Category: Gluten-Free

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Product Review: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s

Trader Joe's Pumpkin O's
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s

Product: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s – $2.49

You know, there is something that is so comforting about cereal.  I grew up eating cereal as a child…and not just the frosted sugary type either.  I was a huge fan of Cheerios and Corn Flakes and even Wheat, Corn, and Rice Chex.  I loved it all.

As I’ve gotten older, cereal has remained a staple in my morning routine.  It’s easy for me to eat a bowl and then get ready for a run…and have the energy to get through it.  Some people run on empty stomachs in the morning, but my sports nutritionist and my own foray into the nutrition field, both have shown me why this is not such a good idea.  As my sports nutritionist said…even if it’s just a handful of cereal or nuts or toast…eat something before you head out.

Not a problem with me, because I LOVE breakfast.  And one of my greatest breakfast loves is…as I mentioned above…cereal.  I had recently stopped eating cereal, subbing in some fruit and yogurt instead.  But…when something so unique comes along that you simply must have it…cereal is back in the bowl in the morning.  And now part of me wonders why I stopped eating it in the first place.

The cereal that changed my entire morning routine back to the way it was happens to be a product of Trader Joe’s.  Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s.  Yes…Pumpkin O’s.  As in a Cheerio-like cereal flavored with mega pumpkin flavor.  Oh, and they are about the size of Froot Loops (or the size Froot Loops used to be when they made them right…like…when I was a kid and all).

So, like most great food stories, this one all started at the grocery store.  I had only a small list of items to buy at Trader Joe’s.  But the moment I walked in the door, I saw the big display of all the seasonal pumpkin everything everywhere stuff.  I noted the cereal and let out a small sigh.  Pumpkin cereal.  Pumpkin O’s to be exact.  Oh, to not be Celiac.

But then, Cathy (the roomie) spotted the print in the corner.  Low Fat.  Vegn.  Gluten Free.

It was as though the pumpkin gods were smiling down upon me that day.  Whatever I did right that day, thank you great cereal gods for watching out for my particular cereal wants/needs.  Happy dance.  Happy dance all the way up and down the aisles.  Seriously…there was no stopping me.

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s are “round like pumpkins rounder, actually) and fun like jack o’lantenrs (maybe more fun, since you can eat them)” and are the sibling cereal to the Original Joe’s O’s.  The box claims that the pumpkin wizards created this cereal with a stroke of their pumpkin-shaped wands, which are difficult and challenging to control) so this particular flavor of cereal will only be around for pumpkin season.  So, if you’re a pumpkin nut-case like me…you best get to Trader Joe’s.

This morning, with my Dole pineapple (also purchased at Trader Joe’s) gone…this was my breakfast of choice before hitting the gym.  I measured out a serving, loving the size of the little round o’s.  I snagged a few to taste dry from my bowl and crunched on them while I went to retrieve the unsweetened cashew milk.  Into the bowl it went, giving the cereal a little lift.

In went the spoon.  Spoon went to mouth.  Down the hatch.

And holy Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!  This cereal is amazing. If you’re a pumpkin lover like me, you’ll love this.  Here’s why.  This cereal is LOADED with pumpkin flavor.  No skimping on that.  No way.  It’s crunchy, even in the cashew milk.  And it tastes amazing.  I was tempted to pour myself another bowl, but I opted to behave and stick to the serving recommendation.  I had coffee and the gym to tackle.  That being said, I sort of want to buy Trader Joe’s out of this cereal and just have it in my kitchen for all those mornings, not in pumpkin season, when I just want to have it be pumpkin season again.

I am beyond impressed.

Let’s discuss the ingredients in Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s.  This cereal is made from whole grain brown rice, cane sugar, whole grain oats, brown sugar, pumpkin, sea salt, natural flavor, calcium carbonate, sodium phosphate, cinnamon, annatto (color), mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E as an antioxidant for freshness).  It is gluten-free, vegan, low in fat, and contains 20 grams of whole grains per serving.  LOVE that.

As for nutritional facts, the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s actually stack up to be a healthier breakfast cereal choice than most commercial cereals.  A serving is 1 cup (30 grams).  This serving will provide 110 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 140 mg sodium, 25 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 9 grams sugar, and 2 grams of protein.  It’s not going to fill you up, but it will get you through the morning.

Trader Joe’s did one better than most gluten-free cereals already out on the market.  Trader Joe’s latched onto the pumpkin flavor craze…and it paid off in spades.  If you have a Trader Joe’s in your area, go there…and get a box as soon as you can.  The Pumpkin O’s will only be around for a limited time.

Time for me to restock…

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Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels

Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels
Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels – $7.25+

As much as I want for the weather to stay warm and mild…it’s already cold outside.  The nip of fall is in the air, and while I do love this time of year, there is one thing even more important that I can count on around this time:

PUMPKIN SPICE…EVERYTHING!

And while this is a lot easier to come by when you don’t live in a bubble (aka: food allergies), it’s little things like non-dairy pumpkin spice flavoring in coffee…and my homemade (because no one else has made it yet) vegan pumpkin ice cream.  And it’s Sweet Note Bagel Girls getting me all kinds of “OH HELL YES” with the return of their Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels.

Seriously, these ladies are my new BFFs.  OR…as they say on their Twitter account, GFFs (Gluten Free Friends).  If they ever want to sponsor an athlete to endorse their stuff, I am their girl.  Because when it comes to things that runners (and New Yorkers, mind you) love…it’s BAGELS!  Especially this native New Yorker who just happens to be…a runner.  And while the gluten-free market has a good number of companies that have gluten-free bagels out…none have tasted like the actual real thing…until Sweet Note Bakery found me and enticed me to give them a try.

They totally peaked my curiosity.  So, without any further knowledge about their products, without looking up any reviews as to what other consumers thought of their products, I was on their online store, purchasing half of their bagel selections.  Yep, I didn’t start with just one variety.  I went into this believing that these would blow me away…and thus…I ordered four (4) of their eight (8) varieties that they offered at that time.  To be clear, they normally have five (5) standards: Plain, Everything, Sesame, Poppy, and Cinnamon Raisin…and they add limited time goodies like Snickerdoodle (didn’t get to try that one, so I hope it makes a return appearance this holiday season), Chocolate Swirl, and yes…Pumpkin Spice.

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

This is truly a love story between me and these bagels.  Every single flavor has been outstanding.  No joke.  You know, I’m very blunt about things I eat and if I don’t like them, you know it.  There is nothing NOT to like about the bagels that Sweet Note Bakery puts out there.  Fantastic quality…fantastic flavor.  Never once have they let me down.  And that’s why all other bagels stay in the freezer section now…and Sweet Note is the only one that actually makes the journey home to my own freezer.

Now, let me be the first to admit…I am a pumpkin spice junkie…fanatic…enthusiast.  I love all things pumpkin.  So, when I discovered that they were bringing back Pumpkin Spice for a limited time to their bagel line-up…I treated myself to a birthday present and purchased a package of them.  I was out of town a lot, so I’m just now getting to devour…I mean…taste them.  But with things finally settling into a rhythm…I pulled these bad-boy bagels out of my freezer this morning to have for breakfast.

I grabbed two of them (one for me and the other for my non-gluten-free roomie!) and got onto thawing them in the microwave.  You don’t bring these to room temperature like most gluten-free foods.  Just 1 minute or so in the microwave, until they are squishy soft, and you’re golden.  Cool them for a moment, slice in half, and toast.  I will note, the Pumpkin Spice are special because you actually see flecks of orange pumpkin in the halved bagel itself.  Love that.  Because I don’t own a toaster, these bad boys went into the oven. They smelled amazing as they toasted away, getting to that perfect level of golden on top.  Out they came, cooling for a moment…then I topped off one half with vegan cream cheese and the other half with organic pumpkin butter.  I passed one plate off to my roommate and, after pouring myself a cup of coffee, I settled in to my own.

Forget pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin spice waffles and pumpkin spice oatmeal…or whatever might be out on the non-gluten-free market…that we don’t have.  We have one better.  We have The Great Pumpkin of all things pumpkin spice: Sweet Note Bakery’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels.  OH YEAH!  Real…REAL New York-style bagels here…made from real ingredients and not all that processed…stuff.  These bagels have to be filled with hocus-pocus, because they are, perhaps, one of the best things I have ever had for breakfast.  The bagel itself is full of pumpkin flavor.  No skimping there.  And that’s important, when you bill yourself as a “pumpkin spice”…whatever.  So often, that flavor goes missing…but not here.  It is spooky how much flavor is packed into these dense, little bagels.  The crust of the bagel was toasted and crisp…the inside…chewy and just…filled with pumpkin goodness.  I was blown away.  And, even as I told myself to savor each bite, I think I hoovered the bagel like it was candy.  I’m thinking another order is happening in the very, very near future.

So, let’s get down and talk about some of what goes into making the Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels.  These bagels are made from Love (yes…an actual ingredient!), Water, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Flour, Sweet White Rice Flour, Sorghum Flour, Sugar, Cane Syrup, Pumpkin, Carrots, Molasses, Yeast, Xanthan Gum, Psyllium Husk, Salt, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extract, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger.  Note…all recognizable and real ingredients.  These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

As far as nutrition goes, you’ll love these stats like I love pumpkin!  A serving size is 1 bagel (128 grams).  This serving will give you 260 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 300 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 10 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein.  I said it before, and I’ll say it again, it’s amazing how much more filling a food is when it’s made with real ingredients.  These bagels will definitely get you through your morning!

What are gluten-free bagels made of?  Pumpkin Spice and everything nice…if you’re talking about the return of Sweet Note’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagel.  And if you’re not, then you should be…so head over to their Web site and place an order.  Don’t delay…these are only around for a limited time!

And…if you haven’t already, you might as well order some of their standards while you’re on their page.  I promise you…you’ll fall in love with these bagels too.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagel with a schmear of vegan cream cheese and organic pumpkin butter
Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagel with a schmear of vegan cream cheese and organic pumpkin butter
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Product Review: Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons

Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons
Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons

Product: Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons – $2.99+

Welcome to the final round of “Cookies I Bought At Jungle Jim’s International Market.”  Hey…cookies are awesome and when I find cookies that I have never spotted in my area of the country…I take every opportunity to try them.  I mean, come on, cookies are the perfect treat after a long day.  A little savory…but also sweet.  You can’t go wrong.

While shopping in the gluten-free section of Jungle Jim’s International Market on my birthday, Cathy spotted a small line-up of little macaroon-type cookies.  I used to despise coconut.  I thought it tasted like having bugs in your mouth.  Texture-wise…a fail.  That being said, as I’ve gotten older, the more times I try coconut, the more I have come to enjoy it…in certain forms.

One of such forms is in…macaroons…those sweet lumps of toasted coconut with that golden crust at the bottom.  Yep…I devour those now.  Go figure.  They are just a nice, healthier cookie to indulge in every now and again.  So, imagine my excitement when Cathy spotted a shelf with little pouches of macaroon cookies called Coco-Roons.  I knew I wanted to try one of the different varieties…but I had to narrow it down to the one that interested me most.

Coco-Roons are made by the company Wonderfully Raw.  Wonderfully Raw was started by Sequoia Cheney, who had a passion for good food that wasn’t exactly good for her.  When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she knew something had to change in order for her to heal herself.  She decided to change her path and began a journey into good health.  Her son, Eric Hara, a renowned chef in New York City, gave her a lot of inspiration and encouragement.  So Sequoia decided to create delicious food that was also good for her.  She began to train at Living Light Culinary Institute in Mendocino, California, where she trained with the best raw food chefs in the business.  And with what she learned there, she could now prepare food that could support and heal the body.  This dynamic mother and son duo have come together to create Coco-Roons, which are produced using only the finest organic ingredients.

Perfect segue here to tell you what is actually in these miniature cookies of wonderful lemony goodness, yes?  The Wonderfully Rw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are made from organic dried unsweetened coconut, organic almond flour, organic unfiltered maple syrup, organic cold-pressed coconut oil, organic lemon zest, organic vanilla extract, and Himalayan crystal salt.  That’s it, my dear readers.  That’s it.  These miniature macroons are vegan, gluten-free, and paleo (if cavemen ate desserts…and I’m still not convinced that’s true).  These are also raw and certified non-GMO.

As far as nutrition goes, the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are a fantastic treat at the end of the day.  A serving size is 3 of the miniature cookies.  There are 2-4 servings per bag, as I think they actually go off weight.  One serving will provide you with 80 calories, 6 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat (from coconut oil), 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 30 mg sodium, 6 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein.  Not filling, but not horrible by any standard when it comes to a treat.

And since this is kind of out of my usual order, how about I tell you how much I LOVE these cookies, yes?  First of all, they don’t taste coconutty at all.  Nope.  You get a bit of the texture, but that fresh lemon flavor is what tempts your taste buds into popping the next one.  These cookies are tiny, little bite-size mounds of goodness.  I was sad to only eat three of them tonight.  I mean, totally amazing flavor…and you can’t beat how good these are for you…as fr as cookies go.  I love that these are sweetened with maple syrup instead of granulated white sugar.  And I love that I don’t feel bad just digging into these.  If you’re a lemon lover…these will definitely make you happy.  My roommate got to her serving first and all I heard was, “These are amazing.”  And…she was absolutely right.  I have a new soft spot in my heart for the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons.  I hope a store around here carries them, otherwise I’ll be scooping up more of these and the other flavors on my next trip to Jungle Jim’s.  And, if nothing else, they are available to order online on the Wonderfully Raw Web site.

Beyond enthusiastic and happy with these cookies for sure.  I loved these from first bite and simply can’t wait to dig in tomorrow for more.  Here’s a no-guilt, fantastic, healthy dessert or snack you’ll love.  Trust me.

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Recipe: Gluten-Free & Dairy Free Snickerdoodle Blondies

All you naysayers beware!!  Just because something is gluten free and dairy free does not immediately mean it will be flavorless or taste like cardboard.  I don’t know what cardboard tastes like since I’ve never had the urge to lick it or anything, but I promise you…this recipe will surpass all your expectations.

I was looking for a different sort of snickerdoodle treat to bake up for my amazing friends and neighbors downstairs.  They had a rough couple of weeks, but with things starting to turn around, I wanted to make something to celebrate.  That being said, I set out to bake up something snickerdoodle, that wasn’t necessarily the cookies themselves.  I still have to play around with my mom’s snickerdoodle cookie recipe and attempt to convert it to gluten and dairy free.

So…I found a recipe on The Cool York and changed it up to fit the diet they are starting out following, which just so happens to coincide with mine.  BONUS!!

Snickerdoodle Blondies…are life changing.

Recipe: Gluten Free & Dairy Free Snickerdoodle Blondies

Gluten Free & Dairy Free Snickerdoodle Blondies
Gluten Free & Dairy Free Snickerdoodle Blondies

Servings: 16
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 45 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2-2/3 cups gluten-free baking flour (I used Mina’s Purely Divine Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour)
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 cup Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks (2 sticks) softened
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Place the butter & brown sugar in the mixing bowl and cream together.

Add in the 2 eggs until combined.

Add the baking powder to the mixture. Now, add in the flour.

Line a 9 x 13 baking sheet (or 8 x 8 if you prefer them thicker, like me) with parchment paper. Spread the batter over the pan.

Combine the white sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle generously over the batter.

Bake in the oven for 28-32 minutes (up to 40-45 min if using the 8 x 8 pan like I did).

Take out of the oven and let cool before serving!

Slice & enjoy

~*~*~

These blondies baked up light and soft and chewy and amazing.  Seriously.  I took half of the recipe and gave the rest to them.  I am beyond words with how well this worked out, honestly.  Totally delicious.  I especially loved the gooey and rich texture that these had.  I warmed mine up for about 20 seconds in the microwave and WOW!!  Just WOW!!  The original recipe called for 3 tablespoons of both sugar and cinnamon to top…but that was really heavy on the cinnamon.  So I reduced it to 1/3 of the amount and it was that perfect sweet/spicy level.  If you like snickerdoodles…you’re absolutely going to love these.  And…if you don’t have to eat gluten-free or dairy free…regular flour and butter can be used, of course.

I can’t wait to make these again.

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Product Review: The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots

The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots
The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots

 Product: The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots – $4.50+

I know what you’re thinking…

“MORE COOKIES??”

And yes…it does seem like I’m eating my weight in cookies these days.  But…I’m not.  I portion everything out perfectly…and each container is split with another person.  So, yeah…change that way of thinking to…

“MORE COOKIES!!”

Truth be told…I’m a cookie monster regardless.  There is nothing quite as perfect as a delicious cookie.  Whether you like them chewy and moist or crispy and crumbly…there is no right or wrong way to make, eat, or devour a cookie.  And while homemade cookies are, by far, the best…I don’t have much time to mess with recipes and convert them…and then bake them.

So, sometimes, getting a small sack of cookies from the grocery store is a nice enough treat.  And trust me, despite what you think, this doesn’t happen often.  It was my birthday a couple of weeks back and I was treated to a shopping spree at Jungle Jim’s International Market.  And while I was determined to get foods that weren’t all snacks and junk (and I actually did manage)…I did pick up a few treats and have been working my way through them.

I love perusing the various countries and their foods while I’m at Jungle Jim’s.  But…I normally don’t get much in there due to my food allergies.  I do visit Ireland to pick up the tea I got hooked on while visiting there back in 2010.  It just so happened, that while I was just browsing the shelves…I spotted little pouches of cookie-like goodness.  There were like…four different varieties and they were all vegan friendly and gluten free.

HELLO!!

The hard part was narrowing it down.

The company is The Foods of Athenry from The Lawless Family Bakery.  I love the brand name.  It’s clever.  And I love clever things.  The Foods of Athenry was born in 2004 when, an uncertain future in agriculture and childhood health problems, which influenced a lifelong interest in the relationship of food vs health, brought the Lawless family to set up a bakery business in which no artificial food additives were used.  They sold their cows and moved the bakery into the empty milking parlor.  With a tradition in baking (the Lawless grandparents owned one of the largest bakeries in the West of Ireland almost a hundred years ago), and a passion and love of good food, the Lawless’ set out to promote one of their primary beliefs: “Good food promotes good health.”  With that in mind, they took great care in preparing their own breakfasts, lunchbox snacks and treats.  And when this way of life turned into a business, the same simple rule applied to all of the products they produced, be they vegan, gluten free, dairy free…or not.  And it’s worked.  They have won numerous food awards that sing high accolades for the products that The Foods of Athenry produces and sells.

When I was inside the Ireland section of Jungle Jim’s International Market, I had quite the decision to make.  In the Gluten Free Pouch Packs…four different varieties are available…and all four were there for me to choose from.  I thought about grabbing them all, but there was way more to explore and a shrinking budget.  The Gluten Free Pouch Packs come in: Just Oats Flapjacks Mini Bites, The Works Flapjacks Mini Bites, Blondie Cookie Shots, and Brownie Cookie Shots. As it is hard for me to make decisions regarding sweet treats, I asked my roommate for her opinion.  And she decided the Blondie Cookie Shots were the way to go.  And so…they came home with me.

Tonight, after dinner, I pulled them out to enjoy for our dessert.  The pouch was cut open and I actually dumped out a handful.  These are definitely small bite-size cookie treats that looked a lot like shortbread cookies.  They are about the size between a dime and nickle.  So, tiny little morsels of cookie joy.  Easy to pop and snack on and indulge a little.  I just served up a handful to Cathy and then I did the same for me.  I popped the first one as I was storing the pouch back in the pantry.

Crunchy, delicious, popping-fresh cookies.  That’s what these are.  They have this fantastic vanilla flavor to them.  I was in love with the flavor.  The texture was definitely reminiscent of a shortbread cookie.  It was buttery and sweet and crunchy and amazing.  I was in love.  In fact, I popped the rest of the cookies I had dished up for myself in no time.  Not mindlessly…but savoring while enjoying.  These cookies were totally made for that.  Love does come in bite-size pieces.

Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we?  The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots are made from gluten free and wheat free flour (maize, rice, potato, tapioca, and buckwheat), 100% vegetable non-hydrogenated margarine, sugar, concentrated fruit juice (grape, apple, pear), natural vanilla, raising agents, (mono calcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate), and xanthan gum.  The cookies do not contain any gluten, wheat, dairy, GMOs, eggs, yeast, hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, flavors of preservatives.

And you are going to love the nutritional facts for The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots!  Each cookie is 4 grams and each cookie contains only 18 calories.  Yes…18 calories.  One cookie.  18 calories.  So…in the sense that you are popping one single cookie…you would be taking in: 18 calories, less than 1 gram of fat, less than 1 gram saturated fat, 2.46 grams carbohydrates, and under 1 gram of the following: sugar, fiber, protein and sodium.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

These cookies are pretty much guilt-free and are a great companion for tea, coffee, chocolate milk, or whatever.  They made a great choice for a dessert tonight.  Amazing food brought all the way from Ireland.  I’m hooked.  I need to get back to Jungle Jim’s and soon!

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Product Review: Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps

Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps
Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps

Product: Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps – $4.59+

There was a time, not too long ago, back when I was first entering the world of Celiac Disease and the gluten-free lifestyle, that I discovered there was a huge lack of things like…sandwich wraps…at least decent ones…out on the gluten-free market.  That has since changed, thank goodness, as more familiar products are being created.  It’s nice to actually have a gluten-free product that isn’t chips or cookies or brownies or cake or…you get my point.

When it comes to food, I like my snacks too, but I really crave real food.  And, as I’ve been making a point of cleaning up my diet, real food is taking a top priority over highly processed, nutritionally-lacking foods.  I mean, I still have my (gluten-free) cake and eat it too…but I’m making better, plant-based, real-food choices more than anything else.  I am working off a meal plan and it’s really a life savor.  Sometimes it does mean a ton of prep work…but it’s worth it.  In the end…it is totally worth it.

Well, tonight’s meal plan called for Greek Tacos.  The original recipe called for pita bread, but the one version of gluten-free pita bread I found isn’t be sold at my grocery store anymore…so…tortillas it is.  When I went shopping at Jungle Jim’s International Market on my birthday, one of the gluten-free products I picked up that I hadn’t found anywhere else was…sandwich wraps.

It is so difficult to find good gluten-free wraps, even today.  You go to fold one and it breaks.  It’s too thick…or perhaps not thick enough.  It doesn’t have a good flavor.  It doesn’t cook well.  It doesn’t hold together or immediately crumbles when you wrap them up.  They rip and tear…you get the drift.

Well, as I had never heard of the Toufayan Bakeries brand before…I decided it was worth trying.  If anything else, I was just stuck with another wrap that crumbled under my high expectations.  Well, with these Greek Tacos being prepped and needing a vehicle in which to be built upon, I pulled the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps out of my pantry and immediately set to work on building dinner on them.

Toufayan Bakeries is one of the largest, privately-held, specialty bakeries in the United States.  It produces over 100 varieties of baked goods daily, including its own line of gluten-free wraps and gluten-free pita chips.  I have yet to find the gluten-free pita chips, but I found a few varieties of the wraps while grocery shopping.  Being on a budget even on my birthday, however, I only picked one to try in the end.

Available in four different flavors— original, garden vegetable, savory tomato, and spinach— the wraps are 100% gluten free. These wraps are processed a separate, dedicated gluten-free line, routinely tested to be under 10 ppm.

It was definitely time to put this new (to me) brand to the test.  And what does that better than a mess of Greek vegetables, lentils, and sauce, right?  I went to work immediately building the Greek Tacos up with warm lentils, thinly sliced red onion, tomatos, local bibb lettuce, and diced cucumber…topped off with a vegan tzatziki sauce.  Talk about testing the durability of a wrap, right?  Well, the only problem was…there was too much veggie goodness for the wrap, so actually folding it up wasn’t happening.  I had to eat it…like a taco.  And since this is Greek Tacos…that actually was okay.

So…this is how it stacked up…

I absolutely LOVED the taste and texture of the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps.  It had a great feel to it,  However, it wasn’t quite able to stay together…but for the most part, it handled the plethora of textures and volume of food that I hefted into it.  So, I’m not surprised it got a bit soggy (lettuce, tomato, cucumber and a yogurt topping…yeah…it happens) and crumbled a little.  But, for the most part, it did hold up and I was able to eat the wrap like a taco for much of my dinner.  That is a HUGE thing as most of the time I’m left eating the remnants off my plate with a fork.  The flavor was amazing and didn’t distract from the filling itself, just acted more as a kick-start to flavor town.  And, finally, someone got the texture right.  It wasn’t gummy or dry.  It was pliable and light and just…really delicious.  I will have to check around at stores around here for more Toufayan Gluten Free Wraps…because I just want to keep trying them out in various ways…

I’m thinking quesadillas or burritos might be next.  Maybe just a basic sandwich wrap.  We’ll see.  With wraps that don’t fall apart instantly…the possibilities are endless.

So, what are the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps made from?  Well, they are made with tapioca starch, water, rice flour, soybean flour, shortening (canola oil, palm and palm kernel), vegetable blend (spinach, parsley, red bell pepper, carrot, tomato, onion, shallot, garlic) food starch modified (corn starch, tapioca starch), potato starch, contains 2% or less of the following: yeast, baking powder (calcium acid pyprohosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, whole eggs, fumaric acid, mono and diglycerides with citric acid (a preservative), maltodextrin, dextrose, xanthan gum, egg whites, calcium propionate (to maintain freshness), and salt.

Whew.  That’s a laundry list, yeah?  I actually would prefer for my wraps to have fewer ingredients and additives in them, but I guess that’s what gets them so close to that flour tortilla flavor.

As for nutritional information, a serving size of the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps is 1 wrap (52 grams) and there are 6 wraps per package.  This serving will provide you with 120 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 350 mg sodium, 24 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 4 grams sugars, and 5 grams protein.  They do have the fact that they are high in fiber and protein to make them feel more filling in the end.  So, that is very handy.

I absolutely loved what I tasted when I bit into the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps.  And while my first attempt at using them wasn’t exactly as I envisioned, I have high hopes for the next.  If you can track down the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Wraps…I highly recommend it.  One of the best attempts at a wrap I have ever had.  Nicely done!

Greek Tacos made on Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps
Greek Tacos made on Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps
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Product Review: Tina’s Sweet Treats Banana Bread Granola

Tina's Sweet Treats Banana Bread Granola
Tina’s Sweet Treats Banana Bread Granola

Product: Tina’s Sweet Treats Banana Bread Granola – $2.99+

One of the best things to ever come from my birthday expedition to Jungle Jim’s International Market (FOODIE HEAVEN!) was discovery local (to Ohio…not to me) bakeries through the products they had on display and for sale at Jungle Jim’s.  I love purchasing these items over everything else, because, well…I LOVE supporting local businesses.

So, one of the products I snagged from the end cap of gluten-free local bakery goodies at the market was this amazing sounding granola from a place called Tina’s Sweet Treats, based out of Franklin, Ohio.

Tina’s Sweet Treats came about after six (6) members of her family were diagnosed with Celiac.  She went from casually baking gluten-free to full-blown.  And, as with most people, wanting to make sure that her fmaily didn’t miss out on any of the wonderful baked goods that they loved, Tina worked hard to create products that won’t lack in flavor, taste, or make her family members feel like they were missing out on something amazing.  Everything from Tina’s Sweet Treats is baked fresh from their home kitchen, which is completely free of contamination!

I love it when I can also get a product and feel 100% secure that it won’t make me sick.  When something is produced where contamination will not even come into question, I never have to play roulette with my body.  And for that, I am thankful!

Jungle Jim’s had a few options from Tina’s Sweet Treats…but the one that really caught my eye…mostly because I don’t see a lot of this from local bakeries…was the granola.  But not just any granola.  Probably what may be considered the most epic of all granola.

Banana Bread Granola.

You had my full attention with all three of those words.  Into the basket…into the shopping bag…into the car…into my pantry.

And it didn’t last long.  This past weekend, I was baking and cooking up a storm, and my lunch was something quick and easy on Saturday.  I had a soccer match to get to and I needed to make some Gluten Free and Vegan Snickerdoodle Blondies and some Dairy Free Pumpkin Ice Cream before heading out to the big playoff match for Louisville City FC.  Thus…lunch became a yogurt with granola on top.  I remembered I had the granola…and being that it is made by a bakery, no preservatives are added and therefore, it is best when used by the sell-by date.  This would certainly accomplish that.  So, after palming a handful to taste on its own (OH MY GOD YUM!), I poured some on a yogurt for my roommate and some on mine.  It was a simple, yet delicious addition to already delicious yogurts, let me tell you.

What I love, first and foremost, is that toasty flavor you get with homemade granola.  Top it off with that aroma and the taste of fresh banana bread, and you’re talking about a winning combination.  And that is exactly what Tina’s Sweet Treats accomplishes with this gluten free Banana Bread Granola.  It was the perfect topper and stir-in for my vegan yogurt, and acted as a bit of a “sundae” topper for Cathy’s Banana Greek Yogurt with a Chocolate Topping.  It was, without a doubt, a way to kick up the yogurt lunch a notch.  And, the added crunch was that bonus that sometimes yogurt lacks.

I wish I lived closer to Tina’s Sweet Treats.  I’d purchase this every week.  Probably multiple times.

The Tina’s Sweet Treats Banana Bread Granola is made from rice flour, potato starch, millet flour, tapioca flour, sweet rice flour, sugar, apples, milk, butter (cream, natural flavorings), eggs, brown sugar (white sugar, molasses) sour cream, baking powder (corn starch, sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum sulfate, monocalcium phosphate), vanilla (water, alcohol, vanilla bean), xanthan gum, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and salt.

Since this is made out of a home and sold by a local bakery, I don’t have any of the nutritional information.  But…as with all granola out there, stick to a serving (usually around 28 grams), and don’t go overboard.  It’s all good.  Enjoy a sweet treat (see what I did there?) every now and again.

Love at first banana bread-y bite.  Seriously, if you are a lover of banana and banana bread, Tina’s Sweet Treats has you covered with this granola.  I only wish they had it online to order.  Just…pure goodness and pure wow any way you want to eat it.  Personally, by the handful is the way I recommend. HA!

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Product Review: Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix + Recipe Bonus

Harvest Muffins made with Zema's Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix
Harvest Muffins made with Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix

Review: Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix – $7.99+

It seems like ages ago, back on a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, when my parents first took me to Organic Harvest, the latest and newest health food store in their area.  I was gobsmacked by the amount of products inside this store that I had never seen before.  I might have heard of the brand, but the product itself or even the brand, was not available to me in any convenient form.

So, naturally, I went on a shopping spree.

Because…I do that.

Well, I get very overburdened with mixes.  I do this to myself, naturally.  I just get really, really excited when I see something new.  Or course, as of late, I’ve been making a point of eating more unprocessed foods for breakfast than something that comes out of a box (cereal included) or from a mix.  So, yeah, the pantry is well stocked with so many mixes that I honestly just need to work through.  And as this one was (obviously as the packaging has been since updated) nearing expiration…it was time to use it up and move it out.  So, out came the Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix.

Zemas Madhouse Foods is committed to manufacturing gluten-free, ancient grain baking mixes that help support a clean eating lifestyle through the use of minimally processed ingredients that can be safely incorporated into diets that are limited, allergy-free and diabetic.  They are committed to keeping their products free of dairy, soy, rice, yeast, tree nuts, peanuts, sulfites, additives, trans fats, preservatives, and refined sugar.

Now, I had high hopes for this mix.  I was first introduced to Zema’s Madhouse Foods by Cuisine Cube when I tried their mix for Focaccia and/or Pizza Crusts.  I loved it.  So, the fact that I had another Zema’s Product (yes…I had this one before Cuisine Cube sent theirs), I had very good expectations for this.  But…why stick to something as simple as the box exclaims.  After all, this is a pancake and waffle mix, and there are recipes for both on the back.  But I am really pancaked out these days and waffles are great…but a pain to make (time consuming, really).  So…I opted for the other recipe on the box, making a few minor adjustments to fit what I had in my pantry and my own idea of what constites a Harvest Muffin.

Oh, yeah…I made muffins with the Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix.  Yes.  Muffins.  I sort of ripped off Udi’s version of a Harvest Muffin, but utilized most of the recipe from the back of this exact box.  YAY!  The recipe will follow, of course.

Naturally, I can’t bake something and not try it.  How else am I going to report on it?  So, after these came out of the oven and rested for 10 minutes in the pan, I removed them and put them on a wire rack to cool the rest of the way.  After running some gluten-free and dairy free goodies downstairs to my neighbors, I came back upstairs and decided that both my roomie and I had an obligation to see how the muffins turned out.  If they were crap, well, we certainly didn’t have to keep them.  But…if they were good, they were getting bagged up and put in the freezer for those stressful and hectic days where cooking a breakfast is just not feasible.

Let me tell you…Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix is amazing.  Seriously.  Okay…so the muffins are a little dense…but I’ve grown to that being mostly the norm when it comes to gluten-free goodies (especially of a bread-like quality) that I bake.  However, there is a lot of flavor in each and every bite of these muffins.  And I absolutely love the combination of the sweet potato and pumpkin flavors, making this a perfect autumn mix for any sort of morning recipe…even pancakes and waffles.  Just…really good.  And not overly sweet either, which is a nice change.  I love dessert as much as any girl, but I mostly want my muffins to be muffins, not a fruit/veggie based cupcake.  But, maybe that’s just me.  The fact that there is no added sugar in the mix is a big plus with me, as I am working on cutting down on the amount of sugar I eat every day.  I also love that this mix is made with the superseed trio of hemp, chia and flaxmeal.  Flax is one of the best gluten-free plant-based sources, which contains alpha-linolenic acid, which converts in the body to the same heart-protective Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, sardines and mackerel.  It also contains 3 grams of fiber per tablespoon, which promotes intestinal health.  The chia seeds (like chia pets, yes!) are also naturally gluten-free and contain Omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fiber, calcium and protein.  LOVE a breakfast that packs a bit of extra nutrition into each and every bite through healthy and beneficial ingredients.  This might be a mix, but it has great ingredients making it a better choice than all the lack-luster and nutrient-sparse mixes on the shelf.  Oh yeah…have your breakfast treat and treat your body too.  Now we’re talking.

Let’s discuss the ingredients that go into Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix, shall we?  This mix is made from sorghum flour, organic flax seed meal, sweet potato flour, potato starch, organic quinoa flakes, tapioca flour, aluminum free baking powder (monocalcium phosphate, baking soda, corn starch (made from non-GMO corn)), hemp seeds, organic cinnamon, contains less than 2% of each of the following: baking soda, chia seeds, xanthan gum, sea salt, organic ginger, and nutmeg.  This product is manufactured in a dedicated gluten-free facility free of the top 8 allergens(milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish).  It is vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and verified non-GMO.

As for nutrition information, here you go…a serving of Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix is 1/3 cup of the dry mix (44 grams), and the box contains around 6 servings.  In each serving, you will be taking in 150 calories, 4 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 510 mg sodium, 29 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 2 grams sugars, and 4 grams of proteins.  This one might actually be the best nutrient-packed mix out on the market to be honest.  WOW!

And now…the promised recipe!

Recipe: Gluten Free Harvest Muffins

Servings: 18
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 28-30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 box Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Pancake & Waffle Mix
  • 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
  • 3/4 cup milk of choice (I used unsweetened cashew milk)
  • 2 eggs (or egg replacer)
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (I used agave)
  • 1/3 cup oil of choice (I used coconut)
  • 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup raw pepitas
  • 1/2 cup craisins

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the mix and xanthan gum.  Set aside.

n a large bowl, whisk all liquid ingredients together.  Add the dry mix to the wet mixture and combine,  Add in the pepitas and craisins, mixing well.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way.

Bake for 28-30 minutes.  Check the doneness with a toothpick.

Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then take muffins out and cool on a rack.

This recipe freezes well.

~*~*~
I have the remaining 17 muffins in my freezer now for hectic crazy days…but I already am looking forward into diving into them.  I’m sure it won’t be long.

If you are interested in a pancake mix with more benefits than sugar and fillers, I can’t praise Zema’s Madhouse Foods enough.  Their Gluten Free and Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix surpassed all expectations.  And I didn’t even make pancakes or waffles with them.  Go figure.  Although, I am more than certain this mix would make some of the best pancakes or waffles out there.  Next time I pick up another box of this mix…I think I’ll go for traditional pancakes and waffles.  That being said…give this muffin recipe a shot!  And seek out Zema’s Madhouse Foods in your natural food stores…or order online!  It’s worth the hunt.

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Product Review: Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies

Gilbert's Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies
Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies

Product: Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies – $5.50+

Are you tired of cookie reviews yet?  Are you?  You shouldn’t be.  Cookies are amazing.  Cookies are…one of the meanings of life.  Seriously.  Look it up. Cookies…I swear it’s there.

The thing with gluten free is…sometimes gluten free cookies do not invoke meaning of life feelings.  Sometimes they are just dry and sandy and just…blech.  So, when I find a new brand (nothing new about Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies…just new to me!) of cookie…I always want to try it.  Sometimes this is the best thing I could have done.  Sometimes…I regret it.  Gluten free is a science…and there are those who get it right…and those who still haven’t gotten it at all.

Okay…

So, as I have mentioned in preceding blogs, my birthday was rough this year.  I was turning 35.  And my day was originally supposed to be spent running the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio…because it actually ran ON my birthday and I was moving up an age division.  Big reason to celebrate.  But 3 weeks prior to that…the fracture happens and the now famous boot (aka: Bootsie) became my daily footwear…and I was under strict, strict rules from my amazing orthopedic doctor…NO RUNNING.

Super bummed, I didn’t want anything to do with my birthday.  Most of my friends were out of town running the race or doing a different one.  Or…just out of town.  And I was beyond down and bummed.  There might have been tears.  Okay, I won’t lie…there were.  Then, on the morning of my birthday, as I’m sitting down to eat at Annie May’s Sweet Café (allergen-free bakery in Louisville, KY…best breakfast ever!!), my roomie springs my birthday gift on me.  I don’t have a lot of things that I want/need…and those things that I do want/need…are too expensive for anyone but me to really buy for myself.  SO…she and her family all pitched in and gave me a $150 shopping spree at Jungle Jim’s International Market.

And it was on that shopping spree (which happened that very day…which I was NOT prepared for at all), in the gluten-free aisles of Jungle Jim’s, that I spotted the colorful bags of Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Bite-Size Cookies.  Mmmm…cookies.  They had all the flavors too: Super Dooper Snickerdoodle, Double Chocolate Brownie, Simply Chocolate, Chewy Chocolate Chip, and Sensational Sugar Cookie.  We all know, this cookie monster is a fan of Snickerdoodles above all other cookies.  So, you know, the bright neon pink bag containing Super Dooper cookies….of cinnamon and sugar origin…was the one that made it into the shopping cart.

Tonight, after a very healthy meal (Chana Aloo Stew, in case you were curious), I dug out the variety of new cookie brands to try and let my roomie pick where to start.  She pointed to the snickerdoodles.  Smart girl.  HA!

Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies was created by Liz Gilbert, a Culinary Institute of America trained baker and chef, who was diagnosed with multiple food allergies (wheat, gluten, peanuts, nuts, soy, milk, corn and shellfish).  After the initial phase of depression (we have all been there…saying “I can’t eat anything!”), Gilbert took action, testing out recipes in what has become her line of great-tasting, classic, homestyle treats that everyone can enjoy.  Let’s face it…allergen-free foods can carry funky textures and aftertastes…so spending time on a formula to get it right does take time.  But Gilbert knew she was onto something when her children and their friends (none of whom have food restrictions) polished off plates of cookies and asked for more.  From there…Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies was born…and the founder, herself, set out to make treats for everyone…one cookie at a time.

Today, Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies boasts Gilbert’s baked goods and ready-to-go cookie dough.  So you can enjoy giant cookies, bite-size cookies, or cookie dough…all of which are made without artificial ingredients and the top allergens.

I know what you’re thinking…there is no way these can be good.

For some reason…that thought never crept into my mind.  Not when I opened up the packet.  Not when I pulled out a serving (4 mini cookies, for the record).  And not when I took my first bite.

Guess what…COOKIE HEAVEN!!  First of all, the Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies are soft and chewy (not crisp and crunchy)…which for me…always wins.  I prefer soft cookies and choose them over the crispy ones any day.  So…that was the first point in their favor.  I loved how small and light they were.  A lot of gluten-free cookies feel heavy and dense.  Not these.  And moist…no sandpaper here.  Truly a chewy and soft cookie worth savoring as you pop the 4 (or more, I won’t judge!) cookies in the serving.  These aren’t overly sweet, nor are they too spicy.  They find that perfect cinnamon-sugar balance, which isn’t always easy in a snickerdoodle.  Holy moley…these cookies really are super dooper!!  No joke!

Tasting is believing…and now I understand why Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies (specifically the Snickerdoodles) have won an award from the CT Specialty Food Association.  These cookies were so amazing that if I had started eating right out of the packet…they’d be gone.  (This, in fact, is why I portion everything out…LOL!).

So, let’s talk about ingredients.  The Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite-Size Cookies are made from gluten-free flour mix (sweet rice, brown rice, tapioca), non-hydrogenated palm oil, pure cane sugar, eggs, xanthan gum, vanilla, and cinnamon.  These cookies are kosher, gluten-free, wheat-free, contain no peanuts or tree nuts, contain no hydrogenated oils, contain no artificial colors of flavors, do not contain high fructose corn syrup, contain no preservatives, contain no trans fat, are dairy-free, are corn-free and are soy free.

BUT…they are definitely not taste-free.  In fact…they taste amazing.

As for nutrition…a serving of the Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite-Size Cookies is 4 cookies (32 grams).  This serving will provide you with 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, 17 grams carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 9 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein.

I am beyond enamored with the taste, texture, flavor, deliciousness, amazing goodness, sweet treats that are the Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies from Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies.  Super dooper indeed.  Super dooper delicious.  Try them out for yourself.  Some of the best packaged snickerdoodles I’ve eaten since going gluten-free.  This package is snickerdoodle love…in gluten free form.  YUMMY!

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Product Review: Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup

Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup
Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup

Product: Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup – $2.49+

Ah, my dear Jungle Jim’s…

Why must you be so far away and give me such good (and healthy) food.  I had never, never, ever seen any Explore Asian noodle cups anywhere around here…but I find you while cruising the international food aisles on my birthday, and…not knowing any better…only pick up enough for me to have once (I got two, for the record, but my roomie ate the other one).

*sigh*

This week, I’ve been really slacking on the meal prep for lunch.  In fact…it’s been vegetarian sushi and soup all week, because, it’s affordable, easy, and healthy!  At least I’m keeping it healthy, regardless of not really prepping anything to have on hand or keeping something on hand (okay…technically the soup was kept on hand…but I digress…), which is more than a lot of people manage.

Monday, due to being out of town…vegetarian sushi.  Tuesday…Amy’s Thai Coconut Soup (from a can…but SO GOOD!), Wednesday…SOFT PRETZEL WEDNESDAY at ANNIE MAY’S SWEET CAFE in Louisville.  Best (and only) gluten-free soft pretzels I’ve had out of an allergen-free bakery!  Thursday…soup…and this time…like a Cup ‘O Noodle…I pulled out the very new to my pantry Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup.

Why?

Because it was easy and I didn’t have to really do anything the night before to prep it.  How’s that for me being lazy.  Hey, I’m coming off a crazy, hectic, fun wedding weekend…I haven’t recovered yet!

Explore Asian strives to be innovative creators of everyday family friendly foods with a healthier twist.  While a small company, they still strive to put a lot of effort into exploring the world to find the highest quality, organic, and natural foods for their consumers to enjoy.  In fact, Explore Asian works directly with farmers to provide top of the line products.  Not only that, they take time to build a superior product that not only tastes good, but will nourish the body.  And, they believe in transparency when it comes to their consumers, maintaining a policy of being open and honest.

So, here we have a product similar to a Cup ‘O Noodle that is claiming to be healthy.  And you know what?  It really is!  In fact, people who consume Explore Asian products include healthy living advocates, athletes, people with special diets (gluten-free, wheat-free, egg-free), people who follow heart healthy diets (20 GI index for Explore Asian bean pastas), dieters and people trying to lose weight, non-GMO advocates, chefs and restaurants, vegans, and people who have to eat kosher!  Yep…all of that.

So, why was I still skeptical that this would make an amazing lunch?  I have no freakin’ idea!  Thursday afternoon…lunch time…and I prepare my roomie’s soup first…getting water and filling it to the line in the container with water, then using the 3 minute microwave method to eat it up.  It was piping hot when the microwave beeped and I prepped my bowl to go in.  This simply means…I pull off the lid (not microwave safe), dump out the contents, which include a packet of noodles, seasoning packet, salt packet, and a little plastic fork.  Add water up to the line and then stick the container in to warm for three minutes.  I delivered hers with gusto, showing her the fork (hers broke right away…mine did not break at all).  Spoon not provided, but it is a big bowl/cup thing…so you can always slurp the broth…

Anyway, I returned as my bowl was finishing up and I removed it from the microwave and walked it (with fork in hand) back to my desk.  I let it cool slightly before dipping the fork into the broth and spinning up a clump of the soybean noodles.  One taste was all it took for me to immediately berate myself for not purchasing more of these beauties.  The noodles were perfect…not mushy and definitely not going to get mushy throughout the time it took me to consume said container.  They stayed perfect…al dente and delicious!  I mean…really delicious.  The seasoning packet added all the flavor, and the brilliant part of the salt packet was that I could choose how much salt went in.  I put in half the packet in each bowl…and it was perfect.  Great flavor.  The noodles were definitely the stars.  My only complaint, I think, was that there were only like 4 pieces of vegetable in this soup.  It was all broth and noodle…and a piece of corn…maybe two…and a little bit of the chives.  I can’t make this up.  So, a little lacking on the actual vegetables…but those noodles were on point.  YUMMY!  And, trust me, nothing makes a hectic week better like a warm bowl of soup.  Am I right?  Of course I’m right!

So, let’s discuss the ingredients that are inside the Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup, shall we?  This soup contains organic soybeans, organic rice, water.  The seasoning packet includes maltodextrin, sichuanese pepper, wild pepper, star anise, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, dehydrated chives, dehydrated carrot, dehydrated sweet corn.  And, as mentioned, the salt packet is separate.  This amazing soup is gluten free, vegan (they also have vegan chicken and beef flavored as well), and non-GMO.

So, I’ve mentioned how this is actually a healthy (and filling) choice for an easy, brain-less meal, right?  But now let me prove it with the nutritional information on the Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup.  A serving size is 2.2 ounces (aka: 1 container).  This serving will dish up 207 calories, 3 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 grams cholesterol, 150 mg sodium (if you add the entire salt packet, you are adding an additional 606 mg sodium…so if you are watching your sodium intake like we are…a dash does just fine!), 25 grams carbohydrates, 12 grams fiber, 8 grams sugars, and 20 grams of protein.  When I said that this soup will make you feel full, I wasn’t kidding!!

Filling, yes…but even more importantly…YUMMY!  This soup went above and beyond all expectations.  This is not ramen noodles.  This is not Cup ‘O Noodle.  This is a healthy, beneficial, amazing soup that I hope I can locate somewhere around where I live…otherwise next time I journey through Cincinnati…I’ll have to stop off at Jungle Jim’s specifically to pick up more of these.  It was a lunch I felt good about eating…even if I was doing it at my desk while working.