Frozen – Page 6 – The Celiathlete

July 14, 2015

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Cappuccino Cashew Milk Frozen Dessert

So Delicious Diary Free Cappuccino Cashew Milk Frozen Dessert

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Cappuccino Cashew Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

So, for those of you who know me and who have been paying some sort of attention…I’ve been hooked now, since it was first introduced onto the market, to cashew milk (unsweetened, of course!). Seriously…YUM!! If you are missing a little bit of the thickness of regular milk, switch from that runny almond milk and coconut milk to cashew milk. You will NOT be disappointed. I will never go back to anything else. Nope. Not at all.

With that in mind, and the fact that, of everything in this world that contains dairy, the thing I miss the most isn’t cheese…but ice cream. Good, delicious, cold, satisfying ice cream! I stopped going to my local ice cream place (oh Comfy Cow, how I miss you!) as even the supplements I used to take to help me handle some dairy stopped really having any sort of effect. I think the last ice cream I had was back on my birthday in September.

*SIGH*

But, there are, naturally, non-dairy ice creams out on the market. One of the most notorious for their fantastic products, however, is So Delicious Dairy Free. And, not only are they making ice cream with their soy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk…but they have added cashew milk to the mix too! That was an exciting day in the grocery store, let me tell you. I have already tried two of the five (5) flavors they currently have out on the market: Snickerdoodle and Salted Caramel Cluster. A reader (Louise) sang high praises of the Cappuccino flavor. Now, I can understand how this flavor would be out of this world. It combines my love of two things…espresso and ice cream.

And, one day, while I was home baking or cooking or something, my roomie made a last moment dash out to Kroger to pick up some items I needed. And upon her return she presented me with two more of the So Delicious Cashew Milk Frozen Desserts. Yep. Dark Chocolate Truffle and Cappuccino. As the Cappuccino was so highly praised in a comment on my blog…when I polished of a pint of my homemade strawberry coconut milk ice cream…this was next in line.

It’s the perfect time of year for ice cream and cold desserts. While this summer hasn’t been as hot as years past, it still has been enough to make me wilt on occasion. That being said, ice cream makes everything right. So, after I cooked up an easy vegan grilled cheese sandwich for dinner just before my last physical therapy session last night, I pulled out the pint of the So Delicious Dairy Free Cappuccino Cashew Milk Frozen Dessert and let it thaw while I made up the sandwiches for my roomie and I, plated them with a serving of Zapps VooDoo Kettle Chips (OMG! YUM!), and devoured the food because it had been a long day and I was hungry. HA! When we had both finished eating and cleaned off the dishes, I got out the ice cream bowls and set to scooping out perfect 1/2 cup servings (yes…I measure…every time!) for each of us.

I handed my roomie her bowl first. See, when it comes to ice cream that is coffee-flavored, Cathy will either love it or hate it. Most of the time, she wrinkles up her nose in disgust and is done. But…she kept on taking spoonfuls. This…boded well. This boded very well. I tucked the rest of the pint back into the freezer, gathered up my own helping and settled in to try it myself.

OH…WOW!! First of all, I appreciate that So Delicious manages to find a distinct and perfect balance. This frozen treat isn’t too strong on the coffee flavor. In fact, it’s more like…a latte if you will…milky with a coffee finish. The nutty flavor of the cashew milk base itself helps to balance out the flavors, keeping the coffee from overwhelming the rest of the product. The flavor is simple, but executed perfectly. I probably could have put this into my coffee cup in the morning and told everyone I was just having my morning coffee…and be content. I might even start a new coffee trend. Forget Starbucks Frappuccinos…I’ll take a scoop of So Delicious Dairy Free Cappuccino Cashew Milk Frozen Dessert. Half the calories…big on taste. Oh yeah!! You know what I like.

Let’s look at the ingredients that go into the So Delicious Dairy Free Cappuccino Cashew Milk Frozen Dessert, shall we? This product is made from cashew milk (water, cashews, non-GMO canola oil), organic dried cane syrup, gum acacia, natural flavor, sea salt, organic fair trade coffee, and cinnamon. This dessert is gluten-free, vegan, cholesterol free, free of trans-fats, and non-GMO.

As far as nutrition goes…aside from being a dessert and an ice cream treat at that, this is actually quite impressive and not half bad as far as the data goes. One serving is 1/2 cup and there are 4 servings in each pint. One serving will provide you with 150 calories, 7 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 20 mg sodium, 21 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 17 grams sugars (YIKES!! It is dessert…it is dessert…), and 3 grams of protein.

Rest assured, the rest of this pint was polished off tonight. No more of the So Delicious Dairy Free Cappuccino Cashew Milk Frozen Dessert…for the moment. But, trust me, that one is in the rotation for keeps. So delicious (no pun intended!). I loved it from the first bite to the last, and had to keep myself from stealing spoonfuls from the frozen pint for all the moments in between. That is the mark of a quality ice cream for sure.

Coffee lovers heaven…in a dairy free package. Enjoy!

July 3, 2015July 3, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels – $8.50

I’ve been burned by gluten-free products in the past. You hear about them via the Internet and you either find them at your local store (grocery or natural food) and you take them home and try them out and you find out all the hype was just hype. It sucks. You’re out a good meal/snack and money.

So, imagine how it felt for me to pour some money into a company that found me via my Twitter feed, when I was talking about the new Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bagels (plain and everything). They reached out to me, and didn’t say they had a better product, just that if I enjoyed those, I’d love theirs. They did it twice…and with me…this shows persistence and a great belief in the product they have. I had already made my way over to their page upon the first contact and was intrigued by what I found. The second time, they had me convinced I just needed to pull the trigger and place an order.

And this is where my love affair with Sweet Note Bakery and their New York style gluten free bagels began…

Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

No buyer’s remorse happened either after I checked out of their online store. A couple of days later, a box arrived bearing my bagels. I made room for them in my packed freezer until it was time to crack into them. So far, they have wowed me with the Plain, Everything, and Cinnamon Raisin varieties. These are all commonly found as flavored with other gluten-free bagels on the market…

But Sweet Note really knows how to sweeten the deal. And this chocoholic jumped at the chance to try their latest flavor…

Chocolate Swirl.

Chocolate for breakfast? Hell yes! In fact, I am no stranger to incorporating sweet chocolate into my breakfast. I’ve made chocolate gluten-free hot cereal. My mom grew up making chocolate chip pancakes for my friends and I. And sometimes, I throw chocolate chips into my overnight oats or my breakfast parfait. We all deserve a little something sweet sometimes.

Per instructions on the packaging, in order to get your bagels done right, do NOT ever let them thaw to room temperature. This goes against how I prepare anything gluten-free from my freezer, but there is a reason for this. So…do it. Pop these into your microwave for about 1 minute, until they are soft. Cool slightly, and then the slice and toast. If you’re like me and you don’t own a toaster, pop them in an oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. They come out perfect.

Let me tell you, this bagel has everything working for it. Everything. It satisfies your sweet tooth without taking it too far. I mean, who doesn’t love chocolate for breakfast? The best part is…the Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels keep the chocolate subtle so that it doesn’t become more of a doughnut or cake, than a bagel. It is smoothly swirled into the bagel, creating this gorgeous pattern when you slice into the breakfast treat itself. And, let me tell you, nothing makes your morning better than the aroma of chocolate as it toasts in the oven (or toaster if you have one…I don’t!). My mouth was watering as it was being thawed in the microwave for a minute. This is more than a bagel. This is everything you want in a breakfast – savory and sweet – crunchy and chewy. Amazing. Just all-around amazing.

Want to know what else is amazing? The old-school style that these gluten-free bagels are produced in. They hit that traditional New York Style, not only in size, but in texture too! And, yes, I am 100% certain these are gluten free!! You wouldn’t believe it to taste it for yourself, but it’s on the packaging and a big part of the business. The authentic nature of all of the gluten-free bagels from Sweet Note Bakery is that they take you back to the classic 3-inch size of the traditional bagel. No mega-bagel here. You don’t need it. Instead of a 6-inch monstrosity, you’re chowing down on real, natural ingredients that will leave you feeling full and content. Trust me. And, with the way these are constructed, you get an amazing crispy outer crust and that warm, chewy middle that New York bagels are known for. Sweet Note, you’re doing it all right.

And by adding chocolate to create your very own (and unlike any other gluten-free bagel on the market) Chocolate Swirl Bagel, you’re taking it to the next level. All of us with a sweet tooth, or who enjoy a little treat in the morning, are dancing a happy dance. I happened to top off my Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels with some of my own homemade strawberry jam. Let me tell you…it was magical. Yep. I said magical. Because if you love chocolate-covered strawberries, imagine how amazing strawberry covered chocolate is. Yep…it’s amazing. And these bagels were the perfect vehicle to showcase my own hard work in the kitchen with fresh, local berries. Ah, the joys of being a foodie.

Now, let’s talk ingredients for a moment, shall we? The Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels are made from water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, vanilla extract, salt, chocolate chips (evaporated cane juice, natural chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), and non-dairy cocoa butter). As always, these bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, and peanut & tree nut free. The Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels are a little more expensive because they have to go the extra mile to add allergen-free chocolate to the mix. It’s worth it. Vegan, gluten-free goodness in every delicious bite. Trust me…you don’t want to miss out. This little bagel company is going places. BIG places.

As far as nutirtion goes, for bagels, this hits the sweet spot. A serving is 1 bagel (4.5 ounces or 128 grams). There are four servings per package. This one serving will give you 310 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 22 mg cholesterol, 280 mg sodium, 4 grams fiber, 18 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. See why you’ll feel full? Fiber-rich and packed with protein. Gotta love it!

Trust me, if you can’t find these in stores in your area, pop over to Sweet Note Bakery’s Web site and place an order. They need to be in your gluten-free life, stat!! And then, talk to your local natural food store, or Whole Foods, about stocking these. They would sell like hotcakes (or bagels) in an instant. Trust me. These are not to be missed. Sweet Note Bakery offers eight (8) different varieties of their NY style bagels: plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, sesame, poppy, chocolate swirl, snickerdoodle, and pumpkin spice. Their Web site says a Spinach Garlic is in the works. HELLO!! Want that. So, if you are a bagel lover like me…and gluten-free bagels have left you feeling cheated…get the real deal. And, if you like a little treat in the morning, twist up tradition with the Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels. They are not to be missed.

And this, sadly, concludes my stash in the freezer…so I guess it’s time to try out the other four flavors!

Sweet Note Gluten Free Chocolate Swirl Bagels topped off with my own homemade strawberry jam

June 26, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels – $7.29+

Some leaps of faith are just worth taking. Seriously. And nothing has surprised me more than how deeply I have fallen in love with the bagel creations by Sweet Note Bagels. It was fate that introduced me to these gluten-free goodies. Actually, it was a fantastic PR person at Sweet Note Bagels who was quick on the draw after seeing my blog on Canyon Bakehouse’s Gluten Free Bagels (both plain and everything). And I have to say…persistence always pays off with me. Always. The recommendation that if I liked Canyon Bakehouse’s Bagels then I would LOVE theirs, had me clicking on a provided link and heading over to their Web site to check them out.

And then my curiosity got the best of me. Without any further knowledge about their products, without looking up any reviews as to what other consumers thought of their products, I was on their online store, purchasing half of their bagel selections. Yep, I didn’t start with just one variety. I went into this believing that these would blow me away…and thus…I ordered four (4) of their eight (8) varieties that they currently offer.

So, now we went for a personal favorite…

Cinnamon Raisin.

I love everything about cinnamon raisin baked goods. I was a huge cinnamon roll lover growing up. Anything with a little hit of spice and that bit of sweetness is winning in my book. Raisins…well, they are one sweet treat I love indulging in, without the guilt. Put them together in some sort of bread-like form and you have a happy girl on your hands.

So, it was this morning after my 5:30 a.m. spin class that I dodged some rain home and immediately removed the Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels from my freezer. I grabbed two of them (one for me and the other for my non-gluten-free roomie!) and got onto thawing them in the microwave. You don’t bring these to room temperature like most gluten-free foods. Just 1 minute or so in the microwave, until they are squishy soft, and you’re golden. Cool them for a moment, slice in half, and toast. Because I don’t own a toaster, these bad boys went into the oven. And I left my roommate in charge of not letting the apartment burn down while they toasted and I went to shower.

No tragedies. My oven didn’t burn anything while I was getting cleaned and dressed for my physical therapy appointment before finally making my way into work. I came out to an apartment that was carrying the warm, comforting aroma of cinnamon sweetness. I peaked into the oven, just to make sure I was hitting that perfect golden color, and not having it begin to char. It was right on point. And as I closed the oven to let the bagels finish up, I commented to the roomie, “Those smell SO good…like cinnamon rolls.” I got out the Kite Hill Plain Vegan Cream Cheese Spread and some local Whipped Vanilla Honey that we had picked up at the recent Buy Local Fair in Louisville, Kentucky.

And so…out came the baking sheet with the perfectly toasted Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels. And I contained myself by not drooling on them or devouring all four halves. I took one half of each bagel and gave it the classic schmear of the vegan cream cheese spread. The other half of each bagel got a touch of the local Whipped Vanilla Honey. We were in business now. I served my roommate her bagel then went to pour my coffee and settle in to do my PT stretches and eat some breakfast.

I was no longer apprehensive and wondering if I had thrown away my money when it came to Sweet Note Bagels. Nope…I knew they were amazing. But how amazing were the New York Style Cinnamon Raisin offerings? AMAZING! There is no way anyone could eat these and immediately say that these are gluten-free. They taste just like a good, classic New York Bagel. The resemble them too! A perfect three inches in diameter, dense, and just thick. Honestly…I am so impressed with the appearance right off, resembling traditional bagels…just without the gluten! This style of bagel means that you get this crispy, golden outer crust and a soft, chewy, dense center where all the good stuff hides. And it’s perfection. A swirl of cinnamon and dabbling of sweet raisins complete this bagel from the first bite to the last. There wasn’t too much spice or too few raisins. It was an ideal and perfect balance. And I took my time this time, to savor, each half…one bite of one, then another, pairing it with the selected topping and finding how each one worked uniquely with this flavor of bagel.

Cinnamon Raisin + Gluten Free + Bagel = HAPPY GIRL!

Let’s talk about what Sweet Note Bagels puts into their Gluten Free New York Style Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, shall we? Well…as with their other products, the first ingredient is LOVE! So, you have LOVE, water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, raisins, olive oil, molasses, vanilla extract, cinnamon, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

And now…the nitty-gritty. Let’s discuss the nutritional information of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, shall we? A serving size is one (1) bagel (135 grams) and four (4) bagels come in the package. One serving will dish up 310 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans-fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 290 mg sodium, 69 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 17 grams sugar, and 4 grams protein.

One of the best things about these bagels is that they are really filling because they use real ingredients, No fillers, chemicals, and weird preservatives. This is real food…and will give you plenty of energy to get through the morning. I love eating a breakfast and knowing that my body is getting something good from it.

When it comes to Cinnamon Raisin anything…Sweet Note Bagels has won me over. My favorite flavor of bread-item…done in a perfect New York style bagel…yeah…you’ve won me over and won my gluten-free food loving heart. The bagels made by the fantastic team at Sweet Note Bagels has done their job and done it to perfection because, so far, their bagels have not let me down. If anything, they have shown me that there is so much more to the bagel market than the Udi’s and Canyon Bakehouse standards that are readily available in stores.

And thanks to their intrepid social media perseverance…I am forever a fan! If, like me, you love Cinnamon Raisin…then these will blow you away. Sweet and oh, so amazing!

Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels (one half with Kite Hill Vegan Cream Cheese Spread and one half with local Whipped Vanilla Honey)

June 26, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels – $7.25+

I think it has been well established that as a former New Yorker, I am a bagel lover. When I got my Celiac diagnosis, I became a one-time lover of bagels. Sure, there were a few different gluten free bagels out on the market…and I tried them all. Most of them were all wrong. I was enticed, because they had different flavors than the others…but in the end…just wrong. The closest I could get to a true bagel in my gluten-free world were the offerings by Udi’s and, more recently, Canyon Bakehouse.

But here is where the power of social media plays an important roll. I had recently reviewed the Canyon Bakehouse Plain and Everything Bagels that I ordered off their Web site, since they weren’t in stores yet (and still might be working their way there). After posting the review, I was pinged on Twitter by a company that literally does only gluten free bagels. Not just gluten-free, but also vegan, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and non-GMO. I was intrigued enough to Google search them and take a look at their Web site. Their name: Sweet Note Bagels.

New York style bagels…gluten-free? It sounded too good to be true. Usually very hesitant and cautious about ordering from a company I know little about or have heard little about, I decided to take a risk and a chance. And I went all-in, ordering half of their New York style gluten-free bagel flavors. Yep. They have eight (8) different flavors…I started with four of them – opting for the Plain (previously blogged), Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, and Chocolate Swirl. In addition to these four, Sweet Note Bagels offers Poppy, Sesame, Snickerdoodle and Pumpkin. And,according to their Web site, they are working on a Spinach Garlic offering as well (which sounds SO delicious).

She and her team are doing a fantastic job. And I hope it continues and more and more people try and discover these amazing bagels. Sweet Note Bagels are top-of-the-line. And I can now attest to that given that I have tried my second flavor that I purchased off their Web site…

EVERYTHING!

Yes, the Everything Bagel. Nothing gets as New York as this flavor of bagel. Unfamiliar with the Everything Bagel? Well, the basic information is these bagels appeared in New York back in the 1970s-1980s. They are basically a bagel that is topped with all the different topping varieties that are normally found on bagels. It is basically traditional to see a combination of seeds and dried herbs, with the most commonly used being poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion, garlic, salt, and even caraway seeds. Everything but the kitchen sink. They are incredible.

As the Everything Bagel is a New York tradition, and one that I am most fond of, I had high hopes when I pulled these out of the freezer to thaw them in the microwave for a minute, slice them, and toast them in my oven (you can toast them in a toaster, I just don’t own a toaster). They smelled amazing. Like…garlic and onion and awesomesauce. I don’t know what awesomesauce smells like, but I have a feeling it would be these bagels. And my mouth began to water more in anticipation as they toasted and the aroma filled my kitchen. Oh yeah…New York heaven.

The best part is…Sweet Note Bagels gets EVERYTHING right with their Gluten Free Everything Bagel. Trust this New Yorker. This bagel is a perfect 3-inch diameter…just like bagels used to be made, not the monstrosities that exist on the market and in bakeries today. Old school, traditional bagels…minus the gluten. LOVE. What this also means is that the outside of the bagel gets this great golden crust that is crisp when you bite into it after toasting it. The center…soft, chewy, and perfection. With the Sweet Note Bagels Gluten Free Everything Bagel, I topped it with a schmear of Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread and went to town. I couldn’t help it. If anything brought back my memories of New York…it was this bagel…in perfect technicolor! The flavors were amazing. Nothing was overpowering, not even the garlic! Seriously. The outside was this perfect crisp, which gave the bagel texture. The top half was topped off with a healthy spread of salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic. Yes…these are messy bagels. But messy bagels when you’re talking about an Everything Bagel…is just what you’re supposed to get. I thought there was the perfect amount of toppings on each bagel (4 come in each package). And they cooked up to perfection. I ate them faster than I intended…and I wanted another one! I mean, I literally wanted to go and prepare another one right then and there. I resisted…somehow. Even my roommate, who had a regular Everything Bagel back in New York City in November when I was running the marathon fell in love with this version. She doesn’t have to eat gluten-free…but she does about 90% at home…because of me, and these bagels have really, really impressed her. She didn’t grow up a bagel lover…so these have won her heart. They have won me over too. If I were asked to choose my final meal, I think a Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagel would be on the menu. Yes…they are that exceptional!

So…let’s talk about what goes into Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels, shall we? I can tell you this…these won’t leave you feeling hungry an hour after you eat them. These bagels are made with REAL ingredients, not just fillers and rubish. That’s another great thing about Sweet Note Bagels…they make real food made with real ingredients. The Gluten Free Everything Bagels from Sweet Note are made with LOVE (Yes…really on the ingredient list!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic. These bagels, as mentioned above, are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

How about taking a look at the nutritional facts of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels? A serving size is one (1) bagel (135 grams). This serving will provide you with yumminess. Aside from that, you will be taking in 300 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans-fat, 0 grams cholesterol, 540 mg sodium, 63 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. See why you’ll feel so full and stay full? LOVE IT!

Let me tell you, there are few things that win me over as quickly as these bagels did. I am so grateful that Twitter drew Sweet Note Bagels to my blog on Canyon Bakehouse, and had them reach out to me about their product. Never before have I been so blown away by a product. Bagels…they are simple pleasures, but the bagels that Sweet Note Bagels makes are a gluten free treasure. Nothing else will stack up to these. I’m sure of it.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels with a schmear of Kite Hill Plain Vegan Cream Cheese Spread

June 18, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels

Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels – $7.25

Yep. This New Yorker has been introduced to a new gluten-free bagel. I had never, ever heard of Sweet Note Bagels before, until I got a response to a tweet on my blog on Canyon Bakehouse’s new bagels. It came from Sweet Note itself, telling me that if I liked Canyon Bakehouse, then I would love their bagels.

Being the investigative reporter that I am…(HEY! I have a B.A. in Journalism, thank you very much), I immediately Googled their Web site and began to poke around. Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

So…here I was…sitting at my desk, looking at these amazing photos online of these gluten-free bagels. I decided to throw caution (and my budget) to the wind and place an order, choosing four of the eight gluten-free bagel varieties that Sweet Note Bakery currently offers. I didn’t even hesitate to order, which is very unlike me, as I’ve been burned by gluten-free products before. But…this involved bagels…

It was important.

The bagels arrived two days later, and via the instructions in and on the box, I immediately froze them. I had some homemade bagels to use up before diving into these, but that occurred over the weekend. So, on Tuesday morning, after a morning at the gym, I returned home and pulled the Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels out (because you always start with the plain/original). The instructions that come in the box and on the packaging says not to thaw these to room temperature. This was certainly a different approach than how I normally do gluten-free bagels…but I obeyed. I plucked two bagels out of the package and tucked the remaining two back into the freezer. Then, each bagel got a 60 second meet-and-greet with the microwave. When they were removed, I did my best to slice them in half evenly. I admit, my bagel slicing skills will definitely need some work. I tossed these onto a baking sheet and into the oven to toast (I don’t own a toaster…that went away with my initial diagnosis, as my roommate was still eating regular bread and cross contamination was an issue…but since then, my kitchen went completely gluten-free) and went to get cleaned up for work. I returned and pulled these out of the oven, seeing the beautiful gold middles from the oven. I got the vegan cream cheese out of the refrigerator and applied a liberal schmear to each half. I served one bagel to my roommate and prepped my own, pouring a nice cup of coffee to enjoy with it.

Moment of truth.

For the first time…ever…someone finally got it right. Inside of each Sweet Note Bagel is the taste of a true New York Style bagel. From the size to the way it eats, you would be hard pressed to find someone who could immediately identify these bagels as gluten-free. First of all, forget the gigantor, plus-sized bagels on the market today. Sweet Note makes bagels the size they were intended to be, smaller, and more dense. That’s a true New York bagel. The average bagel 20 years ago was only 3 inches wide. Today, you’re looking at a 6 inch circumference. Is it any wonder we deal with an obesity epidemic in this country? So, returning to the authenticity of the true New York bagel, Sweet Note Bagels also achieve a perfectly crunchy crust and a chewy center.

My first bite brought back a wash of memories. These bagels are dense, chewy, crunchy and perfection. I loved sinking my teeth into each half, savoring the flavor, the way the crust would crumble and the middle would be soft, with a bit of melty vegan cream cheese. Heaven. Bagel heaven. I didn’t want breakfast to end. They say that it’s okay to have two…but I reigned myself in. There is nothing plain and simple about the Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels. They have extraordinary flavor for being the most basic bagel available. This leaves me looking forward to the other three flavors that are residing in my freezer.

For the record, my roommate has never really experienced the joy of a true New York Style bagel. She said she wasn’t used to the chewiness. Not a slam at all, because she devoured her bagel just as quickly as I did mine. She did get a bagel in New York City back in November, but she can’t remember much about it apparently. HA!

So…let’s talk about what goes into the Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels, shall we? These bagels are made from LOVE (yes…that is in the ingredient list!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan and gluten-free…yes, please. More of these!

Now, let’s look at the nutritional information. A serving size is one (1) of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels. This bagel will provide you with 300 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 340 mg sodium, 64 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugars, and 4 grams of protein. Yes…these bagels are filling, and that’s what I love about them. With other gluten-free bagels on the market, I am full for an hour, then hungry again. And I ate a six inch gluten-free bagel. It was made with filler more than real ingredients. And that makes a huge difference.

I will shout this from the highest mountain top, and throughout the realms of cyberspace. If you are like me, looking for an amazing bagel, but are confined to the gluten-free lifestyle…go over to Sweet Note Bakery‘s Web site and place an order for any (or all) of their eight varieties of bagels (Plain, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, Poppy, Sesame, Snickerdoodle, Pumpkin Spice, and Chocolate Swirl). For the record, I went with plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, and chocolate swirl to start…and that was without ever trying them before ordering). Trust me, there is only sheer awesomeness in each bite of these bagels. You will not be disappointed at all.

Sweet Note…thank you for introducing yourself to me via Twitter. Without your reaching out to me, I never would have known about your bagels…and now…I don’t think I can live without them.

Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels (toasted with a schmear of vegan cream cheese)

June 14, 2015

Product Review: Evol Foods Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Street Tacos

Evol Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Street Tacos

Product: Evol Foods Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Street Tacos – $3.99+

There are very few products out on the market these days that fill me with excitement and pure elation when I see them on the shelf for the first time. I know that might be hard to believe…but it’s true. Honestly. It’s true. Granted, there are some things that make me happy and truly excited when I find them…enough to run, flailing, up and down the aisles at the local Whole Foods or grocery store…but it’s not an everyday or even an every week occurrence.

That being said, one of my favorite foods in the world is…tacos. “Why tacos?” you might be wondering. Well…the reason I have a taco obsession (and have had weeks where all I cook are different varieties of vegetarian tacos…and call it Tour de Taco) is that you can literally put just about anything into a taco. For real! And it can be delicious. My favorite creation, by far, has been my veggie burger and fries taco. Yep…unhealthy but…OMG…yummy!

So, yeah, I was really, really excited to be shopping the frozen food aisles at my local Target one afternoon and spotting the orange and white box from Evol Foods for their new line of street tacos. Currently Evol Foods offers three gluten-free varieties with only one being vegetarian. So, hell yes, it came home with me and took up residence in my freezer. And, for some reason, I was unprepared for my lunches this past week…don’t know why. The never happens. But it did. So, on Friday, as I was intending on Indian food that night to celebrate my roomie (Cathy) heading out to audition for Jeopardy…this made the perfect lunch for us to share. I thought.

So Evol Foods mission is “to inspire people to care about where food comes from and how it is produced by making real food that tastes delicious. Love what you eat.”

Simple. Basic. And, as someone who has tried a couple of Evol Foods gluten-free and vegetarian products before, was pretty confident that the latest products to hit the market, the Evol Foods Street Tacos, would live up to not only their mission, but the high bar they set with the quality of their previous products.

Evol Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato, Black Bean, and Goat Cheese Street Tacos (frozen, out of the box)

That being said, the first thing I noticed when I removed the tray containing the two (2) street tacos that are in each package were just how small these were. I mean…SMALL! Maybe 4-5 bites each small. Given the size of the packaging and the picture on the box, I don’t know, I just expected…more.

Ah well…I was fortunate enough to have planned ahead, bringing the rest of the Good Boy Organics Organicasaurus Tangy Tomato Puffs (previously blogged on) with me for my roomie and I to split as we had intended to split the street tacos to keep lunch lighter in preparation for a bit of a bigger dinner. So…size…it does matter when you see a product with 220 calories and figure…well…a regular size (6-inch) soft corn tortilla has 40 calories in each tortilla. What I got were two very tiny tacos with doubled up corn tortillas that were about the size of the palm of my hand. I was shocked.

It came with frozen pouch containing a somewhat mild-spicy salsa verde, so before I even worked on the tacos, I brought some water to a boil and set the pouch into that to thaw while I warmed up the teeny-tiny tacos for 2 minutes on the tray. They then sat for 1 minute more…until they were considered ready to consume.

Let me start by saying this…the taco stuffing looked like…a hairball a cat threw up. Seriously. The image on the box is so deceiving, showing impeccably orange sweet potatoes, surrounded by crumbled goat cheese and perfect black beans, topped up with the perfect drizzle of salsa verde. Do not let this fool you. Because one the taco is cooked, the insides look more like something mashed up together and left out for the dog. Or…as stated before…a coughed up hairball. People eat first with their eyes, so it looked rather unappealing. I gave each taco a healthy dose of the salsa verde, which I had to cut the packet open as it is not one of those that gives you a corner to tear across. Good thing my office is equipped with such things in the kitchen. I was still going with it, however. Because I’ve eaten quite a few things that didn’t look all that appetizing, but in the end were phenomenal.

Tiny tacos were placed on two giant plates and I carried one over to where my roommate was working. I think she thought I was joking when I set it down in front of her. Eager to see how it tasted, I shrugged, apologized for the lack of size in the taco, and hurried to my own desk to tuck into my lunch.

It was…bland. Honetsly. If it wasn’t for the healthy squirt of salsa verde, I would venture to say that the Evol Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Street Tacos would be nigh-on tasteless. Some things taste like a frozen dinner…and this is one of those things. The tiny corn tortillas began to fall apart. The filling was not appetizing to look at and not even seasoned. The salsa verde, thawed in a coffee cup full of hot water, was the best part of this entire dish. In fact, I ate my entire taco and then savored the little dinosaur puffs I brought as a side, instead of the other way around. I wasn’t impressed, and my roommate was less than impressed as well.

I get it…street vendors are big into tacos, and street tacos might be smaller than the average taco. But this was really not even close to being a filling and decent-sized meal. What a complete and utter disappointment. When the best part is the part I almost didn’t mess with…well…there is a problem. Never underestimate a good salsa verde with a nice kick of cilantro.

So, let’s take a look at the ingredients for Evol Foods Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Street Tacos. These tacos are made from corn tortillas (white corn flour cooked in lime water, yellow corn flour cooked in lime water, water, and guar gum), sweet potatoes, organic black beans, goat cheese (pasteurized goat milk, salt, cheese cultures, vegetarian rennet, cellulose powder), roasted corn, salsa blend (jalapeños, green onion, cilantro, garlic), cheese sauce (whole milk, cheddar cheese [milk, cheese, cultures, salt enzymes], heavy cream, butter [cream, salt], water, potato flour, onions, rice starch, Parmesan cheese [part-skim milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes], sea salt spices), cilantro, jalapeños, salt, lime juice, cumin, and black pepper. The ingredients in the salsa verde are fire roasted tomatillo puree, jalapeños, cilantro, corn starch, lime juice, salt, onions and black pepper.

As for nutrition facts, the Evol Foods Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Street Tacos have 1 serving per container, which holds 2 small tacos. This serving will provide you with 220 calories, 5 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 160 mg sodium, 36 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 5 grams sugars, and 8 grams of protein. These are gluten-free and vegetarian.

So, yeah, you can say that I feel betrayed and really let down by both the presentation and the flavor of the Evol Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Street Tacos. Thank goodness I decided to go ahead and thaw out the sauce packet or I would have been very, very disappointed. I hate to say I wouldn’t purchase these again, but I wouldn’t. I’m glad I tried them, but I just wasn’t impressed. What a let down from Evol Foods.

Evol Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Goat Cheese Street Tacos (prepared)

June 14, 2015

Product Review: Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread

Product: Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread – $5.99+

A little while ago, I was introduced to a couple of new breads on the market. While the brand name has been producing gluten-free breads for awhile now, it wasn’t a brand that I actively sought out. Yes, I saw it all the time in the freezer section of Whole Foods and other natural food stores, but I had grown accustomed to snagging Rudi’s or Udi’s or (now) the Aldi liveGfree brand or Canyon Bakehouse. Food For Life was there…I just always overlooked it.

And why?

Who knows? As an active (even now, with an injury) athlete, it’s important to properly fuel my body and eat wholesome foods. Most products on the market for the gluten-free diet happen to be junk food. It drives me nuts. I hit that gluten-free section of a store and I can find a vast array of cookies, crackers, chips, pretzels, and the like. It is one of the biggest pet peeves of the grocery store. Yes, a lot of people with Celiac and gluten intolerance do miss out on some of the finer treats like Oreos and the like, but the shelves are literally overrun with products that aren’t going to feed your body right and healthy.

But Food For Life set out to change that. Through a lot of research and development, Food For Life released the first ever gluten free breads made from sprouted grains, such as quinoa, millet and chia. A majority of gluten-free breads, while satisfying the “gluten free” bread requirement, don’t address the overall health needs of consumers. Without the gluten to give bread the soft, elasticity of regular breads, most manufacturers choose alternative ingredients that mimic the feel of gluten, using egg, milk, and refined starches in order to achieve a softer and chewier texture. But these breads are created from ingredients that you wouldn’t expect to find in natural breads, many of which are devoid of nutrients.

Food For Life stepped up and decided to start a line with four varieties of completely gluten-free breads that were specifically created with the health of consumers in mind. Not only are they gluten free, but they are also vegan and made from nutrition packed ingredients that have been sprouted to maximize nutrition and digestibility.

I was fortunate enough to be sent one loaf of each of the Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Breads from Food For Life. These loaves come in Original 3 Seed, Almond, Cinnamon Raisin, and Flax.

The hardest part, for me, was choosing where to begin. It had been a long and tiring week and I was looking for a nutritious, but filling dinner. And, as breakfast is one of my favorite meals of the day, I decided to hit up one of my favorite recipes and have breakfast for dinner. Hence, it was time to bust out a very British, and all-time favorite in my book, breakfast recipe – Mushrooms On Toast.

And I had the perfect vehicle for the toast portion in my kitchen freezer. I consulted with my roommate and we decided to start with the Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread.

I thawed out four slices of the bread and then prepped them to toast in the oven while I prepared the rest of the meal. This involved sauteing up mushrooms, red onion, garlic, seasoning, and some of my homegrown fresh thyme. I made it creamier with rice milk. And then poached some eggs to top off the entire dish.

Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread turned out to be the perfect vehicle for Mushrooms On Toast. The bread is firmer, and stands up a bit more to toppings and the like. I was a bit worried when I thawed it out, as it seemed really dense and heavy, but that was ideal. That was, actually, a good thing in this case. The Flax variety of the Sprouted For Life line of gluten-free breads is amazing. It is dense and has this rich nutty flavor to it. The texture, if made into a sandwich might be a bit dry and heafty, but in a dish like this, where a sturdy bread is needed, it is ideal. In fact, this bread was almost like a sourdough, and that was where the magic was with this bread.

I loved the crunchy, sturdy nature of the bread when topped off with the creamy garlic and mushroom sauce. It held up to the runny middle of the poached egg and even a smattering of hot sauce. It was crispy, and delightful with each spoonful. Seriously, any other bread would have gotten damp and soggy, but this…this held up and stayed a piece of toast throughout the entire eating process.

Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread is rich in essential fatty acids and was developed specifically to help you perform at your best. With a great balance in the nutritional aspect, this bread is quite appealing. Made with sprouted chia, sprouted quinoa, and sprouted millet, this bread is a trio of health. And the flax is an added bonus for sure.

Let’s talk about ingredients. Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread is made from organic sprouted quinoa (red and/or white), filtered water, organic arrowroot, organic potato starch, organic sprouted millet, organic tapioca, organic sprouted flax, organic applesauce, fresh yeast, organic safflower oil, organic cactus, organic sprouted chia seeds, organic agave, organic vanilla, sea salt, vegetable gum (xanthan and cellulose), and organic psyllium. It is gluten-free, vegan, high in fiber, cholesterol free, and free of added sugars.

So, let’s talk nutrition. Since starting my nutrition course (oh…did I not mention that yet?), I have learned that there is more to counting calories. Sure, it is important, but it shouldn’t be the focus. It’s all about the nutritional aspects of the food. Avocados are high in fat and calories…but SO much better for you than that chocolate bar with the same amount of fat and calories. See what I mean? So, a serving of Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread is one slice of bread. This slice of bread will give you 110 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. This bread is free of saturated fat and trans fat (YAY!). The Flax Bread also will provide 115 mg sodium per slice, 0 mg cholesterol, 21 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. I was freaked out at first with the high calories per slice, but, again, not all calories are created equal and there is nothing fake going into this bread. It’s all healthy, all good, all nutritious. Making this a fantastic choice.

I was so excited to receive the loaves of the Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Breads. And if they are all as amazing and delicious as the Flax variety, then I am in for a treat for sure. My hat is off to the nutritional value, the top-notch ingredients, and the amazing taste of the new Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread from Food For Life. My only complaint, as with most gluten-free breads out there, is the small size of the loaf. Aside from that…amazed. Happy to have been given the opportunity to really try it out. I am beyond impressed.

Garlic Mushrooms on Toast made with Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread — Garlic Mushrooms on Toast made with Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Brea

June 1, 2015

Recipe: Double Corn Cakes with Black Beans

I have been a reader of Vegetarian Times since before I went full-on vegetarian. No joke. And after I took the step toward eating a plant-based diet, I became a subscriber. It’s one of the magazines I just can’t live without each month. Well, back in the April/May 2015 issue, they had an amazing recipe that involved polenta and corn, and black beans, and some other easy to find, or already have on-hand, items. And I had it in my head to make it.

This happens every month when I get my magazine subscriptions. But this time, it was different. Instead of just saying I would one day make that recipe. This time I did.

The recipe is for Double Corn Cakes with Black Beans…and the flavors, textures and just presentation are all fabulous. It’s a healthy and plenty filling meal. Having a hard time with your protein? Make this and you’ll be getting 19 grams in one serving. YES!

Recipe: Double Corn Cakes with Black Beans

Servings: 4
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 20-25 minutes

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced (1-½ cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 tablespoon)
1 jalapeño chile, seeded and diced (¼ cup)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 (15-oz) cans no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-oz) can diced tomatoes
1-½ cups fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels, divided
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 (18-oz) tube pre-cooked polenta
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Directions:

Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add onion, garlic, jalapeño, and cumin, and sauté 5 minutes.

Stir in beans, tomatoes, 1 cup corn, and lime juice; season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Cook 5 minutes, or until heated through. Transfer mixture to covered container, and keep warm.

Wipe out skillet.

Meanwhile, crumble polenta into microwave-safe bowl, and mash with fork until nearly smooth. Add remaining 1/2 cup corn kernels. Microwave 1 minute to soften polenta. Stir, then add beaten egg, and fold into polenta mixture until smooth.

Coat skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium-high heat. Shape polenta into 8 1/3-cup cakes, gently flattening with palm. Cook corn cakes in two batches in skillet 5 minutes per side, or until golden brown.

Serve corn cakes over black bean mixture.

~*~*~

There is something amazing about transforming corn kernels and polenta into savory fritters. I served mine with a side of sliced avocado, but salsa would be a great touch as well. These fritters have this nice crispy outside and soft inside. Fantastic flavor. Healthy. Delicious!! I need to really make more recipes from my magazine subscriptions in the future!

June 1, 2015

Product Review: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels

Product: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels – $5.00

A week ago, I wrote up a review about the newest product from Canyon Bakehouse. A product that made my native New Yorker heart skip a beat and, maybe, just maybe, made me shed a few tears…of foodie joy. We’re talking bagels. And while last week it was the new Plain Bagels from Canyon Bakehouse, this week we hit on a new high and a new favorite. And, yes, more tears of joy were shed. Not just because these gluten-free bagels are the best I’ve had so far, but because they hit on the essence of a New York bagel.

The Everything Bagel.

If you go to any bagel shop in New York City, you’re going to find the Everything Bagel on the menu. And for good reason. It was invented in New York City. And, even better, it’s the perfect bagel flavor. It has, as the name says, a little of everything.

And it has always been my favorite.

Most gluten-free bagels out on the market have never met my high bagel standards. Come on, I’m from New York…and going gluten free was hard enough, but don’t insult me with a poorly made gluten-free bagel. Udi’s was the closest I ever got, and they recently released an “Everything Inside” version of the Everything Bagel. It was close…but it wasn’t a true Everything Bagel. I want that crumbly topping on the bagel itself. Make it more real. Make it more…like the original.

Unfamiliar with the Everything Bagel? Well, the basic information is these bagels appeared in New York back in the 1970s-1980s. They are basically a bagel that is topped with all the different topping varieties that are normally found on bagels. It is basically traditional to see a combination of seeds and dried herbs, with the most commonly used being poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion, garlic, salt, and even caraway seeds. They are incredible.

So, yeah, when I received my box of gluten-free bagels from Canyon Bakehouse, which I ordered, and I could smell the garlic, I knew this was going to be a treat. And, I was not let down. I used the Plain bagels first, which from a previous blog, you realize were amazing to me and my bagel-loving self. Oh. My. GOD!

I think people would be hard-pressed to identify these as being gluten-free, they are that close to the real thing. The right amount of chewy on the inside, crunchy on the outside. Dense without being overly dense (texture and feel…not mentally…just clarifying that!). They smelled amazing as they toasted up in my oven on both Monday and Friday this week. And I was sad that today marked the end of the ones I ordered, though I feel the need to hop over to the Canyon Bakehouse Web site and order MORE!! ALL THE BAGELS!

So, let me explain. Everything Bagels are THE BOMB! And these are the GLUTEN FREE BOMB!! I love, love, love, love these. I love how the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bagels are sliced ALL the way through for ease in halving them for toasting. I love how the inner part of the breading is soft and chewy. I love how the outside is golden and gets crunchy with the toasting. I love the variety of seasonings that they managed to put on the outside of the bagel, making to seem more like the original thing. I love how well this paired with my Daiya Chives and Onion Cream Cheese Style Spread. I loved the flavor. WOW…the seasoning was amazing. The right hit of everything. Toasting each half only brings out those flavors more. They are soft, yet dense, yet satisfying. I don’t know if I’ll ever meet a bagel that surpasses the way this one tastes. I felt like I was back in New York, just having a typical breakfast morning. Sipping coffee. Reading. Enjoying my bagel. And, it is the perfect size and shape. NO one would know it was gluten-free. But it is. And I am in love. Madly, deeply in love.

Oh, Canyon Bakehouse…thank you!

Okay, so, we’ve established my undying appreciation and love for these bagels. Now let’s discuss what goes into making them so amazing. The Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels are made from water, tapioca flour, brown rice flour, potato starch, cultured brown rice flour, extra virgin olive oil, organic agave syrup, dehydrated onion, dehydrated garlic, whole grain sorghum flour, xanthan gum, egg whites, baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, potato flour, mono calcium phosphate), poppy seeds, sunflower seeds, yeast, sea salt, sesame seeds, and natural enzymes. These bagels are made with 100% whole grains, are gluten-free, and kosher. OH…and DELICIOUS!

As far as nutrition goes, the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels impressed me with their nutrition facts. A serving is 1 bagel (99 grams). In this 1 bagel, you will be taking in 250 calories, 5 grams fat, 420 mg sodium, 46 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber, and 4 grams of protein. These bagels are cholesterol free. The Everything Bagels will fill you up without filling you up. That’s the best part. The nice balance of fiber and protein makes for a filling breakfast. And, if you are lactose intolerant like me, I highly recommend the Daiya Chives & Onion cream cheese style spread. YUMMY!

If you are like me, a bagel fanatic, and you’ve felt like a good, amazing gluten-free bagel has been missing from your life. Go over to the Canyon Bakehouse Web site…or check your local food stores that carry Canyon Bakehouse products and find these amazing breakfast morsels and ENJOY!! Honestly, I’ll never go back to Udi’s again!

Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels with a schmear of Daiya Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Style Spread

May 26, 2015

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Sorbet

We all know that two of my favorite things in life is ice cream and chocolate. Well, unfortunately, real ice cream and I don’t get along, so I’ve taken to exploring other avenues, such as frozen desserts made out of coconut milk, almond milk, or even sorbets. Even better…I have an ice cream maker and often do a lot of experimenting on my own. Sometimes it works brilliantly. Other times…not so much.

But…HELLO PINTEREST! While browsing through my Pinterest one afternoon, I ran across a recipe from King Arthur Flour for none other than a dark chocolate sorbet. WOO! I had every intention of making this sooner rather than later, so I went home that night and started chilling the bowl for the ice cream maker. I prepped the actual recipe and let it chill overnight in the fridge.

My roomie and I were having her mom over for dinner the following night, so that morning, I went ahead and made the ice cream up to freezer. It was brilliant…

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Sorbet

Servings: 10
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Chill 8-12 hours

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
2/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons espresso powder (optional, but it really does enhance the chocolate flavor)
1/2 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
2 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons Peppermint Mocha Kahlua, regular Kahlua, or vodka, (optional, but it keeps the sorbet from freezing solid)

Directions:

Combine the sugar, cocoa, salt, espresso powder, chocolate chips, and water in a saucepan set over medium heat.

Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until the chips and sugar are dissolved.

Remove from the heat, and stir in the vanilla and Kahlua or vodka. Transfer the mixture to a heatproof bowl, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled; overnight is best.

Freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It’ll remain quite soft; freeze for several hours before serving, to firm up.

~*~*~

This was a rich, decadent treat. The Peppermint Mocha Kahlua was the perfect touch. Not only did it lend an amazing flavor to the recipe, but it honestly does help prevent the ice cream from becoming hard as a rock. LOVE. This was one of my favorite treats I’ve made in my ice cream maker.