Food – Page 129 – The Celiathlete

October 18, 2011

Hodgson Mill is putting muffins back on the gluten-free menu

Product: Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix – $2.99+

Mmmmm…muffins!

Muffins are one of those easy, on-the-go, foods that you can just grab and take with you. Either eat it at room temperature or warm it up in the microwave. That’s the glorious thing about muffins…they travel well and are delicious.

As always, my good friend Jenn, was looking out for me one day while grocery shopping and picked up a box of Hodgson Mill Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix, which just happened to be gluten-free (she is always on the search for products for me because she rocks like that!). We figured, the next time I came up to visit, we’d bake up a batch for breakfast and give them a try.

So…that’s exactly what we did.

These are so easy to make. Preheat oven as instructed and line a muffin pan. Then melt two tablespoons of butter. Pour the mix into a bowl, add sugar and melted butter. Then add milk and an egg. Mix well and then spoon into the prepared pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the tops spring back when you touch them.

Easy enough. I loved the chunkiness of the batter, in part due to the presence of apple slices. We managed to get 8 muffins out of our mixture. And as they baked, the kitchen smelled absolutely divine. It made me want to go buy apple cider and hit up an apple orchard. Honestly. These smell SO amazing when you bake them up. I took that as a good sign.

We took them out of the oven, surprised by how pale they still seemed (not the golden brown we imagined), but the tops sprung back so they were done. We allowed them to cool for a few minutes before we each took two and settled in for a light breakfast. Aside from the muffins sticking to the muffin liners, these muffins were absolutely delicious. Fresh out of the oven, they are still warm and soft on the inside. One little spread of butter and it all comes together. The hint of cinnamon, the sweetness of the apples. And since the mix is made with milled flax seed, these are also a healthy choice for either a breakfast or a snack. Absolutely delicious.

Jenn sent my roommate and I home with the two that were left, which we ate as a snack on the road. They were far more delicious fresh from the oven and warm, but what baked good isn’t? I can’t wait to try to bake these up here and hopefully will have better luck with the muffin pan liners not sticking.

Taste is what I go for, and these had just the right levels of apple and cinnamon flavor. Nothing overpowered the other. It was perfectly balanced, making a perfectly delicious breakfast and snack that day. The box also gives a recipe for using the mix to make pancakes, which just sounds heavenly, so I think I might need to give that a go.

This mix just happened to provide the first muffins I was able to eat since needing to go gluten-free. What a fresh and great start indeed. I now have a couple boxes of this mix in my own pantry, as well as a couple other Hodgson Mill gluten-free products because these were so good, I now trust the brand. This allergic chef is looking forward to getting in that kitchen and baking up some more gluten-free goodness.

Thanks, Hodgson Mill!

Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins

October 17, 2011

Brazenhead Irish Pub’s overpriced, over-seasoned, over-dressed food not worth the authentic pub atmosphere

Restaurant: Brazenhead Irish Pub, Dublin, Ohio

It’s not every day that I have something bad to say about an Irish pub. I mean, it happens…but not often. One reason I love to eat out at pubs is that there is, almost always, something on the menu for a vegetarian that doesn’t involve a salad. I love the ambiance, the atmosphere, and the friendliness of the staff. Pubs are good for that. They make you feel like you’re visiting old friends, or right at home.

But…it was a bit different with the Brazenhead Irish Pub.

It was a beautiful weekend in Columbus, Ohio. I was in town for a soccer match with my roommate and we were visiting our good friend Jenn. As we tend to eat out once while there, and normally at a pub of some sort (as both Jenn and Cathy are huge fish and chips fans!), we opted to try somewhere we hadn’t been yet. Hence, a journey into Dublin, Ohio and our selection of Brazenhead.

From the outside, Brazenhead Irish Pub looks like an old house. Nothing special. Nothing that screams Irish pub. However, step inside Brazenhead, and you’re almost transported into Ireland. Take it from this girl who has been there four times and eaten in pubs there. The atmosphere at Brazenhead is inspiring. Dark wood, rustic tables, it’s the little touches that help give a pub its authentic feel. The enormous bar to your left as you walk in was absolutely awe-inspiring. And, thank the Irish gods, no crappy tourist music playing “Molly Malone” or “Danny Boy.” I hate it when a pub caters to what American’s think of as “Irish” and put on the hokey tourist music.

The bar and interior of Brazenhead Irish Pub, Dublin, Ohio

We were in for a late lunch this day, but we weren’t the only ones. Quite a few small parties filtered in for a late lunch/early dinner. We sat ourselves around the corner from the bar, near the doors leading out to the back patio. Our server handed us menus, took our drink orders, and let us look things over. My friends knew what they were getting, but I had to do a bit of searching.

While this pub didn’t have something beyond salads for a vegetarian (aka: no veggie burgers or portabella mushroom options) they did have delicious sounding salads, unlike any other pub I’ve gone to. So, my friends ordered their fish and chips (at $12.95) and I put in for the Balsamic Salad ($5.00) with a side of their chips (~$3.00).

Here is the bizarre thing about Brazenhead’s menu. Yes…you get chips with your fish or as a side with a sandwich or burger…but these are chips. Not actual fries. So…in the UK or Ireland, you’re really being served “crisps” and not “chips.” In fact, I do believe this is the first pub that I have been to where fries weren’t even an option on the menu. Very strange for a pub.

Food wasn’t rushed out, which I appreciate. We all had time to wander down to the very dark reaches of the bottom floor to use the bathroom (also dark). I do like knowing that my food, at least, was prepared fresh. I don’t mind a small wait when it comes to food preparation and serving. So, this was perfect. But when it did arrive…I was hungry and ready to eat.

My Balsamic Salad was a simple mix of greens, gorgonzola cheese, sunflower seeds and dried cranberries…which was unfortunately swimming in a healthy dose of balsamic vinaigrette. I normally get salads with dressing on the side to avoid this…but had been fortunate enough in recent history not to have my salad drenched in dressing that I didn’t ask. Aside from the overdose of balsamic vinaigrette, the various components of the salad actually worked really well together. The cranberries added a bit of flavor, which was balanced out by the gorgonzola cheese. The dressing, while a bit much, had the right hint of flavor to tie everything together in the end. So, aside from the generous helping of vinaigrette, the salad was edible.

The chips on the other hand…were salty as hell. No, really. I know it’s engrained in the head of every chef to season, season, season…but there is a difference between seasoning and sending your patrons to the salt lick. And, that’s how I felt at first taste of my side of chips. And I wasn’t alone. Both of my friends had equally salty chips as their sides with their fish. We were doing our best to brush over five days worth of sodium content off our chips with our fingers…but we grew tired of that and just eventually stopped eating them. I was glad I had ordered water as my drink because I think the salt content had sapped all of the hydration in my body. Heavy-handed on the salt is an understatement. It sort of…ruined it for us. Both of my friends said the fish was okay, but for the price they paid, they did expect more than the two small planks served to them.

So, while Brazenhead Irish Pub has the ambiance and the atmosphere, what it lacks is good food. Over seasoned, over dressed…I didn’t go out to eat to drink my salad and then un-season every chip I attempted to eat. This just shows a lack of care in the kitchen. Nothing was tasted. Obviously. Either that, or the chef has a strong liking of salt, because it was way too much. For a country being told to watch their sodium intake, those chips were bucking the new nutritional guidelines. Wow. Unbelievable.

Overall…it was okay. Not enough to make me want to go back. The food was mediocre, which is quite sad for a pub. Pub grub is supposed to be delicious. But Brazenhead fell short. It failed to impress this Irish girl. But…if nothing else, it supplied me with a full year’s worth of sodium. So I’m set now until January.

One day…I’ll just learn to send food back. Get it done right or get it taken off the check. Unfortunately…it didn’t happen that day. Too bad…as it was a high price to pay for over-salted, over dressed, overpriced food. It wasn’t bad…it just wasn’t good.

Damn.

Brazehead Irish Pub's Balsamic Salad with a side of chips

October 16, 2011

Food Should Taste Good’s Toasted Sesame chips bring wow factor to snacking

Product: Food Should Taste Good Toasted Sesame Chips – $2.50+

I love the name of this brand. Because it sums up everything food should be about.

Food should taste good!

I love this line of chips. I have tried four different kinds (blogged about only one, I believe…but will remedy that!) and have fallen in love with each and every one.

I was in Chicago when I spotted the Toasted Sesame chips at a little natural foods shop. I had just picked up my packet for the Chicago Half Marathon and while wandering back toward the city-proper, was gifted with a sample of hummus. Now, I love hummus, but the chips that were being offered for free were not gluten-free. I decided if I could find a grocery store I could pick up some baby carrots and at least enjoy the hummus.

Well, baby carrots weren’t an option that day, so as I perused the options I had, I spotted the rack of various chips from Food Should Taste Good. Perfect. Now to find one to pair with hummus. I gave a lot of thought to The Works flavor, but in the end, settled on Toasted Sesame, as that would definitely pair well with hummus.

I didn’t get past the corner before I was tearing into the bag and pulling out a chip. I ate it on its own first, as I normally do when trying a product out. It was to die for. Deliciously seasoned. Not too salty. Not greasy at all. You first taste corn, and then the toasted sesame seeds that are baked into the chips hits you. The perfect balance of flavors that mesh at all the right times. Nothing overwhelming. I could have eaten them without the hummus, but why waste perfectly good (and free) hummus? And, as suspected, they paired perfectly with it. It was the most amazing afternoon snack.

After I ran the Chicago Half Marathon (my first half marathon), I was starving. I hadn’t prepared well at all for what I needed to do to keep energy up during the race. One bowl of cereal was all I had that morning, and I burned through that probably in the first two miles. With nothing to eat along the way, I was running on fumes, but powered through all 13.1 miles. At the end, I ate a banana, but that wasn’t satisfying my stomach at all. My friends had brought a bag with them to carry supplies, and tucked inside was the bag of Toasted Sesame chips I had gotten the day before. PERFECT! Honestly, nothing tasted better to me at that moment than those chips. Although light in sodium naturally, the little bit in them was just right to help restore what I sweated out during the race. And, it helped provide my muscles and body with the fuel I needed to get me through until I ate lunch a couple hours later.

When a company calls itself “Food Should Taste Good,” you hope and expect that their products live up to the name. So far, everything I have had from this brand does just that. In fact…goes beyond what I expect. These gluten-free, cholesterol free, lactose-free, trans-fat free chips are the perfect snack.

Delicious and satisfying. Food should taste good indeed!

October 16, 2011

Alexia’s simple sauté is perfect for a meal or side…and perfectly delicious!

Product: Alexia Sauté Reds – $3.29+

Have skillet. Will sauté.

Sometimes, an affordable gluten-free diet means lots of potatoes and rice. It’s a good thing I like potatoes and rice. Yet…sometimes you just want something a little different. Sure, potatoes (and rice, for that matter) can be done up a million different ways, but when you are playing around with ingredients you have on hand…sometimes you just get stuck in a rut.

Once again, Alexia came to my rescue with her fabulous potato and vegetable sides. This time, the game of freezer Russian roulette when it came to dinner was won by the bag of Alexia Sauté Reds. It’s a blend of red potatoes, baby portabella mushrooms, whole green beans, and onions. And nothing could be simpler to make.

Also included in the package is a frozen package containing a thyme-infused olive oil. Place said pouch into hot water to allow the oil to thaw. Heat a pan on the stove. Once warm, add the olive oil, then the contents of the package. Sauté for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes begin to brown. Yes…it really is that easy. And on a hectic day, who really wants to deal with some fussy thing for dinner?

As in the previous review of Alexia potato and vegetable sides, this can be a side for a group, or makes a perfect dinner for two. Once the sauté is done, dish up and serve.

Here’s what was fantastic about this one. The thyme-infused oil paired so well with the vegetables and potatoes. It just added the right hint of flavor so that nothing was too bland or not seasoned. Nothing else had to be added. No salt. No pepper. It was perfect fresh from the skillet. The vegetables cook to the perfect level of doneness, not burning, not being still too hard. And the potatoes get to the perfect stage, where they only begin to crumble off your fork as you go to take a bite.

These little bags make an easy go-to side or dinner for anyone. And…it’s affordable and easy to make. Nothing beats that. Oh…being gluten-free and vegetarian also wins brownie points from me. So, when you’ve had a long day and don’t want to pull out a slew of ingredients, simply grab a bag of Alexia Sauté Reds…cook…enjoy.

When life is hectic, your dinner shouldn’t be.

October 16, 2011

Udi’s cookies a chip off the ol’ gluten-free block

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies – $5.99+

Just call me a real-life cookie monster. They are my second favorite treat. Ice cream will always be my first. So, one day while perusing my local grocery store for manager’s specials, I found Udi’s brand cookies on a table in the bakery. These were not on sale, but I knew I had to try them.

Why?

Because Udi’s was the first really delicious gluten-free brand I tried after having to go gluten-free. I was in Boulder, Colorado…and eating out at a restaurant called The Buff. I was prepared to, as I normally have to do now, order something without the included toast, but I noticed on the menu the option for gluten-free toast. SOLD! And it just so happened to be Udi’s bread. Back at the hotel in Denver, I had purchased a loaf of Udi’s bread for my roommate and I to use for our breakfast/lunch so we wouldn’t eat out all the time. I loved what I tasted at The Buff…and so, my love affair with Udi’s began.

And it has never stopped. I’ve tried two types of their muffins, I’ve had their bagels, and, of course, I’ve had their bread. But the cookies…this was the first I had seen of them in the area. The store only had a few packages…and they were all chocolate chip (which is my favorite type of cookie anyway so…that didn’t matter!), so I picked one up and actually paid full price for them. Don’t judge. I’m a woman with a gluten-free sweet tooth.

The package made it as far as the car before I had it open and my roommate and I were each trying one out. Instant cookie heaven. These look like they would be hard and crumbly, but they are actually the perfect cookie texture. A little crunch, but soft. And sweet. They are flavored with molasses, vanilla, and evaporated cane juice. It was the perfect level of sweetness and the chocolate chips were the star. Honestly…great chocolate chip cookies to munch on! I only wish they were bigger. These cookies are, honestly, about the side of a half dollar.

But the flavor does make up for the lack in size, and the serving size is two cookies. So it really is the perfect amount in the end.

The difficult thing now is finding them. That grocery store no longer carries them. My local Whole Foods and Rainbow Blossom don’t carry them. My other go-to grocery stores stock different varieties of gluten-free cookies…but not Udi’s. So, I found a delicious treat, but now I can’t buy it.

Hopefully they will work their way back into the products stocked by my local grocery store. Thankfully, they are a bit more plentiful in other places. Next time you feel like a cookie monster, reach for Udi’s gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. They are…cookie perfection!

October 15, 2011

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse brews up satisfying (but small) gluten-free menu

It was my birthday a couple weeks back.

My first gluten-free birthday at that. This made the choice of where to eat a bit more of a challenge. Since my birthday falls on International Talk Like A Pirate Day…the normal go-to spot was Joe’s Crab Shack. But…two years ago I became a vegetarian and back in February, I was instructed to go gluten-free (and, wow…I feel SO much better)…so the fried fishes at Joe’s were no longer an option for me. At all. And who really just wants a salad on their birthday?

I had found out via quite a few blogs about how BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse had added a gluten-free menu to their restaurant. And…it just so happened that we have a BJs in the Louisville area. So, my roommate suggested it to her mom, who was treating me to the birthday meal out, and the decision was made.

BJ’s was a busy place that day. We had to wait a couple minutes to be seated, but that was fine. With one of the major bridges closed between Southern Indiana and Louisville, KY…half of the dinner party was still trying to get into Kentucky. So…the wait was a good thing. We were seated, everyone made it, and we all began to peruse the menu. While the gluten-free at BJ’s is small (for the moment), it did have quite a few options for me.

Plenty of salads…a vegetable stuffed baked potato…a huge baked potato…soups (Tuscan tomato bisque or broccoli cheddar)…or a thin-crust pizza with any choice of their gluten-free toppings (which is all of them except the meatballs…which this vegetarian wasn’t interested in anyway). There is even a dessert option (something rarely seen in restaurants around here) for a gluten-free “pizookie” or basically a giant chocolate chip cookie served in a deep-dish pan and topped with vanilla ice cream. Pause for a moment…to drool.

I went with the pizza. After all…that would mean leftovers because…there was no way I could eat a 10-inch thin-crust pizza in one sitting. Well, I could, but I wouldn’t feel too good afterwards. I opted to top mine with mushrooms and roasted garlic…because that sounded really good. Everyone else did a variety of things…from sandwiches to pork chops, to a deep-dish pizza….to fish and chips. So, we had quite the variety on our table when all was said and done.

Food was delivered and my pizza looked and smelled amazing. I have always preferred thin-crust pizzas to pan or deep-dish pizzas, so this was exquisite! I waited for everyone to get their food, then as we all dove in for our first tastes, I picked up a slice, moved it to my plate (it was hot), and picked up a fork and knife to have my first taste.

It was…delicious. The gluten-free pizza crust was crispy, yet still had a bit of give to it. Just how I like my pizzas. I want them to hold up to the sauce and toppings and not fall apart when picked up. But I don’t want to be crunching on my crust either. And BJ’s had just the right consistency with theirs. The cheese, tomato sauce, roasted garlic, and mushrooms just melted together, the flavor just incredible. Pair it with the herb-infused crust and it was gluten-free magic. Honestly…this pizza was something to rave about. And I do…often. Because this experience made me want to go back to BJ’s and bring other people with me to try it out.

With leftovers in hand, we skipped dessert (but I will go back with a couple people and get that gluten-free chocolate chip pizookie!) as I had some homemade strawberry shortcakes at home for my birthday treat.

The service was fantastic. The restaurant caters to people with food allergies. And I felt safe eating there. I knew…what was put in front of me would not make me feel sick or hurt after eating it. And that was a confidence I wish I had when I ate out at more places. Big kudos to BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse for their foray into the gluten-free market and helping gluten-free diners like me feel confident in eating there.

Can’t wait to come back and try another gluten-free treat!

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse gluten-free thin-crust pizza — BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse's gluten-free thin-crust pizza (my toppings, roasted garlic & mushrooms)

October 14, 2011

I scream (and you should too) for ice cream from The Comfy Cow

There was a gem right in my backyard and I didn’t even know about it. I had no clue it even existed until I saw it was being featured on Man v. Food Nation on The Travel Channel. And it involved ice cream. ICE CREAM. Only my most favorite thing in this world and I didn’t know about this place!! Thank God for Adam Richman and those crazy food challenges!

The place I am speaking of is The Comfy Cow, Louisville, Kentucky’s very own ice cream destination. It’s here that customers get to sample and enjoy creative flavors of handcrafted, super-premium ice cream that is made right there on location. In fact, the Web site states that only the freshest and finest ingredients are used in each of their flavors. I can assure this is true, because on my last visit there, I saw staff hauling in the fresh ingredients to take to the back of the Westport Village location to begin making more of their delicious flavors.

One big draw to The Comfy Cow is the food challenge. Called The Comfy Cow, this sundae comes with fifteen scoops (or 90 ounces) of any of their signature flavors, which are then covered in fresh whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and served with four sidecars of any of their sauces and toppings, and finally finished off with chopped nuts. I learned from someone who actually ate this to choose the flavors wisely…as they were so excited about a bourbon flavor and a lemon flavor, that they had those added first, so they were the last to get eaten, and after she and her friends consumed the other flavors, all that was left was a melting bourbon lemony mess. But they managed to finish, despite the odd flavor at the end.

But what drew me to The Comfy Cow was a different sort of sundae. It has always been my go-to treat when it comes to ice cream. The Banana Split.

At The Comfy Cow, this treat is listed as A Monkey’s Delight. Gotta love the clever names on their menu! And what it includes is three scoops of their signature ice cream flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, and their “Strawberry” Fields Forever (MY FAVORITE!). These are then topped with a different topping (chocolate – hot fudge; vanilla – pineapple, strawberry – strawberries), covered with whipped cream, sprinkled with chopped peanuts, and then topped off with a maraschino cherry…all laden on top of one split banana.

It was the most exciting thing to eat. The flavors explode in your mouth. You can tell the ice cream is handcrafted and fresh. And I cannot say enough good things about their Strawberry Fields Forever flavor. Honestly…the best freakin’ strawberry ice cream I have ever eaten. Anywhere. Ever! Pair it with the vanilla and chocolate and you have Neapolitan Dynamite (heh…I made that up!), because they are the richest, finest flavored ice creams. Paired with the toppings and the ripe banana, this is simply one of the best sundaes you will ever consume. Fresh. Cold. Amazing. And save the Strawberry Fields Forever flavor as your last bite. Trust me. It’s awesome! But bring a friend or two…these sundaes are not meant to be consumed alone!

But why just go there for sundaes? This is an ice cream shoppe. There is so much more to try and I intend to work my way down the menu however I can. With my food allergies, however, anything with a cookie, cake, brownie or bar is off my radar. But that’s why I have friends!

This last visit, my parents were in town visiting, so my roommate and I decided to bring them here to try this ice cream that we’d been raving about. We all decided to go for regular scoops…and then sample each others. My mom got the Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip. My dad took my advice about the Strawberry Fields Forever flavor and stuck with that. My roommate went for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and I got the Lemon with Raspberries flavor.

The Comfy Cow's Lemon with Raspberries ice cream

OMG…mine was fantastic. So fresh and creamy. The lemon and raspberry flavors really meshed well. It was a delightful treat and just so packed with fresh flavors. I couldn’t get enough of it. I did sample everyone’s ice cream as well and they were all AMAZING! But my lemon one was so delicious, I’m going to have to make myself try another flavor and not just stick with it or go with the Strawberry Fields Forever. Yeah…amazing, vibrant, light, and delicious!

The Comfy Cow is Louisville, Kentucky’s best ice cream shoppe around. Hands down. You can’t beat the atmosphere, the customer service, and the flavors that this place has to offer. How I didn’t know about it before, I’ll never know. Now that I do know about it…I’m hooked. And I’m always looking forward to going back and trying something else.

And maybe one day…me and about 15 other people will tackle that Comfy Cow Sundae (with flavors that won’t taste odd when melting together at the end). Maybe. Until then, I’ll happily share a sundae with a friend or lap up one of their fine scoops of ice cream. Calories don’t count when something makes you this happy.

And ice cream…good hand-crafted ice cream at a local location…makes me stupid happy!

The Comfy Cow's banana split (aka: A Monkey's Delight Sundae)

October 13, 2011

Chebe makes naturally gluten-free bread naturally delicious

Side dishes can be the bane of my existence sometimes when it comes to meal planning. While making a gluten-free main course is easy now, finding the perfect side isn’t always as simple. In fact, sometimes it can be a nightmare. Especially when you are having guests over and gluten-free spaghetti is on the menu. Who doesn’t like a little bread with their pasta? After all…it’s one of the best things to sop up all that extra sauce, right? (Okay…so I know how un-Italian it is to have bread with the pasta, but I’m an Irish girl, LOL!)

The idea that something is gluten-free doesn’t always sit right with people. The uninformed automatically assume that it is going to lack flavor…or taste of cardboard. Surprise all you naysayers out there…gluten-free food is full of flavor and often better tasting than what others might call “the real thing.”

While out shopping at a local natural foods store, I stumbled across a couple packages of Chebe bread mixes on sale and decided a splurge was necessary. After all…I had spotted other Chebe mixes at the grocery store, but was never brave enough to pay full price for them in case I didn’t like it. But…decision made…the mixes were purchased and I now had some options in my pantry should I need them.

That case did arise a few weeks later, when my roommate and I invited our friend Greg down to help me celebrate my birthday. That night, I was going to cook up some gluten-free spaghetti and vegetarian meatballs. My roommate suggested I make one of the mixes up to accompany the dish. I agreed, selecting the Original Bread Mix from the pantry. Then, I gathered all the necessary ingredients (olive oil, shredded Parmesan cheese, 2 eggs) and got to work on following the directions on the packaging to create the little bread balls that were shown on the cover.

Chebe Original Bread (pre-bake) rolled and ready for the oven

The dough was easy to mix and roll, each little ball staying in the right form. The oven was preheated and ready by the time I finished, so into the oven they went while I prepared the rest of the meal. By the time the pasta was cooked, drained, and mixed in with the sauce and vegetarian meatballs, Greg had arrived and everyone was hungry. The Chebe bread was pulled from the oven, smelling AMAZING, mind you, and I topped them off with a brush of melted margarine and garlic powder.

The bread cooled as I plated up the pasta and took it out to my roommate and our guest. I returned for the bread, stacking it in a small bowl and bringing it out to my eager (and hungry) guinea pigs. Keep in mind, these two do not have to eat gluten-free…so the gauntlet was thrown down. My roommate took a bite and immediately went back for another one. I asked what she thought and she said, “These are good!”

But Greg…my real challenge as he is very particular about his food…had to have his own say. “These aren’t good,” he said. “These are AWESOME!”

And that was when I knew Chebe had hit it out of the ball park. Grabbing my own little bread-ball of goodness, I took a bite, finding it perfectly crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. PERFECTION. Absolute perfection. And so delicious. The bread not only baked to perfection, but it wowed me (the chef) and my two fellow diners. I mean, knocked us off our feet. In fact, we all just kept grabbing for more, leaving only a few standing in the bowl. They later were reheated to have with breakfast the next day. And guess what…they were still crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Who needs “real” bread? Real bread is what Chebe is about.

In fact, the company prides itself on the fact that it never was about being gluten-free. The recipe for this bread, which is a staple in Brazil, is naturally gluten-free. Naturally good for you. Naturally delicious. It’s gluten-free, soy-free, corn-free, rice-free, potato-free, yeast-free, tree nut-free, iodine-free, sugar-free, peanut free, and non-GMO. Nothing gets added to make it better. All ingredients are recognizable…and the list is short on the package. Seriously. If that doesn’t make you feel good about a product, well, I don’t know what will.

This bread would have been equally delicious with just the mix and no added flavors (the Parmesan, the garlic butter, etc). I can attest to that. And now…I’m hooked on Chebe. I don’t want to make pasta again until I have more. I want to cook up other mixes…create meals around them. When a product makes me want to create a meal around it…then there is something special to it. I will sing my praises for Chebe because when something is this good by nature…then everyone needs to try it.

Everyone.

Chebe Original Bread, lightly brushed with a melted garlic butter

October 13, 2011

Van’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles bring dimples of joy to the breakfast table

Hey! Leggo my…

On second thought…keep your Eggo waffles. They have yet to go gluten-free.

I’m not trying to be facetious here, but breakfast options can be limited for people on a gluten-free diet. I eat a lot of eggs. But after awhile…eggs get boring, no matter how you season or serve them.

Thank the gluten-free gods for companies like Van’s Natural Foods, who seem to be embracing the gluten-free community and offering up a variety of breakfast items that are quick and easy. Just pop into the toaster and serve.

While I have limited options around where I live, I have managed to find two gluten-free options from Van’s in my grocery stores. The previously reviewed gluten-free French toast sticks…and the gluten-free blueberry waffles.

Now, there is a plethora of gluten-free waffles out on the market. I’ve found one other kind here…and as a previous blog indicated, I didn’t like them. So I was a bit skeptical when it came to how Van’s waffles would measure up. But…my trepidation was short-lived.

First of all, they smell of blueberry heaven as they toast in the toaster. Despite being frozen, they emerge crisp and slightly brown from my toaster and hit the plate. A quick drizzle of syrup and I’m ready to eat. Breakfast is served…in less than five minutes. That doesn’t happen often for me…so this is a nice treat.

One bite…and I’m hooked. These waffles are sweet, probably in part to being flavored with fruit juices as well as berries. These hold up a little better to the syrup, as opposed to the Nature’s Path Wildberry ones I had previously consumed. While still growing soft as the syrup soaked up, these maintained a level of toastiness that satisfied my waffle-loving breakfast-foodie soul. The addition of the blueberries and blackberries gave the waffle the right amount of flavor. These were “Van”-tastic. (See…I made a pun!)

So many people think gluten-free means tasteless, bland, and boring. Thank goodness there are companies like Van’s Natural Foods out there striving to prove people wrong by producing quality gluten-free products. Gluten-free is delicious. And now…gluten-free mornings can be simple and satisfying. Check your grocer’s freezer and give these waffles a try.

October 13, 2011

Pacific Natural Foods squashes competition with low sodium versions of fall favorites

Pacific Natural Foods Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash soup. There are fewer things in life that make me happier than butternut squash soup. Seriously…THIS is comfort food to me. The rich, creamy flavor of soups made from squash just hit the mark for me. Some people consider comfort food a casserole or a rich dessert. To me, nothing beats a steaming bowl of soup.

Why?

Well, soups have potential. Every soup can act as a base for something else. But the true challenge of any soup is if it can stand on its own.

As far as pre-packaged soups go, I’ve had a lot of success with Pacific Natural Foods. Even better, quite a few of their savory flavors are available with 50% less sodium. Since The Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments released the dietary guidelines earlier this year, lowering American’s intake of sodium to 1500mg a day (or about half a teaspoon), sodium has been the topic of conversation. But, it is something that my roommate and I have been watching for years. High blood pressure runs in her family, so keeping an eye on sodium intake is just something we’ve always done when choosing processed foods.

My local grocery store has quite a huge lineup of different soups from Pacific Natural Foods. Since I LOVE squash soups, their Creamy Butternut Squash soup was one of the first to hit the cart during a recent sale. And nothing could be easier to make. Pour out serving, heat on stove. Serve. It’s that simple. You have time to make a grilled cheese sandwich to accompany it if you so desire.

I had high hopes for this soup when I settled in one chilly evening for dinner. One spoonful and I was swimming in soup heaven. This creamy soup has so much going for it. It has a slightly nutty flavor in part due to the fresh butternut squash that Pacific Natural Foods ensures is used in their soups. But, it’s seasoned and there is a hint of a spice behind that initial flavor. Closer inspection of the ingredients show that hits of nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger are used to season this soup. Flavor. This soup is bursting with it. From the smooth, creamy texture to the hint of spice as you swallow…this is everything a butternut squash soup should be. And only 280mg of sodium per serving. Winning!

This soup is also gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free. Which fits right into my dietary guidelines. Well done, Pacific Natural Foods…for once again showing that less really is more and that processed foods don’t have to load up on sodium to be packed with flavor. Food can naturally be good. And Pacific Natural Foods proves it over and over again with their delicious soup lines.

It’s soup season…don’t just take my word for it…savor it for yourself.

A bowl of Pacific Natural Foods Creamy Butternut Squash Soup