Review – Page 48 – The Celiathlete

August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

Product Review: Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough

Product: Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough – $4.49+

I had heard stories about these. Rumors. Whispers in the dark. Advertisements in my gluten-free magazines. I knew they were out there…the problem was I couldn’t find them. Anywhere.

What am I talking about?

Pillsbury’s new line of gluten-free refrigerated mixes.

For real!

Yes…Pillsbury. As in the Doughboy. Or…now…the Gluten-Free Doughboy.

I was strolling through my local grocery store over the weekend. I was on a mission. Bananas for Tuesday’s after-I-work-out breakfast banana split. Honestly. But first I had to check out the manager’s special area. Usually Sunday is the day to do that. But not this week. But as I was striding past the refrigerator section holding the yogurts, the cheeses and the butters and margarine…I spotted these beautiful little containers that had that light violet color I saw in the ads.

“OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!” And then I took off. Which left my roommate watching me scurry over to the refrigerated space. She followed and I started picking up the three different items that the store had in stock. You see Pillsbury introduced three gluten-free doughs, pre-mixed and ready…very convenient. Gluten-Free Cookie Dough, Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Dough, and Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough.

I did this hillarious happy dance of joy, pumping my fists, doing a little jig and…turning to face my roomie and giving her the sad eyes that declare, “I really, really, really want these in my life!” We had plenty in our fridge, so she said maybe next week. I conceded, but my hand went back to the Pie & Pastry Dough.

“But…I can make the Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts…”

That was all I needed to say. The Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough made its way into my hands to be taken to the register…along with the bananas, which was our original reason for shopping that afternoon. We paid, we went home, and this little tub of gluten-free joy went right into my refrigerator. And on Tuesday (Moday is fun run night…so that’s an easy food day), after a rough circuit training…it was time to see how this dough would do with the Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart that I used to make using puff pastry…you know…before I knew I had to go gluten-free.

Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough (rolled out for the tarts and topped with grated Parmesan)

I knew that this dough wouldn’t puff up like a puff pastry, but I figured I could make it work. I basically followed the recipe for the tarts as I used to make them, substituting the puff pastry portion with a serving of this Pie & Pastry Dough. I scooped out a serving (56 grams) of dough and placed it on my lightly floured board. I floured my rolling pin and rolled the dough out to a six-inch circle (roughly). I repeated this with another serving, then plated them on the baking tray, gave a light sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, topped that with the onions I caramelized, a thick slice of tomato, a little salt, a little pepper, some goat cheese, fresh basil, and finally some shaved Parmesan.

While the container has this baking at at a much lower temperature, I went with what my recipe had for the original tart with puff pastry. Into the oven at 425° F, I baked this for the 20-25 minutes, checking on it every now and again to make sure that it wasn’t burning.

I was shocked that this actually worked. Honestly. But the tart came out beautifully. Sure, it didn’t puff up like it used to, but it didn’t need to. I served each of us one of the tarts and we settled in for dinner. My roommate dug right in, commenting on how she loved how the dough didn’t get soggy and how that it was still golden and flaky. I took that as a win as I took my fork and sliced into mine.

She was right. This was the ultimate dough for the crust of my Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart. The dough itself baked into a perfectly golden crust, not turning soggy in the middle where the toppings were all stacked onto it. In fact, I was so pleased with the way this turned out. It had this beautiful crisp outside and this flaky texture. It was one of the most amazing things I managed to make with a gluten-free dough. I was in love with every bite. Every. Single. Bite.

For real!

Needless to say…Pillsbury impressed me. Honestly. Pillsbury won me over with this dough. And I’ve only used it for one thing. I might have to try to make a calzone with it next. Hmmm…that might be an idea for Sunday…

So, let’s talk ingredients and nutritional information. The not-so-fun part of this blog. But…it is important, because I value everything I put into this body. So, while it’s not always pretty, I like to be aware of what I am consuming.

The Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough is made from soybean oil, water, cornstarch, modified potato starch (BOO!), hydrogenated soybean oil (BOO!), rice flour, whole sorghum flour, fructose, sugar, salt, xanthan gum, guar gum, citric acid, and some preservatives. So…yeah…clean eating it is not. But I made a deal to do at least 70%/30%…so I was going to allow this to fall into my 30%.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving (56 grams) will bake you up a crispy golden serving of 250 calories and 17 grams of fat. So…yeah…it’s not a light dough by any means…but at least it tastes good. All things in moderation, my friends. That being said, the Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough is cholesterol-free and has 340 mg sodium. This has 3 grams of sugar and less than 1 gram each of protein and fiber.

That being said…using it as the base for my Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart worked out wonderfully. I just want to make that again and again and again. And I can, because I still have over half the dough in the container in my refrigerator. Squeak of gluten-free doughy glee! Honestly…the dough was perfect. I was afraid that it would just be mushy and unimpressive, but this was one of the most beautifully baked crusts I witnessed. Especially in the gluten-free crust world. I am so happy with Pillsbury right now…I could…just hug that little Doughboy.

Gluten-free…anything…that might need a flaky, golden crust…just got a whole lot easier. And yes…it’s true…

Nothing says lovin’ like somethin’ gluten-free from the oven.

Pillsbury…I think I love you.

Gluten-Free Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart made with Pillsbury Gluten-Free Pie & Pastry Dough

August 14, 2013August 14, 2013

Product Review: Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal

Product: General Mills’ Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal – $3.29+

It’s been awhile since Chex cereal came into my pantry. Honestly. While I have previously touted it as one of the more affordable gluten-free cereals, the fact of the matter is that some of the ingredients just don’t fit into my lifestyle anymore. While I’m not doing Clean Eating 100%…where I can cut out the processed food and the additives and such that I don’t need to be consuming…well, I cut them out. There are better, healthier cereals out there. Yes…I might have to pay a little more for them, but I feel better about the ingredients. Peace of mind.

That being said, I also know that since I heard about the newest and latest Chex cereal flavor…and that it was one of their gluten-free options…I did want to try it. I didn’t really go searching for it, but one day while in a local grocery store, I spotted a couple boxes on sale…mostly because the boxes were dented. Hell, I don’t care what the box looks like. As long as the inner packaging is still sealed…

So, into my arms came General Mills’ Vanilla Chex Gluten-Free Cereal. And home it went in a grocery bag. I put it into the pantry, as I was polishing off an all natural chocolate cereal at the time (which was SUPER yum!). But yesterday was the big day for the Vanilla Chex. I had used up the last of my previous cereal and this one was about to have its moment to shine. It had a few spoonfuls to win me over. So, I wished it luck and poured out a serving of the cereal, snatching a few pieces to try dry before adding my unsweetened almond milk to the mix.

First of all, this cereal, as with the other flavored varieties of Chex cereals, is a blend of regular Rice Chex, and then the flavor-dusted cubes. The vanilla variety has this dusting of a sugary-sweet vanilla powder on them. My first taste, without the almond milk, was not one to win me over. While the flavor is awesome…think…Rice Krispies meet Nilla Wafers…it was really, really, really sweet. I mean…SWEET! And I love sweets. This was almost a little too sweet though. And it’s not often you’ll hear me say that. Trust me.

I was about to head to the gym for an hour of cardio and strength training, so I hoped that the almond milk tamped down the sugary-sweet flavor and also prayed that it wouldn’t revisit me after the workout. I poured in a splash of almond milk and settled in for breakfast.

Adding the milk helped. Probably because some of that vanilla sugar on the squares washed off and into the milk. That was fine. It definitely made the cereal easier to eat. And it really, for the life of me, tasted like I was eating a bowl full of Rice Krispie treats. Now, I love Rice Krispie treats (thank you gluten-free Rice Krispies) as much as the next person…but I like them in moderation. And this serving feels almost too big (though it is a standard serving) given the sweetness factor of this particular variety of the Chex cereal.

So…for me…this one is okay…but I’d rather snatch up the Honey Nut or Cinnamon or Chocolate varieties first. This one…while good…just was…too much for one sitting.

But, as always, I have to break this down for you. Why doesn’t Chex Cereal come into my house much anymore? Well, it’s this little additive called BHT. This version also has a lot of sugary ingredients, including sugar, fructose, and molasses. No wonder it tastes like a never-ending dose of Rice Krispie Treats.

As for the nutritional information, a serving of Vanilla Chex is 3/4 cup, which will provide you with 120 calories and 2 grams of fat. In addition, this cereal is cholesterol-free and only contains 190 mg of sodium. For being so sweet, the fact that it contains only 8 grams of sugar is shocking…but that’s what the nutrition panel tells me. Finally, you will be consuming a scant amount of fiber and very only 1 gram of protein, so expect to feel hungry soon after you eat it.

For a sugar rush or an occasional treat, I think Vanilla Chex would be a good stand-in for something. I also think it would rock some gluten-free Muddy Buddies and the like. But as a cereal I found it way too sweet for my liking. So, now that I’ve tried it…I’ll polish off the box and move on to the next gluten-free cereal to come my way.

It’s good. It’s just too sweet for me. That’s all.

August 14, 2013

Product Review: Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Product: Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix – $5.99+

Cookies.

We all know by now that I am obsessed with cookies. I love them. I’m a human cookie monster. Or…at least I was…back when eating cookies was easier for me. After the Celiac diagnosis, that had to change. Sort of.

There is absolutely no small amount of gluten-free cookies out on the market. Not just the pre-made and pre-packaged stuff…but mixes are out there…and even refrigerated tubs of gluten-free dough. Nope…gluten-free cookies are abundant throughout the marketplace. And I have probably consumed a majority of the ones that are offered.

Somewhere along the way, I acquired a box of Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix. I mean…if you’re going to prove that a cookie has potential, then you have to go with the classic chocolate chip variety. I haven’t met someone who doesn’t enjoy a chocolate chip cookie. So, when choosing a cookie (gluten-free or otherwise), always go chocolate chip. ALWAYS!

I don’t remember where I got this mix…but I had it in the pantry for a long while. I know…shocker. But…I was in the mood to bake the other night. And, you see, I belong to this fantastic group of runners who meet up every Monday and run together. A couple weeks back, I made a gluten-free Minion (from Despicable Me) cake. So, I figured…why not treat them to something nice after a good run? Normally I would make these from scratch, using my mom’s famous recipe from when I was a kid. But…I was short on time that evening. So, I dug out this mix and simply got to making it.

First of all…super simple to make. I mean…easy-peasy!! I love making cookies (even gluten-free ones) from scratch…but since I had this and it was so convenient…I figured…just do it. The mix went into my KitchenAid mixer along with 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter (room temperature) and 3 tablespoons of vegetable shortening. It got mixed up until it was crumbly and incorporated. One egg gets added and it mixes on low until the dough starts to come together. I ended up adding 1 tablespoon of water to mine before it really started to come together. I kneaded the dough with my hands for a moment more until it was stiff and slightly crumbly. Perfect.

One tablespoon for each cookie…that was the plan. I managed to rock out 24 cookies…and still had dough leftover. But my roomie is a dough fiend and asked if after I filled up the second baking sheet if she could have what was left…if there was any. I agreed. And she enthusiastically devoured the raw dough…saying it tasted really amazing.

Into the oven the cookies went for about 12 minutes. I watched them carefully, waiting for them to start to get that golden brown color to them. I removed them just as they were beginning to get golden so I would have a chewier cookie. I prefer a little crust on the outside with a chewy cookie. It’s my favorite way to enjoy a cookie. So that’s what I was going for.

And I succeeded. The cookies were a huge hit. And I loved the size of them. They were two to three-bite cookies, perfect for a simple snack after a run. In fact, the cookies are what got some of the runners up the hill at the very end of the run. “If I run this entire hill…I can have a cookie.” Hey…anything to get through, right? RIGHT!! Everyone gave me their opinions and all of it was positive. Quite a few people in the group are gluten-free…but there are others who are not. And they said you couldn’t even tell they were gluten-free. They had that savory hit of saltiness to them…the sweetness from the chocolate…and this chewy, but slightly-dense texture to them. They were almost the perfect chocolate chip cookie. But they baked up beautifully and they were really, really enjoyed by all who ran. Some even took 2…or even 3. WIN!

Heartland Gourmet is a family operated business that understands that time together with family is important. This is why they offer healthy, wholesome, and delicious gluten-free, gourmet, and organic baking mixes and kits. Why? Because it gets your treats cooking without taking away time from your family. Even better…get your loved ones to help you make something special.

Now…the science of it all. The Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix is made up of a gluten-free flour mix (rice flour, brown rice flour, potato starch, xanthan gum), granulated sugar, medium brown sugar, chocolate chips, vanilla, non-fat dry milk, salt, baking soda and butter.

A serving is 1/4 cup of the dry mix, which is about 130 calories. Each serving contains 1 gram of fat, 65 mg sodium, 22 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, and 1 gram of protein. So…treat it like a treat. No need to over-indulge. The entire point of making bite-size cookies was to satisfy the sweet tooth without sabotaging the hard work that goes into keeping the body fit and healthy.

Heartland Gourmet really bakes up traditional, yet very delicious gluten-free goodies. Their gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are amazing and definitely need to be shared. No one would be able to tell they were gluten-free. Honestly. They are really that good. Chewy, delicious…and somewhat healthy. Heartland Gourmet is, as their box says…naturally good.

Heartland Gourmet Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

August 13, 2013

Product Review: Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli

Product: Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli – $3.00 for 6 ounces

There are moments of absolute amazement when I look at some of the things my roommate has done for me since my diagnosis two years ago. Seriously. She basically eats gluten-free and vegetarian at home, all the time, Not only that, she is always on the lookout for new gluten-free items for us, not just me, to try. She is honest to a fault when I cook or bake something new, changing up a recipe to now be gluten-free. Some are definitely more successful than others.

But my entire point here is…she’s full of surprises.

This past Saturday…she totally surprised me.

You see, every Saturday I meet up with a group of runners to do our long run. This past Saturday, I was heading out with a small group aiming to hit that magic 16 mile mark. This meant Cathy was going to be left to her own devices for 2 hours or more. But this never slows her down. She always finds something to occupy her time. And on this particularly raining Saturday morning, with a fresh local coffee in hand, she stopped by the local farmers market. You see, I was in need of a giant watermelon for a recipe I was going to make that night. She was going to get one from a local vendor instead of hitting up the grocery store. But, while she was there…she spotted something else.

The words GLUTEN-FREE on a sign for Lexington Pasta. She swung by the booth and inquired. And when I finally made it back to the meeting point, a local coffeehouse, after a very long run, we returned to the car and she told me to go look in the trunk. Aside from a 10 pound watermelon waiting for me, she also had picked up fresh basil. And buried in the ice of the cooler…she had picked up two small bags of Lexington Pasta’s Gluten-Free Fusilli.

While it’s true, this handmade pasta does look more like macaroni than fusilli, I could see the small twists in the fresh and handmade pasta…giving it that corkscrew affect that you would normally associate with fusilli pasta.

That being said…I was holding a bag of gluten-free handmade fusilli!!! This was huge! This was awesome. This was so awesome I deemed Sunday night to be pasta night. I’d cook up some of my gluten-free rosemary cheddar biscuits to accompany the pasta and it would be one epic Sunday meal. Because while some products can wait…fresh, handmade gluten-free pasta is not one of those things. I had to have it as soon as humanly possible.

We got home from our day of running errands and grocery shopping and I put one of the bags of pasta into the freezer. The other went into the fridge for use on Sunday night.

Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (cooked & drained)

What I love about handmade, fresh pasta is how easy it is to prepare. No boiling your pasta for 12-20 minutes to get it to that perfect al dente. Nope. I went ahead and got a pot of water on the stove to boil while I prepared a small salad with some heirloom tomatoes that Cathy also picked up from the farmers market. When the water began to boil, I simply emptied the little baggie of gluten-free fusilli pasta into the water and let it go for 2-3 minutes. The pasta does come with an instruction guide on how to cook it and does warn against overcooking. I then got the sauce heated while the noodles quickly finished up. After three minutes I drained the pasta and then put it back into the pan with the marinara I had warmed up. Giving it all a toss, I was ready to plate it up. Into the bowls it went. And dinner was served. Yes…that quickly.

First of all, handmade and fresh pasta will always win. Always. Pasta that is done locally will win even more. And what really caught my attention about the gluten-free fusilli from Lexington Pasta was that it didn’t stick together or dry up immediately. It cooked to the perfect al dente in the water. Quick. It was one of the quickest pasta meals I ever prepared. I almost didn’t have time to warm the marinara. I forgot what it was like to cook with fresh pasta.

Taste…taste was spot-on. I believe Cathy mentioned that it was a rice flour noodle. It didn’t get mushy. It didn’t stick. It didn’t fall apart. In fact, each noodle held the twisty shape through the entire cooking process, the draining, and the addition of the sauce. The serving size was just right. And the noodles…light. Delicious. They have spoiled me on gluten-free pasta, honestly. Not only is this local, but it tastes fantastic. There was no weird aftertaste. No chewiness. Nothing that would be off putting. In fact, if I were to serve this to people, they would never…EVER…guess that it was gluten-free.

I sort of want to go and get more. Like…now.

I was really that impressed.

Lexington Pasta is based out of Lexington, Kentucky…which is a short car drive for me. So, when the farmers market closes for the season, I can still go and purchase this gluten-free pasta of awesomesauce from their retail location. Because I was beyond impressed with this product and find it comforting to see a local business taking strides to work with those with special dietary needs…who love pasta. You know…people like me.

Lexington Pasta…you made this Celiac one very, very happy pasta-loving girl! Thank you!

Lexington Pasta Gluten-Free Fusilli (in marinara) with Gluten-Free Rosemary Cheddar Biscuits

August 12, 2013

Product Review: BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza

Product: BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza – $9.49+

Sometimes…if you look hard enough…you manage to find something amazing…despite it being a processed food in the freezer department. At least it was at a natural food store…so that’s saying something, right? Right!

That’s what I’ll keep telling myself.

Anyway…what I speak of is a brand of gluten-free and vegan pizza (this version anyway) made by BOLD Organics. In fact, BOLD Organics pizzas (the vegan and the meaty ones) are all gluten-free, milk-free, lactose-free, casein-free, whey-free, egg-free, peanut-free, and treenut-free. EPIC!! I mean…EPIC, right?! Right!

BOLD Organics was founded with a simple principle to strive for – creating the most delicious and healthy frozen pizza on the market. And that vision was reached and realized with the line of gluten-free and dairy-free pizzas that, as the Web site puts it, “are redefining just how good eating healthy can taste.”

It’s not too bold (see what I did there?) a statement either. Because what BOLD Organics did…was take their goal and do everything in their power to make it a reality. Seriously. Founder, Aaron Greenwald, often found that traditional gluten-free products on the market were bland and lacked taste. That was when Aaron embarked on his mission to not just help people eat better…but also feel better. And he sourced the best chefs he could find who not only understood gluten-free food, but could also provide bold (I did it again) flavors to the products his company would produce. And so…BOLD Organics was born.

BOLD Organics began producing high quality, allergen-free foods…so people could have a choice when it came to gluten-free pizzas. He strove to provide restaurant quality food with premium taste…without paying a premium price.

Well, when I spotted this in my natural food store’s freezer…I decided that having a frozen pizza on hand wasn’t a bad idea. I mean…when you need something easy one night, just pop it out of the freezer, onto a pizza stone…and viola…dinner! So, I had one stashed in my freezer. And, as I am trying very hard to work my way through the plethora of gluten-free goodness I have stocked up in my freezer and pantry, on Friday, as I had a 16 mile run on Saturday, I figured gluten-free pizza would be the way to go.

BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza (cooked)

Out of the two vegan options offered by BOLD Organics, I went with the Veggie Lovers version. Why? Because any pizza that is topped with seasonal vegetables (organic roasted red peppers, organic roasted yellow onions, and shiitake mushrooms) is okay in my book. The cheese they use is completely vegan. So, I pulled this out of the freezer directly after work and preheated the oven to 450° F, per the instructions on the box. I stuck my pizza stone in to warm while the oven preheated and set about opening up the box.

The box does make me think that the pizza would be a little bigger than it really is…but what it lacks for in size (it’s an 8-inch pizza), it makes up for in the fact that it is not a cracker-crust, very thin-crust pizza. Nope. Not at all. This pizza has depth to it. It has the most amazing crust…and I could tell that before it was even baked. With the oven heated and pizza stone warm, I tossed the pizza in to cook for 20-22 minutes. If the vegan cheese has not melted, it says to broil it for 1-2 more minutes. The cheese on my pizza melted beautifully and the crust became fluffy and golden and just…perfect looking.

I removed the pizza from the oven and sliced it in half. The box I have says the serving size was half the pizza. That seems to have changed now…but…I’ll go off what I had in my freezer. One half went to my roommate, the other half was mine…all mine. I can say this…it looked and smelled amazing. But, as always, the true test lies in the taste. That is the absolute heart of the matter.

I settled in for dinner, fork in hand, and sliced through the crispy, yet soft crust. Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. That is pizza crust perfection, my friends. PERFECTION! And, furthermore…this pizza was frozen pizza perfection. It looked like all the non-gluten-free counterparts you see on the market. It wasn’t this sad-looking thin crust slab of cheese and veggies. No. This was a bold looking, veggie laden (save for the mushrooms…I got a bit gypped on those), vegan cheese coated amazing thing. The flavors were melt-together perfect. It was sweet from the peppers and savory with the cheese. It had that perfect crust. I was in pizza heaven. I was. Because, with the exception of my local allergen-free bakery, I can’t find anything but cracker-crust when it comes to gluten-free pizza. That just changed. My whole frozen pizza world just expanded. I was…SO impressed. The cheese, even being a vegan mozzarella, was stretchy and melty and gooey. Pizza perfection. BOLD pizza perfection. I’m sold. For life.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition, shall we?

This pizza is made up of filtered water, vegan gourmet mozzarella cheese alternative, inulin, soy protein, agar agar, sea salt, plant-based natural flavor, carrageenan (BOO!), vegetable source of lactic acid, organic crushed tomatoes, organic potato starch, organic rice flour, organic corn meal, organic roasted red bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms, organic roasted yellow onions, fresh yeast, organic tomato paste, organic extra virgin olive oil, xanthan gum, organic evaporated cane juice, organic oregano, organic apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and organic spices (rosemary, black pepper, granulated garlic, red chili).

As far as nutritional value goes…for half of a pizza…this isn’t too bad. One serving (1/2 of the pizza) served up 340 calories and 13 grams of fat. That’s actually not bad! I was impressed. It has 670 mg sodium, which is a little high…but…not bad in the grand scheme of things. The serving has 6 grams of sugar as well, which is super good. And, 1/2 of the pizza dishes up 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

It’s awesome. BOLD Organics produced a product they can totally be proud of and stand behind. I loved every bite I took of this one. And I will definitely try the Vegan Cheese version in the future too. With a fluffy and flaky crust like that…it’s hard to stop me from stuffing another one in my freezer.

This pizza BOLD-ly went where no gluten-free pizza went before…and they did it perfectly!

A serving of BOLD Organics Gluten-Free and Vegan Veggie Lovers Pizza

August 11, 2013

Product Review: Phin & Phebes Dark Chocolate Salty Caramel Ice Cream

Product: Phin & Phebes Dark Chocolate Salty Caramel Ice Cream – $5.99+

I have to give some major props to my favorite local grocery store in my area – Earth Fare. What I love about Earth Fare is the deals that they have every now and again…especially over the weekends. Because if it wasn’t for some of those deals, I wouldn’t have even thought about getting some products that are offered.

This past weekend, the special deal going on was for a brand of ice cream that I never even noticed before. It’s a brand from New York (the Brooklyn area) known as Phin & Phebes. And in my area, only Earth Fare carries it. The deal was…for a if you spent $5 at Earth Fare, you could get a pint of Phin & Phebes ice cream (any flavor) for $1. With one thing in my cart I had already spent that much…so…I went to the freezer and eyed a few options. I already had banana ice cream from my local ice cream shoppe (YAY COMFY COW!) in my freezer, so I didn’t want to get the pint of Banana Whama Ice Cream. It turned out I couldn’t anyway…because it had vanilla wafers in it. So…good call.

Other flavors that I could find included Coconut Key Lime…which would have been like a key lime pie. I couldn’t have that one either…due to the graham cracker chunks throughout that. There was Ginger Cookie Snap…which is ginger flavored ice cream with ginger cookies and lemon icing filling. Again…one I couldn’t have. I was starting to think my roommate was going to be the one benefiting from this deal…not me. I kept looking…finding Vietnamese Iced Coffee flavor, which was one I could have…as it was simply coffee flavored ice cream with a hint of chicory and cardamom. But…I knew Cathy disliked coffee ice cream. This left…as far as I could tell…Vanilla Cinnamon…which is what I ended up grabbing. It was simply vanilla ice cream blended with Vietnamese cinnamon. I could tell Cathy was less than thrilled, so I almost said I’d get the banana one and she could have that while I ate the one from The Comfy Cow that was in our freezer…but didn’t bother. We put it in the cart and moved along.

Then…as we were perusing the freezer section just before heading to the checkout counter…I spotted it. I spotted ONE LAST PINT of what had to be the best flavor EVER of Phin & Phebes Ice Cream. It was all they had left so I grabbed the Vanilla Cinnamon from the cart, threw it into the freezer and snatched the last pint of…DARK CHOCOLATE SALTY CARAMEL. It was like it was meant to be. I love dark chocolate. And salty caramel anything grabs my attention. We called it a day and checked out.

Later that week…for two days…we each got to enjoy the awesome, awesome, awesome flavor of this ice cream.

Phin & Phebes Dark Chocolate Salty Caramel Ice Cream ice cream is just what it sounds like. Dark chocolate ice cream that has been sprinkled with salty caramel to create this uber rich, satisfying, and super-delicious treat. After dinner, I went to retrieve the pint from the freezer and dished up a serving (the standard 1/2 cup) for my roommate. I handed the bowl off to her and she dug in. I heard her say, “OMG! OMG!” I was like…”What?” And she said…”BEST ICE CREAM EVER!” Or something to that affect. She told me she wanted to see me take a first taste because she was having a hard time not hoovering hers. The reluctance to have a brain freeze was what kept her in check, I think.

So, my bowl now held a perfect 1/2 cup serving. The pint was returned to the freezer and I settled in to have my first taste. One bite…and it was a done deal. Whenever this flavor was in stock…it had to be in my shopping cart and then in my freezer. Holy cow!! This flavor is kept in balance by the perfect blend of rich, smooth dark chocolate ice cream with the salty, slightly sweet caramel. I mean…perfect balance. It was everything an ice cream should be. It was…it was a blend of my two favorite flavors from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream in Columbus, Ohio. Right there. In one pint. It was heaven. It was delicious. It was worth savoring…but not too much because ice cream soup is not as much fun as ice cream. I immediately tweeted to my friend Jenn and told her she needed to venture to the other side of town to their Earth Fare and just snag a pint of it. She wouldn’t be sorry. It had to happen. That’s how much I loved it.

This treat…is certainly a treat. A dessert among desserts. And sometimes…the taste and flavor is enough to negate any thought of how non-nutritional it really is. I mean…it’s ice cream!!! Live a little. But…as always, I like to share the nutritional information with my readers. A serving of Phin & Phebes Dark Chocolate Salty Caramel Ice Cream, which as mentioned is 1/2 cup, dishes up 230 calories and 14 grams of fat. So as tempting as it is to make it an every night sort of thing…DON’T DO IT! It’s fine every now and again. And worth it too. Also, you will be scooping up 500 mg sodium and 20 grams of sugar. In addition, you’ll get 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein.

So…for a treat on a week when dark chocolate and salty caramel goodness is the only thing that is going to make life better…I highly, highly recommend Phin & Phebes brand. The Dark Chocolate Salty Caramel Ice Cream is a total WIN in my book. It does everything right. It tastes amazing. And…oh…it’s simply…the best.

You’ll want to lick the bottom of the bowl. Trust me.

NOTE: On the Web site, there is one further flavor listed that I didn’t see at all. Again, this wouldn’t be one I could indulge in, but it is Peanutty Pretzel, which is peanut butter ice cream with chocolate covered pretzels.

A serving of Phin & Phebes Dark Chocolate Salty Caramel Ice Cream

August 9, 2013

Product Review: Sol Cuisine Original Sliders

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/i392/veggiefoodlover/Products/003_zpsef1636b4.jpg — Sol Cuisine Original Sliders

Product: Sol Cuisine Original Sliders – $5.49+

There is one thing that normally goes missing in my life. Being a gluten-free vegetarian…having sliders is usually not even an option…unless I make them myself. I’m okay with that…I’ve done it quite a few times, but sometimes it’s nice to just throw something into the oven or a pan and have it ready in no time flat.

And that was never the case until I spotted these amazing little slider patties at Whole Foods. What caught my eye? The box. It clearly is labeled…these slider patties are vegetarian/vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free, a good source of calcium and iron, and also made with heart healthy soy! You better believe I didn’t even blink when I grabbed a box of these and tossed them into my basket. Budget be damned this time. I wanted some sliders, dammit!

As fate would have it, I happened to have some gluten-free dinner rolls in my freezer, which would definitely make the perfect stand-in for slider buns…because you definitely can’t find those in gluten-free form. Not yet. But gluten-free dinner rolls…they work. I use them all the time for sliders…normally ones from my hometown allergen-free bakery…or Udi’s. But this time it was Katz Gluten Free. Which I toasted up in the oven to get that nice golden crust on the buns.

But…let’s get back to the star of this post…Sol Cuisine Original Sliders.

Frozen little disks of meatless goodness, that aren’t really that highly processed when you look at the ingredients. Which, I’ll do now, since I brought it up. These little patties are made from filtered water, soy protein concentrate, sunflower oil, dried onion, modified vegetable gum, dried tomato, sea salt, dried garlic, spices, organic lemon juice concentrate and caramel color. So, it’s not exactly clean eating…and yes…it is a processed food, but it isn’t too bad. Not when you compare it to other items out on the market. And the fact that these are vegetarian/vegan make me one happy girl.

The box supplies about 3 different ways to cook these up. Oven, stove top, microwave…however you choose. When I made the Sol Cuisine Breakfast Patties, I cooked them in the oven. But I already had dinner rolls and hand-cut sweet potato fries (yep…I made my own fries) working in the oven. So, I figured why not give the stove top a go. I warmed up a skillet and lightly coated it with some olive oil. Into the pan I placed four of the little patties. They immediately began to sizzle and cook. I gave each side about 4 minutes…and they got perfectly golden and had that great crust you associate with a good burger. I was already happy.

I plated each one up on one of the toasted dinner rolls and topped it with condiments and served it up with my oven-baked sweet potato fries. I handed my roommate her plate while I fixed up mine. She dug right in. And I could tell she was one happy girl when I saw her take her first bite. Now, as I have mentioned numerous times before, my roommate LOVES burgers. She is neither gluten-free nor a vegetarian…but she doesn’t mind eating like one. Lucky for her…as I am the cook in the apartment. And she was devouring these.

I settled in and was prepared to try for myself. Sol Cuisine has wowed me with their Breakfast Patties…and they totally disappointed me with their Tofu BBQ Ribs. So…I knew this could go either way. But…it was a total win!! The little patties are FANTASTIC. They have this great savory flavor to them. Pan searing them was definitely the right call. It gave them this moist texture. It was the perfect veggie burger, without tasting like a veggie burger. Honestly! I was in love with the texture. I thought the flavors were spot on. And I wanted to savor each bite. But…you know…burgers are best when they are warm. So, I polished it off and vowed to pick them up again sometime…as a treat.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 2 patties. This serving will dish up 100 calories and 3 grams of fat. That is SUPER!! These patties are cholesterol free and sugar free. WOOHOO!! And they are low on the scale for sodium, with only 240 mg per serving, which is awesome for something that is processed. In addition, 2 patties will also give you 3 grams of fiber and 13 grams of protein. No wonder this meal filled me up. I was full for the rest of the night.

DELICIOUS!!

Sol Cuisine…keep this up and I may be working my way through your entire line of gluten-free and vegan products. I’m one happy slider-eating girl!! And I can’t stop talking about them! Thank you!! THANK YOU!!

Gluten-Free Sliders made with Sol Cuisine Original Sliders

August 9, 2013

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)

Product: Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa) – $4.49

A long, long time ago…well…maybe not that long ago…but a good while back…Cathy (the roomie) placed an order for some goodies from Katz Gluten Free…which has quickly become one of my go-to places for amazing gluten-free products. Sure, I have to order online, but the prices are reasonable and they ship immediately. So I never have more than a 2 day wait to get my order. Everything goes into the freezer or pantry and I pull it out as I need it. And life is good.

Because Katz Gluten Free provides good products. Time after time I have been nothing but impressed by what I have ordered and eaten.

Whenever the last order was placed (which, as I said…was a long, long time ago), the roomie picked out a new product to try. These were Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa). When they came in the mail, I put them in the freezer at home and that was where they stayed…waiting…waiting for me to do something with them. They waited very patiently, being pushed further back into the freezer. I hadn’t forgotten about them, I just got distracted by my local bakery’s gluten-free dinner rolls. It happens.

But, after picking up some vegan and gluten-free sliders from Whole Foods a couple weeks ago…I needed dinner rolls for the buns. And without anywhere to pick up Udi’s Gluten-Free Dinner Rolls (they are really good) and not having picked up any from my local allergen-free bakery…I dug around in the freezer and…like a gift from the gluten-free freezer gods…there they were!! Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa). I let them thaw while I was at the office, which they did perfectly. I was afraid that, with how long they had been in there, they might become mushy or crumbly…but I should have known better.

While these rolls can go without being reheated, I love putting a bit of a crust on my buns when I make sliders. So, I sliced them in half (which was interesting as they do resemble muffins in shape), expecting them to crumble or fall apart. But they didn’t. They were soft and very fresh feeling. I smiled, feeling better about the situation already. So, I placed each half on a baking sheet and sprayed a light mist of olive oil over each cut side. I popped them into the oven for a couple of minutes while I finished up the sliders in the pan and the sweet potato fries finished up in the oven as well.

It only took a few minutes to get them perfectly golden. I plated them and placed a vegan and gluten-free slider on each bottom part. Then topped it with the top bun. Dinner was served.

My roommate actually bit into hers first. And she went, “KATZ RULES!” So this was a good sign. I love it when she raves about gluten-free foods…because she eats like this at home by choice…because I have to. And that’s a huge deal. Our kitchen is 100% gluten-free…which means she even gets gluten-free bread to eat instead of whole wheat, like she had previously been doing. Honestly…best roomie ever!! Aside from that, she said they tasted amazing. So, as I put my sliders together, I went and settled in to find out for myself.

First of all, even with the gentle toasting in the oven, the texture of the dinner rolls was incredibly soft and fluffy. I was so impressed. They had this very light texture to them and this very light sweetness in taste. I loved it. I was enamored with the taste of these. I just wanted to keep eating them. Forget the slider…these were fantastic. I loved being able to squish it down like a regular bun, watching as it would bounce back when I set it down. It wasn’t heavy or dense. The flavor was a little sweet, but definitely savory. I could have eaten all four of them in the package. But I was good…and I shared with my roommate. We both couldn’t stop raving about them. If my local bakery didn’t make such amazing ones, I’d be placing another order…STAT!

So, here we get to the science of the product itself…the ingredients and the nutritional information. Let’s start with the ingredients. These dinner rolls are free of gluten, dairy, and nuts. These rolls are made with real ingredients because a bakery makes them…from scratch. Honestly, that’s what I love about Katz. Anyway, the Dinner Rolls (Small Challa) are made from Katz Gluten Free flour mix (white rice, tapioca, arrowroot, corn, soy, potato) water, eggs, palm oil, brown sugar, honey, xanthan gum, dry yeast, salt, flaxseed, and apple cider vinegar.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is one dinner roll. Each roll contains 150 calories and 6 grams of fat. One dinner roll also provides you with 20 mg sugar and 2 grams of sugar. Not bad. Not at all. And you also are provided with 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Okay…so as with a lot of gluten-free baked items, they contain more calories and fat than what regular ones would, but they make it up in the amount of sodium used for sure. And…these were fantastic. And sometimes…that’s enough!!

These…will definitely make their way back into my freezer in the future. They just won’t be kept waiting for so long.

Katz…again…your gluten-free goodness is a wonderful thing. I am so thankful for your products.

Sliders made with Katz Gluten Free Dinner Rolls (Small Challa)

August 9, 2013

Product Review: Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks

Product: Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks – $5.59+

Glutino, Glutino, Glutino.

How I love you. How I love you and your clever name. How I love you and your delicious products. I don’t think I’ve met a product of yours that I haven’t liked as of yet, and that’s in the 2 year span that I’ve had to go gluten-free.

Back when this whole journey began, one of the first products that really stood out to me was the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Twists. I remember having picked them up at the grocery store to take to work with me for an afternoon snack. One bite, and I knew that I’d be okay being gluten-free. The pretzel twists were even better than regular pretzels. And I was forever hooked on the Glutino brand.

Somehow, however, through all of this, I never got back to purchasing other Glutino pretzels. Because at the time…they also had pretzel sticks out on the market. Why I never bothered to get them, despite being totally over-the-moon for the pretzel twists…I will never know. But thanks to a Manager’s Special at my local grocery store…two years later…that changed.

And yesterday…yesterday was my first taste of Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks.

Glutino spells L-O-V-E when it comes to their products. Because these products definitely love me and I totally love these products back. Case in point are these pretzel sticks.

So, I’m sitting at my desk…and the 3 p.m. munchies are striking. With a stomach rumbling, I reach into my drawer and pull out my portioned serving of Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks. I remove one, and take one crunchy bite. SMOOTH. It has this great buttery taste to it. It’s salty, but not overdone. And they are so light. Sometimes regular pretzels could feel a bit heavy, and the consistency of them more doughy (as in crunchy doughy not soft pretzel doughy…just thought I’d clear that up!) than anything else. Not these. Nope…Glutino definitely hit the nail on the head when it came to designing and making their amazing Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks. I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted to savor my snack, but my fingers kept reaching for another one and another one. I shared one with not only my roommate, but also my co-worker (who loves to hate on gluten-free products). Cathy loved the flavor and said we’d have to make sure we kept Glutino pretzels in the pantry. My co-worker…who I know wanted to hate it…she did…couldn’t. She looked at me, nodding her head, and said, “I like these better than regular pretzels.” YES!! When I can win over this person with gluten-free stuff, I always feel like the company was successful with the product. I’d call this a major WIN for Glutino.

And yes…the Pretzel Sticks really are that delicious.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition, shall we? Pretzels are definitely a snack, but one of the healthier choices, I believe, when it comes to products on the market. As far as what goes into these sticks of delicious salty wonder…corn starch, potato starch, palm oil, sugar, sea salt, cellulose gum, soy lecithin, baking soda, yeast extract, sodium acid pyrophosphate, citric acid, and sodium hydroxide. So…some normal sounding ingredients and some that make you go…”What am I eating?” Clean eating this isn’t…but it’s one of the treats I allowed myself this week.

As for nutrition facts, a serving is around 33 sticks or about 30 grams (because we all know I weigh my food to be more accurate). This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. I hate that the fat count is so high, but again, this is a treat and a snack I don’t have all the time. And, a lot of gluten-free products tend to be higher in fat than regular. Most regular pretzels are…fat free. I feel a little gypped here on the nutrition scale. UGH! Anyway…pushing beyond that, these have 420 mg sodium per serving and less than 1 gram of sugar. That’s standard when compared to brands of regular pretzels. You get no fiber or protein from these pretzels either…so while they are delicious, do not expect them to quell your hunger for long.

Bummer.

So…Glutino wins for sure on taste, texture, flavor…and overall awesomeness of their Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks. However, as far as the nutrition value goes…they feel like a bit of a letdown. But…when it comes to gluten-free snacks, this is definitely one of the better choices. Not only are they packed with amazing flavor, but they are light, they are delicious…and as long as you don’t sit down with the entire bag and devour them all in one sitting…not horrible on the nutrition aspect. I will give them that.

Glutino…keep on giving me and others in the gluten-free community so many amazing products and I can guarantee we will continue to come back to you. I’m a repeat offender when it comes to buying products with the Glutino brand name on it. And I’m not ashamed to admit it.

I can’t wait to dive into another serving of the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks this afternoon. Maybe I’ll take time to savor them this afternoon. Or maybe I won’t be able to contain myself again.

Either way…I’ll definitely enjoy!

August 7, 2013

Rice Crunch puts a new bite into my Dark Chocolate Dream chocolate bar

Product: Dark Chocolate Dream Rice Crunch Chocolate Bar – $3.59+

Chocolate is my favorite sweet indulgence. Really.

And not just chocolate. Dark chocolate. I dislike milk chocolate. And white chocolate is…not really chocolate. Dark chocolate. That’s where it is for me. I love that bittersweet, rich, deep flavor that dark chocolate offers up. I love how it literally will coat my taste buds and I will just let anything dark chocolate melt slowly. It makes the indulgence last even longer.

A while back, my roommate picked up a few Dark Chocolate Dream chocolate bars from the local grocery store. They were on closeout, so in a panic we bought pretty much one of everything. I tucked these away in a drawer and forgot all about them…until recently. So, now I’ve been working my way through these chocolate treats…before they expire and all that good stuff.

I’ve been given a plan by sports nutritionist to move toward a clean eating diet. And while most would not consider chocolate to fit into that…I like to point out the health benefits of dark chocolate. It’s good for your heart because it has been shown it can help lower blood pressure. It helps improve cognitive function in your brain by increasing blood flow to your brain. In fact…it’s been shown to help reduce the risk of stroke. It’s a mood booster. It is full of antioxidants. Oh, and dark chocolate has high concentrations of potassium, copper, magnesium, and iron. NICE!

So this week, the drawer held a couple of choices, but I opted for the Dark Chocolate Dream Rice Crunch Chocolate Bar. Why? Well…while I did enjoy the Enjoy Life’s Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Crunch was good and filled with the crunchy rice bits for that added oomph…it sort of had this chalkiness to it.

Dark Chocolate Dreams Rice Crunch Chocolate Bar does offer up a better alternative. Honestly. While the puffed rice isn’t as prevalent as it was in the Enjoy Life version, the crispiness is definitely throughout the entire bar. In other words, you take a bite…and it’s like biting into a Nestles Crunch bar all over again. But safe. And made with dark chocolate. Oh…and I should mention that this dark chocolate bar is vegan as well.

The Dark Chocolate Dream Rice Crunch chocolate bars are made with simple ingredients which include all of the following: evaporated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, roasted soy flour, puffed wild rice, soy lecithin, pure vanilla extract. No fake chemicals, no preservatives, nothing that you need to look up in order to figure out what it is you are eating exactly. Nothing like that. Everything is pure and real. Real food…real chocolate. I love it already.

As for nutrition…well…I remind you that this is a chocolate bar. So, do mind your servings. For me, I take one square with me to work, which equals out to 60 calories and 4 grams of fat. That’s not bad for one square of chocolate. But, the serving size for this treat is usually half of the chocolate bar. This serving will provide you with 240 calories and 14 grams of fat. The serving only kicks in 15 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad. However, remember…this is a treat and this is a sweet…and chocolate is still high in sugars. 1/2 of the bar will give you a huge dose of 23 grams of sugar. Aside from that, you will be provided with 1 gram of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

But…the flavor. The flavor is what does it. I love to savor my chocolate. A nibble here…another there. And that’s the way I eat this one. The dark chocolate has that bittersweet flavor to it…which is amazing and delicious. I love how it melts against my tongue, and that hit of dark chocolate just lingers…and then, as I bite into it…the crunch from the puffed rice. It’s one of the best things in the world, which is why I think Nestles Crunch bars sell so well. Crunchy, smooth, rich, dark…it’s the best of everything. And I for one love every tasty bite.

Not all chocolate bars are created equal. And not all chocolate bars are gluten-free. Thanks to Dark Chocolate Dream…I can still eat a Rice Crunch bar and savor it with the even more flavorful taste of dark chocolate. Well done!!

Dark Chocolate Dream Rice Crunch Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)