Let’s start with that because it was how this chocolate treasure came into my life. I had joined an online community doing some giveaways during Celiac Awareness Month and won a couple of giveaways. One I knew about. This one, however, arrived as a complete surprise. But, when given gluten-free chocolate…a lady never turns up her nose.
I’ll be honest. I was a bit reluctant to cook the Hodgson Mill gluten-free brownies up. I was so enamored with the Betty Crocker mix, I didn’t think anything could top it. But I was craving chocolate one day…and this was my next gluten-free treat in the pantry to cook up. And so…that’s what I did.
So easy to make. Very few ingredients. Pop it in the oven, and soon my entire apartment smelled of delicious brownie goodness. If these tasted anywhere near as good as they smelled, it would probably be difficult to keep to just one at a time.
Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Brownies
Out of the oven to rest and cool. The brownies cooked up amazing. I mean, with a soft crust on the top and everything. The PERFECT brownie just from the looks of it. Once it cooled down enough for me to slice into it without making a mess…I plated up. Because in my world, chocolate is priority.
Fudgy. Creamy. Amazing. These blew the Betty Crocker ones away. Honestly, one of the best brownies I have ever tasted. So very moist and soft. And they kept that way as my roommate and I worked our way through it for eight days. Nothing went stale. Nothing got hard. They stayed moist and delicious. No heating up in the microwave necessary. Fall off your fork fantastic. These gluten-free chocolate morals of goodness are, bite-for-bite, loaded with chewy, chocolate flavor.
I will never doubt the wonders of Hodgson Mill products ever again. This is the second one I’ve tried. But this one…by far…has been my ultimate favorite. Chocolate done right in all it’s gluten-free brownie glory. It’s hard to stick to a serving. And…I discovered these are delicious on their own. No need to dress it up with Chocolate Cool Whip or drizzle it with melted dark chocolate. Although…we all indulge a little more every now and again. But…it wasn’t necessary and that was the best part. These brownies are so amazing they can stand on their own. Why dress up perfection?
Hodgson Mill won me over again. Gluten-free never tasted so sweet (or chocolatey).
Liz Lovely's Vegan & Gluten-Free Triple Chocolate Mint cookies
Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Triple Chocolate Mint Cookies – $3.99
I know…I know. I thought it too. Two 2-inch cookie rounds for $3.99? Are you off your rocker? But cookies are one of those things that seem to win out over price and logic at times when it comes to me. My guilty pleasure is often some variety of cookie, savored slowly, bite-by-bite, while all of the flavors play over my palate.
Naturally…some cookies are better for my foodie tendencies than others.
What I noticed first about Liz Lovely’s cookies when I was in my natural food store…was that they were (OMG!) cookies! Then I spotted that they were vegan (YAY!). And then…some were certified gluten-free (DANCE OF JOY!). Then I spotted the Triple Chocolate Mint variety and my wallet lost out to my tummy rumblies.
Chocolate + Mint + Cookie = WINNING!
So, yes…the cookies are a bit pricey, but they are backed up by their standards and amazing taste. Trust me.
Move over Girl Scouts. If Liz Lovely has anything to say about amazing mint cookies, your Thin Mints are getting a run for their money. Unlike the Girl Scouts offerings, Liz Lovely baked up a delicious vegan and gluten-free cookie that is brownie-licious and satisfying. Honestly, it would be Cookie Monster’s vegan cookie dream. If perfection could be captured in cookie form…the vegan and gluten-free Triple Chocolate Mint Cookies by Liz Lovely would set the bar and hold the standard. Cookie heaven on Earth.
These cookies are chewy and full of dark chocolate flavor. They should be, considering they are a chocolate base with chocolate chips and a chocolate drizzle. But these amazing cookies don’t stop there. No. They get an added bonus with a hint of peppermint oil that just takes them to the next delicious level. Each bite is soft, chewy, and has the perfect balance of dark chocolate and mint. Nothing too overpowering. Absolute cookie perfection.
I never took so long to eat a cookie when I bit into this one. I savored every ounce of flavor, every little bite. Every bit of chocolate was allowed to melt slowly as I savored it down to the last bite. Cookie nirvana.
Do mind the serving size, however. These 2 cookies are good for 4 servings, so you eat half a cookie at a time. Believe me…it’s not easy sticking to that once you have a taste. But these are meant as a treat, so give yourself 4 days of sweet indulgence. More time to savor every little bite.
Whether you gobble down cookies like Cookie Monster, or savor each little nibble to really soak in the flavors, these cookies make a rich, decadent dessert or treat. And, the cake-like consistency will leave you feeling satisfied. Trust me.
I haven’t been able to resist these cookies since finding them. If I am in my natural foods store, one of the gluten-free varieties is coming home with me. So, rest assured, the other flavors will get their time in my blog spotlight. But, with all that said, these have been my favorite vegan and gluten-free offerings from Liz Lovely yet.
Who needs Girl Scout cookies (which I can’t eat anymore anyway)? Tantalize your taste buds with these instead. Trust me. Two cookies well worth the price.
Liz Lovely's Vegan & Gluten-Free Triple Chocolate Mint Cookie
I love a good gluten-free deal. Seriously. Sales. Manager’s Specials. It’s one of the only ways I can afford to test out some of the products that I do. But even more difficult at times is finding healthy gluten-free snacks that aren’t straight out of the produce aisle.
Don’t get me wrong…fresh produce is my favorite thing in this world. I load up on fruits and vegetables religiously and snack often on apples, berries, and certainly bananas. But sometimes the diet needs a bit of a shake-up and finding a gluten-free alternative often leads to cookies or high-calorie snack bars.
Then, on the Manager’s Special table at my local grocery store, I found a pack of Nature’s Path’s gluten-free line of products that are marketed to kids. Envirokidz Organic Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Bars…sounded intriguing enough. I like peanut butter. And when I didn’t have my gluten-intolerance, Rice Krispie treats were one of my favorite things in the world. So…this sounded like a good way to change up the afternoon snack. Not to mention, these are relatively healthy, low in calories and fat, and gives this vegetarian a bit of a protein boost from its use of organic peanut butter in the ingredients.
Here’s the good thing about buying products that are marketed towards children. They often taste amazing. Why? Because kids are finicky eaters. They are the biggest food critics out there and will not eat something that doesn’t taste good to them.
Nature's Path Envirokidz Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Bar
I ripped into one of these at work one afternoon when the 3:00 munchies hit hard. And I became hooked immediately. They are soft, chewy, and packed with peanut butter flavor. They have the right amount of sweetness in each bite to counter any cravings for something sweet (and less healthy). Not to mention, they are the perfect amount to act as a snack without ruining my appetite for dinner. Let’s face it…I live to eat and cook, so this was my perfect go-to snack. Who would have thought?
These bars are the perfect size (think granola bar size) to be filling, and easy to transport. They have the crispiness in the initial bite, and the soft, melt-in-your-mouth affect that crispy rice bars should have. And…they are flavored with peanut butter. Salty meets sweet. The best combination ever.
Nature’s Path knew what they were doing when they set out to market and make these delightful treats. Kids will love the animals on the boxes. But they will also love the product that is wrapped up inside. Even better…adults will too. And you don’t need to feel guilty about this little indulgence.
Nature's Path Envirokidz Organic Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Bar (Unwrapped)
I was shocked the other day when I wandered into one of my local department store’s gluten-free grocery section and spotted Udi’s gluten-free pizza crusts in the freezer. Shocked. I had only spotted these at Whole Foods in Louisville. Now…they were sitting somewhere local and easily accessible.
FINALLY…somewhere near me had gluten-free pizza crusts!
I just happened to be hungry (broke the cardinal rule of never shopping while hungry) at that moment, so I bought a pack of them (it comes with two) and headed home to cobble together some toppings for dinner.
These pizza crusts were bigger than what I thought, so putting two on the same pan didn’t happen. That’s not a bad thing. Two pans out, oven preheated, I set to work on topping the frozen crust. I am on a tight budget these days, so I had to go with what I had laying around. I brushed each crust with olive oil, then sprinkled with caramalized shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh parsley, non-dairy Mozzarella cheese, and then some herbed goat cheese. Into the oven it went for about 10 minutes. Then a sprinkling of organic spinach, back into the oven for one minute to allow to wilt, back out. Dinner is served.
Udi's Gluten-Free Pizza Crust getting ready for toppings and baking
Aside from a delicious homemade pizza crust at a gluten-free pizzeria in Okemos, Michigan, I had had the gluten-free pizza at BJ’s Brewhouse and Restaurant, as well as Rudi’s pizza crust (YUM…but not available in stores near me!). But I had heard so many people shout praises over the versatility and delicious flavor of Udi’s pizza crusts. So, I was intrigued and eager to take my first bite.
When I did…I wasn’t disappointed. The flavor is very much like a homemade pizza crust. It’s got a crunch to it from being a thin sheet, however, it is soft to chew. The flavor is, in part, by the use of brown rice flour. It complimented the flavors of my pizza creation, rather than overpower it. Light and delicious. There was no doubt how amazing this product was. And I had heard people talk about making pita chips out of it as well as other great creations, and I can see how that world work…and work well.
Udi’s has been smashing it out of the gluten-free ballpark when it comes to their products. That’s one reason I continue to go back to them. They aren’t just consistent, they are consistently good! When you know a product is guaranteed to be delicious, you make more of an effort to find it and buy it.
Gluten-free and craving pizza is no longer a problem. I can easily serve up a slice of gluten-free pizza pie now. The toppings are a mystery. The taste of the crust shouldn’t be.
Udi's Gluten-Free Pizza Crust topped with herbed goat cheese and sun-dried tomato pizza with caramelized shallots, fresh parsley, non-dairy mozzarella cheese, and finished off with spinach.
Sometimes, a restaurant opens up. You hear a lot about it from people. You read a lot about it in local papers. You keep saying you’re going to try it out. And then one day…you finally do.
And your life is changed.
It has well been established throughout this blog that breakfast food, in my book, always wins. So when a place is called Wild Eggs and the menu is breakfast and brunch items…well, I’m sold!
Wild Eggs turned out to be one of those places my roommate and I made a snap decision to try out as my belated birthday meal. I couldn’t’ choose a place so she suggested we give this place a shot. Why not? So, we headed that way and were greeted with a line out the door and people milling about with buzzers for when they had a table. This is a good sign, because a busy restaurant means it’s a good restaurant. I hopped out of the car to go get on the waiting list, and was told we would have a 20-35 minute wait. Not bad.
Our wait was a chilly one, but it the time flew and soon we found ourselves seated at a table…right near the kitchen, which delighted me because I could look in and see all the cooks and chefs on the line. Yeah…foodie nerd! I know. But it was COOL! Our waitress came out with a pitcher of water, got our drink orders, and left us to look at the menu. When Diet Coke’s arrived, we were ready to order. My roommate went for the Wild Mushroom and Roasted Garlic Scramble, which comes with skillet potatoes and an Everything muffin.
Wild Eggs' Skillet Potatoes
As for me…I went with the Surfer Girl Omelet (made with egg whites only), no sour cream, no Everything muffin, but a side of fruit would be great, and the skillet potatoes. So…what exactly is the Surfer Girl Omelet? In my case, it was fresh spinach, wild mushrooms, tomatoes, cream cheese, and onion folded into egg whites, and topped with pico de gallo, avocado and fresh alfalfa sprouts. It intrigued me when I saw the menu, and everything was safe for me to eat, and it had avocado on it (YUM) so it won.
We had a small wait for our food to arrive (which means it is cooked to order and not just dished out of big pans) but when it did…it all looked amazing. My food did arrive with the muffin and no skillet potatoes…but they were quick to fix this when I pointed it out. My roommate, who fell in love with the Everything muffin, took mine to take home with her to enjoy the following morning. It all worked out in the end.
The food looked mouth-watering good! I mean, it was breakfast art on a plate. I couldn’t wait to dig in. The omelet itself was packed with flavor. I would never have thought that cream cheese would work in an omelet, but it did. And it worked well. SO delicious, especially when combined with the flavors of the egg whites and the vegetables. I topped mine off with a dash of Cholula hot sauce, as always. The heat from the sauce and the cooling nature of the cream cheese couldn’t have been better matched. Epic breakfast win. The skillet potatoes were browned to perfection too. And there were a lot of them. Delicious on their own or with a smear of ketchup, these were soft on the inside but had that bit of crunchiness on the outside. Just what I look for in skillet potatoes. They are cooked up with some onion, which not only added flavor, but a little more crunch. Right on the money. I couldn’t have been more happy.
When my parents came into town to visit and watch me run in Louisville’s Race for the Cure, afterwards we went out to brunch at Wild Eggs, at my insistence, because I wanted to take them somewhere that they can’t get back in Alabama, and where they can enjoy a wonderful meal. My mom, who also has a gluten-intolerance, ordered the Surfer Girl Omelet (as did I…again!) and loved it. My dad tried the Violet You’re Turning Violet pancakes (which are buttermilk pancakes, topped with blueberries, whipped cream, and maple syrup) with a side of bacon. Our waitress talked him down to two pancakes instead of the full three because of the sheer size and fluffiness of them and he even couldn’t finish that. He thanked our waitress profusely for talking him down from three. And my roommate got a little crazy this time around and tried the Creole Omelet (a mix of rock shrimp, andouille sausage, bell pepper, onion, and cheddar jack cheese, topped with a Creole hollandaise sauce (which she LOVED), and served with the skillet potatoes and Everything muffin).
Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day…but also my favorite. I love eating at Wild Eggs. As much as I love my local standbys (Toast on Market and Lynn’s Paradise Café), Wild Eggs is sheer atmosphere, paired with great service, and delicious food. I can’t wait to find another reason to go back…and bring along some more people for a delicious brunch treat.
Wild Eggs has three locations in Louisville, Kentucky and one location in Denver, Colorado. So…if you live in the vicinity of one or are just passing through one of the cities…around breakfast/lunch time…do go in and enjoy a filling, delicious meal. And then spread the word about Wild Eggs. It’s food worth bragging about!
Wild Eggs' Surfer Girl Omelet with a side of fresh fruit
This morning…it was officially under 40 degrees outside. Now, it is officially autumn, heading into the bitter cold winter months. And nothing compliments a brisk, chilly day like a warm bowl of soup. Seriously, soup season is upon us!
I love to make soups from scratch, but on a busy weekday, that’s not always feasible. Enter Imagine Natural Creations’ soup line. I have found a wide variety of these at the grocery store (in the natural foods aisle) as well as Big Lots (at a much cheaper price). So, make sure you don’t just head for the soup aisle and give up.
On it’s own, this soup looks like it would be rather bland. It wasn’t. The creamy, rich texture was just perfect for a potato soup. And the seasonings were spot on. Nothing bland about this…but this soup also is low in sodium, so the flavors aren’t coming from added salt and preservatives, but from natural and organic ingredients like the organic onions, organic potatoes, organic leeks, organic garlic, and organic spices.
When I served this soup to my roommate, who is rather picky about food, she looked a bit unimpressed. When she tasted it, she said it had a lot of flavor to it, but it just felt like it was missing something. When I finally sat down with my own bowl of the soup, I could see what she meant. On its own…it’s just a bowl of grayish liquid. Yeah…it looks NOTHING like the image shown on the box. Not surprising, but soup that looks like old dish water isn’t always appealing. The box shows a very creamy, potato-y, soup in a bowl. This was nowhere near as stunning as that image. Yet, while it doesn’t look the most appetizing…it at least tastes amazing. But…she was right…it felt as though something were missing.
The following day, when I cooked the rest of the box up for us for dinner…I did something a little different. I chopped up a couple of organic fingerling potatoes, roasted them in the oven, then added them to the simmering soup on the stove for a couple of minutes. What a difference a little texture makes. While the soup was fantastic before, this just took it to the next level. Adding the roasted potato cuts to the soup not only made it more filling, but it also created a better texture. My roommate enjoyed hers with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese.
Soups are a tricky thing. Some like them thin. Some like them chunky. I like them both ways, but there was just something so magical to bulking up the base of this soup. While quite good on its own, Imagine’s Organic Creamy Potato Leek Soup was even better when something to bulk up the soup was added. Give it a try. Put your own spin on it. Or enjoy it on its own. It’s flavorful any way you sip it.
What’s better than a gluten-free Halloween treat for everyone? This is not only adorable…but really delicious too. I should know. I made it last night!
The recipe was supplied by my friends over at Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery. And I now share it with you because anything this cute and epically delicious needs to be made by all of my dear readers!
Ghost Toast
Rudi's "Ghost Toast"
Servings: 1
Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
1 slice of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin or Original bread
Powdered sugar or coconut flakes
Candy (the original recipe called for gluten-free candy corn, but I never have liked candy corn, so I used sliced almonds) – Candy Corn, M & M’s (or any nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, gluten-free pretzels, Tootsie Rolls…get creative to suit your taste buds!)
Butter or butter alternative
Directions:
Cut the edges off the top of the toast to round the top of the ghost.
Toast the bread.
Spread butter on toasted bread.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Add toppings to complete the ghost.
My version of Rudi's Ghost Toast
~*~*~
Not only is this recipe easy, but it is such a fun treat! I mean…how easy is that? I loved it. Kids will love it. You will love it too. And just in time for Halloween!
It’s the story of my life these days. Veggie burger…no bun. Portobello mushroom sandwich…no roll. Going gluten-free meant giving up on ever having a burger or sandwich with the bread served at the restaurant. And for awhile, it meant making my own at home on what gluten-free bread I could find…no actual buns.
And then…Rudi’s hamburger buns were dropped into my lap by the graciousness of the gluten-free gods.
I can’t say enough good things about Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery. They have provided the gluten-free community with outstanding bread products, from sandwich bread, to pizza dough, to buns and rolls for hamburgers and hotdogs. It means we gluten-free foodies can have our bread and eat it too.
My first opportunity to use Rudi’s Multigrain Hamburger Buns came up when my office had it’s monthly lunch meeting. They were ordering sandwiches from a local pizza place up the street. I was prepared to do my usual thing and just bring something in, but the Portobello Sandwich (Portobello Mushroom, Provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato) sounded really good to this vegetarian. So, I placed the order, highlighted and underlined that I did not want bread, and hoped for the best.
The following day, the lunches arrived and I had LOTS of mushrooms with melted cheese and my sides of tomato and lettuce in a bowl. I brought in my Rudi’s Multigrain Hamburger Bun, warmed it in the microwave for a few seconds, sliced it, and put some of the cheesy mushrooms on it, added tomato and lettuce, and now…I was having a sandwich just like everyone else in the office. And man…I bet my roll was better than what this pizza place offered.
Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Hamburger Buns have this very pleasing sweetness baked into them, in part from the molasses and honey that are included in the ingredients. When you slice into them, you can see the variety of grains, especially the sunflower seeds. They have this great, bounce-right-back texture, so when you take a bite and everything squishes down, it puffs back up, even better than the real thing ever did. And these are sturdy! It held up to Portobello mushrooms, tomato, cheese and lettuce, without getting soggy on me and falling apart on my plate.
But my love affair with the hamburger buns don’t stop there. At home, I found a great brand of gluten-free veggie burgers. So, the other day, I cooked one up for dinner and put it on one of Rudi’s buns. One again, the added flair of the honey and molasses adds this great hint of sweetness to every bite, which perfectly complimented my veggie burger and toppings. Absolutely fantastic.
One qualm, and it’s just a nitpick, is that the buns do have to be sliced. They do not come pre-sliced, so make sure you have a knife ready for the task. But, these hamburger buns are versatile and packed with amazing, sweet flavor. Try them at your next tailgating event, picnic, family get-together, or dinner. You won’t be disappointed. In fact…you just might go back for seconds.
Veggie Burger on a Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery Multigrain Hamburger Bun
Product: Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar – $2.50+
Arrrrrr. Shiver me snackin’ timbers. Hoist th’ Jolly Roger and head for th’ open seas, matey.
Pirates are my thing. Seriously. It was born into me. After all, my birthday falls on International Talk Like A Pirate Day. It was bound to happen. So, when a snack emerges that is gluten-free called Pirate’s Booty…you bet your ever-loving’ treasure I’m going to test it out!
Pirate’s Booty already wins for the name and packaging. It’s fun. It’s clever. It catches your eye. But…how does it taste? I was given a bag one day, and not to let it go to waste, it became a delicious afternoon snack for one entire week at the office.
The little corn and rice puffs are very unassuming and could be quite bland. However, that is not the way this snack functions. I had the Aged White Cheddar kind, so each of these little popcorn like puffs were dusted with a real aged white cheddar (none of that fake stuff) and then baked.
They are light and airy, making it an easy snack, and one that won’t fill you up or out. And, wow, are these little puffs addicting! They are flavored to perfection. The dusting of aged white cheddar packs so much flavor in each little bite that you just keep wanting more. So, it’s no surprise that soon after opening my little snack pack, the contents were gone, leaving only the aged white cheddar seasoning on the bottom as any evidence it ever existed. It’s a good thing I portion out my snacks or I’d probably sit down with the bag and eat them all. And despite being trans-fat free, even this pirate has to eat things in moderation. But it would just be so easy to keep going.
The first day I packed these, my roommate, who I work with, kept walking by my desk and sneaking pieces from my bowl. Pirate, right?
So, if you are looking for a healthy, baked, trans-fat free, gluten-free snack…look no further than Pirate’s Booty. Let me tell ya, matey, ye won’t go wrong with this lot of booty. ARRRRRRRRRRR!
Product: Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Original Sandwich Bread – $4.99+
I admit it.
I became a gluten-free sandwich bread snob without even knowing it.
It happens. You try a product. You love it. You stick with it. Nothing else will do. Nothing. Even if you never, ever tried it. There is just no way it could live up to the standard that has already been met…right?
I was wrong. Really wrong on this one.
Looking back on past posts, you’ll find me clinging to my go-to bread of choice: Udi’s. And yes…Udi’s is amazing. First gluten-free sandwich bread I tried and fell in love with. And then…I never thought to give other breads (often more inexpensive than Udi’s) a try. And then, the gluten-free gods smiled upon me one day and the UPS man delivered to me a box of gluten-free goodies. One product that was nestled inside was a loaf of Rudi’s gluten-free original sandwich bread.
Dare I cheat on my beloved gluten-free go-to brand? Dare I?
Well, my friends…I did.
And I loved it.
There. I said it. It’s out in the open now.
Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Original Sandwich Bread. You…are a delectable delight in every bite. Here’s what I love about you:
While you aren’t quite at “normal” bread size, you sure do come closer than the aforementioned brand I had a love affair with.
You have a great texture. Soft. Fluffy. Like “real” bread!
You have a sweetness to you. Your flavor meshes well with anything that might be sandwiched between two slices.
Every single one of your ingredients I can say and identify. Nothing fake about you.
YOU ARE DELICIOUS!
I suppose it’s okay to cheat on my sandwich bread, right? Because every way I fixed this bread up, I was satisfied with the end result. When it toasted, it toasted up to a crispy crunch. When I grilled it, it held up through every flip. When I roasted it in the oven, it got crispy on the edges just as it should. And when I made french toast out of it…well…game over. I was in a gluten-free breakfast heaven.
Honestly, if nothing else, I learned a valuable lesson by branching out a little. It’s that…while you should have brand loyalty, especially when you have found a brand to trust…it’s okay to branch out a little and try other things. Because something equally as good might be just waiting on you to pick it up and give it a try. I admit, I probably never would have moved beyond my gluten-free bread of choice had my eyes not been open. And, Rudi’s gluten-free bread is a whole dollar or more cheaper too. Healthy, versatile, and fits into my budget. Oh Rudi’s…you’re doing everything right. So right.
If this is the beginning of a love affair…how deliciously satisfying it is.
Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery Original Sandwich Bread - Stuffed French Toast-style (stuffed with Laughing Cow Lite Swiss and strawberry jam, and drizzled with maple syrup)
The Celiathlete 