Product: Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Mint Creams – $2.99
Damn you, Trader Joe’s!
I keep falling in love with your products. The problem is, most of the time I go in there for something specific (this time it was your extra virgin olive oil) and these little plastic containers of goodness stare back at me from…everywhere!!
Last time, it was the dark chocolate mint covered espresso beans.
This time…your Dark Chocolate Mint Creams begged for me to bring you home. Mint and dark chocolate is my weakness (obviously), and after wondering (briefly) why these were not in my life, they found their way into my shopping basket, to the register, in a bag, and in rightfully in my life.
What Trader Joe’s did here was find the love child of a York Peppermint Pattie and a Junior Mint. I’m serious. It’s like the best of both worlds. The dark chocolate is the key to making this work, however. It’s bittersweet, deliciousness lends it’s rich flavor to the creamy, fresh mint cream in the middle. It’s a York Peppermint Pattie on steroids. In a good way.
Even better…the box not only labels these as vegetarian but also containing no gluten ingredients. BONUS! I felt completely safe when I bought these and dug into them.
If you love mint and chocolate, then these little treats are for you. Honestly, they are a step above the both Junior Mints and York Peppermint Patties. And I love both of those (and both are gluten-free as well). So this was a worthwhile purchase for me because…yeah…two of my favorite minty chocolate treats all rolled into one fantastic, delicious, plastic container of Trader Joe’s goodness.
This goes beyond tasting the sensation. These are chocolate. These are peppermint. These are awesome.
First, I have to get this off my chest. Bear with me for just a moment…
FINALLY!!!!
You know, as a patron of the gluten-free food scene, I am a fan of Udi’s products as much as the next person. Their cookies are off the charts. Their muffins are soft, spongy goodness. Their bagles…taste like bagels! And while their bread was the first gluten-free bread I ever, EVER tasted, my last few loaves have been riddled with holes, which makes enjoying a grilled cheese sandwich, a peanut butter sandwich, or any kind of sandwich for that matter, a bit of a task. Near impossible. And it was so frustrating because, in a sense, I’m paying for air. Bread with pockets of air carved into them. And with the $5.99 price tag attached to these loaves, I was not willing to go through that again.
Observe my last loaf of Udi’s bread:
Holey Udi's Bread, Batman!
Despite how amazing their gluten-free bread is…I swore it off. Because I felt cheated.
And then, wouldn’t you know it, my local grocery store had loaves of Udi’s bread on sale. And the rule for me is if it’s gluten-free and vegetarian…and it goes on sale…then I get it while I can afford it. So, I didn’t ignore the sale. And since I had yet to try it, and my roommate encouraged me it would be good for the blog…I bought a loaf of the Cinnamon Raisin Bread.
This morning…I decided to give Udi’s it’s second chance. So, imagine my delight when I opened up this loaf of bread, removed two slices, and found them WHOLE (not holey)! Things were looking up! Perhaps the Udi’s bread ban could finally be lifted. I haven’t gotten past the first two slices though, but this is a promising start.
Now, the important part. How did it taste?
Well, I did say that Udi’s made amazing products. Their gluten-free Cinnamon Raisin Bread is no exception to that rule. The texture is fantastic. The cinnamon flavor pairs deliciously with the raisins that are prevalent in every slice. There is no skimping on the ingredients here. I topped mine off with a smear of gluten-free (and vegan) margarine and a light dusting of powdered sugar. YUMMY! I was definitely in breakfast heaven this morning. I bet this would be amazing made into French Toast. Hmmmm…breakfast tomorrow, perhaps.
That being said, I still find their bread to be much smaller than other gluten-free breads out there. While size isn’t everything, I do find that the Rudi’s brand of bread (each flavor: Multigrain, Original, Cinnamon Raisin) is of equal quality, uses only natural ingredients, and has a better size ratio going for it. And…it’s usually $1.00 cheaper than Udi’s if not more.
However…I’m not saying that Udi’s isn’t up to par. That is not the case. I enjoy their products immensely and really find them to be at the forefront of gluten-free foods out on the market these days. I just can’t always rely on their bread to make a perfect gluten-free sandwich.
Maybe the times are changing. I’ll have to see how this loaf works out as I go further into it.
Yes, gluten-free products do cost more…but for health, for quality, for peace of mind, it’s sometimes necessary. I think Udi’s is one amazing company that specializes in gluten-free products, manufactured safely. If you mention gluten-free bread, theirs is usually the first brand that comes to mind or is mentioned. That’s saying something. The products they put out back up their outstanding status in the land of gluten-intolerance.
I am a fan. And slowly…very slowly…they are earning my respect back for their bread.
Ice cream. It’s the dessert of champions. It’s best when homemade, of course, which I used to do growing up. It’s something I intend to do again this summer thanks to the acquisition of an ice cream maker on my birthday. But, until I make some room in my freezer (getting there!), store bought ice cream is what I manage. Dairy-free for me…gluten-free always!
It was a coupon for Almond Dream products that brought about the purchase of these little nuggets of non-dairy ice cream goodness. I had thought about getting the unsweetened almond milk, but as I passed by the freezer, these caught my eye. And they had to come home with me. Almond milk went back on the shelf…ice cream won. I mean, it usually does, right?
Well, for me it does.
This vegan ice cream is made from almonds. Yep. Almonds. These are basically a non-dairy, gluten-free version of a bon bon, minus the trans fat or highly refined sugars. Oh yeah…loving that. These are perfectly bite-size, and fun to just pop into your mouth and let them melt against your tongue. The rush of chocolate and vanilla flavor is amazing. The chocolate shell is rich and smooth and the vanilla ice cream inside is sweet and satisfying. Oh, these were good. These were amazingly good.
When I was in Ireland, I fell in love with ice cream bars known as Magnums. Well, Magnums have since made it to US soil, and they are fantastic. Well, these were basically a bite-size, non-dairy version of those amazing ice cream treats. The same taste principles apply…rich, smooth shell over sweet, delicious ice cream. Oh…so good.
I anticipate future purchases in the Almond Dream non-dairy, gluten-free line-up. If these are any indication of the product I will be consuming…well…I’ve been won over. And it sure is nice to eat ice cream without having to take a supplement to help with digestion, yes? Honestly, you’d never know there wasn’t a lick (get it? Ice cream…lick? HA!) of dairy in these little treats.
So, treat yourself to a melty sweet treat. Almond Dream Bites are a novelty worth buying. The only downfall is the little container doesn’t refill itself. But that’s why we have nearby grocery stores!
Indulge. Even in winter. These are totally worth it.
The life of the lactose intolerant doesn’t have to be ruled by lactose-free milk. There is such a variety out there these days that sometimes choosing what to get while out at the grocery store is the difficult part.
As most of you know…I’m more than slightly obsessed with milk alternatives. From coconut milk to rice milk to hazelnut milk to almond milk, I have tried a wide variety of products.
This time, I returned to one of my favorite brands for almond milk, and gave their Unsweetened Vanilla flavor a try. And now, I have to wonder what took me so long!
The great thing about the unsweetened varieties of these various milks is that no sugar gets added to it. I don’t think “milk” should be laden with sugar, so when I buy, I go unsweetened. Always.
Low in calories and with no saturated fat, almond milk is a great milk substitute. The only thing it really lacks is a protein punch. The vanilla variety is flavored with natural vanilla flavor. With the lack of (unnecessary) added sugar, this means the beverage isn’t too sweet, nor too overpowering.
It’s fantastic poured over cereal in the morning, or warmed and mixed into a hot chocolate, or even to bake with. I’ve done all of them with fantastic results. Almond milk rocks my world. Add a little vanilla to it, and it’s like manna from heaven. Honestly, Blue Diamond is doing something very right when they make their Almond Breeze drinks. Enough to make me want to go back for glass after glass. And with only 40 calories per serving…why not?
The last one. My freezer now stands void of these amazing mini-meals. But this was a journey well taken and one that was full of surprises and fantastic flavors. I love finding a variety of good quality products by an amazing company that does food right. Frozen meals don’t have to be full of processed crap. Garden Lites prides itself on the fact that they don’t laden their meals down with phony nutritional ingredients to keep their products “fresh.” On the contrary, what you get is a meal that is not only hearty, but delicious and packed full of flavor. Real flavor. You can taste the vegetables that go into the making of each dish. And yeah…they taste amazing.
The last soufflé to be tried out was the Broccoli Soufflé. Once again, I loved the colors that were apparent, even from underneath the plastic wrap that steams the soufflé for the first 4 minutes. Amazing. It smelled fantastic as it was being heated up in the microwave. But, broccoli has always been one of my favorite vegetables.
Yes. I was one of those kids who loved eating my vegetables. We had vegetables with every dinner. In fact, when my mom cooked she always tried to put something in from every food group. Perhaps my early love of vegetables led me to the path of vegetarianism that I took up a couple years ago.
Regardless, what is awesome about Garden Lites products is that they are filled with vegetables…and spices. It’s that easy. It’s that simple. There are no guessing games when it comes to what goes into their products. Even better, all of the soufflés are low calorie and very low fat. What more could you want?
Garden Lites Broccoli Soufflé (frozen)
Well, the Broccoli Soufflé has joined the ranks of my favorite flavors of the six that I tried. It comes in second, I believe. It reminded me a lot of a veggie omelet, the broccoli really being the star of the dish. As it should be. I love how smooth and easy these are to eat and how simple they are to make. Tonight I devoured my half (again, I didn’t realize it was one per box, so my roommate ate the other half) with a serving of Ore Ida Crispy Crowns. And I was full at the end of it. Delicious. Hearty. And healthy.
I’m so happy to have discovered these products. My freezer is just waiting for me to fill it up again. And I intend to. And now I have an idea of which ones I really loved the best.
Want a fun way to eat your vegetables, get to your grocer’s freezer and look for Garden Lites. Healthy, hearty, veggie goodness.
Honestly. Because who really goes out of their way to buy carrot soup? I know I’m a vegetarian and all, and I do love my vegetables (and most of them out there too!), but…come on! Carrot soup?
Perhaps it was the almond that appealed to me then.
Whatever it was, tonight it was up in the pantry shuffle – that little dance you do when you stock up on items, probably because of a sale, and they just sort of sit there as you go through the stuff you are familiar with. Yeah…that.
I was…concerned to say the least. I mean…I like carrots. I love almonds, but how would they mesh in soup form?
The answer?
Harmony. Honestly. While the soup does mostly carry a carrot flavor, it isn’t overpowering. It’s not like drinking carrot juice or any of that. The texture of the soup is fantastic. It’s a creamy soup, but it isn’t too heavy and it isn’t too thin either. It’s the perfect balance of creamy and sweet and…carrot. The almond, I think, helps to tone down the carrot flavor and really bring out the richness of the soup.
I enjoyed mine with a gluten-free and dairy free (thank you Rudi’s Multigrain Bread & Veggie Slices) grilled cheese sandwich, which complimented the soup to perfection. When it’s a cold, gray day outside, a hot bowl of soup and a sandwich just sort of make the world right again, and warm you from the inside out.
Imagine really created a gem with this soup. It is vegan (yes, despite the word creamy in the title), organic, and a complimentary blend of carrots, onions, spices and…yes…almond butter. It may not sound appetizing, but trust me…it’s a delightful play of flavors across your palate.
Shop your organic food section. Give these organic, delicious soups a try. A good majority of them are gluten-free. All of them are organic, and contain organic ingredients. You can taste the quality. If you are feeling adventurous…go ahead, grab the Creamy Carrot Almond soup. Believe me…you’ll polish off the bowl.
Frozen entrees are sometimes a necessary evil. And sometimes…they aren’t as evil as others.
Ethnic Gourmet, maker of a variety of frozen entrees from Thai, Malaysian, to Indian, brings forth a plethora of flavors and ethnic cuisine in their meals. And they are easy. Zap them in the microwave as directed on the box and dinner (or lunch) is served. Well, I spotted quite a few of these in my grocery store on special (only $0.99 each) so my roommate and I grabbed a few while they were affordable.
Our country of choice: India.
My roomie snagged the Chicken Tikka Masala. I grabbed for the Palak Paneer, yes…the creamy spinach and soft cheese won me over again, and happily placed it in the shopping basket. But then I took pause, recalling that Trader Joe’s variety of this had 2 servings in the package. So, I went over the nutrition information and confirmed that one tray was equal to one serving. Whew. No consuming over 500 calories for me this time. This is the correct way to package a frozen meal.
Ethnic Gourmet Palak Paneer
It heated up very well in the microwave. Four minutes. Stir. Another three minutes. Let stand. Serve. Yep…I told you this was easy-peasy!
I admit, Palak Paneer only looks good at Indian restaurants. The frozen versions just look like…well…crap. It smelled fantastic though, so I poured the rice into a bowl and topped it off with the creamy spinach, sauce, and cubes of soft cheese. Well, the cheese was supposed to be soft. Unlike other varieties that I’ve had, this cheese was slightly on the dry side. I guess that’s what I should expect from a frozen entree. It wasn’t bad though. It could have used a bit more spice. The box indicated a medium heat, but it was rather mild to me. Overall though, a good meal at only 35o calories. Not bad.
As far as taste went, this was good. Right up there with Trader Joe’s…but none of them quite at Amy’s Kitchen (note to self: review Amy’s Kitchen’s Palak Paneer) standards. I loved that this was ideally one serving and that it was rather filling too. The cheese was the downfall however. If it had been soft and melt-in-your-mouth awesome like paneer should be…well…it might be a different story. All-in-all, though, you can’t argue with a company whose frozen entrees are free of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. In fact, the spotlight goes immediately to the flavor – each spice can be tasted throughout the dish.
So, that is something!
I would probably give this entree another go, but I know there are other products that are just as good, if not better, available out there. Or, maybe I’ll just stop into my favorite Indian restaurant and get the real thing next time.
As it is, convenience is nice, flavor is good, but it didn’t completely wow me. However, the calorie count at least was far better than Trader Joe’s variety, yet not quite to Amy’s Kitchen standards yet. Close though. Very close.
Ethnic Gourmet Palak Paneer (out of packaging and ready for serving)
Product: DelGrosso New York Style Pizza Sauce – $1.20+
One of the most difficult foods to navigate when gluten-free is sauces and dips. Without a doubt. You’d be amazed what contains gluten. Reading the ingredient list is necessary. Grocery shopping takes a little bit longer. But safe dining is a huge plus.
While out at Big Lots, surprisingly, I spotted some pizza sauce that was clearly labeled gluten free. This gets huge props because it takes away the guess work. I wish labeling laws would become a bit stricter when it comes to gluten-free foods. I tend not to buy anything questionable, so if it’s labeled, you’re guaranteed a sale.
The pizza sauce I’m talking about is DelGrosso’s New York Style Pizza Sauce. At only 35 calories per 1/4 cup, you’re not going to fill up on sauce. In addition, the sauce literally has seven ingredients in it: tomato puree, tomatoes, sugar, imported olive oil, salt, garlic, and spices. I recognize every single one of those, therefore…it gets another point in its favor.
I sauced up Udi’s Gluten-Free Pizza Crusts with this amazing sauce. Just popping the lid and I could smell the amazing scent of the tomato sauce. This definitely boded well. A thin layer was applied to the crust, then topped with five different cheeses. A little more sauce was used to dot a bit at the top and into the oven it went.
Seven minutes later, I was slicing up a piece of pizza and sinking my teeth into one of the most delicious New York Style sauces I have tasted yet. Honestly. It has great flavor without being overpowering. It complimented the crust and the toppings. And, this is the perfect sauce for a vegetarian pizza. Given that I am also a vegetarian…this was yet another point in its favor. I found that this sauce was deliciously savory and sweet topping, just like a New York style sauce should be. Perfection in a bottle.
This jar was packed with flavor and would be amazing on any style pizza you could come up with. Best yet, it’s not expensive in the slightest. Gluten-free, pizza topping that is a delicious slice of heaven.
Use it well. Use it often. Top it off with your favorite toppings. Use it as a dip. Load it up with cheese. But enjoy it. Down to the last spoonful.
Gluten-Free Five Cheese Pizza (fresh mozzarella, ricotta, goat cheese, mascarpone, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses over DelGrosso New York Style Pizza Sauce on Udi's Gluten-Free Crust)
A friend of mine who often recommends gluten-free products to me when she spots them sent me some information on these chips and it sent me out to the grocery store in search of them. I did find them in my area, at a local natural food store, and they were happily on sale as well.
So, yes…they came home with me.
Now, I can eat tortilla chips on their own. No dip necessary. There is something about corn chips that are so madly addictive. This is why I always portion things out in bowls, because if I didn’t, I’d likely consume an entire bag before I realized it.
Mother Farms introduced a Multigrain Tortilla Chip made from multiple grains (duh), and some rice flour. Then it is topped off with a bit of honey and some sea salt. What emerges is this amazing flavor in each bite. Yeah, they’re fantastic on their own.
But I bought them with a mission in mind. I was making a gluten-free Chile Con Queso and these gluten-free tortilla chips were just the thing to pair with them. Wow, was I ever right. With the perfect seasoning, these tortilla chips complimented the flavor of the cheese dip to perfection. These would also be fantastic with a salsa as well. They are sturdy chips that are made for dipping. Honestly, these have quickly become one of my favorite crunchy snacks to nosh on. It truly was love at first bite!
(Thank you Julie!)
If you are looking for an amazing flavor and a fantastic new chip, look for Mother Farms products. The ingredients are USDA organic, they are gluten-free, they are kosher. All of that and they pack a flavor punch like none other.
Go ahead. Try to eat just one. And when you find you can’t, dish out a serving and try them out with a dip of your choice…or just eat them as is.
Product: Green’s Gluten-Free Triple Blonde Ale – $5.29+
I shouldn’t be doing this review. I admit it. It’s handicapped from the very start. And it’s all because of one reason:
I. HATE. BEER.
Honestly, I just don’t like the drink. Never have. Not even during my college days was I a beer drinker. A sip here, another there, and it always resulted in that wrinkled up nose expression and me passing the glass or bottle to my alcohol dispenser of choice that night (probably some guy friend of mine who actually likes beer). Even when I went to Ireland, I gave Guinness and Murphy’s a try…hated both…stuck with Bulmers Cider (which is gluten-free!).
So, why review it then?
Because I used it when I cooked. And what was left, I sampled.
Here is what Green’s Triple Blonde Ale has going for it.
It has a clean, crisp taste to it. More like fruit than like…nasty beer taste. But, it just didn’t float my boat, you know? I liked that it had a light taste to it, wasn’t overly hoppy, and might have passed for cider if not for that beer taste. As far as beer’s go, however, this one wasn’t bad.
But it was even better to cook with. I bought it for the sole purpose of using it in a gluten-free Chile Con Queso, which was fantastic. So, while I didn’t care for Green’s Triple Blonde Ale on its own, it really added a nice flavor to my queso dip.
Verdict then is this: If you are a beer lover and are looking for something crisp, you’ll love this. If you are a gluten-free beer drinker, you’ll love the fact that this doesn’t contain any gluten in it. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you’ll love knowing that Green’s uses only natural tannins, so this is suitable for your dietary needs. If you are not a beer lover, however, it’s probably not for you. But it would be amazing to cook with. My queso’s flavor was awesome with this as one of the ingredients.
So whether you are a beer connoisseur or not…Green’s has something to offer you. Gluten-free to boot!
The Celiathlete 