They are the meaning of life. Honestly. And finding a good gluten-free cookie is like finding a little slice of heaven. Awhile back, I raved and raved about how delicious (and affordable!) the original gluten-free Joe-Joe’s were. So, while we ducked into Trader Joe’s one morning before the holidays, Cathy spotted a box of regular Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s. After a “What is this shittery?” moment, the cookies were in the basket for her to have as one of her snacks during the work week. We then proceeded to pick up our usual Trader Joe’s purchases…gluten-free oats, two different kinds of peanut butter, and maybe something else…depends on the week.
As we were getting ready to leave, the roomie says the magic words to me:
“Go see if you can find the Dark Chocolate Covered Mint Espresso Beans.” Those are magical words, friends, because those little beans are my favorite thing in life. Sadly, Trader Joe’s did not have them this year. I cried. No really…I cried. But, my search for minty dark chocolate caffeinated pellets of awesomeness did not go unrewarded.
I spotted the box and had to stop…take a few steps back…blink…rub my eyes…and then pinch myself. YES! There, on this little shelf over some frozen food stuffs was a box of…Gluten-Free Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s. Like…like the ones Cathy was able to eat…except made for someone like me! Do you realize how weird it is to find flavored sandwich cookies? Trust me…it doesn’t happen often. I decided if I couldn’t have my minty and dark chocolate coated espresso beans…these would be a good substitute. I snagged the box and went skipping off to find the roomie.
And…we now each had a box of Trader Joe’s signature sandwich cookies…in holiday peppermint form. Yum yum.
Now, I know it’s almost the end of January, but the holidays are filled with goodies galore and getting to the splurge purchases sometimes doesn’t happen in a timely manner. Hey…it just means that the anticipation got to build for awhile. Granted, Cathy had her box long before I opened mine, and she said they tasted like fake mint. Which…is odd…as Trader Joe’s uses real crushed candy canes to get the candy cane flavor. She’s odd. Sometimes I think she has a hell of a palate and then other times she thinks banana tastes like cherries. I just don’t know…
But…as she preferred the gluten-free regular version of the Joe-Joe’s to the regular Joe-Joe’s…perhaps that would be the case here too. So, the other night…with dessert being needed…I grabbed this box out of the pantry and dished out two cookies to each of us…with a little cup of milk. Because…that’s how sandwich (or cream-filled) cookies should be eaten. And they should be dipped to the point of complete mush and then savored. YUM.
I handed hers over first and she took a bite, immediately saying how she hated fake peppermint flavor again. I sighed. But then she said that, once again, she preferred these to the regular version she had prior to this. Now it was my turn to see what I thought.
I settled in and took a bite without dipping it just to get the initial flavor. The chocolate gluten-free cookie was delicious and rich. And the filling…it was minty, but not overly so, but definitely minty. Even better, these are definitely stuffed with the cream filling. They definitely don’t skimp on that. I appreciate that…because if I am buying sandwich cookies, I want them to be filled. There were flecks of candy cane throughout the filling, giving it that flavor, which doesn’t overpower at all. And dipping these into a glass of almond milk…OMG…YUM! I am definitely loving the holidays this year…as they brought me a few new items to try…including these. Trader Joe’s does amazing things with their gluten-free line. And I continue to enjoy two cookies and a glass of milk after dinner each night.
Let’s look at the ingredients that go into Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s, shall we? These cookies are made from cane sugar, a grain blend (corn flour, rice flour, potato starch, corn starch, soy flour, potato flour, tapioca starch, xanthan and arabic gum, and carageenan), palm oil, cocoa powder, crushed candy canes, canola oil, invert syrup, egg white powder, natural flavors, baking soda sea salt, soy lecithin, and ammonium bicarbonate. These cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, and cholesterol free.
As for nutrition, as far as cookies go, these aren’t bad. A serving of the Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s is 2 cookies. These two cookies will deliver 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. These cookies will give you 75 mg sodium and 13 grams of sugar. And, finally, these cookies will provide 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.
I really appreciate it when a company takes the time to duplicate a regular product and make it gluten-free. I have yet to find a product in the Trader Joe’s gluten-free line up that I don’t like. These cookies are a delicious and minty treat, which normally I wouldn’t have the opportunity to enjoy. I wish these were around year round. But, you can bet that I’ll be looking for them next year.
Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.), Charleston, South Carolina
Restaurant: Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.), Charleston, South Carolina
With every marathon I run, there is also a celebratory meal. Usually it is on the same day of said race, but Charleston is an odd duck in that it’s marathon runs on Saturday. And we already had eating plans on Saturday. So, instead of changing everything around, we just decided to have the fancy, special meal on Sunday night. And, after scouring a list of places that Amanda sent me (all of which had gluten-free items), it came down to two options – Poogan’s Porch and Slightly North of Broad.
Cathy chose in the end…opting for Slightly North on Broad because of one item on the menu that caught her eye. This was fine with me…there was this amazing honey drizzled fruit plate dessert on their menu that sounded beyond amazing. So…when Amanda came over to help with the planning session…this was decided. And, to make the occasion even more special, Janet (Cathy & Amanda’s mom), offered to pay for our big meal out this trip.
The best part about where we were staying was that Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.) was literally right across the street from the hotel. Seriously. So, this meant we could stay out and explore until we absolutely had to return to our rooms. Then, we could all clean up and head out to eat, then come back to change and go out for some more exploring! Of course, when Cathy chose this restaurant, we had no idea this was the case. Amanda enlightened us. Odd, how when it came to eats the only one we really ventured out further than the immediate area of our hotel was Brown Dog Deli. And we were over that way anyway as I was shopping for spices, tea, honey and other local goodies. HA!
So Sunday morning and afternoon was spent walking the streets and cemeteries of Charleston. Honestly, if you ever get to visit this amazing city…just walk it, duck into places, explore. You can take tours, yes, but sometimes it’s just fun to get out there and just find something that intrigues you. I was fortunate enough to have Richie and Amanda with me, to act as the local tour guides. They might as well be locals. They know where everything is…how to get there…and come to Charleston often enough it’s second hand. But, even if you aren’t traveling with your own walking guide books…try something new. We returned about an hour and a half before dinner so we could clean up and get ready to make the walk across the street. I took a shower and changed and then we met Amanda and Richie at their room before hoofing it over to S.N.O.B.
We only had a brief wait while they prepared our table for our 6:15 p.m. reservation. And once we were seated and water (and Coke for Richie) was poured, we were left to peruse our menus until our waitress came over to the table. We immediately informed her that I was a gluten free vegetarian, and she immediately opted up with the Vegetable Plate that they serve. She also said she could see what else could be done for me, but a big plate of seasonal and local vegetables sounded absolutely delicious to me. My decision was made. Now the rest of my dining party needed to ponder what they were going to have. The server gave us a few more minutes to decide.
So, let’s discuss S.N.O.B. here, while we are deciding on food, eh? Because this seems like as good a place as any. S.N.O.B. is described as “an eclectic Lowcountry bistro that brings together an abundance of local ingredients and thoughtful, expert presentation with a friendly, contagious energy.” In other words, very big on farm to table. Love that. They have a nice open kitchen, which I absolutely loved since I love being able to glance over and see what is being prepared as it is being prepared. The food they make is the product of the local farmers, fishermen, and producers. So…very Sean Brock. And I love Sean Brock. And if you don’t know who Sean Brock is…Google him now and learn! The setting is low-light, candles, white table cloth, and soft conversations. You get the sounds of the kitchen…the sizzles, the flames, the dishes clinking, all mixing with the pouring of wine and water, and the clink of silverware as it scrapes up that last bit of food from a pristine white plate. This is S.N.O.B.
So…there it is.
When our waitress returned we all had finally settled on what we were going to eat. Richie opted for the Pan Seared Duck Breast ($27.00), which includes savory blue cheese bread pudding, fig jam, Brussels sprouts, and a honey thyme reduction. He saw duck…he knew what he wanted. Amanda ordered the Grilled Pork Chop ($27.00), which is served with crispy confit potatoes, cabbage, and topped with a sorghum and whole grain mustard glaze. Cathy was the foodie of the group and wanted to try something more than just a large appetizer plate, so she did a medium plate with an appetizer, which is recommended on the menu. For her appetizer, she went with the Herb Crusted Eggplant ($12.00), which is topped off with buffalo mozzarella, green heirloom tomatoes, some sprouts, and pesto. For her entrée, she opted for the Carolina Quail ($16.00), which comes with braised greens, tasso cornbread stuffing, Muscadine glaze (that’s from a particular grape, FYI), and quail jus.
As for me…I did go with the Vegetable Plate ($20.00), which is described on the menu as being “a variety of the best vegetables we can find.” Hey…I’m a vegetarian. There are very few vegetables I don’t like. Very few. So…our order was in and we fell into the din of conversations, discussing everything from our events that day to the other people in the restaurant, to wine bottles we could see from our seats, to how much fun we were having. Lots of laughter and lots of fun going on.
Cathy’s appetizer was up first and we all cast out our appreciative ooohs and ahhhs at the tower of eggplant, cheese, tomatoes, and greens, all soaking in a small pool of pesto. She sliced into it, and said that the eggplant was actually really well cooked and that the cheese was amazing. However, as she went on eating, she got tired of the sprouts getting caught in her teeth, and eventually that herb crust got completely mushy with the mix of the eggplant juice, the pesto, and the juicy tomatoes on top. So, it started off really well…but in the end…all went to mush. She polished it off, save for those greens on top though.
A little after her plate was cleared away, the main courses arrived. Amanda had the largest pork chop I had ever seen in my life. It was only polished off with some help from Richie and Cathy. But…she did eat all her potatoes. Richie’s duck was cooked perfectly and I had never seen him clean a plate until this meal. Cathy was less impressed with her entree, finding her favorite part of the quail to be the pan seared area where it was crispy. She hated the greens with a passion (and she eats greens…I cook them at home). And her favorite part of the plate…the tasso corn bread. Everything else left her rather…unimpressed.
S.N.O.B.’s Vegetable Plate
As for me…when they said a plate of vegetables, they weren’t kidding. Upon further looking at the menu, what I have found is that this plate is a compilation of every vegetable in house and offered as a side on the menu. This plate was mounded high with high fiber vegetables that were cooked however the side was to be cooked, and paired with three different starches. It was beyond filling. This plate included grilled eggplant, heirloom tomatoes, green beans, portobello mushrooms, grilled okra (on the list of vegetables I hate with a passion, so these got left behind!), broccoli (with a sprinkle of Romano cheese), sautéed spinach, caramelized onions, caramelized Brussels sprouts, maverick potatoes, Charleston gold brown rice with some butternut squash, yellow grits (with cheese), some sprouts on top, and some sweet pepper jelly mixed in. The plate was a mish-mash of vegetables, no real plating flair…just piled high. In fact, I didn’t realize I had an heirloom tomato until I moved the eggplant. It was hidden below. That being said…the green beans were…well…green beans. I thought the potatoes were that weird overly-whipped consistency, and ate them by mixing them with one of the vegetables…like green beans or some eggplant just to give it a better texture. The spinach was delicious. I didn’t eat the okra because…GROSS. The eggplant was grilled and good enough…though a touch under-seasoned. The tomato was messy, but fresh and delicious. I love that little hit of sweetness. My favorite things on the plate were the grits, the Brussels sprouts, and the rice. All of which I saved for the last things I ate. And when I was done, I wasn’t sure if I was impressed or not…but it was a massive plate of food that was very filling indeed. I mean, I didn’t dislike it…it was just…okay. They definitely give you $20 worth of vegetables. All local and fresh…so I will give them credit for that.
Afterwards we were asked about desserts. I already had my heart set on something, even though I was filled up to the max. You only get to celebrate once, right? So…to hell with it…desserts all around.
Amanda and Richie decided to split the Crème Brûlée ($7.00), which was a creamy vanilla custard with caramelized brown sugar topping. Cathy went with the Vanilla Ice Cream with a Shortbread Cookie ($6.00) for her dessert. It also came dressed with fresh strawberries. As for me…I went with what caught my eye originally on the menu in the first place…the Fresh Fruit Plate ($7.50), which came drizzled with local honey.
Desserts are a must for me. I love trying desserts when I can. And fruit is one of my favorite desserts to polish off a meal with. The whole drizzled with local honey was an added bonus. Our desserts arrived. Richie had never had a Crème Brûlée before, so this was his first foray into that. Cathy’s ice cream looked fantastic and she crumbled the cookie over it and dove in, enjoying the fresh berries for that added bit of sweetness. My fruit plate consisted of grapes, strawberries, sliced apples, sliced bananas, spear slices, and chunks of fresh pineapple. All of it, as promised, was drizzled with local honey, adding to the sweetness of the plate. But it worked. I mean, it was a plate of fruit, but I couldn’t be happier with it. Everything was perfectly ripe, juicy, and amazing. Delicious and perfect way to end the meal.
While I certainly enjoyed my meal at S.N.O.B., when I return to Charleston next time, I will definitely investigate other options. I am happy for the experience, and loved the company, but the food was just okay to me. Maybe it’s my dietary restrictions…but I wasn’t overly impressed. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t dislike S.N.O.B. by any means. The food was cooked well and tasted good for the most part. But…there is so much more to taste in Charleston…so while the dinner was nice, I’m eager to go elsewhere next time.
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!
It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged about one of my favorite gluten-free companies out there. I think the giant, larger than my arm, loaf of challah bread and a couple of goodies I got to go with it were the last thing to cross my freezer from Katz Gluten Free. I have been moving away from processed foods, but that doesn’t mean I don’t splurge every now and again.
I forgot what took me over to the Katz Gluten Free Web site awhile back. Perhaps I just wanted to take a browse. Perhaps I had a feeling that they had added some new products that would immediately make me fill up my cart and then eagerly anticipate their arrival a couple of days later.
Whatever it was that drew me over there…it worked. Because they did have new products on the site. And I did immediately order them.
What was it that grabbed my attention and made me need to have said products right then and there? One word:
DONUTS!
I mean, yes, gluten-free donuts aren’t exactly difficult to come by these days. In fact, my local allergen-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café, offers them every Saturday morning. They sell out rather quickly too. You can find versions in freezers at grocery stores and (yes) natural food stores alike. Believe me…I often think…”I could buy that one box of donuts…”
And I don’t…because I know I can get better…fresh from my very own local gluten-free bakery…or…from Katz Gluten Free.
Well, color me happy and surprised (which is apparently yellow and orange) when I just randomly darted over to their Web site and looked at their New Products page. Lo and behold there…on the screen…were not one…not two…but THREE new versions of their fantastic, super-delicious, gluten-free donuts. My heart skipped a beat, my hand reached for my credit card…and all three new varieties were purchased. I didn’t bat an eye. Hey, I love being healthy, but every girl deserves a donut every now and again. And this Celiac really loves donuts!
The three new varieties offered by Katz Gluten Free are Pumpkin Pie Spiced Donuts, Triple Chocolate Donuts, and the Glazed Chocolate Donuts.
This is one of those days where a quick breakfast is more than appreciated…it’s necessary. So, despite having these for a couple of weeks in my freezer, I have resisted diving in. But today…was a good day for donuts. I asked my roommate to pick a flavor and she immediately replied with the Katz Gluten Free Glazed Chocolate Donuts. She is a sucker for glazed donuts. So…I had a feeling that flavor would either be the first to go or the last one eaten. She went for it first.
I actually pulled the donuts out of the freezer last night and placed the two I needed (one for my roommate and one for me) into a plastic bag to thaw overnight. The rest were returned to the freezer for another day. I don’t need to eat them all right now? I can savor them this way. The following morning, all they required was a little zap in the microwave (although even that isn’t necessary, I just like to give them that “fresh & hot” feeling to them. And then…brekkies was served.
As a child raised in Upstate New York…one of the best treats ever was a Dunkin Donuts Munchkin (aka: donut hole). And, for as much as I can remember about how those tasted, that’s the memory these donuts drew up for me. The donut itself is a rich chocolate cake donut that just melts…literally melts in your mouth. Talk about a dream. The glaze is this sugary sweet bonus that just ties it all together giving it that little bit of texture and that extra boost of flavor. Just…beyond wow. And, even more…it brought back memories of sitting down to one of my favorite treats as a kid…donut holes from Dunkin Donuts. I mean…exact same flavor profile and texture to them. It was almost like eating cake for breakfast. Chocolate to the max…and just…Mmmmmmmmm….delish. I am glad I pull these out ahead of time and eat them away from my apartment or I’d probably be tempted to go back and eat another one. And maybe another one for good show. It’s nice to have a treat every now and again. These are a treat worth indulging in from time to time. TRUST ME!
While this may not be the healthiest of breakfasts, you gotta treat yourself every now and again. I love fitness and I love eating clean and healthy foods, but I also like to indulge every now and again. Some mornings, you just eat a donut.
Let’s talk about ingredients. Katz Gluten Free Glazed Chocolate Donuts are made from gluten-free flour (a blend of tapioca starch, white rice flour, and corn starch), water, palm oil, sugar, eggs, confection sugar, canola oil, cocoa, baking powder, salt, xanthan gum, natural vanilla extract, agar, calcium carbonate (anticaking agent), and calcium sulfate (stabilizer). I know…I see the chemical sounding things on there too. But…this is a treat this morning. I definitely don’t eat donuts every day. In fact, it is a rare thing these days. These donuts are gluten-free, soy free, dairy free and nut free.
As for nutritional information…for donuts, these stack up rather well. In fact, better than most donuts out there. A serving is 1 donut. Nailed that. This one donut will provide you with 210 calories and 12 grams of fat. Okay…the fat is high…but it’s a donut. You will also be taking in 20 mg cholesterol, 220 mg sodium, and 12 grams of sugar. And because these are donuts, and mostly comprised of sugar, they will definitely not be filling you up. In fact, one donut has only 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. I ate mine with an orange.
Balance. HA!
I have only love for the products I have tried from Katz Gluten Free. They were the first company to bring me gluten free donuts that tasted like…real donuts. They have fantastic pies…good cookies…amazing bread…and I could go on. But if you are really looking to treat yourself every now and again…buy the donuts. Just…take a chance. Because, trust me…you will want to keep a box of these stashed in your freezer for those “Mmmm…donut!” days.
And now, I have the Katz Gluten Free Glazed Chocolate variety to add to the mix. And they have exceeded my expecations for sure. I know that Katz Gluten Free only puts out quality products, but this was just exceptional. For those days when only a donut will do…you better not be without the Katz Gluten Free Glazed Chocolate Donuts. Stock up. And savor. These are definitely donut love for sure. SO GOOD!
Bart & Judy’s The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World
Product: Bart & Judy’s The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World – $6.00+
Twas back in September that my very own Cookie Fairy (aka: Jenn) gifted me with a few boxes of gluten-free cookies. I mean, it was my birthday, after all, so naturally you give a cookie monster…COOKIES! I have already reviewed the other varieties I was given, leaving this as the one to bring up the caboose. And, you know, it only seems appropriate that the last box is also the one boasting of the most chocolate. Jenn and I are both chocaholics. And we will freely admit to that, for sure.
I’m in total hibernation mode these days. Seriously. My energy is sapped. All I want to do is eat and snuggle under my blanket on the couch while either watching a movie, a television show, or playing my vintage SEGA Genesis. That pretty much sums up how I feel about winter. Even though we’ve had a rather mild one up until recently, when that cold snap hit…out when any will I had to go outside and do anything. I, of course, have not given into my plan to bury myself under blankets until spring.
That being said, I do make a point to cook pretty much every day. At least one meal will be made by me at some point. Normally…all three are. That being said, I like for an easy dessert at times. With me, dessert is not an option. Dessert is a necessary and wonderful thing. What better way to wrap up a meal and the day than with a little bite of something sweet. Cleanse the palate. Call it a night.
And…as most of you know, one of my favorite desserts to ever exist are…COOKIES!
So giving me something with the words THE, BEST, CHOCOLATE, COOKIES, and GLUTEN-FREE is definitely going to win me over. Well played, Jenn. Well played. Hehehe. Well, being that it is now January…I decided it was time to bust open this little, unassuming brown box of extreme cookie feasting.
A little bit about the company itself. Bart & Judy’s prides themselves on baking up cookies that are all-natural, buttery, crunchy, golden-brown and deliciously chocolatey. They are made with the best of everything…creamery butter, fresh eggs, and the world’s finest dark Belgian chocolate. They believe the purpose of their cookies should solely be to propagate happiness. In fact, their statements claims that if you come from the perspective of “bigger is more” than their cookies are not for you. They produce top quality, but bite-size.
So…how were they? Were they absolutely THE BEST IN THE WORLD?! Well, that might be a little bit of an overstatement, however, these cookies are superb. And this is coming from this gluten-free cookie monster. I usually prefer soft cookies, but these little bite-size crunchy nuggets of goodness were like…eating that perfect outer edge of a brownie. Crunchy, without being too hard, and packed with extreme chocolate flavor. The best part was finding a chocolate chip within the cookie and getting that extra burst of chocolate goodness. Amazing. I mean…there is chocolate² in the title. Two chocolates = double the win.
This was, also, the first box of cookies to ever come with a set of instructions. I am not joking. Included in the box was a little slip of paper declaring STOP! READ FIRST! And underneath was the instructions as to how best to enjoy these cookies. Since they are packaged in a special oxygen-barrier foil bag, Bart & Judy insist that they benefit from “decanting,” much like a fine wine. So, yes, open up the foil bag, but allow the cookies 10 minutes to aerate to encourage the development of the complex flavors.
With all of that said, let’s discuss ingredients. The Bart & Judy’s The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World are made from semi-sweet chocolate chips, Bart & Judy’s Proprietary Rice Flour Blend, natural cocoa, butter, cane sugar, brown cane sugar, eggs, baking soda, Madagascar vanilla, and salt. These cookies are all-natural, free of hydrogenated oils, trans-fats, and contain no chemical additives or artificial anything. And, the box does let you know that the chocolate is authentic, real Belgian chocolate. Bart & Judy state on the enclosed instructions that these cookies are slightly overbaked and lower in sugar because they don’t want to “mask” lower-quality ingredients with over sweetness. And they don’t. These cookies, while not exactly top-of-the-line, aren’t overly sweet…but just right. With amazing chocolate flavor.
As for the nutritional information…it is as follows. One serving of Bart & Judy’s The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World is 11 cookies (or about 34 grams). The box claims there are 4 servings in the box…but there was only two. Seriously. Dammit. These 11 cookies will dish you up 140 calories and 8 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 30 mg cholesterol, 65 mg sodium, and 7 grams of sugar. In addition, these cookies offer up no fiber and only 1 gram of protein. You’re eating 11 cookies, but they won’t fill you up. After all, it’s basically 11 bites. Pop them…and chew.
I really didn’t know what to expect when I tried out the cookies in this very…amusing…yet understated brown box. What happened was surely pure magic. And while I have read some older reviews about cross-contamination issues, the box states that their cookies are regularly tested in an independent laboratory to meet the guidelines set by the FDA. These truly are little bites of happiness.
If you love chocolate…oh…you will totally love these.
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!
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.
It’s my favorite time of year! I love the Christmas holidays. Why? Because I get to make people some of my baked goodies. And I absolutely love doing this and then handing them over. I do this for the people at my bank…the gas station…my neighbors…my adoptive family…and my apartment office. I do it for friends and family. I just love, love, love, love to create something in my kitchen and then bring a little joy and sweetness to the people in my life.
Well, as my roommate and I have made friends with our new downstairs neighbors…we wanted to make some Christmas cookies for them. After asking if their young son had any food allergies (he doesn’t)…I went ahead with my plan to make these adorable Melted Snowman Cookies. I was just crossing my fingers the entire time that they would work out. They did. They require a little work when it comes to the faces…but totally worth it.
Recipe: Gluten Free Melted Snowman Cookies
Gluten Free Melting Snowman Cookies
Servings: 20-28 cookies
Time: Prep 50 minutes; Bake 9-11 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1-1/2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (I used Cup 4 Cup)
Mini M&Ms for the face (which I separated ahead of time while the cookies cooled so they were ready to go!)1/4 teaspoon salt1 egg
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla until combined. Beat in the cocoa powder and as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour.
Shape dough into twenty 1-3/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are just firm. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Place cooled cookies on prepared baking sheet. In a medium microwave-safe bowl microwave candy coating on 50% power for 2-1/2 to 3 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds. Spoon melted coating over each cookie to cover cookie and resemble melted snow. While coating is still tacky, add a peanut butter cup for a top hat and decorate with mini M&Ms or other candies to resemble snowman faces.
Let stand until set.
~*~*~
These cookies are not only adorable but they are amazing too! Lots of flavor. And they are so easy to make, but it looks like you spent hours in the kitchen making them. The difficult part is letting that candy coating cool so you can package them up. HA! If you are looking for a cute Christmas cookie idea…I highly recommend these!
Lisa Harris Pantry’s Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Morning Sunshine Breakfast Cookie
Product: Lisa Harris Pantry’s Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Morning Sunshine Breakfast Cookie – $2.75+
I want to thank Cuisine Cube for one of the most epic products ever to arrive in my box. No…this is for real. Because in September, my cube included a cookie. But this cookie was not there for dessert. Nope. It was clearly the item intended for breakfast.
A cookie.
For breakfast.
Being that I am a cookie monster, this totally made my day…my week…my month…perhaps even my year!
And, after running in the New York Marathon and then the Walt Disney World Wine & Dine Half Marathon, I was running out of food in my apartment. And it was a gym morning. And grocery shopping had yet to happen. To much travel time (not time travel, LOL!). Okay, there really isn’t such a thing, but sometimes there aren’t enough hours in the day to go to work and get the much-needed grocery shopping done. And this was a morning I was at a loss as to what to have after hitting up the gym.
And then I remembered the cookie I had toted around with me to both New York City and Disney World…just in case I needed something to eat at some point. I never had to break into it on the go…but it was just the thing I needed when I returned home. Go figure.
The Lisa Harris Pantry‘s Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Morning Sunshine Breakfast Cookie is literally what it sounds like: a cookie intended to eat…for breakfast. I love being an adult. HA!
After getting in a good cardio session that morning, I ambled into work and was ready to settle in with something to eat before really beginning my day. This cookie was so convenient. It required no toaster oven, no microwave, and no hassles. All I had to do was open up the wrapper and enjoy. And that’s exactly what I did. The cookie was actually quite large, about the size of a small mason jar lid. And it’s thick too – a perfect drop cookie. I could see the bits of diced apples and the flecks of cinnamon throughout the entire cookie. It looked like a great balance. I also expected these cookies to be hard. But, while they had a crispy-ish outer edge, the center was soft and chewy and amazing. For real. It was, however, very sweet…due in part to the apples, apple flavoring, and the agave. So, I almost wish I had something savory to pair with it because it was borderline almost too sweet. But, it is, after all, a cookie. I thought the flavor was amazing though. I loved seeing the ingredients in the cookie. And I loved the boost of protein that came from the quinoa. As we know, I am always watching my protein intake due to my dietary needs (gluten-free/lactose free/vegetarian). And being so active…protein is a vital part of my diet. So, that was a huge win with me. I loved the texture. It wasn’t dry at all. Had the sweetness been tampered down even slightly, I think it would have been the new breakfast of champions. That being said, I would love to try the other flavor of breakfast cookies that are offered by Lisa Harris Pantry. Because, every day should start with “dessert first.”
So, let’s talk about the ingredients that go into the Lisa Harris Pantry’s Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Morning Sunshine Breakfast Cookie. This flavor cookie is made from organic rice flour, tapioca flour, cornstarch, quinoa flour, gluten free rolled oats, agave, egg whites, organic diced apples, lecithin, non gmo canola oil, milled flax seed, xantham gum, cinnamon, natural apple flavoring (whole foods compliant), salt. All ingredients are non-GMO. And this particular cookie is dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, high in fiber, high in protein, and low in sugar. YES…a cookie that is low in sugar.
While on that subject, let’s go ahead and tackle that all-important nutrition information, yes? A serving of Lisa Harris Pantry’s Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Morning Sunshine Breakfast Cookie is one entire cookie. And trust me…these thick and moist cookies are definitely filling. One cookie will give you 245 calories and 8 grams of fat. They are cholesterol free. Each cookie has 69 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be getting filled up with 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein! These are definitely hunger satisfying, naturally energizing and perfect for any time of the day, not just breakfast. But the slow-release carbohydrates will definitely keep you going for hours without even the slightest bit of hunger.
I didn’t believe for a moment that a cookie could fill me up, particularly on a gym morning when I tend to be ravenous. But it did. If it weren’t for the sweetness, I think this cookie would be the perfect way to start the day. I mean, who doesn’t like dessert for breakfast? I definitely want to check out the other gluten-free options (not all of the products at Lisa Harris Pantry are gluten free) now. And without Cuisine Cube, I never would have even know these existed!
Another great product brought into my life thanks to Cuisine Cube!
Lisa Harris Pantry’s Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Morning Sunshine Breakfast Cookie
Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Product: Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies – $5.49+
Cookie Monster is back with a vengeance.
My good friend, Jenn, knows me and knows that I love to try new gluten-free cookies. So, for my birthday, in my little bag of delicious birthday goodness, she provided me with three kinds I hadn’t tried before. Just after heading to New York City…and just before leaving for Walt Disney World…my roommate and I broke into the second brand she provided for me to try.
This time…it was Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
I had never heard of this brand before, so I was a little excited to try it.
Okay…a lot.
Why? Two words: Chocolate Chunk!
HELLO!!
Do you see where this is headed? Because who doesn’t love a good chocolate chip cookie, right? It’s the most basic of drop cookies out there. It’s a classic. It’s the go-to cookie of choice. I mean, you’ve reached for a cookie before and bit into it thinking it was chocolate chip only to be disappointed that it was oatmeal raisin, right? It’s happened to all of us. There is something that is so simple, yet so magical and incredibly comforting about a chocolate chip cookie.
But these weren’t just chocolate chips, yeah? These were…chocolate chunks!
The Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies come in a box containing 8 individually wrapped cookies. Open box…open wrapper…enjoy. Simple and satisfying.
The thing was…I wasn’t completely sold on these at first bite. Here’s why:
The Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies were…bland. If you didn’t happen to get a bite with the sweet chocolate chunks in it, then the cookie itself couldn’t carry it as a delicious dessert. While I found the cookies to be a great soft texture, the sweetness was just…wrong. The base of the cookie should be able to stand alone, but this was seriously lacking unless you got a bit of the chocolate in that bite. And, unfortunately, the chocolate chunks weren’t scattered well throughout each cookie. A lot of times, these chunks were just focused in the center, making it seem like the cookies were scooped and…whoops…forgot the chocolate part. They weren’t bad…we enjoyed them enough to eat the entire box (not in one sitting, but over the course of four days, HA!), but they aren’t a cookie we would actively seek out again.
As for the science of things, the Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies are made from soy flour, palm oil, dark chocolate chunks, sugar, brown sugar, canola oil, potato starch, egg whites (frozen), natural flavors, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, baking soda, cream of tartar, ammonium bicarbonate, Ganaden BC30, and salt. I admit, I had to look up what Ganaden BC30 was…and it is a natural probiotic. These cookies are gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and are kosher. They are also cholesterol free!
Now, let’s look at the nutritional value of the Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies. They are…cookies…so don’t expect great things here. A serving size is one cookie. This cookie will provide you with 130 calories and 8 grams of fat. One cookie will also give you 70 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. You will also be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not bad for a cookie, but there are other cookies I’d rather have over these.
So, while Zena’s Gluten Free Homestyle Chocolate Chunk Cookies weren’t bad…they weren’t great either. They made a good enough dessert for the few days I was home between the New York City Marathon and the Walt Disney World Wine & Dine Half Marathon…but they won’t be a brand that I rush out to purchase again.
The Celiathlete 