Okay…technically this is not a restaurant. There is no open seating, no tables, no hostess…none of that. This is a bakery. Not just any bakery though. This bakery has huge kitchen space to work out of, and in turn, offers up quite a lot of gluten-free goodies in their store.
Bake Me Happy was started by the lovely Wendy and Letha, committing themselves to making each and every bite that you have from their products the most decadent thing you’ve had since sliced bread. Sliced bread, however, is not on their menu. After being self-diagnosed with gluten intolerance in 2006, Wendy immediately felt relieve from a life of digestive issues. The only problem was…the gluten-free food choices available lacked flavor and texture, seriously limiting what she would be willing to consume (and who can blame her!?). After many years of self-study, she decided to take the plunge and signed up for an immersion course at the Culinary Institute of America, experimenting with recipes and trying them out on unsuspecting friends. Soon, both friends and family began requesting her treats for parties, and none of them were gluten intolerant. From there, Wendy expanded and began offering her products to the public. And from the huge response she got from her goodies…Bake Me Happy, the bakery, was born. And because Wendy understands what it is like to have a food intolerance , you can guarantee that she takes great care and pride in the products that she puts out for the public. Not only does she understand the importance of what she does, she also knows that a perfect recipe cannot be rushed and that the best things in life are worth waiting for.
Just over a month ago, I wrote up a review on Bake Me Happy’s Cream-Filled Spongies (think Twinkies), which I found in the freezer at Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio. While they were…okay…they didn’t wow me. And in response to my post about their product, the owners very kindly invited me to check out the bakery the next time I was in the Columbus area. As one of my best friends lives in that area, I make the trip there numerous times a year. And…this past Halloween weekend…that was where you found me. And, I recalled their invite to check out what fresh goodness they had at their bakery, instead of a freezer at a natural foods store…so…that morning after breakfast, my friends and I journeyed over to their Merion Village retail location to check out what fresh goodies awaited.
First of all, I was completely blown away by the amount of space they had in there. HUGE location. I am so accustomed to my gluten free bakeries being little, tight spots that have a few seats and a small kitchen. Not to say they don’t turn out quite a lot of products (Annie May’s Sweet Cafe and Cherbourg Bakery, I’m looking at you!), but this kitchen space was unbelievable. You step inside and it’s just open and not congested, even if there is a line. It was nice. Their storefront contains a counter that was jammed full of fresh baked goodness, and a smaller fridge that kept items like their cheesecake bars and other dairy-based goodies chilled and fresh. It was organized. It was adorable. And I already knew I wanted one of their soft t-shirts before I left. HA!
Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin
So, after going back and forth on a few items (I really wanted one of the huge Apple Dumplings, but the roomie, who I was splitting everything with, was less enthusiastic), we finally got our turn at the counter and we made our selections, keeping it reasonable and promising to return to try more. So, four items. It was hard to narrow it down. In the end, we ended up going with a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, a Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin, a Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and (not pictured above because I devoured it on the car ride home) a Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone. In addition to that (and for a later blog) I purchased a box of their Take-And-Bake scones in the Blueberry, Goat Cheese & Basil flavor (roomie’s choice!).
So, let’s start with what I ended up eating first. The (not pictured) Gluten Free Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone ($3.50) sounded like a dream to me. Like…a baked treat version of an Almond Joy. Delicious, right? Absolutely right!! This is the first time I have had a gluten-free scone that lived up to the scone name. I make scones, but none of them get the layers of pastry, and that flaky and crumbly texture to them. This one had exactly that. It was the most perfect scone I have had since going gluten free. It had that hard outer layer and inside was a dry, crumbly, but not dense. More biscuit-like. I was in love. And the blend of the sweet coconut and chocolate with the nuttiness of the almond made for more love and praise than I can even convey in words here. Needless to say, the scone was devoured in record time. And I loved every single bite. I might have licked my fingers clean too. You can get Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Scones in the following flavors: Almond, Coconut and Chocolate Chip; Ham, Cheese and Chives; Maple Cream, Bacon and White Cheddar; Blueberry, Goat Cheese and Basil; Jalapeño, Pepper Bacon and Pepper Jack Cheese; Apricot, White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut; and Dill, White Cheddar and Stone Ground Mustard.
As I visited the bakery on Halloween, they had quite a few Halloween themed treats. One of these was the adorable Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart ($3.50 (I think…)). I mean, come on…they are tarts that look like mummies. Eyes and everything. Bonus…pumpkin flavored. YUM YUM!! This was the first thing I ate the next day when I set out to devour half of each pastry (with my roommate, who is not gluten-free) consuming the other half and giving me her thoughts. I loved, loved, LOVED the light and flaky pastry that these tarts are made from. It reminded me of puff pastry…flaky, buttery, amazing, delicious, heavenly. And the pumpkin cream cheese filler was the perfect amount. Not too much. Not heavy handed. But just enough to make it feel like you were taking a bite out of an amazing pumpkin pie. I was in pumpkin-everything heaven, let me tell you!! So happy. The first thing I said to Cathy when I took a bite was, “OH MY GOD THIS PASTRY!” Blown away. This was the first pastry crust that has actually impressed me since I’ve been gluten free. Total win. Totally want another one…or ten.
The Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt ($4.50) was Cathy’s (the roomie) choice when it came to items that we selected. She is a sucker (see what I did there?) for anything lemon. So, I had a feeling when we were making our selections that she would go that route. Next time I want a flippin’ apple dumpling. Because I have never seen a gluten free apple dumpling before. But…no matter. The bundt cake was dense, but not heavy. I loved how moist and sticky good this little cake was. The blueberries brought a nice pop of sweetness. Cathy didn’t think there was enough lemon flavor in it, but I thought it struck a nice balance. The lemon was complimentary to the blueberry, not overpowering or underwhelming. Just right. I might have saved this for my last bite because, while dense, I found the texture quite light, airy, and amazing. And I thought the flavor was above and beyond what I expected. Crazy good.
And, last but not least, falling under the category that if it’s pumpkin I want to eat it…is the Gluten Free Pumpkin Donut Muffin ($3.00). Strangely enough, this turned out to be Cathy’s favorite thing that we bought at Bake Me Happy. I was shocked when she told me that. But, quite honestly, this was one of the most perfect gluten-free donut anythings that I’ve had in a long time. The texture was perfect. Not too dense, but not too light either. Perfect balance. The flavor was AMAZING. Seriously. It was pumpkin, and it was rolled in this fantastic cinnamon sugar topping that made each bite both savory and sweet and I loved it. I devoured each and every forkful. And I wish I had bought more of them. Pumpkin flavored or their standard donut muffin, it wouldn’t matter. This is the consistency of donuts that I’ve been searching for…for years now. Nailed it. And I loved it enough to lick the plate. No joke.
I have to say…fresh beats a freezer any day and Bake Me Happy sure did impress me with their fresh, made right there in the bakery, treats. There was so much to choose from and not enough room in my budget or stomach for all of it. That being said, I happily am ready to bake up some scones this weekend. And I can’t wait to add this place to my list of stops for every single time I visit Columbus, Ohio. I was beyond impressed. And the staff was so friendly and helpful. I didn’t get to meet the owners, as they were at the Celiac Conference that was going on (and that I didn’t know about until Friday as I was traveling), so hopefully next time I will be able to talk them up some.
If you are in or around Columbus, make it a point to drop by Bake Me Happy. Buy a shirt (they are SO SOFT!) and buy up their goodies. You won’t be disappointed. Not one bit. They certainly changed my tune. Fresh is best. And why not get some great gluten-free treats fresh out of the kitchen of a place that loves to bake up happiness?
It’s fall. And while, to most people (me included), that means pumpkin everything…it also holds another significance. Bon fires. And with bon fires…S’mores!
In fact, this had been the plan for my friend Jen’s wedding party on the night of the rehearsal dinner. The dinner was hosted at her parents house, and the fire pit was to be lit later that evening and the wedding party was going to eat a round of S’mores while just hanging out.
We were all too full from dinner to actually make this happen, so the vegan marshmallows and the gluten-free graham crackers I had my roommate bring up from Louisville…remained untouched.
Until this past week.
Because dessert is awesome and one of the groom’s sisters (a bridesmaid) mentioned how she ate her S’mores with a peanut butter cup instead of a Hershey’s bar. And this peeked my interest. So, while out, we picked up some peanut butter cups and brought them home.
Now, I have tried out a few gluten-free graham crackers…from Kinnikinnick’s S’morables to Schär’s Honeygrams (I’ve sampled, never actually purchased them myself) to Pamela’s Gluten Free Mini Grahams (I have reviewed the Cinnamon and the Chocolate). But, when I spotted the full-size Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams, I knew they had to be what came to Upstate New York with me. After all, I wanted S’mores too. So, that’s how I ended up with a box…and that’s why they lasted longer than usual. That being said, this past week, with cooler weather and a some vegan marshmallows taking up residence in my pantry…S’mores became dessert.
As I have found with all gluten-free graham crackers, the Pamela’s Products Honey Graham variety is definitely a thicker cracker than it’s glutenous counterpart. That being said, these particular crackers had a good feel to them, and weren’t all busted apart. In fact, when you snapped them in half…they actually broke along the perforation, instead of in random spots making them nonuniform and more difficult to build a perfect S’more.
And so, with peanut butter cup and two (2) vegan marshmallows, I created, in the comfort of my own kitchen, the ultimate gluten-free S’more. With a promise that Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams would “bring back a taste from your childhood,” I was holding them to this, expecting to bite into something amazing and life-changing (when it comes to gluten-free versions of anything).
I’m not going to lie…these were fan-damn-tastic!! Just…WOW!! With the exception of being thicker than an average graham cracker, these were the closest I have found to the treats that I enjoyed as a kid (and not always in S’mores, mind you!). The flavor was perfect. A little sweet with the kiss of honey and still had that graham cracker crumble that everyone knows too well. The texture was a bit sturdier than standard graham crackers, but that isn’t such a bad thing. I thought that these had the right amount of sweetness, the right amount of crispy, and the perfect amount of YUMMY-DELICIOUS-MMMMM…for even the casual graham cracker consumer. And, with a sturdier chocolate portion on the S’mores I built at home (ie: peanut butter cup), having the thicker and sturdier cracker was a blessing in disguise. My kitchen torch toasted up the marshmallows to perfection and…when put together…it was fall in one perfect, sweet, peanut butter, gooey treat! I was beyond impressed, beyond elated, and beyond satisfied. If heaven was made of chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallow, Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams would be the sandwich to their filling.
So, let’s talk about the ingredients that go into Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams. These crackers are made from a gluten-free flour blend that includes brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, and xanthan gum, as well as organic non-GMO butter (salted), brown cane sugar, sorghum flour, gluten-free oat bran, molasses, organic non-GMO honey, gluten-free flavors, grainless and aluminum free baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, potato starch, sodium bicarbonate), baking soda, cinnamon, and sea salt. This product is gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, corn-free, nut-free and egg-free. There are no artificial flavors or additives, no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, and no corn syrup. These grahams are certified gluten-free by GFCO and made in a gluten-free facility.
As far as nutritional information goes, a serving of the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams is two (2) crackers or 36 grams. There are six (6) servings per box. One serving will provide you with 180 calories, 8 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 26 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 9 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein. A nutritional powerhouse they are not…but DAMN…they are totally worth indulging in every now and again!
If you want to bring back childhood memories of sitting around a campfire, then the best and most gluten-free friendly way is by choosing Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams for your S’mores-eating needs. And for any other needs you might have that involve graham cracker goodness. Pulse them up for a pie crust…eat them on their own or topped with nut butter…or build some S’mores. Whatever your heart desires, make sure you build it with the best ingredients out there. For me…that means Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams, peanut butter cups, and some vegan marshmallows. YUMMY!
Welcome to the final round of “Cookies I Bought At Jungle Jim’s International Market.” Hey…cookies are awesome and when I find cookies that I have never spotted in my area of the country…I take every opportunity to try them. I mean, come on, cookies are the perfect treat after a long day. A little savory…but also sweet. You can’t go wrong.
While shopping in the gluten-free section of Jungle Jim’s International Market on my birthday, Cathy spotted a small line-up of little macaroon-type cookies. I used to despise coconut. I thought it tasted like having bugs in your mouth. Texture-wise…a fail. That being said, as I’ve gotten older, the more times I try coconut, the more I have come to enjoy it…in certain forms.
One of such forms is in…macaroons…those sweet lumps of toasted coconut with that golden crust at the bottom. Yep…I devour those now. Go figure. They are just a nice, healthier cookie to indulge in every now and again. So, imagine my excitement when Cathy spotted a shelf with little pouches of macaroon cookies called Coco-Roons. I knew I wanted to try one of the different varieties…but I had to narrow it down to the one that interested me most.
Coco-Roons are made by the company Wonderfully Raw. Wonderfully Raw was started by Sequoia Cheney, who had a passion for good food that wasn’t exactly good for her. When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she knew something had to change in order for her to heal herself. She decided to change her path and began a journey into good health. Her son, Eric Hara, a renowned chef in New York City, gave her a lot of inspiration and encouragement. So Sequoia decided to create delicious food that was also good for her. She began to train at Living Light Culinary Institute in Mendocino, California, where she trained with the best raw food chefs in the business. And with what she learned there, she could now prepare food that could support and heal the body. This dynamic mother and son duo have come together to create Coco-Roons, which are produced using only the finest organic ingredients.
Perfect segue here to tell you what is actually in these miniature cookies of wonderful lemony goodness, yes? The Wonderfully Rw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are made from organic dried unsweetened coconut, organic almond flour, organic unfiltered maple syrup, organic cold-pressed coconut oil, organic lemon zest, organic vanilla extract, and Himalayan crystal salt. That’s it, my dear readers. That’s it. These miniature macroons are vegan, gluten-free, and paleo (if cavemen ate desserts…and I’m still not convinced that’s true). These are also raw and certified non-GMO.
As far as nutrition goes, the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are a fantastic treat at the end of the day. A serving size is 3 of the miniature cookies. There are 2-4 servings per bag, as I think they actually go off weight. One serving will provide you with 80 calories, 6 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat (from coconut oil), 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 30 mg sodium, 6 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein. Not filling, but not horrible by any standard when it comes to a treat.
And since this is kind of out of my usual order, how about I tell you how much I LOVE these cookies, yes? First of all, they don’t taste coconutty at all. Nope. You get a bit of the texture, but that fresh lemon flavor is what tempts your taste buds into popping the next one. These cookies are tiny, little bite-size mounds of goodness. I was sad to only eat three of them tonight. I mean, totally amazing flavor…and you can’t beat how good these are for you…as fr as cookies go. I love that these are sweetened with maple syrup instead of granulated white sugar. And I love that I don’t feel bad just digging into these. If you’re a lemon lover…these will definitely make you happy. My roommate got to her serving first and all I heard was, “These are amazing.” And…she was absolutely right. I have a new soft spot in my heart for the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons. I hope a store around here carries them, otherwise I’ll be scooping up more of these and the other flavors on my next trip to Jungle Jim’s. And, if nothing else, they are available to order online on the Wonderfully Raw Web site.
Beyond enthusiastic and happy with these cookies for sure. I loved these from first bite and simply can’t wait to dig in tomorrow for more. Here’s a no-guilt, fantastic, healthy dessert or snack you’ll love. Trust me.
All you naysayers beware!! Just because something is gluten free and dairy free does not immediately mean it will be flavorless or taste like cardboard. I don’t know what cardboard tastes like since I’ve never had the urge to lick it or anything, but I promise you…this recipe will surpass all your expectations.
I was looking for a different sort of snickerdoodle treat to bake up for my amazing friends and neighbors downstairs. They had a rough couple of weeks, but with things starting to turn around, I wanted to make something to celebrate. That being said, I set out to bake up something snickerdoodle, that wasn’t necessarily the cookies themselves. I still have to play around with my mom’s snickerdoodle cookie recipe and attempt to convert it to gluten and dairy free.
So…I found a recipe on The Cool York and changed it up to fit the diet they are starting out following, which just so happens to coincide with mine. BONUS!!
2-2/3 cups gluten-free baking flour (I used Mina’s Purely Divine Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour)
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks (2 sticks) softened
2 eggs, room temperature
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place the butter & brown sugar in the mixing bowl and cream together.
Add in the 2 eggs until combined.
Add the baking powder to the mixture. Now, add in the flour.
Line a 9 x 13 baking sheet (or 8 x 8 if you prefer them thicker, like me) with parchment paper. Spread the batter over the pan.
Combine the white sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle generously over the batter.
Bake in the oven for 28-32 minutes (up to 40-45 min if using the 8 x 8 pan like I did).
Take out of the oven and let cool before serving!
Slice & enjoy
~*~*~
These blondies baked up light and soft and chewy and amazing. Seriously. I took half of the recipe and gave the rest to them. I am beyond words with how well this worked out, honestly. Totally delicious. I especially loved the gooey and rich texture that these had. I warmed mine up for about 20 seconds in the microwave and WOW!! Just WOW!! The original recipe called for 3 tablespoons of both sugar and cinnamon to top…but that was really heavy on the cinnamon. So I reduced it to 1/3 of the amount and it was that perfect sweet/spicy level. If you like snickerdoodles…you’re absolutely going to love these. And…if you don’t have to eat gluten-free or dairy free…regular flour and butter can be used, of course.
Product: The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots – $4.50+
I know what you’re thinking…
“MORE COOKIES??”
And yes…it does seem like I’m eating my weight in cookies these days. But…I’m not. I portion everything out perfectly…and each container is split with another person. So, yeah…change that way of thinking to…
“MORE COOKIES!!”
Truth be told…I’m a cookie monster regardless. There is nothing quite as perfect as a delicious cookie. Whether you like them chewy and moist or crispy and crumbly…there is no right or wrong way to make, eat, or devour a cookie. And while homemade cookies are, by far, the best…I don’t have much time to mess with recipes and convert them…and then bake them.
So, sometimes, getting a small sack of cookies from the grocery store is a nice enough treat. And trust me, despite what you think, this doesn’t happen often. It was my birthday a couple of weeks back and I was treated to a shopping spree at Jungle Jim’s International Market. And while I was determined to get foods that weren’t all snacks and junk (and I actually did manage)…I did pick up a few treats and have been working my way through them.
I love perusing the various countries and their foods while I’m at Jungle Jim’s. But…I normally don’t get much in there due to my food allergies. I do visit Ireland to pick up the tea I got hooked on while visiting there back in 2010. It just so happened, that while I was just browsing the shelves…I spotted little pouches of cookie-like goodness. There were like…four different varieties and they were all vegan friendly and gluten free.
HELLO!!
The hard part was narrowing it down.
The company is The Foods of Athenry from The Lawless Family Bakery. I love the brand name. It’s clever. And I love clever things. The Foods of Athenry was born in 2004 when, an uncertain future in agriculture and childhood health problems, which influenced a lifelong interest in the relationship of food vs health, brought the Lawless family to set up a bakery business in which no artificial food additives were used. They sold their cows and moved the bakery into the empty milking parlor. With a tradition in baking (the Lawless grandparents owned one of the largest bakeries in the West of Ireland almost a hundred years ago), and a passion and love of good food, the Lawless’ set out to promote one of their primary beliefs: “Good food promotes good health.” With that in mind, they took great care in preparing their own breakfasts, lunchbox snacks and treats. And when this way of life turned into a business, the same simple rule applied to all of the products they produced, be they vegan, gluten free, dairy free…or not. And it’s worked. They have won numerous food awards that sing high accolades for the products that The Foods of Athenry produces and sells.
When I was inside the Ireland section of Jungle Jim’s International Market, I had quite the decision to make. In the Gluten Free Pouch Packs…four different varieties are available…and all four were there for me to choose from. I thought about grabbing them all, but there was way more to explore and a shrinking budget. The Gluten Free Pouch Packs come in: Just Oats Flapjacks Mini Bites, The Works Flapjacks Mini Bites, Blondie Cookie Shots, and Brownie Cookie Shots. As it is hard for me to make decisions regarding sweet treats, I asked my roommate for her opinion. And she decided the Blondie Cookie Shots were the way to go. And so…they came home with me.
Tonight, after dinner, I pulled them out to enjoy for our dessert. The pouch was cut open and I actually dumped out a handful. These are definitely small bite-size cookie treats that looked a lot like shortbread cookies. They are about the size between a dime and nickle. So, tiny little morsels of cookie joy. Easy to pop and snack on and indulge a little. I just served up a handful to Cathy and then I did the same for me. I popped the first one as I was storing the pouch back in the pantry.
Crunchy, delicious, popping-fresh cookies. That’s what these are. They have this fantastic vanilla flavor to them. I was in love with the flavor. The texture was definitely reminiscent of a shortbread cookie. It was buttery and sweet and crunchy and amazing. I was in love. In fact, I popped the rest of the cookies I had dished up for myself in no time. Not mindlessly…but savoring while enjoying. These cookies were totally made for that. Love does come in bite-size pieces.
Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we? The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots are made from gluten free and wheat free flour (maize, rice, potato, tapioca, and buckwheat), 100% vegetable non-hydrogenated margarine, sugar, concentrated fruit juice (grape, apple, pear), natural vanilla, raising agents, (mono calcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate), and xanthan gum. The cookies do not contain any gluten, wheat, dairy, GMOs, eggs, yeast, hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, flavors of preservatives.
And you are going to love the nutritional facts for The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots! Each cookie is 4 grams and each cookie contains only 18 calories. Yes…18 calories. One cookie. 18 calories. So…in the sense that you are popping one single cookie…you would be taking in: 18 calories, less than 1 gram of fat, less than 1 gram saturated fat, 2.46 grams carbohydrates, and under 1 gram of the following: sugar, fiber, protein and sodium.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
These cookies are pretty much guilt-free and are a great companion for tea, coffee, chocolate milk, or whatever. They made a great choice for a dessert tonight. Amazing food brought all the way from Ireland. I’m hooked. I need to get back to Jungle Jim’s and soon!
Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies
Product: Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies – $5.50+
Are you tired of cookie reviews yet? Are you? You shouldn’t be. Cookies are amazing. Cookies are…one of the meanings of life. Seriously. Look it up. Cookies…I swear it’s there.
The thing with gluten free is…sometimes gluten free cookies do not invoke meaning of life feelings. Sometimes they are just dry and sandy and just…blech. So, when I find a new brand (nothing new about Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies…just new to me!) of cookie…I always want to try it. Sometimes this is the best thing I could have done. Sometimes…I regret it. Gluten free is a science…and there are those who get it right…and those who still haven’t gotten it at all.
Okay…
So, as I have mentioned in preceding blogs, my birthday was rough this year. I was turning 35. And my day was originally supposed to be spent running the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio…because it actually ran ON my birthday and I was moving up an age division. Big reason to celebrate. But 3 weeks prior to that…the fracture happens and the now famous boot (aka: Bootsie) became my daily footwear…and I was under strict, strict rules from my amazing orthopedic doctor…NO RUNNING.
Super bummed, I didn’t want anything to do with my birthday. Most of my friends were out of town running the race or doing a different one. Or…just out of town. And I was beyond down and bummed. There might have been tears. Okay, I won’t lie…there were. Then, on the morning of my birthday, as I’m sitting down to eat at Annie May’s Sweet Café (allergen-free bakery in Louisville, KY…best breakfast ever!!), my roomie springs my birthday gift on me. I don’t have a lot of things that I want/need…and those things that I do want/need…are too expensive for anyone but me to really buy for myself. SO…she and her family all pitched in and gave me a $150 shopping spree at Jungle Jim’s International Market.
And it was on that shopping spree (which happened that very day…which I was NOT prepared for at all), in the gluten-free aisles of Jungle Jim’s, that I spotted the colorful bags of Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Bite-Size Cookies. Mmmm…cookies. They had all the flavors too: Super Dooper Snickerdoodle, Double Chocolate Brownie, Simply Chocolate, Chewy Chocolate Chip, and Sensational Sugar Cookie. We all know, this cookie monster is a fan of Snickerdoodles above all other cookies. So, you know, the bright neon pink bag containing Super Dooper cookies….of cinnamon and sugar origin…was the one that made it into the shopping cart.
Tonight, after a very healthy meal (Chana Aloo Stew, in case you were curious), I dug out the variety of new cookie brands to try and let my roomie pick where to start. She pointed to the snickerdoodles. Smart girl. HA!
Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies was created by Liz Gilbert, a Culinary Institute of America trained baker and chef, who was diagnosed with multiple food allergies (wheat, gluten, peanuts, nuts, soy, milk, corn and shellfish). After the initial phase of depression (we have all been there…saying “I can’t eat anything!”), Gilbert took action, testing out recipes in what has become her line of great-tasting, classic, homestyle treats that everyone can enjoy. Let’s face it…allergen-free foods can carry funky textures and aftertastes…so spending time on a formula to get it right does take time. But Gilbert knew she was onto something when her children and their friends (none of whom have food restrictions) polished off plates of cookies and asked for more. From there…Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies was born…and the founder, herself, set out to make treats for everyone…one cookie at a time.
Today, Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies boasts Gilbert’s baked goods and ready-to-go cookie dough. So you can enjoy giant cookies, bite-size cookies, or cookie dough…all of which are made without artificial ingredients and the top allergens.
I know what you’re thinking…there is no way these can be good.
For some reason…that thought never crept into my mind. Not when I opened up the packet. Not when I pulled out a serving (4 mini cookies, for the record). And not when I took my first bite.
Guess what…COOKIE HEAVEN!! First of all, the Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies are soft and chewy (not crisp and crunchy)…which for me…always wins. I prefer soft cookies and choose them over the crispy ones any day. So…that was the first point in their favor. I loved how small and light they were. A lot of gluten-free cookies feel heavy and dense. Not these. And moist…no sandpaper here. Truly a chewy and soft cookie worth savoring as you pop the 4 (or more, I won’t judge!) cookies in the serving. These aren’t overly sweet, nor are they too spicy. They find that perfect cinnamon-sugar balance, which isn’t always easy in a snickerdoodle. Holy moley…these cookies really are super dooper!! No joke!
Tasting is believing…and now I understand why Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies (specifically the Snickerdoodles) have won an award from the CT Specialty Food Association. These cookies were so amazing that if I had started eating right out of the packet…they’d be gone. (This, in fact, is why I portion everything out…LOL!).
So, let’s talk about ingredients. The Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite-Size Cookies are made from gluten-free flour mix (sweet rice, brown rice, tapioca), non-hydrogenated palm oil, pure cane sugar, eggs, xanthan gum, vanilla, and cinnamon. These cookies are kosher, gluten-free, wheat-free, contain no peanuts or tree nuts, contain no hydrogenated oils, contain no artificial colors of flavors, do not contain high fructose corn syrup, contain no preservatives, contain no trans fat, are dairy-free, are corn-free and are soy free.
BUT…they are definitely not taste-free. In fact…they taste amazing.
As for nutrition…a serving of the Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite-Size Cookies is 4 cookies (32 grams). This serving will provide you with 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, 17 grams carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 9 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein.
I am beyond enamored with the taste, texture, flavor, deliciousness, amazing goodness, sweet treats that are the Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies from Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies. Super dooper indeed. Super dooper delicious. Try them out for yourself. Some of the best packaged snickerdoodles I’ve eaten since going gluten-free. This package is snickerdoodle love…in gluten free form. YUMMY!
Okay, it’s really not that exciting. From my standpoint, it is…but in the grand scheme of things…definitely not novel, short story, or even periodical worthy.
You see…September 19th marked my birthday. A milestone birthday…for a runner. I was moving up an age division. It fell on a Saturday this year, and for over a year, I had planned to run the Air Force Marathon to celebrate. Unfortunately, I fractured my ankle and couldn’t do it. As with everything running related this year. And I was really, really bummed. Like…having a meltdown the night before and just wanting to skip doing anything on Saturday because it wouldn’t be what I really wanted to do.
My roommate had other plans. She and her family through in and gave me a $150 spending spree at Jungle Jim’s International Market…which is literally, Disney World for foodies…minus all the fun rides and characters. Which means, it is actually nothing like Disney World…unless you are there for the food! I mean, it is heaven for any foodie. And it’s a good thing I don’t live closer to Cincinnati, Ohio, or I’d be tempted to go there more often. That being said, I spent a good 2 hours perusing the aisles of the 20,000 square feet of Jungle Jim’s, searching high and low for gluten-free products I haven’t seen in my area. I’m still on the hunt for Rudi’s Gluten Free Texas Toast…which I have NOT been able to locate…and figured if anywhere would have it it would be Jungle Jim’s. So, while I didn’t find that particular goodie on my “must have” gluten-free indulgent food list…I did get a lot of good stuff.
And, believe it or not, the very last item to go into my shopping cart was…the Chubby Bunny Bakery Jumbo Pumpkin Cookie with Caramel Icing. And, it almost didn’t make the cut. I was down to going between a fresh gluten-free granola, a gluten-free lemon bar, and the cookie. In the end, the cookie monster in me won out…and the cookie was what ended up in the cart, and then in the bag, and then…in my freezer (I had the most amazing gluten-free cookie cake made by my local bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café, so this had to be kept fresh while I polished that off and then went out of town for my best friend from high school’s wedding).
Last night, it emerged from the depths of my freezer and made it into my fridge to thaw out so that it could be my indulgent dessert tonight. Although, after stopping by Annie May’s for Soft Pretzel Wednesday™ and discovering her new Cookie Dough Cupcake…it was a near thing. I passed (amazingly enough) on the cupcake…this time.
Dinner was easy tonight as I had everything prepped ahead of time and it just required a little bit of warming up before serving. This meant that my dinner (Vegan Pizza Chili…for the record) was actually made and consumed in a timely manner. And this also meant…dessert at a decent hour (although it is never too late or too early for a sweet treat, if you ask me!). So, while my roommate and I were devouring our chili, the cookies were out of the fridge and resting on the counter. And after dishes were cleaned up and put away…dessert time!!
Chubby Bunny Bakery makes only gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free goodies. Some of their items do contain soy and/or nuts, but they can prepare any of their baked goods with a substitute ingredient upon request. This vegan bakery stocks the shelves of markets like Jungle Jim’s and the Oxford Farmer’s Market (through November), as well as the Moon Co-op in Oxford, Ohio. Chubby Bunny uses organic and non-GMO ingredients whenever possible and use no preservatives or ingredients that you can’t pronounce. Real ingredients yield a tastier, better, more indulgent treat.
The Chubby Bunny Bakery Jumbo Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Icing come two in a container. Now, if the cookies were smaller, I’d simply dish one up for me and one up for my roommate. But these are JUMBO cookies…and therefore, I can get 2 nights out of 2 cookies…simply by splitting the cookies in half. Which…means an extra night of tasty cookie goodness. Pumpkin was the first thing to catch my eye when I chose these, for the record, as I love, love, love pumpkin-flavored ANYTHING (except pumpkin pie, but that’s more of a texture thing). That was why these came home with me. Two words…that win me over every freakin’ time: Pumpkin and Caramel. HELLO!!
So, I removed one (1) of the two (2) cookies from the clam shell container they came in and sliced it right in half. The knife glided through, which meant a couple of things: soft and moist. Winning already before the first bite. I loved the rather extravagant layer of the caramel icing that literally coated the entire cookie itself. Sort of like a miniature cookie cake. I’m all for this. I handed half to my roommate while I took a bite of the other half.
HOLY FAT RABBIT, GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN BATMAN!
The Chubby Bunny Bakery Jumbo Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Icing are crack in cookie form. The icing is sweet and loaded with delicious caramel flavoring. As I am not big on icing or frosting…this is a huge thing for me to notice. It didn’t overwhelm the cookie, just enhanced the already delicious cookie that was underneath. Because the star…the pumpkin cookie itself was fantastic. The cookie was soft and moist, not at all crumbly or dense. The pumpkin flavor was at the perfect level…not too much, but definitely noticeable. It hit every right note on my musical foodie tastebuds. I mean…WOW. There was absolutely nothing about this cookie that I didn’t like…except that I cut it in half to share instead of eating it all myself. HA!! Yes…if you can find them or order them…do not waste another moment and get yourself these cookies. It’s officially fall. Pumpkin is in. These cookies are pumpkin. Therefore, these cookies are what you need to be eating RIGHT NOW!!
Seriously…
Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we? Chubby Bunny Bakery Jumbo Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Icing are produced in a home, but per law, the ingredients that go into each chewy, moist cookie of pumpking yumminess are listed on the package. The pumpkin cookie portion of this treat is made from brown rice flour, potato starch, organic pumpkin puree, vegan margarine (palm fruit oil, canola oil, soybean oil, flax oil, olive oil, filtered water, pea protein, sunflower lecithin, lactic acid [non-dairy], naturally extracted annatto), ground organic flaxseed, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, xanthan gum, sea salt and vanilla extract. The icing portion is made from vegan margarine (palm fruit oil, canola oil, soybean oil, flax oil, olive oil, filtered water, pea protein, sunflower lecithin, lactic acid [non-dairy], naturally extracted annatto), brown sugar, powdered sugar, organic rice milk, and vanilla extract. This bakery only offers gluten free and vegan treats. Indulge!
While I can give you ingredients, as stated before, these are produced in a home, so there is no nutritional information to share. However, as stated before, these cookies are amazing…so ruin your diet for a day or two. And go check out the Facebook and Instagram pages for Chubby Bunny Bakery and see what other goodies they are baking up!!
So resisting the urge to drive to Jungle Jim’s this weekend just for more cookies…
Product: Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spongies – $2.25
Ah, Columbus, Ohio. What a strange place to find so much gluten-free goodness. But, let’s be completely honest…I find so many gluten-free goodies there. And one of my primary sources for this is the Raisin Rack, which my friend Jenn, introduced me to once upon a time. Since then, this store has become a staple as far as stops go when I’m in town (others include the gluten-free crepe place and the gluten-free bakery).
On my most recent visit for a fun weekend with my friend, our final stop before heading back to her house was…Raisin Rack. My budget was a bit tighter, so I was only given an allowance of 10 food items to try this time. And after walking around the gluten-free section about 20 times, I started to put in my choices.
At the end of one of the one of the aisles, there was this cooler…and inside were some fun desserts, snacks, treats…whatever. And the ones that really, really caught my attention was these little cylindrical cakes filled with a marshmallow cream.
And…if you see where I’m going…you’ll know that this can only mean…
GLUTEN FREE TWINKIES!
Except Twinkies are trademarked and all that jazz.
So, a local gluten free kitchen created their own take on the Hostess treat…
Cream-Filled Spongies!
Don’t you just love that? Spongies. HA! Just saying it is fun. I bought two of them…one for me and one for my roommate, and we stocked them in my freezer upon transporting frozen stuff in dried ice…all the way back to the Louisville area. They stayed in the freezer up until tonight…
Because I really just wanted a simple dessert tonight. And this was as easy as putting these in the fridge the night before to let them thaw to perfection. I let them sit on the counter, by the way, while I cooked and ate dinner…so they were about to room temperature when it was time to feast on dessert.
Before I get into what I thought of the Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spongies…let me tell you a little about Bake Me Happy.
Bake Me Happy is a gluten-free kitchen that believes that dessert should always be delightful. In 2006, Wendy was self-diagnosed with a gluten intolerance and immediately felt relief from a life of digestive issues. The problem she was encountering was that her food choices were lacking in flavor and texture…and her choices of what she could eat were limited. So, Wendy began her foray into the world of gluten-free cooking and baking…eventually taking an immersion course at the acclaimed Culinary Institute of America and began to test recipes out on unsuspecting friends. When her friends and family, who were not even gluten intolerant, began asking for treats for their parties, she knew she was onto something and that her baked goods were ready for the public. And so, Bake Me Happy is the bakery that Wendy and Letha, her partner in gluten-free crime, opened. This bakery is commited to making every bite the most decadent gluten free treat anyone has had since sliced bread. If you have a craving, enjoy a baked good that won’t crumble to dust and leave you feeling like there is no pleasure in food. Because Wendy has to eat gluten-free, she understands why good food is important and works hard to perfect her recipes.
And so…out of one of these recipes came…Bake Me Happy’s Gluten-Free Cream-Filled Spongies.
And these little cream-filled treats had to make their way home with me. And tonight…after a stressful day…I really wanted something different and fun for dessert. The Spongies were the perfect option. After consuming dinner (I made black bean tostadas) and cleaning up the kitchen…dessert was on. The Spongies had come to room temperature for the most part…only a slight chill from the fridge remained. So, I opened up the package, gave one to my roommate and then did the same for myself.
I ate mine standing up in the kitchen.
The Bake Me Gluten Free Cream-Filled Spongies look just like Twinkies. So…nostalgia happiness. I know some people who would turn up their nose at the thought of eating a Twinkie of any sort. But not me. Not when most of these regular goodies that are the norm for anyone aren’t for me. Twinkies are a dime a dozen…until you’re gluten-free. Then…they are a special treat.
The Bake Me Gluten Free Cream-Filled Spongies are golden snack cakes filled with a whipped marshmallow cream. Yep. Just like a Twinkie. And so…I first examined the little cake of cream-filled goodness. It was soft and spongy like a Twinkie…shaped like a Twinkie…and the filling was piped in through three holes in the bottom. I took one bite…
The Spongies cake was soft, but slightly gritty. It had a great flavor to it…that rich buttery flavor that these snack cakes are known for…but the star was definitely the cream that was to fill the treat itself. Sadly, the three holes were the only places the cream made it. it was not piped throughout the entire cake itself…but in three little sections. Which, is a bit of a disappointment. The best part of the Twinkie is the cream. Well, that part was true for the Spongies too. The marshmallow cream was AWESOME. The flavor and texture was fantastic. I was disappointed that there wasn’t more of it. Seriously. It was lacking in cream. The cake to cream ratio was WAY off. But the cream that was there, I wanted to savor and enjoy…forever. And I couldn’t…because there wasn’t enough of it. The grittiness of the cake was a little off-putting, but when teamed with the cream, it worked. But they had to be eaten together. It was a bit of a let-down.
Let’s talk about the ingredients that go into Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spongies. The cake portion of these treats are made from a gluten-free flour mix (white rice flour, cornstarch, sweet rice flour) butter (sweet cream, natural flavoring) sugar, eggs, whole milk, baking powder (cornstarch, bicarbonate of soda, sodium aluminum sulfate, monocalcium phosphate, vanilla bean paste (sugar, water, vanilla extract, vanilla beans, gum tragacanth (a natural thickener)), salt, and xanthan gum. The cream filling is made from butter, marshmallow cream (corn syrup, sugar, egg whites and vanilla bean paste [sugar, water, vanilla extract, vanilla beans, gum tragacanth (a natural thickener)]}, confectioner’s sugar (sugar, cornstarch), organic shortening (100% organic expeller pressed palm oil), vanilla bean paste (sugar, water, vanilla extract, vanilla beans, gum tragacanth (a natural thickener)). This product is produced in a gluten-free facility.
As for nutrition, a serving of Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spogies is 1 cake (48 grams). This serving will dish up 180 calories, 8 grams fat, 4.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 45 mg cholesterol, 105 mg sodium, 26 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 15 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein. Not filling…but it’s a dessert and should just be the icing on the cake…or the filling in the sponge-cake as is the case here. HA!!
I didn’t dislike the Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spongies. I just felt a little…cheated by them. The cake was definitely not up to standard…but the cream was some of the best I have ever tasted. So, there is the quandary. I’m not done with the goodies from Bake Me Happy. Not one bit. But I think the cream filling in the Spongies needs a bit more room to shine like the awesome fluffy goodness that it is. That being said…there are other goodies from Bake Me Happy that I’m dying to try. I might have to go by the bakery itself next time I find myself in Columbus!
So, last week, for a wonderful week, I was fortunate enough to spend some time on the two of the Hawaiian islands. The original purpose – to run the Kauai Marathon.
But then…I fractured my ankle.
Trying to start a new trend in footwear, perhaps? This is Bootsie, my new friend for the next 6-8 weeks. MEH!
Yep. Fractured my freakin’ ankle three days before leaving for Hawaii. SUCK!! I tried to put a positive spin on things…I really did. At least I was still going to Hawaii. Yeah…it didn’t really work for me then either…but I was trying. To help make this painful adjustment, I started a Twitter account for Bootsie (the boot I’m forced to wear for 6-8 weeks) to document traveling adventures. I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason…so there better be a damn good reason for this. That’s all I’m saying.
The first leg of the trip was flying out to San Diego. This gave us pretty much a full day to adjust to a bit of the time change (West Coast = 3 hours behind EST; Hawaii = 6 hours behind EST) and break up what was already a long ass flight to the islands. We’d depart San Diego before it was bright and early to get to Kauai by mid-morning. It was a plan. The ankle just meant we had to depart from the hotel sooner because I wasn’t moving anywhere very fast. So…my traveling companions, Cathy & Jenn, were both very helpful and very, very patient with me. And, I didn’t complain much. I mean, complaining won’t change the situation. I just apologized…a lot…for being slow.
The first order of business after getting to San Diego and checking into the hotel to drop off luggage was…lunch. Not having prepared for lunch, I ate a protein bar, while my fellow travelers ate tacos from a local taco stand. SO cool. But after that, I required my morning cup of coffee…so we sought out and found a great local establishment called…
Lestat’s Coffee House, San Diego, California
Lestat’s is one of those places that is open 24/7, 365 days of the year. YES…it is always open! Holiday? No worries…they’re open! Lestat’s Coffee House has a few signature drinks on their menu…and as it was pretty toasty in San Diego, I wasn’t feeling the hot coffee that day. Neither were my traveling friends. So, they each got coffee freezes (think blended drinks!) while I opted for one of Lestat’s Signature Drinks done up all refreshing and cold. Jenn got the Winter Raspberry Freeze ($5.25), which is a ice blended raspberry mocha. I took one little sip. WINNING! Cathy had me pick for her, and I choose the Arctic Squirrel Freeze ($5.25) for her, which is an ice blended hazelnut mocha (similar to the Hazelnut Turtle drink she loves at our local cafe…just…blended and cold). As for me…I went with the Iced Arctic Joey ($4.55)…which is coconut, almond and chocolate. I had mine made with coconut milk as well (+$1.00). In essence, it was a liquid almond joy. And it was delicious. There were bits of coconut floating in it. I think I was just starting to get in the Aloha spirit by getting something with coconut. Needless to say…smooth, creamy, delicious. Nothing overwhelmed the drink, and it wasn’t heavy. It was pure liquid gold. And refreshing. And tasty. And in the end, coffee should always be tasty. I was beyond happy with this decision.
Lestat’s Coffee House Iced Almond Joey with Coconut Milk
Upon arriving in Hawaii…after the rental car debacle…wherein we learned…convertible is fun…but not when you have a fractured ankle. We got it sorted…and switched out the fun and stylish convertible for…a Ford Fusion. Yeah…definitely not the way we had envisioned traveling, but it gave us more leg room and some more storage space for our big-ass luggage. LOL! After checking into Pono Kai Resort in Kauai…coffee was needed.
It’s always coffee with me. LOL!
So, we scoped out and fell in love with a local café called Ha Coffee Bar. And we went back every day we were on the island of Kauai…save for Sunday, because they are closed.
Ha Coffee Bar, Lihue, Hawaii
It was love at first “Aloha” when it came to Ha Coffee Bar. I have nothing but warm fuzzies when I think back to every stop at Ha Coffee Bar, each morning, first thing, while on Kauai. It was a bit of a drive from the resort, but always worth it. I tried three different things on the three days we were there that they were open. And, not once, was I ever disappointed in my choice. Ha Coffee Bar is a café that is built to resemble an old-school bar. No joke. Their iced drinks are even mixed in martini shakers. LOVE. This set-up allows them to showcase and sell products and items, such as pour-overs, that might not typically be served at a café. Ha Coffee Bar primarily serves espresso coffee, cold brewed coffee, pour-over and French press coffee. The variety in the types of coffee they serve allows for different origins and price points, which also helps minimize waste as they don’t have coffee sitting and going stale…high quality coffee and flexibility that allows customers to explore different blends, flavor profiles and methods of making coffee. Coffee love. And boy…did I LOVE this. On the first day there, I stayed pretty basic. I got a Salted Caramel French Pressed Cafe Au Lait with Almond Milk. I loved that they added the flavor to the steamed milk itself, and then gave me the pitcher of leftover almond milk in case I needed more of it in the drink. But it was perfect the way they gave it to me. And the French pressed coffee…OMG…so good. Jenn got a simple Iced Hazelnut Latte and Cathy got an Iced Peppermint Mocha. So, on the next morning, I noticed they had signature drinks hanging up near the register…so I decided to give one of those a try. I had it narrowed down to two…but opted for their drink the Bee Sting. The Bee Sting is simply Espresso, Coconut Milk, Honey and Cinnamon. I got it iced…as the humidity was killer that morning. Cathy got their take on an Iced Black & White Mocha (Zebra). And it was, absolutely, hands down, my favorite coffee drink of the trip. I wish I could have had it again. I would have gotten it again. The coconut milk gave it this rich flavor, the honey sweetened it, the cinnamon lent a hint of spice…and espresso…got me moving for sure. Simple…yet SO good. SO very good. In fact, on our last day there, this is the drink that Jenn opted to get after trying mine. With Ha closed on Sunday, we had to go elsewhere, but on our last day on Kauai…we were there in the morning and I was getting another signature drink…Liquid Sunshine, which was cold brew coffee, coconut syrup, and coconut milk. DELICIOUS!! Not Bee Sting delicious…but delicious. I was quite happy with it. Not something I can get here…anywhere…so that was most of the draw for this drink in particular. The last morning there, Cathy got the Iced Hazelnut Mocha and a Pineapple Cream Cheese Scone to enjoy for breakfast. I still say it today…back in Louisville, Kentucky…that I miss Ha Coffee Bar. It made that much of an impression.
Ha Coffee’s Salted Caramel Cafe Au Lait with Almond Milk, Iced Bee Sting, and Iced Liquid Sunshine
Skinny Mike’s Hawaiian Ice Cream, Lihue, Hawaii
I have KONG Radio to thank for the discovery of Skinny Mike’s. As we were driving the island of Kauai on Saturday, just enjoying beaches and the like…an advertisement for Skinny Mike’s Hawaiian Ice Cream came on. And it advertised ice cream, sorbets, and vegan ice cream. They had my attention, and the attention of both Jenn and Cathy too. I looked them up…and took note of where it was located. And we vowed to go there and check them out. At least once, yes?
And so, Saturday evening, after splitting a gluten-free pizza at a local chain…we headed over to Harbor Mall, where Skinny Mike’s is located. We parked and marched up the stairs to the little shop. Online I had taken a peak at the flavors, and sort of had my heart set on the Pineapple Cream. However…they didn’t have that flavor. So…I was left to look over the offered flavors while Jenn & Cathy made their choices. We each got regular scoops ($3.49) of our flavor choices. Cathy went with the Mint Chocolate Chip as it is one of her favorites…anywhere. Jenn won with their signature flavor…a local classic…Macadamia Nut. Hers was so good, we went back the last night there and each got a scoop of the Macademia Nut. That’s how good that was. For my first trip there, without the Pineapple flavor being available…I went with the suggestion of Coconut Cream. The Coconut Cream ice cream was the perfect level of coconut flavor. No bits of raw coconut…just the flavor infused in a creamy scoop of ice cream goodness. It was delicious. Smooth. And melted fast. Ah…coconut based things…I didn’t mind though. Not one bit. I eat frozen desserts rather quickly regardless. LOL! We were so impressed with the ice cream there that, as I said, we all went back to get the signature Macadamia Nut flavor on our last night on Kauai. Worth it. That was some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Just…delicious. I miss it. I want some more of the Macadamia Nut flavor…it’s a craving that hits now. Now that I know it exists…but can’t get it anywhere else…but there.
What happens when your favorite Hawaiian coffee stop on Kauai is closed on Sunday? You have to find a new place to get that caffeine hit. And this was what we were left to do on Sunday morning. Sunday. When I should have been running a marathon. When, instead, I was hobbling around Kapaa in search of coffee. The stop at the little food truck-like coffee place was…not going to work for everyone. No one was really happy with the menu options…so…we backtracked to a spot that Jenn spotted and had looked up online. It wasn’t far from the resort. It was a worthwhile stop in the end. And, in the end, we all ended up with a bit of breakfast with our coffee as well. How? Because this place had some gluten-free options on the menu and in the bakery case. SCORE! This meant we could have something a little more substantial at the start of the day, instead of the meager protein bars or yogurts back at the resort. It would mean eating better now and not making poor choices later. And so…Jenn got one of the bars from the bakery case…the Aloha Bar ($3.75), I think. For her caffeinated goodness that morning, she got the Iced Macanut Latte ($4.50). Cathy went for the Breakfast Burrito ($10.50), which includes eggs, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese, which she got with the mango-chipotle salsa. For her drink, she got the Iced Hazelnut Mocha ($4.70). She at hers there at the café as she was the driver. As for me…they had gluten-free English muffins. HELLO! So I ended up getting the Gluten Free English Muffin with Cream Cheese ($3.95), which they kindly toasted for me…looks like in a pan…no cross-contamination. And for the drink, I got the Iced Macanut Latte ($4.50) with Almond Milk (+$0.75). Jenn and I had ours to go and I happily noshed away on a Glutino English Muffin with a light spread of cream cheese. The Macanut Latte…macadamia nut flavor…espresso…nutty goodness. And it was just the perfect drink that morning. It was supposed to be marathon morning…and I needed a distraction. This food, while simple and basic…was just what I needed. The drive along the coast helped too!
Java Kai’s Gluten Free English Muffin (with Cream Cheese) and Macanut Latte with Almond Milk
Hanalei Bay, Hanalei, Hawaii
We visited a lot of beaches while visiting Hawaii. I mean, that’s part of the point when you visit an island, right? But, I think, above all others, my favorite one we stopped at, and spent the most time at, was Hanalei Bay. This beach is stunning. A beautiful 2-mile long crescent of white sand, nestled beneath a breathtaking range of mountains. The water was relatively calm that day, with some small waves crashing against the shore. Despite my new friend…Bootsie…being on, we were determined to get away and enjoy the day. Anything to keep my mind off the fact that I should have been running. Hanalei Bay is a great beach for walking and body surfing. Calm waves, lifeguards, and a great coast line. I managed a few solo ventures along the waterline of the beach, just needing to at least move a little…minus the boot. I took it off for beach time. Strange tan lines were not on the agenda. I was very careful of where I stepped and the movement of the sand…and would pause if a wave came up and rolled over my legs…because that undertow could be a bit strong and throw me off balance. It was here that I realized my surf lessons the following day were not going to happen, as much as I wanted to give it a try. It was just not going to be physically possible for me to get up on a surf board. I was brokenhearted over this…but shrugged it off as no big deal. These were the cards I was dealt. Suck it up, cupcake…you’re in Hawaii!
Me and Bootsie at Hanalei Bay
After some walking and some laying on the beach…we got dressed and headed off for the next venture. Which tunred out to be a good thing. Heavy rains started soon after we had changed…and soon, Jenn and I realized just how sunburned we had gotten. I don’t think Jenn slapped on any sunscreen. I had…but the burn was in those places where clothes met skin or that strings were located. I was trying to avoid strange tan lines…and yet…that is what I ended up with in the end.
That being said…for a moment, I forgot about the ankle…and the boot…and I just enjoyed the perfect afternoon at the perfect beach.
JoJo’s Shave Ice, Hanalei, Hawaii
I have my good friend Harry Cooke to thank for the journey, while in Hanalei, to JoJo’s Shave Ice. He had mentioned it to me in a message on Facebook…and we were right there!! And with the rain pouring down now, it gave us a good excuse to not sit in a car and try to avoid the flooding roads. It gave us some time to hope the rain would pass and we could do more exploring. The rain didn’t pass. It was with us the rest of the time on the North Shore. However, after a bit of a short (hobbling, for me) spring from the rental car to the little storefront that the Hanalei JoJo’s Shave Ice operates out of…we knew we were in for a treat. The original JoJo’s began in Waimea in 1992, the same year that Hurricane Iniki landed on Kauai. That store is stil there today and still has the original JoJo’s sign. The goal of JoJo’s…to offer the ultimate in Shave Ice on Kauai…which is a true Hawaiian treat. When they expanded into Hanalei, they took the JoJo’s traditions and secret recipes along…and introduced the smaller “junior size,” which closely matches the normal serving size of other shave ice venues throughout Hawaii. JoJo’s doesn’t use commercially made syrups. They, instead, carefully make up their own syrups, with a lot less sugar and more flavor than the commercially used ones by other shave ice businesses. And…no corn syrups either. They also have upgraded all their locations with the best ice machines on Kauai, making for an unmatched, fluffy shave. LOVE. The three of us each got the Junior Sizes ($4.50). And they let you choose up to 4-5 flavors. I don’t remember what Jenn got…but it had cherry…and perhaps lime? I can’t recall. Cathy got Root Beer, Lemon and Grape Shave Ice. And I opted for two of my favorite flavors…Watermelon and Strawberry Shave Ice. Of course, now looking back, I wish I opted for something more…local…like mango or something. Next time. But the shave ice at JoJo’s was huge…filling…and amazingly packed with flavor. I can see why it’s been open for 23 years.
30 ounces of Watermelon and Strawberry flavored goodness from JoJo’s Shave Ice
Kalaheo Coffee Company & Café, Kalaheo, Hawaii
I know that technically Kalaheo Coffee Company & Café should have gotten a full review, as it was our place to catch a bite for lunch…on Monday afternoon. However, it was a hot day…and the humidity was really doing a number on me. And while there were a few options for a gluten-free vegetarian on the menu, what sounded really, really good was the Spinach and Kauai Greens Salad ($10.95). And the reason that this didn’t warrant a Restaurant Review post was…it was a salad I could have made at home. Honestly. But this was what I wanted. The Spinach and Kauai Greens Salad is a blend of fresh grown Kailani Farm greens, served with crisp spinach and topped off with strawberries and candied pecans. I kept the feta cheese and held the side of warm flat bread for obvious reasons. It came with a simple balsamic vinaigrette. And it was delicious. Light, but filling. And cooling. And just flat-out what I was really wanting that miserably humid day. But…it was a salad I could make…and therefore…it garners a mention here…but the restaurant itself is cozy and has a lot of great, fresh-made, delicious sandwiches, salads, soups, etc, to choose from. And I loved sitting in there, listening to runners who had run the day before discuss the marathon and half marathon…looking at the different food items coming out of the kitchen to each table. Beautiful setting, beautiful food…and tasty too. For the record, Cathy got the Hot Pastrami Sandwich, which contained grilled onions, mushrooms, and melted Swiss cheese on toasted bread. She got it with the much raved about Garlic Cilantro Fries…which after seeing her and Jenn devour…made me really wish I could have had those. Not safe though…not for me. Darn it.
Kalaheo Coffee Company & Café’s Spinach & Kauai Greens Salad
USS Arizona Memorial – Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii
This was one ONE place that I had to visit while in Hawaii, and the main and primary reason we even island hopped over to O’ahu instead of just hanging tight on the beautiful island of Kauai. Honolulu is definitely a hopping city and much more urban…think LA and NYC. But this…this stop was…important. To all three of us. The USS Arizona Memorial is the number one visitor destination in Hawaii, drawing millions of people from all over the world to see where World War II began for the United States on December 7, 1941. Visitors are free to explore the grounds of the Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center, which was recently expanded from the original 3 acres to 17 acres, and is now operated by the National Park Service. Admission and parking is free to all visitors. Over 2000 tickets are given out free per day on a first come, first serve basis. We had to check our bags before entering the historic site, so Jenn and I did that while Cathy went to get the tickets she reserved online for us. We were set for the final shuttle out, at 2:45 pm. It was the hottest day in Honolulu…and with all the metal and concrete, we were literally melting out in the sun while walking around the ground. We ducked into the museum, but it was even hotter in there. Bottles of water were purchased and Cathy and I downed ours before we were put on an earlier shuttle, the 2:30 pm, to head out to the memorial. A US Navy boat taxied us out to the USS Arizona Memorial, which is built over the remains of the sunken battleship, the final resting place of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941, when their ship was bombed by the Japanese Naval Forces. The memorial itself was relatively quiet upon disembarking and walking over to it. You can still see the oil leaking out of the actual ship that is buried beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor. It is moving and touching. And the memorial is beautiful and humbling. And I am so glad that we went.
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
Dole Plantation, Wahiawa, Hawaii
Two words…
DOLE WHIP.
DOLE FREAKIN’ WHIP!! That was the primary reason to venture out to the Dole Plantation in Wahaiwa. It was a bit of a journey…a long drive, but well worth it. The Dole Plantation originally operated as a fruit stand beginning in 1950, before opening up to the public as “Hawaii’s ‘Pineapple Experience'” in 1989. Another one of O’ahu’s most popular visitor attractions, the Dole Plantation provides activities for the entire family, including the Pineapple Express ($8.25/adult), the Plantation Garden Tour ($5.00/adult), and the Pineapple Garden Maze ($6.00/adult). None of which we did…due to the cost that was associated with each one and the warm, humid weather that made us want to stick to the air conditioning. What we did do, however, was shop at the HUGE gift shop, which carries a wide variety of Dole Plantation Gifts, local favorites, foods, and refreshments…including DOLE WHIP!! You can even purchase a fresh pineapple to take home. I wish I had. The pineapple in Hawaii is freakin’ incredible. I did some shopping, buying a few minor things like Dole Pineapple hard candy and a magnet. Easy to transport and all. And then, we went over to The Plantation Grille to purchase a bowl each of the world famous Dole Whip ($5.25). It was a large serving, which I loved, and devoured enthusiastically. Better than Disney, which is one of the few places Dole Whip is available. This was…amazing and I wish I had gone back for seconds. Dole Whip, by the way, is vegan and gluten free. LOVE!! It’s just pure frozen treat love.
Dole Whip from The Dole Plantation’s Plantation Grille
Panalu’u Beach Park and the Random Pineapple Roadside Stand, Hauula, Hawaii
Welcome to two of the most random stops we made on our trek around the North Shore of O’ahu. Panalu’u Beach Park is located on O’ahu’s windward coast and has this strip of narrow, sandy beach. The nearshore ocean bottom is shallow and has a reef, so swimming conditions here are poor. This was a clam day at this particular beach when we pulled over to check it out. Cathy went wading…and the water looked so refreshing (another humid and hot day!), that I took off Bootsie and kicked off my flip-flop to go wading in the surf myself. My friend Jenn snapped my favorite picture of me on this entire trip here…with the gorgeous blue water and the white sand on the beach. As I said on my Instagram…”Make only memories…Leave only footprints…Kill only time…”
Me on Punalu’u Beach Park (THIS IS MY FAVORITE PICTURE!)
From there, we went hunting for a shrimp place, Romey’s Kahuku Prawns and Shrimp, that the lady at Enterprise told Cathy about after we first arrived in Honolulu, when she mentioned we would be heading up to the North Shore. Along the way, I had been hunting for mangos and we found a stand that advertised them. We pulled into this dodgy little roadside stand, only to learn that they were out of mangos. The weather had ended the season early. I was bummed. BUT…we did purchase a fresh pineapple there, so we purchased one for $5.00, and watched as this little old lady had it peeled and sliced in less that 2 minutes…bagged…and ready for us to take away. We wasted no time, after climbing into the car, trying it out. So fresh…so juicy…so amazing. Hands down, the best pineapple I have eaten in my life. Anywhere. And I’ve had a lot of pineapple. We did find Romy’s…and Jenn and Cathy split a plate of the Garlic and Butter Shrimp. They ate that and I ate a good 2/3 (if not more) of the pineapple. They helped a little after they were done with their fresh seafood.
Best. Pineapple. Purchase. EVER!
BEST PINEAPPLE EVER from a random roadside stand along the North Shore of O’ahu! They peeled and chopped it right there!
Chief’s Luau, Waimanalo, Hawaii
Okay, again, this would generally get a blog of its own, despite not being a restaurant. I couldn’t go to Hawaii and not do a luau, even if it is one that is so tourist-y…it’s funny. We chose Chief’s Luau ($82.00+) due to the fact that it is the best ranked luau on O’auh AND that it had an allergen menu on their Web site. And, yeah, it’s tourist-y, but I actually had a lot of fun at the luau. I finally got a lei (made of shells as we had the cheapest package), had my picture taken with Chief…learned how to hula dance, watched Cathy throw a spear (rather poorly), watched Cathy make a coconut leaf headband (which she left behind), listened to great music, enjoyed the history of the dances that are native to Hawaii…and just…kicked back, laughed, and enjoyed my final night in Hawaii…with a Mai Tai and everything. Aside from the free drink…the luau package also included dinner…and as a gluten-free vegetarian, this left only a few things for me to pick from. Cathy was there for the meat…the pork…cooked in the ground with banana leaves…but for someone like me…I got the food that was catered in. And that’s fine…but because it was catered, I didn’t review it. I was left with the Seasonal Fruit Salad (more pineapple!), the Poi (GROSS…it looked like Barney’s (the purple dinosaur) snot…kind of gelatinous and goopy and YUCK. I didn’t want to try it, but peer pressure had me at least take a taste. NEVER AGAIN!), the Steamed White Rice and (my personal favorite) the Sweet Potatoes. My first plate of food was not really full, and as this was all you can eat, I ventured back for more of the DELICIOUS sweet potatoes and the fruit. Because…fruit and sweet potatoes are actually two of my favorite foods in life. For real. The Mai Tai’s were delicious…and I had a great time at the luau. If you are in O’ahu and want to go to a luau…go to Chief’s. They are #1 for a reason!
Seasonal Fruit Salad, Poi (GROSS!), White Steamed Rice, and Sweet Potatoes – my gluten free and vegetarian dinner at Chief’s Luau
Barista, Portland, Oregon
The flight we took back to the mainland went through Portland, where we disembarked and stayed an entire day, so we could explore. Cathy and Jenn had Voodoo Doughnuts for breakfast. We hit up the food pods for lunch, we did a gastropub for dinner. But after the stop for doughnuts, it was vital that we got caffeine. And I chose Barista, out of all the different coffee shops in Portland. I chose wisely…of this I am certain. Being a former barista, myself, I not only liked the name, I liked everything I read about them. Barista was established by coffee legend, Billy Wilson, who now has four (4) Barista cafés open in the Portland area. Let me tell you, this cofee delivers!! Barista is one of the first multi-roaster shops in the Portland area, showcasing Heart, Coava, and another roaster on bar for espresso or drip. Barista is known for serving exceptional coffees from the world’s finest roasters, prepared by the most skilled baristas in the Portland area. No joke. Jenn skipped out on this amazing experience, but both Cathy and I partook of the opportunity to try the coffee at the Downtown Barista location. Cathy ordered the Semi-Sweet Valrohna Mocha ($4.50). I went for the Bittersweet Valrohna Mocha ($4.50) with Almond Milk (+$0.75). It was delicious. Strong…but smooth. There was this perfect balance of chocolate and espresso that just…melted together. The milk softened up the bite of the espresso itself, cutting through the dark chocolate. OH MY GOD…one of the best coffees I have ever had. If you are in Portland and love coffee…you are missing out if you don’t swing by one of the Barista locations. For real. I loved every sip. Even better…finally a coffeeshop that gives me an 8 ounce cup of coffee for a small!! THANK YOU!
Barista’s Bittersweet Valrohna Mocha with Almond Milk
And that was it. It was Portland to Vegas to Louisville from there. And my 10 day vacation came to an end. Back in Louisville, it’s hard for me to ignore Bootsie. It’s a depressing reminder of everything I’ve had to cancel for the upcoming weeks leading into November. I tried not to fuss much over it on the trip. And, I ate whatever I wanted…whenever I wanted…as long as it fit into my dietary restrictions. And despite limited mobility and really lack of much movement at all…while continuing to stuff my face with local eats…I lost 3 pounds. I’ve put it back on since coming home though…so no worries. LOL!
It was a beautiful trip to paradise…and I’m already dreaming about my return. Next time…to actually run the Kauai Marathon!!
Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams
Product: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams – $4.99+
Chocolate. Graham. Crackers.
Three words that, to someone like me, are just as important as “I love you.” Okay…well…maybe not, but this comes really close in my book.
For the longest time, the gluten-free market was devoid of graham crackers. There were a couple out there…sure, most notably Kinnikinnick’s S’moreables and Schär’s Honeygrams…which I’ve sampled, but have never purchased for myself. Oh, and there are plenty or recipes out there. Even the famous GF Jules was selling a mix where you could bake your own. But cracker baking and I don’t always get along…and the gluten free snack isles were still missing that WOW with the graham cracker love.
And then…along came Pamela!
Pamela’s Products first announced their latest product breakthrough at this year’s Expo West. They were going to be offering two different types of snack crackers…in the sweetened graham form. Graham crackers!! Graham crackers that reached beyond the ordinary. In fact, Pamela’s Products stepped it up and took graham cracker snacking to the next level by offering two different sizes…Graham Cracker Size and Mini Grahams…in three (3) flavors: Honey, Cinnamon, and Chocolate.
How can you NOT get on board with this??!
The hardest part, initially…was finding them. I searched high and low in my area for these and finally gave up, believing that it would take at least a year for the Louisville area to get them in. But then, randomly one afternoon with a quick stop by my Kroger (of all places)…two flavors of the mini grahams sat on a shelf, illuminated in the heavenly fluorescent grocery store lights. And, yes, I snagged a box of each and took them home with me. I had to have them. I’d been searching for them. It had to happen.
Previously, I devoured the box of the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Cinnamon Grahams by making up little deconstructed S’mores bowls for desserts. The box of the Mini Chocolate Grahams have been waiting their turn to shine, but with summer in full swing, I was all about cool treats from the freezer. But the cooler fall temperatures are moving in…and with that…out comes the big bowl of S’mores-y goodness once again. But this time…with a complete chocolate spin.
Yep…the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams came down from the top pantry shelf tonight. And into a couple of bowls they went. Just as with the Cinnamon variety, the Mini Chocolate Grahams are also little medallions of graham cracker goodness…about the size of a quarter, sporting a gorgeous “P” for “Pamela” on each one. The Mini Chocolate Grahams are shaped like little hexagons, perfect for one-bite servings, especially if you just want something mindless and easy for snacking purposes. Or, hey…dip them into milk or coffee. YUM! But, now I’m getting away from the point. The point is…they are the perfect snack size. I popped a few to much on (for the sake of the blog, you know!) while building the Double Chocolate S’mores Bowls tonight. This dessert started with a layer of the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams, a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips, and then topped off with vegan marshmallows, which I then toast with my kitchen torch, successfully melting the chocolate chips in the process. In essence…the ideal dessert bowl of marshmallow perfection.
Oh chocolate gods above…this is the perfect…perfect mini graham snack. These crackers make all other chocolate snacks pale in comparison. Not only are they crunchy, but they are sweet and packed with a chocolate punch, that doesn’t overpower, but definitely lets you know…this graham cracker is chocolate…not honey…not cinnamon. Chocolate, baby! I love that each cracker is lightly dusted with a bit of sugar, bringing out a nice hit of sweetness. And when paired with the melt-y dark chocolate chips and the toasted mini vegan marshmallows…oh…dessert nirvana. S’mores taken to the next dessert level. Who says you need a campfire?! For that matter, who says S’mores can’t be made gluten free. These crackers are AMAZING!! Sinfully deliciously good. The Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams are ideal for snacking, munching, dunking, or for use on desserts, as a pie crust, topping off ice cream…making mini ice cream sandwiches, or simply putting over your morning cereal (I make a killer S’mores hot cereal…that these will be DELICIOUS on!). What’s not to love, especially when all that flavor comes from real cocoa!!
Let’s discuss what the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams are made from, shall we? This particular treat is made up of a gluten free flour blend (brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, xanthan gum), brown cane sugar, organic non-GMO butter (salted), cocoa powder, gluten-free oat bran, organic non-GMO honey, molasses, gluten-free flavors, baking soda, grainless and aluminum free baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, potato starch, sodium bicarbonate), sea salt, and a topping that is made up of organic sugar. This product is certified gluten-free by GFCO, made in a dedicated gluten-free facility, and kosher certified. They are gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, corn-free, nut-free, egg-free, contain no artificial flavors or additives, contain no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, and contain no corn syrup.
If that doesn’t make you want to rush out and find these…this might…
The nutritional facts for the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams aren’t too bad either. A serving size is 10 crackers (29 grams) and there are about 7 servings per box. This serving will provide you with 140 calories, 6 grams fat, 3.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 140 mg sodium, 22 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 11 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein. Not too bad for a handful of chocolate mini graham crackers, right?! I’m happy with it. Happily eating straight out of the box. HA!
No…we all know, I’m the queen of portion sizes. I live by my kitchen scale!
So…feel free to find, purchase, open, and snack away on a box of Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams. Munch, crunch, dunk, dip, or pile high with chocolate and marshmallows…and devour. Do whatever it is you want with these little miniature graham crackers. These gluten-free treats are fantastic. A great chocolate snack that will definitely curb your craving…without denying you that fantastic chocolate flavor you love and crave. Trust me…you’ll want more than one box.
Double Chocolate S’mores Bowl made with Pamela’s Products Gluten-Free Mini Chocolate Grahams, dark chocolate, and vegan marshmallows
The Celiathlete 