Food – Page 40 – The Celiathlete

July 17, 2014

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf

Product: Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf – $5.79

I have to hand it to Katz Gluten Free…because they are upholding an amazing record as far as their products go. Honestly. Every time I have ordered and consumed one of their products, they have not only wowed me, but completely set the bar for other similar products that I try. And whenever they introduce something new to their lineup…I tend to order it to try it. I only do that with brands I trust. And Katz Gluten Free has more than proved itself worthy of my trust and my money.

How’s that for an endorsement?

But trust me, said endorsements aren’t just given. They must be earned.

And one thing that Katz Gluten Free does…is earn my endorsement. Whenever I am asked about gluten-free foods, I always direct the person to the Katz Gluten Free Web site…because they can get a sampler for free (just the cost of shipping) and try out some of the great items that Katz has to offer. But Katz Gluten Free is smart…and they don’t give their best away. The donuts, the bagels, the English muffins…those aren’t included in the sampler…but are definitely some of my favorite things I’ve ordered.

And now…you can add their new Lemon Poppy Loaf to that list.

Welcome to the gym morning crush and rush. This means…early morning to get up and head over to the gym…get in some cardio and weights and then get to the office. Every gym morning requires me to bring something to feast on for breakfast at the office while I begin working. This normally is something easy…something I can slap into the microwave and have it done. Always served with fruit, of course…because I like to balance things out. With the Cinnamon and Chocolate Buns now gone (oh, Katz Gluten Free…I will be ordering those again!) I looked peered into my pantry and freezer for something I could easily serve up to my roomie and I at the office.

I could have made scones…but really thought about it too late. So, baking was not happening. Not this week.

But then…there in my freezer, under some frozen fruits…I spotted the Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf that I ordered when I put in the order for the Cinnamon and Chocolate Buns. I mean…come on…it’s lemon. And lemon things are delicious. I removed the loaf from the freezer and set it out on the counter to thaw overnight. I got up early that following morning to do my training run, then came home and unwrapped the loaf, opened it up, and sliced it up…two slices for each of us…because it is breakfast after all. I placed these slices into a container, placed it in a cooler with our recovery drinks (chocolate milk for the roomie, and chocolate coconut water for me!) and anything else I was bringing for snacks and lunch. And my tea. Because that is important!

First of all, upon slicing the loaf I was very happy to see just how light and moist and fluffy it was. The knife slid right through it, cutting it perfectly without me hacking it to death and giving it this odd slanting slices. These were uniform and perfect. Second of all, because of the nature of the loaf being so moist, nothing like butter was needed to add to it. Could it be done, sure. But why butter up something so lemony fresh?

So, after hitting the gym and heading to the office, I set to work in the kitchen and placed two slices on each of our plates, giving them a little warming in the microwave. About 20 seconds. I served these with clementines, because citrus and citrus is always a safe bet, yes? YES! It was quick, easy, and really could have been served minus the nuking in the microwave…but I love a hot slice of bread. It’s almost like it’s fresh from the oven that way.

Brekkies…served.

I had no sooner settled into my desk after delivering Cathy her plate when my messenger blinked up with her exclamation of love and affection for the Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf. I had to find out for myself. So, I picked up my fork, sliced off the corner, and took a bite.

OH…HELL YES! While Katz Gltuen Free does advertise this more as a cake…it is most certainly a sweet bread. And I couldn’t have been happier with it. The moist and fluffy lightness I described while cutting it was not an illusion. The Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf was not dense, heavy, or hard. It had this great brown and moist crust where it baked and inside…this gorgeous speckled loaf that just begged to be devoured. The lemon flavor was there…but it wasn’t overpowering. It was not an afterthought either. Rather, it was that perfect balance…no tartness…but definitely sweet and delicious. Happiness in breakfast form.

So, what does Katz bake into their Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf? According to the package, this bread of lemon-poppy-awesomesaucy is a blend of a gluten-free flour mix (which includes brown rice flour, tapioca flour, and millet flour), eggs, sugar, brown sugar, canola oil, water, poppy seeds, baking powder, lemon extract, vanilla extract, xanthan gum, and salt. This bread is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free, corn-free and cholesterol free.

As far as nutrition goes…a serving of the Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf is one slice. There are 10 servings per loaf. One slice of the loaf will give you 140 calories and 5 grams of fat. You will be taking in 130 mg sodium and 10 grams of sugar. And you will be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Another good reason to serve it up with something…you won’t be left feeling full after eating this. But…it’s so good you probably won’t care either.

Oh…yeah. If you like lemon things…lemon flavors…and just gluten-free food that tastes better than the “real” thing…you need to treat yourself to this delicious indulgence. Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf is a delicious slice of gluten-free heaven…and you’ll want to go back for more.

A slice of Katz Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Loaf

July 17, 2014

Product Review: Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac

Product: Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac – $5.29+

Okay…I know what you are thinking. How can a vegetarian possibly consume a product that is called “Cheeseburger Mac?” Well…there are a couple of different ways to go about it. Gluten-Free Soy Crumbles. Gluten-Free TVP. Or…the way I handled it…adding Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Soy Chorizo.

Because when you have to make a vegetarian version of a Cheeseburger Mac…you might as well do it up with something spicy and different. Right? RIGHT!

So…here’s the story. Recently, a bunch of items went on closeout at a local grocery store. I’d been meaning to try some of the Mrs. Leeper’s products, but just never found a reason to pay for them. While not overly priced as far as gluten-free products go…all need to have some sort of meat added to them. Originally, I imagined I could just cook up some tofu and substitute it for the lean beef in this recipe.

But…being that I’m on a tight and strict food budget these days…I had to go with something in house. Something I already had. And in my refrigerator, calling to me from my shelf…was Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Soy Chorizo (IT’S BACK!). BINGO! Not that I needed to use this product up just yet…but two weeks in a row without my CSA bin has left me sifting and sorting through things in my pantry and freezer. And I figured there was no time like the present to make this one up. Especially since I had a substitute for the meat already in my apartment.

After another long, stressful, and busy day at the office, I was quite happy with coming home to cook this up. Why? Because it literally takes 15 minutes to make. That’s it. Super easy…and not finicky. You don’t need to stand over it the entire time it’s cooking. So, I was able to get a few other things accomplished while it worked away on the stove. Brilliant.

Making Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger (or Soy Chorizo, in my case) Mac is super easy. First…add your protein. Whether it’s a lean meat, tofu, tvp, soy crumbles, or soy chorizo (if you like a little spice!)…get that working in a pan. I got out a skillet and heated up the soy chorizo for a couple of minutes, then poured in 1-1/2 cups of hot water and 1-3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk. The sauce packet was then poured in and all I had to do was stir it all together and let it come back up to a boil. Once that happened, I poured in the pasta and gave it another stir. I reduced the heat, covered it and let it simmer for 13 minutes, stirring occasionally. The pasta actually did tenderize really quickly, so I was actually very impressed. Once the pasta reached that perfect al dente…I removed the skillet from the heat, uncovered it, and let it sit for around 2 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

Dinner was ready.

I dished this meal up into 4 portions, two for tonight for my roomie and myself and two for tomorrow (hey…dinner’s already prepared…just needs to be reheated!). And we settled in for our meal while watching Chopped. Because…that’s how we roll.

One bite…and I was blown away. What great flavors. It’s like the best, warming, delicious comfort food. The rice pasta cooked up beautifully, not getting mushy and falling apart, but standing up to, not only the chorizo, but also the sauce. I loved the heat that the soy chorizo brought to the dish. The textures were perfect. And the flavors just all worked together. I loved that I was able to lighten it up using unsweetened almond milk. This does have some dairy in it…but I cut it where I could. I found this dish to be a throwback to a German dish a babysitter made for me when I was younger. It was fantastic. And I found myself savoring each forkful. I’m excited I get to eat it again tomorrow.

Let’s talk ingredients, shall we? Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac is made from brown rice pasta. The sauce is made with whey, modified corn starch, tomato powder, nonfat dry milk, onion powder, sugar, salt, rice flour, autolyzed yeast, natural butter flavor, natural flavor, garlic powder, citric acid, extractives of turmeric and annatto, paprika, caramel color, and not more than 2% silicon dioxide added to prevent caking. So…not great…but not bad either.

Let’s talk nutrition. A serving of Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac is 1 cup prepared. As packaged, without adding your protein, and your milk of choice, this serving provides you with 170 calories and 0.5 grams of fat. A serving will also give you 480 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. It is cholesterol free. And, in addition, you will be getting 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. It’s filling without being overly filling. And once you add in all your milk and proteins of choice…that all changes.

Oh…I was really surprised and quite impressed with Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac. I modified it as much as I could to fit my diet and really loved how it turned out in the end. Really delicious…a hint of spice…great texture. And a happy belly when all was said and done. Now, I can’t wait to try more of the Mrs. Leeper’s boxed meals for something quick and easy to prepare. And it’s so adaptable. This would be good even without the protein. And I may have to try one of them like that. Or return to this one and see how it compares. As it is…the Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Soy Chorizo was a great fit for the protein. The zesty cheese sauce played beautifully with it. I was so happy with my dinner tonight, which, after my rough day at the office…was just what I needed. Beyond impressed.

July 16, 2014

Product Review: Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal Variety Pack

Product: Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal Variety Pack – $5.99+

It’s summer…and I’m broke. Why am I broke? Because…it’s been hot…and my air conditioner has been rocking and rolling. Also…food prices are on the rise. And…well…I just have a difficult time living within my meager food budget when I have to eat the way that I do. Being that I am very broke at the moment, I opted not to purchase the extra container of vanilla Greek yogurt this week to make my overnight oats…because I had a box of gluten-free oatmeal waiting in my pantry. No time like the times you have no expendable income to clear out the pantry some, yes?

That’s right!

I don’t remember which store I discovered the Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal in…but I want to say it was either Whole Foods or Earth Fare. One of them. And I don’t know why, after months spent making overnight oats, I really, really had to have hot cereal. I mean…it’s hot outside…

I blame it on my blonde hair. I have to blame something…

But, now I’m glad I sort of made that decision. I get really excited when I see new products, especially ones that I know I’ll eat…eventually. And we all know I eat something oat-y for lunch every day. Well, this week…it’s been Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal…the variety pack…which gives a couple pouches of each flavor out on the market, so you can try it and if you don’t like it, you have maybe one or two more pouches to use instead of an entire box.

The three flavors that are included in the variety pack are: Spiced Apple with Flax, Homestyle, and Brown Sugar Maple with Ancient Grains.

And…wouldn’t you know it…I chose to sample them in that very order.

Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Spiced Apple with Flax Hot Oatmeal

I started my foray into the Nature’s Path Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal with a bowl of the Spiced Apple variety. Now, I’m quite particular about my hot cereal. I want it at a certain consistency…and it has to wow me with flavor. It has to really win me over. And it has to still maintain the integrity of the product…meaning, I don’t want it laden with sugar. I want something that will stick with me…fill me up…do exactly what a hot cereal is supposed to do. Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Spiced Apple with Flax Hot Oatmeal does just that. Made from gluten-free, rolled and uncontaminated whole oats, this blend contains dried bits of apple and a little dash of cinnamon. The glax helps add a bit of fiber to the mix, helping to fill you up and keep you feeling full.

It’s super easy to prepare too. I go the microwave route, because I eat this at work and we have no stove. So, I simply pour the oatmeal into my bowl, add about 2/3 cup water and microwave for around 75 seconds (1 minute 15 seconds). When it emerges, it’s steamy and has this nice creamy texture without having gone all to mush. No one likes mushy, soupy oatmeal. It cooks to perfection. And I love how the apples sort of soak in the water and become reinvigorated. They lend a nice bit of natural sweetness to this variety.

I wasn’t sure about it on the first bite. I thought it might be a little bland…but the next bite brought more flavor…and the same thing with the next. And soon, I had devoured my whole bowl and was spooning at the little bits left in the curves of the dinnerware.

Ingredients in Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Spiced Apple with Flax Hot Oatmeal include organic gluten free rolled oats, organic evaporated cane juice, organic dried apple, organic flax seeds, organic flavor, organic cinnamon and sea salt. This oatmeal is not only gluten-free but also cholesterol free.

As far as the nutrition information goes, a serving is one packet of the Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Spiced Apple with Flax Hot Oatmeal. This packet will give you 170 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 90 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. It’s sort of on the…iffy on the sugars line as to whether it’s too high or not on that count. In addition, you will be consuming 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. So, yes…it does make you feel full. Gotta love that. I know I do.

Overall…definitely liked this one!

Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle Hot Oatmeal

I admit, this was the packet that I was the most leery of when I opened up this box. Why? Because traditional oatmeal and I don’t always get along. Sometimes it can be rather boring and bland. And I was more than a little concerned that would be the case here. Also…I was taking it in on the day that the office was having lunch catered by a bbq restaurant…which was meat and gluten…so not for me. While my boss, that morning, said she’d be happy to purchase something for me from one of the restaurants nearby…even if it was just a salad…I told her I had my oatmeal with me…and that was fine. I sure hoped it was going to be okay…because I was stuck eating it regardless.

AND…I opted not to bring anything to mix into it. No raisins, no berries…not even brown sugar or maple syrup. Nope. I needed to try it on its own…and was definitely rolling the dice on this one.

Same cooking as the other packet…bowl, water, microwave for 75 seconds…enjoy!

For an oatmeal that is nothing but rolled oats…this one amazed me. This one impressed me. It wasn’t bland at all. In fact, it had this tiny hint of sweetness to it, without all the added sugars. The oats were definitely perfect. I didn’t give raisins or syrup or fruit a second thought when I settled into the lunch meeting with my bowl and sent up prayers to the gluten-free lunch gods that I could at least get through this bowl. I had no problems and found myself devouring the oatmeal faster than I intended. That’s saying something!

Ingredients in Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle Hot Oatmeal include organic gluten free rolled oats. Yes…that’s all. And yes…it really is delicious. It may seem plain, but there is nothing plain about this variety. It is gluten-free, cholesterol free, and sugar free. Speaking my language!

As far as the nutrition information goes, one serving is one packet of Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle Hot Oatmeal. This packet will serve you 170 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. You will be taking in 0 mg sodium and 0 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be consuming 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein, leaving you feeling full for longer. Yes…just…yes! Trust me…this is really good. Not bland. Not plain. Not lacking in anything but the stuff you don’t need to be feeding your body anyway.

Overall…LOVE!

Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Brown Sugar Maple with Ancient Grains Hot Oatmeal

Before I really expanded into the hot cereal world, growing up I would add brown sugar to the Malt-O-Meal (something I definitely can’t eat anymore!) my dad would cook up for breakfast sometimes. This was a go-to whenever my mom wasn’t able to make breakfast or was out of town or something. When he was in charge…he opted for his favorite hot cereal. Malt-O-Meal. The thing was…growing up I hated hot cereal. Hated it. I ate my cold cereal dry…no milk. So when I started giving hot cereal a try as an adult…I did it cautiously and started with something familiar. Something with brown sugar.

From there, I expanded to other flavors, but if given the choice…old habits die hard…I always opt for the Brown Sugar variety. I think that’s why I usually save that version for last. It’s just…ingrained in me.

Same as everything else…empty packet into bowl, add water, nuke for 75 seconds…consume.

This one was good. It was really, really good. Homestyle, I think is still my favorite of the three…but this one is a close second. The sweetness of the brown sugar and maple syrup is a nice way to really perk up oatmeal. The texture on this one was a little soupy…but I might have added a little too much water when measuring it out. Hard to say. But…it sat for a moment and those oats just soaked it up. It was nice and sweet and delicious. And I savored each bite…wondering how it was I used to dislike hot cereal…except when I mixed brown sugar into it. Well…this one is a sentimental favorite for sure…but, honestly, the flavor is nice. Not too sweet, actually…but not bland. The right balance with the right consistency. Impressed.

Ingredients in Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Brown Sugar Maple with Ancient Grains Hot Cereal include organic gluten free rolled oats, organic brown sugar, organic evaporated cane juice, organic rolled amaranth, organic rolled quinoa, organic sorghum flour, natural flavor, and sea salt. It is gluten-free and cholesterol free.

As far as the nutrition information goes, one serving is one packet of Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Brown Sugar Maple Hot Oatmeal. This packet will serve you 160 calories and 2 grams of fat. You will be consuming 80 mg sodium and 8 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Don’t let that drop in number hinder you…this one is also very filling. In fact…I felt my fullest after eating this one. Odd!

Overall…really, really like!

So, if you are wanting an easy-to-make and easy-to-eat option for breakfast, lunch or even dinner…I highly recommend Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal Variety Pack. You get a little bit of everything to try and you can choose what you prefer when it comes to the flavors out on the market. It’s a great value at a great price.

Beyond impressed. I’m sure this will find its way into my pantry again.

July 13, 2014

Product Review: Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Fudgy Brownie Mix

Product: Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Fudgy Brownie Mix – $11.99

I want to give a quick shout out to my friend, Rebecca Fifield, a Tastefully Simple consultant and friend of mine since middle school. When Tastefully Simple first put out their new gluten-free products, she sent me a box containing said products and asked me to try them out. Sometimes, I get distracted, but I always get around to it. And while I have already reviewed the Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Gluten-Free Beer Bread Mix and the Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake Mix, I had yet to get around to the (honestly) most important one…the Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownie Mix.

Why is this one the most important product? It’s not…I just made that up. Why? Because it involves chocolate. And brownies. And second only to cookies…brownies are my next favorite treat in life. Seriously. And while there are plenty of gluten-free options out there for brownie mixes…let’s face it…they aren’t all great.

Well…I don’t know what convinced me that today was a good day to make brownies. It was 97°F outside…I had just returned from Detroit (I was seeing Queen in concert!) and the World Cup Final was about to begin. Of course, brownies seem logical, yes?

Well, the best part about Tastefully Simple is…how simple their products are to make. So, this took me, literally 5 minutes to get ready to go into the oven. Anything that doesn’t require me dragging out my Kitchenaid Mixer and a bunch of different bowls and ingredients is a good thing in my book. And this…required only two additional items to the mix itself – 2 eggs and butter.

That’s it.

Simple.

Tastefully simple.

So, here I was, moments away from kickoff and I’m preheating my oven to 350°F and getting out a large bowl. I empty the Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownie Mix into a large mixing bowl and crack open 2 eggs. I add the melted 1-1/2 sticks of butter to the bowl, grab a spoon, and simply stir it all together. The thick, chocolate batter then is poured into a greased 8×8 baking pan…and into the oven it went. No World Cup missed. And dessert well on its way to being done in 40 undisturbed minutes.

Near the end of the first half, my timer beeps and I get up and pull the brownies out of the oven. I had been smelling them all during the match and my mouth was already watering. They looked amazing…a little crisp on the edges, but crumbly and flaky all throughout the center. I inserted a toothpick to see if it came out clean…and it did. The Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownie Mix was done baking. I placed the pan on cooling rack and got to work on dinner while they cooled.

After dinner, it was time to give my dessert a try. I got out a knife and sliced the Tastefully Simple Gluten Free Fudgy Brownies into 16 squres, as the serving is 1/16th of the package. Math is my strong subject. I eased out two squares, one for my roommate and one for myself. As we are coming off of a mega concert high and World Cup excitement, it was time to doctor these up. I got out my gluten-free So Delicious Coconut Milk Cookie Dough Ice Cream and placed a scoop on top of the brownies. Then, topped it off with a drizzle of hot fudge. Gluten-Free Brownie Sundaes done in time for the second half of the final match.

So…here’s the thing…

The Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownie Mix bakes up really rich and fudgy brownies. Oh…my…GOD! These were chocolate heaven. I ended up pushing my scoop of ice cream off the top of the brownie so I could simply enjoy it and all it’s moist, chocolate goodness. Seriously. I wasn’t expecting to fall this in love with this dessert, but Tastefully Simple truly nailed it with these. They have a nice, crisp, outer edge…but the rest of the brownie is ooey, gooey, soft, fudgy goodness. From one bite to the next, I was already anticipating the next rich burst of chocolate. I was just…loving each and every bite and had to stop myself from going back to steal another square. I did, however, pick up all the crumbs from the two pieces I dished up and ate those. Hey…nothing this good should go to waste.

I know, you’re thinking that $11.99 is a lot of money to spend on a brownie mix…but when Tastefully Simple does something…they do it right. And with it being so easy to prepare and bake, you’ll never want to go back to any other brownie mix. Phenomenal flavor…sweet, rich, moist and simply tasty.

Let’s look at ingredients, shall we? The Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownie Mix is made up of sugar, rice flour, cocoa, potato starch, tapioca flour, and less than 2% of natural flavors, salt, xanthan gum, and silicon dioxide (anticaking). It is gluten-free and can be made vegan by using vegan butter (like Earth Balance) and using an egg substitute.

As for nutrition? Well…they are brownies. So…remember that. A serving of the Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownies is 1/16th of the package. So that’s about a 2-inch square, I think. This serving will give you 130 calories and 0.5 grams of fat. It is cholesterol-free. You will be taking in 60 mg sodium and 20 grams of sugar. Yep…it is high in sugar, but it’s also the first ingredient on the pouch and…it is BROWNIES! Dessert. Hello! This mix also provides 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Thank you Rebecca for introducing me to Tastefully Simple and their gluten-free line. I have a few more products to review, but so far, everything I have been able to try has gone above and beyond all expectations. I think the Fudgy Brownie Mix will never leave my pantry. Ever. Simple and delicious. That’s Tastefully Simple. And they make some of the best gluten-free products I have ever been able to easily make and try.

Make sure you head over to Rebecca Fifield‘s Tastefully Simple page and order some for yourself! You will not be disappointed.

Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Fudgy Brownie (serving size)

July 13, 2014

Product Review: Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread

Product: Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread – $3.99+

It has been a sad, sad time for me. A long while back, my local Whole Foods stopped carrying the LivWell brand products. These products not only had amazing English Muffins…but also…the only gluten-free pita bread I have ever seen in my gluten-free life. So, with that gone, I literally had to make sandwiches. Like with gluten-free bread…or gluten-free hamburger buns…or well…that’s about all.

And…I learned to live with that. Sure, there were times I convinced myself that I was going to make some sort of flatbread on my own. But nothing ever came of that. Lately, my gluten-free bread baking has been more disastrous than successful, so I honestly think I’m just scared to screw something up again.

But then I took a trip out to Colorado. And on that journey, my roommate and I drove up to Boulder, Colorado for a day. It’s tradition. We always do it. And while in Boulder, we stopped into a natural food store and just planned on perusing the aisles to kill off some time. It was Sunday, so we were waiting on some stores to open. And, with no intention of purchasing anything…we of course spotted something that we had never seen in our area before.

Sandwich Petals.

Thank those Flat-Out Sandwich Wraps out on the market…and make them gluten-free. That’s basically what these are. And that was something I had never heard of or seen before. So…I grabbed one of each type that were on the shelf and purchased them…without hesitation. Because…it might be the only way I ever get to try these.

Well, after a long journey to Detroit and back, it was World Cup Finals time and I had a few options out for dinner. My roommate chose the previously blogged about gluten-free and vegan SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel. I asked her what she wanted those on…either Amy’s Organic Gluten-Free Sandwich Thins or the Sandwich Petals in the pantry.

She chose the Sandwich Petals. And I asked her which flavor…she went to the pantry and pulled out the Spinach Garlic Sandwich Petals…because they were on top. HA! Good way to make a decision, yes?

So…there it was. I cooked up the Organic Falafel on the stovetop, and as it was finishing up the falafel, I pulled out the Sandwich Petals and looked at how to prepare them. Easy enough…either stove top or microwave. I went microwave for ease and simplicity. My top few petals were a bit torn, but they rode back to Louisville, Kentucky, in my carry-on. So…the fact that they were still in tact for the most part was a miracle. I wrapped up one of the Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbreads in damp paper towels and gave them a little warming in the microwave for 30 seconds. I unwrapped each one and topped with some Organic Tahini Sauce from SoL Cuisine and then some greens and finally…the SoL Cuisine Falafel. I then folded over the Sandwich Petal and dinner was served.

The Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread was the perfect way to serve these up…when gluten-free pita bread is no longer available. Seriously. While it did get a little messy because stuff would fall out of the edges…they were packed with flavor and really sturdy. Unfortunately, since my petals were slightly torn to begin with, the mess factor was a little elevated. But, it didn’t take away from the fact that these flatbreads are made to stand up to fillings of all sorts. The Spinach Garlic flavor was not overpowering, so it didn’t detract at all from the falafel…but it added a nice bit of flavor to the entirety of the dish. I hope I can find these around here because I will be sad when I use up all three varieties that are in my pantry.

For the record, the Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Flatbreads come in Spinach Garlic, Red Chili, and Original.

As far as ingredients go, the Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread is made from a gluten-free blend of whole and milled grains (corn, flax, sesame, buckwheat, brown rice, sorghum, millet, quinoa, teff, and amaranth), water, tapioca starch, a flavor base (consisting of spinach, garlic, basil, parsley purees and extracts, salt, canola oil, and spices), raisin juice, organic agave nectar, molasses, short chain frutooligosaccharides, xanthan gum, dicalcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, fumaric acid, sodium propionate, and sorbic acid. Sandwich Petals are gluten-free, carbohydrate nutritionally deliberate (with less than 24 grams per petal), virtually allergen free (contains no dairy, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, soy, or wheat), are low glycemic (diabetic and diet friendly), contain heart healthy omega 3s, are prebiotic (and helps aid in digestive system health), do not need to be refrigerated and…are really convenient.

As for the nutritional aspect of the Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread, a serving is one petal. This one petal will serve you up 100 calories and 1 gram of fat. One petal will also provide you with 120 mg sodium and only 3 grams of sugar. That is really fantastic. And finally, you will be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein, so it’s enough to fill you up without making you feel overstuffed. Love it.

I really hope that my local stores start carrying these Sandwich Petals. So far, I like what I have tried and I can’t wait to see how else I can use these in recipes and with other foods. For now, they were just the bread I needed to really enjoy a tasty Mediterranean sandwich without the use of pita bread. It was the perfect substitute, allowing the filling to shine, but still being quite tasty on its own. The Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread wins in my book.

Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Spinach Garlic Flatbread with SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce

July 13, 2014

Product Review: SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce

Product: SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce – $4.99+

SoL Cuisine has been a surprise to me as far as the products they put out onto the market. For one thing, they are the only brand that offers gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian items that I can’t get otherwise. For that, I am forever in my debt to this company. Because of SoL Cuisine, I can have vegetarian breakfast sausages again. Because of SoL Cuisine, I have another option for veggie burgers. Because of SoL Cuisine, I can have vegetarian BBQ Ribs again. Because of SoL Cuisine…I can indulge in Falafel!

YES!

Falafel. That little Mediterranean cake made from chickpeas that is so awesomely yummy? Ever tried it? If not…you should. I love falafel. Always have. Because I am a huge fan of Mediterranean food as well. So, when I was grocery shopping and spotted SoL Cuisine’s Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce on closeout at my local natural food store…it was time to finally give it a try. I couldn’t argue with the price.

Unfortunately, I never really had anything in the house to use the SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with. Normally, it would be served on pita bread…but my local Whole Foods stopped carrying the LivWell brand that had the gluten-free pita bread. So, that was sad. But, thanks to my trip to Boulder, Colorado and a stop in at one of their local natural food stores, I picked up these gluten-free sandwich petals (think Flat-Out Wraps). I picked up one of each kind of petal and brought them home with me.

And after a weekend in Detroit…where I saw Queen in concert…which was awesome. And…coming home in time to watch the World Cup Final between Germany and Argentina…I needed dinner. My breakfast was small and my lunch consisted of applesauce and a protein bar. Yeah…it was only 3:45 but I was ready for dinner for sure. I had so many options for easy meals to choose from in my pantry and freezer…so I pulled out some options and called in Cathy to help make a decision. She settled on Falafel (because we had it the longest). So I asked if I should put it on Amy’s Gluten-Free Sandwich Thins or the Sandwich Petals…and she decided on the Spinach Garlic Pesto Sandwich Petals. Hey…it was the closest thing we had to a flatbread. No pita…no problem.

SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel (cooked stove top)

So, I got a pan out and placed a touch of coconut oil in it. Then, into the pan went six (3 for each of us) of the Sol Cuisine Organic Falafel. I let them work in the pan while I put the frozen tahini sauce package into hot water to (hopefully) let it thaw before the rest of the meal was ready. Note to those of you out there about to try this product or thinking about it…thaw the sauce! Aside from that everything went very well. I cooked the Organic Falafel in the pan for about 5 minutes on one side…then flipped them over and did the same for the other side. They turned a gorgeous golden brown on the one side, so it was starting to come together. I got out the Sandwich Petals and heated up (one at a time) each flatbread, put some of the (thankfully) thawed sauce on each one, topped it with greens, then moved the now golden brown falafel over to the waiting flatbread. I topped it off with a bit more sauce, folded it over…and dinner…was served.

So, I settled in to finally really start paying attention to the second half of the World Cup final match. I carefully lifted up my Mediterranean sandwich of sorts and took a bite. I think I expected a little more of a crunch to the falafel from the stove top cooking, but, it was still quite soft. In fact, two of them started to meld together when I took another bite. But, falafel is not crunchy, but a chickpea cake of soft goodness, so this was actually what it should be like. And, honestly, I liked it. I liked it a lot. And the Organic Tahini Sauce that is included in the box is quite tasty as well. I was impressed. I found these easy to eat, and really quite delicious. I never know what it means when my roommate describes a product as “quite tasty” because she never really says anything else, so I can’t really say what her thoughts are truly on it…but she ate her Falafel Flatbread Sammie and that was enough to say that it was at least palatable to her. As for me…I devoured mine. The sandwich was a bit awkward, not really having a pocket to tuck everything into, but I made it work and in the end…it was a delicious, and quite healthy dinner.

SoL Cuisine does it again!

Let’s talk ingredients, yes? The SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel is made from organic chickpeas, organic okra, organic onion powder, organic garlic powder, wheat free tamari sauce, organic tahini, organic expeller pressed sunflower oil, organic tapioca starch, organic sesame seeds, and xanthan gum. The Organic Tahini Sauce is made from organic tahini, filtered water, organic lemon juice concentrate, sea salt, and organic garlic. This product is gluten-free, wheat-free, vegan, vegetarian, kosher, and organic.

Nutrition-wise…these aren’t a bad option at all. The serving size of SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel is three of the patties. These three patties will serve you up 110 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. You will be taking in 210 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. These are cholesterol free. Finally, you will be taking in 7 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Filling and delicious.

So far, I have yet to really not enjoy something from SoL Cuisine. The Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce is a great and easy meal to prepare. Serve it up on flatbread or crackers…drizzle with the sauce, and enjoy every bite. This was a fantastic and unique meal to have while watching the World Cup…but it was a delicious stunner of a meal regardless.

Love!

SoL Cuisine Organic Falafel with Organic Tahini Sauce on a Gluten-Free Spinach Garlic Pesto Sandwich Petal

Chickpeas*, Okara*, Onion* & Garlic* Powder, Spice*, Wheat Free Tamari Sauce*(Water, Soybeans*, Salt), Tahini*, Expeller Pressed Sunflower Oil*, Tapioca Starch*, Sesame Seeds*, Xanthan Gum. – See more at: http://solcuisine.com/american-retail/sol-cuisine-falafel-sauce#sthash.k8FUfHIs.dpuf

July 11, 2014

Product Review: Pamela’s Gluten-Free Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies

Product: Pamela’s Gluten-Free Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies – $3.99+

So, I mentioned back when I reviewed the Jovial Gluten-Free Fig Fruit Filled Cookies, I mentioned how much I missed having something like Fig Newtons in my life. Sadly…the Jovial cookies didn’t live up to expectations. They were dry and just…a let down.

But then…one of my most raved about and most trusted brands (go back to the beginning of this blog, you will find Pamela’s Products ALL over it!), put out their own version of the Fig Newtons that I grew up eating. By the package. For real. Figs and I are BFFs. I’ve just always loved them. So Fig Newtons were my ideal snack. When I had to go gluten-free…these fell out of my life and it was mega devastating. Especially when your roomie can and does still get Fig Newtons (and sometimes Fig Newmans) for snacks.

*sigh*

Pamela’s Figgies & Jammies came out on the market this past year and I went on an immediate search for them. Naturally…nowhere around here carried them at the time. That’s typical. In fact, I never saw them out in the grocery store wild until I was visiting my friend Jenn up in Columbus, Ohio and she took me to her natural food store, The Raisin Rack. They have an amazing gluten-free section, in case any of you are passing through. Check them out. Raisin Rack had all four of the flavors. And I squeaked and squealed and maybe did a happy dance of gluten-free joy in the aisle.

I also, somehow, managed not to buy all the flavors. I decided to try one to start. Just one. The problem was choosing a flavor.

Pamela’s Figgies & Jammies are available in Mission Fig, Blueberry & Fig, Raspberry & Fig, and Strawberry & Fig. It took much debate and much thought, but I finally…after picking up one, then another, then another…decided on the Blueberry & Fig. Whew. That was a tough decision…and I was hoping that I made the right one.

Now that I’m working my way through my pantry of gluten-free snacks and stuff…these were up next! And I cracked them open yesterday to have as a snack at the office. They are BIG! You know when you get that pack of Fig Newtons at the convenience store that has just one large Fig Newton in it. Thing that size. They outer cake part is a very light shade of tan. And you can see this gorgeous filling on the inside. They didn’t look or feel dry in the slightest, so they were already ahead of Jovial.

At snack time…I was excited to try this out. And I couldn’t have been happier. FINALLY! FINALLY!! I should have gone straight to Pamela’s when I was seeking out this kind of snack goodness. These light and moist snack cakes are OMGSOGOOD! Mmmm…I loved this at first bite. DELICIOUS! The cake is light…the filling tastes fresh and fruity. You get that nice blend of blueberry and fig…perfection. They have a nice soft texture to them, not dry and hard like Jovial and (sometimes) Fig Newtons. These tasted much lighter than Fig Newtons too. I just found the flavors to be amazing and I thought Pamela’s once again outdid themselves on a treat. I will be buying EVERY flavor next time.

Let’s talk ingredients, shall we?

Pamela’s Gluten-Free Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies are constructed and created from the following…

The cake portion is made from a flour base (brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, xanthan gum), natural evaporated cane sugar, organic palm oil, organic invert sugar, grape juice, whole rice syrup, sweet whey powder, glycerin, baking soda, sea salt and lemon oil. The jam portion is made from a blueberry paste, fig, and citric acid. These cookies are gluten-free, egg-free, contain no artificial flavors or additives, no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, no corn syrup, are certified kosher and certified gluten-free (and made in a dedicated gluten-free facility).

As for nutrition…for a cookie, these stats aren’t bad at all. A serving of Pamela’s Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies is one cookie. Yes…just one. And trust me…it is hard to limit yourself to that. This one cookie will give you 100 calories and 2 grams of fat. You will be taking in 25 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. You will also be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

I am thrilled that these are out in the market and that NOW I can even find them around my area. I’ve spotted them at a few of my local natural food stores. YAY! Because these are going to have a permanent place in my pantry. Each flavor. Because, you know, I have to try them out.

Thank you for always being awesome, Pamela’s.

July 11, 2014

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Chocolate Buns

Product: Katz Gluten Free Chocolate Buns – $5.99

I am going to admit it…cop to it right now…put this out there. I am a chocaholic. There. I said it. If it’s chocolate…I’m going to eat it. Seriously. Especially if it’s dark chocolate. And, quite honestly, being the cinnamon roll fan that I am, I had no intention of even purchasing something else with those on my last order from Katz Gluten Free.

But…then…chocolate happened.

Katz Gluten Free introduced a slew of new products a little bit ago…and as soon as the announcement came, I was online and ordering. Because…it’s Katz Gluten Free. It has to be good. Honestly…it was really a “OMG, THEY HAVE CINNAMON ROLLS NOW I MUST GET THEM OR I WILL DIE FOR REAL!” sort of moment. That’s no exaggeration. I feel that strongly about gluten-free cinnamon rolls. They aren’t very common…and not something I can just go to the store and purchase. So, yes…I do get a little overzealous when it comes to things like…gluten-free cinnamon rolls. Especially from Katz Gluten Free.

Because…they have never really let me down when it comes to products. So, I was getting the Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns into my cart online…and then…and then I saw them:

Katz Gluten Free Chocolate Buns.

Oh. My. Chocolate.

So, yeah…they ended up in the cart. No accident. Don’t believe me if I ever say something chocolate ending up in my clutches was an accident. It most likely was my female brain kicking in and saying…”EAT ALL THE CHOCOLATE!” So…that’s how I ended up with Katz Gluten Free Chocolate Buns in my freezer. (Yes…I giggled at that last line too…)

So, without my bin or much time to bake something this week…I’m living out of my pantry and fridge/freezer. And on my gym morning, I needed something easy to prepare at the office so I can eat after getting my sweat on and not spend a lot of time doing so. After all…I’m at work and should be working. With the Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns already having been devoured, my roomie and I were about to take a leap of faith and give the Katz Gluten Free Chocolate Buns a try.

Super simple. I took the buns out of the freezer the night before and put them in the fridge. After working out and arriving at work, I went into the break room and heated up each of the Gluten Free Chocolate Buns for about 25-30 seconds in the microwave. I served…with clementines. Because…in my world, if you’re going to devour a treat, you gotta have something healthy with it. Adds balance, yes? Breakfast was good to go. And we both settled in at our desks and went to devour (because after a good cardio session at the gym, I’m in starvation mode!) our brekkies.

So…the Katz Gluten Free Chocolate Buns are like…cinnamon rolls on chocolate steroids. Take out the spice aspect of the cinnamon and instead substitute dreamy, rich chocolate with a heap of chocolate glaze. That…that deliciousness is exactly what I was biting into. It was sweet, but it struck a nice balance, regardless of not having some cinnamon to add a bit of spice. It was flaky and crusty and gooey in the middle. I actually found the Chocolate Buns to be less dry than the Cinnamon Buns had been. Which was a surprise, but one that made me happy. Dare I say that I actually preferred them over Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns?!

*collective gasp*

So, now that I’ve gotten you drooling…let’s talk ingredients and nutrition, shall we? Because it should be done…even on breakfast pastries.

Katz Gluten Free Chocolate Buns are made from a gluten-free flour blend (potato, tapioca, sorghum, white rice, brown rice) trans-fat free margarine, water, sugar, eggs, brown sugar, confection sugar, cocoa, vanilla extract, dry yeast, honey, xanthan gum, cinnamon, salt, corn syrup, baking powder, sunflower lecithin, emulsifier, nutmeg, and canola oil. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free.

As for nutrition, a serving is 1 of the Katz Gluten Free Chocolate Buns. This one roll will provide you with 310 calories and 15 grams of fat. I know…that’s high…but this isn’t something you really eat every day. It’s a breakfast treat. Key word…treat. In addition to that, you will be taking in 25 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, and 17 grams of sugar. Which…is a lot of sugar. But…it’s a treat. And finally, you will be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein…so you will definitely feel like you’ve eaten.

I have so much love for the products that Katz Gluten Free has out. I am definitely going to pick up more of the Gluten Free Chocolate Buns in the near future. Honestly a delicious and sweet way to start the day.

July 8, 2014

Product Review: Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettucine

Product: Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine – $3.49+

Ah…my dear Cuisine Cube. You’ve brought so much understanding and…great products into my life. And I’ve only been subscribing to you for three months now (my July cube should arrive tomorrow or Thursday, I believe!). While sometimes I receive products I have heard of or tried, there are other times I get products that I’ve looked at…wondered if it was worth trying…and put back on the shelf at the grocery store, either out of fear that I’ll waste my money…or out of not being able to expand the budget.

That was the case with Miracle Noodle. We have these in our local stores. I’ve spotted them at Meijer and at Whole Foods. I’ve probably spotted them a few other places as well. But…I never bought them. Why not? They were really no different than the Shirataki Noodles I used to buy and prepare. And, it took a couple of tries for me to get used to the texture…but they weren’t…awful. They weren’t bad. And once I got the hang of how to cook them…they weren’t a bad substitute.

Not one bit.

But I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t make myself purchase the little water and noodle-filled bags on the shelf at my grocery stores. I just…couldn’t.

But Cuisine Cube changed all of that.

I initially had other plans for dinner tonight, but then I found a recipe for corn tacos…which I need some ingredients for in order to fix…so it was time for another plan. I recalled my May Cuisine Cube had the Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine noodles in it, and they were currently taking up residence in my pantry. This would be a great time to break them out…especially since I had some marinara sauce in the fridge and some vegan and gluten-free garlic bread (from my local bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café) in the freezer. Dinner was saved.

Shiratake Pasta (Miracle Noodle) is made from the root of a plant called the konnyaku imo and is known for its health benefits for 2000 years in China and Japan. Shirataki is made from the soluble fiber of the plant and is remarkably low in calories. Like…for real! And, these noodles will absorb the flavor of any sauce or dish that you add them to. They are little noodle-y ninjas.

Miracle Noodle Garlic & Herb Fettuccine (drained and rinsed)

So, I immediately got the bread in the oven and while it was baking for 20 minutes, I got to work on the noodles. The Miracle Noodles are encased in a plastic sack that is filled with water. I cut it open and poured the noodles into a strainer. They smelled horrible. Fish-like. I remembered that from the Shirataki Noodles…but I had forgotten how pungent that scent initially was. But, it goes away. The noodles were given a 15-20 second bath under cold water and then placed into a pot of boiling water, simply to blanch them…only for a minute. Then, drain them again and place on paper towels, removing as much water as humanly possible. From here…you place them in a pan, heat them until they are dry, and then add them to your dish. In this case…the marinara sauce I had working on the stove top. Heat through…and serve.

Easy.

And…much to my genuine surprise…these were really good. One of my biggest obstacles with the Shiratake Noodles was the texture. Just rubbery and gummy and just…not pasta-like. I didn’t get that texture with Miracle Noodle. Not at all. I loved the texture of these noodles. They almost had that fresh pasta bite to them. Almost. And the flavor was amazing. This was the Garlic and Herb variety and it brought great flavor to the dish itself. No need to add any spices to the dish…these noodles did it for you. They tasted really good. To the point where I said I wanted to purchase them again…because I wanted to! Go figure! Never saw that one coming. I love pleasant surprises like that.

So, let’s first talk ingredients. The Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine are made from purified water, konnyaku, garlic and herb mix, and calcium hydroxide. So…not completely free of “chemical” sounding things, but not bad either. Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine is soy free, gluten free and cholesterol free.

Impressed? Wait until you read these nutrition facts! The Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine contains two servings in each pouch. Each serving contains 15 calories and are fat-free. They have no cholesterol, as mentioned above, contain 5 mg sodium, and contain no sugar. These noodles have only 3 grams of carbs per serving. And they have 2 grams of fiber and no protein. So, they won’t fill you up, but they are a great low-calorie substitute for pasta. Guilt-free pasta!! That’s what I’m talking about. I’m a carb fiend…so sometimes a low-carb options is good to institute into my food regimen.

I was really set to dislike Miracle Noodle…but these were really amazing. The Garlic and Herb flavor of the noodles was a nice match to the plain marinara. The texture was perfect. And dinner was a low-carb, low calorie, delicious meal in the end. Beyond impressed and ready to add Miracle Noodle to more dishes in the future.

Thank you, again, Cuisine Cube.

Oh…and if you haven’t checked out Cuisine Cube yet…click here. You might want to subscribe yourself!

Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine (with marinara)

July 7, 2014

Product Review: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna

Product: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna – $3.29

Yep…it’s that time again. Time for another blog about the affordable, and mostly delicious findings from Aldi’s liveGfree gluten-free line. Let me first reemphasize how happy it made me when I was told that for the month of May (also Celiac Awareness Month) Aldi was going to be introducing a test run of their gluten-free products…in a brand known as liveGfree.

I, naturally, hightailed it over to Aldi on Mother’s Day and stocked up on one of everything (save a few items…as they were mixes that I have plenty of already), spending under $30 in the process. For someone who spends over a hundred dollars each week on food for two people…this was a blessing. My only concern was…would it taste good.

And as of right now, only one item (the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Southwestern Stuffed Sandwich), has not really lived up to my expectations (for processed and frozen food). So, that’s a good thing, yes? I think so.

After being away all weekend, I had to cancel my bin for the 4th of July as well as for the following weekend (I’m heading out to see Queen!)…so this means no fresh fruits and veggies delivered to me, from which I could concoct a myriad of new dishes. Nope. The next two weeks will be spent living out of the freezer and pantry. Which is okay…because my budget is shot. And I have some travel things I need to really get taken care of in the next couple of weeks. Basically…I have no money…so I make due with what I do have.

And what I do have is a bunch of Aldi liveGfree gluten-free items.

And tonight…really not wanting to spend a lot of time in the kitchen…I decided I would cook up the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna in the microwave and serve it with the remaining Rudi’s Gluten-Free Rosemary Olive Oil Ciabatta Rolls. That’s what I did. All it required was about 10 minutes in the kitchen. That’s it. And most of that was getting the rolls going in the oven. HA!

Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasgana (frozen)

As for the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna…preparation was simple. Remove the tray from the box and cut a slit in the top. Stick tray in the microwave for 5 minutes. Cook. Let stand for 1 minute before removing, serving, and eating. Simple! Love simple. So, as the gluten-free ciabatta was baking in the oven, I got to work on the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna. Prep was as easy as I stated above and soon the microwave was rocking and rolling, cooking the meal, melting the cheese on top, and just getting it ready for a nosh-fest. The rolls finished up just as the microwave beeped. I let the tray sit for one minute before removing it and carefully peeling away the plastic wrap.

At first glance…not too impressive. Like most frozen meals, the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna looked like…lasagna. The problem was, the marinara was more than a little watery. *SIGH!* Aside from that, however, it looked like any other frozen lasagna meal. I carefully sliced the lasagna in half, as my roommate and I were splitting it, and then served it up.

The lasagna itself held together well, I must say, not slopping off or falling apart as I sliced it in half and then used a spatula to transfer the half to a plate. It held together. I was impressed. I poured the marinara that was left in the tray over the two slices and then served it up.

It was…what it was. A frozen lasagna. Nothing too exciting to rave about. The best part was the ricotta/romano cheese filling. Honestly. It had great texture and great flavor. It was seasoned perfectly. If the marinara had been less watery, this might have been the perfect frozen meal. For real. The cheese on top wasn’t much, but as I can’t tolerate a lot of cheese…that was ideal for me. It was easy to slice into with a fork and it held together as I brought each bite up to my mouth. Warmed all the way through and to perfection. The soft cheese with the brown rice noodles and the seasonings all came together for one stand-up frozen meal.

Not as good as the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Ravioli…but good enough.

And fast and easy. Convenient food. I’ll take it.

And, for being a frozen meal, the ingredients that go into Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna are fantastic. Seriously. The tomato sauce is made from chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, canola oil, butter, parsley, basil, sugar, and black pepper. The dough from which the noodles are made are made from rice flour, corn starch, tapioca dextrin, water, whole eggs, canola oil, xanthan gum, salt, guar gum, and sodium alginate. The filling is simply whole milk ricotta cheese, romano cheese, eggs, salt, and parsley. And finally, the mozzarella cheese on top is simply made from pasteurized whole milk, cheese culture, salt and enzymes. While not exactly clean eating, I’d be hard-pressed to find another frozen meal with an ingredient list like that. Real, recognizable, and quality. The Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna is gluten free and wheat free.

As for nutrition…well…for a frozen meal, it’s not bad. My roommate and I split it, but if you were to eat a serving size, it would be the entire slice of lasagna. This serving would provide you with 410 calories and 17 grams of fat. You would be taking in 105 mg cholesterol, 520 mg sodium, and 6 grams of sugar. Finally, you’d be consuming 4 grams of fiber and 17 grams of protein. It is filling. Even half of it is filling…trust me.

With the exception of watery marinara, I absolutely found this to be an enjoyable frozen meal from Aldi. If I were eating it on my own, it wouldn’t have needed the roll to accompany it. Trust me…I’m full on just half of the lasagna. That’s saying something. My hat is off to Aldi and the quality of their liveGfree line. It’s quite evident in each product that I have tried so far how they strove for quality, using real ingredients and just trying to get that flavor right. I’m beyond impressed!

I sincerely hope that they continue to keep the line in the stores…because this is gluten-free food I can totally afford. And enjoy!

Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Lasagna (cooked)