Gluten-Free – Page 77 – The Celiathlete

March 2, 2013

The KIND-ness of snack bars for a non-stop, whirlwind Disney World vacation

This past week, I found myself in Disney World. Why? To run the Disney Princess Half Marathon, of course. But I knew that there would be times where food might be an issue for me…especially when mid-day hunger strikes while out at the park. There was no guarantee that I’d find something that I could eat. So, I traveled prepared, as always. And thanks to the KIND bars that I ordered with my Groupon, I had quite a few on hand with me on my trip and in the parks.

This entry is a little more unconventional than my normal product reviews…because I am going to review three bars in one post. Why? Because it makes life a little easier on me…and doesn’t mean multiple entries for you, my dear readers, to page through.

We both win.

So…without further adieu…

KIND Fruit & Nut Almond & Coconut Snack Bar

Product: KIND Fruit & Nut Almond & Coconut Bar – $1.99+

I admit…when I first pulled this bar out of the cube, I was less than thrilled. While I do appreciate the flavor of coconut in things, I wasn’t sure if the coconut would overwhelm the entire flavor of the bar. But…I figured there was only one way to find out. That morning before heading out to Animal Kingdom, I packed the Almond & Coconut Snack Bar from KIND’s Fruit & Nut line and hoped for the best. My roommate and I would be splitting it, so at least if we didn’t like it…we’d only have half to eat.

When we did bust out the bar for a snack and split it in half…we both took a bite…

And…were both surprised. Full of great flavor. Sort of like eating an Almond Joy…without the chocolate coating. Yeah…I was impressed and I devoured. No hesitation. No complaints. The hint of coconut flavor was perfect.

This bar contains almonds, coconut, honey, crisp rice, and chicory root fiber, all of which are bound together and create a great salty-sweet snack bar. I thought all of the ingredients worked well together. The bar wasn’t overly sticky nor was it messy to eat. And the flavor was spot-on!

The Almond & Coconut Snack Bar has 190 calories for the entire bar and 12 grams of fat. It is low in sodium, having only 25 mg. In addition, the entire bar has 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, making it quite filling. While this bar has 12 grams of sugar, which I consider a lot…it at least has less than a candy bar would…so I give KIND that much.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed this one!

KIND Fruit & Nut Almond & Coconut Snack Bar (unwrapped)

Product: KIND Plus Blueberry Pecan + Fiber Snack Bar – $1.99+

The next day at Disney brought about a similar scenario. My roommate and I were hitting up Magic Kingdom and we knew that it was going to be awhile between breakfast and dinner…so we needed a couple of snacks to fulfill any mid-day cravings that could not be satisfied by Dole Whip (hehehe). Of course, before even hitting the Magic Kingdom, I had a race expo to attend so I could pick up my race packet and do some necessary shopping. This actually took much longer than I anticipated…and so…we ended up hitting Magic Kingdom right about lunch time.

So after getting through bag check and entering the park, we spotted a parade going on. This gave us a good excuse to stop and enjoy a bite to eat. This time…I packed the KIND Plus Blueberry Pecan + Fiber Snack Bar. This one I was really, really excited about. Why? Because in my mind, I was certain it was going t taste like blueberry pie. And why wouldn’t it? One of my favorite berries and one of my favorite nuts…all in one bar. HELLO!

Well, we tore into this one and we both couldn’t agree more…that my assessment without tasting it was spot on now that we both had a bite. Blueberry pie. All the way. And…oh…was it ever delicious!! The bar was another perfect blend of sweet and salty. And every bite reminded me of a homemade blueberry pie. Delicious…fantastic…and tasty. We both devoured this one in record time and commented on how we would never hesitate to purchase that one from the store. YUM!

The KIND Plus Blueberry Pecan + Fiber Snack Bar contains almonds, pecans, honey, blueberry pieces (a mix of blueberries, sugar, apples, plums, apple juice, pectin, and natural blueberry flavor, cashews, raisins, chicory root fiber, and crisp rice. This gives it a fantastic texture and amazing flavor when all combined to make the bar.

In addition, this particular snack bar has only 190 calories for the entire bar and 12 grams of fat. Each bar packs a protein punch of 4 grams and contains 5 grams of hunger-quenching fiber. Awesome. Even better, this bar has only 9 grams of sugar. I love that. And the sodium is only 20 mg.

This one was a total winner!

KIND Plus Blueberry Pecan + Fiber Snack Bar (unwrapped)

Product: KIND Plus Almond Cashew with Flax + Omega 3 Snack Bar – $1.99+

After my race, my roommate and I were hitting up Hollywood Studios…and since I had run 13.1 miles, I figured the munchies would totally strike. And they did. Right on cue just as we settled in to watch the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular (of which I was selected to be an extra and participate in the show), we both agreed it was time to feed our bellies something. So, as usual, we pulled out the snack bar we packed for the occasion. And it seemed like it would be as epic as the prior ones.

I mean…cashews…almonds…yummy!! Love both of those nuts. But…

Yes…this one has a but…

It really wasn’t all that spectacular. I mean, given that it was made up of almonds, cashews, dates, honey, flax seeds, macadamias, vanilla extract, and chicory root fiber, it had the makings of one epic bite after another. But this one really lacked flavor. And it had a weird aftertaste that I didn’t care for at all. I wasn’t impressed. I ate my half. My roommate at her half. But we were underwhelmed and disappointed. Thankfully, the race provided a box of goodies that were all gluten-free…and it had a different brand of protein bar in it…that was much tastier…so we washed this one down by splitting that one. And it was much better.

So…this one…for me…was a fail in flavor. It just wasn’t good. Not one bit.

That being said, the entire bar has 190 calories and 11 grams of fat. The bar has 4 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. The sugar level is at 11 grams. But this bar has no sodium and no cholesterol. A healthy choice, to be sure, but not a very flavor-filled one. And, I appreciate flavor way too much to let that slide.

This bar could have been amazing…but sadly…it wasn’t.

KIND Plus Almond Cashew with Flax + Omega 3 Snack Bar (unwrapped)

And those were the three bars that I devoured at Disney World. Two winners, and one that I would never buy on my own. Never. Not a bad record to have. KIND is doing well so far. Only two haven’t wowed me of the ones I have tried out of the box. And I still have three more to go.

March 2, 2013

PROBAR Lemon Fruition bar a super-delish superfood snack

Product: PROBAR Lemon Fruition Snack Bar – $1.45+

I have my favorite running store to thank for the random purchase I made of a PROBAR Lemon Fruition snack bar. It was up by the register as I was making a purchase of another amusing BondiBand or something of the sort. Lemon. Gluten-Free. Healthy. SOLD. Literally. Out of the display and onto the counter for purchase. This happily returned home with me.

But I am the ultimate hoarder of snack bars (not really…I just buy them en masse) and some are way better than others. But you have to take that chance and buy one before you can decide whether it was worth the money or not. So into the drawer this went while I went through those that came before it.

But last week as I was gearing up to head to Disney World for a half marathon, I was trying to not buy snack foods for work. So, the items in my pantry and snack bar drawer were what I was working with. Lo and behold…the next one up was this little lemony delight.

PROBAR Fruition is the newest and latest gluten-free addition to the PROBAR lineup. This snack bar is entirely fruit-based and designed to be satisfying without extra fat and calories. You gotta love that. In fact, each bar guarantees one complete serving of fruit, only 160 calories, 4 grams of filling fiber, 2 grams of fat, gluten-free, and that it is loaded with antioxidants and omegas from the addition of chia seeds. These bars are also certified organic. Love that.

All day I had been anticipating my little lemony afternoon snack. I mean…I love, love, LOVE lemon. In case that wasn’t clear enough…I LOVE LEMON!! So, the knowledge that this was stashed in my desk drawer waiting on that 3 p.m. snack time to strike was anticipation enough. And when it finally came…I tore into it. Pausing only momentarily to take a picture.

Lemon. Oh yes…there is lemon. Amazing lemon flavor that is very well balanced by the other ingredients that make up the bar. In fact, it is the perfect blend that keeps the lemon flavor prominent, but not overpowering. Seriously. Delicious.

The PROBAR Lemon Fruition bar is composed of organic date paste, brown rice syrup, cashews, gluten-free oats, gluten-free oat bran, chia seeds, and natural lemon flavor. One bite…that’s all it took. I was hooked. I had to share a small piece with my roommate so I could get her opinion as well. And she also gave a nod and actually said it was “really good” instead of her “That’s pretty good.” or “It’s okeedokey.” That meant this had potential. And it really does. The taste is amazing. The texture is soft, but not overly soft. You won’t be sitting there chewing continuously and wondering when you can take your next bite. It’s a perfect blend and a perfect combination.

The lemon flavor of this bar lingers on the tongue and really lasts even after you’ve swallowed…all just inviting you to take another bite and experience it all over again. The sweet, tangy, citrus flavor is awesome and meshes beautifully with the oats and cashews, which provide not just texture but a savory flavor to balance toe tartness. This is a true lemon-lover’s dream bar.

At first glance, this bar seems very healthy by all aspects. As mentioned before, the entire bar is only 160 calories and contains only 2 grams of fat. The protein punch this bar packs is 3 grams. The filling fiber stands at 4 grams, while the sodium content settles for a very impressive, low 10 mg. However…I’m a bit disconcerted at the 18 grams of sugar that is listed on the label. Sure, much of it comes from the fruit, I’m certain…but that’s a lot of sugar to pack into one bar…no matter how amazing it tastes. But, we all make some sacrifices somewhere. I try to keep my sugar intake a bit lower as an athlete…but 18 grams in one snack bar, while a little higher than I like, isn’t too bad.

So, when it comes down to it, I’d be more than happy to try another PROBAR Fruition in one of the seven flavors that are offered. These bars not only come in lemon…but also cherry, blueberry, cran-raspberry, peach, strawberry, and the newest addition…chocolate orange. This snack is definitely a superfood powerhouse and one that I am proud to say…I truly enjoyed.

Time to hit up my running store to see what other flavors they have in stock.

February 19, 2013

Greens Plus Vegan Dark Chocolate, Almond & Blueberry Crisp bar a huge disappointment

Product: Greens Plus Vegan Dark Chocolate, Almond & Blueberry Crisp Bar – $2.29+

You know that fake, almost medicinal taste you get when you bite into a protein/snack bar…and that fruity part tastes…just off or wrong? That’s about how I felt when I took a bite into my latest snack at the office.

It was all my grocery store’s fault, you see. This bar was on sale and it was one of two flavors that caught my attention. I ate the other one last week…and it wasn’t very tasty either. I was hoping that the addition of fruit with the dark chocolate might tip the scale in the other direction. After all, dark chocolate and fruit just kicks booty.

Part of me was hisitant, just because the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Crisp bar was seriously lacking in flavor…and quite reminiscent of a Quaker Granola Bar or a Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Bar. It was…okay…but it lacked that “WOW” factor that I seek when I actively seek out new protein/snack bars for either my running days…or snacks at the office in the afternoon. Normally, they are run fuel…but if I don’t get to them before the expiration date comes close…I take them for snack.

So…with the memory of last week’s bar in my mind, I took a tentative bite. I didn’t get the lack of flavor that the peanut butter one had. This one definitely had a taste…and at first…it was good…tolerable. And then…it tasted fake. That weird medicinal flavor that fruit bars sometimes have. It was definitely the blueberry portion of the bar…but the dark chocolate helped to smooth out that taste. Thank goodness the dark chocolate was present in the taste of this bar. It needed that hit of dark, bitter chocolate. The almonds also helped to smooth everything out. But that blueberry flavor tasted so fake…so wrong…that it was sort of an issue for me with each bite.

My roommate agreed. I sneaked a small piece over to her at the office and she agreed with the bizarre taste that came with the blueberries. So, it was nice to hear that it wasn’t just me.

This bar is rather basic…being composed of organic dark chocolate, organic tapioca syrup, organic whole grain brown rice crisps, chia seeds, almond butter, pea protein crisps, organic dried blackberries, almonds, brown rice syrup solids, organic arabic gum, organic agave syrup, vegetable glycerine, safflower oil, vanilla extract, sea salt, natural flavors. So, a few odds and ends in there…not completely all-natural.

One bar will set you back only 16o calories and 8 grams of fat. Only 7 grams of sugar (awesome!) and 5 grams of protein are packed into this bar. I love that it is so low in the sugars as most snack/protein bars bulk up on the sugar. This bar is also cholesterol free and is very low in sodium (only 70 mgs). Love that.

So, while this bar is awesome as far as the nutrition aspect goes…the flavor is just all wrong for me. I won’t be buying this one again. It was good to try something new…but sadly…this new product didn’t win me over with either flavor of bar I tried. The texture is awesome…but the flavor just was all wrong.

I think, in fact, despite there being a couple more flavors out there, I’m done with the Greens Plus brand all together. They have failed to win me over twice now.

Greens Plus Vegan Dark Chocolate, Almond & Blueberry Crisp Bar (unwrapped)

February 19, 2013

Not enough peanut-y flavor in San-J Thai Peanut Sauce to suit my taste

Product: San-J Gluten-Free Thai Peanut Sauce – $3.49+

So…as some of you are quite aware…I’m heading out of town in a couple of days. Yep. Got a half marathon that is waiting for me to run it. And, this week is quite a short one…meaning I am doing everything within my power to use up the fresh, local produce I get from my local CSA. Some of it will be fine while I’m gone for a week, but other stuff…such as my veggies…not likely.

This means…it’s time to break out the wok?

I rock the wok. For real! I mean…I haven’t met a veggie yet that I couldn’t throw into a delicious stir-fry and add either rice or rice noodles and some sort of sauce for seasoning and make a fantastic, filling meal out of it. That’s the name of the game this week as I prep to head out of town.

Veggies…meet wok. Wok…meet veggies. Let’s get some dinner made. This is normally what I refer to as “Make-It-Up-As-I-Go-And-Use-Whatever-You-Can” Pad Thai Stir-Fry.” Catchy, yes?

The great thing about a good old-fashioned stir-fry is that my roomie and I can feast off it it for at least three days. Especially with the volume of veggies I was throwing into this wok. Fresh snow peas (every bit of the 10 ounces from my bin), yellow onion, baby carrots (chopped into matchsticks), baby bok choy…oh yes…all of it went in. And then…rice noodles. Delicious rice noodles were added.

But something was missing in my Pad Thai. Oh…yes…SAUCE!

It just so happened that I had purchased a bottle of San-J’s Gluten-Free Thai Peanut Sauce while out at my grocery store one day. I get grand ideas about making things with sauces…and then it never comes to fruition. This one…a pad thai. What was I currently doing with my wok? Making a pad thai. Hmmm…perfect.

So, I gave the bottle a good shake, cracked the seal and poured a liberal amount into the wok to season the veggies and the noodles as they finished up. It smelled absolutely crazy-fantastic. Which is a good thing. Now, I had said aloud to the roomie while we were out grocery shopping that we needed some peanuts for the pad thai, but I didn’t add it to the list and it totally slipped my mind while we hit up all 5 of our usual grocery store haunts (Hey…when you have food allergies…you make an entire day out of it…and for us, it’s either Saturday or Sunday). So, no crunch factor for the dish…but plenty of wholesome veggie goodness with light, thin rice noodles to give it some body.

With the contents of the wok ready to be consumed, I dished us each up a bowl, leaving the rest to sit until I was done eating. Then, I would concern myself with dishing it out into servings for the next two days. Food always comes first. We settled in for dinner with a bowl of my vegetable pad thai and some chopsticks.

I couldn’t wait to take my first bite. It smelled amazing. And…in the end…it disappointed me a little as far as the taste went. It was good. Oh yes…it was good. But I found that the Thai Peanut Sauce was lacking…a lot of peanut flavor. Maybe, if I had been thinking, throwing some peanut butter into the mix might have helped enhance it…but on its own, it was more…steak sauce than peanut sauce. It didn’t take away from the fact that when put into a wok with fresh veggies and rice noodles…it does kick up the flavor more than a notch. It wasn’t bad. I just expected more of a nutty flavor to it…and was a bit surprised by the sweetness factor in this one.

It isn’t spicy…which is good for some, but I like a little heat to my ethnic dishes. But, that isn’t a huge issue for me. I know how to add spice if necessary. For this dish…not really necessary. But I do wish the sauce itself brought a little more heat and nuttiness to the dish. In the end…not blown away, but not completely disappointed either. I definitely intend to play around with the remnants of the bottle in my fridge to see what I can draw out of it…perhaps discover a secret gem to getting that Thai peanut flavor I seek.

I love a lot of things about San-J. Their sauces are gluten-free and amazing. And they always label their bottles so that the words GLUTEN-FREE scream at you. I love that. And I love that they bring so many options to the ethnic sauce selection at grocery stores…because when you are gluten-free…those sauces can be so tricky. It’s good to have a brand name you can trust. For me…that’s San-J. Even if this one lacked a wow factor, you’ll see San-J constantly in my pantry and fridge. It’s a matter of taste…but more importantly…a matter of trust.

Vegetable Pad Thai made with San-J Gluten-Free Thai Peanut Sauce

February 16, 2013

1-2-3 Gluten Free bakes up not-so-light-and-fluffy, but quite delicious Southern Glory Biscuits

Product: 1-2-3 Gluten Free Southern Glory Biscuit Mix – $7.99+

Do you know what has been seriously lacking in my life since I had to go gluten-free? Light, fluffy biscuits. Yes. Light AND fluffy biscuits. They just…don’t seem to be possible either from a mix or from scratch. The closest I have ever come to what i seek was a light and fluffy dinner roll from Sinfully Gluten-Free in Dayton, Ohio. Those were awesome. But I don’t live in Dayton…and, technically, those aren’t really biscuits.

*sigh*

However…the great purge of the gluten-free selection at my local grocery store was going on and one of the items that was on closeout just happened to be 1-2-3 Gluten Free Southern Glory Biscuits. The box lays it all out: Light & Fluffy. Completely gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, casein-free, peanut-free, tree nut free, egg-free, and soy-free. Whew. On the Web site for the company, it might, just might even hint that these biscuits taste better than biscuits that contain gluten.

So…I figured…why not? Since my roomie was craving biscuits and gravy and I had just whipped up a vegetarian mushroom gravy for the occasion…the biscuits were next. Now, the instructions on the back of the box are rather daunting. I will warn you about that. The easiest way to make these would be in a food processor…but mine is so tiny it wasn’t an option. So, for the first part of the process, I used my blender…then did the rest by hand.

But…first things first. I am lactose intolerant…so the rest of the ingredients weren’t going to work for me. Sure, I could use heavy whipping cream and half and half…but my stomach may not like it after I eat a couple of these. However, 1-2-3 Gluten Free has a suggestion on the bottom on how to make non-dairy buttermilk biscuits. So, I poured 1-1/3 cup of warm unsweetened almond milk and added 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to it. I let it sit for about 25 minutes allowing it to thicken. Once it got there…the biscuits were on track to be made.

Into my blender went the package of Southern Glory Biscuit Mix along with the butter, cut up into pieces. I pulsed it until it resembled a coarse meal, then added the ‘buttermilk’ to the mix. This is where my blender stopped being of use, so everything got poured into a bowl and I ended up kneading the dough until it came together into a ball.

The next step was to roll out the dough to about a 1-1/2 inch thickness and cut the biscuits with a biscuit cutter or a glass. I used a biscuit cutter and ended up getting 18 biscuits from the dough. Then, into the refrigerator these went to cool. The box says that the colder the dough, the higher the biscuits would rise. Well, I wanted some really tall biscuits, so I left them to chill for about an hour (the box says to go for at least a half hour). Then, I preheated the oven to 375°F. Each biscuit got a light wash of almond milk and a sprinkling of salt before the pan went into the oven to bake for about 20 minutes. Mine actually took about 30 minutes because my heating element is STILL off.

And when they came out of the oven…they really hadn’t risen all that much. Which…made me sad. My roommate and I decided to go ahead and split one to see how they tasted. They were still a little doughy in the middle, so I put the pan back in the oven for a little longer. But from the half we each were eating…we seemed to like it. It tasted like a real buttermilk biscuit. They weren’t exactly light…or fluffy…but they tasted good. So, that was at least half the battle.

This morning, after a 10 mile run, I came home to assemble breakfast. These biscuits, topped with a homemade vegetarian mushroom gravy and one poached egg. My roommate requested biscuits and gravy…as she has been craving. And in this house, she eats what I cook and I cook what I can eat. So, sometimes allowing the gluten-free vegetarian to be the cook doesn’t always work out to her advantage. Lucky for her…I had a biscuit mix that needed to be used and some gravy that I could make thanks to some fresh produce from my CSA bin.

So, I reheated the gravy, then popped the biscuits into the microwave to warm them back up. With breakfast assembled, I went to settle in to enjoy. And, sadly, the biscuit, while it tasted awesome, was still just heavy and dense. Not light and fluffy. It made me weep a little on the inside because all I really want is to be able to cook up an amazing biscuit to have every once in awhile. While the taste is spot-on with this mix from 1-2-3 Gluten Free…sadly the texture is still not right for me. Still too heavy. Still too dense.

The promise of a light and fluffy biscuit might have fallen…flat…but the flavor…the taste…that is on point. It reminded me of the buttermilk biscuits from restaurants that I used to go to for breakfast. So…at least the taste hit a high-note for this gluten-free girl.

Would I buy these again? Perhaps if they were on sale. My search for the perfect gluten-free biscuit continues. While these delivered on flavor, they completely fell short on texture. Light and fluffy…not so much. I’ll keep on searching…

“Buttermilk” Biscuits from 1-2-3 Gluten Free Southern Glory Biscuit Mix

February 16, 2013

Recipe: Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy

Truth time.

I am not big on gravy. Never have been. Probably never will be. So…why make it? Well…two reasons, really. First of all…I had mushrooms in my CSA bin and I’m heading out of town on Thursday morning…so I need to use items up. Secondly…my roommate has been craving biscuits and gravy. So, I figured if I could cook up a decent enough gravy for her…we could certainly have a vegetarian and gluten-free version of biscuits and gravy for breakfast this week.

So…I went and started searching for gravy recipes that would be easy…and tolerable by me…a disbeliever in the power of gravy. So, I managed to stumble upon one from Daphne Oz on the Web site for The Chew. I sent the link to my roomie to look over…and she approved. So last night…I set out to cook it up so upon returning from my 10 mile run, breakfast would just need a simple reheat. That being said, I also had to bake up some gluten-free biscuits…so…yeah. Busy night in the teeny-tiny kitchen.

However, this is actually a fantastic recipe and it didn’t take long to cook up. And the flavor…outstanding. Really earthy and rich and just…yum! So…if even I like it…that’s saying something.

Recipe: Vegetarian Mushroom Gravy

Servings: 6
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 15 minutes

Ingredients:

3/4 cup mushrooms (shitake/oyster/chanterelle/portabello/button) chopped (I used white button mushrooms)
1 small yellow or white onion (minced)
1/4 cup butter
2 cup vegetable broth (I used Imagine Organic Low Sodium Vegetable Broth)
1/2 cup white wine
2 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari (I used San-J Low Sodium Tamari)
1/4 cup flour or whole-wheat flour (I used Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Multi-Purpose Flour)
1/2 teaspoon sage (I used tarragon)
1/2 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large skillet, melt the butter and add onion and mushrooms. Sauté for just a minute or two over high heat.

Reduce heat to medium and add vegetable broth, wine and soy sauce.

Slowly add flour, stirring well to combine and prevent lumps from forming. Bring to a simmer or a low boil, and then reduce heat.

Add seasonings, salt and pepper. Allow to cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring regularly, until gravy thickens.

~*~*~

Yep…it truly is that easy of a recipe. It came together so perfectly in the skillet too. I was very impressed. Even more so when I liked it. This morning, I tossed it over some gluten-free ‘buttermilk’ biscuits and topped it off with a poached egg…and the marriage of all the ingredients was magic. The gravy was the highlight though. And the roomie…raved about her breakfast…especially the gravy. Her craving for biscuits and graving…satisfied. YES!

Maybe my mind can be changed when it comes to gravy. Especially if they come as packed with flavor and taste like this one did. YUM!

February 15, 2013

Protein packed Greens Plus Vegan Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Crisp falters with taste

Product: Greens Plus Vegan Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Crisp Protein Bar – $2.29+

Normally, when a gluten-free product makes it into my shopping basket, it’s because there is some sort of sale going on. Such was the case, then, when my roommate discovered protein bars that are soy-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free at our local Earth Fare store. As I often use these to fuel my runs or refuel after my runs, protein bars are never in short supply in my kitchen ‘run’ drawer. Trust me. There is such a variety in there, I sometimes have a hard time deciding which to go with next.

While most are tried and true favorites, sometimes it’s fun to try a new product.

And that’s what happened when these bars were on sale at Earth Fare a couple months ago. I selected two, because I didn’t want to stock up on something and then hate it with an intensity that I just ended up trashing them all and calling myself a bargain buying fool. Hey…it has happened before! I’m a bit more mindful of the situation now.

As I am also aware, this bar was approaching it’s sell by date, so I figured it was time to devour it and see if it was worth the investment. So, knowing that after running this morning and then doing some speed work/intervals on lunch, a protein bar would be a good pick-me-up snack for the afternoon, I packed this one for the office…with some not as healthy items to use as back-up if needed. Trust me…I’ve been burned enough by nasty tasting snacks that I come prepared…just in case.

When my 3 p.m. snack time did roll around, I pulled the Greens Plus Vegan Proten Bar from my snack drawer and peeled the wrapper open. It reminded me a lot of what Quaker Granola Bars look like…but on a bit of a larger scale…and minus the wheat, milk, soy and high fructose corn syrup that comes with each bite of a Quaker Granola Bar.

Instead, this vegan protein bar from Greens Plus combines organic peanut butter, brown rice, pea protein, and chia seeds with organic dark chocolate. And…for the first time, I didn’t cringe at the calorie count of a protein bar. So often, these top off near the 200 or more calorie margin. Not this one. Despite including peanut butter and dark chocolate, one bar delivers 170 calories toward your daily intake and 8 grams of fat. One bar also delivers 5 grams of protein. Sugar is not off the charts either. This particular bar, despite having dark chocolate in it, only contains 7 grams of sugar. Thanks to the addition of chia seeds, it also provides a huge Omega 3 punch. All of this makes it the perfect bar for athletes, travelers, students, or whoever might need a meal supplement or snack to get them through the day.

So, drawing in a huge breath and repeating…”Please be good, please be good, please be good…” I broke off a small piece and took my first taste.

I was immediately underwhelmed.

It’s not bad. I didn’t spit it out or wrinkle up my face in disgust when it crossed my taste buds. On the contrary, I ended up taking another bite, figuring that it really did remind me of something I have tasted before. I broke off a piece and walked it to the other side of the office for my roommate to try. She agreed that they did taste like something…but couldn’t pinpoint it at first. Then said it reminded her of a Luna Bar. She might be right. Before I had to go gluten-free, Luna Bar’s were my go-to snack for on-the-go snacking. And this might be reminiscent of one of them. It also kind of does remind me of those Sweet and Salty granola bars from Nature Valley, now that I think of it.

But…even my roomie said it. When she took her taste, she didn’t immediately think dark chocolate and peanut butter. What you really get first are the rice crisps. Then maybe a hint of peanut butter. Then…that bittersweet taste of chocolate. But…not strong. And definitely not where you’d immediately recognize it upon first bite. This wasn’t horrible by any means. In fact, the bar is one of the better ones I have tried on a whim…which is definitely saying something.

But would I actively seek this one out again in the grocery store? No. Would I purchase it again if it were on sale…maybe…but probably not. It wasn’t bad…it just wasn’t amazing either. And when you are a lactose intolerant, gluten-free, vegetarian athlete…you really want something that you like to eat when you need the protein fix.

I appreciate the effort Greens Plus puts into these bars, ensuring they are vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free…I just wish they flavor had been as amazing as all of that sounds.

Green's Plus Vegan Peanut Butter And Dark Chocolate Crisp Protein Bar (unwrapped) — Greens Plus Vegan Peanut Butter And Dark Chocolate Crisp Protein Bar (unwrapped)

February 14, 2013

Recipe: Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese Broccoli Bake

My friend Julie Sullivan is a saint. A saint, I tell you.

The other day, she posted this picture of her dinner…this amazing pasta-ish casserole, with the caption “Mac & Cheese Broccoli Bake.” Well, I was intrigued. I was drooling. Why? Because it looked absolutely fantastic, that’s why.

And…I did what any good hungry girl would do. I asked for the recipe.

She was kind enough to pass it on…as I wasn’t the only one begging for it. And she even mentioned how I could make it gluten-free. And, amazingly enough, I had everything I needed in my pantry and fridge. Gotta love that. So…after polishing off my Vegan Gumbo last night, I was set to cook up another fantastic meal to get me and my roommate through another couple of days.

Thanks to Julie…I did just that.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese Broccoli Bake

Servings: 6
Time: Prep 30 minutes; Bake 20 minutes

Ingredients:

12oz uncooked twisted pasta (I used Bi-Aglut Fusilli)
2 1/2 c. uncooked broccoli
1 tsp salted butter (I used Smart Balance)
1/3 c. fresh bread crumbs (I used Katz Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs…because they ROCK!)
3 Tbsp. plus 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 1/2 c. skim milk (I substituted unsweetened almond milk)
1/3 c. all purpose flour (I used Hodgson Mills Gluten-Free Multi Purpose Flour)
1/2 c. onion, diced
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp. Dijon Mustard
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a shallow 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray (I used butter to grease it).

Cook pasta, adding broccoli to water for the last 3 minutes of cooking time. Drain and return to pot.

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat, add bread crumbs and cook until light golden brown. Remove from heat and transfer to a small bowl, stir in 3 Tbsp of Parmesan cheese and set aside.

In same saucepan (can wipe clean easily) whisk together milk and flour, add onion. Bring to a boil over med-high heat, whisking often. Reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in cheese, mustard, salt and pepper.

Pour pasta and broccoli into baking dish, cover with cheese mixture, stirring to coat evenly. Top with breadcrumbs.

Bake until edges are bubbly, about 20-25 minutes.

~*~*~

Yes…it really is that easy. And even more…it really is that tasty. I was in love with the flavor and taste of this. Those breadcrumbs add an amazing texture and flavor to the entire dish. And while I didn’t get to use the cheese I had wanted and intended to use on this, the back-up plan worked out better than imagined (I like bold flavors and I had no extra sharp cheese to supplement when I found my original cheese plan had…gone bad). This was easy to throw together and allow to bake. The apartment smelled awesome.

And when my roomie and I sat down to taste…we devoured it. Honestly. It’s a good thing I pre-portion these meals out because I think we could have eaten the entire pan on our own…in one sitting. That is how much we raved about it.

So…again…thank you, Julie!

And now…to the rest of you…I encourage you to get cooking. This one is totally worth it.

February 14, 2013

Heartland Gourmet bakes up perfectly light and lemony from Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcake Mix

Product: Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcake Mix – $5.99+

I have a weakness for new companies and new products that I haven’t seen before. Yes…I admit this freely. Completely. I have a gluten-free product problem. I just can’t resist the urge to buy a product when I see it on a shelf at a store…that I have never, ever seen before.

Such was the case when I went into World Market a couple months back. I was just there to look around. Yep. Just browse. Which, as we have discovered, is dangerous ground for me. Because I normally find something and…yes…purchase it.

And that’s what happened.

There was a beautiful endcap at my local World Market store that contained quite a few gluten-free products. Most of which I had tried. But one simple white box with a tartan border did catch my eye. I had never seen it before. And the company, Heartland Gourmet, was one I never heard of before. But…even better…this particular box was for a Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcake Mix. Mmmm…lemon cake. One of life’s best pleasures is that sweet/tart flavor of lemon baked goods. Hence my obsession with lemon bars, lemon icing, lemonade (LOL!). If it’s lemony…I’m going to try it.

Needless to say…I go a little overboard with baking mixes at times…so this, like a lot of things, sat untouched in my pantry. Until I noted on my ever-helpful pantry list that the expiration date was fast approaching. As I had just polished off my gluten-free brownies last night, I took the opportunity to grab this mix and bake up another sweet treat for this coming week and weekend. And with something lemon…how could it go wrong?

One of the most appealing parts of this mix is how little you truly have to do to it. All I had to do was mix the cupcake mix together with 1/2 cup of oil and 1/3 cup of water. Then, after that is blended on low, in goes three eggs. Mix again until all is well blended, this time on medium, and then put into cupcake pan. Now, the box says this makes 12 cupcakes, but I could have easily gotten 15-18 out of this. Instead, my cupcakes were going to be huge. but…you know…you only live once. I filled my wrappers as full as I dared, then ended up pulling out another pan and putting the rest into one more cupcake wrapper and baking the ‘test cupcake’ that the roomie and I would share.

Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcakes fresh from the oven

Into the oven they went for 15 minutes at 350°F. Or…that was the plan. Lo and behold, upon purchasing a thermometer for my oven, I discovered that it won’t stay at a constant temperature. In fact…it can be off by as much as 15-20 degrees at times. And that explains why so many of my baked goods have had to cook for so much longer than the boxes have indicated. Good to know. I actually called my landlord this morning to see about having this fixed. Here’s hoping it happens. So, after a total time of 25 minutes (not the mix’s fault…totally my oven’s fault), I pulled out the cupcakes to give them a little time to cool.

The box actually does come with a recipe for a cream cheese icing…but I’m not big on icing or frosting, so I made a citrus glaze, utilizing powdered sugar, orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice, a little oil, and some water. Then, before my cupcakes could completely cool, I drizzled each cupcake with the glaze and allowed it to sit. Well…except for the test cupcake. That was unwrapped and drizzled with glaze almost immediately. Then, sliced in half and my roommate and I decided to see if this mix was worth it in the end.

Read my words, fellow blog followers…THIS. IS. DELICIOUS.

The lemon in the cupcakes is there…but it doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the cake. It doesn’t take a backseat either. What Heartland Gourmet managed to do was create the ideal balance between the cake-ness and the lemony aspect of this mix…so when it bakes up…it has the perfect level of each. Nothing overwhelms the other.

And here’s another amazing thing…this cupcake isn’t heavy or dense or any of that gluten-free nonsense. Not only was this one of the lightest cakes I have ever had emerge from my oven, it had those little air pockets that regular cupcakes have when they are cooked to an airy, light perfection. I loved that about these cupcakes because after eating a meal, I want a light dessert, not something that I feel I am gorging on. And this definitely takes…the cake. (Forgive me!)

Nutritionally speaking, this mix has it going on. For one thing, the mix itself, when done into 12 large cupcakes, is only 170 calories. That’s awesome for a treat. I also love that this product is fat free and packs a 2 gram protein kick. And this mix also is low on sodium. Remember…this is a cupcake, so while sugars seem high…it’s a treat and should be recognized as one.

As for the company itself, Heartland Gourmet is actually a family operated business is dedicated to putting healthy, wholesome, delicious gluten-free, gourmet and organic baking mixes and kits into the market so that they are simple to put together and easy to bake, giving you more time with your family. You gotta love that sort of commitment and dedication. And I always enjoy helping out a family owned business. They just seem to put more attention and better things into their ingredients and products.

So, a kick of lemon, glazed with a sweet and tart glaze on a light and fluffy cupcake…yeah…this is heaven. Heaven in lemon cupcake form. And I have Heartland Gourmet to thank for it.

Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcake with an Orange Citrus Glaze (made from Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcake Mix)

February 14, 2013

Lots of love for Love Grown Foods Simply Oats oat clusters

Product: Love Grown Foods Simply Oats Oat Clusters – $4.99+

Love Grown Foods…you are truly amazing. Your foods are obviously baked and created with love because it shines through in even the most simplest of products that you offer. I don’t know what else to say except…BRAVO.

And…

I LOVE YOU.

And it doesn’t get much more tasty or a simple as your Simply Oats oat clusters. Honestly…this is simple, easy, very pure without any additions. No nuts, no fruit…but all the flavor. I don’t even miss them. Not one bit. And another huge deal is that you use honey and agave to sweeten this product, not the refined sugars or artificial sweeteners that most other brands offer. Not. A. Fan.

One thing I vowed to do as my dietary needs have changed (having to go dairy-free and gluten-free as of 2 years ago) was to pay closer attention to the foods that I buy and the actual ingredients that go into them. I started this before I had to change my diet, doing my best to cut out anything that included high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils. BLECH! It was a small goal, but it did get me into the habit of really looking at the information that companies put on the packaging and exactly what it is that I am putting into my body.

Now, with the dietary restrictions…reading labels is a must.

So, imagine how much less stressful and how much easier it is to know of a company and brand that I can simply pluck from the shelf at the grocery store and know…for absolutely certain…that what I am getting is made with natural ingredients and will definitely fit into my needs.

That’s Love Grown Foods. And I have to say, I didn’t have high hopes for the Simply Oats variety of their granola…but it wowed me. At first bite…I was wowed. This doesn’t happen normally. I normally need some nuttiness or fruitiness to accompany my granola…despite adding it to yogurt and berries. This one, I would eat on its own…in a flippin’ heartbeat. Honestly. I don’t need the yogurt. I don’t need the fruit. I just love the savory, sweet flavor these oat clusters have. On their own. Without added sugars or preservatives.

Love goes into these products. True love.

The granola is gluten-free and produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility. Love that. That takes a lot of guesswork out as well. And it means I can trust the gluten-free label that comes with these. As for ingredients…simple, but delicious: Certified gluten-free oats, honey, organic agave syrup, canola oil, sunflower seeds, pure vanilla, milled flaxseed, cinnamon, and sea salt. That’s it. Nine simple ingredients. Nothing chemical about it. Just simple goodness in a simple, unassuming package. And that’s the magic of these products.

Even better is how good they are for you. Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 1/4 cup (or 30 grams). In this simple serving, you get served up only 130 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. Sodium content is crazy low, a serving of Simply Oats granola only having only 35 mgs. This also provides 3 grams of protein and cuts back on sugars that most granola are loaded with. This 1/4 cup serving…only 7 grams of sugar. How amazing is that?! And you don’t even miss it. These stand alone and provide such a great burst of flavor you don’t needed added sugars and artificial sweeteners. They are amazing on their own.

Unprocessed, organic goodness in a simple breakfast or snack…you better believe I’m all over that. Don’t let the name lead you to believe that these are not anything but simple. The complex flavors and amazing taste proves that even if these are Simply Oats…they are still simply delicious. And what more could you ask?

Breakfast Blueberry Parfait with Chobani Fat Free Vanilla Greek Yogurt and Love Grown Foods Simply Oats Oat Clusters