Italian – Page 5 – The Celiathlete

September 16, 2014

Product Review: Udi’s Gluten Free Rich & Creamy Penne & Cheese

Product: Udi’s Gluten Free Rich & Creamy Penne & Cheese – $6.99+

You know…there are certain names that I commonly trust in the gluten-free food world. And, with the exception of a couple of things (holy and small bread loaves and the original cinnamon roll recipe), one name that I have always been able to trust to serve me up something not only delicious but a close equivalent to the “real” and glutinous food is Udi’s. After all, they were the game changer when it came to bread. I hate really small bread slices though, so I normally don’t purchase their loaves. I do, however, always have Udi’s Gluten Free Bagels in my freezer. Never had a better gluten-free bagel, for sure!

So, imagine my glee when I found out that Udi’s Gluten Free was introducing some frozen meals to the market. And while these new products usually take forever and a day to reach my area, that wasn’t the case with these. I can find them in most of my natural food stores. The one I have, however, I purchased out of town and returned to my freezer in a cooler. That’s how I roll when I’m a gluten-free girl on the go!

And by on the go…I mean I drive to a lot of places that have items I don’t always see in my area. The road is my home a lot of the time.

But when I am home…when I have a rough day or am just tired…cooking something from scratch isn’t always an option. BAH. That was the case tonight. I consulted my roommate and she asked if there was anything in our crisper drawer that was in dire need of being used up. I listed off a couple of things that we had until Thursday to use. Since there was no real rush…she said to just grab something out of the freezer…either the gluten-free pizza or the mac and cheese. The pizza is from my local gluten-free bakery…and we almost went that way. But…when I said it was the pizza or splitting the mac and cheese and having it with the gluten-free and vegan garlic bread still in the freezer…she immediately wanted the mac and cheese meal because the bread was the tipping point. HA! She loves her bread. And, yes, she only eats gluten-free bread. She’s awesome like that.

So, after getting home, I tossed the gluten free and vegan garlic bread into the oven to toast. And as that was about to finish up, I pulled out the mac and cheese meal I knew we had in the freezer. Actually…what we had one box of the Udi’s Gluten Free Rich & Creamy Penne & Cheese in the freezer. Close enough to mac and cheese. I brought it back from The Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio, and was keeping it around for an evening such as this. Lots to do, and not enough time to spend a long time in the kitchen. This was easy. This took a total of 7 minutes to cook. I loved that.

Udi's Gluten Free Rich & Creamy Penne & Cheese (cooked) — Udi’s Gluten Free Rich & Creamy Penne & Cheese (cooked)

Simple preparation. Remove tray from box and cut a whole in the plastic that surrounds it. Place in the microwave for 2 minutes. After those two minutes are up, remove the plastic and stir. Place back in the microwave for another 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Allow to sit for 2 minutes before serving. I did that…then split the tray between the two of us.

I settled in to an episode of Chopped on Food Network and took my first bite.

And was highly disappointed. While the actual dish itself is loaded with rich and creamy unnaturally orange cheese…it didn’t actually live up to its looks. In fact, while it looked like something I could have cooked up, the first bite was just…bland. BLAND! Penne & Cheese should not be bland. Gluten free should most definitely not be bland. I was just…so let down. While I could see the black pepper scattered through the cheese sauce, the cheese sauce really lacked flavor. And, with most cases of microwave pasta…some of the noodles didn’t cook to soft goodness and were left sort of crunchy and crisp. BOOOOO!! This just left me feeling deflated because I love mac and cheese…but this was just…no good. Not one bit. When I eat something, I want it to taste like something. I want seasoning. I don’t care if it’s a frozen dish or something that comes out of a professional kitchen, it has to taste good! Or…taste like…something.

The Udi’s Gluten Free Rich & Creamy Penne & Cheese is made from gluten free penne pasta (made from corn flour and rice flour), pasteurized milk, water, cheddar cheese, butter, cheese flavor, monterey jack cheese, rice starch, flavor, citrus fiber, kosher salt, black pepper, annatto extract, and mustard flour.

As for nutrition information, the Udi’s Gluten Free Rich & Creamy Penne & Cheese serves 1 person per container. My roommate and I split it. I’m sort of glad we did…

Anyway, one serving (about 1 cup) will serve up 430 calories and 13 grams of fat. You will be consuming 90 mg cholesterol, 480 mg sodium, and 4 grams of sugar. In addition, you will take in 3 grams of fiber and 12 grams of protein. You’ll feel full…but you won’t feel like you actually tasted anything.

It’s too bad that this dish was so bland. I was really let down. Udi’s is usually so spot-on with their products, but this one just left me feeling cheated out of what should have been a delicious meal. I think I’ll stick to my homemade mac and cheese from here on.

Half a serving of Udi's Gluten Free Rich & Creamy Penne & Cheese — Half a serving of Udi’s Gluten Free Rich & Creamy Penne & Cheese

September 12, 2014

Product Review: Delallo Gluten Free Gnocchi

Product: Delallo Gluten Free Gnocchi – $3.99+

I blame Ireland. Honestly. I blame Ireland for making me love gnocchi so much.

On my final trip there, which happened to be just a couple of months before the Celiac diagnosis, I was at The Tea Room at The Clarence Hotel…feasting on one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life…

Gnocchi.

Potato and Sage Gnocchi at that. Seriously…it was sex on a plate. And the chef was kind enough to share the recipe with me, but the version that my friends and I made at home wasn’t quite the same as the one we had in Ireland. But, let me tell you…this really, really, really made me fall in love with those potato pockets of pasta goodness.

So…it was Ireland and not Italy that introduced me to the pillowy goodness of gnocchi. And I have been in love ever since.

And then…I had to go gluten-free. Before that happened completely, I was able to feast on a couple more gnocchi meals from different restaurants…all of which were divine…and reminded me of why I fell in love with gnocchi in the first place. I was enamored.

Since then, I have had a couple of varieties of gluten-free gnocchi. Some have been good. Some have been…okay. And I think one didn’t even impress me at all. So, I figured what did I have to lose when it came to testing out the shelf-stable (not frozen or refrigerated) variety made by Delallo, who have also put out some gluten-free pastas. I have tried them…and they are really good. So, I had some high hopes for the gnocchi.

Tonight…I got to cook it up and test it out.

Nothing is easier to make. Put 4 quarts of water into pot and bring to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and then pour in the gluten-free gnocchi. Bring water back up to a boil by covering the pot and cook for about two minutes. Once they are floating, drain and then add to the sauce. Allow to cook for 2 more minutes in the sauce (of your choice) to marry the flavors together. Then serve.

I cooked the Delallo Gluten Free Gnocchi in a Squash and Pumpkin Pasta Sauce. For real. It smelled fantastic. And once I added the pasta to let it all cook together, my mouth was nigh on watering. I served it up in two bowls with a slice of my local gluten free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Café) vegan garlic bread. Amazing. Simply divine.

And I’m not just talking about the vegan garlic bread. The Delallo Gluten Free Gnocchi cooked up to perfection. They were soft and creamy, little perfect Italian dumplings without the wheat. These are soft pillows of delicious goodness that didn’t stick together or get gummy. In fact, they were pretty much perfect, which was more than I could have asked for! According to Delallo, the Gluten Free Gnocchi is crafted with over 85% potato, bringing the absolute perfect texture of traditional gnocchi. I couldn’t agree more. I already want to rush out to the store and purchase some more…try it with other sauces…devour, devour, devour!

Delallo Gluten Free Gnocchi is made from rehydrated potatoes, rice flour, potato starch, salt, lactic acid, and sorbic acid (as a preservative). This pasta is non-GMO, cholesterol free, fat free, gluten-free, sheat free, and made in a dedicated gluten-free facility in Italy. Yes…in Italy. These gluten-free gnocchi are imported.

So, what about the nutritional aspect of this pasta? It’s not bad. The Delallo Gluten Free Gnocchi serving is 1 cup of the pasta. This serving dishes up 250 calories and absolutely no fat at all. This serving has 760 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar. The sodium is higher than I normally would like, but the sugar is very low. This pasta has 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Not bad at all for pasta!! Especially gluten-free.

LOVE. That’s what the Delallo Gluten Free Gnocchi is made with and of. LOVE. Lots and lots of gluten-free love. And I am forever going to make a point to keep this in my kitchen pantry. When it doesn’t take long to cook up, it makes for a relatively quick meal to prepare and then eat. And I love convenient. Delallo definitely hit it out of the park this time. Delicious!

Delallo Gluten Free Gnocchi with Organic Squash and Pumpkin Pasta Sauce and Gluten-Free and Vegan Garlic Bread

August 26, 2014

Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest – Indianapolis, Indiana – August 23, 2014

GF Jules and me at the Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana!

This past Saturday, I had the honor of being able to attend the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest up in Indianapolis, Indiana. I love going to gluten-free expos and events and Indianapolis seems to always have one at some point during any calendar year. This year was no exception, and I was thrilled to read about the new location for this year’s event – the Indian State Fairgrounds. With all the vendors and exhibitors I saw listed, I knew this year’s event was going to be HUGE! I was not let down at all.One of the magazines I currently subscribe to, Gluten Free & More (formerly Living Without), was putting on the Living Without Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in various cities this year as a way to show those with food allergies and/or sensitivities that we can live life without deprivation and missing out on delicious food. It was a coming together of the magazine, as well as over a hundred of their favorite exhibitors to celebrate living well. And it was open to anyone who wanted to stop in.

Tickets went on sale and, as a subscriber, I received a free entry, and then received a discount code for another ticket…so I had Cathy taken care of as well. So, on Saturday morning, we ate a light breakfast before climbing into the car and hauling up to Indianapolis. We timed it perfectly because we burned through our breakfast just as we got up there, about 30 minutes after it officially opened.

And…there was already a line waiting to get in.

Oh…that made me happy, indeed.

It was a hot summer day already and standing outside in the blazing sun didn’t sound like too much fun…but it wasn’t going to be a long wait. Just about 5 minutes, at the most. And while standing in line, I got to listen to people who have done expos like this before (like me) describe the events and how things work to the first timers. I even got to geek out over favorite products and the like for a few moments. I love making gluten-free friends!

Before we knew it, we were inside the doors, in the air conditioning, and getting the tickets scanned. We were given blue wristbands to wear (for re-entry purposes and to show we paid!). Cathy and I put them on and headed into the expo proper. We were greeted at the door by people passing out reusable shopping bags from Glutino (a personal favorite!). Perfect for all the samples and products you are bound to pick up and buy.

Trust me, you don’t walk out of these events empty-handed.

Cathy and I decided that we were going to be systematic about our approach to each table/vendor/aisle. We’d start on one side and then work our way up, then come back down the other side. This was a good plan in theory, and we decided to start in the middle aisle to avoid the congestion of the end aisles. We soon found out…no matter what…it was just hopping and congested. People were surrounding tables, getting free samples, trying products, trying local baked goods, and the like. So, we ditched our original systematic plan for the…let’s just see what there is and wriggle into open areas when we can.

We’re pros. HA!

That being said, we began our Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest at the Glutino/Udi’s/Earth Balance booth, which was giving out samples of Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Cookies as well as Glutino’s Gluten-Free Multigrain English Muffins, schmeared with Earth Balance Creamy Coconut and Peanut Spread. It was all crazy, crazy delicious. I actually have the Glutino English Muffins in my freezer, I just haven’t tried them yet. Now…I know buying them wasn’t a mistake at all. They were delicious. And that Earth Balance Creamy Coconut and Peanut Spread…out-of-this-world good!

And from there…it only got better. We made a point to stop by each vendor’s table and talk to them about their products, if we had tried them. If we hadn’t…we would ask all about them. I made a point of raving to the Pamela’s Product people about the Figgies & Jammies. Because they are awesome and worthy of praise. I talked to the Hodgson Mills representative and when I mentioned being a food blogger he said to reach out to the Hodgson Mills team anytime. I was told the same thing by various other vendors as well. And one local vendor who was selling the most amazing bar-b-que sauce and seasoning (which we purchased) said to tag her on Facebook when I use their products so they can read my blog. I was having a great time.

I think, though, the best moment had to come at the Freedom Foods table. Because, as many of you are aware, Freedom Foods only makes my favorite gluten-free cereal, Tropic-O’s. NOM NOM! I can’t find this cereal here anymore, since my Whole Foods stopped carrying it, so my parents ship it to me from Birmingham, Alabama. We have a system down. But, recently, they put out a gluten-free, dairy-free, and not-free version of Nutella…which I fell in love with. My local Kroger is the only place that had it…and I bought the last jar of it a few weeks ago. It has never been restocked. So…I stocked up on some Quinoa Pancake Mix, lots of “Smudge” (that’s the Nutella stuff!), and a few other products to try, all the time raving about how much I love their products and how they honestly care about what ingredients go into all of their stuff. It didn’t hurt that the guy at the table had a New Zealand/Australian accent. HELLO! I actually ended up going back to the table before leaving that day and buying 4 more jars of Smudge. I hadn’t opened the one I had at home for fear I would never find it again. Now…it’s on!

I was able to sample some of the best gluten-free Snickerdoodles I have ever eaten. And this pasta that was made from lentils that tasted exactly like regular pasta…but I couldn’t afford the hefty price tag on it. Unfortunately. It was nice to sample it, however. At the very back of the building, for those over 21, was the gluten-free cider/beer tasting area. There was so much food and samples…so I was glad we ate light. And Cathy and I have a system down…where we split a sample so we aren’t filling up on our own. It always works at these events.

However, I have to say the greatest moment ever was when I finally got to meet GF Jules in person. GF Jules (formerly Jules Gluten Free) was one of the first Celiac/Gluten-Free bloggers/recipe makers/amazing people I started to follow on social media after my diagnosis. While I have been to events where she has been present, I have never been able to actually meet her. That changed. We discovered that we were food allergy soul sisters, both of us being vegetarian Celiacs who also can’t handle dairy. Go figure. She was so nice and just so easy to talk with. I picked up one of her cookbooks, which she signed, and she was kind enough to take a picture with me. I might have geeked out a little bit. Or a lot. You know how it goes…

And soon, after a couple hours of tasting, testing, buying, talking, and exploring, our time at the expo drew to a close. We were going to meet our friend, Greg, for lunch that day, so we bid adieu to the fantastic event and made our way out to the car.

This event was probably the best one I have attended so far. Great people, great vendors, great information all around. And I came home with samples and products to try in the very near future. Can’t argue with that, right? Right!

I hope they return next year. I’m already making plans to attend. If one of these events happens near you…I definitely encourage you to go!

August 17, 2014

Restaurant Review: Blaze Pizza, Louisville, Kentucky

Restaurant: Blaze Pizza, Louisville, Kentucky

What’s the deal with restaurants and that tasteless, pre-made, pre-packaged gluten-free pizza crust? It’s so rare to actually receive a freshly made pizza crust…unless you happen to have a specialty bakery in your area…like I do. But, not everyone is that lucky, and those who aren’t are usually left to those cracker crust gluten-free pizza shells that it seems every place serving a gluten-free pizza uses.

That was what I was prepared for when my roommate and I decided to try out the newest (small) franchised chain and place to offer a gluten-free pizza option in Louisville.

Blaze Pizza.

I had heard things about Blaze Pizza. Good things. My good friend, Harry, raved about the place, telling me all about how it’s like a Subway or Qdoba for pizza. And that they offered a gluten-free crust. I had heard that they offered a gluten-free option and had definite interest in checking it out. Instead of my normal Saturday breakfast, my roomie and I skipped the gluten-free bakery and made plans to meet Harry for lunch at Blaze Pizza.

Unfortunately, Harry’s appointment he had prior to the lunch meeting was running over and he had to cancel. So, it was just Cathy and I on Saturday. And our first experience with Blaze Pizza.

Blaze Pizza prides itself on exceptional quality pizzas that are fast-fired (3 minutes!) and cooked to perfection. It starts with made-from-scratch dough and then topped with either some of their classic toppings…or you can build your own. Whatever you like from there healthful, artisinal ingredients. It’s up to you. And then, they are placed in a hot oven…3 minutes later, you receive your pizza, crust thin and perfectly crisped…and you’re ready to dig in. That’s Blaze Pizza.

So, when Cathy and I stepped inside, I was expecting the usual song and dance. Order a gluten-free pizza and watch that pre-made crust get unwrapped and settled onto a tray to help keep cross-contamination to a minimum. But…that’s not what happened. We ordered the gluten-free pizza (extra $2.00 for gluten-free crust) and immediately the cashier asked if it was a preference or an allergy. I told them it was an allergy, that I was a Celiac, and even though I was about to ask for a glove change, he instantly said, “Would you like us to do a glove change?” I blinked. I might have stared surprised for a long second. “Um…yes, please. I was just about to ask!”

So, as he called back to the girl for the gluten-free crust he said…”GLOVE CHANGE!” The person who was working these amazing pizza crust presses (I so want one…it takes a heap of dough and presses it into a perfect 11 inch thin crust) changed her gloves and reached for the gluten-free dough. YES…DOUGH! It went onto a special tray and then into the other (and I’m assuming dedicated) pizza press. In a quick second, fresh pizza crust was settled onto a wooden plank in a special tray and set for saucing. The cashier reminded the people on the line (who were busy with a large party ahead of us) that they needed a glove change. But, instead, to make sure it happened, the girl running the pizza press, who had just changed her gloves, went ahead and asked me what sauce I wanted.

Here was where I thought I was going to have a problem. I was watching as the saucing station would ladle one of their six sauce options onto the dough and then use the ladle to move the sauce around the dough. As a Celiac, I was beyond curious as to how this was going to work and was going to ask the sauce people as my tray moved. But instead, my pizza went to the end of the line with a separate sauce station. I wanted the red sauce. So, the untouched sauce went onto my gluten-free crust. I was asked what cheese, and I ordered the vegan cheese (extra $1.00 charge) and the pizza press girl with the clean gloves loaded up the pizza with the vegan cheese. Then I added the toppings i wanted…which were red onions, roasted red peppers and mushrooms. We got a sprinkle of dried oregano over the top and it was set to go into the oven.

All together, the build-your-own pizza was $7.00 even for unlimited toppings. With the added cost of getting the gluten-free crust and the vegan cheese, the pizza ended up running $10.00. Cathy got a fountain drink and I got a bottle of water and we went to take our seat. Cathy had me save a table while she went to watch the pizza get fired.

The glove change was written on the paper that the pizza dough is placed on. Cathy watched as they paced the pizza into the oven on one side of the oven away from the other pizzas. They were constantly moving the pizzas around, but they kept mine segregated from the rest. As the pizza was about to come out, the oven person noted the glove change on my paper, so before he touched the paper or anything else, he took off his gloves, washed his hands, and put on fresh gloves. Then he moved the pizza off the silicone tray onto the paper and reached over to the far end of his station to grab a fresh set of tools (cutter, tongs) all with bright red handles, which I am assuming was for gluten-free orders because they were on the opposite end of his station. He sliced up the pizza to order, not touching any other order, pizza, or tools until he was done with my order.

I was impressed.

So…now came the moment of truth. How would this pizza (of my own creation) taste? For the record, Cathy and I decided to call our pizza creation the “Comrade Pizza” because (with the exception of the mushrooms) every ingredient was red. HA! Get it?

I wanted to dig right in, so I took a hot slice of pizza, immediately noting the beautiful, crisp, and charred crust. My mouth was watering. And with one bite…I knew…I was now in love. My God…what a difference a crust made from fresh dough makes. This was phenomenal. I loved hearing that crisp crust crunch with each bite, without it tasting manufactured. Those cracker crusts often just taste…bland. This had flavor. This was crusted to perfection. This was…pizza magic. Seriously good pizza. This was also the best I had ever seen the Daiya vegan cheese melt into an ooey-gooey mass of cheese goodness on a pizza. Seriously. It looked like real cheese.

Not only was I impressed with the pizza at Blaze Pizza, I was more than impressed with the care that the employees and the owners put into keeping those who have a gluten allergy as safe as they can. Honestly, I went in there a bit nervous about my meal…but my fears were immediately put to rest. I would, with confidence, return to Blaze Pizza again and enjoy another fantastic pizza. And I intend to do that. Because I still have to get some pizza with my friend Harry.

Maybe this week. I might be craving…already.

Thank you, Blaze Pizza…for the fantastic experience. I swear…I will be back!

The “Comrade Pizza” from Blaze Pizza in Louisville (gluten-free crust, red sauce, vegan cheese, roasted red peppers, red onions, mushrooms)

July 28, 2014

Product Review: Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu

Product Review: Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu – $5.99+

Oh, great and wonderful and powerful (because you keep drawing me in) Raisin Rack natural food store in Columbus, Ohio. I love you. I love you in so many ways I can’t even begin to count them. And one of the many reasons I love you is that your extensive gluten-free section offers me A LOT of options I can’t get here in Louisville, Kentucky…or anywhere else for that matter. Seriously…there are some items I have never even heard of…and then I head up to Columbus to visit my friend Jenn…and BAM…I am educated on products that are out on the market that I didn’t even know existed.

After making about 10 laps of the gluten-free aisles and filling up my basket (actually, I behaved and didn’t fill it up…no need to Tetris anything this time)…I made one final decision before checking out. And that was for dessert. After all, Cathy, Jenn and I were cooking Italian that night (gluten-free pasta with gluten-free foccacia), so I figured…despite having made a delicious homemade buttermint ice cream…we might as well keep with the Italian theme. So…I went back to the freezer section and pulled the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu from the shelf. Into the basket. Up to the register. Into a bag. Back to Jenn’s. I put it in the fridge to let it thaw…and dinner time came and went and I was so ready to dive into dessert. I mean…I don’t get to have tiramisu that often. In fact…I never get to. So this was indeed a nice treat and one I was looking forward to.

I had pulled the box out of the refrigerator to let it thaw the rest of the way while we ate dinner. And when dinner was appropriately devoured…it was time to work on dessert. And I was super excited about the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu, which was suddenly on the menu. And I was not alone. Jenn is Italian…and she knows good tiramisu. And I couldn’t wait to get her thoughts on this. Cathy doesn’t do tiramisu too often, so she’s sort of a non-entity in this review…because Jenn is an expert and I’m a fan. So…after clearing the table…I opened up the box, removed the container with the tiramisu…and eagerly and carefully popped the lid.

And…the entire top layer stayed on the lid. Well…crap.

Oh well…I went to Jenn’s silverware drawer and pulled out a knife to see if I could salvage that layer of dusted cocoa. I gave it my best shot, so, the top of the tiramisu isn’t as pretty as it should be…however…as Jenn always says…it still tastes the same. So…I just sort of incorporated the cocoa dusted layer over the fluffy mascarpone cheese layer as best I could…then split the delicate dessert into thirds. This dessert is actually meant for two people, but there were three of us…so we had ice cream with it. HA!

Anyway…the layers were soft and light as my butter knife sliced through it. The dessert itself was easy to lift out of the little plastic container it had been frozen in. A little messy…but workable. Desserts are good to be messy. It’s just means more opportunities to lick the plate clean. We all settled in with our forks and plates with the layered dessert of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, mascarpone cheese and cocoa…and took our first bites.

Cathy, as I said, is excluded from this review of the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu as she isn’t a tiramisu person. That being said, she loved the fluffy layer of mascarpone cheese. She said she could take or leave the ladyfingers. EH. Whatever. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Jenn, however, is a tiramisu expert. And both she and I hoovered this slice of gluten-free Italian dessert heaven without so much as a breath, I think. We both agreed that the ladyfingers were moist and soft and good. The mascarpone layer was so light and fluffy, whipped up to perfection. The espresso flavor was sort of lost…we both said that we were sort of looking for that coffee flavor, but overall, Jenn said she never would have guessed it was gluten-free if she hadn’t found it for me in the freezer. HA!

There you go. I’m a huge fan. And now I want to try more and more from Russo’s Gluten-Free Gourmet. And it seems like they have quite a few items I might consider next time I’m at Raisin Rack.

Let’s talk about what goes into Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu, shall we? The ingredients are gluten-free lady fingers (made from rice flour, corn starch, rice extracts, tapioca dextrin, and xanthan gum) mascarpone cheese, whole eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, espresso, and cognac. Simple ingredients for sure. And I recognize each and every one of them. That’s a plus. Interestingly enough, this is a family owned and operated company that dedicates itself to gluten-free products with exceptional quality. They are certainly doing their job right. This was fantastic.

A serving size of the Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet Tiramisu is 1/2 of the container (or 4 ounces). A proper serving will provide you with 160 calories and 11 grams of fat. Yeah…it’s worth every gram. You will also be taking in 85 mg cholesterol, 30 mg sodium, and 9 grams of sugar. I’m impressed by the sugar count, as I thought it would be higher for such a decadent dessert. But…it’s actually in a decent range. Finally, you will be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 4 grams of protein.

Honestly, this was one very rich, moist, light, amazing dessert. I am beyond impressed with my introduction into the lineup of products from Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet. This more than solidifies the fact that I will pick up other items by their company and try them out next time. I’m already thinking dinner will be gluten-free mozzerella sticks. And pizza bites. Yep. Both. Because…why the hell not? Beyond enthusiastic. Beyond surprised. Just…totally blown away by this dessert. Add a bit more of that coffee flavor and it would be absolute tiramisu perfection.

Well done, Russo’s Gluten Free Gourmet. Well done!

July 28, 2014

Product Review: Domata Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix

Gluten Free Foccacia Bread made with Domata Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix

Product: Domata Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix – $7.99+

It’s no secret…I love pizza. Pizza, to me, is the perfect food. Honestly. Some people would probably disagree…but, I ignore them. Because every thing that is right and good in this world…can happen on a pizza. Pizza is a basic staple in my diet, especially the night before a big race. I just have found that if I eat pizza before a half marathon or marathon (or, hell, even the shorter distances), I seem to run better. I don’t know if it’s all just in my head, or if I have found that magic food that offers that perfect balance of protein, carbs, and fats that fuel my body on the long run.

Regardless…I love my pizza. I love to make pizza and order pizza. Around here, there are quite a few places in Louisville, Kentucky that offer gluten-free pizza. And I love them for that. On this side of the river, options are definitely more limited. Therefore, I usually end up making my own (on the best gluten-free pizza crust ever…from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe – here in Louisville, Kentucky) or purchasing a frozen one (usually Udi’s, Ian’s, Glutino, or even Daiya). That’s if I’m not planning on pizza that day. Otherwise, I normally will head to Annie May’s Sweet Café on Friday or Saturday (pizza day’s) or hit up one of the restaurants around the area that offer gluten-free pizza…but I have to feel safe eating there, and that narrows down the possibilities.

That being said, on a recent trip to Columbus, Ohio, I made a stop by the infamous natural food store I have come to love…Raisin Rack. In the aisle with various baking flours, I spotted this red and white box with bold black lettering. It really stuck out and, therefore, it drew my attention. It turned out to be the Pizza Crust Mix from Domata, a company owned by David and Julie Madison, who understand how difficult a gluten-free diet can be, and also believe in the importance of affordable gluten-free foods. They kept this in mind when they created their gluten-free flour mixes: Recipe Ready Flour, Pizza Crust Mix, and their Seasoned Flour. These flours are easy to work with too. The recipe ready is a cup-for-cup exchange on all recipes and the pizza crust mix…well…I’ll get into that. These products are made in a dedicated gluten-free and nut-free manufacturing facility, so there is no worries about cross contamination. And Domata does pride itself on using all natural ingredients with nothing artificial. I appreciate that too.

Ironically, I didn’t use this mix to make pizza crust. Not this time, anyway. This time, I used it to make the recipe for Gluten Free Foccacia Bread that is listed on the box. Because, I was in Columbus, Ohio, visiting my friend Jenn…and we were making pasta for dinner. Foccacia bread is a great side to have with gluten-free pasta…so that evening, after a busy day of shopping around town (and hitting up Raisin Rack for more goodies), she and I got busy in her kitchen, prepping this super-easy recipe for gluten-free foccacia.

The great thing about the Domata Gluten Free Pizza Drust Mix is that all you need to do is add water. It’s that simple. Put it in a mixer and blend the dough. It will be sticky. That’s why you turn it out onto a floured surface. Jenn and I skipped this step because…eh…we didn’t want to mess with it. So, using our oiled fingers, we spread the dough out in the baking pan and gave it a little brush of olive oil and seasoned it with the garlic powder and dried oregano that the recipe on the box suggests. Super simple. Into the oven it went to bake for 20 minutes. We started to prep the water to cook the gluten-free noodles in and got out the marinara sauce for the noodles and, of course, to mop up with the bread. When the noodles were in, the bread came out to get a dusting of Parmesan cheese…then it was back in the oven for another 5 minutes. The noodles finished up. They were drained and properly sauced (the Italian way), and dished up. The bread was set on the table to rip into (instead of slicing it into strips) as we wanted to get as much as we wanted. Dinner was served.

I have to say…I was very impressed with the quality and flavor of the Foccacia bread that we baked with the Domata Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix. It wasn’t too heavy or dense and it browned up beautifully. The herbs that we scattered throughout the dough and on top brought a nice pop of flavor. And the bread itself was airy and light, rather than the kind that feels heavy and sits like a lump in your stomach. The crispy outside gave way to a soft middle, which was bread perfection, if you ask me. I have enough of the mix left to do a pizza crust with and I think I might do that sometime this week or next…just to see how well it works in pizza crust form. But as a flour to make Gluten Free Foccacia bread…Domata totally wins. It was delicious!

When Domata exclaims that “life is hard enough, baking gluten free shouldn’t be”…they hit the nail on the head. This flour requires no time to rise. It’s straight from the mixer to the pan to the oven to the table to the plate to the stomach. It is fantastic and so easy!! We all (me…the Celiac, and my two non-gluten-free compatriots, Cathy (the roomie) and Jenn (the hostess with the mostest!)) agreed that it made a very tasty and highly acceptable loaf of gluten-free foccacia bread. Definitely impressed with the flavor, the lightness, and the texture. I’d purchase this again in a heartbeat. I mean, come on…you just add water!!!! It doesn’t get easier than that!

So, let’s talk ingredients for a moment. The Domata Gluten Free Pizza Dough Mix is a blend of rice flour, corn starch, tapioca dextrim, nonfat dry milk, whole egg, sugar, salt, xanthan gum, baking powder, soybean oil, and rice extract. It is gluten-free, nut-free, and kosher.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Domata Gluten Free Pizza Dough Mix is 1/4 cup. In this serving you will be taking in 150 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. This serving will also be giving you 30 mg cholesterol, 460 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not bad for a pizza crust or pan of foccacia bread, right? Especially when it’s gluten-free. Because so often the calories and fat go way, way, way up in gluten-free items such as this.

Impressive!

I am definitely more than willing to try the other two flours and purchase the Domata Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix again. Honestly. I was impressed with how easy it was to make the bread with and how delicious each bite turned out to be. If this holds true for their Seasoned Flour and their Recipe Ready Flour…you might just have me sold on it for life…simply for simplicity. HA!! But let’s not forget, it also bakes up into something amazing and totally delicious. I want to make more foccacia bread. I want to make pizza crust. I just want to bake it all and see how this flour fares against others I have used…including my current favorite.

Only time will tell…but this was a winning flour mix in my book!

July 20, 2014

Product Review: Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini

Product: Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini – $5.50+

That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Wow. But…it is one that is worth attempting to say (preferably with an Italian accent). Because what we honestly and truly have here is the finest, best, and closest-you’ll-ever-get-to-the-real-thing gluten-free pasta. I raved about Biaglut a long while back…a couple years ago, when I reviewed the Biaglut Maccheroncini (Elbows). I even had another one of their pasta offerings, but didn’t blog on it. I think I was overwhelmed with blogging and thought, “gluten-free pasta is pasta…what more can I say about it?”

I’m actually really sad that my thought process went that way. And here’s why…

Biaglut honestly is the best gluten-free pasta out on the market. It’s not easy to find. But if you do find it…or if you can order it online, I honestly encourage you do to so. It is amazing. It has the texture and taste of “real” pasta. Nobody would even suspect that it was gluten-free. That goes for all three varieties that I have now tried.

This latest round of gluten-free pasta a lá Biaglut was brought to me by the amazing Cuisine Cube. My June box contained this sack of amazing pasta. And since I’ve been out of town, I haven’t gotten to play around with my bin ingredients lately. But that changed. That changed last night when I decided to do up some pasta…but in a different way. I still have a pantry of various pastas to use…but the Biaglut was right there and I really wanted to attempt this one with a “spaghetti” type noodle. And since Cuisine Cube sent me some Bucatini in my box…I was ready to rock and roll!

My recipe involved very little. A Gluten-Free and Vegan Caprese Spaghetti, as it were. So, what I did was slice up two tomatoes and lay them on a baking sheet. I covered each slice with a slice of Teese vegan mozzarella cheese. Then, I put it in the oven for about 20 minutes, allowing the cheese to get melty and good. While that was baking…I got some water into a big pot and set it on the stove to bring to a boil. Once it was there, I put 4 ounces of the Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini into the water (a serving for both my roomie and myself) and let it begin to cook. The bag said it would take around 7-8 minutes to get to that perfect al dente. I gave it a stir every now and again, but just let the boiling water work it’s magic. And, wouldn’t you know it? Seven minutes later…the Bucatini was cooked perfectly. I drained it and began to assemble my pasta…

A serving of Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini (cooked)

Bucatini…a drizzle of olive oil, topped off with the slices of tomato with the melted vegan mozzarella, a sprinkle of fresh basil, and then a drizzle of a red wine reduction. Dinner was served.

So, bucatini gets their name from the Italian word, “buco,” or “hole.” It is similar in shape to spaghetti, but the hole allows water to enter as it boils, speeding up the cooking time and also making it ideal for slurping up your favorite sauce. Naturally, then, I make a pasta dish without a sauce. HA!

Let me tell you though, Biaglut knows what it’s doing. Honestly. This pasta had a great texture and amazing flavor. It worked so well with the slices of tomato, the vegan cheese, the fresh basil, and the red wine reduction. It just…came together in perfect harmony. The pasta was actually ideal, despite there not being a true sauce on this dish. It actually made me realize how much I missed eating spaghetti. Especially one that actually felt like I was eating spaghetti and not bits of spaghetti brown rice noodles that turned to mush despite not being overcooked. It was a very nice change and made for one of my favorite meals. Sometimes getting creative in the kitchen and having it come out perfectly means…having the right base for said dish. Biaglut was just that. And I am, once again, forever going to sing high praises for this product.

Biaglut products are made from the finest gluten-free ingredients with authentic Italian recipes. This company isn’t playing around. The Biaglut team has worked for years to perfect the recipes for their gluten-free products to have them taste like, if not better than, that of the comparable gluten containing products. They believe that gluten-free products shouldn’t mean sacrificing taste and flavor.

So, while on this subject…let’s take a look at what goes into the Giaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini, shall we? The ingredients include: cornstarch, potato flour, lupin flour, lupin proteins, and mono and diglycerides (emulsifier). Very few ingredients. And all of them, when put together, create the ideal gluten-free pasta. Just take my word on this one.

As for nutrition, a serving of Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini is 2 ounces. This serving provides 190 calories and 1 gram of fat. In addition, this serving gives you 15 mg sodium and less than 1 gram of sugar. This pasta is cholesterol free. You also get 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Biaglut, honestly, is top of the line when it comes to gluten-free pastas. If you can find these and/or order this brand, I highly encourage it. You’ll never find this pasta to turn to mush or fall apart. Biaglut’s quality is worth the price it takes to have this pasta in your pantry. You’ll never go back to other brands. I promise you that much.

Gluten-Free Caprese Spaghetti made with Biaglut Pasta Senza Glutine Bucatini

July 17, 2014

Product Review: Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac

Product: Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac – $5.29+

Okay…I know what you are thinking. How can a vegetarian possibly consume a product that is called “Cheeseburger Mac?” Well…there are a couple of different ways to go about it. Gluten-Free Soy Crumbles. Gluten-Free TVP. Or…the way I handled it…adding Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Soy Chorizo.

Because when you have to make a vegetarian version of a Cheeseburger Mac…you might as well do it up with something spicy and different. Right? RIGHT!

So…here’s the story. Recently, a bunch of items went on closeout at a local grocery store. I’d been meaning to try some of the Mrs. Leeper’s products, but just never found a reason to pay for them. While not overly priced as far as gluten-free products go…all need to have some sort of meat added to them. Originally, I imagined I could just cook up some tofu and substitute it for the lean beef in this recipe.

But…being that I’m on a tight and strict food budget these days…I had to go with something in house. Something I already had. And in my refrigerator, calling to me from my shelf…was Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Soy Chorizo (IT’S BACK!). BINGO! Not that I needed to use this product up just yet…but two weeks in a row without my CSA bin has left me sifting and sorting through things in my pantry and freezer. And I figured there was no time like the present to make this one up. Especially since I had a substitute for the meat already in my apartment.

After another long, stressful, and busy day at the office, I was quite happy with coming home to cook this up. Why? Because it literally takes 15 minutes to make. That’s it. Super easy…and not finicky. You don’t need to stand over it the entire time it’s cooking. So, I was able to get a few other things accomplished while it worked away on the stove. Brilliant.

Making Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger (or Soy Chorizo, in my case) Mac is super easy. First…add your protein. Whether it’s a lean meat, tofu, tvp, soy crumbles, or soy chorizo (if you like a little spice!)…get that working in a pan. I got out a skillet and heated up the soy chorizo for a couple of minutes, then poured in 1-1/2 cups of hot water and 1-3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk. The sauce packet was then poured in and all I had to do was stir it all together and let it come back up to a boil. Once that happened, I poured in the pasta and gave it another stir. I reduced the heat, covered it and let it simmer for 13 minutes, stirring occasionally. The pasta actually did tenderize really quickly, so I was actually very impressed. Once the pasta reached that perfect al dente…I removed the skillet from the heat, uncovered it, and let it sit for around 2 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

Dinner was ready.

I dished this meal up into 4 portions, two for tonight for my roomie and myself and two for tomorrow (hey…dinner’s already prepared…just needs to be reheated!). And we settled in for our meal while watching Chopped. Because…that’s how we roll.

One bite…and I was blown away. What great flavors. It’s like the best, warming, delicious comfort food. The rice pasta cooked up beautifully, not getting mushy and falling apart, but standing up to, not only the chorizo, but also the sauce. I loved the heat that the soy chorizo brought to the dish. The textures were perfect. And the flavors just all worked together. I loved that I was able to lighten it up using unsweetened almond milk. This does have some dairy in it…but I cut it where I could. I found this dish to be a throwback to a German dish a babysitter made for me when I was younger. It was fantastic. And I found myself savoring each forkful. I’m excited I get to eat it again tomorrow.

Let’s talk ingredients, shall we? Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac is made from brown rice pasta. The sauce is made with whey, modified corn starch, tomato powder, nonfat dry milk, onion powder, sugar, salt, rice flour, autolyzed yeast, natural butter flavor, natural flavor, garlic powder, citric acid, extractives of turmeric and annatto, paprika, caramel color, and not more than 2% silicon dioxide added to prevent caking. So…not great…but not bad either.

Let’s talk nutrition. A serving of Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac is 1 cup prepared. As packaged, without adding your protein, and your milk of choice, this serving provides you with 170 calories and 0.5 grams of fat. A serving will also give you 480 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. It is cholesterol free. And, in addition, you will be getting 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. It’s filling without being overly filling. And once you add in all your milk and proteins of choice…that all changes.

Oh…I was really surprised and quite impressed with Mrs. Leeper’s Gluten Free Cheeseburger Mac. I modified it as much as I could to fit my diet and really loved how it turned out in the end. Really delicious…a hint of spice…great texture. And a happy belly when all was said and done. Now, I can’t wait to try more of the Mrs. Leeper’s boxed meals for something quick and easy to prepare. And it’s so adaptable. This would be good even without the protein. And I may have to try one of them like that. Or return to this one and see how it compares. As it is…the Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Soy Chorizo was a great fit for the protein. The zesty cheese sauce played beautifully with it. I was so happy with my dinner tonight, which, after my rough day at the office…was just what I needed. Beyond impressed.

July 12, 2014

Restaurant Review: Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria, Troy, Michigan

Restaurant: Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria, Troy, Michigan

Welcome to Michigan. My roommate and I ventured up this way this after my long run this morning because Queen (yes…that Queen) is performing in Detroit this evening. And as her birthday present, Cathy had two tickets to the show. So…here we are. Ready to rock and roll.

But not before we got eats.

My friend, Kelsie, is from Detroit and sent me some options for food and places to check out while here in the area. I love her for this and all her help. And, for some reason, even though I had pizza on Thursday night…I felt pizza had to be done again. Why? I don’t know…I love pizza. I really, really do. BUT…neither Cathy nor I had eaten since we left Louisville (thank you Go Picnic), and we were hungry. And my Find Me Gluten Free app directed us to a dedicated pizzeria in Troy, Michigan…which happened to be on our way to Auburn Hills.

Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria is located in a little strip mall area. They are a dedicated gluten-free and nut-free establishment. Their windows declare a simple sentiment, that is echoed on their menu as well: “I Can’t Believe It’s Gluten Free!”

Cathy and I stepped inside and we were greeted by Alexis, a 20-something waitress with amazing blue and purple hair. I complimented her on her hair…and mentioned how when I dyed my hair purple, it washed out in 2 days. She gave me tips for next time I go for a wild color…so, now I know…and knowing is half the battle. We chatted a bit, about our trip up here…about gluten-free places…about Kentucky…it was fun. She went to get our drink orders (I got an unsweetened iced tea and Cathy went with a Diet Coke…because caffeine is good before a show…especially when you’ve been up before the ass crack of dawn (because…that’s when all runners get up).

She let us browse the menu and when she returned with drinks, Cathy inquired about the size of the calzones. Because…honestly…who does gluten-free calzones? Alexis said the calzones were small, so not big enough to split. So, Cathy and I decided to each get one. And we each built our own. Cathy went with a calzone stuffed with mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, spinach, tomatoes, and portobello mushrooms ($8.99) inside hers.

As for me…my calzone was going to be stuffed with Teese (vegan cheese of AWESOME!), banana peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach ($11.99 [$8.99 + $3.00 for vegan cheese]). I was sort of back and forth on whether to do banana peppers or artichoke hearts…but I never get banana peppers on anything like pizza or something since Cathy is that picky. So…I went with that. She will do artichoke hearts. And that was the deciding factor.

Order in.

We were watching the World Cup pregame on ESPN for the Brazil v. Netherlands match when Alexis returned to the table and said the pizza chef was new and he…kinda made the calzones larger than usual. Like…by a lot. Not the small, individual size she described originally. Well…what do you do?

Well, she wasn’t kidding. Cathy caught sight of them as they were going in to cook and went, “Holy cow!” HAHA!! Well…we figured that we’d eat what we could and take the rest with us to the hotel and place it in the refrigerator. No biggie. We did get to hear the chefs discuss how they were going to tell the vegan calzone from the regular one with cheese, and finally they realized that Cathy’s would have the Parmesan cheese on top of hers. Brilliant.

And soon…the gluten-free calzones were making their way to the table.

Renee's Gourmet Pizzeria's Gluten-Free & Vegan Calzone (made with Teese, portobello mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, and banana peppers) — Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria’s Gluten-Free & Vegan Calzone (made with Teese, portobello mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, and banana peppers)

Yeah…huge was right. But the crust was not thick. In fact, it was a nice, light, and thin crust. I love that because with calzones it should be all about the fillings, not the crust. I only require a nice, crisp crust. Don’t give me a soggy calzone. They didn’t. This crust was beautifully crisp and golden on the bottom. The top remained crispy and I, being quite hungry, took my pictures for the blog and then dove in.

First of all…I have missed being able to eat calzones. And part of the magic from this was it was my first taste of something that I hadn’t had in more than three years…nor can have…anywhere. That’s why I went calzone instead of pizza. I can get amazing gluten-free pizza in Louisville…and, if I’m lucky, elsewhere as well. This…I’d never seen gluten-free calzones before. And let me tell you…I fell in love with this calzone. As I said, the crust was nice and thin, so it wasn’t heavy or too filling too fast. I love that about gluten-free pizzas as well. And inside, the Teese vegan cheese melted gorgeously and didn’t taste like plastic (as Daiya sometimes can…). The vegetables were so amazing. Seriously amazing. The mushrooms were cooked to perfection, the spinach wilted beautifully, the tomatoes were ripe and sweet, and the banana peppers…adding that little bit of acidity that just punched up the flavor. It came with a bit of marinara for dipping. The marinara…nice touch. Packed with flavor and seasoned to perfection. I was beyond impressed. So impressed that both Cathy and I ended up eating our calzones in their entirety. I have a feeling we won’t need food again until tomorrow morning.

Another reason for that…we got dessert.

Yep. You gotta treat yourself every now and again and since the calzones were actually light…we had the room. And I, being the observant one I am, realized they had a few dessert options…like cookies and a cake roll…and the option we went with…cinnamon sticks.

Gluten. Free. Cinnamon. Sticks.

You know how much I love cinnamon, yes? Of course you do. So, when I saw they had gluten-free cinnamon sticks ($5.99), I knew I needed to consume them. I wanted to consume them. So…order in. And after a short weight while they made them up for us (loving that freshness with each order), they were brought out to the table. And I think I began drooling immediately. They looked fantastic. I picked one up and broke off the end, dipping it into the icing that came with it…and took a bite.

HELLO!! Cathy described it as “really tasty fair food that is actually good!” I describe it as…donuts taken to the nth degree. This was one party in my mouth. The sweet heat from the cinnamon and sugar with the light doughy sticks that were fried to perfection. Honestly. They had that nice crispy outside but were all soft and hot and steamy in the center. The icing was a nice, cooling, sweet addition. It was no joke how fast these disappeared. I fell in love. One bite…lead to me devouring 3 of the 6 sticks in the order.

Happy place! This is a happy place. The service was fantastic. The atmosphere is very much “strip mall establishment” but…when you serve up that kind of food…it doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter anyway. The chefs did a fantastic job getting our order done right and to perfection. The food was fantastic. The company of the staff, who were discussing Queen, World Cup, and the food with us…was like being among friends. And we left with happy, very full tummies.

I regret nothing!

If you find yourself driving through Troy, Michigan…make a point to stop in at Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria. You, honestly, won’t believe that everything there is gluten-free. The food is, honestly, outstanding. I hope this little pizzeria is along for a very long time. Next time, should I ever be this way again…I’ll actually order a pizza. And those cinnamon sticks again!

Renee's Gourmet Pizzeria's Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sticks — Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sticks

July 8, 2014

Product Review: Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettucine

Product: Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine – $3.49+

Ah…my dear Cuisine Cube. You’ve brought so much understanding and…great products into my life. And I’ve only been subscribing to you for three months now (my July cube should arrive tomorrow or Thursday, I believe!). While sometimes I receive products I have heard of or tried, there are other times I get products that I’ve looked at…wondered if it was worth trying…and put back on the shelf at the grocery store, either out of fear that I’ll waste my money…or out of not being able to expand the budget.

That was the case with Miracle Noodle. We have these in our local stores. I’ve spotted them at Meijer and at Whole Foods. I’ve probably spotted them a few other places as well. But…I never bought them. Why not? They were really no different than the Shirataki Noodles I used to buy and prepare. And, it took a couple of tries for me to get used to the texture…but they weren’t…awful. They weren’t bad. And once I got the hang of how to cook them…they weren’t a bad substitute.

Not one bit.

But I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t make myself purchase the little water and noodle-filled bags on the shelf at my grocery stores. I just…couldn’t.

But Cuisine Cube changed all of that.

I initially had other plans for dinner tonight, but then I found a recipe for corn tacos…which I need some ingredients for in order to fix…so it was time for another plan. I recalled my May Cuisine Cube had the Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine noodles in it, and they were currently taking up residence in my pantry. This would be a great time to break them out…especially since I had some marinara sauce in the fridge and some vegan and gluten-free garlic bread (from my local bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café) in the freezer. Dinner was saved.

Shiratake Pasta (Miracle Noodle) is made from the root of a plant called the konnyaku imo and is known for its health benefits for 2000 years in China and Japan. Shirataki is made from the soluble fiber of the plant and is remarkably low in calories. Like…for real! And, these noodles will absorb the flavor of any sauce or dish that you add them to. They are little noodle-y ninjas.

Miracle Noodle Garlic & Herb Fettuccine (drained and rinsed)

So, I immediately got the bread in the oven and while it was baking for 20 minutes, I got to work on the noodles. The Miracle Noodles are encased in a plastic sack that is filled with water. I cut it open and poured the noodles into a strainer. They smelled horrible. Fish-like. I remembered that from the Shirataki Noodles…but I had forgotten how pungent that scent initially was. But, it goes away. The noodles were given a 15-20 second bath under cold water and then placed into a pot of boiling water, simply to blanch them…only for a minute. Then, drain them again and place on paper towels, removing as much water as humanly possible. From here…you place them in a pan, heat them until they are dry, and then add them to your dish. In this case…the marinara sauce I had working on the stove top. Heat through…and serve.

Easy.

And…much to my genuine surprise…these were really good. One of my biggest obstacles with the Shiratake Noodles was the texture. Just rubbery and gummy and just…not pasta-like. I didn’t get that texture with Miracle Noodle. Not at all. I loved the texture of these noodles. They almost had that fresh pasta bite to them. Almost. And the flavor was amazing. This was the Garlic and Herb variety and it brought great flavor to the dish itself. No need to add any spices to the dish…these noodles did it for you. They tasted really good. To the point where I said I wanted to purchase them again…because I wanted to! Go figure! Never saw that one coming. I love pleasant surprises like that.

So, let’s first talk ingredients. The Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine are made from purified water, konnyaku, garlic and herb mix, and calcium hydroxide. So…not completely free of “chemical” sounding things, but not bad either. Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine is soy free, gluten free and cholesterol free.

Impressed? Wait until you read these nutrition facts! The Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine contains two servings in each pouch. Each serving contains 15 calories and are fat-free. They have no cholesterol, as mentioned above, contain 5 mg sodium, and contain no sugar. These noodles have only 3 grams of carbs per serving. And they have 2 grams of fiber and no protein. So, they won’t fill you up, but they are a great low-calorie substitute for pasta. Guilt-free pasta!! That’s what I’m talking about. I’m a carb fiend…so sometimes a low-carb options is good to institute into my food regimen.

I was really set to dislike Miracle Noodle…but these were really amazing. The Garlic and Herb flavor of the noodles was a nice match to the plain marinara. The texture was perfect. And dinner was a low-carb, low calorie, delicious meal in the end. Beyond impressed and ready to add Miracle Noodle to more dishes in the future.

Thank you, again, Cuisine Cube.

Oh…and if you haven’t checked out Cuisine Cube yet…click here. You might want to subscribe yourself!

Miracle Noodle Garlic and Herb Fettuccine (with marinara)