Review – Page 42 – The Celiathlete

January 25, 2014May 11, 2015

Product Review: Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies

Product: Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies – $4.59+

I was in Birmingham, Alabama just before Christmas…visiting my family. My mom had found a new organic and natural food store in the area…and often goes there to shop…because the owner of the store is a Celiac. So much of their offerings are gluten-free…and now also paleo. It was actually a very cool store…and I picked up quite a few items while visiting there…which I hadn’t seen yet around here.

One of these items was the Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies.

It had been forever since I last had anything gingerbread…minus the amazing gluten-free gingerbread French toast and allergen-free gingerbread donuts my local allergen-free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Café) makes during the holiday season. But cookies? I haven’t enjoyed a gluten-free gingerbread cookie…ever.

So, when I spotted these…nevermind the fact that I don’t really care for gingerbread…during the holidays…I don’t mind it. I guess it’s part of that holiday feeling…those familiar flavors and tastes.

Well, it’s now almost February…and these cookies have been waiting patiently in my pantry for a little while now (and since my return to the Louisville area, I have found them at Target…go figure!). I was completely out of dessert options for after dinner tonight. Until I remembered I had these lurking in the pantry. Time to pull them out and give them a try.

The cookies actually look exactly like they do on the box. I was impressed. They are this great tan color, with this sugary coating. They looked fantastic and I was actually looking forward into biting into them. I doled out two servings…for myself and my roommate…and we sat down for our little treats.

OH…these are really good. First of all, that gingerbread flavor doesn’t overwhelm or overpower the palate. In fact, they are sweet with just a hint of that ginger spice. Perfect, really. These cookies are crunchy and amazing. In fact, we had to turn the volume up a bit on the cooking show we were watching while we noshed. Every bite was a treat. Sweet…crunchy…it was the perfect way to cap off a meal. Mi-Del does a fantastic job with their gluten-free gingerbread cookies. I was SO happy eating these. With it being so bitterly cold outside…it was like the warmth of the holidays all over again. One bite…and you’ll be hooked too.

Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies are made from a gluten-free flour mix of corn flour, soy flour, potato flour, rice flour, corn starch, potato starch, and xantahn gum. They also are made up of sugar, modified tapioca starch, canola oil, unsulphured molasses, ginger, baking soda, organic caramel color, sea salt, soybean lecithin, xanthan gum. Every ingredient recognizable. Every ingredient real.

As for nutrition…you’ll love this! Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies are rather guilt-free. A serving is 4 cookies, which will provide you with 100 calories and 2.5 grans of fat. These are cholesterol free, contain 100 mg of sodium, and only 7 grams of sugar (awesome for a cookie!). You also get 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

So…these are relatively healthy as far as cookies go. I didn’t feel guilty at all as I crunched my way through my serving. They are the perfect blend of ginger and sweetness. The crispness of each bite makes you feel like you’re biting into a real treat. And the flavor…amazing. These all natural cookies are fantastic. And if you missed out on them this holiday season…seek them out next year. They are SO good!

January 23, 2014

Product Review: Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger

Product: Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger – $5.99+

Lately…I’ve been doing my best to make my own veggie burgers. I’ve been a vegetarian for 4 years now and gluten-free for 3 years…and while there is definitely more of a market for gluten-free/vegan or vegetarian burger patties out there…not all veggie burgers are created equally. I’ve done plenty of experimentation. And, before I had to go gluten-free…I was all about the Morningstar patties. There were none better.

Then…going gluten-free took them off the table and out of my freezer. At first, I lamented this. However, then I went back awhile ago and looked at the ingredient list on Morningstar patties…and cringed! It’s mostly chemicals. YUCK! Maybe this gluten-free thing was a blessing in disguise.

That being said, I’ve found some great veggie burgers and some not-so-great veggie burgers. I’ve had burgers that have fallen apart as they cooked and burgers that wowed me.

Tonight…I tried a different veggie burger.

Made by Health is Wealth, the company that once upon a time made vegan and gluten-free not-chicken nuggets. They no longer make them anymore. Which I still cry about. BUT…they do make veggie burgers too. And these, at least, are vegan and gluten-free.

My natural food store carried two of the varieties of Health is Wealth. The burgers themselves are called Sprout Burgers. Why? Because they are actually made from organic sprouted grains – specifically quinoa, amaranth and millet). These vegan and gluten-free burgers are made with non-GMO soy as well, are baked and never fried, and are packed with flavor. They come in three flavor options – original, Chipotle Bean, and Mushroom and Onion.

With my plethora of romaine lettuce, red onion and roma tomato from my recent CSA bin, a gluten-free veggie burger dinner was definitely needed. So, I pulled out the gluten-free sandwich rolls my local gluten-free bakery (shout-out to Annie May’s Sweet Café on Frankfort Avenue) from my freezer to thaw while I was at work. When I got home, it was just a matter of getting the burgers cooked.

That task was easy. While I toasted the rolls to make the buns, I put the Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burgers on my skillet to cook through. That took about 4 minutes on each side. It didn’t take long at all. I plated up the burgers on the toasted buns with the vegetables and some vegan sriracha sour cream…and dinner was served.

So…how good can the Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger taste?

AMAZING! First of all, this burger does not crumble. It won’t fall apart as you try to bite into it. The texture is meaty and awesome. The flavor is just the right amount of spice with the right level of spice. It has just enough heat to keep it interesting. The beans add a lot of protein. And the flavor is amazing. I was so impressed with the Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger. I’m also excited that I have two more patties left in the freezer for my roommate and I to eat later this week. These are fantastic. Even meat eaters (like my roomie) will enjoy these. They are hearty, healthy, and just amazing.

So…what sort of ingredients go into vegan and gluten-free burgers? Well, in the case of the Health is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger…the following: non-GMO hydrated textured soy protein, organic sprouted grains (millet, quinoa, amaranth), non-GMO isolated soy protein, black beans, corn kernels, canola oil, molasses, red pepper, seasonings (sea salt, tomato powder, garlic powder, lime juice), food starch, hydrolyzed soy protein, modified cellulose gum, oat fiber, garlic powder, caramel color, onion powder, sea salt, maltodextrin, yeast extract, lemon juice.

It seems like a lot…but at least it’s not just a load of chemicals and unpronounceable ingredients.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger is one patty. This one patty will serve you up 90 calories (REALLY good for a veggie burger) and 3 grams of fat. These are cholesterol free, contain 420 mg sodium, and only 2 grams of sugar. One serving also gives you 3 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. You will definitely feel full.

I absolutely LOVED this burger. My roomie did too. In fact, we both said that we’ll have to try the other Health Is Wealth vegan and gluten-free burgers. They were that great. Loved the texture, the flavor, and everything about these. The price isn’t too bad either. Not for 4 patties in a box. If you haven’t given these a try…make sure you do. They are really fantastic.

Health Is Wealth Sprouted Grains Chipotle Bean Sprout Burger (cooked)

January 21, 2014

Product Review: Simple Truth Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles

Product: Simple Truth Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles – $2.49+

Okay…they aren’t Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles…but they aren’t half bad!

I admit it. I had a coupon for Kroger’s organic brand of waffles from Simple Truth…and they happen to have two varieties of gluten-free waffles on the market…so I definitely took advantage of the coupon this past weekend. And, no sooner had I bought them, I was whipping them out for a quick breakfast. After all, I circuit trained and did spinning this morning. This meant…easy breakfast that can toast while I showered and got ready for work.

Waffles.

Easy peasy!

Onto a baking sheet and into the oven they went (ever since being diagnosed as Celiac…the toaster went into the garbage due to cross-contamination problems…and was never replaced). 10 minutes later, I was pulling golden, perfectly toasted waffles from my oven. They smelled amazing. They toasted up perfectly. And I could even see the blueberries inside the little waffle shapes. Quick, but efficient breakfast was about to commence. A little dab of butter and some maple-agave syrup over the top…and we were in business. I paired it with some water and a cup of coffee. Just the easy meal I needed after a hectic morning.

So, how were they?

Less soft and substantial than Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles. But, for a freezer waffle…for a gluten-free freezer waffle…I give them a solid 8 out of 10. The batter seemed really thin in parts, making them more of a crunchy waffle, rather than that crisp outside, soft middle that I associate with perfect waffles. The blueberries weren’t even throughout…mine were mostly to one side of the waffle…but at least they were in there, right? Yeah! They were sweet, which I love…waffles should be sweet…and they had a good flavor. And, when all is said and done, that is the most important thing. Were they perfect? Nope. Were they edible? Beyond edible. They were tasty. And organic…which you have to love. And they, honestly, were good!

They just weren’t as good as Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles. But…I haven’t found one that is yet either.

Let’s talk ingredients. Simple Truth’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles are made from water, brown rice flour, potato starch, vegetable oil, corn flour, organic tapioca starch, blueberry bits, sugar, potato flour, inulin, leavening, soy lecithin, fruit juice concentrate blend, natural flavors, and salt. So…it’s sort of a mess…but not too bad. Not really. Not for a quick dine-and-dash morning meal anyway. Especially one that is, honestly, coming out of a box in the freezer.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 2 waffles. These waffles will serve you up 220 calories and 8 grams of fat. Not great…but not bad either. Van’s does better with 10 fewer calories and 2 grams less fat. So…there is that. The Simple Truth Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles also will serve you up 350 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. Van’s beats them here too, with way less sugar and 30 mg less sodium. You will also have 2 grams of fiber an 1 gram of protein. Not exactly a filling breakfast…but it’s a sugary treat from the freezer (and not one I make a habit of consuming either!).

So, the basic gist of this is…Simple Truth puts out a good gluten-free waffle. The blueberries gave it a nice added bit of flavor. And they had a nice crusty outside that toasted up perfectly. They weren’t the best frozen waffles I have had since going gluten-free…but they are close. I liked them.

So, if you can get Simple Truth products, I recommend trying the Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles, or even the Gluten-Free Homestyle Waffles (which I’ll get next time I have a coupon). They make a good, quick, and easy breakfast when you have a busy, busy morning. Thumbs up.

Simple Truth Gluten-Free Blueberry Waffles (toasted)

January 21, 2014

Product Review: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookies

Product: Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookies – $3.99+

Remember awhile back when I worked my way through every Liz Lovely gluten-free cookie available?

Times are changing.

And so is Liz Lovely. In fact, they recently just got their certification. Certified. Certified for goodness, of course. But this is HUGE. Liz Lovely is now CERTIFIED 100% FREE OF WHEAT, DAIRY, AND EGGS! Yep.

You know what this means?

It means this cookie monster has more cookies from this amazing company at my disposal. My taste buds are ready!

While out at my local natural food store, I spotted the Liz Lovely shelf that I usually walk to and stare longingly at for a little while. Most of the time I can talk myself out of purchasing a pack of 2 cookies…but this had varieties I had yet to try. I got the roomie to consent to one item off the grocery list/budget this week and we brought home Liz Lovely’s Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookies. Previously, you could only get this version done vegan…now it’s both.

And I am one very happy cookie monster.

So, what is a cowboy cookie? Well, it’s a hearty cookie for one thing. Usually they contain oats, chocolate chips and some sort of nut. Sometimes…coconut is included. In the case of Liz Lovely’s variety of Cowboy Cookies, you get a magical combination of oats, chocolate chips and walnuts. YUMMY!! The base of her cookie is dipped in delicious dark chocolate and the top has some nice dark chocolate stripes. It looked amazing. Sounded delicious. And after dinner last night, I split one in half with my roommate and we enjoyed a gluten-free Cowboy Cookie dessert.

On Liz Lovely’s Web site, she gives a little background as to how the Cowboy Cookies reinvented the idea of the original business concept. Liz Lovely was originally going to do vegan truffles, but it turns out, one night before hosting a tasting party, Liz had extra chocolate but no more centers…so she quickly baked up some oatmeal chocolate-chip cookies and drizzled the extra chocolate all over them. The truffles were all but forgotten at the party. The cookies were the hit. So, the next day, it was decided…Liz Lovely would be a cookie company. Cowboy Cookies…that’s what made it happen.

I can see why too! These cookies are fantastic. Way better than I could even imagine a vegan truffle to be (although I love vegan truffles too). My first dessert love is a cookie…always and forever…so this was a very nice treat. The oats in the dough give it this fantastic texture and a bit of sustenance. The chocolate chips bring the sweetness. And those walnuts…not only add a bit of a crunch, but that saltiness that pairs well with the chocolate. I love how the extra chocolate on the bottom and top of the cookie meshes with the rest of the flavors. It is one sweet, hearty, delicious bite. That’s for sure! Consider me one happy cookie monster.

So…now we’ll talk ingredients and nutrition.

One thing I love about Liz Lovely cookies is that they are real. No ingredient is processed or fake or made up of chemicals. You’ll recognize (and enjoy) everything that goes into her cookies. In the case of the Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookies, you’ll find: unrefined cane sugar, gluten-free rolled oats, rice flour, dark chocolate, palm fruit oil, walnuts, water, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, molasses, vanilla extract, sea salt, potato starch and baking soda. The ingredients aren’t a mile long…and, as I said…everything is recognizable and able to be purchased in your grocery store. LOVE IT!

Now, let’s talk about nutrition. Do remember…this is a COOKIE and any way you slice it (in my case…in half) it is a treat. A serving size of a Liz Lovely Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookie is 1/2 of the cookie. This half will dish you up 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. This half of a cookie also contains 14 grams of sugar (I know…it’s a lot…but it’s a COOKIE!) and a mere 75 mg sodium. Not too shabby. And you’ll also be devouring 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Nice!

And these cookies are naughty and nice. Honestly. If you are going to splurge, I encourage you to find a store that sells Liz Lovely’s cookies and give them a try. I have yet to find any better on the market. They are soft, chewy, and just…amazing.

And…if you can’t find them where you live, you can always order online.

Do it. You’ll fall in love too.

January 18, 2014

Product Review: Tasty Bite Brown Rice

Product: Tasty Bite Brown Rice – $2.49+

Brown rice.

People either love it or hate it.

Me…I happen to love it. It just…takes so long to prepare. In fact, brown rice often takes longer to get to cook perfectly than white rice. But with white rice being so refined, brown rice is always a better option.

I just don’t always have time to let it cook up on the stove.

Thankfully…Tasty Bite has me covered.

Yes. Tasty Bite.

Yes…the makers of all those amazing little Indian meals I blog about from time to time.

The very same Tasty Bite.

They do rice too. They do it well. And they make it so easy to enjoy.

There isn’t too much I can say about Tasty Bite’s Brown Rice. I mean…it’s brown rice. But I can say this…

The package contains fully cooked brown rice that you simply reheat in the microwave for 90 seconds. Yes. 90 seconds and you have two servings of rice as your fingertips. It’s brilliant and very convenient. Brown rice is full of vitamins, minerals and fiber, and is my favorite type of rice to incorporate into meals. Tasty Bite’s Brown Rice has that nutty flavor and that tougher texture that regular brown rice has. The flavor…is that of plain brown rice…which is why I served vegetarian baked beans over mine. Hey…don’t mock. I had vegetarian baked beans in the pantry…just begging to be used. It actually worked together very well.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition then, since brown rice is…well…brown rice. The Tasty Bite Brown Rice pouch contains water, brown rice, and sunflower oil. That’s it. As it is precooked, you’re steaming it back to life and then pouring it into a dish. The microwavable pouch contains two servings of brown rice.

Half of the package, that being a serving, will dish you up 240 calories and 3 grams of fat. This particular rice is cholesterol-free, sugar-free, and contains no sodium. My roommate will love reading that. This serving provides 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Filling. Nutrition. Delicious. And the Tasty Bite Brown Rice is vegan, vegetarian, kosher, and gluten-free. Loving it.

So, you don’t have to spend the better part of the evening at your stove waiting on your brown rice to cook to perfection. Nope. Let Tasty Bite do that for you…letting you have your rice ready in a minute and a half as opposed to 20-30 minutes (if not longer!). The rice you get is fluffy, light, and seriously cooked to perfection. It sure does make dinner a lot easier and quicker to get on the table.

Thank you, Tasty Bite…for taking the stress and guess work out of cooking brown rice.

January 16, 2014

Product Review: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia

Product: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia – $4.99+

It is by sheer happenstance that I have had, since going gluten-free, a slice of gluten-free focaccia bread. And that happy moment occurred at a local, and now relocated (they moved out of Indiana and into Louisville) café here in the area. The restaurant was Earth Friends Café…and their gluten-free sandwiches were made on gluten-free focaccia bread, provided to them by one of my favorite local businesses, Annie May’s Sweet Café.

That feels like forever ago. It was…probably just over a year or so.

While I can still go to Earth Friends Café, it has been awhile. That is something I definitely need to change. Aside from that, however, that was the only time I had something different when I ordered a gluten-free sandwich. No Udi’s. No Schär. No prepackaged, store brand. Nope. It was real and amazing focaccia bread.

And that one time…an eternity ago…set the standard.

I attempted, once, to make a focaccia bread from a mix by Chēbē…which didn’t work out for me…at all. And that was that. Nothing more ever came of focaccia in my gluten-free life.

Until…one day…I was at my local natural food store and I spotted something I had never seen before. While I had heard of the Canyon Bakehouse brand via the various gluten-free magazines I subscribe to, and my annual trip out to Colorado (the Canyon Bakehouse dedicated gluten-free bakery is located in Loveland, Colorado), I had yet to actually taste any of their products. I had wanted to carry some home with me on my last trip to Colorado, but that final trip to the grocery store never actually happened. So…YAY…happy dance in the aisle when I spotted the brand in my area. FINALLY!

The freezer section actually had a few Canyon Bakehouse options inside now, but I zeroed in on the Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia. I have an abundance of gluten-free pasta in my pantry at the moment, so I figured…get some focaccia and get motivated to start cooking some of that up for dinner. With some pleading eyes and maybe a pout, I convinced my roommate to allow one extra splurge this week to our grocery budget. It worked…and the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia made the journey home to my own freezer.

I just returned from vacation, which means my cabinets, pantry, and fridge are pretty much bare, save for a couple of items. Pasta. Naturally. And lo and behold…my freezer had the focaccia bread inside. I knew what dinner was going to be the next three nights. Who doesn’t love a gluten-free rotini with a marinara sauce and a slice of gluten-free focaccia? I didn’t think I’d hear any complaints!

So, after coming home from the airport and letting the focaccia bread thaw for a couple of hours, I preheated the oven to 400 degrees and began to slice the bread into serving sizes. The packages says it will serve 8, so I sliced it in half, then cut those halves in half and then halved those again. Total…8 slices of focaccia. It worked well. I put the slices on a pan and then put them in the oven to toast while I worked on the pasta and marinara. About 10 minutes later, the pasta was ready and I pulled the bread out of the oven. Plating was easy. Bowl for the pasta…focaccia over the bowl. Perfect for mopping up that marinara, yes? Yes!

Settling in to eat, I couldn’t wait to taste the bread. So, I took one bite. And WOW! Canyon Bakehouse has a great reputation for a reason. The Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia caught me off guard. I was prepared to have a taste of something heavy and dense…but the opposite was true. This focaccia bread, while not light, was flaky. The crust was golden from the oven, the inside, soft, flaky, warm, and perfect. It tasted like real bread. TOTALLY!!

Canyon Bakehouse states on their Web site that their mission is to create delicious and nutritious gluten-free breads that the entire family will enjoy. If the Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia is any indication of their standards, then watch out gluten-free world…because this product is stellar. You’d be hard-pressed to tell it was gluten-free. No crazy aftertaste, no too dense. Just really good flavors, really great texture, and just amazing bread all around.

Let’s get down to the chemistry of the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia, shall we? The ingredients are simple and recognizable: water, brown rice flour, tapioca flour, extra virgin olive oil, cultured brown rice flour, xanthan gum, eggs, sea salt, yeast, thyme, rosemary, organic agave syrup, black pepper, and natural enzymes. Nothing fake. Nothing chemical. No words I can’t pronounce. No question marks as to what I’m consuming. Real ingredients that make really delicious bread.

As for the nutritional aspect of this bread…it’s actually not bad…especially since it is gluten-free bread. A serving is 1/8 of the loaf of focaccia. This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 4 grams of fat. Much of that fat percentage is derived from the olive oil that is used in the dough. Healthy fat. A proper slice will also provide you with 15 mg cholesterol, 250 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. That’s not too bad. And, finally, you will be biting into 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein, so you won’t be left feeling empty after eating a slice. I find, so often, that gluten-free bread doesn’t fill me up like regular bread does. That’s not the case with this one. One slice is plenty.

I love how Canyon Bakehouse is thinking outside the box when it comes to products. With the variety of breads they offer (all of which I hope to try very soon), as well as hamburger buns, hotdog buns, and even muffins, the bakery does focus a lot on not just taste, but nutrition as well. I was beyond happy each night I had my gluten-free pasta to have a slice of the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia. It was the perfect compliment, seasoned to perfection, toasted up, with great, flaky texture and amazing flavor.

Yeah…you’re now on my radar, Canyon Bakehouse. And I hope to find more of your products soon!

A slice of Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Rosemary & Thyme Focaccia

January 16, 2014

Product Review: Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini

Product: Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini – $2.39+

I know what you’re thinking…pasta is pasta…it’s all about what you add to it. Right? Well…perhaps…unless you’re gluten-free.

Because then…pasta becomes an adventure in tastes and textures. For example…quinoa pasta is my new favorite thing in life. It cooks to perfect texture, phenomenal flavor, and doesn’t get mushy if you have to refrigerate it and have leftovers. Rice pasta can get gummy…it can get mushy…it is fantastic if you eat it all the day you cook it…but even then, it sometimes just falls apart. Corn pasta…well…I love the texture and the fact that it reheats beautifully, but I don’t put too much corn in my diet due to Monsanto…

Be that as it may, sometimes my roommate has surprises up her sleeve. She was out on one of my last-minute errands one evening to the grocery store (for something I’m sure I thought I had in the pantry, but really didn’t), and upon her return she came back with a box of Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini. Hmmm…a new gluten-free pasta I hadn’t heard of before. This wasn’t common. There are many I haven’t tried yet…but this brand I hadn’t even heard about yet. Interesting.

Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini is pasta made from a multigrain blend, which includes white rice, brown rice, corn and quinoa. So, it’s like everyone into the pool…let’s see what happens. The box advertises that it tastes just as delicious as white pasta. It has been forever since I have actually had white pasta…not just because of Celiac. Years before even being diagnoses with an issues, I switched to whole wheat (or the irony!) pasta. So…I address my roomie on this one…

…and her palate is messed up at times (she just had white pasta while in Disney World!) because she just said…”It tastes like pasta.” Thanks…for not being helpful to this blog at all…

To her defense, she did follow that up with, “I would not be able to tell that was gluten-free…”

So…um…WIN?!

Okay…inconclusive on the taste-test portion of this with someone who doesn’t have to eat gluten-free pasta.

The fact of the matter is…Ronzoni does put out a fantastic product. I love the way the noodles cook. It takes about 9 minutes to reach that perfect al dente. No fooling around. My roommate complimented me on both nights we’ve eaten this with how I cooked the pasta perfectly. YAY! The noodles hold up to the boiling process as well as the draining. They don’t shred or fall apart when they are dumped into the marinara sauce. Nor do they fall off the fork when pierced just before taking a dainty bite…or a mouthful…depending on hunger level.

What does all this say?

1.) The roomie isn’t always the best source for comparison reasons…as her palate is sometimes flighty…

2.) This is the gluten-free pasta of champions.

3.) Multigrain = gluten-free perfection for taste, texture, and flavor.

Ronzoni really turned up the competition when they got into the gluten-free market. I like how they take a nice mix of all the gluten-free grains and incorporate them into a sturdy, satisfying noodle. They currently offer Spaghetti, Penne Rigate, and Rotini in this line. Oh, and the gluten-free pasta is produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility…and each ingredient is verified to be gluten-free. Cross-contamination is not a problem because the pasta making process is strongly controlled to maintain the gluten-free status of the produt. I love that Ronzoni took this extra step to guarantee safety for it’s gluten-free consumers.

I prepared the Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini for dinner the night I returned from Disney World. I have pasta and marinara in my pantry. It was a given. I thought the noodles cooked to perfection in the boiling water. I loved that when I drained them, I didn’t have bits of noodles…just full, and fully-cooked, pasta. I love that the sauce didn’t distract from the flavor of the noodles. I thought the starchiness was spot-on for a pasta. And that everything held together with each and every bite.

Nutritionally speaking, Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini gives you the standard 2 ounce serving size (which is about 3/4 cup). This serving gives you ample pasta which will leave you satisfied without feeling bloaty and overstuffed as so many pastas can do. This serving will provide you with 200 calories and 2 grams of fat. Not bad for a boxed pasta, I must say. In addition, this pasta is cholesterol-free, sodium-free, and sugar-free. You also get 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, which leaves you just on the right level of full.

I really am enjoying my Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini. So, despite not being able to compare this pasta with ‘regular’ pasta when asked, the roomie rocked and choosing a new gluten-free pasta to try out. I think this will be added to the quinoa pasta that I keep in the pantry as well. So good. Loved it all the way to that last forkful.

Spaghetti and pasta were my favorite thing growing up…and even going gluten-free…that hasn’t changed. The gluten-free market has been expanding and thankfully, getting better and better with each version out there. Forget mushy brown rice pasta…turn up the flavor and the texture. Give Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini a try.

I’m so glad I did.

Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini (with Organicville Marinara Pasta Sauce)

January 15, 2014

Product Review: Tasty Bite Ginger Lentil Rice

Product Review: Tasty Bite Ginger Lentil Rice – $2.49+

Tasty Bite, as many of you know, is one of my favorite go-to quick meals…especially for busy nights/days or just nights where I don’t have much in the pantry/freezer/fridge…or just don’t want to spend my entire evening on my feet in the kitchen prepping and cooking something.

The great thing about the Tasty Bite meals is that they are clean…healthy…and beyond delicious. I only have a few remaining packages in my kitchen pantry, but they were perfect after returning from my recent trip to Florida. Without last week’s check in the bank (the boss still has it), my roommate and I are honestly living off what we have in our apartment…and trust me…that means Tasty Bite meals, pancakes, eggs, or pasta. This is no joke. And for the rest of this week, the budget purse strings are being pulled tighter than ever to try to recover from our much-needed and totally fun (but expensive) vacation.

So, after disembarking at the Louisville airport on Tuesday…just before noon…we returned home with hungry stomachs. I do not do fast food. I can’t. Not with my food allergies. And I’m okay with that. I actually do not miss fast food at all. Not one bit. The drive-thru was never my friend anyway…so my dietary restrictions put a total kibosh on them. No problem. I’d rather prepare my food anyway.

That being said…with a practically empty apartment food-wise, I was happy to dig out a few pouches of Tasty Bite products. I’m down to one Indian meal and a couple of rice options. I opted for a rice option with some added protein…because I’m in recovery mode from my 48.6 mile running adventure.

My choice – Tasty Bite’s Ginger Lentil Rice.

Yes…this is exactly what it sounds like…ginger-infused long grain rice that is tossed with brown lentils and red peppers. It makes a colorful and flavorful plate…trust me. The package simply gets put in the microwave for about 90 seconds, and BAM…into a bowl and enjoy! Totally that easy. And don’t be dissuaded by the fact that this comes in a pouch on a shelf in the microwave. It still fits into clean eating. Observe the ingredients: water, rice, onions, whole brown lentils, red pepper, coconut milk, sunflower oil, ginger, garlic, salt, curry powder, chilies, sugar. Quick…Clean…Eating.

And the taste…was fantastic. Seriously. The ginger, garlic, curry, chilies all provide layers and depth of flavor to each bite. The lentils add great texture and the rice actually steams up to perfection in that 90 seconds. All the components work together and make magic with each bite. Each freakin’ tasty bite. I used some Glutino Gluten-Free Sea Salt Snack Crackers to scoop up the rice and add a nice crunch to my plate. It was a magical, quick lunch after returning from the Happiest Place on Earth. I savored each bite…chewed slowly…and just let the flavors roll over my tongue. This one is amazing. It’s not just rice. It’s rice that is so much more.

Nutritionally speaking, this meal is a healthy choice as well. One serving is half the pouch. This serving gives you 190 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. This serving will also give you 380 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. That is amazing for a processed food. And a serving will also give you 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. So it is filling as well. Loving it.

So, if you’re concerned about Indian food…not sure you’d like it…or just not ready to try something new…then give Tasty Bite a chance through their flavored rices. In fact…I highly encourage purchasing the Ginger Lentil Rice. The flavors will wow you…and just might encourage you to give those Indian meals a try after all.

I promise…you won’t be disappointed.

A serving of Tasty Bite Ginger Lentil Rice

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)

January 5, 2014

Product Review: Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese – $8.00

The weather is getting colder. In fact, tomorrow, here, it isn’t even supposed to crack 0°F. No joke. That’s not common around here, not as of late anyway…but that is so freakin’ cold. And that makes me an unhappy girl. Trust me. I. HATE. COLD. WEATHER.

But with the cold weather comes those warm, hearty meals that fill you up and leave you feeling nice and cozy from the inside out. This includes a vast array of foods, but for me…it’s soups and casseroles…

…and macaroni and cheese.

Yes. Simple. Straightforward. Macaroni and Cheese.

But no ordinary macaroni and cheese will do. I do eat the kinds out of the box…but they are just for those quick meals I need to eat before rushing off somewhere in my hectic and busy schedule I keep. But on these days where I’m hibernating…or simply have some time on my hands…I will always choose a good old-fashioned homemade macaroni and cheese.

Here’s the thing though…I make a damn, damn, damn good gluten-free macaroni and cheese. My roommate will ask for it every now and again and beg and plead for me to make it. And, naturally, I will. It’s my mom’s recipe, which I have tweaked only slightly to fit into my dietary restrictions and to spice it up some. I love my homemade mac and cheese and I do love making it. But shredding the cheese and making the white sauce…it all takes a lot of time. Even if I have it…I sometimes can think of 100 other things I need to be doing.

Lucky me! Yes…once again…lucky me. Lucky me for having Annie May’s Sweet Café practically in my own backyard. Sure, this little bakery offers cupcakes and brownies and cookies and cakes and…all those other delictible naughty treats. But…sometimes…you get take-n-bake specials. I have previously blogged on Annie May’s Take-N-Bake Cinnamon Rolls and have tried (but obviously forgot to blog about…and will remedy that immediately) the Take-N-Bake Crescent Rolls. The take-n-bake options at Annie May’s Sweet Café make all those foods you crave that much easier to make yourself.

And she recently added Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese to that list.

Pardon me while I do the happiest little dance of joy.

Of course…I had to try it. I absolutely had to. I mean…I was heading home soon after dining there on Saturday morning for breakfast so…it only seemed logical, despite not really being in the budget, to give it a go. I was getting breakfast treats to go for Sunday…why not add dinner to the mix too. Just make Sunday (a busy day with everything needing to be done before Monday strikes) that much easier to slog through.

I was beyond excited the day I pulled this out of my refrigerator, preheating my oven to 375°F, per the instructions on the container. It looked so amazing and that was before I even popped it in the oven to bake. Go figure. Once the oven heated, I removed the plastic wrap and set the tray inside for about 20 minutes…the gluten-free breadcrumbs on top were golden and the cheese around the edge was bubbling. Oh yeah…done. And it looked and smelled so good.

Once again, Annie May’s Sweet Café really delivers. One bite and I looked over at my roommate, who was also enjoying half of this tray, and I said, “I think this is better than mine! And I make really good mac and cheese!” What makes it so amazing? Hell if I know. I don’t know what magic Annie May’s puts into their products, but this macaroni and cheese baked up creamy and cheesy, with that nice toasted crunch from the breadcrumbs. It was fantastic. So comforting to the soul, spirit, and body. I had wished I had bought them out of the trays they had. And I intended to do that this past weekend…but they only had one tray left by the time I got there so…I luckily snagged it before anyone else could. I think it might have been a near thing. Anyway…creamy, dreamy goodness in one simple dish.

I mean, right on the label, Annie May’s lays it all out as far as the ingredients: Brown rice flour, water, whole milk, cheddar cheese, and butter.

This is, in no way, a light meal. It’s hearty, it’s warm, it’s filling…but it makes you feel good as you eat it. And in the end, the food you eat should make you feel good.

I can’t say enough good things about Annie May’s Sweet Café in Louisville, Kentucky. They keep expanding their menu…which is soon to include bagels (and I can’t WAIT for that to happen)…and I have enjoyed being able to try these new additions as they are placed in the case. Yes…we, the food-allergic and even the non-food-allergic of Louisville, Kentucky have one really sweet place on Frankfort Avenue…which I make a point to visit often. It’s that good. The people are amazing. The food continues to get better and better.

No one would even guess it was gluten-free.

Comfort yourself on these cold winter nights with a little bit of gluten-free comfort food. Go to Annie May’s…and get the macaroni and cheese. You can thank me later.

And trust me…you will.

Annie May's Sweet Café Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese (baked) — Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Macaroni and Cheese (baked)