Category: Ice Cream

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Restaurant Review: Red Rooster, Harlem, New York

Red Rooster, Harlem, New York
Red Rooster, Harlem, New York

Restaurant: Red Rooster, Harlem, New York

I totally broke tradition.  I did.  I was in New York City to run the TCS New York City Marathon…and so far I had managed really amazing gluten-free pizza the night before the race.  Normally, after I race, my friends and I go to a pub to celebrate the occasion.

Not. This. Time.

But, it was of my own doing that we ended up in Harlem just after 6 p.m. on Sunday evening.

How?

Well…since we were going to be in New York City, I thought it might be fun to check out a restaurant that belongs to one of my favorite chefs of all time.

The venue: Red Rooster.

The chef: Marcus Samuelsson.

After all, we were celebrating my finish at the marathon earlier that afternoon.  Why not make it special.  So, yeah…I broke tradition and decided to forgo the pub for something…a little different.  And I have never made a better decision in my life.

Prior to heading to New York City, I had told Cathy that I really wanted to go into Harlem and eat at Red Rooster.  She knows how much I adore Marcus Samuelsson.  And, honestly, we’re both foodies…she was right there with me.  So, she went ahead and called the restaurant and talked to them about reservations on marathon eve.  She mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian and they said that food for me would not be an issue.  With that done, Cathy set up a reservation for 6 p.m., giving me plenty of time to run, shower, walk around, come back and change, and get there with my group of friends.  We had reservations for 4 people…me, Cathy, Heather, and my good friend Marisa.

So, that night, I dressed up in this elegant vintage dress…but kept on my recovery compression socks (and wore them with my heels, HA!), and my three friends and I went down to the subway and hopped the train to Harlem.  We emerged steps away from Red Rooster.  Literally.

And about 10 minutes late.  Whoops.  But…we got there…before they handed our table away.

We were seated near the kitchen, which was fantastic for me because I could see the people bustling around in there, working hard at the various stations.  I loved the feel of Red Rooster…very chic casual.  A fun, vibrant, laid back, but classic vibe.  It was the kind of place I would want to return to and bring everyone I know…at least once.  Totally my style.

Our server, Ryan, came over to greet us.  He said that if we had any questions regarding the menu to let him know.  I mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian, and he said that wouldn’t be a problem.  In fact, he would go and talk to the chef and see what they could do for me.  I thanked him and we all studied the different menu options.  At one point, I know Cathy was trying to convince Marisa to try the soup with tripe in it, but that wasn’t happening.

Ryan returned, and said that he mentioned that I had run the TCS New York City Marathon and was a gluten-free vegetarian, to which he said the chef would like to create a dish for me.  I was thrilled and thanked him for checking.

Glasses of Brotherhood Riesling
Glasses of Brotherhood Riesling

With that said, Cathy took one matter into her own hands.  We were, after all, celebrating.  So, she ordered a bottle of wine for the table.  We went with a sweet wine (Heather prefers dry…but she was a good sport), opting for a local Riesling – the 2013 Brotherhood from Washingtonville, New York ($48.00).

We were ready to order, it seemed.  Ryan already had mine.  He said the chef was going to do up a Vegetable Plate ($21.00) for me.  So, I was excited to see what would emerge from the kitchen.  Cathy went with Marcus Samuelsson’s signature dish – Helga’s Meatballs, which are served with lingonberries, braised green cabbage, and buttermilk mashed potatoes ($23.00).  Heather ordered the Triple-Double Burger, which is served with bacon, jarlesburg, and rooster sauce ($19.00).  Marisa did a little picking and choosing, and went with the Upstate Farms Squash Soup, which includes yogurt, honeycrisp apples, and lentils ($12.00) with a side of the Cornbread ($4.00).  And, because they sounded good…Heather and I split a side of the Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($8.00).

Red Rooster Entrees: Helga's Meatballs, Upstate Farms Squash Soup, and Triple-Double Burger
Red Rooster Entrees: Helga’s Meatballs, Upstate Farms Squash Soup, and Triple-Double Burger

Ryan went to put or order in and we all got down to talking about New York, about work, about life, about the race, about food, about events…whatever we wanted to talk about.  We were in no rush and the restaurant was not rushing us.  I loved being able to just drink in the atmosphere.

Just before the food arrived, Ryan returned with our Riesling bottle, pouring a little bit into Cathy’s glass.  Cathy lifted the glass and took a sip.  And it was love at first taste for her.  So he poured some in each of our glasses, and I made sure to keep drinking my water too.  No dehydration here.

And then…our entrees arrived, each one settled down in front of us carefully.

The plates…were gorgeous!

Chef Creation: Vegetable Plate - Curried Black Eyed Peas, Charred Broccolini, Berbere Carrots and Parsnips, and Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Chef Creation: Vegetable Plate – Curried Black Eyed Peas, Charred Broccolini, Berbere Carrots and Parsnips, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts

The chef created a fantastic dish for me.  In a bowl on my left was Curried Black Eyed Peas.  And on the platter beside it…Charred Broccolini, Berbere Carrots and Parsnips, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts.  Oh…I will note, these Brussels Sprouts tasted different than the side that Heather and I were splitting.  It was chef magic.  And it was a beautiful and gorgeous plate.  One that I looked forward to eating.

Let’s start with the Curried Black Eyed Peas.  Just…WOW.  WOW!  So much flavor.  Lots going on.  And yet…simple.  I like to traditionally have black eyed peas on New Years Day…and this is how I would want them this year.  For real.  Just this incredible depth of flavor with the curry spices.  Not hot…just simply bringing out more of the peas themselves.  One of the best dishes involving peas of any sort I have ever had in my life.  And, trust me, I’ve eaten plenty.

The vegetables that the chef prepared were a delicious and filling treat for me.  The broccolini was gorgeously cooked and vibrant green.  It had the right amount of crisp to it, yet, still soft and easy to bite through.  I love broccolini, and this was just as it should be…simple and delicious.  The Brussels Sprouts were roasted to perfection, giving that outer layer some depth of flavor, yet keeping the vegetable itself soft on the inside.  Fork tender perfection.

My favorite thing, however, on that plate was the Berbere Carrots and Parsnips.  HOLY COW!  This side is exactly why I rushed out to a spice store in order to purchase berbere.  This spice is awesome.  It has this great flavor to it, followed with a little bit of heat at the end.  It paired beautifully with this root vegetables.  In fact, these were what I saved for my last bite.  Completely in love with a plate of vegetables.  How amazing!  My compliments to the marathoning chef.  My meal was sheer perfection.

Red Rooster's Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Red Rooster’s Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts

And I know you’re wondering about the Hearth Roasted Brussels Sprouts that Heather and I split, right?  Of course you are!  These were different from the ones that were on my plate.  These sprouts had this amazing char to them, but also hit up with a bit of a lemon or citrus flavor.  Sprinkled on top were macadamia nuts.  It was a combination that I hadn’t had before with Brussels sprouts…and I liked it.

But, wait…there is more!

Because when we celebrate we get dessert too!  We were handed the menus so we could peruse the options.  Ryan was taking care of another party at that moment, so I asked the new server about gluten-free options.  She highly recommended The Green Apple Viking Delight ($11.00).  I was game.  Heather actually ended up doing that too.  Leave it to the Scandinavian Minnesotans to order something with the word “viking” in it.  HA!  Cathy knew she wanted to have cheesecake in New York City, so her choice was the obvious one…Vanilla Cheesecake, served with yogurt, a granola crumble and pomegranate sorbet ($11.00).  Marisa went for the signature dessert of the restaurant, the Red Rooster Doughnuts, which are filled with sweet potato and coated in cinnamon and sugar ($12.00).  It came with an icing to dip them in as well.

Red Rooster's Vanilla Cheesecake and Red Rooster Doughnuts
Red Rooster’s Vanilla Cheesecake and Red Rooster Doughnuts

 

Red Rooster's Green Apple Viking Delight
Red Rooster’s Green Apple Viking Delight

Desserts arrived shortly after and…yeah…we were quite happy with our choices.  I thought The Green Apple Viking Delight was like a cold crème brûlée.  It was a green apple sorbet set on top of a white chocolate fennel cream.  On the side was chopped apple and fennel.  And a little tuile was set on top, giving it a little crunch and texture.  I was totally in love with the flavors, even though I wasn’t completely certain, at first, that they would work.  They complimented each other perfectly and each bite was a burst of sweetness, with a bit of richness from the white chocolate.  Divine.

Cathy loved her cheesecake (it looked deconstructed…so cool!) and Marisa was more than pleased with the doughnuts.  Needless to say…we are girls.  Desserts are awesome.  But these…these took awesome up to the next level.  Which I guess is phenomenal.  Or, in the culinary world, a sweet note to end the night on.

We left the restaurant completely satisfied with the meal.  The ambiance of Red Rooster was like no other restaurant that I have been in to date.  A live jazz band had started to play during our desserts and we really just took a moment to not only savor the food, but savor the experience as well.

I have been a Marcus Samuelsson fan for years…being able to eat at his restaurant was a dream come true.  Having a dish created for me, and having a careful and very caring staff made it unforgettable.  I was congratulated so many times on finishing the marathon.  It was an amazing day, but that night really just sealed it as one of the best days of my life.  Good race…good friends…good food…good times.

Thank you, Marcus Samuelsson and Red Rooster.

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Restaurant Review: Izzy’s Ice Cream, St. Paul, Minnesota

Izzy's Ice Cream, St. Paul, Minnesota
Izzy’s Ice Cream, St. Paul, Minnesota

Restaurant: Izzy’s Ice Cream, St. Paul, Minnesota

There are a few traditions that I keep when I run.  The first thing is…after a big race, I hit up a pub or a Mexican restaurant.  Don’t ask me why or how this became “a thing” as mentioned in the previous review…it just did.  But the other thing I do is treat myself to something creamy, cold, and delicious.  Mainly…ice cream.

Here is the sudden caveat, however.

While I have, in the past, been able to tame the lactose intolerance by taking a lactase supplement…it hasn’t been working out so well for me in the recent weeks.  Frustrating.  Because I am an ice cream nut.  Oh…and this is one tradition I refuse to let up on.

Before leaving for Minneapolis, Cathy was already on the hunt for a place to uphold this long-standing tradition.  And so…she found Izzy’s.  And what made Izzy’s Ice Cream (aside from being a local specialty ice cream shop in the Twin Cities) stand out from the other options was…they had soy ice cream flavors.  YAY!  No dairy to wreak havoc on my tummy.  This…made me happy!  So…so…so very happy!

What made the Izzy’s experience even better was, that day, I was spending the afternoon with my grandpa.  Yes…the very man who got me interested in running.  Cathy and I took him out to lunch at The French Meadow Bakery & Café in Minneapolis.  Then, afterwards, I told him that we were going to get celebratory ice cream at Izzy’s Ice Cream.  If he was interested, I’d love for him to come along.  He was certainly interested!  So, we made the short 10 minute drive from our lunch spot over to St. Paul.  Izzy’s Ice Cream awaited…and we entered and couldn’t wait to get started.

As I was the goofy one, Cathy made me order first.  I asked about the soy ice cream flavors, hoping that there was a chocolate or peanut butter option here.  But, alas…my options today were either Soy Strawberry, Soy Mango, Mango Sorbet, or Strawberry Sorbet.  I was just a little disappointed.  A little.  At least they had other options instead of just sorbets though.  So, without chocolate to fulfill my craving…I opted for the best option available.  Strawberry.  Because I am not a fan of mango.  Not really.

So…order in.  On a gluten-free ice cream cone (because…yeah…they have those and…yeah…I wanted one because I never get ice cream cones!), I ordered a regular scoop of Izzy’s Soy Ice Cream ($3.75) with the Izzy Scoop (a 3/4 ounce scoop) of the Strawberry Sorbet on top.  Because that’s what Izzy’s does.  You get this cute little scoop atop your scoop.  And it’s like…an added bonus of ice cream awesomeness.  And…I GOT AN ICE CREAM CONE!  I might be 34, but sometimes I want to be 5 and eat my ice cream out of an ice cream cone.  Added bonus, because she knew of my gluten-free and lactose intolerance, she wrapped the scoop in paper before she dished up my ice cream.  How fantastic is that?!  Guaranteed not to give me a tummy ache!

Cathy ended up getting a regular scoop on a regular sugar cone of Izzy’s Lemon Custard with the Izzy Scoop of Ricotta Ice Cream ($3.75).  And grandpa…grandpa went classic.  Traditional.  As grandpa’s tend to do!  He was torn between the vanilla and the chocolate, but ended up getting a kiddie scoop of the Chocolate Ice Cream on a cake cone.  Oh…and they topped it off with a little chocolate candy on top.  Nice touch!

The verdict?

Really good.  Really solid (as in it had good taste and texture…not that it was rock hard!) ice cream.  Cathy thought the ricotta flavor was interesting, but, naturally, loved the lemon custard.  Seriously, if you give this girl a choice between ice cream or custard, she’ll choose custard…which is awesome.  And if there is lemon involved…she is all over that.  Grandpa really enjoyed his cone of chocolate ice cream.

And my choice…was good.  I loved the creamy nature of the soy strawberry ice cream.  I loved tasting the real bits of strawberry inside.  And the topper of strawberry sorbet made it a berry-licious treat indeed.  But, even more than the ice cream, I was happy when I got to crunch and munch on the gluten free sugar cone.  I love ice cream cones more than most adults should…but when you really can’t have them, you tend to appreciate them more when you can.  It’s the little pleasures in life…like soy ice cream and…gluten free sugar cones at an ice cream shop.

Life was good that day.  I had a great afternoon with my grandpa.  We had great eats and treats.  And he even loved the ice cream.

A great place to go…with spots in Minneapolis and St. Paul.  You better believe I’ll be back.  And maybe this time they’ll have some Soy Chocolate for me.

Izzy's Soy Strawberry Ice Cream with an Izzy Scoop of Strawberry Sorbet on a Gluten Free Sugar Cone
Izzy’s Soy Strawberry Ice Cream with an Izzy Scoop of Strawberry Sorbet on a Gluten Free Sugar Cone
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Restaurant Review: The Liffey Irish Pub, St. Paul, Minnesota

The Liffey Irish Pub, St. Paul, Minnesota
The Liffey Irish Pub, St. Paul, Minnesota

Restaurant: The Liffey Irish Pub, St. Paul, Minnesota

I finished.  I ran.  I walked.  I crossed the finish line of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.  And after all the hullabaloo at the finish line…the gathering of essentials like finisher’s medal, finisher’s shirt, banana, water, photos, chocolate milk, salty snacks, and so on…I met up with my adoring public…Heather and Cathy.  They were at the designated spot at the runner reunion area.  And the night before we had made noises of checking out a pub after my run.

It has sort of become a thing…we either do a pub or Mexican food after I run a marathon.

You don’t mess with a thing.

Bad things happen when you mess with…a thing.

So, it just so happened that a great Irish pub in St. Paul, called The Liffey Irish Pub, wasn’t but a couple of blocks away from the finish area.  While I was getting some compressions socks on and a different pair of shoes, Heather called ahead to see what the wait would be like.  It turned out we were in between the rushes.  So, after I stretched for a moment, we decided to pack up and make the hike to the pub.  It was a slow hike…my foot, my ankle, my legs were killing me.  I had never felt like this after a marathon…but I’d been injured (still was) and couldn’t train.  It sucked, but my friends were more than willing to work with me.

Our good friend, Paul, whom we met through the big U2 summer of concert madness a couple years ago, met us there.  He had been one of the group at Mile 17 and had said he could join us for lunch.  I stepped inside and immediately was given a hug.  We were immediately seated by the hostess, but before hitting up the table, Cathy and I ducked into the bathroom so I could get out of my running clothes and into something more comfortable (yoga pants and a t-shirt!).  We found the table where Paul and Heather were seated and I started looking at the menu.

Usually it takes me awhile to be hungry, but at this point, I was hungry.  Amazingly enough.  And, also a plus, we knew from the Internet search, that The Liffey had a gluten-free menu.  And when our drink orders were taken (water for starters and then Heather and Paul got drinks with their food), we were given the opportunity to think about what to eat.  Easy here.  For the non-vegetarian and gluten-free (my dining compatriots), it seemed that Fish and Chips (Heather & Paul got the North Atlantic Cod – $14.00; Cathy got the Canadian Walleye – $15.00) was the pub grub of choice (naturally!).  For me…the Quinoa Salad ($9.75) sounded like the meal of choice.  Ideal for recovery too!

Orders in…and we started talking about everything we had been up to…and U2 stuff…and all that jazz.  In fact, we were so busy talking that it took us a moment to realize that the tray that came in a little later had our food on it!  I think we were all ready to eat.  Paul actually got his fish and chips with a Guinness and Heather got hers with a delicious Strongbow cider.  Mmmm.  I was feeling dehydrated so it was water only for me with my meal…this time.

The Liffey Irish Pub's Quinoa Salad
The Liffey Irish Pub’s Quinoa Salad

The Quinoa Salad was a fantastic bed of spinach that contained quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, capers, basil, and avocado.  All these amazing vegetables and grains were tossed with a fantastic, and highly delicious lime vinaigrette.  The quinoa and spinach were great protein for after the run. And I loved the flavor.  I didn’t actually expect the sweet potatoes to be cold, but didn’t mind it in this salad.  While I’m not a huge fan of capers, the salty and vinagery flavor complimented the lime vinaigrette and the earthy vegetables in the salad.  I enjoyed this salad down to the last bite.  Amazing.  And it takes a lot to amaze me when it comes to salad.  This one hit all the right notes…and was like no other salad I’ve had before.

I like different.

I also like being able to enjoy a dessert when I go out to eat.  And there happened to be a few that I could indulge in here at The Liffey Irish Pub.  Oh, St. Paul…you’re winning me over with this gem of an Irish pub.  A fruit cup was an option.  Or the local Izzy’s Ice Cream (flavors unknown).  But the one that interested me was the gluten-free version of their S’more Pot du Crème.  We asked for four spoons.

The Gluten Free S’more ($5.50) was a rich chocolate custard with Izzy’s Vanilla Bean ice cream.  All of this was topped off with a fantastic marshmallow fluff brûlée.  It sounded beyond delicious.  And when it came out…all four of us dove in.  Seriously.  Four spoons dipped into the toasted marshmallow top, through that layer of vanilla ice cream and touching that decadent chocolate custard.

BEST. DESSERT. EVER.

We licked that bowl clean.  While I was glad there were four of us going after this dessert, I probably could have eaten the entire thing by myself without feeling any regrets.  It was so good.  The rich custard with the cold ice cream and the warm, fluffy nature of the fluff was the perfect combination.  It felt like I was eating a delicious s’more at a campfire.  But better.  This was just…the best campground treat elevated to restaurant quality.  High class.  Amazing.  I was wishing for one more bite once we polished it off.

It was unanimous, really.

BEST. DESSERT. EVER.

Should I say it again?

BEST.  DESSERT. EVER.

I was way beyond satisfied when I shuffled out of their with my friends.  We each said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.  Paul one way, Heather to take us to our car and then meet up with us at my grandpa’s house so I could shower and then we could keep me moving by walking the Mall of America.

Where I bought a fantastic dress…

But, that’s of no consequence.  What is, however, is the fact that, without hesitation, without any doubt, I would eagerly return to eat at The Liffey, in St. Paul, Minnesota, whenever I happened to be in the area.  Forget any other pubs that might be more convenient to where I am in Minneapolis.  This one blew me away.  And, I of course would have to get another taste of the…BEST.  DESSERT.  EVER.

Yep…I’ll be back.  Count on it!

The Liffey's Gluten-Free S'more (aka: BEST. DESSERT. EVER.)
The Liffey’s Gluten-Free S’more (aka: BEST. DESSERT. EVER.)
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Product Review: Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert

Product: Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert – $5.99+

I was on a mission one afternoon.  I needed to pick up a few supplies at the grocery store.  As I was leaving, my roommate told me to splurge a little and pick out a product that I have been wanting to try, but haven’t found a way to justify it.  Within reason.  Which, knocked out a few options…but I wasn’t without a few choices.

It was a hot summer afternoon, and I found myself wandering around the tiny, but stocked, natural foods area.  I ducked over to the freezers and let my eyes peruse some of the options inside.

And then…I saw what could be one of the most epic dessert options in the gluten-free and dairy-free world – Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato.

Gelato…that is dairy free?  You bet your lactose-intolerance!  The Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato is an almond-based non-dairy frozen dessert.  Yes!  You read that right…almond-based.  Mmmm…almond milk!  And, it just happened to be one of my favorite flavors in the entire world – salted caramel.  SOLD!  And, it definitely fell into the ‘within reason’ addendum my roomie threw into the deal.  Happily, I took it to the register, checked out, and came home to store it in the freezer.

That was a little while ago…but I had some cookies and bread and other delicious frozen treats to work through first.  I have a system.  But tonight, on a story, thundering evening, after eating some gluten-free and vegan mac and cheese…I chose the Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato for dessert.

I dished up two servings of the frozen treat.  In fact, certain that the Dream frozen treats would act like coconut milk based treats, I allowed the gelato to sit out on the counter while my roommate and I shoveled our main course into our faces.  Okay…we might have been a little daintier than that, but we were hungry and Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville makes some of the best mac and cheese out there for someone like me, with multiple food allergies.

It was the right move.  After we finished eating and rinsed the dishes, I got out a 1/2 measuring cup and some bowls and got to work on dishing up dessert.  Gelato is usually rich and creamy.  While the Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato is definitely rich, the creamy nature gets a bit lost in the almond milk base.  Much like coconut milk, it is a little harder and tends to break apart instead of just slipping onto the spoon.  But it was delicious…and that was the important thing.

Oh…my sweet Italian dessert.  Holy goodness.  This was one fantastic, sweet treat.  This frozen dessert combines a hint of saltiness with a rich, smooth caramel flavor.  The result is a decadent and delicious dessert that is created without the use of dairy.  The almond base lends a nice, slightly nutty flavor and gives it a thick texture.  Not creamy like I associate with gelato, but still rich and smooth.  The dessert melted on my tongue and I savored each burst of flavor.  This had just the right amount of caramel flavor and the right hit of salt to make it one of the most perfect frozen desserts in my freezer.  It was so hard to keep to that serving size.

So, let’s get down to the bones of it…

The Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert is made from filtered water, evaporated cane syrup, almonds, tapioca maltodextrin, expeller pressed oil, brown rice syrup, and contains 2% or less of natural flavors, cocoa butter, soy protein, sea salt, potato starch, guar gum, carrageenan, carob bean gum, sunflower lecithin, soy lecithin, caramel color.  This gelato is cholesterol free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher.

As far as nutrition information goes, a serving of the Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup.  There are 4 servings in the pint.  A serving of the gelato will provide you with 140 calories and 6 grams of fat.  In addition, you will take in 115 mg sodium and 15 grams of sugar.  That is definitely a lot of sugar, but this is a gelato.  Finally, you will be consuming only 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.  Not filling…but totally delicious!

I was blown away by the amazing flavor, rich texture, and the sweet and salty nature Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert.  Each bite was an icy, decadent treat, for sure.  It was so tempting to just polish off the pint, but this means I have one more evening with this dessert.  Tomorrow will sure be delicious.  If you haven’t tried Dream’s frozen desserts, I highly recommend starting off with the Sea Salt Caramel Gelato.  It’s a new favorite.  Definitely.

A serving of Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
A serving of Dream Sea Salt Caramel Gelato Almond-Based Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
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Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

Life’s been tough these past few weeks.  Lots of setbacks and a lot of negativity…of my own…to myself.  I’m trying to stay positive, but sometimes…it’s freakin’ hard, you know?  But…if there is one thing I have learned over the years…ice cream makes everything better!  Everything!

And with that being said, I was fortunate enough to receive a special delivery of the So Delicious Dairy Free coconut milk frozen desserts a couple weeks back and have been working my way through these delicious frosty treats.  Tonight, I rounded up this journey through ice cream heaven with the final product stocked in my freezer…

The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.

So, being completely honest here…mint chip is one of my guilty pleasure favorite things in Ice Cream Land.  Growing up, it was always my dad’s favorite flavor and we often had it stocked in our freezer.  You’d think I’d grow tired of it, but I didn’t…and I still haven’t.  In fact, if you put a bit of hot fudge over a good mint chip ice cream…you get something akin to that of the Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies.  Seriously.  Trust me.  I haven’t been able to eat Girl Scout Cookies for three years now, and that is one of the best ways to satisfy the craving when it hits.

Except…that pesky lactose intolerance thing.  While I have been known to take a supplement to help me digest dairy…it doesn’t always work or help.  So, I’m usually very cautious when approaching real ice cream.  But, now I can have my mint chip and eat it too…without worry.

So Delicious Dairy Free came out with a new version of their Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.  Yes.  This one…with no added sugars.  And I know what you are thinking.  You are wondering how ice cream without the addition of a crap-ton-load of sugar (that’s really a degree of measurement, trust me!) would work…or taste for that matter.  Well, because of So Delicious’ generosity…I can tell you!

I made a very light, but delicious dinner tonight (breakfast for dinner!) and thought to round it off with a taste of the ice cream.  I had pulled it from the freezer as I was settling into my dinner, just to let it thaw a little.  Non-dairy ice creams usually need 5-10 minutes of thaw time to make them scoopable.  Even more-so when they don’t have all that added sugar.  It was the perfect amount of time because after my roomie and I polished off our breakfast…er…dinner…we were ready for that palate cleansing dessert.  And the ice cream was now ready and at that perfect consistency for scooping without being too soft and soupy.  Seriously!

There is a science to ice cream scooping and I think I have mastered it!

Anyway, I got out my 1/2 cup measure and dished us each up a complete serving.  I even drizzled a bit of hot fudge over it, as I had just enough left in the fridge for tonight’s dessert.  So, with the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert now in bowls, I carried her dessert over and then went back to retrieve mine.  She took a bite…immediately noting the mint flavor.  I asked what she thought…and while she preferred the vanilla (and who doesn’t?!), she loved the flavor.

My turn to be the judge.  And on first bite I was in love.  The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert has a great texture to begin with.  It’s creamy, without being runny or heavy.  It has this lightness to it.  This variety has a great minty flavor to it, that is not too strong and is complimented by the swirls of chocolate throughout the pint.  I love that the chocolate is swirled in and not actual chips.  This makes the consistency of the frozen dessert work even more.  The chocolate itself was delicious…sweet without being too much.  Honestly, if you kept it a secret, no one would guess that there was no sugar added to this flavor.  Not at all.  Absolutely minty fresh and delicious!

With all my food blogs, I try to inform my readers as to what makes up a product and the nutrition information that accompanies it.  So Delicious Dairy Free is very open about what they put into their products and display all nutritional information on their Web site.  Nothing to hide.  Love that.

That being said, the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is made from organic coconut milk, guar gum, chocolate flake, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and monk fruit extract.  I am assuming that the mint flavor comes from some of those “natural flavors” as I don’t see it listed anywhere in the ingredients.  This flavor of ice cream from So Delicious is dairy free, vegan, gluten free, kosher, made with organic and non-GMO ingredients.  WOOT!

As for nutrition, a serving size of the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup.  In this serving, you will be taking in 120 calories and 11 grams of fat.  Again, with all things made with coconut milk, do not panic over that fat count.  Coconut milk is a bit fattier…but it’s that healthy fat that’s actually good for you.  So, turn that frown upside down!  A serving will also 65 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar.  Yes…that’s it.  And I swear, you’d never know that this dessert is virtually sugar free.  Seriously!  And, finally, you will be taking in 10 grams of filling fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Delicious!  Honestly, the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert tastes fantastic.  I found it well balanced, very creamy, and a delight on the tongue.  So Delicious continues to live up to its name…and continues to make me one happy lactose-intolerant Celiac.  Their products cater to me and I continue to eat (or drink) them up.  Budget be damned…sometimes you just need to treat yourself to something you love or know you’ll love.  For me…that’s a So Delicious Dairy Free product.

Never fails.

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
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Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis No Sugar Added Fudge Bar

So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars
So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bar – $5.99+

Happiness is…a special delivery of ice cream.  And that’s exactly what happened.  A super special delivery from my friends at So Delicious Dairy Free.  And every bit of it was ice cream.  Delicious gluten-free and vegan ice cream.  Pardon me while I do a quick jig of happiness.  When life delivers you ice cream, you have permission to dance.  So dance and get those pints and boxes into the freezer.  Stat!

And then…pace yourself.

It’s just like running.

Except…instead of pounding the pavement, you’re spooning delicious ice cream to your lips and savoring the sweet reward.  So…yeah…ice cream is just like running.

Analogy made.

After fixing up dinner tonight, which was a simple tomato sandwich with homemade baked squash chips, it was time to cleanse the palate and get that sweet tooth satisfied.  I went to the freezer and, after inquiring with my roommate what she might like for dessert…she immediately chimed in with the response of fudge bars.  I couldn’t argue with that.  It’s hot outside and a nice, cool treat is just what the doctor ordered.

So, I popped open the box of 4 So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars and removed two of them.  I handed one to Cathy and settled in with my own.  Unwrapping it, I took my first taste.

SO GOOD!  Seriously.  Okay…maybe I should say SO DELICIOUS!  Because, they are.  They really, really are.  These bars are sweet, with the slightest hint of the coconut flavor from the coconut milk base.  The chocolate is rich and creamy. And these bars were melt-in-your-mouth amazing.  Honestly.  The So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars are so good, you’d never guess that they are virtually sugar free.  Honestly.  They are rich and decadent and just icy chocolate goodness.  I savored it as much as I could until it was gone.  I licked the stick clean, for sure.

Yeah…I’m hooked!

So, let’s discuss the ingredients and nutrition information of the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars.

The So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars are made from organic coconut milk, gum arabic, cocoa, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, vanilla extract, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and monk fruit extract.  These bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher and non-GMO certified.  They are also cholesterol free.

A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bars is one of the mini bars.  This serving provides 80 calories and 6 grams of fat.  A lot of those grams of fat are from the coconut milk.  So don’t freak out.  That is a healthy fat.  One of these bars will also give you 55 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar.  You’d never guess that they have only 1 gram of sugar.  TRUST ME!!  And, finally, these bars provide you with 8 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Trust me…you’d never even know that these fudge bars have no additional sugar added to them.  They are sweet, rich, fudgy, and delicious.  And the size is just perfect.

Once again, So Delicious Dairy Free does amazing things for the dessert world.  Another delicious product from a company that prides itself on quality…so much that they even call themselves SO DELICIOUS!  No lie.  It’s the truth.

So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bar
So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Coconut Milk No Sugar Added Fudge Bar
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Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert

So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert
So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

I scream.  You scream.  We all scream for…

NON-DAIRY COCONUT MILK ICE CREAM!

Or…at least I do.  Especially when it’s from So Delicious.  And…even more so…especially when it’s Vanilla Bean.

Why Vanilla Bean?

Because when you have vanilla as your base flavor…you can do whatever you want to it and make it your own.  Or, if you’re traditional…you can eat it strait and it has a flavor that is uniquely…vanilla.  I love vanilla.  It’s like the blank canvas of ice cream flavors.  Seriously.  Which is why, tonight, after a disappointing attempt at squash chips (they burned…dammit!), and after polishing up a delicious gluten-free yellow tomato sandwich with some homemade guacamole on the side (and served with gluten-free tortilla chips I had on reserve)…I was ready for my dessert.  I earned it.  After all, it’s Monday…and we should always have dessert on Monday especially! (Garfield logic!)

I actually wasn’t prepared for ice cream dessert, so when we decided that was the way we would go…I pulled the pint out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter top for about 10 minutes.  My roommate and I amused ourselves by watching Chopped All Stars until my timer beeped and I got up to start dishing up dessert.  While I was scooping, I got some caramel sauce working in the microwave to top off the flavor.  WOOHOO!!  I also figured…why not go all out…and pulled down some chopped walnuts as well.  Gotta have those omegas, yes?  YES!

So, with each serving size scoop in our ice cream bowls, I drizzled each scoop with caramel, topped it with nuts…and it was time to dig in.  I settled in and started up Chopped again, and took my first bite…which was just the vanilla on its own.  Purist here…gotta taste it without the accessories first.

Holy Vanilla Bean, Batman!  First of all, I think this is the first time in coconut milk dessert history where I can call it…CREAMY!!  It was silky smooth, packed with flavor, and just…light and fluffy and delicious.  This was just like eating freshly churned ice cream.  This is a lactose intolerant ice cream lover’s dream here.  The vanilla flavor is amazing, not too much…but not too subtle either.  The coconut milk creates this solid, yet creamy base, flecked with the insides of the vanilla bean.  It is just delicious.  Topping it off with caramel and nuts was the icing on the cake, but I could have grabbed a spoon and dug into the pint and been just as happy without playing dress up with dessert.  Seriously.  Fantastic.  So Delicious definitely knew what it was doing.  And…you would never in a million years be able to tell that has no added sugar.  Seriously, it is just as sweet and just as perfect as any ice cream or ice cream like dessert should be.

So Delicious…YOU ROCK THE VANILLA WORLD!!

With all that high praise and excitement, you know we have to hit on the scientific stuff.  Because nutrition and ingredients are all part of what makes a food great.  And this wasn’t just great.  This was…life changing.

The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert is made from organic coconut milk, gum arabic, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, vanilla extract, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, monk fruit extract, and vanilla bean specks.  This frozen treat is gluten-free, cholesterol-free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO!  No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean So Delicious Dairy Free Frozen Dessert is…AWESOME!!

But how awesome are the nutritionals?  Well…a serving size of the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup.  This 1/2 cup portion will provide you with only 100 calories and 8 grams of fat.  I know you’re thinking that the fat seems high, but it’s the healthy fats found in coconut…so don’t freak out over that…it will be okay.  In addition, you will be taking in only 70 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar.  LOVING IT!  And, finally, you will be consuming 10 grams of filling fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Oh, So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy Free Frozen Dessert…I would devour you every day of the week if I could.  I can’t be happier with this flavor and all that it represents.  Thank you, So Delicious, for sending me a pint of goodness which came on a day where I just needed something simple, elegant, and yet…amazing.  That’s this flavor for sure!

I can’t help falling in love with So Delicious over and over again.  Their products really are tops!

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy-Free Frozen Dessert
A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Dairy-Free Frozen Dessert
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Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

There is a short list of treats that I forever want in my life.  Seriously.  This ranges from my local gluten-free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Café) vegan chocolate chip cookies to my gluten free lemon chiffon cake…to ICE CREAM!

The thing with ice cream is…as much as I love ice cream, being lactose intolerant means that sometimes…the ice cream doesn’t love me back.  This means that it’s better for me to skip it all together…or find something that is equally as delicious…and just like that rich, creamy, amazing dairy-filled treat that I grew up eating…year round!

The answer, my friends, is no further than your grocery store freezer.

The amazing and wonderful people at So Delicious Dairy Free sent me a few pints of their new Gluten Free and No Sugar Added frozen dessert offerings.  Yes…their coconut milk ice cream, if you will.  And me, being the ice cream lover that I am…am thrilled to try these flavors out.  I’ve already reviewed the Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert and the Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.

Tonight…it was on to the No Sugar Added (and still gluten-free) flavors.  I asked my roomie to choose a flavor from the ones that are in the freezer.  Without any hesitation she immediately chose…

…the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.

Butter Pecan just happens to be her mom’s favorite ice cream flavor.  Fact.  Now you know.

After a very long, and somewhat stressful day…I made dinner upon getting home and after we devoured that….dessert was up.  As usual, I tend to pull the pint out of the freezer while we eat dinner to allow it to soften up.  Because it is made without the dairy, it sometimes gets a little more frozen than regular ice cream, so the time sitting on the counter while we dine means that it’s ready to scoop when dessert time rolls around.  I was pretty stoked myself, having always enjoyed a great butter pecan ice cream.  It’s one of those oddball flavors that I so rarely get, that I only remember how much I love it when I actually get it.

I dished up two bowls of ice cream, with the proper serving all measured out.  I served it up and we dug in while watching Food Network (because…we love our Food Network!).  One bite.  That was all I needed to fall in love with this frozen treat.  Honestly.  WOW!  First of all, the texture is perfect.  Creamy, light, not gritty.  Pure ice cream perfection.  You’d never guess this was made with coconut milk.  It is that perfectly balanced.  But, my rave doesn’t stop there.  FLAVOR!  Holy cow.  The flavors incorporated into the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert stand up and just dance with your taste buds.  Dance.  Maybe a tango.  Maybe the conga.  vanilla with butter and pecans…oh…it’s so good.  You can really catch all those rich and amazing flavors.  And the pecans bring this great crunch and texture to the creamy ice cream.  And all of this…without any added sugar.  You can’t argue with that.  My roommate actually licked her bowl clean.  I think this is her new favorite so far!

So, what all goes into the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert?  Well, it all comes together using organic coconut milk, pecans, gum arabic, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan, and monk fruit extract.  This dessert is organic, dairy-free, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan.  It is also cholesterol free.

And with that, you know we have to take a peek at the nutritional information.  A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup.  In this serving you will be taking in 140 calories and 13 grams of fat.  Don’t panic over that fat content.  It’s derived from coconut milk, which means that’s the healthy fats.  A serving dishes up 65 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar.  LOVE THAT!  And finally, you will be taking in 10 grams of filling fiber and 1 gram of protein.

LOVE!  That’s what this ice cream is all about.  A dairy-free twist on a classic flavor!  The So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is truly a pint of love.  The flavors and texture are fantastic and amazing.  And I am totally in love with it.  It will take all my (currently non-existent) self-control not to devour the entire pint right out of the carton.  It would be worth it though…

So Delicious…keep on making these amazing treats…because you certainly got my attention.  No sugar added just proves that sugar free doesn’t mean flavor free.  I am totally in love with you, my So Delicious people.  Thank you!

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Butter Pecan Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
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Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies 'N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

I have a lot to give thanks for when it comes to delicious things in my life.  When most people hear that I’m a lactose intolerant and gluten-free vegetarian, I often wonder if they think I eat grass.  I don’t…for the record.  Although I do eat a lot of veggies that are green…but not grass.  Never grass.

That being said, sometimes I also get the chance to try out some products that fit into my diet.  And recently, my friends over at So Delicious Dairy-Free gave me the chance to try out some of their latest products to hit the market.  One of these included the previous blogged about So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert…and now…another bit of excitement…

DAIRY-FREE AND GLUTEN-FREE COOKIES ‘N CREAM COCONUT MILK FROZEN DESSERT.

*FLAIL*

Pardon the unnecessary, but highly needed caps lock abuse.

First of all, as a Celiac do you realize that I never…NEVER…get to eat anything that in any way, shape, or form resembles ice cream that has the words “cookie,” or “dough” in it?  It’s true.  Those have become relics of my past.  Ice cream that I used to know.  Favorites of mine, left to melt away in my memory…of their flavors and their deliciousness.

Or…so I thought.

Thanks to the good people at So Delicious Dairy Free…that is no longer the case.

*DOUBLE FLAIL*

Ahem.

Oh, you better believe the first pint I dove into was the Gluten-Free Cookie Dough.  Growing up, whenever we got ice cream from the store or went to our local ice cream parlor (The Dairy Barn!), I was a cookie dough ice cream girl.  That was what I wanted.  Oddly enough, I never ate raw cookie dough…but put it in ice cream and…oh…yeah.  Magic.  We all know I about died when I got to eat the So Delicious variety, having gone YEARS now since having a taste of one of my favorite flavors.  And if you are just tuning in, click on the link above and read all about that moment!

But…we come back to the present now…and tonight…tonight it was time to give the other childhood favorite a shot.  Another flavor of ice cream I always have to just stare at and dream about eating.  But not now…not again.  Not when So Delicious comes through and delivers their So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Ice Cream.

*KERMIT FLAIL*

 

KERMIT FLAIL
KERMIT FLAIL


So, while my roomie and I were feasting on dinner, I set the pint out to thaw a little.  I find that non-dairy frozen desserts often need about 5-10 minutes of sitting on the counter to make scooping easier.  Trust me.  Do it.  It means you won’t have to go to battle with your pint of delicious goodness.  The last thing you want to do is go to battle with dessert.  That’s just not…human.

After we finished dinner and doing the dishes, I went to get out the ice cream scooper and serve up the latest flavor of non-dairy frozen goodness from a company that prides itself on their products that they call themselves So Delicious!  That’s bold.  And I love them for that!

I scooped us each up a serving and settled in to finish watching a Food Network show of our choosing tonight.  I was practically on the edge of my seat…anticipating that first taste.  I dipped my spoon into my bowl, scooped up a bit of the ice cream…and BAM…everything I missed about Cookies ‘N Cream ice cream came flooding back to me.  I might have teared up a little.  Amazing.

First of all, So Delicious does not skimp on the fillings.  You are getting chunks of gluten-free sandwich cookies in this ice cream.  You are getting this rich and luxurious base made form coconut milk that doesn’t overpower.  The vanilla is a nice compliment to all the flavors.  And those cookies…OH MY GOD…those cookies…they are the things that dreams are made of.  Especially for someone like me…who has had to ignore anything with the word “cookie” in it for so long.  Dreams do come true and So Delicious truly makes it…delicious.  Each bite had that rich sweetness to it…plus the chunkiness of the cookies.  You get that crunch with the creamy texture of the dessert itself.  Oh…yes.  If heaven were a pint of ice cream…I was devouring it at that very moment.  A new favorite.

It’s also really good over a warm gluten-free brownie with hot fudge drizzled over it.  I’m just throwing that out there.  I might have done that too.

So, what exactly goes into a pint of the So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert?  I’m about to tell you!  This ice cream is made from organic coconut milk, organic dried cane syrup, gluten-free creme cookies, chicory root extract, natural flavor, carob bean gum, and guar gum.  Not only is this free of dairy and gluten, but it is also cholesterol free, vegan, non-GMO, and kosher.

And…I know it’s a treat…it’s dessert…but I always hit up those nutrition facts.  A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup.  In this serving, you will be consuming 160 calories and 7 grams of fat.  Keep in mind, some of that fat count comes from that nutritious coconut milk!  You will also be taking in 50 mg sodium and 16 grams of sugar.  Yep…it’s high in sugar…but it’s an ice cream treat.  You sort of expect that.  And, finally, you will be provided with 7 grams of filling fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Not too shabby for a frozen dessert, right?  RIGHT!

Yeah…my love for So Delicious continues to grow every time I get to try one of their products.  Stay tuned…because there are more frozen treats from So Delicious in my freezer just waiting for me to pick them next to try.  It’s a good thing that ice cream is one of my most favorite things in life.  And, now, here’s one I can safely consume!

Oh, So Delicious…how I love you and your magical pints of frozen goodness.

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies 'N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookies ‘N Cream Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert
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Product Review – Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread

Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread
Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread

Product: Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread – $3.99+

I absolutely LOVE Nutella.  I love it.  There is something so amazing about that flavor combination of chocolate and hazelnut.  And while sometimes Nutella and I get along like old friends…there are other times I have a reaction to the dairy that is in it…and then…we don’t get on so great.

So…I stopped with the Nutella.  As much as I could.  Every now and again…I would risk that small bit of dairy.  I don’t get it with me and dairy.  Sometimes…a little bit doesn’t affect me.  Other times, even the slightest bit of it does.  Ah, food intolerance.  So much fun!  *dripping with sarcasm*

As it was…I would gaze longingly at the Nutella at the grocery store…thinking…maybe…just maybe it would be okay this one time.  But, then I would recall how I would feel afterwards and…well…it wasn’t worth it.  While naturally gluten-free Nutella does contain skim milk, whey, and soy.  I don’t always get along with those ingredients.  So, bummer.

Until…until that blessed day I was grocery shopping at my local Kroger and came to the gluten-free end cap that usually holds the same products it has held since…they first put it up.  But there was something different.  Something…exciting.  Foods from my beloved Freedom Foods.  I am hooked on their Tropico’s cereal, which my parents have to mail to me.  We have a few of their products here now.  And, while I didn’t spot it, my roommate did.  And she picked it up off the shelf and went…”NUTELLA!”

Sure enough!  This little jar of cocoa goodness goes by the name Smudge.  Smudge.  I love it.  It’s so…cute!

And since everything I have tried from Freedom Foods has been delicious, this was a splurge I was willing to pay for.  Splurging on Smudge.  That’s my life.  That had to be done!

So, for an entire week it sat on my pantry shelf with nothing to be spread on.  That is until my roomie went grocery shopping and found Udi’s Gluten-Free Bagels on a “huge stupid sale” at one of our various grocery stores we frequent every week.  So…bagels!!  And I know that Nutella and Nutella-ish spreads are amazing on bagels.  Like…dessert for breakfast.  So, this morning after my spin class…I came home and put the bagels in the oven to toast while I took a shower and got changed for work.  By the time I was out, the bagels were ready.  It was time to schmear the Smudge!

This spread was a rich, dark chocolate color and very smooth.  It smelled like bittersweet chocolate and happiness.  Because if happiness was a smell, it would smell like chocolate.  Trust me.  It was so easy to spread over the toasted bagel, a tablespoon to each half.  I did a test for my roomie, putting the Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread on one of her halves and Nutella on the other half.  Just for comparison reasons.  She liked both, but I noticed she saved Smudge for her last bite.  So when I asked, she said it was good…less sweet than hers.  Nice.

As for my thoughts…Holy Chocolate Goodness, Batman!!  Freedom Foods just won my heart, my stomach, and the rest of me.  If there is a pleasure switch when it comes to taste, this one flipped it.  It was just as smooth as it spread on the bagel.  It was chocolatey, without being too much.  It wasn’t hot fudge chocolate, but perhaps chocolate syrup chocolate.  And now I can imagine drizzling this over a scoop of dairy-free ice cream.  Oh, Freedom Foods Smudge is one happy spread, bite-for-bite-for bite.  You’ll want to lick your fingers clean.  I did.  And maybe my plate too.  This is Nutella without the nuts and the dairy and the soy.  This is Nutella on happy steroids for people like me…suffering from food allergies and only being able to pass by the product in the store and think about what could have been.

Smudge…makes it all better.  Smudge…makes life better.

I seriously could eat the entire jar with a spoon.  I am going to attempt to not do that.  No promises though…

Freedom Foods is an Australian company that takes great pride in their products they put out on the market.  Since they say something is “free from” something…they mean it.  And, they adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, keeping their products free of anything genetically modified.  In addition. All of their products are free from nuts and gluten.  And, in addition, they use no artificial colors or flavors.  All natural.  All good!

So, what makes up Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread?  Simple.  This chocolatey spread is made from vegetable oils, maltodextrin (maize), raw sugar, cocoa (10%), tapioca starch, inulin, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), vegetable gums (locust bean, xanthan), flavors, sweetener (steviol glycosides), sea salt.  Not 100% clean…but still…YUMMY!!  This product is gluten-free, nut-free, wheat-free, dairy-free and lactose-free.

As for nutrition, a serving of the Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread is 2 tablespoons.  This serving delivers 210 calories and 12 grans if fat.  So…yes, eating the entire 9.2 ounce jar with a spoon is probably not recommended.  A serving also serves up 35 mg sodium and 12 sugars.  This product is cholesterol free.  Two tablespoons will also provide you with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. In the long run – not filling.  That’s why you put it on a carby, fiber-filled bagel.  Mmmm…

Trust me on this one…it is amazing.  So…it’s not Nutella.  For someone like me…it’s so much more than Nutella.  And, honestly…I like it better.  Thank you, once again, Freedom Foods…because of you Smudge is my new go-to spread.  I am in chocoholic heaven!

Also…it’s fun to say schmear of Smudge.  HA!

Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread (on a gluten-free bagel)
Freedom Foods Nut & Dairy Free Smudge Cocoa Spread (on a gluten-free bagel)

What are our products free from, and just how ‘free from’ are they?

For us, what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. When we say a product is ‘free from’ something, we make sure it really is.

Nuts

• All Freedom Foods cereals and bars are made in our Stanbridge factory, which does not use, and tests rigorously for, the presence of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.

• We also work with our raw material suppliers to ensure anything we bring into our factory hasn’t been exposed to nuts.

• If our box states the product is nut free, that means no peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts can be detected. (While we’d love to test for every single type of tree nut, there’s just not an approved test available just yet. We’ll get there.)

• Please note: A few of our products are made in other factories that may have nuts, so always check the packaging before you buy or give us a call.

Gluten

• Our Stanbridge factory is completely free from wheat, rye, barley and triticale and we also make sure the oats we bring on site are not contaminated with wheat.

• As for testing, every batch of our finished product is tested ensure no gluten is detected.

Artificial Colours & Flavours

• While other leading snack brands sneak artificial colours and flavours into their foods, we don’t. You won’t find a single artificial colour or flavour in any of our products. And trust us, you won’t miss them.

Genetically Modified Ingredients

• We’re proud to say that all Freedom Foods products are free of genetically modified ingredients. We adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, if you’d like to learn more about our standards.
How can we guarantee our foods are free from all of the above? Check out How We Do It.

– See more at: http://www.freedomfoods.com.au/what-were-free-from#sthash.8SjjxHU5.dpuf

For us, what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. When we say a product is ‘free from’ something, we make sure it really is.

Nuts

• All Freedom Foods cereals and bars are made in our Stanbridge factory, which does not use, and tests rigorously for, the presence of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.

• We also work with our raw material suppliers to ensure anything we bring into our factory hasn’t been exposed to nuts.

• If our box states the product is nut free, that means no peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts can be detected. (While we’d love to test for every single type of tree nut, there’s just not an approved test available just yet. We’ll get there.)

• Please note: A few of our products are made in other factories that may have nuts, so always check the packaging before you buy or give us a call.

Gluten

• Our Stanbridge factory is completely free from wheat, rye, barley and triticale and we also make sure the oats we bring on site are not contaminated with wheat.

• As for testing, every batch of our finished product is tested ensure no gluten is detected.

Artificial Colours & Flavours

• While other leading snack brands sneak artificial colours and flavours into their foods, we don’t. You won’t find a single artificial colour or flavour in any of our products. And trust us, you won’t miss them.

Genetically Modified Ingredients

• We’re proud to say that all Freedom Foods products are free of genetically modified ingredients. We adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, if you’d like to learn more about our standards.
How can we guarantee our foods are free from all of the above? Check out How We Do It.

– See more at: http://www.freedomfoods.com.au/what-were-free-from#sthash.k7reomFu.dpuf

For us, what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. When we say a product is ‘free from’ something, we make sure it really is.

Nuts

• All Freedom Foods cereals and bars are made in our Stanbridge factory, which does not use, and tests rigorously for, the presence of peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts.

• We also work with our raw material suppliers to ensure anything we bring into our factory hasn’t been exposed to nuts.

• If our box states the product is nut free, that means no peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts can be detected. (While we’d love to test for every single type of tree nut, there’s just not an approved test available just yet. We’ll get there.)

• Please note: A few of our products are made in other factories that may have nuts, so always check the packaging before you buy or give us a call.

Gluten

• Our Stanbridge factory is completely free from wheat, rye, barley and triticale and we also make sure the oats we bring on site are not contaminated with wheat.

• As for testing, every batch of our finished product is tested ensure no gluten is detected.

Artificial Colours & Flavours

• While other leading snack brands sneak artificial colours and flavours into their foods, we don’t. You won’t find a single artificial colour or flavour in any of our products. And trust us, you won’t miss them.

Genetically Modified Ingredients

• We’re proud to say that all Freedom Foods products are free of genetically modified ingredients. We adhere to the Food Standards Code of Australia and New Zealand, if you’d like to learn more about our standards.
How can we guarantee our foods are free from all of the above? Check out How We Do It.

– See more at: http://www.freedomfoods.com.au/what-were-free-from#sthash.k7reomFu.dpuf