Products – Page 67 – The Celiathlete

August 30, 2012

Jennie’s Gluten-Free Pound Cake Minis an individual take on a classic

Product: Jennies Gluten-Free Pound Cake Minis – $5.99+

It’s weird. I have a lot of recipes for pound cake, but I’m never attempted to actually make one. However, I used to eat pound cake whenever it was served somewhere. Especially with some Cool Whip and fresh berries. There was no better way to eat it.

Then gluten-free happened…

But all is not lost, pound cake aficionados. Jennies, the makers of those infamous macaroons you might have heard about (that are Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, Peanut-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Casein-Free, Trans Fat-Free and Kosher Pareve) has created another treat, individual-size, and shelf-stable, that is also all of those things listed above…but baked into a delicious pound cake.

Jennies Gluten-Free Pound Cake Minis (individually wrapped)

These little minis come individually wrapped inside a box of five. You can eat them straight out of the package, but when am I to do that? Like I said, my favorite way to eat pound cake was topped with Cool Whip and fresh berries. In this case…strawberries. Yum!

The first thing I noticed was the reminiscent aroma of vanilla from the moment you pull apart the plastic to however you like to eat it. It smells fantastic. I gave mine a quick warm in the microwave for a couple of seconds. By warming it up for a moment, that amazing aroma just begins to permeate the kitchen. It definitely wakes up your taste buds. After topping it, I slid my fork through it and it crumbled perfectly. One bite and I had everything I wanted…cake, topping, fruit. Perfection.

The taste and texture…awesome. The vanilla really shines in these. And even more, these just taste and feel so much lighter than regular pound cake. I loved that. It was a nice change of pace, since most gluten-free baked goods often are or feel heavier and more dense. Not these. These were pure perfection with every bite.

My one problem with these is…I can’t find them anywhere. I managed to locate these at the The Gluten-Free Trading Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin when I was up there for a race. That being said now that I know I like them…should I ever want more, I’ll have to order from the Gluten-Free Trading Company as opposed to Jennies. The company Web site has these listed, but nowhere to get further information on them or even purchase them. Which is sad…because they are so good.

But…at least they can be found online…albeit it does take a little hunting and searching to do. I don’t know if I would order these online, but I do know that when I am in Milwaukee next…one of the items I choose to bring home from The Gluten-Free Trading Company will be these delicious little cakes.

Really, really good!

Jennies Gluten-Free Pound Cake Mini topped with Fat Free Cool Whip and fresh strawberries

August 29, 2012

Dave’s Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic & Sweet Basil pasta sauce a sweet success

Product: Dave’s Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic & Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce – $8.99+

There aren’t enough words in the English language to adequately profess of love of Dave’s Gourmet pasta sauces. This is the third kind I have tried and once again…it has lived up to every expectation…and, just as before, exceeded it.

I was given an eggplant in my CSA bin this past week and my roommate and I decided that Eggplant Parmesan was going to be a good meal and a great way to use that eggplant. I had gluten-free corn flake crumbs on hand for the ‘breading’ of the eggplant. So, I tasked my roommate of choosing from some of the gluten-free sauces stocked in our cabinet. We have a few. She emerged with Dave’s Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic and Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce.

One we hadn’t tried yet. What better way to test it out than on a new recipe, right?

Sure.

So…that’s what I did. I coated a baking dish with a thin layer of the sauce…placed the baked eggplant over it, topped the eggplant off with more sauce, then added some vegan cheese, popped it into the oven for 20 minutes and…dinner was served.

The sauce…was so flavorful and amazing. It was honestly one of the best tomato sauces I have ever had. That’s no lie. And let me tell you, being the Italian food freak (yes…even now that I am gluten-free) that I am…that’s saying a lot.

The taste is just like homemade, honestly. It is really hard to believe this sauce comes out of a jar. But, my friends, it does. It has the right balance of sweetness and acidity. And the roasted garlic is just enough to flavor without overpowering the entire sauce. And why shouldn’t it taste homemade? The ingredients are: organic tomatoes, organic onions, water, organic carrots, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic garlic, organic evaporated cane juice, organic basil, organic roasted garlic, salt, spices. Everything that we have access to at a grocery store, in a garden, and in our pantries. Nothing weird or unpronounceable. Just good, hearty, chunky sauce for any pasta meal.

I’ve fallen in love with all three varieties that I have tried from Dave’s Gourmet. And there are still plenty more in the line-up for me to purchase and test out. And with a streak like this…I can’t wait to do just that. I love making my own sauce, but sometimes there just isn’t time to do so. I will always trust my gluten-free Italian meals to Dave’s Gourmet in that case. Seriously. While the sauces are quite pricey, they are totally worth the splurge. Or, do what I do and wait for a sale on it.

I promise…you’ll fall in love with Dave’s Gourmet sauces just as much as my roomie and I have. We swear by them.

Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan topped with Dave's Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic & Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce — Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan topped with Dave’s Gourmet Organic Roasted Garlic & Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce and vegan cheese

August 29, 2012

Southern Homestyle brings gluten-free corn flake crumbs to the table

Product: Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs – $4.99+

What normally comes up missing from a gluten-free lifestyle is anything that is…in a word…breaded. And that can be hard to work around at times. But thanks to some companies coming out with gluten-free crumbs packaged and ready for your “breading” needs, it does get a little better.

Prior to picking up a canister of Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs, I had only previously been exposed to the Glutino Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs (also made from corn). Somehow, in my mind, I pictured these from Southern Homestyle to be different. But…alas…they were just about the same in appearance and everything.

The canister holds corn flake crumbles, that are tiny and round, that are ideal to use with veggies, meats, or whatever. Being a no-meat kind of a girl, I decided to use the eggplant I got in my SCA bin this week and make an eggplant parmesan. The corn flake crumbles from Southern Homestyle would come in handy and I had happened to pick up a can of them when my grocery store ran a huge closeout on their gluten-free section. I fetched them from my gluten-free pantry and poured them into a dish. After coating my eggplant in the egg/almond milk/water wash, they were liberally dipped into the Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs and placed on a baking dish.

Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs coating slices of eggplant

The corn flake crumbs didn’t get soggy with each dipping, and I had four slices of eggplant to do. It clumped some, but any coating getting inundated by foods coated in egg and the like would do the same. With the eggplant generously coated in the corn flake crumbs, I baked them up for 20 minutes, turning them halfway through, and then finished up. After letting the “breaded” eggplant rest for 5 minutes, into a baking pan they went with marinara sauce and some vegan cheese. Back into the oven for another 20 minutes and they emerged ready to eat.

On its own, the Corn Flake Crumbs by Southern Homestyle would be rather bland. Paired with the eggplant, the marinara, and the cheese, however, it brought that much needed texture to the dish. Unlike wheat breadcrumbs, these corn flake crumbs do not get soggy as they sit, or are baked or coated. They remain crunchy. Success!! It really made the eggplant parmesan pop!

I hear this coating is ideal for frying too. A lot of eggplant parmesan recipes call for the eggplant to be fried in a pan…but I’ve never been big on fried foods, so I oven baked mine for a healthier option and it worked out just fine. I still got a crispy outer crust, just without the added oil and fat. However, the Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs would be ideal if you did choose to pan fry as the corn flake crumbs pick up less oil in the frying process, which in the end means less calories consumed and no oily appearance.

Because of the blandness on their own, it makes them more versatile. Dress them up with seasonings and spices however you wish. There are no limits here. And best of all…the finished product has that nice crispy outer layer, whether pan fried or oven baked. And that…is a beautiful thing in the kitchen.

An added bonus for the food allergic is that these Corn Flake Crumbs are gluten-free, wheat free, milk/casein free, lactose free, soy free, egg free, peanut free, tree nut free, and yeast free. They are kosher, vegan and vegetarian. So, unless you have a corn allergy…these would ideally work for you.

Look for Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs in your grocery store and see what they can do to dress up your dish!

Oven-Baked Eggplant Parmesan coated with Southern Homestyle Corn Flake Crumbs

August 29, 2012

Cherrybrook Kitchen sweetens up breakfast with Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix

Product: Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix – $5.99+

Do you know what makes life better and breakfast out of this world?

Of course you do.

Chocolate chips! Seriously…pancakes, muffins, waffles…they are all just better with chocolate chips. Let’s face it…that hit of sweetness just makes that bite all the better. Imagine my delight when I found a box of Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix on the manager’s special table at my grocery store. And it was wildly discounted. I couldn’t pass up the deal, so I snagged it and purchased it…and placed it on my kitchen counter and not in the pantry…because I just knew I would be using it soon!

I was simply going to make pancakes with it, but then the roomie put in a request. She wanted waffles. Now…waffles are normally a weekend thing because they have the tendency to take awhile to cook up in my waffle maker. But…I agreed. And most of that morning I spent in the kitchen. I even ended up eating my waffles at the counter while I worked on the rest. But…totally worth it.

Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix (prepared)

The Cherrybrook Kitchen Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix is so easy to make. Give it a shake to evenly distribute the chocolate chips. Then add milk and vegetable/canola oil. According to the package directions and how many you intend to make. The entire box makes 9 waffles or 21 pancakes. So…you get a lot. But they do have additional information to make fewer at a time should you wish. As I was doing waffles, I figured I could freeze them and then toast them back up in my toaster…so might as well prepare the entire thing.

I actually managed to get 12 waffles out of it…so…that’s not bad at all.

The trick is to let all the ingredients set in the bowl for five minutes before setting to the task of making pancakes of waffles. I did this and then began spooning 3/4 cup servings of the mixture into my waffle maker and letting it brown up. After the allotted cooking time, I opened up the waffle iron and removed the waffle to a rack to cool. And what I got was nothing short of a happy, pleasant surprise.

The mix actually churned out a perfectly textured waffle. The outside was crusty and golden and crispy to bite into or cut into with a fork. But the inside was a soft core. And scattered throughout…chocolate chips that just melted with the warm maple syrup and made everything so sweet and delicious.

And for those of you out there with further food allergies, this mix is wheat free, gluten free, peanut free, dairy free, egg free, nut free. It’s all natural, made with recognizable ingredients. None of that guesswork at all. I prepared mine with unsweetened almond milk. And they were fantastic. The calorie count is quite low on these as well…which is always nice. But they do fill you up.

And really…there isn’t anything better than chocolate chip pancakes or waffles in the morning. It’s so comforting and just brings a smile to your face…despite how tired you might still be.

In the market for an allergy-friendly pancake/waffle mix? I encourage you to try the amazing products from Cherrybrook Kitchen. I was blown away and hope to buy another box again when they go on sale. These mixes can be quite pricey…but they are amazing. So sometimes it is worth the splurge.

Trust me…this one is!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Waffles made from Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pancake Mix

August 29, 2012

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery wraps up the competition with new tortillas

Product: Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Original, Spinach, and Fiesta Tortillas – $5.99

Good-bye for life to those tough teff wraps that I started using when I just needed to make burritos or a wrap. I will not miss them. I also will not miss the brown rice wraps which tend to fall apart, turn gummy, and just end up a total disaster more than a masterpiece on a plate. I’m not sad nor sorry to see them go.

Why?

Because Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery has just released the best gluten-free food item to hit the market in a long time.

Gluten-Free Tortillas.

Yes. And not just any bland tortilla. Nope. These come in three amazing flavors: Original, Spinach, and Fiesta.

Rudi's Gluten-Free Original Tortillas — Rudi’s Gluten-Free Original Tortillas

I figured the best place to start would be with the Original flavor. I mean…always start with the basics and move on from there. I decided to pack my original tortilla full with burrito classics. I took a layer of spinach and added some rice, black beans, red onion, salsa, and queso fresco to it. I fold the wrap up (and it didn’t tear) and dinner was served. I can’t even begin to explain how happy this tortilla made me. For one thing, it held together without being stiff. While they are soft to begin with, I gave mine a quick warm in the microwave and it softened it up some. It didn’t crumble or break as I wrapped it around the filling. And, even better, it held together bite after bite after bite. I found this tortilla to have a very light, buttery, salty-sweet flavor to it. It worked so well with the filling. I was totally impressed.

Rudi's Gluten-Free Spinach Tortillas — Rudi’s Gluten-Free Spinach Tortillas

The next tortilla I decided to give a try to was the Spinach one. And for this one, I decided I was going to do breakfast. Why not? I love a good breakfast wrap and these had been sadly absent from my life when I went gluten-free. So, that morning, I did up an egg scramble which consisted of eggs, sauteed mushrooms, onion, and a hit of spinach at the end…just in there long enough to wilt. I hit up the pan with a drizzle of truffle oil and then loaded up my spinach tortilla. Once again, it isn’t necessary to warm the tortilla to make it wrap, but I went ahead and did so anyway, just for a few seconds. In the end…I was in heaven. Honestly…one of the best wraps I had ever managed to make. And, once more…nothing fell apart as I bit into it, nor did the tortilla disintegrate in my hands from becoming soggy from the filling. This was breakfast harmony. The spinach tortillas do not overpower you with spinach flavor. They are a very light green in color, which is a nice change of pace. And the flavor is spot on. I used these again with quesadillas that I stuffed with homemade guacamole and cheese. Toasted them up in my pan and viola…dinner perfection.

Rudi's Gluten-Free Fiesta Tortilla — Rudi’s Gluten-Free Fiesta Tortilla

Finally, I opted for the most intriguing of the flavors. Fiesta. I love how colorful this wrap is. It has a soft orange hue to it and is freckled with spices and herbs. As it’s name suggests, this would be the perfect wrap for something Mexican. So, that was the path I decided on when I set out to make a filling for this. I sauteed up some onions, added organic black beans, fresh tomatoes, and fresh corn, and let it simmer for a moment in the pan until most of the tomato juice had been absorbed. Then, it was onto the tortilla. I topped it off with some Daiya cheddar shreds and melted it off in the microwave. I did not pre-heat the tortilla as I knew I’d be putting it in the microwave for cheese melting purposes. What emerged was what my roommate likes to call my best wrap yet. Packed with flavor, the fiesta tortillas have a nice zip to them. They turned out to be my favorite of the bunch. And I made this exact meal three more times that week because it was such a hit.

I can’t even begin to explain how happy these tortillas have made me. I use them for everything now and eagerly anticipate the day I can find them in one of my local grocery store/natural food store haunts. I find them to be miles ahead of any other gluten-free wrap/tortillas out on the market…and there aren’t that many options. Seeing Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery take on this task and provide an amazing product to the gluten-free community has me wanting to turn cartwheels.

But hold on…there is more. Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery is currently running a special giveaway on their website. Their What’s Under Wraps? Giveaway is currently underway and they’ve been giving away some fantastic prizes to those who have been participating. It’s winding up, but head over there and give it your best shot.

In addition, I am also hosting a great giveaway on this blog. If you missed the post, it’s still not too late to enter. Just hop on over to my blog and leave a comment about what your favorite picnic food is and get entered for a chance to win a Gluten-Free Prize Pack, compliments of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery.

And when all is said and done…remember that once again Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery has put out something fresh, amazing, and delicious on the gluten-free market. Something that this gluten-free world has been missing. Thank you, Rudi’s…for giving me back tortillas and wraps that won’t fall apart, that are soft, that fold around my filling, and that are epically delicious…whichever flavor you choose. Having options is a great thing. I’m one happy girl!

August 25, 2012

Koops Honey Mustard fizzles on flavor

Product: Koops Honey Mustard – $2.99+

Almost a year ago, I was introduced to Koops mustard by Amanda, a good friend and my roommate’s sister. She brought me over some one day because it said gluten-free. I love when that happens. The two flavors I originally started out with were Arizona Heat (my favorite!) and Dijon. Both, I loved. LOVED! And rightfully raved about in my blog.

So, while out at my grocery store, I spotted a bottle of Koops Honey Dijon Mustard on the clearance shelf. As in…it was marked down to only $0.60. I checked the expiration date, and it was still a ways off…so I went ahead and got it. And why not? After all, Koops won me over with the other two flavors I had tried.

After my latest discovery of gluten-free vegan chickenless nuggets, I decided that tonight I was going to forgo the barbeque sauce and use honey mustard instead. I could make my own…and from now on I just might. But I knew this bottle of Koops Honey Mustard was in my pantry and I figured it would pair so well with my delicious gluten-free nuggets.

And why wouldn’t it? Honey mustard and vegan, gluten-free nuggets go hand-in-hand, I think.

And Koops has such a reputation too. Not only do they use all natural ingredients (meaning, you will be able to recognize every ingredient on the nutrition panel), but all of their products are also gluten-free. Love that. Their Web site bills the Honey Mustard as a mix of finely ground mustard that is flavored with honey for a sweet and mild taste. Sounds amazing, yes?

So, I squeezed some into my little dipping bowl and set it out while my nuggets finished up in the oven. I settled in immediately dunking one of my nuggets into the mustard. One bite…and I already knew it wasn’t for me. I should have just made my own. This mustard had a weird fruity taste to it. I know…it was bizarre. And I really, really didn’t like it. But, I was a trooper. I finished off my nuggets with it and then said that I could probably cook something with it. Although, at this point…I’m only out $0.60. I might just rinse out the bottle and recycle it.

Yeah…it just wasn’t to my liking. Sad, since I’ve loved every other Koops product I have tried. It just went all wrong with the Honey Mustard. I think I’ll stick with the recipe my friend Heather gave me for her homemade version. Why buy it when you can make it…and make it better? I love you, Koops…just not this flavor.

August 24, 2012

OMGluten-Free! Liz Lovely introduces Gluten-Free Lovely Oh’s

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Lovely Oh’s – $8.49

OMG.

No…really.

According to the Liz Lovely Web site, Gluten-Free Lovely Oh’s were the most requested treat by customers. And really…no company ignores the many requests of their consumers. Such was the case for Liz Lovely when it came to these indulgent, amazing, decadent, rich, delicious, addicting chocolate covered sandwich cookies.

In case you didn’t get my point…these are CRAZY GOOD!

So, what exactly is a Lovely Oh? Well, it’s simple…really. It’s a gluten-free and vegan Oreo-style cookie that has been liberally coated in 100% dairy-free dark chocolate. Nothing fake. No added waxes, oils or glazes. Just a sandwich cookie…and a layer of luscious dark chocolate. This…good friends…is the things gluten-free chocoholic dreams are made out of.

Growing up, every now and again, my parents would buy Chocolate Covered Oreos (or what are now Oreo Fudge Cremes) for us to have as dessert. These were a special treat. But when I go and compare the nutritional information of the Oreo variety to those of Liz Lovely…here’s what I discover. Not only do the Lovely Oh’s have fewer calories, but they also clock in with less sugar and more protein. Oreos contain a bunch of ingredients that no one could ever begin to pronounce correctly. The Lovely Oh’s have recognizable (and pronounceable) ingredients on their packaging. No guess work. I don’t have to sit and wonder exactly what that word is and what it might possibly be. Taking the guess work out of what I’m eating always makes me happy.

One of these cookies was me dessert tonight. And oh…my God! These are dangerous. Dangerous as in I could probably sit down with the container and eat all 8 of the cookies inside if I wasn’t careful. Yeah. Amazing. Rich. The chocolate coating melts in your mouth and gives way to the crunchy cookie that is formed around that creamy center. Yeah…it was heaven in each bite for sure.

I didn’t even question the price tag when these were spotted at the natural food store. I just reacted. They were at the register in the blink of an eye. Hey…I’m a cookie monster and these needed to be tried. Even my non-gluten-free roomie called these one of the best cookies she has ever tasted. Coming from someone who can eat any cookie out there, that says a lot.

If you can’t find Liz Lovely cookies in your area, then rest assured, you can order them online from the company. And they are totally worth the splurge…trust me. And these Gluten-Free Lovely Oh’s just edged up towards the top of my Cookie Hall of Fame. Here’s hoping they last the rest of the week…

August 22, 2012

Nothing tops Health is Wealth for vegan and gluten-free nuggets

Product: Health is Wealth Gluten-Free Chicken-Free Nuggets – $5.99+

It was the first time I ever cried out of happiness while standing in a grocery store. This is no exaggeration. Before I went vegetarian, I had chicken nuggets. Then, for health reasons…vegetarian happened and I could still have chicken-less nuggets. But then…it happened. My gluten-intolerance reared its head and away went the vegan/vegetarian proteins that I normally would grab for an easy meal. Why? Most of them contain ingredients that have gluten in them. So, I was left with what little was on the market for the gluten-free vegetarian.

Vegetarian burgers…yeah…those were easy to find.

The void in my life was with the nuggets. No company I could find made gluten-free chicken-less nuggets. I checked them all. Morningstar, Gardein, Quorn, Boca…and each time had to place them back in the freezer at the grocery store.

Then…a little ray of sunshine happened. It all started at my local natural foods store. I was in there one evening and my roomie and I spotted…gluten-free mozzarella sticks. YES! Those came home with us that instant. I mean…those were too good to be true and I had never seen them prior to then. Come to find out, the company that made them, Health is Wealth, has a line of gluten-free products. SWEET!

So, when I discovered they made gluten-free chicken-free nuggets, I immediately knew I had to have them. I had been craving, craving, craving them. Oh…yeah…I had been craving them. The problem was, none of the local health/natural food stores around here kept them in stock. So, I asked about ordering them. The same response came back to me at each store…only if I bought a case, and that would run me $85.00+. Now, I wanted my vegan gluten-free nuggets as much as the next girl…but I live in a small apartment with a small fridge/freezer, and don’t have $85.00 to just blow on nuggets, no matter how bad the craving is. So, I gave up and just continued to check every time I went into the stores…just in case.

Fast forward to this week. I’m visiting my parents in Birmingham, Alabama. And while I’m out and about, my roommate and I stop into Earth Fare, a super market that just opened there…and we just got one in Louisville, Kentucky as well. As we are wandering the aisles, taking in everything that our store might have, we find ourselves in the freezer section. And there…there they were…shining like a beacon from the gluten-free vegetarian gods…Health is Wealth Gluten-Free Chicken-Free Nuggets.

I literally started to cry. And then I vowed that if our local Earth Fare didn’t carry these, I’d be driving back to Birmingham with a cooler. I was that happy.

Upon returning to Louisville, we hit up our newly opened Earth Fare…and THEY HAD THEM! I did a happy dance of joy, cried some more, and snagged two boxes from the freezer section, not even caring that I had never tried them before. These were vegan nuggets that I could actually eat. My craving would be satisfied. I was moments away from true gluten-free food nirvana.

And so…for dinner…my roommate and I each had some vegan nuggets by Health is Wealth. She had the regular vegan nuggets while I cooked up, and drooled over my gluten-free, vegan nuggets. I cooked up some Alexia Yukon Gold Oven Baked Julienne French Fries. And I served them…with Stubb’s Barbeque Sauce.

I couldn’t wait to dive in. And I didn’t. I settled down to eat…and took my very first bite…without any sauce or anything. I just needed to taste them.

Health is Wealth had done it again in my book. These vegan, gluten-free nuggets are delicious. Scrumptious. Amazing. They are light, and packed with flavor. These soy based vegan nuggets are breaded with gluten-free corn and rice breading. And you don’t have to be gluten-free to appreciate the texture and taste of these. My roommate was given a taste of mine to compare to her Health is Wealth Vegan Chicken Free Nuggets…and she couldn’t tell the difference.

Yeah…craving more than satisfied. And what makes these even more amazing is the nutritional information and how it stacks up. These gluten-free vegan nuggets are only 170 calories for 4 nuggets. They have 3 grams of fat, but zero saturated fat and zero cholesterol as well. Not only are these good, but they are good for you. It’s hard to find any sort of processed food with those kinds of nutrition factors.

My taste buds, my heart, my stomach…they all are singing the praises of Health is Wealth once more. I am totally going to need to stock up on these and try some of their other gluten-free and vegan options as well. They haven’t let me down yet. And I think might be the first company to actually bring tears to my eyes while I’m standing in the grocery store. Tears of joy…of course.

Health is Wealth is gluten-free happiness…in a freezer box.

Health is Wealth Gluten-Free Chicken-Free Nuggets (with a side of Alexia Yukon Gold Oven Baked Julienne Fries & Stubb's Barbeque Sauce) — Health is Wealth Gluten-Free Chicken-Free Nuggets (with a side of Alexia Yukon Gold Oven Baked Julienne Fries & Stubb’s Barbeque Sauce)

August 18, 2012

RiceWorks Parmesan & Sundried Tomato Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps didn’t quite work

Product: RiceWorks Parmesan & Sundried Tomato Brown Rice Crisps – $3.29+

Every afternoon while at work, I usually treat myself to a nice salty-sort of snack. Normally it’s snack crackers, a granola bar, or some gluten-free chips. This past week, I was up to a new product that I pulled from my pantry of assorted gluten-free goodies that I bought while they were on sale. And the next up was one that I was eager to try since I picked them up at the store.

RiceWorks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps. These chips are all 100% gluten-free. They have even been tested by the company, who insists they ue good manufacturing practices in their plant and with their suppliers. While the plants are not dedicated gluten-free, the lines that are used to manufacture these chips are.

With that sort of an endorsement by the company itself, I was definitely willing to give these chips a fair shake. After all…I love the flavors in the package I found at the store.

I mean…Parmesan & Sundried Tomato. Yeah. Delicious, right? I love both of those things…so combine them and it’s sure to be a gluten-free gourmet chip party in my mouth, yes?

Well…that’s what I thought.

Under the impression that this flavor would sweep me away to the Mediterranean with its flavor combination and excite my palate in ways the Mediterranean probably only could…I was eagerly waiting for 3:00 p.m. to strike so I could break into my snack at the office. When it came around, I snagged my container, which contained a full portion (28 grams – or about 10 chips) and popped it open.

One bite.

And disappointment. While I didn’t actually believe my taste buds would go on a Mediterranean journey, what I did expect was a flavor-packed chip, full of flavor and crunch and…yumminess.

But what I got…reminded me more of stale Doritos.

Sad, but true.

When I go to bite into a “brown rice crisp,” I expect there to be mega crunch. Like gobbling down Doritos. They should have this crunch and then the wow-factor of flavor. While I do taste the Parmesan flavor, it isn’t as prominent as I would have thought. Especially as it is billed in the largest letters on the bag. I was underwhelmed with them. And when I have a snack at the office, I totally don’t want to be underwhelmed.

The plus side is, the serving (about 10 chips) is only 140 calories and pack only 6 grams of fat. That being said, most other gluten-free chips on the market provide a bigger serving with the same nutritional value. So…I don’t know if this is really of any benefit.

So, unfortunately, I’m not thinking RiceWorks will find their way back into my pantry any time soon. But, there was only one way to find out. And while I started off excited, my tasting experience only lead to disappointment.

It’s too bad. They had such promise for a healthier gluten-free option for chips.

August 17, 2012

Livin’ La Vida Lemon with Enjoy Life’s Lively Lemon Cookies

Product: Enjoy Life Foods Soft-Baked Lively Lemon Cookies – $4.19+

Enjoy Life is a company that should be praised. While their products can be hit or miss, I will hand it to them for doing something that is so rare in the food industry these days. What is it?

They really put food allergies at the forefront of their products. It’s true. All of their products are free of the top 8 food allergens, which mean they contain absolutely no wheat/gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish or shellfish – the allergens that account for 90% of all food allergic reactions in the United States. If that wasn’t already enough, Enjoy Life took it up another level and made sure that there products were also made without casein, potato, sesame and sulfites.

Yes…I do need to hand it to Enjoy Life. I eat their products a lot…because I know I can trust them.

That being said…one such product eluded me from the moment I heard of them. Apparently…Enjoy Life had, what they were calling, Lively Lemon Cookies (from their Soft-Baked varieties). Now…you know me and lemon flavored things. I can eat them up because I just adore what lemon does for food…especially baked goods. So, here was the promise of a gluten-free cookie…with lemon zing to it. I was sold. Or would have been had I been able to find it in my area. I went to every grocery store, natural foods store, and specialty store…and struck out. While they all had a variety of Enjoy Life cookies…no one had the lemon ones. Dejected…I let it go…for the time being.

Then…while in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a race, I came across the Gluten-Free Trading Company. It was a completely gluten-free grocery store. For real. Also known as my heaven…my nirvana…my happy place. One of the first items I spotted upon entering this little oasis of gluten-free wonder was…the Enjoy Life cookies. And there…on the top shelf…like a beacon of heavenly light…the Soft-Baked Lively Lemon Cookies smiled down at me. And without any hesitation at all…into my shopping basket they went.

And as the dessert rotation continues in my apartment, yesterday…it came their time to be eaten. I pulled the box from the pantry and opened it up. Immediately, you smell lemon. This was a very good sign. Inside are 12 small, soft cookies, speckled with lemon zest. No wonder they smelled so amazing! The serving size is two of these itty-bitty cookies, which will set you back 130 calories. I know…hard to believe something so small could be so…unhealthy. But it’s dessert, a treat. They are to be treated as such.

I settled in with them and took a bite. Soft and chewy, these cookies have amazing texture. The lemon zest doesn’t take away from the soft nature of the cookies. And the lemon flavor…is almost perfect. I could stand a little more…but I love lemon. They played it safe and kept it a bit mild, but it is easy to overdo lemon. So, I can’t blame them for that. However, that being said, the lemon flavor is there and is prominent in each nibble of these cookies. I was very impressed.

And…so was my roomie, who doesn’t have to eat anything gluten-free…but loves to because of me. She’s a good judge of a product as she can have regular food. And she was a huge fan of these. So…that’s a win from each of us.

Every ingredient listed on the box is something that I can pronounce and recognize. In fact, I could find most of it in the aisles of my local grocery store. Much respect to Enjoy Life for keeping chemicals out of their food.

When it comes to cookies…I love them soft. And these not only play up to that, but hit that love of lemon as well. Would I buy these again should I run across them at the store…yes. Oh, yes!! Eating freely is what Enjoy Life products are all about. And if you have food allergies or are just looking for something different, I encourage you to try these cookies. They are fantastic and lemony fresh.