Products – Page 25 – The Celiathlete

September 2, 2014

Product Review: BeeFree Gluten Free Lemon Loaf

Product: BeeFree Gluten Free Lemon Loaf – $3.00

It was two weekends ago that I was walking around the Indiana State Fairgrounds at the Living Without Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest. I had such a great time going up to the various booths, some from big name and well-known gluten-free companies and corporations. And then…some of the booths belonged to local businesses…bakeries and sauce makers and the like. It was an amazing variety and a great time. I had a blast talking to the various vendors, from local and nationally acclaimed businesses and finding out more about their products and/or company.

One booth that I dropped by was BeeFree Gluten Free Bakery, based out of Noblesville, Indiana. The bakery is owned and operated by Jennifer Wiese, the mother of four teenage boys, the eldest of which is on the autism spectrum. She attended an autism conference a few years ago where she learned about the benefits of a gluten-free and casein free diet in helping to alleviate some of the behavioral issues associated with autism. With a limited amount of good gluten-free and casein free food in Nobelsville, and an 8-year-old with limited patience for being asked to give up some of his favorite foods, Weise decided to get creative. With the assistance of her mother, they eventually were able to put together a winning combination of rice, tapioca, coconut, and potato flours, with corn starch, as a base for her baking.

In the end, the diet had positive effects on her son. And Weise wanted her son to be able to eat at social events, often meaning she had to bake a cake or pizza to be offered alongside the glutinous one that everyone else was eating. When people started complimenting Weise on how good her creations were, she began to get asked to bake for their parties.

With the demand there, Weise decided that starting a business was the next step. So, in 2010, BeeFree Gluten Free Bakery opened. Weise rented out kitchen space in a restaurant after hours and would start baking. After a year, she realized she couldn’t keep up with her orders and grow the business like she wanted to, so she rented a bakery and started producing her baked creations on a larger scale. This meant she could do her baking in the morning while the equipment was freshly sanitized and there wasn’t any wheat flour wafting around the air.

Today, Weise’s entire family has gone gluten-free. Now that Weise has more time freed up for working on business, she is interested in getting BeeFree Gluten Free Bakery carried more widely across the region and expanding her line. She recently even developed a cereal for people on the Paleo Diet, which tends to avoid grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar and processed oils.

So…here the bakery was, participating in a huge gluten-free expo. As I strolled up to the table, they were offering samples of their Warrior Mix (which is a cereal). But, for sale, I noticed one lonely loaf on the table…and it caught my attention for one reason – it was LEMON!

I love, love, LOVE lemon flavored things. And so does my roommate. Which, I immediately pointed the loaf out to Cathy and she nodded her head. I spoke to the guy behind the counter and said that I’d love to take the Lemon Loaf off their hands. He picked it up and informed me it was the last one they had. WOOT! Good timing. Cathy passed over the $3.00 they were asking and we walked away with something lemon and delicious looking.

Upon returning home from our day in Indianapolis, Cathy and I sorted out our stash of free goodies and the items we bought, including ones that needed to be refrigerated. The BeeFree Gluten Free Lemon Loaf went into the refrigerator. I had every intention of busting into it before today…but we were working hard on polishing off the banana bread I had prepared from the mix I reviewed a couple of weeks ago. And then…we were heading out of town, and taking my own gluten-free zucchini bread loaves with me to my parents home. So…with all of that finally gone…this morning’s after-gym breakfast had to be simple…and I had nothing. NOTHING. Until I recalled…the BeeFree Gluten Free Lemon Loaf. Breakfast…was served.

That morning, before we left for the gym, I pulled out the Lemon Loaf and opened it up. The serving size was 1/4 of the loaf, so I cut it in half, then cut that half in half…so that my roommate and I each had a serving. I immediately noted the gorgeous lemon yellow color of the loaf. However, I was a bit uncertain about the white layer of thick icing on the top. I’m not big on frosting or icing…and the sheer amount of it was a bit…overwhelming. But…I placed the slices into a container and we were off to face the cardio machines.

After going to the gym this morning, we hiked over to the office and I removed the two slices (or half of the loaf) from the cooler I bring on gym mornings. I placed each slice on a plate and gave it a small warming (about 15 seconds) in the microwave before handing off one slice to Cathy and settling in at my desk with the other.

I cut through the top part, getting the huge chunk of icing with a little bit of the loaf. I took a taste…and aside from the sweetness of the lemon-flavored icing…the loaf itself was moist, rich, sweet, sour, and just plain…delicious! Yes…delicious. I ended up breaking the icing away and cutting it up so that I could get smaller bits of it with each bite instead of having it just sitting on top. Because…there was a lot of it. By breaking it up like that, it definitely gave the loaf more depth as I got a bit of icing with a bit of bread with each bite. Otherwise, I’d just get the icing and it was far too sugary sweet for a breakfast. More like a dessert. Maybe that’s what this was meant for. Dessert for breakfast…it happens. But…with the volume of icing, it was best eaten this way. Trust me.

I was rather impressed with the texture, taste, density, and flavor that came in the BeeFree Gluten Free Lemon Loaf. It was light, and airy, not dense and heavy. Like I said, my only complaint is that the ratio of loaf to icing was…way off, in my opinion. It was a little overwhelming with that thick layer of icing on top, but I made it work. Truth is, the loaf would have been just as delicious even without the icing. And probably would make it feel like less of a dessert too. But, to each their own, and this is truly just a personal preference.

The BeeFree Gluten Free Lemon Loaf is made from sugar, organic enriched rice milk, corn oil, eggs, white rice flour, tapioca flour, corn starch, organic lemon juice, organic lemon peel, coconut flour, potato flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, and sea salt.

As for nutrition, a serving of the the BeeFree Gluten Free Lemon Loaf is 1/4 of the loaf. In this serving, you will be consuming 250 calories and 11 grams of fat. You will also be consuming 125 mg sodium and 22 grams of sugar. And finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. It isn’t filling…but it is one sweet treat in the morning.

I love supporting a local business, so I was excited to tear into my BeeFree Gluten Free Lemon Loaf this morning. Fantastic flavor and just the right amount of lemon. For my own tastes, I find the amount of icing a bit of overkill, but it does add great flavor to the loaf. I was one happy lemon lover this morning. And this loaf gets another eating on Thursday. Already anticipating.

August 26, 2014

Product Review: Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

Product: Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread – $4.99+

For all those different gluten-free bread needs, I often turn Schär. Not only has Schär put out a variety of bread products on the market, they make sure that the products that they do put out are up to their high standards. This is why when I need sandwich rolls or ciabatta or even baguettes…I head to the gluten-free bread section and pull one of these products off the shelf. Yes. Not frozen. I get so tired of having to thaw out my bread…but without preservatives and the like, gluten-free products don’t keep for long if they aren’t refrigerated.

Schär specializes in the development and production of foods for people with special dietary needs, with a goal of becoming a leader in that field. They have very much established themselves as a leader in the gluten-free foods out on the market. They are certainly one brand that I never hesitate to purchase, even if I’ve never tried the product. And since Schär guarantees the highest safety standards in the manufacturing of their products, you can rest assured that you won’t have any contamination from their products. They aim to produce quality and delicious products that ensure the consumer a balanced nutrition and quality of life through their restrictive diet.

In the past, I have often used Schär Gluten Free Baguettes, Ciabatta Rolls, Sandwich Rolls, Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, Table Crackers, and even some of their sweets, like their Chocolate Hazelnut Bars.

So, when my roomie and I spotted a loaf of the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread at Wal-Mart on sale, we couldn’t pass up that deal. So…we purchased it. And I was already coming up with ideas for sandwiches and the like. I was excited to try it. Honestly. I had my usual brand (Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain Bread) already open, so I didn’t immediately break into my loaf from Schär. Until last night.

You see, last night the Series 8 premier of Doctor Who was playing at my local movie theater. I wanted to keep dinner light and easy so we could get out the door and get to the theater in time. So, I opted to make one of my vegan gluten-free grilled cheese sandwiches. Yummy. I try to enhance the sandwich by adding items to it. No time to get really creative, so I sliced up the rest of a tomato and added it to the sandwiches. I spread Earth Balance onto the slices of bread, put the cheese and tomato on and placed it in the skillet to toast.

The first thing I noticed about the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread was that the slices are very small. If you are familiar with Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread…then think about slices about that size. I’ve grown used to this when I branch away from my standard bread…so…I won’t hold it against Schär. It toasted up nicely on my skillet and the vegan cheese melted as well as vegan cheese can melt. Once each side was toasted, I served up one sandwich to my roommate and one for myself.

Gluten-Free and Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich using Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread

She took the first bite and I asked her what she thought of the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread. She said it was “pretty good.” I think she did actually like it, but prefers our usual Rudi’s brand when it comes to sandwich bread. And…I agree. However, that’s not saying that the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread isn’t good. It is. In fact, one aspect of it that I did quite enjoy was the wholesome flavor that came with each bite. It almost reminded me of wheat bread, back when I could eat it. I don’t think my sandwich was the best vehicle to test this bread out on, however.

So, tonight…I gave it another test run. And this time, I used it as a base for a Gluten Free Avocado Bruschetta with a Green Sauce (which I made from kale, fresh basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and some salt and pepper). Oh…oh…this was a game changer. I toasted the bread, dry, in the oven for about 10 minutes. It came out a gorgeous golden color…not burned or charred on any of the edges. Perfect. I put the Green Sauce on the bread then topped it off with the chopped avocado. My first bite…and…oh…oh yes! YES!! This was brilliant. This was what that bread was made for. And it turned out the smaller size was perfect for the amount of topping and chopped avocado that I had. Each bite had every flavor and the savoriness of the bread just elevated this dish even higher.

It was the more complex dish that truly won me over with the Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread.

So, let’s talk ingredients, shall we? A loaf of Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread is made from water, corn starch, rice flour, rice starch, soy flakes, potato starch, buckwheat flour, soy bran, rice syrup, soy protein, palm oil, psyllium seed husk (vegetable fiber), millet flakes, yeast, beet sugar syrup, sugar, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (emulsifier), apple extract, salt, calcium citrate, citric acid, tartaric acid, folic acid. This loaf of bread is gluten-free, wheat free, lactose free, dairy free and egg free. It is also cholesterol free.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving of Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread is 1 slice of bread. One slice of bread provides you with 80 calories and 1 gram of fat. In addition, you will be consuming 125 mg sodium and less than 1 gram of sugar. Love those stats. Finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. The bread won’t leave you feeling full…but it won’t make you feel like you hardly ate either.

So, while it wasn’t exactly love at first bite with Schär Gluten Free Multigrain Bread, I came around. It just took a second tasting to really value the texture, flavor, and overall feel of this bread. Yes, the slices are small, and yes…it can be tough without some toasting or warming…but in the end…a definite quality product I would be proud to purchase again!

Gluten Free Avocado Bruschetta with Green Sauce using Schär Gluten Free Multigrain 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 21, 2014

Product Review: Breads From Anna Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix

Product: Breads From Anna Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix – $7.49+

I don’t remember where I first heard about Breads From Anna bread mixes…but I discovered it one day at work. I remember messaging my friend, Jenn, on Twitter because the store locator showed that her local natural foods store, The Raisin Rack, carried these mixes. She said that the next time she made it over there, she’d check.

Well, it just so happened that the next time she was over there…I happened to be with her. And my roommate happened to be in a generous mood as far as the food budget, because she handed me a basket and told me to fill it up!

I did. And, lo and behold, in one of the aisles with a bunch of gluten-free baking mixes…I found Breads From Anna bread mixes. Lots and lots of them. The hard part was finally choosing which one to try first. While I love pumpkin bread…in the end I went with the Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix.

Normally I make my own bread, but I have never, ever had a gluten-free banana bread come out right. I figured it was time to call in some help in the form of a mix. When in doubt…try the experts. How did I know that Anna would be an expert? I didn’t. But I had heard things. Good things. And as a celiac and type 1 diabetic, she wanted to make bread that tastes like bread (not cardboard), and as a trained chef, she was able to put her skills to the test and created safe, allergen-free products that would have superb flavor, texture, and taste. When her non-celiac brother first tried her bread…he said it tasted like bread. That was all she needed. Breads From Anna grew from there.

Regardless of what I heard and the creator’s promise on the side of the box…with me…it just has to be baked and tested. Making the batter was easy. After preheating the oven and greasing one bread loaf pan, I mixed together the eggs, the oil, and the 3 bananas, which I had pureed in the food processor. In went the bread mix, and once that was well blended, I went ahead and folded in the optional chopped nuts. Because banana bread plays nicely with nuts. Into the loaf pan and then into the oven for one hour.

Yes. One hour. One hour of sheer torture because after about 20 minutes, you get that amazing banana bread smell wafting out of the kitchen. I was literally doing my hand weight routine and trying really heard not to drool. The aroma was beyond enticing. I peaked into the oven about halfway through and the loaf had risen and puffed up gorgeously and was turning this fantastic golden color. I wasn’t sure it needed the remaining 30 minutes, but kept it in the oven regardless…hoping for the best this time around. When the timer went off, I pulled it from the oven and set it on a cooling rack to now cool in the pan for an hour.

Sweet torture!

But…well worth the wait. After an hour…to the exact moment, I made my way back into the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and you better believe I carved a slice out of it. My roommate, who is non-celiac and a bread connoisseur, was my ultimate test. I handed her a slice of the still warm gluten-free banana bread and waited for her to take a bite. She absolutely loved it. My turn.

Moist. Light. Definitely delivering on the flavor, the texture, and the overall feel of banana bread. This bread isn’t heavy and dense. It isn’t overly banana. It’s moist, but without being wet. It’s perfection. Honest to goodness bread goodness. I wish I could claim I made this from scratch. This loaf of bread puffed up to this gorgeous loaf with a nice golden outer crust. Inside, you get this fantastic banana and walnut flavor. And this loaf does bake up big. Like…better than any other bread I have made, whether from scratch or from a mix. Never before has it turned out like this one did. I’m hooked. I want to buy all the Breads From Anna Mixes and just get into that kitchen and test them all out.

Totally worth it.

So, down to the science of things. The Breads From Anna Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix is made from powdered honey, tapioca starch, arrowroot, millet four, potato starch, chia flour, chickpea flour, pinto bean flour, navy bean flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, xanthan gum, and sea salt. This bread mix is gluten-free, yeast-free, corn-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free and rice-free. For a bread that is yeast free…it sure did rise up beautifully. This mix is also kosher parve and non-GMO.

Nutritionally speaking, the Breads From Anna Gluten Free Banana Bread Mix contains 14 servings. One serving of the mix on its own is 80 calories. The mix is fat free and cholesterol free. Just the dry ingredients alone, you will be taking in 270 mg sodium and 9 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

I. AM. IN. LOVE.

With a bread mix. Thank you, Anna Sobaski…for creating this fantastic mix to make gluten-free baking, which is an art and science all itself, easy for someone like me. This bread is one of the best I have ever cooked up in my kitchen. I am happily, happily noshing away on this delicious loaf. And with all the flavor, texture and taste of “real” banana bread…no one would have a clue that they were eating gluten-free.

Thank you.

August 19, 2014

Product Review: Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn

Product: Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn – $2.25+

Popcorn.

When done right, popcorn can be one of the healthiest snacks out there. I gave up microwave popcorn ages ago (for the most part…sometimes…it’s the only option), and have been using the hell out of my air popper.

Truly, it is almost a nightly tradition to enjoy some air popped popcorn, seasoned with herbs and a little drizzle of olive oil (healthy fat that is also a belly flattener). Usually enjoyed while watching a Gordon Ramsay show or Torchwood or Dr. Who or…American Ninja Warrior! Something. I don’t watch much TV…but I usually unwind at the end of a long day with some sort of television show on Netflix or Hulu.

And I grew up feasting on popcorn while watching a movie at home or winding down at night. And every Sunday…it was my family’s dinner. Honestly. Popcorn has always been a favorite food in my family…and I carry that tradition with me today.

I was actually really excited when my July Cuisine Cube arrived and I pulled this bag of popcorn from the box. For one thing…the words popcorn were enough to entice me. But toss the word “lemon” in front of it…and you have a really happy girl. Lemon is one of my favorite seasonings and often do a lemon pepper popcorn at home as one of my seasonings. This…had it done for me.

The item I received was a bag of LIttle Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn. Little Lad’s is a small family restaurant in Portland, Maine. Their mission was to create a place where people could bring their families and friends and enjoy a restaurant quality meal that focuses on bold flavors and high nutrition. One of the creations that this restaurant created was an herbal popcorn that their customers raved about and couldn’t get enough of. This was no dull popcorn either. And the Lemon Herbal Popcorn version is one take on this popular product.

Little Lad’s Herbal Popcorn is made from organic lemon and fresh herbs. Yes. Organic and fresh. Bet you didn’t see that coming. This variety of popcorn doesn’t use any animal products and is gluten-free. And, the Lemon Herbal Popcorn is made with whole grains! According to the package, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this popcorn goes towards health education in Africa.

Like I said, I usually air pop popcorn at night, but last night, I was feeling lazy. Master Chef was on and, for once, I didn’t want to drown it out with my air popper. So, I went to my pantry and pulled out the Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn, pouring it into two bowls and giving one to my roommate while I settled in with the other one to watch the show.

Here’s the deal…packaged popcorn is either going to be amazing or fall flat. I knew the moment I opened the Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn bag that it smelled fantastic. That was a good start. I popped one of the popped kernels into my mouth…and it was settled. This popcorn definitely fell into the good side of packaged popcorn. In fact, what it reminded me of was day-old movie theater popcorn (movie theater popcorn tastes the best a day later, seriously!) with lemon flavoring. Seriously. You may not think that sounds appetizing, but, honestly, it does. The balance of lemon flavor and savory herbs is perfection. You get this great sweet and sour take on the seasoning, which plays well on the palate. And the lemon doesn’t take over and completely overpower the product. There is never too much lemon and too little to counterbalance it. And that is a difficult balance to find. One that I’m still working on when I make my lemon pepper popcorn at home. So, I was quite content snacking on Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn last night. It was refreshing and delicious.

So, how wholesome and nutritious is Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn? You know I was going to get to that.

Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn is made from non-GMO popcorn, organic evaporated cane juice, organic lemon, herbs and spices, non-GMO soybean oil, and sea salt. This popcorn is gluten-free, cholesterol free, and vegan.

As far as nutrition goes…it’s pretty outstanding. A serving of Little Lad’s Lemon Herbal Popcorn is 30 grams (or half of the 2 ounce package). This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 7 grams of fat. A serving will give you 45 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. And, you will be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Not bad for a snack last night, right? That’s right. I’ll never stray from my air popped popcorn, but having this option last night was a delicious, easy treat. Thank you, again, Cuisine Cube, for your continued success in bringing me products I had never hard of before…would probably never hear of without these deliveries…and that actually taste amazing. Another winner from my monthly selection.

August 18, 2014

Product Review: Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies – $6.50+

Oh…dear!! My cookie noshing habits had been tame as of late. An occasional splurge here and there…but I was getting it under control. Because, as a cookie monster, any gluten-free cookie with me is fair game. I absolutely love cookies. They are just…the perfect dessert. So many varieties…crunchy, chewy, crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, made with chips, candy, stuffed, topped, iced…so many ways to make a cookie. You can let your imagination run wild…and let your taste buds and stomach profit from it.

Mmmm…cookies.

So, imagine my face when I pulled the bright, hot pink box of one of my favorite gluten-free cookie producers out of the August Cuisine Cube and read what had just arrived. Liz Lovely Cookies??! Hell yes!! Happy dance!! But wait…what’s this? Crunchy cookies? Liz Lovely is doing CRUNCHY cookies now?

Um…that’s…fantastic.

So, for those of you who are unfamiliar with Liz Lovely, they were one of the first gluten-free cookies that didn’t remind me that I was eating a gluten-free cookie. Big, chewy…a serving being only half the cookie…I could get them at my local natural food store and would purchase a new flavor each time until I worked my way through them all. It was hard to stick to that actual serving size…but I behaved. But…Liz Lovely was known for those chewy, big cookies. So this…this was new.

Turns out, for years now, Liz had so many consumers and people inquire about small snack cookies…to which she always replied that those sorts of cookies weren’t what they did. But it seems it all fell into place one night…and out of it came a new product…a new line of gluten-free crunchy cookies from the fantastic Liz Lovely.

These are currently out in four different flavors: chocolate chip, double chocolate, oatmeal raisin, and ginger snap.

The bright pink box declared that the cookies that Cuisine Cube sent into my life were…Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies.

Mmmm…chocolate.

Mmmm…cookies!

Okay, so normally it takes me the entire month to work through the Cuisine Cube that I receive, but this cube has been a bit of an anomaly. For one thing, one product I had to place in the break room at work…the Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Jerky. This vegetarian can’t and won’t even eat that. But, the boys at work have been enjoying it. So, there we go. And then, last night, I went ahead and plowed through three products. Yes…three!

And after I used the first two for dinner…it was time for dessert.

And I happily pulled open the box of Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies. They smelled…amazing. They were these thin little rounds, about the 2 inches in diameter, if I were guessing (and I am). Small, thin…and yes…crunchy. Nothing I have ever associated with Liz Lovely. So…I was beyond intrigued as to how I would like these. As I have stated before, I am more of a soft cookie lover than a crispy cookie lover…but I do love cookies regardless and don’t hold the softness or crispiness factor against any cookie.

I removed four cookies, passing off two to my roommate and snagging two for me. Yes…this time you get two full cookies…not just half of one. YAY! I settled in for my dessert and took a bite.

WOW! First of all, I believe that these cookies completely encapsulate the best part of something like a pan of brownies. These cookies taste just like that crispy edge of the brownies that bakes along the pan. That is one of my favorite parts of a brownie and these cookies mimic it both in crunch, texture, and flavor. I might have drooled upon taking my first bite. These have a nice, rich, chocolate flavor…bold and decadent. The cookies have a great crunch to them, and they are easy to chew and one of the greatest things I may have ever eaten in cookie form. Holy Double Chocolate Crunchy Goodness!! I was so tempted to go and count cookies to see if there might be an odd number so I could sneak another one…but I didn’t. I behaved. I kept it to the serving size. And, for the life of me, I don’t know how I didn’t give in to the temptation. Seriously…these are amazing cookies. You can tell how much work, love, and joy goes into the making of these cookies because they reflect that in not just flavor but quality. And I am totally in love.

Let’s talk about those ingredients and nutritional facts, shall we?

The Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunchy Double Chocolate Cookies are made from cane sugar, chocolate chips, white rice flour, palm fruit oil, water, potato starch, cocoa powder, tapioca flour, molasses, Ener-G Egg Replacer, vanilla extract, sea salt, baking soda, xanthan gum, and natural tocopherols (vitamin E). Not too bad for a sweet treat, right? These cookies are vegan, gluten-free, cholesterol free, kosher, made with non-GMO ingredients and all natural.

As far as how nutritious these are…well…they are cookies so…

A serving of the Liz Lovely Gluten Free Crunch Double Chocolate Cookies is 2 cookies. These cookies will deliver 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. These two cookies will also provide 90 mg sodium and 12 grams of fat. That’s not bad at all for cookies. Not at all. And finally, these cookies will provide you with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of sugar. These will definitely not fill you up…which means you can snack on them before dinner. HA!

Okay…so maybe not. But, you’re an adult right? Have dessert first every now and again. Live it up. Change it up. Be a little wild!

I am enamored with these cookies. I want to make them last forever, but cookies never last long in my home. I’m a cookie monster for a reason. And these will be devoured each night until they are gone. But, now I hope I can find a place to purchase them and/or order them online because…yeah…I’ll be dreaming about these cookies for a long time. Who says a chewy cookie girl can’t cross over to the crunchy side.

Go ahead…take a bite and see for yourself.

August 18, 2014

Product Review: Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce

Product: Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce – $9.95

When your Cuisine Cube delivers a box that is 1/2 meat-friendly…you get a little creative. Honestly. I was willing to part with the Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Jerky, as there was no way I could possibly eat that being a vegetarian. But the other two items…the sauce and seasoning meant for burgers…those I could use. I just had to get a little creative in my kitchen.

And I do love it when a cooking gauntlet is thrown down. And this box did just that. For months now, I had a recipe idea just percolating, and the inclusion of the previously blogged on Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix and the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce meant that I was being issued a veggie burger challenge, whether Cuisine Cube knew it or not. And I guarantee you…they didn’t know it. Ultimately though…the challenge was accepted. Using items in my pantry (lentils) and from my CSA bin (VEGGIES!), I set out to make a specific veggie burger that I had been talking about creating for awhile, just never really had a reason to actually do it. I admit, it was a whole lot of fun getting into that kitchen and getting my creative chef’s hat on.

And that’s how it worked out in the end. I made this amazing burger with lentils and farm-fresh ingredients, topping it off with some Russian red kale and a green tomato. But this burger needed that condiment to tie it all together. And that’s where the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce came in. While the label itself touts this sauce as being perfect to use with any meat (from poultry to beef to elk to pork and so on)…I was really going to put it to the test by pairing it with…a veggie burger of my own making. I hope the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. doesn’t hold it against me for not using meat. But this vegetarian was still willing to give their product a vessel…albeit made from lentils and veggies. Would it matter?

Let me tell you, this sauce is awesome. This is literally AWESOMESAUCE! HA! The Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce was a great flavor elevator. It brought this nice tangy flavor to the burger. The sauce brought together both sweet and savory, enhancing each bite. The Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce honestly lifted every bit of my veggie burger and just added a nice sweet and tangy touch. While it is advertised as being rich and thick, I found it to be slightly runny, and I promise, I did shake it up. That being said, it went way beyond delicious. Now I’m trying to figure out how to get more without the $10 price tag. Because I’m hooked.

The Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce is made from what the company describes as a secret blend of Lowcountry herbs and spices that help bring flavor to any meat (or in my case…veggies and lentils). It is made from water, distilled water, vinegar, molasses, sugar, onions, salt, garlic salt, cloves, tammarind extract, chili pepper extract, tomatoes, onion powder, garlic powder and gluten free xanthan gum.

A serving of the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce is 1 tablespoon. This serving provides you with 15 calories. It is fat free, cholesterol free, and contains no fiber or protein. The sauce, however, does provide 200 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar.

Yet again, Cuisine Cube brings a product I never, ever would have heard about or tried without it surprising me with its inclusion in the box. Very happy with this month’s offerings for sure. And my roommate is already pondering other ways to use this sauce in the future. Delicious!

Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce on my Homemade Gluten-Free Veggie Burger

August 18, 2014

Product Review: Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning

Product: Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning – $3.95+

Maybe it’s the “end of summer” last call in this month’s Cuisine Cube, but I was hit up with a product I couldn’t eat (Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Jerky) as a vegetarian, and then, as I was eagerly pulling products out of the box…noted the burger sauce and the burger seasoning.

You’d think I would do as I did with the turkey jerky and put it in the break room as fair game for any hungry or burger-loving co-workers. But not me. You see, one thing I love doing is creating products in my kitchen. And never have burgers been completely limited to meat. Especially where I am concerned. What I did was started to ponder what a vegetarian could create using these products meant for burgers and lo and behold…it came to me.

I decided I would create a veggie burger (using green lentils for the main source of protein) and figured I could use the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix as I would if I had been cooking with meat. It was brilliant. It was…a good reason to dig out those lentils.

Last night, I donned my skull and crossbones apron and set myself to work, creating my veggie burger. Lentils, mushrooms, and more all got cooked up, and after giving it a little mash, in went the seasoning. I immediately loved how light and citrus-y it smelled. It had this very bright aroma to it and I knew it was really going to elevate my veggie burger. Happiness. I chilled the base and after about 30 minutes, pounded out about 10 actual patties, freezing 8 of them and using two for dinner (one for me and one for the roomie!). Some olive oil on my skillet and down went the patties. No cheese necessary…I was topping these with Russian red kale and green tomato.

Within a couple of minutes, the burgers had a beautiful sear on them and I lifted them off the skillet and put them in the gluten-free buns (which I purchased from my local gluten-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café). Dinner was served (with a side of smashed purple potatoes!). I topped these off with the Charleston Gourmet Burger Co. Burger Sauce (see next review!) and then…settled in to see how my own play on a veggie burger came out.

I can honestly say, thanks to the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning, I didn’t need to add anything more to these burgers as I formed the base. No extra salt. No other spices or herbs. This was just what these lentils, mushrooms, and other veggies needed. The seasoning itself wasn’t too strong, but you could definitely taste the variety of flavors that made up this mix. The veggie burgers that I made with the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning were pure perfection…especially when it came to balancing flavors. Brilliant.

The Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix is made from garlic, thyme, black pepper, salt, lemon zest, cayenne pepper, onion, parsley, natural lemon juice powder, sugar, and citric acid. This mix is all natural, cholesterol free, and gluten-free. And…it’s perfect for carnivores and herbivores alike. Trust me.

A serving of the Dinner Tonight Burger Seasoning Mix is 1 teaspoon. This one serving will provide you with 5 calories and less than 1 gram of fat. You will be taking in 135 mg sodium. Finally, this serving gives you 0 grams of protein and fiber.

Once again, Cuisine Cube provided me with a product I never would have known about or tried…but thanks to it being in my cube, I found a purpose for it. I’m not going to let a vegetarian keep me from trying whatever I can in these boxes of happiness each month. The jerky was one thing…but burger seasoning…hell, I can figure out a use for that! One delicious veggie burger later, not using it with a meat base made no difference, this seasoning mix should be raved about. Absolutely loved it. And now, I have my first official recipe for my own cookbook.

Thank you Dinner Tonight and Cuisine Cube!

August 13, 2014

Product Review: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti

Product: My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti – $7.99+

If there was one thing I grew to love when I worked at the coffee shop, it was biscotti. Nothing can top the taste of a crisp, crunchy cookie dunked in something like coffee or tea or even hot chocolate. Absolutely…delish.

So, when my roommate and I were out at our new grocery store (the one that carries the My Dad’s Cookies products), we had a plan to pick up the lemon cookies…

…but they still didn’t have any in stock. As the lemon cookies were the ones that the roomie wanted to try…I told her to pick whatever she was interested in trying for dessert. She wasted no time in choosing the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti.

Sweet.

So, tonight we opened them up for dessert. And to make it official, I brewed up a bit of decaf coffee for dipping purposes. Yeah…this was going to be good.

Settling in with an episode of Chopped, we ate our dinner (gluten-free pasta with homemade marinara and gluten-free focaccia bread, in case you were wondering!) and then I went to clean up a little and grab dessert. Nothing is easier than opening the little plastic container of My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti. I poured two cups of coffee…and then grabbed a serving of the cookies.

Dessert was served.

My roommate tucked in first. I asked what she thought and she said, “It’s yummy!” That’s always a good sign. That means she really does like it and isn’t just trying to be polite. So, that was a positive note to start on! I settled in and picked up one of the cookies, giving it a dunk into my freshly brewed coffee…and took a bite.

These…are not traditional type biscotti. They are smaller than normal biscotti, and while crisp, they get really soft immediately upon dipping…so don’t let it linger too long. These are more chopped up chocolate chip cookies than chocolate chip biscotti…but I won’t complain. The flavor is divine. The overall vanilla flavor with the sweet chocolate chips scattered…oh…so good. They had a nice crunch to them when they weren’t dipped in the coffee, but got quite soft when they hit the liquid. The flavor profile is amazing, especially if you love chocolate chip cookies…and I do.

As far as ingredients go, these aren’t too bad. The My Dad’s Cookie Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti are made from a gluten-free flour blend (brown rice, potato starch, tapioca flour, and xanthan gum), sugar, organic palm oil, egg, chocolate chips, chocolate liquor, brown sugar, natural vanilla extract, agave, cream of tartar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

As far as the nutrition information goes, this is rather good. A serving of the My Dad’s Cookies Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Biscotti is 4 of the cookies. This serving provides 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. In addition, they serve up 15 mg cholesterol, 40 mg sodium, and 12 grams of sugar. Finally, you will be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Not filling…but delicious.

I have become a big fan of the My Dad’s Cookies brand. Everything I have tried has been amazing and delicious. You’d never guess these were gluten-free. Not one bit. Amazing and delicious…another fantastic treat.

Get yourself some of this biscotti and get to dipping. You will also fall in love.

August 11, 2014

Product Review: 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