Products – Page 7 – The Celiathlete

November 16, 2015

Product Review: Sevierly Good Gluten Free Organic Multigrain Bread Mix

Gluten Free Hamburger Buns & Dinner Rolls made with Sevierly Good Gluten Free Organic Multigrain Bread Mix

Product: Sevierly Good Gluten Free Organic Multigrain Bread Mix – $8.99

Of all the products that I received when I was a subscriber to Cuisine Cube, the ones that took me the longest to get to were the bread mixes. I have another mix (which I hope to make in the next few weeks) for gluten-free tortillas…so…this is not an anomoly. It’s just that I already have my own gluten-free bread/dinner roll flour blend that I make amazing bread with. So, why use a mix?

Besides, my bread baking skills in the gluten-free realm are…sort of hit or miss.

But my March 2015 Cuisine Cube brought me a lot of amazing goodies that I have already blogged on. The only hold-out from that cube was…none other than the lunch option (weird, I know…but probably under the impression that sandwich bread would be the end result). And that lunch option was the Sevierly Good Gluten Free Organic Bread Mix.

For those of you who are not familiar with Cuisine Cube, let me give you the rundown. Cuisine Cube is a subscription service that delivers 5-6 gluten-free, full-size products to your door for as little as $34.99/month. Inside the cube, you will discover full-size products (not sample sizes) that are made by local and smaller, artisan companies, rather than those that you can find at the average grocery store. It has introduced me to so many new and delightful products. Each box contains a breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert product…and then, sometimes, an extra bonus item. Who doesn’t love a little something extra, right? Keep in mind, however, that Cuisine Cube has gone through some changes as of May. No longer do they strictly only offer gluten-free cubes. In addition to their gluten-free option, they now also offer Artisan and Vegan cubes as well. The Artisan cube means that you have no food allergies and foods that contain common food allergens will be included. The Vegan cubes contain products that are dairy and animal free. And, they still have the Gluten Free cubes, which will have products that contain no gluten or wheat. So, if you’re really interested in being introduced to the smaller, lesser-known, artisan companies, give Cuisine Cube a try! It’s like…Christmas…or your birthday…every month! Who doesn’t love that?! I did love it and I hope I’m able to resubscribe next year.

So, the March 2015’s lunch option was filled by the Sevierly Good Gluten Free Organic Multigrain Bread Mix. Sevierly Good began with the Sevier family, who began their business when they realized how difficult it was to find good, local resources for the things they enjoyed eating. The company blossomed from the need for their family to eat a gluten-free diet due to high gluten intolerances. So, with a completely different diet now being served up, the Seviers decided to get into the kitchen and begin to experiment.
With past experience in the baking industry and some great resources, the family created a list of recipes to begin with…and from there, a set of mixes that are versatile and easy to make emerged. For two (2) years, the Sevier Family made each mix by hand in a local, commercial kitchen. Since then, they have expanded to working with a manufacturer, enabling them to grow their dream and their product. Now, Sevierly Good Gluten Free products can be found in the more stores throughout the United States.

This was actually my first introduction to any of the Sevierly Good Gluten Free products. And while I don’t always appreciate a bread mix…I do love to bake. So, I sucked it up and got together the very few ingredients needed to mix up this bread and set it to baking. Except…I decided not to make a loaf. I wanted to make hamburger buns and dinner rolls. So…I got out the rings I use to make homemade gluten free hamburger buns and got the oven preheating.

All I had to do was mix together the Organic Multigrain Bread Mix with the (included) yeast packet, 2 large eggs (or egg substitute), 2 cups of warm water, and 1/4 cup olive oil. Once mixed together, if you’re baking a loaf, you pour it into an oiled loaf pan and pat/spread it into place with the spatula. For dinner rolls, drop onto an oiled cookie sheet in the desired size. I filled the hamburger bun rings…and the rest i made into 12 small dinner rolls. After they were on the baking sheet, I covered them with lightly oiled cling wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 30-40 minutes. Then, it goes into the oven for 10 minutes at 400°F, then I turn down the temperature to 375°F and allow it to finish baking. For a loaf of bread, that’s around 40-50 more minutes. Less for the dinner rolls…but this isn’t indicated on the package. So, watch those rolls!! I got mine out before they got too baked. But, what I did notice was how golden brown they got on the top. I allowed them to cool on a rack…and then…I had to try one immediately.

I admit…I was skeptical. After finally having an amazing gluten-free dinner roll recipe of my own…I don’t stray from it often. But, this product was in my pantry and calling to me to (FINALLY) bake it up. To be honest…I was impressed. This is, perhaps, the best sandwich bread that I ever baked up from a mix. They did actually rise in the rising period, which was a step ahead of most mixes. And then, they baked up to golden rolls just ready for the dining room table. I sliced one in half, finding the center to be soft (a nice contrast to the crispy outer crust) and the texture reminded me so much of what traditional bread was like. Seriously, this is a mix that a hearty bread lover will love, even if they don’t have to eat gluten free. I was so happy with each bite of the roll. So, now I have a backup for when I’m low on ingredients for my own. Completely surpassed all my expectations.

So, let’s take a look at the ingredients. The Sevierly Good Gluten Free Organic Multigrain Bread Mix is made from organic brown rice flour, organic sorghum flour, organic tapioca starch, organic quinoa flour, organic evaporated cane juice, xanthan gum, yeast, and salt. It is non-GMO, certified gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, dairy-free, bean-free and corn-free. Wholesome and wholegrain goodness in one little pouch.

As for the nutrition facts, the Sevierly Good Gluten Free Organic Multigrain Bread Mix has 12 servings in a package. A serving size is 1 slice of bread. Each serving will give you 110 calories, 0.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 45 mg sodium, 23 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 1 gram sugars, and 2 grams protein.

One would think that with the low amounts of fiber and protein that this bread would not be filling. But I made vegan BLTs for lunch today, using one of the hamburger buns for the sandwich portion instead of bread from my freezer. I toasted the buns in the oven and then topped them with vegan mayo, baby spinach, heirloom tomato slices, and vegan (and gluten-free) bacon. This bread was…AMAZING. I loved using it for this sort of sandwich as it didn’t get soggy (even with toasting) and crumble and fall apart. It’s wonderful to have a traditional bread feel…but be able to bake it up in various ways, without having to blend all the flours myself.

I, once again, have to commend Cuisine Cube for introducing me to the Sevierly Good Gluten Free brand. The Organic Multigrain Bread Mix was amazing…like no other bread mix I have ever baked from before. Now I sort of wish that I had done up an actual loaf, just to see how it turned out. But…that’s why I can order more.

And you can too. If you can’t fiend Sevierly Good Gluten Free products in your area, head over to their Products page and have their mixes shipped directly to you. Then get into your kitchen and bake up something Sevierly Good!

Orders can also be placed online from our Products page and shipped direct to your home.

And, as many have said…”It’s more than good, it’s Sevierly Good”. We thank you for your business!

The Sevier Family

November 15, 2015

Product Review: Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix

Product: Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix – $4.49+

You know…I don’t shop at Wal-Mart often. I don’t. But, there is this gorgeous Neighborhood Market version of Wal-Mart (it is all groceries!) in Louisville, and if I happen to be on that side of the city, I’ll stop in for some essentials that. I mean, the prices are right and it’s not all sketchy like some other Wal-Marts are. Nor is it busy, so that is also a plus!

I rarely go off my grocery list these days…but one day while searching an aisle for something, I spotted a box of gluten-free banana bread. We all are aware that my forays into gluten-free banana bread have been epic fails…every single time. And here…here was a mix that would do all the difficult stuff for me…and all I had to do was add a few things and pop it in the oven.

Easy peasy, right?

So, yeah…you better believe that box came home.

For the record, the box just happened to be a new baking mix from the amazing Pillsbury, who seems to have embraced the gluten-free market as of late, having started with refrigerated dough for pizza, cookes, and pie. Since then, it has introduced gluten-free funfetti cake mix (I have some of this in my pantry), gluten-free funfetti cookie mix, gluten-free multi-purpose flour, and gluten-free quick bread and muffin mix. They also have already made gluten-free muffins out there…I have yet to find them though.

That being said…the great pantry purge is underway and this weekend, with all the horrible events going on in the world, I needed to comfort myself with a little baking. So, I pulled out the box of the Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix and decided I was going to give it a try. But why just bake it up as bread? Why do the easy thing? Instead, there was a recipe on the side of the box for Gluten Free Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. Which sounds…frickin’ fantastic. I didn’t have any chunky peanut butter on hand, so I used my PB2 powder from the pantry and it worked out just fine. No peanut chunks…but…hey, I saved some calories and fat, right? HA!

So, this recipe was really, really easy.

Simply preheat the oven to 375°F. Put the mix into a large bowl and add water, extra crunchy peanut butter (I used PB2 and it worked great! No little peanut chunks though…so there is that…), vegetable oil, 2 eggs, and some miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips (or dark chocolate chips…which is what I used) and beat the conglomeration of ingredients into a thick batter. Spoon it into 18 muffin cups and bake for about 20 minutes until they are golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let them cool for about 10 minutes in the muffin tin before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

I get a little skeptical, at times, when it comes to big-name companies jumping onto the gluten-free bandwagon. But Betty Crocker managed to do it well, and, to be honest, Pillsbury really hit it out of the ballpark with this particular mix. I was beyond impressed. The muffins fluffed up and cooked to a beautiful golden brown. So often, these mixes turn out pale products, regardless of sitting in the heat of the oven. They centers were moist and rich. The muffins themselves bold with banana flavor, and the PB2 gives it a nice peanut butter thought, without overpowering the banana. Because, after all, I bought this because I suck at making gluten-free banana bread. The dark chocolate morsels (I used Enjoy Life, for the record), were a nice, sweet touch. I had to make myself stick to just one of the muffins, because I easily could have eaten three right then and there. So good. Moist, rich, and delicious!!

So, as we all know, I usually steer clear of mixes like this due to ingredients and trying to eat a bit cleaner. But we all have to indulge a little bit, right? Right! So, Pillsbury makes its Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix from rice flour, sugar, tapioca starch, potato starch, dried banana, dextrose, and it contains 2% or less of: leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, calcium phosphate), canola oil, cellulose, propylene glycol esters of fatty acids, distilled monoglycerides, xanthan gum, salt, natural and artificial flavors, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, nonfat dry milk, citrick acid and bht (antioxidents). Whew. A lot of preservatives and the such, but I don’t make this stuff often…and I just really wanted to see how it worked out. Totally worth it for an every-now-and-again fill-in, especially if I want banana bread. At least until someone can give me a recipe that I can actually master and make without it being…gross.

As for nutritional information…the Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix makes 12 servings. Each serving will dish up 120 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 220 mg sodium, 28 grams carbohydrates, 13 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein. If prepared (as the banana quick bread or plain banana muffins), the calories per 12 servings goes up to 170 calories, 6 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 35 mg cholesterol, 230 mg sodium, and 2 grams protein. Not too bad for a quick bread mix…and really not bad for a gluten-free product!

I have to say, I was beyond amazed with the quality and the taste of the Pillsbury Gluten Free Banana Quick Bread & Muffin Mix. These muffins were moist, delicious, and so easy to prepare and make. I would be more than happy to try other Pillsbury mixes (I guess the funfetti cake mix is up next), because this blew me away. The texture was perfection. The flavors were bold and pronounced. And it only took me 10 minutes of prep time at most. Can’t beat that convenience. Way to go Pillsbury! Thank you for your gluten-free awesomeness!

November 14, 2015

Product Review: Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit

Product: Scratch & Grain Baking Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit – $6.99+

It was on a whim and by sheer luck that I ran across the gluten-free cookie kits that Scratch & Grain Baking Co. have out on the market. I was, actually, walking around Target with my roommate on my lunch break, scoping out the various clearance end caps, because this is what we do for fun. We live in a wild and crazy town, you see?

*sigh*

But…this actually turned out to be a good thing. Because one of the sections happened to have a couple boxes of Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Cookie Kits. No joke. First of all, I had never heard of these. Second of all, it involved cookies. Third of all, I wanted to try them.

Granted, I have been working on trying to not eat as many sugary treats…and I’m getting better, but sometimes, you just need to have a cookie. And this looked easy enough.

Scratch & Grain Bakery Co. grew out of an unfortunate baking experience, leading two (2) moms (Taya and Leah, from Portland, Oregon) to make homemade baking fun and easy. After Leah spent 3 hours in her kitchen baking cardboard cookies with her daughters, she texted Taya and told her she had a business idea and asked her to come over and discuss it. The seed was planted and the two women began discussing the concept and vision of the products and company. They focused on wanting to make homemade baking fun, delicious, easy…and a little healthier. And so, they got to work creating a baking kit that included all of the BEST ingredients, already measured out and wrapped individually so you know what is in your food…and the actual baking process is made easy and fun. After testing thousands of variations for the kits, Taya and Leah put together the perfect recipes. Then, they set out to learn the ins and outs of product development and design – not outsourcing any aspect of their product, keeping all of the product components production right there in Portland. They even included a few gluten-free products, although neither of them are gluten-free. They both have close family members who do have Celiac, and as they are not fans of most gluten-free products, they knew they had to make a few products that were gluten-free, but still tasted amazing, delicious, and as close to any whole-wheat version. They wouldn’t produce a product that they were unwilling to eat, so that means…quality is guaranteed.

So, tonight, just before I set out to get dinner ready, I pulled this little box out of my pantry and gathered up the two additional ingredients needed to prepare these cookies. No joke…you just need an egg (or egg replacer)…and 2 tablespoons of butter. Except, I used 1.5 tablespoons of applesauce instead, to make it lower in fat. Also, I was just being lazy and didn’t feel like melting butter in my microwave. HA!! So, it was time to mix up the ingredients and get my Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie on.

Individually Packaged Ingredients in the Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit

This kit included 10 individually packaged ingredients. These included baking powder, vanilla powder, salt, cane sugar, flax, cocoa, flour, chocolate chips, walnuts, and finishing salt. In a bowl, I put the apple sauce (or butter if you do butter) and add the ingredients per package instructions, stirring to blend them each time to perfection. Then, once everything is added and mixed well, you put 1 tablespoon of batter (mine was a little runny…but it worked in the end) onto a baking sheet and pop it into the oven for about 11-13 minutes. Do not overcook them, or they will flatten. Let them cook for 5-10 minutes before stuffing your face…er…moving them to a cooling rack.

So…here’s the deal…I was not impressed with the batter, as the tablespoons I dropped began to spread and run together. But the magic happened in the oven. When I pulled these out, they had puffed up a little, and were soft and chewy just from the look of them. I let them cool on the rack while I ate dinner…but after that…dessert was so happening. I handed a cookie to my roommate and I took another one…and we both took a bite.

While, at first, I had been unimpressed and ready to give up on them and just toss it…I am so glad that I didn’t. These cookies are rich, chewy, amazing chocolate cookies of yumminess and awesomeness. OH. MY. COOKIE. GODS. I was skeptical and ready to just call it a failure, but these cookies are amazing. Not only are they easy and quick to mix up and prepare, they also make for perfect portion control. Both my roommate and I were quick to devour the cookie I served each of us. We literally didn’t even sit down…just noshed them down there in the tiny apartment kitchen. Impressed doesn’t even begin to cover it. We were loving every bite of these. I moved the rest of them over to a rack to cool down and have stored them away for dessert for the next 5 days.

WOW.

Let’s talk about the ingredients that go into the Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit. This kit is made from semi-sweet chocolate chips (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, dextrose, soya lecithin), cocoa (sugar, cocoa potassium carbonate unsweetened chocolate and pure vanilla, organic evaporated cane sugar, walnuts, multi-blend flour (brown rice flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca starch, cornstarch, potato starch, xanthan gum), organic ground flaxseeds, sea salt, organic vanilla powder (organic sucrose and organic vanilla bean extractives), baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate). The kits use all-natural GMO-free ingredients (because they taste better!), and most of the ingredients are also certified organic.

As for nutrition, the Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit is great for a cookie option. A kit will make between 9-12 cookies. A serving size is 1 cookie (24 grams dry mix). This serving will serve you 130 calories, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 19- mg sodium, 16 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams dietary fiber, 13 grams sugar, and 2 grams of protein. It’s a cookie, but one you know exactly what you are putting into it and one that you can change up (like use applesauce like I did). It’s a fun and easy way to enjoy cookies and bake them on your own, not relying on the packaged, and not always delicious, or soft, or chewy, premade gluten free cookies on the shelf at your grocery store.

Needless to say, Scratch & Grain Baking Co. really won me over with the end result of their Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookie Kit. I hope to discover other varieties out at Target, as their gluten-free lineup includes Snickerdoodles and Peanut Butter cookies.

Sounds amazing to me. And now…I know the high quality product that will emerge. SO happy with this little kit. Let’s hear it for going out on a whim and having it pay off in spades…or cookies.

Baked Gluten Free Chocolate Truffle Cookies from Scratch & Grain Baking Co. Gluten Free Cookie Kit

November 13, 2015

Product Review: Barbara’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Puffins Cereal

Product: Barbara’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Puffins Cereal – $5.99+

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to my local Kroger. Because after spending a majority of the fall searching high and low for a few specific products released with a pumpkin flavor…I found very few of them.

Like…Peanut Butter & Co. Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter. Never did find that, and refused to pay more on shipping than I would to order just one jar. That’s just one example. I still haven’t found it and probably won’t at this point.

Bummer.

And I thought that was going to be the case with the Barbara’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Puffins Cereal too. I really did. First of all, when anything seasonal comes out (ie: pumpkin flavor), it is always for a limited time. And that means…you find it as soon as you can and you buy it…no hesitation. Well, I was lamenting that all my usual suspects (my natural food stores in town) all had the regular (gluten free) Puffins cereals by Barbara’s…but no one had the Pumpkin Puffins.

And then, one day while winging past an end cap of an aisle I never at, there was this HUGE display of Barbara’s cereals. And right there…front and center…were the Gluten Free Pumpkin Puffins.

HAPPY DANCE!! (Seriously, the other grocery shoppers may never be the same).

Barbara’s was founded back in 1971, but 17-year-old Barbara Jaffe. In the Bay Area, Barbara was striking out, and discovering her her love for real food, and opened up a bakery in Northern California. Her plan was simple: make wholesome food taste incredibly delicious. Using whole grains and oats, she began her business with bread, and soon, her business went from a small storefront start-up to a thriving wholesale business. Now over 40 years later, the product line has grown to include cereals, snack bars, cookies, and cheese puffs…among other things. And, true to Barbara’s initial business plan, the company still upholds the commitment to create simple, wholesome and delicious products with the most honest ingredients.

So, the weird thing is, in the four years I have been gluten-free, I haven’t tried any of the Barbara’s gluten free products. Not even the original Puffins cereal. Go figure. I have no idea why…but…true story. So, this morning when I opened the box of Barbara’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Puffins to eat before heading to spin class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I tore into the bag and dished up a serving of this cereal.

First thing I noticed were all puffy and full each little…er…puff was. I mean…we’re not talking little deflated cereal puffs. These orange puffs mean business. Seriously. I popped a few in my mouth before topping off with my unsweetened cashew milk. Oh…WOW! Here’s what I love…

I love that this cereal is made with whole grains. I love that this cereal has only 5 grams of sugar per serving. I love that this cereal has just the right level (and this coming from a pumpkin-everything advocate) of pumpkin. I love that this cereal has the right amount of sweet and spice, with nothing outdoing the other. It’s a perfect pumpkin balance, for sure. If you want to know what fall tastes like…just pop a handful of these little delights. Seriously. I love the crunchy texture. The amazing flavor. And, best of all, this cereal is actually made with real pumpkin. No fake stuff here. I was beyond impressed. And, you better believe I won’t shy away from the gluten-free cereals that Barbara’s offers anymore. So happy!

Speaking of real pumpkin, let’s take a look at everything that goes into Barbara’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Puffins. This cereal is made from corn, whole grain brown rice, cane sugar, whole grain pure oats, fructan (natraflora prebiotic dietary fiber), unsulfured molasses, oat hull fiber, calcium carbonate, pumpkin, sea salt, natural flavor, annatto (for color), cinnamon, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), iron (ferric orthophosphate), tocopherols (antioxidants to maintain freshness). This cereal is gluten-free, non-GMO verified, vegan, low in fat, low in sugar, made with whole grains, and made with real pumpkin.

As far as nutrition information goes…you’ll love this. A serving of Barbara’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Puffins Cereal is 1 cup (30 grams), and there are about 9 servings per box. A serving will provide you with 110 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 grams monsaturated fat, 0 grams polyunsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 75 mg sodium, 80 mg potassium, 25 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 1 gram soluble fiber, 2 grams insoluble fiber, 5 grams sugars, and 2 grams of protein. It’s nutritious and delicious!

For being my first Barbara’s product to try, the Gluten Free Pumpkin Puffins Cereal really hit it out of the park. I am excited at the prospect of trying out more of her gluten-free cereal line-up to see how they measure up. But with a great ingredient list and amazing nutritional value…this is definitely a cereal I would easily add to my pantry every week. Just…wow!

Delicious. Pumpkin-y goodness. It’s a sweet taste of heaven in a pumpkin spiced package that’s perfect for your morning cereal bowl.

November 11, 2015

Product Review: Williams-Sonoma Gluten Free Spiced Pecan Pumpkin Quick Bread

Product: Williams-Sonoma Gluten Free Spiced Pecan Pumpkin Quick Bread – $14.95

I have to give major kudos to the kitchen giant that is Williams-Sonoma…aka…that store that is like crack to me…really out of my price range, but, dammit, I keep going back to it. HA! When Cup4Cup was first introduced to the gluten free market, it was done through Williams-Sonoma stores. And that was where I first bought it…for a price tag as extravagant as the one you see attached to this little package of bread mix.

But…sometimes…the price is worth the product.

Last year, Williams-Sonoma unveiled a plethora of holiday mixes and even offered a gluten-free version of some of them. One such product was the Gluten Free Spiced Pecan Pumpkin Quick Bread mix. When I saw it, I didn’t care that it was $15, I took it up to the register and purchased it. The reason I mention Cup4Cup above is that this quick bread mix is made with Cup4Cup Gluten Free flour! I took it home and put it in my pantry, excited beyond belief to have this bread mix.

And then never got around to making it.

But the great pantry purge is on…and this was still just sitting there…begging to be made. Last night, while The Voice was on television, I set out with a mission. Not just to bake cookies (which I did), but to make this bread. I don’t know why I waited so long. It was SO easy.

In a large bowl, I simply poured the Williams-Sonoma Gluten Free Spiced Pecan Pumpkin Quick Bread mix and added 1 stick of melted vegan butter, which I let cool slightly, 1 cup water, and 2 eggs. That was it. Easy-peasy. I gave it a stir until it was smooth and blended…then poured the batter into a greased bread pan. Into a preheated 350°F oven it went for around one hour.

The wait was difficult because, as it baked, it smelled amazing. I was doing my PT stretches and practically drooling. Seriously. And when the timer finally went off and I pulled the loaf pan from the oven, it was all I could do to wait the 10 minutes for it to cool before turning it out and being able to at least sample a piece. I did manage to wait, but the minute that timer went off…it was game on.

I sliced off the very end of the bread, loving how moist and rich it felt as I sliced with a sharp knife. I could see the scattering of pecans throughout the loaf. Not only did it smell amazing, it looked amazing too. But the test always comes with the first bite.

WOW. Moist, soft, packed with flavor. It tastes like fall…giving off hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Every bite was a delight. No joke. I loved the speckled bits of pecans throughout, which gave the moist and soft slice a bit of texture as well. The crust on the outside got to this beautiful golden shade and, while it is a pumpkin bread, it wasn’t just loaded with the pumpkin flavor. I think that’s a bit of a disappointment for me, but the spices really shine this way, and that’s not such a bad thing. It’s now dessert and possibly the base of a French toast this coming week. Seriously…I am so in love with this bread.

Let’s discuss the ingredients of the Williams-Sonoma Gluten Free Spiced Pecan Pumpkin Quick Bread. This mix is made from gluten free flour (cornstarch, white rice flour, brown rice flour, milk powder, tapioca flour, potato starch, xanthan gum), sugar, dried pumpkin flakes, unsalted pecans, buttermilk powder, korintje cinnamon powder, sodium bicarbonate, salt, nutmeg, and ginger.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving of the Williams-Sonoma Gluten Free Spiced Pecan Pumpkin Quick Bread is 1/15 dry mix (34 grams) or 1 slice (48 grams) of the baked quick bread. There are about 15 servings per container. A serving of the mix will give you 130 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 190 mg sodium, 28 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 15 grams sugars, and 2 grams of protein. When prepared, the bread goes up in calories to 190 calories per slice, which isn’t bad for a sweet bread of sorts. The package also comes with instructions for a cream cheese icing…but I didn’t have all of the ingredients on hand…and I love it plain anyway. But the option is there!

I was really impressed with how well this bread baked up, how moist and delicious it is. I love how it just tastes like fall. I was hooked in one bite. And now I can’t wait to try other seasonal gluten-free quick bread mixes from Williams-Sonoma…because they really won me over with the Gluten Free Spiced Pecan Pumpkin Quick Bread. I might have to go pick up another package before it disappears (and then not wait so long to make it this time!).

November 10, 2015

Product Review: Rabbit Creek Products Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix + Recipe Bonus

Product: Rabbit Creek Products Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix – $8.75

So, this was it…my last Cuisine Cube…and this…this product was the last one that I had from the May (Is For Mom) 2015 Cuisine Cube that I received. I had to cancel my subscription due to budget constraints…and that wasn’t an easy decision. I loved…LOVED…this company and I loved discovering new products through them.

Yeah…that’s what Cuisine Cube is all about. And one day, I sincerely hope to be able to go back to them and subscribe again. That being said, before I get to the product that I lasted until now, let me tell you a little more about Cuisine Cube.

Cuisine Cube is a subscription service that delivers 5-6 gluten-free, full-size products to your door for as little as $34.99/month. Inside the cube, you will discover full-size products (not sample sizes) that are made by local and smaller, artisan companies, rather than those that you can find at the average grocery store. It has introduced me to so many new and delightful products. Each box contains a breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert product…and then, sometimes, an extra bonus item. Who doesn’t love a little something extra, right? Keep in mind, however, that Cuisine Cube has gone through some changes as of May. No longer do they strictly only offer gluten-free cubes. In addition to their gluten-free option, they now also offer Artisan and Vegan cubes as well. The Artisan cube means that you have no food allergies and foods that contain common food allergens will be included. The Vegan cubes contain products that are dairy and animal free. And, they still have the Gluten Free cubes, which will have products that contain no gluten or wheat. So, if you’re really interested in being introduced to the smaller, lesser-known, artisan companies, give Cuisine Cube a try! It’s like…Christmas…or your birthday…every month! Who doesn’t love that?!

The last product from my May Is For Mom 2015 Cuisine Cube box was none other than the dessert product – Rabbit Creek Products Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake. Why the long wait to use this? Well, believe it or not, with as much of a sweet tooth I am…I am not really big on cake. Secondly…I’m not a big fan of red velvet either. Hence…the reason it sat so long on my shelf. But, as I’m working on clearing out items from my pantry and fridge, prepping for a new year and new goals…this product was up. And instead of baking a cake (again…not a fan of cake or red velvet), I decided to bake cookies.

Before I talk about the product any further, let me tell you a little about Rabbit Creek Products. Rabbit Creek Products gets its name from a creek that runs through a small eastern Kansas town. The founder, Donna Cook, a self-described “country girl” grew up in the heart of Kansas, offering a diverse array of food from traditional country with influences from Germany, Sweden, and other reaches of the world. She founded Rabbit Creek Products determined to capture the taste of old fashioned cooking with a designer style and share it with people everywhere. Her innovative mixes make Rabbit Creek a leader in the gourmet industry. Cook was named business woman of the year in Kansas in 1995. Holding that title to its highest standard, Cook insists that Rabbit Creek does the same with their products. Rabbit Creek has over 350 different mixes, including dips, soups, quick breads, beer breads, brownies, desserts, and scones mixes, among others. And…now gluten free products have made their appearance on their product list.

Thanks to Cuisine Cube, I had the opportunity to try out the Rabbit Creek Products Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix. As stated before…I am not a fan of cake nor of red velvet, so this was a tricky one. But, instead of baking up a cake…I decided to attempt to make cake mix cookies out of this mix. The recipe will follow below…and, I wasn’t exactly sure this was going to work…but I figured…I love cookies…why not give it a go?

By mixing the Rabbit Creek Products Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix with baking powder, eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla and folding in Greek Yogurt baking chips…I actually managed to create a decent enough, fluffy, light dough that had a cake-y and a cookie-ish like texture to it. I scooped it into little balls and placed the dough on a cookie sheet, forming 12 perfectly round cookies. Then, I put them into a preheated oven and let them bake for about 12 minutes. Out came amazing looking cookies. I let them cool for a few minutes, then…it was time to test them out.

I will say this…Rabbit Creek Products really is elevating the world of mixes. Honestly. I was amazed with how well the Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix worked in this recipe. I had my doubts, but what emerged were light, chewy, soft red velvet cookies that had great flavor and weren’t overly sweet. One problem I usually have with red velvet is how sweet it tastes. While these did taste like a treat, they weren’t overly sugary and helped me feel really good about choosing to make them into cookies rather than baking a cake. The texture was soft, light, and amazing. Chewy and delicious. I brought these to work, and got so many compliments on how good these were! Definitely impressed.

So, let’s talk about the ingredients that go into the Rabbit Creek Products Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix. This mix is made from gluten free flour (rice flour, brown rice flour, modified potato starch, modified tapioca starch, modified corn starch, xanthan gum), sugar, cocoa, baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate, red dye #40 and natural and artificial flavor. This product is made in a dedicated kitchen.

Now let’s talk nutrition! The Rabbit Creek Products Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix contains 16 servings. One serving of the package (about 17 grams) will dish up 60 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grans trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 50 mg sodium, 13 grams carbohydrats, less than 1 gram fiber, 6 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

And here’s how I made the cookies…with a recipe loosely based off of the Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies made by Sally’s Baking Addiction. I just made changes where I needed for weight of the mix and measure of ingredients. But it worked like a charm!

Recipe: Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies made from Rabbit Creek Products Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix

Servings: 12
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Bake 12 minutes

Ingredients:

1 package (9.6 oz) Rabbit Creek Products Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake Mix
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons vegetable/canola oil
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Greek Yogurt Baking Chips (or White Chocolate Chips would work!)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Line large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and baking powder. Set aside.

In a smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, and vanilla by hand. Add the egg mixture to the cake mixture and stir to form a dough- stir vigorously until all of the pockets of dry cake mix are gone. Gently mix in the the baking chips chips.

Drop rounded balls of dough, about 2 tablespoons each, onto prepared baking sheet. Stick a few more chocolate chips on top of the cookie dough balls if you want them for looks, if desired. Make sure the balls of dough are taller than they are wide.

Bake for 10-12 minutes not allowing the cookies get brown. Cool on baking sheet for 3 minutes; they will be very soft at first. As they cool, the tops may settle down; press them down gently with your fingers if they are not sinking much. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

~*~*~

Seriously…this cake mix made amazing chewy, deliciously flavorful, yummy red velvet cookies. And this from someone who is not a fan of red velvet or cake. HA! I do love cookies though. And the addition of the baking chips definitely was a nice touch.

So, thank you, Cuisine Cube, for the introduction to the products that Rabbit Creek puts out. And if any of you want to give their products I try, I urge you to visit their Web page and place an order.

November 10, 2015

Product Review: Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough

Product: Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough – $3.99+

My neighbors are awesome. Let me just reiterate that fact now, if I haven’t said it enough in my previous blogs.

MY. NEIGHBORS. ARE. AWESOME.

I was downstairs having dinner with my amazing neighbors and friends on Sunday night (after a very entertaining game of cornhole), and we were just talking about anything and everything, as we very often do. For awhile, they were trying out a gluten free and casein free diet for their young son, but it wasn’t making much of an impact…so they dropped off the wagon for now. That being said, for a few weeks now, Michelle (that’s one of said neighbors) had been mentioning that Kroger now carried gluten-free and casein free cookies in the refrigerated section. I am rarely over that way, so after feeding me delicious red lentils for dinner (they had bison burgers, but she made these AMAZING lentils for me and for others to use as a side), she was packing up leftovers. They were keeping the remaining gluten-free and vegan corn pudding I made and she surprised me with a package of the very cookies she was talking about.

The Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough!

Immaculate Baking began with a cookie. Now that’s the best start to any story, don’t you think? Creator, Scott Blackwell used his garage to manifest a simple dream…to create perfect, mouth-watering, wholesome, homemade cookies that he could share with the world. Today, that dream is becoming a reality. Immaculate Baking offers cookies, sweet rolls, biscuits, pie crusts, and even…gluten-free cookies. All products remain true to the company’s commitment to use simple and carefully-selected ingredients…so that every bite is packed with amazing, mouth-watering, crave-worthy flavor and texture.

I have had the Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough that is made by Immaculate Baking, and have to still give the Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie Dough a try…but last night was all about chocolate. My roommate was craving it and I never say no to a cookie or chocolate. Two of my favorite things. So, out of the refrigerator (after being in there less than 24 hours) and onto a baking sheet these went. Yep…it is that easy. These break and bake cookies are little balls of dough that you pull apart and then set on the baking sheet. Place in a preheated 325°F oven for about 13-15 minutes and…at the end…you get an amazing, chocolatey-scented home…and fantastic little rounds of cookies.

Of course, the test is always with the taste. And so, I dished one up to my roommate and one to me. One bite…one bite and I was in chocolate cookie heaven. This reminded me, at first bite, fresh from the oven, of a warm pudding cake that I used to beg my mom to make for me. Fantastic chocolate flavor. Rich, chewy, and decadent. These are an amazing, chewy bite of cookie. Think about merging a dense, chewy brownie with a cookie…and that happy marriage is what this cookie is all about. I was enamored with it. I was lucky to hold myself to one. That’s how good these are. This is everything a cookie, gluten-free or not, should be. I’m beyond impressed.

Let’s talk ingredients, shall we? The Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough is made from palm fruit and canola oil, semisweet chocolate pieces (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla), powdered sugar (cane sugar, corn starch), potato starch, cane sugar, tapioca starch, rice flour, eggs, molasses, cocoa pressed with alkali, water, vanilla extract, xanthan gum, sea salt, guar gum and baking soda. These cookies are certified gluten free.

As far as nutrition goes, the decadent Immaculate Baking Gluten Free Fudge Brownie Cookie Dough makes 12 cookies…and a serving size is 1 of these cookies. This one cookie will provide you with 150 calories, 8 grams fat, 3.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 55 mg sodium, 19 grams carbohydrates, less than 1 gram fiber, 12 grams sugars, and less than 1 gram of protein. A sweet, not going to fill you up treat.

When a cookie that you don’t even have to dirty a bowl by mixing up a bunch of ingredients can spark memories and satisfy the biggest chocolate craving, you know something is amazing about them. Immaculate Baking made a cookie that is for the serious chocoholic. This cookie monster was beyond impressed…because it was everything I wanted in one perfect cookie. And, with the chewy and fudgy texture, you’d never guess these were gluten free.

I’m in a chocolate cookie coma…and I’m happy there. Join me!

November 10, 2015

Product Review: Ian’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Onion Rings

Product: Ian’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Onion Rings – $5.99+

If there is a food indulgence that I miss the most…it’s being able to eat onion rings. I mean, there are few things as amazing as biting into a savory, salty, fried ring of vegetable goodness. Sure, it’s not healthy, but it’s been ages since I’ve had good onion rings.

I have, on occasion, made a batter, thick-sliced an onion, poured oil into a pan and made my own…but that’s a lot of hassle. And I always make way too many and my roommate and I eat them all and then feel like we just ate the entire State Fair afterwards. Needless to say, I haven’t made gluten-free onion rings in a very, very long while.

Then, while out at Raisin Rack this past Halloween weekend, I was filling up a basket with gluten-free treats, when my roommate comes skipping over and drops a sack of something into the basket. Lo and behold…it was gluten-free onion rings.

The gluten-free angels sang and a heavenly light shown down from the fluorescent lights of the natural food store.

Ian’s Natural Products is the creator of the Gluten Free Onion Rings. I was a bit hesitant, however, as things have been pretty hit and miss with Ian’s Natural Products gluten-free (basically allergen-free) selection. I love the French Bread Pizza…but disliked the French Toast Sticks. Go figure. But, I’m never to turn my nose up at trying a product I haven’t had before.

Especially when it’s onion rings.

And especially when there is an option to bake them instead of frying them (there is a frying option too…but…I went the healthier, more hassle-free, less clean-up route).

Ian’s Natural Foods was created in 2001, when the founder wanted to be sure his son, Ian, received natural and nutritious foods – ones that didn’t contain artificial ingredients, clors, preservatives, and other unacceptable and unhealthy ingredients. Frustrated with the lack of options, he took matters into his own hands and decided to do something about it…for everyone.

The primary focus of Ian’s Natural Foods was to provide tasty, all-natural and organic foods, which expanded to gluten-free foods for kids. It began with kid favorites, like chicken nuggets and patties. Then…grew from there.

Today, Ian’s is part of the Elevation Brands’ family and has grown into a national brand with 35 products sold throughout the United States and Canada. This brand makes it easy for families to manage food allergies by providing a wide variety of allergy-friendly meal solutions, all of which are made with simple, honest ingredients and no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, no trans fat, and no added hormones or antibiotics. Everything you need to know is summed up in the motto of Ian’s Natural Foods: “Trust made simple.”

So, it was Sunday afternoon and after a morning spent swimming and wrapping up a few errands, my roommate and I returned home and needed a small bite to eat to tide us over until our dinner that evening with the downstairs neighbors. I have been trying to clear a few things out of the pantry, fridge and freezer, and after she mentioned tater tots (we didn’t have any), I reminded her we had the Ian’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Onion Rings in the freezer. That made her happy…and so I set out to prepare them.

I got out a baking sheet and poured the contents of the bag onto the pan and spread out the onion rings so that they weren’t crowded and all were in a single layer. Then, I put them into an oven (which I preheated to 450°F). I then baked the onion rings for 10 minutes before flipping them over and letting them back another 5 minutes to get them nice and crispy. And then…I served them up.

The Ian’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Onion Rings are the answer for anyone one who has been craving a gluten-free take on a classic diner food…the onion ring. The onions are sweet and delicious, and coated with their special homemade batter, which comes out perfectly crispy…yes…even when baked. I loved the flavor. It had this sweet yet savory flavor to them. The cornflake crumbs bring this amazing flavor, and give the onion rings a great crunchy texture and they even golden up slightly in the oven. These are a perfect, simple, hassle-free product that will satisfy your onion ring craving. You don’t even have to be gluten-free to appreciate these. My roommate has had great onion rings (she doesn’t have to eat gluten free) and she said these were fantastic…especially since they are a frozen product.

Let’s talk ingredients. Ian’s Natural Foods stands by their promise of using real ingredients. The Gluten Free Onion Rings are made from onions, coated with batter (water, yellow corn flour, corn starch, sea salt, gralic powder, baking powder) and breaded with cornflake crumbs (milled corn, sugar, salt). These are cooked in non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil. The Ian’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Onion Rings contain no wheat or gluten, no milk or casein, no eggs, no nuts, no soy, no preservatives, no artificial flavors, and no artificial colors.

As for nutritional information, the Ian’s Natural Foods Gluten Free Onion Rings make for a good side or snack, especially if you opt to bake them in the oven instead of deep fry or pan fry them. A serving size of the Gluten Free Onion Rings is 5 rings (70 grams) and there are 4 servings per bag. This serving will give you 130 calories, 6 grams of fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 115 mg sodium, 18 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams sugar, and 2 grams protein. They won’t fill you up, but you will love every single bite of these.

I think Ian’s Natural Foods has won my heart back again with their Gluten Free Onion Rings. What a great product that definitely helps with any of those longing cravings that strike for this delicious treat. Bake it up and help yourself. You’ve earned it.

November 6, 2015

Product Review: Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks

Product: Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks – $2.99+

I will be the first person to admit that in the past couple of months, I fell off of the cereal train. I did. Don’t get me wrong…I absolutely love cereal…but I was just in a rut and really just needed something different in the morning. I went to fruit and yogurt and enjoyed it well enough and was content with it.

Until I went to the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana back on October 24, 2015. My mom, also a Celiac, came up from Birmingham, Alabama, with my dad and we all went together to scope out the expo. Trust me, I do this event every year that it has been in Indianapolis…and I love it. Freebies, samples, and local products/businesses all come out and reel me in. I won’t lie…I walk out of there broke…but it’s worth it in the end. I have never regretted a moment.

Now, one of the booths I have started to look for each year belongs to Freedom Foods. Why? Well…I’m getting to that.

Freedom Foods makes a variety of products, although only a few items are available in the United States at the moment…and most of these include cereals, which, for the record, are made in a dedicated and specially built allergen-free facility in the Riverina region of New South Wales, in Australia. As Freedom Foods was specifically developed to make allergen-free foods, they test every batch made in their facilities, to the most stringent levels possible, leaving no doubt that the Freedom Foods products you pick up will be free of the allergens that are necessary to avoid.

LOVE THAT!

Because we live in a world where it’s not enough to just be health conscious. Now we have to be allergen conscious too. With the growing number of food allergies and intolerances, it is nice to find a company that really proves that it is dedicated to creating products that are safe to consume. Freedom Foods has been around for over 20 years, making great-tasting and nutritious allergen-free food. I can attest to this, as I am a huge fan of the products I have had from them thus far. All of their products adhere to the strict guidelines laid out by Australia’s food industry, meaning all their products are non-GMO. They even test for GMOs just to make sure.

One of my favorite products, mind you, is the Tropico’s cereal, which is a gluten-free version of Froot Loops, but made without artificial colors, ingredients, partially hydrogenated crap…you know…all that bad stuff that Kellogg’s puts into their cereals and people consume freely. I am a cereal girl. I start most of my mornings with a small bowl. A serving. And yes…I do measure. You knew that already though, right?

So, imagine how my mind was blown when I found the booth at the GFFAF and saw that they had a new fruity cereal out. Like…brand new this year. It’s the Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks (think Fruity Pebbles). They gave me a little cup to sample and it won me over wholeheartedly. It was like…little flakes of everything I love about Tropico’s. Well, I might even prefer them to the Tropico’s…which, naturally would happen, since I haven’t seen the Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks anywhere outside of the GFFAF that day. I purchased two boxes. I should have bought them out, HA!

I almost didn’t want to pop open a box so soon, but with the cereal that brought me back into cereal now completely consumed (that would be the Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin O’s, for the record), I needed something else this morning. Yes…this very morning. Before heading to the gym for my 5:30 a.m. spin class…I needed some fuel. And with two boxes staring at me from the pantry…I grabbed one and tore it open, measuring out a serving (1 cup), topping it with some unsweetened cashew milk, and then devouring it while standing right there at the counter in my kitchen.

It really is that amazing and that good. This cereal is everything all rolled up into one healthier package than average regular and gluten-free cereals out on the market. And, because of the fruity flavors, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on my cut fruit and yogurt. Honestly, this cereal amazed me. The little flakes of fruity goodness get a little soft in the milk, but it only helps to emphasize the flavor. And, when your cereal is made with real ingredients, not fillers and artificial bad stuff, well, I give it a pass on how long it swims around in a pool of cashew milk before getting soft. It didn’t bother me, as I was standing in my cycling clothes, hunched over my Eeyore cereal bowl, just shoveling this stuff into my face. Food is fuel. Real food is the best kind of fuel.

If you like fruity cereals…low in sugar…big in flavor, then Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks is the cereal for you. Who knows, you might even find yourself hunched over a bowl in your kitchen.

Let’s talk about what goes into Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks, shall we? This cereal is made from a gluten free flour mix (rice flour, yellow corn flour), sugar, resistant dextrin, psyllium husk, paprika oleoresin color, carrot oil color, sweet potato color, turmeric oleoresin color, tricalcium phosphate, salt, sunflower lecithin, and natural flavor. It is free from gluten, nuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, soy and sesame. Freedom Foods believes that the less salt you eat, the healthier you are, so they only put in a pinch of salt in this cereal. This cereal also contains a natural, grain-based prebiotic that help to nourish the good bacteria in our digestive tracts which…helps with good digestion and overall health. This is a simple cereal that is doing really amazing and big things for your body and your health. And that’s why I love this brand so much!

As for nutritional information, hold onto your gluten-free knickers, my friends. Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks is a healthier take on cereal, and that’s evident in the nutritional facts. A serving of Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks is 1 cup. This serving will give you 180 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 75 mg sodium, 36 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 3 grams protein. For being little flakes of fruit flavor, these can actually feel and be quite filling thanks to that fiber and protein. Fruity Pebbles has 0 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein, if that tells you anything. What a difference real ingredients and no artificial…anything makes!

There is a lot to love about Freedom Foods. They set a high standard for themselves and aim to create delicious food that is free from the “stuff” that your body doesn’t need— gluten, nuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, fructose, soy, yeast, GMO’s, and artificial flavors. Here you have a truly allergy friendly cereal. YAY! Not only this, but all the products from Freedom Foods focus not only on allergen-free safety, but, better nutrition and taste. They use clean and recognizable ingredients so you won’t feel guilty noshing on a serving.

Come on, what’s not to love. So, whether you are a kid at heart or just love fun cereals in the morning, I encourage you to seek out, or even order, Freedom Foods. Your body will thank you for it!

November 6, 2015

Restaurant Review: Bake Me Happy, Columbus, Ohio

Restaurant: Bake Me Happy, Columbus, Ohio

Okay…technically this is not a restaurant. There is no open seating, no tables, no hostess…none of that. This is a bakery. Not just any bakery though. This bakery has huge kitchen space to work out of, and in turn, offers up quite a lot of gluten-free goodies in their store.

Bake Me Happy was started by the lovely Wendy and Letha, committing themselves to making each and every bite that you have from their products the most decadent thing you’ve had since sliced bread. Sliced bread, however, is not on their menu. After being self-diagnosed with gluten intolerance in 2006, Wendy immediately felt relieve from a life of digestive issues. The only problem was…the gluten-free food choices available lacked flavor and texture, seriously limiting what she would be willing to consume (and who can blame her!?). After many years of self-study, she decided to take the plunge and signed up for an immersion course at the Culinary Institute of America, experimenting with recipes and trying them out on unsuspecting friends. Soon, both friends and family began requesting her treats for parties, and none of them were gluten intolerant. From there, Wendy expanded and began offering her products to the public. And from the huge response she got from her goodies…Bake Me Happy, the bakery, was born. And because Wendy understands what it is like to have a food intolerance , you can guarantee that she takes great care and pride in the products that she puts out for the public. Not only does she understand the importance of what she does, she also knows that a perfect recipe cannot be rushed and that the best things in life are worth waiting for.

Just over a month ago, I wrote up a review on Bake Me Happy’s Cream-Filled Spongies (think Twinkies), which I found in the freezer at Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio. While they were…okay…they didn’t wow me. And in response to my post about their product, the owners very kindly invited me to check out the bakery the next time I was in the Columbus area. As one of my best friends lives in that area, I make the trip there numerous times a year. And…this past Halloween weekend…that was where you found me. And, I recalled their invite to check out what fresh goodness they had at their bakery, instead of a freezer at a natural foods store…so…that morning after breakfast, my friends and I journeyed over to their Merion Village retail location to check out what fresh goodies awaited.

First of all, I was completely blown away by the amount of space they had in there. HUGE location. I am so accustomed to my gluten free bakeries being little, tight spots that have a few seats and a small kitchen. Not to say they don’t turn out quite a lot of products (Annie May’s Sweet Cafe and Cherbourg Bakery, I’m looking at you!), but this kitchen space was unbelievable. You step inside and it’s just open and not congested, even if there is a line. It was nice. Their storefront contains a counter that was jammed full of fresh baked goodness, and a smaller fridge that kept items like their cheesecake bars and other dairy-based goodies chilled and fresh. It was organized. It was adorable. And I already knew I wanted one of their soft t-shirts before I left. HA!

Bake Me Happy's Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin — Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin

So, after going back and forth on a few items (I really wanted one of the huge Apple Dumplings, but the roomie, who I was splitting everything with, was less enthusiastic), we finally got our turn at the counter and we made our selections, keeping it reasonable and promising to return to try more. So, four items. It was hard to narrow it down. In the end, we ended up going with a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, a Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin, a Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and (not pictured above because I devoured it on the car ride home) a Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone. In addition to that (and for a later blog) I purchased a box of their Take-And-Bake scones in the Blueberry, Goat Cheese & Basil flavor (roomie’s choice!).

So, let’s start with what I ended up eating first. The (not pictured) Gluten Free Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone ($3.50) sounded like a dream to me. Like…a baked treat version of an Almond Joy. Delicious, right? Absolutely right!! This is the first time I have had a gluten-free scone that lived up to the scone name. I make scones, but none of them get the layers of pastry, and that flaky and crumbly texture to them. This one had exactly that. It was the most perfect scone I have had since going gluten free. It had that hard outer layer and inside was a dry, crumbly, but not dense. More biscuit-like. I was in love. And the blend of the sweet coconut and chocolate with the nuttiness of the almond made for more love and praise than I can even convey in words here. Needless to say, the scone was devoured in record time. And I loved every single bite. I might have licked my fingers clean too. You can get Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Scones in the following flavors: Almond, Coconut and Chocolate Chip; Ham, Cheese and Chives; Maple Cream, Bacon and White Cheddar; Blueberry, Goat Cheese and Basil; Jalapeño, Pepper Bacon and Pepper Jack Cheese; Apricot, White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut; and Dill, White Cheddar and Stone Ground Mustard.

As I visited the bakery on Halloween, they had quite a few Halloween themed treats. One of these was the adorable Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart ($3.50 (I think…)). I mean, come on…they are tarts that look like mummies. Eyes and everything. Bonus…pumpkin flavored. YUM YUM!! This was the first thing I ate the next day when I set out to devour half of each pastry (with my roommate, who is not gluten-free) consuming the other half and giving me her thoughts. I loved, loved, LOVED the light and flaky pastry that these tarts are made from. It reminded me of puff pastry…flaky, buttery, amazing, delicious, heavenly. And the pumpkin cream cheese filler was the perfect amount. Not too much. Not heavy handed. But just enough to make it feel like you were taking a bite out of an amazing pumpkin pie. I was in pumpkin-everything heaven, let me tell you!! So happy. The first thing I said to Cathy when I took a bite was, “OH MY GOD THIS PASTRY!” Blown away. This was the first pastry crust that has actually impressed me since I’ve been gluten free. Total win. Totally want another one…or ten.

The Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt ($4.50) was Cathy’s (the roomie) choice when it came to items that we selected. She is a sucker (see what I did there?) for anything lemon. So, I had a feeling when we were making our selections that she would go that route. Next time I want a flippin’ apple dumpling. Because I have never seen a gluten free apple dumpling before. But…no matter. The bundt cake was dense, but not heavy. I loved how moist and sticky good this little cake was. The blueberries brought a nice pop of sweetness. Cathy didn’t think there was enough lemon flavor in it, but I thought it struck a nice balance. The lemon was complimentary to the blueberry, not overpowering or underwhelming. Just right. I might have saved this for my last bite because, while dense, I found the texture quite light, airy, and amazing. And I thought the flavor was above and beyond what I expected. Crazy good.

And, last but not least, falling under the category that if it’s pumpkin I want to eat it…is the Gluten Free Pumpkin Donut Muffin ($3.00). Strangely enough, this turned out to be Cathy’s favorite thing that we bought at Bake Me Happy. I was shocked when she told me that. But, quite honestly, this was one of the most perfect gluten-free donut anythings that I’ve had in a long time. The texture was perfect. Not too dense, but not too light either. Perfect balance. The flavor was AMAZING. Seriously. It was pumpkin, and it was rolled in this fantastic cinnamon sugar topping that made each bite both savory and sweet and I loved it. I devoured each and every forkful. And I wish I had bought more of them. Pumpkin flavored or their standard donut muffin, it wouldn’t matter. This is the consistency of donuts that I’ve been searching for…for years now. Nailed it. And I loved it enough to lick the plate. No joke.

I have to say…fresh beats a freezer any day and Bake Me Happy sure did impress me with their fresh, made right there in the bakery, treats. There was so much to choose from and not enough room in my budget or stomach for all of it. That being said, I happily am ready to bake up some scones this weekend. And I can’t wait to add this place to my list of stops for every single time I visit Columbus, Ohio. I was beyond impressed. And the staff was so friendly and helpful. I didn’t get to meet the owners, as they were at the Celiac Conference that was going on (and that I didn’t know about until Friday as I was traveling), so hopefully next time I will be able to talk them up some.

If you are in or around Columbus, make it a point to drop by Bake Me Happy. Buy a shirt (they are SO SOFT!) and buy up their goodies. You won’t be disappointed. Not one bit. They certainly changed my tune. Fresh is best. And why not get some great gluten-free treats fresh out of the kitchen of a place that loves to bake up happiness?