Rice – Page 6 – The Celiathlete

October 8, 2013October 8, 2013

Product Review: Tasty Bite Spinach Dal

Product: Tasty Bite Spinach Dal – $3.29+

It’s Monday again. And you know what that means, right?

It means I use the rice I cooked up last week for Monday…until the world got loopy…and enjoy another quick Indian meal from Tasty Bite. That’s what it means. Why? Because it’s the night I come straight home from work, feed myself quickly, change into my running clothes and then head out to get at least 3 miles in with my friends at my local running store.

I’m currently tapering…3 miles would have been ideal. Except we did something different tonight, and Patrick (he’s tricksy), somehow got me to climb Dog Hill in Cherokee Park twice. TWICE! I hate dog hill…but he said, as we entered Cherokee Park…let’s make this the start of one loop, so we’ll go all the way around and then when we come back around we’ll head back to the store. Um…okay? I guess. Regardless…I was one of three people who did it.

During taper.

Bad. Bad me.

But…one thing that wasn’t bad was my dinner. In fact, I was once again blown away by the authentic flavor and taste that Tasty Bite puts into each of their entrees. Since I love Indian food with a passion, then I want my Indian food to be good. I want it to taste like Indian food. And Tasty Bite accomplishes just that. It’s incredible how good these little microwavable pouches actually are. I continue to be impressed, surprised, and happy with my meal.

Today was a new flavor for me. Today’s pouch introduced me to Spinach Dal. Dal is lentils. So, if you like lentils and spinach…well…this is a great opportunity for you to combine the two into one. The Tasty Bite Spinach Dal entree is spinach that has been cooked down and combined with yellow lentils. This forms an amazing sauce that is packed with nutrients and protein. These two components are accented with a variety of spices (including ginger, garlic, sugar, chilies, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, and pepper) as well as water, tomatoes and onions. What emerges is this great green spinach-y sauce with tons of flavor, seasoned to perfection, with yellow lentils swimming throughout. The texture is great. The taste is superb. You’ll be blown away by it. I hoovered mine down, which isn’t always a good thing to do before going for a run, but I was hungry…and loving every bite.

Nutritionally speaking, the Tasty Bite Spinach Dal is a powerhouse of nutrients. One serving is half of the pouch, which dishes up only 100 calories and 5 grams of fat. One serving also provides 480 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. Not too shabby for a shelf-stable item, right? And one serving will give you 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein as well.

Once again, Tasty Bite exceeds all expectations and wows me once again with their bold flavors, their ability to replicate Indian food to perfection, and just how easy they are to prepare. Just a 90 second zap in the microwave and serve. Add it over rice, eat it on its own or add it to a meal to change it up or turn it up a notch. I saw a recipe on their Web site where someone placed Spinach Dal on a pizza crust. Sounds delicious, yes?

The possibilities are endless…and taste oh, so good!

Tasty Bite Spinach Dal over jasmine rice

October 7, 2013May 11, 2015

Recipe: Baked Parmesan Risotto with Peas and Portobello Mushrooms

I am addicted to the Food Network.

Really.

If I am out of town or at the gym, that is my preferred station. I might be a gluten-free vegetarian, but I love food. And I love to learn about food. And, even more, I love to learn new ways to cook food. Lucky for me HULU airs a few Food Network shows, and one evening my roommate and I tuned into an episode of The Barefoot Contessa. I know, a lot of people don’t like Ina that much, but sometimes the things she does with food is awesome. And on this particular episode…she was making risotto. The difference was, she was not going to stand over a pan on a stove, stirring and stirring and stirring as the rice worked its way to the perfect texture.

Nope. She was going to bake it.

BAKED RISOTTO!! Who would have thought that would work?

I changed up the original recipe to be vegetarian and make use of what I had in the kitchen, which meant I even (God forbid) took out the use of the white wine. I didn’t have any on hand. I include some sauteed fresh portobello mushrooms as well.

Recipe: Baked Parmesan Risotto with Peas and Portobello Mushrooms

Servings: 6
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 50 minutes

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups Arborio rice
5 cups simmering vegetable stock, divided
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup portobello mushrooms, chopped

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Place the rice and 4 cups of the vegetable broth in a Dutch oven.

Cover and bake for 45 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente.

While it bakes, clean and chop your portobello mushrooms (if using). Place a pan over medium heat and add olive oil. When the olive oil is heated, add the portobello mushrooms and a dash of salt and saute until the mushrooms are lightly browned on each side. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Remove the risotto from the oven, add the remaining cup of vegetable broth, the Parmesan, butter, salt, and pepper.

Stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Add the peas and mushrooms and stir until heated through.

Serve hot.

~*~*~

I couldn’t believe how beautifully this actually worked out. Honestly. It was amazing. The rice was fluffy and soft. The risotto itself had that thick risotto feel to it. The cheese melted beautifully and really helped give it that added bit of creaminess. I didn’t even miss the wine. And by sauteing up the mushrooms, I gave the risotto a little meatiness. The seasoning was good, but if you are using a good Parmesan cheese, I recommend maybe cutting back slightly on the salt that is added.

My roomie loved this dish and was so happy we had leftovers. I even took a serving in to a co-worker because I had mentioned I was making it for dinner, and he had been having a rough week. When I saw him later that day, he said it was SO good. It made me happy.

So, if you love risotto but don’t want to slave over a hot stove to make it…give this recipe for baked risotto a try. I think you’ll be more than pleased with the results. As for me…I think I will forever bake my risotto in the future. So much easier and much better results.

October 6, 2013

Product Review: Tasty Bite Aloo Palak

Product: Tasty Bite Aloo Palak – $3.29+

Indian food is love, yes?

Of course it is. In fact, this coming Friday I’m heading out to my favorite Indian restaurant here in town with my roomie and my friend Jenn because we are prepping for the trip to Chicago early Saturday morning for my marathon. Pardon me while I freak out a wee tiny bit here. Or a lot. Take your pick.

Ahem.

Unfortunately, I don’t make enough money to afford to feed (see what I did there?) my Indian food habit. Nope. I’m a poor, starving, soon-to-be marathoner who loves to eat but can’t always justify the means. And, I grew up eating Indian food thanks to my neighbors who were from India. I loved being invited to eat dinner with them because the food was so different and seasoned so different than what I was used to. It was love at first bite…and continues that path.

So, when I get a hankering for Indian food…or it happens to be a Monday when I need a quick bite before speeding over to my fun run group after work, well, I turn to Tasty Bite. Because they bring Indian food to my kitchen in the easiest form possible. Yep. A microwavable pouch.

Don’t turn your nose up at the microwave. It has its uses…aside from blowing things up or making butter get everywhere when you’re just trying to soften it…

You can’t mock something until you try it. And you’ll want to give Tasty Bite a chance. Especially if you like Indian food. The flavors are so authentic. And all the ingredients…they’re natural, not over processed or made of chemicals. You will recognize every single one of them printed on that little yellow pouch of curried goodness in your grocery store. Peace of mind…and delicious food? Yep…it is possible. Very possible.

Two weeks ago…because I’m behind…yes…two weeks ago, I used the magical microwave powers to heat up and create a delicious pre-run meal…with the help of Tasty Bite. And this week’s flavor…Aloo Palak.

Those of you unfamiliar with Indian cuisine, Aloo Palak is simply potatoes and spinach that are simmered together with onions, tomatoes and spices. What might these spices be? Well…ginger, garlic, sugar, chilies, and turmeric. That’s not so scary, right? Exactly! And the best part is…it all comes together beautifully.

Now, don’t judge me, because I admit I double-starched this meal. I cooked up two servings of jasmine rice to serve this entree over. It’s not necessary, but I do love having rice with my Indian food. So…potatoes and rice. Consider it…carbing up for the 3 mile run I was going to be doing.

Double starch or not…Tasty Bite’s Aloo Palak is delicious. It’s filling. It’s mild…meaning it won’t bother your tummy if you eat and run like I do. I love my spicy food, believe me…but not 30 minutes before I go for a 3 or more mile run. Yeah…not good. But…this one…the potatoes beef it up. The spinach is creamy and just makes a great sauce for the potatoes to bed in. The tomatoes and onions give it a sweet and savory feel. The spices…they give it that Indian flare. When you eat Indian food, you want it to taste ethnic. You want to feel like you are in India. This little pouch of gluten-free, vegan, kosher, culinary goodness delivers that flavor. No questions asked. It’s a little taste of India…straight out of your microwave. No passport required. Just a spoon. Or a fork. Whatever you wish.

I loved this. I wish I had eaten the whole pouch myself. But…I don’t want the roomie to starve either…so I share.

Let’s talk nutrition, since I already covered ingredients. A serving is 1/2 of the pouch of Tasty Bite Aloo Palak. This dishes up 100 calories and 3 grams of fat. Each serving will give you 400 mg of sodium and 3 grams of sugar. That’s not bad for something packaged. And you get dished up 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein as well. In addition, this meal is cholesterol free and trans-fat free. Love it.

If you are unfamiliar with Indian food and don’t want to risk a trial with a local restaurant…make Tasty Bite your first stop. If you love Indian food, but just can’t justify yet another meal out at your favorite place…make Tasty Bite your next option. Honestly, Tasty Bite is one of the best heat and eat meals out there…and they do Indian food right. Transport yourself to Indian food awesomeness in just 90 seconds. Grab a spoon…and dig in.

September 14, 2013

Product Review: Garden Lites Pizza Souffle

Product: Garden Lites Pizza Souffle – $3.49+

Can pizza be a vegetable? I mean…it’s normally made with tomato sauce…but tomato is a fruit. You can put vegetables on pizza (and I often do)…but it’s still…pizza right? Probably. In most cases. But thanks to Garden Lites…pizza is now a vegetable. For real.

Last year, I discovered and worked my way through the flavors of Garden Lites Souffles that were currently out on the market. Since then, more have been added and a few of those new flavors have actually been sitting in my freezer since I finally spotted them at the grocery store…MONTHS ago. Why hadn’t I pulled them out sooner? No clue. But that changed tonight. And, given the expiration dates, the first souffle to get sampled by my roomie and I was…Pizza.

Yes. Pizza Souffle. Hey, there have been stranger things in life. The “crust” isn’t a heavy dough like you would get in a normal pizza. Remember…this is a souffle. Therefore, cauliflower and brown rice make up the base, lending that crust-like flavor to the souffle itself. So…that cauliflower crust pizza that keeps turning up on Pinterest isn’t so new after all, eh? HA! Anyway, bound together with egg whites and topped off with tomato sauce and melty, gooey Mozzarella cheese and you have quite an interesting take on a souffle. And pizza for that matter.

Cooking this up is simple. Three minutes with the plastic wrap still on. Let it sit for a minute. Then remove the plastic and heat on 50% power for another minute. Enjoy. My roommate and I actually had ice cream for lunch (HAHA!), so we split this for dinner. But we both found that the smell and flavor was reminiscent of cafeteria pizza or pasta. You know…it has that lingering sweetness in the sauce that you just breathe in and it takes you back to grade school or…in the case of my roommate…some mess hall with some army thing-a-ma-jig. (Technical term!)

You know what? The flavor and taste sort of reminded me of cafeteria spaghetti too. Not saying that is a bad thing. I mean, whenever spaghetti day at school (from 1st grade through 12th grade) rolled around, you better believe that was the tray I grabbed from the lunch lady. Spaghetti was always my favorite thing to eat growing up (and still is now, although rice and corn noodles are now my noodle of choice due to the whole Celiac thing). Cafeteria food isn’t always the best tasting…but it is decent. It’s good. And that’s how I felt about this. It was like…eating a mix of my high school’s spaghetti and pizza. The sauce was very sweet, seasoned well, but sweet. More sweet than I usually like a tomato sauce. The cheese was a gooey mass on top, which I’m okay with. At least it was melty and gooey. Most packaged items don’t get to that point. Especially when nuked in the microwave. I don’t mind the cauliflower and rice base at all. It was actually a nice, crumbly texture that worked. The sauce was just…okay though. Thankfully the sauce and cheese weren’t heavy on the dish at all. In fact, there wasn’t too much of either of them. A nice balance that worked.

Let’s talk ingredients and nutrition now…

The Garden Lites Pizza Souffle is made from cauliflower, pasteruized egg whites, onion, low-fat milk, brown rice, crushed tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, red pepper, green pepper, corn starch, tomato paste, a natural spice mix (dehydrated onion, spices, corn starch, natural flavors, tomato powder, potassium chloride, autolyzed yeast extract), evaporated cane juice, canola oil, sea salt, lemon juice, garlic, basil, oregano, pepper, and a blend of locust bean gum, gaur gum, and xanthan gum. This souffle is gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free.

As for the nutritional aspect of the Pizza Souffle…one serving, which is the entire bowl, will provide you with 200 calories and 4 grams of fat. That is AWESOME for a meal. That is awesome for pizza! That’s just awesome! It does contain 650 mg of sodium and 6 sugars. But you also do get 3 grams of fiber and a whopping 12 grams of protein. So, you won’t feel like you need to eat more on top of this little souffle dish. I mean, I filled up on ice cream and was only mildly hungry when I heated this up for my roomie and I…and I still felt full after eating just half of the dish.

It isn’t one of my favorites, but I would eat it again. Honestly. It wasn’t bad…but it wasn’t knock me off my seat delicious either. I love the healthy take on the traditional pizza and the use of cauliflower and brown rice as the base. It’s ingenious. And it works well. If anything, I only wish the sauce tasted more fresh and less fake-sweet. Aside from that…totally devourable in every way.

August 22, 2013

Recipe: Roasted Corn Risotto with Smoked Paprika

Rice is a staple in my kitchen. It can be used as a base for my quick Indian foods from Tasty Bite. It can be made into a filling for a taco or gluten-free quesadilla. It can be thrown into a stir-fry. Or…it can be used to make a risotto. The possibilities are endless. And I have every variety of rice hanging out in my pantry…trust me.

It just so happened that my CSA bin, last week, had four lovely ears of yellow corn inside. I didn’t have time to get to the corn last week, so I started trying to come up with some unique way to use it…rather than some deconstructed Mexican corn dish or something. The answer came to me via a recipe on the vegetarian food blog, Amuse Your Bouche. A risotto made with roasted corn and smoked paprika. It sounded fantastic. And between my bin and items already in my fridge and pantry…I just happened to have everything necessary to make it.

So…this morning after an 8 mile run, I came home, showered, then got to roasting up the corn for this particular risotto. The kitchen smelled fantastic as it was roasting away in the oven. Yes…the oven. The rest…that all was worked on after a quick circuit training session. And it all came together in a beautiful and highly tasty dish. In fact, Cathy, my roommate, declares it her favorite risotto I have ever made. And I’ve made a lot of risottos in my cooking days. So, that was a huge win.

Recipe: Roasted Corn Risotto with Smoked Paprika

Servings: 4
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 30 minutes

Ingredients:

250 grams corn kernels (I used fresh, cut from the cob, and weighed it. It was just over a cup. You could also use sweet corn from a can, if fresh corn is not an option for you)
10 grams butter (just under 1 tablespoon)
100 grams cheddar cheese, grated (just under 1/2 cup)
Salt
Black pepper
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
200 grams arborio rice (I weighed it, and it’s just about 1 cup)
4 cups vegetable stock (or 1 stock cube plus ~4 cups hot water)
1 tablespoon fresh coriander, chopped (optional)

Directions:

Lay the corn kernels out on a baking tray in a single layer.

Add a few small pats of butter and sprinkle with just a little of the cheddar (around 2-3 tablespoons – save the rest for later).

Season with salt and pepper and place in an oven heated to 400°F for around 30-40 minutes, stirring well halfway.

Remove from the oven when it is golden brown and the pieces at the edge are beginning to turn crispy.

While the corn is roasting, prepare the risotto itself.

Heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan, wok or risotto pan, and cook the onion and garlic, along with the paprika, over a medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.

Add the rice and cook for about 2 minutes more.

Then begin to add the stock, around 1/2 cup at a time, allowing it to be mostly absorbed by the rice before adding a little more. Be sure to stir regularly. It’s okay if the mixture bubbles very gently, but keep it on a low heat.

Continue adding more stock (and stirring well) until the rice is cooked and at your desired consistency – around 30 minutes. Add the remaining grated cheese, the chopped coriander (if using), and the roasted corn.

Serve warm.

~*~*~

The Amuse Your Bouche Web site does say that this risotto reheats really, really well. Which is good, because both Cathy and I have a serving of it for tomorrow’s dinner as well. Honestly, this risotto was packed…and I mean…packed with flavor. Cathy said it reminded her a lot of a gourmet macaroni and cheese…but with rice and corn.

I know…sometimes she states the obvious. But…the fact is…this risotto was just amazing. Super delicious. Creamy. Filling. And just made of epic YUM!! But…you should be the judge of that. So…don’t fear risotto. Embrace it. And make some tonight. I recommend this recipe. I highly recommend it.

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 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)

July 30, 2013

A quick Tasty Bite of Spinach Channa in one little package

Product: Tasty Bite Spinach Channa – $3.29+

Tasty Bite keeps winning me over. Honestly. If there is one thing that this company knows…it is flavor. And even more importantly…flavor profiles. Because what Tasty Bite continues to manage, time and time again, is to get the perfect blend of spices and ingredients to work together…in this little microwavable pouch. Most naysayers would say it couldn’t be done. But, as they have proven over and over again…it can.

I remember first spotting Tasty Bite products on the shelf of my local grocery store. Then…I started seeing more (and other varieties) at the other grocery stores I go to each week (which is between 4-6, honestly). When they went on sale at my grocery store, my roommate and I decided to stock up on the varieties they had…and just hope that they were good.

This was, quite honestly, the best decision we ever made.

You see…we are very busy, very active, very on-the-go people. And there are certain days of the week where cooking a full meal just doesn’t work. When we have places to go and appointments to make, there is just no way I can spend that sort of time in the kitchen. It just isn’t possible. Take Monday’s for example. Yesterday…after running in the morning…then working 8 hours…then with my group fun run that evening at 6 p.m…and travel over into Louisville being figured in, I basically had time to either cook up a Tasty Bite meal…or make a grilled cheese sandwich.

I decided to do the Indian food. Spinach Channa was the next one on the list. What is Spinach Channa?

I cooked up some jasmine rice the evening before, so you can tell which won out in the end. It’s basically chickpeas that are simmered with savory spinach, some herbs, some spices, and given a little kick with the addition of chilies. It sounded great because I absolutely love chickpeas and spinach. And…chilies in everything makes me a happy girl. Give me something with a bit of a kick and what you have is one very, very happy gluten-free vegetarian.

One thing that I love about these Tasty Bite packages is how simple they are. They are good to eat on their own, but if you want to boost the staying power, you can pair it with a protein, pour it over rice, or however else you choose to eat it. Putting it over rice is always my method. Anyway, once you decide how you are going to enjoy your Tasty Bite meal…the rest is simple. Tear a 2 inch slit into the top of the package and pop it into the microwave for 90 seconds. When done…serve however you choose. For me…I pour the now steamy warm contents over my jasmine rice and settle in to eat.

So, how exactly does the pairing of various herbs and spices with spinach and chickpeas taste? Just as amazing as it sounds. The spinach is cooked down into this green, thick, soup-like sauce. The chickpeas are scattered throughout that. And the flavors…they are to die for. Just the right amount of heat from the chilies. The rest…it just all blends together. It makes for one tasty, tasty meal. I really loved the flavors of this one. Not as much as the Vegetable Korma…but this one is good in its own right. Savory…with a small mild heat. And I mean…mild. My roommate is a spice wimp and she didn’t say anything about heat level on this one. So…it’s just enough to give it this added something. That’s all.

Now comes the science part…the ingredients and the nutritional information. Ready?

First of all, one thing that Tasty Bite does pride itself on is their ingredients. They use no preservatives and many of their options are gluten-free. Take Spinach Channa for example…since that’s what I am reviewing. The Spinach Channa is gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and kosher. Everything that goes into the package is an actual food. No chemicals. No artificial additives. Just pure ingredients. The ingredient list on this one is simple and small: water, spinach, chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, sunflower oil, garlic, ginger, salt, cumin, chilies, turmeric, and spices. Recognize all of those? I sure do. And that is a comfort.

Now…for the nutritional part. One serving of Tasty Bite Spinach Channa (5 ounces…or half the pouch) will serve you up 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. For being a shelf-stable option, the 490 mg of sodium isn’t too bad. It’s on the lower end of most processed foods. And much lower than some soups out on the market. Each serving also provides a filling 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. LOVE that.

And, honestly, I loved every bite of Tasty Bite’s Spinach Channa. It was filling. It provided great energy for my evening run, with nothing that upset my stomach. Indian food before a run isn’t everyone’s choice, but with the mild flavors and pairing it with rice, it’s ideal. Honestly. Oh…let’s not forget that it tastes AMAZING. Great flavors, great food, great company. And a great variety to choose from!

But…when in doubt…go for something simple. Spinach Channa is a great place to start.

What more could you want? Except, perhaps, another Tasty Bite…

Tasty Bite Spinach Channa over jasmine rice

July 27, 2013

Tasty Bite’s Vegetable Korma a palate-pleasing favorite for Indian food

Product: Tasty Bite Vegetable Korma – $3.29+

You will find this dish on pretty much every Indian restaurant menu you go into. Why? Because it is just one amazing meal that is so full of different flavors and textures, it’s actually exciting to eat. This is no exaggeration. Welcome…to my Monday tradition of easy, fast food…so I can get across the river and go running.

Thank goodness for meals for the busy people in this world. Tasty Bite has mastered the art of creating not only meals that are ethnic, interesting, and super-tasty…but that are also quick and easy to prepare. A simple warming in the microwave for 90 seconds and you’re set and ready to eat. Make it into more of a meal by pairing it with rice or a protein…and dinner/lunch/whatever…is served.

This Monday was like every other Monday prior. I have a running group I adore and always want to make the Monday fun runs that are hosted from my favorite local running store. LOVE the people who work there, who run there, and who just come in there. These are good people. And missing a run always bums me out. Therefore, in the limited amount of time I have after getting off work, getting home, getting ready to run…it leaves very little time to actually prepare and eat a dinner. Besides, before running for at least 3 miles…I don’t want anything too heavy. Carbs are a must. Protein is a must. Time is of the essence.

Tasty Bite seems to fit the description.

And lucky me…I have a pantry full of these easy, quick, and very flavorful pouches of awesomeness.

This Monday…the next flavor on the tasting menu was…Vegetable Korma.

Vegetable Korma is one of the most popular dishes on Indian menus everywhere. And why wouldn’t it be? For one thing, it is packed with fresh and delicious varieties of vegetables. In this case, onion, corn, carrots, potatoes, and spinach. Lots of vegetables, because they are the star of the meal. But, with Indian food especially, you have to flavor it…season it…get that right balance of spice in each bite. And this little meal was heightened by the addition of coconut milk, yogurt, sunflower oil, garlic, chickpea flour, salt, chilies, spices, and turmeric. Are you drooling yet?

You will be. What emerges after a short 90 second zap in the microwave is a steaming pouch that contains what has become my favorite Tasty Bite meal to date. It isn’t much to look at…not really. The sauce is sort of this light green color (the spinach), and it’s laden with chunks of vegetables (LOVE IT). But…it’s not always what it looks like that is any indication of what food tastes like. And that is especially true with ethnic foods. Indian foods more often than others. Take it from me…you can’t just a food simply by its looks. What is hidden inside is what makes each meal sing.

So why did Vegetable Korma overtake every other Tasty Bite meal I have tried to become my favorite? Well…it has this warming curry flavor to it…and it has the savory taste of the garlic and onion and spices. Top that off with the earthiness of the vegetables that make up the dish itself. But what really sets it apart…is that addition of the corn. You get this fantastic pop of sweet flavor with each bite.

It’s simple. It’s easy. And it’s amazing. I don’t just say that about anything. As I normally do, I served this over some freshly cooked jasmine rice. It was just filling enough that I didn’t feel like I’d have it still in my stomach when I went running, but didn’t leave me still feeling hungry.

Perfection.

With that being said, let’s take a quick glance at the nutrition offered up by Tasty Bite’s Vegetable Korma. A serving is 1/2 of the pouch. This serving will provide you with 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will also 430 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad for a pre-packaged, shelf-stable meal. This serving also gives you 4 grams of sugar. Aside from that, you feel satisfied after eating it thanks to the 5 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein each serving provides. It’s a nutrient powerhouse. Even better, this particular product is also gluten-free, vegetarian, and kosher.

LOVE IT!

No, honestly…I do. As I said, one bite and I was certain this would be my new favorite. It’s amazing. It’s incredible. It’s beyond delicious. It once again proves that Tasty Bite knows what they are doing when they put these meals together and sell them to the masses. I keep going back for more, wanting to try the different varieties that I can on a gluten-free, vegetarian diet. And the best part is…that doesn’t eliminate too many of Tasty Bite’s meals. Love that.

So, if you have a busy night ahead of you and are in need of something good, yummy, and just awesome to eat…go to your grocery store…find the Tasty Bite packs and pick up one or a couple. But…if you are choosing just to do one…I highly recommend the Vegetable Korma. It exceeds all expectations by leaps and bounds. Honestly good food…one tasty bite after another!

Tasty Bite Vegetable Korma over jasmine rice

July 10, 2013

My favorite Tasty Bite thus far has to be the Channa Masala

Product: Tasty Bite Channa Masala – $3.29+

It’s simple. It’s fast. And, wow…is it ever full of flavor and epically delicious. This is no exaggeration. And the most surprising part is this isn’t made from scratch. It comes from this little microwavable pouch. A simple 90 second zap and something to serve it with (I love pouring this over jasmine rice) and dinner is ready in less than five minutes.

LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES!

Is it possible that something tasty can come from a little microwavable pouch?

You bet your Indian-food loving self something can…and it does. So far I have been highly impressed with the line of Indian meals from Tasty Bite, but none have really wowed me as much as the Channa Masala. And the surprising part is just how simple this dish really is.

The night before, to save on time, I cooked up some jasmine rice on the stove top and stored it in the fridge for the following evening. Monday is my evening fun run with my running group, so dinner has to be fast…not too heavy…but substantial enough to see me through at least three miles of road. So, it’s usually grilled cheese or something equally as easy…and since I have a pantry shelf of Tasty Bite meals…these make a quick, easy, and perfect meal for such busy days.

Channa Masala is a slightly spicy Indian dish that uses chickpeas as the main component. Tasty Bite does just that with their version. In addition, they add simple, natural ingredients to the mix. Not one item listed on the pouch is something I am unfamiliar with. In fact…I’ll list the ingredients here: onions, water, chickpeas, tomatoes, sunflower oil, coriander, salt, spices, chilies, bay leaf, and turmeric. Vegetables, beans, a little oil, and some spices. Like I said…all natural ingredients. All ingredients are vegan, vegetarian, kosher, gluten-free…and yes…non-GMO! Here is something I can totally get behind.

So with all that being said, let me dive right in. The Channa Masala was LOVE at first taste. Honestly. One bite and I was hooked. There is a bit of a warm spice…that heat you get when you eat really good Indian food. Not overpowering or overwhelming. Let’s just say my roomie is a heat wimp and this is also one of her favorites so far. It’s just enough to make the bite interesting. Honestly. The chickpeas heat up to perfection and the sauce has that perfect blend of spices and flavor from the vegetables. It went so well over the rice and the entire meal was just amazing. I had to keep myself from hoovering the entire bowl and pace myself, let the flavor linger on my tongue, enjoying every bite. It may not be much to look at, but wow…the flavor, texture, and just outright sheer awesomeness of the meal itself is enough to make you rush out to the store and buy up every pouch on the shelf.

Nutritionally speaking, this is a very healthy meal, for a prepackaged meal. One serving is half of the Channa Masala inside the pouch. This serving dishes up a 180 calories and 8 grams of fat. One serving only has 400 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad for packaged food on the shelf of a grocery store, honestly. It is also cholesterol free. Thanks to the chickpeas, this serving provides a filling 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein as well. Like I said…it’s filling without being heavy…making it the perfect quick meal to turn to on busy days.

As you can tell, I am absolutely LOVING the variety, the flavors, the versatility, and the natural goodness of the Tasty Bite meals that I have had the honor of trying. Channa Masala, however, has quickly worked its way up to the top of my list. I am in love with this one…and already am pondering different ways to dish it up next time. Perhaps in tacos. Mmmmm…fusion!

Take my word…these affordable, healthy, and amazingly quick meals are one of the most fantastic products on your grocery store’s shelves. Purchase them. Enjoy them. Quick doesn’t mean it has to be bad for you. Tasty Bite puts out some of the best packaged food out there. I can attest to that. And with them catering to so many varieties of special diets…it means there is something for everyone.

Gold star, Tasty Bite. Gold star!!

Tasty Bite Channa Masala over jasmine rice