Products – Page 39 – The Celiathlete

December 28, 2013

Product Review: Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt

Product: Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt – $3.49+

It was getting so close to Christmas and the nights after work were hectic and frantic. Lots to do…so little time to actually do it in. And that’s when you need something quick, simple, and still nutritious. It’s not always feasible to cook up a meal after a long day at the office or being on the go. Thankfully, there is this great company called Garden Lites, and they make fantastic vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.

Some of my favorites happen to be their amazing soufflés.

There was something really intriguing and different about this soufflé, however. It was one of their newer flavors, which had actually been out for awhile, but was only now turning up in my local natural food stores. I had to purchase it (along with the previously mentioned Southwestern Soufflé) and try it out for myself. I’ve loved most of the Garden Lites soufflés that I’ve eaten previously. And with one that included chili and cornbread…well…this was awesomesauce waiting to happen.

Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt (cooked)

Sure enough…I popped open the package, tossed the wrapped tray into the microwave for about 3 minutes. Then, I removed the plastic wrap and gave another microwave session for 2 minutes…and viola…dinner was served. My roommate and I were going to split this little dish, so I served it up with some hand-cut, homemade sweet potato fries…which I baked in the oven.

How was this little dish? Well, all I can say is that Garden Lites really, really outdid themselves with this one. The base is a cornbread soufflé, which is light, not dense, and really delicious. Sitting on top of that is this healthy helping of veggie chili, which is packed with veggies and beans. And then, on top…some cheese. Just like the good, old-fashioned classic…but with a healthy twist. The cheese is just an added touch that doesn’t overwhelm the dish at all. The star is that cornbread base. Light and airy…and a perfect match for that chili top. So good.

So…now we get down to the science of this dish…mainly the ingredients and nutrition. What I love about these soufflés is that they are so good…and good for you. The Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt contains diced tomatoes, fire roasted corn, pasteurized egg whites, black beans, onion, low fat milk, crushed tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, evaporated cane juice, brown rice flower, red pepper, green pepper, corn starch, corn meal, cheddar cheese, baking powder, canola oil, lemon juice, sea salt, garlic, ancho pepper, cumin, chili powder, chipotle pepper, a blend of locust bean gum, guar gum, and xanthan gum, annatto extract (for color), and black pepper. It sounds like a lot of ingredients, I know, but they are all ingredients I recognize by name…and not one single chemical. Loving it. It is gluten-free and nut-free.

As for nutrition, the Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt contains 200 calories for the entire soufflé. Loving it. The entire soufflé will also serve you up 4.5 grams of fat. This one has 10 grams of cholesterol, 650 mg sodium, and 10 grams of sugar. Finally, you will be devouring 4 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. You will not feel hungry after eating this. Trust me.

Once again Garden Lites and served up a nutritious, easy-to-prepare, delicious little treat that goes from the freezer to the microwave. It’s perfect for these cold nights. And it’s so fast to prepare, and still so delicious. This is, by far, my favorite one I have eaten so far. A little bit of comfort food without the guilt.

This is food love…and it will love you back.

Half of a Garden Lites Veggie Chili & Cornbread Melt

December 20, 2013

Product Review: Garden Lites Southwestern Souffle

Product: Garden Lites Southwestern Soufflé – $3.49+

Awhile back, I stumbled upon Garden Lites products. And I mean…this was a good while back. Back when really all they were offering were their soufflés. Well…their product line-up has expanded. And yes…they even added some different soufflé flavors.

This isn’t something new. This actually happened quite a bit ago. I just never could find the new flavors. And when I finally did…they sat in my freezer. I just sort of got on this cooking thing and never turned back. I love cooking up something fresh.

But with the holidays in full swing…sometimes it’s too hectic after a long day to start something from scratch. That’s why I was so thankful to have a couple of Garden Lites soufflés kicking around in my freezer.

Forreals!

With being out of town the past couple of weekends, the CSA bin has been on hold. So, no fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to my door. Not until after Christmas when things aren’t as crazy and I’m traveling less. So, after a long day at the office and not much energy to spare the other night…I came home and my roommate and I decided to split a Garden Lites soufflé and enjoy that with some baked, hand-cut shoe-string fries. Always baked…never fried in my home. Just as my mom always did it. That’s how I was raised, peeps!

Anyway…we had two choices for the soufflé, so I just grabbed the one on top. The choice: Garden Lites Southwestern Soufflé.

It sounded amazing, combining seasonings with vegetables like tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, black beans, corn, red pepper, green pepper, and even brown rice! Once my potatoes were cut into shoestrings (yes…I do that by hand!), I got them in the oven and then had to wait in order to start the main dish.

Garden Lites Southwestern Soufflé (cooked)

Garden Lites soufflés are so easy to cook up. As the potatoes were finishing up, I popped the Southwestern Soufflé into the microwave and gave it a little burst of heat for 3-1/2 minutes. I left it to stand for about a minute before removing the plastic wrapper and then microwaving it again for another full minute.

That’s it. SO easy!

I’ll be honest…I thought it made the apartment smell like Taco Bell…and it has been ages since I’ve even set foot in a Taco Bell. So…that was interesting. I sliced the fluffy soufflé in half and dinner was served.

Tasty!! That’s the best way to describe this soufflé. I loved the fluffiness the egg whites bring to the actual product. The veggies and spices are evenly incorporated and chopped so they aren’t awkward. In fact, bite-for-bite, I loved the variety of flavors and textures. It was a perfect bite…and it even tasted like a taco. Go figure. My roommate loved it too.

So, ingredient wise, the Garden Lites Southwestern Soufflé contains pasteurized egg whites, onion, crushed tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, black beans, corn, brown rice, red pepper, green pepper, corn starch, evaporated cane juice, canola oil, lemon juice, sea salt, garlic, chipotle pepper, chili powder, ancho pepper, and cumin. All real ingredients…all real food. Nothing fake or processed here. This dish is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and nut-free. Love it.

As for nutrition…the Southwestern Soufflé is actually a really healthy choice. The entire soufflé is the serving and that one item is only 180 calories and contains only 2.5 grams of fat. This soufflé also will serve you up 4 grams of sugar and 650 mg of sodium. The sodium does seem a bit high…but it is a prepackaged food. Not only that, the Southwestern Soufflé provides 4 grams of filling fiber and 9 grams of amazing protein. So good. And good for you!

I loved the Southwestern flair that this souffle carried with it. Loved every bit of it. And every bite for that matter. Looking to add a little spice to your menu on a hectic day? Keep Garden Lites in your freezer and you’ll have an easy meal in less than 5 minutes. And…you’ll love every bite of it. I know I sure did! I’ve always loved Mexican and Southwest flavors…so this souffle was made for me. And I devoured it in kind.

Half of a Garden Lites Southwestern Soufflé

December 11, 2013

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough

Product: Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough – $4.99

Dear Katz Gluten Free:

I love you. I love you more and more with each product that I try. From your breads to your pies to your amazing donuts, you continue to keep me coming back, order after order, no matter the cost. You are that good. And I love you that much.

But…you really outdid yourself with the ready-to-use Gluten-Free All Purpose Dough.

Because of you…I could have a calzone for dinner again.

Because of you…I can make my own delicious pies…without the hassle of making my own crust.

Because of you…the gluten-free community continues to get quality food products. Ones that I will continue to purchase…not just for myself but others.

Add the All Purpose Dough to my list.

Yes…I love you.

All my gluten-free love,
Me

Ease! That’s the best part of this product. It not only is peace of mind, but it’s so simple. Thaw out dough. Use. No hassles. No wondering if your own gluten-free concoction will cook up right. This worked. And it worked beautifully.

I’ve been wanting calzones for a long while now. For real. And with a plethora of vegetables that needed to be used up before the next CSA bin arrived, well, I figured I’d see how the dough would hold up to a little of my craving and baking magic. I had this thought in my head that involved this dough, some squash, some crimini mushrooms, and some shallots. I sauteed them up in a pan and added some marinara sauce as well. All I needed now was the casing for the calzone.

Enter Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough. I removed it from my freezer two days before. The evening I was making the calzones, I cut out two very small pieces of dough, as it says it serves 8 and a serving size is only 2 ounces. So…this was going to be a challenge. But, I was up for it. Using a rolling pin, I attempted to shape the dough into a large circle that wouldn’t break open when I added the filling and moved it to the baking sheet. The first couple times, the dough was rolled too thin, so I knew these would be relatively small calzones. I didn’t care. I rolled out two very asymmetrical circles and piled in the filling on one half. I carefully folded over the other half and did my best to crimp the small serving shut. Sure, I could have used more dough, but I am so careful about serving sizes. I stick to them. I think next time I’ll throw caution in the wind and just add a little more. But…I wanted to do it my way this time. Into the oven the dough went…and when about 20 minutes passed, I opened up the oven and it was this gorgeous golden brown and the filling was sizzling (and peaking out of some holes in my dough). Everything was ready. Dinner was served. And gluten-free calzones were on the menu.

Oh. Hell. Yes.

One bite…and I was hooked. At first, it sort of reminded me of the crust of a potpie. Golden and flaky and it sort of had that same texture and flavor. But when you got a piece with the filling in it…magic. Simple food magic. The crust didn’t get soggy and held up to the marinara/vegetable mixture that I stuffed (and I mean literally stuffed) inside. It was gluten-free and vegetarian food magic. And it was made possible and easy because I took a chance with a new Katz product. So easy. So delicious. I can’t wait to use it in other ways.

Katz Gluten Free Web site says the crust is perfect for pies, turnovers, knishes, or any other pasty imaginable. It’s the go-to solution. It’s what I (and other gluten-free foodies) need in their lives! FOR REAL!

Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough is made from their own blend of gluten-free flour (which includes tapioca flour, white rice flour, sorghum flour, and corn flour), palm oil, water, eggs, sugar, salt, and xanthan gum. Not a bad list of ingredients at all. And that flour blend is pure magic. Pure gluten-free food magic.

As for nutrition…there is a reason I stuck to the serving size. A serving size is 2 ounces. This serving (which is a small rectangle of the dough), will provide you with 260 calories and 18 grams of fat. See why I wanted to stick to the serving size? This serving also will give you 55 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. Sadly, this dough does serve up about 9 grams of saturated fat and 35 mg cholesterol in each serving. Another good reason to stick to the meager 2 ounce recommendation. This dough also will give you 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. So do not expect this dough to fill you up and leave you feeling full. It won’t work that way. But…that being said…it toasted up beautifully in calzone form on my pizza stone and made one delicious meal for me and my roommate. We have 3 more servings each of this dough to use and I intend to see how many various ways I can use it. I might attempt perogies next.

Yes, my dearest Katz Gluten Free…I do love you and your products. You just make my life happy, full, and delicious again. This All Purpose Dough will be something I’ll definitely consider using more of in the future. Simple. And delicious.

Who could ask for anything more?

A gluten-free and vegetarian calzone made with Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough

December 9, 2013

Product Review: Vegenaise Tartar Sauce

Product: Vegenaise Tartar Sauce – $4.49+

Ah…tartar sauce.

I have a love-hate relationship with this condiment.

For one thing, when I used to eat fish, I normally would drown it in ketchup. Mmmm…ketchup.

But every now and again, I’d give the tartar sauce a try. And I never really liked it. Sometimes…I was pleasantly surprised and then lulled into this sense of false hope…and I would try it somewhere else and it would be gross and just…not to my taste.

Then, when I had to go dairy-free…I totally ditched this sauce all together.

But, when I was reviewing some items from Sophie’s Kitchen (vegan sea food, FTW!), my friend Kari mentioned the crab cakes with the tartar sauce from Vegenaise. Vegan. Tartar. Sauce.

Okay…I was intrigued. I knew two local grocery stores carried the vegan crab cakes from Sophie’s Kitchen…and I knew Whole Foods had the Tartar Sauce from Vegenaise. So…I set out a spot in the budget to purchase and then consume both.

My roomie was on board and so…we hit up Whole Foods and purchased both items. Dinner was going to be interesting. I just prayed it all was good.

So…a little while ago, I pulled the vegan crab cakes out of the freezer and said that dinner would be those…with a healthy helping of homemade kale chips. And I would serve the cakes over bibb lettuce from my bin. Originally I was going to place them between gluten-free buns…but I was out of those. So…this was my compromise. I heated the crab cakes as instructed on the box, and while that was working, I got the vegetables working and finally…the sauce.

My roommate has the same sort of love-hate relationship with tartar sauce as well. She is not gluten-free nor vegetarian, but since I am the cook in the apartment, that’s what she eats. She is a huge aficionado for fish and chips when we go out to eat, however…and she has made a habit to at least try the house tartar sauce. Sometimes she raves…sometimes she picks up the ketchup and goes to town. But we thought we would give Vegenaise a fair shake. So, into a little dish, I spooned out a serving of the Vegenaise Tartar Sauce. The crab cakes finished, I plated everything…and it was time to dig in.

I was a little worried about flavor, but I trusted my friend Kari. She raved. She and I like a lot of the same flavors and foods…so…I was worried, but I had high hopes. I know now to always trust Kari…because the Vegenaise Tartar Sauce was some of the best sauce I have tasted in my life. Not just tartar sauce either…spanning ALL THE SAUCES! Filled with a tangy, delicious flavor, it was the perfect compliment to the vegan crab cakes and the greens I served them on. OMG…so freakin’ good! It was love at first taste and I took the opportunity to pile it onto my vegan crab cakes until it was gone. Now I keep thinking of other vegan sea food dishes where I could utilize this sauce. It is SO good.

Veganaise Tartar Sauce is made from a base of Vegenaise (vegan mayonnaise), sweet relish, yellow onion puree, white wine vinegar, vegan Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and xanthan gum. Not bad when it comes to ingredients, right? My thoughts exactly. And nothing is weird…it’s all ingredients I have heard of and trust. Vegenaise is also vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, and soy-free. Loving it!

Nutritionally speaking, on serving is 2 tablespoons. This serving will serve you up a side of 120 calories and 13 grams of fat. It seems high, but it is a vegan mayonnaise-based sauce, right? And regular mayonnaise would be the same way. So, it’s really not too bad for what it is. This small serving also gives you 125 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. That’s awesome. This is also trans-fat free and cholesterol free. In addition, this sauce has no fiber in it, but you do get 2 grams of protein. So, yeah…it’s not totally healthy, but it isn’t bad for you either.

And did I mention how freakin’ good it is? Seriously. In love with a sauce. It’s my new favorite. YUMMY!!

December 7, 2013December 9, 2013

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Crab Cakes

Product: Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Crab Cakes – $5.99+

I’m probably not the best judge when it comes to comparing sea food products with vegan interpretations of them. Honestly. Now, growing up and before I became a vegetarian, I ate seafood. Mostly shrimp. Mostly fried, popcorn, scampi or creole. I was not a huge fan of other fish…but I would eat them. And, to say the least, I made a delicious lemon-crusted oven baked tilapia back in the day.

For real.

But…never, ever did I eat a crab cake before I became a vegetarian and then had to go gluten-free. So, judging these by comparison isn’t going to happen.

Here’s what I can do though. I can go off of flavor, texture, and overall taste. And that was how I approached this product.

The product of which I speak is the Gluten-Free and Vegan Crab Cakes from Sophie’s Kitchen. Now, I’m no stranger to Sophie’s Kitchen, having already tried the Gluten-Free and Vegan Fish Filets, Gluten-Free and Vegan Scallops, and the Gluten-Free and Vegan Breaded Shrimp. While I was blown away by the shrimp, I felt the scallops were good, and the fish filets were…eh…okay.

So…crab cakes. A new challenge for the allergic/intolerant foodie in me.

Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Crab Cakes (frozen) — Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Crab Cakes (frozen)

What I love about Sophie’s Kitchen products is how easy they are to make. The crab cakes could either be baked in the oven, or fried in a skillet on the stove. I’m a health-nut, so I try not to fry things often. I chose to bake them in the oven, which takes about 15 minutes to do. Not too bad at all. They don’t get golden cooking this way, the way the image looks on the box, but I didn’t mind the pale look to them. Remember…never had a crab cake back when I even could. I kept it simple when serving these. I had thought about doing a crab cake sandwich, but didn’t thaw out my gluten-free buns from my local allergen-free bakery. So, instead, I made some homemade kale chips and served the crab cakes over fresh bibb lettuce from my CSA bin. I served a side of Veganaise Tartar Sauce with each cake and…dinner was served in less than 20 minutes. Love that.

But how did it taste?

This is one of my favorite products from Sophie’s Kitchen that I have had the opportunity to try. OH. MY. GLUTEN. FREE. VEGAN. GOD. Seriously…packed with awesome flavor. The texture was great…like lump crab…so that was kinda cool And the blend of ingredients that Sophie’s Kitchen uses to give their faux seafood that fishy flavor worked SO well with these. They are a close second in my favorite gluten-free and vegan things. The first is the breaded shrimp from Sophie’s Kitchen. These are fantastic. They don’t taste fake of bad at all. I loved every bite. Thankfully, my roommate and I made a big dinner out of these…each of us having 2 of the crab cakes instead of the serving size of just one.

Speaking of which…it’s that time in the blog where I bring up the ingredients and nutrition for the products I try. Let’s start with the ingredients. Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan (and Gluten-Free) Crab Cakes are made up of water, pea protein, potato starch, canola oil, seaweed powder, rice flakes (from brown rice), konjac powder, rice vinegar (from brown rice), organic agave nectar, sea salt, celery powder, black pepper, bay leaf, nutmeg, ginger, paprika, dry mustard, cloves, calcium hydroxide. So close to being clean eating…but that calcium hydroxide there at the end sort of killed that.

That being said…it is still a rather healthy choice and one I’d love to buy and indulge in again. In fact, Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Crab Cakes are soy-free, gluten-free, 100% vegan and plant based, contain no preservatives, colors or MSG, and have no artificial anything!! Nice.

Speaking of indulging…a serving size of Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Crab Cakes is 1 cake. This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 6 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a crab cake!! The Vegan Crab Cakes contain only 170 mg sodium and less than 1 gram of sugar. Gotta love that! And, one crab cake also provides you with 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not too shabby.

I am falling more and more in love with the products that Sophie’s Kitchen is bringing to the gluten-free and vegan world. And I love that someone, like me, with food allergies, can safely indulge in a product that is vegan as well. So often this is not the case, so it’s so nice when a company goes the extra mile. And that’s why I continue to purchase and eat products by Sophie’s Kitchen.

And now…I must hit up my Whole Foods for more of these amazing crab cakes. It’s happening!

Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Crab Cakes (baked), served over local bibb lettuce with homemade kale chips — Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Crab Cakes (baked), served over local bibb lettuce with homemade kale chips

November 19, 2013

Product Review: Mom’s Best Safari Cocoa Crunch

Product: Mom’s Best Gluten-Free Safari Cocoa Crunch – $2.49+

Remember those adds with Sonny the Cuckoo Bird declaring, “I’m cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!”

I ate it up as a child. As did I devour said chocolatey puffy cereal. Actually, I think my dad enjoyed them way more than we kids did, because he’d eat the entire box if we weren’t watching him. Says something about that chocolate, sugary rush in the morning, yes?

Well, aside from a couple varieties of chocolate rice puffs…anything remotely close to Cocoa Puffs was nonexistent in the gluten-free cereal world.

Or…so I thought.

Enter…The Roomie.

You see, every now and again, I get into my kitchen to start on a meal…and discover that I am missing an ingredient. So, the roomie is normally kind enough to allow me to do more prep work while she runs down to the grocery store to get what I need. And every now and again, she returns with a wonderful new gluten-free product for me to try. This was the scenario the day she came home from the grocery store with…basically gluten-free Cocoa Puffs.

The brand is Mom’s Best…and I’ve had their Crispy Cocoa Rice cereal (basically…chocolate Rice Krispies) before…and loved then. Loved everything about them but the sugar content. But…let’s face it. I’m having chocolate for breakfast.

That’s basically how it works with the Mom’s Best Gluten-Free Safari Cocoa Crunch as well. At first…the amount of sugar was a concern…but I let it go. I tend to obsess over some things…and while watching my sugar intake is important, it isn’t life-threatening if I go over a certain amount. I just try to keep it in check…and I never seem to be able to. But…setting all that aside, this morning I opened up the box of the Safari Cocoa Crunch, and poured myself a serving. These little chocolate puffy balls of cereal looked so much like Cocoa Puffs, I might have squeed a little in delight. Maybe.

Okay…I did.

But even more so after tasting them. I popped a couple pieces of them dry…to get just the flavor on their own. Oh…my chocolate gods of cereal bliss…they were fantastic. Light…crispy…chocolatey…everything this chocoholic could have asked for and more. Chocolate in the morning…yes please! Sign me up. I then ate the rest of the bowl with a small pool of unsweetened almond milk. Fantastic. I might…might…have slurped up the extra milk, now rich with chocolate, at the bottom of the bowl. There is a good possibility it happened.

These were better than I even remember Cocoa Puffs tasting. However…it’s been a very long time since I’ve had cocoa puffs…so…keep that in mind.

But…OMG…YUMMY!!!

So, let’s get down to the ingredients and nutrition portion of this blog, shall we?

Ingredient wise…Mom’s Best Gluten-Free Safari Cocoa Crunch is made up from sugar (ugh…yes…that is the first ingredient!), corn meal, corn flour, corn syrup, coconut oil, corn bran, cocoa, caramel color, salt, calcium carbonate, canola oil, natural flavor and trisodium phosphate. So…not really the best option…and there are a few chemical sounding ingredients, despite the fact that the box declares that there are no flavors or preservatives that you can’t pronounce. Okay…I can pronounce them…doesn’t mean I know what they are. This cereal, however, does not contain high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils. It is gluten-free as well.

A serving of Mom’s Best Gluten-Free Safari Cocoa Crunch is 3/4 cup. In this serving, you will be consuming 120 calories and 2 grams of fat. That really isn’t too bad for a chocolate cereal. You will be provided with 110 mg sodium and a whopping 14 grams of sugar. Again…it’s a chocolate cereal. I’m going to try not to obsess over that. Unfortunately, this cereal will not leave you feeling full, as I found out this morning. It has only 2 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein. I ate my bowl before heading to the gym and I was already starving 30 minutes into my workout. So, it won’t stick with you. Then again, it’s mostly sugar…so there is a reason.

Overall though…really, really tasty. I love chocolate and it’s nice to treat myself every now and again to a sinfully sugary cereal. I don’t make a habit of it…but this one was totally worth it. Really good. Mom’s Best has once again bested the sugar-addict in me…and made me fall in love with yet another chocolate breakfast treat.

Well played!

November 14, 2013

Product Review: EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough

Product: EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough – $6.49+

COOKIE!

We all know…I am one big cookie monster. I mean…give me a chance to try a gluten-free cookie and I’m on it like Cookie Monster. OM NOM NOM!! Seriously…cookies are one of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to treats. I love them. I always have. I grew up with my mom constantly baking cookies, from scratch, on snow days, for special occasions, and especially during the holidays.

While my favorite will always be her Snickerdoodles (which I intend to attempt to make gluten-free this year…so wish me luck), I also love it when she would make sugar cookies. Not only did we get to help cut them into the fun shapes, but we got to help decorate them too. Sugar cookies are so simple…yet have always been one of my favorite cookies to reach for and devour…er…I mean eat.

Why?

Simple flavors. Simple ingredients. Pure awesomeness.

They are basically sugar, butter, and flour, but damn…they are awesome. I’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t enjoy a sugar cookie. And if they said anything of the sort, I’d deem them a liar…just like everyone I know who says they hate chocolate.

LIES! ALL LIES!!

*cough*

Anyway…here I was…before the release of Pillsbury Gluten-Free Cookie Dough (which is refrigerated)…walking around my local natural foods store during one of their fun gluten-free events…when…the roommate says I can pick out some new products to try. WOOHOO! I love it when she expands my grocery budget as a treat…sometimes for no good reason. She says she benefits from it too…so it’s win/win! I never go overboard…and generally pick a few items that I’ve not seen anywhere else. And one of those items this last time was a gluten-free sugar cookie dough in the refrigerator section. It’s EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough.

EatPastry is a line of vegan and some vegan and gluten-free cookie doughs. The company was founded, according to the website, by confusion, curiosity, and dedication. The company experimented until they came up with what they thought to be the best tasting, best “feeling” cookie dough. They use only high quality, all natural ingredients. And it has been a priority from the inception of EatPastry to maintain 100% vegan ingredients, meaning none have come into contact with any animal ingredients. Their cookie dough also uses only organic and fair trade sugar (evaporated cane juice) and select organic ingredients. They even make their own peanut butter for their (not gluten-free) vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. EatPastry’s doughs contain no eggs, no dairy, no preservatives, no processing, no fillers, no GMOs and no funny business. None. Good cookie dough is serious business, folks! They even state that all flavors were created with various moods in mind.

Mood food. Love it.

Well…I am just now getting around to using this dough because…well…I ran out of desserts in my freezer and pantry. HA! I wanted to try this before but I was working against a deadline on expiration dates. So…this little container was just hanging out in my fridge…waiting patiently.

It’s time to shine came yesterday! I just polished off a delicious, fresh dinner and knew I needed something sweet. I always have dessert. Always. So…I pulled this out of the fridge, preheated my oven to 350 degrees and laid out a strip of parchment paper across a baking sheet. I scooped up two tablespoons of dough, flattened each spoonful out, and then threw the pan in the oven.

How easy is that? About 12 minutes later…out they came. Delicious, individual cookies that were fresh from the oven. That is a total dessert win.

And…oh…my goodness. The EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough is sassy, sweet and seductive. No…really…that’s what the Web site says. But I couldn’t agree more. First of all, with the scoopable refrigerator dough, you can make one cookie at a time if that’s what you wanted. You don’t have to make an entire batch right away…which you may or may not polish off before they start to get hard. This is easy and convenient. Seriously. They have this great texture to them. They are soft on the middle, but golden on the edges. And fresh from the oven…that is unbeatable. The flavors are subtle…but fantastic. There is that rich, delicate undertone of vanilla in each bite. And these cookies aren’t gritty with sugar. Not one bit. They are so amazing that it’s probably a good thing I can cook them up personally. Or I might eat the entire container.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition now…because I like to know what I’m getting myself into.

The EatPastry Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough is made of from a gluten-free flour blend (garbanzo, brown rice), Earth Balance, filtered water, pure salt, natural flavor (derived from corn with no MSG, no alcohol, no gluten) sunflower lecithin, lactic acid (derived from sugar beets), organic evaporated cane juice, pure apple sauce, pure vanilla extract, nutmeg, baking soda, and sea salt. Not too bad for a cookie right?

You’ll fee the same way about the nutrition. One serving is 1 tablespoon, which spoons you up only 60 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. This serving also has only 25 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. Yes…5 grams of sugar in a SUGAR COOKIE!!! You don’t get any fiber of protein from these cookies, but they are free of trans fats as well as cholesterol.

And they are fantastic. Really sexy, smooth, sinful gluten-free cookies of awesomeness. Without the guilt. Because, let’s face it…you don’t find 60 calorie cookies just anywhere, right?

I hope to try the other two vegan and gluten-free varieties offered by EatPastry…the Chocolate Chip and the Snickerdoodle (SQUEE!).

If you can find EatPastry refrigerated vegan and gluten-free cookie dough in your grocery store or natural food store…get it…and try it. You can scoop what you like and keep the rest for later. I’m loving it.

Cookie made from EatPastry's Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough — Cookie made from EatPastry’s Gluten-Free Sugar Momma Cookie Dough

November 14, 2013

Product Review: Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels

Products: Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels – $6.49+

To this day…thanks to the good gluten-free bagels out on the market…bagels continue to be one of my favorite, easy, breakfast foods (or snack…or even lunch or dinner) to eat.

That’s right. Just as any proper New Yorker will attest…the bagel is the best invention out there. I love them. I loved them back when I could eat “regular” bagels. And I love them now because I have found two brands that do bagels right. One handles bagel thins…but when it comes to all-out bagels…the crispy on the outside, soft on the inside bready treat…I turn to none other than Udi’s.

Udi’s knows how important taste and texture are to the gluten-free community. They strive to provide the best quality, best tasting gluten-free products out there. The first time I ever had one of their bagels…I might have cried.

Okay…I admit it…there were tears of joy. And I think the roomie had to hug me.

Yes…they really are that good.

And, get this…the roomie was never big on bagels…until she had one of the Udi’s Gluten-Free variety. Now…she loves them as much as I do, and is always interested to see what kind of topping I schmear over one in the morning.

Bagels are back with a gluten-free vengeance.

Okay…there is nothing new about Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels. They’ve been out on the market for as long (if not a wee bit longer) as I’ve been gluten-free. It’s just taken me this long to purchase them and try them. Why? I don’t know. I’m a grocery shopping dork, apparently. But…the other day they were on Manager’s Special at my local grocery store…and I couldn’t pass up a pack of these for $2.49. HELLO! They found their way into my shopping basket faster than you can say gluten-free!

Udi's Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels (untoasted) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels (untoasted)

Here it was, the Monday after a trip to Huntington, West Virginia, where I ran a full marathon. I was a little sore, very tired, and not wanting to put on my creative thinking cap to actually come up with something to eat for breakfast that day. Thank goodness for splurge purchases on sale items. I reached into my freezer and pulled out two (one for me, one for the roomie) of the Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels, placed them in a ziplock bag to thaw and became a slug for a good chunk of the morning. Around 20 minutes before the roomie was to get up for work, I turned on my oven to 350 degrees removed the bagels from the ziplock. They were completely thawed and soft (but not mushy…at all!!). I split them in half and set them on a baking sheet. Into the oven they went for about 10 minutes until they were just golden on the top. By then, the roomie was up and ready for some food…same as me.

Why the oven? Because I got rid of my toasted when I was diagnosed with Celiac. The toaster had been used with regular bread and therefore…I couldn’t use it anymore. Toasting bread in the oven is just as easy…it just takes a moment longer to allow it to preheat. I can deal with that. Sure, I miss the ease of a toaster…and yes, I could buy a new one, but my kitchen is the size of a walk-in closet…and I honestly have no room for one.

Anyway…I digress…

Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels are AMAZING! So tasty. I topped off one half with pumpkin spice cream cheese. The other half got a schmear of PB & Jellies Pumpkin Pie Jam (which I bought in Colorado Springs, CO). Why the different options? Well, I was down to just one serving of the cream cheese, so I split it with the roomie!

So…the verdict from both of us is…SUPER YUM! Like YUMTASTIC kind of YUM! Mmmm…mmmm…fantastic kind of YUM! SO YUM! I loved the texture of these bagels and the fact that they are the size of a real bagel, if not slightly bigger. The crust gets this nice crust on it, but the inside remains soft, but toasted all the way through. Perfect bagel texture…and probably better than any regular bagel I had ever eaten. I am beyond impressed! No surprise there!

So, let’s talk ingredients and nutrition, shall we? I know…I know…but it needs to be done. Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagels are made from water, tapioca starch, brown rice flour, non-GMO canola oil, egg whites, dried cane syrup, teff flour, tapi0ca maltodextrin, tapioca syrup, flax seed, xanthan gum, yeast, salt, cultured corn syrup solids and citric acid, dry molasses, and enzymes. So…it’s not completely clean eating…but it’s not as bad as some things on the market.

Nutrition-wise, one serving is one a bagel. This really large bagel will serve you 320 calories and 11 grams of fat. One bagel also has 570 mg of sodium and 5 grams of sugar. In addition to that, this one bagel will also provide you with 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein. Trust me…you’ll be more than full after eating one of these…and you won’t be hungry for awhile. LOVE THAT!

I also love how delicious these bagels are…for real. Udi’s really does have it figured out and does a brilliant job of maintaining high standards when it comes to their products. This leaves only one type of bagel left for me to try…the Cinnamon Raisin. And I haven’t found that anywhere around here as of yet.

If you love bagels…you’ll totally love these! Trust me.

Toast one up for yourself and see if you agree!

Udi's Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagel (toasted and topped with a schmear of pumpkin spice cream cheese and a schmear of PB & Jellies Pumpkin Pie Jam) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bagel (toasted and topped with a schmear of pumpkin spice cream cheese and a schmear of PB & Jellies Pumpkin Pie Jam)

November 8, 2013

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery launches new product and a giveaway!

Rudi's NEW Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing — Rudi’s NEW Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing

With Halloween over…the next big holiday coming up is none other than Thanksgiving. And we all have a lot to be thankful for this year.

Do you know what I’m thankful for?

Stuffing.

Yep…you read that right. Stuffing!

You see, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery just recently launched its first ever Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing. Yep…just in time for the holidays. I mean, if being gluten-free isn’t stressful enough at the holidays, tackling the homemade buffet at the dinner table can be enough to set you on edge. But not anymore. Not this year. Rudi’s wanted to help make the holidays brighter and easier this season, and they have certainly accomplished that with their delicious…yummy…made for everyone (not just the gluten-free) stuffing. The stuffing is a blend of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Multigrain and Original breads with savory spices that will tie in with any holiday dish on the table. Guaranteed. Oh, and it only takes 5 minutes to prepare…and is free of dairy, soy, and (of course) gluten. However, this product will only be available for a limited time…while supplies last through the 2013 holiday season. If you want to see what stores in your area carry Rudi’s Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing, you can check out their Facebook page!

But…that’s not all! To celebrate the launch of their Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing, Rudi’s is also providing a giveaway on their Facebook page, running from November 4-15. Every day, for 10 days straight, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery is giving away daily prizes of fun “stuff” for their fans to use and enjoy over the holidays with their family. In addition, fans can also download a coupon for $1 off any Rudi’s Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing through the More Fun Stuff(ing) Giveaway app.

How do you enter?

Hop over to Rudi’s Gluten-Free More Fun Stuff(ing) Giveaway and enter the information needed…and who knows…you might be chosen to win one of the prizes!

GOOD LUCK!! And stuff your holidays with delicious goodness this season with Rudi’s Gluten-Free Savory Herb Stuffing!

November 7, 2013

Product Review: Star Anise Foods Happy Pho – Garlic Goodness Vietnamese Brown Rice Pho Noodle Soup

Star Anise Foods Happy Pho Garlic Goodness Vietnamese Brown Rice Noodle Soup — Star Anise Foods Happy Pho Garlic Goodness – Vietnamese Brown Rice Noodle Soup

Product: Star Anise Foods Happy Pho – Garlic Goodness Vietnamese Brown Rice Pho Noodle Soup – $3.49+

Splurges happen.

For real.

And for me…splurges tend to happen when food is involved. Mainly…grocery shopping. Something catches my eye, peeks my interest, and before you know it, the plan to stick to the already tight budget is out the window and I’m scraping by the rest of the week. But it’s okay…because I have food. Right?

Sure.

Well, a splurge happened this past weekend. I was wandering the aisles of Whole Foods, which already is a dangerous thing, when my roomie spotted these little brown boxes. The words “PHO” caught her attention first. Followed by “GLUTEN-FREE.” Now we’re talking. She’s been wanting to have pho for a long, long while…but…I just don’t know of where to go in Louisville to make that happen for her. Instead…we figured this might be a good way to use up some of the produce and make our own version of a pho. And why not? If you can’t get creative in the kitchen…there’s no point to having one.

The product we spotted was by Star Anise Foods. It’s called Happy Pho, and it comes in three different flavors. We chose the Garlic Goodness Vietnamese Brown Rice Pho Noodle Soup. We figured we’d eventually try them all…if the one we tried was any good. Cathy loves garlic…so I had a feeling that would be the one to start us off.

Instead…with a little refrigerator magic…and a Organic Vegetarian Pho Base by Pacific Natural Foods (which was in my pantry, swear to the culinary gods!), this splurge of a purchase became tonight’s dinner. And tomorrows lunch for that matter.

Let’s talk a little bit about this product though. First of all, Star Anise Foods Happy Pho – Garlic Goodness Vietnamese Brown Rice Pho Noodle Soup is not only gluten-free, but also non-GMO, low in sodium, contains no MSG, made from 100% brown rice with organic green tea, vegan, all natural, made with organic ingredients, fat-free, wheat-free, egg-free, dairy-free, free from artificial colors and preservatives. It’s ALL NATURAL, my little pho babies!!

One serving is 1/2 the packet, which my roommate and I stretched out into 4 meals, so we’re only eating 1/4 of the packet each. Regardless, a regular serving will provide you with 222 calories. A serving only has 190 mg of sodium, which is amazing for a shelf-stable, packaged product. The Garlic Goodness variety of Happy Pho also will has 1 gram sugar, 3 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein. That’s really good!!

To make my pho…I pan fried up some thinly sliced tofu. While the pho starter came to a boil, I added the packet of seasoning that comes with the noodles and allowed it to blend with the pho starter. I then sliced up some bok choy (compliments of my CSA bin) and put it into the broth. Once the tofu was nearing completion, in went the brown rice noodles to soften up in the hot soup base. As the noodles finished up, I poured the tofu in to warm and…dinner was easily served.

And…OMG…was it ever good!! I mean super good. As in I make a mean vegetarian pho thanks to Star Anise Foods and their Happy Pho starter kits. Honestly. I was so happy with the flavor of this noodle soup. The brown rice noodles were a bit gummy, but that tends to be the trend with brown rice noodles. Sadly enough. But…the flavor was there, and the noodles, broth, tofu, and bok choy all married together to make this incredible, flavor-filled meal. The seasoning packet combined with the pho soup base made a perfect base for the vegetables, tofu, and…the noodles. My roommate and I devoured this with chopsticks. Happy girls, we were! Food Yoda, I speak like.

Go to your local Whole Foods…check out their aisle with the Asian foods. If you spot Star Anise Foods Happy Pho kits…buy one. Buy them all. Trust me, they are totally amazing and I intend to pick up more of them, other flavors, and give them a taste as well. This made for a quick, easy, and very delicious (and nutritious) dinner tonight. I was beyond impressed.