Frozen – Page 10 – The Celiathlete

September 8, 2014

Product Review: Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins

Product: Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins – $5.29+

Some mornings, it’s easy to decide what to make for breakfast. Other mornings, I have way too much going on to make something great and elaborate. These are the mornings that the gluten-free toast and gluten-free bagels usually rear their heads. And yes, I am certainly aware of the “good carbs vs. bad carbs” argument when it comes to breakfast foods and how you start your day. But…with a strict budget and, honestly, the need for something quick that doesn’t take a lot of time some mornings…I have to do what fits into my mornings.

I don’t feel guilty about it. An egg scramble isn’t hard, but to not overcook the eggs, it can take awhile. Where as something like a gluten-free bagel or a couple slices of gluten-free toast can toast up while I take a quick shower, having just returned home from my early morning spin class or from doing laps in the pool. Regardless…some mornings, it’s what has to be done.

So, this morning, despite having some gluten-free bagels in my freezer, I reached for something that I had been wanting to try for a very long time.

And if you read the subject of this post, you already know that I’m talking about Glutino’s Gluten Free Original English Muffins.

After my local Whole Foods stopped carrying the LivWell brand of English Muffins that I fell in love with…and since Katz Gluten Free requires an online order…it was nice to be able to duck into one of my local grocery stores/natural food stores and pick these up out of the freezer section. I did a bit of a double-take, I admit, when I first purchased them, as they are a bit of a yellow-orange color in the packaging. Odd. But, it didn’t deter me from buying them. Nope. So, purchase made, they found their way to my freezer, I found myself out of town and using up other products that needed using…until this morning.

After that morning spin class I previously mentioned, I drove home, turned on the oven and put the two Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins onto a baking sheet. I had left them in a Ziploc bag to thaw while I was gone. I handed my roommate her bowl of cereal, put the English Muffins into the oven and went to take a quick shower. They could cook without me needing to babysit them. I was all about that for sure! Makes for an easy breakfast that can be done while I am doing something else. I love to be able to multitask.

So, after I was dressed and ready for work, I made my way back out to the kitchen, where the Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins were still happily toasting away. I pulled down some plates and got out the Earth Balance spread and some blueberry jam (made from real fruit only!). I checked on the English muffins and they were almost to that perfect golden toasty color. So, I got out the butter knife and then grabbed the hot pad holder to remove them from the oven. They looked perfect. I slathered each half of the Glutino Original English Muffins with Earth Balance spread and then…topped that with the most perfect schmear of blueberry jam. It looked heavenly and I was already anticipating my very first bite.

I picked up my plate and settled in for breakfast. I lifted the English muffin and took my very first bite.

I was anticipating something that was heavy and dense and just…not what an English muffin should be. But I was wrong. I was definitely wrong. The Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins actually were quite light. The toasted areas had this nice crispiness to them, but the inner layer was soft and light. I loved that it wasn’t dense. I loved that it felt like I was eating a normal English muffin. In fact, the powdery cornmeal dusted on top helped add to that illusion too. I was loving every bite. And it paired so well with the classic toppings of butter and jam. It was pure breakfast perfection. And now that they were toasted, that strange color didn’t look so scary anymore. I happily noshed away on my entire English muffin, wanting to savor, but not wanting it to get cold either. I found the perfect balance, enjoying every bite and commenting on just how surprised I was by the taste and texture. These were, for sure, a winner!

The Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins are made from water, corn starch, tapioca starch, skim milk powder, corn flour, egg whites, can sugar, canola oil, salt, cellulose gum, yeast, baking powder, gluconon-delta-lactone, pectin, sodium bicarbonate, sodium alginate, modified cellulose, corn meal, iron, nacin, tracalcium phosphate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, and riboflavin. Yes…I am aware of how chemically some of those ingredients sound. And that word modified is a bit of a bother. It’s sad…because, if you’re like me and actually care about that sort of thing…it sort of lessens my excitement for these breakfast treats.

A serving of the Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins is one English muffin. This one English muffin will provide your body with 170 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. I think that’s freakin’ fantastic. A serving also provides 440 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. Not bad for a bready breakfast item. These English muffins are also cholesterol free. And, finally, this serving will give you less than 1 gram of filling fiber and only 4 grams of protein. So, this is why I paired it with a bowl of cereal…because otherwise, I’d be starving within an hour. It will not leave you feeling full for very long, that’s for sure.

Regardless, I am a huge fan of the Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins. Great flavor, great taste, great texture…which means I’ll treat myself to them every now and again. Because, on some mornings, sometimes the only thing you want is an English muffin. And when, normally, due to Celiac or gluten intolerance, this isn’t something that can happen on a regular basis…this is a nice treat indeed. I highly recommend these English muffins. In fact, I even think people who can eat Thomas’ English Muffins would appreciate these as well. There…I said it.

Put it to the test. For me…no need. I’m in love. I’m in love all over again with breakfast. Thank you, once more, for another fantastic product, Glutino. Thank you.

September 2, 2014

Product Review: Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

Product: Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert – $5.99+

I was on a mission one afternoon. I needed to pick up a few supplies at the grocery store. As I was leaving, my roommate told me to splurge a little and pick out a product that I have been wanting to try, but haven’t found a way to justify it. Within reason. Which, knocked out a few options…but I wasn’t without a few choices.

It was a hot summer afternoon, and I found myself wandering around the tiny, but stocked, natural foods area. I ducked over to the freezers and let my eyes peruse some of the options inside.

And then…I saw what could be one of the most epic dessert options in the gluten-free and dairy-free world – Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato.

Gelato…that is dairy free? You bet your lactose-intolerance! The Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato is an almond-based non-dairy frozen dessert. Yes! You read that right…almond-based. Mmmm…almond milk! And, it just happened to be one of my favorite flavors in the entire world – salted caramel. SOLD! And, it definitely fell into the ‘within reason’ addendum my roomie threw into the deal. Happily, I took it to the register, checked out, and came home to store it in the freezer.

That was a little while ago…but I had some cookies and bread and other delicious frozen treats to work through first. I have a system. But tonight, on a story, thundering evening, after eating some gluten-free and vegan mac and cheese…I chose the Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato for dessert.

I dished up two servings of the frozen treat. In fact, certain that the Dream frozen treats would act like coconut milk based treats, I allowed the gelato to sit out on the counter while my roommate and I shoveled our main course into our faces. Okay…we might have been a little daintier than that, but we were hungry and Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville makes some of the best mac and cheese out there for someone like me, with multiple food allergies.

It was the right move. After we finished eating and rinsed the dishes, I got out a 1/2 measuring cup and some bowls and got to work on dishing up dessert. Gelato is usually rich and creamy. While the Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato is definitely rich, the creamy nature gets a bit lost in the almond milk base. Much like coconut milk, it is a little harder and tends to break apart instead of just slipping onto the spoon. But it was delicious…and that was the important thing.

Oh…my sweet Italian dessert. Holy goodness. This was one fantastic, sweet treat. This frozen dessert combines a hint of saltiness with a rich, smooth caramel flavor. The result is a decadent and delicious dessert that is created without the use of dairy. The almond base lends a nice, slightly nutty flavor and gives it a thick texture. Not creamy like I associate with gelato, but still rich and smooth. The dessert melted on my tongue and I savored each burst of flavor. This had just the right amount of caramel flavor and the right hit of salt to make it one of the most perfect frozen desserts in my freezer. It was so hard to keep to that serving size.

So, let’s get down to the bones of it…

The Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert is made from filtered water, evaporated cane syrup, almonds, tapioca maltodextrin, expeller pressed oil, brown rice syrup, and contains 2% or less of natural flavors, cocoa butter, soy protein, sea salt, potato starch, guar gum, carrageenan, carob bean gum, sunflower lecithin, soy lecithin, caramel color. This gelato is cholesterol free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher.

As far as nutrition information goes, a serving of the Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. There are 4 servings in the pint. A serving of the gelato will provide you with 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. In addition, you will take in 115 mg sodium and 15 grams of sugar. That is definitely a lot of sugar, but this is a gelato. Finally, you will be consuming only 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Not filling…but totally delicious!

I was blown away by the amazing flavor, rich texture, and the sweet and salty nature Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert. Each bite was an icy, decadent treat, for sure. It was so tempting to just polish off the pint, but this means I have one more evening with this dessert. Tomorrow will sure be delicious. If you haven’t tried Dream’s frozen desserts, I highly recommend starting off with the Sea Salt Caramel Gelato. It’s a new favorite. Definitely.

A serving of Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

August 11, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

Life’s been tough these past few weeks. Lots of setbacks and a lot of negativity…of my own…to myself. I’m trying to stay positive, but sometimes…it’s freakin’ hard, you know? But…if there is one thing I have learned over the years…ice cream makes everything better! Everything!

And with that being said, I was fortunate enough to receive a special delivery of the So Delicious Dairy Free coconut milk frozen desserts a couple weeks back and have been working my way through these delicious frosty treats. Tonight, I rounded up this journey through ice cream heaven with the final product stocked in my freezer…

The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.

So, being completely honest here…mint chip is one of my guilty pleasure favorite things in Ice Cream Land. Growing up, it was always my dad’s favorite flavor and we often had it stocked in our freezer. You’d think I’d grow tired of it, but I didn’t…and I still haven’t. In fact, if you put a bit of hot fudge over a good mint chip ice cream…you get something akin to that of the Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies. Seriously. Trust me. I haven’t been able to eat Girl Scout Cookies for three years now, and that is one of the best ways to satisfy the craving when it hits.

Except…that pesky lactose intolerance thing. While I have been known to take a supplement to help me digest dairy…it doesn’t always work or help. So, I’m usually very cautious when approaching real ice cream. But, now I can have my mint chip and eat it too…without worry.

So Delicious Dairy Free came out with a new version of their Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert. Yes. This one…with no added sugars. And I know what you are thinking. You are wondering how ice cream without the addition of a crap-ton-load of sugar (that’s really a degree of measurement, trust me!) would work…or taste for that matter. Well, because of So Delicious’ generosity…I can tell you!

I made a very light, but delicious dinner tonight (breakfast for dinner!) and thought to round it off with a taste of the ice cream. I had pulled it from the freezer as I was settling into my dinner, just to let it thaw a little. Non-dairy ice creams usually need 5-10 minutes of thaw time to make them scoopable. Even more-so when they don’t have all that added sugar. It was the perfect amount of time because after my roomie and I polished off our breakfast…er…dinner…we were ready for that palate cleansing dessert. And the ice cream was now ready and at that perfect consistency for scooping without being too soft and soupy. Seriously!

There is a science to ice cream scooping and I think I have mastered it!

Anyway, I got out my 1/2 cup measure and dished us each up a complete serving. I even drizzled a bit of hot fudge over it, as I had just enough left in the fridge for tonight’s dessert. So, with the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert now in bowls, I carried her dessert over and then went back to retrieve mine. She took a bite…immediately noting the mint flavor. I asked what she thought…and while she preferred the vanilla (and who doesn’t?!), she loved the flavor.

My turn to be the judge. And on first bite I was in love. The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert has a great texture to begin with. It’s creamy, without being runny or heavy. It has this lightness to it. This variety has a great minty flavor to it, that is not too strong and is complimented by the swirls of chocolate throughout the pint. I love that the chocolate is swirled in and not actual chips. This makes the consistency of the frozen dessert work even more. The chocolate itself was delicious…sweet without being too much. Honestly, if you kept it a secret, no one would guess that there was no sugar added to this flavor. Not at all. Absolutely minty fresh and delicious!

With all my food blogs, I try to inform my readers as to what makes up a product and the nutrition information that accompanies it. So Delicious Dairy Free is very open about what they put into their products and display all nutritional information on their Web site. Nothing to hide. Love that.

That being said, the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is made from organic coconut milk, guar gum, chocolate flake, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and monk fruit extract. I am assuming that the mint flavor comes from some of those “natural flavors” as I don’t see it listed anywhere in the ingredients. This flavor of ice cream from So Delicious is dairy free, vegan, gluten free, kosher, made with organic and non-GMO ingredients. WOOT!

As for nutrition, a serving size of the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. In this serving, you will be taking in 120 calories and 11 grams of fat. Again, with all things made with coconut milk, do not panic over that fat count. Coconut milk is a bit fattier…but it’s that healthy fat that’s actually good for you. So, turn that frown upside down! A serving will also 65 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar. Yes…that’s it. And I swear, you’d never know that this dessert is virtually sugar free. Seriously! And, finally, you will be taking in 10 grams of filling fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Delicious! Honestly, the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert tastes fantastic. I found it well balanced, very creamy, and a delight on the tongue. So Delicious continues to live up to its name…and continues to make me one happy lactose-intolerant Celiac. Their products cater to me and I continue to eat (or drink) them up. Budget be damned…sometimes you just need to treat yourself to something you love or know you’ll love. For me…that’s a So Delicious Dairy Free product.

Never fails.

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

August 11, 2014

Product Review: Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Product: Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Babels – $6.99+

You can take the girl out of New York, but you can’t take the New York out of the girl. And by that I mean my extreme love of pizza, bagels, and the like. Especially bagels. They were a favorite breakfast item of mine growing up and continued to remain that way up until my Celiac diagnosis. When I had to go gluten-free, there were a few gluten-free bagels out on the market…but nothing that was so close to being a real bagel that I had to continue to buy them. I was mightily unimpressed by most of the ones I tried.

Until Udi’s. And then Katz Gluten Free.

And now…my third-in-line…

Schär.

I am no stranger to Schär’s products. In fact, I have pretty much enjoyed every product of theirs that I have gotten my hands onto and sank my teeth into. There are a few companies that I do not hesitate to purchase something from them, even if untested, because they have built up a trust. And I trust Schär. And that’s why, when I was out looking for something to have for breakfast…I jumped at the chance to try Schär’s new gluten-free bagels. Even better…they were something I had been craving for months now…

GLUTEN FREE CINNAMON RAISIN BAGELS!!

Sold! They were popped into my shopping basket (they were on the list…just not this brand specifically) and I made my way to the register before I was tempted by more gluten-free goodies while out on my tight grocery budget. And with that, I was heading home with my new find from the freezer section. I tossed them into my freezer (they specifically say to keep frozen…unlike most of Schär’s products, which are shelf-stable) and let them sit there for a week because I made homemade Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls…and I was churning through those first. But I was craving a bagel and today felt like a good day for a bagel. After all…I had to go swimming this morning. If that doesn’t earn a bagel, I don’t know what does!

So, this morning before heading to the pool, I took out the Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels and removed two of them, placing them in a giant Ziploc bag and letting them sit on the counter to thaw while I was swimming some laps. When I came home, I turned on my oven and prepped a baking sheet so I could get a toast on these bagels. I did see where it said they were best enjoyed without toasting and just at room temperature…but who doesn’t toast a bagel?! Hmm? That’s just inhuman! So…I went to take my shower as the oven preheated and upon stepping back into the kitchen, the oven was ready and I tossed the tray into the oven to let the bagels toast.

I will point out that as I was preparing the bagels I made note of how they looked and felt. They are actually smaller than an average (New York-style) bagel, and more like the size of a doughnut. Instead of being bigger in diameter, however, they make up for it in height. Half of the bagel is nice and thin, the other half…is where you’ll find all the meatiness of the bagel…that chewy bread part that makes a bagel a bagel…toasted and crunchy on the outside with the chewy dense bread on the inside. And these bagels were definitely dense. They had a bit of heft to them, unlike Udi’s (still my favorite), where they feel quite light (which is a good thing!).

The Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels did smell amazing while they were cooking. You could get that sweet scent of cinnamon as the bagels were toasting in my oven. Mmmm…I was anticipating them finishing up…and actually kept pulling the door open to check on them, hoping for a little bit of golden doneness on the surface. It took about 10 minutes to get there…but when they did, out they came. Each half got a light coating of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (vegan cream cheese FTW!) and breakfast was served!

I grabbed my coffee and my plate and tucked into the couch with my book (Heat by Bill Buford, if you were wondering) and settled in for my breakfast. First bite. Oh…yeah. There it was…that crispy outer crust with that chewy, soft inside. They were definitely denser than I like, but not bad. I rank them number three on my favorite gluten-free bagels (#1 – Udi’s; #2 – Katz Gluten Free). The cinnamon brought sweet heat that just elevated the flavor of the bagels. And the sweet raisins were a nice pairing. I had been craving cinnamon raisin…specifically in bagel form…and Schär delivered a solid, delicious version to me. I was impressed. I had a feeling it would be okay, as Schär has never let me down with one of their products, but you just never know. And being a bagel aficionado, I am rather particular about my bagels and how they feel, taste, and overall…how they cook. They have to live up to my high New Yorker standards. And these…basically did. Aside from being a little heavier than I like a bagel, they definitely delivered. And my craving has been satiated…finally.

Now, this is the part where I tell you what all goes into these bagels…and what they are free from…and then I hit you up with all that nutrition information, which no one really likes to see, but it’s important. So, stick with me here…

The Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are made from water, corn starch, rice flour, buckwheat flour, sugar, yeast, psyllum seed husks (vegetable fiber), rice starch, canola oil, soy protein, cane sugar syrup, modified cellulose, salt, tartaric acid, calcium citrate, iron, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. Yeah…those last few sound kind of chemically. I get that. But the Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels are gluten-free, wheat free, lactose free, egg free and diary free. They do, however, contain soy.

A serving of Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels is 1 bagel. No shock there, I know. This one delicious bagel will serve you 250 calories and 3 grams of fat. That is epically good for bagels. Trust me. One bagel will also provide you with 600 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. Both of those are a little higher than I like…but, again, not terrible for a bagel. These bagels are cholesterol free. And, finally, you will be getting 6 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein. You will definitely feel full after a bagel. And I didn’t burn right through it either. I remained feeling full for quite a few hours after. Loved that.

I want to, once again, send out high praise, much deserved to Schär for their Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels. Yet another amazing product to add to the lineup. I was beyond impressed with them. And, yes…the true test comes with whether I would shell out money to purchase them again. The answer is yes…oh, yes!

Schär Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagel toasted with a schmear of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese

August 7, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis No Sugar Added Fudge Bar

So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bar – $5.99+

Happiness is…a special delivery of ice cream. And that’s exactly what happened. A super special delivery from my friends at So Delicious Dairy Free. And every bit of it was ice cream. Delicious gluten-free and vegan ice cream. Pardon me while I do a quick jig of happiness. When life delivers you ice cream, you have permission to dance. So dance and get those pints and boxes into the freezer. Stat!

And then…pace yourself.

It’s just like running.

Except…instead of pounding the pavement, you’re spooning delicious ice cream to your lips and savoring the sweet reward. So…yeah…ice cream is just like running.

Analogy made.

After fixing up dinner tonight, which was a simple tomato sandwich with homemade baked squash chips, it was time to cleanse the palate and get that sweet tooth satisfied. I went to the freezer and, after inquiring with my roommate what she might like for dessert…she immediately chimed in with the response of fudge bars. I couldn’t argue with that. It’s hot outside and a nice, cool treat is just what the doctor ordered.

So, I popped open the box of 4 So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars and removed two of them. I handed one to Cathy and settled in with my own. Unwrapping it, I took my first taste.

SO GOOD! Seriously. Okay…maybe I should say SO DELICIOUS! Because, they are. They really, really are. These bars are sweet, with the slightest hint of the coconut flavor from the coconut milk base. The chocolate is rich and creamy. And these bars were melt-in-your-mouth amazing. Honestly. The So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars are so good, you’d never guess that they are virtually sugar free. Honestly. They are rich and decadent and just icy chocolate goodness. I savored it as much as I could until it was gone. I licked the stick clean, for sure.

Yeah…I’m hooked!

So, let’s discuss the ingredients and nutrition information of the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars.

The So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars are made from organic coconut milk, gum arabic, cocoa, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, vanilla extract, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and monk fruit extract. These bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher and non-GMO certified. They are also cholesterol free.

A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars is one of the mini bars. This serving provides 80 calories and 6 grams of fat. A lot of those grams of fat are from the coconut milk. So don’t freak out. That is a healthy fat. One of these bars will also give you 55 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. You’d never guess that they have only 1 gram of sugar. TRUST ME!! And, finally, these bars provide you with 8 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Trust me…you’d never even know that these fudge bars have no additional sugar added to them. They are sweet, rich, fudgy, and delicious. And the size is just perfect.

Once again, So Delicious Dairy Free does amazing things for the dessert world. Another delicious product from a company that prides itself on quality…so much that they even call themselves SO DELICIOUS! No lie. It’s the truth.

So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bar

August 4, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

I scream. You scream. We all scream for…

NON-DAIRY COCONUT MILK ICE CREAM!

Or…at least I do. Especially when it’s from So Delicious. And…even more so…especially when it’s Vanilla Bean.

Why Vanilla Bean?

Because when you have vanilla as your base flavor…you can do whatever you want to it and make it your own. Or, if you’re traditional…you can eat it strait and it has a flavor that is uniquely…vanilla. I love vanilla. It’s like the blank canvas of ice cream flavors. Seriously. Which is why, tonight, after a disappointing attempt at squash chips (they burned…dammit!), and after polishing up a delicious gluten-free yellow tomato sandwich with some homemade guacamole on the side (and served with gluten-free tortilla chips I had on reserve)…I was ready for my dessert. I earned it. After all, it’s Monday…and we should always have dessert on Monday especially! (Garfield logic!)

I actually wasn’t prepared for ice cream dessert, so when we decided that was the way we would go…I pulled the pint out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter top for about 10 minutes. My roommate and I amused ourselves by watching Chopped All Stars until my timer beeped and I got up to start dishing up dessert. While I was scooping, I got some caramel sauce working in the microwave to top off the flavor. WOOHOO!! I also figured…why not go all out…and pulled down some chopped walnuts as well. Gotta have those omegas, yes? YES!

So, with each serving size scoop in our ice cream bowls, I drizzled each scoop with caramel, topped it with nuts…and it was time to dig in. I settled in and started up Chopped again, and took my first bite…which was just the vanilla on its own. Purist here…gotta taste it without the accessories first.

Holy Vanilla Bean, Batman! First of all, I think this is the first time in coconut milk dessert history where I can call it…CREAMY!! It was silky smooth, packed with flavor, and just…light and fluffy and delicious. This was just like eating freshly churned ice cream. This is a lactose intolerant ice cream lover’s dream here. The vanilla flavor is amazing, not too much…but not too subtle either. The coconut milk creates this solid, yet creamy base, flecked with the insides of the vanilla bean. It is just delicious. Topping it off with caramel and nuts was the icing on the cake, but I could have grabbed a spoon and dug into the pint and been just as happy without playing dress up with dessert. Seriously. Fantastic. So Delicious definitely knew what it was doing. And…you would never in a million years be able to tell that has no added sugar. Seriously, it is just as sweet and just as perfect as any ice cream or ice cream like dessert should be.

So Delicious…YOU ROCK THE VANILLA WORLD!!

With all that high praise and excitement, you know we have to hit on the scientific stuff. Because nutrition and ingredients are all part of what makes a food great. And this wasn’t just great. This was…life changing.

The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert is made from organic coconut milk, gum arabic, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, vanilla extract, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, monk fruit extract, and vanilla bean specks. This frozen treat is gluten-free, cholesterol-free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO! No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean So Delicious Dairy Free Frozen Dessert is…AWESOME!!

But how awesome are the nutritionals? Well…a serving size of the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. This 1/2 cup portion will provide you with only 100 calories and 8 grams of fat. I know you’re thinking that the fat seems high, but it’s the healthy fats found in coconut…so don’t freak out over that…it will be okay. In addition, you will be taking in only 70 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. LOVING IT! And, finally, you will be consuming 10 grams of filling fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Oh, So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert…I would devour you every day of the week if I could. I can’t be happier with this flavor and all that it represents. Thank you, So Delicious, for sending me a pint of goodness which came on a day where I just needed something simple, elegant, and yet…amazing. That’s this flavor for sure!

I can’t help falling in love with So Delicious over and over again. Their products really are tops!

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy-Free Frozen Dessert

July 29, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

There is a short list of treats that I forever want in my life. Seriously. This ranges from my local gluten-free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Café) vegan chocolate chip cookies to my gluten free lemon chiffon cake…to ICE CREAM!

The thing with ice cream is…as much as I love ice cream, being lactose intolerant means that sometimes…the ice cream doesn’t love me back. This means that it’s better for me to skip it all together…or find something that is equally as delicious…and just like that rich, creamy, amazing dairy-filled treat that I grew up eating…year round!

The answer, my friends, is no further than your grocery store freezer.

The amazing and wonderful people at So Delicious Dairy Free sent me a few pints of their new Gluten Free and No Sugar Added frozen dessert offerings. Yes…their coconut milk ice cream, if you will. And me, being the ice cream lover that I am…am thrilled to try these flavors out. I’ve already reviewed the Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert and the Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.

Tonight…it was on to the No Sugar Added (and still gluten-free) flavors. I asked my roomie to choose a flavor from the ones that are in the freezer. Without any hesitation she immediately chose…

…the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.

Butter Pecan just happens to be her mom’s favorite ice cream flavor. Fact. Now you know.

After a very long, and somewhat stressful day…I made dinner upon getting home and after we devoured that….dessert was up. As usual, I tend to pull the pint out of the freezer while we eat dinner to allow it to soften up. Because it is made without the dairy, it sometimes gets a little more frozen than regular ice cream, so the time sitting on the counter while we dine means that it’s ready to scoop when dessert time rolls around. I was pretty stoked myself, having always enjoyed a great butter pecan ice cream. It’s one of those oddball flavors that I so rarely get, that I only remember how much I love it when I actually get it.

I dished up two bowls of ice cream, with the proper serving all measured out. I served it up and we dug in while watching Food Network (because…we love our Food Network!). One bite. That was all I needed to fall in love with this frozen treat. Honestly. WOW! First of all, the texture is perfect. Creamy, light, not gritty. Pure ice cream perfection. You’d never guess this was made with coconut milk. It is that perfectly balanced. But, my rave doesn’t stop there. FLAVOR! Holy cow. The flavors incorporated into the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert stand up and just dance with your taste buds. Dance. Maybe a tango. Maybe the conga. vanilla with butter and pecans…oh…it’s so good. You can really catch all those rich and amazing flavors. And the pecans bring this great crunch and texture to the creamy ice cream. And all of this…without any added sugar. You can’t argue with that. My roommate actually licked her bowl clean. I think this is her new favorite so far!

So, what all goes into the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert? Well, it all comes together using organic coconut milk, pecans, gum arabic, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and monk fruit extract. This dessert is organic, dairy-free, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan. It is also cholesterol free.

And with that, you know we have to take a peek at the nutritional information. A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. In this serving you will be taking in 140 calories and 13 grams of fat. Don’t panic over that fat content. It’s derived from coconut milk, which means that’s the healthy fats. A serving dishes up 65 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar. LOVE THAT! And finally, you will be taking in 10 grams of filling fiber and 1 gram of protein.

LOVE! That’s what this ice cream is all about. A dairy-free twist on a classic flavor! The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is truly a pint of love. The flavors and texture are fantastic and amazing. And I am totally in love with it. It will take all my (currently non-existent) self-control not to devour the entire pint right out of the carton. It would be worth it though…

So Delicious…keep on making these amazing treats…because you certainly got my attention. No sugar added just proves that sugar free doesn’t mean flavor free. I am totally in love with you, my So Delicious people. Thank you!

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

July 28, 2014

Product Review: Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu

Product Review: Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu – $5.99+

Oh, great and wonderful and powerful (because you keep drawing me in) Raisin Rack natural food store in Columbus, Ohio. I love you. I love you in so many ways I can’t even begin to count them. And one of the many reasons I love you is that your extensive gluten-free section offers me A LOT of options I can’t get here in Louisville, Kentucky…or anywhere else for that matter. Seriously…there are some items I have never even heard of…and then I head up to Columbus to visit my friend Jenn…and BAM…I am educated on products that are out on the market that I didn’t even know existed.

After making about 10 laps of the gluten-free aisles and filling up my basket (actually, I behaved and didn’t fill it up…no need to Tetris anything this time)…I made one final decision before checking out. And that was for dessert. After all, Cathy, Jenn and I were cooking Italian that night (gluten-free pasta with gluten-free foccacia), so I figured…despite having made a delicious homemade buttermint ice cream…we might as well keep with the Italian theme. So…I went back to the freezer section and pulled the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu from the shelf. Into the basket. Up to the register. Into a bag. Back to Jenn’s. I put it in the fridge to let it thaw…and dinner time came and went and I was so ready to dive into dessert. I mean…I don’t get to have tiramisu that often. In fact…I never get to. So this was indeed a nice treat and one I was looking forward to.

I had pulled the box out of the refrigerator to let it thaw the rest of the way while we ate dinner. And when dinner was appropriately devoured…it was time to work on dessert. And I was super excited about the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu, which was suddenly on the menu. And I was not alone. Jenn is Italian…and she knows good tiramisu. And I couldn’t wait to get her thoughts on this. Cathy doesn’t do tiramisu too often, so she’s sort of a non-entity in this review…because Jenn is an expert and I’m a fan. So…after clearing the table…I opened up the box, removed the container with the tiramisu…and eagerly and carefully popped the lid.

And…the entire top layer stayed on the lid. Well…crap.

Oh well…I went to Jenn’s silverware drawer and pulled out a knife to see if I could salvage that layer of dusted cocoa. I gave it my best shot, so, the top of the tiramisu isn’t as pretty as it should be…however…as Jenn always says…it still tastes the same. So…I just sort of incorporated the cocoa dusted layer over the fluffy mascarpone cheese layer as best I could…then split the delicate dessert into thirds. This dessert is actually meant for two people, but there were three of us…so we had ice cream with it. HA!

Anyway…the layers were soft and light as my butter knife sliced through it. The dessert itself was easy to lift out of the little plastic container it had been frozen in. A little messy…but workable. Desserts are good to be messy. It’s just means more opportunities to lick the plate clean. We all settled in with our forks and plates with the layered dessert of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, mascarpone cheese and cocoa…and took our first bites.

Cathy, as I said, is excluded from this review of the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu as she isn’t a tiramisu person. That being said, she loved the fluffy layer of mascarpone cheese. She said she could take or leave the ladyfingers. EH. Whatever. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Jenn, however, is a tiramisu expert. And both she and I hoovered this slice of gluten-free Italian dessert heaven without so much as a breath, I think. We both agreed that the ladyfingers were moist and soft and good. The mascarpone layer was so light and fluffy, whipped up to perfection. The espresso flavor was sort of lost…we both said that we were sort of looking for that coffee flavor, but overall, Jenn said she never would have guessed it was gluten-free if she hadn’t found it for me in the freezer. HA!

There you go. I’m a huge fan. And now I want to try more and more from Russo’s Gluten-Free Gourmet. And it seems like they have quite a few items I might consider next time I’m at Raisin Rack.

Let’s talk about what goes into Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu, shall we? The ingredients are gluten-free lady fingers (made from rice flour, corn starch, rice extracts, tapioca dextrin, and xanthan gum) mascarpone cheese, whole eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, espresso, and cognac. Simple ingredients for sure. And I recognize each and every one of them. That’s a plus. Interestingly enough, this is a family owned and operated company that dedicates itself to gluten-free products with exceptional quality. They are certainly doing their job right. This was fantastic.

A serving size of the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu is 1/2 of the container (or 4 ounces). A proper serving will provide you with 160 calories and 11 grams of fat. Yeah…it’s worth every gram. You will also be taking in 85 mg cholesterol, 30 mg sodium, and 9 grams of sugar. I’m impressed by the sugar count, as I thought it would be higher for such a decadent dessert. But…it’s actually in a decent range. Finally, you will be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein.

Honestly, this was one very rich, moist, light, amazing dessert. I am beyond impressed with my introduction into the lineup of products from Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet. This more than solidifies the fact that I will pick up other items by their company and try them out next time. I’m already thinking dinner will be gluten-free mozzerella sticks. And pizza bites. Yep. Both. Because…why the hell not? Beyond enthusiastic. Beyond surprised. Just…totally blown away by this dessert. Add a bit more of that coffee flavor and it would be absolute tiramisu perfection.

Well done, Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet. Well done!

July 21, 2014

Product Review: Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings

Product: Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings – $5.99+

There are quite a few things I really miss in my life at times. Like…makes me sad and really wanting to cry kind of miss. Maybe not the way I miss my family (and I really miss my family)…but people and food have relationships too. And one of my favorite cuisines growing up was none other than Chinese food or Asian-style cuisine.

It was tradition in my family to visit my great grandmother in Winona, Minnesota, every year that we went to visit both sets of grandparents. And one thing that I always looked forward to when visiting my great grandma was…Chinese food. She always ordered in the most amazing Chinese food in town. It was always egg rolls and chow mein and rice and there was more of it than the group of us could eat…but we always gave it our best shot. It was tradition. It was one of the many highlights I experienced growing up and something I came to look forward to every time we headed over to great grandma’s house.

I haven’t had true Chinese food since I went gluten-free…three years ago. The sauces…the way things are cooked…it’s risky. And it’s a risk I no longer am willing to take. It’s sad, because Asian food is one of my favorite types of cuisine. Sure, there are places like P.F. Chang’s that offers a gluten-free menu…but the vegetarian choices are very limited…and that’s not true Chinese.

Then…along came a little miracle in my Whole Foods (and other natural food stores) freezer section. A company, known as Feel Good Foods, introduced the first (and I believe the only) gluten-free Asian dumplings and egg rolls to the market. The hardest part was choosing if I wanted egg rolls or dumplings. It was a tough decision, but I finally chose the dumplings. One of the interesting things about this company is that it was created by husband and wife duo, Chef Tryg and Vanessa Phillips. They created Feel Good Foods gluten-free frozen foods after they opened a gluten-free restaurant and were told that they needed to put their food out on the market. Their foods are non-GMO, all-natural and completely gluten-free. You see…Vanessa is a Celiac…so they take food allergies really seriously.

Cathy had some leftover rice from our treat on Friday at the local Indian restaurant. So, after work and a trip to the gym, I wanted something that was easy to prepare and wouldn’t require me to read off a recipe or attempt something new. With the rice in the fridge, I figured I could steam up some of the last of the jasmine rice in my pantry for myself and then pull the Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings out of the freezer to prepare while my rice was cooking on the stove.

These are super easy to prepare. In a non-stick pan, add a cup of water and 1 tablespoon of oil. Bring it to a boil and add the dumplings to the pan, flat side down. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-high, leaving the dumplings in the pan until the water completely evaporates. It takes around 10-11 minutes. They are fine to eat on their own, but I served mine with rice. These even come with a fantastic dipping sauce, which I ended up just pouring over the top so that the rice could absorb it too.

I settled in for dinner and dug into my little bowl of Asian gluten-free food. I wasn’t sure what to expect…but I was very happy with what I started to eat. The dumplings were soft and tender, with a nice crust on the flat side that was on the pan. The rest of it was that doughy stickiness you associate with potstickers. Amazing. The stuffing inside the wrapper was flavorful and very much like a delicious egg roll. So it was like a dumpling with an egg roll flavor. Happy girl right here. And the dipping sauce helped add a bit of seasoning and flavor to the entire dish. I am already wanting to restock my freezer with more of these. And the egg rolls for that matter. Delicious!

The Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings are a simple blend of ingredients. The wrapper is made from water, sweet rice flour, rice flour, potato starch, canola oil, salt, xanthan gum, and corn starch. The filling is a combination of cabbage, yellow onion, bean vermicelli, carrots, green onion, corn starch, sesame oil, and less than 2% of evaporated cany syrup, ginger, salt, black pepper, yeast extract, and shiitake mushrooms. The dipping sauce is made from water, organic tamari soy sauce, sugar, ginger juice, garlic juice, and natural flavors of garlic and black pepper. These dumplings are gluten-free and cholesterol free.

Real and recognizable ingredients. LOVE it.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving size of the Feel Good Foods Vegetable Dumplings is 4 dumplings. There are two servings per box. One serving provides you with 290 calories and 9 grams of fat. They contain 430 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. These contain 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. The sauce packet contains 45 calories, is completely fat free, has 10 grams of sugar, and 2 gram of protein. Not bad for a frozen package of gluten-free foods.

If I could hug both Chef Tryg and Vanessa, I totally would. Because of them, I am once again able to revisit one of my favorite cuisines…Asian. And I can’t wait to try the Vegetable Egg Rolls and replenish my freezer with the Vegetable Dumplings. These are one of my favorite frozen dishes I have had to date. It might be the nostalgia, but I definitely think it has more to do with the product itself. Taste, texture, flavor and just all around goodness.

It doesn’t get much better than this!

Chinese food is BACK in my life!

Feel Good Foods Gluten Free Vegetable Dumplings and Dipping Sauce

July 21, 2014

Product Review: Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger

Product: Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger – $5.49+

I remember, back in the days before I was diagnosed as a Celiac, I was simply a vegetarian. And as a vegetarian, I often would pick up different meat alternatives to try out for dinner. One of my favorite brands I would return to was Gardein. Gardein was a company that began with a simple dream – to use the power of vegetables to create healthy fast food. It was something the CEO and the company did very well. In fact, Gardein products are now served in various restaurants, including numerous restaurants at the Wynn in Las Vegas.

I do, however, remember and even recall someone asking…and did so myself…after I had to go gluten-free…for Gardein to consider making gluten-free products. The original response those three years ago was that taking the vital wheat gluten out of the products would jeopardize the integrity of said product. Therefore…no go. In fact, so many of the vegetarian/vegan meat companies took that stance. And for a long while, a vegetarian meat product didn’t cross my lips. Sure, there were a few options I tried and some that I liked. But none were like the ones I used to devour every week.

Until…

Gardein announced that it had some gluten-free products coming out to the market. And lo and behold, my newest local grocery store in the Louisville area happened to have some of these products. I have a CSA bin that gave me TONS of leafy greens this week. So, I figured it would be a good time to perhaps make up some veggie burgers. I was pretty set on one of my standards…Hillary’s Eat Well or Qrunch or something along those lines. But as I was passing by the freezer section in Lucky’s…there they were…a beacon of refrigerator light shining down upon them as if they were a gift from the gluten-free gods themselves.

Gardein’s Gluten-Free Veggie Burgers. In fact, there were a couple of different varieties to choose from: Garden Veggie Burger and a Chipotle Black Bean Burger. My roomie and I actually swear there was a gluten-free beefless burger there as well. Honestly! Not just the Beefless Ground. But I can’t find anything on that on their Web site. But…trust me…we saw it because it was in the running to come home with us.

Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burgers (cooking)

Anyway…dinner time tonight meant…veggie burger time. Gluten-free veggie burger time. So, I started up the oven to cook the remaining sweet potato fries to go with the burgers and then pulled out my skillet to get it heated up. The Gardein Garden Veggie Burgers were taken out of the freezer and I carefully (NOT!) pried them apart with a sharp knife so I could have two of the four in the package. Then, I placed a bit of coconut oil in my skillet, let it melt, then put the patties down to cook. The bag said it would take around 4 minutes on each side. This was perfect. I got my gluten-free hamburger buns (Rudi’s Gluten Free Multigrain Hamburger Rolls, in case you were wondering!) out, sliced, and put in the oven to toast. Then, I flipped the veggie burgers over to get the other side cooking as well. As things were finishing up, I sliced a tomato, rinsed some of the lettuce I had in my crisper drawer, and got out some vegan cheese to melt over the top of the patty. As the fries finished up and the buns finished toasting, I placed a cheese slice on each patty, tossed a bit of water into the skillet, and then covered it so that the steam would perfectly melt the cheese.

As that was happening, I placed some condiments on each bun, then got the lettuce placed onto the bun itself. I removed the Gardein Garden Veggie Patties from the skillet and let them sit (per instructions) for one minute. Then I placed them patty over the lettuce, topped it off with the tomato and the top of the bun and VIOLA…dinner was served…with a side of sweet potato fries!

Settling in for dinner, I was really looking forward to trying a new brand of veggie burger. Especially since it was from a brand I used to trust as a vegetarian. They definitely didn’t disappoint. Whatever integrity Gardein thought it would lose by making gluten-free products…didn’t happen. Honestly. The Gardein Garden Veggie Burger was amazing. It was perfectly crusted on the outside, but the inside was soft and bound together with real vegetables, brown rice, and oats. I loved that I could not only take a bite of the burger and have it taste like a real burger…but I also got a bit of a serving of vegetables (corn, peas, peppers). I could see the brown rice cooked throughout and giving the patty some depth of flavor and a bit of volume and density. This burger was a very good size too…no skimping by Gardein. I loved seeing that. And it had a great, almost nutty and fresh taste to it. It was love at first bite with me. And I am happily assigning this the top spot on my gluten-free veggie burger list. Yes…it really is that amazing and that good. And…it will actually fill you up!

Now that I’ve mentioned that…I might as well get down to the ingredients and nutrition, yes? Yes!

Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burgers are made from water, cooked brown rice, roasted vegetables (non-GMO corn, red and green bell peppers), carrots, onions, gluten-free rolled oats, peas, non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil, non-GMO soy protein concentrate, modified vegetable gum, dehydrated garlic, organic cane sugar, onion powder, sea salt, spices, yeast extract, natural flavors (contains gluten-free soy sauce), paprika, citric acid. Simple ingredients…but huge flavor. These burger patties are gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO.

Nutritionally speaking, I am so in love with these stats, you just can’t imagine. So often, the gluten-free veggie burgers are laden in calories and fat. I guess it’s just how the companies try to make up for it being (GASP!) gluten-free. But Gardein turned out one fantastic product and managed to do it and keep both calories and fat in check. A serving of the Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burgers is one burger. This serving will dish up 110 calories and 4 grams of fat. Yep…you read that right! LOVE IT! One burger will also give you 280 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. These burgers are cholesterol free. One burger patty will also give you 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein.

Did I mention how delicious these are? Delicious and nutritious! Gardein was a little gun-shy to take on gluten-free. It tookk them a couple of years, but after listening to the numerous requests by consumers, they have entered the gluten-free market. And they did so with a bang. If you are looking for an amazing gluten-free veggie burger, run to your store and find the Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger. Trust me…it will be the best you’ve ever had.

Amazing.

Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger (with lettuce, tomato, vegan cheese on a Rudi's Gluten-Free Multigrain Hamburger Roll) — Gardein Gluten-Free Garden Veggie Burger (with lettuce, tomato, vegan cheese on a Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Hamburger Roll)