Quinoa – Page 3 – The Celiathlete

February 21, 2014

Product Review: Simply Shari’s Gluten Free and Fabulous Quinoa Mac & Cheese

Product: Simply Shari’s Gluten Free and Fabulous Quinoa Mac and Cheese – $3.49+

I haven’t had too much experience with products from Simply Shari’s Gluten Free and Fabulous. However, I have tried one frozen pizza…and loved it…and a couple of cookies…and enjoyed those. So, that’s a good track record, yes?

I think so.

Which is why when I was shopping at TJ Maxx of all places…when I spotted this macaroni and cheese I figured…why not try it? I mean…it’s a brand I am familiar with and have liked in the past. It’s made from quinoa. HELLO! And..it’s mac and cheese. One of my favorite comfort foods of all time.

With this being a no produce bin week, meals have been cobbled together from things in the pantry, fridge and freezer. While it’s not getting bare…sometimes choices are slim. With that being said, I’m hitting the pantry the hardest this week and digging out some items I purchased and just haven’t cooked up yet. Simply Shari’s Gluten Free and Fabulous Quinoa Mac and Cheese…it’s now your turn to shine.

Now, as I have stated before, I prefer to make my gluten-free mac and cheese from scratch. But it’s a crazy-busy week. I just got back into town on Monday night and I’m heading back out of town tomorrow after work for a weekend with my friend Jenn (who is always willing to try new gluten-free things because she rocks like that). No CSA bin…not a lot of grocery shopping went on. Just the bare necessities. So, very little time to linger in the kitchen, for sure. And for that reason, this little meal was popped out of the pantry. So, if I can’t go homemade, I’ll settle on a box or bag variety. I just prefer real ingredients as often as possible.

Cooking this was a snap. I brought a pot of water to a boil and added a bit of salt and oil, per the directions on the package. Then, in went the gluten-free noodles, which are quinoa, not brown rice. YAY! They cooked up in the boiling water for about 10-12 minutes. It didn’t take long. After that, you drain them, put them back in the pan on low heat, add a teaspoon of butter, 3/4 cup of milk (I used unsweetened almond milk) and then add the package of cheese powder. Stir it…let it thicken on the heat, and then…serve.

Simple.

Now, remember those days of long ago when you’d have that orange powder you’d pour into the Kraft Cheese and Macaroni? (Not macaroni and cheese, always reversed…I remember!). Anyway…this powder had those clumps, so I broke them up as best I could, and continued to stir until it was blended as best as I could manage. Into the bowls they went and dinner…was served.

One bite…that’s all it took. So creamy and tangy and delicious. The cheese actually gets to this rich velvety texture that coats each noodle. The noodles cook up perfectly. And, because they aren’t made completely of brown rice, they aren’t mushy and falling apart either. They held that elbow macaroni shape, even with all the intense stirring that occurred. The small clumpy bits of cheese powder reminded me of my childhood days with the Kraft stuff. I broke up most of them, but a couple lingered. Nothing that took away from the awesomeness of this dish. For real. The cheese was quite tasty. And the meal itself…quite filling.

I was beyond impressed.

Simply Shari’s Gluten Free and Fabulous Quinoa Mac and Cheese is made up of quinoa pasta (made from quinoa, rice and water), powdered cheese (which contains milk, salt, enzymes, whey, beta carotene for color, corn starch and salt). That’s it. Simple…easy ingredients. All of which I recognize. Let’s hear it for simple and basic ingredients! This product is also GMO free as well as gluten-free.

Nutritionally speaking, Simply Shari’s Gluten Free and Fabulous Quinoa Mac and Cheese is on the light side for mac and cheese. A serving is 4 ounces and the package holds 1.5 servings. For two people, it’s more than enough, trust me. This serving will give you 280 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will also be receiving 15 mg cholesterol, 330 mg sodium, and 1 gram of sugar. Not bad. And since I used unsweetened almond milk…no sugar there either. A serving gives you 2 grams of fiber and (the best part!) 18 grams of protein. That is NOT a typo! 18 grams of protein. Thank you quinoa.

So, healthy, creamy, cheesy and wonderful. Simply Shari’s Gluten Free and Fabulous Quinoa Mac and Cheese lives up to its name. Yes. It is…simply awesome!

Simply Shari's Gluten Free and Fabulous Quinoa Mac and Cheese (cooked) — Simply Shari’s Gluten Free and Fabulous Quinoa Mac and Cheese (cooked)

January 8, 2014

Product Review: Hilary’s Eat Well Original Veggie Bites

Product: Hilary’s Eat Well Original Veggie Bites – $5.69+

Sometimes, when I get my roommate a little tipsy and then take her grocery shopping, I get to purchase some of the products I’ve practically salivated over trying since I spotted them, but get told “next week” by the roommate and then “next week” turns into never. Song and dance of my life since having to change my diet over two years ago.

So…when I mix in a little alcohol and a twist of grocery shopping, sometimes I can worm a few products into the cart that normally wouldn’t be allowed due to the tight food budget. Ah…I miss drunken grocery shopping.

However, on one such occasion when it happened…I managed to get my roommate to agree to the purchase of Hilary’s Eat Well Original Veggie Bites. They intrigued me. They looked…interesting, sounded phenomenal, and weren’t too difficult to prepare. So, at first glance in the freezer section, they were a win with me. I kept pointing them out to my roommate on each venture to the grocery store…but the hint never sunk in. The “next week” line was given. Or…the budget was waved in front of my nose.

*sigh*

But…suddenly…she her grocery shopping tyrant barriers were down…and I had one shot. And…persistence and patience paid off. For sure. Because these little treats were in the basket, rung up at the register, and in my freezer before she could sober up.

According to Hilary’s Eat Well Web site, the company is dedicating to making delicious, convenient, and amazing food that is always gluten-free, dairy-free, corn-free, egg-free, soy-free, yeast-free, and nut-free. The company is best known for their original product, The World’s Best Veggie Burger, which debuted at owner Hilary Brown’s restaurant, Local Burger, in Lawrence, Kansas. With customer demand so high, Hilary’s Eat Well was developed so that she could bring her culinary creations to people who want to live healthy and sustainable lives, but still eat food that is easy to prepare at home and tastes great. The rest of the products that have been created since…must live up to these expectations.

So, why the Original Veggie Bites? What was it that made me glance at them on more than one occasion? They just sounded…interesting. Different. And, yes…all the “free from” on the packaging was also a draw. I love being able to tell if I can safely eat something quickly without having to pull it out of the freezer or off the shelf. So, that helped.

As I am prepping for a journey out of town, my CSA bin goodies have all been used up, I’m trying to keep the clean eating vibe going. These definitely, while processed, fit that bill. And they were easy enough to make, allowing for a stress-free dinner tonight. My roommate and I just split the bag between the two of us.

Cooking them is super easy. The packaging gives two options: oven and skillet. I love to bake things up in my oven, so I chose that option instead of pulling out a frying pan and oil. Besides, given the option, I always bake rather than fry. So, I set the oven for 400°F and put the Original Veggie Bites on a baking sheet. Then, into the oven they went, for 20 minutes. I flipped them over halfway through the baking process. I will say…they smelled phenomenal as they cooked up. And when they were done, I let them stand for 2 minutes, then served them up with some steamed broccoli. Healthy dinner, yes?

Of course…because Hilary’s Eat Well Original Veggie Bites are made from real ingredients. Seriously. In fact, the packaging lists water, organic millet, organic quinoa, organic expeller-pressed coconut oil, organic spinach, organic onion, organic garlic, organic psyllium husk powder, organic arrowroot, organic sweet potato, real salt, and organic apple cider vinegar. See…real…organic…ingredients.

And a serving…get this…is 2 of the Original Veggie Bites. My roommate and I each had 8 bites each. These 2 Original Veggie Bites serve up only 40 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. These tasty bites are cholesterol free and a serving only has 140 mg of sodium. Love that low sodium! In addition, a serving will also give you 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. So, probably not the most filling thing you can eat…but I’m still full and I ate 2 hours ago.

But…how do they taste? Hmm? Well…they taste like really amazing tater tots. The texture is even very similar to tater tots. You can really taste the quinoa and the veggies. I loved how they crisped up on the outside, getting that nice golden crust, and then were soft and savory in the middle. These were one of the most amazing things I have eaten from the grocer’s freezer in a long time. And it really makes me excited to try the veggie burger mentioned above in the very near future. These are honestly fantastic. I think they may always be kept in stock in my freezer. I love an easy meal. And one that is good for you too.

I was beyond impressed with my first taste of a product from Hilary’s Eat Well. I have only heard good things about this company and look forward (and even anticipate) my next purchase of one of these delicious products. Honestly, if you find them in your freezer…purchase them immediately and enjoy them for yourself.

I’m won over by Hilary’s Eat Well. For real.

Hilary's Eat Well Original Veggie Bites (baked) — Hilary’s Eat Well Original Veggie Bites (baked)

October 27, 2013

Product Review: KIND Healthy Grains Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters

Product: KIND Healthy Grains Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters – $4.99+

Granola.

I have it in my pantry every week. The thing is…the brand and the flavors change. A lot. Why? Because I love a good gluten-free granola. And while I have found some rather amazing ones…I love to change things up…try new things…sample new flavors.

Now, I am a huge fan of KIND. The KIND bars are amazing, nutritious, all-natural snacks of deliciousness. For real. I have enjoyed every flavor I have ever sampled…and there are still more that I have yet to try. Imagine that!! But KIND doesn’t just do bars. They also do this fantastic granola line as well. Before I picked up the Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters, I tried Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds…and it was love at first bite.

So, after returning from being out of town, and no CSA bin to work with…I had the opportunity to pair the apples I had in my fruit basket at home with whatever I wanted to in the morning parfaits I make with breakfast. Trying not to stop at too many grocery stores as we were now grocery shopping on a weekday…I asked my roommate to just pick one of the gluten-free options available at that store. She immediately locked onto the KIND varieties and snagged the Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters from the shelf.

Peanut butter…KIND product…this was going to be a match made in heaven…for sure. Peanut butter…as you may well be aware…is one of my most favorite things in life. In the world. I could eat it for live and never get bored with it. So…anything peanut butter flavored makes me one happy little vegetarian and gluten-free foodie.

As I said…apples were what I had at home. So, one morning, I set out to caramelize them to put in the Greek yogurt chilling in the fridge. But, to make this a true breakfast parfait…it needed a bit of crunch. It needed that granola topping. And peanut butter and apples go together so amazingly well. I mean…HELLO! They were meant for each other. In fact, one of my favorite snacks is slicing apples, coating them with peanut butter and raisins, and making them into sandwiches. YUMMY.

So, this parfait was definitely on the verge of epicness…before I even tasted it.

KIND Healthy Grains Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters…are beyond delicious. I mean…holy gluten-free granola goodness. Holy KIND awesomesauce. OM NOM NOM NOM. I would eat this stuff by the handful. I mean, it’s great on a caramelized apple and Greek yogurt…but it’s SO fantastic on its own. So, you can enjoy this any way you want and truly enjoy it. Each bite has that nice peanut flavor. In fact, little bits of peanuts are throughout these clusters. And that adds a nice bit of texture and salty-sweetness…that peanut butter is all about.

KIND Healthy Grains Peanut Butter Clusters are a blend of gluten-free oats, brown rice, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa. In addition to the whole grains, these whole grain clusters include evaporated cane juice, peanut butter, soy crisp, peanuts, whey protein, canola oil, sea salt, and natural vitamin E. Do note…these are not vegan due to the whey protein. Sort of sad about that. But, let’s face it…these are super delicious.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the KIND Healthy Grains Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters is 1/3 cup. This serving provides 130 calories and 3.5 grams of fat…which isn’t bad for granola. And since some of that fat comes from the nuts…it’s at least a healthy fat. These clusters are low in sodium and sugar, containing 80 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. I love a granola that isn’t loaded with sugar. LOVE it. These also contain 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Filling, and delicious!

Not only are these clusters gluten-free, but they are all natural, contain no refined sugars, are non-GMO, contain no trans-fats, are cholesterol free, and as mentioned above…low in sodium. Every ingredient is obvious in the mix…and the ingredients are all real and prodnouncable. No hidden chemicals or preservatives. All natural goodness.

So…do try these out. Especially if you are a peanut butter freak like I am. Do something KIND for yourself, your body, and your diet. Find KIND Healthy Grains Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters and devour them. Devour them for the awesomeness that they are adding to your diet. Eat them on their own, over yogurt, or like cereal with milk. Whatever you want. Just go and get them…eat them…and love them as much as I do.

Yeah…these will be on the definite “purchase again” list! Whole grains…good for you…peanut buttery crunchy goodness. It’s all of life’s treats in one simple bag.

Kind Healthy Grains Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters over caramelized apples and vanilla Greek yogurt

July 11, 2013

Nature’s Earthly Choice makes a Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil quinoa easy, quick, and amazing

Product: Nature’s Earthly Choice Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Easy Quinoa – $3.99+

This is my fourth flavor of the Nature’s Earthly Choice Easy Quinoa meals. And I think I can easily say that this one is my favorite. I started off with one that didn’t impress me at all. It just was bland. The following two were really good. Each one providing great flavor. But this one…this one in particular had it all working for it.

I am, of course, talking about the Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil variety of the Nature’s Earthly Choice Easy Quinoa product line.

For me, quinoa is never difficult or a hassle to make. I find it one of the easier grains to cook up. In fact, I do cook it up often. It is a staple in my pantry and when I do it myself, I can flavor it however I want. But there is something so compelling about having the seasonings and flavors done up for you. So, that was what initially drew me to the Easy Quinoa line. That and the fact that these were at a grocery store in Minnesota and I had never seen them before. Not in my area. Of course, I can find them in regular grocery stores now…but at the time, it was a new thing…and I had to have it.

Tonight brought about the last of the boxes from the pantry. This week has been insane with recovering from being out of town at a convention last weekend to heading out of town to Upstate New York for a race this coming weekend. So, hectic days, busy nights, and a lot of stress mean that dinners are being kept healthy…but simple. And this is just a matter of boiling some water, letting it simmer, fluffing and serving. Awesome.

Quinoa and seasoning packets for Nature’s Earthly Choice Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Easy Quinoa

So, before I get to the flavor and taste…let’s start with the ingredients and nutrition. Why? Because that should always be the first place you look on any sort of processed and packaged item you purchase.

As far as ingredients go, this list is pretty basic…quinoa is listed first…as it should be…as that is the basis of this entire product line. In addition to quinoa, you find garlic powder, potato starch, onion powder, dry milk, salt, yeast extract, sugar, olive oil, soybean oil, tomato powder, glucose syrup, maltodextrin, celery flakes, dehydrated bell pepper, spices, and natural flavors. So…while I’m not a fan of the maltodextrin and the glucose syrup…it does make me realize that maybe I should just go ahead and make my own from here on out.

As far as nutrition facts go, a serving size is 1/4 cup of the dry quinoa. The actual box contains 3.5 servings. One serving dishes up 160 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. The Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Easy Quinoa is cholesterol free and contains only 220 mg of sodium. That’s awesome for a packaged item. A serving also has 2 grams of sugar, 3 grams of fiber, and 6 grams of protein.

But the flavor…the flavor is awesome. Honestly. This was, by far, my favorite of the four flavors of the Easy Quinoa line. The roasted garlic is very prevalent and the olive oil helps provide a healthy fat and this nice hit of flavor as well. But the garlic is what makes it. This could have easily been served up in a bowl, as my roommate and I were making it an entree and each taking half of the box, but instead, I dished it up over fresh Romaine lettuce and touched it up with some fresh organic tomato slices. It made a very nice meal that was just packed with the richness of roasted garlic. Just…fantastic. If I were to purchase any of these again in the future, this would be the one I would get. So look for the pink box, okay?

While I love the simplicity of how to prepare this…boil water, take to simmer, add seasoning packets, let it absorb water, fluff, serve…I think I could make something from scratch that has just as much flavor and probably better and cleaner and healthier ingredients. So, I think next time I’ll just pull the quinoa out of my pantry and season it up myself. After all, there is nothing hard about preparing quinoa. While Nature’s Earthly Choice takes a lot of the seasoning out of the equation, it doesn’t need all the extra bells and whistles. It’s good. In fact, it’s quite tasty…but I think I could do it on my own…and better.

But, for an easy prep meal…this would be a good one to choose.

Nature’s Earthly Choice Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Easy Quinoa (prepared and served over Romaine lettuce with organic tomato slices)

July 5, 2013

New gluten-free Ancient Grains Granola Bars from Udi’s makes an easy, delicious snack

Special Delivery of Udi’s Gluten-Free Goodies – including brand new products!

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Granola Bars – $5.49+

Udi’s continues to expand on its gluten-free product line-up and I couldn’t be happier about it. After all, you have to grow and expand to get anywhere in this gluten-free product explosion that is facing the market these days. Luckily, I do have my favorite brands and, while I do sample others at times, there is no forgetting who is trusted in this market.

Everyone knows Udi’s. Their gluten-free bread was the first I ever tried that I actually liked. I mean, it tasted like bread. Sure, it’s smaller in size…but the texture, the taste…it was all good. It was all just as I wanted it to be. And from there, more and more of their products have made it into my home. And, with only one exception so far (the Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls), I have loved everything I have purchased and sampled from Udi’s. I even have my favorites. Some of them…are even on the new products list!

You see, a while back, I was the proud recipient of a box of goodies from Udi’s Gluten-Free, containing some of their old products and a few of their new products. Pure joy in the mail, let me tell you. I enjoyed revisiting some of their classic products, but even better…I loved being able to give their newest products a try as well. This was super exciting to me and I was looking forward to diving into each and every single product they provided for me.

This week, with my gluten-free pantry drying up, I reached in and removed the box of Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Granola Bars. Perfect. This would be the ideal snack to have in the late afternoon to get me through to when I could get home and cook dinner. I was really excited about trying these. They are one of the newly introduced products in Udi’s gluten-free snack line. In fact, there are actually three flavors that are out on the market now: Cranberry Almond, Chocolate Chip, and Ancient Grains. All of them sound really good…and if I find the other two varieties in my local stores, I’ll definitely give them a try as well.

As it was, one of these little granola bars came to work with me on Wednesday and at 3:00 p.m. I was ready to give it a try. The blank white wrapper gives no indication as to what awaits inside. Thankfully, the box that this came in was brightly decorated with a larger-than-life depiction of the granola bar waiting behind the mysterious white wrapper.

The Ancient Grains Granola Bar contains gluten-free oats, rice crisp, milled flaxseed, amaranth, and quinoa. These grains provide the structure and base from which the sweeteners, oils, raisins, and nuts are added. To sweeten and bind this granola bar, I note that Udi’s uses honey, brown rice syrup, evaporated cane srup, non-GMO canola oil, inulin, tapioca maltodextrin, palm oil, water, vegetable glycerine, natural flavor and something called Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086. And before you start to panic, that Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6068 is the Probiotics that are added to this granola bar to elevate the health factor. Yep. Probiotics. Good for digestion and all that.

But…what about the texture? The taste? I’m getting there.

Udi's Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (wrapped) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (wrapped)

After unwrapping this granola bar, I took a moment to examine it. You could see the variety of ingredients all mashed together into this granola bar. Nothing was indiscernible, which is always a nice touch. And, upon first bite, I discovered how soft and chewy these were. I guess the box indicates this, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was thinking…”WOOHOO! Gluten-free granola bars!” But, that was a nice surprise. I am not a fan of crunchy granola bars. I like to chew them, not crunch them. I like a soft, filling texture and that’s exactly what Udi’s provides. They aren’t overly sweet, thank goodness. They also aren’t a sticky mess and they don’t leave your fingers covered in residue. They are clean, and perfect. Bite-for-bite goodness. I was very impressed with these. They make a great, easy on-the-go snack or something light to chew on to get you through to dinner time or even lunch. It’s the right amount and fills you up just enough. And, wow…the flavor. Without being hidden under a layer of sugar or unnecessary chocolate, the ingredients of these bars speak for themselves. You taste the texture of the grains, get the sweetness from the honey and raisins, get that bit of crunch from the almonds that are added. It is a perfect snack, a good size to tuck away for later without fearing it will be too much.

Nutritionally speaking, an Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar will provide you with 140 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. One bar will also provide you with 40 mg of sodium and 10 grams of sugar. The sugar content seems a bit high, considering these aren’t very sweet…but with all the sweeteners added, I’m actually surprises it isn’t higher than that. I have definitely seen far worse for granola bars. The Ancient Grains Granola Bar also will provide your body with 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. Not too shabby!

Add this one to the long list of Udi’s Gluten-Free products that I have loved from the start. It’s a very long list. Because with Udi’s…they strive for perfection. They want their food to taste good. And, when consumers spoke out about their cinnamon rolls, they changed the recipe and reformulated them. I haven’t tried the new version…but I’d like to think I’d like them better the next time I do purchase them. I’ll keep an open mind for sure. Because when it comes to gluten-free companies, Udi’s has made a name for itself for the quality and attention they give their products and their customers. And that’s why people keep coming back to them.

Udi's Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (unwrapped) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Ancient Grains Granola Bar (unwrapped)

June 20, 2013

Purely Elizabeth keeps it simple but tasty with Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal

Product: Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal – $6.99+

Pure. Simple. Original. Natural. Organic. Gluten-Free.

That is a love letter of goodness if you ask me. Because this only proves that you don’t need to dress up something to make it taste good. You can let the pure, simple, clean ingredients speak for themselves. And that is exactly what Purely Elizabeth brand Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal does. Let me tell you, I could eat this stuff by the handful, without anything to top it off or add flavor. Honestly…it’s amazing on its own.

But I tend to use granola in my infamous breakfast parfaits, teaming it with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit of some variety (whatever may have been in the CSA bin that week). So, if it works well on its own, chances are it will be brilliant when paired with something else of equal deliciousness. And Greek yogurt and fresh fruit…is definitely winning!

So…let’s start with the basics of this very basic (but highly impressive) granola. The Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal is a blend of organic certified gluten-free oats, organic coconut palm sugar (for sweetness), organic raw virgin coconut oil, organic puffed amaranth, organic quinoa flakes, organic sunflower seeds, organic chia sees, organic cinnamon, and sea salt. I think I spy some organic, all-natural ingredients. Not one chemical or preservative is listed. This is the real deal and it’s packaged to be as clean and as healthy as possible. This granola is non-GMO project certified, free of refined sugar, soy-free, loaded with good-for-you fats, sweetened with organic coconut sugar. It is certified vegan, contains no artificial colors or flavors. All of it is hand baked and obviously made with love.

Don’t let the fact that it isn’t paired with dried fruits or something to bring it extra flavor deter you from this variety. This version doesn’t need it. Honestly, it is full of amazing flavor all on its own. The oats, puffed amaranth, quinoa flakes, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds are perfectly coated with the right amount of sweetness, pulled from the organic palm sugar. The hint of cinnamon adds a little bit more flavor. And all of it, the taste, the texture, the fantastic flavor…it is just rockstar. I can’t even imagine going back to other granola after continuing to be impressed by each variety of Purely Elizabeth granola cereals that I have tried.

So…nutritionally speaking, a serving of Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grains Granola Cereal is 1/3 cup. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. There are 2 grams of fiber in each serving and 4 grams of protein. In addition, this granola is cholesterol free and low in sodium (110 mg). So…delicious and oh, so good for you. Loving it.

If I were to purchase only one brand of granola from here on out…Purely Elizabeth would be the brand I would choose. It’s addictively good…and good for you. Give it a try…you won’t be disappointed. And don’t think Original means plain. There is nothing plain about this version of the granola. Simply put…it’s purely delicious.

Fresh Strawberry and Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait with Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grain Granola Cereal

June 6, 2013

Nature’s Earthly Choice turns up the power of protein with Easy Quinoa Mushroom & Vegetable Medley

Product: Nature’s Earthly Choice Mushroom & Vegetable Medley Easy Quinoa – $3.99+

By now…many of you know that I am obsessed with quinoa. I mean…obsessed with it. It is always in my pantry, ready for me to cook up, fluff up, and serve in a variety of ways. It is so versatile and can be used not only in cooking, but in baking too. This ancient grain is a protein powerhouse, something that I love about it. And it cooks up quicker than rice…and is way better for you too.

But…sometimes I just need something easy for dinner. Something I can just throw on the stove and not have to do anything else too. That’s when Nature’s Earthly Choice steps in with their handy-dandy boxes of Easy Quinoa. I picked up all four varieties that were available last year when I was in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Why? Because I had never seen this item before in any of my grocery stores (a few of my natural food stores now carry these) and…it was quinoa. QUINOA!!

Yes…that did say last year. I was in Minnesota to run a race and spend time with my family…and as a reward for doing so well on my run…I picked up some items I had never seen before. Or even heard of for that matter. These little boxes of quinoa goodness were just some of what ventured home in my luggage. As I have tried two of the four varieties so far, you will recall that one was a hit and one was a miss. So…the other night as I was prepping to head out for a fun run with my running group in Louisville, I needed something easy to make and easy on the stomach.

I pulled one of the Easy Quinoa boxes out of the pantry and hoped for the best. My selection: Mushroom & Vegetable Medley.

Sounded appetizing enough. I love mushrooms. I love veggies. I love quinoa. Had to be something to it, right?

Cooking this up takes about 20-25 minutes total. Something I didn’t consider when I thought I would be reaching for something quick. I sort of missed my group run and ended up running it on my own…by myself. Ah well.

Quinoa and seasoning packets for Nature’s Earthly Choice Mushroom & Vegetable Medley Easy Quinoa

As I was saying, once the water is boiling, the rest is easy. But you do need to account for the time it takes to bring the water to a boil. In a saucepan, add 2 cups of water and the pouch of quinoa and bring it to a vigorous boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the vegetable and seasoning packet. Give it a good stir so that everything blends together well. And then you just let the quinoa cook until it is tender and chewy (white spiral threads appear around each grain) and all the water is absorbed. Remove the pan from the heat and give this mixture a good fluffing with a fork.

Dish into bowls and settle in to eat. My roommate and I split the box between the two of us…but there are 3.5 servings per box. With this already being mentioned, I might as well hit you up with the down and dirty nutritional facts. One serving will provide your body with 160 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. The sodium content for something that comes from a box is very low, topping off at 230 mg per serving. You get 3 grams of fiber and an amazing protein hit of 6 grams. Awesome.

Every ingredient is something that I recognize. These include: quinoa, potato starch, onion powder, mushroom extract, dry milk, salt, yeast extracts, sugar, olive oil, soybean oil, garlic, tomato powder, glucose syrup, maltodextrin, celery flakes, spices, natural flavorings, citric acid.

So…how does this concoction of quinoa and dried veggies and spices taste? Better than I thought it would. The entire time it was cooking, I kept thinking that it smelled like chicken noodle soup…or some soup of that respect. It had a really great taste to it though. The onion and the spices really shine. I didn’t really get the mushroom flavor, but I’m sure it was blended in there. What mattered was how good it was. It had this savory, slightly salty flavor in each bite. The quinoa was cooked to perfection. And the flecks of veggies throughout the mix rehydrated really well when added to the water and allowed to cook into the quinoa. Everything just worked together really well and provided a distinct, and delicious flavor.

You could easily bulk this up into a main dish by adding a protein of choice (for me…tofu…for others, perhaps chicken, shrimp, beef or pork). Or…adding some sauteed vegetables or even some potato might really turn up the volume. The possibilities are endless…and that’s what is so great about Nature’s Earthly Choice Easy Quinoa. And, while the Sundried Tomato Florentine is still my favorite, this one is definitely a close second. I only have one more variety to try…and I’m really looking forward to it.

Search for these at your local grocery stores and/or natural food stores. Cook up a delicious protein-filled side or meal in no time flat. Yep…it really can be that simple.

Nature's Earthly Choice Mushroom & Vegetable Medley Easy Quinoa (prepared) — Nature’s Earthly Choice Mushroom & Vegetable Medley Easy Quinoa (prepared)

June 5, 2013

Purely Elizabeth Blueberry Hemp Ancient Grain Granola a step above the rest

Purely Elizabeth Blueberry Hemp Ancient Grains Granola Cereal

Product: Purely Elizabeth Blueberry Hemp Ancient Grain Granola Cereal – $6.99+

Flavor. Texture. Taste. Ingredients.

Everything that goes into a granola has to be spot on. Because a good granola will not be laden with sugar. If you are currently consuming a granola with a high sugar content…STOP! Just stop…now. There are better, healthier, more filling options out there that give your body the proper balance of nutrients it needs…instead of filling you up (briefly) with sugar.

One such brand…is Purely Elizabeth.

I originally tried the Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Fig granola a couple months ago…and fell in love with it. I was a bit leery about it…but it surprised me. Even more, the fact that it wasn’t laden down with chemicals, sugars, and unhealthy things made it all the more enjoyable to consume. Flavor was top of the line. It is one of the more expensive gluten-free granola on the market…but it’s worth it. Trust me.

That being said, when I found myself laden with fresh fruits and berries in my CSA bin this week…I picked up some Greek yogurt and figured breakfast parfaits would be an amazing addition to my favorite meal of the day. But…I’d need granola. And while there is a wide variety of gluten-free options out there, I was biding my time while hitting the various grocery stores that I haunt week in and week out. On my very last stop, I decided I would just go with whatever was there. And what was there were quite a few options…but imagine my joy at seeing the bags of Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola Cereal on the bottom shelf. I didn’t hesitate for a moment. Well…one moment…but that was just because I needed to choose a flavor. Only two remained…the Pumpkin Fig, which I had already tried previously…and the Blueberry Hemp.

Blueberry Hemp won and found its way into my shopping cart…then in my shopping bag…then in my pantry.

It was opened up and tried the very next morning.

A serving of Purely Elizabeth Blueberry Hemp Ancient Grain Granola Cereal

Let’s start with the basics of this variety and brand. The Purely Elizabeth Blueberry Hemp Ancient Grain Granola is made with all natural, organic, and gluten-free ingredients that include quinoa, amaranth, chia seeds, and raw virgin coconut oil. What these ingredients impart on the cereal is a nutritious blend of protein, b vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, energy-providing fatty acids, as well as anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. It sounds like a lot of technical mambo-jumbo, I understand. But it boils down to…you aren’t getting any GMO ingredients, any refined sugars, no artificial colors, some good-for-you fats, and lots of overall vitamins and good stuff for your body. Not. Just. Junk.

The evidence is in the ingredients: organic certified gluten-free oats, organic coconut palm sugar, organic raw virgin coconut oil, dried blueberries, organic puffed amaranth, organic quinoa flakes, organic sunflower seeds, organic hemp seeds, organic chia seeds, organic cinnamon, sea salt.

Anything you don’t recognize? Exactly my point. If you can honestly say you know what everything in a product is…I’d say that product is safe to consume.

But…that big looming question awaits…

How does it taste?

There aren’t enough words…but it is SUPER delicious. AMAZING. Really YUMMY! It is, perhaps, my favorite gluten-free granola I have bought yet. I mean…the texture is really good. Crispy, with a hint of sweetness from the coconut palm sugar. The dried blueberries give it an added boost of sweetness that ties in so wonderfully with the ancient grains and seeds that help give this granola its fantastic, crunchy texture. This…is granola with the volume turned up to 11. It’s, by far, the best one I have ever eaten…and trust me…go back through my blog…I have sampled quite a few.

Nutritionally speaking…a serving of Purely Elizabeth Blueberry Hemp Ancient Grain Granola is 1/3 cup. With this serving, you are consuming 140 calories and 6 grams of fat, much of which is the healthy fats your body uses for energy. Loving that. This serving will also give you 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. As for that sugar content…only 6 grams in a serving. That’s awesome from a granola. This granola is also cholesterol free and low in sodium (only 110 mg).

Granola that supplies your body with nutrients and not sugar…I’m perfectly okay with that. Even better…it’s not only good for you…it tastes great too. SOLD!! Go ahead…find it at your local stores and try it. Believe me…it’s worth the price tag. So…so worth it.

Fresh Fruit and Greek Yogurt Breakfast Parfait with Purely Elizabeth Blueberry Hemp Ancient Grain Granola Cereal

May 28, 2013

It’s Qrunch time…and veggie burgers have never tasted so good!

Product: Qrunch Foods Original Qrunch Burgers – $5.99+

Sometimes a product comes along…and it’s intriguing. It sounds like it could be the most amazing thing ever. It’s vegan. It’s gluten-free. It’s a veggie burger that I don’t have to sit there and ponder the contents of the box. It’s all laid out…right on the packaging. No second guessing. No searching the internet for an FAQ on the company. No secrets. Nothing to hide.

That’s what I first loved about Qrunch Foods Qrunch Burgers.

What is a Qrunch Burger, you might ask. Aside from the earlier prelude that this is, in fact, a veggie burger…let me explain a little more. Because this is not your ordinary veggie burger. Not one bit. In fact, it may be the ultimate veggie burger. I’ve eaten every brand of gluten-free veggie burger out on the market that I can find in this area. And while I have raved about many, disliked a few…believe me when I state that the Original Qrunch Burger is…

THE BEST VEGGIE BURGER EVER!

Don’t believe me? Try it yourself. But…trust me…you’ll want to believe me.

Where was I?

Oh yes…what is a Qrunch Burger. The answer to this is simple. It’s a veggie burger that is “powered” by the superfood – quinoa. And, as a gluten-free vegetarian, we all know that quinoa is one of my most favorite things in this world. But the awesomeness doesn’t end there. This burger is also loaded with organic millet and organic vegetables. It is free of virtually all common allergens (gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, corn-free, wheat-free, egg-free, nut-free) and made in a gluten-free facility. These burgers are made from all natural ingredients and do not contain any artificial flavors, colors or GMOs.

Even better…it’s fantastic.

Being that it is Memorial Day, my roommate and I decided that we would have the customary all-American holiday feast. But for us…that means veggie burgers (as opposed to hamburgers) and hand cut shoestring fries, which I bake in the oven to crispy perfection. I had a box of the Original Qrunch Burgers in my freezer. As I received a CSA bin with plenty of fresh veggies that I could utilize for these burgers. Yep…we were good to go.

Qrunch Foods Original Qrunch Burger patty

So, after I made fresh guacamole to go on the burgers (trust me…it’s awesome) and I got the potatoes cut, seasoned, and into the oven, it was time to turn my attention to the actual burgers. I pulled out my skillet and got it warming up while I pulled the box of Original Qrunch Burgers out of the freezer. Once my skillet was properly heated, the patties were put on to cook through. This takes about 5 minutes on each side. I went ahead and put a slice of vegan cheese on the patties to go along with the rest of the Memorial Day festivities. Once each side had been properly warmed and browned on the skillet, it was time to dress the burgers.

I didn’t have any gluten-free hamburger buns on hand this week…so I used gluten-free bread. I dressed the bread with a light coating of vegan Sriracha sour cream, then placed the red leaf lettuce down. The Original Qrunch Patty was next, followed by a tomato, red onion, and then a spoonful of my homemade guacamole. I adorned each plate with a healthy serving of my hand-cut shoestring fries. With the burger assembled, it was now time to settle in for the holiday feast.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I took my first bite. I’ve had some pretty epic fails when it has come to taste and texture of veggie burgers. While most have been passable, the gluten-free varieties just don’t seem to live up to the standard other veggie burgers I used to be able to eat (can’t anymore…because they have gluten in them) laid down.

That is not the case anymore. I took one bite of my Original Qrunch Burger and was in a new happy place. Honestly. What I loved about these was not just the flavor, although it is definitely the best I have had…to date. The texture is awesome. The outside of the patty gets this nice crunch to it. The inside…soft, with that perfect “meatiness” to it that actually makes you believe you are, in fact, eating a burger. I loved how seasoned this patty was. You can even see the organic onion, organic carrots, organic broccoli, and organic spinach in the patty. Nothing fake about these burgers. Seasoned to perfection with garlic and kosher salt. The flavors just popped in my mouth. I was so happy that it took everything in me not to just go into devour mode and shove as much each bite into my mouth at a time. I savored…and I’m glad I did.

Nutritionally speaking, these burgers do rate a little higher on the calorie scale. One patty is 190 calories and contains 11 grams of fat. So…probably not one of the leaner options out there, but not bad as a whole. I’ve definitely encountered worse. Each patty will also supply you with 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Love that quinoa…a protein powerhouse! In addition, these patties are low in sodium, topping out at 150 mg. Loving it.

For a burger that elliminates so many foods and allergens from their line-up of ingredients, what emerges is one of the most amazing veggie burgers I have ever had the simple joy of eating. I don’t think any other burger will find its way back into my freezer. Qrunch Foods has definitely raised the bar with their highly delicious and very tasty Original Qrunch Burgers.

In fact, it seems that other people agree. In a recent taste test done by the Washington Post Food Section, the Qrunch veggie burger came in third on overall merits. And…it was the only allergen-free burger in the top seven. So, it’s not just me. Others agree that Qrunch Burgers are something special.

I noticed these are also available in a Spicy Italian flavor. Oh yeah…I’m going to be trying that out. And very soon.

If you’re looking for a different flavor or a different sort of veggie burger…Qrunch is the way to go. Honestly. Veggie burgers have great potential…but these blew away the competition. No question about it. Qrunch rocks!

A burger made from Qrunch Foods Original Qrunch Burger and served with homemade hand-cut shoestring fries

May 2, 2013

Nature’s Earthly Choice cooks up a delicious Sundried Tomato Florentine quinoa dish

Product: Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa – $3.99+

I’m leaving tomorrow for a trip. Immediately following work. Which means, tonight will consist of me doing laundry, packing, and generally running around like a stressed out lunatic until I feel I have everything in order and where it needs to be.

Welcome to my life.

That being said, I needed dinner to be of the hassle-free variety this evening. And, thankfully, my previous journey to Minnesota (that’s where I’m heading) led me to the discovery of these little boxes of protein-packed, quinoa goodness. Yep…it was another meal-out-of-a-box night for my apartment, but, as long as the food that comes out of the box is good…it’s not a big deal.

This meal-in-a-box just happened to be another Easy Quinoa meal by Nature’s Earthly Choice. For those of you wondering…yes…I ate one last night too. But, when sell by dates approach and you are going insane trying to prepare for a trip…you do what you can with what you have. And I happen to have some stress-free stuff in my pantry. Every chef needs those from time-to-time…trust me.

Tonight’s flavor…Sundried Tomato Florentine. Sound intriguing? It should. Unlike the Garden Vegetable version that I had last night, I felt that the Sundried Tomato Florentine had a lot more flavor. It was definitely not as bland as I found the previous one. Thank goodness.

Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa is a good, healthy choice for a dinner. The ingredients are simple, yet packed with flavor, including quinoa (of course), dehydrated sundried tomatoes, potato starch, onion powder, dry milk, salt, yeast extract, garlic powder, spinach, paprika, and spices. Nothing that screams chemical. Nothing that is impossible to pronounce or recognize without looking it up online. Simple, natural ingredients. You have to love that. And without all the preservatives and chemicals, what you get in the end is an amazing clean flavor.

Quinoa and seasoning packets for Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa

I thoroughly enjoyed the rich tomato flavor that came with the small dehydrated sundried tomatoes. It really brightened up the quinoa. I told my roommate she’d probably really love it if I dropped pearls of fresh mozzarella cheese throughout it. She totally agreed. But, on its own, the Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa really, really tasted good. It had bolder flavors, and definitely felt like the seasoning was spot-on for this one.

Nutritionally speaking, not bad either. My roommate and I split the box as we were eating it as our entree (with a side of steamed broccoli with some lemon pepper dusted on top). Even doing that, our calorie total was under 270 calories each. How about that?! However, if you are going to go by the serving size, you get about 3.5 servings per box. Each serving (about a cup, cooked) will set you back 150 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. Awesome, yes? You get 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein in each serving as well. This is a low sodium food, a serving only containing 230 mg. The Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa is cholesterol free, trans fat free, and saturated fat free. Loving it?

You should be. And, if you like a light, but rich tomato flavor…then this is a great way to get it without slaving over a stove. Two cups of water, the pouch of quinoa, then the seasoning. Boil, let it simmer until the water is absorbed. Serve. It took about 20 minutes on my stove top and while it was cooking, I was able to get a few other things done that needed to be done. On a night where multitasking is key…that was helpful.

I found that I truly enjoyed each spoonful of the Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa. It wasn’t heavy…but it was filling. The tomato flavor complimented all the other spices and vegetables, without overpowering, but was definitely the star of the boxed meal itself. I devoured it in record time, partly because I was hungry, and partly because it tasted really, really good.

Find these boxed delights at your grocery store because they are certainly worth it. Especially on those nights where you’d rather do anything else than spend the night in the kitchen preparing dinner. Easy, fast, and delicious. Perfection.

Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa (prepared)