Cookies – Page 5 – The Celiathlete

August 26, 2014

Product Review: Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

Product: Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread – $4.99+

For all those different gluten-free bread needs, I often turn Schär. Not only has Schär put out a variety of bread products on the market, they make sure that the products that they do put out are up to their high standards. This is why when I need sandwich rolls or ciabatta or even baguettes…I head to the gluten-free bread section and pull one of these products off the shelf. Yes. Not frozen. I get so tired of having to thaw out my bread…but without preservatives and the like, gluten-free products don’t keep for long if they aren’t refrigerated.

Schär specializes in the development and production of foods for people with special dietary needs, with a goal of becoming a leader in that field. They have very much established themselves as a leader in the gluten-free foods out on the market. They are certainly one brand that I never hesitate to purchase, even if I’ve never tried the product. And since Schär guarantees the highest safety standards in the manufacturing of their products, you can rest assured that you won’t have any contamination from their products. They aim to produce quality and delicious products that ensure the consumer a balanced nutrition and quality of life through their restrictive diet.

In the past, I have often used Schär Gluten Free Baguettes, Ciabatta Rolls, Sandwich Rolls, Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, Table Crackers, and even some of their sweets, like their Chocolate Hazelnut Bars.

So, when my roomie and I spotted a loaf of the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread at Wal-Mart on sale, we couldn’t pass up that deal. So…we purchased it. And I was already coming up with ideas for sandwiches and the like. I was excited to try it. Honestly. I had my usual brand (Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Bread) already open, so I didn’t immediately break into my loaf from Schär. Until last night.

You see, last night the Series 8 premier of Doctor Who was playing at my local movie theater. I wanted to keep dinner light and easy so we could get out the door and get to the theater in time. So, I opted to make one of my vegan gluten-free grilled cheese sandwiches. Yummy. I try to enhance the sandwich by adding items to it. No time to get really creative, so I sliced up the rest of a tomato and added it to the sandwiches. I spread Earth Balance onto the slices of bread, put the cheese and tomato on and placed it in the skillet to toast.

The first thing I noticed about the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread was that the slices are very small. If you are familiar with Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread…then think about slices about that size. I’ve grown used to this when I branch away from my standard bread…so…I won’t hold it against Schär. It toasted up nicely on my skillet and the vegan cheese melted as well as vegan cheese can melt. Once each side was toasted, I served up one sandwich to my roommate and one for myself.

Gluten-Free and Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich using Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

She took the first bite and I asked her what she thought of the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread. She said it was “pretty good.” I think she did actually like it, but prefers our usual Rudi’s brand when it comes to sandwich bread. And…I agree. However, that’s not saying that the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread isn’t good. It is. In fact, one aspect of it that I did quite enjoy was the wholesome flavor that came with each bite. It almost reminded me of wheat bread, back when I could eat it. I don’t think my sandwich was the best vehicle to test this bread out on, however.

So, tonight…I gave it another test run. And this time, I used it as a base for a Gluten Free Avocado Bruschetta with a Green Sauce (which I made from kale, fresh basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and some salt and pepper). Oh…oh…this was a game changer. I toasted the bread, dry, in the oven for about 10 minutes. It came out a gorgeous golden color…not burned or charred on any of the edges. Perfect. I put the Green Sauce on the bread then topped it off with the chopped avocado. My first bite…and…oh…oh yes! YES!! This was brilliant. This was what that bread was made for. And it turned out the smaller size was perfect for the amount of topping and chopped avocado that I had. Each bite had every flavor and the savoriness of the bread just elevated this dish even higher.

It was the more complex dish that truly won me over with the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread.

So, let’s talk ingredients, shall we? A loaf of Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread is made from water, corn starch, rice flour, rice starch, soy flakes, potato starch, buckwheat flour, soy bran, rice syrup, soy protein, palm oil, psyllium seed husk (vegetable fiber), millet flakes, yeast, beet sugar syrup, sugar, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (emulsifier), apple extract, salt, calcium citrate, citric acid, tartaric acid, folic acid. This loaf of bread is gluten-free, wheat free, lactose free, dairy free and egg free. It is also cholesterol free.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving of Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread is 1 slice of bread. One slice of bread provides you with 80 calories and 1 gram of fat. In addition, you will be consuming 125 mg sodium and less than 1 gram of sugar. Love those stats. Finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. The bread won’t leave you feeling full…but it won’t make you feel like you hardly ate either.

So, while it wasn’t exactly love at first bite with Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread, I came around. It just took a second tasting to really value the texture, flavor, and overall feel of this bread. Yes, the slices are small, and yes…it can be tough without some toasting or warming…but in the end…a definite quality product I would be proud to purchase again!

Gluten Free Avocado Bruschetta with Green Sauce using Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

August 26, 2014

Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest – Indianapolis, Indiana – August 23, 2014

GF Jules and me at the Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana!

This past Saturday, I had the honor of being able to attend the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest up in Indianapolis, Indiana. I love going to gluten-free expos and events and Indianapolis seems to always have one at some point during any calendar year. This year was no exception, and I was thrilled to read about the new location for this year’s event – the Indian State Fairgrounds. With all the vendors and exhibitors I saw listed, I knew this year’s event was going to be HUGE! I was not let down at all.One of the magazines I currently subscribe to, Gluten Free & More (formerly Living Without), was putting on the Living Without Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in various cities this year as a way to show those with food allergies and/or sensitivities that we can live life without deprivation and missing out on delicious food. It was a coming together of the magazine, as well as over a hundred of their favorite exhibitors to celebrate living well. And it was open to anyone who wanted to stop in.

Tickets went on sale and, as a subscriber, I received a free entry, and then received a discount code for another ticket…so I had Cathy taken care of as well. So, on Saturday morning, we ate a light breakfast before climbing into the car and hauling up to Indianapolis. We timed it perfectly because we burned through our breakfast just as we got up there, about 30 minutes after it officially opened.

And…there was already a line waiting to get in.

Oh…that made me happy, indeed.

It was a hot summer day already and standing outside in the blazing sun didn’t sound like too much fun…but it wasn’t going to be a long wait. Just about 5 minutes, at the most. And while standing in line, I got to listen to people who have done expos like this before (like me) describe the events and how things work to the first timers. I even got to geek out over favorite products and the like for a few moments. I love making gluten-free friends!

Before we knew it, we were inside the doors, in the air conditioning, and getting the tickets scanned. We were given blue wristbands to wear (for re-entry purposes and to show we paid!). Cathy and I put them on and headed into the expo proper. We were greeted at the door by people passing out reusable shopping bags from Glutino (a personal favorite!). Perfect for all the samples and products you are bound to pick up and buy.

Trust me, you don’t walk out of these events empty-handed.

Cathy and I decided that we were going to be systematic about our approach to each table/vendor/aisle. We’d start on one side and then work our way up, then come back down the other side. This was a good plan in theory, and we decided to start in the middle aisle to avoid the congestion of the end aisles. We soon found out…no matter what…it was just hopping and congested. People were surrounding tables, getting free samples, trying products, trying local baked goods, and the like. So, we ditched our original systematic plan for the…let’s just see what there is and wriggle into open areas when we can.

We’re pros. HA!

That being said, we began our Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest at the Glutino/Udi’s/Earth Balance booth, which was giving out samples of Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Cookies as well as Glutino’s Gluten-Free Multigrain English Muffins, schmeared with Earth Balance Creamy Coconut and Peanut Spread. It was all crazy, crazy delicious. I actually have the Glutino English Muffins in my freezer, I just haven’t tried them yet. Now…I know buying them wasn’t a mistake at all. They were delicious. And that Earth Balance Creamy Coconut and Peanut Spread…out-of-this-world good!

And from there…it only got better. We made a point to stop by each vendor’s table and talk to them about their products, if we had tried them. If we hadn’t…we would ask all about them. I made a point of raving to the Pamela’s Product people about the Figgies & Jammies. Because they are awesome and worthy of praise. I talked to the Hodgson Mills representative and when I mentioned being a food blogger he said to reach out to the Hodgson Mills team anytime. I was told the same thing by various other vendors as well. And one local vendor who was selling the most amazing bar-b-que sauce and seasoning (which we purchased) said to tag her on Facebook when I use their products so they can read my blog. I was having a great time.

I think, though, the best moment had to come at the Freedom Foods table. Because, as many of you are aware, Freedom Foods only makes my favorite gluten-free cereal, Tropic-O’s. NOM NOM! I can’t find this cereal here anymore, since my Whole Foods stopped carrying it, so my parents ship it to me from Birmingham, Alabama. We have a system down. But, recently, they put out a gluten-free, dairy-free, and not-free version of Nutella…which I fell in love with. My local Kroger is the only place that had it…and I bought the last jar of it a few weeks ago. It has never been restocked. So…I stocked up on some Quinoa Pancake Mix, lots of “Smudge” (that’s the Nutella stuff!), and a few other products to try, all the time raving about how much I love their products and how they honestly care about what ingredients go into all of their stuff. It didn’t hurt that the guy at the table had a New Zealand/Australian accent. HELLO! I actually ended up going back to the table before leaving that day and buying 4 more jars of Smudge. I hadn’t opened the one I had at home for fear I would never find it again. Now…it’s on!

I was able to sample some of the best gluten-free Snickerdoodles I have ever eaten. And this pasta that was made from lentils that tasted exactly like regular pasta…but I couldn’t afford the hefty price tag on it. Unfortunately. It was nice to sample it, however. At the very back of the building, for those over 21, was the gluten-free cider/beer tasting area. There was so much food and samples…so I was glad we ate light. And Cathy and I have a system down…where we split a sample so we aren’t filling up on our own. It always works at these events.

However, I have to say the greatest moment ever was when I finally got to meet GF Jules in person. GF Jules (formerly Jules Gluten Free) was one of the first Celiac/Gluten-Free bloggers/recipe makers/amazing people I started to follow on social media after my diagnosis. While I have been to events where she has been present, I have never been able to actually meet her. That changed. We discovered that we were food allergy soul sisters, both of us being vegetarian Celiacs who also can’t handle dairy. Go figure. She was so nice and just so easy to talk with. I picked up one of her cookbooks, which she signed, and she was kind enough to take a picture with me. I might have geeked out a little bit. Or a lot. You know how it goes…

And soon, after a couple hours of tasting, testing, buying, talking, and exploring, our time at the expo drew to a close. We were going to meet our friend, Greg, for lunch that day, so we bid adieu to the fantastic event and made our way out to the car.

This event was probably the best one I have attended so far. Great people, great vendors, great information all around. And I came home with samples and products to try in the very near future. Can’t argue with that, right? Right!

I hope they return next year. I’m already making plans to attend. If one of these events happens near you…I definitely encourage you to go!

August 18, 2014

Product Review: Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies – $6.50+

Oh…dear!! My cookie noshing habits had been tame as of late. An occasional splurge here and there…but I was getting it under control. Because, as a cookie monster, any gluten-free cookie with me is fair game. I absolutely love cookies. They are just…the perfect dessert. So many varieties…crunchy, chewy, crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, made with chips, candy, stuffed, topped, iced…so many ways to make a cookie. You can let your imagination run wild…and let your taste buds and stomach profit from it.

Mmmm…cookies.

So, imagine my face when I pulled the bright, hot pink box of one of my favorite gluten-free cookie producers out of the August Cuisine Cube and read what had just arrived. Liz Lovely Cookies??! Hell yes!! Happy dance!! But wait…what’s this? Crunchy cookies? Liz Lovely is doing CRUNCHY cookies now?

Um…that’s…fantastic.

So, for those of you who are unfamiliar with Liz Lovely, they were one of the first gluten-free cookies that didn’t remind me that I was eating a gluten-free cookie. Big, chewy…a serving being only half the cookie…I could get them at my local natural food store and would purchase a new flavor each time until I worked my way through them all. It was hard to stick to that actual serving size…but I behaved. But…Liz Lovely was known for those chewy, big cookies. So this…this was new.

Turns out, for years now, Liz had so many consumers and people inquire about small snack cookies…to which she always replied that those sorts of cookies weren’t what they did. But it seems it all fell into place one night…and out of it came a new product…a new line of gluten-free crunchy cookies from the fantastic Liz Lovely.

These are currently out in four different flavors: chocolate chip, double chocolate, oatmeal raisin, and ginger snap.

The bright pink box declared that the cookies that Cuisine Cube sent into my life were…Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies.

Mmmm…chocolate.

Mmmm…cookies!

Okay, so normally it takes me the entire month to work through the Cuisine Cube that I receive, but this cube has been a bit of an anomaly. For one thing, one product I had to place in the break room at work…the Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Jerky. This vegetarian can’t and won’t even eat that. But, the boys at work have been enjoying it. So, there we go. And then, last night, I went ahead and plowed through three products. Yes…three!

And after I used the first two for dinner…it was time for dessert.

And I happily pulled open the box of Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies. They smelled…amazing. They were these thin little rounds, about the 2 inches in diameter, if I were guessing (and I am). Small, thin…and yes…crunchy. Nothing I have ever associated with Liz Lovely. So…I was beyond intrigued as to how I would like these. As I have stated before, I am more of a soft cookie lover than a crispy cookie lover…but I do love cookies regardless and don’t hold the softness or crispiness factor against any cookie.

I removed four cookies, passing off two to my roommate and snagging two for me. Yes…this time you get two full cookies…not just half of one. YAY! I settled in for my dessert and took a bite.

WOW! First of all, I believe that these cookies completely encapsulate the best part of something like a pan of brownies. These cookies taste just like that crispy edge of the brownies that bakes along the pan. That is one of my favorite parts of a brownie and these cookies mimic it both in crunch, texture, and flavor. I might have drooled upon taking my first bite. These have a nice, rich, chocolate flavor…bold and decadent. The cookies have a great crunch to them, and they are easy to chew and one of the greatest things I may have ever eaten in cookie form. Holy Double Chocolate Crunchy Goodness!! I was so tempted to go and count cookies to see if there might be an odd number so I could sneak another one…but I didn’t. I behaved. I kept it to the serving size. And, for the life of me, I don’t know how I didn’t give in to the temptation. Seriously…these are amazing cookies. You can tell how much work, love, and joy goes into the making of these cookies because they reflect that in not just flavor but quality. And I am totally in love.

Let’s talk about those ingredients and nutritional facts, shall we?

The Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies are made from cane sugar, chocolate chips, white rice flour, palm fruit oil, water, potato starch, cocoa powder, tapioca flour, molasses, Ener-G Egg Replacer, vanilla extract, sea salt, baking soda, xanthan gum, and natural tocopherols (vitamin E). Not too bad for a sweet treat, right? These cookies are vegan, gluten-free, cholesterol free, kosher, made with non-GMO ingredients and all natural.

As far as how nutritious these are…well…they are cookies so…

A serving of the Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunch Double Chocolate Cookies is 2 cookies. These cookies will deliver 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. These two cookies will also provide 90 mg sodium and 12 grams of fat. That’s not bad at all for cookies. Not at all. And finally, these cookies will provide you with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of sugar. These will definitely not fill you up…which means you can snack on them before dinner. HA!

Okay…so maybe not. But, you’re an adult right? Have dessert first every now and again. Live it up. Change it up. Be a little wild!

I am enamored with these cookies. I want to make them last forever, but cookies never last long in my home. I’m a cookie monster for a reason. And these will be devoured each night until they are gone. But, now I hope I can find a place to purchase them and/or order them online because…yeah…I’ll be dreaming about these cookies for a long time. Who says a chewy cookie girl can’t cross over to the crunchy side.

Go ahead…take a bite and see for yourself.

August 13, 2014

Product Review: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti

Product: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti – $7.99+

If there was one thing I grew to love when I worked at the coffee shop, it was biscotti. Nothing can top the taste of a crisp, crunchy cookie dunked in something like coffee or tea or even hot chocolate. Absolutely…delish.

So, when my roommate and I were out at our new grocery store (the one that carries the My Dad’s Cookies products), we had a plan to pick up the lemon cookies…

…but they still didn’t have any in stock. As the lemon cookies were the ones that the roomie wanted to try…I told her to pick whatever she was interested in trying for dessert. She wasted no time in choosing the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti.

Sweet.

So, tonight we opened them up for dessert. And to make it official, I brewed up a bit of decaf coffee for dipping purposes. Yeah…this was going to be good.

Settling in with an episode of Chopped, we ate our dinner (gluten-free pasta with homemade marinara and gluten-free focaccia bread, in case you were wondering!) and then I went to clean up a little and grab dessert. Nothing is easier than opening the little plastic container of My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti. I poured two cups of coffee…and then grabbed a serving of the cookies.

Dessert was served.

My roommate tucked in first. I asked what she thought and she said, “It’s yummy!” That’s always a good sign. That means she really does like it and isn’t just trying to be polite. So, that was a positive note to start on! I settled in and picked up one of the cookies, giving it a dunk into my freshly brewed coffee…and took a bite.

These…are not traditional type biscotti. They are smaller than normal biscotti, and while crisp, they get really soft immediately upon dipping…so don’t let it linger too long. These are more chopped up chocolate chip cookies than chocolate chip biscotti…but I won’t complain. The flavor is divine. The overall vanilla flavor with the sweet chocolate chips scattered…oh…so good. They had a nice crunch to them when they weren’t dipped in the coffee, but got quite soft when they hit the liquid. The flavor profile is amazing, especially if you love chocolate chip cookies…and I do.

As far as ingredients go, these aren’t too bad. The My Dad’s Cookie Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti are made from a gluten-free flour blend (brown rice, potato starch, tapioca flour, and xanthan gum), sugar, organic palm oil, egg, chocolate chips, chocolate liquor, brown sugar, natural vanilla extract, agave, cream of tartar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

As far as the nutrition information goes, this is rather good. A serving of the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti is 4 of the cookies. This serving provides 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. In addition, they serve up 15 mg cholesterol, 40 mg sodium, and 12 grams of sugar. Finally, you will be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Not filling…but delicious.

I have become a big fan of the My Dad’s Cookies brand. Everything I have tried has been amazing and delicious. You’d never guess these were gluten-free. Not one bit. Amazing and delicious…another fantastic treat.

Get yourself some of this biscotti and get to dipping. You will also fall in love.

August 6, 2014

Product Review: Stroopies Gluten-Free Authentic Dutch Stroopwafels

Product: Stroopies Gluten-Free Authentic Dutch Stroopwafels – $2.50

I know what you’re thinking…you’re thinking..

“What the hell is a Stroopwafel?”

Am I right? Am I? Well, up until I received my July Cuisine Cube, I fell into that category too. In fact, I didn’t even know such a thing as a Stroopwafel even existed. Never heard of one. Never would have thought to even look for one to try. But, thanks to the miracle of my Cuisine Cube, I not only am introduced to a new company, but also a new product (and in a sense, a type of food I didn’t even know existed until then).

So, to answer the above question…Stroopwafels are all the rage in Holland. It is a type of Dutch cookie with a rich, flavorful, caramel taste. It is apparently best enjoyed with a warm beverage or as a snack. These cookies are made from two thin layers of baked dough with a thin caramel syrup-ish filling in the middle. They are a popular street food in the Netherlands and, I am assuming, a nice accessory with a good coffee.

Stroopies is based out of Lancaster, Pensylvania, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. Dan and Ed, the owners of Stroopies, make these delicious cookies from classic ingredients that are locally sourced and all natural. What Stroopies manage to do with their Stroopwafels is find that perfect balance between the cinnamon and the caramel. And what emerges is this delightful, light, tasty treat.

With my August Cuisine Cube on its way, I began picking through some of the stuff left in my current cube. And, as we used up the dairy-free ice cream in the freezer yesterday, I was giving my roommate the option for dessert. The Dutch cookies from the July cube…the dairy-free chocolate freezer pops, the last pint of dairy-free ice cream, or the gluten-free biscotti we picked up at the grocery store.

As the Stroopies were in my hand at that moment…that’s what she chose.

And so, after our dinner of Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Walnuts, dessert was going to be a synch. All it required was for me to open the little plastic pouch the cookies arrived in. As I wasn’t prepared to brew up a decaf coffee to have these with, I ended up just popping them in the microwave as an nontraditional way to warm these up (instead of over the cup of a hot beverage). So, a quick 20 second hit in the microwave and these were ready. I handed my roommate hers and she immediately dug in while I went to warm up mine and retrieve it.

“It tastes like…a cinnamon roll. A really thin cinnamon roll!” she declared.

To me, this can only be a good thing…because I absolutely love cinnamon rolls, as you all very well know. So, as I settled in to try it myself, I was already anticipating that first hit on my tongue. I broke off a piece of the cookie, the two thin waffle layers breaking apart slowly with the now warm caramel layer in the center coming with it. I popped the little bit into my mouth and…magic. Pure cookie magic. This is probably one of the most unique and best cookies I have tried that is nothing like anything I have ever had before.

Stroopies actually do find that perfect balance between the cinnamon and the caramel. In fact, the thin caramel layer perfectly matches the waffle cookie shells that sandwich it inside. It’s the perfect layering…very even…so nothing outshines anything else. This was one unique and fantastic dessert, for sure. Honestly, it does taste like a cookie version of a cinnamon roll. I can see why these are so popular in Holland. I was hooked at the first bite and found myself wishing that we had more than the two cookies that came in the pack inside my Cuisine Cube. Each bite brought more flavor and more of that soft and amazing texture. I was more than enamored with this cookie. And if you can…I highly recommend these.

As these are one of those local-ish products, I don’t have any nutritional information, however I can go over the ingredients with you. The Stroopies Gluten-Free Authentic Dutch Stroopwafels are made from brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, xanthan gum, soy flour, corn syrup, sugar, brown sugar, butter, margarine, eggs, salt, spices and flavorings.

I will note that these cookies are made on dedicated equipment, however they are produced in a factory that contains wheat, soy and peanut products.

Another fantastic product that came to me via my Cuisine Cube. Subscribing to my monthly Cuisine Cube has been one of the best things I have done in a long time. I’m really enjoying getting introduced to smaller gluten-free companies out there that I would otherwise know nothing about. And if you are interested in trying Stroopies Gluten-Free Authentic Dutch Stroopwafels…head on over to their Web site and place an order. Trust me…these are worth ordering without trying. I am about to go order more myself.

August 1, 2014

Product Review: Thumbs Cookies Gluten Free Sugar Cookies

Product: Thumbs Cookies Gluten Free Sugar Cookies – $20.00+

Who says good things don’t come in small packages? Certainly not me. I often find some of the best things in life come in smaller packages. Heck, I’m a 5’3″ runner…so I’m a small person as it is. The smaller…the more likely I am to take a second glance at it or even…purchase it.

I never would have even known about the existence of Thumbs Cookies if not for my monthly delivery from Cuisine Cube. These little cookies (seriously….the size of your thumbprint) were inside my June box as the dessert treat. And, for you regular readers…we all know how I feel about cookies. If I were blue and furry with googly eyes, I really would be cookie monster.

GIVE ME ALL THE GLUTEN FREE COOKIES!

And all the cookies is possible this time, as Thumbs Cookies are tiny. Teeny-tiny, pop-in-your-mouth morsels of cookie goodness. Cuisine Cube included the original Sugar Cookies in the June cube…which is fine by me. I love a good sugar cookie. And, since creator Robyn Frank, has immortalized her family recipe that her mother used, these cookies are close to as good as it gets without being fresh from your own oven. Seriously…Frank, in fact, hand rolls each and every cookie in the palm of her hand and finishes them with her thumbprint. She used to bake these alongside her mother whenever she made them for special occasions.

I love a good cookie story…especially when family and family history are involved.

The evening was shaping up to be a busy one. Work was finally over and I had been intending to do the last of the BlueMile Brew Miles (a local running store’s mile runs at different pubs in the Louisville area), but an almost stress fracture sidelined my plans to run. My roomie said that we could still go and walk it…if we took it slow and steady. But this meant a quick bite at home and then off to the races, as it were. I was reheating homemade soup, serving it with gluten-free crackers, and then having these cookies for dessert. Simple. Quick. Efficient. Especially on a busy night.

So, after downing our soup, we cleaned our dishes and I snagged the little box of these teeny-tiny cookies for dessert. I figured they were small…so we’d just split the entire package. Why not? We were off to walk a mile anyway. So, I doled them out and we settled in to pop them, one-by-one…

First of all…we probably could have split these between two nights, but they were so fantastic, I didn’t care. I really didn’t. I put the first one in my mouth…and it was just this soft little butter cookie with a hint of cinnamon and a bit of sugar sprinkled on top. Like…mini snickerdoodles. Little sugar cookie morsels of amazing goodness. I was in love. In fact, I believe I looked up at my roommate and said, “Well that’s a fantastic little bite!” And I wasn’t joking. These won’t melt in your mouth, but they aren’t brittle or hard. They are just these nice little poppers of cookie yumminess. Seriously, if I had just opened the pack for me, I probably would have eaten them all without a second thought. So, eating half the container didn’t leave me berating myself either for indugling so much. These really are itty-bitty cookies…and I enjoyed each and every bite.

As far as ingredients go…you can tell these are homemade. The Thumbs Cookies Gluten Free Sugar Cookies are made from shortening, sugar, cinnamon, more sugar, and Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour. These are homemade, to order, and no nutritional information is available on them. Just rest assured, they are small but mighty and it is so easy to just keep popping them like candy.

I’m always told that I am small, but fierce. That is definitely these cookies. They are small…but they pack a mighty flavor punch. Cookie perfection in little bites. And for that…Thumbs Cookies hits all the right notes. Fantastic flavor, great texture, and…well…when it’s a cookie…and when it’s a delicious cookie…you have me sold. I can’t wait to dig up some more of these. I might not share this time. HA!

Once again…thank you, my dear Cuisine Cube…without you, I’d have no idea these even existed.

July 27, 2014

Product Review: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Product: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies – $7.99+

Did someone say cookies?

Yes…cookie monster is back with a vengeance. A vengeance, I tell you!

After a couple weeks of feasting off of brownies and ice cream, I needed some cookies in my life. And it just so happened that my roomie and I decided to splurge at Lucky’s again last week and picked up another type of cookie from My Dad’s Cookies. It was actually a tough decision. I had promised her the Lemon Drop cookies…but they didn’t have those in stock this time around. So after a lot of thought and a lot of circling the table…I finally chose…

Chocolate Chip.

Iconic. And a personal favorite of mine. I mean, who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie, right?

Well, with the brownies and the ice cream polished off…cookies were dessert this week. After dinner, as always, after cleaning up the dishes and the kitchen, I got ready to serve dessert. This time…it was easy. The cookies were on my counter and I just simply popped open the plastic container and fished out a serving for each of us. These cookies are little bite-size morsels that I hoped would be as good as they looked. I walked Cathy’s serving out to her, then returned to the kitchen for mine.

Settling in…it was the moment of absolute truth…

One bite of the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies…and I was more than happy with this classic choice. No one would even fathom that these little cookies were gluten-free unless you told them. They had just the slightest bit of crunch on the edges and this soft, chewy center. Each cookie was about two to three bites, and each bite guaranteed a hit of chocolate chips and sweet vanilla flavor. There was the right amount of flavor throughout these cookies. The vanilla essence and the chocolate chips gave it that classic, homemade, chocolate chip cookie feel. I meant to warm the next night’s up in the microwave to give them that “fresh out of the oven” appeal, but didn’t. Nevertheless, I was beyond amazed by the quality and taste of these. They weren’t super moist, but they weren’t dry either. They hit that perfect midpoint that gave you both the crunch and the soft center. And…come on…CHOCOLATE CHIPS!

Classic cookies with not-so-classic ingredients. Gluten-free, after all, takes some special flour blends and some TLC. But that’s what makes these cookies even more extraordinary! Let’s take a look at the science and nutrition behind My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies.

The My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies are made from a gluten-free flour blend (brown rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, xanthan gum), palm oil, chocolate chips, sugar, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda, agave syrup, cream of tartar, baking powder, and salt. These cookies are gluten-free, dairy free, nut free, and kosher.

A serving of the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies is three of the bite-size cookies. There are six servings per container. These three cookies will provide you with 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. In addition, you will be taking in 15 mg cholesterol, 60 mg sodium, and 13 grams of sugar. Cookies have sugar…so, while that seems high…it’s a dessert…a treat…COOKIES! Also, these three cookies will give you less than 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. This is not a filling dessert, but it is…oh, so sweet!

Once again, My Dad’s Cookies proves that it is definitely a brand to be reckoned with on the gluten free dessert market. While I have just discovered these amazing little treats at the newest grocery store in the area, I am glad to have been brave enough to shell out the $7.99 price for each container so far. None have really let me down, and all have been great to eat after a long day and a light meal.

My Dad’s Cookies took on the classic chocolate chip cookie and made it into one delicious, bite-size, gluten-free treat. I will definitely buy these again.

July 17, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

I have a lot to give thanks for when it comes to delicious things in my life. When most people hear that I’m a lactose intolerant and gluten-free vegetarian, I often wonder if they think I eat grass. I don’t…for the record. Although I do eat a lot of veggies that are green…but not grass. Never grass.

That being said, sometimes I also get the chance to try out some products that fit into my diet. And recently, my friends over at So Delicious Dairy-Free gave me the chance to try out some of their latest products to hit the market. One of these included the previous blogged about So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert…and now…another bit of excitement…

DAIRY-FREE AND GLUTEN-FREE COOKIES ‘N CREAM COCONUT MILK FROZEN DESSERT.

*FLAIL*

Pardon the unnecessary, but highly needed caps lock abuse.

First of all, as a Celiac do you realize that I never…NEVER…get to eat anything that in any way, shape, or form resembles ice cream that has the words “cookie,” or “dough” in it? It’s true. Those have become relics of my past. Ice cream that I used to know. Favorites of mine, left to melt away in my memory…of their flavors and their deliciousness.

Or…so I thought.

Thanks to the good people at So Delicious Dairy Free…that is no longer the case.

*DOUBLE FLAIL*

Ahem.

Oh, you better believe the first pint I dove into was the Gluten-Free Cookie Dough. Growing up, whenever we got ice cream from the store or went to our local ice cream parlor (The Dairy Barn!), I was a cookie dough ice cream girl. That was what I wanted. Oddly enough, I never ate raw cookie dough…but put it in ice cream and…oh…yeah. Magic. We all know I about died when I got to eat the So Delicious variety, having gone YEARS now since having a taste of one of my favorite flavors. And if you are just tuning in, click on the link above and read all about that moment!

But…we come back to the present now…and tonight…tonight it was time to give the other childhood favorite a shot. Another flavor of ice cream I always have to just stare at and dream about eating. But not now…not again. Not when So Delicious comes through and delivers their So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Ice Cream.

*KERMIT FLAIL*

So, while my roomie and I were feasting on dinner, I set the pint out to thaw a little. I find that non-dairy frozen desserts often need about 5-10 minutes of sitting on the counter to make scooping easier. Trust me. Do it. It means you won’t have to go to battle with your pint of delicious goodness. The last thing you want to do is go to battle with dessert. That’s just not…human.

After we finished dinner and doing the dishes, I went to get out the ice cream scooper and serve up the latest flavor of non-dairy frozen goodness from a company that prides itself on their products that they call themselves So Delicious! That’s bold. And I love them for that!

I scooped us each up a serving and settled in to finish watching a Food Network show of our choosing tonight. I was practically on the edge of my seat…anticipating that first taste. I dipped my spoon into my bowl, scooped up a bit of the ice cream…and BAM…everything I missed about Cookies ‘N Cream ice cream came flooding back to me. I might have teared up a little. Amazing.

First of all, So Delicious does not skimp on the fillings. You are getting chunks of gluten-free sandwich cookies in this ice cream. You are getting this rich and luxurious base made form coconut milk that doesn’t overpower. The vanilla is a nice compliment to all the flavors. And those cookies…OH MY GOD…those cookies…they are the things that dreams are made of. Especially for someone like me…who has had to ignore anything with the word “cookie” in it for so long. Dreams do come true and So Delicious truly makes it…delicious. Each bite had that rich sweetness to it…plus the chunkiness of the cookies. You get that crunch with the creamy texture of the dessert itself. Oh…yes. If heaven were a pint of ice cream…I was devouring it at that very moment. A new favorite.

It’s also really good over a warm gluten-free brownie with hot fudge drizzled over it. I’m just throwing that out there. I might have done that too.

So, what exactly goes into a pint of the So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert? I’m about to tell you! This ice cream is made from organic coconut milk, organic dried cane syrup, gluten-free creme cookies, chicory root extract, natural flavor, carob bean gum, and guar gum. Not only is this free of dairy and gluten, but it is also cholesterol free, vegan, non-GMO, and kosher.

And…I know it’s a treat…it’s dessert…but I always hit up those nutrition facts. A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. In this serving, you will be consuming 160 calories and 7 grams of fat. Keep in mind, some of that fat count comes from that nutritious coconut milk! You will also be taking in 50 mg sodium and 16 grams of sugar. Yep…it’s high in sugar…but it’s an ice cream treat. You sort of expect that. And, finally, you will be provided with 7 grams of filling fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Not too shabby for a frozen dessert, right? RIGHT!

Yeah…my love for So Delicious continues to grow every time I get to try one of their products. Stay tuned…because there are more frozen treats from So Delicious in my freezer just waiting for me to pick them next to try. It’s a good thing that ice cream is one of my most favorite things in life. And, now, here’s one I can safely consume!

Oh, So Delicious…how I love you and your magical pints of frozen goodness.

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies 'N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert — A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

July 11, 2014

Product Review: Pamela’s Gluten-Free Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies

Product: Pamela’s Gluten-Free Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies – $3.99+

So, I mentioned back when I reviewed the Jovial Gluten-Free Fig Fruit Filled Cookies, I mentioned how much I missed having something like Fig Newtons in my life. Sadly…the Jovial cookies didn’t live up to expectations. They were dry and just…a let down.

But then…one of my most raved about and most trusted brands (go back to the beginning of this blog, you will find Pamela’s Products ALL over it!), put out their own version of the Fig Newtons that I grew up eating. By the package. For real. Figs and I are BFFs. I’ve just always loved them. So Fig Newtons were my ideal snack. When I had to go gluten-free…these fell out of my life and it was mega devastating. Especially when your roomie can and does still get Fig Newtons (and sometimes Fig Newmans) for snacks.

*sigh*

Pamela’s Figgies & Jammies came out on the market this past year and I went on an immediate search for them. Naturally…nowhere around here carried them at the time. That’s typical. In fact, I never saw them out in the grocery store wild until I was visiting my friend Jenn up in Columbus, Ohio and she took me to her natural food store, The Raisin Rack. They have an amazing gluten-free section, in case any of you are passing through. Check them out. Raisin Rack had all four of the flavors. And I squeaked and squealed and maybe did a happy dance of gluten-free joy in the aisle.

I also, somehow, managed not to buy all the flavors. I decided to try one to start. Just one. The problem was choosing a flavor.

Pamela’s Figgies & Jammies are available in Mission Fig, Blueberry & Fig, Raspberry & Fig, and Strawberry & Fig. It took much debate and much thought, but I finally…after picking up one, then another, then another…decided on the Blueberry & Fig. Whew. That was a tough decision…and I was hoping that I made the right one.

Now that I’m working my way through my pantry of gluten-free snacks and stuff…these were up next! And I cracked them open yesterday to have as a snack at the office. They are BIG! You know when you get that pack of Fig Newtons at the convenience store that has just one large Fig Newton in it. Thing that size. They outer cake part is a very light shade of tan. And you can see this gorgeous filling on the inside. They didn’t look or feel dry in the slightest, so they were already ahead of Jovial.

At snack time…I was excited to try this out. And I couldn’t have been happier. FINALLY! FINALLY!! I should have gone straight to Pamela’s when I was seeking out this kind of snack goodness. These light and moist snack cakes are OMGSOGOOD! Mmmm…I loved this at first bite. DELICIOUS! The cake is light…the filling tastes fresh and fruity. You get that nice blend of blueberry and fig…perfection. They have a nice soft texture to them, not dry and hard like Jovial and (sometimes) Fig Newtons. These tasted much lighter than Fig Newtons too. I just found the flavors to be amazing and I thought Pamela’s once again outdid themselves on a treat. I will be buying EVERY flavor next time.

Let’s talk ingredients, shall we?

Pamela’s Gluten-Free Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies are constructed and created from the following…

The cake portion is made from a flour base (brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, xanthan gum), natural evaporated cane sugar, organic palm oil, organic invert sugar, grape juice, whole rice syrup, sweet whey powder, glycerin, baking soda, sea salt and lemon oil. The jam portion is made from a blueberry paste, fig, and citric acid. These cookies are gluten-free, egg-free, contain no artificial flavors or additives, no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, no corn syrup, are certified kosher and certified gluten-free (and made in a dedicated gluten-free facility).

As for nutrition…for a cookie, these stats aren’t bad at all. A serving of Pamela’s Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies is one cookie. Yes…just one. And trust me…it is hard to limit yourself to that. This one cookie will give you 100 calories and 2 grams of fat. You will be taking in 25 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. You will also be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

I am thrilled that these are out in the market and that NOW I can even find them around my area. I’ve spotted them at a few of my local natural food stores. YAY! Because these are going to have a permanent place in my pantry. Each flavor. Because, you know, I have to try them out.

Thank you for always being awesome, Pamela’s.

July 7, 2014

Product Review: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten-Free Vanilla Grahams

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.