Products – Page 44 – The Celiathlete

August 2, 2013August 2, 2013

Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties bring vegetarian sausage back to my favorite meal of the day

Product: Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties – $3.49+

Breakfast.

I have said it once…I’ve said it a million times. Breakfast is my favorite…absolute favorite meal of the day. I can eat breakfast foods all day and be completely content to do so. And, sometimes, this is exactly what I do. And why not? It should be the most nutritious meal of the day. And often, that’s very true for me.

Then there are mornings where my roommate and I decide to revisit classics and make them so that I can eat them. For awhile, I would bake up cheddar biscuits and slap some Morningstar Vegetarian Sausage Patty between them and have a vegetarian sausage biscuit. It worked. It was delicious. And I loved it. But Morningstar products, as delicious as they are, are not gluten-free. So, when I had to cut gluten out of my diet…the breakfast sausage sandwiches went with it.

Until one day when Cathy and I were wandering around Whole Foods. We never go into the freezer section, but we had time to kill, so we were browsing. And that was when I spotted them. A beacon in the frozen food aisle. Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties. Right there on the front of the box it listed that they are vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free, free from saturated fat, low fat, and made with hearth healthy soy. GLUTEN-FREE VEGAN SAUSAGE PATTIES!! (*DANCE OF JOY*) I had tried other Sol Cuisine products…and it’s hit or miss. So, I made note that they were there and then for weeks kept talking myself out of purchasing them. Then, on drunken grocery shopping night with the roomie, I took advantage of her tipsy state and managed to snag a box of these to try. FINALLY!!

They made the journey home to the apartment and into the freezer. And that was where they remained for a couple of weeks. Until one night I made a batch of gluten-free rosemary cheddar biscuits for my running group. I had leftovers…so I promised to do up Sausage Biscuits for my roommate on Friday.

Well, this morning brought about the morning she had been waiting for. And so…I got the box of Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties out of the freezer, preheated the oven to 350 degrees, and opened up the box.

The patties come in two clear packages, each containing three patties. The first thing I noticed was that these were not all golden brown like the box showed. Nope. They were gray. And in my past experience, I know for a fact that food…should…NOT…be gray! So, needless to say, I was a little concerned. I removed four patties from their sealed packages and laid them out on a lightly oiled cookie sheet, preparing them to bake for 20 minutes. I was hoping that this might put some brown color into them…so they didn’t look gray still. Into the oven they went for 10 minutes. Then, I flipped them over and polished off their baking time with another 10 minutes.

They never did get to be that gorgeous golden brown that you think sausages should be. Even vegan sausages. So…these biscuits were just going to have to hold a gray vegan sausage. I’d just attempt to overlook the color. I plated my roomie’s biscuits first and delivered them to her while I compiled my own gluten-free and vegetarian sausage biscuits. As it takes me a moment due to having to photograph things for this blog, I saw her nibbling away…so I naturally inquired as to what she thought of the sausages. I always get nervous when I ask her that. She is honest to a fault. Her response…”They taste like sausage!” Considering my roommate is neither a vegetarian nor necessitating a gluten-free diet (she eats that way at home because I cook and I am a gluten-free vegetarian), this is one of the best statements that can be made about a vegan product. Honestly.

I settled in with my own sandwich, opting not to throw hot sauce on it this time because I really wanted to taste the sausage itself. Cathy was right. These vegan sausage patties are hearty and meaty and have an amazing texture to them. They may be gray in color, but that can be overlooked. The flavor is astounding. By baking them, the outside got this nice crispiness to it, but the inside was soft and chewy. It honestly tasted like sausage. It had no strange aftertaste, nor did it taste off. It was vegan breakfast patty perfection. I don’t think my freezer will ever not have these in it from here on out.

So…let’s break this all down as usual. First of all Sol Cuisine is a non-GMO company, which I appreciate and love. The Veggie Breakfast Patties, in particular, have 80% less fat than pork sausage. For real. And with how amazing they taste, you could probably fool any carnivore thinking it was real meat. Seriously. They are that good. As mentioned before, these products by Sol Cuisine are gluten-free, wheat-free, saturated fat free, as well as kosher.

Nutritionally speaking, yes…I do realize how highly processed these are. But…when you’re a gluten-free vegetarian…you roll with it. The serving size for Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties is one patty. This will serve you up only 60 calories and 2 grams of fat. These patties are also low carb, only providing 3 grams per patty. In addition, the sodium for a processed frozen food is not so bad, standing at 260 mg. One patty will also provide your body with 2 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein. They are filling…and delicious…and quite healthy when you break it all down.

I absolutely rave over these. RAVE. Honestly, if you have a Whole Foods store near you (I seem to only be able to find these at Whole Foods) go and purchase some. You’ll see why these have won me over completely. They are just the epitome of vegan (and gluten-free) breakfast sausage patties. They are so versatile and I can’t wait to utilize them in other recipes and with other components in the near future. For now, however, at least I know whenever I bake up some gluten-free biscuits, I can certainly treat myself to an epic breakfast sandwich.

Sol Cuisine…you brought sunshine back to this gluten-free vegetarian’s life. Thank you for redefining breakfast for me!

Gluten-Free Vegetarian Sausage Biscuits made with Sol Cuisine Veggie Breakfast Patties

August 2, 2013

Pepperidge Farm swims into gluten-free market with Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs

Product: Pepperidge Farm Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs – $1.99+

It has been over 2 years since I last had Goldfish crackers. Yes…those crunchy little baked cheese crackers. The snack the smiles back…until you bite it’s head off. Those Goldfish. They are the epitome of snack crackers, hailed as a healthier snack cracker due to having to added preservatives and the fact that they are baked. So, there is at least that much. But regular Goldfish crackers are made with wheat flour…which meant when I had to go gluten-free…I had to say good-bye to these little bite-size crackers of goodness.

Okay…that might not have been a bad thing. I mean…while one of the better choices for crackers for both kids and adults, a quick glance at what goes into Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish Crackers…is definitely not falling into the new Clean Eating habits I am working toward with my sports nutritionist. I mean…aside from the gluten-containing ingredients, Goldfish crackers often contain food dyes and other such ingredients. But, they are certainly the lesser of the evils when it comes to snack choices.

The same can be said for the new line of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Puffs, which come in three flavors: Buffalo Wing, Mega Cheese, and Cheddar Bacon.

I’m not a huge fan of Buffalo Wing things…and I’m a vegetarian so the Cheddar Bacon wasn’t happening. Therefore…my only choice was Pepperidge Farm Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs. I was okay with that. Besides, when I could eat Goldfish, the cheese were always my favorite anyway.

So, let’s talk about these, shall we?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I stopped into my local Target and spotted these on the shelf. I knew they existed. I had heard all about them from the various networks of the gluten-free community that I deal with via the internet. However, I failed to do much reading up on them. When I spotted them at Target in this big bag…I pulled it down and flipped it over. Sure enough…clear as day on the back of the package it was labeled: GLUTEN FREE. I love it when things are actually labeled. I wasn’t going to purchase them. I didn’t need them. But my roomie said she’d get them for me. And…what the heck? Everyone in life needs to treat themselves to something every now and again.

So, after taking them home…they had to sit for a week, which is shorter than usual for snacks, but I’ve been clearing them out. I’ve been good. But yesterday marked the day I broke these bad-boy fishies out for my afternoon snack at work. I always dole out a serving so I don’t sit there and mindlessly eat out of the bag. I would do it too, which is why I am so adamant on portion sizes. The first thing I noticed is why these are called Puffs. They are puffed crackers. Think…Cheetos…but in the shape of really big Goldfish crackers. Yes…they even still have that signature smile. They also have that infamous aftificial cheesy smell, you know…like that sweet smelling powdered cheese smell that accompanies those powdered cheese packets boxes of macaroni and cheese. These crackers are called “Mega Cheese” because they include three different kinds of cheese flavors: cheddar, Asiago, and Romano. Three cheeses that I actually like. So, that was promising.

I had to let my roommate try one. Cathy is basically my “Mikey”…in that she samples these foods first. She’s better than she used to be, but she can still be rather picky about her food. So, I figure if she likes it…we’re on to something. She popped a big fishy into her mouth and chewed. Then…her eyes got a little bigger and she said, “They’re good! Like…like…Cheetos!” A-HA! I knew that’s what they were going for. I was now eager to try them myself. When I popped my first Goldfish Puff…immediately, the taste and texture was very much like Cheetos. I loved Cheetos as a child. So, this was like combining two of my favorite treats from my childhood into one. They really were pretty good.

The first flavor that hits you is sweet…which means the asiago cheese is what you get. It’s very sharp and definitely wakes up those tastebuds. But it then mixes in those cheddar and romano flavors and suddenly…they taste like…nacho cheese. And maybe that’s what they were going for. Maybe they are supposed to taste like boxed macaroni and cheese products. I mean…kids love Kraft mac and cheese, right? Therefore, they would love these.

I loved how crunchy these were, despite being “puffs.” That was a nice surprise. The secret to that is that these are made from corn meal instead of a wheat flour. It really gets that cheesy-poof texture just right. And I loved how fun it was to munch away at my desk on puffed Goldfish. I mean…I felt like a kid again. And it only made me smile.

So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Ingredient-wise…not the cleanest of snack foods, but not the worst I have encountered either. I allow this one to fall in the 20% of non-clean eating that I am allotting myself. I mean, you can’t go through life without treats. You have to have something every now and again. And this was a surprisingly delicious and fun treat for me. There is no use of high fructose corn syrup or any food colors, so at least there is that.

As for nutrition, a serving size is 41 pieces, or about 30 grams. I always weigh my servings. In this serving, you will be served up 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. Holding true with other Goldfish products, these do not contain any trans fats. YAY! The Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs are also cholesterol free in addition to being gluten-free. They have only 280 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad for a snack cracker, right? It’s better than Cheetos sodium count, so there is something to think about. These puffy crackers also will provide 2 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of fiber.

So, like everything…moderation is key. Would I buy these again? YES! They are good and they make a fantastic, tasty, nice treat. They aren’t horrible when it comes to nutrition. And the Mega Cheese promise is truly delivered with each bite. I love the whimsical and classic Goldfish shape is continued even in the puffed up corn snacks. They taste amazing. They are fun. So, my roomie’s treat to me definitely worked out favorably. I’m hooked. Pun intended…

The thing about these New Pepperidge Farm Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs, which have 140 CALORIES PER 41 PIECES (who the heck is counting to 41??), is that they are clearly meant to be a competitor to Cheetos. And I think that’s tough, because I have a real soft spot for Cheetos. Soft as in the pockets of my stomach where Cheetos have burned away my stomach lining. But also because I think Cheetos are some of the greatest snacks ever. Herr’s and other companies have tried and failed to tear me away from the original Chester Cheetah Cheetos and Cheese Puffs. You have an uphill climb, here, Pepperidge Farm. – See more at: http://www.sogoodblog.com/2013/07/15/review-pepperidge-farm-mega-cheese-goldfish-puffs/#sthash.t9OXMSMw.dpuf

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013

The Good Bean provides a naughty but nice crunchy chickpea snack with Smoky Chili and Lime

Product: The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snack – $2.99+

Forget chips. Honestly. Forget the over processed, unhealthy, and sometimes laden with chemicals and ingredients that you don’t recognize and probably shouldn’t be consuming after all. There are other options out there that are not only healthier, but taste better?

Ever have kale chips? They are easy to make…or, for a price, you can buy them already made in a variety of flavors. But, healthier crunchy options don’t end there.

Ever have crunchy chickpeas? You know…chickpeas that have been roasted in the oven so now they are hard and have this amazing crunch to them? If not…you should. And if you don’t trust yourself to make them right…no worries. The Good Bean has taken the guess-work out of the preparation and is putting the amazing tastes of all-natural, roasted chickpeas on the shelves of grocery stores. I found mine at Whole Foods, but have spotted them at other natural food stores.

Prior to today, I had already tried the Sea Salt and the Sweet Cinnamon versions of this snack. This left two flavors still needing my attention. Black Pepper (which I can’t find anywhere!) and Smoky Chili and Lime. I love me some spice, so I saved the Smoky Chili and Lime version for the end of my roasted chickpea journey (or at least until I can find the Black Pepper variety around here). It would be my afternoon snack, the one that would see me through the tail-end of my day at work. And with the success of the previous two flavors…I was quite happy to try this particular one. I mean…come on…it’s spicy, right?

The Good Bean’s Smoky Chili and Lime flavor was apparently inspired by the fantastic flavors that are found in Spanish and Mexican snacks. They chose to use Spanish Paprika, which provides a great smokey flavor without a lot of heat, to pair with the smoky chili flavor in their spice mix. The Good Bean states that this specific chili…is the “naughtily assertive Mexican Chipotle.” But…don’t worry. To tame the chilies and keep the heat under control, The Good bean blended in lime…just to give an extra zing to the chickpeas and to take away just a smidge of the heat. After all…you want to be able to taste the snack…not your tastebuds burning.

Which now brings me to how they taste. I’m…on the fence. While I have raved about the other flavors I have tried…this one is just…different. And that’s saying something coming from me. Here’s why. I love spicy foods. I love the burn and the heat. And, yes, The Good Bean’s Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snacks definitely has a generous spice coating on each roasted chickpea…but the lime…the lime seems to overpower everything. In fact, I commented that I felt like I was eating a fruity cereal more than a spicy snack. Considering this was the flavor I was looking forward to the most, it’s a huge let down. If I wanted to eat Fruity Pebbles, I would have bought them. The fact is…I bought a snack that promised heat with their usual rich chickpea flavor. And all I really get is a hint of the spice…and then a whole lot of lime. Talk about a let down!

So…with that in mind, let’s discuss ingredients and nutrition. One serving of The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snacks is 1/4 cup (or 35 ounces). This serving provides you with 150 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. Like the other flavors, this one is also cholesterol free and has only 260 mg sodium. You also get 6 grams of filling fiber and a great 6 gram hit of protein with each serving. And with only 5 grams of sugar per serving, you can feel good about your choice. These snacks are all low in carbohydrates, contain nothing over-engineered, nothing artificial, are low in fat, gluten-free and also nut free. The Smoky Chili and Lime variety contains roasted chickpeas, brown rice syrup, spices, coarse salt, lime juice concentrate, gum arabic, non-GMO and expeller-pressed canola oil. These particular snacks are also considered clean eating. WIN for my new diet.

Don’t get me wrong…the Smoky Chili and Lime variety is good enough…it just wasn’t what I had expected it to taste like. Way too much lime for my tastes and not enough of that smokey chile flavor that is promised on the package. Still…a healthy and nutritious choice for a snack. Same satisfying crunch as a chip…but giving you so many more healthy benefits without the added fat, cholesterol, and unnecessary ingredients. The Good Bean puts out very good products that they should be proud of. I am happy to have this sort of snack in my life. And maybe…maybe they have inspired me to give roasting chickpeas at home on my own a try.

Just maybe…

A serving of The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snacks — A serving of The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snack

July 30, 2013

A sweet and gluten-free Crispy Cocoa Rice cereal hit in the mornings by Mom’s Best Cereals

Mom's Best Cereals Crispy Cocoa Rice — Mom’s Best Cereals Crispy Cocoa Rice

Product: Mom’s Best Cereal Crispy Cocoa Rice – $1.99+

I am trying, really hard, to watch how much sugar I take in a day. Despite this, it just happens that most of my sugar gets used up bright and early in the morning. This is before I have dinner…sometimes before I have lunch. And I know part of the culprit is…well…my Greek yogurt. But on the mornings where I have cereal…sometimes that’s where much of the hit comes from.

Due to a fantastic Manager’s Special deal at my local grocery store, my roommate returned home from one of my “Oh my God, I’m in the middle of cooking something and we’re out of ______ and need it…NOW!” shopping errands with a surprise for me. She picked up one of her favorite brands of cereal – Mom’s Best Cereals – but this time, it was for me. Why? Because it was their gluten-free cereal – the Crispy Cocoa Rice.

This morning…was the day for chocolate in the morning. And, I mean, who doesn’t love a little chocolate to start out their day. I retrieved the crumpled (part of the reason it was on Manager’s Special) box from my pantry and dished up a serving (3/4 cup) of the cereal. I smiled a little…as it reminded me of Cocoa Pebbles (gluten-free)…or the Cocoa Krispies (not gluten-free) that were out on the market. It was just…familiar without being exactly the same. The thing about Mom’s Best Cereals is that they keep their products free of artificial flavors and preservatives, use no hydrogenated oils, and do not allow high fructose corn syrup to make an appearance on the ingredient list. So, it would seem to be a healthy…or at least…healthier choice, right?

Well…for the most part. Do keep in mind that this is a chocolate cereal. It might be puffed rice…but it’s still chocolate. And with chocolate comes that dreaded “s-word”…SUGAR. So before I get into the flavor of this cereal…let me just set up this comparison. Mom’s Best Cereals Gluten-Free Crispy Cocoa Rice contains 13 grams of sugar per 3/4 cup serving. The same serving size in Cocoa Pebbles contains only 10 grams of sugar. And for that same serving in Cocoa Krispies (despite the fact that those of us who can’t have gluten can’t eat these…this is for comparison only) contains 12 grams of sugar. So, the all-natural cereal has the most amount of sugar than the brands that contain hydrogenated oils and artificial flavors and artificial preservatives. I hate seeing that…but in the end, I’ll take the extra few grams of sugar over the hydrogenated oils, BHA and BHT. Seriously.

So…how did it taste? A-MAZ-ING! No, really. It’s sweet. It’s sweeter than I like most of my cereals…but it is really, really good. I mean, it’s chocolate in the morning. And…the added bonus is it turns my unsweetened almond milk into chocolate milk. Which is always a plus. These puffs of rice stay crispy, even when swimming in a sea of almond milk. They provide great chocolate flavor. And it’s sweet…without being overly sweet. It’s just sweeter than I’m accustomed to at breakfast. But…who turns their nose up at a chocolate hit in the early morning? Not me…as I am definitely a choco-holic!

This was my fuel prior to hitting the gym…the downside of that high sugar content, however, is that I burned through it quickly…and was hungry about halfway through my cardio exercises. Some of that might also have to do with the fact that this cereal provides no fiber at all and only 1 gram of protein. Therefore…it’s not very filling. Mostly sugar. But…CHOCOLATE!!!

Mom’s Best Cereal Crispy Cocoa Rice cereal is low in fat, naturally cholesterol free, and gluten-free. As for the rest of the nutrition information…a serving size, as stated before is 3/4 cup. This will provide you with 120 of your daily calories with only 1 gram of fat per serving. Aside from the high sugar content, the lack of fiber and small amount of protein, you will be taking in 150 mg sodium. That’s not bad. And…as far as ingredients go, this cereal does keep it all natural: rice, sugar, coconut oil, cocoa, salt, caramel color, and natural flavors.

Much better than the hydrogenated oils and artificial preservatives and flavors that come with the other two previously mentioned cereals. The rest of the nutrition information is relatively the same otherwise.

So, if you are looking simply to satisfy a sweet tooth…Mom’s Best Cereals Crispy Cocoa Rice will definitely do the trick. It’s one of the more nutritious chocolate cereals on the market…and it is definitely made with better ingredients than others provide. But do recognize that it won’t fill you up…and eventually that sugar rush does wear off. So keep this in mind. Aside from that…who doesn’t love sweet chocolate first thing in the morning. Treat yourself without all the extra junk. Mom’s Best Cereals at least keeps their ingredients natural. And that speaks volumes of the quality of the cereal they put on the market. Trust me…the extra grams of sugar are totally worth it in the end.

July 30, 2013

A quick Tasty Bite of Spinach Channa in one little package

Product: Tasty Bite Spinach Channa – $3.29+

Tasty Bite keeps winning me over. Honestly. If there is one thing that this company knows…it is flavor. And even more importantly…flavor profiles. Because what Tasty Bite continues to manage, time and time again, is to get the perfect blend of spices and ingredients to work together…in this little microwavable pouch. Most naysayers would say it couldn’t be done. But, as they have proven over and over again…it can.

I remember first spotting Tasty Bite products on the shelf of my local grocery store. Then…I started seeing more (and other varieties) at the other grocery stores I go to each week (which is between 4-6, honestly). When they went on sale at my grocery store, my roommate and I decided to stock up on the varieties they had…and just hope that they were good.

This was, quite honestly, the best decision we ever made.

You see…we are very busy, very active, very on-the-go people. And there are certain days of the week where cooking a full meal just doesn’t work. When we have places to go and appointments to make, there is just no way I can spend that sort of time in the kitchen. It just isn’t possible. Take Monday’s for example. Yesterday…after running in the morning…then working 8 hours…then with my group fun run that evening at 6 p.m…and travel over into Louisville being figured in, I basically had time to either cook up a Tasty Bite meal…or make a grilled cheese sandwich.

I decided to do the Indian food. Spinach Channa was the next one on the list. What is Spinach Channa?

I cooked up some jasmine rice the evening before, so you can tell which won out in the end. It’s basically chickpeas that are simmered with savory spinach, some herbs, some spices, and given a little kick with the addition of chilies. It sounded great because I absolutely love chickpeas and spinach. And…chilies in everything makes me a happy girl. Give me something with a bit of a kick and what you have is one very, very happy gluten-free vegetarian.

One thing that I love about these Tasty Bite packages is how simple they are. They are good to eat on their own, but if you want to boost the staying power, you can pair it with a protein, pour it over rice, or however else you choose to eat it. Putting it over rice is always my method. Anyway, once you decide how you are going to enjoy your Tasty Bite meal…the rest is simple. Tear a 2 inch slit into the top of the package and pop it into the microwave for 90 seconds. When done…serve however you choose. For me…I pour the now steamy warm contents over my jasmine rice and settle in to eat.

So, how exactly does the pairing of various herbs and spices with spinach and chickpeas taste? Just as amazing as it sounds. The spinach is cooked down into this green, thick, soup-like sauce. The chickpeas are scattered throughout that. And the flavors…they are to die for. Just the right amount of heat from the chilies. The rest…it just all blends together. It makes for one tasty, tasty meal. I really loved the flavors of this one. Not as much as the Vegetable Korma…but this one is good in its own right. Savory…with a small mild heat. And I mean…mild. My roommate is a spice wimp and she didn’t say anything about heat level on this one. So…it’s just enough to give it this added something. That’s all.

Now comes the science part…the ingredients and the nutritional information. Ready?

First of all, one thing that Tasty Bite does pride itself on is their ingredients. They use no preservatives and many of their options are gluten-free. Take Spinach Channa for example…since that’s what I am reviewing. The Spinach Channa is gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and kosher. Everything that goes into the package is an actual food. No chemicals. No artificial additives. Just pure ingredients. The ingredient list on this one is simple and small: water, spinach, chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, sunflower oil, garlic, ginger, salt, cumin, chilies, turmeric, and spices. Recognize all of those? I sure do. And that is a comfort.

Now…for the nutritional part. One serving of Tasty Bite Spinach Channa (5 ounces…or half the pouch) will serve you up 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. For being a shelf-stable option, the 490 mg of sodium isn’t too bad. It’s on the lower end of most processed foods. And much lower than some soups out on the market. Each serving also provides a filling 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. LOVE that.

And, honestly, I loved every bite of Tasty Bite’s Spinach Channa. It was filling. It provided great energy for my evening run, with nothing that upset my stomach. Indian food before a run isn’t everyone’s choice, but with the mild flavors and pairing it with rice, it’s ideal. Honestly. Oh…let’s not forget that it tastes AMAZING. Great flavors, great food, great company. And a great variety to choose from!

But…when in doubt…go for something simple. Spinach Channa is a great place to start.

What more could you want? Except, perhaps, another Tasty Bite…

Tasty Bite Spinach Channa over jasmine rice

July 28, 2013

Glutino puts the gluten-free fun back into dipping with new Tortilla Dippers

Product: Glutino Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers – $3.99+

Glutino. Glutino. Glutino.

Here is what I love about Glutino – I have yet to try one of their products and not like it. Everything has been impressive and delicious and amazing. So close to what I used to be able to eat…it’s scary…and amazing…full of gluten-free awesomesauce all at once. They were the first to bring me gluten-free pretzels. The first to give me gluten-free toaster pastries. And now…the first to create the ultimate gluten-free tortilla chip…meant for dipping.

Remember Tostitos Scoops? You should. Because they are actually one of Frito-Lay’s gluten-free products. Yeah. Well, think Tostitos Scoops…but done in a completely gluten-free facility. That’s what you get when you purchase Glutino’s Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers.

Glutino’s Web site declares that these Tortilla Dippers are made for the bold, the brassy and the sassy. And that may not be far from the truth. The entire point of a dipper is to get all wild and crazy with what you choose to scoop with them. Or…the toppings you pile onto them. The entire point is that they must, I repeat…MUST…hold up to the toppings or the weight of the scoop, be it nacho cheese, salsa, guacamole, or some other amazing dip of your own creation. If they fall apart or crumble…no good!

I spotted Glutino’s Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers while at my natural food store on an end cap. The Glutino products were on sale…so I allowed the splurge. I knew there would be something I could make with them, regardless. And I was right. It just took me about a month to actually get around to using them. But, my roommate had her last wisdom tooth removed this past week, and after being stuck on mushy food for the entire week, yesterday she had one request…

NACHOS FOR DINNER!

So, I complied. After all, I had some Trader Joe’s queso (gluten-free) in the pantry that was begging for some action. In addition, some black beans that would add some delicious protein. Oh…and avocado. Because if there is a reason to add avocado to something I am going to. Heck, I’ll just eat the avocado. But I digress…

Since she was ready for crunchy food again, I agreed to make some nachos per her request. And I already had everything at home to make it happen. BONUS!

I pulled out the beans and got them heating on the stove. While that was happening, I went ahead and chopped up some fresh tomatoes and got the avocado sliced, pitted, and chopped. Then…the queso was warmed in the microwave. Soon…dinner would be ready. All I needed now was the chips.

So I pulled the Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers out of the pantry and doled out a serving for each of us. Then the beans were tossed on top…followed by the tomatoes, the avocado, then the queso. Dinner took almost no time at all…and was now ready to be served. I added a bit of vegan Sriracha sour cream to the top, and for me a few jalapeno peppers.

Time to dig in and see how the Tortilla Dippers handled my toppings.

The fact was, Glutino did it’s job well. Not only do these chips have an amazing texture and crunch to them, you can really taste the sweetness of the corn. It adds a beautiful balance to the dish you are using them with, honestly. I had to try a chip on its own, and I felt that they tasted even better than Tostitos Scoops. And I used to heat the hell out of those. They didn’t get mushy, nor did they crack and crumble when the toppings were piled on top. I asked Cathy what she thought and she raved about them. This is always a good thing, because she can be rather finicky at times about things that are close to a favorite product…and she really has always loved to the Tostitos Scoops.

So, let’s talk about nutrition. For a chip, these are identical in comparison with Tostitos Scoops. Honestly. A serving is 28 grams, or about 12 chips. This serving sets you back 140 calories and 7 grams of fat. Not bad for a corn chip. A serving also only dishes up 120 mg of sodium, 2 grams of fiber (one more gram than Scoops), and 1 gram of protein. Everything else is identical. This has one gram less in carbohydrates. Aside from that…nothing too different. But when I can get something that is certified gluten-free…that’s what I am going to purchase. So, Glutino…you win!

As far as ingredients go, Glutino’s Tortilla Dippers are made from ground whole white corn, vegetable oil, toasted corn germ, and salt. Four ingredients. Simply made. Simply delicious. Simply good.

Don’t take my word for it though. These are definitely a bit pricier than Tostitos, but I’d pay the extra few dollars again. Without batting an eyelash. And we all know I live on a strict budget…so that’s saying something.

Next time you’re feeling the need to make a salsa, queso, guacamole, or other dip…give Glutino’s Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers a try. I promise…you’ll love them!

Nachos made with Glutino's Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers — Nachos made with Glutino’s Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers

July 28, 2013July 28, 2013

Bakery on Main packs a fiber punch (but no crunch) into every serving of Triple Berry Granola

Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola – $5.99+

Oh…Bakery on Main. Maker of amazing granola and delicious oatmeal. Whenever someone inquires about gluten-free oatmeal…I immediately point them in your direction. After all, I’ve been doing the gluten-free lifestyle now for two years. I know what is good. I know what is great. And I know what is worth raving about. You are a fantastic company that does great things for the gluten-free community by offering quality products. Even better though…you back up your quality products with a statement that says if the customer is not 100% satisfied…a refund will be given.

How many companies do that? I can tell you…not many. Not these days. And I love how strongly you believe in your company, your products, and your standards to put that out there. Amazing.

A couple of weeks ago, I was preparing for a long road trip from the Louisville, Kentucky area up to Utica, New York. I was going to be participating in the Boilermaker 15K. Being an athlete with food allergies, I always pack snacks for long trips. I mean, you just never know when you might get hungry and all that is available is establishments you don’t feel comfortable dining in, or the possibility of not having options at all. It has happened to me before, and I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

As fueling up properly before a race is important, I packed a variety of items. Raisins, vegan (and gluten-free) jerky, gluten-free granola and protein bars, and finally…granola. I had hit up the grocery store early one morning in search of easy items that would travel and pack well. None of these were my specialty stores, but thankfully this particular grocery store had a few different gluten-free granola options in the natural food section. After deliberating between two different companies…I finally settled on Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola. I had already had the other company’s granola…and loved it. But this flavor…this one from Bakery on Main…was new to me. And I was curious. After all, I already am a huge fan of granola. Now we’re tossing in some freeze-dried raspberries, strawberries and blueberries…can you say heaven?

As it happened, I didn’t ever break into the granola on the road trip…however, I am famous for my breakfast parfaits, consisting of gluten-free granola, Greek yogurt, and fresh berries. As my roommate and I had polished off our last granola, this now because the crunchy portion of the parfait. Way to default, yes?

As always, though, I make a habit to try the granola on its own. Because I want a clear taste of the product before it gets added to fresh fruit and Greek yogurt.

The first thing I noticed was that this granola didn’t have the crunch I expected it to have. In fact, while it is baked well, with flavors infused properly, I found this particular variety to lack the crunch that toasted oats usually have. The flavors were all there, although the freeze-dried berries are few and far between the sea of oats. They didn’t taste soggy…but they definitely didn’t add the desired texture I had hoped for in my breakfast parfait. But…it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t what I was hoping for, but I find it edible. The flavor is there. The texture is just not what I expected. But it works. And, in the grand scheme of things, that is a minor fault.

So, let’s talk nutrition, shall we? Well, the Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola is a great choice for people on a gluten-free diet. Why? Because often we lack in consuming enough fiber throughout the day…so this is a great way to balance it out. A serving, which is 1/2 cup, dishes up 240 calories. I know that seems like a lot…and it is…but this is for 1/2 cup, while most granola stops at 1/4 cup serving size…so it actually balances out in the end. With the 24o calories, you also will be taking in 6 grams of fat. The sodium in this granola is low, topping out at 50 mg per serving. This granola actually has only 7 grams of sugar, which was why I chose it over the other brand there at the store. In addition to that, the Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola has 9 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein per serving. You have to love that, right?

Of course.

So, while I wouldn’t call the Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola by Bakery on Main a success…I would say that it is passable. I mean, honestly, are there better options out there…yes. But was this granola unpleasing in any way? Of course not. If only it had some crunch in each bite…

Ah well…

If you have been searching for a good way to get more fiber into your life…this is a good choice. A fantastic choice, actually. Look past the soft oats, enjoy the intermittent bursts of sweetness from the freeze dried berries, and simply savor.

Greek yogurt and fresh berry breakfast parfait made with Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola

July 27, 2013

Annie May’s Sweet Café gives Louisville amazing Maple Caramel Blondies

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Maple Caramel Blondies – $3.00

I have to give another huge shout-out to my favorite place in Louisville. Whenever I am out of town, I miss arriving on Saturday morning to get a delicious vegan/allergen-free breakfast sandwich. I miss talking to the owners and employees behind the counter. I miss hearing my roommate talk about how many miles I just finished running and how now it was time to indulge in some allergen-free doughnuts and breakfast!

Annie May’s Sweet Café is my happy place. I make a habit to frequent their little spot on Frankfort Avenue whenever I am in town. I have never had anything there that I didn’t care for. In fact, my eyes have been opened to the amazing gluten-free baked goods that continue to churn out. And, every now and again, they introduce something new and spectacular…and if I happen to be around for it…you better believe I am going to purchase it to try.

This past weekend, Annie May’s Sweet Café rolled out Maple Caramel Blondies. I saw them post about them on their Facebook page. I had been out of town the two weekends prior, so now that I was back, I was hitting up the café for breakfast after an 18 mile run…then going out to a Gluten-Free Fair and Fundraiser later that afternoon. While they had the Maple Caramel Blondies at the café that morning…I saved that purchase for the fair.

After feasting on an amazing gluten-free crepe from Sweet ‘N’ Savory food truck, I bounced over to say “HI” to Annie May and Kenna, who were manning the table at the Gluten-Free Fair and Fundraiser. While there, I made a purchase of one of their gluten-free Maple Caramel Blondies ($3.00). They chose me to find one with lots of maple swirled in there…and I was more than happy to oblige. YUM YUM!

But…the weekend was a busy one…and I had a gluten-free sponge cake to polish off. Then my roomie had her last wisdom tooth removed…so the Maple Caramel Blondie sat on my kitchen counter until Wednesday. But…that didn’t affect it one bit.

Over the entire weekend and into half the week, this blondie was still very light and moist. I sliced it in half…eager to get a sample of this bar. Trust me…I think I started drooling when they posted about them. And I had been thinking about it all weekend…and up until dessert on Wednesday. The moment of truth was here.

I handed Cathy her half…then settled in with mine.

FLAVOR TOWN!! I mean…wow. First of all…this is exactly how I like my brownies/blondies. It had more of a cake-like texture. I totally prefer a cake-like brownie to a fudge-like brownie any day. They are lighter, fluffier, and not as dense or heavy. The blondie itself was really good. Not overly sweet, which is good, because swirled throughout it was this fantastic caramel and maple flavor. I mean…WOW!! You can see it blended into the baked blondie. Yes…this was simply awesome. Cathy thought so too, because she eating another one tonight, but stupid shoppers that we are…we had only bought the one.

So…here is hoping that Annie May’s keeps these in the bake case for awhile. TOTALLY yummy!

No one would ever guess they were allergen-free…unless you told them.

So…thank you once again, Annie May’s…for making gluten-free look and taste so, so damn good!

Annie May's Sweet Café Maple Caramel Blondie (unwrapped) — Annie May’s Sweet Café Maple Caramel Blondie (unwrapped)

July 27, 2013

Dark Chocolate Dream adds sweet raspberry to vegan dark chocolate bars

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

Dark chocolate. It is, honestly, my favorite thing in this world. Honestly.

I mean…it has this rich, deep flavor. And the bittersweet taste means you don’t really overindulge. That’s the beauty of dark chocolate. It sort of provides a serving size, because it can be rich…so a little goes a long way.

Now…enter the realm of the vegan dark chocolate bar. Yes. You read that right. VEGAN!

Okay, so vegan chocolate really isn’t anything new. But…the problem I have with vegan chocolate is that it can be hard and chalky…instead of smooth and rich like regular dark chocolate. So, vegan chocolate bars can be disappointing.

Enter…Dark Chocolate Dream. Aptly named, mind you. Dark Chocolate Dream is the chocolate bar segment of the umbrella company responsible for Rice Dream rice milk, Almond Dream almond milk, Soy Dream soy milk, and so on…

I think you get the picture. Now, I’ve many products from Imagine Foods, the company responsible for the “Dream” products. And I love them. Even the Almond Dream almond milk was good. In fact…it was really, really good. So, this company is no stranger to vegan products that focus on ingredients. I like when a company takes pride in the products they put out on the shelf.

But chocolate? Dark chocolate? Dark chocolate candy bars? That are also vegan?

Oh yes…and this one in partucular has an added burst of sweetness because the Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar adds a hit of sweetness from freeze dried raspberries to the bittersweet chocolate that forms the rest of the bar. And…honestly…dark chocolate and fruit always pair well. Dark chocolate with some sort of berry…even better.

The Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar is fabulous. It really is. No fake and unpleasing raspberry gel inside. Nothing sticky or unappealing. Just real ingredients. The pieces of fresh raspberries that are freeze dried and added to the dark chocolate just elevate this particular candy bar to the next level. Bittersweet meets sweet…and it just works. It meshes together well. Even better, this vegan dark chocolate bar doesn’t have that chalky flavor. And it isn’t tough to bite into. It’s smooth. It’s sweet. It’s very pleasing to the palate. And the chocolate is rich, and melt-in-your-mouth good. No strange aftertaste. A dark chocolate lover’s dream…

Let’s talk about ingredients and nutrition. First of all, keep in mind this is a chocolate bar. Just because it’s vegan and gluten-free doesn’t mean that it is better for you than other chocolate out on the market. It’s not. A serving of the Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar is 1/2 of the bar. This will set you back 240 calories and 15 grams of fat. YIKES, right? Luckily, this bar comes in break-away squares of 8. This means, you can certainly just take a square (trust me it’s enough) and get 8 days worth of treats. That’s what I’d do. But I’m frugal like that. Anyway…in addition to the calories and fat, you are ingesting 15 mg of sodium and then a whopping 24 grams of sugar. YIKES! Half of the candy bar contains 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

As far as the ingredients that go into this dark chocolate bar, this list is short and recognizable. The ingredients in the Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar are: evaporated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, freeze dried raspberries, roasted soy flour, soy lecithin, and pure vanilla extract.

That’s it. It’s nice to see such a short list when it comes to ingredients.

If you love the taste of raspberries. If you love dark chocolate. Then I encourage you to find and try Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar. It’s a sweet bite of rich, smooth, vegan dark chocolate. So…break off a piece…and devour! Then take a moment to savor. Trust me…you’ll thank me later.

Dark Chocolate Dreams Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

July 27, 2013

Tasty Bite’s Vegetable Korma a palate-pleasing favorite for Indian food

Product: Tasty Bite Vegetable Korma – $3.29+

You will find this dish on pretty much every Indian restaurant menu you go into. Why? Because it is just one amazing meal that is so full of different flavors and textures, it’s actually exciting to eat. This is no exaggeration. Welcome…to my Monday tradition of easy, fast food…so I can get across the river and go running.

Thank goodness for meals for the busy people in this world. Tasty Bite has mastered the art of creating not only meals that are ethnic, interesting, and super-tasty…but that are also quick and easy to prepare. A simple warming in the microwave for 90 seconds and you’re set and ready to eat. Make it into more of a meal by pairing it with rice or a protein…and dinner/lunch/whatever…is served.

This Monday was like every other Monday prior. I have a running group I adore and always want to make the Monday fun runs that are hosted from my favorite local running store. LOVE the people who work there, who run there, and who just come in there. These are good people. And missing a run always bums me out. Therefore, in the limited amount of time I have after getting off work, getting home, getting ready to run…it leaves very little time to actually prepare and eat a dinner. Besides, before running for at least 3 miles…I don’t want anything too heavy. Carbs are a must. Protein is a must. Time is of the essence.

Tasty Bite seems to fit the description.

And lucky me…I have a pantry full of these easy, quick, and very flavorful pouches of awesomeness.

This Monday…the next flavor on the tasting menu was…Vegetable Korma.

Vegetable Korma is one of the most popular dishes on Indian menus everywhere. And why wouldn’t it be? For one thing, it is packed with fresh and delicious varieties of vegetables. In this case, onion, corn, carrots, potatoes, and spinach. Lots of vegetables, because they are the star of the meal. But, with Indian food especially, you have to flavor it…season it…get that right balance of spice in each bite. And this little meal was heightened by the addition of coconut milk, yogurt, sunflower oil, garlic, chickpea flour, salt, chilies, spices, and turmeric. Are you drooling yet?

You will be. What emerges after a short 90 second zap in the microwave is a steaming pouch that contains what has become my favorite Tasty Bite meal to date. It isn’t much to look at…not really. The sauce is sort of this light green color (the spinach), and it’s laden with chunks of vegetables (LOVE IT). But…it’s not always what it looks like that is any indication of what food tastes like. And that is especially true with ethnic foods. Indian foods more often than others. Take it from me…you can’t just a food simply by its looks. What is hidden inside is what makes each meal sing.

So why did Vegetable Korma overtake every other Tasty Bite meal I have tried to become my favorite? Well…it has this warming curry flavor to it…and it has the savory taste of the garlic and onion and spices. Top that off with the earthiness of the vegetables that make up the dish itself. But what really sets it apart…is that addition of the corn. You get this fantastic pop of sweet flavor with each bite.

It’s simple. It’s easy. And it’s amazing. I don’t just say that about anything. As I normally do, I served this over some freshly cooked jasmine rice. It was just filling enough that I didn’t feel like I’d have it still in my stomach when I went running, but didn’t leave me still feeling hungry.

Perfection.

With that being said, let’s take a quick glance at the nutrition offered up by Tasty Bite’s Vegetable Korma. A serving is 1/2 of the pouch. This serving will provide you with 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will also 430 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad for a pre-packaged, shelf-stable meal. This serving also gives you 4 grams of sugar. Aside from that, you feel satisfied after eating it thanks to the 5 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein each serving provides. It’s a nutrient powerhouse. Even better, this particular product is also gluten-free, vegetarian, and kosher.

LOVE IT!

No, honestly…I do. As I said, one bite and I was certain this would be my new favorite. It’s amazing. It’s incredible. It’s beyond delicious. It once again proves that Tasty Bite knows what they are doing when they put these meals together and sell them to the masses. I keep going back for more, wanting to try the different varieties that I can on a gluten-free, vegetarian diet. And the best part is…that doesn’t eliminate too many of Tasty Bite’s meals. Love that.

So, if you have a busy night ahead of you and are in need of something good, yummy, and just awesome to eat…go to your grocery store…find the Tasty Bite packs and pick up one or a couple. But…if you are choosing just to do one…I highly recommend the Vegetable Korma. It exceeds all expectations by leaps and bounds. Honestly good food…one tasty bite after another!

Tasty Bite Vegetable Korma over jasmine rice