Product: Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn – $2.25+
Popcorn.
When done right, popcorn can be one of the healthiest snacks out there. I gave up microwave popcorn ages ago (for the most part…sometimes…it’s the only option), and have been using the hell out of my air popper.
Truly, it is almost a nightly tradition to enjoy some air popped popcorn, seasoned with herbs and a little drizzle of olive oil (healthy fat that is also a belly flattener). Usually enjoyed while watching a Gordon Ramsay show or Torchwood or Dr. Who or…American Ninja Warrior! Something. I don’t watch much TV…but I usually unwind at the end of a long day with some sort of television show on Netflix or Hulu.
And I grew up feasting on popcorn while watching a movie at home or winding down at night. And every Sunday…it was my family’s dinner. Honestly. Popcorn has always been a favorite food in my family…and I carry that tradition with me today.
I was actually really excited when my July Cuisine Cube arrived and I pulled this bag of popcorn from the box. For one thing…the words popcorn were enough to entice me. But toss the word “lemon” in front of it…and you have a really happy girl. Lemon is one of my favorite seasonings and often do a lemon pepper popcorn at home as one of my seasonings. This…had it done for me.
The item I received was a bag of LIttle Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn. Little Lad’s is a small family restaurant in Portland, Maine. Their mission was to create a place where people could bring their families and friends and enjoy a restaurant quality meal that focuses on bold flavors and high nutrition. One of the creations that this restaurant created was an herbal popcorn that their customers raved about and couldn’t get enough of. This was no dull popcorn either. And the Lemon Herbal Popcorn version is one take on this popular product.
Little Lad’s Herbal Popcorn is made from organic lemon and fresh herbs. Yes. Organic and fresh. Bet you didn’t see that coming. This variety of popcorn doesn’t use any animal products and is gluten-free. And, the Lemon Herbal Popcorn is made with whole grains! According to the package, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this popcorn goes towards health education in Africa.
Like I said, I usually air pop popcorn at night, but last night, I was feeling lazy. Master Chef was on and, for once, I didn’t want to drown it out with my air popper. So, I went to my pantry and pulled out the Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn, pouring it into two bowls and giving one to my roommate while I settled in with the other one to watch the show.
Here’s the deal…packaged popcorn is either going to be amazing or fall flat. I knew the moment I opened the Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn bag that it smelled fantastic. That was a good start. I popped one of the popped kernels into my mouth…and it was settled. This popcorn definitely fell into the good side of packaged popcorn. In fact, what it reminded me of was day-old movie theater popcorn (movie theater popcorn tastes the best a day later, seriously!) with lemon flavoring. Seriously. You may not think that sounds appetizing, but, honestly, it does. The balance of lemon flavor and savory herbs is perfection. You get this great sweet and sour take on the seasoning, which plays well on the palate. And the lemon doesn’t take over and completely overpower the product. There is never too much lemon and too little to counterbalance it. And that is a difficult balance to find. One that I’m still working on when I make my lemon pepper popcorn at home. So, I was quite content snacking on Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn last night. It was refreshing and delicious.
So, how wholesome and nutritious is Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn? You know I was going to get to that.
Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn is made from non-GMO popcorn, organic evaporated cane juice, organic lemon, herbs and spices, non-GMO soybean oil, and sea salt. This popcorn is gluten-free, cholesterol free, and vegan.
As far as nutrition goes…it’s pretty outstanding. A serving of Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn is 30 grams (or half of the 2 ounce package). This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 7 grams of fat. A serving will give you 45 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. And, you will be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.
Not bad for a snack last night, right? That’s right. I’ll never stray from my air popped popcorn, but having this option last night was a delicious, easy treat. Thank you, again, Cuisine Cube, for your continued success in bringing me products I had never hard of before…would probably never hear of without these deliveries…and that actually taste amazing. Another winner from my monthly selection.
CLIF Mojo Cranberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar
Product: CLIF Mojo Cranberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar – $1.49+
Today…was one of those days where I just never take a moment to settle in and eat something in the middle of the day. Always on the go. After hitting up the pool this morning for some laps, I was ready to get my shopping on. So, after returning home and taking a nice shower, it was off to the brand new factory outlet store that opened up in the Louisville area. Retail therapy…it’s great for what ails you and stresses you out.
So is the pair of Tommy Hilfiger skinny jeans I bought too…but that’s beside the point.
What is my point?
My point is…there are days that I just don’t get to sit down and settle into an official “lunch.” I am very good about eating breakfast and often make it the bulk of my daily meal. I hit up good protein sources, healthy carbs, and those healthy fats (HELLO AVOCADO!). Dinner is always a must, but it’s usually something very light and easy, unless it’s a weekend where I have some time to prepare an actual dinner…like a casserole or something…where I freeze the leftovers and keep them for those days where life is just spiraling out of control and the very thought of cooking a meal from scratch is too much to bear.
But lunch. Lunch sometimes consists of oatmeal or overnight oats, especially during the week. It’s something light but filling. But on a day like today, where you’re trying to beat the crowds and actually find a parking spot at a brand-spankin’-new outlet mall…you grab and go. And that’s what I did, pulling open my kitchen drawer of “run snacks” and retrieving the next protein bar in the lineup.
Today…the CLIF Mojo Cranberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar. It was easy to transport and I figured I liked the blueberry one well enough, why not? So, my roommate grabbed her snack and we were out the door and hitting the road to check out the shops. On the way, it was time to fortify ourselves for what would be at the very least an hour and a half at the outlets. At least. She dove into her snack…and I broke into my bar.
Once again, I have to make the fair comparison between these bars and the KIND bars. They are loaded with dried fruits and nuts, and you can see each and every ingredient right there. To give it some added bulk, CLIF also mixes in rice crisps…which you can also see. I was hungry from my time in the pool…so I took my first bite.
YES!! CLIF one again hits the flavor combination on the head. In fact, I want to say it tastes a lot like the fruit and seed mixtures that are included in a few of the Go Picnic box meals every now and again. You know…the kind that Enjoy Life produces. That’s what this bar tastes like. It tastes like a sweet snack victory to me. It was chewy…yet not overly so. In fact, this one was a bit more solid than the blueberry, but I think some of that was due to the fact that it had been warm…then in my cool apartment…so it solidified. Nonetheless, I was loving each and every bite of this bar. It had that tangy zing from the cranberries and that hit of salt from the almonds. The rice crisps brought something chewy. And it was all bound together in this outrageously tasty bar. I had to keep myself from just shoving the entire thing in my mouth and chewing for about 10 minutes. I savored…and I’m glad I did. This bar hits all the right notes at all the right times. Amazing.
So, let’s talk ingredients. CLIF is proud to use non-GMO ingredients in their Mojo bars. And…about 70% of the ingredients are organic. In the CLIF Mojo Cranberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar, you will find the following ingredients: organic almonds, cranberries, organic tapioca syrup, organic rice crisps, organic roasted soybeans, organic inulin, organic sunflower oil, sea salt, citric acid, and natural vitamin E. This bar is gluten-free, cholesterol free, low glycemic, and high in fiber.
Nutritionally speaking, this bar definitely stands up to those that are similar to it. And in some cases, the stats are even better. A serving size is one bar. One CLIF Mojo Cranberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar will serve up 180 calories and 10 grams of fat. Don’t panic over the fat. Most of that is derived from the almonds, making it a healthy fat. This bar also will give you 110 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. The sugar is higher than I like it, but I’m guessing some of that actually does come from the cranberries. And, you will also be consuming 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. So, you definitely will feel full after eating it and it does a good job of sticking with you.
I’m finding a lot of great flavor, great textures, and great nutrition from the CLIF Mojo Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bars. The two that I have tried thus far have blown me away. The flavors just blend so well and pop in your mouth. I guarantee that you’ll enjoy these bars. And…for that price…go ahead and stock up. I know next time I hit the store, I will be doing just that!
CLIF Mojo Cranberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar (unwrapped)
CLIF Mojo Wild Blueberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar
Product: CLIF Mojo Wild Blueberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar – $1.49+
As an active and extremely busy on-the-go girl, I often find myself in places where I need something to eat, and given my dietary restrictions…that’s not always a simple thing. I always…always…have some form of a snack bar or protein bar on hand. And while my usual go-to’s include KIND, Lärabar, and Luna Protein…I have since been expanding on my protein bar options.
Leave it to my roommate then, to head out to the grocery store on an errand and return with some gluten-free bars that were on Manager’s Special. This is always a nice treat to find gluten-free anything market down at the grocery store…usually by half price. The bars were the CLIF Mojo Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bars…of which she grabbed one of each variety that were on the markdown.
I went out of town this past weekend, and while I knew I’d have plenty of options in the Columbus area (and my friend Jenn is awesome at keeping gluten-free stuff around for me!), I wasn’t so sure if I’d need something to eat on the journey home. So, as usual, I threw a couple of bars into the food bag we haul with us everywhere…and I was so so glad we did. About the time we hit Columbus, my delicious breakfast had been burned through and my stomach was starting to grumble that it was hungry. We were trying to race bad weather (that never hit!) home, so stopping somewhere wasn’t an option. Besides, there are only a couple of places I have been to and would trust in Cincinnati…and we weren’t anywhere near them at that point. As we didn’t go to Dayton to hit up Sinfully Gluten Free, nor did we go to Cherbourg Bakery while in Columbus, there were no gluten-free baked treats begging for devouring.
But…we each had our bars. So, at the first chance I had, I dug through the bag and found Cathy a bar and then dug around more, pulling out the first CLIF Mojo Fruit and Nut Trail Mix Bar I could find.
It just so happened to be the Wild Blueberry Almond Bar.
Sounded yummy as I am a huge fan of both blueberries and almonds. It was like it was made to make me one happy girl at that point.
I unwrapped it, making immediate note as to how the CLIF Mojo Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bars looked a lot like the KIND bars that I love. That was definitely a good sign, for sure. I snapped pictures for the blog, then broke off my first piece to taste. I was hoping it was as good as the KIND bars I rave about constantly.
Guess what? It was amazing. Huge flavor, partially because the fruit part of this bar is from real, organic, wild blueberries. Seriously…you can see the berries when you bite into or break off pieces of the bar. They are one of the most prominant ingredients too. With almonds being the second. And since the bar is the CLIF Mojo Wild Blueberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar…I suppose it better be full of blueberries and almonds. You won’t be disappointed. The blueberries bring this amazing sweetness to each bite, and the almonds counter it with that little crunch and that saltiness. It finds perfect balance between both tastes and makes for one fantastic bar to eat on the go. I was won over by the first bite. And I’m super excited that I have three other flavors left at home in my running snack drawer to try. But the CLIF Mojo Wild Blueberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar is one fantastic bar. Serious flavor without a serious amount of calories.
So, let’s talk ingredients, shall we? The CLIF Mojo Wild Blueberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar is made from: almonds, organic currant raisins, organic tapioca syrup, organic wild blueberries, organic cashews, organic rice crisps, organic roasted soybeans, organic inulin, organic sunflower oil, sea salt, citric acid, natural flavor, and natural vitamin E. This bar is gluten-free, cholesterol free, low in sodium, and is low glycemic.
A serving of the CLIF Mojo Wild Blueberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar is one bar. In this one bar, you will be provided with 160 calories and 8 grams of fat. Do not panic over that fat count through, most of that comes naturally from the nuts, and is a healthy fat. You will also be taking in 110 mg sodium and 12 grams of sugar. Yes…the sugar does seem high…but I’m hoping a lot of that is naturally occurring in the fruit. In addition, you get 210 mg potassium, 4 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein. Yes…you will feel full after consuming this bar. And that’s the whole point of a bar like this. You don’t want to eat it and feel hungry an hour later. You want something that will stick with you for awhile. And the CLIF Mojo Wild Blueberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar does just that.
Super delicious!! If you haven’t tried the gluten-free CLIF Mojo Wild Blueberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bars, I highly encourage you to head to the grocery store and pick some up. I can definitely recommend this flavor. Just a burst of sweet and salty in each bite, making this one epic bar…any time you like. Trust me…you won’t be disappointed.
CLIF Mojo Wild Blueberry Almond Fruit & Nut Trail Mix Bar (unwrapped)
It’s become a sort of tradition whenever Weekend at Jenn’s happens…Sunday morning means creating one of our, now legendary, breakfast treats to feast on. No more eating out…no more eating day old goodies from the local gluten-free bakery (although, I’m okay with that…just sayin’.) We usually plan it out the week of the visit…and I sprung this one on her sort of as an afterthought a day or two before my drive up that way. She, thankfully, had everything but the bread…which I had in my freezer, leftover from our last bread pudding adventure. Seriously, if you ever want a sturdy bread…order the Katz Gluten Free Braided Challah loaf…the big one…and you will have at least 6 uses out of it. I know I got my money’s worth, that’s for sure.
Anyway…I don’t know why…but I was feeling lemon this week. And it just so happens that my two partners in crime, Jenn and Cathy, are both lovers of lemon and lemon flavored things as well. This recipe was going to be a match made in heaven. Jenn and I took a recipe, originally posted by Bijouxs, and put our own little touches on it to make it easier as well as change it to gluten free. We also made ours dairy free…because I’m sort of lactose intolerant and every little bit helps!
This bread pudding smelled SO amazing as it was baking up on Saturday morning. It does take an hour to do. And Jenn and I prepped the dish the night before and let everything soak up and sit in the fridge until we were getting ready for breakfast. I recommend doing this. The original recipe called for homemade lemon curd. We weren’t feeling that. Jenn had a 12 ounce jar…so we just used every bit of that jar in our version of this dish. Just make sure that the lemon curd is gluten-free (not all of them are!).
And now…you can make it yourself and see what I mean!
Place the bread slices cut sides down in a lightly buttered 10 x 8 inch oval ovenproof baking dish. Fit the bread slices together in a single layer to completely cover the bottom of the pan.
Spread the top of the bread slices with all of the lemon curd.
Whisk together the milk, sugar, eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest and pinch of salt, mixing well and pour over the bread.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (or overnight like we did!), to allow the bread to absorb the milk mixture. Remove from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes prior to baking.
Preheat the over to 325° F.
Cover the bread pudding with foil and bake on top of a sheet pan for 30 minutes.
Remove cover and bake for an additional 30 minutes until puffy and golden brown.
Dust with confectioner’s sugar and serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if desired.
~*~*~
OMG…amazing. Bright, zesty, tangy…it was a citrus flavored treat all rolled into one amazing little bread pudding. This makes a day brightening breakfast or a light, palate cleansing dessert. No matter how you slice it, all of us were digging into this delicious treat. I brought some home and reheated it for breakfast this morning. This reheats beautifully. Seriously. Nothing got soggy or gross in the fridge and it didn’t get destroyed when nuked in the microwave for about 2 and a half minutes. Still amazing. Still tangy. Still…OH so good!
While I have only spoken ill of a couple of the snack bars/breakfast bars that I have tried going gluten-free…I believe my quality standards have been raised. I love Glutino to death, I do…but, while I don’t dislike their snack/breakfast bars, they are a little bit…tasteless when compared to the amazing bars I have had the chance to devour this past week.
And I owe this all to Van’s. Yes…Van’s. Van’s who makes the best gluten-free waffles. Amazing gluten-free cereal. And have since branched out into other products, such as gluten-free crackers, chips, granola, pasta, and yes…snack bars and granola bars. And some of my local stores have started to carry some of these other products from Van’s…and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Usually during the day, I have two snacks because I eat a good breakfast, a light lunch, and a sensible dinner. I snack in between breakfast and lunch and lunch and dinner. Yes…even when I’m not running. But I am generally very specific about what I choose to snack on. Currently, however, I am attempting to whittle down some of the products I have accumulated in my freezer and pantry. So, by checking out expiration dates, I began to go in order. And this week I finally cracked open my box of snack bars from Van’s Gluten Free.
While the store I purchased these snack bars at had many to choose from, I selected Van’s PB & J Strawberry and Peanut Butter Gluten Free Snack Bars because…I’m addicted to peanut butter for one thing…and I love a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Seriously…it’s one of the simplest pleasures in life. And not one that I indulge in too often as gluten-free bread is stupid expensive. But…I figured this might be a good way to enjoy one of my favorite things to eat.
This past week…I got to see for myself.
Wednesday morning…around 10:30 am, I tore into my little wrapped snack bar. It looked like a slap of peanut butter with a jelly middle…sort of like a sandwich minus the bread. I was intrigued. I could see the oats rolled into that peanut butter layer and really couldn’t wait to take a bite. A picture for the blog had to come first though…despite wanting to rip into it. It smelled amazing…like peanut butter and jelly…so it was already living up to its name. I snapped a quick picture and then tore off a corner to take a bite.
WOW! This bar is truly like eating a delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The strawberry filling is sweet without being too tart or too strong. It just is this layer of sweetness that totally works with the savory peanut butter that encompasses it. The rolled oats give a great texture, making it seem like a real sandwich. Each layer of texture and flavor brings a whole new level of deliciousness to this bar. They are soft and chewy, just like a sandwich should be. And none of that “like cardboard” outer crust that a lot of snack/breakfast bars have. Every bite brings 10 grams of nutrient-rich whole grain oats and real peanut butter…which definitely makes each bar a nice and filling snack. Honestly, I’m rarely ever starving when lunch time rolls around, and I find myself delaying it slightly because this little mighty bar of peanut butter and jelly goodness has done it’s job as a snack. Beyond impressed.
Let’s take a look at the ingredients and nutrition information when it comes to Van’s PB & J Strawberry and Peanut Butter Gluten Free Snack Bars.
As far as ingredients go, the Van’s PB & J Strawberry and Peanut Butter Gluten Free Snack Bars are made from gluten free oats, invert cane sugar, peanut butter, non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil, sweet rice flour, strawberries, apple powder, fruit juice concentrate (pineapple, pear, apple and peach) tapioca starch, rice bran, peanut flour, peanut extract, glycerin, natural flavor, citric acid, pectin, locust bean gum, sea salt, red cabbage extract and annatto (for coloring), and baking soda. These bars are gluten-free and dairy-free. In addition, Van’s, as always, states that these are ingredients that they are proud of. I can totally see why!
As for nutritional information, a serving size of the Van’s PB & J Strawberry Peanut Butter Gluten Free Snack Bars is 1 snack bar. One bar has 160 calories and 6 grams of fat. Don’t worry, much of that comes from the peanut butter…and that is a healthy fat. These bars are cholesterol free, contain 115 mg sodium, and a (rather high) 14 grams of sugar. I guess that has a lot to do with the fruit and fruit juices that are inside each bar. A little high in sugars, but the 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein help make up for it, making it more than a sweet treat, but a filling snack. Honestly…your appetite will be satiated.
Big kudos, once more, to Van’s for another amazing gluten-free treat. It just goes to prove that when you use quality ingredients (that you are proud of) you always put out a quality product. And that…that is what it is all about. The PB & J Gluten Free Snack Bars come in two flavors, currently: strawberry and blueberry. I’m a huge fan of the strawberry…so I can’t wait to get my hands on the blueberries. And the other snack bars and snacks that Van’s has to offer. It is definitely a name I can trust.
If you love peanut butter and jelly…then you’ll definitely LOVE these.
Van’s PB & J Strawberry and Peanut Butter Gluten Free Snack Bar (unwrapped)
It’s summer…and I’m broke. Why am I broke? Because…it’s been hot…and my air conditioner has been rocking and rolling. Also…food prices are on the rise. And…well…I just have a difficult time living within my meager food budget when I have to eat the way that I do. Being that I am very broke at the moment, I opted not to purchase the extra container of vanilla Greek yogurt this week to make my overnight oats…because I had a box of gluten-free oatmeal waiting in my pantry. No time like the times you have no expendable income to clear out the pantry some, yes?
That’s right!
I don’t remember which store I discovered the Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal in…but I want to say it was either Whole Foods or Earth Fare. One of them. And I don’t know why, after months spent making overnight oats, I really, really had to have hot cereal. I mean…it’s hot outside…
I blame it on my blonde hair. I have to blame something…
But, now I’m glad I sort of made that decision. I get really excited when I see new products, especially ones that I know I’ll eat…eventually. And we all know I eat something oat-y for lunch every day. Well, this week…it’s been Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal…the variety pack…which gives a couple pouches of each flavor out on the market, so you can try it and if you don’t like it, you have maybe one or two more pouches to use instead of an entire box.
The three flavors that are included in the variety pack are: Spiced Apple with Flax, Homestyle, and Brown Sugar Maple with Ancient Grains.
And…wouldn’t you know it…I chose to sample them in that very order.
Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Spiced Apple with Flax Hot Oatmeal
Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Spiced Apple with Flax Hot Oatmeal (prepared)
I started my foray into the Nature’s Path Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal with a bowl of the Spiced Apple variety. Now, I’m quite particular about my hot cereal. I want it at a certain consistency…and it has to wow me with flavor. It has to really win me over. And it has to still maintain the integrity of the product…meaning, I don’t want it laden with sugar. I want something that will stick with me…fill me up…do exactly what a hot cereal is supposed to do. Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Spiced Apple with Flax Hot Oatmeal does just that. Made from gluten-free, rolled and uncontaminated whole oats, this blend contains dried bits of apple and a little dash of cinnamon. The glax helps add a bit of fiber to the mix, helping to fill you up and keep you feeling full.
It’s super easy to prepare too. I go the microwave route, because I eat this at work and we have no stove. So, I simply pour the oatmeal into my bowl, add about 2/3 cup water and microwave for around 75 seconds (1 minute 15 seconds). When it emerges, it’s steamy and has this nice creamy texture without having gone all to mush. No one likes mushy, soupy oatmeal. It cooks to perfection. And I love how the apples sort of soak in the water and become reinvigorated. They lend a nice bit of natural sweetness to this variety.
I wasn’t sure about it on the first bite. I thought it might be a little bland…but the next bite brought more flavor…and the same thing with the next. And soon, I had devoured my whole bowl and was spooning at the little bits left in the curves of the dinnerware.
Ingredients in Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Spiced Apple with Flax Hot Oatmeal include organic gluten free rolled oats, organic evaporated cane juice, organic dried apple, organic flax seeds, organic flavor, organic cinnamon and sea salt. This oatmeal is not only gluten-free but also cholesterol free.
As far as the nutrition information goes, a serving is one packet of the Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Spiced Apple with Flax Hot Oatmeal. This packet will give you 170 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 90 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. It’s sort of on the…iffy on the sugars line as to whether it’s too high or not on that count. In addition, you will be consuming 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. So, yes…it does make you feel full. Gotta love that. I know I do.
Overall…definitely liked this one!
Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle Hot Oatmeal (prepared)
Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle Hot Oatmeal
I admit, this was the packet that I was the most leery of when I opened up this box. Why? Because traditional oatmeal and I don’t always get along. Sometimes it can be rather boring and bland. And I was more than a little concerned that would be the case here. Also…I was taking it in on the day that the office was having lunch catered by a bbq restaurant…which was meat and gluten…so not for me. While my boss, that morning, said she’d be happy to purchase something for me from one of the restaurants nearby…even if it was just a salad…I told her I had my oatmeal with me…and that was fine. I sure hoped it was going to be okay…because I was stuck eating it regardless.
AND…I opted not to bring anything to mix into it. No raisins, no berries…not even brown sugar or maple syrup. Nope. I needed to try it on its own…and was definitely rolling the dice on this one.
Same cooking as the other packet…bowl, water, microwave for 75 seconds…enjoy!
For an oatmeal that is nothing but rolled oats…this one amazed me. This one impressed me. It wasn’t bland at all. In fact, it had this tiny hint of sweetness to it, without all the added sugars. The oats were definitely perfect. I didn’t give raisins or syrup or fruit a second thought when I settled into the lunch meeting with my bowl and sent up prayers to the gluten-free lunch gods that I could at least get through this bowl. I had no problems and found myself devouring the oatmeal faster than I intended. That’s saying something!
Ingredients in Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle Hot Oatmeal include organic gluten free rolled oats. Yes…that’s all. And yes…it really is delicious. It may seem plain, but there is nothing plain about this variety. It is gluten-free, cholesterol free, and sugar free. Speaking my language!
As far as the nutrition information goes, one serving is one packet of Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle Hot Oatmeal. This packet will serve you 170 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. You will be taking in 0 mg sodium and 0 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be consuming 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein, leaving you feeling full for longer. Yes…just…yes! Trust me…this is really good. Not bland. Not plain. Not lacking in anything but the stuff you don’t need to be feeding your body anyway.
Overall…LOVE!
Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Brown Sugar Maple with Ancient Grains Hot Oatmeal
Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Brown Sugar Maple with Ancient Grains Hot Oatmeal (prepared)
Before I really expanded into the hot cereal world, growing up I would add brown sugar to the Malt-O-Meal (something I definitely can’t eat anymore!) my dad would cook up for breakfast sometimes. This was a go-to whenever my mom wasn’t able to make breakfast or was out of town or something. When he was in charge…he opted for his favorite hot cereal. Malt-O-Meal. The thing was…growing up I hated hot cereal. Hated it. I ate my cold cereal dry…no milk. So when I started giving hot cereal a try as an adult…I did it cautiously and started with something familiar. Something with brown sugar.
From there, I expanded to other flavors, but if given the choice…old habits die hard…I always opt for the Brown Sugar variety. I think that’s why I usually save that version for last. It’s just…ingrained in me.
Same as everything else…empty packet into bowl, add water, nuke for 75 seconds…consume.
This one was good. It was really, really good. Homestyle, I think is still my favorite of the three…but this one is a close second. The sweetness of the brown sugar and maple syrup is a nice way to really perk up oatmeal. The texture on this one was a little soupy…but I might have added a little too much water when measuring it out. Hard to say. But…it sat for a moment and those oats just soaked it up. It was nice and sweet and delicious. And I savored each bite…wondering how it was I used to dislike hot cereal…except when I mixed brown sugar into it. Well…this one is a sentimental favorite for sure…but, honestly, the flavor is nice. Not too sweet, actually…but not bland. The right balance with the right consistency. Impressed.
Ingredients in Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Brown Sugar Maple with Ancient Grains Hot Cereal include organic gluten free rolled oats, organic brown sugar, organic evaporated cane juice, organic rolled amaranth, organic rolled quinoa, organic sorghum flour, natural flavor, and sea salt. It is gluten-free and cholesterol free.
As far as the nutrition information goes, one serving is one packet of Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Brown Sugar Maple Hot Oatmeal. This packet will serve you 160 calories and 2 grams of fat. You will be consuming 80 mg sodium and 8 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Don’t let that drop in number hinder you…this one is also very filling. In fact…I felt my fullest after eating this one. Odd!
Overall…really, really like!
So, if you are wanting an easy-to-make and easy-to-eat option for breakfast, lunch or even dinner…I highly recommend Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Hot Oatmeal Variety Pack. You get a little bit of everything to try and you can choose what you prefer when it comes to the flavors out on the market. It’s a great value at a great price.
Beyond impressed. I’m sure this will find its way into my pantry again.
So, I mentioned back when I reviewed the Jovial Gluten-Free Fig Fruit Filled Cookies, I mentioned how much I missed having something like Fig Newtons in my life. Sadly…the Jovial cookies didn’t live up to expectations. They were dry and just…a let down.
But then…one of my most raved about and most trusted brands (go back to the beginning of this blog, you will find Pamela’s Products ALL over it!), put out their own version of the Fig Newtons that I grew up eating. By the package. For real. Figs and I are BFFs. I’ve just always loved them. So Fig Newtons were my ideal snack. When I had to go gluten-free…these fell out of my life and it was mega devastating. Especially when your roomie can and does still get Fig Newtons (and sometimes Fig Newmans) for snacks.
*sigh*
Pamela’s Figgies & Jammies came out on the market this past year and I went on an immediate search for them. Naturally…nowhere around here carried them at the time. That’s typical. In fact, I never saw them out in the grocery store wild until I was visiting my friend Jenn up in Columbus, Ohio and she took me to her natural food store, The Raisin Rack. They have an amazing gluten-free section, in case any of you are passing through. Check them out. Raisin Rack had all four of the flavors. And I squeaked and squealed and maybe did a happy dance of gluten-free joy in the aisle.
I also, somehow, managed not to buy all the flavors. I decided to try one to start. Just one. The problem was choosing a flavor.
Pamela’s Figgies & Jammies are available in Mission Fig, Blueberry & Fig, Raspberry & Fig, and Strawberry & Fig. It took much debate and much thought, but I finally…after picking up one, then another, then another…decided on the Blueberry & Fig. Whew. That was a tough decision…and I was hoping that I made the right one.
Now that I’m working my way through my pantry of gluten-free snacks and stuff…these were up next! And I cracked them open yesterday to have as a snack at the office. They are BIG! You know when you get that pack of Fig Newtons at the convenience store that has just one large Fig Newton in it. Thing that size. They outer cake part is a very light shade of tan. And you can see this gorgeous filling on the inside. They didn’t look or feel dry in the slightest, so they were already ahead of Jovial.
At snack time…I was excited to try this out. And I couldn’t have been happier. FINALLY! FINALLY!! I should have gone straight to Pamela’s when I was seeking out this kind of snack goodness. These light and moist snack cakes are OMGSOGOOD! Mmmm…I loved this at first bite. DELICIOUS! The cake is light…the filling tastes fresh and fruity. You get that nice blend of blueberry and fig…perfection. They have a nice soft texture to them, not dry and hard like Jovial and (sometimes) Fig Newtons. These tasted much lighter than Fig Newtons too. I just found the flavors to be amazing and I thought Pamela’s once again outdid themselves on a treat. I will be buying EVERY flavor next time.
Let’s talk ingredients, shall we?
Pamela’s Gluten-Free Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies are constructed and created from the following…
The cake portion is made from a flour base (brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, xanthan gum), natural evaporated cane sugar, organic palm oil, organic invert sugar, grape juice, whole rice syrup, sweet whey powder, glycerin, baking soda, sea salt and lemon oil. The jam portion is made from a blueberry paste, fig, and citric acid. These cookies are gluten-free, egg-free, contain no artificial flavors or additives, no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, no corn syrup, are certified kosher and certified gluten-free (and made in a dedicated gluten-free facility).
As for nutrition…for a cookie, these stats aren’t bad at all. A serving of Pamela’s Blueberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies is one cookie. Yes…just one. And trust me…it is hard to limit yourself to that. This one cookie will give you 100 calories and 2 grams of fat. You will be taking in 25 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. You will also be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.
I am thrilled that these are out in the market and that NOW I can even find them around my area. I’ve spotted them at a few of my local natural food stores. YAY! Because these are going to have a permanent place in my pantry. Each flavor. Because, you know, I have to try them out.
I love berries. Love them. I haven’t met a berry I didn’t like. I will EAT ALL THE BERRIES! And sometimes…I do.
Thanks to my good friend, Harry, I have a nice supply of freshly picked blueberries. And I really wanted to make the most of them. So, over the weekend, while doing some meal prep, I decided to do some baking…utilizing some of the blueberries.
Lucky for me, this month’s Vegetarian Times was featuring blueberries in their “One Food Five Ways” feature. SCORE! And the one recipe that really stuck out to me was the Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones. So…that’s what I made…for breakfast at the office on my gym mornings. It just will involve some reheating. And since I love scones, this seemed like a great recipe to attempt. The only difference is my version had to be gluten-free. So, I crossed my fingers and said a prayer to my gluten-free baking gods that this recipe might like my gluten-free all-purpose flour.
These pastries are so simple to make and don’t take a lot of time. They bake up beautifully and look amazing. Oh…and you might want to eat them the moment they come out of the oven because they make your home smell SO good!
Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (I used Better Batter)
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (I used Earth Balance)
3/4 cup low-fat milk, plus more for brushing (I used unsweetened almond milk)
2 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels)
3/4 cup fresh blueberries
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Work in the butter using your fingertips or a pastry cutter, until only small crumbs remain in the mixture.
Whisk together milk, egg yolks, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix just until incorporated (the mixture will be crumbly). Gently stir in the chocolate chips and blueberries. Gather dough into a ball.
Transfer the dough to a floured work surface, and press into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Dust a knife with flour, then cut dough into 8 equal wedges. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, and brush tops lightly with milk.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until lightly browned on top and bottom.
~*~*~
This recipe embodies everything that is amazing and wonderful in this world. Fresh blueberries. Dark chocolate. Breakfast. These scones are a fantastic treat in the morning…and actually not too bad as far as nutrition goes…for scones. I loved the flavor of the bittersweet chocolate with the burst of sweetness from the blueberries. Harmony in breakfast form. I will be making these again…that’s for sure! Simple recipe…simple breakfast pleasure.
Product: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes – $2.69
Oh…pancakes. I love pancakes. I’m a runner…I’m supposed to live on pancakes, right? I wish I did, honestly. Because I grew up eating pancakes for breakfast, sometimes for lunch, and my family was a big believer in pancakes for dinner. We love breakfast in my family and breakfast for dinner was sort of like a tradition with us. My mom had a great recipe for what was deemed “The Best Ever Pancakes.” I loved it when mom would cook up pancakes, getting the skillet all nice and warm before pouring that perfect, fluffy batter onto it in perfect circles, flipping it as the edges bubbled and revealing this perfect crusty outside with that soft, cakey, light and fluffy inside. Mmm…I’m drooling just thinking about it.
Except…I can’t eat those pancakes anymore. And, ironically, neither can she. With both of us dealing with Celiac diagnosis (mine three years ago, hers late last year), those pancakes will have to remain a fond memory. But, that’s not to say that pancakes are off the menu. In fact…so many different gluten-free pancake mixes and frozen pancakes are out on the market these days. Between that and pizza…you’d think that’s all Celiacs and the gluten intolerant eat. And…I would if I could get away with it. But I also like variety. So…maybe not.
Back as May (Celiac Awareness Month) kicked off, Aldi brought out it’s brand new line of gluten-free products for testing on the market. I heard about it from work and from my mom. So, on Mother’s Day…my roommate and I trekked to the store, found products we could afford, and walked out with one of practically everything…for less than $30. NO JOKE! Talk about a bargain. The kicker was going to be whether or not these products were any good.
As we start our journey through the Aldi liveGfree line that has invaded our pantry(s) and our freezer, I keep an open mind. Just because it’s inexpensive doesn’t mean it’s going to be crap. And, as of today, there is only one product so far that I wouldn’t bother with again (The Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches). Everything else has been decent or even delicious. So, that’s a win. Products that actually fit my budget and are good too? Sign me up. Or at least send me to Aldi every once and awhile (provided they keep this line in stores…and I pray they do!).
I happen to have a fantastic blueberry invasion in my fridge and freezer these days…compliments of my good friend Harry. LOVE blueberries and how good they are for you. And I’ve been eating the hell out of them. With a busy Monday morning at hand, I knew that I needed breakfast to be relatively simple. Aside from having a fruit, yogurt and granola parfait…to round it out…I figured I would try the other version of the frozen pancakes that I picked up at Aldi (I previously reviewed the blueberry variety…ironically). These are simply Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes. Also known as…the standard…the pancake to end all pancakes. If you can’t make a good buttermilk pancake, you’re not worthy of wielding batter and a spatula.
A package of three of the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes
The best part about these, however, is that they are already prepared and frozen. They come in individual servings, already wrapped and ready for their date with some source of heat. The box gives three options…microwave, toaster, and oven. I went with the oven, because it would allow me some time to shower and change before they were done cooking. Perfect. Each wrapper contains three pancakes. I opened up the wrappers, placed the pancakes on a baking sheet, covered them with foil, and put them in a preheated oven at 375°F for 10-12 minutes. My oven is old…I went for 12 minutes.
Just as with their blueberry counterparts, when I removed them from the oven and pulled away the foil…this cloud of steam emerged and the pancakes were now soft…thawed…and looked absolutely perfect. I placed three on each plate and topped them of with a homemade blueberry compote. There is the irony of the other flavor being blueberry! Anyway…I served up a plate to the roomie and then began some clean-up work in the kitchen while I dug into mine.
I loved this. What I felt was the best part was that rich, buttermilk flavor that you get with each bite. Even with the blueberry compote, you can’t miss the flavor from the pancakes. It was rich and smooth and just pure pancake perfection (try saying that three times fast!). They were so light and fluffy…like they were homemade. Like they were the pancakes my mom used to make (just not as fluffy or epic or delicious!). I will point out these are a bit small…but what frozen pancakes aren’t. I loved the texture…not having anything gritty or gummy. Just soft and chewy and delicious bite after bite after bite. I was actually impressed. I asked Cathy her thoughts and she said, “They don’t have much flavor.” But she also is congested with a summer cold and really can’t taste much at the moment. So, that was a comment I am ignoring and a question I shouldn’t have asked the girl with the stuffed up sinuses. DUH!
Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we? The Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes from the Aldi liveGfree line contain water, rice flour, tapioca flour, sugar, soy flour, potato flour, whole egg powder, canola oil, buttermilk, baking powder, salt, xanthan gum, and natural flavors. These are all ingredients that I recognize and box proudly declares that this product contains “No Artificial Anything.” Love that too!
As for nutrition, these are actually really good stats for pancakes. One serving (3 pancakes) of the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes will provide you with 210 calories and 4 grams of fat. NICE! That’s awesome for pancakes. A serving will also give you 40 mg cholesterol, 390 mg sodium, and 9 grams of sugar. The sugar is…higher than I like…but…it’s pancakes. Also, you will be taking in only 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Love that protein stat, but the lack of fiber is probably why my stomach was rumbling by 9 a.m. I resisted the urge to snack though. Even though I really needed to do so.
For the price, I really can’t complain about the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes. I actually savored each bite this morning because they tasted so darn close to homemade. I really am hoping the trial run of this gluten-free line catches on at Aldi because sometimes convenience foods are necessary and they do make life easier. And when they are made right, like these pancakes, they can really add some smiles and sunshine and rainbows and unicorns…or at least something delicious to start (or perhaps end) your day with. On mornings when you are pressed for time or are just running late…something this easy to prepare and to enjoy sure does come in handy. Maybe if I beg and bat my eyelashes Aldi will keep this line around for awhile. I’m one happy customer so far!
Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes (fresh from the oven)
It wasn’t in the budget this week. Honestly. But I have a lot of delicious, fresh blueberries at home and needed some way to prepare them. Well…some other way as I’ve already put some in a blueberry compote for gluten-free pancakes and even baked some into dark chocolate and blueberry scones. Mmmm…scones. I’ve been eating them prior to running and after running. So, when I was out grocery shopping, it occured to me that one of my favorite ways to eat blueberries…is in my breakfast fruit, yogurt and granola parfaits. So, while at Whole Foods, Cathy and I were walking through the cereal aisle and she spotted the bright, colorful, yellow packaging of Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Granola!
Her eyes fell on the Motor City Crunch variety, which is a chocolate and hazelnut granola. Mmmm…Nutella in granola form. I wanted it. So, I told her we had to get one, because, after all, we had blueberries to eat. So, she grabbed…the Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola??!! After waving chocolate hazelnut at me? That’s just mean and cruel, I think. Next time I’m selecting so I get the chocolate hazelnut. Crazy roomie of mine. Chocolate and hazelnut always win. I mean, I love pecans and almonds, but those are in…pretty much every other granola out there. And Motor City Crunch actually had like a special title and everything It wasn’t just the flavor. It has to be big…it has to be amazing…it has to wait until next time…
Bummer.
But…you just go with it in these situations. So, instead of the one I thought we were getting…the Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola is the actual variety that made it into our shopping bag and then into the pantry on Saturday.
Fast forward to Monday morning. I had spin class to get to by 5:30 a.m. and breakfast had to be quick. So…here it was…blueberry breakfast parfaits. I pulled out the pouch of granola and opened it up. I retrieved glasses to build the parfaits in and then the Greek yogurt and berries from the fridge. I plucked the honey from the pantry. And I figured I had to taste-test the granola before loading it into the parfaits. So, I reached inside and plucked out a large clump of granola.
It was sweet without being overly sweet. It looked like it was packed with sugar…but it’s not. The nuts add a great bit of depth to the flavor and the oats are toasted to perfection. You get that perfect granola crunch followed by the sweetness. I had to take another bit before telling myself that I actually needed to build a parfait and couldn’t just eat the granola. But trust me…I could. While I might have been disappointed that the flavor I wanted remained shelved at Whole Foods…this flavor is top of the line. I mean, honest-to-goodness ingredients and flavors. Low in sugar…packed with enough flavor that makes you almost feel guilty when eating it. It was like a treat. And when I paired it with the ripe and very fresh (and amazing) blueberries and the Greek yogurt…it was a fantastic combination. The pecans, almonds, and oats brought this nice texture, the berries practically burst on my tongue…and the smooth yogurt just tied it all together. This was a wonderful (and tasty) surprise this morning. LOVED this flavor.
So…let’s talk ingredients. Inside a package of Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola you will find certified gluten-free rolled oats, organic honey, brown sugar, expeller pressed sunflower oil, pecans, almonds, ground flax seed, coconut, maple syrup, pure vanilla extract, sea salt, cinnamon, and tocopherols (natural vitamin E). That last ingredient sounds very chemical-like…but look at everything else. The sweetness, I now see, is due to the honey, brown sugar, and maple syrup that are included. I can taste the hint of coconut and the seasoning of cinnamon that is included. And the combination is magic on your taste buds. Not only is it gluten-free, but it’s also cholesterol free. YAY!
Nutritionally speaking…these stats are pretty awesome. A serving of Jessica’s Natural Foods Pecan Almond Granola is 1/4 cup. This serving will provide you with 135 calories and 7 grams of fat. That isn’t bad for something that contains nuts. Mostly healthy fats there. A serving also will give you only 25 mg sodium and 6 grams of sugar. This is phenomenal for a granola. You will also be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. It doesn’t sound like much, but you will actually feel full. Trust me.
I always try to get Cathy’s opinion on a product and since this was the flavor that she chose…against my wishes (because NUTELLA!)…I asked her what she thought. She gave her usual…”It was good.” Or whatever. And then I remember she is still fighting off a summer cold and she had just woken up. Dammit. No luck these days with her opinion. And this one I really wanted. Maybe another time.
That being said, despite not getting the Chocolate Hazelnut variety I am enamored with high praise and love for Jessica’s Natural Foods and the Pecan Almond Granola. Delicious. Not too sweet…although it just looks like it should be more sweet than it is. It’s sheer granola perfection and I can’t wait to try the other flavors. But next up…Motor City Crunch. For real!
The Celiathlete 