Category: Entree

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Product Review: Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough

Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough
Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough

Product: Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough – $4.49+

I had heard stories about these.  Rumors.  Whispers in the dark.  Advertisements in my gluten-free magazines.  I knew they were out there…the problem was I couldn’t find them.  Anywhere.

What am I talking about?

Pillsbury’s new line of gluten-free refrigerated mixes.

For real!

Yes…Pillsbury.  As in the Doughboy.  Or…now…the Gluten-Free Doughboy.

I was strolling through my local grocery store over the weekend.  I was on a mission.  Bananas for Tuesday’s after-I-work-out breakfast banana split.  Honestly.  But first I had to check out the manager’s special area.  Usually Sunday is the day to do that.  But not this week.  But as I was striding past the refrigerator section holding the yogurts, the cheeses and the butters and margarine…I spotted these beautiful little containers that had that light violet color I saw in the ads.

“OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!”  And then I took off.  Which left my roommate watching me scurry over to the refrigerated space.  She followed and I started picking up the three different items that the store had in stock.  You see Pillsbury introduced three gluten-free doughs, pre-mixed and ready…very convenient.  Gluten-Free Cookie Dough, Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Dough, and Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough.

I did this hillarious happy dance of joy, pumping my fists, doing a little jig and…turning to face my roomie and giving her the sad eyes that declare, “I really, really, really want these in my life!”  We had plenty in our fridge, so she said maybe next week.  I conceded, but my hand went back to the Pie & Pastry Dough.

“But…I can make the Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts…”

That was all I needed to say.  The Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough made its way into my hands to be taken to the register…along with the bananas, which was our original reason for shopping that afternoon.  We paid, we went home, and this little tub of gluten-free joy went right into my refrigerator.  And on Tuesday (Moday is fun run night…so that’s an easy food day), after a rough circuit training…it was time to see how this dough would do with the Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart that I used to make using puff pastry…you know…before I knew I had to go gluten-free.

Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough (rolled out for the tarts and topped with grated Parmesan)
Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough (rolled out for the tarts and topped with grated Parmesan)

I knew that this dough wouldn’t puff up like a puff pastry, but I figured I could make it work.  I basically followed the recipe for the tarts as I used to make them, substituting the puff pastry portion with a serving of this Pie & Pastry Dough.  I scooped out a serving (56 grams) of dough and placed it on my lightly floured board.  I floured my rolling pin and rolled the dough out to a six-inch circle (roughly).  I repeated this with another serving, then plated them on the baking tray, gave a light sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, topped that with the onions I caramelized, a thick slice of tomato, a little salt, a little pepper, some goat cheese, fresh basil, and finally some shaved Parmesan.

While the container has this baking at at a much lower temperature, I went with what my recipe had for the original tart with puff pastry.  Into the oven at 425° F, I baked this for the 20-25 minutes, checking on it every now and again to make sure that it wasn’t burning.

I was shocked that this actually worked.  Honestly.  But the tart came out beautifully.  Sure, it didn’t puff up like it used to, but it didn’t need to.  I served each of us one of the tarts and we settled in for dinner.  My roommate dug right in, commenting on how she loved how the dough didn’t get soggy and how that it was still golden and flaky.  I took that as a win as I took my fork and sliced into mine.

She was right.  This was the ultimate dough for the crust of my Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart.  The dough itself baked into a perfectly golden crust, not turning soggy in the middle where the toppings were all stacked onto it.  In fact, I was so pleased with the way this turned out.  It had this beautiful crisp outside and this flaky texture.  It was one of the most amazing things I managed to make with a gluten-free dough.  I was in love with every bite.  Every.  Single.  Bite.

For real!

Needless to say…Pillsbury impressed me.  Honestly.  Pillsbury won me over with this dough.  And I’ve only used it for one thing.  I might have to try to make a calzone with it next.  Hmmm…that might be an idea for Sunday…

So, let’s talk ingredients and nutritional information.  The not-so-fun part of this blog.  But…it is important, because I value everything I put into this body.  So, while it’s not always pretty, I like to be aware of what I am consuming.

The Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough is made from soybean oil, water, cornstarch, modified potato starch (BOO!), hydrogenated soybean oil (BOO!), rice flour, whole sorghum flour, fructose, sugar, salt, xanthan gum, guar gum, citric acid, and some preservatives.  So…yeah…clean eating it is not.  But I made a deal to do at least 70%/30%…so I was going to allow this to fall into my 30%.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving (56 grams) will bake you up a crispy golden serving of 250 calories and 17 grams of fat.  So…yeah…it’s not a light dough by any means…but at least it tastes good.  All things in moderation, my friends.  That being said, the Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough is cholesterol-free and has 340 mg sodium.  This has 3 grams of sugar and less than 1 gram each of protein and fiber.

That being said…using it as the base for my Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart worked out wonderfully.  I just want to make that again and again and again.  And I can, because I still have over half the dough in the container in my refrigerator.  Squeak of gluten-free doughy glee!  Honestly…the dough was perfect.  I was afraid that it would just be mushy and unimpressive, but this was one of the most beautifully baked crusts I witnessed.  Especially in the gluten-free crust world.  I am so happy with Pillsbury right now…I could…just hug that little Doughboy.

Gluten-free…anything…that might need a flaky, golden crust…just got a whole lot easier.  And yes…it’s true…

Nothing says lovin’ like somethin’ gluten-free from the oven.

Pillsbury…I think I love you.

Gluten-Free Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart made with Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough
Gluten-Free Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart made with Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough
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Product Review: Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli

Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli
Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli

Product: Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli – $3.00 for 6 ounces

There are moments of absolute amazement when I look at some of the things my roommate has done for me since my diagnosis two years ago.  Seriously.  She basically eats gluten-free and vegetarian at home, all the time,  Not only that, she is always on the lookout for new gluten-free items for us, not just me, to try.  She is honest to a fault when I cook or bake something new, changing up a recipe to now be gluten-free.  Some are definitely more successful than others.

But my entire point here is…she’s full of surprises.

This past Saturday…she totally surprised me.

You see, every Saturday I meet up with a group of runners to do our long run.  This past Saturday, I was heading out with a small group aiming to hit that magic 16 mile mark.  This meant Cathy was going to be left to her own devices for 2 hours or more.  But this never slows her down.  She always finds something to occupy her time.  And on this particularly raining Saturday morning, with a fresh local coffee in hand, she stopped by the local farmers market.  You see, I was in need of a giant watermelon for a recipe I was going to make that night.  She was going to get one from a local vendor instead of hitting up the grocery store.  But, while she was there…she spotted something else.

The words GLUTEN-FREE on a sign for Lexington Pasta.  She swung by the booth and inquired.  And when I finally made it back to the meeting point, a local coffeehouse, after a very long run, we returned to the car and she told me to go look in the trunk.  Aside from a 10 pound watermelon waiting for me, she also had picked up fresh basil.  And buried in the ice of the cooler…she had picked up two small bags of Lexington Pasta’s Gluten-Free Fusilli.

While it’s true, this handmade pasta does look more like macaroni than fusilli, I could see the small twists in the fresh and handmade pasta…giving it that corkscrew affect that you would normally associate with fusilli pasta.

That being said…I was holding a bag of gluten-free handmade fusilli!!!  This was huge!  This was awesome.  This was so awesome I deemed Sunday night to be pasta night.  I’d cook up some of my gluten-free rosemary cheddar biscuits to accompany the pasta and it would be one epic Sunday meal.  Because while some products can wait…fresh, handmade gluten-free pasta is not one of those things.  I had to have it as soon as humanly possible.

We got home from our day of running errands and grocery shopping and I put one of the bags of pasta into the freezer.  The other went into the fridge for use on Sunday night.

Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (cooked & drained)
Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (cooked & drained)

What I love about handmade, fresh pasta is how easy it is to prepare.  No boiling your pasta for 12-20 minutes to get it to that perfect al dente.  Nope.  I went ahead and got a pot of water on the stove to boil while I prepared a small salad with some heirloom tomatoes that Cathy also picked up from the farmers market.  When the water began to boil, I simply emptied the little baggie of gluten-free fusilli pasta into the water and let it go for 2-3 minutes.  The pasta does come with an instruction guide on how to cook it and does warn against overcooking.  I then got the sauce heated while the noodles quickly finished up.  After three minutes I drained the pasta and then put it back into the pan with the marinara I had warmed up.  Giving it all a toss, I was ready to plate it up.  Into the bowls it went.  And dinner was served. Yes…that quickly.

First of all, handmade and fresh pasta will always win.  Always.  Pasta that is done locally will win even more.  And what really caught my attention about the gluten-free fusilli from Lexington Pasta was that it didn’t stick together or dry up immediately.  It cooked to the perfect al dente in the water.  Quick.  It was one of the quickest pasta meals I ever prepared.  I almost didn’t have time to warm the marinara.  I forgot what it was like to cook with fresh pasta.

Taste…taste was spot-on.  I believe Cathy mentioned that it was a rice flour noodle.  It didn’t get mushy.  It didn’t stick.  It didn’t fall apart.  In fact, each noodle held the twisty shape through the entire cooking process, the draining, and the addition of the sauce.  The serving size was just right.  And the noodles…light.  Delicious.  They have spoiled me on gluten-free pasta, honestly.  Not only is this local, but it tastes fantastic.  There was no weird aftertaste.  No chewiness.  Nothing that would be off putting.  In fact, if I were to serve this to people, they would never…EVER…guess that it was gluten-free.

I sort of want to go and get more.  Like…now.

I was really that impressed.

Lexington Pasta is based out of Lexington, Kentucky…which is a short car drive for me.  So, when the farmers market closes for the season, I can still go and purchase this gluten-free pasta of awesomesauce from their retail location.  Because I was beyond impressed with this product and find it comforting to see a local business taking strides to work with those with special dietary needs…who love pasta.  You know…people like me.

Lexington Pasta…you made this Celiac one very, very happy pasta-loving girl!  Thank you!

Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (in marinara) with Gluten-Free Rosemary Cheddar Biscuits
Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (in marinara) with Gluten-Free Rosemary Cheddar Biscuits
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Product Review: BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza

BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza
BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza

Product: BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza – $9.49+

Sometimes…if you look hard enough…you manage to find something amazing…despite it being a processed food in the freezer department.  At least it was at a natural food store…so that’s saying something, right?  Right!

That’s what I’ll keep telling myself.

Anyway…what I speak of is a brand of gluten-free and vegan pizza (this version anyway) made by BOLD Organics.  In fact, BOLD Organics pizzas (the vegan and the meaty ones) are all gluten-free, milk-free, lactose-free, casein-free, whey-free, egg-free, peanut-free, and treenut-free.  EPIC!! I mean…EPIC, right?!  Right!

BOLD Organics was founded with a simple principle to strive for – creating the most delicious and healthy frozen pizza on the market.  And that vision was reached and realized with the line of gluten-free and dairy-free pizzas that, as the Web site puts it, “are redefining just how good eating healthy can taste.”

It’s not too bold (see what I did there?) a statement either.  Because what BOLD Organics did…was take their goal and do everything in their power to make it a reality.  Seriously.  Founder, Aaron Greenwald, often found that traditional gluten-free products on the market were bland and lacked taste.  That was when Aaron embarked on his mission to not just help people eat better…but also feel better.  And he sourced the best chefs he could find who not only understood gluten-free food, but could also provide bold (I did it again) flavors to the products his company would produce.  And so…BOLD Organics was born.

BOLD Organics began producing high quality, allergen-free foods…so people could have a choice when it came to gluten-free pizzas.  He strove to provide restaurant quality food with premium taste…without paying a premium price.

Well, when I spotted this in my natural food store’s freezer…I decided that having a frozen pizza on hand wasn’t a bad idea.  I mean…when you need something easy one night, just pop it out of the freezer, onto a pizza stone…and viola…dinner!  So, I had one stashed in my freezer.  And, as I am trying very hard to work my way through the plethora of gluten-free goodness I have stocked up in my freezer and pantry, on Friday, as I had a 16 mile run on Saturday, I figured gluten-free pizza would be the way to go.

BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza (cooked)
BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza (cooked)

Out of the two vegan options offered by BOLD Organics, I went with the Veggie Lovers version.  Why?  Because any pizza that is topped with seasonal vegetables (organic roasted red peppers, organic roasted yellow onions, and shiitake mushrooms) is okay in my book.  The cheese they use is completely vegan.  So, I pulled this out of the freezer directly after work and preheated the oven to 450° F, per the instructions on the box.  I stuck my pizza stone in to warm while the oven preheated and set about opening up the box.

The box does make me think that the pizza would be a little bigger than it really is…but what it lacks for in size (it’s an 8-inch pizza), it makes up for in the fact that it is not a cracker-crust, very thin-crust pizza.  Nope.  Not at all.  This pizza has depth to it.  It has the most amazing crust…and I could tell that before it was even baked.  With the oven heated and pizza stone warm, I tossed the pizza in to cook for 20-22 minutes.  If the vegan cheese has not melted, it says to broil it for 1-2 more minutes.  The cheese on my pizza melted beautifully and the crust became fluffy and golden and just…perfect looking.

I removed the pizza from the oven and sliced it in half.  The box I have says the serving size was half the pizza.  That seems to have changed now…but…I’ll go off what I had in my freezer.  One half went to my roommate, the other half was mine…all mine.  I can say this…it looked and smelled amazing.  But, as always, the true test lies in the taste.  That is the absolute heart of the matter.

I settled in for dinner, fork in hand, and sliced through the crispy, yet soft crust.  Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside.  That is pizza crust perfection, my friends.  PERFECTION!  And, furthermore…this pizza was frozen pizza perfection.  It looked like all the non-gluten-free counterparts you see on the market.  It wasn’t this sad-looking thin crust slab of cheese and veggies. No.  This was a bold looking, veggie laden (save for the mushrooms…I got a bit gypped on those), vegan cheese coated amazing thing.  The flavors were melt-together perfect.  It was sweet from the peppers and savory with the cheese.  It had that perfect crust.  I was in pizza heaven.  I was.  Because, with the exception of my local allergen-free bakery, I can’t find anything but cracker-crust when it comes to gluten-free pizza.  That just changed.  My whole frozen pizza world just expanded.  I was…SO impressed.  The cheese, even being a vegan mozzarella, was stretchy and melty and gooey.  Pizza perfection.  BOLD pizza perfection.  I’m sold.  For life.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition, shall we?

This pizza is made up of filtered water, vegan gourmet mozzarella cheese alternative, inulin, soy protein, agar agar, sea salt, plant-based natural flavor, carrageenan (BOO!), vegetable source of lactic acid, organic crushed tomatoes, organic potato starch, organic rice flour, organic corn meal, organic roasted red bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms, organic roasted yellow onions, fresh yeast, organic tomato paste, organic extra virgin olive oil, xanthan gum, organic evaporated cane juice, organic oregano, organic apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and organic spices (rosemary, black pepper, granulated garlic, red chili).

As far as nutritional value goes…for half of a pizza…this isn’t too bad.  One serving (1/2 of the pizza) served up 340 calories and 13 grams of fat.  That’s actually not bad!  I was impressed.  It has 670 mg sodium, which is a little high…but…not bad in the grand scheme of things.  The serving has 6 grams of sugar as well, which is super good.  And, 1/2 of the pizza dishes up 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

It’s awesome.  BOLD Organics produced a product they can totally be proud of and stand behind.  I loved every bite I took of this one.  And I will definitely try the Vegan Cheese version in the future too.  With a fluffy and flaky crust like that…it’s hard to stop me from stuffing another one in my freezer.

This pizza BOLD-ly went where no gluten-free pizza went before…and they did it perfectly!

A serving of BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza
A serving of BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza
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Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oats

As part of trying to do more of a Clean Eating diet, per the recommendation of my sports nutritionist…I have decided to attempt to make my usual oatmeal for lunch habit continue…but with me making the oatmeal.  This way I have more control over the nutritional value.  And, especially, the amount of sugar that goes into each helping.

While I love my Bakery On Main gluten-free oatmeal and the multitude of amazing flavors…it is super expensive.  So, it also wracks up my grocery shopping budget.  But thanks to Pinterest…I found a way around that.  And…especially with the hot and humid summer days here…an even more refreshing way to enjoy my oatmeal in the afternoon.  Of course, this would be good any time of day…but oatmeal for lunch is my thing.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal

Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal (Overnight Oats)
Gluten-Free Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal (Overnight Oats)

Servings: 1
Time: Prep 10 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats (I used Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Rolled Oats)
  • 1/3 cup skim milk (I used unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt (I used vanilla Greek yogurt)
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds (I didn’t have these…so I didn’t use them)
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup (more or less to taste)
  • 1/4 cup blueberries (or enough to fill jar)

Directions:

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds (if using), and maple syrup.

Put lid on jar and shake until well combined.

Remove lid, add blueberries and stir until mixed throughout.

Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.

Eat chilled.

~*~*~

It’s simple.  It’s easy.  It’s SUPER delicious.  I loved taking bite after bite of this.  The chia seeds definitely would have made it less soupy…but I don’t have any on hand and I wasn’t going to go out and buy some specifically for this.  Maybe next grocery trip if the budget allows.  It worked out just fine without them, however.  Lunch was very nutritious and I knew everything that went into my oats.  And wow…was this every filling!

My little jar of goodness had only 185 calories and 2 grams of fat.  It also had 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein in it.  How’s that for a powerhouse meal?!  There are lots of other recipes available via Pinterest and especially from The Yummy Life blog, which is where the pin takes me when I click on it.  I can’t wait to try other versions!  Total win!

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Product Review: Sol Cuisine Original Sliders

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i392/veggiefoodlover/Products/003_zpsef1636b4.jpg
Sol Cuisine Original Sliders

Product: Sol Cuisine Original Sliders – $5.49+

There is one thing that normally goes missing in my life.  Being a gluten-free vegetarian…having sliders is usually not even an option…unless I make them myself.  I’m okay with that…I’ve done it quite a few times, but sometimes it’s nice to just throw something into the oven or a pan and have it ready in no time flat.

And that was never the case until I spotted these amazing little slider patties at Whole Foods.  What caught my eye?  The box.  It clearly is labeled…these slider patties are vegetarian/vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free, a good source of calcium and iron, and also made with heart healthy soy!  You better believe I didn’t even blink when I grabbed a box of these and tossed them into my basket.  Budget be damned this time.  I wanted some sliders, dammit!

As fate would have it, I happened to have some gluten-free dinner rolls in my freezer, which would definitely make the perfect stand-in for slider buns…because you definitely can’t find those in  gluten-free form.  Not yet.  But gluten-free dinner rolls…they work.  I use them all the time for sliders…normally ones from my hometown allergen-free bakery…or Udi’s.  But this time it was Katz Gluten Free.  Which I toasted up in the oven to get that nice golden crust on the buns.

But…let’s get back to the star of this post…Sol Cuisine Original Sliders.

Frozen little disks of meatless goodness, that aren’t really that highly processed when you look at the ingredients.  Which, I’ll do now, since I brought it up.  These little patties are made from filtered water, soy protein concentrate, sunflower oil, dried onion, modified vegetable gum, dried tomato, sea salt, dried garlic, spices, organic lemon juice concentrate and caramel color.  So, it’s not exactly clean eating…and yes…it is a processed food, but it isn’t too bad.  Not when you compare it to other items out on the market.  And the fact that these are vegetarian/vegan make me one happy girl.

Sol Cuisine Original Sliders
Sol Cuisine Original Sliders

The box supplies about 3 different ways to cook these up.  Oven, stove top, microwave…however you choose.  When I made the Sol Cuisine Breakfast Patties, I cooked them in the oven.  But I already had dinner rolls and hand-cut sweet potato fries (yep…I made my own fries) working in the oven.  So, I figured why not give the stove top a go.  I warmed up a skillet and lightly coated it with some olive oil.  Into the pan I placed four of the little patties.  They immediately began to sizzle and cook.  I gave each side about 4 minutes…and they got perfectly golden and had that great crust you associate with a good burger.  I was already happy.

I plated each one up on one of the toasted dinner rolls and topped it with condiments and served it up with my oven-baked sweet potato fries.  I handed my roommate her plate while I fixed up mine.  She dug right in.  And I could tell she was one happy girl when I saw her take her first bite.  Now, as I have mentioned numerous times before, my roommate LOVES burgers.  She is neither gluten-free nor a vegetarian…but she doesn’t mind eating like one.  Lucky for her…as I am the cook in the apartment.  And she was devouring these.

I settled in and was prepared to try for myself.  Sol Cuisine has wowed me with their Breakfast Patties…and they totally disappointed me with their Tofu BBQ Ribs.  So…I knew this could go either way.  But…it was a total win!!  The little patties are FANTASTIC.  They have this great savory flavor to them.  Pan searing them was definitely the right call.  It gave them this moist texture.  It was the perfect veggie burger, without tasting like a veggie burger.  Honestly!  I was in love with the texture.  I thought the flavors were spot on.  And I wanted to savor each bite.  But…you know…burgers are best when they are warm.  So, I polished it off and vowed to pick them up again sometime…as a treat.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 2 patties.  This serving will dish up 100 calories and 3 grams of fat.  That is SUPER!!  These patties are cholesterol free and sugar free.  WOOHOO!!  And they are low on the scale for sodium, with only 240 mg per serving, which is awesome for something that is processed.  In addition, 2 patties will also give you 3 grams of fiber and 13 grams of protein.  No wonder this meal filled me up.  I was full for the rest of the night.

DELICIOUS!!

Sol Cuisine…keep this up and I may be working my way through your entire line of gluten-free and vegan products.  I’m one happy slider-eating girl!!  And I can’t stop talking about them!  Thank you!!  THANK YOU!!

Gluten-Free Sliders made with Sol Cuisine Original Sliders
Gluten-Free Sliders made with Sol Cuisine Original Sliders
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Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)

Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)
Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)

Product: Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa) – $4.49

A long, long time ago…well…maybe not that long ago…but a good while back…Cathy (the roomie) placed an order for some goodies from Katz Gluten Free…which has quickly become one of my go-to places for amazing gluten-free products.  Sure, I have to order online, but the prices are reasonable and they ship immediately.  So I never have more than a 2 day wait to get my order.  Everything goes into the freezer or pantry and I pull it out as I need it.  And life is good.

Because Katz Gluten Free provides good products.  Time after time I have been nothing but impressed by what I have ordered and eaten.

Whenever the last order was placed (which, as I said…was a long, long time ago), the roomie picked out a new product to try.  These were Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa).  When they came in the mail, I put them in the freezer at home and that was where they stayed…waiting…waiting for me to do something with them.  They waited very patiently, being pushed further back into the freezer.  I hadn’t forgotten about them, I just got distracted by my local bakery’s gluten-free dinner rolls.  It happens.

But, after picking up some vegan and gluten-free sliders from Whole Foods a couple weeks ago…I needed dinner rolls for the buns.  And without anywhere to pick up Udi’s Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls (they are really good) and not having picked up any from my local allergen-free bakery…I dug around in the freezer and…like a gift from the gluten-free freezer gods…there they were!!  Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa).  I let them thaw while I was at the office, which they did perfectly.  I was afraid that, with how long they had been in there, they might become mushy or crumbly…but I should have known better.

While these rolls can go without being reheated, I love putting a bit of a crust on my buns when I make sliders.  So, I sliced them in half (which was interesting as they do resemble muffins in shape), expecting them to crumble or fall apart.  But they didn’t.  They were soft and very fresh feeling.  I smiled, feeling better about the situation already.  So, I placed each half on a baking sheet and sprayed a light  mist of olive oil over each cut side.  I popped them into the oven for a couple of minutes while I finished up the sliders in the pan and the sweet potato fries finished up in the oven as well.

Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)
Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)

It only took a few minutes to get them perfectly golden.  I plated them and placed a vegan and gluten-free slider on each bottom part.  Then topped it with the top bun.  Dinner was served.

My roommate actually bit into hers first.  And she went, “KATZ RULES!”  So this was a good sign.  I love it when she raves about gluten-free foods…because she eats like this at home by choice…because I have to.  And that’s a huge deal.  Our kitchen is 100% gluten-free…which means she even gets gluten-free bread to eat instead of whole wheat, like she had previously been doing.  Honestly…best roomie ever!!  Aside from that, she said they tasted amazing.  So, as I put my sliders together, I went and settled in to find out for myself.

First of all, even with the gentle toasting in the oven, the texture of the dinner rolls was incredibly soft and fluffy.  I was so impressed.  They had this very light texture to them and this very light sweetness in taste.  I loved it.  I was enamored with the taste of these.  I just wanted to keep eating them.  Forget the slider…these were fantastic.  I loved being able to squish it down like a regular bun, watching as it would bounce back when I set it down.  It wasn’t heavy or dense.  The flavor was a little sweet, but definitely savory.  I could have eaten all four of them in the package.  But I was good…and I shared with my roommate.  We both couldn’t stop raving about them.  If my local bakery didn’t make such amazing ones, I’d be placing another order…STAT!

So, here we get to the science of the product itself…the ingredients and the nutritional information.  Let’s start with the ingredients.  These dinner rolls are free of gluten, dairy, and nuts.  These rolls are made with real ingredients because a bakery makes them…from scratch.  Honestly, that’s what I love about Katz.  Anyway, the Dinner Rolls (Small Challa) are made from Katz Gluten Free flour mix (white rice, tapioca, arrowroot, corn, soy, potato) water, eggs, palm oil, brown sugar, honey, xanthan gum, dry yeast, salt, flaxseed, and apple cider vinegar.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is one dinner roll.  Each roll contains 150 calories and 6 grams of fat.  One dinner roll also provides you with 20 mg sugar and 2 grams of sugar.  Not bad.  Not at all.  And you also are provided with 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Okay…so as with a lot of gluten-free baked items, they contain more calories and fat than what regular ones would, but they make it up in the amount of sodium used for sure.  And…these were fantastic.  And sometimes…that’s enough!!

These…will definitely make their way back into my freezer in the future.  They just won’t be kept waiting for so long.

Katz…again…your gluten-free goodness is a wonderful thing.  I am so thankful for your products.

Sliders made with Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)
Sliders made with Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)
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Annie May’s Sweet Café packs up delicious take-home treats for every sweet tooth

Annie May's Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls and Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin
Annie May’s Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls and Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin

Products: Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls – $3.00; Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin – $2.00; Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar – $2.00

I can’t stop myself.  It’s an addiction.  It’s a routine.  But every time I am in town on Saturday…I head over to Frankfort Avenue to Annie May’s Sweet Café, where, depending on what time I hit there (which is often dictated by how long my Saturday run ends up being), I indulge in amazing gluten-free and allergen-free breakfast offerings, or the most amazing gluten-free pizza in the area.  Hands down.  Either way, I’m a happy girl on Saturday mornings because I know it means a trip to Annie May’s!

There was only one difference this past weekend when I went to get my gluten-free doughnut and gluten-free vegan sausage and “cheese” breakfast sandwich.  I was going straight home afterwards.  And, Cathy…the best roomie ever…told me to pick a couple of items from the case to take home to have for breakfast and dessert on the following day.

I was thrilled!!  THRILLED!

The hard part was choosing.

As I am a cinnamon roll lover, I did opt to get two of their allergen-free cinnamon rolls that were on display.  They looked fantastic, with their cinnamon and sugar goodness and even given a drizzle of icing.  I was trying hard not to drool, because…cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast.  And I don’t get them very often.  Now, I’ve gotten the Take-And-Bake variety from Annie May’s Sweet Café before, but these were already made and ready for consumption.  The fantastic looking blueberry muffins were calling my name.  Blueberry muffins are my absolute favorite muffin to make and devour.  And hers looked golden and moist and had this amazing sugary crust on the top.  Oh yeah…that was a must.  We got one that we decided we would split between us.  And then my roommate spotted the Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake bars in the case…and we decided to get one of those to split as well.  Done.  Kenna was delightful and boxed everything up for us and we left with some delicious looking baked goodies from our favorite little eatery/bakery in town.

Fast forward to a late morning wake-up.  I rocked out a second 13 miles this morning for my Sunday run, and returned home.  After showering, I went to wake up Cathy, knocking on her door.  She was sleeping later than usual because we had been up in Indianapolis rocking out with Maroon 5…and didn’t get in until around 2 a.m.  My run took place later…her wake-up call came later.  It all worked.

But breakfast was going to be a cinch!  And it was.  I simply opened up the signature pink box with the Annie May’s Sweet Café sticker on it and pulled out the spoils of our shopping on Saturday.  Two allergen-free cinnamon rolls and one ginormous blueberry muffin.  I simply decided to slice the muffin in half and then warmed that half up in the microwave with the cinnamon roll, individually.

Let’s start with the Allergen-Free Cinnamon Roll ($3.00).  These were fantastic.  Even having sat on my counter all day and night, it was still cinnamon-sugar perfection.  The roll stayed together so well.  It had that heft of a cinnamon roll without being super dense and hard to eat.  It was crusty and flaky and sweetened to ultimate perfection.  I also liked how the icing was simply drizzled across the top, ensuring that the icing didn’t overtake the awesomeness of the cinnamon roll itself.  These cinnamon rolls contained no dairy and no gluten (of course) and they were awesome.  I hope they keep these in the case more often because I will make a habit of eating them whenever possible.

Now…one of Annie May’s muffins was a new choice for me.  Where I had the cinnamon rolls in a take-and-bake format before (but never from the case already done), I had never purchased a muffin.  So, this was a first for me.  The Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin ($2.00) was huge.  And hugely moist too.  Yes…even after it had an entire day to sit in a box, it was still super moist.  I mean, I sliced into it and it was just…awesome.  I could tell it wasn’t dry at all, and this made me happy.  One of the little joys of these muffins was the sugar coating on the top.  It gave the muffin this nice bit of texture and sweetness…and I loved the crispness that it gave and the sound it made when my knife glided through the baked goodie to half it between my roommate and I.  And the taste…melt-in-your-mouth blueberry muffin perfection.  Moist.  Light.  Not at all dense or overdone.  The sugar struessel on top was the perfect touch to keep each bite sweet and interesting.  I am in love with these blueberry muffins.  And blueberry muffins are my most favorite thing when it comes to muffins.  So, I hope to see more of these in the very near future.

This leads us to dessert tonight…and the ever-epic sounding Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar ($2.00).  Completely gluten-free.  It was described by Annie May’s Sweet Café as some crazy cinnamon roll brainchild.  Okay…I was definitely intrigued!  Because, as we all know…CINNAMON ROLL FREAK HERE!!  So, dessert tonight had to be epic and awesome.  It just had to be.  After dinner, I went and retrieved this morsel of gluten-free goodness from my fridge and sliced it in half…ready to see if it lived up to its epic sounding description.

It was creamy, smooth, and it honestly did taste like some sort of cheesecake-cinnamon roll hybrid.  You can only imagine my joy upon first taste.  The crust was crunchy and delicious…held up perfectly overnight in the refrigerator.  As for the cheesecake portion…I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet.  Cheesecake can run too sweet, but this one was perfect.  The caramel and cinnamon that were swirled into it gave it the right amount of flavor without taking away from the cream cheese and the crust.  Perfectly balanced.  And not heavy at all.  Sometimes cheesecake can just be too much.  Here, it was just perfect.  Especially when the bar was cut in half to split with my roomie.  She enjoyed it too, especially the swirled caramel and cinnamon topping on the cheesecake itself.  We were both overly delighted with our dessert tonight.

And I think anything that tastes like a cinnamon roll should applauded.  This was well done!!

Continuing on the trend of her amazing products, Annie May’s Sweet Café provided the perfect way to start my day…and the perfect way to end it as well.  The cinnamon rolls and the muffin were both perfect and not too filling…just filling enough to get me through to lunch, when ended up being later in the day from the norm.  And dessert…that cheesecake bar was the perfect ending to a day filled with perfect food.

Compliments of Annie May’s Sweet Café.  Whether you need to eat gluten-free or have food allergies or not…Annie May’s is the perfect place to pick up a baked item, grab a bite to eat, or even place a special order for one of her breads, cakes, cookies, whatever it is you desire.  Her standards are high and her food reflects it.

Always.

I’m already looking forward to breakfast on Saturday this coming week…

Annie May's Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar
Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar
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The jury is in…Louisville’s Sidebar pays special attention to dietary needs

Sidebar at Whiskey Row, Louisville, Kentucky
Sidebar at Whiskey Row, Louisville, Kentucky

Restaurant: Sidebar at Whiskey Row, Louisville, Kentucky

I love eating out with friends.  I really, really do.  Especially when it’s a fellow co-worker who is as much a foodie as my roommate and I.  I mean, how can you say “NO” to trying out new spots right in your own backyard?  I can’t.  I love trying out new restaurants.  But, with my food allergies, this sometimes means an extra level of difficulty, or sometimes…me bringing my own food to eat while they order and dine from the establishment itself.  And…yes…I am okay with that.  It has never bothered me at all.  It bothers the people I dine with at times, but I’m perfectly fine eating one of my protein bars and then grabbing something that is safe for me to eat at home.

It’s my body…so it’s my choice, right?  Right!

Anyway, one of our IT guys at work had gone to this local burger spot in Louisville, Kentucky that he was over the moon for their food.  He’d gone there a couple of times and said that they never gave him something he didn’t like.  Not only was their bourbon amazing, but their burgers were to die for.

It sounded like something Cathy needed to try out…because that girl loves her burgers.  I did note that they made a vegetarian burger as well, so took it upon myself to post on their Facebook page as to what, if any, gluten-free options Sidebar at Whiskey Row had to offer.  What happened next was one of the most amazing and wonderful things any restaurant establishment can do for someone who wishes to dine with them, but has certain dietary needs.  I had a quick response from Jason Pierce, Sidebar’s Assistant General Manager and the Culinary Director providing his e-mail address so that I could contact him about my visit on Friday evening.  I immediately sent him an e-mail to which he said that all salads are prepared in a manner that would be safe for me to eat, being that they are properly handled, washed, and plated so that there would be no cross-contamination.  He also said that if I wanted to, I could bring in my own salad dressing that he could dress the salad with as well.  I appreciated that suggestion immensely.  And, finally, he said that they could prepare the Mushroom Edamame Burger (the vegetarian option) without the gluten ingredients.  I told him I was fine with a salad, and that I really appreciated the burger option, but with it needing to be cooked on a separate, and clean, surface…the salad would probably be easiest.

A few back and forth messages via e-mail and Jason ensured me that he would make sure I had a fantastic dining experience on Friday.

Fast forward to Friday.  The three of us left work and headed down to Sidebar at Whiskey Row immediately, not really knowing what the traffic situation in Louisville would be like.  It wasn’t too bad and we were parked and heading into Sidebar by 5 p.m.  We were greeted warmly and shown to a table in the corner.  The three of us settled in and all ordered waters (I was sticking with water as I had a 12 mile run the next morning).  Justin already knew he was getting an Old Fashioned ($10.00), which is sugar and bitters topped with whiskey and then touched off with a twist of citrus rind.  He told Cathy that it was one of his favorite drinks there, especially since Sidebar is known for their barrel-aged cocktails.  You see, Sidebar at Whiskey Row mixes all the shelf-stable components of a cocktail and ages the mixture in a charred barrel.  How’s that for unique.  And you won’t find these cocktails on any other menu in the area.  Anyway…that was all Cathy had to hear, apparently…

Sidebar's Old Fashioned cocktail
Sidebar’s Old Fashioned cocktail

My two carnivorous friends put in their orders after our drinks arrived.  Justin decided to go for the Ambulance Chaser ($12.00), which is a Certified Angus Beef burger topped with smoky BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, tomato jam and tobacco onions.  He opted for the Truffle-Parm fries ($2.00) with his burger.  Cathy decided on the Court Reporter ($12.00), which is a Certified Angus Beef burger topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, honey-chipotle aioli, and roasted red pepper relish.  She opted for the sweet potato fries with her burger($2.00).  And…she went ahead and decided to try an Old Fashioned without sampling Justin’s…so that was put in as well.

I mentioned to our waitress before ordering that I had been talking to Jason Pierce about my meal.  She said she would go to the kitchen and talk to him, so when she returned she said that Jason recommended the Kale Salad ($8.00), without the Parmesan cheese and without the toasted almonds.  I said that sounded great.  After all…I love, love, LOVE kale.  I was super excited.

With the orders in, Cathy and Justin decided to enjoy their cocktails while we sat around, took in the ambiance of the restaurant itself, and had good conversation.  First of all, you might notice a courtroom theme for Sidebar.  You are very observant.  That was entirely the point.  Not to mention, the restaurant itself is located in a grand 19th-Century building next to the Second Street Bridge, and boasts lofty ceilings, towering windows, a beautiful bar, and comfortable seating.  It’s simply a stunning place to dine.  Another thing that Sidebar is quite proud of is that they created their own unique hamburger blend, which is a mix of certified Angus beef, chuck, brisket, and short rib, creating a burger that uses no trimmings, added fats, fillers, or binders.  So, for you carnivores or people with friends who love a good burger…this might be a great place to take them.

It wasn’t too long before our food arrived at the table.  Everything looked amazing.  My salad was a work of art.  Honestly.  A bed of finely shredded kale, piled high with carrots, greens, carrots, and served with a citrus vinaigrette.  Rimming the edge of it was gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and fresh cucumber.  It was not the described kale salad from the menu, but something that Jason did up special for me.  No sooner had the waitress left but Jason comes to the table to introduce himself and tell me a little bit about what he put together for me.  I shook his hand and thanked him for his help and for everything.  This salad was going to be epic…I could already tell.  Jason returned to the kitchen and I dug in.

HOLY COW!  This is definitely one of the best salads I have ever had the honor of eating.  And I’m not just saying that.  First of all, it’s not your typical green salad that most restaurants would give you.  I loved the way the kale was shredded, making it the bed of the salad, and not difficult to eat, nor clunky.  The green onion, carrots, and cucumber made fantastic green vegetables to serve with it.  And those heirloom tomatoes…they were juicy, fresh, and just melted in my mouth.  The citrus vinaigrette was out-of-this-world and made for the perfect pairing with every component of this salad.  It was a nice hit of sweetness that matched the earthy flavors of the vegetables to perfection.  I almost didn’t want to dive into it, because it just looked gorgeous, but I was hungry and I definitely wanted to see what Jason’s salad creation tasted like.  If heaven was a salad bar, then this would be the salad it would serve every day.  I would never get tired of eating this.  It worked.  It worked well.  And I couldn’t stop eating it even if I tried.

Cathy and Justin devoured their burgers and fries and polished off their cocktails.  Everyone was satisfied and happy with their meals.  Cathy and I already decided this is definitely a place we need to take our friend Greg, who LOVES a good burger.  I think he would love what this place served up.

I really wanted to once again express my appreciation to Sidebar and to Jason Pierce, specifically, for not only addressing my dietary needs, but for exceeding all expectations when it came to my dinner choice that evening.  I was blown away and can’t wait to return again for another round of that amazing Kale Salad.  I have been bragging to everyone, my running group included (because we ran by the restaurant on Saturday morning) about the food, the service, and the attention that is given to every aspect of customer service and customer satisfaction at Sidebar.  I was beyond impressed.

Louisville is certainly lucky to have such a great gourmet burger establishment.  Not just because of the value of the food produced, but also the attention to detail and the personal touches that are given…without even being asked.  I will forever recommend Sidebar to people, simply because they took good care of me, someone with special dietary needs, and they did it very well.  Going above and beyond…that’s what they do.

Congratulations, Sidebar…you definitely passed the bar!!  In fact, you just set the bar higher for every other local restaurant!

Sidebar's Kale Salad (done gluten-free)
Sidebar’s Kale Salad (done gluten-free)
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Recipe: Gluten-Free Rainbow Chard Lemon Pasta

Tonight felt like a pasta night.  Why?  Because…I love pasta.  Gluten-free pasta, that is.  And it had honestly been ages since I had made pasta for my roomie and I.  With Friday fast approaching, I have bin ingredients that are screaming to be used.  So…I went on the hunt for some ideas.

Friends, I say this to you honestly…DO NOT FEAR PASTA!  It can be made healthy as long as you don’t drown it in creamy sauces, oils, or have portion distortion.  It’s all about moderation and preparation.  And, thanks to a recipe from one of my favorite Clean Eating sites, I had just the recipe to modify tonight.  The original recipe was already gluten-free…but I changed out ingredients for what I had in my crisper drawer from my CSA bin.  It worked out beautifully.

The original recipe was taken from The Healthy Apple, who put up a great sounding dish called Swiss Chard Lemon Pasta.  Well, I had rainbow chard.  I hate olives, but I had grape tomatoes.  I always have lemon and lemon zest on hand…it seemed ideal.  And tonight…this healthy pasta dish was dinner.  And, wow…did the flavors ever sing.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Rainbow Chard Lemon Pasta

Gluten-Free Rainbow Chard Lemon Pasta
Gluten-Free Rainbow Chard Lemon Pasta

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

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Gluten-Free Penne Pasta (I used La Veneziane Gluten-Free Corn Meal Farfalle)
  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 head Swiss chard, cut into ½ inch pieces
  • ½ cup kalamata olives (I hate olives, so I substituted grape tomatoes in their place)
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro (I omitted this)
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. fresh lemon zest
  • ¼ tsp. smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp. sea salt
  • ¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Cook the gluten-free pasta according to package directions.  Remove from heat; drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook rainbow chard in olive oil over medium heat until wilted, approximately 4 minutes.

Remove from heat and transfer to a large serving bowl.

Add cooked pasta, tomatoes (or olives), cilantro (if using), scallions, vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, smoked paprika, sea salt and pepper; gently toss to combine.

Serve warm.

~*~*~

Don’t be fooled into thinking that this pasta will be lacking without a sauce.  With the lemon and the apple cider vinegar, it’s flavortown!  Honestly.  Just lots of flavor, and it all plays well with the pasta and the vegetables.  I was delightfully happy when I sat down with my bowl of veggies with a little pasta.  I love it when a dish is more vegetables than anything else.

Not only was this dish delicious…it was easy to prepare and simple to make.  Just a little chopping, some action on the stove…and then…viola!  Dinner is served.  A healthy pasta dish…you better believe it’s possible.

Don’t just take my word for it, though.  Try it for yourself.  You know you’re dying to.  Pasta night…starts…now!

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A quick Tasty Bite of Spinach Channa in one little package

Tasty Bite Spinach Channa
Tasty Bite Spinach Channa

Product: Tasty Bite Spinach Channa – $3.29+

Tasty Bite keeps winning me over.  Honestly.  If there is one thing that this company knows…it is flavor.  And even more importantly…flavor profiles.  Because what Tasty Bite continues to manage, time and time again, is to get the perfect blend of spices and ingredients to work together…in this little microwavable pouch.  Most naysayers would say it couldn’t be done.  But, as they have proven over and over again…it can.

I remember first spotting Tasty Bite products on the shelf of my local grocery store.  Then…I started seeing more (and other varieties) at the other grocery stores I go to each week (which is between 4-6, honestly).  When they went on sale at my grocery store, my roommate and I decided to stock up on the varieties they had…and just hope that they were good.

This was, quite honestly, the best decision we ever made.

You see…we are very busy, very active, very on-the-go people.  And there are certain days of the week where cooking a full meal just doesn’t work.  When we have places to go and appointments to make, there is just no way I can spend that sort of time in the kitchen.  It just isn’t possible.  Take Monday’s for example.  Yesterday…after running in the morning…then working 8 hours…then with my group fun run that evening at 6 p.m…and travel over into Louisville being figured in, I basically had time to either cook up a Tasty Bite meal…or make a grilled cheese sandwich.

I decided to do the Indian food.  Spinach Channa was the next one on the list.  What is Spinach Channa?

I cooked up some jasmine rice the evening before, so you can tell which won out in the end.  It’s basically chickpeas that are simmered with savory spinach, some herbs, some spices, and given a little kick with the addition of chilies.  It sounded great because I absolutely love chickpeas and spinach.  And…chilies in everything makes me a happy girl.  Give me something with a bit of a kick and what you have is one very, very happy gluten-free vegetarian.

One thing that I love about these Tasty Bite packages is how simple they are.  They are good to eat on their own, but if you want to boost the staying power, you can pair it with a protein, pour it over rice, or however else you choose to eat it.  Putting it over rice is always my method.  Anyway, once you decide how you are going to enjoy your Tasty Bite meal…the rest is simple.  Tear a 2 inch slit into the top of the package and pop it into the microwave for 90 seconds.  When done…serve however you choose.  For me…I pour the now steamy warm contents over my jasmine rice and settle in to eat.

So, how exactly does the pairing of various herbs and spices with spinach and chickpeas taste?  Just as amazing as it sounds.  The spinach is cooked down into this green, thick, soup-like sauce.  The chickpeas are scattered throughout that.  And the flavors…they are to die for.  Just the right amount of heat from the chilies.  The rest…it just all blends together.  It makes for one tasty, tasty meal.  I really loved the flavors of this one.  Not as much as the Vegetable Korma…but this one is good in its own right.  Savory…with a small mild heat.  And I mean…mild.  My roommate is a spice wimp and she didn’t say anything about heat level on this one.  So…it’s just enough to give it this added something.  That’s all.

Now comes the science part…the ingredients and the nutritional information.  Ready?

First of all, one thing that Tasty Bite does pride itself on is their ingredients.  They use no preservatives and many of their options are gluten-free.  Take Spinach Channa for example…since that’s what I am reviewing.  The Spinach Channa is gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and kosher.  Everything that goes into the package is an actual food.  No chemicals.  No artificial additives.  Just pure ingredients.  The ingredient list on this one is simple and small: water, spinach, chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, sunflower oil, garlic, ginger, salt, cumin, chilies, turmeric, and spices.  Recognize all of those?  I sure do.  And that is a comfort.

Now…for the nutritional part.  One serving of Tasty Bite Spinach Channa (5 ounces…or half the pouch) will serve you up 130 calories and 6 grams of fat.  For being a shelf-stable option, the 490 mg of sodium isn’t too bad.  It’s on the lower end of most processed foods.  And much lower than some soups out on the market.  Each serving also provides a filling 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.  LOVE that.

And, honestly, I loved every bite of Tasty Bite’s Spinach Channa.  It was filling.  It provided great energy for my evening run, with nothing that upset my stomach.  Indian food before a run isn’t everyone’s choice, but with the mild flavors and pairing it with rice, it’s ideal.  Honestly.  Oh…let’s not forget that it tastes AMAZING.  Great flavors, great food, great company.  And a great variety to choose from!

But…when in doubt…go for something simple.  Spinach Channa is a great place to start.

What more could you want?  Except, perhaps, another Tasty Bite…

Tasty Bite Spinach Channa over jasmine rice
Tasty Bite Spinach Channa over jasmine rice