Snacks – Page 19 – The Celiathlete

June 28, 2014

Product Review: Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars

Product Review: Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars – $5.99+

Maybe it was my non-existent trip to the Comfy Cow today…because that happens every weekend. But I’m broke. And I’ve been craving chocolate. Like…totally craving chocolate. Ice cream always sounds amazing, but it sounds phenomenal on a hot, humid June day too. The problem was…it was not even 2 p.m. when the chocolate craving hit. I also knew…I crave chocolate a lot…so the craving would remain all day until I finally got dessert.

It’s WORLD CUP, baby! And lately I’ve been having this thing with serving up “pub grub” type meals while we watch the matches. Tonight…it was a gluten-free and vegetarian bar-b-que “chicken” pizza. Because pizza is bar food…HA! It’s also delicious. I never turn down gluten-free pizza (especially when I get to piece it together at home…on top of an Annie May’s Sweet Café Vegan & Gluten-Free Crust)!

And for dessert…chocolate. It has to be chocolate. Because I have wanted chocolate all day. Thankfully…I remembered that I had received a free box of Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars from my local Earth Fare during one of their great deals that came over my app one day. Spent $5 and get free frozen dessert box. Heck yeah…I’ll take advantage of that deal.

I have heard about Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss frozen desserts for years. They have won numerous awards for their ice cream treats. All of which, mind you, are dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. Award winning ice cream in numerous magazines and food awards? Yes…I needed these in my life. And by getting a free box of them at Earth Fare…I totally could finally justify it. Now…it was time to see what all the fuss was about…

OH. MY. FROZEN. GOD.

Seriously. Let all others go. (See what I did there?) This was one of the most delicious, rich, decadent, non-dairy treats I have had the wonder of feasting on. And feast, I did! It’s a high-class fudgsicle. The dark chocolate and coconut milk is the perfect blend. No coconut aftertaste. Just really fantastic frozen goodness. This is a treat to be enjoyed. I polished mine off and it took all of my will power not to go grab another one from the freezer. Yes…these are seriously that amazing. I was blown away. Rich, chocolate flavor…just the right amount. Sweet, but not too sweet. And a major serious yum factor.

Ingredient-wise…the Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bars are made up from organic coconut milk, organic agave syrup, organic fair trade cocoa, and organic vanilla extract. Clean eating dessert right there. LOVE IT!! And these frozen delights are free of dairy, soy, and gluten…three things that can and do mess with my system! Could this BE any better?

Nutritionally speaking…a serving size is 1 bar. This one little dark chocolate treat will serve up 170 calories and 11 grams of fat. Don’t freak out…these are made from coconut milk. It’s a healthy fat. These bars also will dish out 10 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. These are cholesterol free. And, finally, these bars provide your body with 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Mmmm…dark chocolate filling frozen dessert bars. *licks lips*

After finishing the Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bar, I turned to my roomie, who was finishing hers off as well, and said, “Now we need a pint of their ice cream!” She totally agreed. So next time I have some room in the budget…a pint of the Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss ice cream is coming home with me. It will happen because this was a taste of frozen heaven. For real! Coconut bliss for sure!

Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped) — Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

June 26, 2014

Product Review: Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Product: Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus – $3.99+

It took awhile for her to come around…

Actually it took a lot of me just forcing her to eat it…but now my roomie, formerly someone who loathed hummus and everything about it…someone who when I would make her eat it insisted it had to be warm first (EWW!!)…has since seen the error in her ways. It happened a little while ago actually. She’s been a hummus fiend ever since. Without it needing to be heated.

So…hummus has become one of those things we tend to have on hand in the kitchen these days. It’s a great, healthy spread…good on just about any vegetable…or a gluten-free cracker…or in a gluten-free wrap or sandwich. Hummus is not only delicious…it’s also so versatile.

I admit…this is the first time I’ve ever purchased hummus in a box. Usually it’s in those lidded plastic containers in the refrigerated area of the grocery store. But Pacific Foods has created a, ready for this?, shelf stable hummus. Yes…shelf stable. Which is good, because I forgot I had this in pantry. I actually got this box of hummus for free with a deal going on at my local Earth Fare awhile back. It was spend $10 or something and get free hummus. Free and hummus. Two of my favorite words!

Well…it’s late in the week. Tomorrow another CSA bin of fruits and veggies will be delivered to my door, and I’m still trying to use up some of the veggies from this past week. I decided to make it easy. Knowing that one of the veggies still in my bin was my carrots, I went to the pantry and put the box of Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus into the fridge before heading to the gym this morning. I knew tonight, I could polish off the remaining two ears of corn by grilling them up and serving them with some carrot sticks and a serving of the hummus.

Work was hectic today…so I was glad to have an easier dinner planned. Upon returning home, I peeled the corn and got it in the grill pan with some roasted garlic and her vegan buttery spread. As that was grilling and, as usual, smoking up the apartment, I started to peel and slice the carrots. When they were ready, I plated them, seasoned the corn, and then grabbed the Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus from the fridge. I opened up the box and noticed that it really needed to be stirred. This…is no easy task. When you try to stir something in a bowl, it’s easy. When you try to stir something in a box…a mess is bound to happen. I kept it pretty well contained to the box itself though. Once it was blended, I scooped out some healthy tablespoons and dinner…was served.

Mmmm…veggies for dinner.

That’s pretty usual for me actually…being a gluten-free vegetarian.

So…how was it?

It was delicious. Definitely not as creamy as the refrigerated varieties, but not bad. It was packed with really good flavor. I could taste the roasted red peppers…which just elevated the spread. I loved how easy it was to scoop up with the carrot sticks. And it was so refreshing. Honestly. In fact, I ate my grilled corn up first so I could end my meal with the hummus. That’s how much I liked it. It reminded me a lot of the hummus I make. That’s what the texture reminded me of, and perhaps that is why I enjoyed it so much.

Interesting to note…the Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is one of few shelf-stable hummus’ on the market. It is actually packaged in BPA-free cartons. The hummus contains 1/3 fewer calories and 40% less fat than the leading refrigerated brand. And, Pacific Foods, as always, places their reputation on their high-quality ingredients.

Speaking of ingredients, the Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is made from water, organic chickpeas, organic roasted red bell peppers, organic red bell peppers, organic canola oil, organic tahini, organic garlic, organic lemon juice concentrate, sea salt, organic sesame oil, organic spices. It is vegetarian, vegan, cholesterol free, dairy-free, corn-free, soy-free, wheat-free, and yeast-free.

So let’s talk nutrition, shall we? Hummus is such a healthy spread. Honestly. It’s amazing. A serving of the Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is 2 tablespoons. This will provide you with 45 calories and 3 grams of fat. A serving will also give you 130 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. LOVE IT. It will also give you 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Hummus is one of the best condiments and spreads to ever come into the world. It’s rich, creamy, and delicious. It’s good on sandwiches, or on salads, or on pizzas, or on crackers, or on vegetables…etc. You see what I’m getting at here? Hummus makes the world a richer and happier place. Well…maybe not alone…but it is one healthy way to enjoy some of your favorite foods in a new way. Or…just dip some tortilla chips or fresh veggies in it…and you’ll be just as happy. Pacific Foods Organic Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is amazing and I will totally be trying out the other two flavors in the future.

In case you were wondering…Pacific Foods also has an Organic Classic Hummus and an Organic Roasted Garlic Hummus.

Try all three versions. But, if nothing else, trust me on the amazing tastiness that the Roasted Red Pepper variety provides. Oh…so good!

June 25, 2014July 7, 2014

Product Review: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Soft Baked Cookies

Product: Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Soft Baked Cookies – $2.49

COOKIE!

The Cookie Monster is back with an in budget, delicious, fantastic, soft-baked, cinnamon-y, sweet, three-bite treat. Oh yes. I discovered that in Aldi’s liveGfree line, they have Soft Baked Cookies. And one of said cookies only happens to be my most favorite flavor in the entire world…

SNICKERDOODLES!

I’ve said it before…and I’ll say it again…nothing will ever be as good as the Snickerdoodles that my mom used to bake, usually around Christmas. They were my go-to cookie. Something about that sweetness with the little bit of heat from the cinnamon. Ah…it’s cookie perfection if you ask me. Seriously. When done right…soft, chewy, cinnamon-sugary Snickerdoodles are honestly the best cookie in the world.

That being said, when I noticed that one of the boxes of gluten-free items currently being stocked by Aldi in their liveGfree line was Snickerdoodles…there was no hesitation. These were totally coming home with me.

Well, tonight was the night I busted these out. For me…the most difficult part of having Snickerdoodles in the apartment (especially good ones) is not eating them all in one go. And with cookies that are soft baked and about two to three bites in size…that’s not always an easy task. But, I’ve trying to behave. I binge on peanut butter more than I should already…

But I digress…

Let’s focus for a moment on the important things…

COOKIES!

Gluten-free Snickerdoodles.

Soft-Baked Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles.

Ah…life is good. I can say that because, following the trend, the liveGfree version of a Snickerdoodle (which I suspect is being made by Enjoy Life as these are so similar) is really delicious. It’s the right amount of cinnamon for that little kick of spice, with the hit of sugar to bring some sweetness. The cookie is soft, chewy, and amazing. The texture is perfect. The flavor is all right. Everything hits the right note…from the instant you open the box and fish out a serving, to the time you lick the cinnamon off your fingertips. These cookies are sheer Snickerdoodle perfection. If anything…they’re too small for my liking. But…I don’t mind two small cookies instead of one big cookie.

As I said, these cookies parallel the Enjoy Life Soft Baked version…but the ingredients are actually slightly different. Not by much. The Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Soft Baked Cookies are made from sorghum flour, brown pure canse sugar, date paste, expeller-pressed vegetable oil, juice concentrate (grape, apple, pear), natural rice dextrin, golden flaxseed, soda, xanthan gum, salt, vanilla, ground cinnamon, and rosemary extract. Not completely clean eating…but not as bad as some cookies out on the market…gluten-free included. At least I recognize everything in this brand. Aldi’s liveGfree brand proudly declares that it uses all natural ingredients and “no artificial anything.” These cookies are certified gluten-free and also cholesterol free! In addition, they are also egg-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free and wheat free. LOVE IT!!

As for nutrition…for cookies…these aren’t so bad. Honestly. A serving size of the Aldi liveGfree Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Soft Baked Cookies is 2 cookies. These two three-bite cookies will dish you up 120 calories and 5 grams of fat. You will be taking in 100 mg sodium and 10 grams of sugar (not bad for cookies!). And finally, you will be provided with 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. These…are meant as a treat and not something that will fill you up.

I continue to be impressed by Aldi and the products in their liveGfree product lineup. I sincerely hope that Aldi continues to stock and carry these gluten-free products. It is so rare that I can go into a store, buy one of almost all their gluten-free products and spend less than $30. And that’s what happened when I purchased these products from Aldi at the beginning of May. It was one of the most worthwhile stops and shopping trips I have made.

Aldi’s liveGfree line is making living gluten-free a whole lot more affordable…and delicious!

June 24, 2014

Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones

I love berries. Love them. I haven’t met a berry I didn’t like. I will EAT ALL THE BERRIES! And sometimes…I do.

Thanks to my good friend, Harry, I have a nice supply of freshly picked blueberries. And I really wanted to make the most of them. So, over the weekend, while doing some meal prep, I decided to do some baking…utilizing some of the blueberries.

Lucky for me, this month’s Vegetarian Times was featuring blueberries in their “One Food Five Ways” feature. SCORE! And the one recipe that really stuck out to me was the Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones. So…that’s what I made…for breakfast at the office on my gym mornings. It just will involve some reheating. And since I love scones, this seemed like a great recipe to attempt. The only difference is my version had to be gluten-free. So, I crossed my fingers and said a prayer to my gluten-free baking gods that this recipe might like my gluten-free all-purpose flour.

These pastries are so simple to make and don’t take a lot of time. They bake up beautifully and look amazing. Oh…and you might want to eat them the moment they come out of the oven because they make your home smell SO good!

Recipe: Gluten-Free Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones

Servings: 8
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 20 minutes

Ingredients:

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting (I used Better Batter)
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (I used Earth Balance)
3/4 cup low-fat milk, plus more for brushing (I used unsweetened almond milk)
2 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels)
3/4 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Work in the butter using your fingertips or a pastry cutter, until only small crumbs remain in the mixture.

Whisk together milk, egg yolks, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix just until incorporated (the mixture will be crumbly). Gently stir in the chocolate chips and blueberries. Gather dough into a ball.

Transfer the dough to a floured work surface, and press into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Dust a knife with flour, then cut dough into 8 equal wedges. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, and brush tops lightly with milk.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until lightly browned on top and bottom.

~*~*~

This recipe embodies everything that is amazing and wonderful in this world. Fresh blueberries. Dark chocolate. Breakfast. These scones are a fantastic treat in the morning…and actually not too bad as far as nutrition goes…for scones. I loved the flavor of the bittersweet chocolate with the burst of sweetness from the blueberries. Harmony in breakfast form. I will be making these again…that’s for sure! Simple recipe…simple breakfast pleasure.

June 23, 2014May 11, 2015

Product Review: Glutino Gluten Free Vegetable Crackers

Product: Glutino Gluten Free Vegetable Crackers – $4.99+

One of my go-to brands here! Everything…and I literally mean…EVERYTHING that I have tried from Glutino has been amazing. From my first ever product…their pretzels to their pizza to their breads to their breakfast bars…to everything else I can lay my hands on (especially the chocolate covered pretzels…which are my favorite thing in life…in general!)…I have found Glutino to be one of the gluten-free brands that I can trust to put forth a quality product that also has perfect flavor and texture.

Not too long ago, for no reason I can discern whatsoever, I picked up a box of their Gluten Free Vegetable Crackers. Normally I don’t keep random crackers in my pantry. God only knows why I had a box of these in my pantry…unless they were on sale or I just, at the time, had a craving. Or maybe I thought I’d need them. Regardless, they’ve been in my pantry for a little while. In the back. Where I kept forgetting they were there.

UGH! This is why I clean up my pantry every month. To remind me of what I have and what I need to use.

Well, yesterday I went ahead with some much-needed meal preparation. I was in the kitchen for much of the afternoon, not only working on things I would need for Sunday’s dinner…but things for Monday and beyond. The week. Or beyond that…because one thing I was making was a fantastic Vegetarian West African Peanut Soup, which I can freeze some portions.

Anyway…it’s Monday. It’s crazy. And I really just wanted to be able to come home, eat something, and then settle in to watch some World Cup with dinner. This meant I prepped the soup on Sunday, let it cool down, froze four portions of it and put the other two into the fridge for easy reheating on Monday evening. That’s exactly what I did. I also baked Vegan Blueberry and Dark Chocolate Scones too…but I digress…

I was thinking, while at work, that we might want something with the soup tonight…and was trying to figure out if I wanted to bake up gluten-free corn bread…or grill up some corn…or just have crackers (I have another brand awaiting its turn for tasting and blogging rights). I asked my roommate around lunch time and she was apathetic toward any suggestion. I hate when she doesn’t care…because…honestly…I’m good with anything. I just want some input. But…on the way home, it seemed she had it all worked out…requesting crackers with the soup.

Sweet. Decision made.

The next question was which kind to have with dinner. Since the Glutino Gluten Free Vegetable Crackers had graced my pantry shelf longer than the other one…they won the non-existent coin toss. In other words…default!

As I heated up bowls of soup, I plucked the box from the pantry and opened up the top. Two silver bags of freshness were waiting for me. I checked the nutrition information and found that the box held four servings, so each silver bag held two servings of crackers. Perfection! I got out some paper towels, cut open one of the freshness sealed bags and poured out the contents, splitting the crackers evenly between Cathy and I.

These crackers are larger than a standard Ritz cracker. They have this subtle pale color, but inside each cracker you can see little flecks of flavor. I loved vegetable crackers growing up, so I was hoping that these would live up to my high expectations. I finished up the soup, and served it with a serving of crackers each. I wasn’t exactly sure how vegetable flavored crackers would go with peanut soup…but I was willing to at least give it a shot.

Believe it or not…it worked. Seriously.

I think the texture and overall flavor of Glutino’s crackers (regardless of flavor) reminds me a lot of oyster crackers (Dear Glutino…please make oyster crackers for my soup!). And I used to eat the hell out of oyster crackers. But here is where the magic comes in with this particular cracker. You see, it’s flavored…with vegetable flavors. Seriously. You get this little taste of herbs, garlic, and even tomato in each bite. It would be great with cheese or even some hummus and vegetables on top. The vegetable flavor definitely gives this cracker a more savory feel and taste. And I loved it. While I dipped most of my crackers in the soup, I kept some out to eat on their own. That’s how good these are! They can be eaten plain and their subtle flavors bring a lot to the cracker itself. Delicious, any way you choose to eat them. Trust me.

Ingredients in the Glutino Gluten Free Vegetable Crackers include corn starch, white rice flour, organic palm sugar, modified corn starch, dextrose, eggs, sunflower lecithin, tomato powder, salt, dehydrated oregano, dehydrated garlic, guar gum, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, and rosemary extract. Not a big fan of that word “modified” in there…but…I just now noticed it!

As far as nutrition information goes…the Glutino Gluten Free Vegetable Crackers contain 14o calories per serving (about 8 crackers) and 5 grams of fat. These crackers also serve up 5 mg cholesterol, 270 mg sodium, and only 1 gram of sugar. That’s not bad at all. In addition, one serving will also provide you with only 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Not too filling…so don’t expect the crackers to hold you all day. Not happening.

Seriously…if you’re looking for a snack cracker or something to serve up at a party, I highly recommend the Glutino Gluten Free Vegetable Crackers. They are perfectly seasoned bites of cracker goodness. Great for soups, snacks, and savory hors d’oevres. Really just great. Eat them on their own, or dip or top them however you like. You won’t be disappointed. On the contrary, you might find yourself stocking your pantry with these on a regular basis.

June 23, 2014

Product Review: Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola

Product: Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola – $6.99+

It wasn’t in the budget this week. Honestly. But I have a lot of delicious, fresh blueberries at home and needed some way to prepare them. Well…some other way as I’ve already put some in a blueberry compote for gluten-free pancakes and even baked some into dark chocolate and blueberry scones. Mmmm…scones. I’ve been eating them prior to running and after running. So, when I was out grocery shopping, it occured to me that one of my favorite ways to eat blueberries…is in my breakfast fruit, yogurt and granola parfaits. So, while at Whole Foods, Cathy and I were walking through the cereal aisle and she spotted the bright, colorful, yellow packaging of Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Granola!

Her eyes fell on the Motor City Crunch variety, which is a chocolate and hazelnut granola. Mmmm…Nutella in granola form. I wanted it. So, I told her we had to get one, because, after all, we had blueberries to eat. So, she grabbed…the Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola??!! After waving chocolate hazelnut at me? That’s just mean and cruel, I think. Next time I’m selecting so I get the chocolate hazelnut. Crazy roomie of mine. Chocolate and hazelnut always win. I mean, I love pecans and almonds, but those are in…pretty much every other granola out there. And Motor City Crunch actually had like a special title and everything It wasn’t just the flavor. It has to be big…it has to be amazing…it has to wait until next time…

Bummer.

But…you just go with it in these situations. So, instead of the one I thought we were getting…the Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola is the actual variety that made it into our shopping bag and then into the pantry on Saturday.

Fast forward to Monday morning. I had spin class to get to by 5:30 a.m. and breakfast had to be quick. So…here it was…blueberry breakfast parfaits. I pulled out the pouch of granola and opened it up. I retrieved glasses to build the parfaits in and then the Greek yogurt and berries from the fridge. I plucked the honey from the pantry. And I figured I had to taste-test the granola before loading it into the parfaits. So, I reached inside and plucked out a large clump of granola.

It was sweet without being overly sweet. It looked like it was packed with sugar…but it’s not. The nuts add a great bit of depth to the flavor and the oats are toasted to perfection. You get that perfect granola crunch followed by the sweetness. I had to take another bit before telling myself that I actually needed to build a parfait and couldn’t just eat the granola. But trust me…I could. While I might have been disappointed that the flavor I wanted remained shelved at Whole Foods…this flavor is top of the line. I mean, honest-to-goodness ingredients and flavors. Low in sugar…packed with enough flavor that makes you almost feel guilty when eating it. It was like a treat. And when I paired it with the ripe and very fresh (and amazing) blueberries and the Greek yogurt…it was a fantastic combination. The pecans, almonds, and oats brought this nice texture, the berries practically burst on my tongue…and the smooth yogurt just tied it all together. This was a wonderful (and tasty) surprise this morning. LOVED this flavor.

So…let’s talk ingredients. Inside a package of Jessica’s Natural Foods Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola you will find certified gluten-free rolled oats, organic honey, brown sugar, expeller pressed sunflower oil, pecans, almonds, ground flax seed, coconut, maple syrup, pure vanilla extract, sea salt, cinnamon, and tocopherols (natural vitamin E). That last ingredient sounds very chemical-like…but look at everything else. The sweetness, I now see, is due to the honey, brown sugar, and maple syrup that are included. I can taste the hint of coconut and the seasoning of cinnamon that is included. And the combination is magic on your taste buds. Not only is it gluten-free, but it’s also cholesterol free. YAY!

Nutritionally speaking…these stats are pretty awesome. A serving of Jessica’s Natural Foods Pecan Almond Granola is 1/4 cup. This serving will provide you with 135 calories and 7 grams of fat. That isn’t bad for something that contains nuts. Mostly healthy fats there. A serving also will give you only 25 mg sodium and 6 grams of sugar. This is phenomenal for a granola. You will also be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. It doesn’t sound like much, but you will actually feel full. Trust me.

I always try to get Cathy’s opinion on a product and since this was the flavor that she chose…against my wishes (because NUTELLA!)…I asked her what she thought. She gave her usual…”It was good.” Or whatever. And then I remember she is still fighting off a summer cold and she had just woken up. Dammit. No luck these days with her opinion. And this one I really wanted. Maybe another time.

That being said, despite not getting the Chocolate Hazelnut variety I am enamored with high praise and love for Jessica’s Natural Foods and the Pecan Almond Granola. Delicious. Not too sweet…although it just looks like it should be more sweet than it is. It’s sheer granola perfection and I can’t wait to try the other flavors. But next up…Motor City Crunch. For real!

June 22, 2014

Product Review: Quest Bar Cinnamon Roll Protein Bar

Product: Quest Bar Cinnamon Roll Protein Bar – $2.39+

I’m finding I am very on-the-fence about these bars. I’d heard so much good buzz about them, but I’m still not sure I actually like them or not. HA! Does that sound odd? I believe most of it has to do with the texture more than anything else. Because the flavor, much like last time, was there. And, thank the protein bar gods…this was still chewy…but not as chewy as the Chocolate Peanut Butter one…so at least my jaw didn’t get tired and start hurting.

That being said…it’s Sunday. And sometimes on Sunday I just don’t have time to prepare a breakfast. I am usually very busy. So, when this happens…it’s always nice to have something in the apartment that I can just grab-and-go. My stash of gluten-free protein bars definitely fits that bill. And when things were getting hectic and go…go…go…today, I was happy to have packed one of the protein bars from the kitchen.

I know…real food is best…but a Cinnamon Roll flavored protein bar is probably more nutritious than a real cinnamon roll. It is, however, not as delicious.

So, let’s get down to the (literal) nitty-gritty of this product, shall we?

Since I love cinnamon rolls. Honestly…there is really nothing better than a hot, gooey, fresh cinnamon roll. They have always been one of my favorite breakfast pastries…but they are so guilt-inducing. Not that it stops me from downing one or two at a time. The thing is…they are tasty, they are awesome, but they aren’t exactly healthy.

Quest Bar is striving to bring some of the best and most popular flavor combinations that happen in nature to their line-up of protein bars. I tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter bar about a week ago and was…eh. So, today…Cinnamon Roll. Because Sundays are just good cinnamon roll days.

As I was on the road in the middle of my errands this morning, I was definitely needing some form of sustenance. Thank goodness I packed both Cathy and I one of our protein bars. I handed her the LäraBar that she likes and I broke into the wrapper of the Quest Bar Cinnamon Roll Protein Bar. I loved that I could see flecks of cinnamon in the bar itself. That was really cool. And it smelled like…a cinnamon roll. This was definitely promising.

I went to tear off a piece to try…and realized that it had the sort of softy and chewy texture the previous one had. So, I wasn’t sure what to make of that. But I popped it into my mouth and began to chew. It did taste like a lightly seasoned cinnamon roll. I will give this bar that. The flavor was spot-on. And it felt a lot lighter than the Chocolate Peanut Butter bar that I ate last week. It was chewy, but it didn’t hurt my jaw to work on it like last time. Improvement. I broke off a bit for Cathy to try and she also isn’t too sold on the texture…but she liked it better than the previous one as well. And we’re both chocolate peanut butter fans…so go figure. This bar had a bit of grittiness to it, I’m assuming from the cinnamon that is incorporated into it. It took a few bites to get used to, but it was decent enough.

Ingredients in the Quest Bar Cinnamon Roll Protein Bar include: protein blend (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate), isomalto-oligosaccharides* (prebiotic fiber), almonds, water, and erythritol. This bar contains less than 2% of the following: sea salt, stevia, lo han guo, natural flavors, and cinnamon. It is gluten-free, contains no artificial sweeteners, and is practically guilt free.

This leads us to the nutritional portion of the Quest Bar Cinnamon Roll Protein Bar. A serving size is 1 bar. This bar will provide you with 170 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will be taking in 5 mg cholesterol, 280 mg sodium, and only 1 gram of sugar. LOVE that low sugar! Also, you will be taking in 17 grams of fiber and 20 grams of sugar. YES…this bar will actually fill you up! Trust me.

So, for me, I’m struggling with the chewy texture (which is better than being rock solid…but…it’s a lot of work to chew that much). In fact, I’m just not 100% sold on these bars. While the flavors are definitely there…mild…but there…the actual bar itself is just…okay. Sure, it tastes fantastic, but damn…I just don’t want to chew 100 times in order to swallow one bite.

I have one more variety of this brand to try…so we’ll see how it fares. As for now…not looking likely that I’ll actively seek these out. Would I eat them again? Sure. But if there are other options, I’d probably go with those first.

Quest Bar Cinnamon Roll Protein Bar (unwrapped)

June 20, 2014May 11, 2015

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

Pause.

Observe.

Stare at the product listed above.

Did you figure out why I had to have this in my life? Did you?

I’ll give you a hint. Two words.

Not “dairy free” (although my stomach is thankful that it is)…not “gluten-free” (although…if I’m eating it, obviously it is).

Keep looking. Ah…you saw it too?

COOKIE DOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you aware that, growing up, cookie dough ice cream was my absolute favorite thing in life. I mean, it blended two of my all-time favorite things in life…ice cream and cookies. Not just cookies…but that soft, rich cookie dough that everyone (save me) just ate out of the bowl. I love the ice cream…we were just never a cookie dough out of the bowl kind of family. But…COOKIE DOUGH ICE CREAM THAT IS VEGAN AND GLUTEN-FREE!!!

Yes…that is in my freezer. In fact…two pints of it are in my freezer. HA!

The ice cream itself is actually labeled to be a “frozen dessert,” as technically it doesn’t contain any cream…but…we all know it’s ice cream. Made by the coconut milk people, So Delicious (a brand and name I trust!), makers of much epic goodness! Seriously, I’ve yet to find a product of theirs that hasn’t just been amazing! They are called So Delicious for a reason. That’s quite the reputation to live up to…but they do it with style!

This product is just what it sounds like…a vanilla coconut milk based ice cream that is packed with gluten-free cookie dough chunks and crispy chocolate flakes. Happy memories flooded my mind as i pulled this out of the freezer and let it sit on the counter for about 10 minutes. When you have dairy-free ice cream, you need to let the it sit out to thaw a little so it’s easy to scoop. Just…trust me on this. I am a pro. I haven’t indulged in cookie dough ice cream in ages. And I really haven’t since I had to go gluten-free three years ago. SO…EXCITED!

As it is mega hot and stupid humid outside…ice cream just sounded amazing. Ice cream always sounds amazing though. I grew up in New York and ate ice cream year round…even when it was negative something degrees outside. Ice cream is just one of my comfort foods. And, trust me, not all dairy-free varieties are up to par.

But this one is. I never doubted it since it was made by So Delicious. In fact, I found it to be really good. You can’t even taste the coconut in the base. It just tastes like a light vanilla ice cream. The gluten-free cookie dough balls give this great body and texture. I loved getting to one of the hunks of cookie dough and letting it melt for a moment on my tongue. Mmmm…

…must not raid freezer for other pint…

And the flakes of chocolate give it a great crunch as well. That’s the key to cookie dough ice cream…creamy, gooey, crunchy, sweet, and a bit of salt (from the dough). It’s the most magical ice cream, because it literally can trip every switch on your taste buds. Mmmm…

…put the spoon down…

As you can guess…I LOVED IT!

Let’s take a look at what So Delicious pours into their So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert (which is a tasty mouthful…literally!), shall we? The ingredients are listed as containing: organic coconut milk, organic dried cane syrup, cookie dough (made from rice flour), chicory root extract, chocolate flake, carob bean gum, guar gum, natural vanilla flavor.

How’s that for ingredients, eh? And remember, this ice cream is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher.

As for nutrition…well…it’s ice cream. A fantastic dairy-free ice cream…but still ice cream. A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. This serving will dish up 170 calories and 9 grams of fat. Do not freak out over the fat. Yes…some of it is from the “dough” part of this ice cream…but some of it is the healthy kind that you find in the coconut milk. This ice cream is cholesterol free, contains only 35 mg sodium and 16 grams of sugar. Yeah…that is a lot of sugar. But…it’s a treat. A serving will also provide you with 7 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

As I tuck the pint back into the freezer and lick my bowl clean…I just want to reiterate how happy this frozen dessert made me. I can’t thank So Delicious enough for putting a dairy-free and gluten-free cookie dough ice cream out on the market. I’ve been craving cookie dough ice cream for years now…and finally…I have the liberty to indulge.

As you can tell…that’s never a problem with me! If you haven’t tried the So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert…then you’re missing out. So get to your grocery store and snag yourself a pint. It’s a taste of cookie heaven in a creamy, dreamy ice cream base. It’s…all that is good in life! It is, simply put, amazing.

And yes…so delicious! (See what I did there? So clever!)

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

June 19, 2014

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns

Product: Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns – $5.99

I love it when Katz Gluten Free puts out new products. Why? Because it means they are expanding on the line of goodies that I already love and adore. And, trust me, in today’s gluten-free-filled world…quality is what I look for. I’ve been suckered into new products from big companies before only to have a product that tastes like sawdust or something worse. And then…sometimes you get these little known companies that put out the best gluten-free product you have ever tasted.

And that medium can rock back and forth. Honestly. Gluten-free foods are more science than anything else. And if the texture or flavor are even the slightest bit off…well…the consumers will make it known.

I am a huge fan of Katz Gluten Free. Fell in love with their products from the instant I ordered their free Sample Pack (all you do is pay for shipping!) a long, long, long time ago. Okay…it was probably about two years ago, but still…it feels like I’ve been ordering Katz Gluten Free products my entire life. I was blown away by the standards they maintain and the quality of each product they put out for their consumers and customers. If you’re new to gluten-free foods…I highly suggest ordering this pack…and while you’re at it…order the Gluten Free Powdered Donuts…because…they’re amazing. Just trust me and add it to your shopping cart!

Good. Now that that’s done…let me talk to you about one of their newest products! One that I squealed and squeaked and cheered for when I saw the e-mail announcing it to their product lineup. Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns. Like…cinnamon rolls…with the icing already applied. Oh…hell yes!! We all know my weakness for a good cinnamon roll. And finding a good cinnamon roll is not easy when you’re gluten-free. HA…there’s an idea for a Tumblr…”It’s Not Easy Being Gluten-Free.” But I digress.

Cinnamon Buns.

Gluten-Free. Freakin’. Cinnamon. Buns.

There…back on track.

I ordered these the instant they came up as a new product. And then froze them, per instructions, until today. Because it was a gym morning…and I was out of foods that were easy to take to the gym in a cooler to have at the office. These…are easy. And, being that they are a product of Katz Gluten Free…I was pretty certain they’d suffice for a breakfast. I wouldn’t take a bite and wish that I had brought something else. Of that, I was certain.

So, last night I removed two of the four buns from the package of Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns, placing them in a plastic bag to thaw. I don’t know why I do this when I know I’m going to microwave the product anyway. I just think it’s easier to get the right temperature when it’s not coming from frozen. So, overnight, they sat and thawed on my counter…and this morning, I packed them in the cooler and hauled my booty to the gym…and then to work. My reward…breakfast that consisted of one of the Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns. My roomie got the other one.

One quick 20 second zap in the microwave is all I gave each of these rolls. And it was just what it needed. Because I could have eaten them at room temperature…but you want that fresh from the oven feel, right? I know I do. That’s why I normally thaw them and then give a small zap each time I eat a Katz Gluten Free product. I do the same with the donuts…and OMG!

So…I settled in at my desk with my warmed Cinnamon Bun, the icing now all gooey from the quick heating…and that cinnamon filling just ready to be sliced into. I took my fork, gave it a neat cut, and then took my first bite.

And this is where it gets complicated. Because I like these. I like these a lot. The only issue I had with them was that the outer part of the Cinnamon Bun was…dry. Yes…even with the icing. It was just…dry. The further you ate into the bun, toward the center, it was moist (and that may have to do with the filling being inside the roll), but that first initial bite just was not the moist and delicious cinnamon roll texture I was anticipating. BUT…that being said…the flavor was awesome. The cinnamon gave just enough spice…the sugar…sweetness…the icing wasn’t too much, but it kept each bite sweet yet satisfying…without taking over and just coating your mouth in sugar, which can happen. It was just a light drizzle of icing, and for that…I was happy. Because…I’m not a frosting/icing kind of girl. I often find it way too sweet. But this was icing perfection. The Cinnamon Bun, itself, had great flavor. And after that first initial twist in the roll, it got a bit moister. It tasted like a cinnamon roll. Maybe a day old cinnamon roll…but that might be due to freezing (you have to keep them frozen as these have no preservatives in them…as is the case with a lot of baked gluten-free goodies), or the microwave, or a flaw in the roll itself. But…I wouldn’t turn my nose up at these. Not at all. I’m already contemplating when the best time to bust out the other one might be. HA!

Taste good…a little dry on the outside…but delicious once you get to that inside. YUMMY!

So, let’s talk about ingredients. As I mentioned, there are no preservatives added to the Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns. So, they do need to sit in your freezer if you aren’t going to eat them right away. The Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns are made from a gluten-free flour mix (potato, tapioca, sorghum, white rice, brown rice, and corn), trans free margarine, water, sugar, eggs, brown sugar, confection sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, dry yeast, honey, xanthan gum, salt, corn syrup, baking powder, sunflower lecithin, emulsifier, nutmeg, canola oil, and orange juice. These Cinnamon Buns are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free.

As for nutrition…well, it is a breakfast pastry. Yep. Pastry. Which means…sugar, sugar, sugar. It’s true. And while I am trying to cut down on the amount of sugar that I consume…sometimes you just have to have a treat. A serving of the Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns is only one of the rolls. Trust me though…it’s plenty. This one Cinnamon Bun has 280 calories and 15 grams of fat. Yes…15 grams of fat. Pastry. Remember? In addition, you will be consuming 25 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium, and 14 grams of sugar. It’s a lot…I know…but not bad for a pastry. These shouldn’t fill you up, considering they contain only 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein…but it kept me going until my morning snack time.

So…a solid product from Katz Gluten Free. I was not disappointed with the Gluten Free Cinnamon Buns. They had great flavor. And since it was only the outer ring of the roll itself that seemed dry…well…I can blame that on freezing them…or even reheating in the microwave. Regardless, that small point isn’t enough to prevent me from picking these up again. But…I’d have to really be talked out of ordering the Powdered Donuts. It’s the truth. I love cinnamon…and these definitely hit all the right flavor tones.

June 17, 2014

Product Review: Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins

Product: Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins – $3.99+

I am not going to lie…I’ve been eying the Garden Lites Veggie Muffins since the day I first spotted them in my local natural food and grocery stores. Why did it take me so long to get a box? Well…it probably would have taken me longer, but my roomie surprised me with a box one day after I sent her out on a grocery expedition. I obviously forgot some sacred ingredient to something I was cooking right then…or I would have gone. But the roomie often picks up little surprises when she’s sent on these emergency runs. Maybe it’s to tame me, since I’m usually wound up about missing something I need. Whatever the reason…she brought me a box of Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. And I was all too excited to try them.

I just…never did. They just remained in my freezer.

I think I got all caught up in making my Breakfast Banana Splits and other such “real” food items, that opening the freezer for breakfast hadn’t happened in a long time. I knew they were in there…

Lo and behold…after a week of Cathy being down with a cold and sitting out of gym workouts (meaning I’d go really early and get mine in, then come home and make breakfast instead of hauling it to work post-gym), I had no idea what to have after our time at the gym. I began to search the pantry and fridge. I found grapes…but those only get you so far. I’d include some…but what to eat to refuel and recover?

And then…I remembered the box of Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. Problem…SOLVED!

I know what you’re thinking…zucchini with banana with chocolate chips…how could that possibly be good? Well…zucchini bread is good. Banana bread is good. Both types of bread with chocolate chips are damn good. So…why not combine them? It should work, right?

Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffin (individually wrapped)

I won’t lie…even I questioned it this morning as I packed the box of muffins in the cooler. After the workout, we walked to our office and I got to work on breakfast. These little muffins couldn’t be easier to prepare. They come individually wrapped. And all you have to do is pop the wrapped muffin into the microwave for 35 seconds. Carefully remove the muffin from the microwave and then the plastic wrapper…and viola…your muffin is ready.

I think my biggest fear was that these were going to be soggy. Or mushy. Or just…gross. But, I cooked up all four of them, two for me and two for Cathy, and our breakfast was ready. In less than three minutes. That has to be a new record!

I settled in at my desk with my first batch of work and my breakfast. And after one bite, I knew the stack of paperwork was going to have to wait while I gave my full attention to the Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. Oh. My. God! No…really…who knew that a muffin made primarily from vegetables and fruit could taste this fantastic. Or this moist. It was like biting into a luscious piece of banana bread. But with zucchini in it. You can’t even taste the zucchini, you just sometimes get those green flecks in the muffin. And the chocolate chips…just enough to sweeten the deal without consuming the flavor of the muffin itself. This was truly one amazing product and the love I have for it surprises even me. I never would have thought about pairing zucchini with banana…but…damn…it works. It works in delicious ways!

I don’t think my morning could have started any better…

So, let’s take a look at the ingredient list for the Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins, shall we? These muffins are made from zucchini, pasteurized egg whites, sugar, pasteurized whole eggs, certified gluten-free oats, soluble corn fiber, semi-sweet chocolate chips, banana, sorghum flour, brown rice flour, corn starch, baking powder, canola oil, natural banana flavor, salt, and vanilla extract.

Recognize all those items? I sure do. And when mixed together and baked…epic things happen, both flavor, texture, and food-wise.

Now, how about the nutritional aspect of these muffins? A serving is only 1 of the Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins. As all we had before working out was a breakfast fruit, yogurt and granola parfait, Cathy and I each had two. But…if you stick to the serving size, you will be consuming 120 calories and 3 grams of fat. In addition, you will be taking in 20 mg cholesterol, 170 mg sodium, and 11 grams of sugar. I know the sugar seems high, and while some of that comes from the chocolate chip, some of it comes from the real banana that is included in the ingredients of the muffins. One serving will also give you 5 grams of filling fiber and 3 grams of protein! These muffins are gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free!

Nutritional and yummy too! Gotta love it. And I sure did. I want to try the other varieties of muffins. Yes…they have other flavors. In fact, in addition to the Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins, Garden Lites has Veggie Muffins in the following flavors: Carrot Berry, Golden Corn, Veggie Blueberry Oat, and Zucchini Chocolate! So…I must try all the Veggie Muffins. Because these honestly did impress me. And I lasted all the way through my snack time. And that doesn’t always happen. Good quality food…great product…

I’m hooked. On muffins made with veggies and fruit.

Oh yeah…loving it!

Garden Lites Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip Veggie Muffins (cooked)