Cuisine Cube – Page 5 – The Celiathlete

January 15, 2015

Product Review: Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal

Product: Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal – $3.50+

It feels like a frozen tundra outside, so my favorite things to eat right now are warm, hearty, and comforting. This includes casseroles, soups, and yes…oatmeal. And while I’ve been preparing refrigerated overnight oats since…the weather warmed up, I guess…when the windchill dips down and makes the air hurt my face, the last thing I want is cold meal. I don’t mind…but once I’m chilled, I’m chilled to the bone. So something that is warming is always welcome.

And, it seems like I’m on a current oatmeal kick. And who, honestly, can blame me. There is nothing better in life than a steaming bowl of gluten-free oatmeal. I’ll take it flavored or plain or with fruit or nuts or however. As long as it tastes good, you have won me over. Seriously. Growing up I hated oatmeal. I think it was a texture thing…and the fact that my dad would overcook it so it got lumpy and just…meh. And I upheld that I disliked oatmeal up until a few years ago. I started bringing in little packets with me to work for lunch. They were perfect. And they weren’t all bad. Some where. I won’t lie. But I discovered some that were actually rather tasty.

And then…BAM…the diagnosis of being a Celiac. I could find gluten-free oatmeal at my natural food stores…but I was having a hard time finding decent ones that wouldn’t break my already very fragile (and about to get more expensive) budget. I purchased some, for sure, but eventually just moved onto making overnight oats with almond milk, gluten-free rolled oats, chia seeds, honey, fruit, cinnamon and Greek yogurt. It was easy to make and really tasty. But, when winter kicks you in the teeth…you fight back with heat, yes? I know I do.

Back in August, my Cuisine Cube featured quite a few products that I’m still getting to try. I travel a lot, so sometimes this means things get put into my pantry and I get to them…when I get to them. And as I am sent a new box of goodies each month by Cuisine Cube…I sometimes get a bit backlogged. But…this is not a complaint. I always get to a product in the end. I know I’ve talked a lot recently about Cuisine Cube, but let me share some more with why I love this service so much. For a small fee (ranging from $34.99 (1 month) to $29.99 (six months)), a perfect cube filled with small business and lesser-known gluten-free products will be delivered to your door. It’s yours to enjoy and then…do all over again the following month. I love this because it is giving me the opportunity to try products and brands that I never heard of or would know about otherwise. Sometimes the items come from local bakeries…and sometimes they might be something you have seen at a natural food store, but isn’t a widespread gluten-free corporate giant for sure. It’s nice to try full-size (not sample sizes) products that are new to me or that I am unfamiliar with. Every month, it’s like Christmas all over again. At least 5-6 products in every Cube…and I never know what to expect inside.

I was very lucky to have not gotten through some items I received back in August because it meant with the cooler weather, I now had a warm treat for lunch. And that treat was Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal. I was not familiar at all with Modern Oats, so I was pretty excited to have a new gluten-free oatmeal to try. Modern Oats was founded in 2013 with the simple goal of changing people’s perception of ‘old fashioned’ oatmeal. You know…people like me…who either disliked or felt that oatmeal was boring. They decided to only work with small farm, non-GMO, gluten-free rolled oats. They next began to craft artisanal, delicious blends of fruits, nuts and seeds to produce the perfect, healthy, modern meal that can be enjoyed anytime…anywhere. It’s a modern take on fast food…only better for you!

Modern Oats offers six varieties of their oatmeal. The Cuisine Cube contained a single container of the Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal. I love everything about this flavor. I love apples. I love walnuts. Therefore…this should be a WIN with me, yes?! Well…only one way to find out.

It’s Thursday and I’m rushing to get things done at the office before heading to Charleston, South Carolina this weekend. YAY!! Vacation. A very short vacation, but a vacation. The more I can be at my desk, working on what needs to be done, the better. And the easy and quick preparation for this oatmeal definitely made it the best thing to bring with me this week. Nothing could be easier. Give the little container a shake, then pour boiling water over all the oats so they are covered. Then, cover the container and allow it to sit for 3 minutes. Uncover, stir, and devour. Easy-peasy! And quick. I let mine steep and cook up while I got some work done. And when the three minute time window was up…it was lunch time. Sort of. I might have added too much water…so I let it sit for another 2 minutes. THEN…it was lunch time.

One bite. And at first…I wasn’t too sure. What I did notice was that it wasn’t abundantly sweet, despite containing 17 grams of sugar. I’m assuming that some of that is the dried fruit. At least…that’s what I am hoping. On my second bite…I got it. I mean, I really got it. I had a little bit of everything. The oats…the nuts…the seeds…the fruit…it was one magical bite. I loved the different textures that were prevelant throughout the entire container. This made each bite different from the one that came before it. And that, my friends, is a fantastic thing. I love that it wasn’t too sweet…nor was it bland. And the best part was…it didn’t turn to mush. Not at all. The oats stayed al dente…in a good way…the nuts and fruits brought their own flavors and textures…and it was just one great bite after another. I ended up eating this way faster than I usually would. I liked it. I liked it a lot. I’m even happy to overlook the astounding (for oatmeal) calorie count, under the impression that much of that comes from the naturally good for you seeds and nuts that are inside. Oh yeah…this was a big win! And SO easy to make too! Shake, pour, wait, devour!

Let’s discuss what goes into Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal. This oatmeal is made from certified gluten-free whole grain rolled oats, organic cane sugar, walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried apples, golden raisins, chia seeds, cinnamon, and natural flavors. Real ingredients. And while the second ingredient is sugar…not bad as to what all goes into it. And, as a bonus, these ingredients are non-GMO. This oatmeal, in addition to being gluten-free, is also cholesterol free and sodium free.

As for nutritional information, I will preface this by saying I was a little reluctant to dive into a small container that would give me over 300 calories for my lunch. I’m not used to that. But, I had to tell myself to remember that what I am eating is all-natural and real food. A lot of these calories were coming from healthy ingredients, like the seeds, fruits, and nuts. So…with that in mind, I hesitated no longer. A serving of the Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal is 1 container. This serving provides you with 310 calories and 7 grams of fat. Much of that fat content will be the naturally healthy kind that you find in nuts. This serving, however, does dish up a whopping 17 grams of sugar. YIKES! I’m trying to cut back on my sugar intake, so I’m chalking this figure up to the dried fruits…despite that second ingredient being organic cane sugar. I am thinking positively. One container of these oats will also serve up 7 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. Oh yeah…you’ll definitely feel full after eating this!

For the record, of the six flavors (Apple Walnut, 5 Berry, Goji Blueberry, Mango Blackberry, Chocolate Cherry, and Nuts and Seeds), the calories range between 250-310, depending on the variety you choose to feast on.

I love finding out what products Cuisine Cube has discovered and decided were worth to share with those of us who subscribe. This little container from Modern Oats boasted big flavors and big promise. It is one mighty meal indeed, and you will feel satiated and warmed all the way through. Nicely done, Cuisine Cube. Now, I have yet another gluten-free oatmeal option…and that is no bad thing! If you can’t find Modern Oats at any of your local stores, you can certainly order online!

Modern Oats Apple Walnut Oatmeal (prepared)

January 14, 2015January 27, 2015

Product Review: Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips

Product: Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips – $2.99+

It’s been a busy week for me as I’ve been working my way through some products that I had set aside and hadn’t managed to get to as of yet. But, that all changed…because I’m trying to be better about using the items in my pantry/freezer/refrigerator. It’s part of my New Years resolutions…to be better about keeping my life organized.

As I’ve mentioned numerous times before, I subscribe to this great service known as Cuisine Cube. Each month, I am sent a fantastic box of gluten-free goodies (one item for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, and dessert, with an occasional bonus item) that I can enjoy over the rest of the month as I await the following month’s cube. It’s a fantastic service and I’m glad I discovered it and decided to sign up. Trust me, this is definitely worth the small fee because I am introduced to some really fantastic products I never would have known existed otherwise.

And, true to form, my September Cuisine Cube had in it quite a few items I wasn’t familiar with. And in the snack slot…chips. Not just any chips though. Nope. Packed into my cube was a bag of Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips. Wai Lana…never even heard of this company. So, I had to get online and look them up. The slogan of Wai Lana is “Where healthy living comes naturally.” I like what I’m hearing already. Wai Lana is actually a person, a yoga advocate who is also a highly energetic and prolific artist. She is one of the best known yoga instructors in the world. For over twenty years, she has also been a vegetarian and an advocate for good health, preparing both recipes and cookbooks. Recently she expanded her growing empire to produce a high-quality line of natural supplements, body care products, and gluten-free snacks.

One of these said snacks where what greeted me in my Cuisine Cube – the Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips. What makes these chips different from regular chips? The answer to that is easy. Instead of the standard potato, these chips are made from the nutrient-rich cassava. These chips contain 30% less fat than regular potato chips. I like what I’m reading already.

So, with snack time looming, these were the new crunchy snack of the day. Upon opening the bag, I noticed how similar they looked in appearance to Pop Chips. They definitely had that rice cake, lightness that I associate with popped chips. They were very light in weight and definitely not greasy at all. As for flavor…well, they have a great crunch, for sure. At first bite, I wasn’t sure how I felt about them. But the more I chewed, the more they reminded me of Fritos. The Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips were like a round, light and healthier version of that corn chip snack…Fritos. I mean, the flavor was pretty much spot on. This isn’t a bad thing, mind you. I just wasn’t prepared for it. What a nice surprise. If you like popped chips that are light but pack a bit of flavor, I highly recommend these!

Let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips are made from cassava (yucca chips), tapioca flour, palm olein oil, cane sugar, leek, and sea salt. These chips are non-GMO and free from preservatives, cholesterol, artificial colors, artificial flavors, wheat, soy and gluten. But, they are not lacking in flavor, texture, or yumminess.

As for the nutritional information, a serving of the Wai Lana Natural Cassava Chips is 1 ounce (or about 24 chips). This serving will dish up 132 (yes…132) calories and 6 grams of fat. A serving will also give you 1 mg cholesterol, 159 mg sodium, and 3 grams of sugar. This serving will also provide you with less than one gram (about 0.3 grams) of protein and 1 gram of fiber. So, don’t expect this snack to fill you up. But…you won’t care because as far as chips go, these are actually quite good for you!

I was really surprised with how much I enjoyed these chips. I am not much for popped chips, but these were light, non-greasy, and had this fantastic flavor to them. It took me two bites to decide whether I liked them or not, but it turned out these were really quite enjoyable.

Thanks to Cuisine Cube, I was introduced to yet another company and product that I had no idea was even out there. Now that I know a little bit more about Wai Lana and the products that they offer, I am going to look into ordering more from their site. And if this has intrigued you to check it out…I encourage you to do the same.

Trust me, you do not want to miss out!

January 14, 2015January 14, 2015

Product Review: Klara’s Gourmet Chocolate Macaroons

Product: Klara’s Gourmet Chocolate Macaroons – $6.00+

You know…there is a lot of things I love about being a subscriber to Cuisine Cube. Lots. For one thing, I get to discover products and new brands that I never would have known about before. Seriously. Because Cuisine Cube makes it their job to find lesser-known, but equally tasty (if not better) products to be shipped off each month to their subscribers. This is, honestly, one of the best things I have ever signed up for. One thing that is always guaranteed with that each little box will contain an item that is a breakfast, a lunch, a snack, a dinner, and a dessert. Sometimes…you get a bonus product. I always am curious to see what the people at Cuisine Cube put in each month’s box. And one thing, I admit, I really look forward to, is their choice for a dessert.

It’s no secret…I have a sweet tooth. I am a chocoholic who loves desserts and will never turn down a gluten-free goodie if one is offered. Trust me. I love being active and fit and that seems to allow me to maintain my love of all things sugar and spice and totally bad for me. HA!

In the October Cuisine Cube, the dessert option just happened to be a brand of cookie I was unfamiliar with. Klara’s Gourmet, which boasts that it is “a taste of tradition.” Interesting. Even more interesting was that these were not just cookies, but CHOCOLATE Macaroons. Now, for as long as I have been a diagnosed Celiac (and gluten-free for that matter) I have yet to actually sit down and eat a macaroon. I’ll tell you why. Coconut scares me. It really, really scares me. Because I’m so subjective when it comes to coconut. Sometimes I like it…and sometimes I don’t. It’s a texture thing, I know…but I enjoy the taste and everything else…but it’s the texture that throws me off. And macaroons, for some reason, just seem to scream “COCONUT TEXTURE!”

But, alas, I never let that hinder me from trying something new. Because, I will at least try something once. And tonight, after dinner, this was the dessert I reached for. Deep breath. Do not fear the unknown or the dessert. Because dessert is awesome and wonderful and should not be feared.

With that, I grabbed the Klara’s Gourmet Chocolate Macaroons out of my pantry and opened them up. I snagged four of the cookies, two for me and two for my roommate, who was probably as apprehensive as I was, as she really does despise coconut. But, she is also branching out in her food choices and will always try it. So, with the cookies now out and ready for consumption…we both took deep breaths and dove in.

These weren’t as scary as I was making them out to be in my mind. Yes…they are coconut and yes…they do have that “eating bugs” coconut texture, but oddly enough…the chocolate and sweetness of the cookie sort of distracted from all of that. I thought these tasted like a rich chocolate cake, with shavings of coconut bringing in a bit of flavor and texture. These were sweet, and definitely a great way to round up dinner because it was maybe six bites of chocolate goodness. I was actually really impressed. The macaroons themselves were soft and perfect. I mean…perfect. I think if I were a bigger fan of coconut these would be my go-to cookie. But as someone who doesn’t hate, but doesn’t love coconut…these were really good. They exceeded my expectations for sure.

Klara’s Gourmet was founded by Klara Sotonova, who emigrated from the Czeck Republic at the age of 19…all on her own. She came to the United States with a dream of owning her own business. This became a reality in 2006 when she founded Klara’s Gourmet Cookies. When she lived in the former Czechoslovak communist regime, Klara and her family did not have easy access to mass produced baked goods. The baking traditions that Klara now brings to each of us were handed down from her grandmother, as it had been done for generations in her family.

Let’s take a peek into the ingredients of Klara’s Gourmet Chocolate Macaroons, shall we? These cookies are made from unsweetened/unsulphured coconut, pure cane sugar, water, organic honey, cocoa processed with alkali, cage free non-GMO verified egg whites, rice flour, pure vanilla extract, and salt. They are all-natural, gluten-free, and cholesterol free.

As far as nutrition goes, Klara’s Gourmet Chocolate Macaroons, a serving is 2 macaroons. This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 7 grams of fat. These two cookie will also give you 40 mg sodium and 12 grams of sugar. A little high in sugar…but they are cookies, after all. These macaroons also give you 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

This is yet again a great example of how Cuisine Cube brings fantastic products I never would have known existed to my very own home. I was actually very surprised with how much I ended up enjoying the Klara’s Gourmet Chocolate Macaroons. I had never before heard of this brand, but now I am eager to try a few other of her cookies…like the Lemon Poppy Shortbread, for sure!!

If you haven’t pulled the trigger yet and ordered at least one month of Cuisine Cube…do it now. Or you will be missing out for sure!

January 8, 2015

Product Review: The YES Bar Macadamia Chocolate Chip Snack Bar

Product: The YES Bar Macadamia Chocolate Chip Snack Bar – $3.00+

The holiday season is over, and the New Years resolutions have kicked in, right? And so many people place eating better, working out, and losing weight at the top of their list. I am not one of those people. In fact, I don’t ever make New Years resolutions…and I’ll tell you why…I hate not accomplishing a goal I set for myself. I usually just make it a point to live that year to the best of my abilities. That being said, I am doing a little bit of cleaning up when it comes to my diet. And that does mean I am paying attention to ingredients that are in products that I purchase. While I prefer to eat natural and whole foods, there is no escaping the ease and convenience of processed and packaged goods at times.

And thanks to Cuisine Cube‘s Holiday cube (December), my New Year is off to a grand start. Let’s discuss, once again, the benefits and advantages I feel a service like Cuisine Cube offers. Because, if you’ve been reading this, you should be familiar with the service, but perhaps have been wavering on actually signing up. Hesitate no more. Just…DO IT! Cuisine Cube is a mail delivery service that happens monthly, delivering delicious, lesser-known, local, and less-processed gluten-free products right to your door. It’s fantastic. And each month is like Christmas, opening up the box and discovering what goodies are inside. It’s available at different price ranges, depending on how long you wish to order it for…be it month-to-month or a whole year. If you haven’t gone to the site to check it out…do it now. You will not regret it.

Available in each cube is a food that can be used for either a breakfast, a lunch, a dinner, a snack, and a dessert…and sometimes…a bonus. This month…an extra dessert. My sweet tooth stands up and salutes the Cuisine Cube gods and goddesses! But, the product that I tried out this morning was actually the breakfast item that was included.

We all know that I am a huge advocate for breakfast. It is my favorite meal of the day. Honestly. I could eat breakfast for breakfast, lunch and dinner and never get tired of that kind of food. Never.

This morning was one of those mornings where I would rather stay curled up in bed, hibernating under all my blankets. With a hard freeze warning in affect for my area, my 7 mile speed work run was not happening outdoors today. Nope. So, I had to set my alarm to get up early and go to the gym to run…7 miles…on a treadmill…at varying speeds. UGH! But, when training for the Boston Marathon, you do what needs to be done. You just suck it up, cupcake.

After my run, I returned home for breakfast. With my coffee brewing, I needed something easy and fast. I remembered that I still had some products from my December Cuisine Cube…which included a breakfast bar of sorts.

It is called The YES Bar. Yes…The YES Bar. It was created over three years ago in a home kitchen in Laurel Canyon, California. Creator, Abigail, was faced with some food sensitivities and health challenges when it came to her son. And she found herself constantly having to tell him “no” to the foods he wanted to eat. So, she set to work, collecting all the healthy, delicious, and yummy foods that she could find in her kitchen that were naturally free of gluten, dairy, soy and corn. She started with nuts and seeds…added in honey and maple syrup…then vanilla bean powder…cinnamon…dried fruits…and coconut butter. In went hemp and chia for added nutrition. And then…chocolate. Because chocolate should be in everything. And “chocolate is awesome”…she says on the Web site. It took months to get the recipe down and find the right consistency to make these little portable treats of breakfast goodness. From the first taste, even before they were perfected, Abigail’s son loved them. Her other son loved them. Her friends loved them. Her husband loved them. In fact, her husband started using them for his 50 mile bike rides…and then his cycling buddies wanted them. From there it was parties…then people wanting to buy them…then into local stores…and so on.

The YES Bar is a grain free bar, so if you follow a paleo diet, they work for you. I do not follow a paleo diet, nor am I a fan of said diet. But…every single ingredient that goes into these bars is real food. And that is a sticking piont with me these days. The less processed the better. No weird preservatives or binders or fillers. This is not a glorified candy bar. It is a delicious and 100% healthy bar that you can eat for breakfast, after a run, on-the-go, for dessert, or as fuel for your workout. In fact…The YES Bar makes the following promise on their site: “If it’s in our bar, it’s good for you. And when you eat it, it will be yummy. Like, really yummy.”

So, does it live up to all the Web site hype by the creators?

OMG…does it ever!! This is like a Lärabar on crack. The good kind of crack! HA! The package said to try it chilled, so last night I popped it into the fridge so I could enjoy it this morning as a breakfast treat after my treadmill run. It was fantastic. Sweet and savory and salty and just all around amazing and delicious. I loved the crunchy and chewy texture combination. And it was actually quite filling for a bar…and it should be because it is all real and natural ingredients. There is some sugar, but it is part of the dried fruits and the honey and syrup that is added. It’s not granulated sugar of any kind. Gotta love that. And the flavor…amazing. You do feel like you’re cheating on breakfast with this bad. The chocolate gives it that rich sweetness…the dried fruits add to the texture and sweetness, but the nuts give it a salty and savory feel at the same time. It’s like eating candy for breakfast…but candy that is actually good for you!

Since we’re on the subject of ingredients, let me give you a run down of what all goes into The YES Bar Macadamia Chocolate Chip Snack Bar. This bar is made from macadamia nuts, maple syrup, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut butter, pecans, honey, dark chocolate, raisins, dried cranberries, dried apricots, dried tart cherries, shelled hemp seeds, sesame paste, flax seeds, chia seeds, celtic sea salt, cinnamon, and vanilla bean powder. It is certified paleo friendly, certified gluten-free, and does not contain soy, dairy, gluten, or corn. It is also non-GMO! You gotta love all of that, yes?

As for nutrition, a serving size is one of The YES Bar Macadamia Chocolate Chip Snack Bars. In this one bar, you will be served up a filling 200 calories and 15 grams of fat. Do not freak out over the fat…because it is the healthy fat that comes from the nuts and seeds that are inside this bar. This bar provides you with 105 mg sodium, 160 grams of potassium, and 9 grams of sugar. That may seem a little high for one bar, but it’s mostly coming from the maple syrup, the honey, and the dried fruits. So, it’s not the bad kind of sugar. To top it off, you will be taking in 3 grams of filling fiber and 4 grams of protein. It makes a perfect on-the-go snack and a great post-workout breakfast. Or…eat it while on your long run for fuel. Nothing should be offensive to the stomach. I might have to give that a try next time as I train up for my upcoming marathons!

I am beyond thrilled with The YES Bar Macadamia Chocolate Chip Snack Bar. And I never would have even known of its existence without my subscription to Cuisine Cube. They really do search for the best quality items to go in each cube. And they definitely hit the mark with this California based snack bar company. Loved this bar from first bite. It was great chilled, but I bet it would be just as good straight out of the package. Another win!

If you can’t find The YES Bar near you…be sure to check out their Web site! Trust me…you do NOT want to miss out on these!

January 8, 2015

Product Review: North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble – Double Chocolate Brownie + Heath Bar Crunch Blondie

North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble - Double Chocolate Brownie and Heath Bar Blondie — North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble – Double Chocolate Brownie + Heath Bar Blondie

Product Review: North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble – Double Chocolate Brownie + Heath Bar Crunch Blondie – $8.50+

Double your pleasure. Double your fun. Double your dessert.

Trust me…that is not a complaint.

I was surprised with my Holiday 2014 (December) Cuisine Cube when I found two amazing desserts inside. Even better…two of my favorite things for dessert. Cookies (which I’ll nosh and blog about later) and brownies. Not just one brownie…but two brownies. Pardon me whilst I drool a little.

In case you haven’t been paying attention, back in March I signed up for a fantastic gluten-free food delivery program called Cuisine Cube. Each month, I am sent a box of 5-6 different gluten-free products from smaller and lesser-known gluten-free companies. Some…are just from local bakeries…much like the product I am eating today. Cuisine Cube is a fantastic way to broaden your gluten-free culinary and foodie horizons, because, honestly, I never would have even known any of these products existed for the most part. New to me…and I’m loving it. I have already vowed to hit the Stock Up page on Cuisine Cube’s site more than once to get more of a product that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Dessert x 2 this month. As it should be with the holidays. Hey…I’m a runner and I work out. Dessert is not an option; it’s a way of life. I was raised having dessert every night after dinner…and that tradition carries over even now when I am on my own. It’s the best way to wrap up the day. A little treat at the end.

So, the first dessert I reached for was the one that came with two options. Yes. I am talking about North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble. Why “Double Trouble?” Well…inside this little unassuming bag are two decadent looking dessert bats. Yes. North Brooklyn Eats included a Heath Bar Crunch Blondie and a Double Chocolate Brownie.

Before I discuss the dessert bars themselves, let’s discuss North Brooklyn Eats for a moment. The local small town bakery is dedicated to making homemade confections that are gluten-free and “don’t suck.” (I pulled that right off the little info thing online!) It is run by two brothers, Josh and Michael Kimberg out of Beacon, NY, in the Hudson Valley. It is the goal of these two brothers to change everyone’s perception of gluten-free dessert. They specialize in gluten-free cakes and muffins, but, obviously, have other baked goods to offer as well, but desserts are their forte.

And yes…they are knocking it out of the park. A simple Double Trouble Home Run!!

As I believe in everything in moderation, including dessert (even if my sweet tooth says otherwise), I only ate one dessert bar at a time. And I split each one with my roommate (who is not a Celiac and doesn’t have to eat gluten-free). We started with (because I deemed it so) the Heath Bar Crunch Blondie.

The only thing I did to this blondie was that I gave it a quick warm up in the microwave. Desserts are always better when warm (when it comes to things like brownies, bars and cookies). It smelled absolutely fantastic when I removed it from the microwave. I got a knife and sliced through the blondie. Immediately I liked what I could see. The edges had this nice crispy border to them (my favorite part of any brownie!) and the inside was soft and chewy. I gave half to my roommate (Cathy), and kept the other half for me to devour. I tucked in under my snuggie (Hey…it’s cold here!) and dove in.

Holy dessert gods!! I have always loved brownies and enjoyed blondies. This blondie was definitely done up very well. The North Brooklyn eats Heath Bar Crunch Blondie tastes like…a Heath Bar…but in a more rich and decadent form. It’s like a sweet snack transformed into a delicious dessert. And I loved it. The blondie was baked to perfection, golden and speckled with toffee and chocolate goodness. It was a nice play of flavors on the taste buds for sure. I was just casually eating each little forkful, until I just had to pick it up and shove it in my face. Well, maybe not so barbarian and brutishly…but I did give up on the fork method as just getting my fingers on this treat was a necessary pleasure. It was moist and crumbly and just perfect. If heaven were a brownie…it would be a blondie! THIS particular blondie!!

The North Brooklyn Eats Double Chocolate Brownie was up the next night. Meaning…it was totally scarfed up tonight. HA! If you love chocolate…you will totally love this. This brownie…think cake-like, not fudgy, is a rich, chocolatey, delicious treat from the first bite to the last. I love that it isn’t overly sweet. It hits all the right notes. The brownie itself is light and soft in the middle, not heavy and dense. I love that. It makes me feel like I can eat more! The edges had that fantastic crunch to them, but inside was all chocolate and all business. Chocolate brownies with chocolate chips. Yeah…you can’t go wrong with that. Insanely good! Double insanely good.

As this is a product from a local bakery in the New York City area…there isn’t any information as to what ingredients they use or the nutrition information. But…they are brownies and blondies…assume it’s a treat. If you’re anything like me…you can split it with a friend or loved one. All the taste, half the guilty pleasure…er…guilt.

Two nights, two desserts, two fantastic dessert bars…all brought to me by the awesome people at Cuisine Cube…as well as the master bakers at North Brooklyn Eats. I’m still dreaming of dessert. If you want the best of both dessert bar worlds…opt for North Brooklyn Eats Double Trouble – Double Chocolate Brownie + Heath Bar Crunch Blondie. Enjoy every last bite! And then…go buy more.

January 4, 2015

Product Review: CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi

Product: CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi – $5.50+

Before I was diagnosed as a Celiac, one of my favorite cuisines was Italian food. Guess what? It still is. Growing up, my favorite dinner was my mom’s spaghetti. When my friends had me over for dinner…spaghetti was often on the menu. I was in love with everything about pasta.

But it took a trip to Ireland back when I had my first taste of gnocchi. Yep. Ireland. But then, I was obsessed with it. Little puffy pastas made of flour and potato. Heavenly.

But then…with my diagnosis…gnocchi was off the menu. Sure, there were plenty of recipes out on the Internet for gluten-free gnocchi, but it all just seemed so time consuming. I later discovered a couple of brands of frozen gnocchi. One was horrible. One was good. But, those were the only two times I had it…aside from my one time I made gluten-free pumpkin gnocchi. But none of it equaled up to the “real” thing.

So, you can imagine my excitement when my Winter (December) Cuisine Cube arrived in the mail this past month. If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I am completely in love with my subscription to Cuisine Cube. Cuisine Cube is a monthly delivery system that brings amazing and delicious to your door. This team of enthusiastic eaters, food professionals, and allergy sufferers from New York City created this gluten-free delivery service to bring lesser-known brands, made by small artisan producers that taste better and are better for you than those gluten-free brands available in supermarkets around the country, to your very own front door. Honestly…check them out and give it a try. It’s my favorite part of each month. Hands down.

In this month’s Cuisine Cube, I received six fantastic and new-to-me products! YAY! I have already reviewed one product from the December cube…but tonight I am reviewing another one. Because tonight was my belated New Year’s Eve party with my friend Jenn in Columbus, Ohio. Jenn does not have to eat gluten-free. She’s Italian. And she, much like me, loves food. We normally cook something at least once on my visit…and I tweeted to her earlier this week about what to do for dinner.

Well, I mentioned that I had a package of CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi that I could bring with me. She said that sounded great…and we would make Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread) to accompany it. And why not? Italian main dish, Brazilian side. This…is what we do. We mix things up.

Well, we got the bread (which is naturally gluten-free!) going in the oven and then set out to make the gnocchi. SO easy.

CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi takes less than five minutes to cook. No joke. Bring water to a boil…and add some salt. Then, add the pasta and allow it to cook until the gnocchi rises to the top. Then let it cook for an additional two minutes, drain, and then serve with your favorite sauce. Yep…that easy.

The CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi cooked up perfectly. Honest-to-goodness pillows of potato pasta. They floated to the top and when drained…looked stunning. Jenn mixed them with a little bit of sauce and dinner was served. I couldn’t wait to give it a taste.

Jenn, my roommate Cathy, and I have all taste-tested the other two brands of gluten-free gnocchi together. We are true gnocchi lovers. Especially Jenn! So…this was a big deal. We’ve had one hit and one miss. But the CoraBella…the CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi…was a home run. The gnocchi itself was very light and soft and…amazing. When your Italian friend says, “This tastes like regular gnocchi!”…you know…you just know that it’s good. And it was. It was beyond good. The pasta didn’t stick together when cooking. The pasta was soft and amazing. It paired well with the red sauce, but it would also be amazing crisped up by sauteeing it in a pan with butter. It was this fantastic bowl of light, fluffy, doughy pasta goodness. SO good. I was beyond impressed. I am planning on hitting up the Cuisine Cube Stock Up site for more. This must forever be in my pantry.

There is a reason that the gluten-free gnocchi is one of CoraBella’s best selling pastas. This pasta is made in Italy using the best raw materials from selected mills so that they can put out a genuine pasta that tastes like it was straight out of Italy. They are doing it right. Trust me. I am so happy with this product. My stomach is still happy with this product. If you haven’t tried CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi…you need to. Stat.

Let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi is made from rice flour, water, potato starch, salt, lactic acid, and potassium sorbate. It is not only gluten-free, but also sugar free, cholesterol free, and virtually fat free.

As for nutrition goes, a package of the CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi serves 4 people. A serving size is about 4 ounces each. In this serving, you will be eating 210 calories and 0.5 grams of fat. A serving also provides 300 mg sodium and 0 grams of sugar. This serving of gnocchi has 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein.

Seriously…the best gluten-free gnocchi you will ever eat. Amazing. It really is. If you haven’t checked out Cuisine Cube yet…what are you waiting for? And if you’ve never heard of CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi yet…what are you waiting for? Find it. Order it. Enjoy it.

Trust me on this one. There is nothing out there that compares. Just simply the best.

CoraBella Gluten Free Rice and Potato Gnocchi (cooked and served with marinara)

December 30, 2014

Product Review: Lotus Foods Rice Ramen + Recipe Bonus

Product Review: Lotus Foods Rice Ramen – $2.75+

Say it with me…

FINALLY!

Finally the gluten-free world gifts me with…gluten-free ramen! I have been waiting a long time for this.

I know what you’re thinking…

“Really? Ramen?”

Trust me…when you are faced with never being able to eat something again…finally is what comes to mind when you suddenly are given that something. I never knew how much I missed ramen…until I was suddenly able to have it again.

And for this great pleasure, I once again have to credit the amazing Cuisine Cube! Honestly, this is the best money I have ever spent each month. It is always a surprise as to what is inside the cube that arrives in the mail. And I am like a kid at Christmas when I open it up. Back in October’s box…Cuisine Cube included not just one, but two, packages of Lotus Foods Gluten Free and Reduced Sodium Rice Ramen.

Two flavors: Millet & Brown Rice with Miso Soup as well as Forbidden Rice with Miso Soup.

Color me excited. I was so ready to make some ramen. After all, I studied Japanese all through college and ramen is a way of life in Japan. Now…it was back in mine.

Let’s talk about Lotus Foods for a moment, shall we? The products produced by Lotus Foods are recognized for their exceptional cooking quality, taste, texture, and superb nutritional value. The ancient and new rices that compose their products are grown on family farms in limited quantities, on healthy, chemical-free soils. The rice and rice products that are produced by Lotus Foods are found in specialty gourmet, natural food markets, grocery stores, white tablecloth restaurants throughout the United States, becoming a fast favorite of consumers who are seeking healthier options, as well as chefs and foodies across the country.

I decided to do an even mix when it came to the two packages of Lotus Foods Rice Ramen that I received from Cuisine Cube. I’d prepare one package as is stated on the package itself. The other…I would cook up in a recipe.

Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen with Miso Soup

The one that I chose to shine on its very own was the Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen. These traditional Japanese-style noodles are created using their specialty rice instead of wheat. Not only are these gluten-free, but both millet and brown rice are some of the most nutritious and easily digestible grains.

Nothing could be easier to cook. Simply bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add in the ramen and simmer for about 4 minutes. Stir every now and again, breaking the noodles apart. When the noodles are soft, remove the pot from the heat and mix in the contents of the enclosed soup package. You can then add in any additional veggies and protein as you wish. I added some corn…because I happen to have a lot of fresh corn in my freezer leftover from this summer.

So…what emerged was a hearty, but delicious miso soup. One that is not only gluten-free, but also vegan and non-GMO. All of Lotus Foods rice products are made from organic rice…and that includes the rice ramen.

So…how did it taste? Fantastic. I love that this is also reduced sodium, as a lot of ramen on the market is overflowing with unneeded sodium. I was impressed with that stat on the nutritional information immediately. But as for the taste…the millet and brown rice lend a rich and nutty taste to the noodles themselves. And the soup pack provided a ton of flavor to the hot water. I love the mix of spices that brought a slight bit of heat and sweetness to the entire dish. It was simple to cook and fun to eat. Chopsticks not included.

Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen with Miso Soup (prepared with corn)

Let’s look at the ingredients in Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen. The ramen is made from organic brown rice flour, organic millet flour, water, and organic white rice flour. The soup pack contains red miso powder (cultured soybeans and rice, salt) tamari powder, salt, red onion powder, dried wakame seaweed, sugar, garlic powder, ginger powder, dried parsley, and dried chili peppers. It is gluten-free, cholesterol free, organic, high in fiber and protein, non-GMO, low fat, vegan, and truly delicious!

As for the nutritional information…well…the Lotus Foods Millet & Brown Rice Ramen packs contain 2 servings, so a serving isze is 1/2 ramen with the seasoning. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. This portion will also give you 460 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. See how amazing that sodium level is?! It has 25% less sodium than regular ramen soup. This serving also provides 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. It may not seem like much when you look at it…but trust me…you will feel full after eating your bowl of this ramen.

In addition to the Millet & Brown Rice variety, Cuisine Cube threw in the Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen as well.

Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen with Miso Soup

Forbidden Rice is one of the most nutritious ancient grains. It is made from Lotus Foods heirloom black rice instead of wheat. I love the purple color that these noodles take on. It’s really fantastic. Instead of cooking these up according to the package, I incorporated these into a recipe. But…I’m getting ahead of myself. The forbidden rice ramen also has a delicious nutty taste and a great texture to them. In addition, these noodles are a natural source of antioxidants. This package comes with a savory white miso broth to create the noodle soup with. I, instead, incorporated it with the recipe I made. I added a ton of extra vegetables to create a delicious meal. The recipe will follow the ingredients and nutritional information.

Taste was superb. The noodles are amazing and perfect. I wish Cuisine Cube had included more. But, that’s why they have a Stock Up page on their Web site…to stock up. I hope to do just that…because…YUM!

The Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen noodles are made from organic black rice flour, organic brown rice flour, and organic white rice flour, and water. The soup pack is made from white miso powder (cultured soybeans and rice, salt), salt, white onion powder, tamari powder, soybean powder, mushroom powder, dried parsley, and dried carrots. It is gluten-free, cholesterol free, organic, non-GMO, low fat, and vegan. WOOT!

As far as nutrition goes, Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen serves 2 people per pack, so a serving size is 1/2 of the package with the seasoning. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. In addition, this portion gives you 400 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. Yes, the Forbidden Rice Ramen contians 33% less sodium than regular ramen. That’s fantastic. And, finally, you will have less than 1gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein. With less of these final two nutritional factors, load this up with hearty vegeatbles or your protein of choice.

Or…do what I did…

Recipe: Ramen Noodle Soup with Sugar Snap Peas, Mushrooms and Corn

Servings: 4-6
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 20 minutes

Ingredients:

2 Tbs. olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups vegetable broth
1 packet of Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen noodles (dried ramen noodles)
1 can diced tomatoes
1-1/2 cups sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved diagonally
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup crimini mushrooms, sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Hot sauce, such as Sriracha, for serving

Directions:

In a large, heavy pot, warm the oil over medium-high heat.

Add the shallots and garlic and saute for 3 minutes.

Add the mushrooms and saute for another 3 minutes.

Add the broth and bring to a boil.

Add the ramen noodles and tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

Add the sugar snap peas, corn, and the seasoning packet from the Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen and cook for 2 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper and serve. Add hot sauce, if desired.

~*~*~

Let me tell you, I was amazed with how good this recipe was. And thanks to Lotus Foods Forbidden Rice Ramen Noodles…I was able to create this and cook it up. It had rich depth of flavor. The Forbidden Rice Ramen noodles added a nice hit of bold color. And the soup itself had this great umami flavor. It was rich and loaded with nutrients and fresh vegetables. It was love at first slurp. And there was a ton of slurping going on.

If you haven’t looked into a subscription to Cuisine Cube, I do highly recommend it. In addition, I encourage you to seek out or order Lotus Foods Rice Ramen and give it a try. Especially, if you’re like me, and didn’t even remember what you were missing. It was so delicious. Or, as they say in Japan, “Taihen Oishikattadesu!”

Another product I love, brought to me with great thought and great care from Cuisine Cube. I’m loving this service.

December 17, 2014

Product Review: Whitney’s Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps + Recipe Bonus

Product: Whitney’s Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps – $4.00+

‘Twas the month of December and I was starting to contrive
Brand new recipes for when my Cuisine Cube was due to arrive…

Yes! The December cube is here! It arrived on Monday and I happily dug right in, wondering what sort of goodness lay under the flaps of cardboard and paper. What I was met with was a delightful array of items. It was like Christmas had come early as I sorted through the breakfast, baking, lunch/snack, dessert dinner, and other dessert options. I was ready to dive right in and have a little of everything. But, self-control does still in handy at times.

First of all, let’s discuss Cuisine Cube. I’ve blogged on items I’ve received since signing up in May. Cuisine Cube is a gluten-free delivery service put together by a team of enthusiastic eaters, food professionals, and allergy suffers from New York City. They have scoured the country looking for lesser known brands made by small artisan producers that taste better than the highly processed and subpar items you can find at virtually every grocery store. This was a way to help support small businesses. These products are meticulously selected and then delivered right to your door. So, you get to try a new brand or item you may never have discovered otherwise. It’s a great, efficient, and fantastic service. One that I always look forward to each month.

So, this month, I selected Whitney’s Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps to lead off my month of delicious eating. I thought they looked a lot like the Glutino Bagel Chips that you can find in most grocery stores these days. But, I didn’t just want to eat these straight out of the package…or just throw them on top of a salad. I wanted to do something a little different with them. And I did.

But…not without trying one first. I can’t just re-purpose a product without trying it out as it is first…

There you have it…I opened up the package and popped one of the crisps into my mouth. And I was immediately greeted with the crunchy texture. I love that for these kinds of crisps. They are called crisps for a reason…they should be crispy. But, even more importantly…the flavor! Before I had to go gluten-free…and before I started to really pay attention to what I ate, I was a Cheeze-It connoisseur. And the cheddar flavor in these crisps…reminded me of those. But better. WAY better. I was almost sad to repurpose these for my recipe…because they were amazing on their own.

But my creative chef mind was calling…

So…the rest of these amazing and delicious crisps went into my food processor and got pulverized.

Now, before I share this recipe with you, let’s talk about the Whitney’s Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps. As far as ingredients go, these are made from sorghum flour, tapioca flour, brown rice flour, white rice flour, xanthan gum, Vermont Farmstead’s Farmstead Cheddar, milk, white vinegar, brown sugar, baking soda, kosher salt, dry mustard and cayenne pepper. These are produced in a designated gluten-free facility.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 1 ounce of these crisps…and the package holds 4 servings. One serving will provide you with 120 calories and 3 grams of fat. You will be consuming 10 mg cholesterol, 230 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. In addition, these have 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

So, what came of these crisps?

Well, back before I became a vegetarian, and definitely back before I was diagnosed as a Celiac…one of my favorite things to order at Red Lobster was the Fried Calamari appetizer. My roommate would eat the calamari…I wanted the fried broccoli and red peppers that were served with it. Honestly, one of my favorite foods (and definitely not good for you by any means…but it was so good)…which I hadn’t even thought about in years…

But I happened to have a red bell pepper and some broccoli from my CSA bin in my fridge…and now…a breading. I do not fry anything. I just don’t. So, I set out to recreate the infamous Red Lobster vegetables…by baking them. And thanks to Whitney’s Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps…I now had the perfect gluten-free breading.

Recipe: Crispy Broccoli and Red Peppers

Crispy Broccoli and Red Peppers (made with Whitney's Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps) — Crispy Broccoli and Red Peppers (made with Whitney’s Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps)

Servings: 2-4
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1-2 cups fresh broccoli florets
1 red pepper, sliced into strips
1-2 egg whites (beaten)
4 ounces gluten-free breading (I used a package of Whitney’s Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a large plastic bag, place in the broccoli florets and red pepper slices. Add the egg white(s). Close the bag and shake to coat. Add the gluten-free breading. Reseal the bag and shake again. Spread the vegetables onto a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, until crispy.

~*~*~

Guess what? This was so close to how I remember the original tasting. I love the flavors that baking something in the oven can really coax out of things like vegetables. And the Whitney’s Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps made the perfect coating for these vegetables. It gave it a nice cheese flavor on top of turning a beautiful golden color in the oven and really making the apartment smell fantastic. I was smelling a great cheddar aroma after these were in the oven for only 5 minutes. Way beyond impressed. I sort of want these in my pantry for always.

So, if you are curious about the Whitney’s Castleton Gluten Free Cheddar Crisps, head over to their site and read more about their products and order some for yourself. Or order from Cuisine Cube’s stock up site!

And if you want to give Cuisine Cube a try, head over to their Web site and check out their subscription options…joining for a monthly, three month, or six month subscription. This Cube (box of goodies) will arrive at your door within the first week of each month and you will have at least 5 full-size gluten-free items inside. I encourage you to give it a try…

…because I never would have heard of these crisps without the aid of Cuisine Cube.

And yeah…they were really fantastic…on their own and in my dish.

December 11, 2014

An exciting partnership…

Hey fellow readers!

Many of you are aware that I am over the moon in love with my monthly delivery of gluten-free products from Cuisine Cube. Well, I recently entered into a partnership with them and will be reviewing at least one product from each cube for the next three months. Each review will include a recipe. And…no pun intended…I hope to create some great recipes that are outside of the box. HA!

I encourage all of you to look into signing up for Cuisine Cube. I am so glad I did. I have been introduced to amazing products I never would have known about otherwise.

So, watch this space each month for an exciting post and new recipe!

December 2, 2014

Product Review: Olivia’s Gluten Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing + Recipe Bonus

Product: Olivia’s Gluten Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing – $6.50+

There are a lot of Thanksgiving foods that, as a gluten-free vegetarian, I no longer indulge in at the dinner table. That being said, my Thanksgiving meal usually consists of a scoop of vegetables, some plain potatoes, and usually a fruit of some sort…or whatever I brought with me for the occasion.

This year for my contribution to the Thanksgiving meal, I brought desserts. YAY! I also, however, brought gluten-free stuffing. From my local gluten-free bakery. I actually pre-ordered it prior to receiving my November 2014 Cuisine Cube. But…this just gave me the opportunity to have stuffing…all over again.

And this is a good thing. Because I absolutely LOVE stuffing! I never ate it much as a kid, because, prior to going vegetarian, my family’s go-to Thanksgiving meal was shrimp creole, not turkey, but sometimes, on Christmas, my mom would cook up a turkey and I would request stuffing. And…it was usually Stove Top. But, to me, it was amazing!

So, stuffing was one of my guilty pleasures that I rarely indulged in, but would devour every time I had the chance.

When my Cuisine Cube happened to have a box of a gluten-free stuffing in it, I might…might…have done a happy dance of joy with a few bounces and jumps and squeals of happiness. This isn’t uncommon each month when I open up my Cuisine Cube…but we are talking GLUTEN FREE STUFFING!! Did I make that clear yet?

So, since I had my local allergen-free bakery make me some gluten-free stuffing for the big meal on Thursday, I got to have some fun and get a little creative with my box of Olivia’s Gluten Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing. But, this still meant that I needed to cook it up properly. And this stuffing is really easy to make! I cut up some onion and celery per the instructions on the box, cooked it in my vegan butter, and then added some vegetable broth. I transfered the liquid into a large mixing bowl and added in the Olivia’s Gluten Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing mix. I gave it a stir and let it sit for about 8-10 minutes, until the cubes were moist and the liquid was completely absorbed. After that, I put the mix into a baking dish and baked it for 30-40 minutes per the instructions on the box until it was beautifully golden and ready to eat.

I won’t lie…I had a small serving of it then. I had to. The smell as it was baking was phenomenal. Really. I was practically salivating the entire half hour it was cooking. So, yeah…I wanted to try it so I could tell you, my readers, how it was before I had some fun with it.

It was amazing. No joke. Freakin’ fantastic. The chunks of bread got to that perfect golden crispness, while the vegetables and the absorbed liquid kept it moist and delicious. The level of flavors was spot on. Definitely perfect on its own. I didn’t even need to add any additional salt and pepper. Olivia’s Gluten Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing was better than any stuffing I have ever eaten in my life. Way better. That goes for the boxed stuff as well as the stuff made from scratch. This was an total win. I wish I had made it up for dinner at my roommate’s family’s home. Perhaps next year. They wouldn’t even begin to guess that it was gluten-free…except for I’d be eating it, so they would know!

Olivia's Gluten Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing (prepared) — Olivia’s Gluten Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing (prepared)

I am so in love with this stuffing. My only complaint was there was only one box of it. Good thing I can order more through Cuisine Cube and Olivia’s Gluten Free Web site. Trust me…this will be happening!

Let’s talk about the ingredients in Olivia’s Gluten Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing. This stuffing is made from gluten-free bread, certified non-GMO canola oil, granulated onion and garlic, rosemary, sage, thyme, celery seed, sea salt and pepper. It is cholesterol free, gluten-free and made in a dedicated gluten free facility.

As far as nutritional information goes, Olivia’s Gluten Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing makes about 9 servings per container. If you use it traditionally. A serving size is 3/4 cup prepared. This serving will provide you with 110 calories and 4 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 200 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. In addition, you will be consuming only 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. On its own, this stuffing won’t make you feel stuffed, but you will love every single bite of it. Trust me.

But…as I mentioned earlier…I had some fun with this stuffing.

Why eat it straight up when you can do something a little outside the box, right? Well, on Black Friday, I picked up a new waffle maker (shaped like Mickey Mouse!) and I really wanted to test it out. I’m like a child…I get something new and I want to try it out right away. So, on Saturday night, I took the stuffing that I cooked up out of the fridge and put it into a big mixing bowl. It was time to use the “leftovers” in a new way. Prepare yourself…

Recipe: Gluten Free Leftover Stuffing Waffles

Gluten Free Leftover Stuffing Waffle (shaped like Mickey Mouse)

Servings: 4 large waffles
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients:

4 cups crumbled leftover gluten free stuffing
2 large eggs
1/4 cup vegetable broth (or chicken broth if you’re not vegetarian)

Directions:

Preheat the waffle maker and grease it with cooking spray.

Gluten Free Leftover Stuffing Waffle with Vegan Homemade Vegan White Gravy and Cranberry Chutney

In a large bowl, stir together the leftover stuffing and eggs. Add 1/4 cup of vegetable broth and mix until well combined. Continue adding broth as needed until the mixture is well-moistened.

Scoop the stuffing mixture into the prepared waffle maker, spreading it evenly. (The stuffing will not spread or expand like regular waffle batter as it bakes, so arrange it in an even, thin layer). Close the lid and let the waffle bake until golden brown and the egg is cooked throughout. Stuffing waffles take longer to cook than regular waffles, as the egg must be completely cooked throughout. Don’t be afraid to let the waffle bake until it’s golden brown and crispy!

Transfer the waffle to a serving plate then repeat the filling and baking process with the remaining stuffing.

Serve.

~*~*~

I know what you’re wondering…you are pondering what I served these waffles with. Simple. I prepared a gluten-free white gravy and took some fresh cranberries from my CSA bin and made a cranberry chutney. I poured a bit of the warm gravy over the waffle with a side of the cranberry relish and…BAM…dinner was served.

It tasted amazing. Mine, being in a Mickey Mouse waffle maker, was shaped like Mickey Mouse…but it came to this perfect golden crispiness on the outside. It paired great with gravy, making it a savory dinner. And the cranberry chutney tied it all together. A great way to use up some of those holiday leftovers for sure!

TRUST ME!

Thanks to Cuisine Cube for including a box of Oliva’s amazing Gluten-Free Rosemary & Sage Stuffing in my box for Thanksgiving. I am forever thankful!