Frozen – Page 8 – The Celiathlete

March 29, 2015March 29, 2015

Product Review: Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Pizza Bites

Product: Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Pizza Bites – $6.99+

They had me with the product name – Pizza Bites. PIZZA. BITES. PIZZA-FREAKIN’-BITES! As in…pizza rolls? Maybe? Possibly? Could I be that fortunate to stumble across (finally) one of the products that I no longer ate, not because it was made of crap (and they are), but because they were my favorite go-to snack when I needed something to eat while very, very busy?

Well…kinda.

In fact, these were more like breaded cheese ravioli, rather than pizza bites, but we’ll go with it. Let’s just run with it. Pizza Bites! WOOO!

So, I found these at my local natural food store, Rainbow Blossom, and had a freakin’ dance of joy in the freezer section. Honestly. I mean, I’ve been to parties where pizza rolls are laid out and everyone is just enjoying a few here and there. I get to stare at them. Dammit.

No longer.

Thanks to Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet…Pizza Bites (rolls…ravioli?) are back on my every-now-and-again want list. And now…I know where to get them. After purchasing these, I had to go through more fresh produce before allowing myself an indulgence from the freezer or fridge…but after a full day of professional soccer and time with friends…I needed to have something quick for dinner. I was going to do up some green beans with almonds, but my roommate was craving pizza. So…these made their debut in our kitchen.

Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet came about from Neil Russo, a professional chef who was hard at work on gluten-free recipes, which he was striving to perfect after hearing about the many people connected to himself that were having a hard time finding food while on a gluten-free diet due to intolerance or Celiac disease. After experimenting on his Italian bread loaves and Tiramisu, Russo was ready to give his food to the world. He first introduced the gluten free food in his restaurant, where he got high praise. Soon, he opened up Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet. And from there…the frozen versions of some of the classic Italian foods he perfected in gluten-free form. So good, that people even would ask if he was certain it was gluten free. All of Russo’s products are prepared in a strictly gluten-free facility.

So, two hungry soccer fans (my roommate and I) were ready to give these a try. I was surprised, when I opened up the bag to find large ravioli like bites inside. I was definitely expecting more of the pizza roll just from the name. They were frozen, lightly breaded stuffed pasta. But…I was hungry. Cathy was hungry. Pizza. Bites. Rolls. Whatever. Give us something delicious in some sort of pizza form.

Cooking the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Pizza Bites is super easy. Simply preheat the oven to 350°F and place the frozen bites on a cookie sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, then flip them and bake for another 5 minutes. Take out when or if the cheese starts to show. Mine cooked in 10 minutes without the cheese leaking out or anything. Bonus.

So, it was chow time. I dished up half the bag for my roommate and half for me. That was about 6 of the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Pizza Bites each. We settled in with an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series and dug in. One bite…and I couldn’t argue…they were delicious. I was a bit thrown by the ratio of dough to filling…but that is a small, slight complaint. I thought there was too much dough encasing a cheese filling…that was a little scant. The pocket had more air than filling, but it was still crispy on the outside with a melty, molten center, regardless. And yes…they were really, really great. Delicious. Amazing.

Yeah…I’d buy these again.

Let’s talk about the ingredients that are in Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Pizza Bites. These pasta pockets of pizza goodness are made from gluten free flour (rice flour, corn starch, tapioca dextrin, xanthan gum, rice extract) tomatoes, part skim mozzarella, vegetable oil, soybean oil, soybean lecithin, water, whole eggs, yellow corn flour, ricotta, onions, sugar, salt, granulated garlic, onion powder, parsley, basil, and black pepper.

As for nutrition, this isn’t bad for pizza bites. There are three servings in a bag of the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Pizza Bites. One serving is 4 pieces. These 4 pieces will provide you with 260 calories and 15 grams of fat. You will be taking in 40 mg cholesterol, 430 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. In addition, a serving dishes up 27 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, and 6 grams of protein.

I was actually impressed by Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Pizza Bites. But, what’s not to love about a company that does 100% gluten free products right, that is family owned and operated, and has exceptional quality. And…they are doing products no one else has managed to put out there. And they are doing them well.

If you can find Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Pizza Bites in your grocery store or natural food store freezer…buy them and try them. You’ll love them. And…pizza rolls are, kinda, back in your life. And that…is amazing in and of itself. For real!

March 24, 2015

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Coconut Shrimp

Product: Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Coconut Shrimp – $5.99+

Dear Sophie’s Kitchen:

I love you. I love everything about you. I love everything you develop and offer to the vegan and gluten free community. Your products have gone from wowing me to astounding me. Sometimes I go into something thinking that it will end up horribly wrong, but then…everything about it just seems right.

That was how I felt about the Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Coconut Shrimp.

For the record, back when I used to eat seafood (and other meats)…shrimp was my favorite thing in life. However, that being said, I never developed a taste for coconut shrimp. I don’t know why…but that was the case. It disgusted me. So, why, then, was I ever tempted to even purchase a vegan version of a seafood I didn’t like? I have no clue. No answer. Nothing except that I get really excited when I see new products from a beloved and trusted company, and that is the case with Sophie’s Kitchen. I have loved everything from the Fish Filets to the Crab Cakes to the Calamari to the Shrimp and Prawns. Love. Just lots of vegan seafood love. I went into it nervous and a little bit concerned and found out that sometimes, the vegan version from Sophie’s Kitchen is even better than I remember the original and actual seafood version being.

Talk about amazing, right?

So that…my dearest readers…has to be why I picked up a box of the Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Coconut Shrimp. I got new product happy. I couldn’t help it. It was in my freezer for awhile…just begging to be made. And with a little determination to clear out items that I’ve been hoarding in my freezer/pantry/fridge…I made sure that this box of vegan seafood got used this weekend. Enter…Sunday night.

My roommate was craving shrimp po’boys. She told me so. And she reminded me of the box of vegan coconut shrimp in the freezer. I told her that I was a little bit nervous about those as I never liked coconut shrimp to begin with…but she insisted. Po’boys. Besides…one more item out of the freezer. So, Saturday night, I pulled the shrimp out of the freezer and placed it in the fridge to thaw. I finished up grocery shopping (and discovered my local store stopped carrying the gluten-free sandwich rolls…so I had to purchase gluten-free hotdog buns…which are SO not the same!) and came home to a fun afternoon of hanging out with my downstairs neighbors, eating gluten-free lemon chiffon birthday cake (I made it…as my roomie requested it for her birthday and that happened while we were in New York City), cleaning up the apartment, getting laundry done, and taking a nice walk in the beautiful weather. We were both ready for dinner soon after 5 p.m. And Sophie’s Kitchen makes it a breeze.

While my makeshift sandwich rolls (aka: hotdog buns) toasted in the oven, I prepared a sweet chili aoili to put on top of the sandwich itself. I sliced up some grape tomatoes and washed a mixture of various super greens (kale, spinach, arugula). Then, as the hotdog buns were finishing up in the oven, I put a spoonful of coconut oil into a hot pan and gave a quick pan fry to 12 of the Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Coconut Shrimp. I mean, coconut oil just seemed logical to me. I allowed them to cook on one side for about 3 minutes, then flipped them over to find them a perfect golden brown on the side that had cooked through. So, I did the same on that side, then removed them to a paper towel and began to assemble the po’boys. A little Veganaise…the greens, the tomatoes, the vegan shrimp, then the aoili to top it all off. It all came together so well…even if the bread was a bit of a challenge.

Okay…so I ate a bit of the shrimp on its own first. Why? Because I needed to taste it without my drizzle of aoili on it. Guess what? My tastebuds lit up. And I was amazed with how much I loved this flavor. Honestly…the texture was meaty and perfect…with the crispiness of the breading on the outside and the soft vegan shrimp on the inside. There was this nice sweet kick in the breading that I absolutely adored. And sort of wished I was eating these outside of the actual sandwich itself. Both my roommate and I saved a shrimp to eat alone. Sophie’s Kitchen definitely did it once more and let me know that I can, in fact, love coconut shrimp. Either tastes change or, more likely, they just do it better than the real thing. But, I devoured this faster than any other product I’ve tried from Sophie’s Kitchen. Big, big love!!

So…what exactly is vegan seafood made from? Well, the Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Coconut Shrimp is made from water, konjac powder, pea protein, potato starch, coconut powder, rice flakes (from brown rice), canola oil, paprikia, fenugreek, organic agave nectar, sea salt, turmeric, white pepper, alginate (from seaweed), and calcium hydroxide. Is it clean eating…nope. Not even close. But…it’s not too bad as processed, frozen products go. Not at all. These are soy-free, vegan (100% plant based), non-GMO, gluten-free, contain no artificial preservatives, no artificial colors, no MSG, they are free of trans fats, and they are cholesterol free. These also contain no added sugar. Nothing about them is artificial. Nothing.

So, let’s talk nutrition. A serving of Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Coconut Shrimp is 4 pieces of shrimp. This serving will provide you with 130 calories and 10 grams of fat. This serving also gives you 150 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. A serving will give you 12 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, and less than one gram of protein. You’ll feel full, but mostly due to what you pair it with. In this case…I made it into a sandwich…and that definitely gives it a dinner heft that kept me full until the next morning.

Once again, blown away by how much I am loving the products that come from Sophie’s Kitchen. Seriously, if you turned vegan, vegetarian, or are gluten-free and want some breaded “seafood”…I encourage you to seek out Sophie’s Kitchen and try it. Take it from me…you’ll fall in love with the products. If Sophie’s Kitchen can make me fall in love with coconut shrimp…imagine what it can do for you.

I’m so glad to be dining on this once more tonight. Beyond YUM!

Sophie's Kitchen Gluten Free Coconut Shrimp in a Gluten Free Vegan Coconut Shrimp Po'Boy — Sophie’s Kitchen Gluten Free Coconut Shrimp in a Gluten Free Vegan Coconut Shrimp Po’Boy

March 23, 2015

Product Review: Sol Cuisine Smoky Chipotle Tinga Meatless Chicken

Product: Sol Cuisine Smoky Chipotle Tinga Meatless Chicken – $6.49+

Ever since I discovered Sol Cuisine vegetarian and vegan protein products, I have been hooked. Seriously. I’ve tried falafal, burgers, and sausage from this fantastic company. One thing that really caught my attention was how Sol Cuisine focuses on organic, non-GMO Kosher, halal, wheat-free, gluten-free, nutritious and delicious ingredients that aren’t loaded with fillers and chemicals. Yes…they are actually healthy and good for you!

Now, I used to do these “faux-meat” replacements all the time when I first went vegetarian. This came to an abrupt end (for the most part) when I was diagnosed as a Celiac. Most meat-replacement products out on the market contain vital wheat gluten or wheat protein to “give it better texture” and other such excuses. Very few companies have made the leap to both vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free for their protein products.

Some have and have failed. Some have and been successful.

Sol Cuisine…has definitely been successful. This was not the first product I have tried from Sol Cuisine, and it certainly won’t be the last. That being said, this was the first of the frozen meatless chicken meals that they put out last year. I have had this in my freezer for a long while, just begging to be used. I have gone to focusing on more natural and fresh ingredients, especially since I get a CSA bin delivered to my door each week. When I leave town though…my bin gets canceled and when I return, I usually try to make the most out of what I have in my freezer, fridge, and pantry.

I returned from New York City this past Monday with very little in my fridge. I wanted to still keep it nutritious and healthy, but really was on a tight budget after the trip. So, I managed to get enough to pick up a few necessities (kale, tomatoes, and some other necessities)…and said the rest could be done through pantry/freezer picking. And that’s when I discovered (all the way in the back) the packet of Sol Cuisine Smoky Chipotle Tinga Meatless Chicken that I picked up at my local Whole Foods…a bit ago. I kept saying I was going to make it…then never did. No excuses this time. Tuesday after work…this is what came out of my freezer.

Sol Cuisine’s Smoky Chipotle Tinga Meatless Chicken incorporates an authentic recipe from Cuernavaca Mexico and brings it to your home – vegan style. I was hoping for something rich and spicy and saucy and yummy. I even served it up as it suggested on the package, but taking my gluten-free corn tortillas and rubbing them down with some oil and toasting them in the oven for some homemade tostadas. Seriously. So easy and can be done while the meal is cooking. You can get tostadas already made, but why? They don’t take much time to make…just a warm oven and a timer so you don’t burn them and remember to flip them. HA!

As I was having a busy week, trying to make up the entire day I missed with delayed flights out of NYC, I needed easy, but healthy dinners this week. And the Sol Cuisine Smoky Chipotle Tinga Meatless Chicken definitely fit the bill. It is so easy to prepare. Simply open the package and remove the sauce packets. Place into a bowl of hot water for about 4 minutes to thaw out.

Then, you can either cook the meatless chicken on the stovetop or in the microwave. I find these things work best on the stovetop…so that was the method I used. To cook on the stovetop, simply place the frozen strips into a lightly oiled skillet and sauté over medium heat for about 3-6 minutes. Then add the sauce and stir until heated through. SO EASY! The microwave technique is super-easy as well and just involves pouring the sauce over the strips in the bag it came in and microwaving the open bag for about 3 minutes on medium…allowing it to rest for 1 minute before serving. Stovetop worked for me and it yielded an amazing end product too. The sauced and cooked chicken was placed on my homemade tostadas over some kale and spinach and arugula. And…dinner…was served.

Now, I’ve had plenty of meat replacements since becoming a vegetarian. Since then, I’ve found a few meatless chicken products that are also gluten-free. This is one of the first times that I haven’t gotten that fake soy/tofu/weirdness that I often do with such products. Not one bit. It tasted amazing. The strips of meatless chicken had a great texture too, chewy without being too chewy or rough. It was amazing. The sauce was spicy with just enough heat that I knew my roommate could tolerate it. I was right…she said it was the perfect level of heat. Meaning…there wasn’t too much of a kick. Not, at least, to the level I like it…but it was really good. And the sauce coated the chickenless strips perfectly, without watering down everything. It was thick and rich and perfect. Pairing it with the greens and the tostada brought nutrients and a great bit of texture and crunch to the dish. I loved it! Every bite of it.

Let’s look at ingredients, shall we? The Sol Cuisine Smoky Chipotle Tinga Meatless Chicken Strips are made from filtered water, soy protein isolate and concentrate, okara, a vitamin and mineral blend (potassium, magnesium, rice flower, iron, B3, zinc, B12, folic acid, Copper, B1, B6, and B2), expeller pressed sunflower roil, yeast extract, tapioca starch, sea salt, and spices. The sauce is made from filtered water, tomato paste, onion, cane syrup, sunflower oil, garlic, lemon juice concentrate, sea salt, chipotle pepper, turmeric, natural flavor and spices.

As for nutrition, I loved what this offered per serving. A serving size is 1/4 of the package. One serving of strips dishes up 60 calories, 2 grams of fat, 110 mg sodium, 190 mg potassium, 2 grams of carbohydtrates, 2 grams of fiber, no sugar, and 10 grams of filling protein. The sauce dishes up 30 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 120 mg sodium, 4 grams of carbohydrates, no fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. So, all-in-all…AMAZING!! And it tastes amazing too!!

My roommate and I actually split the entire package between the two of us…and it was so amazing and guilt-free!!

Once again, Sol Cuisine has astounded me with its flavorful and delicious (and healthy) options for a gluten-free vegetarian. I am in love with this meal. And now I want to try the other varieties in my Whole Foods freezer…which are Ginger Lime Teriyaki Meatless Chicken and Tangy Korean BBQ Meatless Chicken. Both sound intriguing and amazing. And I’ll definitely pick up the Smoky Chipotle Tinga Meatless Chicken again too! SO DELICIOUS!

Sol Cuisine Smoky Chipotle Tinga Meatless Chicken (prepared), served over fresh greens and an oven-baked tostada

March 23, 2015

Product Review: Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes

Dr. Praeger's Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes — Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes

Product: Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes – $4.99+

You might be able to tell that I’m on a bit of a sweet potato kick. And who can blame me? Sweet potatoes are nutritional powerhouses. I mean, this one food is an excellent source of B6 vitamins and potassium, but in addition to that, you will be provided with over 400% of your daily needs for Vitamin A and 37% Vitamin C. Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta-carotene, which has been shown to reduce risk of developing certain types of cancer, offers protection against asthma and heart disease as well. Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite plant powerhouses when it comes to foods I consume often.

While I love to incorporate baked sweet potatoes into recipes or stuff them with healthy avocado and some onion and eat them fresh out of the oven…I recently found my stash of frozen sweet potato pancakes in my freezer. I knew they were there, I just made no effort to actually pull them out to eat. Go figure. But with a lack of fresh produce coming in from my bin these last couple of weeks, I have been doing some slimming down on what I have in my pantry and my fridge and freezer. Last week, I ate a different variety of sweet potato pancakes, more like the familiar pancakes I would settle in to at breakfast.

And that’s one of the first things I noticed about the Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes from Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods. They look more like hash browns than your breakfast pancakes. Which, is fine by me, for sure. While I liked the Julian’s Recipe version, I found that they tasted a bit…odd. But that wasn’t the case with the ones from Dr. Praeger’s.

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods began in 1994, when a New Jersey cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Peter Praeger, and his medical partner, Dr. Eric Somberg, helped keep a family business alive by purchasing Ungar’s Gefilte Fish, a popular kosher food company within the Jewish community. The two doctors set out on a mission – to introduce people to nutritious food that actually tasted great. They opted to keep the Ungar’s brand, but also developed Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods to include all natural and convenient (and wow…they are convenient!) frozen products that could appeal and draw in a wider consumer based. This family owned and operated company has grown into a leader in the all-natural, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher frozen food categories, with products ranging from veggie burgers to home-style veggie cakes, to breaded fish items, and veggie-packed goodies for children too in their “Kid’s Littles” line, and many more options. The Dr. Praeger’s items are found in the frozen or ethnic foods section of most retailers, but certainly in most natural food stores.

I’m quite familiar with the Dr. Praeger’s brand. In fact, I have enjoyed some of the Kid’s Littles (hey…I’m a kid at heart!) and have tried the veggie burgers as well…and have loved everything I have tried. But, I won’t lie…I was beyond intrigued by the Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes when I spotted them at Whole Foods awhile back. This morning, as I was packing like a wild woman to head out to New York City for some birthday shenanigans with my roommate (her birthday is tomorrow), as well as a possible race (depending on my hip), I needed something that would be filling, yet easy to prepare. I hit up my pantry, but all the mixes just seemed time consuming. My freezer was next, and the final bit of breakfast-like food (hey…pancakes are pancakes…even if they are savory!) caught my attention when I spotted the white box for Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes. SCORE!

I pulled out four of the individually wrapped pancakes (think of a large hash brown, and you get the basic size and thickness of these pancakes) and placed them on a baking sheet. I put them into an oven set at 450°F and baked them for about 5 minutes before turning them over and baking them for another 4 minutes, or until they began to brown. Simple and something that I honestly didn’t need to babysit. I just had to check in every few minutes to make sure I wasn’t burning them. That gave me some time to throw things into a suitcase…HA. Granted, I should have done that the night before…but I was busy watching Star Trek – The Original Series. Priorities.

So…first of all…these aren’t your typical pancakes that you might imagine drowning in maple syrup and devouring for breakfast. Nope. They aren’t thin and light and look like something you cooked up in a skillet that morning. Like I said…these will remind you of a hash brown. And they are hearty and thick just like hash browns too. Seriously. These are amazing. I loved these more than the previous round of sweet potato pancakes (savory and more of the breakfast pancake type) that I had last week. These are actually perfect for a healthy snack, a light meal, or a side dish. Honestly. But mine…mine were going to be breakfast for my roommate and I. And after I had them baked up, I served them up with some marshmallow fluff (which I toasted with my kitchen torch) and some roasted almonds on top. I served them up and settled in for breakfast before finishing up my packing that morning.

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes are AMAZING. Hearty and healthy is one thing, but these also tasted amazing. These are made from real food and real ingredients, so nothing tasted off or weird when I dove into these. I sort of wish I cooked them up with some scrambled eggs and topped them off with a bit of ketchup, but I still have two more pancakes in order to do that with. So it’s all good. These have great sweet potato flavor and tasted really good the way I dressed them up. But when I sampled a piece on its own, that amazing sweet potato flavor just came through. And that was what I wanted. Honest. Real. Healthy. Food. A sophisticated hash brown masquerading as a pancake. I LOVE IT! And I loved these. I sort of want to stock my freezer with them for future use. Seriously. If you want an easy and go-to option for your clean eating diet. THIS…would be my suggestion.

Let’s discuss ingredients. Real ingredients and real food is what you’ll find in Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes. These delightful disks of goodness are made from sweet potatoes, egg whites, potato flakes, expeller pressed canola oil, brown sugar, arrowroot, and salt. That’s it. Amazing. Clean eating in your freezer! These potato pancakes are gluten-free, kosher, dairy-free, cholesterol-free, non-GMO, and free from saturated fat and trans fats.

As far as nutrition goes…these are little pancakes of power. The nutrition stats on the Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes wowed me and they will wow you too. A serving is 1 pancake, but my roommate and I each had 2 this round as it was breakfast. One pancake will serve you up 80 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. One sweet potato pancake will also give you 120 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. One serving also provides you with 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein…so filling without being too filling. Double it to two pancakes, and you’ll be full until lunch time. Trust me. I know I am.

I was completely impressed with and blown away by Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes. I’m not kidding when I saw these will find their way back into my freezer. Honestly, they were beyond what I anticipated and totally captured my attention and the attention of my taste buds. Delicious. Healthy. And amazing. You can’t beat that. If you haven’t tried them…do it now. Next time…ketchup!

March 10, 2015

Product Review: Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables

Qrunch Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables — Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables

Product: Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables – $3.99+

Ah…back to one of my favorite things to talk about.

No. Not food. Although I do like to talk about food.

Nope. What I’m about to introduce you to is yet another way that being Celiac/gluten-free doesn’t have to detract from what options are out there for breakfast. Aside from the natural gluten-free goodness of real foods, such as eggs, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits…there are a plethora of gluten-free breakfast mixes that can help you bake up pancakes, muffins, and scones. There are frozen waffles, pancakes, French toast sticks, bagels, muffins, cinnamon rolls…the list is endless.

But what really caught my eye a couple of months ago when I randomly dropped into my local Meijer was a new product from a company that I trusted. The company being Qrunch Foods. The product – something they call Toastables.

Qrunch Foods set out with a mission, and have since worked hard to carry it out – to create great-tasting, gluten free foods.

Those of us who have made our way through the gluten-free foods out on the market know that gluten-free foods have come a long way. No longer do you need to fear something tasting like cardboard or wood pulp (although…there are instances this still holds true). But finding something that stops you in your tracks and makes you go, “Damn…I’d never guess this was gluten free!” is a rare find at times.

Qrunch Foods came out with their line of Toastables back in 2013. Prior to this, you might have seen and tried (and loved, like me!) their gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian Qrunch Burgers. LOVE me those Qrunch Burgers. So, that’s why I didn’t hesitate to pick up one of the two varieties (of four!) of the Qrunch Foods Toastables from my grocery store. A trusted brand can speak volumes.

My choice: Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables.

Qrunch Foods Toastables are made from ancient whole grains (organic quinoa, organic amaranth, and organic millet) which provides a unique and filling breakfast. They are, as always, 100% natural and 100% gluten-free. The idea behind the Toastables is that they are lightly sweetened and go great with any sort of breakfast topping you might enjoy…from syrup to honey to nut butters to jellies to cream cheese. Whatever floats your breakfast boat. They look like a mix between a cereal-coated French Toast stick and a hash brown. I’m okay with this. And making them is easy too.

Simply pop these into your toaster for a couple of cycles and they are ready to eat. I was eating these after going to the gym and heading into the office. This meant that I didn’t have a gluten-free toaster to use. Other options include cooking over medium-high heat in a skillet for 3-4 minutes per side…except I didn’t have a stovetop. Luckily, my office does have a taster oven, so I baked these for about 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees until they were nice and warm throughout. I served these up with a little bit of maple syrup. Yummy.

I bet you’re wondering how they taste. Well, they were nothing like I anticipated. I loved the crunchy outer shell that I got from baking it (and you would too if you baked, used the skillet, or toasted it in the toaster). If you microwave it, you will lose that aspect of the Toastable itself. The Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastable had a grittiness to it, which comes from the various grains that are used to comprise it. I’m on the fence on whether I liked that aspect or not. It tasted a little dry…but the maple syrup I topped it off with helped with that. The flavor was subtle, but I could definitely catch hints of the cinnamon and vanilla that were incorporated into the Toastable. It was a quick bite, but quite filling. Sort of like a dry, crunchy French toast or waffle…which isn’t a bad thing. I just sort of expected a little more tenderness on the inside. Although, overall, not bad. Not bad at all. Thank goodness for maple syrup!

Let’s discuss ingredients. The Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables are made from water, organic millet, organic quinoa, organic amaranth, organic refined coconut oil, organic arrowroot starch, organic cane sugar, organic apple cider vinegar, organic vanilla extract, sea salt, organic cinnamon, and organic non-GMO canola oil. They are not only made with ancient whole grains, but also 100% gluten-free, soy-free, wheat-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and corn-free.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving is 1 of the Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables. There are four Toastables in each box. This one serving will give you 120 calories and 4 grams of fat. This will also give you 135 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. Loving that. These are cholesterol free and free of trans fat. You will also be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. So don’t let the size of them make you think they won’t fill you up. These will hold you for the morning.

So, not an astounding find, but one that does make for a different and tasty breakfast for sure. It’s easy to prepare…just takes a little time if you are toasting it up in the toaster oven or toaster, but as long as you aren’t famished, that’s not a problem at all.

Qrunch Foods Toastables are available in four flavors: Cinnamon-Vanilla, Blueberry-Lemon, Rich Maple and Original. Look for them in your grocery store freezer.

Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables (toasted)

March 6, 2015

Product Review: Julian’s Recipe Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes

Product: Julian’s Recipe Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes – $3.99+

Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, but it is also my favorite meal of the day. If I have said it once, I have said it 456,793 times (or more)…I. LOVE. BREAKFAST.

And I don’t always even stick to traditional breakfast either at breakfast time. That being said, you can also find me devouring breakfast foods at lunch and dinner. At times, I have eaten breakfast food at every meal of the day. Those are the best days. Nothing makes me happier than a good, delicious breakfast…at any time of the day.

Lucky for me, this doesn’t always have to mean time in the kitchen. Now, pancakes are one of the best food inventions in life. You will find no shortage of pancake mixes, syrup, and toppings in my kitchen. They are, positively, one of my most favorite breakfast foods to ever exist. And I LOVE to make them…especially on Sunday morning so that they are hot and ready by the time my roomie decides to get up and join me for some coffee.

And while I think from scratch is the best, I do not scoff at gluten-free mixes and even frozen pancakes that have hit the market. While Julian’s Recipe has put out a few other gluten-free pancakes in the past (Belgian Chocolate, Blueberry, Buttermilk)…this was their first foray into gluten-free savory pancakes. And…it just so happens to be made from one of my second favorite things in life – sweet potatoes.

Enter Julian’s Recipe Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes to your grocer’s freezer. I’ll be honest, I don’t remember where I might have picked these up. Maybe Whole Foods. Maybe Earth Fare. Maybe even Rainbow Blossom. I might have gotten them from Raisin Rack when I was in Columbus, Ohio…or I might have picked them up at Organic Harvest while in Birmingham, Alabama. Where I bought them is unimportant. What is important is how they taste.

On this cold morning, where I am packing to leave for Birmingham, Alabama just before noon…I figured it was a good day to break these out of my freezer and give them a try. Nothing is more comforting on a snowy, cold, March morning…than pancakes. Especially savory pancakes.

Don’t believe me? Do it yourself. HA!

So…let’s first talk about Julian’s Recipe. Mostly known for their gluten-filled Belgian waffles and European-style breads, Julian’s Recipe has broken out a line of gluten-free pancakes. Which, I have never tried…despite myself. The company is named after founder Alexander Dzieduszycki’s son, Julian. The recipes are ones he adapted from his own family’s recipes. And the family tradition won’t stop there as Julian has developed a love of cooking and is often Dzieduszycki’s inspiration and muse for new products and recipes. So, when they stepped up and began offering gluten-free pancakes…the gluten-free world got to see what all the fuss was about. In addition to the sweet pancakes (chocolate, buttermilk, blueberry) offered for gluten-free consumers, this new line Julian’s Recipe introduced has three savory options…Vegetable Medly, Yukon Gold, and…naturally, the Sweet Potato ones that I am trying out.

Preparing these are easy. You can do it two ways…via the oven or the stove. I love cooking frozen pancakes in my oven, so that’s how I did it. Simply put the pancakes on a baking sheet and into a 375°F oven for 10-12 minutes. When they emerge, they will be toasty and warm, and smelling amazing. I loved these at first whiff.

Savory pancakes are a different beast for sure. And, my non-gluten-free roomie said that these tasted “odd” to her. “They don’t taste like pancakes.” Then again…savory pancakes won’t. They are good though. Crispy and golden on the outside with that soft pancake in the middle. Sweet potato flavor throughout. We ate ours this morning with some maple syrup, however, next time I might put some marshmallow fluff over them with some pecans and use the kitchen torch…take them to that next level of pancake goodness. Overall…they were good. Great texture. All flavor.

The Julian’s Recipe Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes are made from potatoes, sweet potatoes, milk, gluten free flour (blend of white rice flour, potato starch, corn starch, organic brown rice flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum), egg whites, whole eggs, canola oil, brown sugar, onion powder, salt, garlic powder, and yeast extract. These are kosher and gluten-free.

As far as nutrition goes, you are going to love these! A serving of Julian’s Recipe Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes is 1 pancake. But because these nutrition facts are awesome, my roomie and I each had two this morning. Sticking to the serving size though, 1 of these savory pancakes will give you 70 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. Stay with me…it gets better. A serving has only 10 mg cholesterol, 150 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. If you are a carb counter…only 13 grams of carbohydrates. And, you get 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein per pancakes…so, yeah, doubling up makes it awesome…and filling.

Nothing is better than a breakfast that is delicious, filling, and not guilt-inducing (like donuts or muffins or the like). While pancakes are not hard to make or cook from scratch, frozen pancakes, especially ones with savory ingredients, are nice to have on hand for those mornings, afternoons, and evenings where you are just short on time, patience, and money in your budget. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, these new savory pancakes from Julian’s Recipe are sure to fulfill any breakfast or pancake craving.

February 27, 2015

Product Review: Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets

Product: Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets – $4.99+

We are all young at heart, right? Right!

At least, that’s what I’m telling myself as I sit here with a box of frozen nuggets that are geared toward, and honestly meant, for children. HA! I don’t care.

(You will note I am eating off of Wonder Woman plates so…)

You see, I’ve been craving the hell out of some vegetarian chickenless nuggets. But, sadly, the only gluten-free and vegan chickenless nuggets I have ever found…are no longer produced by that company. Which…is really too bad, because they were awesome. I wish, out of things I’ve stocked in my freezer, had I known those would stop being made, I had stocked my freezer full of them. For when that weird craving hits.

That being said, the other snowy day while cruising the aisles of Target, I started walking the refrigerator aisles. In truth, I was searching for the gluten-free Eggo waffles. Which…I know is all Monsanto, but…I kinda want to find them and try them just once. Don’t hate. They didn’t have those, but the bright blue box of Earth’s Best caught my eye. They had LOTS of great options for children, from gluten-free nuggets (real ones with the clucking chickens and all) to gluten-free French toast sticks (I need to try those too!). But the box labled “Sweet Potato Nuggets” caught my eye. I pointed to it…”Those don’t have chicken, do they?” My roommate opened up the freezer and checked. Sure enough…made from sweet potato. No chicken.

Welcome to my freezer little potato nuggets.

And as I’m marathoning (not the running kind…not right now!) Game of Thrones currently as much as possible (halfway through Season 4!), and am without my CSA bin because I was supposed to be out of town last weekend…I’m making due with what I have in my pantry, fridge, and freezer. And these were in my freezer. And as I’m trying to move more processed food out, this seemed like a good day to do this (most of what is left is easy breakfast fixings…so…be prepared for easy morning meal time!).

These are so easy to prepare. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place all the nuggets on a pan. Cook for 15 minutes, turning the nuggets over halfway through. Let sit for a minute before serving.

I divided the entire box of Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets between my roomie and I as three nuggets each would not do! Nope. It’s okay though…and you’ll see why when you hit that nutrition information below. What I ended up with was a plate of food…that children will love. Me, as an adult with a more developed palate…liked these well enough. But love…nah. Not quite love. The breading is really good. It doesn’t get crispy in the oven, but it does toast up nicely. Inside the nuggets is this deliciously sweet filling that is primarily sweet potato. It’s rich and soft and just…flavorful. My roommate said that they tasted “like those nuggets you would get in TV dinners.” I didn’t eat TV dinners growing up, so I can’t vouch for that…but if I had eaten TV dinner nuggets…this is probably what they would taste like. Not bad. Just…not what I was expecting. Like I said…the little ones in your life will LOVE these. I might purchase them again if a nugget craving hits unexpectedly. Maybe.

The Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets are made by the Hain Celestial Group. The sweet potato filling is made from sweet potatoes, egg whites, evaporated cane syrup, rice starch, corn starch, expeller pressed canola oil, non fat milk, sea salt, organic maltodextrin, organic natural butter flavor, spices, dehydrated onion, garlic powder, vitamins & minerals. The breading around these little potato nuggets is made from dried potatoes, rice flour, salt, spices, dried garlic, dried onion, maltodextrin, natural flavors, expeller pressed canola oil and water. The batter mix is made from corn starch, yellow corn flour, rice flour, xanthan gum, and spices. That’s a lot to go into these little nuggets. I think anyway. That being said, these nuggets are gluten-free, an excellent source of Vitamin A and beta carotene, fortified with iron, zinc, and 6 B vitamins, and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives.

Let’s talk nutrition. I am a growing woman, not a child…so my roomie and I ended up splitting the entire box, which is about 18 nuggets in total. That being said, a serving size is normally 3 of these nuggets. A regular serving of Earth’s Best Gluten Free Sweet Potato Nuggets will dish up only 120 calories and 4 grams of fat. A serving will also provide 140 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. These nuggets are cholesterol free. A serving will also give you 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. So, not made to be super filling either.

So, overall…these were…okay. Not brilliant, but not bad either. A great way to get children to eat their veggies and get some important nutrients, for sure. Oh…and they pair well with ketchup. Just sayin’.

February 25, 2015

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts

Product: Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts – $6.99

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that I’ve been blogging a lot about chocolate things. Donuts, cookies, donut holes. And…honestly, you’d be absolutely correct. I won’t deny it. I have nothing to deny. Because, you see, I’m clearing things out. I’m making better decisions, but, for the sake of my budget and my pride, I’m going through the items I have…devouring them…then replacing them with better choices.

Hence…the massive blogging on all things…totally not good for me.

That being said, I am certainly enjoying each and every tasting thus far. Because, I won’t lie, I love donuts and cookies and all that stuff. It is no secret that I have a sweet tooth…and an addiction to all things delicious…like peanut butter.

And chocolate.

So, what better way to enjoy things like…chocolate…than tripling it?

And that’s what the amazing Katz Gluten Free does with these donuts. Katz Gluten Free, as many of you know, is one of my favorite gluten-free food providers. With a line-up of completely gluten free breads, pies, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, pastries, pizza crusts, and yes…donuts…it seems like that have a little bit of everything at a very high standard and quality. I have never not liked a Katz Gluten Free product. And, one thing I totally love about Katz Gluten Free is that they offer to send you a free sample pack of their products (you just pay shipping) so you can try out a little bit of what they have to offer. No, donuts and pies are not included, but other goodies are. Trust me…it’s worth checking out, if you haven’t already. And if you have, I believe you can order one sample pack a year…so…feel like revisiting some of Katz Gluten Free standards…reorder!

Now…where was I?

Ah yes…donuts.

Awhile back, I realized that Katz Gluten Free had put out some new donut flavors without me knowing about it. How I missed this announcement, I don’t know. So, naturally, I did what any Katz Gluten Free lover does. I ordered a box of each of them. And, since then, I have been slowly making my way through them. The new flavors are all fantastic…and the donuts, as always, are what I expect from Katz. But…you throw the words Triple Chocolate on there…and…you know you’re going to be WINNING!

The Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts are rich, soft, and gooey (if you warm them up for 20 seconds in the microwave like I do!). There is nothing a true chocolate lover wouldn’t like about this. The cake donut is so soft. I mean, my fork (yes…I eat donuts with a fork…I’m a princess!) sliced right through it. And it was moist and soft. Not heavy and dense…and with gluten-free baked goods, that density can be a killer. This was light and airy and just amazing. The cake had this rich chocolate decadence to it. Then, it’s topped off with a dark chocolate frosting…like a smooth ganache. And…WOW. Chocolate utopia. And then…just to add to the awesomeness of this already chocolate-y treat…chocolate chips are sprinkled over the top. Chocolate euphoria. It reminded me of the chocolate pudding cake I used to beg my mom to make for me every birthday I had. Just a chocolate lover’s dream. I mean…love in every bite. I’m sad I only have two more days before they are gone from my life. But…this one was worth saving until last.

Let’s talk about ingredients! The Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts are made from the Katz Gluten Free Flour Blend (tapioca starch, white rice flour, corn starch), water, palm oil, sugar, eggs, chocolate chips, confection sugar, cocoa, canola oil, baking powder, natural vanilla extract, salt, xanthan gum, agar, calcium carbonate, and calcium sulfate. These are gluten free, dairy free, and soy free.

Now…the hard part. Nutrition facts. Nutrition facts on goodies like donuts never look good when put out there. But…it does help to know what you are putting in your body. A serving of the Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts is 1 donut. You might be tempted to eat all 6. I know I was. But don’t. Trust me…don’t. You’ll regret it in the end. Stick with one, which…I did. One donut will provide you with 250 calories and 14 chocolate covered grams of fat. This one donut will also provide 20 mg cholesterol, 240 mg sodium, and 16 grams of sugar. It is a definite sugar-laden treat. Which is why I don’t eat these very often. And, finally, you will be devouring 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Trust me…this donut will not make you feel full. I was ready for my snack (an apple, mind you!) at 10 a.m.

Donuts are not evil. Nope. In moderation, they make for a fantastic treat. As I don’t get donuts very often with my dietary restrictions…but when I do, I always hope that it’s a delicious treat that is worth the indulgence. Let me tell you, Katz Gluten Free always makes it worth the indulgence. Especially with these. Triple threat of triple chocolate. If I revisit any of the new flavors, the Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts will be my choice for sure.

February 23, 2015

Product Review: Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes

Product: Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes – $5.99+

It was a long journey home that day from an afternoon event in Dayton, Ohio. But, if there is one thing there is always time for, it is a stop into Foodie Heaven (aka: Jungle Jim’s) on the way through Cincinnati, Ohio. This is one of the most impressive stores you will ever enter. And you will leave a changed foodie, for sure.

One thing I will hand to Jungle Jim’s…they carry some gluten free products, on shelves and in the freezer, that I haven’t seen anywhere else. Reason for that – they are often from local Ohio companies. Love seeing a business help out the little local ones. For sure.

And, for some reason, that very afternoon, I really, really, really needed to have donut holes in my freezer at home. I didn’t know this, mind you, until I strolled past the gluten-free freezer area in Jungle Jim’s and saw the little plastic cup that was piled high with the little chocolate balls of cake donut goodness. Oh…I had to have them. So…I bought them. Even though I was doing everything in my power to not purchase items (such as snacks and donuts) on that trip…it happened regardless. And they made it home and into my freezer…where they remained.

Until this morning.

You see, I’m having a rough weekend. This is not me being a drama queen. I really am. I was supposed to be in Birmingham, Alabama, with good friends of mine, participating in the Mercedes Marathon Weekend. I knew a few running the half marathon and I was running the full with my training partner, Matthew. Except winter storms blew through, and while everyone else risked the roads and the weather, I stayed put. I missed seeing my nephew run in the Kid’s Marathon on Saturday (which meant more to me than anything else), and I’ve just been down and out all weekend. Seeing my friend’s Facebook feed flooded with pictures of the event hasn’t helped with my mood either.

So it was totally a donut kind of a morning. And lucky for me…I had a cup full of Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes.

The world might be safe from me yet today…

Sonny Marie’s was created by Christine Coleman, whose son, Danny, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease at the age of 11. This brought about drastic changes to the family’s lifestyle as they chose to join Danny in his fight against gluten. It was hard for Coleman to see her son missing out on pizza, cake, donuts and all the other goodies his friends were sharing, which is what inspired her to develop her own donut recipe, so delicious, that even Danny wouldn’t know the difference. And she crushed it. Since then, Coleman has worked on expanding on their line of gluten-free products to help others have that “I can’t believe it’s gluten free” moment and not be deprived of the joy of food.

For me…the joy of food this morning was inside this little plastic cup that held 10 little glazed chocolate donut holes. That, my friends, was bliss this morning.

The Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Glazed Chocolate Donut Holes are…exactly…as I remember the chocolate glazed Munchkins from Dunkin’ Donuts to taste. I used to eat the hell out of those, so when I pulled half of these out for me and half for my roommate, I was already feeling better. They were the perfect size (no skimping) and felt like the perfect density. After spilling coffee on myself…I returned to finally dig in…

Without even a warmup in the microwave (I let them thaw overnight to get to room temperature), I was hooked with one bite. Yes…one bite. First of all…the cake donut was the perfect consistency. Not heavy and dense. Not light either. But cakey through-and-through. So many gluten-free cake donuts are heavy and intimidating…not these. Not one bit. The chocolate flavor was rich and delicious and the glaze was melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Seriously. Perfection. I was sad I only had 5 of these to devour. I probably could have eaten the whole cup on a morning like today. Good thing I have friends who help keep me from over-indulging on treats. Oh, but these were so good. Mighty tasty. I didn’t even care that my breakfast was mostly sweetness and sugar…and then…I still didn’t care. Chocolate is a girl’s best friend on days like today…and this one just comforted me. For the moments of breakfast…I was content. I even licked the glaze off my fingers when I was done. Good to the very last bite.

Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donuts are produced in her Coleman’s home. It is even labeled as such. That being said, they are made in a facility that uses peanuts and pecans, so if you have a hyperactive nut allergy…these might not be for you. Nuts are one of the few things I happen to not be allergic to.

The Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donuts are made from sugar, rice drink, molasses, white flour, mechanically pressed organic palm oil, egg, potato starch, cocoa, tapioca flour, sweet rice flour, baking powder, vanilla bean extractives in water, alcohol (35%) salt, apple cider vinegar, xanthan gum, and cinnamon.

As these are produced at home, I cannot give you nutritional information as none is provided on the packaging. But, I’d say close to what the Chocolate Glazed Munchkin’s run at Dunkin’ Donuts. Give or take a few calories and fat. Hey…they’re donuts. Indulge or don’t.

My theory in life is…every now and again, you have to treat yourself. I was having a bad morning…so, I treated myself. I don’t eat donuts or donut holes every day…but these were beyond worth the splurge. Sonny Marie’s products are available in many local shops in and around the Cincinnati area, including Jungle Jim’s. Make the journey…because these are totally worth eating. I wish I had purchased another cup of them.

WOW!

February 10, 2015

Product Review: Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds

Product: Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds – $6.99+

Sometimes, it’s not just my pantry that keeps products for awhile. Back at the beginning of summer, I finally found a local store that carried a certain sandwich bread that I had been searching high and low for. You see, gluten-free bread has always been expensive, and since this particular bread only came with 8 pieces and was about $7.00, I really needed to make sure my budget was going to allow for it.

And so, it was because I finally had it within my clutches, I purchased a box of Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds.

Amy’s Kitchen and I are BFFs. For real. Her gluten-free products are amazing. All of her products are vegetarian…with a good chunk of them being vegan as well. How’s that for amazing, eh? I haven’t met a product from Amy’s Kitchen that I haven’t fallen in love with. And, for awhile, I was stashing her frozen meals and canned soups/chili in my freezer and/or pantry. When I moved to more of a clean diet, I went for more natural foods rather than frozen and processed. But Amy’s still had a place in my heart…and when anything called for vegetarian chili or the like…it is her brand that I turn to.

So, when I saw online awhile (like years!) that Amy’s Kitchen had created gluten-free Sandwich Rounds (I assumed these were like Sandwich Thins), I went on the hunt. When I came up empty handed, I just sort of gave up on it. Until Earth Fare opened up in my area…and lo and behold…there on the shelf…the Sandwich Rounds. No conversation or budget stopped me from putting that in my shopping basket and bringing them home. Into my freezer. And…there they sat. For a long while. I just kept buying loaves of bread. I didn’t even think about these again until I was reorganizing my freezer and starting to work through the items inside. And when I rediscovered them…I had an idea of how to use them.

Veggie burgers.

Because I had been craving. So, I picked up some of my favorite gluten-free veggie burgers from the store on Sunday (Franklin Farms is the brand, in case you were wondering…delicious and low calorie!). And this morning, I pulled the box Amy’s Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds out of the freezer and removed two of the flat breads to thaw while I was at work.

And this was my only disappointment with this product. I thought that these would be a lot like the Sandwich Thins I used to eat when I was eating horribly unhealthy “diet” bread. Those were thin little bread rounds that were sliced in half. These looked like small three-inch pizza crusts more than sandwich bread. And…in order to actually make a sandwich (or in my case a burger), I would have to double the bread. One piece is just that…one piece. No way to slice it in half to make a sandwich you can pick up. So, forget about that burger…it now became and open-faced sandwich tonight.

So, yeah…I was already a little disappointed. But, after I slid the Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds into the oven to toast slightly while the burgers cooked and the mushrooms and onions were marinating in bar-b-que sauce. As those finished up, I removed the now warmed thin bread rounds from the oven and began to put together the open faced sandwiches…trying not to be too disappointed that in order to make an entire burger, I’d have to double my calories and everything else. So…this would have to do. A little BBQ sauce on the round, then the veggie patty, melted vegan cheese, and then the barbeque onions and mushrooms to top it off. I served it with a side of Zapp’s New Orleans Style Voodoo Kettle Chips (which are totally amazing!).

Settling into dinner with an open-faced burger instead of an actual burger was a bit of a let-down. But…after I took my fork and knife and sliced into everything and gave it all a taste…all was forgiven. The Amy’s Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are totally amazing. In fact, they taste like mini pizza crusts. So, now I kind of want to do little individual pizzas and use these as the base. They are amazing. And they even held up to the sauce, the burger, the toppings…without getting soggy and falling apart. Color me impressed. The disappointment for not being able to pick up my dinner faded. The taste, texture, and all-around goodness of this product made up for it in spades. Holy cow!

Let’s look at the ingredients! Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are true to Amy’s Kitchen form. Using only ingredients that are recognizable. No fake stuff here. These little sandwich rounds are made from organic rice flour, filtered water, organic sunflower seed meal, organic tapioca starch, organic potatoes, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic agave nectar, sea salt, yeast, and organic rice bran extract. These little sandwich rounds are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, cholesterol free, and kosher. Love it.

A serving of Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds is (sadly) one round. This one round piece of bread will provide you with 90 calories and 4 grams of fat. This serving will also give you only 135 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. You will also be taking in 1 gram fiber and 2 grams of protein. So, they aren’t very filling, but it’s nice not to have a calorie-laden burger/sandwich. I only wish these could have been split so that I could have picked up my burger instead of having to go all fine-dining on it with a fork and knife.

I am not kidding…Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds are fantastic. If you happen to find these in your store, I recommend the splurge. Make an open face sandwich…or if you don’t mind 180 calories and 8 grams of fat in one sitting…make a full one. For me…I think mini pizzas are up next. What started off initially as disappointment transformed into nothing but pure joy. This product is truly amazing. I love them!

An Open-Faced BBQ Mushroom & Onion Veggie Burger on an Amy's Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Round — An Open-Faced BBQ Mushroom & Onion Veggie Burger on an Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Sandwich Round