Food – Page 123 – The Celiathlete

November 27, 2011

Mousse appreciation for Sans Sucre’s gluten-free, sugar free Mocha Cappuccino treat

Sans Sucre Mocha Cappuccino Mousse Mix – $3.99+

Sometimes my local grocery stores make my life a little less expensive by putting gluten-free items on manager’s special. If the moon and the stars aline and the diet gods are smiling upon me that day, I wander in at the right moment and am able to benefit from these specials before someone else scarfs them off the table. This takes a huge burden off my food budget and allows me to try new products I normally wouldn’t either because of price or because I can honestly go without them.

This happened recently with products I had been ogling for a long time now…

Sans Sucre produces a line of gluten-free, sugar-free mousse mixes that look absolutely fantastic. I spotted them on the shelves months ago and often stop to stare at them before continuing on my way while I’m out grocery shopping. With a small sigh, I bypass them week after week after week, telling myself that when I get some wiggle room in the budget, I will pick them up and try them. It had yet to happen.

And then…the gluten-free food gods found me worthy, because sitting on the manager’s special table the other day was one box of Sans Sucre’s Mocha Cappuccino Mousse. You better believe I scarfed that up off the table immediately. One box…and now it was mine.

This little dessert treat couldn’t be easier to make. Each box contains two envelopes of mix to make the mousse. One pack will make four 1/2 cup servings. Simply grab your mixer and blend the contents of one packet with 3/4 cup of milk (I used unsweetened almond milk in mine). Start off on the lowest setting and work your way up to the highest, allowing the mixture to blend and thicken in texture. Do this for about five minutes. Put into dessert dishes and pop in the refrigerator for at least two hours. Then it’s ready to serve.

Now, this is where you can just grab a spoon and dig in or dress it up some. I decided to melt some dark chocolate Ghirardelli over mine and serve it up that way. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

The mousse is smooth, rich and creamy. You wouldn’t believe that this is sugar free. By using almond milk, I reduced the calories even more. And this delicious dessert had it been made with skim milk would only have clocked in at 70 calories prior to that. So, it really is a sinfully delicious sinless dessert. They do exist! The cappuccino flavor really ties in well with the chocolate. But espresso/coffee and chocolate are best mates anyway. They just work together! This is delicious on its own, but could be served up as a filling in a pie, tart, parfait, torte, etc. Possibilities are endless. I’m already coming up with ways to dress it up some more in my head. This creamy, delicious mousse was light and didn’t feel heavy like some desserts can. It’s the perfect compliment to a big dinner. Especially for all you coffee-loving people out there. It’s a café-infused dreamy dessert, delicious spoonful after spoonful. Without the sugar, gluten, and with it being so low in fat, you can definitely afford to indulge a little.

So whip up Sans Sucre’s Mocha Cappuccino Mousse the next time you’re looking for a light dessert. It compliments any meal and is sure to please everyone out there. Enjoy. And eat up.

Sans Sucre Mocha Cappuccino Mousse with melted Ghirardelli dark chocolate

November 26, 2011

Surviving Black Friday with amazing pub grub at The Pub

Restaurant: The Pub, Lexington, Kentucky

Black Friday.

It’s tradition. Wake up early, hit up some stores in the area, grab the first Starbucks Peppermint Mocha of the season, grab something fast for breakfast while out, and head to Lexington, Kentucky. Hit up the big mall there. Work up an appetite. Eat at The Pub.

The Pub has a few locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Florida. In fact, there is one in Louisville, Kentucky…just across the river from me. But traditionally speaking, the go-to restaurant on Black Friday for my roommate and I for the past three years has been The Pub in Lexington. Why mess with a good thing?

A little background on The Pub…this isn’t an Irish pub in any way. This small chain is British pub all the way. The waitresses and waiters wear kilts and a variety of t-shirts for the restaurant itself. The menu is British based, but with an American flair. They recently added a Gastropub Plates section to their menu. And traditional pub grub definitely permeates the pages throughout, with the last half of the menu dedicated strictly to their beers, lagers, ales, wines, mixed drinks, etc.

This was my second year navigating their menu as a vegetarian. That’s really not difficult. It’s navigating the menu as a gluten-intolerant vegetarian that makes it tricky. So, normally my decision would be easy, I had to really pour over the menu before deciding on what I was going to eat. Thankfully, my roommate knew what she was getting and could help me out a little. While she got her pub go-to of fish and chips ($13.50), I ordered the Spinach Chopped Salad (no bacon) ($7.95)with a side of the fries ($1.95).

Our fantastic waitress, Ashely, asked if I wanted to substitute any other meat on the salad, and I explained I was a vegetarian, so she laughed and said that she would make sure no meat touched my plate. I thanked her and she went to put the order in.

Our food arrived after a little wait. That meant it was cooked and made to order and not just slapped down on a plate and put together. My roomie flipped open the ketchup bottle, loaded up her plate and went to town on her fish and chips.

My salad looked fantastic. The Spinach Salad is a bed of chopped fresh spinach with hard boiled egg, onion, and dried cranberries, tossed in a maple-balsamic dressing. It normally comes with the addition of peppered bacon, but my vegetarianism nixed that addition and they were more than happy to comply. The hard boiled egg was a great addition to the salad, adding a bit of texture and flavor to it. The cranberries were on the proper level of sweet, pairing SO well with the mild spinach and the tender bite of the onion. And the salad was only lightly dressed, so it wasn’t swimming in a pool of dressing, which is always preferred in my book.

One bite, and I knew this salad was the right way to go. It was fantastic. Each bite had a different level of flavor, different textures, and kept the palate interested. It wasn’t just another salad. It had unique flavor combinations, and I found myself wanting to make sure I got a little of everything in each forkful.

As for the side of steak fries…well…that was a nice surprise indeed. First of all, I should mention that steak fries are my least favorite type of fries out there. They are too potato-y in texture and way too soft for my liking. Granted, they are the healthiest (yes…healthy fries) type of french fry to enjoy, but I like a bit of a crisp crunch to mine. That being said, I gave it a go and found that when not overly seasoned and when fried just right, steak fries can be good. They were the highlight of my roommate’s fish and chips meal, and they definitely were a nice addition to mine. Just the right amount of salt, a gentle sprinkling of black pepper…and even a bit of a crisp outside to them. Still potato-y in the center, but it was not soft and soggy as some tend to get. I savored them down to the last one.

Navigating menus as a gluten-intolerant vegetarian isn’t always easy. A lot of times, one of the salads gets my attention. I’m okay with that if it’s a fantastic, new, exciting flavor for me. The Pub offered up the right level of flavor, a unique mix, and a delicious dressing, with a side of fantastic fries. I totally can’t wait to go back next year and do it all over again.

The Pub's Spinach Chopped Salad (sans bacon) w/ a side of fries

November 26, 2011

Envirokidz Gorilla Munch kix gluten-free corn cereals up a notch

Product: Envirokidz Gorilla Munch Cereal – $4.99+

I can’t turn down a sale. So when I stopped in at my local grocery store and the Manager’s Special table was loaded (and I mean stacked) with gluten-free cereal from Envirokidz, I couldn’t pass it up. I mean…when this stuff normally sells for double the amount I bought it for, I figured it was worth giving a shot. I grabbed all three varieties loaded up on the table, plus some gluten-free snacks and walked out a happy, gluten-free girl.

Of the three cereals that I opted to try, Envirokidz Organic Gorilla Munch was the one that sounded the least appealing. So, that was the one I opened first. The cereal looks simple. Little yellow balls…sort of like Kix. And upon eating them, that’s immediately what I was reminded of. Take me back years and years to my childhood when I would eat the hell out of Kix cereal.

I was so ready to hate these…thinking they would be more like Cap’n Crunch (the regular…which I never liked. Sorry Cap’n Crunch fans) than like a cereal I grew up with. But unlike Kix (which are not gluten-free), instead of a list of ingredients, Gorilla Munch has simply three…and I recognize all of them: organic corn meal, organic evaporated cane juice, sea salt.

The result…a crunchy, delicious, corn cereal that surprised me upon first spoonful. And it paired very well with my almond milk, adding a level of sweetness to it. And it keeps crunchy even in the bath of almond milk, so that’s a big plus. What I really enjoyed was how surprisingly appetizing it was. Where I was counting on this to be the cereal that put me off of the three I had, what I discovered was that I wish I had saved this one a little longer. It is phenomenal. And I don’t just wax rhapsodic about any ol’ cereal.

Even if you don’t have to eat gluten-free…if you like a good organic cereal in the morning, I encourage you to try out Enviokidz Organic Gorilla Munch. Not only do 1% of the proceeds of every sale go to wild life preservation, but you get a really exciting breakfast in a bowl. Just because it’s marketed to kids doesn’t mean it has to just be for kids.

Wake up…pour a bowl…and dig in. Gorilla Munch for the win!

November 24, 2011

Glutino Vegetable Crackers a gluten-free snack worth sharing (but you won’t want to!)

Product: Glutino Vegetable Crackers – $4.99+

It has probably been months since I last had a cracker. I’m not being facetious about it. But gluten-free crackers are not easy to come by around here, nor are they usually anywhere near being in the budget. I definitely crossed crackers off my list when I had to go gluten-free. Sadly…because I had just bought packs of some delicious vegetable crackers that I now couldn’t eat. vegetable crackers are one of my favorite things on this planet…so I was allowed to be a little bummed. I guess that’s why I have a roommate though, because she took on what I could no longer eat. Nothing wasted.

But, sometimes I just craved that salty crunch that only a cracker can bring.

While out shopping one day, my roommate said she wanted to treat me to something gluten-free and I could have my pick from whatever the store carried. We went to the section and I looked over the shelves. Cookies galore, but my pantry is loaded with gluten-free cookies. There were pastas everywhere. Every gluten-free mix under the sun. But then…the heavens parted and I zeroed in on a box that sat on the top shelf.

Glutino Vegetable Crackers.

First of all…crackers! Secondly…VEGETABLE CRACKERS!! *enter excited squee and little hops on the balls of my feet in the grocery store aisle*

The fact that these were made by Glutino made the purchase a lot easier. After all…they made the gluten-free pretzels that I raved about.

The box actually contains two sealed bags of crackers. I was a little put off by this at first, because that would normally mean less product. Ugh. I was wrong. Honestly. Not only are the bags packed with these crackers, but the image on the box is to scale. These aren’t little crackers. No…these crackers are as big as other crackers out there that are made specifically to slather on a dip or cheese, or whatever your heart desires.

Even better…these packed a crunch. Oh, I love it when a product surprises me. Sturdy. Plenty. Crunchy.

YUMMY!

What makes the flavor of these crackers stand out is the incorporation of tomato powder. Honestly. It makes it seem like you’re biting into a savory bread stick or pizza crust. That mix of tomato and oregano flavor is really pleasing. These are unlike any other vegetable cracker I’ve had. No fake dusting of spices. No oily or greasy residue left on fingers. Pure flavor with every crunchy bite. I even slathered one up with pizza sauce and vegan mozzarella cheese, heated it, and yeah…cracker bliss.

If you are looking for an amazing cracker for your next appetizer tray, your snack, or even to accompany a meal Glutino has the product for you. They are some of the most amazing crackers on the market. Added bonus…they are gluten-free so I get to enjoy them all I want. I think every now and again, I’ll have to work them into the food budget. These are definitely worth the splurge every now and again.

Thank you, Glutino for perfecting your products and making them stand heads and tales above the ordinary stuff. Gluten-free and delicious. Once again, you have impressed me.

And now…I can’t wait to sample the other flavors of crackers in their line-up.

November 21, 2011November 21, 2011

Recipe: Gluten-Free Hazelnut Sage Stuffing

Nothing says Thanksgiving like stuffing. I’m a vegetarian, so my Thanksgivings are always turkey-free…but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a good stuffing. Yet, after having to change my diet to strictly vegetarian to also incorporating a gluten-free menu, it can be a bit of a challenge, especially during the holidays when get-togethers and parties don’t always offer sufficient menus to fit into your dietary needs.

But that doesn’t have to be the case. Thanks to my friends at Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery, this amazing and delicious stuffing is the perfect pairing for your Thanksgiving feast. Whether you need to eat gluten-free, or whether you have a vegetarian diet…this stuffing satisfies each of those. And if you do happen to enjoy a bit of turkey on the big day, I guarantee that this is far better than what Stove Top has on the grocery shelves.

I cooked this up this evening and ate it on its own for dinner and was blown away by the layers of flavor throughout. The hazelnut roasts beautifully while the dish cooks up in the oven. And the sage pairs beautifully with the array of vegetables that are included. Honestly…you’ll want to eat it straight from the oven.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Hazelnut Sage Stuffing

Servings: 10-12 servings
Time: Prep 40 minutes; Baking 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 loaf Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Bread
1/4 cup olive oil
1 whole yellow onion, chopped
1 bulb fennel, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 tablespoons sage, minced
1 pound Cremini mushrooms, chopped
salt and pepper
1-1/2 cups veggie stock
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts

Directions:

Cubes of Rudi's Gluten-Free Multigrain Bread, cubed and toasted

Preheat the oven to 250°F.

Cut the loaf of bread into 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch pieces.

Spread the bread cubes over a cookie sheet and toast them in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until they’re light brown and slightly crisp on the outside.

Set the bread aside and turn the oven temperature up to 350°F.

Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat and cook the onion, fennel, and garlic until they’re slightly translucent, about 5-7 minutes.

Onion, fennel, garlic, mushrooms and sage reducing in sauté pan

Add the sage and mushrooms and cook everything down for 10 minutes, or until the veggies are ~50% of their original volume.

Season everything with salt and pepper as you go along and taste, taste, taste!

Put the bread cubes in a large bowl and mix in the cooked veggie mixture. Make sure you mix everything well, no giant pockets of bread or veggies hanging out on their own.

Pour the veggie stock and two eggs (unscrambled) over the bread mixture and stir everything one more time. You want it to be moist but not mushy, the egg should coat everything (it will help the stuffing set in the dish).

Spread the stuffing into a 9 x 13 dish and sprinkle the hazelnuts over the entire casserole.

Bake the stuffing for 15-20 minutes, or until the bread is nicely toasted on top and moist in the middle. The nuts on top will toast as the stuffing bakes and release their most Thanksgiving-y aroma into your house.

Get a spoon and dig in. It’s Thanksgiving.

A serving of Gluten-Free Hazelnut Sage Stuffing

~*~*~

This stuffing is incredible. So often, stuffing tends to be runny and an over-gooey, soupy mess. This cooked up to perfection, crisping in the right places. In the oven, the mix of vegetables and bread meld together with the egg binder and really bring this beautiful stuffing together. And the flavor…with the addition of the hazelnuts, it’s a fantastic party on your palate. Plate this up on its own, or pair it with your Thanksgiving meal of choice. Trust me…you’ll have as much fun preparing it and enjoying the aroma as it cooks as you will devouring it. And with flavors this amazing…trust me…it will be devoured. Quickly.

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery does the holidays a favor and makes it an enjoyable feast for everyone at the table. Give thanks this year…and be thankful for all you have.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 21, 2011November 21, 2011

Recipe: Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bread Pudding

It’s that time of year again. Holiday time. The autumn leaves of done changing, and fall is now beginning to transform into winter. That means one thing: Thanksgiving is upon us.

This is one of those times of year that are a mass of trips to the grocery store, trying to put together the perfect meal to satisfy everyone who will be seated around the table on Thursday. You have to plan on someone who might have a food allergy, finicky and picky eaters (especially kids), and from there your menu must be built.

Traditionally, pumpkin pie and apple pie are the go-to dessert options for the big day. But, this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to change it up a little.

My friends at Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery have shared this recipe for their Gluten-Free Bread Pudding. I dug out my slow cooker this morning and got to work on this. The prep work is simple and the slow cooker does all the work for you. And this really makes your entire house smell fantastic as it simmers away for a couple of hours. Get it going on Thanksgiving morning and have it ready by the time the feast is consumed, simply serve it up, warm and fresh from the crock pot. It’s that easy.

Even better…it’s Rudiculously delicious! But don’t take my word for it. Gather the ingredients together and give it a go for yourself.

Recipe: Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bread Pudding

Servings: 8-10 servings
Time: Prep 20 minutes; Cook 5-6 hours

Ingredients:

9 slices of Rudi’s Multigrain, Cinnamon Raisin or Original Bread
4 tablespoons of butter or butter alternative
3 Golden Delicious apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tbs grated lemon rind
1/2 cup honey (to taste)
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4-1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup golden raisins|
1/2 cup walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Spread butter onto bread and place in toaster or under broiler until nicely browned.

Rudi's Gluten-Free Bread Pudding in the slow cooker

Cut bread into chunks.

Place all ingredients in the slow cooker except for walnuts.

Set the slow cooker to LOW and leave to cook for 5-6 hours, but check and stir the bread pudding around the 3-4 hour mark.

Stir in walnuts before serving. Try serving it up with gluten-free ice cream or whipping cream.

~*~*~

This recipe was fantastic. I used Rudi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin bread (my favorite!). The spices and ingredients all came together as it cooked up. The texture is smooth and the flavor…sweet with a little bit of heat from the cinnamon and nutmeg. Honestly, it definitely lived up to the fantastic aroma it cast throughout the house.

I ended up melting the butter on the stovetop and brushing it over the slices of bread before sticking them under the broiler to brown. I found this kept a good balance on each slice. And it toasted up brilliantly in my oven. Aside from that, just give the mixture a stir halfway through and enjoy the end product.

Proof once again that gluten-free is Rudiculously delicious…any way you slice it, bake it, and cook it up.

Give thanks this year for all the blessings in your life. Then give thanks to a new and satisfying gluten-free life.

Eat up. And Happy Thanksgiving!

November 20, 2011November 20, 2011

Earth Friends Café serves up a winning breakfast every Saturday

Restaurant: Earth Friends Café, New Albany, Indiana

Psst.

To all my readers who live in or around or might be traveling through the New Albany, Indiana/Louisville, Kentucky area. I have a little-known secret for you that I’m just dying to share. Why? Because it’s worthy of sharing. And if you’re coming into the New Albany area via Louisville…it’s even worth braving the bridge traffic for. I promise.

The day: Every Saturday.

The motivation: Breakfast.

The place: Earth Friends Café.

Did you get that? Did you write it down in black Sharpie and paste it to the dashboard of your car so you remember? If not. Do it now. I’ll wait.

…

Okay…good.

Now you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Well, a couple weeks back I ventured into Earth Friends Café for lunch with my roommate. What I found was a great little place with wooden tables, colorful little vases, posters and fliers for local causes, amazing coffee, great food, fantastic service, great people, and a calm, laid-back café atmosphere. It was my first time in there and the staff made me feel like a regular. That doesn’t happen at your chain restaurants. Hell, that doesn’t happen at most local haunts either.

But that’s what separates Earth Friends Café from other places in the area. New Albany, Indiana has a hidden gem here. I call it a hidden gem simply because it is tucked away behind the main drag of Grant Line Road. Blink and you’ll miss it. So, look for the signs and follow them there.

With such a great experience the day I was in there for lunch, I was very excited to venture that way for breakfast. And it was the morning of one of my races, which was happening later that evening under the moonlight in Indianapolis. So I needed something that would give me energy…but still fit into my sometimes very restrictive diet.

Stacie, the owner of this café, makes Belgian waffles every morning. And they come in a variety of different flavors, so you need to be sure to inquire what kind is being served that day. The waffles are vegan. And…she keeps Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free flour on hand at all times…so making me a gluten-free waffle just meant waiting a little longer for my food. I was more than happy to wait. While I did, I was able to sip on my peppermint mocha, made with almond milk (another great reason to stop in…especially if you can be sensitive to soy and can’t have dairy milk (the dairy they have, however, is organic!)…because you get the option of almond milk or coconut milk) and served at the perfect temperature.

The breakfast menu is simple. Oatmeal, yogurts, fruits, Belgian waffles (vegan), Tofu Scramble Chili Tacos (vegan), a Ham and Cheddar Panini, a Banini (Banana, local honey, peanut butter, and organic chocolate on wheat bread), and more. Something for everyone. That’s what I love about this place. It’s not a vegan/vegetarian restaurant, but it offers those options. If you are a carnivore and must have your meat…they have something for you. If you have a gluten-allergy…they have something for you. If you are a vegan/vegetarian…they have something for you. When you can span the entire food spectrum on a one-page menu…you are doing something brilliant.

The morning I was there…it was the last day they were offering the Pumpkin with Sugared Pecans Belgian Waffle ($6.95). That sounded brilliant, so that’s what I ordered…done gluten-free of course. My roommate flipped a coin, trying to decide between the ham and cheddar panini and the tofu scramble chili tacos…and the tacos won.

We relaxed, chatted, and enjoyed the soundtrack of the morning provided by Adele’s “21” album over the speaker system. It was the perfect morning. And when the food arrived, I was ready to dig in and enjoy. The tacos my roommate got looked so delicious. And my waffle was fluffy and smelled incredible!

Vegan Tofu Scramble Chili Tacos with a side of Nacho Chips and Salsa

My roomate was eager to give the Tofu Scramble Chili Tacos ($7.95) a try. She’s a carnivore usually when we go out, but this morning, she was really feeling the tofu (thanks coin toss!). And she took a bite of the tacos and loved them. These were served up with a side of nacho chips and salsa (she raved about the salsa, so I tried it. It had a nice heat behind it, but a cooling flavor of lime to follow it up. YUM). And she also got a choice of fruit or yogurt with it. She went for the organic strawberry yogurt. And yes…she ate it all down to the very last bite.

And what about my waffle?

I immediately drizzled a bit of the maple syrup over it, grabbed my fork and dug in. That waffle should have come with a choir because it was the gospel. Honestly. If heaven could be served on a plate with a side of maple syrup, it would look and taste like this. This was my first real (not frozen) gluten-free waffle since I had to change up my diet. And this was the way to start back. The pumpkin flavor was perfect for the season, but what made this waffle crazy-delicious was the fact that the sugared pecans were baked into the batter. Not thrown on top as a garnish. No. The sugared pecans were an ingredient and therefore incorporated. Which meant that every bite, you got a bit of their sweet and crunchy presence. And pairing it with the pumpkin flavor made the entire waffle (and yes…I ate the entire plate-size thing on my own!) was a just enough to fill me up before my long day ahead of me and my run that night. I was full when I left, but not to the point of discomfort. These waffles are fluffy, but light. And they will definitely satisfy.

Alright, my friends…the secret is out. And this is one of those secrets that are meant to be shared. This area has been lacking this kind of a place for years now. We finally have it. And it is one of the friendliest, one of the best places around. If you want a bit of variety on food choices (vegan, vegetarian, meat, organic, local, etc), some great drinks (coffee, tea, espresso…and so many flavors, most also in sugar-free), and some amazing service…seek out Earth Friends Café.

Be it a stop in for a caffeine fix, some breakfast, some lunch, or both…I promise…you’ll want to share too. So tell your friends. Bring your friends. But go and enjoy! You’re in for a treat.

Gluten-Free Pumpkin with Sugared Pecans Belgian Waffle

November 18, 2011

Love cookie dough? These vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies from Liz Lovely are the rockstars of cookie temptations

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies – $3.99

So…this is the fourth variety of Liz Lovely’s vegan and gluten-free cookie line that I have managed to snag and try while out at the natural food store. The other varieties have had the chocolate base…so this time, I went for a little more variety…but keeping with the chocolate theme. Liz Lovely’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie was my vegan, gluten-free cookie of choice this past visit. And since I was working on a box of Glenny’s cookies at the time, this had to wait.

But…damn…these were worth the wait.

If cookies were rockstars, this one would win the Grammy. You wouldn’t even believe what you were eating was gluten-free, let alone contained no dairy or animal products. It’s like biting into a cookie pre-baking process. So, if you LOVE cookie dough, that’s what this is. But it is baked. Yet that fresh, straight-from-the-bowl flavor lingers and plays across your palate. Honestly…it’s cookie dough in cookie form. Which, is an odd way of putting it, but that’s what these taste like. Like I said…rockstar.

These cookies have that first initial stiffness to them, but they are chewy and soft. It’s the perfect storm of cookies. I mean, you honestly can’t a cookie composed of rice flour, dark chocolate, and other binders and sweeteners (of which are all recognizable and natural), that is not only certified vegan (YAY!) but also safe for those of us who have to be careful of the cookies we indulge in. Not every cookie is created equal, but thanks to Liz Lovely…those of us who need a special tweak to our cookies get ones that are far and away better than what any bakery, any café, or any weekend warrior baker could produce. These are perfection wrapped up in a plastic bag.

If you’re a lover of cookie dough and if chocolate chip cookies are one of your favorite temptations…get tempted by Liz Lovely’s Vegan and Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. But remember, your serving is only half of a cookie…so indulge, but savor. The longer it takes you to get through it, the more days you get to enjoy it. So tempt yourself, treat yourself, and do it with the best flavor and ingredients around. Let Liz Lovely treat you to her rockstar-worthy gluten-free chocolate chip cookies.

Because if cookies won Grammy’s…I’d be handing over the trophy now.

Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie

November 18, 2011November 18, 2011

Lundberg Family Farms gives rice chips a southwestern sweet heat with their Santa Fe Barbecue flavor

Lundberg Family Farms Santa Fe Barbecue Rice Chips

Product: Lundberg Family Farms Santa Fe Barbeque Rice Chips – $2.79+

I have a gluten-free tasting fair to thank for my new obsession with Lundberg Farms Rice Chips. Honestly. Prior to that, I had only had their actual rice products (gluten-free of course!). And while I loved their rice and risottos, I never thought to branch out into the snack-side of their company. Why? I’ll never know.

But after falling madly in love with the Lundberg Honey Dijon Rice Chips…I knew there was something good in each of their products. And now…I was actively seeking these products out.

While the selection of the Lundberg Rice Chips is meager at all of my local grocery haunts, I did manage to find the Santa Fe Barbecue flavor at one of them. I figured that would pair well with my dinner that evening. So, it was purchased and brought home.

What I find I love about the Lundberg products is how much attention to flavor is given to them. These rice chips are very crunchy. Each bite snaps and breaks with the most amazing crunch in chip history. I love it. Because chips are supposed to crunch. These turn it that crunch-level up to 11. And I mean that in the best of ways.

As for the flavor of the Santa Fe Barbecue…I really liked it. The subtle, sweet flavors of hickory smoked barbecue really shine in these chips. The addition of chili powder and red pepper cue up a gentle heat, which is very mild. Think of your favorite barbecue flavored chip…then turn up the taste volume to outstanding. That’s how these are. The flavors mix so well on the brown rice chips, which are also baked, giving them a healthier aspect when compared to other chips out there on the market.

A serving is just the right amount to satisfy. And the sweet heat that each of these chips provides is the perfect compliment to a meal, or to savor on its own.

Lundberg Family Farms continues to impress me with their outstanding, gluten-free product line. While these did not impress me as much as the Honey Dijon flavor, these are now my favorite barbecue flavored chip on the market. And one I intend to purchase, use, and enjoy for many years to come.

If a snack attack hits and you need that salty, sweet, heated crunch…look no further than Lundberg’s Santa Fe Barbecue Rice Chips. A handful of flavor in each serving. Mmmm…so good.

November 18, 2011

Go “nutty” over Enjoy Life’s Sunbutter Crunch chewy snack bars

Product: Enjoy Life Sunbutter Crunch Chewy Bars – $4.49+

I’m particular about my snack bars. For one thing, I want them to have some nutritional quality in them. Yes…even if they are chocolate. But the most important thing these days is that they are gluten-free. And that can be quite difficult to track down. Granted, there are plenty of meal replacement bars out there, but I’m not trying to substitute a meal…I’m trying to get through that long stretch of time between lunch and dinner. Because my stomach is sure to get a case of the rumblies if I am not prepared.

There was a mega sale going one day at one of my local grocery haunts on Enjoy Life’s snack bars. I had great success with their Coco Loco Chewy Bars during my foray into the world of rock n’ roll this summer, traipsing across the country at numerous U2 shows. Those general admission lines can be killer, and you gotta feed your body in order to survive those shows. Trust me. So, that was a gamble I took then that paid off.

I had three other flavors to choose from, but opted for Sunbutter Crunch. Why? Well, I’m a sucker for that salty and sweet combination, that’s why. These chewy snack bars are made from sunflower seed butter, so it’s safe for people with nut allergies. How awesome is that? In fact, Enjoy Life’s products are free of the 8 most common food allergens. These are also vegan, casein-free, gluten-free, trans-fat free, packed with vitamins…and kosher!

Now, I was a little nervous about having these as a snack because my mom had tried another kind (she’s had to go gluten-free as well) and didn’t like them. I was beginning to wonder if Coco Loco was an anomaly in the Enjoy Life snack bar lineup. So, when my 3:00 p.m. snack break rolled around, I tore through the wrapper and very, very cautiously took my first small bite.

Salty. Sweet. And delicious. Enjoy Life was back on track with these bars. What I love is the flavor. You feel like you are eating a nut butter bar, but it’s completely free of nuts. The sesame seed butter is a fantastic substitute. In addition, the rice crisps add a needed crunch and texture to these bars. It just sort of provides that extra flair to keep each bite interesting instead of monotonous. Sweetened with evaporated cane, these have just the right level of sweet to compliment the saltiness of the sunflower seed butter. As a lover of almond butter, this was very reminiscent of that flavor so I fell in love and gobbled it down.

For a light, easy, and healthy snack (only 140 vitamin-packed calories), these make a great grab-n-go option. They are just filling enough and contain the right balance of flavors. Best of all…they are allergen-friendly. So, whether you have food allergies or not, these are a viable and tasty option for your snacking needs.

Enjoy your food. It’s what keeps you going. So give Enjoy Life’s Sunbutter Chewy Bars a bite. And then another. And then another…

Enjoy Life Sunbutter Crunch Chewy Bar (unwrapped)