Products – Page 42 – The Celiathlete

September 14, 2013

Product Review: Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies – $5.99+

For all my loyal followers up to this point…you know it doesn’t need to be said…but I will state it one more time.

I. LOVE. COOKIES.

They are, in fact, one of my favorite indulgences. Especially after dinner. I don’t know what it is about cookies, but they just seem like the perfect way to end your day. Dessert at its finest, especially when the cookies are crumbly, soft, buttery, sweet and delicious.

HOWEVER…this combination doesn’t always fall into place when gluten-free cookies are concerned. Too often, the packaged cookies at the store are hard, crunchy, crumbly (and not in a good way) paper weights of wrongness that just don’t work for me. I’ve found some decent enough cookies in the past…but at a price. They are expensive for a reason. That reason being…they are GOOD!

Well, at Expo West this past year, Udi’s Gluten-Free unveiled a bunch of new products. And while Udi’s already has a line of cookies out on the shelves (the bite-size Snickerdoodles being my favorite), they introduced three new flavors in what they are calling a “Soft-Baked Cookies” line. These include Peanut Butter Coconut (yes please!), Maple Pecan Chip (yum!), and, the one that caught my attention immediately…Salted Caramel Cashew. Why did this one stand out? Because Salted Caramel whatever the thing is will always win in my book because salted caramel is one of my favorite flavors. It’s that sweet and salty combination. Add my favorite nut in the whole entire universe…the cashew…to the mix and you are totally Charlie Sheen WINNING!

I was afraid these products would be scarce in my area for awhile. This sometimes happens, especially when I get excited about a new product that is introduced by a brand I trust. But…I was at Walmart of all places one day and there they were…shining at me from a lower shelf…begging me to purchase it and devour ALL the cookies. I have no willpower when it comes to cookies, so they were in my arms and in a shopping bag in record time.

But I didn’t devour them all at once. In fact, I had other dessert items that needed my attention first. But yesterday marked the magical date where I ripped into the box, opened up the package and removed one of Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies. I breathed in the smell that came from the packaging itself. It was so familiar. In a good way. I handed off one cookie to my roommate, took one for myself…and then put everything away to devour another day. I stick to serving sizes even when I don’t always want to.

These cookies are amazing for processed goodies. Trust me on this one. The familiar smell…well…the taste made it all fall into place. These cookies taste like butter pecan ice cream. NO JOKE! They are perfectly balanced in sweetness and saltiness, lending that bit of savory flavor to each flaky, buttery bite. And these soft, chewy cookies are just a delight on the tastebuds. I honestly had to remind myself that I was eating a cookie…not butter pecan ice cream. Either way, I was one happy cookie monster. Oh yes…that cookie was gone in no time flat and I enjoyed every single delicious bite. Soft throughout, these cookies are just what I love when I bite into a gluten-free treat. Nothing tasted off or fake. Nothing crumbled. Nothing crunched in a loud and obnoxious way. These were sheer perfection in flavor, texture, and everything else. I was one very, very happy gluten-free cookie.

So…now the science of things…

Ingredient wise, these cookies are baked up by using tapioca starch, dried cane syrup, palm oil, brown rice flour, cashew pieces, eggs, tapioca syrup, toffee bits, potato starch, molasses, salt, natural flavors, vanilla extract, xanthan gum, baking soda, and caramel color. So, every ingredient is definitely something I recognize and might have even used myself. I have quite an eclectic blend of flours going on…especially as I’ve been doing some paleo baking recipes as one of my runners on Saturday is doing a paleo diet. Regardless…the fact that nothing sounds like a chemical or like a chemistry experiment makes me feel even better about eating these.

Nutritionally speaking…a serving of Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies is one cookie. This one cookie will cost you 120 calories and 6 grams of fat. These cookies are much bigger than the two-bite Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Chip, and Oatmeal Raisin cookies that they originally put out in their lineup. And the eclectic flavors of the new soft-baked varieties definitely tempt the palate. Anyway…these cookies also contain 130 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. Seven grams of sugar isn’t bad for a cookie! That’s quite impressive. These cookies do not provide any fiber to your diet and only 1 gram of protein, so not filling…but definitely a nice sweet way to end your meal.

So treat yourself to one of the most amazing cookies out on the market. The sweet and salty combination of flavors will entice and liven up your taste buds and leave you wanting more. And if you love butter pecan ice cream, you will especially fall in love with the butterscotchy flavor of the Salted Caramel Cashew Soft-Baked Cookies.

Once again, Udi’s Gluten-Free…you impress me with your products. Another winner in my books.

September 14, 2013

Product Review: Glutino Spinach & Feta Gluten-Free Pizza

Product Review: Glutino Spinach & Feta Gluten-Free Pizza – $5.99+

I love pizza. I really do. Give me a good gluten-free pizza and I just might become your best friend ever. Not only has gluten-free pizza become my food of choice before a long run or a race (it unleashes my endurance, I guess!), but I have always, always loved pizza. Nutrition be damned…nothing is better than a flaky crust with gooey cheese and some great vegetable toppings. Right? RIGHT!

So, a couple of weeks ago before I headed out on vacation, my local grocery store was having a closeout on Glutino’s Gluten-Free Spinach & Feta Pizza. Now, my roomie and I had been dying to try these for awhile, but just couldn’t justify the price. But, with the closeout going on, the pizzas were only $1.99 each. So, yeah…we grabbed two. We would have grabbed more…except we didn’t know if we would like them or not…and we were getting ready to head out of town and we didn’t want to stuff our freezer, which we have been working hard on whittling down the products inside, full once again.

But we should have known better. After all…this is a Glutino product and they have never done us wrong. We haven’t met a Glutino product that we haven’t liked or loved. Stuffing our freezer full of these pizzas would have been the best thing to ever happen to our kitchen. For real!

Let me tell you why…

Glutino Spinach & Feta Gluten-Free Pizza (frozen)

The spinach to cheese ratio is amazing. More spinach…less cheese! I love that. As much as my roomie loves cheese, even she was thrilled by the amount of spinach on this pizza. Honestly…healthy greens that provide key nutrients. Yes. All about that. The crust. OH. MY. GOD. Yes…this is one of those thin crust gluten-free pizzas that turn up everywhere. Yes…sometimes I do miss having that amazing chewy crust. But…the crust on this Glutino pizza was flaky and crisp and still soft so it was everything I wanted in a pizza crust. The flavor was so delicious. Nothing that tasted off or gritty or anything. It really was a wonderfully golden flaky crust that crumbled against my tongue when I bit into it. Savory goodness right there. It’s rich and buttery and…I’m suddenly craving it again. GAH! The cheese doesn’t just stop with crumbles of feta. Nope. Add to it shredded mozzarella and ricotta cheese and you end up with a blend of amazing flavors that don’t overtake the crust or the spinach that is also part of the mix. It was SO good. My roommate usually takes forever to eat her food and she was done eating this pizza before I was. And she’s not even a Celiac. All she could do was rave about it. And for the same reasons I am. It is, honest to goodness, a whole lot of…well…goodness!! And it only took a short 15 minutes in the oven to bake before it was ready for prime time…or at least our bellies.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition…because it needs to be done! Starting with what makes up this pizza. The box lists off all the ingredients, which include: pizza crust (composed of water, brown rice flour, rice starch, potato starch, olive oil, sugar, tapioca starch, potato flour, yeast, cellulose, salt, spices, and garlic powder), spinach and cheese sauce (composed of water, spinach, milk, cream, feta cheese, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Monterrey jack cheese). It’s very straight forward and very, very delicious when all put together and baked up. Trust me…when I pulled it from the box and removed the paper, I wasn’t too sure it was going to be any good…but it’s amazing what a warm oven does to a product.

Nutritionally speaking, as far as personal pizzas go…this is a good one. The entire pizza only costs you 370 calories and 17 grams of fat. That isn’t bad for a frozen pizza…or a gluten-free pizza for that matter…frozen or not. You will also be consuming 530 mg sodium and less than 1 gram of sugar. Nice. Not bad for something packaged and frozen, for real. This pizza does have 30 mg of cholesterol, but it has no trans fat in it at all. You also get served 2 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. Awesome!

I am so in love with this pizza. I normally am not a huge fan of frozen pizzas…but this one hits flavor, taste, texture, and everything right on the money. The regular price seems pretty steep, but buying it on sale and enjoying it this much makes me want to purchase it again, price tag be damned. In fact, I’m trying to talk myself out of rushing to the grocery store to pick up another one for dinner tonight. Must…behave…even if I don’t want to!

Must…resist…grabbing car keys…

Trust me…this pizza really is that fantastic. I was grocery shopping earlier and really, really had to resist buying a cart full of these. It wasn’t easy. I walked away without any more but the temptation still lingers. Which means…this is one hell of a frozen pizza. Try it out. Even those of you who don’t need to eat gluten-free…you might find you love this even more than those who do have to eat this way. It is frickin’ amazing!

Glutino Spinach & Feta Gluten-Free Pizza (baked)

September 14, 2013

Product Review: Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters

Product: Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters – $4.99+

Gluten-free granola is becoming a staple in my apartment. Why? Because it is so versatile…and personally, I love the texture and flavor that it adds to my morning breakfast parfaits. Honestly. The most important part, for me, however, is to find one that is more nutritious than it is indulgent. Indulgent is all fine and good, but I’m trying to cut down on sugars in a lot of goods…and my breakfast shouldn’t be just a wash of sugar. I’ll burn through that in no time and then need to snack more. So, I’m very particular about the granola that finds its way into my pantry.

That being said, I have always…always trusted Love Grown Foods when it comes to their Oat Clusters. I find that they use real ingredients and cut back on things like sodium and sugar and still manage to put out one of the most fantastic products on the market.

I’ve reviewed quite a few of their products before…but somehow had never blogged on their Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters. What’s up with that? I mean…HELLO…chocolate for breakfast?! Yes please. Even better when you don’t feel bad about what you are eating. And when it comes to the products that Love Grown Foods puts out on the market…I never feel guilty.

And when I am able to pronounce every ingredient on the package…well…it’s a safe bet that I’ll feel comfortable putting it in my body. At Love Grown Foods, founders Alex and Maddy create delicious foods that are full of nutritional benefits that everyone can enjoy. Everyone. Even someone like me…who is gluten-free. In fact, they believe that kids (and adults) should have access to a healthy, wholesome breakfast…and that belief is what helped them create Love Grown Foods…a company with a passion to make true change when it comes to making changes in the food world and, in the bigger picture, improving kids’ nutrition.

As I am running the Chicago Marathon for Action For Healthy Kids, a non-profit charity organization that emphasizes nutrition and exercise to children, you can see how passionate I am about this cause. Love Grown Foods hits on the exact thing I am running for next month. It’s a worthy and important cause. Children are our future and so many of them go without good nutritious food, nor are they learning about proper nutrition. Processed and unhealthy foods (fast food, etc) is cheaper and more affordable…and that’s what these kids are growing up on. That…and game systems, computers, and anything that makes them live a more sedentary lifestyle. It needs to change. And thanks to the options provided by Love Grown Foods…it’s happening.

With that being said…let’s talk about chocolate for breakfast! Mmmm. Doesn’t sound very nutritious does it? Sort of sounds like the complete antithesis of what I just rambled on about. But, guess again. We’re talking about Love Grown Foods here…and they actually get their Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters a healthy dose of important nutrients. And with the subtle, sweet flavor of real dark chocolate…kids will be eating healthy and thinking they are totally getting dessert for breakfast.

I thought that too when I opened up my bag of Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters. For real. Sweet, indulgent chocolatey goodness was inside. I had to try some on its own for the sake of the blog. But after a couple of pinches, I knew it was time to build my breakfast parfait. And I was making a new one. With PB2, vanilla Greek yogurt, a drizzle of honey, fresh slices of banana, and now…Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters. With the initial tasting…I knew this would be one epic breakfast parfait. And it didn’t disappoint.

Here’s the fantastic thing about this granola, aside from being made from real ingredients, Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness is a sweet indulgence that you don’t feel bad about eating. Not one bit. Yes…it is chocolate. But who doesn’t like chocolate for breakfast? I live for chocolate for breakfast. And this is a much better and healthier way of doing it than say…chocolate chip pancakes or a high sugar chocolate cereal. These oat clusters are little chunks of gluten-free oats that have been sweetened with agave and honey instead of refined sugars or (even worse) artificial sweeteners. To hit the sweetness right on the money, 63% dark chocolate chips are added to the mix. So, with no junk this is really a guilt-free chocolate indulgence that you can feel good about eating. So…it’s sweet, but it comes by it honestly and naturally. And it isn’t “give-me-a-cavity-with-each-bite” sweet either. It’s subtle…savory…and decadent without being too much. And that’s a very fine line when it comes to chocolate. Trust me…I’m a chocoholic. I could eat this straight from the bag (and have!) and not need it with anything else. Seriously…it is that super good. Mixed in with the contents I chose for the parfait and it was a nice, rich, and deliciously filling breakfast treat.

Ingredients are simple and understated. Nothing is processed and everything is real and something you would recognize if you were walking down the aisles of your grocery store. Certified gluten-free oats, honey, organic agave syrup, expeller pressed canola oil, coconut, 63% chocolate, sunflower seeds, pure vanilla, milled flaxseed, 100% pure cocoa powder and sea salt. Ten simple and recognizable ingredients and you get BIG flavor and epic deliciousness without feeling bad about taking a little more than intended.

Now…down to the nutritional nitty-gritty! A serving of Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters is 1/4 cup. In this small, but filling serving, you will receive 130 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. In addition, you will be served up a scant 35 mg sodium and 8 grams of sugar. These chocolatey oat clusters also provide you with 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not bad at all!!

We all like a sweet indulgence every now and again. With Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters you can indulge all you want and never, ever feel guilty. Love Grown Foods serves up nutritious and delicious products with a whole lot of love.

And that’s why I keep buying the brand. I believe in what they are selling and the mission they have set out for their company and products. I’m a believer. And I’m totally hooked.

“Chunky Monkey” Breakfast Parfait made with Greek Yogurt, PB2, banana, and Love Grown Foods Cocoa Goodness Oat Clusters

August 23, 2013

Product Review: Walden Farms Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Waldon Farms Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Product: Walden Farms Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing – $4.99+

You know…up until I started on my new 70/30 Clean Eating plan my sports nutritionist has put me on…I never would have thought twice about enjoying the basically guilt-free products put out by Walden Farms. I mean…I’ve had quite a few salad dressings from their extensive line-up that I have quite enjoyed. And, a couple weeks ago, a bottle of their Balsamic Salad Dressing just happened to wind up on Manager’s Special at my local grocery store. I hadn’t tried this flavor yet…so I figured I’d give it a shot. If I didn’t like it, I wasn’t out much thanks to the reduced price.

So…I initially was introduced to Walden Farms by Rocco DiSpirito in his Now Eat This cookbooks. He uses the calorie free (yes…CALORIE FREE) ketchup in a few recipes as one of the ingredients. I was intrigued. I had seen a few of these Walden Farms products lurking at numerous grocery stores in my area…so…one day I decided to try one of the salad dressings. And…it really wasn’t bad at all. For the record…I have never tried the ketchup.

Anyway…a few salad dressings later…here I was with one of my favorite dressings to have when out at a restaurant. Mostly because it’s safe. Any vinaigrette is normally a safe bet when it comes to dressing up a salad. And I’ve always loved the flavor of a good Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Polishing off the lettuce, tomato, and green peppers from my last CSA bin, I’ve been making quite a few salads this week. Tonight, I needed a new salad dressing. So…out came the Walden Farms Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing. I tore off the seal and twisted off the cap, taking a light sniff of the bottle. It smelled just like Balsamic Vinaigrette…so that was a good sign.

I put the 2 tablespoon serving size over my salad (yes…I did measure it!) and dove in.

The flavor is authentic. It has the feel, taste, smell…everything a normal Balsamic Vinaigrette would have. Just…this one happens to have no calories (save the trace ones that are always in something you eat or drink…even those zero calorie diet sodas!). I was impressed. I was beyond impressed. It was like having a full-barrel version of this dressing…but without all the fats and calories. Delicious. Amazing. Just what my salad needed to be dressed with. It complimented every vegetable inside my bowl. Two tablespoons almost felt like too much. This was a hearty dressing…while still having that oil and vinegar consistency.

But…here is where my sports nutritionist has ruined me. As I’m feasting on this dressing, I start to wonder how a dressing that is normally made from a wine vinegar and olive oil could exist without calories. Yes…these things run through my mind. So, I turned the bottle over and took a look at the ingredients. They include: triple-filtered purified water, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, cellulose fiber, salt, dijon mustard, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper, natural flavors, natural spices, caramel color, xanthan gum, sucralose (SPLENDA!! NOOOOO!), and sodium benzoate. Yeah…first of all…SPLENDA! NO NO NO NO NO!! SPlenda is bad. And bad for you. And now I just want to dump this dressing down the drain and get something real and good and made with natural products. That’s my next problem…cellulose fiber? Sodium Benzoate? Huhwha?

As far as the nutrition panel reads…it’s flooded with zeros. Zero calories, zero fat, zero cholesterol, zero protein, zero fiber, but it does have 260 mg of sodium. This dressing is gluten-free, calorie-free, sugar-free, and fat-free.

But the Splenda thing is really bothersome. I just don’t like it. At all. So…fat and calories aren’t bad for you…you just have to take them in moderation. And so that is how I shall take my salad dressing.

But no longer from Walden Farms. While I appreciate their products and have enjoyed all the ones I have tried…I just can’t continue to put Splenda into my body. Not when I’m trying to better it.

It’s too bad. It really is.

August 22, 2013

Product Review: Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar

Product: Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar – $2.95+

One of my favorite things in life is that sweet/spicy blend of cinnamon and sugar. Honestly. I love a light coating on my gluten-free French toast…or over my air-popped popcorn. I love it just dusted over a schmear of vegan butter spread on a gluten-free slice of bread, tasted in the oven…to make the perfect cinnamon toast. Yes…cinnamon and sugar is my thing. It might explain why Snickerdoodles continue to be my favorite cookie…ever!

And while this product is no longer really all that “new”…I had really never been able to find it in the stores around here. Until a local grocery store started to carry them in their gluten-free section. I am, of course, speaking of Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar. I fell in love with Crunchmaster crackers a long time ago. And about a year ago, I believe, they introduced a few new products. One of which was the Grammy Crisps. When I spotted these on the shelf…I had to take them home. I had to. There was no arguing with me about budget this time. This was a necessity.

Now…growing up I loved graham crackers. I still do, but my gluten-free options are pretty limited to two brands. So, when I heard about the Grammy Crisps from Crunchmaster, I immediately envisioned that flavor of those cinnamon sugar graham crackers from my youth. You know, the ones where one side is coated in crystals of sugar and cinnamon…the other side plain. And what you get is the most amazing graham cracker flavor…ever?

That’s what I envisioned with these.

And I was…kind of right.

Today was the day I broke out the box of Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar and dished up a serving (30 grams) to take to work with me for my afternoon snack. I think I sat in anticipation all day, wondering what these would taste like. I almost started to berate myself for not having a backup in case these were just…nasty. But I don’t think I’ve ever had a product from Crunchmaster that wasn’t at least consumable.

When 3 p.m. rolled around, my snack drawer was opened and I was pulling out my little container that held these squares of graham-cracker like cinnamon sugar flavor. Without any show of self control (because sometimes I have none!)…I popped one of these crackers into my mouth and crunched away. My first initial thought was that it actually lacked in flavor. It just tasted…bland. And I was sad. But then, the dusting of cinnamon and sugar on these rice crackers finally kicked in. So…they weren’t overly sweet…or very sweet at all…but then you get this nice hit of semi-sweet warmth from the cinnamon and sugar. It takes a moment…but it gets there.

The texture of these crisps reminds me a lot of what regular Crunchmaster crackers are like. Very substantial, crunchy, but light. They really do give you a nice crunch with each bite. I just wish the seasoning was, perhaps, cooked into the crisps rather than dusted on the outside. It is just this close to perfect. But it misses the margin ever so slightly.

Let’s talk ingredients. I would say, with the exception of the sugar, that this snack would almost be considered clean. It has very few ingredients, being made from brown rice flour, whole grain sorghum flour, sugar, cinnamon sugar seasoning, potato starch, safflower oil, and salt. I recognize every single one of those ingredients. Which is always reassuring when it comes to buying something processed in the store. At least I don’t have to look up some crazy preservative or chemical additive to find out what it is. The Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar are certified gluten-free, free of peanuts, cholesterol free, contain no saturated fat, and are made from 100% whole grain.

Now, let’s talk the nutrition aspect. These are little brown rice crackers that are dusted with a cinnamon sugar blend. One serving is 30 grams, or about 25 crisps. This serving will dish you up 130 calories and 2 grams of fat. That isn’t bad for a snack. The sugar level sits only at 5 grams, which is actually amazing considering that these are cinnamon and sugar flavored snack crackers. These have only 150 mg of sodium as well. And, this serving will also give you 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

My love for Crunchmaster products continues…even though I wasn’t blown away by these crisps. They are good. They are. They remind me of Cinnamon Toast Crunch…actually…just without all the sweet sugary flavor that encapsulated every little square of that cereal. That was my sister’s favorite cereal growing up, so we ate that a lot. The flavor of these is a bit reminiscent of that. I liked these though, enough to polish off the box in the next couple of days (I’m a serving-size stickler). If you love the flavor of graham crackers…with a touch of sweet and spice…then the Crunchmaster Grammy Crisps Cinnamon & Sugar might just be for you.

If you find them…they are at least worth a taste. If you like the taste of cinnamon and sugar…these have it. It just isn’t the initial WOW-factor on flavor I expected. But, they are definitely worth a try. Trust me.

August 22, 2013

Product: So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk

Product: So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk – $2.49+

You know…I’ve found that even if I could drink it…I have lost my appetite for cow’s milk. Seriously. I have no real urge to pour a glass and down it. That being said…I have been drawn in and become hooked on unsweetened non-dairy milks…such as those made from nuts or coconut. Honestly. It doesn’t get much better than your morning cereal swimming in a pool of unsweetened almond milk…does it? It’s one of my little joys in life. And I’m not ashamed.

Well, I think the minds at Turtle Mountain, makers of the So Delicious Dairy Free products, have introduced a new line of dairy-free beverages. From the company that makes, honestly, some of the best coconut milk, some of the best almond milk…and some of the best other products that utilize those…So Delicious Dairy Free has brought Cashew Milk to the market.

Yes.

Cashew. Milk.

Why this hasn’t been done before, I don’t know.

I mean, I’ve downed soy milk, rice milk, hazelnut milk, almond milk, coconut milk…I even did one of those nut-milk blends that was made from almonds, hazelnuts, and cashews. But never, ever…just cashew. Which is sad…because it is my favorite nut. It’s also the most popular nut in America, with 31% of people naming it their top choice (almonds came in at 16%). Cashews have a delicate flavor, but are quite rich. And they are a great source of iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, and zinc. They also contain high levels of antioxidants that can help lower the risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease.

Cashews are not just delicious…but little powerhouses in their own right!

Currently, So Delicious offers two varieties of their Cashew Milk. Both of which are unsweetened. One is the original flavor the other…vanilla. I’d love to try vanilla, I just have to find it first. As it was, this was tucked away on the bottom shelf at my local Whole Foods. I didn’t see it, but my roommate spotted it and I commenced with yet another happy dance in the aisles of Whole Foods. Their Christmas video of goofy customers will be filled with me this year, I swear. So, as the only available option is the Unsweetened Original Cashew Milk…that’s what I bought.

This morning…it made its debut. Actually, I opened it up last night to pour into my Maple Raspberry Overnight Oats, but…I didn’t taste the milk. My roommate did…and said it tasted like almond milk. That’s her palate for you.

So, I’m working on polishing off a box of Vanilla Chex…so this morning, my cereal got a nice, healthy dash of So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk. I found it to have a bit more body to it than unsweetened almond milk, meaning it was a bit thicker…more like cow’s milk. I tasted it…and found that it had a very smooth and light flavor. I liked it. Maybe not as much as my unsweetened almond milk…but I liked it. I liked it enough to slurp it up by the spoonful with my cereal. Now…lunch today, I retrieved my Refrigerator Oats and sat down to devour it. The cashew milk was SO good in that. I mean, it had a thicker consistency, so it wasn’t as soupy as it usually is. It really softened up the gluten-free oats, mixed well with my dairy-free yogurt, my pure maple syrup, and the raspberries I added for flavor. It was fantastic. I’d use the So Delicious Cashew Milk in that every single time I make it…if I could. I was blown away. And I think I ate them faster than I ever had before. I loved that both varieties that are out are unsweetened. I only buy unsweetened almond milk, so that was how I wanted my cashew milk. It has a bit of a richer texture and flavor…and I liked it. As a cashew lover…well…that’s a good thing.

Let’s talk ingredients now…because I have been cutting certain additives out of my diet wherever possible. I was so happy to see that So Delicious Unsweetened Cashew Milk did not have carrageenan listed. Total win. What this milk is made up of includes: cashew milk (filtered water and cashews), non-GMO canola oil, calcium phosphate, magnesium, magnesium phosphate, locust bean gum, gellan gum, guar gum, vitamin A acetate, sea salt, vitamin D-3, L-Selenmoethionine (selenium) zinc oxide, folic acid, and vitamin B-12.

As for the nutritional information I like to pass on…keep in mind that this is milk derived from a nut. Therefore…it is going to have more fat than other non-dairy products. And…this one actually has a lot of fat in it. A serving of 1 cup will only serve you up 35 calories, but 30 of those calories are calories from fat. Yeah…that’s…a lot. One cup will also provide you with 3.5 grams of fat and 85 mg sodium. This beverage has no fiber, no protein, no cholesterol, and no sugar. I’m bummed about the protein part. At least I get 1 gram with almond milk.

So…overall…a delightfully tasty beverage from So Delicious. The Unsweetened Cashew Milk is just as good as it sounds. I hope to track down the vanilla version of it sometime because I love my unsweetened vanilla almond milk and treat myself to it every now and again.

So Delicious…you are definitely living up to your name…as you tend to do. Thank you for introducing my favorite nut to milk form and livening up my breakfast and lunch. SO DELISH!

August 17, 2013

Product Review: Endangered Species Natural Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans

Product: Endangered Species Natural Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans – $2.99+

I love chocolate covered espresso beans. They are little “pellets of power” as my roommate calls them. And she couldn’t be more right. But they have to be dark chocolate coated. Why? Because dark chocolate…as I stated before…is my favorite chocolate and the only one I prefer to consume. Milk chocolate is not for me. And white chocolate…it’s never really impressed me. Dark chocolate, with all it’s healthy antioxidants and heart-healthy qualities is the way to go.

I still remember reading one of Dean Karnazes’ books (he is the Ultramarathon Man for those of you who are unfamiliar with the name) about running in his first ultra marathon. He was at one of the checkpoints and he was given a slice of brownie. What made this brownie the most amazing thing he had ever tasted…was the espresso beans that were baked inside the chocolate fudgey treat. Runners love that extra kick that caffeine can give to their runs…and having it with a hit of chocolate is my favorite way to eat espresso beans.

Imagine my joy when I was at my local Earth Fare store and spotted the Endangered Species line of chocolate bars. They had so many varieties on their shelves and my roommate told me to pick one. ONE!!!!! How was I supposed to choose? But…I did. And while the Dark Chocolate Bar with Blueberries was very tempting (blueberries…another super food for runners!)…I ended up selecting the Natural Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans.

And I couldn’t be happier with my choice. This chocolate bar ended up getting tucked away in my drawer of run goodies in my kitchen. And, like the chocolate bars that came before it…I totally forgot that they were in there. With sell by dates coming up…I figured now was as good a time as any to work my way through them. A nice little sweet treat for the office day. Perfection. Just what I needed for that mid-afternoon pick-me-up. With the espresso beans, that shouldn’t be a problem.

So, this past week, I opened up the bar and broke it up into 1/5 portions. The serving size on the back indicates that the actual serving is 1/2 of the entire bar. But I just needed a taste…not half a bar at 2 p.m. Just saying.

Let me say this…this bar won me over at first taste. The dark chocolate is some of the best I have ever had the chance to taste. Rich. Smooth. It wasn’t too bitter at all. Just the perfect hit of dark chocolate goodness. And it’s the perfect percentage for dark chocolate so that it isn’t too bitter and you still know you are eating dark chocolate. This particular bar sits pretty at 72% cocoa. The espresso beans…oh…yeah. Just like eating a few dark chocolate espresso beans. That’s what this tastes like. Caffeinated love with a hit of coffee flavor. Color me a happy chocolate-eating girl.

This chocolate bar is certified gluten-free, vegan, uses Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa, it’s kosher, and it’s non-GMO certified. The cacao is sourced from ethically traded cacao farms that ensure fair trade, responsible labor practices and sustainable farming. Are you sold on this yet? What is even better, 10% of the net proceeds of each bar purchased are donated to help support species, habitat and humanity. That means…indulging in a cause. A very good and important cause.

So…this clean eating chocolate loving lady gives this bar a huge, huge thumbs up. Honestly. I’m totally addicted. Maybe it’s the espresso beans. Maybe it’s the delicious bittersweet dark chocolate. But I’d wager it’s the combination of the two. As far as ingredients go, this chocolate bar is made up of bittersweet chocolate, and roasted coffee. No…really. How’s that? It’s sweetened from vanilla and beet sugar. Clean eating chocolate for sure.

Nutritionally speaking, by breaking it up into 5 portions of 3 squares, I only consume 84 calories and 7 grams of fat. But, if you were to consume the 1/2 bar (or 43 grams) listed as the actual serving size, you’d be taking in 210 calories and 17 grams of fat. It is cholesterol-free and sodium-free. Seriously. And, for a chocolate bar, the 12 grams of sugar isn’t enough to make my eyes bug out of my sockets. There is also 5 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein as well. Love it.

If you want a sweet treat without breaking up with your diet…if you just require a hit of chocolate every now and again, I highly recommend the Endangered Species brand. Even better…if you love coffee…indulge a little in the Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans. You won’t be sorry. And it does give the right hit of bittersweet goodness and a little pick-me-up when you need it most.

Indulge in a cause. Indulge in Endangered Species Chocolate. Enjoy!

Endangered Species Natural Dark Chocolate Bar with Espresso Beans (unwrapped)

August 15, 2013

Product Review: Dark Chocolate Dream Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar

Product: Dark Chocolate Dream Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar – $3.59+

If there is one treat (aside from peanut butter) that I allow myself on a daily basis…it’s dark chocolate. Why? Because I love, love, love dark chocolate. I have never been a big fan of the mild milk chocolate…and white chocolate…that’s not even chocolate. Dark chocolate has and will always be my one true chocolate love. I blame my mom for this…as she was a dark chocolate fiend when we were growing up. I guess I do get some of my best traits from mom!

Anyway…I had a stash of these Dark Chocolate Dream dark chocolate bars in my drawer at home. I got them when a local store put them on closeout…as if they were going away forever. At the discounted price…I couldn’t let them get away without me trying them. Right? Right!

Well…I forgot I had them. *hangs head in shame*

No…really…I forgot. I FORGOT I HAD DARK CHOCOLATE IN MY HOME!! What in the world is wrong with me??! Anyway, I uncovered them not too long ago, as I was digging for a protein bar to take with me in case a restaurant didn’t have food for me. It was like uncovering treasure. A stash of like…six dark chocolate bars. All different. All just waiting to be devoured…savored…or whatever.

Working my way through them…the other day, without a dessert plan in mind after dinner (dessert is important…it must happen and it always does in my home!), I remembered that I had a Dark Chocolate Dream Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar in that drawer…and in my pantry…Marshmallow Fluff and some gluten-free graham crackers. Do you see where I am going with this?

S’MORES!

I mean…gluten-free s’mores for dessert?! Brilliant, yes? Absolutely!

So, I went to the drawer and dug out the Pure Dark bar. Prior to this, I had a couple other Dark Chocolate Dream Dark Chocolate Bars…the Raspberry and the Rice Crunch. I broke off two of the squares for the s’more, retrieved the gluten-free graham crackers from the pantry and the fluff. One graham cracker got the bit of chocolate placed onto it…the other one…layered with Marshmallow Fluff. I took my kitchen torch (yes…I have my own kitchen torch) and toasted up the fluff before sandwiching them together for the perfect gluten-free (and vegetarian) S’more.

One bite…and I knew I was in Pure Dark heaven. Because the star of the s’mores was not the toasted fluff (although that is delicious) or the gluten-free graham crackers. No…the star is that hit of bittersweetness that can only come from amazing dark chocolate. This chocolate is rich…which meant it was the perfect thing to pair with the sweet fluff and the salty-sweet graham crackers. It just brought balance to everything. And…the Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar is simply that…dark chocolate. Nothing else. Just solid dark chocolate. And…yes…it is amazing. Let’s not forget, dark chocolate is actually considered healthy and good for you. It is loaded with antioxidants and heart healthy stuff.

So…what is this amazing Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar made from? According to the wrapper, the Pure Dark bar from Dark Chocolate Dreams contains evaporated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, roasted soy flour, soy lecithin, cocoa powder, pure vanilla extract.

As for the nutritional value. Well…it’s chocolate. Need I say more?

But for those genuinely interested…one serving of the Dark Chocolate Dreams Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar is 1/2 of the bar. That would be four squares. This serving would provide you with 240 calories and 14 grams of fat. This is why I only do one square at a time…which works out to 60 calories and 6 grams of fat. Regardless…let’s say you really needed chocolate that day…so you went with half the bar. This would also provide you with 15 mg sodium, 23 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, and 3 grams of protein. So…all-in-all…not too bad. Not great. But, this is to be a treat. I recommend 1 square a day…not half the entire bar. Much more manageable. Oh, and you get to enjoy it longer too.

Dark Chocolate Dreams has really impressed me. Honestly. I have enjoyed all three of the dark chocolate bars that I had in my drawer. Each one had something different about it that sort of set it apart from the others. But for the simple love of something dark chocolate and sweet…I highly recommend the Pure Dark bar. It doesn’t get much better than the original.

Dark Chocolate Dream Pure Dark Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

Product Review: Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough

Product: Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough – $4.49+

I had heard stories about these. Rumors. Whispers in the dark. Advertisements in my gluten-free magazines. I knew they were out there…the problem was I couldn’t find them. Anywhere.

What am I talking about?

Pillsbury’s new line of gluten-free refrigerated mixes.

For real!

Yes…Pillsbury. As in the Doughboy. Or…now…the Gluten-Free Doughboy.

I was strolling through my local grocery store over the weekend. I was on a mission. Bananas for Tuesday’s after-I-work-out breakfast banana split. Honestly. But first I had to check out the manager’s special area. Usually Sunday is the day to do that. But not this week. But as I was striding past the refrigerator section holding the yogurts, the cheeses and the butters and margarine…I spotted these beautiful little containers that had that light violet color I saw in the ads.

“OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!” And then I took off. Which left my roommate watching me scurry over to the refrigerated space. She followed and I started picking up the three different items that the store had in stock. You see Pillsbury introduced three gluten-free doughs, pre-mixed and ready…very convenient. Gluten-Free Cookie Dough, Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Dough, and Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough.

I did this hillarious happy dance of joy, pumping my fists, doing a little jig and…turning to face my roomie and giving her the sad eyes that declare, “I really, really, really want these in my life!” We had plenty in our fridge, so she said maybe next week. I conceded, but my hand went back to the Pie & Pastry Dough.

“But…I can make the Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts…”

That was all I needed to say. The Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough made its way into my hands to be taken to the register…along with the bananas, which was our original reason for shopping that afternoon. We paid, we went home, and this little tub of gluten-free joy went right into my refrigerator. And on Tuesday (Moday is fun run night…so that’s an easy food day), after a rough circuit training…it was time to see how this dough would do with the Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart that I used to make using puff pastry…you know…before I knew I had to go gluten-free.

Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough (rolled out for the tarts and topped with grated Parmesan)

I knew that this dough wouldn’t puff up like a puff pastry, but I figured I could make it work. I basically followed the recipe for the tarts as I used to make them, substituting the puff pastry portion with a serving of this Pie & Pastry Dough. I scooped out a serving (56 grams) of dough and placed it on my lightly floured board. I floured my rolling pin and rolled the dough out to a six-inch circle (roughly). I repeated this with another serving, then plated them on the baking tray, gave a light sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, topped that with the onions I caramelized, a thick slice of tomato, a little salt, a little pepper, some goat cheese, fresh basil, and finally some shaved Parmesan.

While the container has this baking at at a much lower temperature, I went with what my recipe had for the original tart with puff pastry. Into the oven at 425° F, I baked this for the 20-25 minutes, checking on it every now and again to make sure that it wasn’t burning.

I was shocked that this actually worked. Honestly. But the tart came out beautifully. Sure, it didn’t puff up like it used to, but it didn’t need to. I served each of us one of the tarts and we settled in for dinner. My roommate dug right in, commenting on how she loved how the dough didn’t get soggy and how that it was still golden and flaky. I took that as a win as I took my fork and sliced into mine.

She was right. This was the ultimate dough for the crust of my Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart. The dough itself baked into a perfectly golden crust, not turning soggy in the middle where the toppings were all stacked onto it. In fact, I was so pleased with the way this turned out. It had this beautiful crisp outside and this flaky texture. It was one of the most amazing things I managed to make with a gluten-free dough. I was in love with every bite. Every. Single. Bite.

For real!

Needless to say…Pillsbury impressed me. Honestly. Pillsbury won me over with this dough. And I’ve only used it for one thing. I might have to try to make a calzone with it next. Hmmm…that might be an idea for Sunday…

So, let’s talk ingredients and nutritional information. The not-so-fun part of this blog. But…it is important, because I value everything I put into this body. So, while it’s not always pretty, I like to be aware of what I am consuming.

The Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough is made from soybean oil, water, cornstarch, modified potato starch (BOO!), hydrogenated soybean oil (BOO!), rice flour, whole sorghum flour, fructose, sugar, salt, xanthan gum, guar gum, citric acid, and some preservatives. So…yeah…clean eating it is not. But I made a deal to do at least 70%/30%…so I was going to allow this to fall into my 30%.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving (56 grams) will bake you up a crispy golden serving of 250 calories and 17 grams of fat. So…yeah…it’s not a light dough by any means…but at least it tastes good. All things in moderation, my friends. That being said, the Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough is cholesterol-free and has 340 mg sodium. This has 3 grams of sugar and less than 1 gram each of protein and fiber.

That being said…using it as the base for my Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart worked out wonderfully. I just want to make that again and again and again. And I can, because I still have over half the dough in the container in my refrigerator. Squeak of gluten-free doughy glee! Honestly…the dough was perfect. I was afraid that it would just be mushy and unimpressive, but this was one of the most beautifully baked crusts I witnessed. Especially in the gluten-free crust world. I am so happy with Pillsbury right now…I could…just hug that little Doughboy.

Gluten-free…anything…that might need a flaky, golden crust…just got a whole lot easier. And yes…it’s true…

Nothing says lovin’ like somethin’ gluten-free from the oven.

Pillsbury…I think I love you.

Gluten-Free Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart made with Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough

August 14, 2013August 14, 2013

Product Review: Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal

Product: General Mills’ Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal – $3.29+

It’s been awhile since Chex cereal came into my pantry. Honestly. While I have previously touted it as one of the more affordable gluten-free cereals, the fact of the matter is that some of the ingredients just don’t fit into my lifestyle anymore. While I’m not doing Clean Eating 100%…where I can cut out the processed food and the additives and such that I don’t need to be consuming…well, I cut them out. There are better, healthier cereals out there. Yes…I might have to pay a little more for them, but I feel better about the ingredients. Peace of mind.

That being said, I also know that since I heard about the newest and latest Chex cereal flavor…and that it was one of their gluten-free options…I did want to try it. I didn’t really go searching for it, but one day while in a local grocery store, I spotted a couple boxes on sale…mostly because the boxes were dented. Hell, I don’t care what the box looks like. As long as the inner packaging is still sealed…

So, into my arms came General Mills’ Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal. And home it went in a grocery bag. I put it into the pantry, as I was polishing off an all natural chocolate cereal at the time (which was SUPER yum!). But yesterday was the big day for the Vanilla Chex. I had used up the last of my previous cereal and this one was about to have its moment to shine. It had a few spoonfuls to win me over. So, I wished it luck and poured out a serving of the cereal, snatching a few pieces to try dry before adding my unsweetened almond milk to the mix.

First of all, this cereal, as with the other flavored varieties of Chex cereals, is a blend of regular Rice Chex, and then the flavor-dusted cubes. The vanilla variety has this dusting of a sugary-sweet vanilla powder on them. My first taste, without the almond milk, was not one to win me over. While the flavor is awesome…think…Rice Krispies meet Nilla Wafers…it was really, really, really sweet. I mean…SWEET! And I love sweets. This was almost a little too sweet though. And it’s not often you’ll hear me say that. Trust me.

I was about to head to the gym for an hour of cardio and strength training, so I hoped that the almond milk tamped down the sugary-sweet flavor and also prayed that it wouldn’t revisit me after the workout. I poured in a splash of almond milk and settled in for breakfast.

Adding the milk helped. Probably because some of that vanilla sugar on the squares washed off and into the milk. That was fine. It definitely made the cereal easier to eat. And it really, for the life of me, tasted like I was eating a bowl full of Rice Krispie treats. Now, I love Rice Krispie treats (thank you gluten-free Rice Krispies) as much as the next person…but I like them in moderation. And this serving feels almost too big (though it is a standard serving) given the sweetness factor of this particular variety of the Chex cereal.

So…for me…this one is okay…but I’d rather snatch up the Honey Nut or Cinnamon or Chocolate varieties first. This one…while good…just was…too much for one sitting.

But, as always, I have to break this down for you. Why doesn’t Chex Cereal come into my house much anymore? Well, it’s this little additive called BHT. This version also has a lot of sugary ingredients, including sugar, fructose, and molasses. No wonder it tastes like a never-ending dose of Rice Krispie Treats.

As for the nutritional information, a serving of Vanilla Chex is 3/4 cup, which will provide you with 120 calories and 2 grams of fat. In addition, this cereal is cholesterol-free and only contains 190 mg of sodium. For being so sweet, the fact that it contains only 8 grams of sugar is shocking…but that’s what the nutrition panel tells me. Finally, you will be consuming a scant amount of fiber and very only 1 gram of protein, so expect to feel hungry soon after you eat it.

For a sugar rush or an occasional treat, I think Vanilla Chex would be a good stand-in for something. I also think it would rock some gluten-free Muddy Buddies and the like. But as a cereal I found it way too sweet for my liking. So, now that I’ve tried it…I’ll polish off the box and move on to the next gluten-free cereal to come my way.

It’s good. It’s just too sweet for me. That’s all.