Products – Page 8 – The Celiathlete

November 5, 2015

Product Review: Gratify Gluten Free Tuscan Herbs Baked Bites

Product: Gratify Gluten Free Tuscan Herbs Baked Bites – $2.99

When it comes to gluten-free bites, very few do it as deliciously well (or as affordable) as Gratify Gluten Free. I first became familiar with this brand when out shopping at Meijer, seeing shelf-after-shelf of their pretzel varieties…including both yogurt and milk chocolate covered varieties. During the holidays last year, a dark chocolate peppermint version was introduced to the market. You better believe I devoured that bag. By myself. In an airport. And I didn’t feel any shame. Not one bit.

That’s the thing about Gratify though…it’s the little brand with the big promise of fitting tasty snacks into your lifestyle. And when a company that focuses on gluten-free snacks states that they are “obsessed with great taste,” you expect them to deliver all the high notes of flavors and textures. You want to be able to break these out at a cocktail party and not have anyone glance at them sideways and give you the “that must taste like cardboard” eyebrow and then ignore the snacks entirely.

Whether gluten-free or not, Gratify definitely knows how to deliver on their promises. With simple and basic products, these are as “reliable and comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans.” Flavors are big and bold, and textures are so amazing that no one would guess these were gluten-free…unless they read the box. Be proud of your gluten-free snacking tendencies. Don’t hide the box…because this brand knows how to keep you and your guests…”Gratified.”

See what they did there? HA!

With all that being said, I had never seen a box of the new Gratify Gluten Free Baked Bites Crackers. In fact, I had no idea they even existed until I was at Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio and found them on the clearance shelf. Seriously. For $1.99 on sale. HELLO! Into my big basket of gluten-free goodness it went, and with a gluten-free and vegan chickpea noodle soup on tap for dinner tonight, I figured there was no better time to bust out these crackers than now.

Because soup and crackers…are BFFs.

The boxes that were available at Raisin Rack for the Gratify Gluten Free Baked Bites were the Tuscan Herbs flavor, although these bite-size crackers (they look like mini saltines, no joke!) also come in Original, Everything, and Cinnamon flavors. I broke out the kitchen scale and measured out a serving of these adorable crackers to serve alongside a big, satisfying bowl of the homemade soup. And, guess what…

They were perfect. Absolutely perfect. Texture-wise…just as light and airy as a regular saltine, with that crumble you get when you bite down. It was fantastic to pop these into my mouth on their own or after being dipped into my soup and picking up some of the chunky vegetables that I cooked into it. Packed with great seasoning and flavor, each bite was amazing and satisfying (or gratifying). I found myself eating the crackers more on their own than in or with the soup. That, my friends, is a huge deal since I’m a bit of a dipper when it comes to things I eat with soup (sammies and crackers!). I loved these from the first to the last bite. In fact, I even have dished up servings to take to work to have with the leftover soup for lunch. Can’t go without these. Now, I just hope Meijer or some other local store that carries the Gratify brand has these in stock. I never want my pantry to be un-Gratified. HA!

So, let’s talk about what goes into the Gratify Gluten Free Tuscan Herbs Baked Bites, shall we? These adorable bite-size crackers are made from corn starch, palm fruit oil (RSPO certified), rice flour, sugar, inulin, sea salt, corn grits, maltodextrin, dehydrated vegetables (garlic, onion), leavenings (ammonium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, disodium diphosphate), spices, cellulose gum, emulsifier (soy lecithin), dried yeast, dextrose, rice starch, cottonseed oil and/or canola oil, and natural flavors. These crackers are wheat free, dairy free, egg free, and contain non-GMO ingredients. They are certified gluten-free.

As for nutritional information, a serving of Gratify Gluten Free Tuscan Herbs Baked Bites is 30 grams (which is A LOT of little crackers) and there are 4 servings per box. A serving will provide you with 120 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 2 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 240 mg sodium, 21 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 1 gram sugars, and less than 1 gram protein.

I loved these crackers at first bite. Gratify Gluten Free does manage to do something that most gluten-free crackers don’t do…and that’s taste like and feel like a real cracker. The mouthfeel, the crispy texture, the flavor…it’s all there and it’s all perfection. And that’s what really astonished me and blew me away. These crackers are perfect for every crowd…and I hope to be able to find more in my area. Otherwise, next time I’m in Columbus, I’m stocking up!

Trust me…these are worth a spot in the pantry.

November 4, 2015

Product Review: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams

Product: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams – $4.99+

It’s fall. And while, to most people (me included), that means pumpkin everything…it also holds another significance. Bon fires. And with bon fires…S’mores!

In fact, this had been the plan for my friend Jen’s wedding party on the night of the rehearsal dinner. The dinner was hosted at her parents house, and the fire pit was to be lit later that evening and the wedding party was going to eat a round of S’mores while just hanging out.

We were all too full from dinner to actually make this happen, so the vegan marshmallows and the gluten-free graham crackers I had my roommate bring up from Louisville…remained untouched.

Until this past week.

Because dessert is awesome and one of the groom’s sisters (a bridesmaid) mentioned how she ate her S’mores with a peanut butter cup instead of a Hershey’s bar. And this peeked my interest. So, while out, we picked up some peanut butter cups and brought them home.

Now, I have tried out a few gluten-free graham crackers…from Kinnikinnick’s S’morables to Schär’s Honeygrams (I’ve sampled, never actually purchased them myself) to Pamela’s Gluten Free Mini Grahams (I have reviewed the Cinnamon and the Chocolate). But, when I spotted the full-size Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams, I knew they had to be what came to Upstate New York with me. After all, I wanted S’mores too. So, that’s how I ended up with a box…and that’s why they lasted longer than usual. That being said, this past week, with cooler weather and a some vegan marshmallows taking up residence in my pantry…S’mores became dessert.

As I have found with all gluten-free graham crackers, the Pamela’s Products Honey Graham variety is definitely a thicker cracker than it’s glutenous counterpart. That being said, these particular crackers had a good feel to them, and weren’t all busted apart. In fact, when you snapped them in half…they actually broke along the perforation, instead of in random spots making them nonuniform and more difficult to build a perfect S’more.

And so, with peanut butter cup and two (2) vegan marshmallows, I created, in the comfort of my own kitchen, the ultimate gluten-free S’more. With a promise that Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams would “bring back a taste from your childhood,” I was holding them to this, expecting to bite into something amazing and life-changing (when it comes to gluten-free versions of anything).

I’m not going to lie…these were fan-damn-tastic!! Just…WOW!! With the exception of being thicker than an average graham cracker, these were the closest I have found to the treats that I enjoyed as a kid (and not always in S’mores, mind you!). The flavor was perfect. A little sweet with the kiss of honey and still had that graham cracker crumble that everyone knows too well. The texture was a bit sturdier than standard graham crackers, but that isn’t such a bad thing. I thought that these had the right amount of sweetness, the right amount of crispy, and the perfect amount of YUMMY-DELICIOUS-MMMMM…for even the casual graham cracker consumer. And, with a sturdier chocolate portion on the S’mores I built at home (ie: peanut butter cup), having the thicker and sturdier cracker was a blessing in disguise. My kitchen torch toasted up the marshmallows to perfection and…when put together…it was fall in one perfect, sweet, peanut butter, gooey treat! I was beyond impressed, beyond elated, and beyond satisfied. If heaven was made of chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallow, Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams would be the sandwich to their filling.

So, let’s talk about the ingredients that go into Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams. These crackers are made from a gluten-free flour blend that includes brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, and xanthan gum, as well as organic non-GMO butter (salted), brown cane sugar, sorghum flour, gluten-free oat bran, molasses, organic non-GMO honey, gluten-free flavors, grainless and aluminum free baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, potato starch, sodium bicarbonate), baking soda, cinnamon, and sea salt. This product is gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, corn-free, nut-free and egg-free. There are no artificial flavors or additives, no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, and no corn syrup. These grahams are certified gluten-free by GFCO and made in a gluten-free facility.

As far as nutritional information goes, a serving of the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams is two (2) crackers or 36 grams. There are six (6) servings per box. One serving will provide you with 180 calories, 8 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 26 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 9 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein. A nutritional powerhouse they are not…but DAMN…they are totally worth indulging in every now and again!

If you want to bring back childhood memories of sitting around a campfire, then the best and most gluten-free friendly way is by choosing Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams for your S’mores-eating needs. And for any other needs you might have that involve graham cracker goodness. Pulse them up for a pie crust…eat them on their own or topped with nut butter…or build some S’mores. Whatever your heart desires, make sure you build it with the best ingredients out there. For me…that means Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams, peanut butter cups, and some vegan marshmallows. YUMMY!

November 4, 2015

Product Review: Udi’s Gluten Free Egg White & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich

Udi's Gluten Free Egg White and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich — Udi’s Gluten Free Egg White and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich

Product: Udi’s Gluten Free Egg White & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich – $5.99+

I love a good breakfast sammie. I really, really do. I mean, anything breakfast makes me a happy girl, but there are somethings that are so simple, yet so satisfying. I classify a good breakfast sandwich under that category. But, I mean…it has to be good.

Normally, I’m one to make my own breakfast sandwiches. Usually by toasting up some gluten free bread, then frying up an egg and adding some greens. It’s not hard, and it takes, at most 10-15 minutes of my day.

But, you see, I’ve been out and about in the grocery stores, and at my local Kroger, I discovered some of Udi’s Gluten Free Breakfast Sandwiches. I picked up two different kinds, the Chicken Maple Sausage Breakfast Sandwich for my carnivorous roommate, and the Egg White and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich for me. I was hoping to find a non-dairy variety, but none, sadly, exist.

No worries. I figured these would be great for the two gym mornings we have before going into the office. We always eat when we get into the office, so these were simple enough to throw into a cooler, warm up there, and devour. So, despite being rather pricey, they went into my freezer. And last week we put them to the test.

I can’t tell you anything about the Udi’s Gluten Free Chicken Maple Sausage Breakfast Sandwich, but my roommate pretty much loved it. So…there is that. As for mine…

The Udi’s Gluten Free Egg White and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich is really easy to prepare. Simply open box and pull out one (1) of the two (2) sandwiches in the box. Wrap in a paper towel (I used a damp one…because it works with corn tortillas…) and microwave on defrost (30%) for a minute and a half. Then, flip the sandwich over and cook on high for an additional 45 seconds. Then…the sandwich should be ready. You might need to heat a little longer depending on how well your microwave works.

First of all…I know how they kept the calorie count down on these…and the box, sadly, does a bit of false advertising. The biscuits on the box look fluffy and amazing. but the reality is, they are these circular flatbreads that do not puff up when you cook. So, that. I also want to say, that I loved that the bread, egg, and cheese, while stored together, were not all frozen together. This meant, to save myself any issues with the cheese square inside the sandwich, I could simply pull the frozen square of cheese out and toss it. And then just enjoy an egg white sammie. Works for me.

So, how did the Udi’s Gluten Free Egg White and cheddar Breakfast Sandwich taste? Well, I ate mine without the cheddar cheese, so it definitely made for a good egg white sandwich. The egg was fluffy and quite tasty. I might have added a bit of hot sauce to the sandwich as well. But…that biscuit. It was tasteless and flat and probably my least favorite thing about this sandwich. It, honestly, had no flavor and was just rather unimpressive and didn’t do much to dazzle my taste buds. The rest though, was stellar. I think next time I’d cook up a fluffy gluten-free biscuit of my own to sandwich the egg white between and ditch the bread that comes in the package itself.

Let’s talk about ingredients that go into the Udi’s Gluten Free Egg White and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich. The egg white patty is made from egg whites, corn starch, salt, xanthan gum, citric acid, and pepper. The biscuit is made form water, palm oil, rice flour, egg whites, corn starch, resistant corn starch, suga, tapioca starch, pea hull fiber, corn meal, baking posder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulphate), xanthan gum, salt, natural flavor, and cellulose powder. The cheddar cheese square is made from milk cheese cultures, salt, and enzymes. These sandwiches are certified gluten-free.

As for nutritional information, the serving size of the Udi’s Gluten Free Egg White and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich is one (1) sandwich. There are two (2) sandwiches per box. One breakfast sandwich will provide you with 240 calories, 13 grams fat (!!), 7 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 470 mg sodium, 21 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 3 grams sugar, and 10 grams of protein. I love that, despite their flat and unexciting appearance, they are quite filling. So, there is that.

I don’t know if I would go ahead and purchase these again. For the price, I was hoping for a bit more of a sandwich, not just an egg patty, a square of cheese (which thankfully this dairy-free girl can remove easily), and two very cardboard-like biscuits that resemble a pale flatbread. It is quite a price tag for a product that didn’t wow me. Granted, the filling is amazing…but those biscuits need a lot of help. Perhaps a redo is in the future. I’d rather make my own breakfast sandwiches though. These are convenient, but they weren’t amazing.

November 3, 2015

Product Review: Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix

Product: Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Free Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix – $5.99+

I am going to be the first to admit that I get really, really, REALLY excited when I spot a product that sounds like something I would eat, or would have eaten before Celiac struck, and usually, despite trying to clean up the diet a little more, purchase it and stuff it into my pantry and fridge for use at a future date. I mean, you just never know when some sort of celebration is needed. Always be prepared.

Well, I was happily prepared a few weeks ago when my parents, after not visiting me for 5 years, came up to the area for the weekend. We had big plans, to drive up to Indianapolis and check out the Gluten Free Food Allergy Expo and then tour Indy before stopping by Cheeseburger in Paradise (Gluten Free Veggie Burger & FRIES). The expo was in-freakin-credible. Seriously. So many good vendors, freebies, and samples. It was totally amazing. In fact, my parents vowed to come back next year and make it an annual event. SO glad.

The following morning, I had every intention of introducing them to my favorite Louisville food truck, Sweet ‘N’ Savory, as it was the truck’s last outing at the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Cancer event. After that event and one final one that evening (which we almost went to, but were too late), they were packing up for the winter and heading back to Louisiana until next April. However, my parents needed to hit the road before the event actually started, so no gluten-free crepes for them. Bummer. I was really looking forward to introducing them to Ashley and Richard, the food truck owners, and people I consider good friends!

With the plans I had come up with for breakfast now scratched, it was time for a backup. That would be…I would cook something for them and Cathy and I would hit up Sweet ‘N’ Savory for gluten free crepes when the event started. So, as my dad is not a big breakfast eater (and I am!), I asked him what sounded good. I had the gluten free harvest muffins that I baked previously in my freezer that I could thaw and warm up. I have SO MANY gluten-free pancake mixes, it’s ridiculous (but, I LOVE pancakes and waffles!). I had cold cereal, hot cereal, I could cook up eggs, make my famous breakfast hash, or…I had a muffin mix.

He said, “Muffins are fine.” And was not prepared for the, “Harvest Muffins or Lemon Poppyseed Muffins?” He decided that if he was driving home and was pulled over, he might as well fail the drug test…Lemon Poppyseed it was.

That morning, after my mom and I took a long, brisk walk together, I returned to the apartment and set out to bake them breakfast. I had found at my local Meijer store, a new brand I had never seen before when it came to some items.

Tucked into their gluten free section were these yellow and blue boxes with the name Choice Batter on them. Que the moment when I see a new product, get super excited, buy it regardless of it not being on my grocery list, and then bring it home and shove it into the pantry. I do this every freakin’ time. My pantry has a shelf dedicated to cake, muffin, brownie, cookie, all the sweets mixes! I know I’m big on dessert, but I do get carried away at times.

Regardless, this was the box I pulled out that Sunday morning and set out to bake up some muffins so my parents could hit the road with some breakfast in their tummies. Usually gluten free mixes require a lot of stuff to be added to them, but Choice Batter prides itself on being not just gluten-free, but allergen-friendly. This means that they are completely free of the Top 8 food allergies (egg, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy). LOVE that. But, with that in mind, you also have to live up to the flavor and texture test…and that, with gluten-free and allergen-free, is the ultimate test. I hate baking up something only to have it be heavy, dense, and tasting of cardboard or some other unappetizing packing material (not that I’ve had packing material, but sometimes, I think that some products must taste like it).

So, I pulled out my large muffin tin and mixed up the Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix, per my dad’s request. This was SO easy!! All I needed was a mixing bowl. Into this bowl went the baking mix from the box, 1 cup of water, and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. That’s it. Preheat the oven to 400°F, stir together the mix, then divide among muffin cups. Bake for 16 minutes until done. Let cool for 1 minute. Then I turned them on their side in the muffin tin (a trick I learned from Annie May (of Annie May’s Sweet Cafe in Louisville), and let them cool slightly more. By this time, my dad had emerged from the bedroom and I poured him some decaf coffee and invited him to the big plate of muffins (I baked 10 muffins total). He took one to start with and settled in to eat. My mom did the same. As Cathy and I had breakfast plans, I cut one muffin in half and we shared it…because I had to taste these fresh from the oven, of course.

Let’s start here by saying, I loved that these muffins didn’t require milk, butter or eggs. Let’s hear it for vegan baking! WOOHOO!! Second of all, I loved how well these baked up. So often, especially in gluten-free baking, baking times have to be adjusted. Not these muffins. The Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix baked up perfectly the first time. Not surprising, with all the science that goes into all of Choice Batter’s mixes. These mixes are created with a special blend of rice flours developed by the USDA – Agricultural Research Service scientists to minimize the amount of oil that is absorbed into the batter while still creating a delicious and perfect result. SCIENCE. I love it. And, it actually works. The muffins were soft, moist, and delicious. One bite and I got a small tinge of lemon flavor, but all the spongy and with that thin golden crust and that slight rise at the dome. Ah…that’s muffin perfection! And that is, quite honestly, what emerged from the oven. Happiness is a gluten free mix that delivers what I expect from a product.

The heft and texture of these muffins were great. Not too dense and heavy, but not airy and light either. The perfect muffin. I loved when I sliced it in half, the little pockets that were visible in the cake, but without being too big or too much. They weren’t sticky or heavy or dense. In fact, it was everything I expect from a muffin. These went above and beyond most muffins that I have cooked up from a mix. I was impressed. In fact, if I had only one complaint, it would simply be that there wasn’t enough of a lemon flavor to these. The lemon was there…but not enough for my liking. But, then again, I like my lemon eats to be…LEMON. Give me bold or don’t bother, right? Regardless, I thought this was a phenomenal mix and was impressed with the way these turned out. My parents took some of the leftovers home with them. I count that as a win.

So, let’s talk about ingredients in the Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix! This mix is made of a combination of rice flour, sugar, potato starch, baking powder (sodium pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch, monocalcium phosphate), contains less than 2% of the following: poppyseeds, citric acid, cellulose, xantan gum, lemon oil, lemon juice, salt. This muffin mix, as well as all of Choice Batter’s products are free from the top 8 allergens, including egg, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy. These muffins are gluten-free and vegan, free of MSG, cholesterol and artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.

As for nutritional information, the Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix does really well for all you calorie and fat watchers. Truly. A serving is 1/14 of the mix, and the mix makes…14 servings. One serving, when prepared per box directions, will give you 140 calories 2.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grans trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium, 30 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 13 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein.

Now that I know about Choice Batter and the good results I had from the preparation of the Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix, I can’t wait to try more offerings from their product lineup. And with a company founded on a desire to develop healthy, great tasting, gluten-free and allergen-friendly so everyone can enjoy food together…their promise to deliver a taste you can love in a brand you can trust is right on the mark!

Choice Batter was founded with a desire to develop healthy, great tasting, gluten-free and allergen-friendly products the entire family can enjoy. Our promises is to deliver “A Taste You Will Love, a Brand You can Trust.”

October 21, 2015

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fishless Sticks

Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Breaded Fishless Sticks — Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Breaded Fishless Sticks

Product: Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fishless Sticks – $5.99+

Sometimes, after searching high and low for a product you have seen on a company’s Web site, you end up purchasing a cooler and some dry ice and get some amazing frozen goodness while you can, especially when said product has never once been spotted in your local area.

While my local natural food stores do carry a few items from Sophie’s Kitchen, I have never found the Breaded Vegan Fishless Sticks here. So, when I was visiting Columbus, Ohio, and spotted them in the freezer section of Raisin Rack…I knew there was no way I was going to leave without them.

And so, they made the journey home…and into my freezer. Thank you Styrofoam cooler and dry ice from Kroger. And with all the fresh meals I have been preparing, my go-to easy grabs from the freezer have stayed put. But, that changed this week with the closing of my Farmer’s Market and my CSA bin not yet starting back up. As budgets have been a little tight, we decided to do most of our feasting this week on the fresh meals I froze and items that I have in the pantry and fridge. And, for some reason, seafood has been the theme this week. Well…vegan seafood. Last night, I used what was left of the Breaded Vegan Shrimp to make shrimp tacos…and tonight, it was time to get our Fishless Sticks on.

Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Breaded Fishless Sticks were so easy to prepare. The products are already fully cooked, so you simply have to reheat. They recommend thawing the product in the refrigerator (do NOT microwave!). Then, you can either bake the Vegan Breaded Fishless Sticks for 10-15 minutes, browning both sides. Or, you can do what I did, because I find the “fish” based products to be better with the proper crunchy crust is to pan fry them for about 2-4 minutes on each side in coconut oil. Pan fry is worth it…trust me.

So, how do they taste? Amazing. I served these up with a serving of the Veganaise Tartar Sauce (OMG, yum!). I took my first bite without the assist of the dip, wanting to really taste the product. These Fishless Sticks have a great seafood flavor to them. And I loved the golden crunchy crust that came with each bite. The inside was soft and flaky and just tasted like the fish sticks I consumed weekly as a child. I don’t know how Sophie’s Kitchen works this kind of voodoo, but I am so glad that they do. Because I love having seafood products back in my life.

So…what exactly is vegan seafood made from? Well, the Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fishless Sticks are made from water, pea protein, potato starch, rice flakes (from brown rice), canola oil, konjac powder, organic agave nectar, sea salt, seaweed powder, turmeric, white pepper, ginger, and calcium hydroxide. Is it clean eating…not technically. But…it’s not too bad as processed, frozen products go. Not at all. These are soy-free, vegan (100% plant based), non-GMO, gluten-free, contain no artificial preservatives, no artificial colors, no MSG, they are free of trans fats, and they are cholesterol free. These also contain no added sugar. Nothing about them is artificial. Nothing.

Let’s discuss the nutritional information for the Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Breaded Fishless Sticks. A serving size is 2 pieces (65 grams or 2.3 ounces). My roommate and I just split the package, which contains 4 servings, or 8 pieces. The normal serving will provide 140 calories, 6 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 400 mg sodium, 16 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 1 gram sugars, and 6 grams of protein.

Once again, I am astounded and amazed by the plant-based alternatives that Sophie’s Kitchen brings to the table. As someone who used to devour seafood, this brings one of my favorites back into my vegetarian plate. And, the best part…it’s really, really delicious. I hope that my local stores eventually start to carry Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Breaded Fishless Sticks. It was a blast from the past, recalling the fish sticks I devoured in my childhood…and I loved every bite. No guilt.

October 20, 2015

Product Review: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s

Product: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s – $2.49

You know, there is something that is so comforting about cereal. I grew up eating cereal as a child…and not just the frosted sugary type either. I was a huge fan of Cheerios and Corn Flakes and even Wheat, Corn, and Rice Chex. I loved it all.

As I’ve gotten older, cereal has remained a staple in my morning routine. It’s easy for me to eat a bowl and then get ready for a run…and have the energy to get through it. Some people run on empty stomachs in the morning, but my sports nutritionist and my own foray into the nutrition field, both have shown me why this is not such a good idea. As my sports nutritionist said…even if it’s just a handful of cereal or nuts or toast…eat something before you head out.

Not a problem with me, because I LOVE breakfast. And one of my greatest breakfast loves is…as I mentioned above…cereal. I had recently stopped eating cereal, subbing in some fruit and yogurt instead. But…when something so unique comes along that you simply must have it…cereal is back in the bowl in the morning. And now part of me wonders why I stopped eating it in the first place.

The cereal that changed my entire morning routine back to the way it was happens to be a product of Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s. Yes…Pumpkin O’s. As in a Cheerio-like cereal flavored with mega pumpkin flavor. Oh, and they are about the size of Froot Loops (or the size Froot Loops used to be when they made them right…like…when I was a kid and all).

So, like most great food stories, this one all started at the grocery store. I had only a small list of items to buy at Trader Joe’s. But the moment I walked in the door, I saw the big display of all the seasonal pumpkin everything everywhere stuff. I noted the cereal and let out a small sigh. Pumpkin cereal. Pumpkin O’s to be exact. Oh, to not be Celiac.

But then, Cathy (the roomie) spotted the print in the corner. Low Fat. Vegn. Gluten Free.

It was as though the pumpkin gods were smiling down upon me that day. Whatever I did right that day, thank you great cereal gods for watching out for my particular cereal wants/needs. Happy dance. Happy dance all the way up and down the aisles. Seriously…there was no stopping me.

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s are “round like pumpkins rounder, actually) and fun like jack o’lantenrs (maybe more fun, since you can eat them)” and are the sibling cereal to the Original Joe’s O’s. The box claims that the pumpkin wizards created this cereal with a stroke of their pumpkin-shaped wands, which are difficult and challenging to control) so this particular flavor of cereal will only be around for pumpkin season. So, if you’re a pumpkin nut-case like me…you best get to Trader Joe’s.

This morning, with my Dole pineapple (also purchased at Trader Joe’s) gone…this was my breakfast of choice before hitting the gym. I measured out a serving, loving the size of the little round o’s. I snagged a few to taste dry from my bowl and crunched on them while I went to retrieve the unsweetened cashew milk. Into the bowl it went, giving the cereal a little lift.

In went the spoon. Spoon went to mouth. Down the hatch.

And holy Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! This cereal is amazing. If you’re a pumpkin lover like me, you’ll love this. Here’s why. This cereal is LOADED with pumpkin flavor. No skimping on that. No way. It’s crunchy, even in the cashew milk. And it tastes amazing. I was tempted to pour myself another bowl, but I opted to behave and stick to the serving recommendation. I had coffee and the gym to tackle. That being said, I sort of want to buy Trader Joe’s out of this cereal and just have it in my kitchen for all those mornings, not in pumpkin season, when I just want to have it be pumpkin season again.

I am beyond impressed.

Let’s discuss the ingredients in Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s. This cereal is made from whole grain brown rice, cane sugar, whole grain oats, brown sugar, pumpkin, sea salt, natural flavor, calcium carbonate, sodium phosphate, cinnamon, annatto (color), mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E as an antioxidant for freshness). It is gluten-free, vegan, low in fat, and contains 20 grams of whole grains per serving. LOVE that.

As for nutritional facts, the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s actually stack up to be a healthier breakfast cereal choice than most commercial cereals. A serving is 1 cup (30 grams). This serving will provide 110 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 140 mg sodium, 25 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 9 grams sugar, and 2 grams of protein. It’s not going to fill you up, but it will get you through the morning.

Trader Joe’s did one better than most gluten-free cereals already out on the market. Trader Joe’s latched onto the pumpkin flavor craze…and it paid off in spades. If you have a Trader Joe’s in your area, go there…and get a box as soon as you can. The Pumpkin O’s will only be around for a limited time.

Time for me to restock…

October 19, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels – $7.25+

As much as I want for the weather to stay warm and mild…it’s already cold outside. The nip of fall is in the air, and while I do love this time of year, there is one thing even more important that I can count on around this time:

PUMPKIN SPICE…EVERYTHING!

And while this is a lot easier to come by when you don’t live in a bubble (aka: food allergies), it’s little things like non-dairy pumpkin spice flavoring in coffee…and my homemade (because no one else has made it yet) vegan pumpkin ice cream. And it’s Sweet Note Bagel Girls getting me all kinds of “OH HELL YES” with the return of their Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels.

Seriously, these ladies are my new BFFs. OR…as they say on their Twitter account, GFFs (Gluten Free Friends). If they ever want to sponsor an athlete to endorse their stuff, I am their girl. Because when it comes to things that runners (and New Yorkers, mind you) love…it’s BAGELS! Especially this native New Yorker who just happens to be…a runner. And while the gluten-free market has a good number of companies that have gluten-free bagels out…none have tasted like the actual real thing…until Sweet Note Bakery found me and enticed me to give them a try.

They totally peaked my curiosity. So, without any further knowledge about their products, without looking up any reviews as to what other consumers thought of their products, I was on their online store, purchasing half of their bagel selections. Yep, I didn’t start with just one variety. I went into this believing that these would blow me away…and thus…I ordered four (4) of their eight (8) varieties that they offered at that time. To be clear, they normally have five (5) standards: Plain, Everything, Sesame, Poppy, and Cinnamon Raisin…and they add limited time goodies like Snickerdoodle (didn’t get to try that one, so I hope it makes a return appearance this holiday season), Chocolate Swirl, and yes…Pumpkin Spice.

Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

This is truly a love story between me and these bagels. Every single flavor has been outstanding. No joke. You know, I’m very blunt about things I eat and if I don’t like them, you know it. There is nothing NOT to like about the bagels that Sweet Note Bakery puts out there. Fantastic quality…fantastic flavor. Never once have they let me down. And that’s why all other bagels stay in the freezer section now…and Sweet Note is the only one that actually makes the journey home to my own freezer.

Now, let me be the first to admit…I am a pumpkin spice junkie…fanatic…enthusiast. I love all things pumpkin. So, when I discovered that they were bringing back Pumpkin Spice for a limited time to their bagel line-up…I treated myself to a birthday present and purchased a package of them. I was out of town a lot, so I’m just now getting to devour…I mean…taste them. But with things finally settling into a rhythm…I pulled these bad-boy bagels out of my freezer this morning to have for breakfast.

I grabbed two of them (one for me and the other for my non-gluten-free roomie!) and got onto thawing them in the microwave. You don’t bring these to room temperature like most gluten-free foods. Just 1 minute or so in the microwave, until they are squishy soft, and you’re golden. Cool them for a moment, slice in half, and toast. I will note, the Pumpkin Spice are special because you actually see flecks of orange pumpkin in the halved bagel itself. Love that. Because I don’t own a toaster, these bad boys went into the oven. They smelled amazing as they toasted away, getting to that perfect level of golden on top. Out they came, cooling for a moment…then I topped off one half with vegan cream cheese and the other half with organic pumpkin butter. I passed one plate off to my roommate and, after pouring myself a cup of coffee, I settled in to my own.

Forget pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin spice waffles and pumpkin spice oatmeal…or whatever might be out on the non-gluten-free market…that we don’t have. We have one better. We have The Great Pumpkin of all things pumpkin spice: Sweet Note Bakery’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels. OH YEAH! Real…REAL New York-style bagels here…made from real ingredients and not all that processed…stuff. These bagels have to be filled with hocus-pocus, because they are, perhaps, one of the best things I have ever had for breakfast. The bagel itself is full of pumpkin flavor. No skimping there. And that’s important, when you bill yourself as a “pumpkin spice”…whatever. So often, that flavor goes missing…but not here. It is spooky how much flavor is packed into these dense, little bagels. The crust of the bagel was toasted and crisp…the inside…chewy and just…filled with pumpkin goodness. I was blown away. And, even as I told myself to savor each bite, I think I hoovered the bagel like it was candy. I’m thinking another order is happening in the very, very near future.

So, let’s get down and talk about some of what goes into making the Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels. These bagels are made from Love (yes…an actual ingredient!), Water, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Flour, Sweet White Rice Flour, Sorghum Flour, Sugar, Cane Syrup, Pumpkin, Carrots, Molasses, Yeast, Xanthan Gum, Psyllium Husk, Salt, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extract, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger. Note…all recognizable and real ingredients. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

As far as nutrition goes, you’ll love these stats like I love pumpkin! A serving size is 1 bagel (128 grams). This serving will give you 260 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 300 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 10 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, it’s amazing how much more filling a food is when it’s made with real ingredients. These bagels will definitely get you through your morning!

What are gluten-free bagels made of? Pumpkin Spice and everything nice…if you’re talking about the return of Sweet Note’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagel. And if you’re not, then you should be…so head over to their Web site and place an order. Don’t delay…these are only around for a limited time!

And…if you haven’t already, you might as well order some of their standards while you’re on their page. I promise you…you’ll fall in love with these bagels too.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagel with a schmear of vegan cream cheese and organic pumpkin butter

October 15, 2015

Product Review: Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons

Product: Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons – $2.99+

Welcome to the final round of “Cookies I Bought At Jungle Jim’s International Market.” Hey…cookies are awesome and when I find cookies that I have never spotted in my area of the country…I take every opportunity to try them. I mean, come on, cookies are the perfect treat after a long day. A little savory…but also sweet. You can’t go wrong.

While shopping in the gluten-free section of Jungle Jim’s International Market on my birthday, Cathy spotted a small line-up of little macaroon-type cookies. I used to despise coconut. I thought it tasted like having bugs in your mouth. Texture-wise…a fail. That being said, as I’ve gotten older, the more times I try coconut, the more I have come to enjoy it…in certain forms.

One of such forms is in…macaroons…those sweet lumps of toasted coconut with that golden crust at the bottom. Yep…I devour those now. Go figure. They are just a nice, healthier cookie to indulge in every now and again. So, imagine my excitement when Cathy spotted a shelf with little pouches of macaroon cookies called Coco-Roons. I knew I wanted to try one of the different varieties…but I had to narrow it down to the one that interested me most.

Coco-Roons are made by the company Wonderfully Raw. Wonderfully Raw was started by Sequoia Cheney, who had a passion for good food that wasn’t exactly good for her. When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she knew something had to change in order for her to heal herself. She decided to change her path and began a journey into good health. Her son, Eric Hara, a renowned chef in New York City, gave her a lot of inspiration and encouragement. So Sequoia decided to create delicious food that was also good for her. She began to train at Living Light Culinary Institute in Mendocino, California, where she trained with the best raw food chefs in the business. And with what she learned there, she could now prepare food that could support and heal the body. This dynamic mother and son duo have come together to create Coco-Roons, which are produced using only the finest organic ingredients.

Perfect segue here to tell you what is actually in these miniature cookies of wonderful lemony goodness, yes? The Wonderfully Rw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are made from organic dried unsweetened coconut, organic almond flour, organic unfiltered maple syrup, organic cold-pressed coconut oil, organic lemon zest, organic vanilla extract, and Himalayan crystal salt. That’s it, my dear readers. That’s it. These miniature macroons are vegan, gluten-free, and paleo (if cavemen ate desserts…and I’m still not convinced that’s true). These are also raw and certified non-GMO.

As far as nutrition goes, the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are a fantastic treat at the end of the day. A serving size is 3 of the miniature cookies. There are 2-4 servings per bag, as I think they actually go off weight. One serving will provide you with 80 calories, 6 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat (from coconut oil), 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 30 mg sodium, 6 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein. Not filling, but not horrible by any standard when it comes to a treat.

And since this is kind of out of my usual order, how about I tell you how much I LOVE these cookies, yes? First of all, they don’t taste coconutty at all. Nope. You get a bit of the texture, but that fresh lemon flavor is what tempts your taste buds into popping the next one. These cookies are tiny, little bite-size mounds of goodness. I was sad to only eat three of them tonight. I mean, totally amazing flavor…and you can’t beat how good these are for you…as fr as cookies go. I love that these are sweetened with maple syrup instead of granulated white sugar. And I love that I don’t feel bad just digging into these. If you’re a lemon lover…these will definitely make you happy. My roommate got to her serving first and all I heard was, “These are amazing.” And…she was absolutely right. I have a new soft spot in my heart for the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons. I hope a store around here carries them, otherwise I’ll be scooping up more of these and the other flavors on my next trip to Jungle Jim’s. And, if nothing else, they are available to order online on the Wonderfully Raw Web site.

Beyond enthusiastic and happy with these cookies for sure. I loved these from first bite and simply can’t wait to dig in tomorrow for more. Here’s a no-guilt, fantastic, healthy dessert or snack you’ll love. Trust me.

October 7, 2015October 7, 2015

Product Review: The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots

Product: The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots – $4.50+

I know what you’re thinking…

“MORE COOKIES??”

And yes…it does seem like I’m eating my weight in cookies these days. But…I’m not. I portion everything out perfectly…and each container is split with another person. So, yeah…change that way of thinking to…

“MORE COOKIES!!”

Truth be told…I’m a cookie monster regardless. There is nothing quite as perfect as a delicious cookie. Whether you like them chewy and moist or crispy and crumbly…there is no right or wrong way to make, eat, or devour a cookie. And while homemade cookies are, by far, the best…I don’t have much time to mess with recipes and convert them…and then bake them.

So, sometimes, getting a small sack of cookies from the grocery store is a nice enough treat. And trust me, despite what you think, this doesn’t happen often. It was my birthday a couple of weeks back and I was treated to a shopping spree at Jungle Jim’s International Market. And while I was determined to get foods that weren’t all snacks and junk (and I actually did manage)…I did pick up a few treats and have been working my way through them.

I love perusing the various countries and their foods while I’m at Jungle Jim’s. But…I normally don’t get much in there due to my food allergies. I do visit Ireland to pick up the tea I got hooked on while visiting there back in 2010. It just so happened, that while I was just browsing the shelves…I spotted little pouches of cookie-like goodness. There were like…four different varieties and they were all vegan friendly and gluten free.

HELLO!!

The hard part was narrowing it down.

The company is The Foods of Athenry from The Lawless Family Bakery. I love the brand name. It’s clever. And I love clever things. The Foods of Athenry was born in 2004 when, an uncertain future in agriculture and childhood health problems, which influenced a lifelong interest in the relationship of food vs health, brought the Lawless family to set up a bakery business in which no artificial food additives were used. They sold their cows and moved the bakery into the empty milking parlor. With a tradition in baking (the Lawless grandparents owned one of the largest bakeries in the West of Ireland almost a hundred years ago), and a passion and love of good food, the Lawless’ set out to promote one of their primary beliefs: “Good food promotes good health.” With that in mind, they took great care in preparing their own breakfasts, lunchbox snacks and treats. And when this way of life turned into a business, the same simple rule applied to all of the products they produced, be they vegan, gluten free, dairy free…or not. And it’s worked. They have won numerous food awards that sing high accolades for the products that The Foods of Athenry produces and sells.

When I was inside the Ireland section of Jungle Jim’s International Market, I had quite the decision to make. In the Gluten Free Pouch Packs…four different varieties are available…and all four were there for me to choose from. I thought about grabbing them all, but there was way more to explore and a shrinking budget. The Gluten Free Pouch Packs come in: Just Oats Flapjacks Mini Bites, The Works Flapjacks Mini Bites, Blondie Cookie Shots, and Brownie Cookie Shots. As it is hard for me to make decisions regarding sweet treats, I asked my roommate for her opinion. And she decided the Blondie Cookie Shots were the way to go. And so…they came home with me.

Tonight, after dinner, I pulled them out to enjoy for our dessert. The pouch was cut open and I actually dumped out a handful. These are definitely small bite-size cookie treats that looked a lot like shortbread cookies. They are about the size between a dime and nickle. So, tiny little morsels of cookie joy. Easy to pop and snack on and indulge a little. I just served up a handful to Cathy and then I did the same for me. I popped the first one as I was storing the pouch back in the pantry.

Crunchy, delicious, popping-fresh cookies. That’s what these are. They have this fantastic vanilla flavor to them. I was in love with the flavor. The texture was definitely reminiscent of a shortbread cookie. It was buttery and sweet and crunchy and amazing. I was in love. In fact, I popped the rest of the cookies I had dished up for myself in no time. Not mindlessly…but savoring while enjoying. These cookies were totally made for that. Love does come in bite-size pieces.

Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we? The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots are made from gluten free and wheat free flour (maize, rice, potato, tapioca, and buckwheat), 100% vegetable non-hydrogenated margarine, sugar, concentrated fruit juice (grape, apple, pear), natural vanilla, raising agents, (mono calcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate), and xanthan gum. The cookies do not contain any gluten, wheat, dairy, GMOs, eggs, yeast, hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, flavors of preservatives.

And you are going to love the nutritional facts for The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots! Each cookie is 4 grams and each cookie contains only 18 calories. Yes…18 calories. One cookie. 18 calories. So…in the sense that you are popping one single cookie…you would be taking in: 18 calories, less than 1 gram of fat, less than 1 gram saturated fat, 2.46 grams carbohydrates, and under 1 gram of the following: sugar, fiber, protein and sodium.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

These cookies are pretty much guilt-free and are a great companion for tea, coffee, chocolate milk, or whatever. They made a great choice for a dessert tonight. Amazing food brought all the way from Ireland. I’m hooked. I need to get back to Jungle Jim’s and soon!

October 5, 2015

Product Review: Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps

Product: Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps – $4.59+

There was a time, not too long ago, back when I was first entering the world of Celiac Disease and the gluten-free lifestyle, that I discovered there was a huge lack of things like…sandwich wraps…at least decent ones…out on the gluten-free market. That has since changed, thank goodness, as more familiar products are being created. It’s nice to actually have a gluten-free product that isn’t chips or cookies or brownies or cake or…you get my point.

When it comes to food, I like my snacks too, but I really crave real food. And, as I’ve been making a point of cleaning up my diet, real food is taking a top priority over highly processed, nutritionally-lacking foods. I mean, I still have my (gluten-free) cake and eat it too…but I’m making better, plant-based, real-food choices more than anything else. I am working off a meal plan and it’s really a life savor. Sometimes it does mean a ton of prep work…but it’s worth it. In the end…it is totally worth it.

Well, tonight’s meal plan called for Greek Tacos. The original recipe called for pita bread, but the one version of gluten-free pita bread I found isn’t be sold at my grocery store anymore…so…tortillas it is. When I went shopping at Jungle Jim’s International Market on my birthday, one of the gluten-free products I picked up that I hadn’t found anywhere else was…sandwich wraps.

It is so difficult to find good gluten-free wraps, even today. You go to fold one and it breaks. It’s too thick…or perhaps not thick enough. It doesn’t have a good flavor. It doesn’t cook well. It doesn’t hold together or immediately crumbles when you wrap them up. They rip and tear…you get the drift.

Well, as I had never heard of the Toufayan Bakeries brand before…I decided it was worth trying. If anything else, I was just stuck with another wrap that crumbled under my high expectations. Well, with these Greek Tacos being prepped and needing a vehicle in which to be built upon, I pulled the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps out of my pantry and immediately set to work on building dinner on them.

Toufayan Bakeries is one of the largest, privately-held, specialty bakeries in the United States. It produces over 100 varieties of baked goods daily, including its own line of gluten-free wraps and gluten-free pita chips. I have yet to find the gluten-free pita chips, but I found a few varieties of the wraps while grocery shopping. Being on a budget even on my birthday, however, I only picked one to try in the end.

Available in four different flavors— original, garden vegetable, savory tomato, and spinach— the wraps are 100% gluten free. These wraps are processed a separate, dedicated gluten-free line, routinely tested to be under 10 ppm.

It was definitely time to put this new (to me) brand to the test. And what does that better than a mess of Greek vegetables, lentils, and sauce, right? I went to work immediately building the Greek Tacos up with warm lentils, thinly sliced red onion, tomatos, local bibb lettuce, and diced cucumber…topped off with a vegan tzatziki sauce. Talk about testing the durability of a wrap, right? Well, the only problem was…there was too much veggie goodness for the wrap, so actually folding it up wasn’t happening. I had to eat it…like a taco. And since this is Greek Tacos…that actually was okay.

So…this is how it stacked up…

I absolutely LOVED the taste and texture of the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps. It had a great feel to it, However, it wasn’t quite able to stay together…but for the most part, it handled the plethora of textures and volume of food that I hefted into it. So, I’m not surprised it got a bit soggy (lettuce, tomato, cucumber and a yogurt topping…yeah…it happens) and crumbled a little. But, for the most part, it did hold up and I was able to eat the wrap like a taco for much of my dinner. That is a HUGE thing as most of the time I’m left eating the remnants off my plate with a fork. The flavor was amazing and didn’t distract from the filling itself, just acted more as a kick-start to flavor town. And, finally, someone got the texture right. It wasn’t gummy or dry. It was pliable and light and just…really delicious. I will have to check around at stores around here for more Toufayan Gluten Free Wraps…because I just want to keep trying them out in various ways…

I’m thinking quesadillas or burritos might be next. Maybe just a basic sandwich wrap. We’ll see. With wraps that don’t fall apart instantly…the possibilities are endless.

So, what are the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps made from? Well, they are made with tapioca starch, water, rice flour, soybean flour, shortening (canola oil, palm and palm kernel), vegetable blend (spinach, parsley, red bell pepper, carrot, tomato, onion, shallot, garlic) food starch modified (corn starch, tapioca starch), potato starch, contains 2% or less of the following: yeast, baking powder (calcium acid pyprohosphate, sodium bicarbonate, corn starch, monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, whole eggs, fumaric acid, mono and diglycerides with citric acid (a preservative), maltodextrin, dextrose, xanthan gum, egg whites, calcium propionate (to maintain freshness), and salt.

Whew. That’s a laundry list, yeah? I actually would prefer for my wraps to have fewer ingredients and additives in them, but I guess that’s what gets them so close to that flour tortilla flavor.

As for nutritional information, a serving size of the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps is 1 wrap (52 grams) and there are 6 wraps per package. This serving will provide you with 120 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 350 mg sodium, 24 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 4 grams sugars, and 5 grams protein. They do have the fact that they are high in fiber and protein to make them feel more filling in the end. So, that is very handy.

I absolutely loved what I tasted when I bit into the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps. And while my first attempt at using them wasn’t exactly as I envisioned, I have high hopes for the next. If you can track down the Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Wraps…I highly recommend it. One of the best attempts at a wrap I have ever had. Nicely done!

Greek Tacos made on Toufayan Bakeries Gluten Free Garden Vegetable Wraps