Review – Page 70 – The Celiathlete

November 21, 2012

Go Picnic Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips another winning on-the-go meal

Go Picnic Black Bean Dip & Crispy Plantain Chips

Product: Go Picnic Black Bean Dip and Crispy Plantain Chips – $5.99+

Fast food, shmast food.

Being a gluten-free vegetarian means a stop-off at any regional fast food joint is just not an option. I mean, I got sick for 5 days after eating Chik-Fil-A’s supposedly gluten-free waffle fries this past summer. Let me tell you, I have yet to go back.

So, when someone like me – someone who is constantly on the go and on the road – needs something to eat…what then? Well…thanks to Go Picnic my options just got a little more exciting and much healthier than any fast food stop would have been.

Now, I’ve blogged about Go Picnic before. I am a HUGE fan of the gluten-free Hummus + Crackers meal, which is usually my on-the-road poison. However, when I attended the Gluten-Free Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana a month or so back, I dropped by the Go Picnic booth and raved to them about how much I appreciated their gluten-free boxes (especially the ones that are also vegetarian/vegan). It just so happened that they had some of their brand new on-the-go meals at the expo…and if I bought them that day, I’d be saving some money, for sure.

So, my roomie and I made a decision to purchase six meals. She got two of the Sunbutter + Crackers plus the Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese boxes. As for me, I went with two of my favorite…the Hummus + Crackers and one of the brand new offerings…the Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips box. I was pretty stoked about that one as it was new, vegan, and gluten-free. And it just sounded…different and interesting.

Well, the perfect opportunity to break out the Go Picnic meals came this past weekend as my roomie and I were venturing out to Ohio to visit our friend Jenn. Our plan…to see The Monkees on Saturday night and then on Sunday morning…I was off to the races. Literally. I was running in the Hot Chocolate 15K in Columbus. So, we left work at noon on Friday and went to run a few local errands before settling in for the 4 hour car trip up to Columbus, Ohio. With the errands out of the way…it was lunch time. And for me, lunch was the Go Picnic Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips on-the-go meal.

After opening the box, I settled on starting with the star of the actual box…the Go Picnic Garden Black Bean Dip with the Sweet Perry Orchards Crispy Roasted Plantain Chips. I thought, at first, that this was an interesting combination and wasn’t quite sure how it would work in the end. However, the combination was actually quite delicious. What I loved was how the sweetness of the dried and roasted plantains made into chips complimented the rich, sweetness of the black bean dip. The Go Picnic Garden Black Bean Dip is amazing. A creamy, somewhat sweet and spicy blend of black beans, green chilies, jalapeno peppers, spices, garlic, and onion made for a fantastic base to dip the chips in. And Sweet Perry Orchards Crispy Roasted Plantain Chips made a fantastic alternative to crackers or corn chips. Honestly. They provided a hint of sweetness as well. They were crispy, crunchy, and just the perfect compliment to the rich dip. I was so happy with this flavor combination. The Go Picnic Garden Black Bean Dip is only 40 calories of this box’s total 360 calories and provides 2 grams of protein. Let’s hear it for the protein magic of beans! And the Sweet Perry Orchards Crispy Roasted Plantain Chips also only contain 70 calories in the provided 0.5 ounce bag. It also only sets you back 3 grams in fat. They are also very low in sodium (50 mg).

My next taste from the box that I chose to devour was the Sweet Perry Orchards Ginger Zip Fruit and Nut Mix. This was a surprisingly delicious mix of peanuts coated in ginger, dried cranberries, and banana chips. The ginger was the part that concerned me, as often it can be a little too strong and too much. Thankfully, pairing it with lightly salted peanut, banana chips, and the tart sweetness of the dried cranberries, the blend worked. It worked fantastically, actually. I was digging down into the little 0.75 ounce bag that came in the Go Picnic box in hopes of finding more of the mix in there. But, alas, when I said devour…that’s what I did. This one surprised me and it was a nice surprise. The ginger was just enough to add a bit of heat to a few of the bites, but it didn’t overwhelm the mix. It was nicely balanced. And the little snack bag you receive in the box is only 90 calories of the entire 360 in the box itself. And the rest of the nutrition information is nice as well. The little pack provides 5 grams of fat and 2 grams of protein. Not bad for a fruit and nut mix. Not bad at all. Oh, and the sugar content on this one isn’t bad either. Most “trail mixes” are laden with sugar. Thanks to the ginger, this one only has 10 grams of sugar. Other trail mixes would be at least twice that per serving.

My next choice to eat from the box was the Sweet Perry Orchards Power Play Tasty Seed Blend. Now, one of my favorite parts of the Go Picnic Hummus + Crackers box is the packet of dry-roasted edamame. Well, this is a different twist on that pack. Sweet Perry Orchards Power Play Tasty Seed Blend is a mix of dry roasted edamame, pumpkin seeds, and watermelon kernels. Sound weird? It’s not. In fact, what this little 0.75 ounce pack provides is a heap of protein and healthy fats. Yep. While salt is added, it’s not overdone either. The seeds really stand up for themselves and pack a bunch of flavor in each bite. The blend is interesting and different. I mean, who can say they’ve really enjoyed a watermelon kernel before? Well…truth is…I did. And the pumpkin seeds and edamame were also fantastic. Sweet Perry Orchards Power Play Tasty Seed Blend provides 110 calories of the entire 360 calories in the box and 5 grams of fat. This blend also provides 8 grams of protein. That’s awesome. As for the sodium…which can be a real sticking point, this bag only has 70 mg of sodium in it. Yep. It really is a healthy choice.

And finally…dessert. Because that’s what we look forward to at the end of a meal. Even lunch on-the-go. The Go Picnic Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips box comes with dessert of dark chocolate. Oh yes…almost like it was made for me. Dark, delicious chocolate. The little piece is Professor Zim Zams Extraordinary Sweets Dark Chocolate with Orange. It’s a little circle of orange-flavored dark chocolate goodness. Now, sometimes the orange and chocolate combination works for me. Sometimes…it doesn’t. In this case, the bittersweet dark chocolate meshes so well with the tart orange. It’s a seamless marriage of flavor to be honest. And it was a decadent enough bite to satisfy that need for dessert or something sweet to cleanse the palate. Professor Zim Zams Extraordinary Sweets Dark Chocolate with Orange is only 0.35 ounces of rich chocolate flavor…but it’s just enough. This little disk of sweetness provides the Go Picnic box with the remaining 50 calories. It contributes 4 grams of fat into the serving and 2 grams of protein. And it is good to the last little bite. Because…I admit…I savored the chocolate. I love a good, sweet ending.

In the end, Go Picnic provided a hearty on-the-go meal in a little box that really satisfied every taste. Sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. It meant that I felt satisfied at the end of the box. And with only 360 calories, it’s a nutritious meal that you can take with you on the road, on a hike, on a picnic, or just for something easy on a busy day at the office. This little box also provided me with 13 complete grams of protein at the end of it, which is fantastic as I am a gluten-free, vegetarian athlete (distance runner!) so making sure I get enough protein in my diet can be a huge challenge. This satisfied.

I haven’t been able to find this actual box listed yet on Go Picnic’s Web site. But it is one of the new offerings from the company. I say…give it a bit of time and it will be there. As for me…I hope to find this one in the stores soon because I loved every bite of it. If you can find it…pick it up and try it. I promise…you’ll be as hooked as me. Go Picnic…you won me and my taste buds over again with simple flavors and nutritious snacks.

November 14, 2012

Cheese Smarts Cheddar Crackers are a smart take on snack time

Product: Cheese Smarts Gluten-Free Cheddar Crackers – $2.30+

Oh, Big Lots. What would I do without you and your crazy international section with odd-ball gluten-free snacks? I just don’t know these days. Back at the beginning of summer, I actually posted about the Parmesan Crackers from Cheese Smarts. So, going into it, I knew at least that these crackers were palatable. Knock-you-over-with-cheesiness? Not exactly. But still good.

I can’t tell you much about the company, Unismack SA, aside from the fact that it is based out of Greece. Yep. Greece. And as you know, Europe holds food standards to a much higher degree than the United States. For that, I am thankful. And I love that these crackers are labeled gluten-free right on the front of the box. It’s a comfort to not have to haul out the iPhone in an attempt to check ingredients or a product’s Web site in order to be certain of gluten freedom.

Here is what I can tell you about the crackers, in general. Cheese Smarts Cheddar Crackers are baked, not fried. So, the cheese flavor is locked in through baking, not leaving a greasy residue like a lot of fried snack crackers do. That’s a huge plus. These crackers are made with 24% real cheese. I know…100% would be far better, but this is declared on the very front of the box. Only 24%. Hmmm. They are gluten-free, free of trans fats, and made with ingredients that are recognizable. In other words, the actual ingredients don’t read like a science experiment. Thank goodness.

So…enough with that. The nitty-gritty of this blog is how they taste and stack up against the plethora of other gluten-free cheese crackers out on the market. Well, at first bite you definitely get a healthy crunch. That’s partially due to the baking, I’m certain. The cheese flavor is there, not overpowering, but a bit underwhelming. The little flecks of salt on top of the crackers don’t overpower or make it an overly salty snack. With cheese snacks it can be a fine line when it comes to added salt, as cheese can be rather salty on its own. They aren’t bad. They just aren’t a cracker that you’ll hurry out to the store to stock up on. In a pinch…they’ll do, however.

A serving size is 12 crackers (or 29 grams if you weigh your portions like I do). This will set you back only 90 calories, however this serving also dishes up 6 grams of fat. These snacks are very low in cholesterol (10 mg) and sodium (only 240 mg). So, as far as a snack goes, you get a good portion size for relatively few calories in the cracker world.

These crackers aren’t bad. Not at all. They just don’t rank very high against some of the other major brands that are out on the marketplace. Nutritionally, they are difficult to beat. However, that being said, if it were to come down to taste…these wouldn’t be my first pick.

But…if I needed an inexpensive gluten-free snack…I’d be okay with these.

November 13, 2012

Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix a dream to bake

Product: Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Dreams Yellow Cake Mix – $5.99+

Thanks to a Manager’s Special at my local grocery store, I was able to pick up a couple of gluten-free cake/brownie/pancake mixes on super-duper sale (aka: a price I could afford!) from Cherrybrook Kitchen. I have used a few of their mixes before and have always enjoyed the results. So being able to give their Gluten-Free Dreams Yellow Cake Mix a try was a dream come true. I was already excited about the prospect of the type of cake this mix could yield.

Well, as it was a yellow cake mix…and I had every other necessary ingredient in the pantry and fridge…I gave an option to my roommate. I could bake it up as-is…and we could top it off with melted chocolate or something. OR I could possibly be persuaded to bake up her absolute favorite cake I have ever made for her…a gluten-free lemon chiffon cake, which, yes, uses a box of yellow cake mix.

Given the option, she chose to go with her favorite cake (I had pretty much expected that!), so this beautiful box of yellow cake mix was about to become a lemony work of food porn…er…art.

The only snag being that the recipe I have for this cake calls for 15 ounces of cake mix…and the Cherrybrook Kitchen boxes have 16.4 ounces. No big deal for me, however, as I have a fantastic kitchen scale and I simply got out a bowl, zeroed out the weight, and poured until I hit 15 ounces. I rolled up the remainder of the mix to make into a cake mug one day soon.

Following the instructions for my recipe, not on the box, to bake up this cake, I set to it, adding the necessary ingredients (orange juice, eggs, lemon zest, etc) to the batter and whipping it all up in my Kitchen-Aid mixer. I poured it into cake pans that had been dusted with gluten-free all-purpose flour, and then tucked the pans into a warm oven to bake.

Lemon chiffon layers made from Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Dreams Yellow Cake Mix — Lemon chiffon cake layers made from Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Dreams Yellow Cake Mix

The last time I baked this cake, I used the Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix…and it was fantastic. It cooked up to perfection the first time. With Cherrybrook Kitchen, I had to let the cake pans remain in the oven longer than the recipe called for in order to get them to that light golden brown on top and where the top would spring back when I pressed carefully on it. No problem with that though. As long as it cooked through. The pans were removed from the oven and left to cool. The recipe says for 5 minutes, but the last time I attempted to make a layer cake, I turned out the cake and it crumbled…so I let it go a little longer before telling myself that, eventually, the cakes had to come out of the pans. Mustering up whatever conviction I needed, I finally hauled myself into the kitchen, ran a knife around the edges, and turned the cake layers out of the pans.

SUCCESS!! No cake crumbling this time. Each layer popped out perfectly and beautifully. Nothing stuck to the pan. Nothing was left behind. Just two perfect cake layers which would now remain on wire racks to cool the rest of the way while I prepared the lemon curd (gluten-free variety) and the icing for the cake.

With that task done, I now set out to do the fun part…assemble the cake. One layer went down and then got coated with a warm layer of lemon curd. Then, the other layer was placed on top of it. I iced it with the prepared whipped lemon icing and called it done. It was late…too late for cake…so it would have to wait until after dinner the following night to be sampled.

Yesterday was the grand unveiling. I actually sliced into it that morning to take a slice to my teammate at the office. She loves to try the gluten-free foods that I make, because she’s a baker and interested in dealing with people with food allergies, and wants to see what can be done with gluten-free foods so that they don’t taste gluten-free. She loved this cake. Loved it. And that made me really happy and proud to have made it and shared it.

But after dinner that night…it was my turn. I sliced two more slices from the cake (which I am getting 12 slices out of)…one for myself and one for the roommate. As I mentioned before, this is the roomie’s favorite cake now…so…as I went back to plate my piece, I returned to find hers already half gone. She said she was trying really hard not to just devour it…and she was definitely succeeding.

So, how does the version of the cake made with Cherrybrook Kitchen’s Gluten Free Dreams Yellow Cake Mix compare to that of the one I had made previously with Betty Crocker’s Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix? It stands up quite well to its predecessor. Honestly. I asked my roomie her opinion, as this is her most favorite cake EVER and she said she felt the Cherrybrook Kitchen cake mix was a bit dryer than Betty Crocker’s…but it was still good. She might be right. While this cake wasn’t dry at all, I do believe that Betty Crocker had the edge on moistness when prepared in this manner. However, this is not a knock to Cherrybrook Kitchen. I can say this because the three of us who have eaten slices of this cake have all agreed that it is delicious. The cake wasn’t fall-apart dry. It was still moist and packed with amazing citrus flavor. It worked perfectly in this recipe…even with me having to measure out a certain weight of mix to make it in the first place.

Cherrybrook Kitchen makes fantastic gluten-free products. I have yet to find one that I don’t like. While this was prepared in a nontraditional manner, the Gluten-Free Yellow Cake Mix is a definite addition to the pantry in the future. I loved the taste and the texture. I found it to be a great mix to use for this recipe. Very impressed with the finished product and totally taking slices of it to Columbus with me on Friday to share with my friend Jenn!

Cherrybrook Kitchen is a great place to turn for gluten-free/wheat-free mixes in a pinch. They are a bit pricey, but most gluten-free mixes on the market are. If you find a good sale…stock up. That’s my best advice. The variety of mixes that I have been able to try have been awesome and I look forward to trying the rest of their products in their lineup very soon.

Yeah…color me impressed.

Lemon Lover's Chiffon Cake made with Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Dreams Yellow Cake Mix — Lemon Lover’s Chiffon Cake made with Cherrybrook Kitchen Gluten-Free Dreams Yellow Cake Mix

November 13, 2012

Gluten Free You And Me mixes up a light, delicious Gluten Free French White Bread

Product: Gluten Free You And Me Gluten Free French White Bread Mix – $6.00

You know…it would figure.

I’ve been searching for the ultimate bread mix to bake up and continue to bake up because I make a lot of meals that just taste good with a small slice of bread, toasted in the oven with a spritz of olive oil and seasoning. And I’ve tried a lot of the name brands. Some I have fallen in love with. Some…I’ve been rather indifferent on. I haven’t hated any of them…but I don’t like a dense loaf of bread. I don’t want my bread to be heavy. It’s accompanying my meal, not becoming my meal.

Awhile back, while I was visiting my friend Jenn in Columbus, Ohio, she happened to make mention of a gluten-free event going on at a local gluten-free bakery/café of sorts. As we were already going to be out and about that day in town, we decided to stop by that morning and check it out. Although there were only a few things at this little event, one vendor in the front room really caught my attention.

Gluten Free You And Me is the company and they are based out of Dublin, Ohio. They had a few samples out, including cookies and their French White Bread, made from a mix that they were selling. Cathy tried a cookie and loved it. But Jenn and I…we were all about the bread. One taste and I about melted. It was light. It was fluffy. And it tasted…like fresh-baked, full-barrel, French bread. I knew then…I had to have it in my life.

So, for a small fee of $6.00, a tub of the mix was mine. I was excited and couldn’t wait to bake this up myself.

A loaf of Gluten-Free French White Bread (from Gluten Free You And Me Mix) fresh from the oven

But…other products in my expansive gluten-free pantry had to be used up first. However, this past weekend…it was time to see if I could do up the French White Bread as well as they had for the event. I could only hope.

Making the bread couldn’t be easier. Using a mixer, you put the dry mix into a bowl, add 1-1/2 cups of water, 1 tsp red wine vinegar (I didn’t have red wine vinegar, so I went out on a limb and used apple cider vinegar), 2 tablespoons of canola oil…and mix until the dough forms and is sticky. Then, you pour it into a 4 x 8 bread loaf pan (spray it with some cooking spray) and pat it down to evenly form a loaf shape. Score it across the tip with a knife and let it rise for about 35 minutes. Once it has risen within 1/2 inch of the top of the pan, you bake it in a 400 degree oven for around 40 minutes. Remove it from the pan and let it cool on a rack for 1 hour. Then…it is yours to enjoy.

Let me tell you, the most difficult part of this entire process was waiting for it to cool. I normally just want to slice right into the bread and give it a try…but I patiently (or as patiently as I could) waited the correct time before slicing into it.

Well, it was definitely as good as I remembered it. Figures. Because this is a little harder to get my hands on than, say, one of the major gluten-free bread mixes at the grocery store. But…definitely worth ordering online (yes…they do ship) if I can’t get out to where their products are sold in the Columbus area.

The Gluten Free You And Me French White Bread Mix bakes up a beautiful loaf of bread. The crust turned a perfect shade of gold and inside was a light, fluffy bread just begging for a schmear of butter. Yeah…this bread is damn near gluten-free bread perfection. The taste is exquisite. If you didn’t tell people it was gluten-free…they wouldn’t have a clue. At all. It tastes, dead-up, like the bread I used to be able to eat. And that, my friends, is nothing short of awesome. And I loved that I didn’t have to haul out my bread maker for this loaf. It was all done by hand, by the oven, and it baked to perfection. Happiness is a delicious loaf of gluten-free bread. It doesn’t get much better than this one.

I encourage you to visit the Web site for Gluten Free You And Me and take a look at the small, but amazing products that this company has to offer. They can ship some of their items, so check that out, especially if you are not in or around the Columbus, Ohio area. Their products are pretty hard to beat. Let me tell you…I’m still dreaming of this bread and thankful I have the other half of the loaf chilling in the freezer for future use. Well worth the purchase…trust me.

A loaf of bread made with Gluten Free You And Me Gluten Free French White Bread Mix and baked in the oven

November 12, 2012

Zoë’s Kitchen prepares variety of delicious gluten-free foods that will bring you back for more

Restaurant: Zoë’s Kitchen, Louisville, Kentucky

It was a beautiful early November afternoon. And I was hungry. I was hungry and standing in Blue Mile, a local running store at The Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, shopping for reflective gear to wear while running since the days are growing shorter and the nights longer. And it hit me. I was hungry. So was my roomie. And we had no idea where I could eat.

Granted, I know I have the Find Me Gluten-Free app on my phone, but still…

At the mention of choosing somewhere to eat, the very helpful employee at the running store, who I know from group runs I go on every Monday night, suggested a few options, one of them being just up the shopping center sidewalk – Zoë’s Kitchen.

Now, I had been wanting to try out Zoë’s Kitchen for awhile now, but my roommate had been pretty certain that their gluten-free menu was either non-existent or just not very big. But, as I mentioned above, I have an app for that…so I pulled out my phone and the first place Find Me Gluten-Free listed was…yep…Zoë’s Kitchen. I pulled up the menu, and while much of the rather extensive gluten-free menu was meat-based…there were quite a few vegetarian/vegan options as well on there.

It was just up the way. I was hungry. I was sold.

So…with the reflective gear purchased, we thanked our food pimp/employee and away we headed to feed our bellies. Stepping into Zoë’s Kitchen for the first time, I was immediately reminded of how Noodles & Co. is run. You place an order and are given a number. The order is sent to the line and is prepared by the very capable staff in the back and then brought to your table. Simple. Easy. Effective. Right away, I informed the cashier taking the order that I am a Celiac and can’t have gluten. Then, I placed my order and the proper deductions from the dish were immediately taken. I loved that.

My order…the Gluten-Free Veggie Kabobs, which comes with a side of White Beans and a Side Greek Salad ($8.55). To make the dish gluten-free, the pita and the feta cheese are left off. This entree was not charged extra for being gluten-free. It was a simple button pressed on the cash register, and the computer took off the ingredients so that the kitchen staff knew how to prepare it. I loved that.

My roomie decided to give the Steak Stack sandwich a try, and got it with the highly recommended Rice Pilaf ($7.39). Her sandwich consisted of sliced steak, portobello mushrooms, mozzarella, caramelized onions, feta spread, tomato, and rosemary oil all piled into two slices of sourdough bread. She loved every bite of it, and is totally in love with the rice pilaf. It was recommended by a runner. Of course it’s going to be awesome.

My entree was much larger than I expected, despite not having pita bread to go with it. The Veggie Kabob’s are grilled to ultimate perfection, with just the right amount of charring on each vegetable. The kabob’s themselves are made up of charbroiled portobello, zucchini, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. A bowl of the braised white beans with fresh rosemary comes on the side, and a HUGE side Greek salad comes along with it. The salad was secondary, but I took a few bites of it anyway. What I really wanted to dig into were those kabobs. And that was what I did. I eased all the charbroiled vegetables off the wooden skewer and tried each and every one of them. They were very fresh and broiled to absolute perfection. The tomatoes were still juicy. The zucchini, peppers and onion were all cooked to perfection. But the star was the large chunks of meaty portobello mushroom. Cooked and charbroiled to a blackened perfection, these were my favorite part of the entire dish and what I kept saving for last when it came to what I chose to skewer with my fork.

The White Beans with Fresh Rosemary were delicious. Not overly seasoned, but packing a delicious flavor. The gravy that they were nestled and hidden in was absolutely amazing. And as for the side salad…the humungous side salad…what I could eat of it was very good. It didn’t even need any dressing. That was the best part. Trust me…that’s weird for me to say. But the greens, the onions, the chopped veggies were all very ripe and just worked. But, it was the least interesting part of the entree, so I focused on the kabobs and beans…and it satisfied and filled me up.

For the record, my roommate loved the Steak Stack sandwich and said that her portobello mushrooms were also the star of the entire sandwich. Leave it to a Mediterranean-inspired comfort food restaurant to nail mushrooms!! Honestly…we both raved about them and they were both cooked in different ways. That speaks volumes.

What also speaks volumes is that we returned for lunch…today. Yep. We were out that way to finish off grocery shopping and lunch was needed. We didn’t even hesitate to stop back into Zoë’s Kitchen once again. I got the same thing as yesterday, but with the Fresh Fruit instead of the beans. And my roomie…she opted to try the Greek Chicken Pita with the Rice Pilaf ($7.39), although originally had thought to get the Steak Stack again.

Yeah…twice visited in two days…and amazing food each time. That definitely speaks volumes. Now, Zoë’s Kitchen is a minor chain, which crops up in 12 states. They have around 54 stores scatted in these 12 states, and are based out of Birmingham, Alabama. Nothing on their menu is fried. Everything is made fresh. And you can tell. The quality of the food really shines. And that’s what is important.

I’m already anticipating my next visit back. Maybe this time I’ll get the Hummus…but it’s so hard to even consider not getting those charbroiled portobello mushrooms again. They still make me crave.

If you happen to live in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, or Virginia, chances are you can find a Zoë’s Kitchen somewhere nearby. Otherwise, you’re going to have to do some traveling if you’re seriously interested in this fast, delicious, Mediterranean-inspired food. I promise…it’s worth seeking out. I’m glad I did.

Zoë's Kitchen's Veggie Kabobs with White Beans and a Side Greek Salad — Zoë’s Kitchen’s Veggie Kabobs with White Beans and a Side Greek Salad

November 9, 2012

A different sort of vegetarian burger in Earth Fare’s Mushroom Rice Burger (gluten-free)

Product: Earth Fare Natural Mushroom Rice Burger – $3.99+

I have fallen into a veggie burger rut. That sounds strange…I know. But it’s true.

The marketplace for gluten-free veggie burgers is booming. And I’m happy about that, because as a gluten-free vegetarian, sometimes I just want to have a good veggie burger. And many of the ones I have tried have been awesome. Some have been better than others. Despite being one of the more pricier ones, I absolutely can not step away from Amy’s Kitchen Sonoma Burger. It’s delicious. And one of the more sane ones when it comes to nutrition.

You might recall my run-in with the epically off-the-chain deliciousness of Sunshine Burgers…but the calories and fat content in them totally derailed my moment of joy.

It’s hard to find decent gluten-free, vegetarian food that isn’t laden with high calories and a lot of fat.

But, one day while shopping at my area’s newest grocery store, Earth Fare (I call it Earth Joy because it makes me happy!), I stumbled across their house brand of veggie burgers in the freezer section. As I was on my last Amy’s patty, I figured…why not try something else? And with a quick glance at the nutrition information, I felt so much better about this selection than any of the ones that have come before it. Now, I just had to hope it tasted as good as it sounded.

The veggie burger I chose this time around is Earth Fare’s Mushroom Rice Burger. And when I removed it from the freezer last night to cook up for dinner, what I loved seeing was the bits of rice that are actually part of the burger. You can also see the various vegetables that are incorporated into the patty itself. Love that. In fact, the Mushroom Rice Burger is composed of portobello and button mushrooms, onions, carrots, red and green peppers, black olives, potatoes, and garlic. Organic brown rice is added to that flavorful mixture, and they are seasoned with wheat-free organic tamari, sea salt, garlic, and some herbs.

A single burger is the serving size, but for once, the nutrition facts on the back of the box didn’t send me throwing it back in the freezer. One patty is only 90 calories (I think this is the first gluten-free veggie burger I’ve had that is under 110 calories) and contains only 1.5 grams of fat (THIS IS A FIRST!). It is a lean burger that is low fat, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and free of saturated fat. The sodium level is very low (290 mg). And one patty contains a whopping 8 grams of protein. Love that.

Last night, because I had some red onion, local bibb lettuce, and some tomato on hand, I decided it was time for another veggie burger. So, I busted out the Earth Fare Mushroom Rice Burger to cook up and give a try. I put it in my skillet to cook and heat through. This was actually very easy to do. I just made sure that it wasn’t cold anywhere in the middle, and flipped it a couple of times until it was nice and golden on the outside and warm throughout.

As I am out of my gluten-free hamburger buns, I have been opting to sandwich my burgers in…gluten-free bread. I happened to only have one slice left of my Glutino Genius bread, so I did sort of an open-face burger thing in lieu of getting more gluten-free bread or some gluten-free buns. I threw a slice of Veggie Slices Provolone Flavor cheese over it to melt down. Then, I plated it with the fresh vegetables and sat down to enjoy.

My first order of business was to get a piece of the burger itself, with no veg or bread. Why? Because I really wanted to see how it tasted, unmarred by the flavors that accompanied it. One bite…and I fell in love. This veggie burger is packed with amazing flavor. All organic. All delicious. I haven’t been this impressed by a veggie burger in a long time (especially one that is at least a little more nutritious for me to eat!). Gluten-free veggie burgers are becoming a little more common, but these…these not only have the best nutritional stats of any that I have tried, but they were moist and rich with flavor. All of the vegetables, the rice, the seasonings…they all mingled and mixed to form this perfect bite of a burger.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I hoovered it. Just completely devoured it.

Yes…it is that good.

I have noticed that Earth Fare markets are opening up throughout the country. If you have one nearby, I encourage you to go inside and try some of what they have to offer. It’s a great little healthy supermarket. And I have fallen in love with their selection (especially for someone like me!) and their products. Their very own brand of veggie burgers has now become my absolute favorite. Now…how’s that for amazing?!

Earth Fare Natural Mushroom Rice Burger, topped with melted non-dairy provolone cheese, bibb lettuce, and tomato

November 8, 2012

Cheese Bites Smoked Cheese crackers a more flavorful snack

Product: Unismack Cheese Bites Smoked Cheese Crackers – $1.80+

You know…one thing I have yet to learn is when a deal or sale is going on and I’m purchasing a new product…I shouldn’t immediately load up on every flavor available. Honestly. Because there is absolutely no guarantee that I’ll like the product in the first place.

I recently reviewed the Unismack Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers…claiming that while they were good…they weren’t exactly something that stood out. Not memorable. In a world of gluten-free cracker options, I’d eat them again…but not actively seek them out. Of course, while on that outing to Big Lots that day, I grabbed pretty much every snack cracker that said Gluten-Free on the box. Because…it’s labeled. WOOHOO!! And the Cheese Bites Smoked Cheddar Cheese was the next snack on my gluten-free pantry list. I was less than thrilled to pull down another box of these, but…you know…the rule is…unless you really can’t stomach it…you eat it. No gluten-free things go to waste in my house. None.

So, I dished up a serving to take to work with me today. And my 3 p.m. snack time rolled around. I pulled out these crackers, popped the lid of the container, and took my first bite.

And this is why I am on the fence with these.

They taste like…BACON.

There is nothing bacon related in these. But that’s what they taste like. Like greasy diner bacon. Or, as my co-worker said after I let her try one…that it tastes like a bite of a McDonald’s Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a bad thing. Not at all. But I’m a vegetarian. So when your vegetarian crackers taste like bacon, it is a little jarring at first. I didn’t know what to make of it or how to react. I know it’s just from the cheese being smoked, but…it confused the hell out of my taste buds.

You can’t say that these snack crackers lack anything for flavor. The very opposite is true for these. These pack the flavor. Enough that to some people it tastes like a fast food breakfast sandwich. Go figure. To me, it just reminds me of bacon. Maybe it’s because of that smokey flavor that is in the cheese. I had to get beyond that in order to really enjoy these crackers, but I ate them. No fussing on flavor this time. It’s there. I’m just not sure what to make of it just yet.

On the flip side, these crackers are rather low in calories (120 calories for a 1 cup (or 29g) serving) and only have 5 grams of fat for each serving. That’s not bad for a snack cracker. These are low sodium and also pack 4 grams of protein per serving. Not bad for a cracker, yes? All the ingredients are recognizable…probably due to the fact that these are produced in Greece. No strange chemicals or preservatives. Just the real-deal when it comes to ingredients. And these crackers are puffed up triangles of smoked cheese flavor. And they are light, so they won’t fill you up and spoil your appetite for dinner either.

So, if you love bacon…these might be the crackers for you. As for me, after my 3 servings that are in this box…I think I’ll pass. It’s just…weird to me. But, if you aren’t a vegetarian…these might be the best cracker you’ve ever tasted. But you’d have to buy them to find out.

November 7, 2012

Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers a light, gluten-free snack

Product: Unismack Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers – $1.80+

So…here’s the thing.

In February, I’ll be hitting my 2 year milestone of being completely gluten-free. Yep. Two full years. And it has been a learning experience. One thing that I can certainly claim is that I have definitely been going out on a limb and trying a variety of gluten-free products. One of the numerous gluten-free products out there is crackers.

Crackers went gluten-free with a vengeance. There are so many brands out there to choose from now. And flavors as well. Imagine that…options.

Well, one place I have learned to look for different gluten-free foods is Big Lots. I have found a wide variety of different snacks and foods from various parts of the world on the shelves of Big Lots. At a decent price. Labeled gluten-free. You know how I feel about labels on my products!

One such product was this week’s afternoon snack at the office. They are simply called Cheese Bites, made by the Unismack SA company in Greece. This particular box that I selected is the Parmesan cheese variety of cracker. Right on the front of the box is the gluten-free label that assured me this would be okay to purchase and consume. So…I did.

With the plethora of snack crackers out in the gluten-free market, something like this really needs to stand out. The actual shape and texture of these did catch my attention. They are simple puffy triangles that are bake, which keeps them light and airy. The ingredients are simple…without anything that makes you hop on the internet and search for what that chemical might be. It’s simple…potato startch, edam cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg yolk, yeast extract, milk proteins, and salt. Bam. A simple cracker and not a single ingredient I didn’t recognize. I love that. In addition, these crackers are not only gluten-free, but also wheat free, MSG Free, GMO Free, rich in calcium, and also produced in a nut-free factory.

But…how do they taste?

Well…they are good. Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t turn down buying them again. The fact of the matter, however, is that I have had so many flavor-popping crackers before these that they just don’t quite live up to my expectations. I’ve had fantastic cheese crackers (Hello Schär!) and other such crackers…and while these taste good, have a good texture, and definitely deliver that Parmesan flavor…they just seem bland compared to other gluten-free crackers out there. I loved the puffed up triangles, keeping the snack light so as not to be too heavy in the afternoon before heading home for dinner. I just feel that there are better, more flavorful crackers out there.

A serving of these is 1 cup (or 29 grams if you weigh your portions like I do). This will set you back 120 calories and 4.5 grams of fat for the day. These are relatively low in sodium (only 300 mg) and provide 4 grams of protein in a serving. Not bad for a cracker. There are, mind you, only 3 servings per box, however…so you don’t get a whole heap of these at a time.

Unixmack SA has created a good, cheesy, gluten-free snack cracker…but there are others out there that I have eaten that I’ve liked far better. They aren’t bad…they just can’t compare to other cheese crackers lining the gluten-free shelves. But…I’d eat them again if they were offered to me.

November 2, 2012

Enjoying breakfast with a taste of Enjoy Life’s Cranapple Crunch Granola

After checking Enjoy Life’s Web site, I’m not 100% certain this product is even available anymore. Which is definitely too bad. And here’s why…

It is fantastic!

Simple and to the point on this blog. I picked up this pouch of granola at Big Lots one day while I was out and about. They just happened to have it on sale…and I just happened to snatch it up with one of the Double Chocolate Crunch granola pouches as well. I figured I could use it on homemade, gluten-free apple crisp. And then I realized it was highly unlikely that I would get around to making apple crisp anytime soon, despite the overflow of apples in my CSA bin every week. So, this morning…I got a little creative with breakfast.

With it being fall/winter time, apples are in abundance when it comes to my produce. So, I see them every week and try to come up with easy, efficient ways to use them. Even if it means just slicing them and eating them straight. Well…that could have happened this morning. And then…I had a brilliant stroke of brilliance (as I like to say). And I dug the bag of Enjoy Life Cranapple Crunch Granola out of my pantry and got set to work some of my breakfast magic.

I ended up getting out my vanilla Greek yogurt, caramelizing up some apples, and then serving it in parfait form with the Enjoy Life Cranapple Crunch Granola serving as the crunchy bit to give it texture. Assembling it was easy. Caramelizing apples I can do in my sleep. And throwing Greek yogurt over everything is something I’m used to doing…often. So, as I am still quite sleep deprived thanks to noisy downstairs neighbors, this simple task was just what I needed this morning.

Upon opening the bag of granola, however, I knew I needed to sample it on its own. Quality control and so I could give a true statement about flavor and taste via this blog. I thought it looked a lot like Rice Krispies with craisins and dried apples thrown into the mix. Which, isn’t a bad thing. I reached in and pinched up a bit of the granola and some of the dried fruit to eat and tossed them back. The bits of brown rice flakes were crunchy and really packed with flavor. And the bits of dried cranberry and dried apple really brought a bunch of fruity flavor to the mix. Honestly. I was beyond impressed. I wasn’t expecting much, because at first glance…it looks like something I could have easily thrown together. But it just packs that apple flavor with the cranberry to add to the tartness. And I loved that it didn’t have huge chunks like most granola does. This was just flakes of brown rice bits and the dried fruit.

And how did it fair in my breakfast parfait? Awesome!! It complimented the vanilla Greek yogurt and the caramelized apples better than any granola that has come before it. My taste buds were extremely happy with each flavor that danced across my tongue. Really delicious. And it stayed crunchy even with the fruit and yogurt. It’s hearty and I like that…considering it looks like regular cereal.

Nutritionally speaking, this granola hits at a good level when it comes to sugars. While some I have tried have had ridiculous amounts of added sugar to them, this stands with only 10 grams in a serving. The calorie count will only set you back 160 calories and 3 grams of fat. And the serving size is 1/2 cup. Way more than most granola offers, which is normally about half that serving. Love it.

Enjoy Life makes really amazing gluten-free and allergen-free products. They are processed and made minus the top eight food allergens (meaning they are Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Fish Free, Shellfish Free). The Cranapple Crunch Granola is a great gluten-free granola that packs a wildly delicious flavor punch and is definitely more nutritious than others out there on the market. It’s peace of mind.

And, beyond that, it’s delicious.

IF this flavor, the Cranapple Crunch Granola, is still one of Enjoy Life’s products…or if you can seek it out and find it…definitely get it. Definitely try it. And definitely enjoy it. Now I feel like I need to savor every bite…because who knows if I can ever get it again!

October 31, 2012

Sinful, soft, and scrumptious Cinnamon Rolls from Sinfully Gluten-Free

Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls with Icing

Product: Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls – $4.95

One of my biggest cravings since going gluten-free has been for, believe it or not, cinnamon rolls. Honestly. And it’s not that there aren’t gluten-free options out there. Udi’s makes some pre-packaged cinnamon rolls…which are…eh…okay, but definitely not one of their better products. And I attempted to make cinnamon rolls from a Chebe mix…and that was an epic fail of monumental proportions. Just…trust me on this one.

So, with the smell of Cinnabon lurking…everywhere…I resigned myself to the fact that unless I make my own (no easy task), that I would probably just have to stick with what Udi’s offers. Edible…but not a cinnamon roll in my mind.

And then, as luck would have it, I was in Dayton, Ohio for a chocolate festival. Yes…mock all you want…I am a female and I love chocolate. So the words chocolate festival will bring me to Dayton. Trust me. After sampling and buying a few items at the chocolate festival and doing a bit of antique shopping, my usual partners in crime (Jenn & Cathy) and I headed toward Centerville because, after dining at Sinfully Gluten Free before the Air Force Marathon 10K, I knew I had to go back. And I always will while in Dayton. Hands down.

Well, after placing our food order, I went shopping. Because here I am in a dedicated bakery/café…of course I’m going to buy some of their products. Among the items purchased…Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls. Happiness abounded. And it even came with its own little tub of icing. YUMMY!

Of course, as is the case…these weren’t devoured immediately. Nope. They went back to Columbus, Ohio with me first. And then made the trip back to the Louisville, Kentucky area with me, via a cooler. And from there…they went into my freezer. But then…a busy weekend left me with no time to make gluten-free scones for my gym days…so…lo and behold…the cinnamon rolls were about to make their debut.

Sinfully Gluten Free’s Cinnamon Rolls come in a container of 4. Each roll is around 4 ounces in weight. Since I froze them, I pulled them out of the freezer to thaw in the container overnight. After my hard gym workout, I carried it into work with me and settled in the kitchen with two plates and four cinnamon rolls. My roommate received two of them and I received two. I saw that you could just go ahead and microwave the lot of them in the container they came in (minus the lid), but I needed time to ice them and keep mine warm while I took the roomie hers. So…I slid them onto a plate, and put them in the microwave for about 1 minute. They emerged piping hot and ready for a schmear of icing. I topped them off, put the other two for me in the microwave, and heated them up while I delivered the other pair to my roommate across the office.

I returned soon after just as the microwave beeped. Out they came, hot and ready for icing. I topped them off and happily carried them into my office and settled in at my desk with a fork. They looked absolutely perfect. Just like the ones my mom used to make…but better…because these didn’t come from a can marked Pillsbury. With much anticipation building, I slid my fork through one of the rolls, feeling the dough happily give way, how soft it was on the inside, and with that…I took my first bite.

These made me beyond happy. They were a perfect texture, despite being nuked in the microwave. They were gooey on the inside. The icing complimented them, without being too sweet and overpowering. It melted right over the top and into the rings of the cinnamon rolls. The rolls themselves weren’t too dense. They were light, with a little weight from the cinnamon rolled up inside. Sweet. Savory. And just phenomenal. Honestly. I savored each bite for as long as I could, dragging out my breakfast because I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want to reach that last bite.

But…sadly…like all good things…this did come to an end. One final bite and I messaged my roommate and said, “I wish we had more of those in the freezer.” So, needless to say, next time I’m in or around Dayton, I hope Sinfully Gluten Free has some of those on hand because they have to be the best gluten-free cinnamon rolls to exist in the gluten-free world. Honestly. I have yet to find better. They got it all right and I was totally lucky enough to have the chance to indulge and enjoy.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but they deserve the high praise again. Sinfully Gluten Free…you take gluten-free goodness to sinfully divine levels. This gluten-free girl is one happy customer, always hoping to find herself in or around Dayton…just so I can come by and purchase more of your scrumptious goodies. I hope the cinnamon rolls make it back into my life…and soon!

Sinfully Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls (iced)