Sauce – Page 10 – The Celiathlete

February 25, 2014

Product Review: Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens

Product Review: Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens – $3.29+

There is more to my life than just pizza, ice cream, and cookies. Really, there is. And the proof is in this blog. I have an eclectic love of food, even with my dietary restrictions. I love to try different types of cuisine and often do, as long as the food can safely be made vegetarian and gluten-free. One of the easiest cuisines to navigate with this specific diet is none other than Indian food.

Now, I have my go-to Indian restaurant here in town. And I love the food. I grew up eating this type of food at my neighbor’s home…so Indian cuisine has always been one of my favorite things. I love the smell of curry. I love the taste of the spice blends. I could eat Indian food every night for the rest of my life and never grow tired of it.

It’s all about depth of flavor.

That being said, I have been without my CSA bin for two weeks now, due to being out of town. Fresh vegetables and fruits are not in my apartment currently. So…I’m pulling things out of the pantry to avoid grocery shopping and to get me through to Friday when I do get my CSA bin once again. YAY! Tonight…the final Tasty Bite meal came out of my pantry. It was time…

Tonight’s Tasty Bite was the Agra Peas and Greens. Agra Peas and Greens is basically peas in a creamy sauce of leafy greens and cashews. I’ll be honest with you…neither my roommate nor I knew what to expect from this meal. I mean, I like peas well enough, but it just wasn’t jiving with me. I think my roomie was trying to put off the inevitable…but it reached critical here in the apartment when it came to food. I don’t know why we were both expecting not to really like this meal.

Anyway, as with all Tasty Bite meals, nothing is simpler. I cooked up some jasmine rice this morning so that I could just simply reheated it when I got home to serve with the meal. Then, the little pouch of Indian food goodness is vented with a 2-inch tear and then popped into the microwave for 90 seconds. And just like that…a warm Indian meal is ready to serve. It is so easy. So, I split the rice and the contents of the package between two bowls and dinner was served…in less than five minutes.

I admit, Indian cuisine isn’t the prettiest cuisine out there, but it sure is one of the tastiest. And despite our initial reluctance to dive into this one…both Cathy and I were pleasantly surprised with how much we liked this. The peas gave the entire dish a nice hint of sweetness. It was just what was needed. This particular dish is very mild, no heat at all in each bite. I didn’t mind there not being heat this time though, because of the flavors that played across my palate. Fantastic. The sauce was awesome. I could taste the cashews. I was thrilled with this meal and savored each and every bite until my bowl was completely empty.

The Agra Peas and Greens meal from Tasty Bite is made up of water, green peas, tomatoes, onions, fenugreek greens, cashew paste, spinach, cream, watermelon seeds, sunflower oil, salt, garlic, ginger, sugar, tumeric, spices, and chilies. Put it all together and a surprisingly delightful entree emerges.

Nutritionally speaking, the Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens is a smart choice. Honestly. A serving is half of the pouch that it comes in. This serving will deliver 140 calories and 10 grams of fat. It seems high in the fat, but a lot of that does come from the cashews. A serving also provides 3 mg cholesterol, 410 mg sodium, and 2 grams of sugar. From a serving, you will also get 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, making it rather filling.

I love that this dish completely caught me off guard. I was so ready to not like it and found myself loving it more and more with each bite. It’s a non-spicy, easy, tasty bite…and it’s in your grocery store. Trust me…you’ll want to pick this one up and try it for yourself.

Tasty Bite Agra Peas and Greens over jasmine rice

February 21, 2014

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

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

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

I think so.

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

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

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

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

Simple.

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

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

I was beyond impressed.

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

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

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

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

February 18, 2014February 18, 2014

Product Review: A Taste of Thai Peanut Noodles Quick Meal

Product: A Taste of Thai Peanut Noodles Quick Meal – $5.49+

Love Thai food?

Me too. We have a great authentic Thai place not too far from where I live. It isn’t even in Louisville. It’s in Jeffersonville, Indiana. I love that place. I haven’t been there in ages, but I contacted them awhile back and they said they could make anything gluten-free for me. That’s the joy of Thai food…it is easy to accommodate.

That being said, when a sale is happening…my roomie and I tend to go a little crazy at the grocery store. No lie.

A long time ago in a far away (or perhaps local) grocery store, we encountered a sale on A Taste of Thai products. We picked up two of the Peanut Noodle Quick Meals (they serve 2 in each box) and a Pad Thai for Two…which we have yet to make as well.

Tonight, after a long day of travel from Birmingham, Alabama back home…and with no CSA bin this week, I needed a quick and simple meal. Trust me, I haven’t been in the mood to get creative with the food. And, honestly, after sitting all day in the car and being the sad sot that I am right now (injured runner…stand back!), I didn’t really want to whip up something from scratch that might take…ages.

Thank goodness for these meals in the pantry.

So easy to make too. Remove all of the envelopes that contain coconut milk powder, the peanut sauce, peanuts and noodles. Place a cup of water into the box and then add the sauce, the coconut milk, then the noodles. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Stir. Microwave again for another minute. Then, let stand for 1 minute. Afterwards, add the peanuts. Stir and then serve.

Simple. Easy. And ready in 5 minutes. Gotta love it.

Packets inside A Taste of Thai Peanut Noodles Quick Meal

So, how was it? Better than I expected. For one thing, the “sauce” packet was a powder, which threw me off for a moment. So was the coconut milk portion as well. But those both go in the water first and they mix in all proper like. The noodles actually do soften up in the 4 minutes of heating and 1 minute of resting. I promise. No hard noodles were found in the consuming of this product. And the flavor was awesome. Not as awesome as real Thai food, but as close to awesome real Thai food as one can get without being at an authentic Thai restaurant…or in Thailand. I swear. There was a little bit of heat…just enough to keep the flavor interesting. The peanuts gave a nice texture to the overall dish. The noodles were perfect. Not crunchy. Not mushy or sticky. Perfect. And the sauce…it was delicious. I might have licked my bowl. Maybe. A little.

So, how does this stand up nutritionally?

Let’s look at ingredients first. The sauce contains: sugar peanuts, chili powder, kaffir lime leaf powder, lemongrass powder, modified tapioca starch, salt, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, dextrose, tricalcium phosphate (to prevent caking), yeast extract, malic adid. The coconut milk powder is made up of coconut maltodextrin, mono and diglyceride (an emulsifier), dipotassium phosphate (a stablizer) silicon dioxide (to prevent caking). And the peanuts contained peanuts and silicon dioxide (to prevent caking). The rice noodles were simply made from rice flower, water, and modified food starch. Do I like all those modified ingredients. Not one bit. I bought these back before I was paying attention to that. Kind of shocking when I look at it and type it up.

As for nutrition…this box contains 2 servings. In one of these servings, you will consume 340 calories and 10 grams of fat. Not bad for a saucy noodle dish, I think. You will be taking in 320 mg of sodium and 13 grams of sugar. The sugar is a bit high, but I believe that is from the sauce. You get 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. It is cholesterol free, gluten-free, and preservative free.

So, while it is not the cleanest of eats, it was quick and easy. I do dislike the modified ingredients. Not a fan. But I am a fan of the taste, flavor, spice, and texture. For an every-now-and-again dinner, not a bad choice at all.

January 23, 2014

Recipe: Blueberry Breakfast Rice Bowl

Rice.

For breakfast.

You read that right. All natural. All things I had at home. All healthy ingredients. And the best part, it really does fill you up. Fiber is a wonderful thing. Trust me.

It was a bitter cold morning…around 0°F…and I didn’t want to have anything cold. Nothing. Hot coffee. Hot breakfast. So, I modified a recipe I spotted in a magazine and it proved to be as epic as it sounded. I loved the play of flavors and the way everything was fresh, light, and filling. This is definitely a hearty, no-guilt breakfast.

Recipe: Blueberry Breakfast Rice Bowl

Servings: 4
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup brown rice
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup almond milk
4 teaspoons pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 packet stevia
1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:

Cook rice according to package directions.

In a medium bowl, combine rice, oil, cinnamon, orange zest and salt. Divide among serving bowls.

In a small saucepan, bring milk and maple syrup to a boil on medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and stevia. Drizzle over top of rice mixture and top with blueberries, dividing evenly.

~*~*~

I loved the warm, homey feel of this breakfast. It was definitely something different. Rice for breakfast…when done like this…doesn’t seem too different at all. The spices and flavors all mixed really well. The blueberries really played well with the cinnamon and lemon. And I loved how everything just sort of played well together.

This is a new favorite. And it is so easy to make.

January 16, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

January 16, 2014

Product Review: Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini

Product: Ronzoni Gluten-Free Rotini – $2.39+

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

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

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

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

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

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

So…um…WIN?!

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

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

What does all this say?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I’m so glad I did.

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

December 30, 2013

Product Review: Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese

Road's End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreeze — Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese

Product: Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese – $3.49+

For the past two weeks…I have been without my CSA bin. It has been…tough. I have been trying to make a point, however, to attempt to use up products/items from my fridge, freezer, and pantry.

Fast forward to Friday night. It was the first full day back in town for me after having flown in the day before after visiting my family for Christmas. Without fresh produce readily available, and a tight, tight budget due to the holidays…it was time to make due with what was in the apartment. No big deal…there is plenty to choose from.

And it just so happened I remembered picking up a box of Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Diary Free Penne & Chreese (yes…chreese!) when I spotted it on a super closeout at my local grocery store. For fear that I might never try it otherwise or never have the opportunity due to possibly not being able to find it anywhere else…I panicked and purchase one box. Just one. Just to have on hand.

I am so glad I did that, because after a stressful day of travel, a long night, an early morning, a full day at the office, and a lot on my mind…an easy dinner was just what I needed. And this…just sounded good.

If it wasn’t…I had a backup plan. Don’t laugh. I often do this when I try new products.

Anyway…nothing could be more stress-free than this! I came home from work and got a pot of water boiling on the stove. As soon as it had come to a boil, I poured in the noodles and allowed them to cook for about 10-12 minutes. I didn’t want to overcook them, because, let’s face it…pasta, especially brown rice pasta…gets really gummy when it’s overcooked. I wanted that perfect al dente. I managed it too. I drained the noodles just as they reached that perfect state, then…in the same sauce pan…poured in 1/2 cup of almond milk and the powdered chreese packet which came in the box. I stirred them together until they combined and had no clumps. Then, back onto medium heat, and the pasta was added back in. I gave it a stir, and let it cook for another couple of minutes, to thicken the chreeze mixture as it blended with the noodles. Done.

I poured half into a bowl for my roomie and saved the other half for me. Time to dig in.

I was actually a little worried about not liking this one. But…this is definitely one of my favorite boxed gluten-free mac and cheese. Don’t laugh. It’s true. What did I love about it? Aside from noodles that were normal size, and not teensy-tiny, it cooked up perfectly. The dairy-free cheese (chreeze) mixture thickened up beautifully after the noodles were put back in. And the flavor was remarkable. I loved how the cheese sauce clung to the noodles. I love how my noodles weren’t left swimming in sauce, as most gluten-free boxed mac and cheeses do. I loved the thick, rich flavor of the chreese. It had a great balance of flavor…the creamy richness of an Alfredo with the flavor of cheddar. So good. It was major mac and chreeze love.

I love saying chreese!

Anyway…the nitty-gritty basics.

Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese contains a gluten-free rice penne. As for the gluten-free Chreese (vegan cheese), that is a blend of organic brown rice flour, organic tapioca starch, enriched nutritional yeast, organic green lentil flour, salt, organic garlic powder, organic yellow mustard seed, organic onion powder, and annatto powder. The ingredient list is all recognizable…no chemicals, no weird preservatives. Just awesome gluten-free goodness.

Nutritionally speaking, Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese contains 2 servings per box. A serving contains 320 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a mac and cheese. And you get a lot. This pasta is cholesterol free, contains only 350 mg sodium, and has less than 1 gram of sugar. Awesome! In addition, a serving provides 6 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. See what I mean? You will feel full…and you’re only eating a cup. That’s the serving size! Awesome!

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed chowing down on this fantastic boxed macaroni and “cheese.” They vegan cheese that is used in place of real cheese doesn’t taste fake at all. I loved the flavor. And it is easy on my tummy…as I am lactose intolerant and cheese can really be an issue at times. So…YAY!! I would definitely recommend this to everyone. Even cheese lovers, like my roommate, will eat it. She loved the richness and the texture. And, yeah…it doesn’t lack in flavor. SO damn good!

Find it. Try it. Love it.

Road's End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese — Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Penne & Chreese

December 28, 2013

Product Review: Udi’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza

Product: Udi’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza – $7.99+

Love is pizza.

For real, yo!

No…honestly…one of my favorite things in life is a delicious slice of pizza. You get the right crust, the right sauce, and the right toppings…and you create a meal of perfection.

I was elated when I heard that Udi’s Gluten-Free was introducing gluten-free frozen pizzas to their already epic and delicious line-up of products. I already am a huge fan of their readily available gluten-free pizza crusts…so…take that and top it, box it up, and it’s one more way to make life a little easier on you. Udi’s has four different flavors of gluten-free pizzas: Three Cheese, Margherita, Spinach & Feta, and Uncured Pepperoni. I can eat three of the four, as I am a vegetarian. Although I may pick up the pepperoni version for my roommate to give a taste sometime.

Since this was my first foray with the Udi’s Gluten-Free frozen pizzas, I opted for one that wasn’t just cheese…and chose the Margherita Pizza. I mean…you can’t go wrong with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. Anyone who has eaten a caprese salad can tell you that! I felt good about my decision, and gifted my freezer with one box for starters. It took a couple of weeks to find the perfect evening for a pizza, but as the holidays were approaching and the CSA bins were cancelled due to neither my roommate or I being around…we had to make use of whatever is in our freezer, fridge and pantry. So, after going to the gym one evening (yes…instead of first thing in the morning…blame the Trans-Siberian Orchestra), it was necessary to do something simple for dinner. What better than a frozen pizza, right?

Udi's Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza (frozen) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza (frozen)

RIGHT!

I was quite excited as I pulled this box out of my freezer and began to preheat my oven to 400°F. I opened up the pizza and peeled away the plastic. Once the oven was heated, I popped the pizza in and let it cook for about 15 minutes.When I removed it from the oven, the crust was crisp and golden, the cheese melted, and it smelled beyond fantastic.

Now, I’ve been underwhelmed by previous frozen (and restaurant) gluten-free pizzas. But I trust Udi’s Gluten-Free…because their gluten-free pizza crust is THE BOMB!! Honestly. If you don’t want to make your own gluten-free crust…reach for one of these. It’s the only one I can find in this area in every grocery store.

So, how did this pizza stack up? I have no words beyond OMG…MMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!

And if that doesn’t sum it up, let me say this…this is one stellar pizza. The crust crisped up beautifully…not one part of it was soggy or limp in the middle. It was perfect. The cheese melted and spread out across the tomato sauce. The Italian spices gave it really good flavor. The dollops of mozzarella cheese really helped make this pizza. So packed with flavor. And, honestly, better than most restaurant pizzas (my local gluten-free bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café still makes my absolute favorite pizza crust). Flaky, golden, crunchy, and a perfect mix with the toppings. It was perfection!

This frozen pizza is made from an Udi’s Gluten-Free Pizza Crust (water, brown rice flour, rice starch, potato starch, olive oil, dried cane syrup, tapioca starch, yeast, salt, xanthan gum, calcium sulfate (for freshness)), a tomato sauce (made simply from tomato paste, water, sugar, salt, olive oil, canola oil, granulated garlic, spices, citric acid), low moisture mozzarella cheese, mozzarella cheese, tomato, parmesan cheese, basil and spices. For the most part…all ingredients that are natural and recognizable.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Udi’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza is 1/2 of the pizza. This half will provide you with 300 calories and 11 grams of fat. Most of that fat is from the cheese that comes on the pizza. This pizza only has 320 mg of sodium and 3 grams of sugar. It has 25 grams of cholesterol. It also has 2 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protein. So, yes…it is filling. Even with the thin crust. Trust me.

I love, love, LOVE, Udi’s Gluten-Free. The products the company puts out is amazing and always delicious. The taste, texture, and flavors all matter and they really focus on that when they introduce an item to the market. The frozen pizzas are a very welcome addition. And I highly recommend this vegetarian option…because I was beyond impressed with Udi’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza.

Pick one up from your grocer’s freezer section and see for yourself.

Udi's Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza (baked) — Udi’s Gluten-Free Margherita Pizza (baked)

December 11, 2013

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough

Product: Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough – $4.99

Dear Katz Gluten Free:

I love you. I love you more and more with each product that I try. From your breads to your pies to your amazing donuts, you continue to keep me coming back, order after order, no matter the cost. You are that good. And I love you that much.

But…you really outdid yourself with the ready-to-use Gluten-Free All Purpose Dough.

Because of you…I could have a calzone for dinner again.

Because of you…I can make my own delicious pies…without the hassle of making my own crust.

Because of you…the gluten-free community continues to get quality food products. Ones that I will continue to purchase…not just for myself but others.

Add the All Purpose Dough to my list.

Yes…I love you.

All my gluten-free love,
Me

Ease! That’s the best part of this product. It not only is peace of mind, but it’s so simple. Thaw out dough. Use. No hassles. No wondering if your own gluten-free concoction will cook up right. This worked. And it worked beautifully.

I’ve been wanting calzones for a long while now. For real. And with a plethora of vegetables that needed to be used up before the next CSA bin arrived, well, I figured I’d see how the dough would hold up to a little of my craving and baking magic. I had this thought in my head that involved this dough, some squash, some crimini mushrooms, and some shallots. I sauteed them up in a pan and added some marinara sauce as well. All I needed now was the casing for the calzone.

Enter Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough. I removed it from my freezer two days before. The evening I was making the calzones, I cut out two very small pieces of dough, as it says it serves 8 and a serving size is only 2 ounces. So…this was going to be a challenge. But, I was up for it. Using a rolling pin, I attempted to shape the dough into a large circle that wouldn’t break open when I added the filling and moved it to the baking sheet. The first couple times, the dough was rolled too thin, so I knew these would be relatively small calzones. I didn’t care. I rolled out two very asymmetrical circles and piled in the filling on one half. I carefully folded over the other half and did my best to crimp the small serving shut. Sure, I could have used more dough, but I am so careful about serving sizes. I stick to them. I think next time I’ll throw caution in the wind and just add a little more. But…I wanted to do it my way this time. Into the oven the dough went…and when about 20 minutes passed, I opened up the oven and it was this gorgeous golden brown and the filling was sizzling (and peaking out of some holes in my dough). Everything was ready. Dinner was served. And gluten-free calzones were on the menu.

Oh. Hell. Yes.

One bite…and I was hooked. At first, it sort of reminded me of the crust of a potpie. Golden and flaky and it sort of had that same texture and flavor. But when you got a piece with the filling in it…magic. Simple food magic. The crust didn’t get soggy and held up to the marinara/vegetable mixture that I stuffed (and I mean literally stuffed) inside. It was gluten-free and vegetarian food magic. And it was made possible and easy because I took a chance with a new Katz product. So easy. So delicious. I can’t wait to use it in other ways.

Katz Gluten Free Web site says the crust is perfect for pies, turnovers, knishes, or any other pasty imaginable. It’s the go-to solution. It’s what I (and other gluten-free foodies) need in their lives! FOR REAL!

Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough is made from their own blend of gluten-free flour (which includes tapioca flour, white rice flour, sorghum flour, and corn flour), palm oil, water, eggs, sugar, salt, and xanthan gum. Not a bad list of ingredients at all. And that flour blend is pure magic. Pure gluten-free food magic.

As for nutrition…there is a reason I stuck to the serving size. A serving size is 2 ounces. This serving (which is a small rectangle of the dough), will provide you with 260 calories and 18 grams of fat. See why I wanted to stick to the serving size? This serving also will give you 55 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. Sadly, this dough does serve up about 9 grams of saturated fat and 35 mg cholesterol in each serving. Another good reason to stick to the meager 2 ounce recommendation. This dough also will give you 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. So do not expect this dough to fill you up and leave you feeling full. It won’t work that way. But…that being said…it toasted up beautifully in calzone form on my pizza stone and made one delicious meal for me and my roommate. We have 3 more servings each of this dough to use and I intend to see how many various ways I can use it. I might attempt perogies next.

Yes, my dearest Katz Gluten Free…I do love you and your products. You just make my life happy, full, and delicious again. This All Purpose Dough will be something I’ll definitely consider using more of in the future. Simple. And delicious.

Who could ask for anything more?

A gluten-free and vegetarian calzone made with Katz Gluten Free All Purpose Dough

December 9, 2013

Product Review: Vegenaise Tartar Sauce

Product: Vegenaise Tartar Sauce – $4.49+

Ah…tartar sauce.

I have a love-hate relationship with this condiment.

For one thing, when I used to eat fish, I normally would drown it in ketchup. Mmmm…ketchup.

But every now and again, I’d give the tartar sauce a try. And I never really liked it. Sometimes…I was pleasantly surprised and then lulled into this sense of false hope…and I would try it somewhere else and it would be gross and just…not to my taste.

Then, when I had to go dairy-free…I totally ditched this sauce all together.

But, when I was reviewing some items from Sophie’s Kitchen (vegan sea food, FTW!), my friend Kari mentioned the crab cakes with the tartar sauce from Vegenaise. Vegan. Tartar. Sauce.

Okay…I was intrigued. I knew two local grocery stores carried the vegan crab cakes from Sophie’s Kitchen…and I knew Whole Foods had the Tartar Sauce from Vegenaise. So…I set out a spot in the budget to purchase and then consume both.

My roomie was on board and so…we hit up Whole Foods and purchased both items. Dinner was going to be interesting. I just prayed it all was good.

So…a little while ago, I pulled the vegan crab cakes out of the freezer and said that dinner would be those…with a healthy helping of homemade kale chips. And I would serve the cakes over bibb lettuce from my bin. Originally I was going to place them between gluten-free buns…but I was out of those. So…this was my compromise. I heated the crab cakes as instructed on the box, and while that was working, I got the vegetables working and finally…the sauce.

My roommate has the same sort of love-hate relationship with tartar sauce as well. She is not gluten-free nor vegetarian, but since I am the cook in the apartment, that’s what she eats. She is a huge aficionado for fish and chips when we go out to eat, however…and she has made a habit to at least try the house tartar sauce. Sometimes she raves…sometimes she picks up the ketchup and goes to town. But we thought we would give Vegenaise a fair shake. So, into a little dish, I spooned out a serving of the Vegenaise Tartar Sauce. The crab cakes finished, I plated everything…and it was time to dig in.

I was a little worried about flavor, but I trusted my friend Kari. She raved. She and I like a lot of the same flavors and foods…so…I was worried, but I had high hopes. I know now to always trust Kari…because the Vegenaise Tartar Sauce was some of the best sauce I have tasted in my life. Not just tartar sauce either…spanning ALL THE SAUCES! Filled with a tangy, delicious flavor, it was the perfect compliment to the vegan crab cakes and the greens I served them on. OMG…so freakin’ good! It was love at first taste and I took the opportunity to pile it onto my vegan crab cakes until it was gone. Now I keep thinking of other vegan sea food dishes where I could utilize this sauce. It is SO good.

Veganaise Tartar Sauce is made from a base of Vegenaise (vegan mayonnaise), sweet relish, yellow onion puree, white wine vinegar, vegan Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and xanthan gum. Not bad when it comes to ingredients, right? My thoughts exactly. And nothing is weird…it’s all ingredients I have heard of and trust. Vegenaise is also vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, and soy-free. Loving it!

Nutritionally speaking, on serving is 2 tablespoons. This serving will serve you up a side of 120 calories and 13 grams of fat. It seems high, but it is a vegan mayonnaise-based sauce, right? And regular mayonnaise would be the same way. So, it’s really not too bad for what it is. This small serving also gives you 125 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. That’s awesome. This is also trans-fat free and cholesterol free. In addition, this sauce has no fiber in it, but you do get 2 grams of protein. So, yeah…it’s not totally healthy, but it isn’t bad for you either.

And did I mention how freakin’ good it is? Seriously. In love with a sauce. It’s my new favorite. YUMMY!!