Products – Page 63 – The Celiathlete

November 9, 2012

A different sort of vegetarian burger in Earth Fare’s Mushroom Rice Burger (gluten-free)

Product: Earth Fare Natural Mushroom Rice Burger – $3.99+

I have fallen into a veggie burger rut. That sounds strange…I know. But it’s true.

The marketplace for gluten-free veggie burgers is booming. And I’m happy about that, because as a gluten-free vegetarian, sometimes I just want to have a good veggie burger. And many of the ones I have tried have been awesome. Some have been better than others. Despite being one of the more pricier ones, I absolutely can not step away from Amy’s Kitchen Sonoma Burger. It’s delicious. And one of the more sane ones when it comes to nutrition.

You might recall my run-in with the epically off-the-chain deliciousness of Sunshine Burgers…but the calories and fat content in them totally derailed my moment of joy.

It’s hard to find decent gluten-free, vegetarian food that isn’t laden with high calories and a lot of fat.

But, one day while shopping at my area’s newest grocery store, Earth Fare (I call it Earth Joy because it makes me happy!), I stumbled across their house brand of veggie burgers in the freezer section. As I was on my last Amy’s patty, I figured…why not try something else? And with a quick glance at the nutrition information, I felt so much better about this selection than any of the ones that have come before it. Now, I just had to hope it tasted as good as it sounded.

The veggie burger I chose this time around is Earth Fare’s Mushroom Rice Burger. And when I removed it from the freezer last night to cook up for dinner, what I loved seeing was the bits of rice that are actually part of the burger. You can also see the various vegetables that are incorporated into the patty itself. Love that. In fact, the Mushroom Rice Burger is composed of portobello and button mushrooms, onions, carrots, red and green peppers, black olives, potatoes, and garlic. Organic brown rice is added to that flavorful mixture, and they are seasoned with wheat-free organic tamari, sea salt, garlic, and some herbs.

A single burger is the serving size, but for once, the nutrition facts on the back of the box didn’t send me throwing it back in the freezer. One patty is only 90 calories (I think this is the first gluten-free veggie burger I’ve had that is under 110 calories) and contains only 1.5 grams of fat (THIS IS A FIRST!). It is a lean burger that is low fat, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and free of saturated fat. The sodium level is very low (290 mg). And one patty contains a whopping 8 grams of protein. Love that.

Last night, because I had some red onion, local bibb lettuce, and some tomato on hand, I decided it was time for another veggie burger. So, I busted out the Earth Fare Mushroom Rice Burger to cook up and give a try. I put it in my skillet to cook and heat through. This was actually very easy to do. I just made sure that it wasn’t cold anywhere in the middle, and flipped it a couple of times until it was nice and golden on the outside and warm throughout.

As I am out of my gluten-free hamburger buns, I have been opting to sandwich my burgers in…gluten-free bread. I happened to only have one slice left of my Glutino Genius bread, so I did sort of an open-face burger thing in lieu of getting more gluten-free bread or some gluten-free buns. I threw a slice of Veggie Slices Provolone Flavor cheese over it to melt down. Then, I plated it with the fresh vegetables and sat down to enjoy.

My first order of business was to get a piece of the burger itself, with no veg or bread. Why? Because I really wanted to see how it tasted, unmarred by the flavors that accompanied it. One bite…and I fell in love. This veggie burger is packed with amazing flavor. All organic. All delicious. I haven’t been this impressed by a veggie burger in a long time (especially one that is at least a little more nutritious for me to eat!). Gluten-free veggie burgers are becoming a little more common, but these…these not only have the best nutritional stats of any that I have tried, but they were moist and rich with flavor. All of the vegetables, the rice, the seasonings…they all mingled and mixed to form this perfect bite of a burger.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I hoovered it. Just completely devoured it.

Yes…it is that good.

I have noticed that Earth Fare markets are opening up throughout the country. If you have one nearby, I encourage you to go inside and try some of what they have to offer. It’s a great little healthy supermarket. And I have fallen in love with their selection (especially for someone like me!) and their products. Their very own brand of veggie burgers has now become my absolute favorite. Now…how’s that for amazing?!

Earth Fare Natural Mushroom Rice Burger, topped with melted non-dairy provolone cheese, bibb lettuce, and tomato

November 8, 2012

Cheese Bites Smoked Cheese crackers a more flavorful snack

Product: Unismack Cheese Bites Smoked Cheese Crackers – $1.80+

You know…one thing I have yet to learn is when a deal or sale is going on and I’m purchasing a new product…I shouldn’t immediately load up on every flavor available. Honestly. Because there is absolutely no guarantee that I’ll like the product in the first place.

I recently reviewed the Unismack Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers…claiming that while they were good…they weren’t exactly something that stood out. Not memorable. In a world of gluten-free cracker options, I’d eat them again…but not actively seek them out. Of course, while on that outing to Big Lots that day, I grabbed pretty much every snack cracker that said Gluten-Free on the box. Because…it’s labeled. WOOHOO!! And the Cheese Bites Smoked Cheddar Cheese was the next snack on my gluten-free pantry list. I was less than thrilled to pull down another box of these, but…you know…the rule is…unless you really can’t stomach it…you eat it. No gluten-free things go to waste in my house. None.

So, I dished up a serving to take to work with me today. And my 3 p.m. snack time rolled around. I pulled out these crackers, popped the lid of the container, and took my first bite.

And this is why I am on the fence with these.

They taste like…BACON.

There is nothing bacon related in these. But that’s what they taste like. Like greasy diner bacon. Or, as my co-worker said after I let her try one…that it tastes like a bite of a McDonald’s Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a bad thing. Not at all. But I’m a vegetarian. So when your vegetarian crackers taste like bacon, it is a little jarring at first. I didn’t know what to make of it or how to react. I know it’s just from the cheese being smoked, but…it confused the hell out of my taste buds.

You can’t say that these snack crackers lack anything for flavor. The very opposite is true for these. These pack the flavor. Enough that to some people it tastes like a fast food breakfast sandwich. Go figure. To me, it just reminds me of bacon. Maybe it’s because of that smokey flavor that is in the cheese. I had to get beyond that in order to really enjoy these crackers, but I ate them. No fussing on flavor this time. It’s there. I’m just not sure what to make of it just yet.

On the flip side, these crackers are rather low in calories (120 calories for a 1 cup (or 29g) serving) and only have 5 grams of fat for each serving. That’s not bad for a snack cracker. These are low sodium and also pack 4 grams of protein per serving. Not bad for a cracker, yes? All the ingredients are recognizable…probably due to the fact that these are produced in Greece. No strange chemicals or preservatives. Just the real-deal when it comes to ingredients. And these crackers are puffed up triangles of smoked cheese flavor. And they are light, so they won’t fill you up and spoil your appetite for dinner either.

So, if you love bacon…these might be the crackers for you. As for me, after my 3 servings that are in this box…I think I’ll pass. It’s just…weird to me. But, if you aren’t a vegetarian…these might be the best cracker you’ve ever tasted. But you’d have to buy them to find out.

November 7, 2012

Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers a light, gluten-free snack

Product: Unismack Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers – $1.80+

So…here’s the thing.

In February, I’ll be hitting my 2 year milestone of being completely gluten-free. Yep. Two full years. And it has been a learning experience. One thing that I can certainly claim is that I have definitely been going out on a limb and trying a variety of gluten-free products. One of the numerous gluten-free products out there is crackers.

Crackers went gluten-free with a vengeance. There are so many brands out there to choose from now. And flavors as well. Imagine that…options.

Well, one place I have learned to look for different gluten-free foods is Big Lots. I have found a wide variety of different snacks and foods from various parts of the world on the shelves of Big Lots. At a decent price. Labeled gluten-free. You know how I feel about labels on my products!

One such product was this week’s afternoon snack at the office. They are simply called Cheese Bites, made by the Unismack SA company in Greece. This particular box that I selected is the Parmesan cheese variety of cracker. Right on the front of the box is the gluten-free label that assured me this would be okay to purchase and consume. So…I did.

With the plethora of snack crackers out in the gluten-free market, something like this really needs to stand out. The actual shape and texture of these did catch my attention. They are simple puffy triangles that are bake, which keeps them light and airy. The ingredients are simple…without anything that makes you hop on the internet and search for what that chemical might be. It’s simple…potato startch, edam cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg yolk, yeast extract, milk proteins, and salt. Bam. A simple cracker and not a single ingredient I didn’t recognize. I love that. In addition, these crackers are not only gluten-free, but also wheat free, MSG Free, GMO Free, rich in calcium, and also produced in a nut-free factory.

But…how do they taste?

Well…they are good. Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t turn down buying them again. The fact of the matter, however, is that I have had so many flavor-popping crackers before these that they just don’t quite live up to my expectations. I’ve had fantastic cheese crackers (Hello Schär!) and other such crackers…and while these taste good, have a good texture, and definitely deliver that Parmesan flavor…they just seem bland compared to other gluten-free crackers out there. I loved the puffed up triangles, keeping the snack light so as not to be too heavy in the afternoon before heading home for dinner. I just feel that there are better, more flavorful crackers out there.

A serving of these is 1 cup (or 29 grams if you weigh your portions like I do). This will set you back 120 calories and 4.5 grams of fat for the day. These are relatively low in sodium (only 300 mg) and provide 4 grams of protein in a serving. Not bad for a cracker. There are, mind you, only 3 servings per box, however…so you don’t get a whole heap of these at a time.

Unixmack SA has created a good, cheesy, gluten-free snack cracker…but there are others out there that I have eaten that I’ve liked far better. They aren’t bad…they just can’t compare to other cheese crackers lining the gluten-free shelves. But…I’d eat them again if they were offered to me.

November 2, 2012

Enjoying breakfast with a taste of Enjoy Life’s Cranapple Crunch Granola

After checking Enjoy Life’s Web site, I’m not 100% certain this product is even available anymore. Which is definitely too bad. And here’s why…

It is fantastic!

Simple and to the point on this blog. I picked up this pouch of granola at Big Lots one day while I was out and about. They just happened to have it on sale…and I just happened to snatch it up with one of the Double Chocolate Crunch granola pouches as well. I figured I could use it on homemade, gluten-free apple crisp. And then I realized it was highly unlikely that I would get around to making apple crisp anytime soon, despite the overflow of apples in my CSA bin every week. So, this morning…I got a little creative with breakfast.

With it being fall/winter time, apples are in abundance when it comes to my produce. So, I see them every week and try to come up with easy, efficient ways to use them. Even if it means just slicing them and eating them straight. Well…that could have happened this morning. And then…I had a brilliant stroke of brilliance (as I like to say). And I dug the bag of Enjoy Life Cranapple Crunch Granola out of my pantry and got set to work some of my breakfast magic.

I ended up getting out my vanilla Greek yogurt, caramelizing up some apples, and then serving it in parfait form with the Enjoy Life Cranapple Crunch Granola serving as the crunchy bit to give it texture. Assembling it was easy. Caramelizing apples I can do in my sleep. And throwing Greek yogurt over everything is something I’m used to doing…often. So, as I am still quite sleep deprived thanks to noisy downstairs neighbors, this simple task was just what I needed this morning.

Upon opening the bag of granola, however, I knew I needed to sample it on its own. Quality control and so I could give a true statement about flavor and taste via this blog. I thought it looked a lot like Rice Krispies with craisins and dried apples thrown into the mix. Which, isn’t a bad thing. I reached in and pinched up a bit of the granola and some of the dried fruit to eat and tossed them back. The bits of brown rice flakes were crunchy and really packed with flavor. And the bits of dried cranberry and dried apple really brought a bunch of fruity flavor to the mix. Honestly. I was beyond impressed. I wasn’t expecting much, because at first glance…it looks like something I could have easily thrown together. But it just packs that apple flavor with the cranberry to add to the tartness. And I loved that it didn’t have huge chunks like most granola does. This was just flakes of brown rice bits and the dried fruit.

And how did it fair in my breakfast parfait? Awesome!! It complimented the vanilla Greek yogurt and the caramelized apples better than any granola that has come before it. My taste buds were extremely happy with each flavor that danced across my tongue. Really delicious. And it stayed crunchy even with the fruit and yogurt. It’s hearty and I like that…considering it looks like regular cereal.

Nutritionally speaking, this granola hits at a good level when it comes to sugars. While some I have tried have had ridiculous amounts of added sugar to them, this stands with only 10 grams in a serving. The calorie count will only set you back 160 calories and 3 grams of fat. And the serving size is 1/2 cup. Way more than most granola offers, which is normally about half that serving. Love it.

Enjoy Life makes really amazing gluten-free and allergen-free products. They are processed and made minus the top eight food allergens (meaning they are Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Fish Free, Shellfish Free). The Cranapple Crunch Granola is a great gluten-free granola that packs a wildly delicious flavor punch and is definitely more nutritious than others out there on the market. It’s peace of mind.

And, beyond that, it’s delicious.

IF this flavor, the Cranapple Crunch Granola, is still one of Enjoy Life’s products…or if you can seek it out and find it…definitely get it. Definitely try it. And definitely enjoy it. Now I feel like I need to savor every bite…because who knows if I can ever get it again!

October 28, 2012

Lärabar’s Peanut Butter Cookie just like the real thing…only better

Lärabar Peanut Butter Cookie (snack size)

Product: Lärabar Peanut Butter Cookie – $1.99+

Two of my favorite things – peanut butter and cookies.

I thank Lärabar every time I open one of their bars and experience the promised flavor on the package. The thing is…they do this with simple ingredients…no more than 9 to a bar. The amazing thing is how much they actually taste like what they are setting out to make the bar taste like.

This past weekend, I took along a mini Lärabar to eat about 30 minutes before the start of a 5K race I was running. I have found this to work. Too often I’ve just had cereal before a race and I end up finding myself starving just before the start or at least a mile in. That’s no good. I want to have energy before a race. These…do the trick.

I grabbed three to choose from and ended up going with the Peanut Butter Cookie variety at chow time. I was pretty pscyhed about this one. Why? Well, as I said…peanut butter and cookies are two of my favorite things in life. And here they were…together…in the form of a gluten-free protein bar that I am able to eat.

The Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar is made up of three ingredients. That’s it. Peanuts, dates, and sea salt. Seriously. The snack size bar contains only 100 calories and 3 grams of protein. It has 6 grams of fat in it, brought to you mostly in part by the peanuts. But that’s a healthy fat and something your body needs regardless.

So now that I’ve given you the nutritional rundown, how exactly did it taste? Moist. Fresh. And soft. And yes…it was just like eating a very soft peanut butter cookie. The flavor was spot-on! Three ingredients…and Lärabar totally delivered on it. This bar was chewy and tasted like it was fresh off a cookie sheet. The best part was the balance of flavor. While I love peanut butter and could totally eat it out of the jar on a spoon (and do that on occasion, LOL!), I didn’t want this to taste like that. And it didn’t. It honestly tasted like a peanut butter cookie. And it was love at first bite. I devoured it faster than I probably should have…but it was delicious and I was hungry. Therefore…nom.

The Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar is gluten-free, kosher, dairy-free, soy-free, and vegan. It’s also delicious and now one of my current favorites! Looking for a quick bite on-the-go that is good for you, delicious, and like eating dessert without being a dessert? Try the Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar. You’ll be hooked like me.

I sort of wish I had more…

But…on to the next flavor…

October 25, 2012

Beanitos Black Bean Chipotle BBQ chips a better snack option

Product: Beanitos Black Bean Chipotle BBQ Chips – $3.49+

Okay…I know you’re thinking it…because I thought it too.

Chips…made from beans?! Isn’t that usually reserved for…you know…potatoes, corn, or even rice?

The answer is…yes. And yes.

I was a huge skeptic about Beanitos chips. I admit it. I saw them on the gluten-free shelves at my various grocery stores and natural food stores and immediately turned my nose up at them. While I’m a huge fan of beans, the idea of chips made out of them just didn’t sound…right. At all.

And then I attended a gluten-free tasting fair at one of the natural food stores here in town and one of the samples they had out were Beanitos. Well…free samples are a good way to introduce a skeptic to something with the potential to be epic, yes? I hesitated at the dish…but finally picked up the little tongs and snagged one of the round chips. I turned it over in my hands, then, very tentatively took a bite. And…then another. And then I just popped the rest of it in my mouth. Huh. I hadn’t expected to like them. But…chips made from beans were actually quite tasty.

And for a couple weeks, that’s where I left it. I had tried them. Yes…they were good. But I didn’t purchase any. Probably due to the plethora of snacks I currently had kicking around in my pantry.

Until my local grocery store put almost the entire gluten-free section on closeout. And fearing that I was about to lose my gluten-free aisle…I snatched up everything that was marked down. Beanitos was one of the items on the markdown. So I grabbed a couple of bags. And this week, I opened up the bag to get a serving (1 ounce, or about 10 chips) to take to work with me for my afternoon snack. They were next up as far as snacks in order of expiration dates. The first flavor up was the Chipotle BBQ flavor.

Love. Seriously. Spicy without too much heat. They have a great chipotle and mesquite flavor. They have just enough to bring out the flavor without overwhelming your palate with spice. They were a bit salty, but the sodium level is low on the bag. So, it’s not horrible…just I’m so used to unsalted snacks. I couldn’t stop eating them. So it is a good thing I portion out my snacks because I would have been quite tempted to just devour them all. I also think they would go crazy-good with my homemade guacamole.

Beanitos are completely corn free, gluten free, and potato free. It is all made from beans and rice. And that makes for a heartier texture and a more solid chip. They are high in fiber and protein, which is a nice change. And, in addition, they are cholesterol free, trans fat free, non-GMO, and kosher. A serving is 140 calories and 7 grams of fat. Not bad for a chip. Not bad at all. They come in a bunch of different flavors and all of the chips are vegan except the cheddar cheese flavor. I mean…come on…these chips are made out of protein-packed beans!

Yes, I was a skeptic, but tasting made me a believer. Chips made from beans are actually quite delicious. I can’t wait to dive into another variety of them. I no longer fear Beanitos. I plan to keep them in my pantry!

October 25, 2012October 25, 2012

Mrs. Leeper’s takes a leap over the gluten-free pasta competition with Corn Vegetable Radiatore

Product: Mrs. Leeper’s Corn Vegetable Radiatore Pasta – $3.69+

I was standing in Whole Foods last year, around the time I had to go gluten-free, just gazing at the prices on the gluten-free items and trying very hard not to break down into tears…yet again. I was overwhelmed. Having to change my diet so drastically so fast and not really having the means in which to fund said diet was weighing on me.

And then, this angel appeared at my side and just by looking at me could tell that I was in distress. And she said, “I’ve been gluten-free for years…” And she began listing off some of her favorite products for different uses…such as pizzas, breads, and yes…pasta.

At that point, I had only just started experimenting with the brown rice pastas. While I found them to work, they didn’t reheat well and often would turn to mush or get gummy in the process. I recalled this lady in Whole Foods telling me that one of her favorite pastas is Mrs. Leeper’s. I had never heard of Mrs. Leeper’s before…so I made a mental note of it and went on purchasing my brown rice noodles.

Then…I discovered gluten-free corn noodles. And I found out how much better they held up, not just in the initial cooking process, but also reheating leftovers. I was thrilled.

And then, my local grocery store just happened to begin to stock the very pasta brand this woman told me about ages ago. Mrs. Leeper’s. The selection was minimal, but they did have the Mrs. Leeper’s Corn Vegetable Radiatore pasta. So…one day while it was on sale, I picked up a bag of it and put it in my pantry. And then proceeded to use up the other pasta noodles that came before it. Until tonight…when with the Amish cheese I picked up in Pennsylvania…I decided to cook up my mom’s infamous macaroni & cheese (gluten-free style)!

Mrs. Leeper's Corn Vegetable Radiatore Pasta (cooked & drained) — Mrs. Leeper’s Corn Vegetable Radiatore Pasta (cooked & drained)

I had no open pasta noodles so tonight it was time for Mrs. Leeper’s to be put to the test. I opened up the bag and measured out the 6 ounces I needed for the baked macaroni and got a pot of water on the stove to bring to a boil. Once it got there, I poured the colorful pasta noodles into the water, gave it a stir, and let it cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

It was easy to drain, and I was quite happy to see that none of the noodles stuck together or fell apart. It was a great consistency, very colorful, and would really bring some color to my mom’s recipe. I began to layer up the casserole dish with noodles, onions, broccoli, seasoning, and two types of Amish cheddar cheese. Repeat. And the entire time, I didn’t have mushy noodles to contend with. Even after I poured the white sauce over the top and stirred it all together before putting it in the oven to bake, nothing was falling apart. Mrs. Leeper’s Corn Vegetable Radiatore pasta was rally doing its job and holding up.

And 45 minutes later, I removed the hot, bubbling casserole dish from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes before dishing out two servings – one for myself and one for my roommate. Despite the cooking and then the baking, Mrs. Leepers Corn Vegetable Radiatore pasta really came through in the end. Even better…the texture of it was fantastic. The fun colors is an added incentive, but the look of it is rather unique from other pastas on the market. And it was a lot of fun to see the different colors through the melted cheese in the final dish.

Mrs Leeper’s brand of pasta evolved as a wheat free and gluten-free line of enticing and often colorful rice and corn products for people who seek alternatives to wheat. Using time-honored methods, simple and pure ingredients, and care when it comes to production, Mrs. Leeper’s products have met the demands of a constantly changing marketplace by offering innovative products that focus on integrity, quality and service.

Both my roommate and I agree that Mrs. Leeper’s turned out to be a really good pasta. We’ll see how it does on the reheat tomorrow evening with some of the leftovers, but if it is anything like the corn pasta we have had in the past…it will hold up just fine. Definitely hope to try more pasta options from Mrs. Leeper’s in the near future. Full of yum. And a definite pasta win!

Homemade Gluten-Free Macaroni & Cheese using Mrs. Leeper's Corn Vegetable Radiatore Pasta — Homemade Gluten-Free Macaroni & Cheese using Mrs. Leeper’s Corn Vegetable Radiatore Pasta

October 24, 2012October 24, 2012

Brownie Crunch by thinkThin a chocolate and protein packed treat

Product: thinkThin Brownie Crunch High Protein Bar – $1.99+

I had just finished running my fastest half marathon yet. And I was in the land of chocolate. Seriously. It was just after the Hershey Half Marathon. I had downed my protein shake in the recovery area and had returned to the hotel to take a shower. But before doing that, I needed to get some further protein into my body before continuing on with the day.

With me, I had packed a thinkThin High Protein Bar. This flavor was Brownie Crunch. While I liked the Chocolate Fudge well enough, Brownie Crunch sounded even more intriguing. So, after a well run race…I tore into my chocolate-coated protein bar with gusto. I mean, in the land of Hershey’s chocolate…you best be eating some chocolate.

First bite…and it was like biting into a tough chocolate-coated brownie. Honestly. I think it was frozen from being out in the chilly weather that morning, but man…my jaw got tired of chewing it after awhile. The flavor was good. No aftertaste of protein on this one. But, it was very chewy…again, I do think much of that was from being out in 43 degree weather for over 2 hours. But after running 13.1 miles…my jaw really wasn’t feeling the chewing. I powered through it though…and gobbled it up.

As far as protein bars go, thinkThin definitely provides a tasty alternative to the other brands out there. What I love about these, aside from being gluten-free, is the 0 grams of sugar in each bar. Do note, however, that the Brownie Crunch is listed as having 12 grams of sugar alcohol. Aside from that, this protein bar will set you back 230 calories and 8 grams of fat. You will get 20 grams of protein, however, in each bar. And that…is fantastic. Especially for someone like me…who is a gluten-free, vegetarian athlete.

Due to the high value of protein in this bar, it does make for an excellent meal replacement. The fiber content is low, so this would also be a good option pre-workout/run. I don’t know if I can do chocolate before a run, but this might be something to experiment with.

So, of the protein bars I have tried, this has been one of the better ones. The texture was a little tough for me, but again, I don’t know how much of that was exposure to cold air. That being said, the flavor was great and I enjoyed bits of almond that were incorporated into the brownie filling to give it a little crunch. Overall, one of the better ones yet. Still not up to the Peanut Butter ones…but this one I’d buy if none of the others were available.

Looking for a meal replacement bar or a boost of protein for pre- or post-workout? thinkThin is definitely the way to go. Falling in love with their bars one trial at a time.

thinkThin Brownie Crunch High Protein Bar (unwrapped)

October 22, 2012

Sinfully delicious and moist gluten-free Banana Nut Bread from Sinfully Gluten Free

Product: Sinfully Gluten Free Banana Nut Bread – $4.50

Oh, my dearly beloved Sinfully Gluten Free in Dayton, Ohio. I wish…oh, how I wish that you weren’t only in Dayton, Ohio. I love everything that I have eaten by your amazing little shop so far. Whether it’s in your café or some of your baked goodies to take home with me, nothing has disappointed me yet. That’s amazing and totally saying something about the quality of your food.

Well, the small loaf of Banana Nut Bread from Sinfully Gluten Free is no exception to this streak of awesomeness.

In fact, the best part about this was how long I have been desperately wanting some gluten-free banana bread. I tried to make my own a long time ago…and I totally disliked it. Every bite of it. In fact, I ended up throwing it away. I don’t like wasting food…but this was just not good. So, when I spotted these little mini loaves at Sinfully Gluten Free the last time I was in town, one of them was going home with me for sure.

Or so I thought. It was accidentally left behind at my friend Jenn’s home. But she saved the day by throwing it into the freezer and telling me that we could take it with us on our trek to Hershey, Pennsylvania for noms in the car should we need.

Well, after a super-early breakfast of my homemade gluten-free carrot cake pancakes…we were pretty hungry around 10 a.m. Eating breakfast early usually means I get hungry a couple hours later. Well, we were totally prepared though with this loaf of bread. All I had to do was split it three ways. Not the easiest thing to do when I don’t have a knife, but I just worked with what I had. My hands.

Immediately, upon unwrapping it from the plastic bag that contained it, I could smell it. So delicious. My mouth was already watering in anticipation. And then…as I pulled it out, I could already tell how moist it was too. Splitting it into three sections was easy because of how moist it was, despite having spent a couple weeks in the freezer. I mean…it was moist without being wet. It was that perfect banana bread consistency.

And the flavor was top-of-the-line. The banana wasn’t overpowering and the nuts were a nice compliment that added some great texture to the bread. Walnuts pair so well with banana bread and that’s exactly the type that was used in this bread. They weren’t hard either. Nor was it overly salty or seasoned. The simple ingredients really got to shine here. And every ingredient was something that I recognized. That is something I love about products like this that are baked fresh at these bakeries.

Sinfully Gluten Free, you have, for the third time, left me in awe of your products. The Banana Nut Bread is now one of my favorite things I have picked up there. I’d buy it again…in a heartbeat.

October 22, 2012

No go on Caesar’s Gluten-Free Potato Gnocchi

Product: Caesar’s Vegan Gluten-Free & Wheat Free Potato Gnocchi – $4.79+

Before I had to go gluten-free, I fell in love with these amazing Italian potato dumplings known as gnocchi. The problem being, even though made from potato, these contain flour and that puts it on the no-no list for Celiacs. I was quite…sad, depressed, and unhappy when this happened. It was like I was being denied something that I had only just discovered and fallen in love with.

And then, one day while walking through the Liquor Barn, of all places, with my roommate, we discovered Caesar’s Gluten-Free Potato Gnocchi in the freezer section. Enter me doing a happy dance of joy right there. I wanted to take it home with me that day, but I had enough products in the house at the moment to work through.

Then…a couple weeks later, while on that side of town, my roommate and I stopped in again and this time a bag came home with me. And then…it sat in my freezer. I can’t explain why. It just sort of happened that way. With the influx of fresh vegetables and fruits coming in with my CSA bin, getting to the frozen foods in the freezer or the items in my pantry got a little less common.

However, this past weekend, I was heading out of town to stop by my friend Jenn’s house and then…the following morning, the three of us were going to venture out to Hershey, Pennsylvania as I was running in the Hershey Half Marathon on Sunday. So, I was bringing dinner to make things easy on us all on Friday night.

That evening, after arriving and settling in at her home, we got out the pot of water and got it up and boiling before pouring in the frozen potato gnocchi. I was quite disappointed right off with the amount of pasta in the bag. The sack said it was meant for four people, but there was barely enough to serve as an entree for the three of us. We let that slide however, and put the small amount of gnocchi in the bag into the boiling water. With gnocchi, the way you tell if it is done or not is that they float up to the top. Problem number two with Caesar’s Gluten-Free Potato Gnocchi…half of them floated immediately. How can we tell if they are done if the frozen dumplings are already floating? We decided, instead, to just time it for the 4 minutes suggested on the package.

Caesar's Vegan Gluten-Free & Wheat Free Potato Gnocchi (cooked) — Caesar’s Vegan Gluten-Free & Wheat Free Potato Gnocchi (cooked)

While that was going, we heated up some sauce for the meal and set the table. We checked on the gnocchi after four minutes. Not all of them were ready, so we let it go a little longer. Finally, we figured we were where we needed to be. Again, kind of hard to tell when half floated right off the bat.

We drained the pan, then dished out the miniscule amount of gnocchi between the three of us. We added the sauce…then a sprinkling of cheese and settled in at the table.

Only to be immediately disappointed. I’m not joking. Maybe a third of the gnocchi dumplings were perfectly cooked. Some were gummy. Some were still hard. It was inconsistent. And I was less than impressed. This didn’t make me remember the amazing gnocchi I was able to eat before having to go gluten-free. And that’s sad. Because this was the first gluten-free gnocchi I was able to find. I could make my own, of course, but it’s a lot of work and time I currently don’t have. But…I may be headed that way.

I’ve tried Caesar’s Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells and really enjoyed them. But these didn’t make the cut this time. Not at all. I was so unimpressed with the potato gnocchi. Therefore, I don’t think I’ll be purchasing them again.

I have heard that the best gluten-free gnocchi is made by Nuovo, which I finally found at one of my local grocery stores. But Caesar’s gluten-free gnocchi will never make it into my apartment again. Totally not worth the money.

Caesar's Vegan Gluten-Free & Wheat-Free Potato Gnocchi with tomato sauce — Caesar’s Vegan Gluten-Free & Wheat-Free Potato Gnocchi with tomato sauce