Products – Page 33 – The Celiathlete

May 18, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

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

Mmm…ice cream.

I love ice cream. It’s the one treat I never like to say no to eating. However, being lactose intolerant, ice cream doesn’t always love me back. Even when I take a supplement to help with digestion…it doesn’t always work. As you can imagine, for someone who grew up eating ice cream no matter what time of year it was…this can be quite challenging.

But…thanks to products from So Delicious Dairy Free…I can still have my ice cream and at it too.

Well, technically, being dairy free it can’t be called “ice cream”…but more of a frozen dessert. And from So Delicious, the primary base of their products is…coconut milk.

YUMMY!

Back in April, I was running around my grocery store and my roommate said…”Did you see the no sugar added So Delicious ice cream over there?” I was all, “Um…NO!” And went tearing over to the freezer with the So Delicious and other dairy-free frozen desserts tucked inside. Over near the organic and natural foods, of course.

And there it was…a beacon of grocery store light shining down upon it. A little white container with a blue label wrapped around it declaring…”NO SUGAR ADDED!” This is my kind of dessert. Being the sweet tooth that I am, I’ve been desperately trying to cut back on sugar where I can. It’s not easy…but this…this was made for me. I didn’t even ask…I opened up that freezer door, pulled out a pint…and it came home with me that night.

And the other night…I was feeling ice cream. So, this finally had it’s moment to prove itself.

The grocery store had a few varieties in flavor to choose from, but my eye was drawn to the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.

Whew…that’s a mouthful.

A delicious mouthful!

But…I’m getting ahead of myself. After a light dinner, I went to the freezer and retrieved the little pint of dairy-free dessert goodness. I dished up a serving for Cathy and one for me. Since this is dairy-free with no sugar added, the ice cream was a bit…flaky. It isn’t as creamy as regular ice cream, so scooping it out was sometimes a challenge…but I measured out the serving and dished the goodness out to each of us.

All it took was one bite for me to know that this was going to be a match made in heaven. A delicious dairy-free, gluten-free, less-sugar-in-your-life kind of heaven. So, it wasn’t creamy…but it wasn’t an unpleasant sort of flaky. In fact, each spoonful would melt into creamy goodness in your mouth, and the bits of almond and flakes of chocolate would be the last things to dance across your tongue. Magic. Just pure spoonfuls of magic. I was loving it. And sad that I only had two more servings. Gone to soon, for sure. But…a delicious treat that I wasn’t expecting. I am a huge fan of coconut milk and things made with coconut milk. And the fact that this is lower in sugar makes me one happy girl. You wouldn’t really even know that it was low-sugar if you weren’t told. It really is that good!

I am out…and need more.

Soon.

Ingredient-wise…So Delicious Dairy Free uses organic coconut milk, gum arabic, chocolate flake, almonds, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan (UGH!), and monk fruit extract in the No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Frozen Dessert. So…not completely a clean eat…but, not the worst (by far) on ingredients. It is cholesterol-free soy-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free. It is certified kosher, vegan, and organic!

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. In this serving, you will be consuming 140 calories and 12 grams of fat (some of that is the healthy fats you get from coconut and almonds…so don’t panic!). You will also be consuming 80 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. Yes…you read that right…1 GRAM OF SUGAR!! LOVE!! In addition, you will be taking in 10 grams of filling fiber and 2 grams of protein. So much love for these nutrition facts. For real.

Love. That’s what this dessert is all about. Lots of dairy-free, tasty, ice-creamy love. The No Sugar Added variety of the Toasted Almond Chip Frozen Dessert from So Delicious Dairy Free may not be the creamiest of ice cream treats…but it brings the flavor. And the love. Especially to those of us who have problems with dairy. This is one of life’s greatest gifts to the ice cream lover in me. I need more.

Stat.

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

May 18, 2014

Product Review: WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies

Product: WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies – $4.99+

Lemon. Lemon.

Luscious lemon.

There is something go refreshing and amazing about foods that have that lemon tang to it. Citrus has always been one of my first loves…especially lemon. Lemonade, lemon chiffon, lemon meringue, lemon zest, lemon…lemon…lemon! Give me all the lemon.

Luckily, my friends know of this lemon love…and often share it.

That goes double for my friend Jenn, who kindly stocked me up with a package of WOW Baking Company’s Lemon Burst Cookies.

I mean…what is not to love about that? LEMON. BURST. COOKIES.

I was thrilled to have these in my pantry…and after working through some other items…pulled these out one evening for a delicious palate cleanser after dinner. Dessert doesn’t have to be big…but it should always be enjoyed. I love a small touch of sweetness after a meal. My desserts at home are often just a couple bites of something, but I never deny myself that little treat.

That being said…I pulled open this little sack of cookie goodness and discovered a bag full of amazing soft, two to three bite cookies. I checked the label for the serving size…which says…2 ounces. That turned out to be around 4-5 of the little mini cookies. So…I dished up a measured serving (yes…I weighed them each time!) for my roommate and one for me. I delivered the cookies to her and she dug in. She might love lemon even more than I do…so she was happily nomming away at her batch of cookies when I finally settled in with my dessert.

One bite confirmed what her appreciative chewing noises were telling me. These…WERE AWESOME!! The texture was somewhere in between a butter cookie and a cake. Seriously. They were so soft and light…I loved it. No annoying crunching. Flavor-wise, it was like eating a bit of sugar cookie dough that was kicked up with a hint of lemon flavor. Just enough to sweeten and not overpower. It was so refreshing. Each bite was a treat, most definitely.

WOW Baking Company is very dedicated to producing soft, chewy, delicious tatsting baked goods that are wheat-free and gluten-free. According to their Website, all products are produced in small batches with premium, all-natural ingredients. You won’t ever find hydrogenated oils, refined sugars, artificial flavors or wheat and gluten in any of the products they produce. Their products are non-GMO, which is always nice. WOW Baking Company produces all their products in a dedicated and certified gluten-free facility.

So, let’s discuss the ingredients in WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies, shall we? These cookies are made from a gluten-free flour blend (brown rice, sweet rice, tapioca), cane sugar, butter, eggs, corn starch, potato starch, vanilla, cream of tartar, pure lemon oil, xanthan gum, baking soda, salt and citric acid. That’s it. And what you get is a product you’d be hard pressed to guess was gluten-free if you didn’t know. Trust me.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies is, as I mentioned before, 2 ounces, or around 4-5 cookies. This serving will dish you up 260 calories and 12 grams of fat. These cookies also have 50 mg cholesterol, 220 mg sodium, and 14 grams of sugar. The Lemon Burst Cookies also have 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein in each serving. So…they are a treat for sure. Don’t over indulge…but do enjoy.

I fell in love with the WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies at first bite. Chewy, soft, light, and delicious. The right amount of lemon flavor. The right balance of everything else. Real ingredients means really delicious treats. This…is a favorite for sure!

Just…WOW!

May 16, 2014

Product Review: Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter

Product: Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter – $1.99+

As many of you, my dear readers, know by now…one of my most favorite things in life…and truly my drug of choice…is peanut butter.

Yes.

Peanut butter.

I can’t get enough of the stuff. I eat it by the jarful. When I’m stressed out…it’s what I turn to for comfort. After I workout, it’s what I grab to get some protein. I eat it on sandwiches, in cookies, and…best of all…right off a spoon straight from the jar. Yes…if we all have that one food that is our kryptonite…for me…it’s peanut butter.

I do try to keep it as natural as possible. I don’t mind having to stir my peanut butter or store it upside down. Nope. It doesn’t matter to me at all. Because peanut butter is one of those perfect foods that balances my love of sweet and salty…all at once.

Well, while in Birmingham, Alabama, I discovered little sample packets (and the jars) of nut butters from Wild Friends Foods. The cute, winking squirrel on the label was what caught my eye first. Then…the unique and different flavors. I originally snagged my (still) favorite so far…the Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter. But the next chance I had at Organic Harvest in Birmingham, I snatched up a few more…and one of them was the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter. Let me say that again…

Chocolate. Coconut. Peanut Butter.

Is that not heaven in nut butter form? Of course it is. These packets only sat in my pantry for a very short time. Very short. Because I was without vegan cream cheese the other day and wanted to finish off the gluten-free bagels that were sitting in my freezer. So, I chose both of the chocolate varieties I had in the pantry (the previous reviewed Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter was the other) and kneaded the packets so that when the bagels were done toasting in the oven, I could split each flavor between the four halves for my roommate and I to try.

Out of the oven came the bagels and two halves got the Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter schmeared on them. The other two halves…got the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter treatment. I served up one half of each for each of us and settled in for breakfast. I tried the Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter first…and loved it. But when I took a bite of the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter…I knew which one I preferred. Seriously. I had recently fallen in love with a brand of almond butter that mixed in coconut pulp. I mean…it’s crack. But this…this went beyond crack. This was amazing. The sweetness of the chocolate blended well with the texture of peanut butter…but that little tang of coconut is what made this. Amazing. I said it before…I’ll say it again…who needs Nutella when this exists? I’d eat an entire jar of this without stopping if I could. Probably best I had this in the sample packet only!! It’s really good. In fact, I was waiting on my roommate to comment that she didn’t like it as much as the Sesame Seed version…but she surprised me, saying she preferred the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter variety. WOW! That’s definitely saying something as she adamantly declares her dislike of coconut often. WINNING!

Ingredients in the Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter are simple and clean. This particular nut butter of chocolate and coconut goodness contains peanuts, coconut, organic agave, chocolate liquor, and sea salt. Yes. That’s it. No unnecessary oils or preservatives. No strange additives or white sugar. Simple ingredients that offer big flavor. Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter is all-natural, non-GMO, non-dairy, kosher, and this particular flavor contains no gluten ingredients. It is also cholesterol free!

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter is 2 tablespoons. In this serving, you will be consuming 190 calories and 15 grams of fat. Don’t panic over the fat content. That comes from the nuts and the coconut. A serving also has 35 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. Only 5 grams of sugar in something that is chocolate. Yes. You read that right. This serving will also dish you up 2 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. You will feel full…and that is only a good thing. You don’t want to overindulge…which I tend to do when it comes to nut butters.

Three distinctly different flavors of Wild Friends Foods nut butters have been sampled. All of them have been enjoyed for various reasons. It is so nice to have a brand that puts so much pride in the flavors they create and the product itself. You can tell from the first bite how much love goes into the production of these nut butters. And…if you like something a little sweet and nutty…the Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter is a fantastic choice. Keep this in your pantry for always!

Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter (on a gluten-free bagel)

May 15, 2014

Product Review: Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter

Product: Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter – $1.99+

Remember that Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter that I raved about not too long ago?

No? If not…refresh your memory here. If you do…welcome to me sampling some more flavors from Wild Friends Foods. Because the delicious awesomesauciness of the Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter was enough to drive me to try some more options. And while I was in Birmingham, Alabama a couple weeks ago, I picked up some more sample packets of the Wild Friends Foods line of peanut and almond butters. I only hoped they would live up to the one that really blew me away.

So…I came home with three flavors…and had some gluten-free bagels in the freezer.

See where I am going with this?

So, one morning, I toasted up these bagels…and realized I used up all my vegan cream cheese.

Never fear. Never. Because where cream cheese fails…nut butter comes through.

My roommate and I sampled two different flavors that morning, as these are the small sample packs. But…in this blog I am focusing on the Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter.

Yes…

Chocolate. Sunflower Seed. Almond Butter.

Three epically delicious things in life all combined in one plastic jar with a cute winking squirrel on it. How could this be bad?

In truth…it can’t!! And…it wasn’t.

The Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter is crazy good. It isn’t too sweet, so they’ve managed to strike a nice balance between the amount of chocolate and the salty-savory flavor of the nuts. It was creamy and amazing. And who doesn’t like something chocolate for breakfast, right? This was really good on my gluten-free bagel. I was noshing it happily and enjoying the blend of flavors. Almond butter is the most prevalent, but it leads off with that sweetness of the chocolate. And the sunflower seeds…nice touch that adds great texture. It is like nothing you have ever had before…but you will totally want it again.

Delicious!

Let’s talk basic and simple ingredients, okay? That’s easy to do…because Wild Friends Foods only uses real ingredients in their nut butters. The Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter contains almonds, organic agave, unsweetened dark chocolate, sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, and sea salt. That’s it. Basic. Simple. CLEAN! Wild Friends Foods uses only all-natural ingredients, no white sugar, it’s non-GMO, non-dairy, vegan, and kosher. Also, this product has no gluten ingredients. YAY!

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter is 2 tablespoons. This serving will provide you with 180 calories and 15 grams of fat…all of which are is the healthy fats you get from nuts. YAY! This product is cholesterol free and contains only 40 mg of sodium. Nice. Additionally, you will be consuming 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. Trust me…it’s filling. Especially on a bagel.

LOVE…is nut butters from Wild Friends Foods…and why choose between a sweet or a salty spread when you can have the best of both worlds? Yeah…now you don’t have to. Forget Nutella. Eat something so much better for you!

Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter (on a gluten-free bagel)

May 8, 2014

Product Review: Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods Pastato Mac & Cheeze

Product: Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods Pastato Mac & Cheeze – $3.49+

So, I went on an excursion to Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati, Ohio, while my friend Indy was in town. Why? Because when you are a foodie, you have to go to Jungle Jim’s. And…Indy is honestly a foodie! I mean…if I was asked which of my friends is the most epicurean…Indy would be my answer. She and her husband, Evan, both love food and trying different things.

One other thing that I love about my visits to Jungle Jim’s…is that they have one of the most extensive gluten-free sections. Seriously. I am in heaven. And while I always do get to treat myself to items at Jungle Jim’s…the problem is keeping it within a budget. So, I normally look for items that I can’t find anywhere else. So, as I was perusing the gluten-free aisles, trying to make good decisions when these colorful boxes with animals on them caught my attention.

Hmmm…never saw those before.

At closer glance, I realized it was a line of macaroni and cheese boxed meals by a company called Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods, Inc. Never heard of them before. Even more intriguing…some of the pasta was made from brown rice flour, some from white rice flour…but the ones that really got my attention…potato.

Yes. Potato pasta! After trying to decide if I wanted yellow or white cheese (I consulted the roomie and she voted for the Kraft yellow cheese), a box of the potato pasta mac and cheese found its way into the cart…and the shopping continued in the mecca that is Jungle Jim’s.

As I was without this week to give me fresh produce to play around with, I’ve been making items out of my pantry and fridge and freezer. Well…after making spaghetti last night, I needed to figure out something for dinner tonight. I started naming off some items that we had and immediately Cathy wanted mac and cheese. So, I pulled down the Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods Pastato Mac & Cheeze box and had it ready for when we got home from work.

After a long day, I’m kind of glad she was so set on a boxed meal. As much as I hate cooking from boxes these days, sometimes it is a necessary evil. And the best part is…these noodles cook up fast. No 15 minute boiling periods. Just fill up a pan with about 3 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Pour in the pasta and let it cook for, wait for it, 3.5 minutes. Yep…that’s all. Three and a half minutes (and it won’t feel like a lifetime…Better Than Ezra fans…do you hear me? HA!). Seriously, it was done cooking before I even had the almond milk and vegan butter out. HA! Love it. I drained it (no rinsing!) then put it back into the warm pan, added the butter and milk and then the packet of cheese powder. I stirred it all together until it was combined and…BAM! Dinner was ready. I split it between the two of us and we settled in to eat, while watching Food Network. It’s what we do!

I’m going to be honest…it was actually really good. The potato pasta cooked up quickly and to perfection. It wasn’t gummy and it didn’t fall apart either. In fact, it held together perfectly and got to the right tenderness to satisfy any pasta lover. So easy. Each noodle was coated with the cheese “sauce” that is made up in the pan and incorporated with the drained noodles. I think my only complaint here is that it wasn’t cheesy enough for me. I mean…it had flavor…but I am so used to making homemade gluten-free mac and cheese with a sharp cheddar flavor or something with bite…that this…just didn’t hit the wow on the cheese flavor. It was there, just not as much as I usually like. Other than that, what a great and fast meal. It had great texture and good flavor (just not enough of it!) and it was quite filling too. I’d buy this again and have it on hand for a quick meal in a heartbeat!

So, let’s discuss the ingredients in Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods Pastato Mac & Cheeze. Incorporated in this box of processed easy goodness you will find…potato flour, rice flour, quinoa flour, ground flax, psyllium husks, organic whey, organic cheddar cheese powder, organic corn starch, and salt. There are some other vitamins and minerals too…but they are too tedious to list out. HA! This pasta is processed in a dedicated gluten-free facility and the company does not use any ingredients that contain gluten, so cross contamination is not an issue. My only complaint was that with the misspelling of the word “cheese” I thought this was dairy-free. But…it wasn’t. And with me being lactose intolerant…this isn’t necessary a good thing. Minor detail.

Nutritionally speaking, the Gluten Free Pastato Mac & Cheeze isn’t too bad. A serving size is 2 ounces…and it is a 5 ounce box. Split between Cathy and I, we each had 1.25 servings. But, if sticking to the serving size…you will be consuming 169 calories and 1 gram of fat. This serving will provide you with 3 mg cholesterol, 152 mg sodium, and only 2 grams of sugar. That’s fantastic for a boxed pasta. You will also have 6 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein. Yes…you will feel full! Trust me.

If you need a quick meal that is easy to prepare, good to eat, and actually very nutritionally sound…I encourage you to seek out and consume Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods Pastato Mac & Cheeze. Potato pasta forever, my friends!! Seriously…you will love it. And if it isn’t cheesy enough for you…toss in some nutritional yeast or (if you aren’t lactose intolerant…some stronger cheese) until it suits you.

Thank you, Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods…for this fantastic little gift from the potato pasta gods! My life has been changed!

Maplegrove Gluten Free Foods Pastato Mac & Cheeze (prepared)

May 7, 2014

Product Review: Glutenfreeda Cranberry Cashew Honey Granola

Glutenfreeda Cashew Cranberry Honey Granola

Product: Glutenfreeda Cranberry Cashew Honey Granola – $4.99+

Way back when my gluten-free journey started, I finally stopped cheating on my oatmeal (because I got tired of feeling like crap after lunch) and made the leap to gluten-free oats. One of the first brands readily available in my area (and also more cost efficient than others) was the gluten-free oatmeal by Glutenfreeda. And…sadly enough, the oatmeal didn’t wow me or really make me want to be friends with it. In fact, I found it rather bland, if I recall correctly.

But…sometimes you have to learn not to hold something against a brand itself. And, after a quick trip to Birmingham, Alabama, and a dash through the Publix near the Mellow Mushroom I was meeting my parents at for gluten-free pizza that night…I discovered a delicious sounding granola on the gluten-free shelves. The issue I had was…it was Glutenfreeda.

Do I risk it? I mean…it was Glutenfreeda Gluten-Free Cranberry Cashew Honey Granola. Um…nothing wrong with any of that. In fact…it sounds oh…so right! So, with a little debating, I finally snatched it off the shelf and committed myself to the purchase.

And…a month later…and me back in Louisville, Kentucky…I broke it out of the pantry for some breakfast parfaits (made with Greek yogurt and caramelized pears). Oh, to be sure, I was beyond nervous. It was the only granola in the pantry at the time, so it was either amazing…or not. And with no replacement, either way my roomie and I were eating it.

*sigh* *deep breath*

Breakfast Parfait…assemble!

Of course, I had to test the granola on its own before tossing it with the rest of the parfait components. I poured a bit in my palm, getting the oats, the dried cranberries, and the cashews. I tossed it back and…it was really good. I mean…REALLY good. It’s actually that perfect mix of sweet and salty. I mean…perfect. It has the flavor from the roasted cashews and the sweetness from the dried cranberries. The honey ties it all together. And the gluten-free oats are toasted to perfection and absolutely amazing. It all just comes together…and as much as I thought I was going to dislike this granola…I love it.

Naturally, because I have yet to find it around here. HA!

So…let’s talk ingredients, shall we? You’ll love these. Glutenfreeda’s Gluten-Free Cranberry Cashew Honey Granola is simply made from gluten-free oats, cashews, dried cranberries, brown sugar, canola oil, honey, flax seeds, vanilla.

That’s it. Okay…so the canola oil and brown sugar might throw you off…especially the canola oil, but in the grand scheme of things…not too shabby! Not at all.

Nutritionally speaking, Glutenfreeda isn’t dishing up a whole lot of empty, sugar-laden calories either. Each box of granola contains 4 individual packages. The kicker is, there are 10 servings per box. So do not eat an entire package in one sitting. You’ll be doing 2.5 servings if you do that. And one serving, 1/4 cup of the granola, will give you 120 calories and 4 grams of fat. This granola is cholesterol-free and sodium-free. A serving also provides you with 6 grams of sugar (not bad), 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Honestly, I was skeptical, but as it turns out…I was pleasantly surprised to actually like this granola. Not just like…love. I could indulge in this at breakfast every day…if I could find it in my area. Great flavor profile. Crunchy, tasty granola. Great job, Glutenfreeda!

Granola never tasted this good! Roasted cashews and plump dried cranberries are the cornerstones to our Cranberry Cashew Honey granola. This wholesome cereal is the perfect way to start your day, carry you through the day or even end your day, as a late night snack. Our Cranberry Cashew Honey Granola is made with certified gluten-free oats and is a great way to get fiber back into your diet, deliciously.

Each box contains 4 convenient travel pouches. Just slide one in your purse, briefcase or backpack for a nutritious ‘anytime’ snack.’

Ingredients:

Certified gluten-free oats, cashews (salt), dried cranberries (sugar, sunflower oil), brown sugar, canola oil, honey, flax seeds, vanilla.

– See more at: http://www.glutenfreeda.com/our-products/granola/cranberry-cashew/#sthash.hltlNfkn.dpuf

Each box contains 4 convenient travel pouches. Just slide one in your purse, briefcase or backpack for a nutritious ‘anytime’ snack.’

Ingredients:

Certified gluten-free oats, cashews (salt), dried cranberries (sugar, sunflower oil), brown sugar, canola oil, honey, flax seeds, vanilla.

– See more at: http://www.glutenfreeda.com/our-products/granola/cranberry-cashew/#sthash.hltlNfkn.dpuf

Each box contains 4 convenient travel pouches. Just slide one in your purse, briefcase or backpack for a nutritious ‘anytime’ snack.’

Ingredients:

Certified gluten-free oats, cashews (salt), dried cranberries (sugar, sunflower oil), brown sugar, canola oil, honey, flax seeds, vanilla.

– See more at: http://www.glutenfreeda.com/our-products/granola/cranberry-cashew/#sthash.hltlNfkn.dpuf

April 28, 2014

Product Review: O’Doughs Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins

Product: O’Doughs Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins – $3.99+

It had gotten to the point, as of late, where I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I was never, ever, ever…EVER going to stumble across the third flavor of gluten-free Bagel Thins from O’Doughs. Seriously. Because my local grocery store that actually stocks this brand only carries the Original and Sprouted Whole Grain Flax Seed versions.

And while I appreciate that…I was in search of ALL the Bagel Thins.

Leave it to Organic Harvest (my happiest place in Birmingham, Alabama), a natural food store in the aforementioned Birmingham, Alabama, to carry this particular product in their freezer section. And…because I think ahead…I had a cooler with me for transport back to Indiana when I finished up my visit with my family. I was actually in town for the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K race with my mom (I ran; she walked) and the gluten-free expo that followed. All of that was fine and good, but with lunch looming at a diner where there is really nothing my mom or I can eat, we make our way over to Organic Harvest and pick up one of their small salads and usually a dessert to split between us. But, while there, I had permission to shop a little and pick up some items that I can’t find in Louisville.

YAY!

And so…I began to walk the aisles, scanning the shelves…looking for items of interest. Something that would grab me, shake me, and beg me to take it home. Not really though, because if food started to do that, I might scream and run away. But…if we’re just talking figuratively…I wanted to make the best decision as to what was coming home with me. Nothing worse than grabbing an item and then finding out it was crap.

Well, my roomie does get just as excited about gluten-free goodies as I do (which I love…since she can eat ALL the food and doesn’t have to eat gluten-free). And she spotted the O’Doughs Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins in the freezer section while she meandered quicker through the store with my dad. She hurried over to find me…and alert me of this finding. I immediately said, “THAT…is definitely coming home with us!”

And so…it happened. Into the basket with a couple (I behaved) other items and my lunch for that day. We checked out, put things in the cooler, went to lunch, and then went back to my parents house to store the items in the freezer until we left the following morning.

With another trip looming, this time to Colorado (the iconic home of all things gluten-free and awesome!), I’m starting to work my way through some of these things. And, with my morning being a crazy hot mess with spinning and everything…well…something quick that could happen while I showered was ideal. So, out of my freezer came the O’Doughs Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins.

I pulled out a baking sheet (I don’t own a toaster), and then sliced two of the bagel thins in half. I was expecting to see flecks of cranberry throughout, but I didn’t. Ah well. I never know what to expect. And as the oven was warming, I tossed the pan in and went to take a quick shower. By the time I was out and dressed, the bagel thins were toasted up and ready for the vegan cream cheese schmear. Breakfast was served (with a side of my left over Mustard Roasted Potatoes).

One thing that I do find is that bagel thins, while they are less calories, aren’t truly a bagel. I miss that doughy middle section and that crunch on the outside with the softness in the middle. That’s a bagel (spoken like a true New Yorker!). But…I also love to save some calories for other indulgences…like dark chocolate to keep me awake when I’m drowsing off at my desk. You know…those unexpected things in life. So, when you bite into one of O’Dough’s Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins, you get a crunch. If you toast it…you get a crunch. And then…you get cream cheese. Even just using a serving size of the cream cheese…you get cream cheese.

But…when you break off a piece that didn’t get well schmeared with the cheese…and taste it on its own…you still kind of don’t get inundated with the flavors of the bagel thin itself. It does have a nice hint of sweetness to it, thanks to the apples and almonds. And you get some very mild undertones of cinnamon and raisins and maybe even some citrus. But it’s not strong. Which…is not a bad thing. You don’t want to overpower the product with too many flavors. However, I was hoping that the apple and cranberry flavor would really take a front seat here. Unfortunately, it didn’t. That being said, the texture and the taste of these little bagel thins are really good. And if you don’t want a strong flavor to your bagel thins, but you want little hints of it in each bite, these may be the way to go. These would also probably be really good with butter on top. But I’m a cream cheese girl at heart.

Let’s talk ingredients for a moment, shall we? The O’Dough’s Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins are made from filtered water, potato starch, tapioca starch, chickpea flour, soya flour, whole grain rice flour, organic evaporated cane juice, cellulose fiber, dried apples, dried cranberries, raisins, glycerine, sunflower oil, yeast, sea salt, salba chia seed, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, dehydrated fruits and vegetables (oranges, apples cranberries, tomatoes, broccoli, shiitake mushrooms, carrots).

Hmmmm…tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli and carrots in my bagel? Really?? REALLY??! That’s…different.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving size is one bagel thin. One of O’Doughs Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins will supply you with 100 calories and 1 gram of fat. These thin little bagels have 300 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. They also have 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. They are cholesterol free, gluten-free, all-natural, and preservative free. These are an fantastic source of fiber as well. Oh, and those veggies I was talking about up there are part of the 7 different fruits and vegetables that are contained in these bagel thins…which is nutritionally equivalent to 2 servings of fruit and veggies. Go figure.

Overall, I thought these were pretty good. I wish these came sliced, however, because slicing a bagel thin is a tricky task. Cut one bit too thin and it gets burned in the toaster or oven. It’s all just about holding it right and cutting it right. If they came pre-sliced, things would be so much easier on all of us. Other than that…these were good. What they lack in appearance, they do make up for in taste. And that…is saying something.

If you haven’t been able to find O’Doughs Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins in your grocery store…see if they can order them in. They are definitely worth trying. Especially if (like me) you are a cinnamon-raisin lover. It’s…sort of similar to that flavor.

O'Doughs Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins with Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese — O’Doughs Gluten-Free Apple Cranberry Bagel Thins with Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese

The final flavor was the Apple Cranberry. These made for a nice change as they had the wonderful sweetness from, you guessed it, apples and cranberries with the subtle undertones of raisins, orange, and spicy cinnamon. These reminded me of my beloved cinnamon raisin bagels back in my pre-Celiac diagnosis days. Top them with either butter or cream cheese and you are really good to go – their flavor is just robust enough that anything other than a simple topping would likely be a mistake on these. – See more at: http://www.glutenfreemike.com/odoughs-new-bagel-thins/#.U17c_qKwVFY

April 23, 2014

Product Review: Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Nut Butter Balls

Product: Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Nut Butter Balls – $1.69+

I’ve gotta be on a peanut butter protein bar (or ball, in this case) kick this week. Because after wrapping up with the sample GoMacro Peanut Butter Macrobars, I immediately dug into my snack drawer and pulled out one of the other cash register treats I picked up at the Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio. This time, it was from a company I was familiar with. When I was in Denver, Colorado two years ago, I picked up a couple of different flavors of Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Fruit Bars. Well…when something uses the phrase gluten-free with the words peanut butter…trust me…you have my full and undivided attention.

And that, in a nutshell (see what I did there?) is how I came home with one of Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Nut Butter Balls. Specifically…the peanut butter one.

Betty Lou, the owner of Betty Lou’s Inc., believes that there is a connection between what people eat and how they feel. I couldn’t agree more. As I have taken more to eating clean, I find that I feel much better. And when I don’t…I can tell. Almost 32 years ago, Betty Lou made a conscious decision to remove refined sugar from her family’s diet…and in doing so, began to create recipes that were made with honey and brown rice syrup instead. She fine-tuned each recipe and made everything with the best, healthiest, cutting edge ingredients. Today, 32 years later, that same practice is in place and all of Betty Lou’s healthy, all-natural, gluten-free products have to live up to the highest of standards. Good ingredients…never compromising taste.

I thoroughly enjoyed the three versions of Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Fruit Bars that I picked up in Colorado. So…now it was peanut butter’s time to shine. I hoped.

When my morning snack time rolled around, I pulled the Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Nut Butter Ball out and opened it up. I tried to be careful with it, so that the wrapper wouldn’t be torn in the picture…but…that didn’t happen. After taking the picture for the blog, I pulled out my butter knife from my desk (I keep a set of silverware in my drawer) and sliced off a piece for my roommate to try. I had a bit of a time cutting through the actual nut butter ball itself, and it was shedding the peanuts that speckled the outside of it like crazy. Nonetheless, a little elbow grease, and some upper body strength…and voila…I had a piece for Cathy to try. I took my own bite…and began to chew.

And chew. And chew. And chew some more. In fact, the Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Nut Butter Ball…was kind of tough. It seemed like the heat from my mouth actually had to warm it up to make it pliable. And then it was like chewing caramel that has gotten solid rather than soft. You just keep chewing and chewing and chewing until it eventually dissolves enough that you can safely swallow it.

That…was how I felt eating this. And I only took a small bite.

I took Cathy her piece and awaited her thoughts. They actually mirrored my own. While the Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Nut Butter Ball had a much better and more predominant peanut butter flavor than the GoMacro Peanut Butter Macrobar (see review just ahead of this one!), it wasn’t soft nor easy to really eat. In fact, I might have burned more calories eating the thing than it gave my body. My jaw was totally getting a workout. So, it was a shame about the texture, but the flavor was really good. And the little roll in peanuts to have them speckle the top of the nut butter ball itself was genius. It just adds to the flavor for sure.

So…really on the fence on this one. If it had been softer and easier to eat, I think this would have been a runaway hit. But…as it was…my jaw started to ache after awhile and soon I found myself just wishing it was gone already. I ate it, although it took awhile and many a chew break…but found it tasty, regardless. I might be a little hesitant to pick one up next time, however. Just for the sheer fact that it was like gnawing on tough caramel rather than diving into a rich, smooth peanut buttery treat.

So, what makes up Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Nut Butter Balls? The listed ingredients are organic agave syrup, peanut butter, whey protein blend, peanuts, inulin (dietary fiber), whey protein crisps, natural peanut extract, water, vanilla extract, potassium citrate, magnesium citrate, pure sunflower lecithin, sea salt, mixed tocoherols (natural vitamin E). Clean eating this is not. In fact, it has some crazy vitamin’s getting mixed in there as well. I can’t pronounce them…and therefore will not type them. The Peanut Butter Nut Butter Ball contains no trans fat, no corn, no soy and is non-GMO. This ball contains electrolytes.

So, a bit of a letdown as far as ingredients. I was hoping for more natural ingredients.

As for nutrition, one serving is one of the Nut Butter Balls. The Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Nut Butter Ball serves up 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. The fat is mostly derived from the peanuts and peanut butter though, so keep that in mind. You will be taking in 10 mg cholesterol, 130 mg sodium, and 12 grams of sugar. In addition, you will be consuming 5 grams of filling fiber and a whopping 15 grams of protein.

I don’t know if I will try any other of the Nut Butter Balls that Betty Lou’s offers. This one really didn’t win me over with the texture of it. The flavor was amazing, but…I don’t like having my jaw hurt just to eat a snack. Had this been softer, I think it would have been a complete winner. I think I’ll stick to the Gluten-Free Fruit Bars when it comes to Betty Lou’s products. I just wasn’t impressed with the Betty Lou’s Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Nut Butter Ball. At all.

April 23, 2014May 11, 2015

Product Review: GoMacro Peanut Butter Macrobar

Product: GoMacro Peanut Butter Macrobar – $2.89+

I love trying new and intriguing products. I really do. The thing is, I’m not always willing to purchase said products. And sometimes, honestly, I just don’t know about them. That is why, whenever I have the opportunity, I go to local, and sometimes not-so-local gluten-free expos and fairs. That’s how I was introduced to the GoMacro Macrobar.

I was in Birmingham, doing the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K with my mom. Immediately following the race, there was a gluten-free expo that participants and anyone who knew about it could attend. I was excited. Two years ago, I attended Birmingham’s first Making Tracks for Celiacs race and expo…and was blown away by the sheer scale and size. I walked out of there with two large grocery bags full of gluten-free freebies. This year, however, the size of the expo went down and the number of exhibitors definitely shrank. I felt a bit let down, actually. But there was still plenty to see and check out.

And so…we began to make our way around the small banquet room and check out the local bakeries, local businesses, and some product exhibitors who did make it to the expo. Laying on one of the tables in the center were these GoMacro Macrobars. They looked interesting enough, touting on the wrapper that they were vegan, macrobiotic, and gluten-free. I snagged a couple and we moved on. Of course, they only had one of, what appears to be numerous, flavors out. And so…that is how I got to try the GoMacro Peanut Butter Macrobar.

I haven’t seen these around where I live. So…I was almost afraid to try them and fall in love with them. But, I needed a good afternoon snack for the office and these definitely would fit the bill. This week, I began taking the little sample bars with me to work, where I finally got to see what the GoMacro Macrobar was all about.

The GoMacro company believes in five basic principles when it comes to their products and their business. These are:

1. Veg Out – Vegan – Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
2. Live Long – Macrobiotic – A macrobiotic diet is the key to a healthy life.
3. Be Well – Wholesome – If nature did not make it, we do not use it.
4. Community – Gives Back – Pay it forward. Give back. Change the world.
5. Tread Lightly – Sourced Sustainably – Let us walk softly on the Earth with all living beings great and small, remember as we go, that one God kind and wise created all.

I do like the principles they put out there for their company and products. But how does the GoMacro Peanut Butter Macrobar stack up to other protein bars that I’ve tried.

It’s…okay…really. It has the texture of a Lärabar…exactly. It even looks like a Lärabar. And it’s peanut butter. I love peanut butter. I have my own jar that I can just eat from whenever I want. The problem is limiting myself to a serving or less. It’s not easy. I’m a peanut butter addict. Sadly, however, this bar tastes very lightly of peanut butter. While I love the soft texture, the flavor just didn’t pop or wow me. It was good. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t take a bite and spit it out…but there was just so little flavor to it, that I had to get a bite with a peanut actually in there to actually feel like I was eating something “peanut butter.” Now, this may be because GoMacro doesn’t add any salt or sugar…which I appreciate, but I sort of expected a little more pop, especially with the use of natural ingredients and the like. So, it was a small bit of a let down…but nothing that would stop me from eating these again, or trying other flavors should I be able to find them in my area.

Ingredient-wise…it doesn’t get much easier than this. The GoMacro Peanut Butter Macrobar contains organic brown rice syrup, organic peanut butter, organic protein blend (brown rice protein and pea protein), organic puffed brown rice, and organic peanuts. Five ingredients. That’s it. And, as someone who is trying to eat more real food and cut out processed foods…this is a nice balance between the two. Eating clean…without having to make it myself. Nice!

Nutritionally speaking, the mini-size of the GoMacro Peanut Butter Macrobar contains 100 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. That fat is derived from the peanuts and peanut butter that goes into these bars. Healthy fats. These bars are cholesterol and contain 0 grams of sodium. In addition, these bars only contain 5 grams of sugar. Love that. And you will also be consuming 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Definitely a smart choice for a snack.

So, while I wasn’t over-the-top in love with this bar, I would purchase it again. I like the commitment to fresh ingredients, simple ingredients, and just an overall appreciation of the environment and the body…and what gets put into it. I think these would be killer if they had a bit more flavor to them…but you do what you can without adding extra chemicals and sugar. And I’ll take a bland protein bar over one with an ungodly amount of sugar any day. If you find the GoMacro Macrobars…I encourage you to give them a shot. See what you think!

April 23, 2014

Product Review: Lilly’s Bake Shoppe Krakovsky (Cashew Brittle)

Product: Lilly’s Bake Shoppe Krakovsky (Cashew Brittle) – $9.99+

It was an ordinary day when I set out to go grocery shopping at the nine different stores I frequent when I need to go grocery shopping. Hey, when you are a gluten-free vegetarian, you make time to go to the shops you know have the best deals on the stuff you need. In this case, I was at my second stop of the day – the local Whole Foods. I was actually sticking to my list…minding my budget (hard to do in Whole Foods)…

…until the roomie spotted something we hadn’t seen there before. As this was prior to Easter and during the Jewish holiday of Passover…Whole Foods had an entire table of products from Lilly’s Bake Shoppe. I had never heard of Lilly’s Bake Shoppe, but everything that was laid out on this display was not only kosher for passover, but also gluten-free.

And the roomie said the magic words…”Go ahead and pick one of them to try.”

The hard part, of course, was choosing which product to try. There were nut rolls and chocolate rolls and cakes and cookies and…it just all sounded so amazing and looked fantastic too. But…I decided to go with an interesting sounding, and not as appealing as far as visual goes…Krakovsky, or Cashew Brittle.

We paid for the treat with the rest of the groceries that were on the list and headed out to complete the rest of the grocery shopping expedition. As is normally the case, we were polishing off other sweet treats as dessert, so I didn’t actually get to these until last week. They just sort of beckoned to me every morning from the counter…”EAT ME!” I felt like Alice in Wonderland…and obviously had to resist the urge to break into the box and give it a try. But…after a visit from a friend, we were in need of an easy dessert…and this was the answer to our prayers.

I noticed, through the little window in the box, that these actually look like little blondies that have a crumble over the top. They are sort of a light brown color, with a touch of gold…like they were baked to that perfect color to get the right look and taste to them. I pulled them out of the box, opened up the sealed package and pulled out 2 of the little bars for myself and for the roomie. I expected, upon hearing the word “brittle” that these would be hard in texture, sort of like the brittle you get at Christmas time. But, these felt like a brownie, to be honest. I snapped a picture for the blog and served them up.

I took a bite and wasn’t sure what to expect. But…what I got was a taste of shortbread with this layer of sweetness on top. It was rich and buttery and decadent. The “shortbread” like cookie base was soft and flaky. Absolutely amazing. But it is that cashew brittle top that really makes Lily’s Bake Shoppe’s Krakovsky a stand out. Totally good. You definitely find all the sweetness in this treat in that topping. The cookie-like base is soft, yet holds the topping well. And it just tastes absolutely amazing. Seriously…not too sweet…but sweet enough to make you realize that this is a treat. I loved how light these were, not dense or heavy, which was what I expected being that it is made with nuts. And the cashew wasn’t overpowered at all. I loved the hint of vanilla and lemon that you get with each bite. Simply awesome. I might be hoping that this isn’t a Whole Foods special just for passover. Because I want to try everything else they had on that table. And with Passover ending…I’m afraid I might have held off too long. These…are fantastic.

Lilly’s Bake Shoppe’s Krakovsky (Cashew Brittle) is made from cashews (this should always be the first ingredient!), sugar, eggs, apricot jam, potato starch, vanilla extract, kernel paste, shortening, almond meal, tapioca starch, lemon flavor, and salt. It is kosher, gluten-free, cholesterol free, and lactose free.

Nutrionally speaking, Lilly’s Bake Shoppe Krakovsky (Cashew Brittle) isn’t looking so bad. A serving size is 1 ounce and there are 12 servings per box. This serving size will serve you up 12o calories and 6 grams of fat. That isn’t bad for a dessert. You will also be taking in 10 mg sodium and 13 grams of sugar. I am trying to cut back on sugar, but for a baked good, this isn’t too bad. Especially since it is a dessert. This product has no dietary fiber in it, but will provide you with 2 grams of protein.

In the end…the main thing to understand is…if you want to try something different…something like a nutty, sweet shortbread…with a crumbly, yet substantial mouthfeel, then this….this is the treat for you. Lilly’s Bake Shoppe totally blew me away with their Krakovsky (Cashew Brittle). I love the way each bite gives you layers of flavor, starting with that shortbread-like base and working through the nutty-sweet topping. I am in love with this treat. I’m so glad we splurged a little that day to give it a try. Also happy I haven’t devoured this entire box…yet.

But it will happen. Yeah…it’s that good.