Entree – Page 11 – The Celiathlete

May 5, 2015

Product Review: Don Tamal All Natural Veggie Vegan Gourmet Tamales

Product: Don Tamal All Natural Veggie Vegan Gourmet Tamales – $6.99+

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Or I should probably say Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Either way…it’s May 5th…Return of the 5th…and yes…Cinco de Mayo.

And I felt the need to celebrate. This time at home…not at Moe’s or Q’doba. Home. Because I have no money. What I did have, however, was a local product in my freezer. Yes. Local. Let me tell you the tale…

It was a few months ago. I was wandering around Whole Foods, attempting to stick to my tight food budget and epically failing at it. But…I was trying. As I was making my way up to the registers, my roommate pointed out a table where a nice gentleman was handing out samples of vegan tamales. Vegan. Gluten Free. Tamales. I had to have this in my life, so I bee-bopped over that way and tried a sample. Cathy was right behind me. He was just removing some fresh tamales from his steamer. He plated a few bits and one bite sold us both. The nice man was actually the founder of the local Don Tamal…and pointed out that we could purchase them in the freezer section and directed us that way. We were already a bit over budget, but we couldn’t pass this up. They were REALLY good.

So, the purchase was made. I took the Don Tamal Veggie Vegan Tamales home and placed them in the freezer. Where they have been ever since.

But…as I said…it’s Cinco de Mayo. Time to get our tamales on.

Don Tamal is a local business based out of Louisville, Kentucky that specializes in…TAMALES. This business strives to provide authentic, all natural, Mexican tamales for people on-the-go who love to eat healthy without sacrificing enticing flavors and textures. Their philosophy is that all people should have the chance to eat delicious food that is free of additives, preservatives, chemicals, trans fats, growth hormones, and genetically engineered ingredients. The reward…traditional food of better quality. In fact, the wife of the founder, Marcela, pursued a PhD in Food Science and Engineering and came up with ways to make flavorful food without sacrificing the texture or flavor. Same traditional fare…better ingredients. A healthier choice.

Oh yeah…they had my attention.

There are two ways to cook up the frozen tamales. You can use the preferred method of using a veggie steamer on the stove top. Which, if I had a veggie steamer, I’d have done. But…I don’t. Luckily…it’s not required. I used the microwave method, where in I wrap the two tamales that come in the package in a very tamp paper towel and place them in a microwave safe container with a lid. I microwaved these for about 3 minutes and 15 seconds (the package says 2.5 minutes, but my microwave is old and not very powerful), and then let it stand and steam for about 1 minute. Then, discard the husk and enjoy!

It really doesn’t get much easier than that. I served mine up with some tortilla strips and salsa. Yummy!

Let me tell you…these are fantastic. I forgot what drove me right over to that freezer in the first place. Holy cow, these were just amazing. The masa was soft and creamy. The veggies that were mixed in tasted so good. And the different veggies stuffed inside…those were just…yummy. Despite having habanero pepper in it, it wasn’t spicy. Which is good, or my roommate (Cathy) would never have let me live it down. Superb. Not bad at all for reheating from frozen. I was beyond impressed back at Whole Foods and tonight just re-introduced to me the reason why. After one bite, I started pointing at it with my fork and finally managing a, “We’re getting more of these tamales” in between forkfuls. It was gone way too soon.

Let’s look at the ingredients that go into the Don Tamal All Natural Veggie Vegan Gourmet Tamales, shall we? These tamales are made from corn dough (corn with lime, vegetable base (organic carrots, organic celery, organic onion, organic tomato, salt, organic and gluten free soy sauce, organic cane sugar, organic maltodextrin, yeast extract, organic potato starch, organic onion powder, organic garlic powder, and organic spices), poblano pepper, organic carrots, organic corn, purple onion, yellow onion, olive oil, organic palm oil, cilantro, organic kale, fresh garlic, spices, aluminum free baking powder, habanero pepper and vinegar. These tamales are made without hydrogenated oils or lard. And, yes, they are certified vegan.

As this is a local business selling these, I don’t have the nutrition information…but…I can tell you…they are YUMMY!

Nutritious. Delicious. Tamales. Happy Cinco de Mayo indeed! Thanks, Don Tamal. I’m heading to Whole Foods for more this weekend!

Don Tamal All Natural Veggie Vegan Gourmet Tamales (cooked)

April 30, 2015April 30, 2015

Product Review: Kellogg’s Gluten Free Eggo Waffles

Product: Kellogg’s Gluten Free Eggo Waffles – $3.49+

I had heard the rumors…

I had. There had been word of Eggo putting out two (yes two!) gluten-free versions of their infamous waffles. I had seen photographs of the boxes. And yet…despite checking the freezer section at virtually every store with frozen waffles inside…I hadn’t had the fortune of seeing them out in the wild. I didn’t give up though. I never do.

As luck would have it, I finally stumbled across a freezer that held these majestic boxes…at a Target in Louisville, Kentucky. This has now been dubbed “the best Target in my area!” I have since checked other Target stores and NONE of them have these inside. Believe me…if I can get them on this side of the Ohio River, I would…but…for now at least, I’ll have to journey over the river into Louisville if I want to indulge in these beauties.

So, why do I care if I can eat Eggo Waffles? I mean, plenty of mid-size gluten-free companies have had waffles on the market for years. Van’s, by far, have been my favorite, but Nature’s Path also offers quite a selection of these frozen breakfast options. I guess I cared because I grew up eating Eggo Waffles. I did. I was diagnosed as a Celiac until I was 30. My entire childhood is made up of mornings where my mom would toast up some Eggo Waffles (she believed in sending us to school with a hot breakfast in our bellies, whether she made pancakes or French toast, or toasted up something like waffles from the freezer) before sending us out to catch the bus to school. We saved cereal for the weekends. And when I struck out on my own, working a job that didn’t pay much, and just living paycheck to paycheck, Eggo was there to make sure my mornings at least had some sustenance to them. I loved Eggo’s. I mean, what child (or adult, I don’t judge!) doesn’t get a little giggly when they say, “L’eggo my Eggo” to someone, right?

So, yeah…the fact that Kellogg’s was making an effort to put out a gluten-free version of one of their most popular breakfast items was pretty huge. And I was pretty excited. Even the Vice President of Marketing and Innovation for Kellogg’s frozen foods, AnneMarie Suarez Davis, stated that Kellogg’s is making sure to not sacrifice the crispy texture and wholesome flavor of their waffles as they move into the gluten-free territory. It was critical for them to avoid the pitfall of some gluten-free items that actually due sacrifice taste and texture when being compared to the original versions. So…their goal…to be as delicious and wholesome as the original Eggo’s.

I’d like to say I could tell you right off if these were just as good as the original versions. However, it has been about 3-4 years since I last had an Eggo Waffle. So, I don’t exactly remember what they tasted like. There are a lot of things I don’t remember what they tasted like since going gluten free. It’s a bit sad at times. And sometimes it is a relief. But this…this is a bit more on the sad side than anything. I know I loved them…both as a child and as an adult…so it was time to put the gluten-free version to the test.

This past week, I needed some non-stressful, easy breakfasts to make. I was beyond tired and sore from the Boston Marathon and my sleep schedule is way off. WAY off. As in…not happening much. I had appointments out the wazoo as well, so the less I needed to do to prepare a breakfast, the better. Additionally…my CSA bin failed to deliver to me on Friday, so I had little to no fresh produce to use. Perfect excuse to just reach into the freezer.

I don’t own a toaster. I got rid of it after the Celiac diagnosis…back before my roommate said our kitchen could be 100% gluten free…and she still had regular bread. I toast everything up in the oven instead, so I preheated the oven to about 450°F and laid out four (a serving size is 2 waffles) of the Kellogg’s Gluten Free Eggo Waffles on a baking sheet. Into the oven they went, where they toasted up in about 5-7 minutes. My oven is never as hot as it’s supposed to be (it’s old!)…so it takes a bit longer on some things. When they came out, they smelled like Eggo Waffles…and were this light golden color…just like regular Eggo Waffles. I spread a little butter and poured on some maple syrup.

I was already in a better mood that morning, just for having Gluten Free Eggo Waffles. No joke. Seriously, it’s sometimes just the simplest things in life.

My roommate settled in with her two waffles first. When she took a first bite, I asked how they tasted. And she said, “They taste like Eggo Waffles.” That being said, she hasn’t had Eggo Waffles in 3-4 years either, because of me…but…we’ll just go with it. I tucked in that morning with my breakfast and sliced off a bite of the waffle. The outside of the waffle was crispy and flaky. It sort of broke into a few little pieces. The inside…soft…and arm. It was almost perfection. I don’t remember much about how Eggo Waffles tasted, but I could definitely tell a bit of a difference with these. Probably the use of oat flour over the enriched wheat flour that the other varieties have. Other than that, however, I couldn’t really tell if there was much of a difference. Soft and fluffy on the inside, crisp and toasted on the outside. That’s waffle perfection. And…to top it off…it was a bit satisfactory to stroll over to my roommate that morning, handing her a plate of waffles and saying, “L’eggo my Gluten Free Eggo.” HAHA! I told you…simple pleasures.

Let’s talk about the ingredients in the Kellogg’s Gluten Free Eggo Waffles, shall we? These waffles are made from water, rice flour, whole oat flour, eggs, sugar, soybean and palm oil, leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate), 2% or less artificial flavor, xanthan gum, salt, soy lecithin, and whey. These waffles are gluten-free and free from trans-fat.

As for nutrition…for gluten-free waffles, the Kellogg’s Gluten Free Eggo Waffles don’t do too bad at all. A serving size is 2 waffles, and 8 come in a box. This serving of 2 Gluten Free Eggo Waffles will provide you with 170 calories, 5 grams of fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 260 mg sodium, 75 mg potassium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 4 grams sugar, and 4 grams of protein. So it actually is a filling breakfast without being really big. And the waffles are pretty large in size too. Like standard Eggo Waffle big. Bigger than Van’s and Nature’s Path gluten-free versions.

Kellogg’s Gluten Free Eggo Waffles come in two different flavors – Original and Cinnamon. I only have found the Original, but that’s fine. I’m okay with that. I’m okay with these waffles. They were tastier than I anticipated and really live up to the high standard that Kellogg’s set with their regular versions of Eggo Waffles. Seriously, for a quick, easy breakfast, I’d be more than happy to keep a box of these in my freezer. Totally happy. Worth hugging the box in the aisles of Target. And totally worth devouring in the mornings. Really…really good!

April 29, 2015

Product Review: Van’s Gluten Free Rotini and Red Sauce

Van's Gluten Free Rotini & Red Sauce — Van’s Gluten Free Rotini & Red Sauce

Product: Van’s Gluten Free Rotini and Red Sauce – $3.99+

It’s been one of those weeks. Seriously. I’m recovering (slowly) from my awful, awful, painful Boston Marathon. To top it all off, my produce bin didn’t arrive as scheduled on Friday. So, all weekend I was left scrambling with ideas as to what to make for dinner and how little grocery shopping I could get away with in trying to manage exactly that. The answer…I still had to hit up the produce at the grocery store, and my CSA bin was redelivered to me on Monday evening. But for that weekend…I was not in a good spot.

Thankfully, I have a pantry full of things that have been just dying for me to pick them off the shelf and try. And when push comes to shove, Saturday was going to be all about some pasta. I have a few gluten-free pastas (just the noodles and then some dishes like this) in my pantry for just such occasions…because pasta is easy and a very common go-to for me. Because I LOVE pasta.

I listed off some options to the roomie, and ultimately Cathy made the final say. “Let’s try that last Van’s thing.”

And so it came to pass that “the last Van’s thing” was going to make its way from pantry shelf to full-on meal in my kitchen. Moving on up!

You see, awhile back I had picked up three boxes of the Van’s Gluten Free Whole Grain Pasta Sides, which I had discovered at Walmart, of all places, way ahead of anywhere else in the area carrying them. I snagged one of each flavor and happily stocked my pantry with them. I have already had the Creamy Herb and Garlic Pasta and the Ultimate Cheddar Penne as well. So…this time it was Rotini & Red Sauce’s turn to shine.

Van’s Gluten Free choices have never disappointed me. Not once. Not ever. They are my waffle of choice, above all others, even the new Gluten-Free Eggo’s. That’s a huge thing!! But Van’s puts a lot of love and care into their packaged foods. And Van’s does believe that nutritious is delicious and that’s why they make their gluten-free pastas with whole grain brown rice, delivering more than a full serving of nutrient dense whole grains. You can always add in some vegetables or chicken (if you eat meat…which I don’t…) in order to bulk up the pasta sides and make these more of an entrée. But as my roommate and I take something that serves three and split it between the two of us…it’s the perfect amount in the end.

Cooking up the Van’s Gluten Free Rotini and Red Sauce takes all but 10 minutes. Seriously. Just boil 6 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Add the pasta and allow it to return to a boil. Let it cook for 7-8 minutes. The noodles will become al dente. Do not overcook. Gluten-free noodles are an awful thing overcooked. Drain the noodles and give them a rinse. Then, add the marinara sauce to the saucepan, heating on low. Stir often. Put the pasta back into the pan with the marinara and heat through. Enjoy.

I served this up with a gluten-free dinner roll that I baked up a few weeks ago. It made a perfect, perfect, perfect dinner. The rotini (which is actually red) cooked up really perfectly. It wasn’t mushy and didn’t crumble apart when I stabbed at it with my fork. The pasta sauce was rich and flavorful. I sort of wish there was a little more sauce when all was said and done, but there was the perfect amount to lightly coat the noodles and serve them up. This was a filling entree, and would serve at least 4 people as a side dish to a bigger main dish. I enjoyed this one, but it was my least favorite of the three pasta sides that Van’s created. Not that it wasn’t good. It was. But it was something I easily could have made with things I have at home in the same amount of time. It was nothing special. But it was quite tasty. If more sauce had been present, I would have used my dinner roll to mop it up. But…the sauce was just enough…no extra. Still…a solid, delicious pasta dish.

Van’s is very proud of the ingredients they put into their products. Seriously. They state this on the box. And the ingredients that go into Van’s Gluten Free Rotini & Red Sauce are simple. These ingredients include gluten free penne pasta (brown rice flour, red lentil flour, beet powder, tomato powder), marinara sauce (tomatoes, water, tomato paste, olive oil, onions, sugar, basil, garlic, salt, citric acid, and black pepper). It is gluten-free, kosher, contains no artificial colors or flavors, has a full serving of whole grains, is egg-free, and is dairy-free.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving of Van’s Gluten Free Rotini & Red Sauce is about 1 cup prepared. This box contains about 2.5 servings. This will dish up 250 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 160 mg sodium, 52 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 3 grams sugar, and 12 grams of protein. This side dish is cholesterol free.

So, while this was a simple and basic meal, it was easy to make and served up a fantastic dish for my roommate and I to share. Of the three, however, this would probably be the one I wouldn’t pick up again. Not that it wasn’t good…it just wasn’t as memorable as the others.

Van's Gluten Free Rotini & Red Sauce (prepared) — Van’s Gluten Free Rotini & Red Sauce (prepared)

April 29, 2015April 29, 2015

Product Review: Beyond Meat Beastly Sliders

Product: Beyond Meat Beastly Sliders – $5.99+

Beyond Meat had me with their vegan and gluten free chicken strips from the very start. I remember first spying those products in my local Whole Foods and immediately latching on to all three varieties and tossing them in the freezer. Since then, they have not only improved on the vegan not-chicken strips…but they have since added to their non-meat repertoire. Beyond Meat has introduced vegan chicken poppers, vegan chicken tenders, beyond beef crumbles, beyond beef meatballs, and beast burgers and beastly sliders.

I have yet to find the poppers and tenders and meatballs anywhere in my area, but I have stumbled across the two varieties of Beyond Beef Crumbles and…more recently…discovered the Beyond Meat Beast Burger and Beyond Meat Beastly Sliders. Now, it’s not every day I stumble across a vegan/vegetarian slider that I can eat. In fact, the only other sliders I’ve seen are made by Gardein, but they aren’t gluten-free. So…the instant I spotted these at my Whole Foods, I knew there was no escaping the tight budget. I’d squeeze it in and give them a try.

Due to my fresh produce and my lack of any sort of gluten-free slider buns…I ignored these in my freezer for a little while. But after hobbling through The Boston Marathon, and not having a produce bin delivered on time…this past weekend, I needed to do something for dinner. I searched my freezer, and have a few options remaining in there. The one that caught my attention was the Beyond Meat Beastly Sliders.

Well…why not? I was going grocery shopping that morning, so I could pick up some Udi’s Gluten Free Whole Grain Dinner Rolls to use as slider buns…I figured. In my head, that was the plan. I think I forgot that the Udi’s Gluten Free Dinner Rolls were a little longer than a standard roll…so when I had everything out to start cooking…I realized I was going to have to slice the dinner rolls in half and then slice them open to make a close proximity of a slider bun.

Dear Gluten Free bread makers….slider buns…create them. I will buy them. For reals!

So while my dinner rolls/slider buns of sorts were toasting in the oven, I got out a saute pan and gave it a splash of olive oil, allowing it to heat up on medium-high heat. Then, into the pan all six of the slider patties went. I was impressed upon opening the package of Beyond Meat Beastly Sliders. The sliders have the appearance of real burgers. So, it’s not a vegetarian patty that looks nothing like a burger masquerading as a burger. These actually look like burgers. I was impressed. They were so easy to cook up too. Simply add the sliders to a touch of oil in a skillet and cook until lightly brown on both sides. It takes about 5-7 minutes. Then…it’s time to eat.

The dinner rolls weren’t a perfect fit for these hearty slider patties, but they worked. So, that’s what matters. I sliced each roll down to “slider” size and then loaded on the burger with a hit of ketchup and…BAM…vegetarian sliders for dinner. It was really that easy. I served these with a side of Zapp’s Voodoo Chips, which if you haven’t tried those…DO IT!

I haven’t eaten any sort of meat in over four years. That being said, back when I was big into burgers…you know…Hard Rock Café knew my burger order…these rank right up there with the real thing. Seriously. They have this great meaty texture…and they were hearty and held up. So often, vegetarian and vegan burger substitutes crumble and fall apart. This is especially true with vegan/vegetarian patties that are also gluten-free. It’s one of my pet peeves. This did not happen with the Beyond Meat Beastly Sliders. My roommate had just had sliders on our way to Boston a week before, and she said these were better than the real thing. WOW! I won’t lie…the texture, the flavor…it was awesome. They were juicy and filling. Oh yeah…they are Beastly Sliders for a reason…I was full from my serving of 3 of them. I loved the smokey flavor that these patties had, sort of lending it to the “I taste like beef, but I’m not” flavor. I’m sort of in love with these. It is just eerie how much these resembled real beef patties in appearance and in taste. It sort of freaked me out. In a good way. These will definitely find their way back into my freezer. I might have to experiment with making my own slider buns, but these were truly fantastic. I was beyond impressed.

Beyond Meat set out to replicate the taste and texture of beef burgers and to prove that there is a better, more sustainable, plant-based way to satisfy any burger craving. In addition, they prove that there is a healthier, plant-based, sustainable way to make a burger without the need to kill animals. We just needed a better burger…and these sliders are definitely proof that vegan burgers can run with the real thing.

Let’s discuss ingredients in the Beyond Meat Beastly Sliders, shall we? These sliders are made from water, pea protein isolate, essential fatty acid oil blend (DHA algal oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and palm oil), methycellulose, carrageenan, calcium sulfate, yeast extract, maltodextrin, potassium bicarbonate, potassium chloride, tapioca starch, caramel color, sorbitol, beyond nutrient blend (vegetable nutrient extract blend (spinach, broccoli, carrot, tomato, beet, shiitake mushroom), sea buckthorn juice powder, beet juice powder, hydrilla powder, horsetail herb powder, moringa leaf powder, mesquite powder, fulvic minerals, pomegranate seed powder), natural flavoring, spices, salt, l-cysteine hydrochloride, onion powder, sugar, onion extract, paprika extract and garlic extract. Lots of stuff I don’t recognize. I admit. And a lot of ingredients at that. I know. But…WOW. The Beyond Meat Beastly Sliders are gluten-free, soy-free, cholesterol-free, and non-GMO. They are also contain antioxidants, iron, calcium, vitamins B6, B12, D, potassium, as well as DHA and ALA omega-3’s.

So, let’s talk the nutritional value for a moment, yes? A serving of the Beyond Meat Beastly Sliders is 3 sliders. You get 6 in a box. This serving of three patties will provide you with 260 calories, 16 grams of fat, 480 mg sodium, 720 mg potassium, 7 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams sugars (YAY!), 4 grams of fiber, and 23 (YES…23) grams of protein. No wonder you feel full after eating these. WOW!

While I don’t make faux meat products a standard in my home, it is fun to try out products every now and again. The past four years I’ve had many vegetarian/vegan burger patties. In the past three years, I’ve consumed quite a few brands that are also gluten-free. By a long shot, Beyond Meat has provided the best burger patty to date. To think…plant power all the way. Totally in love with the nutritional aspect, the flavor, the taste…everything. Now when I want sliders…I can have sliders. So much love.

April 27, 2015April 27, 2015

Restaurant Review: Upper Crust Pizzeria, Boston, Massachusetts

Restaurant: Upper Crust Pizzeria, Boston, Massachusetts

So…I was in Boston…for The Boston Marathon. And you know what it means when I’m gearing up for a race. The traditional night-before-the-race gluten-free pizza. It is a must. Sure, I can do gluten-free pasta, but pizza seems to be my mojo. My magical little race-day helper. And so, this tradition has gone unchanged whenever possible.

I consulted with a good friend of mine, Julie, before heading to Boston, looking for restaurant recommendations, especially for pizza. She sent me so many different options, I was elated to see how many options were available in Boston. If you are a Celiac or gluten-free and planning on a trip to Boston, trust me…it is so easy to find something to eat there. It’s wonderful. Never before have I had so many options in one place.

With her high recommendation, and the praise of my high school friend, Lydia, it was decided that we would be noshing on Sunday night (Monday is marathon day in Boston!) at a place called Upper Crust Pizzeria. They have several locations throughout the Boston area, but as we were spending the day hiking the Freedom Trail, we decided that we’d wind our way out toward Beacon Hill and land there right around dinner time.

We actually ended up getting there sooner, rather than later, so we ducked into some candy shops and walked around the Beacon Hill area until around 5 p.m. That was when we made our way back to the little establishment and stepped inside.

It wasn’t what I was expecting. This was one tiny little establishment, indeed. In fact, the kitchen was on the far right as you enter, with one long community table in the middle of the restaurant. That was it. We lucked out in that people finished up eating by the time we ordered, so we had a place to settle in and eat. Because there was no way the pizza would make it back to the hotel and still be hot.

Cathy and I had scouted the menu prior to leaving for Boston and already knew what we were going to get. This left my friends Heather and Jenn to either have pizza by the slice or split a pizza. As Heather wanted pepperoni and Jenn does just cheese, they ended up getting two slices each.

Their slices were ginormous!! Seriously!! Holy cow. It made me more than a little concerned over how big the gluten-free pizza slices were going to be and whether Cathy and I could eat it on our own.

But, our 14-inch gluten-free pizza arrived a short time after their slices…and it looked fantastic. We ordered one of the custom pies that is a “local favorite.” It’s called Charles Street ($19.00 – the gluten-free crust is a $2 upcharge), and we had it made on the gluten-free dough. It comes topped with portabella mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, and fresh garlic. For the sake of my stomach, we asked them to go light on the cheese on this pizza. And it looked absolutely fantastic when it arrived at the table. We paused long enough in our hunger to snap a picture before diving in, each peeling off a slice. The pizza is their “small” size…and it’s actually quite big…but it was perfect for 2-3 people to share. And since we hadn’t eaten much that day, it was perfect for Cathy and I to split without any help.

The Charles Street pizza at Upper Crust Pizzeria is AMAZING! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Totally and honestly. I ate a bite on its own and immediately was all “Mmmmmm.” Like in “Mmmmmmarathon” and “Mmmmmmore please” and “Mmmmmmgoooooood!” But then, I doctored it up with some dried herbs and a little bit of red pepper flakes. My stomach fears no spice, not even before a marathon. The crust of the pizza was thin, but not a cracker crust. You could definitely tell it was white rice flour based, but it wasn’t a distracting overlying taste. In fact, the crust was one of my favorite things about this pizza. I love a good crust, but I also love to indulge in more pizza…so a thin crust is a nice thing in my book. Cathy tried a bit of Jenn’s pizza and said the gluten-free crust was even better than the original. Score!! I loved the earthiness that flavored this particular pizza. The Charles Street had this great balance of savory with a hint of sweetness from the sundried tomatoes. It was amazing. I devoured every slice. For the first time ever, I think Cathy finished her pizza just as I was polishing off mine.

I can’t say enough good things about this pizza. At first I was a little uncertain, due to the venue more than anything. I mean, one table…and no room when we arrived for us to sit and enjoy…it was a little intimidating and off-putting…but a spot cleared up and we settled in after ordering, and all of us were happy with our pizza. I would go back and eat here the next time I was in Boston, even if there wasn’t a marathon involved. Really fantastic. There were a few other signature pizzas that they make that sound absolutely amazing, so I’m definitely eager to return and give them a taste.

If you’re in Boston…and you want a great gluten-free pizza…find one of the locations for Upper Crust Pizzeria (or go to the original one, like I did, in Beacon Hill) and order up a slice of heaven in pizza form. I know I’ll be back. Oh yes, I will be back!

Upper Crust Pizzeria's Gluten Free Charles Street Pizza — Upper Crust Pizzeria’s Gluten Free Charles Street Pizza

April 14, 2015April 14, 2015

Product Review: Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix

Product Review: Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix – $10.99

I know some pretty amazing people. I really do. One of such people is a friend of mine from high school. Awhile back, she contacted me and said that Tastefully Simple was releasing some gluten-free products that she would love for me to try. My friend, Rebecca Fifield, just happens to be a Tastefully Simple Consultant. So, she sent them to my. And then Tastefully Simple released more products…and I bought them and some of the ones that had originally just been sent to me. And I loved every one of them that had tried.

I think what I love most about what Tastefully Simple is doing with their gluten-free mixes is that they are making it so easy to make bread or pizza or cake cookies or pancakes. They take all that fancy flour mixing and make it so you have it in one easy place, and only need to add 2 ingredients to it. I love it. LOVE it.

And now, thanks to both Rebecca and my own trial-by-fire with the gluten-free products that Tastefully Simple offers (they’ve added cookies and pancakes since I last looked!)…I’m obsessed. Because, as much as I love baking and cooking and being in my teeny-tiny kitchen…I love simplicity too. Because baking can be stressful…gluten-free baking can be catastrophic if anything is off.

That’s the glory of Tastefully Simple. They take that guess work off.

So, with me heading out of town on Friday evening, the main goal this week is to use up all the fresh produce that would otherwise go bad in my absence. So, with fresh basil and some tomatoes and onions lurking about, I remembered that I had a Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix in my pantry. So…pizza it would be. AND…it would last for three days between my roommate and I. Added bonus. No more cooking the rest of the week. YAY!

Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix (prepared)

Preparing the Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix is super easy!! For real. That’s why there is the word “simple” in the brand. HA! To prepare the crust, simply combine the crust mix with 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. The dough will be sticky. Cover it losely with plastic wrap and let it stand for 10 minutes at room temperature. Using lightly oiled hands to prevent sticking, spread the dough out on a pizza stone or a 12-inch greased pizza pan. Bake it for 10 minutes in a 400°F oven.

While it’s baking…mix up the sauce. It’s a breeze. Simply combine the sauce mix with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and tomato sauce. Spread it over the warm crust you have now baked for 10 minutes. Add your favorite toppings (in my case…tomato, onion, basil and Daiya vegan mozzarella cheese shreds) and place back in the oven to cook for another 17-20 minutes, until the crust is golden brown. Slice into 6 pieces and devour.

Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Pizza Crust & Sauce (baked)

The quality, however, always comes in the taste test. And they totally nailed it. The dough wasn’t too sticky when I went to press it out on the pizza stone. And, it cooked up to this amazing crispy, golden brown. The sauce and toppings didn’t make it soggy. It held up to slicing and being moved onto plates. And I loved the flavor. It had this amazing crusty quality that just made it work. It was the perfect base for my toppings of choice. And it was one of my favorite crusts I have made at home. It was easy, and it didn’t take too long to bake up either. Perfect way to enjoy my dinner tonight. Tastefully Simple is not only making gluten-free delicious, but easy too!

So, let’s take a look at what Tastefully Simple puts into their Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix, shall we? This pizza crust mix is made from rice flour, tapioca flour, sugar, baker’s yeast, potato starch, cassava flour, salt, less than 2% hydrogenated palm kernel oil, soy lecithin, baking powder and, xanthan gum. The sauce mix is made from maltodextrin, dehydrated garlic, garlic powder, salt, dehydrated onion, spices, roasted dehydrated garlic, sugar, Romano cheese, less than 2% of natural flavors, toasted sesame oil, citric acid, whey, cheddar cheese, hydrolyzed soy protein, disodium phosphate, and silicon dioxide (anticaking).

As far as the nutritional information for the Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix goes, this isn’t bad for pizza. Really. A serving size is 1/6 of the package. This serving will dish up 200 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, no cholesterol, 810 mg sodium (it’s a little high, yes), 43 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams sugar, 1 gram fiber, and 4 grams of protein.

If you love pizza and want that “from scratch” appeal with a golden, crispy crunch, without it being the frozen cracker-crusts that the gluten-free community are otherwise delegated to having…then give Tastefully Simple’s Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix a try. Hop on over to my friend, Rebecca Fifield‘s, page and place an order. Not only will you be amazed with how easy this is to make, the taste, texture, and everything else will win you over. I promise you that.

A slice of gluten-free pizza made with Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix — A slice of pizza made with Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Pizza Crust & Sauce Mix

April 13, 2015April 13, 2015

Product Review: Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Original Mix + Recipe Bonus

Neat - A Healthy Alternative to Meat Original Mix — Neat – A Healthy Alternative For Meat Original Mix

Product: Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Original Mix + Recipe Bonus – $4.99+

I am so excited. And the reason why is simple. I have found the meat replacement, Neat, at a few of my local stores. My Kroger, my Meijer, and even a few of my natural food stores now carry these little pouches of meat replacement goodness. Now, mind you, I’m not one who often will replace meat in a dish. I usually will use something like tofu or mushrooms instead, but there are some recipes (from my childhood, especially!) that just call for using an actual meat replacement. I have a few go-to brands that are gluten-free as well as either vegetarian or vegan. But ever since I received a pouch of the Mexican Mix from Neat in my Cuisine Cube back in October, I was hooked. I just had nowhere in this area to purchase it on my own.

Until now.

Up until yesterday, my pantry held the Italian Mix and the Original Mix. I’m using a few things up in my pantry (I have a bit of an overstock, HA!), so I decided I would go ahead and bake up some of the Moon Rabbit Foods pie crusts that I had from another Cuisine Cube. I could freeze two of them, and then give using the third one a shot in an old family favorite, which I would adjust to make gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian.

Neat - A Healthy Replacement For Meat Original Mix (before adding eggs/egg replacer and water) — Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Original Mix (before adding eggs/egg replacer and water)

With a pie crust baked up…it was time to make the filling. As I was using my mom’s recipe, I began to brown the sweet onion while I mixed up the ingredients for the Neat Original Mix. This is really easy. Simply empty the Neat mix into a bowl, add two eggs (or egg substitute) and 2 tablespoons of water. Mix well. Once the onions had began to soften, I added the neat mixture and cooked it on medium heat for about 7-10 minutes, chopping at it as one would with regular ground beef. It looked and smelled perfect. I added the tomato paste, cooked it a few moments longer and then put it all in the pie crust. On went the topping of Daiya cheese and…into the oven it went.

Before I talk more about the original mix, let me tell you a bit about Neat. Neat is a meat replacement that is derived from nuts and other non-GMO natural ingredients. It is a product that was created by a mother of two children who decided that they were going to become vegetarians. At first she would puree beans into sauces to help her girls get the protein they wanted, but after awhile, everyone got tired of it. And that was when she got into the kitchen, experimented, and created what is now marketed at Neat. Neat comes in this shelf-stable pouch in a powdered form. All you do to prepare it is pour the pouch into a bowl, add two eggs (or a vegan egg replacer), plus two tablespoons of water. Then, you just cook it in a skillet, as you would ground beef, for about 7-9 minutes. It’s really easy…and really delicious too.

Neat - A Healthy Alternative For Meat Original Mix (prepared) cooked with onion and tomato paste — Neat – A Healthy Alternative For Meat Original Mix (prepared) cooked with onion and tomato paste

So, a vegetarian and gluten-free Cheeseburger Pie…that was what this was used for. When I sliced through the pie crust and the filling, I was just anticipating the crumbling and falling apart. But Neat surprised me. Much like my mom’s recipe (which used real meat as I wasn’t a vegetarian at that point), this all stuck together and made for a perfect slice. The Neat seemed to be the meat replacement I was looking for. And it was the perfect choice for this recipe for sure. I dished up two slices of the Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Cheeseburger Pie and handed one to my roommate and settled in with mine. My roommate took the first bite and said that it tasted dead-up like a cheeseburger. That’s good. She’s not a vegetarian, nor is she dairy-free or gluten-free like me. But this impressed her. It impressed her a lot. The most disappointing aspect of the dish was the pie crust and that was a whole unrelated product, and it still worked out well in the end.

The Neat Original Mix is fantastic. I mean, it is so close to the real thing. As I said, I don’t often do meat replacements, but sometimes when revisiting old recipes I grew up with, it is necessary. I don’t think any other replacement for beef will come close to what Neat does for these dishes. This is the second time I have used a Neat product and both times I have been beyond impressed. The taste and texture are phenomenal. Even meat eaters won’t realize they aren’t really eating meat. That’s the wonder and the glory of this product. Anyone can have it (unless they have a nut allergy) and enjoy it. It was, for the second time, love at first bite. And it was wonderful to be able to adapt an old family favorite to fit my dietary needs.

A slice of Cheeseburger Pie (gluten-free, dairy free, and vegetarian) made with Neat - A Healthy Alternative For Meat Original Mix — A slice of Cheeseburger Pie (gluten-free, dairy free, and vegetarian) made with Neat – A Healthy Alternative For Meat Original Mix

Let’s now take a look at what goes into the Neat Original Mix. This product is made up of pecans, garbanzo beans, gluten free whole grain oats, organic whole grain gluten free cornmeal, garlic, onion, sea salt and spices. Simple. Delicious. Clean eating! It is gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher.

As for nutrition, the Neat Original Mix is a powerhouse. A serving is 40 grams and there are 4 servings per pouch. One serving will provide 190 calories and 15 grams of fat. You will also be getting 232 mg sodium, 11 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams of sugar, 4 grams fiber, and 4 grams of protein. It is filling, so it makes a fantastic substitute for meat. But there is that added bonus of protein from the nuts that are blended into the mix.

It really did make a great addition and the perfect substitute for actual ground beef in the following recipe…

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Vegetarian Cheeseburger Pie

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegetarian Cheeseburger Pie

Servings: 8
Prep: 10 minutes; Cook 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 package Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Original Mix
2 organic cage-free eggs
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 gluten-free pie crust (either made from scratch or bought at the store)
2 cups Daiya Mozzarella Cheese Shreds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Pour the Neat – A Healthy Replacement For Meat Original Mix into a medium bowl. Add two eggs (or egg replacer if vegan) and 2 tablespoons of water. Mix well.

In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, brown the Next Mexican Mix and onion. Cook until vegetables begin to soften and the Neat can be chopped into a meat texture. Add the tomato paste and stir well. Allow it to heat through for a few minutes to marry the flavors together.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pie crust and top with 2 cups of Daiya cheese shreds. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted and pie crust is browned (with any luck). Slice and serve.

~*~*~

I have fallen head-over-heels for Neat. It is, without a doubt, the healthiest replacement of meat out on the market. I am thrilled that it is more available in my area. In fact, with so many places carrying it, I’m guaranteed to be able to pick it up at one place or another when I need it for a dish.

Neat…you are by far my best find and my favorite substitute in old family recipes. Nothing else can do what you do! So much love.

April 13, 2015April 13, 2015

Product Review: Moon Rabbit Foods Pastry & Pie Crust Mix

Moon Rabbit Farms Gluten Free Pastry & Pie Mix — Moon Rabbit Foods Gluten Free Pastry & Pie Mix

Product: Moon Rabbit Foods Pastry & Pie Crust Mix – $8.79+

So, for awhile now, I’ve been wanting to revamp another one of my mom’s famous recipes. Making it not only gluten-free, but also vegetarian. Oh…and dairy free too…but that’s pretty much a given when it comes to me, right? The actual dish is her delicious Cheeseburger Pie. Normally, the crust of this amazing meal is made from crescent rolls from the grocery store fridge area zone. You know, that place I hardly visit these days.

Sadness.

But…then I got to thinking…what if I cooked up a pie crust and used that instead. Sure, it wouldn’t be the flaky crescent roll shell that this meal was known for, but I was already going to get rid of the whole meat thing (using a meat substitute) and use Daiya cheese for the cheese. So…why not give a different sort of crust a try?

The problem is…pie crusts and I have never really gotten along. We are anything but BFFs. Then…lo and behold…the Thanksgiving (November 2014) Cuisine Cube arrived in the mail. And inside was Moon Rabbit Foods Pastry & Pie Crust Mix. Everything in the November Cuisine Cube could have been used for Thanksgiving itself…but I wasn’t allowed to host this year so most of it was used at my own discretion. Well, the final product is up now…but first…

Cuisine Cube is run by a small group of foodies who have put together a completely gluten-free box of goodies and then sends them to your doorstep each month. These boxes contain 5-6 full-size products from small, lesser-known artisan producers…mostly local…some not as local. Some you may even have heard of before, but most will be new to you. I signed up for Cuisine Cube back in May and have never looked back. Subscriptions start as low as $29.99…which is a great price and great incentive to sign up for this subscription box service and try out some gluten-free products you have been too nervous about purchasing yourself or, perhaps, didn’t even know existed.

Such as Moon Rabbit Foods. Never head of this brand before in my life. Moon Rabbit Foods follows a philosophy of choosing the finest ingredients and using the latest techniques of the craft of baking to give those living a gluten free lifestyle (like me!) a rare opportunity to enjoy delicious refined pastries and baked goods. Their baking and pastry blends provide a source for hard-to-find gluten-free products, allowing customers to enjoy that high quality at home, and even allowing them to add their own inspirational touches. So, here, in my clutches was a pie crust mix. I had no reason to make a pie. No one ever wants desserts at the family dinners. I usually do because I never really get to eat much of what is offered (part of why I love to host). But, I also hate being the only person to eat dessert, especially when I’m the one providing it. So, instead of going sweet, I opted to go savory and attempt to recreate a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian version of my mom’s Cheeseburger Pie recipe.

Cross your fingers…

This mix makes 3 9-inch pie crusts. I went ahead and cooked them all up because…well…I could freeze the rest of them instead of just letting the mix sit and having to haul out all the equipment (a food processor, really) and ingredients (only 3) to do whenever I felt the need to make a pie. Because if I did that, it would only get used this one time. Therefore…all or nothing. So, I took 1 cup of the pie mix and mixed it with one stick (4 ounces) of butter (or vegan butter) and pulsed it until it looked like cornmeal. Then, in went 3 tablespoons of cold water and I ran the food processor until it all came together. I formed the dough into a 6-7 inch disk and then put it in the fridge for 30 minutes. Then I rolled it out and fit it into a pie pan. It fell apart at some points because pie crusts hate me, but I managed to get it into the pie pans and into a 350°F oven for 30 minutes. Out come the par baked crusts…and there you have it. Use it as you will.

For the rest of the recipe, I used NEAT original mix and prepared the recipe from my mom’s cookbook as it would have been prepared regularly. YAY! That recipe will go in the review for NEAT. So stick with me here. Let’s talk about how the pie crusts cooked up and the rest of that important stuff.

A slice of Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegetarian Cheeseburger Pie on the pie crust made from Moon Rabbit Foods Gluten Free Pastry & Pie Mix

First of all, I think I sort of expected them to be a little more golden. They cooked, but they were still a pale white color. I poked it to make sure it wasn’t still dough. Then I figured it would get more golden as it cooked with my filling of Neat, tomato paste, onion, and vegan cheese…but it still remained a pale shade of…pale. It was cooked…it just didn’t look that way. It was a bit disconcerting. It tasted good though, so I guess that’s the important thing. It may look underdone, but it is quite a good pie shell. I was actually happy to have a pie crust that didn’t incorporate sugar into the mix as I was using it for a savory dish. This made this a great substitute for the refrigerated croissant rolls that used to make this light, flaky crust for this dish. Being a thinner crust also helped as well. So, once again, looks can be a wee bit deceiving. It’s all in the taste, when it all comes down to it.

So, what exactly is in the Moon Rabbit Foods Pastry & Pie Crust Mix? According to the package, this mix is made up of potato starch, cassava flour, rice flour, sea salt, unrefined cane sugar, and xanthan gum. That’s it. Small list and all recognizable ingredients makes me a happy girl. This crust is gluten-free and vegan. It is also cholesterol free and fat-free until you add the butter…

As for nutrition, the Moon Rabbit Foods Pastry & Pie Crust Mix has around 24 2 tablespoon servings in the package. A serving will provide 60 calories, 115 mg sodium, 16 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber and no sugar or protein. No sugar or protein is added to the mix so…it remains that way in the end. When it’s prepared, all of this changes depending on your ingredients and the like.

If you need an easy pie crust, I highly recommend Moon Rabbit Foods Pastry & Pie Crust. Yet another product I never would have even know existed (and, hence, never would have made my mom’s Cheeseburger Pie (albeit vegetarian and dairy free)) if not for Cuisine Cube. Loving this service and the new products and companies that it introduces to me.

April 12, 2015May 11, 2015

Product Review: Le Veneziane Micrawable Gluten Free Penne Al Pomodoro E Basilico Pasta Express

Le Veneziane Microwaveable Penne Al Pomodor E Basilico Pasta Express — Le Veneziane Microwaveable Gluten Free Penne Al Pomodor E Basilico Pasta Express

Product: Le Veneziane Microwavable Gluten Free Penne Al Pomodoro E Basilico Pasta Express – $6.99+

Pasta. We all know that pasta is one of my favorite things in the world. I grew up begging for spaghetti each week. I wanted my mom’s spaghetti when my birthday rolled around each year. Forget dining out. I wanted my mom’s cooking. I didn’t care if it was store-bought boxed pasta noodles. Her sauce made it. And that’s what I wanted. Pasta (in all forms) has been one of my favorite dishes to just dive into. Ultimate comfort food. Ultimate meal.

Even after the Celiac diagnosis…one of the first things I sought out were pasta alternatives. There are so many out on the market. Some good…others not-so-good…and some that rise above and beyond the bar. Like…even better than true pasta level of amazing.

Back in my September 2014 Cuisine Cube, I was presented with a box of Le Veneziane Microwavable Gluten Free Penne Al Pomodoro E Basilico (Penne with Tomato and Basil) Pasta Express. And, yes, even the pasta freak in me didn’t immediately make this up. But…I’ll explain why in a moment.

For now, let me give you a quick run through of what Cuisine Cube is all about. Cuisine Cube is a monthly subscription service that delivers healthier, lesser-known, smaller artisan bakers/companies gluten free goodies to your door. Each box contains 5-6 items (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, dessert, and a bonus sometimes!) and subscriptions start as low as $29.99. Go to their site and check them out. I’ve really enjoyed my year of Cuisine Cube and intend to keep my subscription rolling. In fact, I might have to go in for the long-term subscription instead of the month-to-month. I’m that committed. LOVE.

So…yes…I realize that September is about 7 months ago and that I am just now reviewing a product from that Cube. BUT…it is the last item from the September 2014 Cuisine Cube. And that was one very delicious cube for sure! The Dinner portion of that box was dedicated to a 1-serving microwavable pasta meal made by Le Veneziane. Now, I have had Le Veneziane products before and have always been impressed, so I was quite happy to see this company included in the box. I had no idea they made microwavable pasta meals. The things you learn!

Le Veneziane corn pasta is actually a very great choice for people trying to stay healthy and for people who follow the Mediterranean Diet. Why? It has a very low fat content. How about that? Le Veneziane is now one of the most modern companies using high-quality corn and producing amazing gluten-free pasta, polenta, sauces, and cookies. They put out a high quality product because they believe in using the highest quality ingredients from flour and corn. It is milled properly and kept in the right conditions to make sure that nothing, including being 100% gluten free, is compromised. Love that integrity and devotion.

So, last night after a very busy day that included breakfast at my favorite gluten-free bakery and lunch of gluten-free crepes from my favorite food truck at a festival…I wanted something light for dinner. This was ideal because my roommate and I could split it and it would be the perfect amount. To accompany it, I made some homemade gluten-free dinner rolls (even though I was so tempted just to grab some out of the freezer section). So, while the rolls were cooling, I went ahead and opened up the Le Veneziane Microwavable Gluten Free Penne Al Pomodoro E Basilico Pasta Express. Inside was a microwaveable dish that I peeled the top off of and a measuring cone so that I could get exactly 300 ml of water as directed by the instructions. The corn pasta in the container was perfect. It had this deep red-brown powder inside too. And when I added the water and mixed it well, everything got this muddy brown color. I hoped for the best and popped it in the microwave for 10 minutes.

Le Veneziane Micrwavable Gluten Free Penne Al Pomodoro E Basilico Pasta Express (cooked)

When 10 minutes elapsed, I pulled the tray out of the microwave, a little put off by the brownish color of the sauce. But, I gave it a stir and then dished up half to my roommate and half for me, giving us each a dinner roll to have with it. When I handed her the bowl she said, “That’s an interesting color sauce.” HAHA!! Everyone was thinking it; she just said it aloud.

Well, despite the rich brown color of the sauce, the Le Veneziane Microwaveable Gluten Free Penne Al Pomodoro E Basilico Pasta Express was actually very delicious. I shouldn’t have doubted it. The sauce was thick and rich with a tomato flavor that was peppered with the right hit of basil. It was really quite delicious. The pasta, despite being nuked in a microwave, were cooked to that perfect al dente. The homemade rolls made the perfect side item for this meal. And even eating just half of the dish itself was more than enough. Very filling. But very, very good. I don’t know where to find more of the microwave meals from Le Veneziane, but I will keep my eyes open for them now. It’s nice to have a delicious and healthy meal in 10 minutes sometimes.

So, let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The Le Veneziane Microwaveable Gluten Free Penne Al Pomodoro E Basilico Pasta Express pasta is made from corn flour, emulsifier, and the sauce is made from tomato, cream, salt, melted cheese powder, onion, garlic, basil, and sugar. This is 100% gluten-free.

As for the nutrition information, the Le Veneziane Microwaveable Gluten Free Penne Al Pomodoro E Basilico Pasta Express portion is 1 pack. In this serving, you will be taking in 350 calories and 7 grams of fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 820 mg sodium (um…yikes!), 64 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 3 grams sugar, and 8 grams of protein. See what I mean…it’s filling. And delicious.

I want to thank Cuisine Cube for letting me try a new product from Le Veneziane that I didn’t even know existed. I’ll be on the watch now for more microwavable pasta meals by this great Italian company.

Half of a serving of Le Veneziane Gluten Free Microwaveable Penne Al Pomodoro E Basilico Pasta Express with a homemade gluten-free dinner roll

April 9, 2015May 11, 2015

Product Review: Jaali Bean Cumin and Pea Lentil & Brown Rice Kit

Product: Jaali Bean Cumin and Pea Lentil & Brown Rice Kit – $4.99+

It was the start of a new year. Yes. January 2015. And what happens at the start of a brand new year? New Year’s Resolutions! WOOO!! I am proud to say that I don’t make resolutions, because I don’t like to make promises I can’t keep. I do, however, try to make each year a good one and try to improve on some things.

Like…eating better.

Well, my New Year 2015 (January) Cuisine Cube, took a lot of the work out of that by providing a box of 6 healthy choices for food/snacks. YAY! So, as you all are pretty much aware, Cuisine Cube is a delivery subscription service that brings smaller, lesser-known, artisan products from the gluten-free food world to your door. Yes, some of them I have heard of…but most I haven’t. And that’s the beauty of this service. Without it, I’d have no idea that some of these products or companies even existed. And, subscriptions start for as low as $29.99/month. It’s a great deal and a great service. If you haven’t tried it or have been meaning to give it a try…do it. You’ll end up loving it as much as I do.

So, January was all about healthy products it seemed. And the product that was packed inside for the Lunch option was this great little Indian spiced meal kit from Jaali Bean. It was the Jaali Bean Cumin and Pea Lentil & Brown Rice Kit. It sounded beyond delicious as I am a huge…and I mean HUGE…lover of Indian food. Around here, I can find a plethora of the Tasty Bite Indian meals, but this was the first time I ever heard of Jaali Bean. Already, I was intrigued.

Jaali Bean was created by Brian and Molina Junkins, a husband and wife team who shared a passion for food, family, and healthy living. They also had a passion for helping people discover the amazing flavors and tastes that are incorporated in Indian cuisine. They challenge everyone to toss aside their preconceived notions about preparing Indian cuisine at home, because they make it all happen within minutes with these great little kits they put together. It is super easy and the are just loaded with all-natural ingredients and all the spices that make you fall in love with Indian food.

They really do make it easy. The Jaali Bean Cumin and Pea Lentil & Brown Rice Kit comes with two packages attached. Inside is the brown rice and lentil mixture. In the smaller pouch…the spices. Simply set a pot on medium-high heat and heat up 1 tablespoon of oil. Put the spice packet in and stir for about 40-50 seconds. You’ll know when it’s done when you get that amazing aroma out of the spices. Do not burn them. Add 2-1/4 cup water and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat down to low, cover the pot, and let it cook for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and give it a stir. Let it sit for an additional 5 minutes. All the extra liquid will get absorbed. Trust me. It works. You are left with a fantastic pot of moist and creamy looking rice that smells as amazing as it looks.

But the true test is always with the taste.

And, let me tell you…Jaali Bean Cumin and Pea Lentil & Rice Kit cooks up an amazing taste of India. Better than Tasty Bite…and as close to authentic restaurant quality as possible at home. Amazing. I grew up eating Indian food, thanks to my neighbors up the way, who were from India. The cuisine has always resonated with me. And I know what is good and what isn’t. Jaali Bean is delicious. Seriously…delicious. The rice cooks up rich and creamy, seasoned to perfection. It’s mild in flavor, so add a kick of your own heat if, like me, you like things a little spicier. I think my only complaint was that there wasn’t enough peas for my liking. How’s that for a complaint, eh? Seriously, perfectly seasoned and it cooks up beautifully. Nothing else I have had packaged has come close to tasting this close to the real deal. I am beyond impressed.

So…let’s discuss what all goes into the Jaali Bean Cumin and Pea Lentil & Brown Rice Kit, shall we? This kit is a combination of par boiled long grain brown rice, orange masoor lentils, peas, spices (which include cumin, mustard seeds, coriander, dried red chili powder, and amchur powder), salt, cane sugar, tomato granules, and nutritional yeast. It is gluten-free, cholesterol free, vegan, and non-GMO.

As for the nutrition information in regards to Jaali Bean Cumin and Pea Lentil & Brown Rice Kit…I was very impressed. A serving is 1 cup and there are 4 servings per package. Each serving will provide 160 calories, 2 grams of fat, 380 mg sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams sugar, 4 grams fiber, and 6 grams of protein. Healthy, filling, and delicious. You can’t go wrong.

Honestly, I’ve never seen Jaali Bean products around here, so without my subscription to Cuisine Cube, I might still be in the dark. With that being said…these products are now on my radar and I know how to get my hands on them via the Internet, if I can’t find any here. And that, my friends, is a very good thing. I’ll definitely keep these on hand for a quick and easy go-to meal.

On a side note, this product wraps up my January 2015 cube. The only product I didn’t get to blog on was the Budi Bar, because somehow I missed the note on freezing it and it got all fuzzy and moldy. I was sad when I had to throw it away. But…perhaps I’ll run across them somewhere around here. Or, I’ll just order one online. We’ll see.

Jaali Bean Cumin and Pea Lentil & Brown Rice Kit (prepared)