Cookies – Page 8 – The Celiathlete

November 14, 2013

Product Review: EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough

Product: EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough – $6.49+

COOKIE!

We all know…I am one big cookie monster. I mean…give me a chance to try a gluten-free cookie and I’m on it like Cookie Monster. OM NOM NOM!! Seriously…cookies are one of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to treats. I love them. I always have. I grew up with my mom constantly baking cookies, from scratch, on snow days, for special occasions, and especially during the holidays.

While my favorite will always be her Snickerdoodles (which I intend to attempt to make gluten-free this year…so wish me luck), I also love it when she would make sugar cookies. Not only did we get to help cut them into the fun shapes, but we got to help decorate them too. Sugar cookies are so simple…yet have always been one of my favorite cookies to reach for and devour…er…I mean eat.

Why?

Simple flavors. Simple ingredients. Pure awesomeness.

They are basically sugar, butter, and flour, but damn…they are awesome. I’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t enjoy a sugar cookie. And if they said anything of the sort, I’d deem them a liar…just like everyone I know who says they hate chocolate.

LIES! ALL LIES!!

*cough*

Anyway…here I was…before the release of Pillsbury Gluten-Free Cookie Dough (which is refrigerated)…walking around my local natural foods store during one of their fun gluten-free events…when…the roommate says I can pick out some new products to try. WOOHOO! I love it when she expands my grocery budget as a treat…sometimes for no good reason. She says she benefits from it too…so it’s win/win! I never go overboard…and generally pick a few items that I’ve not seen anywhere else. And one of those items this last time was a gluten-free sugar cookie dough in the refrigerator section. It’s EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough.

EatPastry is a line of vegan and some vegan and gluten-free cookie doughs. The company was founded, according to the website, by confusion, curiosity, and dedication. The company experimented until they came up with what they thought to be the best tasting, best “feeling” cookie dough. They use only high quality, all natural ingredients. And it has been a priority from the inception of EatPastry to maintain 100% vegan ingredients, meaning none have come into contact with any animal ingredients. Their cookie dough also uses only organic and fair trade sugar (evaporated cane juice) and select organic ingredients. They even make their own peanut butter for their (not gluten-free) vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. EatPastry’s doughs contain no eggs, no dairy, no preservatives, no processing, no fillers, no GMOs and no funny business. None. Good cookie dough is serious business, folks! They even state that all flavors were created with various moods in mind.

Mood food. Love it.

Well…I am just now getting around to using this dough because…well…I ran out of desserts in my freezer and pantry. HA! I wanted to try this before but I was working against a deadline on expiration dates. So…this little container was just hanging out in my fridge…waiting patiently.

It’s time to shine came yesterday! I just polished off a delicious, fresh dinner and knew I needed something sweet. I always have dessert. Always. So…I pulled this out of the fridge, preheated my oven to 350 degrees and laid out a strip of parchment paper across a baking sheet. I scooped up two tablespoons of dough, flattened each spoonful out, and then threw the pan in the oven.

How easy is that? About 12 minutes later…out they came. Delicious, individual cookies that were fresh from the oven. That is a total dessert win.

And…oh…my goodness. The EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough is sassy, sweet and seductive. No…really…that’s what the Web site says. But I couldn’t agree more. First of all, with the scoopable refrigerator dough, you can make one cookie at a time if that’s what you wanted. You don’t have to make an entire batch right away…which you may or may not polish off before they start to get hard. This is easy and convenient. Seriously. They have this great texture to them. They are soft on the middle, but golden on the edges. And fresh from the oven…that is unbeatable. The flavors are subtle…but fantastic. There is that rich, delicate undertone of vanilla in each bite. And these cookies aren’t gritty with sugar. Not one bit. They are so amazing that it’s probably a good thing I can cook them up personally. Or I might eat the entire container.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition now…because I like to know what I’m getting myself into.

The EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough is made of from a gluten-free flour blend (garbanzo, brown rice), Earth Balance, filtered water, pure salt, natural flavor (derived from corn with no MSG, no alcohol, no gluten) sunflower lecithin, lactic acid (derived from sugar beets), organic evaporated cane juice, pure apple sauce, pure vanilla extract, nutmeg, baking soda, and sea salt. Not too bad for a cookie right?

You’ll fee the same way about the nutrition. One serving is 1 tablespoon, which spoons you up only 60 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. This serving also has only 25 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. Yes…5 grams of sugar in a SUGAR COOKIE!!! You don’t get any fiber of protein from these cookies, but they are free of trans fats as well as cholesterol.

And they are fantastic. Really sexy, smooth, sinful gluten-free cookies of awesomeness. Without the guilt. Because, let’s face it…you don’t find 60 calorie cookies just anywhere, right?

I hope to try the other two vegan and gluten-free varieties offered by EatPastry…the Chocolate Chip and the Snickerdoodle (SQUEE!).

If you can find EatPastry refrigerated vegan and gluten-free cookie dough in your grocery store or natural food store…get it…and try it. You can scoop what you like and keep the rest for later. I’m loving it.

Cookie made from EatPastry's Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough — Cookie made from EatPastry’s Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough

October 7, 2013

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Vanilla Rugelech

Product: Katz Gluten Free Vanilla Rugelech – $5.49

It is because of Katz Gluten Free that I have been introduced to the awesomeness of rugelech. I had never heard of rugelech before, let alone ever tried it…until I was received some from Katz Gluten Free. My life…my foodie world…changed.

For those of you who may be like me and have been in the dark as to what rugelech is…well…read on.

Rugelech is a traditional Jewish pastry that is eaten year-round, but particularly on holidays. It is made of rolled up dough and a sweet, fruity filling.

These little rolled cookies are life changing. Honestly. I had the chocolate ones first as part of the sample pack I ordered from Katz when I first went gluten-free. The cinnamon flavor I ordered on my own…and they were like eating miniature cinnamon rolls. My personal favorite. During a special, I ordered enough product to get a free pack of rugelech from Katz Gluten Free. I requested the vanilla because it was the only one I had yet to try.

Wise choice.

Katz Gluten Free has yet to really let me down on a product. I trust them and their food. And the Gluten-Free Vanilla Rugelech is just as amazing as I thought it would be. These moutwatering treats are perfect as a palate cleanser after dinner. But…they are really good anytime. In fact, I like to give mine a little 15 second warm in the microwave so they taste like they are fresh out of the oven. The Vanilla Rugelech taste like a cinnamon roll…if it were made with vanilla instead. Amazing flavor. The sweetness tingles across the tongue with each bite. It’s just…so delicious. I savor mine, nu-spiriling them in little pieces and nipping them so that the time I am enjoying them lasts a little longer. You can’t blame me. Once you try them, you’ll want the moment to last as well. These are fantastic. And I am going to be sure to stock up on more of them…very soon!

When it comes to ingredients, I know what everything is that Katz Gluten Free uses in their products. For the Vanilla Rugelech…it’s a mix of their gluten-free flour (potato, tapioca, white rice, brown rice, sorghum, corn), sugar, canola oil, eggs, orange juice, water, dry yeast, baking powder, xanthan gum, salt, and pure vanilla.

Looking at it nutritionally speaking…these are cookies…little pastries of delicious gluten-free joy. Treat them as a treat. But do enjoy them. Do try them. A serving of the Gluten Free Vanilla Rugelech is 1 cookie. This one cookie provides you with 90 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. One cookie also serves up 30 mg sodium and 6 grams of sugar. The Vanilla Rugelech also will provide you with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. It’s not awful…not at all. I usually eat two of them though…so whoops!

Ah well…the goodness and the great flavor makes the splurge worth it. These are delicious and amazing and I would buy them again in a heartbeat. Any of the three flavors that Katz offers, actually. I’m a huge fan. now, of rugelech. And you will understand why when you give these a try to. You can order them from Katz off their Web site, or check with your local natural foods stores. Many carry a few of Katz products, and I most often see their rugelech.

Enjoy!!

September 29, 2013

Recipe: Gluten-Free and Vegan Cookies & Cream Ice Cream

I love ice cream. The problem is…ice cream doesn’t always love me back. And, more so, some of my favorite flavors from the “pre-gluten-free” days, I am no longer able to consume. Totally bums me out on occasion.

But then…I haul out the ice cream maker and do something about it. In this case…I make my own gluten-free and vegan ice cream. This is actually very simple and uses basic ingredients. Nothing too outlandish or crazy. No dairy either. The base is coconut milk. Seriously. Full fat coconut milk. So good.

I used Glutino sandwich cookies for the “cookie” portion of this recipe and sweetened it with coconut palm sugar. The recipe is super simple…and super good. As my friend Greg said…”This is rich…and delicious!”

YAY!

So, the recipe is below, adapted from Food Babe so that it fit my dietary needs.

Recipe: Gluten-Free and Vegan Cookies & Cream Ice Cream

Ingredients:

Base:

1 can of full fat coconut milk (13.5 ounces)
1 tbsp arrowroot powder (optional thickener)
3frozen bananas or ½ cup coconut palm sugar (I used the coconut palm sugar)
pinch of sea salt

For Cookies & Cream Flavor:

1 tbsp vanilla extract
10 Glutino Chocolate Vanilla Creme Sandwich Cookies broken into pieces (or cookie of your choice)

Instructions:

Combine base ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.

Add vanilla into blender and blend again.

Pour mixture into ice cream machine and turn on.

Mix for at least 20 minutes or until ice cream is formed.

Stir in cookies.

Serve.

Store in an airtight container in the freezer.

~*~*~

Hello delicious ice cream that won’t upset my stomach. Where have you been all my life? I still have some Glutino cookies and just bought more coconut milk. You know what’s going back in my freezer very soon? Yep. Because this recipe is SO easy to make and yes…it really does make a delicious, rich ice cream. You don’t have to be gluten-free or a vegan to enjoy this.

Make some for yourself. I promise…the real ingredients will change the way you think about ice cream.

Besides…I got to have cookies and cream ice cream again. Pardon me while I sit down with a spoon and indulge a little…or a lot.

September 14, 2013

Product Review: Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies – $5.99+

For all my loyal followers up to this point…you know it doesn’t need to be said…but I will state it one more time.

I. LOVE. COOKIES.

They are, in fact, one of my favorite indulgences. Especially after dinner. I don’t know what it is about cookies, but they just seem like the perfect way to end your day. Dessert at its finest, especially when the cookies are crumbly, soft, buttery, sweet and delicious.

HOWEVER…this combination doesn’t always fall into place when gluten-free cookies are concerned. Too often, the packaged cookies at the store are hard, crunchy, crumbly (and not in a good way) paper weights of wrongness that just don’t work for me. I’ve found some decent enough cookies in the past…but at a price. They are expensive for a reason. That reason being…they are GOOD!

Well, at Expo West this past year, Udi’s Gluten-Free unveiled a bunch of new products. And while Udi’s already has a line of cookies out on the shelves (the bite-size Snickerdoodles being my favorite), they introduced three new flavors in what they are calling a “Soft-Baked Cookies” line. These include Peanut Butter Coconut (yes please!), Maple Pecan Chip (yum!), and, the one that caught my attention immediately…Salted Caramel Cashew. Why did this one stand out? Because Salted Caramel whatever the thing is will always win in my book because salted caramel is one of my favorite flavors. It’s that sweet and salty combination. Add my favorite nut in the whole entire universe…the cashew…to the mix and you are totally Charlie Sheen WINNING!

I was afraid these products would be scarce in my area for awhile. This sometimes happens, especially when I get excited about a new product that is introduced by a brand I trust. But…I was at Walmart of all places one day and there they were…shining at me from a lower shelf…begging me to purchase it and devour ALL the cookies. I have no willpower when it comes to cookies, so they were in my arms and in a shopping bag in record time.

But I didn’t devour them all at once. In fact, I had other dessert items that needed my attention first. But yesterday marked the magical date where I ripped into the box, opened up the package and removed one of Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies. I breathed in the smell that came from the packaging itself. It was so familiar. In a good way. I handed off one cookie to my roommate, took one for myself…and then put everything away to devour another day. I stick to serving sizes even when I don’t always want to.

These cookies are amazing for processed goodies. Trust me on this one. The familiar smell…well…the taste made it all fall into place. These cookies taste like butter pecan ice cream. NO JOKE! They are perfectly balanced in sweetness and saltiness, lending that bit of savory flavor to each flaky, buttery bite. And these soft, chewy cookies are just a delight on the tastebuds. I honestly had to remind myself that I was eating a cookie…not butter pecan ice cream. Either way, I was one happy cookie monster. Oh yes…that cookie was gone in no time flat and I enjoyed every single delicious bite. Soft throughout, these cookies are just what I love when I bite into a gluten-free treat. Nothing tasted off or fake. Nothing crumbled. Nothing crunched in a loud and obnoxious way. These were sheer perfection in flavor, texture, and everything else. I was one very, very happy gluten-free cookie.

So…now the science of things…

Ingredient wise, these cookies are baked up by using tapioca starch, dried cane syrup, palm oil, brown rice flour, cashew pieces, eggs, tapioca syrup, toffee bits, potato starch, molasses, salt, natural flavors, vanilla extract, xanthan gum, baking soda, and caramel color. So, every ingredient is definitely something I recognize and might have even used myself. I have quite an eclectic blend of flours going on…especially as I’ve been doing some paleo baking recipes as one of my runners on Saturday is doing a paleo diet. Regardless…the fact that nothing sounds like a chemical or like a chemistry experiment makes me feel even better about eating these.

Nutritionally speaking…a serving of Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies is one cookie. This one cookie will cost you 120 calories and 6 grams of fat. These cookies are much bigger than the two-bite Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Chip, and Oatmeal Raisin cookies that they originally put out in their lineup. And the eclectic flavors of the new soft-baked varieties definitely tempt the palate. Anyway…these cookies also contain 130 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. Seven grams of sugar isn’t bad for a cookie! That’s quite impressive. These cookies do not provide any fiber to your diet and only 1 gram of protein, so not filling…but definitely a nice sweet way to end your meal.

So treat yourself to one of the most amazing cookies out on the market. The sweet and salty combination of flavors will entice and liven up your taste buds and leave you wanting more. And if you love butter pecan ice cream, you will especially fall in love with the butterscotchy flavor of the Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies.

Once again, Udi’s Gluten-Free…you impress me with your products. Another winner in my books.

August 14, 2013

Product Review: Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Product: Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix – $5.99+

Cookies.

We all know by now that I am obsessed with cookies. I love them. I’m a human cookie monster. Or…at least I was…back when eating cookies was easier for me. After the Celiac diagnosis, that had to change. Sort of.

There is absolutely no small amount of gluten-free cookies out on the market. Not just the pre-made and pre-packaged stuff…but mixes are out there…and even refrigerated tubs of gluten-free dough. Nope…gluten-free cookies are abundant throughout the marketplace. And I have probably consumed a majority of the ones that are offered.

Somewhere along the way, I acquired a box of Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix. I mean…if you’re going to prove that a cookie has potential, then you have to go with the classic chocolate chip variety. I haven’t met someone who doesn’t enjoy a chocolate chip cookie. So, when choosing a cookie (gluten-free or otherwise), always go chocolate chip. ALWAYS!

I don’t remember where I got this mix…but I had it in the pantry for a long while. I know…shocker. But…I was in the mood to bake the other night. And, you see, I belong to this fantastic group of runners who meet up every Monday and run together. A couple weeks back, I made a gluten-free Minion (from Despicable Me) cake. So, I figured…why not treat them to something nice after a good run? Normally I would make these from scratch, using my mom’s famous recipe from when I was a kid. But…I was short on time that evening. So, I dug out this mix and simply got to making it.

First of all…super simple to make. I mean…easy-peasy!! I love making cookies (even gluten-free ones) from scratch…but since I had this and it was so convenient…I figured…just do it. The mix went into my KitchenAid mixer along with 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter (room temperature) and 3 tablespoons of vegetable shortening. It got mixed up until it was crumbly and incorporated. One egg gets added and it mixes on low until the dough starts to come together. I ended up adding 1 tablespoon of water to mine before it really started to come together. I kneaded the dough with my hands for a moment more until it was stiff and slightly crumbly. Perfect.

One tablespoon for each cookie…that was the plan. I managed to rock out 24 cookies…and still had dough leftover. But my roomie is a dough fiend and asked if after I filled up the second baking sheet if she could have what was left…if there was any. I agreed. And she enthusiastically devoured the raw dough…saying it tasted really amazing.

Into the oven the cookies went for about 12 minutes. I watched them carefully, waiting for them to start to get that golden brown color to them. I removed them just as they were beginning to get golden so I would have a chewier cookie. I prefer a little crust on the outside with a chewy cookie. It’s my favorite way to enjoy a cookie. So that’s what I was going for.

And I succeeded. The cookies were a huge hit. And I loved the size of them. They were two to three-bite cookies, perfect for a simple snack after a run. In fact, the cookies are what got some of the runners up the hill at the very end of the run. “If I run this entire hill…I can have a cookie.” Hey…anything to get through, right? RIGHT!! Everyone gave me their opinions and all of it was positive. Quite a few people in the group are gluten-free…but there are others who are not. And they said you couldn’t even tell they were gluten-free. They had that savory hit of saltiness to them…the sweetness from the chocolate…and this chewy, but slightly-dense texture to them. They were almost the perfect chocolate chip cookie. But they baked up beautifully and they were really, really enjoyed by all who ran. Some even took 2…or even 3. WIN!

Heartland Gourmet is a family operated business that understands that time together with family is important. This is why they offer healthy, wholesome, and delicious gluten-free, gourmet, and organic baking mixes and kits. Why? Because it gets your treats cooking without taking away time from your family. Even better…get your loved ones to help you make something special.

Now…the science of it all. The Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix is made up of a gluten-free flour mix (rice flour, brown rice flour, potato starch, xanthan gum), granulated sugar, medium brown sugar, chocolate chips, vanilla, non-fat dry milk, salt, baking soda and butter.

A serving is 1/4 cup of the dry mix, which is about 130 calories. Each serving contains 1 gram of fat, 65 mg sodium, 22 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, and 1 gram of protein. So…treat it like a treat. No need to over-indulge. The entire point of making bite-size cookies was to satisfy the sweet tooth without sabotaging the hard work that goes into keeping the body fit and healthy.

Heartland Gourmet really bakes up traditional, yet very delicious gluten-free goodies. Their gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are amazing and definitely need to be shared. No one would be able to tell they were gluten-free. Honestly. They are really that good. Chewy, delicious…and somewhat healthy. Heartland Gourmet is, as their box says…naturally good.

Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

July 11, 2013

Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream frozen dessert a complete let down

Product: Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert – $4.99

When you think Cookies & Cream ice cream, what do you envision? For me…it’s a rich and creamy vanilla base that is filled with chunks of cookies. So, when I saw that Arctic Zero offered a frozen treat that was labeled Cookies & Cream, you better believe I got all excited about it.

While I tried and enjoyed the Chocolate Peanut Butter frozen dessert from Arctic Zero well enough…I mentioned that it seemed to be lacking a lot of the peanut butter flavor. And trust me…when you buy something that has the words PEANUT BUTTER listed, you want to be able to taste peanut butter.

Well, the same concept sort of holds true for something that is called Cookies & Cream. You just sort of expect to get cookies with your ice cream, right? EXACTLY!!

And that’s exactly what I immediately noticed was missing when I opened up this pint of the Arctic Zero Frozen Dessert I picked up at Whole Foods not too long ago. I mean…a gluten-free ice cream-like dessert that involved COOKIES??!! I was sold. And tonight, after a quick dinner, this was going to be dessert. I hurried into the kitchen to open the pint, which I let sit on the counter while my roommate and I ate because I discovered that lactose-free desserts do better when they are left to soften a little. I popped off the lid…and was staring at this gray-brown Italian ice-like substance. Given that I had eaten a flavor of Arctic Zero before, I was expecting the sorbet-like look. I wasn’t expecting the brown-gray color. And…AND…there was NO sign of anything cookie-like scattered throughout it.

I was totally bummed.

But, I figured maybe it was supposed to just taste like cookies and cream, in which case…the picture on the front is very misleading. That being said, I scooped up a 1/2 cup serving for my roommate and handed her a bowl, then went to scoop mine. She gave it a taste…and said that…it didn’t taste like cookies and cream. It almost tasted…caramel-like.

I finished scooping up my serving and put the pint back into the freeze. Then, I settled in and took my first taste. She was absolutely right. So, not only did I not have any cookies in my Cookies & Cream dessert…it tasted like caramel. Not cookies. Not cream. Caramel. Now, I like caramel…but not when I want cookies and cream. FOR REAL!! False advertising.

This was a serious let-down for me. It totally bummed me out on every level I could think of. I’m still upset about it. I could have forgiven them for the lack of cookies, but I can’t forgive them for getting the flavor wrong. This is NOT cookies and cream. This is…a disappointing let-down. Not what I wanted. Not what I was told I was getting.

Now, speaking nutrition-wise…the Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert is gluten-free and safe for the lactose intolerant. The entire pint will only serve you up 150 calories. But a regular serving, which is 1/2 cup, is only 36 calories and is fat free. In addition, one serving has only 80 mg sodium, 10 mg cholesterol, and 5 grams of sugar. Finally, one serving of the Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert from Arctic Zero gives you 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

As far as ingredients go…well…I can see how it would be best not to skip to these low-calorie substitutions. All the ingredients are, as listed: purified water, whey protein concentrate (milk), organic cane sugar, chicory root, sugarcane fiber, dutch processed cocoa powder with alkali, guar gum, xanthan gum, natural flavors, organic vanilla, sea salt, and monk fruit concentrate.

Definitely not the cleanest nor the best when it comes to ingredients. And this is not a vegan treat as it does contain whey protein. Just a warning.

For me…on this the second flavor I have tried from Arctic Zero…I’m beginning to see a trend…and I’m saying don’t waste your $5 on this. Go for something delicious that you know you’ll like. Be it real ice cream…or something offered from So Delicious or other non-dairy offerings that are SUPER delicious. This…is just not worth it.

A serving of Arctic Zero Cookies & Cream Frozen Dessert

June 26, 2013June 27, 2013

Apple Pie Gelato from Pure Gourmet is a scoop of sweet apple goodness

Product: Pure Gourmet Apple Pie Gelato – $5.99+

I think I need to get the roomie to indulge in beer flights more often…especially just before we hit up Whole Foods. Because when the roomie gets tipsy…the grocery budget gets a little bigger. Mostly because I find stuff I’ve been wanting to try…but know the budget won’t handle it. When the Tipsy Wonder is feeling the after affects of a beer flight with dinner, well…suddenly I start getting gluten-free gifts. Yes…this needs to become a tradition.

Why am I relaying this little anecdote? Well…because this happened on Friday night. And as a result, I ended up with quite a few bits of goodness in my freezer, pantry, and refrigerator. One of my new Thinking Outside The Gluten-Free Budget Because Someone Had A Beer Flight™ purchases happened to be a pint of Pure Gourmet Apple Pie Gelato.

Pure Gourmet was created by Philadelphia natives, Andrea Perrier, Kelly MacLeod, and Michael MacLeod. The three of them all shared a love for everything natural and gourmet. That’s why they launched their first line of sorbets, using natural, healthy ingredients. Soon after, they launched a line of gelato. Pure Gourmet’s entire concept is built upon the founder’s passion for enjoying pure foods with naturally bold and intense flavor. And all of their products are gluten-free and kosher. Loving it.

So…out of all the flavors to choose from…I grabbed the Apple Pie Gelato. Why? Because it was on closeout. Whole Foods was getting rid of that flavor. Which meant, the other gelato flavors and the sorbets would still be there. But not this one. Not for much longer. And that is how it beat out the Chocolate Caramel Sorbet. Honestly.

Tonight, the power went out (which means I took pictures of the product by the light of my oil lamp…so they are a bit dark…so sorry!). We had some huge storms sweep through the area and I had, thankfully, just finished toasting up my gluten-free veggie quesadilla when the lights went out. I was hoping they wouldn’t be out too long…but alas…my roommate and I managed to eat our dinner in the dark and there was no sign of the power returning yet. In fact, the storm was still raging outside. So…dishes and then dessert would have to be prepared in the dark.

Dessert was something I had been thinking about all day. I tend to think about food a lot. We had been working on a container of Udi’s Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles, but only one serving (2 cookies) remained. So I came up with the idea of Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles A La Mode. For real. Each of us got one of the remaining cookies in the bottom of the bowl. Then, one small scoop of the Pure Gourmet Apple Pie Gelato and a sprinkling of the cookie crumbs from the bottom of the container and…BAM…easy dessert.

I passed off a bowl to my roommate and went to tuck the gelato back in the freezer, which would remain closed until the return of the power. She dove in immediately and all I heard was, “The gelato is sooooooo goooooood!”

Happy squee time. But I had to find out for myself. I settled in on the couch. The first thing my spoon touched was that gelato. I wanted to see for myself.

She was so right. It tasted like a frozen apple pie. But…creamy and rich and smooth. I loved the apple flavor. And pairing it with a gluten-free snickerdoodle was an amazing combination. It was like having a cinnamon crust on a delicious apple pie. Honestly. And the sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar over the top just gave it that extra little bit. However, this gelato is crazy-good on its own. Trust me. I tried it without any embellishments as well. You can really taste every flavor in this gelato. And it has the perfect consistency too. Creamy and dreamy. Apple pie…taken to the next level. It definitely satisfied the ice cream lover in me. I wish my Whole Foods wasn’t going to stop carrying this variety. It is fresh apple pie meats gourmet ice cream good. Apple pie a la mode…in just the a la mode part. SO good!

Nutritionally speaking, this is gelato…so understand that it’s a dessert. A treat. Treat it as one. Don’t overindulge. Do NOT…I repeat…DO NOT sit down and eat the entire pint in one sitting. I always measure out or weigh my servings so I know exactly how much I am eating. I am very, very good about sticking to the portion-size. And I do everything to make sure this is always the case.

That being said, a serving of Pure Gourmet Foods Apple Pie Gelato is 1/2 cup (or if you prefer to weigh food, like I do…102 grams). This serving will contain a cold helping of 210 calories and 10 grams of fat. This gelato has 21 grams of sugar, 70 mg of sodium, 40 mg cholesterol, 1 gram of fiber, and 4 grams of protein. Remember…this is a treat. You should never feel bad about having dessert. Just plan accordingly.

And as far as ingredients go, this gelato is not only gluten-free but also kosher. It is made from milk, cream, sugar, evaporated apples, glucose, nonfat dry milk, whey, natural green apple flavor, cinnamon, guar gum, lotus bean gum, and carrageenan. So…I recognize most of those. I had to look up what carrageenan was…and for those of you who want to know, it is a member of the linear sulfated polysaccarides that are extracted from red seaweeds and used throughout the food industry for their gelling, thickening and stabilizing properties. These are most often used in dairy and meat products due to their strong binding to food proteins.

Good to know.

I guess.

Anyway…if you haven’t found this yet in your grocer’s freezer…and you love gelato…I highly recommend Pure Gourmet. It is delicious and the perfect compliment to any meal. And I highly recommend the Apple Pie Gelato…should you be able to find it. If not, talk to customer service and see if they can order it for you. Trust me…you’ll want to devour this.

A scoop of Pure Gourmet Apple Pie Gelato atop an Udi's Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle — A scoop of Pure Gourmet Apple Pie Gelato atop an Udi’s Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle

June 24, 2013May 11, 2015

Remembering just how much Udi’s rocks Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies

Special Delivery of Udi’s Gluten-Free Goodies – including brand new products!

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies – $5.99+

Want to win me over?

No…I mean it. For real. If you want to win me over…completely…heart, body, mind, soul, and spirit…then there is one key ingredient that you need to wave before me.

A gluten-free snickerdoodle cookie.

Go ahead. Scoff. Laugh. Mock me.

The fact of the matter is, growing up, my mom used to make the most fantastic snickerdoodle cookies. They were sweet with that little kick of spice from the cinnamon. To me, the perfectly balanced cookie. Sugar and spice…and everything nice. My mom made the best snickerdoodles. The absolute best.

I miss her cookies.

I miss snickerdoodles.

Back in November 2011, I picked up a container of Udi’s Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies. For a long while now, I had been reading about the epicness of these little bite-size cookies. I was intrigued. Surely they couldn’t measure up to my mom’s. Nothing is as good as mom’s cookies, right? Well…they may not have been my mom’s cookies…but they were close. They came really close.

So, why am I revisiting these cookies? Well, Udi’s sent me a delicious box of some goodies awhile back. Some old products; some new products. I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to not just revisit some of the classic products, but also get a taste of what Udi’s is bringing to the market that is new to their already expanding product line. And what a line-up it is too!

Of the classic products, I was delighted to see a container of the Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies among the other products. I might have hugged it as I lifted it out of the box. There were no witnesses, so no one can know for sure.

Were they as good as I thought they were back in 2011? After all, I was quite new to the gluten-free world back then. And after being deprived of many things, sometimes things just taste…amazing…due to not being able to have them.

Well, tonight I was on a mission to find out. I retrieved the container of Udi’s Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies from the pantry after eating dinner. I allow myself a small dessert every night, because we all need to treat ourselves. And I was feeling cookies. Snickerdoodles. How I resisted ripping that container open before now I will never know.

Anyway…two cookies. That’s the serving size. These cookies are three-bite cookies. Meaning…in three bites, they are gone. They aren’t big, but given that you get to devour two of them, it’s like eating a full-size cookie. I settled in, watching the second series of BBC’s “Sherlock” with dinner and finishing it up with dessert (appropriate, yes?).

I can attest that my love for Udi’s Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies remains high and perched atop a throne of gluten-free glory. These are just as good as I remembered them. Sweet with that kick of cinnamon, lending just the right amount of spice. Oh, and chewy. So soft. Moist. They are so easy to eat. And snickerdoodles are supposed to be a soft cookie. These practically melt in your mouth. They just have that right hit of sweetness from the cinnamon and sugar combination, mingled with the soft cookie texture. It makes for the perfect way to round-off any night. A soft-baked chewy delight of cookie monster glory.

I am still smitten.

Udi’s cookies are made from evaporated cane juice, Udi’s blend of flour (a mix of tapioca, potato starch and brown rice flour) butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, xanthan gum, non-gmo vegetable oil, and baking soda. Nothing unfamiliar or chemical sounding there…which makes me a happy girl. I love a product that I recognize every single ingredient that goes into it.

Nutritionally speaking…these cookies are a dessert and a treat. So, don’t be too shocked at these stats. As I stated, the serving size is two cookies. From these two cookies, you will be taking in 200 calories and 8 grams of fat. Each serving only contains 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein, so these will do little to fill you up and keep you feeling satisfied. Save for the fact that they really do satisfy that sweet tooth. And they should…as these cookies contain 16 grams of sugar per serving.

So, remember that these are a dessert, a snack, a treat. Not something that you should sit down with the entire container and devour while mindlessly watching Benedict Cumberbatch play Sherlock on the BBC network series. Not that I would do such a thing…

*AHEM*

What it boils down to…is everything in moderation. Unfortunately, many gluten-free foods get laden down with more calories and fat and these cookies seem to fall into that category. But, treating them as what they are…a treat…it’s a nice way to round off a day. And the fact that they are super-yummy does help ease the blow of the calorie and fat content…somewhat. Focus on the fact that you are taking six delicious bites of amazing soft and chewy gluten-free snickerdoodle cookies. Then go for a walk. You won’t feel as guilty.

Or…indulge. They are, after all, the most amazing gluten-free snickerdoodles I have treated myself to. Udi’s…you continue to rock my cookie-loving world.

Udi's Gluten-Free Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies — Udi’s Gluten-Free Soft & Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies

June 7, 2013June 7, 2013

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

Natural Nectar Gluten-Free Choco Dream Rice Sticks

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

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

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

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

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

That changed…last night.

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

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

Well…one bite…

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

Let me explain.

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

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

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

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

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

May 29, 2013

DR Delish Gluten-Free Animal Cookies addictively, fantastically, amazingly delish

Product: DR Delish Gluten-Free Animal Cookies – $2.99+

If you live near a Walgreens…dash out there right this instant.

Well, maybe read this first…then, dash out there and pick up a bag of the DR Delish Animal Cookies. Why? Because the brand name is not meant to deceive you. These cookies are absolutely, positively, 100% one of the best tasting gluten-free cookies out on the market. And they are exclusive to Walgreens.

I actually never would have found these as I do not frequent Walgreens often. And it never would have occurred to me to look for gluten-free items there. I blame this new fascination…this new…addiction, if you will…on my mother. Yes, my MOM!! And I love her for it. I love her for every cookie in that little pouch.

You see…these cookies came to me in the mail. A little surprise gift from my mom. She had been out at Walgreens and had spotted those on the shelf. She knew…she just knew…I had to have them. She was right. Because I think when I pulled these out of the shipping box, I might have started to cry. It had been a rough day for me…nothing in the world seemed right. And then…my mom sends me cookies. Not just any cookies, mind you. But ones shaped like animals. Like the animal crackers I used to devour as a child. I won’t lie…I devoured them as a teenager and an adult as well. Until I no longer could.

You often don’t realize how much you miss something until you can no longer have it. I didn’t realize how much I missed animal crackers until I pulled this bag of DR Delish Gluten-Free Animal Cookies out of a simple USPS box. I was a mess of emotions that day…and at that moment, the note from my mom and the cookies themselves meant more than anything to me.

As I have established before…I have a stash of gluten-free goodies going in my pantry, which I am attempting to work through in some semblance of order. This meant, despite the overwhelming spring of emotions brought on by this gift, these cookies would have to wait their turn in the snack queue.

The wait came to an end…today.

Last night, as I was prepping my lunch, snacks, and breakfast for after my gym workout, I realized I needed a new afternoon snack. The next item up…DR Delish Gluten-Free Animal Cookies. I retrieved the bag from the pantry and tore it open to dish out the serving size (about 10 cookies…but if you weigh your food like I do…it’s 30 grams). I resisted the urge to sneak a bite right then and there, playing it as I always do…and reserving that for my afternoon snack time at the office. I sealed the bag back up and returned it to the shelf.

Lo and behold, my snack time finally rolled around and I was all too excited to be diving into a serving of animal cracker-like snacks. Just from first-hand glance, these cookies resemble the cookies you’d find under that layer of high fructose corn syrup-y icing. They had the same feel to them too…minus the icing of course.

What came as the surprise to me, however, was the flavor. The taste. How absolutely fantastic and addictive these were. It’s a good thing I did sort these by serving instead of just hauling the entire pack with me. They’d be gone in a New York Gluten-Free Minute! Holy gluten-free cow, Batman…these were amazing. They sort of reminded me of a sugary cake. That was the flavor I got. Less cracker, more cookie-cake-y flavor. They aren’t as airy as the traditional animal cracker, having a density closer to butter cookies or shortbread, but they have this soft crispness to them. And the flavor…out of this world. For real!! They have this subtle sweetness of vanilla and honey with that hit of buttery goodness that just makes them…the perfect cookie in every way. And…they are shaped…LIKE ANIMALS!! Come on! These taste identical…if not better…to the non-gluten-free versions I used to be able to eat before I had to go gluten-free.

I could eat these every day and be one very, very happy girl.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of these cookies (the very difficult to stick to 10 cookies or 30 grams) will set you back 130 calories and only 1 gram of fat. These also only have a small amount of sugar, topping out at 9 grams. In addition,, you get 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein in each serving. Not too bad. What’s even better is, unlike those regular animal crackers, these cookies do not contain high fructose corn syrup.

DR Delish Gluten-Free Animal Cookies…you are a fun, super delish treat. If I had less self-control…the entire bag in my pantry would be gone right now. Yeah. That good.