Products – Page 52 – The Celiathlete

May 1, 2013

A little taste of childhood remembered through Lundberg Salt Free Organic Brown Rice Cakes

Product: Lundberg Salt Free Organic Brown Rice Cakes – $3.49+

I was an odd child.

Well, I’m still a bit odd, but growing up, not many children would have said that one of their favorite snacks to eat was rice cakes. Don’t look at me like that. It’s the truth. My mom often had a sack of them in our pantry and when we’d want a snack, we’d dig one out, give it a little schmear of peanut butter, and happily devour. Sometimes…we nixed the peanut butter and would just eat them on their own. Most people would say they taste like cardboard. Not me. I loved the little cakes of puffed rice. I’d eat the entire bag if I had the opportunity.

Not much has changed in my tastes as I grew into an adult. But…for years I went without my rice cake treat. When I moved out on my own, snacks like that just fell to the wayside. I just stopped buying them.

But along came the giant closeout scare at my local grocery store. These were marked down, and I spotted them on the bottom shelf. I wasn’t going to pass that up, so I snatched a bag of them and, without hesitation, purchased them right then and there. And, as we all know, my plethora of gluten-free snacks and treats was out of control…so these waited for the day they would get to shine.

And that day finally came. These little rice cakes came out of the pantry and journeyed to the office with me for my 3:00 p.m. pick-me-up snack. I even packed a tablespoon of peanut butter to put on top of the little brown rice cake as well. Just like mom used to do for us. Just like we used to do as we got older. Memories…treasured, happy memories.

Well, snack time came and I opened up the pack of Lundberg Salt Free Organic Brown Rice Cakes. I broke off a little piece of it to try on its own. So…so amazing. No…really. Even though this is a Salt Free Rice Cake, the little puffed rice cakes are light, airy, and actually have a rich flavor. Some might say…Styrofoam. Not me. I think they have that bit of sweetness to them, and aren’t loaded with sodium or preservatives that I don’t need to be ingesting. In fact, the Lundberg Salt Free Organic Brown Rice Cakes are made with one ingredient…and one ingredient only…organic whole grain brown rice.

Bingo. Simplicity is a beautiful thing.

But, I had that peanut butter right there, so I had to pay homage to my childhood, so I gave it a schmear across the top of the rice cake. The sweetness of the peanut butter went so well with the crispy, savory taste of the brown rice cake. And it did transport me back to the days of growing up in upstate New York, feasting on these little cakes of goodness as a child, not knowing that they were actually good for me. I have my mom to thank for that. And I often do thank her for providing us with healthier snacks and well-balanced meals as we grew up.

Rice cakes don’t mean bland diet treats. Not when it comes to Lundberg Farms Salt Free Organic Brown Rice Cakes. Honestly, these just may have to become a new staple in my pantry. I’m enjoying this trip down a delicious memory lane!

And yes…puffed brown rice never tasted so good. Thanks, Lundberg Farms!

Lundberg Salt Free Organic Brown Rice Cake

April 19, 2013

Gluten-free Chocolate O’s sandwich cookies get the Schär treatment

Product: Schär Gluten-Free Chocolate O’s – $4.89+

Oreos.

It has been forever since I’ve had an Oreo. Going gluten-free takes simple pleasures like a simple sandwich cookie and sometimes makes them…untouchable. But…not with sandwich cookies. Quite a few brands are actually out on the market. Some are better than others. But…that’s to be expected.

Another treat to myself when I was last in Minneapolis, Minnesota was these Gluten-Free Chocolate O’s, Schär’s version of the gluten-free sandwich cookie. In every sense of the world…an Oreo. Chocolate cookies with a vanilla cream center sandwiched between them. I saw the box while at Cub Foods, and again, at the time, had yet to see that in my area. Since then, they have been incorporated into at least a few of the natural foods stores that I frequent. But, I’m just a little backed up on my cookie obsession in my gluten-free pantry. I’m getting there! So, naturally, since these were not available, at the time, in my region, I purchased them and carried them home with me.

Mmmm…sandwich cookies!

And, after all this time, they were next up in my gluten-free cookie backlog of epic proportions! So, two days ago, I broke into this box and pulled out a serving of Schär’s Gluten-Free Chocolate O’s. That, by the way, is 3 cookies. Yes…THREE cookies. Don’t get too excited though. These are definitely not the size nor stuffed portion you would find in Oreo cookies. These cookies are about the size of, or maybe slightly bigger (very slightly) than a quarter. Yep. One bite delight. But, that’s the good part…they are at least delicious!

The chocolate biscuits that make up the cookie portion of these little bite-size cookies are a rich and have that crisp softness to it. Sound contradictory? Well, you won’t break your teeth biting into these, but they aren’t soft either. They have just the right amount of crispness to them to make them taste like a cookie. And the center…so delicious. Not too sweet, but so reminiscent of the Oreo stuffing (just less of it), that it wowed me. I was in sheer heaven, looking for a glass of almond milk to dunk these in for good measure. Yes…they are truly amazing. I loved them. The chocolate is rich, but balanced by the cream in the middle. Just delicious bite-sized cookie goodness.

While these cookies are wheat-free and gluten-free, they do contain milk and soy. So be aware! The chocolate cookie is simply made from sugar, palm oil, corn flour, cocoa powder, soy flour, milk powder, potato starch. The filling is a blend of palm oil, milk powder, dextrose, sugar, lactose, soy lecithin, and natural vanilla flavor.

The three cookies in your serving will only set you back 170 calories and 8 grams of fat. Not too shabby for sandwich cookies, I think. The sodium is low (135 mg). As for sugars, for sandwich cookies, 11 grams per serving isn’t bad. And each serving does offer 3 grams of protein. Keep in mind…these are sandwich cookies you are eating. Indulge a little. You can have broccoli tomorrow.

While these are not at the top of my list for gluten-free sandwich cookies, these were very delicious and I have enjoyed indulging my inner cookie monster with a these dunkable, sweet, bite-size treats. Would I buy them again…sure. Would they be the first ones I reached for? Nope. But they are definitely worth the money.

April 18, 2013

Annie’s Gluten-Free Rice Shells with Creamy White Cheddar a fun take on comfort food

Annie's Homegrown Gluten-Free Rice Shells and Creamy White Cheddar — Annie’s Homegrown Gluten-Free Rice Shells and Creamy White Cheddar

Product: Annie’s Homegrown Gluten-Free Rice Shells with Creamy White Cheddar – $3.59+

Oh…your eyes did not deceive you there. You read that right. Shells. And. Cheese. Just like the old days, yes? You know…when you could crack open a box of Velveeta Shells and Cheese and cook it up within 20 minutes and just dive right in and indulge that part of you that just craves, craves, craves that oh-so-good-but-oh-so-bad-for-you comfort food. Hey…sometimes you just have to have it.

Nevermind the fact that this sort of comfort food comes in…a box.

I know…I’m not a huge fan of packaged pastas as it is…but when you live a busy life, such as I do, sometimes cooking everything from scratch just isn’t feasible. I have races to run, group runs to get to, and sometimes, long nights at the office, or workouts to do before I can finally settle in for food. My life is pretty much lived around my training schedule and extracurricular activities.

So, sometimes, dinner does come from a box. Or a package. It just…it has to at times. But I’m very particular about what sort of processed and packaged food makes it into my home. The nutrition information is scoured for certain things. As well as whether or not the item shares equipment with products that my body cannot handle.

I had never seen Annie’s Homegrown Gluten-Free Rice Shells with Creamy White Cheddar until I was visiting my grandpa in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their local Cub Foods had it on their gluten-free shelves. It really made me so excited that I ended up buying a box of it and bringing it back to Indiana with me. And, of course, now at quite a few of my natural food grocery stores, I can find this without trouble. But at the time…this was brand new to me…and I totally had to have it in my life.

But, of course, I didn’t get around to eating it until…well…tonight. The expiration date was still a couple months off, but I needed an easy meal tonight. Originally I was to go on a Boston Marathon commemorative run, however, the weather kicked up a storm. But since my dinner was already started on the stove top…I was committed. So, I got some broccolini roasting in the oven while the water came up to a boil. I dumped the small rice shells into the water and gave it a stir. These shells took 8 minutes to reach the perfect al dente. I drained them, then let them sit in the colander while I put 3 tablespoons of unsweetened almond milk into the pan and poured in the white cheddar powder that was provided. I stirred and stirred until it was well mixed and then added the pasta back in. Another round of stirring to coat the shells and dinner was ready to be served. I pulled out the broccolette to serve on the side and then dished up a bowl of Annie’s Gluten-Free Rice Shells with Creamy White Cheddar for both myself and my roomie.

She dug in first, and said that it was pretty good. Like most things made with white cheddar, the flavor was a bit milder than usual, but she said it was creamy and good. So, I picked up my bowl and got my plate of broccolini and settled in for my own dinner. Taste time. Moment of truth.

Cathy was absolutely right. The small shells not only cook fast, but they are light and easy to eat. I love that they didn’t expand in size. The cute little shells were just perfect for each little spoonful that I took. The white cheddar, despite being from a powder, actually was quite amazing and delicious. It coated the shells with a light sauce that had a mild tang of cheddar. While this does contain dairy, my lactose intolerance doesn’t go crazy because it can handle small amounts without problem. And this sauce reminded me so much of alfredo…without the fat…that it just sort of…made me happy.

The fact that I was eating a macaroni and cheese with small shells and white cheddar, which I didn’t make myself, which was ready within 15 minutes…made me so stupidly happy. I love mac and cheese…and this was shells and white cheddar, a very rare treat when you have to eat gluten-free. You either make it yourself or go without. Now…I don’t have to.

Nutritionally speaking, this comfort food isn’t too bad for you at all. One serving, or half of the box, will only set you back 330 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. For being a packaged meal, the sodium is rather low (490 mg). And this offers a kick of 7 grams of protein in a serving. That’s awesome. So, overall, comfort food that you don’t feel too guilty about eating. LOVE that.

So in love with this product. So, perhaps packaged goods aren’t always an awful thing. Sure, made from scratch is best, but when time and life keeps you on the go…easy and simple is best. Thanks to Annie’s Homegrown Rice Shells with Creamy White Cheddar, I can eat the comfort foods I love, keeping it gluten-free, and rather healthy when all is said and done. Combine that with the fact that this product is a fantastic source of Vitamin B6, a good source of calcium, is vegetarian, has no artificial flavors, synthetic colors, or preservatives. And…no trans fat either. Loving it. The cheese that is used in the powder comes from cows that are not treated with the growth hormone rBST.

Happiness can come in a box…especially a box that has white cheddar inside to coat delicate little gluten-free pasta shells. Comfort food taken to happier levels.

Annie's Homegrown Gluten-Free Rice Shells with Creamy White Cheddar — Annie’s Homegrown Gluten-Free Rice Shells with Creamy White Cheddar

April 17, 2013

Flipping over fluffy, hearty gluten-free pancakes, compliments of Namaste Foods

Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Waffle & Pancake Mix

Product: Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Waffle and Pancake Mix – $5.99+

I can be pretty particular about certain foods. And anything pertaining to breakfast…well…that’s my favorite meal of the day, so it needs to impress. It needs to be good. I don’t want my breakfast to go to waste. I live for breakfast. I sometimes eat breakfast three times in a day. That’s how much breakfast means to me.

I’m working on clearing out a good bit of my pantry overstock in the gluten-free items I have stockpiled. And my roommate had a craving. Pancakes. Well, we had quite a few pancake mixes kicking around on the shelves, so I grabbed the next one up as far as expiration dates, and it was a company I had yet to try any products from. Namaste Foods. Being a yoga enthusiast, I already loved the name of it.

So, I ended up with this gluten-free pancake and waffle mix from Namsate Foods because it was one of the items marked down when my local grocery store decided to put almost all of its gluten-free shelves on closeout and totally freak me out into thinking that I was going to lose a store to get gluten-free foods. False alarm. I think they just needed to make room for new items. These items I bought on the big, panic, closeout are still on the shelves there. Ah well…worked in my advantage.

Anyway…it was the morning after the Boston Marathon bombing and I was really feeling my fellow runners that morning. What better way to honor runners than to make one of their favorite carby meals? Pancakes. To add to the runnerific awesomeness of pancakes…I thought to make peanut butter and jelly pancakes. Mine just had to be gluten-free…for the sake of my digestive system. And this mix made it simple.

Normally, the Namaste Gluten-Free Waffle and Pancake Mix calls for the addition of 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 eggs, and milk or water. Well, I don’t like to use oil or eggs in my pancakes, so I decided to gamble…and added applesauce and melted peanut butter instead. I used water to keep the calorie count down with the peanut butter being a big portion of the mix. I wasn’t sure what this would do to the texture, but I figured gluten-free cooking is all about taking risks anyway. And pancakes can be saved someway if it turns out to be a bust on the flavor.

That being said, I mixed everything together, added 2 cups of the mix, and blended it all together. At first the batter was way too thick, so I added a little more water and that helped even out the consistency. Onto the griddle it went. And it took a little while to get that crisp, golden layer on one side. But…it got there. I didn’t want to turn the heat up, because I tend to burn pancakes that way, but trying to cook them faster. It’s one of the biggest complaints I have with gluten-free pancakes…getting that perfect golden crust on the outside. It’s difficult at times. Anyway…I flipped them and continued to cook the batch, making a total of 8 pancakes with one batch of the batter. Nice.

Then…to conclude the epic breakfast to honor the Boston Marathon, I spread some organic strawberry preserves across the top of each pancake, drizzled some melted peanut butter over the top, then added a swirl of dark chocolate because…I was upset about the marathon and needed chocolate, then topped each one off with a fresh, organic strawberry. Work of pancake art, let me tell you.

So, the moment of truth was upon us…how did they taste? My roommate was the first to dig into the perfect pancake breakfast…and she didn’t have any complaints. In fact, she hoovered the pancakes down. It had been a long time since I’d seen her do that with any product. So, this was a very good sign. I settled in with my two pancakes and sliced into one. Oh…oh yes…these were good!

While they didn’t have that perfect golden crust on the outside, the pancakes themselves were fluffy and packed with flavor. The texture of these pancakes is light and fluffy. But, they are filling. Just two was all I needed and the breakfast stayed with me all the way to my snack time, about 4 hours later. I loved that. It was nice not to eat breakfast and be hungry about an hour or so later. It was very nice, indeed. I loved that each bite had a hint of vanilla to it, which I could still taste, even with my toppings and additions. And the lack of eggs and oil didn’t affect the flavor or texture at all, in my opinion. This was one of the better pancakes I had made from a gluten-free mix. I tested the gluten-free pancake gods again later on that day because I needed to make easy pancakes for workout mornings. I left the eggs and oil out again and substituted pumpkin, then folded in some chocolate chips. Same thing. The pancakes were a little more dense this time around, but they cooked all the way through. They still didn’t get that golden color, but the pumpkin sort of distracts from that anyway. But yeah…filling…and fantastic. Loved the flavor, the texture, the chewy nature of the pancakes. Delicious. Very pleased with this mix.

The Namaste Foods Waffle and Pancake Mix contains no wheat, gluten, soy, corn, potato, dairy, casein, peanuts or tree nuts. It is all natural, has no preservatives, and is non-GMO. LOVING it. You will recognize all eight ingredients that go into the mix itself, starting with sweet brown rice flour, tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, rice milk powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and ground vanilla bean. It’s always a comfort when you can identify what goes into your processed and packaged foods. I think so anyway.

As I said, this was the first product I tried from Namaste Foods, and now I am eager to try other mixes that they have on the market. Total win. Pancake perfection when I needed it most.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancakes made with Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Waffle & Pancake Mix

April 16, 2013

Pure flavor and pure ingredients make Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Fig Granola purely amazing

Purely Elizabeth Gluten-Free Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola Cereal

Product: Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola Cereal – $7.99+

Granola is one of those foods that can walk a fine line between healthy and…not so healthy. It all comes down to the ingredients. I have had some really amazing gluten-free granola in the past…but my problem with it is that it is always laden with extra sugars. WHY?! Granola doesn’t have to be rich in sugar in order to taste good.

Proof is in the package – and in this case it’s Purely Elizabeth’s Pumpkin Fig Granola.

I admit, I was apprehensive about my choice to pick up the Pumpkin Fig Granola. My local Whole Foods store had a couple of other selections from Purely Elizabeth…but after looking at the Cranberry Pecan and the Original flavors, I decided to go with a flavor that no other gluten-free granola company had tackled yet. Pretty much any fruit would pair well with it…so that’s what I decided on. As to why I decided to hop brands to a different gluten-free granola…it wasn’t any reason, per se…just the fact that this one happened to be on the shelves at Whole Foods and caught my eye.

I like to utilize granola in fruity breakfast parfaits. I will layer it with vanilla Chobani yogurt and a fresh fruit of some sort, whether it’s fresh organic berries, kiwi, or apples and pears that I caramelize…it makes a nice change from having cereal every morning. So, it falls into rotation every other morning, normally when my roommate and I are not hitting up the gym for our 60 minute cardio and strength training.

What I loved, immediately, about Purely Elizabeth was that the items that the company produces are all natural and organic, using nutritious alternative grains and superfood seeds. The products are free of sugar, dairy, wheat and gluten. Loving it already. Purely Elizabeth founder, Elizabeth Stein, was perusing a career as a holistic nutrition counselor where she learned about the connection between what you eat and how you feel – specifically how sugar, wheat and dairy can negatively impact health. Her mission became simple…to create gluten-free and vegan products that were not overly processed that still tasted good. She totally succeeded.

A serving of Purely Elizabeth Gluten-Free Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola Cereal

This morning marked the inaugural tasting of the Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Fig Granola. I was going to pair it with the vanilla Greek yogurt and some organic strawberries that came in my CSA bin. Pumpkin, fig, strawberry? Could it possibly work? Only one way to find out…but first…I needed to see if my palate was going to appreciate the flavor of Pumpkin and Fig together in this granola form. I reached into the pouch of granola and swiped a pinch of the ancient grain cereal. I popped it in my mouth…and knew it was going to be okay.

I loved how the pumpkin flavor wasn’t overpowering. Sometimes, as much as I love pumpkin, it can get to be a bit much. It can really take away from the product itself. And the balance of the sweet dry figs made the ideal blend. Match that with the variety of flavors and textures that come with the inclusion of gluten-free oats, organic puffed amaranth, organic quinoa flakes, organic pumpkin seeds, organic sunflower seeds, organic chia seeds, and the sweetness of the organic coconut palm sugar, and cinnamon…and what you have is a recipe for amazing flavor. Add in the organic raw virgin coconut oil and a hint of sea salt…and that’s what you’ll find in every bag of Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola Cereal.

Amazing? You better believe it.

Even more amazing than the blend of flavors and textures is the nutritional value of a serving of this cereal. The combination of ingredients are all natural, organic, and gluten-free…the ancient grains all providing excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants. Loving that. One serving is 1/3 cup, which serves you up 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. Not too shabby. Especially since the fat content is derived from the raw virgin coconut oil, and this sort of fat gets used as energy, rather than stored. Loving that. A serving of this granola has only 6 grams of sugar and will provide you with 4 grams of protein. It is low in sodium (110 grams) as well. All the granola is hand baked and made with over 70% certified organic ingredients. No artificial colors or flavors are added either. Which means…what you see is what you get.

And what you get is a delicious blend of oats, seeds, ancient grains, and dried figs. And all together it provides a delicious, and not overpowering flavor to whatever you choose to add it to…or if you just enjoy it on its own with a splash of milk. Either way, you should feel good about the food you are eating. I feel good about choosing Purely Elizabeth and I highly recommend the Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola Cereal.

It’s different. It’s tasty. It’s purely…delicious.

A Strawberry and Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait made with Purely Elizabeth Gluten-Free Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola Cereal

April 16, 2013

Wholesome Cravings Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Snack Cake brings unwholesome taste and unwelcome texture

Product: Wholesome Cravings Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Snack Cake Mix – $4.99+

Thank you, Wholesome Cravings, for teaching me an important lesson when it comes to new products.

What lesson might that be?

No matter what, always try the new product out while at home. Do NOT think that just because it smells amazing while baking that it will taste good too.

That was my mistake I made when I baked up this Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Cake from Wholesome Cravings this past weekend to use for breakfast on gym mornings this work week. Streamline. Make something that can be eaten throughout the week. Perfect. And, hello, cake…for breakfast. Sounds like a dream come true. And an apple cake at that. I love apples!

I also loved how easy this cake was to make. Simply mix together 3 eggs, 1/4 cup of zero calorie sweetener, and 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce, then add the mix to the other ingredients, make sure they are blended well, and pour into a cake pan. Bake as directed at 330°F.

Simple. Efficient. And, I wasn’t lying when I said that this cake smelled fantastic as it baked.

But…scents can apparently be very deceiving. I know this now.

Wholesome Cravings Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Snack Cake

The following morning, I sliced two pieces of this cake and packed it into a container to take to the office for my roommate and I to enjoy after working out at the gym. We had a great workout…and when we were done, we were both famished and ready for some food. We headed over to the office and I went into the kitchen to peel some blood oranges and throw a slice of the cake into the microwave to warm up for our cake-for-breakfast pleasure. It still smelled amazing.

I took my roomie her slice first, and then went to warm mine up. As I walked back toward my desk, I stopped by hers and asked what she thought of the cake. She gave me an unenthusiastic, “Eh, it’s okay…I mean…I’ll eat it.” That is never a good sign. I thought perhaps she was exaggerating. So, I went and settled in at my desk and took my first bite of the cake.

First of all, the texture is rather spongy. Yep. Spongy. I really didn’t like that at all. It really didn’t sit well on my taste buds. I mean, food needs to have a pleasing texture, so when it feels like you are gnawing on a sponge, something is definitely wrong. The flavor…chemically. The apple tasted fake and the caramel flavor was rather nonexistent. I was not impressed. In fact, I messaged my roommate and told her that I would eat this slice because I was hungry, but when I got home, the rest of the cake was going into the garbage. I didn’t like it at all. I think I disliked it more than her because I didn’t even want to eat it. The things exercise induced hunger drive you to.

Totally unimpressed.

Totally disgusted by it too. It certainly doesn’t make me want to try any of the other cake offerings from Wholesome Cravings.

In case you like fake apple-flavored spongy cakes, though, the nutritional breakdown is this.

A serving is 1/7 of the cake. Who cuts a cake into 7 pieces? I made it 8. The calories per serving once prepared (and done in 8 servings) are 118 calories per slice and only 4 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a cake, right? Right. Too bad it tastes so awful. Also of note, each slice of cake serves up a healthy dose of protein, in this case, 12 grams. And you also get 2 grams of fiber. This cake made of 100% whole grains, contains zero trans fats, has no preservatives or artificial sweeteners, and is 100% all natural.

But none of that can save it from the fact that it is just…bizarre, in flavor and in texture. I was not a fan. And I really don’t recommend anyone wasting their money on this product. I’m more than a little upset that I did…because I feel cheated out of what should have been a delicious breakfast cake. Perfect, with the protein content, for post workout eats. But…instead…I got one of the more disgusting gluten-free products I have tried yet.

Disappointed? You have no idea.

A slice of Wholesome Cravings Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Protein Snack Cake

April 15, 2013

Forget the frozen store brands, the best gluten-free hamburger buns are from Annie May’s Sweet Café

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Hamburger Buns – $5.50+

You might have realized that I spend a lot of time at my local allergen-free bakery. There is a reason for that. Not only do they provide some of the best food in Louisville, Kentucky, but owners Annie May and Kenna put a lot of time, care, and love into the products they serve up. And it’s not just cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and the like. Nope. They provide lunches and even breakfast every Saturday morning. Oh yes…this is more than your average bakery.

One of my favorite things to get when I head into Annie May’s Sweet Café every Saturday is their Allergen-Free Vegan Breakfast Sandwich, which consists of a vegan and gluten-free sausage, made by Louisville’s own Grind (a food truck!), Daiya cheese, and all of it goes on this amazing roll. Ever since I first had one of these breakfast sausages, I had been trying to figure out what they use for the bread.

And, after browsing about the case inside the shop on Saturday morning…it all became clear. It appears they toast up and use their very own allergen-free (gluten-free and vegan) hamburger buns. With this incredible revelation, I had to have some for myself. After all, I had tons of fresh produce to use, so I figured I could do up some of my homemade vegan and gluten-free black bean and soy chorizo burgers and make use of the amazing and very light hamburger buns.

So…yes…I purchased them.

I mean…they were one of my favorite parts of the breakfast sandwich. I had to have some for my own use. So, yes…I brought home a pack of four. And tonight, I mixed up the ingredients for my burgers and prepped all the veggies, some hand-cut shoestring fries from organic russet potatoes, and then sauteed up some shallots and white button mushrooms for these burgers as well. One thing I did have every intention of doing, however, was toasting those buns like they do at the café for their breakfast sandwiches. So, after unwrapping two of them, I gave each a light spritz with olive oil, then placed them on the skillet to get a light toasting on them.

With the burgers on the skillet, and the buns getting a light toasting, I got everything ready to plate. And with the homemade fries fresh and crisp from the oven, I started to stack them on the plate. I took one half of each bun and set it on each plate. Bibb lettuce was the next addition, followed by the vegan and gluten-free black bean and soy chorizo burger I mixed up. I melted some cheese over each patty and then stacked some shallots, mushrooms, sliced cherry tomato, and avocado on top. It then got a light spread of vegan sriracha sour cream. Then…the top of the bun was placed over the entire burger, completing the package.

Dinner was served.

And…yes…these hamburger buns are exactly what they use on Saturday mornings for those amazing breakfast sandwiches. Oh. My. God. I was so thrilled to be able to have these in the comfort of my own home this evening with my dinner. They are so light, fluffy, and delicious. They have this subtle buttery flavor to them, which just makes them taste all the more amazing. And they hold up, even with all the layers and textures going on in my homemade veggie burgers. That’s the best part. These buns didn’t flake or wilt or grow soggy. They remained in one piece and, despite being so light in texture, they are sturdy.

The remaining two will be used tomorrow when I toast up the other two homemade veggie burger patties I have already prepared.

Annie May’s Sweet Café is one of those little gems that Louisville should realize how fortunate it is to have in the city. I would be lost without my allergen-friendly bakery. I have enjoyed not only the sweet treats, but also the savory pieces I have picked up from there, eaten there, and purchased to take home for later. Everything is made with great care, and the owners pour their heart and soul into every product they put out for the public.

With the onset of summer, I am hoping hours will be extended once again so I can make it over there for dinners sometimes. Their daily specials always sound so intriguing, but I work in Indiana and don’t get out of work in time to make it over there currently to enjoy their specials. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert…all in one place.

And, you can easily purchase their baked goods, including their hamburger buns, right there at the shop. So head over to Frankfort Avenue and give their products a try. You’ll never guess that all of them are gluten-free…and most are also allergen-free. And all of it…super delicious.

These hamburger buns, especially, make a nice addition to the dinner table. Don’t take my word for it though. Go in there and purchase some for yourself. They’ll beat out any store-bought brand from the freezer any day!

My homemade gluten-free and vegan black bean and soy chorizo burger sandwiched between Annie May's Sweet Café Allergen-Free Hamburger Buns (shown with homemade hand-cut shoestring fries) — My homemade gluten-free and vegan black bean and soy chorizo burger sandwiched between Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Hamburger Buns (shown with homemade hand-cut shoestring fries)

April 13, 2013

Cookies taken from great to super with Annie May’s Sweet Café’s Super Cookies

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Super Cookie – $3.99

I’ve stated it in the past two posts I have done on cookies from Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky. Nothing will ever, ever top their allergen-free chocolate chip cookies. For real. They are, by far, the best and most amazing gluten-free cookies that I have ever had the pleasure of sinking my teeth into. For real. They don’t get much better than this. Buttery, smooth, soft, chewy, sweet…perfection.

Could it get any better?

Oh…believe it or not…it can.

How, you might ask?

By making a chocolate dipped cookie sandwich out of them, of course. I mean, when something is already as amazing as a single allergen-free chocolate chip cookie…take two of them, place some amazing icing between them and dip half of the cookie in dark chocolate. What emerges is what Annie May’s likes to call their Super Cookies.

Super sinfully satisfying, that’s for damn sure. Be prepared to share, because these cookies are epic big and epic filling. But worth every calorie-filled sweet, indulgent bite.

For real.

I have been eying the Super Cookies for a long while now. Especially after the amazing yumminess of the chocolate chip cookies on their own. How could two with filling and chocolate be bad? It can’t. It can only elevate the already amazing flavor of the cookies. I can guarantee that.

After a long run this morning, my roomie and I decided to head to Annie May’s for our usual Saturday breakfast. But, as an added bonus, we picked up one of the Super Cookies after I stared longingly at it the entire time we were there. Hey…my sweet tooth was acting up. I can’t help it. We agreed that we would get one cookie to split between us as dessert tonight, so we got it wrapped up to go and headed out for a day full of grocery shopping and hitting up a few stores in search of some items we have been searching for.

Then, after dinner tonight, I excitedly pulled out the Gluten-Free Super Cookie (this is not vegan) from Annie May’s Sweet Café and carved it in half. One half went to Cathy…the other half was mine.

One bite. One sinful bite and I was transported back to the days my sister and I would fill up on The Great American Cookie Company’s Double Doozy cookies. Except…these were far tastier…far more delicious…far more indulgent…far more…EVERYTHING. Take what you know about chocolate chip cookie sandwiches and multiply it to the nth degree. Because that is how amazing the Super Cookies are from Annie May’s Sweet Café. I wanted to savor each bite. I tried. But the sweetness kept luring me in for another bite. Then another. And before I knew it…I was left only with crumbs and the lingering taste on my palate.

Yeah…my favorite gluten-free chocolate chip cookie elevated to the next level. Not a thing wrong in the world with that. Not one thing.

Just bliss. Sweet, satisfying, sinful bliss. Creamy, chocolatey, cookie goodness…bite-for-bite. Entice your inner cookie monster today. Head to Annie May’s Sweet Café and get one for yourself. Super delicious Super Cookies from the super bakery…Annie May’s!

Something this sinfully sweet never tasted so good.

April 12, 2013

Tangy lemon brings out the best in Glutino’s Gluten-Free Lemon Wafers

Product: Glutino Gluten-Free Lemon Wafers – $5.49+

I have quite a few food memories that go all the way back to when I was a child. It’s helped shape me into the fearless vegetarian and gluten-free foodie that I am today. Honestly. I was raised with the mantra that you have to at least try something before you can say whether you like it or not. Forget that your best friend totally despises asparagus. I had to try it and make my own judgment call on it. I liked it. I was never afraid to try something…regardless of how it looked or smelled. That was the rule…and I obeyed it.

With that lead-in, I bring you to one of my guiltiest pleasures I indulged in as a child. Wafer cookies. Perhaps you remember them…those chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavored wafer cookies that came in a pack. The strawberry were always my favorite…followed by the chocolate. But my most favorite thing to do would be to separate the different layers of the cookies and then reconstruct them, so that each cookie had a bit of each flavor in it. My very own Neapolitan wafer cookie, if you will.

I mean, these weren’t gourmet cookies by any means…but as a child…they were fun. They might have tasted like artificially flavored cardboard…but you ate them…and your parents continued to by them. And you just never got tired of them. Yep…I remember those days…

Then a couple of years ago…the gluten-free diagnosis came. My eating habits changed, but I still like to indulge every now and again. And that’s okay. I love to treat myself to different products that sound intriguing.

Well, with my love of lemon, the day I spotted Glutino’s Gluten-Free Lemon Wafers on the shelf was the day I thought I died and went to heaven. Would they be like those wafer cookies of my childhood…just in my favorite flavor? Or would they surprise me and be better? There was only one way to find out, but unfortunately, it took me months to convince myself to actually purchase them. I live on a very strict budget, but I decided to treat myself one day. So, they finally left the shelf and made the journey to my pantry.

Lemon just seems to brighten up everything, which is why my palate loves it so much. I could add lemon to just about anything and be a happy girl. It’s refreshing.

But, that’s not to say I didn’t worry that these cookies would taste like liquid dish soap cardboard. It was a very real concern yesterday when I cracked open this box for my dessert.

They looked like and felt like those wafer cookies from my childhood…that’s for sure. Just minus the fake food dyes. These cookies are white with a light yellow filling…which would be that lemon I could go on and on about…

But I’ll spare you that. First…the nutritional value of these wafer cookies…

A serving size is three wafer cookies, which will set you back 160 calories and 7 grams of fat. I know…seems a bit high for little wafer cookies…I agree. These also supply 12 grams of sugar to your daily allowance. Keep in mind, however, that these are…cookies. So, they aren’t supposed to be naturally good for you.

These cookies are made from simple ingredients which include cane sugar, potato starch, palm oil, soy lecithin, citric acid, salt and lemon flavor.

So, how do they taste?

Like…wafer cookies, to be honest. But wafer cookies taken up a notch. I didn’t find these to taste like cardboard, for one thing. The lemon flavoring is awesome and very refreshing. I loved the creaminess of the filling between the layers of wafer. They have the right amount of tang, without being too much. They are light, being made up of wafer layers and a thin layer of cream. And…honestly…I prefer them over the ones from my childhood (which I can no longer eat anyway!). I love that no artificial colors are used and that the flavor comes from lemon. Awesome.

Glutino has always wowed me with their products and it’s good to know that something as risky as a wafer cookie still keeps them in my favor. No product that I have tried has had me turn up my nose. This is a great company that puts a lot of pride into their products, and you can tell. The Glutino Gluten-Free Lemon Wafers made me feel like a kid again. And I loved pulling them apart even now…and eating the creamy bit last.

Love lemon? You’ll love these!

April 11, 2013

Cofresh adds a bit of Indian heat to any dish with this spicy Tandoori Marinade

Product: Cofresh Tandoori Marinade – $2.50+

Oh, the things you find at Big Lots when you walk the aisles. It never ceases to amaze me what kind of gluten-free goodness lurks in their food aisles. Especially when you hit up some of the specialty aisles…where things comes from across the ocean.

That was what happened when I happened across Cofresh Tandoori Marinade. It was any other browsing session through Big Lots to kill off some time. And naturally, I find something that catches my eye.

Being that I love, love, love, love Indian food…I figured this gluten-free marinade (it’s even labeled!) would come in handy…at some point. You know. Like when I feel the need to make something and give it some Indian twist. So, I purchased this imported sauce and took it home with me. And then, as is normally the case, it sat in my pantry for a good long while.

Until today.

Because today I decided to flex my CSA Bin muscle. I have lots of produce left from last week and a new bin on its way tomorrow…so I wanted to use whatever I could this evening with dinner. Over the weekend, I also picked up some Twin Oaks Original Tofu at Whole Foods, so I figured…at least I could do some Tandoori Tofu. But how to step it up? And how to use some of that produce in my crisper drawer? Hmmm…

And then…it came to me. It’s what my roommate now calls Triple T!

What is Triple T, you might ask? Well, it’s Tandoori Tofu Tortilla Wrap. And I added some of the Bibb lettuce and baby spinach in my crisper drawer, as well as chopped up some shallots to add a bit of texture. All I needed to do was get that tandoori tofu working. And that was easy!!

This morning, I cut exactly 6 ounces of tofu (2 servings) from the block and then sliced it up into bite-sized cubes. I tossed them into a plastic baggy with about 4 tablespoons of Cofresh Tandoori Marinade. I gave the bag a shake, and then let it rest in the fridge all day while I was at work. When I returned home tonight, I simply heated up a nonstick pan on the stove, dumped my marinaded tofu into it, and cooked it through.

Then…I warmed one of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Spinach Tortillas up in the microwave, added a touch more of the marinade to it, then layered on the fresh Bibb lettuce and baby spinach. On top of that when my warmed tandoori tofu, then a sprinkling of raw shallot, for texture. And when it was done…the Triple T was what we were having for dinner. I took my roomie her plate then went to get mine.

First of all…this was one healthy and amazingly flavorful dinner. The Cofresh Tandoori Marinade is labeled as being at a medium heat, but it does have some kick to it. And, you all know I am a spice girl, so I was loving that gentle burn. It worked so well on the tofu as the tofu really absorbed that rich flavor of the marinade. So delicious. And with the added crunch of the shallot and the fresh greens underneath, this was a hearty, satisfying, and spicy meal that sort of fused Mexican with Indian. And it was a match made in heaven.

Cofresh Tandoori Marinade also wins as far as nutrition as well. A serving size is 2 tablespoons, of which only sets you back 20 calories. That’s amazing for a sauce. This sauce is also fat free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and also vegan. The sodium is a bit higher than I like, topping off at 520 mg, but it just means there is no need to season further. And, honestly, you don’t need to.

I absolutely loved this marinade. The tandoori flavor had the right amount of heat, kick, and spice to keep each bite interesting to my palate. And I loved how it worked with my fresh, local produce. Looking for a new way to spice up your meal, I highly recommend Cofresh Tandoori Marinade.

Tandoori Tofu Tortilla Wrap (made with Cofresh Tandoori Marinade)