One of the best things to ever come from my birthday expedition to Jungle Jim’s International Market (FOODIE HEAVEN!) was discovery local (to Ohio…not to me) bakeries through the products they had on display and for sale at Jungle Jim’s. I love purchasing these items over everything else, because, well…I LOVE supporting local businesses.
So, one of the products I snagged from the end cap of gluten-free local bakery goodies at the market was this amazing sounding granola from a place called Tina’s Sweet Treats, based out of Franklin, Ohio.
Tina’s Sweet Treats came about after six (6) members of her family were diagnosed with Celiac. She went from casually baking gluten-free to full-blown. And, as with most people, wanting to make sure that her fmaily didn’t miss out on any of the wonderful baked goods that they loved, Tina worked hard to create products that won’t lack in flavor, taste, or make her family members feel like they were missing out on something amazing. Everything from Tina’s Sweet Treats is baked fresh from their home kitchen, which is completely free of contamination!
I love it when I can also get a product and feel 100% secure that it won’t make me sick. When something is produced where contamination will not even come into question, I never have to play roulette with my body. And for that, I am thankful!
Jungle Jim’s had a few options from Tina’s Sweet Treats…but the one that really caught my eye…mostly because I don’t see a lot of this from local bakeries…was the granola. But not just any granola. Probably what may be considered the most epic of all granola.
Banana Bread Granola.
You had my full attention with all three of those words. Into the basket…into the shopping bag…into the car…into my pantry.
And it didn’t last long. This past weekend, I was baking and cooking up a storm, and my lunch was something quick and easy on Saturday. I had a soccer match to get to and I needed to make some Gluten Free and Vegan Snickerdoodle Blondies and some Dairy Free Pumpkin Ice Cream before heading out to the big playoff match for Louisville City FC. Thus…lunch became a yogurt with granola on top. I remembered I had the granola…and being that it is made by a bakery, no preservatives are added and therefore, it is best when used by the sell-by date. This would certainly accomplish that. So, after palming a handful to taste on its own (OH MY GOD YUM!), I poured some on a yogurt for my roommate and some on mine. It was a simple, yet delicious addition to already delicious yogurts, let me tell you.
What I love, first and foremost, is that toasty flavor you get with homemade granola. Top it off with that aroma and the taste of fresh banana bread, and you’re talking about a winning combination. And that is exactly what Tina’s Sweet Treats accomplishes with this gluten free Banana Bread Granola. It was the perfect topper and stir-in for my vegan yogurt, and acted as a bit of a “sundae” topper for Cathy’s Banana Greek Yogurt with a Chocolate Topping. It was, without a doubt, a way to kick up the yogurt lunch a notch. And, the added crunch was that bonus that sometimes yogurt lacks.
I wish I lived closer to Tina’s Sweet Treats. I’d purchase this every week. Probably multiple times.
The Tina’s Sweet Treats Banana Bread Granola is made from rice flour, potato starch, millet flour, tapioca flour, sweet rice flour, sugar, apples, milk, butter (cream, natural flavorings), eggs, brown sugar (white sugar, molasses) sour cream, baking powder (corn starch, sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum sulfate, monocalcium phosphate), vanilla (water, alcohol, vanilla bean), xanthan gum, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and salt.
Since this is made out of a home and sold by a local bakery, I don’t have any of the nutritional information. But…as with all granola out there, stick to a serving (usually around 28 grams), and don’t go overboard. It’s all good. Enjoy a sweet treat (see what I did there?) every now and again.
Love at first banana bread-y bite. Seriously, if you are a lover of banana and banana bread, Tina’s Sweet Treats has you covered with this granola. I only wish they had it online to order. Just…pure goodness and pure wow any way you want to eat it. Personally, by the handful is the way I recommend. HA!
It seems like ages ago, back on a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, when my parents first took me to Organic Harvest, the latest and newest health food store in their area. I was gobsmacked by the amount of products inside this store that I had never seen before. I might have heard of the brand, but the product itself or even the brand, was not available to me in any convenient form.
So, naturally, I went on a shopping spree.
Because…I do that.
Well, I get very overburdened with mixes. I do this to myself, naturally. I just get really, really excited when I see something new. Or course, as of late, I’ve been making a point of eating more unprocessed foods for breakfast than something that comes out of a box (cereal included) or from a mix. So, yeah, the pantry is well stocked with so many mixes that I honestly just need to work through. And as this one was (obviously as the packaging has been since updated) nearing expiration…it was time to use it up and move it out. So, out came the Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix.
Zemas Madhouse Foods is committed to manufacturing gluten-free, ancient grain baking mixes that help support a clean eating lifestyle through the use of minimally processed ingredients that can be safely incorporated into diets that are limited, allergy-free and diabetic. They are committed to keeping their products free of dairy, soy, rice, yeast, tree nuts, peanuts, sulfites, additives, trans fats, preservatives, and refined sugar.
Now, I had high hopes for this mix. I was first introduced to Zema’s Madhouse Foods by Cuisine Cube when I tried their mix for Focaccia and/or Pizza Crusts. I loved it. So, the fact that I had another Zema’s Product (yes…I had this one before Cuisine Cube sent theirs), I had very good expectations for this. But…why stick to something as simple as the box exclaims. After all, this is a pancake and waffle mix, and there are recipes for both on the back. But I am really pancaked out these days and waffles are great…but a pain to make (time consuming, really). So…I opted for the other recipe on the box, making a few minor adjustments to fit what I had in my pantry and my own idea of what constites a Harvest Muffin.
Oh, yeah…I made muffins with the Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix. Yes. Muffins. I sort of ripped off Udi’s version of a Harvest Muffin, but utilized most of the recipe from the back of this exact box. YAY! The recipe will follow, of course.
Naturally, I can’t bake something and not try it. How else am I going to report on it? So, after these came out of the oven and rested for 10 minutes in the pan, I removed them and put them on a wire rack to cool the rest of the way. After running some gluten-free and dairy free goodies downstairs to my neighbors, I came back upstairs and decided that both my roomie and I had an obligation to see how the muffins turned out. If they were crap, well, we certainly didn’t have to keep them. But…if they were good, they were getting bagged up and put in the freezer for those stressful and hectic days where cooking a breakfast is just not feasible.
Let me tell you…Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix is amazing. Seriously. Okay…so the muffins are a little dense…but I’ve grown to that being mostly the norm when it comes to gluten-free goodies (especially of a bread-like quality) that I bake. However, there is a lot of flavor in each and every bite of these muffins. And I absolutely love the combination of the sweet potato and pumpkin flavors, making this a perfect autumn mix for any sort of morning recipe…even pancakes and waffles. Just…really good. And not overly sweet either, which is a nice change. I love dessert as much as any girl, but I mostly want my muffins to be muffins, not a fruit/veggie based cupcake. But, maybe that’s just me. The fact that there is no added sugar in the mix is a big plus with me, as I am working on cutting down on the amount of sugar I eat every day. I also love that this mix is made with the superseed trio of hemp, chia and flaxmeal. Flax is one of the best gluten-free plant-based sources, which contains alpha-linolenic acid, which converts in the body to the same heart-protective Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, sardines and mackerel. It also contains 3 grams of fiber per tablespoon, which promotes intestinal health. The chia seeds (like chia pets, yes!) are also naturally gluten-free and contain Omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fiber, calcium and protein. LOVE a breakfast that packs a bit of extra nutrition into each and every bite through healthy and beneficial ingredients. This might be a mix, but it has great ingredients making it a better choice than all the lack-luster and nutrient-sparse mixes on the shelf. Oh yeah…have your breakfast treat and treat your body too. Now we’re talking.
Let’s discuss the ingredients that go into Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix, shall we? This mix is made from sorghum flour, organic flax seed meal, sweet potato flour, potato starch, organic quinoa flakes, tapioca flour, aluminum free baking powder (monocalcium phosphate, baking soda, corn starch (made from non-GMO corn)), hemp seeds, organic cinnamon, contains less than 2% of each of the following: baking soda, chia seeds, xanthan gum, sea salt, organic ginger, and nutmeg. This product is manufactured in a dedicated gluten-free facility free of the top 8 allergens(milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish). It is vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and verified non-GMO.
As for nutrition information, here you go…a serving of Zema’s Madhouse Foods Gluten Free & Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix is 1/3 cup of the dry mix (44 grams), and the box contains around 6 servings. In each serving, you will be taking in 150 calories, 4 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 510 mg sodium, 29 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 2 grams sugars, and 4 grams of proteins. This one might actually be the best nutrient-packed mix out on the market to be honest. WOW!
3/4 cup milk of choice (I used unsweetened cashew milk)
2 eggs (or egg replacer)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup (I used agave)
1/3 cup oil of choice (I used coconut)
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup raw pepitas
1/2 cup craisins
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the mix and xanthan gum. Set aside.
n a large bowl, whisk all liquid ingredients together. Add the dry mix to the wet mixture and combine, Add in the pepitas and craisins, mixing well.
Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way.
Bake for 28-30 minutes. Check the doneness with a toothpick.
Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then take muffins out and cool on a rack.
This recipe freezes well.
~*~*~
I have the remaining 17 muffins in my freezer now for hectic crazy days…but I already am looking forward into diving into them. I’m sure it won’t be long.
If you are interested in a pancake mix with more benefits than sugar and fillers, I can’t praise Zema’s Madhouse Foods enough. Their Gluten Free and Sugar Free Peruvian Sweet Potato Pancake & Waffle Mix surpassed all expectations. And I didn’t even make pancakes or waffles with them. Go figure. Although, I am more than certain this mix would make some of the best pancakes or waffles out there. Next time I pick up another box of this mix…I think I’ll go for traditional pancakes and waffles. That being said…give this muffin recipe a shot! And seek out Zema’s Madhouse Foods in your natural food stores…or order online! It’s worth the hunt.
Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies
Product: Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies – $5.50+
Are you tired of cookie reviews yet? Are you? You shouldn’t be. Cookies are amazing. Cookies are…one of the meanings of life. Seriously. Look it up. Cookies…I swear it’s there.
The thing with gluten free is…sometimes gluten free cookies do not invoke meaning of life feelings. Sometimes they are just dry and sandy and just…blech. So, when I find a new brand (nothing new about Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies…just new to me!) of cookie…I always want to try it. Sometimes this is the best thing I could have done. Sometimes…I regret it. Gluten free is a science…and there are those who get it right…and those who still haven’t gotten it at all.
Okay…
So, as I have mentioned in preceding blogs, my birthday was rough this year. I was turning 35. And my day was originally supposed to be spent running the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio…because it actually ran ON my birthday and I was moving up an age division. Big reason to celebrate. But 3 weeks prior to that…the fracture happens and the now famous boot (aka: Bootsie) became my daily footwear…and I was under strict, strict rules from my amazing orthopedic doctor…NO RUNNING.
Super bummed, I didn’t want anything to do with my birthday. Most of my friends were out of town running the race or doing a different one. Or…just out of town. And I was beyond down and bummed. There might have been tears. Okay, I won’t lie…there were. Then, on the morning of my birthday, as I’m sitting down to eat at Annie May’s Sweet Café (allergen-free bakery in Louisville, KY…best breakfast ever!!), my roomie springs my birthday gift on me. I don’t have a lot of things that I want/need…and those things that I do want/need…are too expensive for anyone but me to really buy for myself. SO…she and her family all pitched in and gave me a $150 shopping spree at Jungle Jim’s International Market.
And it was on that shopping spree (which happened that very day…which I was NOT prepared for at all), in the gluten-free aisles of Jungle Jim’s, that I spotted the colorful bags of Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Bite-Size Cookies. Mmmm…cookies. They had all the flavors too: Super Dooper Snickerdoodle, Double Chocolate Brownie, Simply Chocolate, Chewy Chocolate Chip, and Sensational Sugar Cookie. We all know, this cookie monster is a fan of Snickerdoodles above all other cookies. So, you know, the bright neon pink bag containing Super Dooper cookies….of cinnamon and sugar origin…was the one that made it into the shopping cart.
Tonight, after a very healthy meal (Chana Aloo Stew, in case you were curious), I dug out the variety of new cookie brands to try and let my roomie pick where to start. She pointed to the snickerdoodles. Smart girl. HA!
Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies was created by Liz Gilbert, a Culinary Institute of America trained baker and chef, who was diagnosed with multiple food allergies (wheat, gluten, peanuts, nuts, soy, milk, corn and shellfish). After the initial phase of depression (we have all been there…saying “I can’t eat anything!”), Gilbert took action, testing out recipes in what has become her line of great-tasting, classic, homestyle treats that everyone can enjoy. Let’s face it…allergen-free foods can carry funky textures and aftertastes…so spending time on a formula to get it right does take time. But Gilbert knew she was onto something when her children and their friends (none of whom have food restrictions) polished off plates of cookies and asked for more. From there…Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies was born…and the founder, herself, set out to make treats for everyone…one cookie at a time.
Today, Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies boasts Gilbert’s baked goods and ready-to-go cookie dough. So you can enjoy giant cookies, bite-size cookies, or cookie dough…all of which are made without artificial ingredients and the top allergens.
I know what you’re thinking…there is no way these can be good.
For some reason…that thought never crept into my mind. Not when I opened up the packet. Not when I pulled out a serving (4 mini cookies, for the record). And not when I took my first bite.
Guess what…COOKIE HEAVEN!! First of all, the Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies are soft and chewy (not crisp and crunchy)…which for me…always wins. I prefer soft cookies and choose them over the crispy ones any day. So…that was the first point in their favor. I loved how small and light they were. A lot of gluten-free cookies feel heavy and dense. Not these. And moist…no sandpaper here. Truly a chewy and soft cookie worth savoring as you pop the 4 (or more, I won’t judge!) cookies in the serving. These aren’t overly sweet, nor are they too spicy. They find that perfect cinnamon-sugar balance, which isn’t always easy in a snickerdoodle. Holy moley…these cookies really are super dooper!! No joke!
Tasting is believing…and now I understand why Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies (specifically the Snickerdoodles) have won an award from the CT Specialty Food Association. These cookies were so amazing that if I had started eating right out of the packet…they’d be gone. (This, in fact, is why I portion everything out…LOL!).
So, let’s talk about ingredients. The Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite-Size Cookies are made from gluten-free flour mix (sweet rice, brown rice, tapioca), non-hydrogenated palm oil, pure cane sugar, eggs, xanthan gum, vanilla, and cinnamon. These cookies are kosher, gluten-free, wheat-free, contain no peanuts or tree nuts, contain no hydrogenated oils, contain no artificial colors of flavors, do not contain high fructose corn syrup, contain no preservatives, contain no trans fat, are dairy-free, are corn-free and are soy free.
BUT…they are definitely not taste-free. In fact…they taste amazing.
As for nutrition…a serving of the Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite-Size Cookies is 4 cookies (32 grams). This serving will provide you with 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 25 mg cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, 17 grams carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 9 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein.
I am beyond enamored with the taste, texture, flavor, deliciousness, amazing goodness, sweet treats that are the Super Dooper Snickerdoodle Bite Size Cookies from Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies. Super dooper indeed. Super dooper delicious. Try them out for yourself. Some of the best packaged snickerdoodles I’ve eaten since going gluten-free. This package is snickerdoodle love…in gluten free form. YUMMY!
Why must you be so far away and give me such good (and healthy) food. I had never, never, ever seen any Explore Asian noodle cups anywhere around here…but I find you while cruising the international food aisles on my birthday, and…not knowing any better…only pick up enough for me to have once (I got two, for the record, but my roomie ate the other one).
*sigh*
This week, I’ve been really slacking on the meal prep for lunch. In fact…it’s been vegetarian sushi and soup all week, because, it’s affordable, easy, and healthy! At least I’m keeping it healthy, regardless of not really prepping anything to have on hand or keeping something on hand (okay…technically the soup was kept on hand…but I digress…), which is more than a lot of people manage.
Monday, due to being out of town…vegetarian sushi. Tuesday…Amy’s Thai Coconut Soup (from a can…but SO GOOD!), Wednesday…SOFT PRETZEL WEDNESDAY at ANNIE MAY’S SWEET CAFE in Louisville. Best (and only) gluten-free soft pretzels I’ve had out of an allergen-free bakery! Thursday…soup…and this time…like a Cup ‘O Noodle…I pulled out the very new to my pantry Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup.
Why?
Because it was easy and I didn’t have to really do anything the night before to prep it. How’s that for me being lazy. Hey, I’m coming off a crazy, hectic, fun wedding weekend…I haven’t recovered yet!
Explore Asian strives to be innovative creators of everyday family friendly foods with a healthier twist. While a small company, they still strive to put a lot of effort into exploring the world to find the highest quality, organic, and natural foods for their consumers to enjoy. In fact, Explore Asian works directly with farmers to provide top of the line products. Not only that, they take time to build a superior product that not only tastes good, but will nourish the body. And, they believe in transparency when it comes to their consumers, maintaining a policy of being open and honest.
So, here we have a product similar to a Cup ‘O Noodle that is claiming to be healthy. And you know what? It really is! In fact, people who consume Explore Asian products include healthy living advocates, athletes, people with special diets (gluten-free, wheat-free, egg-free), people who follow heart healthy diets (20 GI index for Explore Asian bean pastas), dieters and people trying to lose weight, non-GMO advocates, chefs and restaurants, vegans, and people who have to eat kosher! Yep…all of that.
So, why was I still skeptical that this would make an amazing lunch? I have no freakin’ idea! Thursday afternoon…lunch time…and I prepare my roomie’s soup first…getting water and filling it to the line in the container with water, then using the 3 minute microwave method to eat it up. It was piping hot when the microwave beeped and I prepped my bowl to go in. This simply means…I pull off the lid (not microwave safe), dump out the contents, which include a packet of noodles, seasoning packet, salt packet, and a little plastic fork. Add water up to the line and then stick the container in to warm for three minutes. I delivered hers with gusto, showing her the fork (hers broke right away…mine did not break at all). Spoon not provided, but it is a big bowl/cup thing…so you can always slurp the broth…
Anyway, I returned as my bowl was finishing up and I removed it from the microwave and walked it (with fork in hand) back to my desk. I let it cool slightly before dipping the fork into the broth and spinning up a clump of the soybean noodles. One taste was all it took for me to immediately berate myself for not purchasing more of these beauties. The noodles were perfect…not mushy and definitely not going to get mushy throughout the time it took me to consume said container. They stayed perfect…al dente and delicious! I mean…really delicious. The seasoning packet added all the flavor, and the brilliant part of the salt packet was that I could choose how much salt went in. I put in half the packet in each bowl…and it was perfect. Great flavor. The noodles were definitely the stars. My only complaint, I think, was that there were only like 4 pieces of vegetable in this soup. It was all broth and noodle…and a piece of corn…maybe two…and a little bit of the chives. I can’t make this up. So, a little lacking on the actual vegetables…but those noodles were on point. YUMMY! And, trust me, nothing makes a hectic week better like a warm bowl of soup. Am I right? Of course I’m right!
So, let’s discuss the ingredients that are inside the Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup, shall we? This soup contains organic soybeans, organic rice, water. The seasoning packet includes maltodextrin, sichuanese pepper, wild pepper, star anise, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, dehydrated chives, dehydrated carrot, dehydrated sweet corn. And, as mentioned, the salt packet is separate. This amazing soup is gluten free, vegan (they also have vegan chicken and beef flavored as well), and non-GMO.
So, I’ve mentioned how this is actually a healthy (and filling) choice for an easy, brain-less meal, right? But now let me prove it with the nutritional information on the Explore Asian Gluten Free Vegetable Flavor Soybean Noodle Soup. A serving size is 2.2 ounces (aka: 1 container). This serving will dish up 207 calories, 3 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 grams cholesterol, 150 mg sodium (if you add the entire salt packet, you are adding an additional 606 mg sodium…so if you are watching your sodium intake like we are…a dash does just fine!), 25 grams carbohydrates, 12 grams fiber, 8 grams sugars, and 20 grams of protein. When I said that this soup will make you feel full, I wasn’t kidding!!
Filling, yes…but even more importantly…YUMMY! This soup went above and beyond all expectations. This is not ramen noodles. This is not Cup ‘O Noodle. This is a healthy, beneficial, amazing soup that I hope I can locate somewhere around where I live…otherwise next time I journey through Cincinnati…I’ll have to stop off at Jungle Jim’s specifically to pick up more of these. It was a lunch I felt good about eating…even if I was doing it at my desk while working.
Okay, it’s really not that exciting. From my standpoint, it is…but in the grand scheme of things…definitely not novel, short story, or even periodical worthy.
You see…September 19th marked my birthday. A milestone birthday…for a runner. I was moving up an age division. It fell on a Saturday this year, and for over a year, I had planned to run the Air Force Marathon to celebrate. Unfortunately, I fractured my ankle and couldn’t do it. As with everything running related this year. And I was really, really bummed. Like…having a meltdown the night before and just wanting to skip doing anything on Saturday because it wouldn’t be what I really wanted to do.
My roommate had other plans. She and her family through in and gave me a $150 spending spree at Jungle Jim’s International Market…which is literally, Disney World for foodies…minus all the fun rides and characters. Which means, it is actually nothing like Disney World…unless you are there for the food! I mean, it is heaven for any foodie. And it’s a good thing I don’t live closer to Cincinnati, Ohio, or I’d be tempted to go there more often. That being said, I spent a good 2 hours perusing the aisles of the 20,000 square feet of Jungle Jim’s, searching high and low for gluten-free products I haven’t seen in my area. I’m still on the hunt for Rudi’s Gluten Free Texas Toast…which I have NOT been able to locate…and figured if anywhere would have it it would be Jungle Jim’s. So, while I didn’t find that particular goodie on my “must have” gluten-free indulgent food list…I did get a lot of good stuff.
And, believe it or not, the very last item to go into my shopping cart was…the Chubby Bunny Bakery Jumbo Pumpkin Cookie with Caramel Icing. And, it almost didn’t make the cut. I was down to going between a fresh gluten-free granola, a gluten-free lemon bar, and the cookie. In the end, the cookie monster in me won out…and the cookie was what ended up in the cart, and then in the bag, and then…in my freezer (I had the most amazing gluten-free cookie cake made by my local bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café, so this had to be kept fresh while I polished that off and then went out of town for my best friend from high school’s wedding).
Last night, it emerged from the depths of my freezer and made it into my fridge to thaw out so that it could be my indulgent dessert tonight. Although, after stopping by Annie May’s for Soft Pretzel Wednesday™ and discovering her new Cookie Dough Cupcake…it was a near thing. I passed (amazingly enough) on the cupcake…this time.
Dinner was easy tonight as I had everything prepped ahead of time and it just required a little bit of warming up before serving. This meant that my dinner (Vegan Pizza Chili…for the record) was actually made and consumed in a timely manner. And this also meant…dessert at a decent hour (although it is never too late or too early for a sweet treat, if you ask me!). So, while my roommate and I were devouring our chili, the cookies were out of the fridge and resting on the counter. And after dishes were cleaned up and put away…dessert time!!
Chubby Bunny Bakery makes only gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free goodies. Some of their items do contain soy and/or nuts, but they can prepare any of their baked goods with a substitute ingredient upon request. This vegan bakery stocks the shelves of markets like Jungle Jim’s and the Oxford Farmer’s Market (through November), as well as the Moon Co-op in Oxford, Ohio. Chubby Bunny uses organic and non-GMO ingredients whenever possible and use no preservatives or ingredients that you can’t pronounce. Real ingredients yield a tastier, better, more indulgent treat.
The Chubby Bunny Bakery Jumbo Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Icing come two in a container. Now, if the cookies were smaller, I’d simply dish one up for me and one up for my roommate. But these are JUMBO cookies…and therefore, I can get 2 nights out of 2 cookies…simply by splitting the cookies in half. Which…means an extra night of tasty cookie goodness. Pumpkin was the first thing to catch my eye when I chose these, for the record, as I love, love, love pumpkin-flavored ANYTHING (except pumpkin pie, but that’s more of a texture thing). That was why these came home with me. Two words…that win me over every freakin’ time: Pumpkin and Caramel. HELLO!!
So, I removed one (1) of the two (2) cookies from the clam shell container they came in and sliced it right in half. The knife glided through, which meant a couple of things: soft and moist. Winning already before the first bite. I loved the rather extravagant layer of the caramel icing that literally coated the entire cookie itself. Sort of like a miniature cookie cake. I’m all for this. I handed half to my roommate while I took a bite of the other half.
HOLY FAT RABBIT, GLUTEN FREE AND VEGAN BATMAN!
The Chubby Bunny Bakery Jumbo Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Icing are crack in cookie form. The icing is sweet and loaded with delicious caramel flavoring. As I am not big on icing or frosting…this is a huge thing for me to notice. It didn’t overwhelm the cookie, just enhanced the already delicious cookie that was underneath. Because the star…the pumpkin cookie itself was fantastic. The cookie was soft and moist, not at all crumbly or dense. The pumpkin flavor was at the perfect level…not too much, but definitely noticeable. It hit every right note on my musical foodie tastebuds. I mean…WOW. There was absolutely nothing about this cookie that I didn’t like…except that I cut it in half to share instead of eating it all myself. HA!! Yes…if you can find them or order them…do not waste another moment and get yourself these cookies. It’s officially fall. Pumpkin is in. These cookies are pumpkin. Therefore, these cookies are what you need to be eating RIGHT NOW!!
Seriously…
Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we? Chubby Bunny Bakery Jumbo Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Icing are produced in a home, but per law, the ingredients that go into each chewy, moist cookie of pumpking yumminess are listed on the package. The pumpkin cookie portion of this treat is made from brown rice flour, potato starch, organic pumpkin puree, vegan margarine (palm fruit oil, canola oil, soybean oil, flax oil, olive oil, filtered water, pea protein, sunflower lecithin, lactic acid [non-dairy], naturally extracted annatto), ground organic flaxseed, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, xanthan gum, sea salt and vanilla extract. The icing portion is made from vegan margarine (palm fruit oil, canola oil, soybean oil, flax oil, olive oil, filtered water, pea protein, sunflower lecithin, lactic acid [non-dairy], naturally extracted annatto), brown sugar, powdered sugar, organic rice milk, and vanilla extract. This bakery only offers gluten free and vegan treats. Indulge!
While I can give you ingredients, as stated before, these are produced in a home, so there is no nutritional information to share. However, as stated before, these cookies are amazing…so ruin your diet for a day or two. And go check out the Facebook and Instagram pages for Chubby Bunny Bakery and see what other goodies they are baking up!!
So resisting the urge to drive to Jungle Jim’s this weekend just for more cookies…
Product: Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spongies – $2.25
Ah, Columbus, Ohio. What a strange place to find so much gluten-free goodness. But, let’s be completely honest…I find so many gluten-free goodies there. And one of my primary sources for this is the Raisin Rack, which my friend Jenn, introduced me to once upon a time. Since then, this store has become a staple as far as stops go when I’m in town (others include the gluten-free crepe place and the gluten-free bakery).
On my most recent visit for a fun weekend with my friend, our final stop before heading back to her house was…Raisin Rack. My budget was a bit tighter, so I was only given an allowance of 10 food items to try this time. And after walking around the gluten-free section about 20 times, I started to put in my choices.
At the end of one of the one of the aisles, there was this cooler…and inside were some fun desserts, snacks, treats…whatever. And the ones that really, really caught my attention was these little cylindrical cakes filled with a marshmallow cream.
And…if you see where I’m going…you’ll know that this can only mean…
GLUTEN FREE TWINKIES!
Except Twinkies are trademarked and all that jazz.
So, a local gluten free kitchen created their own take on the Hostess treat…
Cream-Filled Spongies!
Don’t you just love that? Spongies. HA! Just saying it is fun. I bought two of them…one for me and one for my roommate, and we stocked them in my freezer upon transporting frozen stuff in dried ice…all the way back to the Louisville area. They stayed in the freezer up until tonight…
Because I really just wanted a simple dessert tonight. And this was as easy as putting these in the fridge the night before to let them thaw to perfection. I let them sit on the counter, by the way, while I cooked and ate dinner…so they were about to room temperature when it was time to feast on dessert.
Before I get into what I thought of the Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spongies…let me tell you a little about Bake Me Happy.
Bake Me Happy is a gluten-free kitchen that believes that dessert should always be delightful. In 2006, Wendy was self-diagnosed with a gluten intolerance and immediately felt relief from a life of digestive issues. The problem she was encountering was that her food choices were lacking in flavor and texture…and her choices of what she could eat were limited. So, Wendy began her foray into the world of gluten-free cooking and baking…eventually taking an immersion course at the acclaimed Culinary Institute of America and began to test recipes out on unsuspecting friends. When her friends and family, who were not even gluten intolerant, began asking for treats for their parties, she knew she was onto something and that her baked goods were ready for the public. And so, Bake Me Happy is the bakery that Wendy and Letha, her partner in gluten-free crime, opened. This bakery is commited to making every bite the most decadent gluten free treat anyone has had since sliced bread. If you have a craving, enjoy a baked good that won’t crumble to dust and leave you feeling like there is no pleasure in food. Because Wendy has to eat gluten-free, she understands why good food is important and works hard to perfect her recipes.
And so…out of one of these recipes came…Bake Me Happy’s Gluten-Free Cream-Filled Spongies.
And these little cream-filled treats had to make their way home with me. And tonight…after a stressful day…I really wanted something different and fun for dessert. The Spongies were the perfect option. After consuming dinner (I made black bean tostadas) and cleaning up the kitchen…dessert was on. The Spongies had come to room temperature for the most part…only a slight chill from the fridge remained. So, I opened up the package, gave one to my roommate and then did the same for myself.
I ate mine standing up in the kitchen.
The Bake Me Gluten Free Cream-Filled Spongies look just like Twinkies. So…nostalgia happiness. I know some people who would turn up their nose at the thought of eating a Twinkie of any sort. But not me. Not when most of these regular goodies that are the norm for anyone aren’t for me. Twinkies are a dime a dozen…until you’re gluten-free. Then…they are a special treat.
The Bake Me Gluten Free Cream-Filled Spongies are golden snack cakes filled with a whipped marshmallow cream. Yep. Just like a Twinkie. And so…I first examined the little cake of cream-filled goodness. It was soft and spongy like a Twinkie…shaped like a Twinkie…and the filling was piped in through three holes in the bottom. I took one bite…
The Spongies cake was soft, but slightly gritty. It had a great flavor to it…that rich buttery flavor that these snack cakes are known for…but the star was definitely the cream that was to fill the treat itself. Sadly, the three holes were the only places the cream made it. it was not piped throughout the entire cake itself…but in three little sections. Which, is a bit of a disappointment. The best part of the Twinkie is the cream. Well, that part was true for the Spongies too. The marshmallow cream was AWESOME. The flavor and texture was fantastic. I was disappointed that there wasn’t more of it. Seriously. It was lacking in cream. The cake to cream ratio was WAY off. But the cream that was there, I wanted to savor and enjoy…forever. And I couldn’t…because there wasn’t enough of it. The grittiness of the cake was a little off-putting, but when teamed with the cream, it worked. But they had to be eaten together. It was a bit of a let-down.
Let’s talk about the ingredients that go into Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spongies. The cake portion of these treats are made from a gluten-free flour mix (white rice flour, cornstarch, sweet rice flour) butter (sweet cream, natural flavoring) sugar, eggs, whole milk, baking powder (cornstarch, bicarbonate of soda, sodium aluminum sulfate, monocalcium phosphate, vanilla bean paste (sugar, water, vanilla extract, vanilla beans, gum tragacanth (a natural thickener)), salt, and xanthan gum. The cream filling is made from butter, marshmallow cream (corn syrup, sugar, egg whites and vanilla bean paste [sugar, water, vanilla extract, vanilla beans, gum tragacanth (a natural thickener)]}, confectioner’s sugar (sugar, cornstarch), organic shortening (100% organic expeller pressed palm oil), vanilla bean paste (sugar, water, vanilla extract, vanilla beans, gum tragacanth (a natural thickener)). This product is produced in a gluten-free facility.
As for nutrition, a serving of Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spogies is 1 cake (48 grams). This serving will dish up 180 calories, 8 grams fat, 4.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 45 mg cholesterol, 105 mg sodium, 26 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 15 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein. Not filling…but it’s a dessert and should just be the icing on the cake…or the filling in the sponge-cake as is the case here. HA!!
I didn’t dislike the Bake Me Happy Cream-Filled Spongies. I just felt a little…cheated by them. The cake was definitely not up to standard…but the cream was some of the best I have ever tasted. So, there is the quandary. I’m not done with the goodies from Bake Me Happy. Not one bit. But I think the cream filling in the Spongies needs a bit more room to shine like the awesome fluffy goodness that it is. That being said…there are other goodies from Bake Me Happy that I’m dying to try. I might have to go by the bakery itself next time I find myself in Columbus!
Product: Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves – $5.99+
My pantry is overflowing these days with fruit preserves. I am a jelly and jam fanatic. Seriously. If there is a way to utilize jam in a recipe, by God, I’m going to do it. Fruit preserves are one of the little joys in life. And I am a huge fan.
So, imagine my excitement when the final Cuisine Cube box I was set to receive (I had to cancel it due to financial obligations toward medical bills) had a jar of fruit preserves inside!! Insert me…doing a happy dance of joy. It was the perfect ending to a year-long and fantastic partnership with this amazing subscription box. So, before I talk more about the product itself, let me remind you or explain (in case you are new) what Cuisine Cube is all about!
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?!
So…as it stands, we are still delving into May (Is For Mom) 2015 cube. This morning was a swimming morning at the gym, meaning that I normally take in a smoothie and my roomie gets something easy that cooks up while I shower and get ready for work. We have gluten-free bread. We have vegan cream cheese. Hmmm…
See where I’m going here?! The best part is, this morning, I needed a new jam to top off the ricotta toast with, and this was just staring at me at the forefront of the jarred preserves shelf in my pantry (I recently reorganized). It was the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves that I had been so excited about receiving, but hadn’t had a moment to actually use them. Until now.
Vino de Milo began at a food business incubator, the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet). After a few issues that needed to be worked through, the company obtained a beautiful logo, the addition of wine, and a growing business began. It began simply when an eggplant sauce for a catering job led to a packaging experiment in the adjoining bottling facility. One thing led to another, wine was suggested and then added to the sauce…and Vino de Milo, the product line, was born. This company prefers to use ingredients from local suppliers in Ohio. And, as the brand has grown, they have added more products and capabilities. With a research and development chef on staff, new products are not only being developed, but can easily be customized for retail sales. From it’s humble start in 2003 by Jonathan Milo Leal, Vino de Milo has grown from only offering 3 pasta sauces to a full line of from-scratch-made products that include salad dressings, pasta sauces, bruschetta toppings, salsas, BBQ sauces, and fruit preserves. All of which, by the way, include wine in some way, shape or form…hence the name…VINO de Milo.
So…as I said…it was my May 2015 Cuisine Cube, and most of the ingredients inside had some sort of Mother’s Day spin on them. Kinda. I’d say that the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves did above all other products in that box. For sure. Because…WINE! This morning…it was a wine-infused breakfast morning. I toasted up gluten-free bread and then gave each slice a healthy spread of vegan ricotta cheese. Then, I simply scooped out the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves and settled them over the top, giving them a light smoothing with the back of the spoon. Breakfast…was easily made, quick, and…
DELICIOUS!! My roommate isn’t big on cherries, like I am, but she absolutely loved these preserves. I am certain it had nothing to do with the crispness that the Riesling wine (her favorite kind of wine, mind you) brought to this spread. Or…perhaps it did. I don’t know about her, but I loved how deep and rich the cherry flavor was, with that Riesling really stepping it up and bringing out this crispness, keeping the cherries from being too tart on their own. I fell in love with the smooth, yet a little chunky consistency to these preserves, finding chunks of cherries to be an inviting and tasty way to enjoy this spread. Seriously…packed with great flavor, not overly strong, and just…delicious. Wine or not, these preserves are the cherry on top. HA!
Let’s discuss what goes into a jar of the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves. This amazing spread is made from red tart cherries, sugar, Riesling wine, pectin, cherry concentrate, and citric acid. Simple. Basic. REAL ingredients. These preserves are 100% all natural. No chemicals, preservatives, or artificial fillers. It is also vegan and gluten-free. YAY!
So, let’s take a look at the nutrition information now, shall we? A serving size of the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves is 1 tablespoon. This serving will provide you with 25 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 mg sodium, 6 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 5 grams sugars, and 0 grams of protein. For fruit preserves, that sugar level is fantastic!
I was beyond impressed with the Vino de Milo Cherry Riesling Fruit Preserves. With it spread over the vegan ricotta cheese, it was almost like eating cheesecake for breakfast. LOVE a healthy meal that tastes like a treat. Vino de Milo puts out quality products made with local and amazing ingredients…all blended with a little bit of wine. And who wouldn’t love that. Now that I know this is out there, I hope that I can find it on the shelves. But it’s because of Cuisine Cube that I am aware it exists. And if I can’t find it locally…I can always order it online!
And so can you. And this is me…encouraging you to do just that. Trust me…this is one jam you don’t want to miss!
Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams
Product: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams – $4.99+
Chocolate. Graham. Crackers.
Three words that, to someone like me, are just as important as “I love you.” Okay…well…maybe not, but this comes really close in my book.
For the longest time, the gluten-free market was devoid of graham crackers. There were a couple out there…sure, most notably Kinnikinnick’s S’moreables and Schär’s Honeygrams…which I’ve sampled, but have never purchased for myself. Oh, and there are plenty or recipes out there. Even the famous GF Jules was selling a mix where you could bake your own. But cracker baking and I don’t always get along…and the gluten free snack isles were still missing that WOW with the graham cracker love.
And then…along came Pamela!
Pamela’s Products first announced their latest product breakthrough at this year’s Expo West. They were going to be offering two different types of snack crackers…in the sweetened graham form. Graham crackers!! Graham crackers that reached beyond the ordinary. In fact, Pamela’s Products stepped it up and took graham cracker snacking to the next level by offering two different sizes…Graham Cracker Size and Mini Grahams…in three (3) flavors: Honey, Cinnamon, and Chocolate.
How can you NOT get on board with this??!
The hardest part, initially…was finding them. I searched high and low in my area for these and finally gave up, believing that it would take at least a year for the Louisville area to get them in. But then, randomly one afternoon with a quick stop by my Kroger (of all places)…two flavors of the mini grahams sat on a shelf, illuminated in the heavenly fluorescent grocery store lights. And, yes, I snagged a box of each and took them home with me. I had to have them. I’d been searching for them. It had to happen.
Previously, I devoured the box of the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Cinnamon Grahams by making up little deconstructed S’mores bowls for desserts. The box of the Mini Chocolate Grahams have been waiting their turn to shine, but with summer in full swing, I was all about cool treats from the freezer. But the cooler fall temperatures are moving in…and with that…out comes the big bowl of S’mores-y goodness once again. But this time…with a complete chocolate spin.
Yep…the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams came down from the top pantry shelf tonight. And into a couple of bowls they went. Just as with the Cinnamon variety, the Mini Chocolate Grahams are also little medallions of graham cracker goodness…about the size of a quarter, sporting a gorgeous “P” for “Pamela” on each one. The Mini Chocolate Grahams are shaped like little hexagons, perfect for one-bite servings, especially if you just want something mindless and easy for snacking purposes. Or, hey…dip them into milk or coffee. YUM! But, now I’m getting away from the point. The point is…they are the perfect snack size. I popped a few to much on (for the sake of the blog, you know!) while building the Double Chocolate S’mores Bowls tonight. This dessert started with a layer of the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams, a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips, and then topped off with vegan marshmallows, which I then toast with my kitchen torch, successfully melting the chocolate chips in the process. In essence…the ideal dessert bowl of marshmallow perfection.
Oh chocolate gods above…this is the perfect…perfect mini graham snack. These crackers make all other chocolate snacks pale in comparison. Not only are they crunchy, but they are sweet and packed with a chocolate punch, that doesn’t overpower, but definitely lets you know…this graham cracker is chocolate…not honey…not cinnamon. Chocolate, baby! I love that each cracker is lightly dusted with a bit of sugar, bringing out a nice hit of sweetness. And when paired with the melt-y dark chocolate chips and the toasted mini vegan marshmallows…oh…dessert nirvana. S’mores taken to the next dessert level. Who says you need a campfire?! For that matter, who says S’mores can’t be made gluten free. These crackers are AMAZING!! Sinfully deliciously good. The Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams are ideal for snacking, munching, dunking, or for use on desserts, as a pie crust, topping off ice cream…making mini ice cream sandwiches, or simply putting over your morning cereal (I make a killer S’mores hot cereal…that these will be DELICIOUS on!). What’s not to love, especially when all that flavor comes from real cocoa!!
Let’s discuss what the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams are made from, shall we? This particular treat is made up of a gluten free flour blend (brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, xanthan gum), brown cane sugar, organic non-GMO butter (salted), cocoa powder, gluten-free oat bran, organic non-GMO honey, molasses, gluten-free flavors, baking soda, grainless and aluminum free baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, potato starch, sodium bicarbonate), sea salt, and a topping that is made up of organic sugar. This product is certified gluten-free by GFCO, made in a dedicated gluten-free facility, and kosher certified. They are gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, corn-free, nut-free, egg-free, contain no artificial flavors or additives, contain no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, and contain no corn syrup.
If that doesn’t make you want to rush out and find these…this might…
The nutritional facts for the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams aren’t too bad either. A serving size is 10 crackers (29 grams) and there are about 7 servings per box. This serving will provide you with 140 calories, 6 grams fat, 3.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 140 mg sodium, 22 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 11 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein. Not too bad for a handful of chocolate mini graham crackers, right?! I’m happy with it. Happily eating straight out of the box. HA!
No…we all know, I’m the queen of portion sizes. I live by my kitchen scale!
So…feel free to find, purchase, open, and snack away on a box of Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Mini Chocolate Grahams. Munch, crunch, dunk, dip, or pile high with chocolate and marshmallows…and devour. Do whatever it is you want with these little miniature graham crackers. These gluten-free treats are fantastic. A great chocolate snack that will definitely curb your craving…without denying you that fantastic chocolate flavor you love and crave. Trust me…you’ll want more than one box.
Double Chocolate S’mores Bowl made with Pamela’s Products Gluten-Free Mini Chocolate Grahams, dark chocolate, and vegan marshmallows
There are few things in life as perfect as a bagel, right? All my New Yorkers, let me hear those cheers of agreement. They are crispy, and soft and chewy and…just amazing little morsels of bready goodness that actually due fill you up and keep that motor running all the way through lunch time. Bagels and I have been BFFs for years.
Well, we were breakfast besties until I was diagnosed with Celiac. Then the bagel and I had to break up. Yep…because I just couldn’t find a decent one out on the market. Which…sucks. Yep. Sucks. The closest I came to bagel perfection was Udi’s Gluten Free Bagels (now available in a variety of flavors) and also Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bagels (Plain & Everything), which were just released this past year. They weren’t perfect…but they were the best out there. Most of the other ones I tried were wrong in texture, taste, or everything. Katz Gluten Free offered some good ones…but again…not anything like the bagels I grew up consuming.
And then, one day, that all changed…
I had just posted on Twitter about trying the new Canyon Bakehouse bagels, when I was tweeted at by the PR person at this random gluten free bagel company, called Sweet Note Bakery. I was, naturally, intrigued. So…I did find myself scoping out their Web site and seeing all the amazing bagel flavors they have to offer. Their bagels not only looked amazing, but sounded amazing too. To top things off and really sweeten the deal for this former New Yorker and bagel-enthusiast, they were New York style! And yes…New York does have a style for bagels. Smaller and more dense. For such a big and bustling city, you wouldn’t think small and dense would sum up the bagel style. But it does…beautifully.
So, Sweet Note Bagels started 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.
And, as you know, I have already sung the praises of the Plain, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, Chocolate Swirl and Poppy. Which means…Sesame was the last holdout. I’d been meaning to place an order with Sweet Note Bakery…but life’s been a bit hectic as of late. It kept slipping my mind, although in the mornings I’d be all “I wish I had bagels.” So, one would think I would take drastic action. But, alas…craziness.
But then I finally made the trip up to Columbus, Ohio, to visit my friend Jenn for a weekend. And, one of my favorite stops to make (and one reason I travel with a cooler) is at The Raisin Rack. It’s a great natural food store with a gluten-free section that blows my mind. And, as I was meandering down the aisle…what should I see in the freezer…but Sweet Note Bagels – Poppy and Sesame variety. The two that I hadn’t tried yet. It was an omen. It was a sign. Yes…both flavors were in my basket, in my shopping bag, in my cooler, and then in my freezer.
With Poppy long gone, and a hectic and even more stressful week this week than originally planned…the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels made their debut in my kitchen (and my belly) yesterday and were polished off today. Let me tell you…these were completely worth the wait. I pulled the sleeve of Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels out of the freezer yesterday morning, just as I was about to make them. Why? Because the bagel goddesses in charge of the Sweet Note Bagel Empire instruct per the packaging that you should not let these bagels thaw to room temperature…and instead, microwave them to perfect softness for about 60 seconds. Allow to cool (or don’t) and slice in half. Toast these bagel halves to perfection, either in a toaster, or, if you’re like me and don’t own a toaster, in the oven at 350°F for about…15-20 minutes. What emerges is sheer toasty bagel perfection, all golden brown and ready for their liberal schmear of the vegan cream cheese that is in my fridge. Time to dig in.
I love anything with sesame seeds on it, honestly, and these get a nice toasting, making the flavor really…pop. I was hooked at first bite, for real!! The Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels are what sesame bagels are meant to be like. Perfectly coated, because bagel perfection is what Sweet Note Bakery is all about. They hit up the top with a nice layer…and speckle that bottom. No plain bottoms here. No way! Every bite gives you that sesame flavor that you love. The bagel itself…a nice crisp on the outside with that soft, chewy center. It’s amazing what a good bagel can do to start your day off right. And the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagel is not just a good way to start your day off on a sweet note (heh…see what I did there?), it’s a great way! This bagel is everything you love about that sesame flavor, without having to go to your favorite Asian bistro at 5 am. They aren’t open. But your freezer is open 24/7…365 days a year. So stock happy bagels in your happy freezer…whichever flavor makes you happiest. But trust me, a good sesame bagel…no…a great sesame bagel like the one from Sweet Note…is a happy place and a happy food. Even better, the inner bread, that soft, chewy part, is perfect. No holes or airpockets, like those you can find in the gluten-free bagels in the supermarket. You know what I’m talking about…so you don’t have that “I paid for holey products!” moment and feel like you wasted your money and you’re not getting your fill. Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels are, like all their bagels…love in a bag. Every flavor has now been consumed with eager anticipation and foodie amazement…and everyone has left me satisfied. Bagel perfection…in a gluten-free, New York-style way. It doesn’t get any better than this!
So…let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels are made with LOVE (and you can tell!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, sesame seeds, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan and gluten-free…yes, please. I also love that their ingredient list is all real food. No weird chemicals and preservatives. Just real…tasty…perfect ingredients.
And now…here is where we discuss the nutrition facts of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels. A serving size is 1 bagel (128 grams), and there are 4 bagels in a sleeve. This one bagel will dish up 310 calories, 5 grams fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 22 mg cholesterol, 350 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 5 grams of protein. Seriously…this is a great choice for breakfast as it does keep you energized and full throughout the entire morning. So much love. Oh yes…a sesame coated love-fest for sure.
And guess what? This is not where my Sweet Note Gluten Free Bagel journey comes to and end. Nope. For one thing…I intend to always have some of these delights in my freezer. I’d be missing out on life if I didn’t. BUT…more importantly…it is September and that means they have just released their limited time fall flavor…PUMPKIN SPICE!
And you know me…I love PUMPKIN EVERYTHING! As my birthday is in 19 days…I think I’m going to have to celebrate by ordering some of their Pumpkin Spice bagels. I mean, I’ve earned it, right?
If you are a bagel aficionado like me…and if you have to eat gluten free (or not…because you really won’t care. These are awesome and my gluten-loving roomie LOVES these!), hurry over to their Web site and place an order. OR…check your local natural food stores, as they might carry them. Me…I still have to do the online order…but they ship fast and get here in amazing condition. I am so glad that they pinged my tweet about my blog or I’d never know the goodness of a perfect gluten-free bagel.
Sweet Note…I am definitely a #CrazyBageler!! Proud flag waver and supporter of your crazy-good, crazy-tasty, crazy-flavorful, crazy-that-they-are-gluten-free New York Style Bagels!! Love is all I have, which works…because love is what you give us! Thank you!
Sweet Note Gluten Free Sesame Bagels topped with a schmear of vegan cream cheese
Product Review: Daiya Cheezy Mac (Deluxe Cheddar, Deluxe Alfredo, Deluxe White Cheddar Style Veggies) – $4.99+/each
There is just something that is so uplifting about finding a newly released product rather quickly in your regular grocery store. That was exactly how I felt when I stumbled across the new line of Daiya Cheezy Mac, which I didn’t even know existed. So…surprise, surprise!
Usually I keep very up-to-date on any forthcoming gluten-free and dairy-free products, and Daiya is always my go-to when it comes to anything involving cheese! I have been a fan of Daiya vegan cheese products since I first had to go dairy-free. While I find that most of their products have that “Daiya” flavor…it doesn’t really change the fact that it is delicious vegan cheesy goodness. Gotta love it.
So, yes…imagine the happy dance of joy that occurred when I was walking the natural food aisles at my local Kroger and…as I turn around from the vegan milks…there on a shelf right at eye-level are three different varieties of the Daiya Cheezy Mac products. OH. MY. GOD. There were only 1 box left of each on the shelf. And they were all coming home with me.
I’ve been cutting out a lot of processed foods, but there is always a time and a place for easy-to-prepare products, especially on those weeks where you’ve planned out breakfast, snacks, and dinners…but forget about the ever-important lunch meal. Which is exactly what happened this past week. But, thankfully these beautiful boxes were sitting on a shelf in my pantry and definitely saved three days of lunches this past week (the other days brought allergen-free soft pretzels from the local gluten-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Cafe, and I cooked up a gluten-free vegan pasta with fresh veggies from the garden). Guess it was a week of pasta lunches…and I’m way okay with that.
So…let’s start with the first one that we tried right out of the gate…
Daiya Deluxe White Cheddar Style Veggie Cheezy Mac
Daiya Deluxe White Cheddar Style Veggie Cheezy MacDaiya Deluxe White Cheddar Style Veggie Cheezy Mac
This was the smartest pic of the day when we devoured this for lunch of Tuesday. There was a serious lack of veggies happening that day, with our local professional soccer team playing that night. The morning was filled with some gym-time and leftover couscous cakes and dairy-free yogurt. That at least had some fruit in it. But dinner, for me, was simply a protein bar (Luna Protein Mint Chocolate Chip if you were wondering…) so the veggies were a nice touch and perfect on this day. This box comes complete with a package of gluten-free brown rice pasta and dehydrated veggies (think peas, carrots, and red bell pepper) and a pouch of dairy-free “cheeze” sauce (not powder), which is white cheddar flavored in this particular version. As the noodles are boiled for 7-8 minutes to reach that perfect al dente, the veggies re-hydrate, adding not only a touch of color but some depth of flavor too. Noodles are drained and then put back into the pot and the cheeze sauce is then poured over top and mixed in. LOVE!! I LOVED THIS! I was so happy with the first bite I took of this pasta. It was creamy and dreamy and fluffy and awesome. And just…REALLY FREAKIN’ GOOD! How’s that. The veggies are a very nice touch and one that doesn’t leave semi-hard veggies into perfectly cooked pasta. It all came together. And the sauce being in a pouch and being a sauce, not a powder, meant it was silky and creamy and not lumpy and gunky. I really enjoyed this! I shouldn’t have been surprised…but I was.
Ingredients for the Daiya Deluxe White Cheddar Style Veggie Cheezy Mac are: Brown rice pasta (whole grain brown rice, rice bran, water), filtered water, dried vegetable blend (pea, carrot, red bell pepper), tapioca starch, non-GMO expeller pressed: canola and/or safflower oil, coconut oil, sea salt, vegan natural flavors, pea protein isolate, potato protein, tricalcium phosphate, evaporated cane sugar, lactic acid (vegan, for flavor), xanthan gum, yeast extract, titanium dioxide (naturally occurring mineral), onion, vitamin B12. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, certified vegan, and also kosher.
As for nutritional information for the Daiya Deluxe White Cheddar Style Veggie Cheezy Mac…my roommate and I split these to make a bigger meal, but the serving size is 1/3 of the package with 3 (obviously) servings per box. One serving will provide 290 calories, 9 grams fat, 3.5 grams saturated fat (from the coconut oil), 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 590 mg sodium, 48 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 1 gram sugars, and 6 grams protein. How about that??!!
Daiya Deluxe Cheddar Style Cheezy Mac
Daiya Deluxe Cheddar Style Cheezy Mac
So then, along came Thursday. And when I went to the pantry on Wednesday night to prepare the pasta for Thursday’s lunch, I asked my roomie if she wanted alfredo or cheddar. She went with the classic cheddar. And so, out that box came. Same basic cooking instructions as the other box. Which makes it really easy to plan on preparation timing. HA! Into the boiling water went the noodles (no veggies this time). Once they were done, they were drained and sauced accordingly. And this one…this one really wins the day. When I first started making the (highly processed) Velveeta Mac & Cheese meals at home, I loved how the sauce would just taste on the noodles, coating all of them in this great ooey-gooey-ness. And THAT was what Daiya did here. Daiya brought me the flavors of my adolescent years…in a version that I safely can devour and gorge myself on. Which, I could easily do. The rich, velvety cheeze sauce is a perfect cheddar flavor, coating each noodle in its creamy goodness. I was in heaven while I devoured this one at my desk that day. Seriously…beyond anything that I expected! I would marry this product.
The ingredients in the Daiya Deluxe Cheddar Style Cheezy Mac are: Brown rice pasta (whole grain brown rice, rice bran, water), filtered water, tapioca starch, non-GMO expeller pressed: canola and/or safflower oil, coconut oil, sea salt, vegan natural flavors, pea protein isolate, potato protein, tricalcium phosphate, evaporated cane sugar, lactic acid (vegan, for flavor), xanthan gum, yeast extract, titanium dioxide (naturally occurring mineral), annatto (color), onion, vitamin B12. This product is also gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, certified vegan, and kosher.
As for nutrition, a serving of the Daiya Deluxe Cheddar Style Cheezy Mac is 1/3 of the package and the package is meant to serve 3. A serving of the Daiya Deluxe Cheddar Cheezy Mac will provide you with 300 calories, 9 grams fat, 3.5 grams saturated fat (again…coconut oil), 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 580 mg sodium, 48 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 0 grams sugars, and 5 grams protein. It is filling and delicious and amazing and I love, love, love it.
Diaya Deluxe Alfredo Style Cheezy Mac
Daiya Deluxe Alfredo Style Cheezy Mac
My roommate didn’t grow up eating anything with alfredo sauce…so moving in with me has been an adventure. I’ve made this usually dairy-heavy sauce out of cauliflower and now have dished it up using Daiya’s version of this amazing sauce. While this one turned out to be her least favorite, I think this was my second favorite (cheddar being the best!). Same easy prep…same simple directions, but this time…that awesome those cooked noodles were drenched in the comforting white sauce that is alfredo. Yes…alfredo can be just as delicious without all the cream and dairy and Daiya proves it. I loved the little touch of black pepper, which brought a depth of flavor to each bite. The creamy sauce clung to the noodles, making each bite feel so sinful, but in honesty, it wasn’t. And that is what makes this the ultimate comfort food of all time. And, yes, this does have that cheesy, creaminess that is associated with alfredo for sure. You won’t even miss the real thing. This was true love. True, true love.
The ingredients that go into the Daiya Deluxe Alfredo Style Cheezy Mac are: Brown rice pasta (whole grain brown rice, rice bran, water), filtered water, tapioca starch, non-GMO expeller pressed: canola and/or safflower oil, coconut oil, vegan natural flavors, sea salt, pea protein, potato protein, tricalcium phosphate, evaporated cane sugar, lactic acid (vegan, for flavor), xanthan gum, titanium dioxide (naturally occurring mineral), yeast extract, spices, onion, garlic, vitamin B12. As before, this product is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, certified vegan, and kosher!
As for the nutritional information for the Daiya Deluxe Alfredo Style Cheezy Mac…a serving size is 1/3 of the package with (again, obviously) 3 servings per package. If you stick to that serving (my roomie and I just split it in half), you will be taking in 290 calories, 9 grams fat, 3.5 grams saturated fat (hello, coconut oil), 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 600 mg sodium, 48 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, 0 grams sugars, and 5 grams of protein. A creamy and dreamy product.
I believe in Daiya. I really do. They are experts and proving dairy-free and gluten-free alternatives to the grocery store aisles. Seriously…these boxes were some of the best investments I ever made. I loved the flavors and the creaminess that each different variety provided. And they really did all taste different…and while I certainly have my favorites, all three were a fantastic way to enjoy one of life’s best comfort foods, without destroying my stomach in the process. Daiya is proof that there is a God that loves the dairy-free (and gluten-free) people. And even if you aren’t required to eat this way, I highly recommend trying out these products regardless. My roomie is very much in love with these products and she doesn’t have to eat this way. She just does because I do.
The Celiathlete 