And it tastes like peanut butter cookie dough with chcolate chips in it. It’s like…eating dessert on my bagel. Man…it was amazing. And really fantastic with the texture. It stirred together well and just became this smooth spread with chocolate chips throughout. And…that’s exactly what it should taste like. The PB Crave Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter is a delicious combination of chocolate chips, cookie dough flavor, wild honey, and premium peanut butter. So…cookies…peanut butter…chocolate chips…honey…did I die and go to peanut butter heaven? This was one rich, sweet treat to have on my bagel this morning. I fell in love with first bite…and then wanted to lick the plate.
I actually did lick the plate.
PB Crave is crafted using high-quality ingredients and proven practices. These jars of twisted peanut butter gives you the flavor combinations you crave without the stuff you don’t…and that your body doesn’t need. In other words, PB Crave has no hydrogenated oils, no artificial flavors, no syrups, no high-fructose corn syrup, and…yes…it is gluten-free and cholesterol free. PB Crave Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter is an artisan-crafted blend of peanuts, sugar, palm oil, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, whole milk, natural flavor, salt, maltodextrin, soy lecithin, honey, and vanilla.
Nutritionally speaking, a serving of PB Crave Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter is 2 tablespoons. This serving gives you 180 calories and 15 grams of fat. A serving of PB Crave Cookie Nookie also dishes up 130 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. You also will be taking in 2 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. Honestly, not bad for a peanut butter.
The problem is keeping yourself limited to that serving size. Because now it’s peanut butter and dessert rolled into one. I’ve eaten peanut butter for dessert…but this is like a whole new level of spoon-licking awesomeness. Spread it on anything. Apple slices…toast…celery…and kick it up a notch. Substitute it in your recipe for peanut butter cookies. When peanut butter is elevated to a new level…it becomes PB Crave Cookie Nookie.
It just becomes PB Crave. And now I want to try all four flavors. PB Crave also is offered in Choco Choco (double dose of dark chocolate with peanut butter and honey), Coco Bananas (tropical blend of bananas, cocoa, honey and peanut butter), and Razzle Dazzle (twisted blend of red raspberry, honey, white chocolate, dark chocolate, and peanut butter).
Sound epic?
You bet your peanut butter craving panties it does!
Time to go on the hunt…or at least place an order online. This is a necessity for the pantry. For always.
Now, pardon me while I go raid the rest of the jar…
The Celiathlete 