Category: Snacks

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Product Review: Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake Mix

Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake Mix
Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake Mix

Product: Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake Mix – $10.99

It’s no secret by now…I have a sweet tooth.  I also, fortunately, love to bake!  But sometimes, the art of gluten-free baking is more trouble than it’s worth.  Like…a simple pound cake can mean, in order to get the right texture and density…a whole lot of different flours being mixed together with the hope that it just…tastes…good.

Well, thanks to Tastefully Simple…a pound cake no longer has to be a daunting task.  In fact…it isn’t daunting at all.  The mixing part is done for you.  All you need to do is add one stick of melted butter and 2/3 cup water.  Mix it together until it is smooth…put it in a loaf pan and put it in an oven at 350°F for around 50 minutes.

Word to the wise…pay attention to your oven heat and the time it’s in there.  I’m just sayin’…

More on that later.

Now, baking should always be this simple.  That’s one of the biggest draws of Tastefully Simple.  Two ingredients get added to the mix.  You whip it together and you bake it.  Simple.  Basic.  And…perfection.

I could smell this amazing pound cake baking.  The vanilla bean made my apartment smell so warm and inviting.  I kept breathing in the aroma as I was busying myself with other tasks…such as updating Facebook, doing some of my stretches for my recovering sprained ankle, cleaning up around the living room…

The time was ticking down…and when the microwave beeped…I was ready to see what awaited me in the oven.

Except…my oven is really old…and even though it was set for 350°F…it cooked at 375-380°F.  When I opened the oven, the amazing aroma of a vanilla bean pound cake flooded the walls of my apartment.  But the outside was quite dark.  Not burnt.  Not to that point, but I silently cussed out my old oven for getting so hot.  This is my lesson I learn…either set it lower when baking and check constantly on that temperature to make sure it isn’t rising above what it should be baking at…or…check on the baked goods throughout the baking process.  Don’t get so wrapped up in other things.

That being said…while the outside crust got slightly darker than I would have liked…it wasn’t burnt and it wasn’t ruined.  I let the Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake sit in the pan for about 15 minutes before running a knife along the edge of the loaf pan and turning it out.  I put it on a wire rack to cool the rest of the way before wrapping it up in foil to have for dessert the following night.  I was actually really excited about this.  It has been three years since I’ve been able to have pound cake.  And if the Gluten-Free Beer Bread from Tastefully Simple was any indication of the quality of their products…I was really excited to be trying this out.  I LOVE POUND CAKE!!  And I love anything vanilla.  So this was the best of both worlds.

After a long day at the office and a quick dinner…my roommate and I decided it was time to slice into the Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake.  The pouch the mix comes in says that it serves 8, but I am totally getting about 12 slices out of this cake.  Honestly.  I had picked up some fresh organic blueberries at the store and had some TruWhip in the freezer, which I put in the fridge while I was at work to thaw.  Pound cake for dessert was a go.  I sliced into the loaf, laying each slice down on the plate.  I topped it off with a healthy dollop on TruWhip, then tossed a handful of the organic blueberries on top.  Dessert was as simple to put together as the pound cake was to bake.  I settled in with my slice and cut into it with my fork.

It was moist and and soft, yet didn’t have that graininess and that potential to crumble like so many gluten-free baked goods.  Even with a darker crust on the cake, it was still packed with amazing vanilla flavor and it was still moist and soft and amazing.  It was everything that a pound cake should be…but it’s gluten-free and no one would even know it.  I loved the specks of vanilla bean that you find throughout the slices of pound cake.  It was so good that it brought tears to my eyes, since it had been forever since I had actually been able to eat one.  This…was so easy to make…and was so full of flavor and amazing texture.

Ingredient-wise, the mix that is sent to you contains: sugar, rice flour, non-fat milk, egg. potato starch, maltodextrin, tapioca flour, less than 2% of emusifier, baking powder, salt, vanilla bean seeds, xanthan gum, artificial flavors.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving, which is 1/8 of the cake, provides you with 220 calories and 2.5 grams of fat.  You will also be taking in 90 mg cholesterol, 230 mg sodium, and 28 grams of sugar.  It is a cake.  So don’t freak out, okay?  In addition, you will be provided with less than 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of protein.  So…you will feel full, but it won’t keep you full.  Of course, those stats are simply for the dry mix.  You still have to figure in the stick of butter that you add.  Another reason I managed to portion this cake out to 12 smaller servings.  Trust me…you won’t even notice.

Tastefully Simple…you totally win once again.  The Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake Mix bakes up the most perfect, delicious, so-good-you-won’t-guess-it’s-gluten-free, pound cake that I’ve ever tasted.  Ever.  It’s fantastic.  And I’m totally in love with Tastefully Simple.  I have my friend, Rebecca Fifield, to thank for sending me this product.  If you are interested in trying it, please check out her page… https://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/bfifield.  She will be more than happy to get you the products you want to try!  And, trust me, this is worth it.

A slice of Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake (topped with TruWhip and organic blueberries)...my oven was too hot so it got a little dark...but it still rocked my gluten-free dessert life!
A slice of Tastefully Simple Gluten-Free Vanilla Bean Pound Cake (topped with TruWhip and organic blueberries)…my oven was too hot so it got a little dark…but it still rocked my gluten-free dessert life!
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Product Review: Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie

Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie
Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie

Product: Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie – $1.49+

Yep.

The cookie monster is back with a vengeance.  Where there is a new gluten-free cookie…it will find a way into my life.  And eventually into my stomach.  For real!

As I was walking through Whole Foods last week, my roommate called me over to an endcap she was passing.  On the end was a display of cookies.  Delicious sounding…healthy sounding cookies.  I know…cookies aren’t healthy, but these at least provided protein and stuff.  Stuff like…green tea in the cookie.  Yes…green tea.

Sounds healthier than the butter-laden versions, right?  Right.

But…was it any good?

We were going to find out.  Because we did end up buying one.  Yes.  One.  To split.  Just in case it was…nasty.  You never know with these things.  You just have to throw caution to the wind.  But my roommate and I do that by halves.  We had three varieties to choose from: Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip, and White Chocolate Macadamia.  I, naturally, chose Peanut Butter.

And so, the other night after a delicious dinner, I pulled this out of my drawer of gluten-free treats and cut it down the center to split with my roommate for dessert.  I handed her the half that was hers and she immediately took a bite.  I told her that if it was nasty…I’d dig up something else.  She didn’t seem disgusted.  Just disappointed.  “It’s okeydokey…kind of bland.”

UGH!  I hate bland peanut butter things.  But she deemed it edible, so I took my half and settled in to taste for myself.  I agree with her…the Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie is…bland.  In fact, the peanut butter flavor is very underwhelming.  I felt it even might have needed a bit of salt to help it out.  That being said, the texture was awesome.  If you love a soft, chewy cookie…this is for you.  It is both.  The peanuts that are scattered throughout are a nice touch.  They were definitely edible enough…but I have definitely had far better peanut butter cookies in my life.  You can, however, get the flavor of the green tea, which is actually a nice touch.  Believe it or not.

So…Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie is made up of hormone-free whey and milk protein concentrates (rBST/rBGH-free), organic brown rice syrup, peanut butter, 0rganic inulin (blue agave), vegetable glycerin, brown sugar, peanut flour, organic coconut oil, sunflower oil, filtered water, natural flavors, non-GMO sunflower lecithin, baking soda, sea salt, antioxidant blend (decaffeinated green tea extract, vitamin C), stevia leaf extract (natural sweetener), and xanthan gum.  All ingredients are non-GMO and all natural.  These cookies are low in sodium, gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free and wheat-free.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie is one cookie.  One soft cookie.  This cookie will give you 150 calories and 7 grams of fat.  You will be provided with 15 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, and 7 grams of sugar.  Not bad for a cookie, right?!  The sodium count is really impressive.  And only 7 grams of sugar??!  In a cookie??!!  That’s awesome.  Finally, you will be provided with 4 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein.  So, it’s not just sugar…you will be filled up with this dessert and you won’t feel hungry an hour later.  Love that.

So, while these are definitely not my favorite cookie out there…these weren’t bad.  They weren’t great…but I’m intrigued enough to try out the other two varieties in the near future.  Not great…but not disgusting and worth throwing away.  I happily ate my cookie for dessert…just wishing I could have had more of that peanut butter flavor.  Because I totally love peanut butter.  Give me my peanut butter!!

I’ll see what I think of the other varieties…

Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie
Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie
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Product Review: Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips

Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips
Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips

Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips – $5.29+

I have a great love for all things Glutino.

Seriously.

ALL THE THINGS!

They haven’t let me down yet, and I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up quite a variety of their product offerings over the past couple of years since I had to go gluten-free.

However, while I have enjoyed everything I have tried thus far…I do have to say…they make the best damn freakin’ gluten-free pretzels on the market.

Ever.

End. Of. Story.

From the first time I tasted one of their gluten-free pretzel twists…what seems like ages ago…I was hooked.  Addicted.  Ready to enjoy way more.  I might have a sweet tooth, but that craving for something salty is also a constant thing in my life.  I enjoy both…for different reasons.  (And lucky me, Glutino makes amazing chocolate covered pretzels…which brings me the best of both worlds).  But recently…it’s been the salty side that has been winning.

Lucky for me, a little while back, my roomie made a dash to the grocery store for me while I was making dinner or something and was lacking an ingredient.  While there, she surprised me with a gift.  She picked up a bag of Glutino’s Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips.

Mmmmm!!

I had other items in my pantry to work through first, but these got their moment to shine today…at my scheduled snack time.  And, boy…was I not the least bit disappointed.

Glutino bills the Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips as something you can pile high with cheese, veggies, spread with paté, load up with savories, or use to scoop up dip.  So…a chip but in pretzel form.  Hence…pretzel chips.  HA!  Anyway, I chose to eat mine plain this morning…not having any amazing hummus or dip of some sort to use these with…but…it didn’t matter.  Even on their own, the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips do not disappoint.  Not one bit.

Just like the Glutino Pretzel Twists and Sticks that came before…these also carry that unique and so completely drool-worthy buttery flavor in each bite.  That is my favorite part of crunching into a Glutino pretzel product.  Nothing tastes better than that little hint of buttery flavor.  Sort of like eating a crunchy and gluten-free version of an Auntie Anne’s pretzel.  They are fantastic.  Not too much salt – just enough to give each chip that pretzel seasoning that you desire.  You gotta love that rich flavor with each bite.  And the crunchiness is so good.  No soft bites here.  These are fantastic!!  I’m addicted.  No…seriously…I might need an intervention.

I’d like to see someone try…*wink*

As far as ingredients go, Glutino Pretzel Chips are made up from corn starch, potato starch, rice flour, soluble corn fiber, palm oil, salt, cellulose gum, sugar, cellulose powder, soy lecithin, yeast extract, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, sodium acid pyrophosphate, onion powder, and garlic powder.  They are, as always, completely gluten-free and cholesterol free.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips is 30 grams (or about 11 of the chips).  This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 3 grams of fat.  In addition, this serving has 400 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar.  These provide 3 grams of fiber, but no protein.

But…they are a snack.  And a delicious one at that.  So, keep that in mind.  Hit the store, seek these out and indulge.  Enjoy.  And try not to eat the entire bag in one sitting.  It will be tough, I know.  BELIEVE me, I know.  Super good.  Super crispy.  Super WOW!!  Glutino…you win again!

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Product Review: Gillian’s Foods Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons

Gillian's Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons
Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons

Product Review: Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons – $4.49+

Three years.

Three very long years since I last had croutons on my salad.  Have I missed them?  Eh…sometimes?  I mean, there comes a moment when you just want to have that little extra crunch to your salad…not from the lettuce or the carrots or the other fresh veggies that are making up said bowl of raw veggie goodness.  Sometimes…that little extra seasoning and crispiness is what you desire.  And…when you are a Celiac…well…that doesn’t get to happen.

Sure, I could dry out some gluten-free bread and bake up my own in the oven.  Of course.  But, do you know how expensive gluten-free bread is??!  I’ll use that for my sandwiches and French toast, thank you very much!

Lo and behold, on a recent outing to my mom’s favorite store in the Birmingham, Alabama area – Organic Harvest – I spotted a pouch of gluten-free croutons on the shelf of the very first aisle.  Hence a stocking up of various items that I can’t get around here.

That being said…the croutons were from Gillian’s Gluten-Free.

Now, I’ve had one other product from Gillian’s Gluten-Free product line.  It was their French Rolls, a gift from my friend Kathy, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  And I loved them.  I truly did.  I used them numerous ways…even as hamburger buns.  So, I figured picking up something else of the Gillian’s line-up would be a great way to see what else they can do.

So, into my arms went the pouch of Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons.

Mmmm…garlic.

Ahem.

Anyway…with my CSA bin deliveries back on since I’ve been in town the past couple of weekends, I have a freakin’ heap of lettuce just begging to be used.  So, I took the lettuce, grape tomatoes, onion, avocado and cucumber from the bin the other night and made a huge, but epically delicious salad for dinner.  And…to add to it…I figured why not give the Gillian’s Foods Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons a go.  I got them down from the shelf in the pantry, measured out a serving and…dinner was served.

On their own, the Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons don’t offer much flavor.  In fact, they are a little bland.  But, no one really eats croutons plain, right?  The point is that they compliment the salad and vice-versa.  That was totally the case.  Once blended on the salad and eaten with the variety of vegetables, these cubes of crunchy garlic-y goodness totally transformed.  In fact, I was wishing a serving was bigger than it was, because these were absolutely great mixed in with other ingredients and topped off with a light drizzle of a balsamic dressing.

Both myself and Cathy (the infamous roomie) were impressed.  And Cathy loves croutons…so I knew it would be a miracle to impress her.  Especially since we were both ‘meh’ on the croutons alone.  These little nuggets of goodness add the right amount of crunch and flavor without being too much for the vegetables in the salad.  Loving them!

Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons are made from white rice flour, tapioca flour, water, soy flour, guar gum, egg whites, soy oil, yeast, salt, sugar, granulated garlic, oregano and basil.  They are shelf-stable and are completely gluten-free, wheat-free and dairy-free.

As far as their nutritional value goes, a serving size of Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons is 7 ounces, or about 4-6 croutons, depending on size.  I weighed my serving out.  This serving will provide you with only 15 calories and 0.5 grams of fat.  Nice!!  Not heavy on calories or fat?  I love that.  You will also be consuming 45 mg sodium.  These are sugar-free, trans-fat free, and cholesterol free.  Also, you will be provided with 1 gram of fiber, but no additional protein.  But if you choose the right veggies for your salad…that’s a non-issue anyway.

Yes…it has been a long, long time since I last enjoyed the crispy, crunchy goodness of croutons on my salad.  My hope is that I can find these somewhere around here…or else I’m stocking up when I head to Birmingham next time.  Definitely more impressed than I expected.  And that…is only a good thing!

Gillian's Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons atop a delicious salad
Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons atop a delicious salad
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Recipe: Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread

My refrigerator has something incredible in it.  Really.

I have these cartons of So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.

Let me tell you…these were the most fantastic yogurts to ever enter into my life.  And I was feeling the need to bake last night.  Using a guide recipe from Gluten-Free on a Shoestring, I baked up what is turning out to be one of my favorite breads I have ever made.  Made with Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Morsels, Better Batter Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour, and So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk, this is a recipe that will wow your friends and family.  You might even surprise yourself with how moist and delicious this bread is when it is baked and cooled and finally…sliced.  All of this was from scratch and, as luck would have it, I had everything necessary already in my apartment.  Check out the recipe below.

Recipe: Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread
Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread

Servings: 12-16
Time: Prep 20 minutes; Bake 50 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1-3/4 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour (I used Better Batter)
  • 6 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (I used Earth Balance)
  • 1 cup plain yogurt, at room temperature (I used So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk)
  • 2 eggs, at room temperature, beaten
  • 3 ounces miniature chocolate chips, tossed with 1 teaspoon cornstarch (I used Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini Chocolate Chips)


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Grease well a standard 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan and set it aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), place the flour blend, cornstarch, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar, and whisk to combine well with a separate, handheld whisk.  Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the butter, yogurt and eggs.  Mix on medium speed to combine with the paddle attachment (or your handheld mixer) after each addition.  The batter will be thick.  Add the chocolate chips tossed with cornstarch, and mix with a spatula or spoon until the chips are evenly distributed throughout the batter.  Scrape into the prepared baking pan and, with wet hands, smooth the top.  To create a dome shape, run a wet spatula along the edges of the pan and pull the batter toward the center.  For a uniform split down the center as the bread rises in the oven (instead of a more haphazard split), slash down the center of the loaf with a sharp knife, about 1/4-inch deep.

Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.  Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F, and continue to bake for another 20 minutes, or until the top of the loaf springs back when pressed lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with, at most, a few moist crumbs attached.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the loaf pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.  Slice once cool and serve.

~*~*~

You will love this bread.  Light, moist, and packed with flavor.  And using the Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk meant adding flavor without the added sugar.  It was fantastic.  And the bread…definitely one of my new favorites.  This is amazing.  I can’t wait to make more breads using the Cultured Coconut Milk.  Fantastic.

Chocolate chip bread-y love!

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Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk

So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk
So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk – $5.99+

Love is finding a product that you can literally do just about anything with…and getting creative with it.  I love to come up with new ways to make things when I’m in my kitchen.  I love to see just what I can accomplish with what I have on hand.

Currently, in my refrigerator, I have two 16 ounce cartons of So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.

What is cultured coconut milk?  Glad you asked.

It’s the dairy-free, coconut milk based version of a creamy, dreamy yogurt.  Yes…all you dairy-free people who have lamented the loss of yogurt in your diet…welcome to the world of So Delicious and their fantastic coconut milk based yogurts.  Also known as…cultured coconut milk.

I love that So Delicious has released two new varieties of their cultured coconut milk products.  I already reviewed the Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk…but now it is simply the Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.  First of all, as someone trying to keep their sugar intake in check, the unsweetened offering makes me so happy.  Even better…it has great texture and good flavor.  It actually has a bit of a tang to it, reminding me of a sour cream.  And, certainly, this could easily be used in place of sour cream.  But…not in my case.

I got into my kitchen last night and decided to use some of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk…to make bread.  Yep.  Bread.  Delicious…dairy free and gluten-free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Bread.

Here’s what I found out…my bread cooked up amazing.  The Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk made this a very light, very moist bread when all was said and done.  The best part was how it tasted.  Because this also adds flavor without adding more sugar.  And that…that is an amazing thing.  I love how versatile this product is.  It can be used in dressings, breakfast parfaits, smoothies, as a garnish for meals…you name it.  And it does it all with style and without upping the sugars you’re consuming.  LOVE!

A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk is 1/2 cup or 4 ounces.  This serving will provide you with 50 calories and 4 grams of fat.  You will be provided with 95 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar.  The Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk doesn’t provide any protein, but you do get 4 grams of fiber.  This product is cholesterol free, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, non-GMO, and made with organic ingredients.

I have truly fallen in love with this product.  I am so glad I have two containers of it chilling in my fridge.  There are tons of other things I want to try this with.  But…below, take a look at how amazing my bread baked up using the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.  I am beyond impressed.  You will be too!

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk
Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk
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Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk

So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk
So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk – $5.99+

Do you know what love is?

Love is…a new and fabulous product from a company who prides itself on good quality products.  And, lucky me…I had the opportunity to test drive a few of these new products from So Delicious!!  I have not been disappointed.

One of the new products out there from So Delicious Dairy Free is their 16 ounce containers of Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.  They have two varieties of the unsweetened ones…plain and vanilla.  And let me tell you…these do not disappoint.

I am a huge smoothie fan.  And, for Christmas, I was given a personal blender.  So smoothie making is SO much easier now.  They are great for pre-run and post-run fueling and nutrition…as long as you use the right ingredients.  Well, I’m not running much right now due to a severely sprained ankle.  But…smoothies are still one of the best things in life.  So…this week, I broke out a tub of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk.

It was brilliant.  I put 1 cup of the Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk into my blender, then added 1/4 cup pineapple juice, 1 tablespoon of flaxseed, and then a tropical fruit mixture of frozen fruit (mangoes, pineapple, strawberries, and peaches)…gave it a whirl…and viola.  Smoothie.

Let me tell you…this makes a smooth, rich and creamy smoothie without adding sugar to the mix.  There is plenty of sugar via the fruit that is used.  I love having that option as I am trying to cut back a bit on the sugar I consume.  This is one of my new favorite products from So Delicious.  And it is so versatile.  I used one of the plain ones in a very…very different manner and I’ll post about that in a bit.  The fact of the matter remains, the vanilla doesn’t overpower or overwhelm.  The cultured coconut milk is creamy and dreamy.  It makes this velvety smooth, low sugar smoothie and it is fantastic.  Every last bit of it.  Fantastic.  Slurp that smoothie down…it’s good for you.  The bit of coconut flavor really played well with my tropical fruit blend.  So much love.

This product is nutritionally sound too!  A serving size is 4 ounces, or about 1/2 cup.  This serving will dish you up 60 calories and 3.5 grams of fat.  You will also be taking in 95 mg sodium and only 1 gram of sugar.  LOVE IT!  This product has no protein in it, but you do get 4 grams of filling fiber.  If you need a protein boost…use a good and trusty protein powder.  This product is cholesterol free, gluten-free, and vegan.

I can’t say enough good things about this product.  I am over the moon for it.  And I can’t wait to share what I did with the plain unsweetened either.  Although the vanilla would have worked just as well too.  I don’t think my fridge will ever be without this now.  I am, above all else, hooked.  Loving it!  I promise…you will too!

Tropical Smoothie made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk
Tropical Smoothie made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk
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Product Review: Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies

The Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies
The Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Product: Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies – $5.49+

My friend Jenn knows the way to my heart.  She knows what can lift my spirits.  She knows how to get me to smile.

Three words.

Gluten Free Cookies.

Yep.  That does it every time.  And this past weekend, when I went up to visit and escape my real life where I live for awhile, she totally lifted my spirits and helped me find that smile that has been absent during this winter year.  And that was before the cookies were even mentioned.

Saturday was a busy day…and one that included many culinary adventures.  But, as the night was winding down and before we all settled in to watch Despicable Me 2, we (being Jenn, Cathy and I) quickly made our way to the kitchen because we were celebrating Jenn’s birthday and cookies had to be had.  For real.  Out of the freezer she pulled a package of Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies.  I think I might have salivated immediately.

Cookie monster, remember?

Anyway…we knew these wouldn’t take too long to cook, so we got right to work, preheating the oven to 325°F and prepping a baking sheet with parchment paper.  I tore into the cookie dough package and removed the tray of 12 balls of dough.  From there, Jenn and I began to remove the cookie dough and place the little balls of chocolate chip gluten-free joy onto a baking pan, about 2 inches apart.  When the oven was up to the proper heat, we popped the pan inside and let it cook for 16 minutes.

Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough
Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough

Longest 16 minutes ever.  The three of us had a little snack of Jenn’s homemade pink salad…while we were waiting…because it seemed logical.  And, for the last five minutes, we all just sort of stared at the timer…eagerly awaiting our chocolate chip treats.  Except we were cooking from frozen, we gave them a little longer, but not much.  When we removed them, they were golden balls of cookie dough, because we didn’t pay attention to the part of the baking instructions that said to flatten the cookie before shoving it in the oven.  Whoops.  No worries.  We now had to let the cookies sit for another 5 minutes.  That was sheer torture, because now the kitchen smelled like chocolate chip cookies.  As those five minutes finished, Jenn scooped a cookie off the sheet to plate it.  Then she said the most glorious words ever (and honestly is one of so many reasons she and I get along so well) when she exclaimed, “Screw this one cookie thing! We’re each getting two!”

There were no arguments.  At least not from Jenn or I.  Cathy might have looked a little bit startled but she happily complied to the 2 cookie vote.

I won’t lie.  I was the first person to take a bite.  It was still very soft in the middle…not raw…but close.  We probably should have let them cook a wee bit longer since we were cooking them from their frozen state.  But…they were really good.  The cookie dough was fantastic.  I loved the buttery flavor of the cookie itself and, even more, the sweetness from the chocolate chunks that were throughout the cookies.  They didn’t skimp on the chocolate, and I appreciate that so much!  I love that no bite was without a bit of chocolate.  The flavor actually reminded me of these large cookies that my school district offered from K-12 grades that were soft and chewy and just above that half-baked level.  They tasted so much like that and it brought back some really happy memories.  I enjoyed these so much.  I might have licked the crumbs off the plate.

The next day, Jenn sent Cathy and I on our way with two more for each of us.  I found that I liked them even more on the second day.  I might have gotten a little hungry halfway home so we had a bit of a snack.  One part of this snack was one of the cookies.  Soft in the middle.  Chewy.  No hard bites that break your teeth.  Still amazing and delicious.  YUMMY!  I might be addicted to these.  The other two were consumed as dessert after dinner that night.  And I once again reminisced about how good they were…how amazing they tasted…but now…they were gone.

Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies are made from semisweet chocolate, palm fruit and canola oils, brown sugar, potato starch, tapioca starch, sugar, rice flour, whole eggs, invert sugar, water, natural flavor, xanthan gum, baking soda, and guar gum.  No crazy ingredients that make me question what they might be doing in food…or foody treats like cookies.  These cookies are also completely dairy-free as well.

Now let’s talk nutrition.  I know…cookies.  Cookies are treats and really not nutritionally sound…but…COOKIES!  This from a true cookie monster.  Let’s remember…everything in moderation.  And if you stick to the serving size, these really aren’t too bad on the nutrition scale.  A serving is 1 cookie.  This cookie will give you 150 calories and 8 grams of fat.  This serving will also provide you with 10 mg sodium, 85 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar.  Yes…that is a lot of sugar.  About 3 teaspoons per serving, actually.  But, remember…cookies.  These are cookies.  Finally, one cookie provides you with less than 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein.  So, these aren’t made to be filling.  And with all that sugar, they won’t be.  But…yeah…they are beyond tasty.

I love that Immaculate Baking Company has a few gluten-free options in their product lineup.  Honestly.  Even more…I am beyond impressed with the way the Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies baked up and came out.  Yes…even with the misstep on our part for baking time.  They are really delicious with great flavor and at least a chunk of chocolate in each bite.  I want to fill my freezer with these and cook them all the time.

Consider this cookie monster hooked!

Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies
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Product Review: Udi’s Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola

Udi's Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola
Udi’s Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola

Product: Udi’s Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola – $6.50+

Granola.

I love it.  I use it every other morning (as in…mornings I don’t go to the gym) in breakfast fruit parfaits or over hot cereal.  I love it.  And, thankfully, I have found some better choices when it comes to the sugars that are included.  And I love finding granola I haven’t tried yet.  And Udi’s Gluten Free released quite a few new options recently.

Now Udi’s Gluten Free has had granola out on the market for awhile…but the new varieties bring some extra oomph to the mix.  For real.

The variety that I purchased was the Udi’s Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola.

So…what is it?  Simple.  It’s a blend of oats that have been toasted and mixed with sweet and salty toppings.  What might these be?  Raisins, banana chips, walnuts, cashews, almonds, and pistachios.  Mmmm…delicious!  I love that blend.  The raisins and the banana chips bring nice variety in texture, soft and crunchy…and also the sweetness that meshes with the honey toasted oats.  The blend of nuts also adds variety as each has a distinct flavor and texture.  And it just works!  It works well.

The oats are that right level of granola perfect.  Kind of soft, but still crunchy.  The raisins are plump and sweet.  The nuts are amazing…because I love nuts.  And the banana chips are a nice addition of sweetness that is a little unexpected but very welcome.  The variety of ingredients and flavors really works well over the palate.  It’s a fantastic play on the tongue.  And I put this over some gluten-free hot cereal and it was really delicious.  I mean…YUM!

Ingredients are basically already listed above…with a few additions.  Udi’s Gluten Free Crunchy Original Oats are made from certified gluten-free oats, wildflower honey, canola oil, raisins, banana chips, walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachio nuts.  I love, love, love it.  Clean eating…right here!

As for nutrition…this isn’t bad either.  A serving size is 1/4 cup of granola.  This is actually a rather large amount believe it or not.  This serving will provide you with 140 calories and 6 grams of fat (of which, much is the healthy variety from the nuts).  This granola is cholesterol free and sodium free.  A serving also provides 7 grams of sugar, which is amazing in a granola.  This serving will also give you 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

I am wowed!

No, for real.  This is one of my favorite granola I have had to date.  And trust me…I have eaten a lot of granola.  Why I never purchased this before, I don’t know.  But I’m sold.  The different textures, tastes…it works.  It works magic, whether you top something off with it or eat it straight from the bag.  You won’t be disappointed either.

Now…excuse me…there is an open package of this in my pantry calling my name…

A serving of Udi's Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola
A serving of Udi’s Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola
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Product Review: Food Should Taste Good Harvest Pumpkin Tortilla Chips

Food Should Taste Good Harvest Pumpkin Tortilla Chips
Food Should Taste Good Harvest Pumpkin Tortilla Chips

Product: Food Should Taste Good Harvest Pumpkin Tortilla Chips – $2.50+

Pumpkin.

I am obsessed with it.  Not just in the fall, either.

ALL. THE. TIME.

No joke!  I look forward to all those delicious pumpkin flavored coffee drinks in the fall.  I love to cook with pumpkin and bake with pumpkin and eat pumpkin seeds…

Pumpkin is like my BFF for life.

And now…it’s a tortilla chip.

Yes.  A tortilla chip.

Now, some of you may not think this sounds appetizing at all.  But trust me…it works.  It actually works.

The brand is Food Should Taste Good, which has never made chip I haven’t liked.  And while I don’t consume chips often, my roomie spotted this at the grocery store and brought them home for me as a surprise.  She knows my obsession with pumpkin well…and…I thanked her for them.  I had other treats to devour first, but with my lack of a CSA bin this week and a tight food budget…it was bare necessities time.  And with that came…dig through the pantry to find your snacks this week.

Enter Food Should Taste Good Pumpkin Harvest Tortilla Chips.  Confused?  Don’t be.  The basic premise is that this chip is pumpkin flavored, kissed with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon.  The pumpkin flavor actually sweetens the chip, which still has that corn tortilla texture and underlying flavor.  But the sweetness isn’t too much, as the spices sort of tame it and make it…an interesting but delicious bite.  They would be really awesome with a guacamole or hummus.  But I like to eat them on their own.  I love the soft crunch, the sweet notes in each bite, and that little hint of fall spice.  It’s like eating a crunchy pumpkin pie…without the overwhelming pumpkin flavor and that nasty texture that pumpkin pie has (yes…I am a pumpkin freak but SO dislike pumpkin pie).

I. AM. IN. LOVE.

Let’s look at ingredients, shall we?  What I love about Food Should Taste Good is that they use real ingredients.  Nothing unidentifiable; nothing unpronounceable.  No chemicals or preservatives.  Just sheer awesome and real ingredients.  The Harvest Pumpkin Tortilla Chips are made from stone ground corn, high oleic sunflower oil and/or safflower oil and/or canola oil, cane sugar, dried pumpkin, pumpkin, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, sea salt and clove.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the Food Should Taste Good Harvest Pumpkin Tortilla Chips is 28 grams (I always dish up servings by weight)…or about 12 chips.  This serving will provide you with 130 calories and 6 grams of fat.  This serving will dish up 80 mg sodium and only 2 grams of sugar.  LOVE that.  Low sodium…low sugar.  YES!  You will be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein.  These chips are cholesterol free and gluten-free.

And they are made of pumpkin-y love.  And I am hooked on them.  It’s a good thing I’m insistent about dishing out proper serving sizes and NOT eating out of the bag.  It is only for that reason that I still have some chips in my bag in the pantry.  Might have to try these with some hummus or guac.  Hmmm…

Anyway…don’t be afraid.  They are actually rather amazing to bite into and enjoy.  If you are a fan of pumpkin…you’ll be a fan of these.  If you aren’t a fan of pumpkin, don’t count these out.  They won’t overwhelm you with their pumpkin flavor.  Just a hint of sweetness before that salty corn tortilla undertone kicks in.

I am in love with these chips.  For life.