Snacks – Page 27 – The Celiathlete

August 4, 2013August 5, 2013

Annie May’s Sweet Café packs up delicious take-home treats for every sweet tooth

Annie May's Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls and Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin — Annie May’s Sweet Cafe Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls and Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin

Products: Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Cinnamon Rolls – $3.00; Annie May’s Sweet Café Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin – $2.00; Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar – $2.00

I can’t stop myself. It’s an addiction. It’s a routine. But every time I am in town on Saturday…I head over to Frankfort Avenue to Annie May’s Sweet Café, where, depending on what time I hit there (which is often dictated by how long my Saturday run ends up being), I indulge in amazing gluten-free and allergen-free breakfast offerings, or the most amazing gluten-free pizza in the area. Hands down. Either way, I’m a happy girl on Saturday mornings because I know it means a trip to Annie May’s!

There was only one difference this past weekend when I went to get my gluten-free doughnut and gluten-free vegan sausage and “cheese” breakfast sandwich. I was going straight home afterwards. And, Cathy…the best roomie ever…told me to pick a couple of items from the case to take home to have for breakfast and dessert on the following day.

I was thrilled!! THRILLED!

The hard part was choosing.

As I am a cinnamon roll lover, I did opt to get two of their allergen-free cinnamon rolls that were on display. They looked fantastic, with their cinnamon and sugar goodness and even given a drizzle of icing. I was trying hard not to drool, because…cinnamon rolls are one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast. And I don’t get them very often. Now, I’ve gotten the Take-And-Bake variety from Annie May’s Sweet Café before, but these were already made and ready for consumption. The fantastic looking blueberry muffins were calling my name. Blueberry muffins are my absolute favorite muffin to make and devour. And hers looked golden and moist and had this amazing sugary crust on the top. Oh yeah…that was a must. We got one that we decided we would split between us. And then my roommate spotted the Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake bars in the case…and we decided to get one of those to split as well. Done. Kenna was delightful and boxed everything up for us and we left with some delicious looking baked goodies from our favorite little eatery/bakery in town.

Fast forward to a late morning wake-up. I rocked out a second 13 miles this morning for my Sunday run, and returned home. After showering, I went to wake up Cathy, knocking on her door. She was sleeping later than usual because we had been up in Indianapolis rocking out with Maroon 5…and didn’t get in until around 2 a.m. My run took place later…her wake-up call came later. It all worked.

But breakfast was going to be a cinch! And it was. I simply opened up the signature pink box with the Annie May’s Sweet Café sticker on it and pulled out the spoils of our shopping on Saturday. Two allergen-free cinnamon rolls and one ginormous blueberry muffin. I simply decided to slice the muffin in half and then warmed that half up in the microwave with the cinnamon roll, individually.

Let’s start with the Allergen-Free Cinnamon Roll ($3.00). These were fantastic. Even having sat on my counter all day and night, it was still cinnamon-sugar perfection. The roll stayed together so well. It had that heft of a cinnamon roll without being super dense and hard to eat. It was crusty and flaky and sweetened to ultimate perfection. I also liked how the icing was simply drizzled across the top, ensuring that the icing didn’t overtake the awesomeness of the cinnamon roll itself. These cinnamon rolls contained no dairy and no gluten (of course) and they were awesome. I hope they keep these in the case more often because I will make a habit of eating them whenever possible.

Now…one of Annie May’s muffins was a new choice for me. Where I had the cinnamon rolls in a take-and-bake format before (but never from the case already done), I had never purchased a muffin. So, this was a first for me. The Allergen-Free Blueberry Muffin ($2.00) was huge. And hugely moist too. Yes…even after it had an entire day to sit in a box, it was still super moist. I mean, I sliced into it and it was just…awesome. I could tell it wasn’t dry at all, and this made me happy. One of the little joys of these muffins was the sugar coating on the top. It gave the muffin this nice bit of texture and sweetness…and I loved the crispness that it gave and the sound it made when my knife glided through the baked goodie to half it between my roommate and I. And the taste…melt-in-your-mouth blueberry muffin perfection. Moist. Light. Not at all dense or overdone. The sugar struessel on top was the perfect touch to keep each bite sweet and interesting. I am in love with these blueberry muffins. And blueberry muffins are my most favorite thing when it comes to muffins. So, I hope to see more of these in the very near future.

This leads us to dessert tonight…and the ever-epic sounding Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar ($2.00). Completely gluten-free. It was described by Annie May’s Sweet Café as some crazy cinnamon roll brainchild. Okay…I was definitely intrigued! Because, as we all know…CINNAMON ROLL FREAK HERE!! So, dessert tonight had to be epic and awesome. It just had to be. After dinner, I went and retrieved this morsel of gluten-free goodness from my fridge and sliced it in half…ready to see if it lived up to its epic sounding description.

It was creamy, smooth, and it honestly did taste like some sort of cheesecake-cinnamon roll hybrid. You can only imagine my joy upon first taste. The crust was crunchy and delicious…held up perfectly overnight in the refrigerator. As for the cheesecake portion…I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet. Cheesecake can run too sweet, but this one was perfect. The caramel and cinnamon that were swirled into it gave it the right amount of flavor without taking away from the cream cheese and the crust. Perfectly balanced. And not heavy at all. Sometimes cheesecake can just be too much. Here, it was just perfect. Especially when the bar was cut in half to split with my roomie. She enjoyed it too, especially the swirled caramel and cinnamon topping on the cheesecake itself. We were both overly delighted with our dessert tonight.

And I think anything that tastes like a cinnamon roll should applauded. This was well done!!

Continuing on the trend of her amazing products, Annie May’s Sweet Café provided the perfect way to start my day…and the perfect way to end it as well. The cinnamon rolls and the muffin were both perfect and not too filling…just filling enough to get me through to lunch, when ended up being later in the day from the norm. And dessert…that cheesecake bar was the perfect ending to a day filled with perfect food.

Compliments of Annie May’s Sweet Café. Whether you need to eat gluten-free or have food allergies or not…Annie May’s is the perfect place to pick up a baked item, grab a bite to eat, or even place a special order for one of her breads, cakes, cookies, whatever it is you desire. Her standards are high and her food reflects it.

Always.

I’m already looking forward to breakfast on Saturday this coming week…

Annie May's Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar — Annie May’s Sweet Café Gluten-Free Cinnamon Caramel Swirl Cheesecake Bar

August 2, 2013

Pepperidge Farm swims into gluten-free market with Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs

Product: Pepperidge Farm Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs – $1.99+

It has been over 2 years since I last had Goldfish crackers. Yes…those crunchy little baked cheese crackers. The snack the smiles back…until you bite it’s head off. Those Goldfish. They are the epitome of snack crackers, hailed as a healthier snack cracker due to having to added preservatives and the fact that they are baked. So, there is at least that much. But regular Goldfish crackers are made with wheat flour…which meant when I had to go gluten-free…I had to say good-bye to these little bite-size crackers of goodness.

Okay…that might not have been a bad thing. I mean…while one of the better choices for crackers for both kids and adults, a quick glance at what goes into Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish Crackers…is definitely not falling into the new Clean Eating habits I am working toward with my sports nutritionist. I mean…aside from the gluten-containing ingredients, Goldfish crackers often contain food dyes and other such ingredients. But, they are certainly the lesser of the evils when it comes to snack choices.

The same can be said for the new line of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Puffs, which come in three flavors: Buffalo Wing, Mega Cheese, and Cheddar Bacon.

I’m not a huge fan of Buffalo Wing things…and I’m a vegetarian so the Cheddar Bacon wasn’t happening. Therefore…my only choice was Pepperidge Farm Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs. I was okay with that. Besides, when I could eat Goldfish, the cheese were always my favorite anyway.

So, let’s talk about these, shall we?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I stopped into my local Target and spotted these on the shelf. I knew they existed. I had heard all about them from the various networks of the gluten-free community that I deal with via the internet. However, I failed to do much reading up on them. When I spotted them at Target in this big bag…I pulled it down and flipped it over. Sure enough…clear as day on the back of the package it was labeled: GLUTEN FREE. I love it when things are actually labeled. I wasn’t going to purchase them. I didn’t need them. But my roomie said she’d get them for me. And…what the heck? Everyone in life needs to treat themselves to something every now and again.

So, after taking them home…they had to sit for a week, which is shorter than usual for snacks, but I’ve been clearing them out. I’ve been good. But yesterday marked the day I broke these bad-boy fishies out for my afternoon snack at work. I always dole out a serving so I don’t sit there and mindlessly eat out of the bag. I would do it too, which is why I am so adamant on portion sizes. The first thing I noticed is why these are called Puffs. They are puffed crackers. Think…Cheetos…but in the shape of really big Goldfish crackers. Yes…they even still have that signature smile. They also have that infamous aftificial cheesy smell, you know…like that sweet smelling powdered cheese smell that accompanies those powdered cheese packets boxes of macaroni and cheese. These crackers are called “Mega Cheese” because they include three different kinds of cheese flavors: cheddar, Asiago, and Romano. Three cheeses that I actually like. So, that was promising.

I had to let my roommate try one. Cathy is basically my “Mikey”…in that she samples these foods first. She’s better than she used to be, but she can still be rather picky about her food. So, I figure if she likes it…we’re on to something. She popped a big fishy into her mouth and chewed. Then…her eyes got a little bigger and she said, “They’re good! Like…like…Cheetos!” A-HA! I knew that’s what they were going for. I was now eager to try them myself. When I popped my first Goldfish Puff…immediately, the taste and texture was very much like Cheetos. I loved Cheetos as a child. So, this was like combining two of my favorite treats from my childhood into one. They really were pretty good.

The first flavor that hits you is sweet…which means the asiago cheese is what you get. It’s very sharp and definitely wakes up those tastebuds. But it then mixes in those cheddar and romano flavors and suddenly…they taste like…nacho cheese. And maybe that’s what they were going for. Maybe they are supposed to taste like boxed macaroni and cheese products. I mean…kids love Kraft mac and cheese, right? Therefore, they would love these.

I loved how crunchy these were, despite being “puffs.” That was a nice surprise. The secret to that is that these are made from corn meal instead of a wheat flour. It really gets that cheesy-poof texture just right. And I loved how fun it was to munch away at my desk on puffed Goldfish. I mean…I felt like a kid again. And it only made me smile.

So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Ingredient-wise…not the cleanest of snack foods, but not the worst I have encountered either. I allow this one to fall in the 20% of non-clean eating that I am allotting myself. I mean, you can’t go through life without treats. You have to have something every now and again. And this was a surprisingly delicious and fun treat for me. There is no use of high fructose corn syrup or any food colors, so at least there is that.

As for nutrition, a serving size is 41 pieces, or about 30 grams. I always weigh my servings. In this serving, you will be served up 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. Holding true with other Goldfish products, these do not contain any trans fats. YAY! The Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs are also cholesterol free in addition to being gluten-free. They have only 280 mg of sodium, which isn’t bad for a snack cracker, right? It’s better than Cheetos sodium count, so there is something to think about. These puffy crackers also will provide 2 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of fiber.

So, like everything…moderation is key. Would I buy these again? YES! They are good and they make a fantastic, tasty, nice treat. They aren’t horrible when it comes to nutrition. And the Mega Cheese promise is truly delivered with each bite. I love the whimsical and classic Goldfish shape is continued even in the puffed up corn snacks. They taste amazing. They are fun. So, my roomie’s treat to me definitely worked out favorably. I’m hooked. Pun intended…

The thing about these New Pepperidge Farm Mega Cheese Goldfish Puffs, which have 140 CALORIES PER 41 PIECES (who the heck is counting to 41??), is that they are clearly meant to be a competitor to Cheetos. And I think that’s tough, because I have a real soft spot for Cheetos. Soft as in the pockets of my stomach where Cheetos have burned away my stomach lining. But also because I think Cheetos are some of the greatest snacks ever. Herr’s and other companies have tried and failed to tear me away from the original Chester Cheetah Cheetos and Cheese Puffs. You have an uphill climb, here, Pepperidge Farm. – See more at: http://www.sogoodblog.com/2013/07/15/review-pepperidge-farm-mega-cheese-goldfish-puffs/#sthash.t9OXMSMw.dpuf

July 30, 2013July 30, 2013

The Good Bean provides a naughty but nice crunchy chickpea snack with Smoky Chili and Lime

Product: The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snack – $2.99+

Forget chips. Honestly. Forget the over processed, unhealthy, and sometimes laden with chemicals and ingredients that you don’t recognize and probably shouldn’t be consuming after all. There are other options out there that are not only healthier, but taste better?

Ever have kale chips? They are easy to make…or, for a price, you can buy them already made in a variety of flavors. But, healthier crunchy options don’t end there.

Ever have crunchy chickpeas? You know…chickpeas that have been roasted in the oven so now they are hard and have this amazing crunch to them? If not…you should. And if you don’t trust yourself to make them right…no worries. The Good Bean has taken the guess-work out of the preparation and is putting the amazing tastes of all-natural, roasted chickpeas on the shelves of grocery stores. I found mine at Whole Foods, but have spotted them at other natural food stores.

Prior to today, I had already tried the Sea Salt and the Sweet Cinnamon versions of this snack. This left two flavors still needing my attention. Black Pepper (which I can’t find anywhere!) and Smoky Chili and Lime. I love me some spice, so I saved the Smoky Chili and Lime version for the end of my roasted chickpea journey (or at least until I can find the Black Pepper variety around here). It would be my afternoon snack, the one that would see me through the tail-end of my day at work. And with the success of the previous two flavors…I was quite happy to try this particular one. I mean…come on…it’s spicy, right?

The Good Bean’s Smoky Chili and Lime flavor was apparently inspired by the fantastic flavors that are found in Spanish and Mexican snacks. They chose to use Spanish Paprika, which provides a great smokey flavor without a lot of heat, to pair with the smoky chili flavor in their spice mix. The Good Bean states that this specific chili…is the “naughtily assertive Mexican Chipotle.” But…don’t worry. To tame the chilies and keep the heat under control, The Good bean blended in lime…just to give an extra zing to the chickpeas and to take away just a smidge of the heat. After all…you want to be able to taste the snack…not your tastebuds burning.

Which now brings me to how they taste. I’m…on the fence. While I have raved about the other flavors I have tried…this one is just…different. And that’s saying something coming from me. Here’s why. I love spicy foods. I love the burn and the heat. And, yes, The Good Bean’s Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snacks definitely has a generous spice coating on each roasted chickpea…but the lime…the lime seems to overpower everything. In fact, I commented that I felt like I was eating a fruity cereal more than a spicy snack. Considering this was the flavor I was looking forward to the most, it’s a huge let down. If I wanted to eat Fruity Pebbles, I would have bought them. The fact is…I bought a snack that promised heat with their usual rich chickpea flavor. And all I really get is a hint of the spice…and then a whole lot of lime. Talk about a let down!

So…with that in mind, let’s discuss ingredients and nutrition. One serving of The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snacks is 1/4 cup (or 35 ounces). This serving provides you with 150 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. Like the other flavors, this one is also cholesterol free and has only 260 mg sodium. You also get 6 grams of filling fiber and a great 6 gram hit of protein with each serving. And with only 5 grams of sugar per serving, you can feel good about your choice. These snacks are all low in carbohydrates, contain nothing over-engineered, nothing artificial, are low in fat, gluten-free and also nut free. The Smoky Chili and Lime variety contains roasted chickpeas, brown rice syrup, spices, coarse salt, lime juice concentrate, gum arabic, non-GMO and expeller-pressed canola oil. These particular snacks are also considered clean eating. WIN for my new diet.

Don’t get me wrong…the Smoky Chili and Lime variety is good enough…it just wasn’t what I had expected it to taste like. Way too much lime for my tastes and not enough of that smokey chile flavor that is promised on the package. Still…a healthy and nutritious choice for a snack. Same satisfying crunch as a chip…but giving you so many more healthy benefits without the added fat, cholesterol, and unnecessary ingredients. The Good Bean puts out very good products that they should be proud of. I am happy to have this sort of snack in my life. And maybe…maybe they have inspired me to give roasting chickpeas at home on my own a try.

Just maybe…

A serving of The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snacks — A serving of The Good Bean Smoky Chili and Lime Chickpea Snack

July 30, 2013

A sweet and gluten-free Crispy Cocoa Rice cereal hit in the mornings by Mom’s Best Cereals

Mom's Best Cereals Crispy Cocoa Rice — Mom’s Best Cereals Crispy Cocoa Rice

Product: Mom’s Best Cereal Crispy Cocoa Rice – $1.99+

I am trying, really hard, to watch how much sugar I take in a day. Despite this, it just happens that most of my sugar gets used up bright and early in the morning. This is before I have dinner…sometimes before I have lunch. And I know part of the culprit is…well…my Greek yogurt. But on the mornings where I have cereal…sometimes that’s where much of the hit comes from.

Due to a fantastic Manager’s Special deal at my local grocery store, my roommate returned home from one of my “Oh my God, I’m in the middle of cooking something and we’re out of ______ and need it…NOW!” shopping errands with a surprise for me. She picked up one of her favorite brands of cereal – Mom’s Best Cereals – but this time, it was for me. Why? Because it was their gluten-free cereal – the Crispy Cocoa Rice.

This morning…was the day for chocolate in the morning. And, I mean, who doesn’t love a little chocolate to start out their day. I retrieved the crumpled (part of the reason it was on Manager’s Special) box from my pantry and dished up a serving (3/4 cup) of the cereal. I smiled a little…as it reminded me of Cocoa Pebbles (gluten-free)…or the Cocoa Krispies (not gluten-free) that were out on the market. It was just…familiar without being exactly the same. The thing about Mom’s Best Cereals is that they keep their products free of artificial flavors and preservatives, use no hydrogenated oils, and do not allow high fructose corn syrup to make an appearance on the ingredient list. So, it would seem to be a healthy…or at least…healthier choice, right?

Well…for the most part. Do keep in mind that this is a chocolate cereal. It might be puffed rice…but it’s still chocolate. And with chocolate comes that dreaded “s-word”…SUGAR. So before I get into the flavor of this cereal…let me just set up this comparison. Mom’s Best Cereals Gluten-Free Crispy Cocoa Rice contains 13 grams of sugar per 3/4 cup serving. The same serving size in Cocoa Pebbles contains only 10 grams of sugar. And for that same serving in Cocoa Krispies (despite the fact that those of us who can’t have gluten can’t eat these…this is for comparison only) contains 12 grams of sugar. So, the all-natural cereal has the most amount of sugar than the brands that contain hydrogenated oils and artificial flavors and artificial preservatives. I hate seeing that…but in the end, I’ll take the extra few grams of sugar over the hydrogenated oils, BHA and BHT. Seriously.

So…how did it taste? A-MAZ-ING! No, really. It’s sweet. It’s sweeter than I like most of my cereals…but it is really, really good. I mean, it’s chocolate in the morning. And…the added bonus is it turns my unsweetened almond milk into chocolate milk. Which is always a plus. These puffs of rice stay crispy, even when swimming in a sea of almond milk. They provide great chocolate flavor. And it’s sweet…without being overly sweet. It’s just sweeter than I’m accustomed to at breakfast. But…who turns their nose up at a chocolate hit in the early morning? Not me…as I am definitely a choco-holic!

This was my fuel prior to hitting the gym…the downside of that high sugar content, however, is that I burned through it quickly…and was hungry about halfway through my cardio exercises. Some of that might also have to do with the fact that this cereal provides no fiber at all and only 1 gram of protein. Therefore…it’s not very filling. Mostly sugar. But…CHOCOLATE!!!

Mom’s Best Cereal Crispy Cocoa Rice cereal is low in fat, naturally cholesterol free, and gluten-free. As for the rest of the nutrition information…a serving size, as stated before is 3/4 cup. This will provide you with 120 of your daily calories with only 1 gram of fat per serving. Aside from the high sugar content, the lack of fiber and small amount of protein, you will be taking in 150 mg sodium. That’s not bad. And…as far as ingredients go, this cereal does keep it all natural: rice, sugar, coconut oil, cocoa, salt, caramel color, and natural flavors.

Much better than the hydrogenated oils and artificial preservatives and flavors that come with the other two previously mentioned cereals. The rest of the nutrition information is relatively the same otherwise.

So, if you are looking simply to satisfy a sweet tooth…Mom’s Best Cereals Crispy Cocoa Rice will definitely do the trick. It’s one of the more nutritious chocolate cereals on the market…and it is definitely made with better ingredients than others provide. But do recognize that it won’t fill you up…and eventually that sugar rush does wear off. So keep this in mind. Aside from that…who doesn’t love sweet chocolate first thing in the morning. Treat yourself without all the extra junk. Mom’s Best Cereals at least keeps their ingredients natural. And that speaks volumes of the quality of the cereal they put on the market. Trust me…the extra grams of sugar are totally worth it in the end.

July 28, 2013

Glutino puts the gluten-free fun back into dipping with new Tortilla Dippers

Product: Glutino Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers – $3.99+

Glutino. Glutino. Glutino.

Here is what I love about Glutino – I have yet to try one of their products and not like it. Everything has been impressive and delicious and amazing. So close to what I used to be able to eat…it’s scary…and amazing…full of gluten-free awesomesauce all at once. They were the first to bring me gluten-free pretzels. The first to give me gluten-free toaster pastries. And now…the first to create the ultimate gluten-free tortilla chip…meant for dipping.

Remember Tostitos Scoops? You should. Because they are actually one of Frito-Lay’s gluten-free products. Yeah. Well, think Tostitos Scoops…but done in a completely gluten-free facility. That’s what you get when you purchase Glutino’s Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers.

Glutino’s Web site declares that these Tortilla Dippers are made for the bold, the brassy and the sassy. And that may not be far from the truth. The entire point of a dipper is to get all wild and crazy with what you choose to scoop with them. Or…the toppings you pile onto them. The entire point is that they must, I repeat…MUST…hold up to the toppings or the weight of the scoop, be it nacho cheese, salsa, guacamole, or some other amazing dip of your own creation. If they fall apart or crumble…no good!

I spotted Glutino’s Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers while at my natural food store on an end cap. The Glutino products were on sale…so I allowed the splurge. I knew there would be something I could make with them, regardless. And I was right. It just took me about a month to actually get around to using them. But, my roommate had her last wisdom tooth removed this past week, and after being stuck on mushy food for the entire week, yesterday she had one request…

NACHOS FOR DINNER!

So, I complied. After all, I had some Trader Joe’s queso (gluten-free) in the pantry that was begging for some action. In addition, some black beans that would add some delicious protein. Oh…and avocado. Because if there is a reason to add avocado to something I am going to. Heck, I’ll just eat the avocado. But I digress…

Since she was ready for crunchy food again, I agreed to make some nachos per her request. And I already had everything at home to make it happen. BONUS!

I pulled out the beans and got them heating on the stove. While that was happening, I went ahead and chopped up some fresh tomatoes and got the avocado sliced, pitted, and chopped. Then…the queso was warmed in the microwave. Soon…dinner would be ready. All I needed now was the chips.

So I pulled the Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers out of the pantry and doled out a serving for each of us. Then the beans were tossed on top…followed by the tomatoes, the avocado, then the queso. Dinner took almost no time at all…and was now ready to be served. I added a bit of vegan Sriracha sour cream to the top, and for me a few jalapeno peppers.

Time to dig in and see how the Tortilla Dippers handled my toppings.

The fact was, Glutino did it’s job well. Not only do these chips have an amazing texture and crunch to them, you can really taste the sweetness of the corn. It adds a beautiful balance to the dish you are using them with, honestly. I had to try a chip on its own, and I felt that they tasted even better than Tostitos Scoops. And I used to heat the hell out of those. They didn’t get mushy, nor did they crack and crumble when the toppings were piled on top. I asked Cathy what she thought and she raved about them. This is always a good thing, because she can be rather finicky at times about things that are close to a favorite product…and she really has always loved to the Tostitos Scoops.

So, let’s talk about nutrition. For a chip, these are identical in comparison with Tostitos Scoops. Honestly. A serving is 28 grams, or about 12 chips. This serving sets you back 140 calories and 7 grams of fat. Not bad for a corn chip. A serving also only dishes up 120 mg of sodium, 2 grams of fiber (one more gram than Scoops), and 1 gram of protein. Everything else is identical. This has one gram less in carbohydrates. Aside from that…nothing too different. But when I can get something that is certified gluten-free…that’s what I am going to purchase. So, Glutino…you win!

As far as ingredients go, Glutino’s Tortilla Dippers are made from ground whole white corn, vegetable oil, toasted corn germ, and salt. Four ingredients. Simply made. Simply delicious. Simply good.

Don’t take my word for it though. These are definitely a bit pricier than Tostitos, but I’d pay the extra few dollars again. Without batting an eyelash. And we all know I live on a strict budget…so that’s saying something.

Next time you’re feeling the need to make a salsa, queso, guacamole, or other dip…give Glutino’s Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers a try. I promise…you’ll love them!

Nachos made with Glutino's Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers — Nachos made with Glutino’s Gluten-Free Tortilla Dippers

July 28, 2013July 28, 2013

Bakery on Main packs a fiber punch (but no crunch) into every serving of Triple Berry Granola

Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola – $5.99+

Oh…Bakery on Main. Maker of amazing granola and delicious oatmeal. Whenever someone inquires about gluten-free oatmeal…I immediately point them in your direction. After all, I’ve been doing the gluten-free lifestyle now for two years. I know what is good. I know what is great. And I know what is worth raving about. You are a fantastic company that does great things for the gluten-free community by offering quality products. Even better though…you back up your quality products with a statement that says if the customer is not 100% satisfied…a refund will be given.

How many companies do that? I can tell you…not many. Not these days. And I love how strongly you believe in your company, your products, and your standards to put that out there. Amazing.

A couple of weeks ago, I was preparing for a long road trip from the Louisville, Kentucky area up to Utica, New York. I was going to be participating in the Boilermaker 15K. Being an athlete with food allergies, I always pack snacks for long trips. I mean, you just never know when you might get hungry and all that is available is establishments you don’t feel comfortable dining in, or the possibility of not having options at all. It has happened to me before, and I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

As fueling up properly before a race is important, I packed a variety of items. Raisins, vegan (and gluten-free) jerky, gluten-free granola and protein bars, and finally…granola. I had hit up the grocery store early one morning in search of easy items that would travel and pack well. None of these were my specialty stores, but thankfully this particular grocery store had a few different gluten-free granola options in the natural food section. After deliberating between two different companies…I finally settled on Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola. I had already had the other company’s granola…and loved it. But this flavor…this one from Bakery on Main…was new to me. And I was curious. After all, I already am a huge fan of granola. Now we’re tossing in some freeze-dried raspberries, strawberries and blueberries…can you say heaven?

As it happened, I didn’t ever break into the granola on the road trip…however, I am famous for my breakfast parfaits, consisting of gluten-free granola, Greek yogurt, and fresh berries. As my roommate and I had polished off our last granola, this now because the crunchy portion of the parfait. Way to default, yes?

As always, though, I make a habit to try the granola on its own. Because I want a clear taste of the product before it gets added to fresh fruit and Greek yogurt.

The first thing I noticed was that this granola didn’t have the crunch I expected it to have. In fact, while it is baked well, with flavors infused properly, I found this particular variety to lack the crunch that toasted oats usually have. The flavors were all there, although the freeze-dried berries are few and far between the sea of oats. They didn’t taste soggy…but they definitely didn’t add the desired texture I had hoped for in my breakfast parfait. But…it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t what I was hoping for, but I find it edible. The flavor is there. The texture is just not what I expected. But it works. And, in the grand scheme of things, that is a minor fault.

So, let’s talk nutrition, shall we? Well, the Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola is a great choice for people on a gluten-free diet. Why? Because often we lack in consuming enough fiber throughout the day…so this is a great way to balance it out. A serving, which is 1/2 cup, dishes up 240 calories. I know that seems like a lot…and it is…but this is for 1/2 cup, while most granola stops at 1/4 cup serving size…so it actually balances out in the end. With the 24o calories, you also will be taking in 6 grams of fat. The sodium in this granola is low, topping out at 50 mg per serving. This granola actually has only 7 grams of sugar, which was why I chose it over the other brand there at the store. In addition to that, the Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola has 9 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein per serving. You have to love that, right?

Of course.

So, while I wouldn’t call the Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola by Bakery on Main a success…I would say that it is passable. I mean, honestly, are there better options out there…yes. But was this granola unpleasing in any way? Of course not. If only it had some crunch in each bite…

Ah well…

If you have been searching for a good way to get more fiber into your life…this is a good choice. A fantastic choice, actually. Look past the soft oats, enjoy the intermittent bursts of sweetness from the freeze dried berries, and simply savor.

Greek yogurt and fresh berry breakfast parfait made with Bakery on Main Fiber Power Triple Berry Granola

July 27, 2013

Annie May’s Sweet Café gives Louisville amazing Maple Caramel Blondies

Product: Annie May’s Sweet Café Maple Caramel Blondies – $3.00

I have to give another huge shout-out to my favorite place in Louisville. Whenever I am out of town, I miss arriving on Saturday morning to get a delicious vegan/allergen-free breakfast sandwich. I miss talking to the owners and employees behind the counter. I miss hearing my roommate talk about how many miles I just finished running and how now it was time to indulge in some allergen-free doughnuts and breakfast!

Annie May’s Sweet Café is my happy place. I make a habit to frequent their little spot on Frankfort Avenue whenever I am in town. I have never had anything there that I didn’t care for. In fact, my eyes have been opened to the amazing gluten-free baked goods that continue to churn out. And, every now and again, they introduce something new and spectacular…and if I happen to be around for it…you better believe I am going to purchase it to try.

This past weekend, Annie May’s Sweet Café rolled out Maple Caramel Blondies. I saw them post about them on their Facebook page. I had been out of town the two weekends prior, so now that I was back, I was hitting up the café for breakfast after an 18 mile run…then going out to a Gluten-Free Fair and Fundraiser later that afternoon. While they had the Maple Caramel Blondies at the café that morning…I saved that purchase for the fair.

After feasting on an amazing gluten-free crepe from Sweet ‘N’ Savory food truck, I bounced over to say “HI” to Annie May and Kenna, who were manning the table at the Gluten-Free Fair and Fundraiser. While there, I made a purchase of one of their gluten-free Maple Caramel Blondies ($3.00). They chose me to find one with lots of maple swirled in there…and I was more than happy to oblige. YUM YUM!

But…the weekend was a busy one…and I had a gluten-free sponge cake to polish off. Then my roomie had her last wisdom tooth removed…so the Maple Caramel Blondie sat on my kitchen counter until Wednesday. But…that didn’t affect it one bit.

Over the entire weekend and into half the week, this blondie was still very light and moist. I sliced it in half…eager to get a sample of this bar. Trust me…I think I started drooling when they posted about them. And I had been thinking about it all weekend…and up until dessert on Wednesday. The moment of truth was here.

I handed Cathy her half…then settled in with mine.

FLAVOR TOWN!! I mean…wow. First of all…this is exactly how I like my brownies/blondies. It had more of a cake-like texture. I totally prefer a cake-like brownie to a fudge-like brownie any day. They are lighter, fluffier, and not as dense or heavy. The blondie itself was really good. Not overly sweet, which is good, because swirled throughout it was this fantastic caramel and maple flavor. I mean…WOW!! You can see it blended into the baked blondie. Yes…this was simply awesome. Cathy thought so too, because she eating another one tonight, but stupid shoppers that we are…we had only bought the one.

So…here is hoping that Annie May’s keeps these in the bake case for awhile. TOTALLY yummy!

No one would ever guess they were allergen-free…unless you told them.

So…thank you once again, Annie May’s…for making gluten-free look and taste so, so damn good!

Annie May's Sweet Café Maple Caramel Blondie (unwrapped) — Annie May’s Sweet Café Maple Caramel Blondie (unwrapped)

July 27, 2013

Dark Chocolate Dream adds sweet raspberry to vegan dark chocolate bars

Product: Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar – $3.59+

Dark chocolate. It is, honestly, my favorite thing in this world. Honestly.

I mean…it has this rich, deep flavor. And the bittersweet taste means you don’t really overindulge. That’s the beauty of dark chocolate. It sort of provides a serving size, because it can be rich…so a little goes a long way.

Now…enter the realm of the vegan dark chocolate bar. Yes. You read that right. VEGAN!

Okay, so vegan chocolate really isn’t anything new. But…the problem I have with vegan chocolate is that it can be hard and chalky…instead of smooth and rich like regular dark chocolate. So, vegan chocolate bars can be disappointing.

Enter…Dark Chocolate Dream. Aptly named, mind you. Dark Chocolate Dream is the chocolate bar segment of the umbrella company responsible for Rice Dream rice milk, Almond Dream almond milk, Soy Dream soy milk, and so on…

I think you get the picture. Now, I’ve many products from Imagine Foods, the company responsible for the “Dream” products. And I love them. Even the Almond Dream almond milk was good. In fact…it was really, really good. So, this company is no stranger to vegan products that focus on ingredients. I like when a company takes pride in the products they put out on the shelf.

But chocolate? Dark chocolate? Dark chocolate candy bars? That are also vegan?

Oh yes…and this one in partucular has an added burst of sweetness because the Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar adds a hit of sweetness from freeze dried raspberries to the bittersweet chocolate that forms the rest of the bar. And…honestly…dark chocolate and fruit always pair well. Dark chocolate with some sort of berry…even better.

The Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar is fabulous. It really is. No fake and unpleasing raspberry gel inside. Nothing sticky or unappealing. Just real ingredients. The pieces of fresh raspberries that are freeze dried and added to the dark chocolate just elevate this particular candy bar to the next level. Bittersweet meets sweet…and it just works. It meshes together well. Even better, this vegan dark chocolate bar doesn’t have that chalky flavor. And it isn’t tough to bite into. It’s smooth. It’s sweet. It’s very pleasing to the palate. And the chocolate is rich, and melt-in-your-mouth good. No strange aftertaste. A dark chocolate lover’s dream…

Let’s talk about ingredients and nutrition. First of all, keep in mind this is a chocolate bar. Just because it’s vegan and gluten-free doesn’t mean that it is better for you than other chocolate out on the market. It’s not. A serving of the Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar is 1/2 of the bar. This will set you back 240 calories and 15 grams of fat. YIKES, right? Luckily, this bar comes in break-away squares of 8. This means, you can certainly just take a square (trust me it’s enough) and get 8 days worth of treats. That’s what I’d do. But I’m frugal like that. Anyway…in addition to the calories and fat, you are ingesting 15 mg of sodium and then a whopping 24 grams of sugar. YIKES! Half of the candy bar contains 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

As far as the ingredients that go into this dark chocolate bar, this list is short and recognizable. The ingredients in the Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar are: evaporated cane juice, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, freeze dried raspberries, roasted soy flour, soy lecithin, and pure vanilla extract.

That’s it. It’s nice to see such a short list when it comes to ingredients.

If you love the taste of raspberries. If you love dark chocolate. Then I encourage you to find and try Dark Chocolate Dream Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar. It’s a sweet bite of rich, smooth, vegan dark chocolate. So…break off a piece…and devour! Then take a moment to savor. Trust me…you’ll thank me later.

Dark Chocolate Dreams Raspberry Dark Chocolate Bar (unwrapped)

July 27, 2013July 28, 2013

El’s Gluten-Free Snacks gives great flavor and crunch in Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps

Product: El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps – $4.49+

I’ve noticed these little brown bags of gluten-free snacks on the shelf of one of my local grocery store. I noticed them immediately because I had never seen them before. They are El’s Gluten Free Snacks…and there are two different varieties…Medleys and Snaps.

Well, while frequenting a couple of my favorite blogs, a giveaway was happening for the chance to win a bag of El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon and Sugar Snaps. So, since I was there…and reading…I figured why not enter? I do this all the time, actually…I just never win.

But then, Anna from the Gluten Free? Give Me Three blog sent me an e-mail. I had actually won the giveaway. So, she was going to wing a bag of El’s Gluten Free Snacks Cinnamon and Sugar Snaps. I was thrilled. I never win these things…but here…here I had actually won. WOOHOO!! I provided my shipping address…and a couple of days later, a box arrived containing a bag of El’s Gluten Free Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps.

I was so excited about these. But…I had a few more snacks ahead of this one…so I set this in my pantry and worked my way through the other items first.

But…this past week…the big day arrived.

So, here is the thing about gluten-free snacks. They can either be really, really amazing…or not be good at all. And these, at first glance, look as though they might be in the latter category. After all, they are little bagel crisps (think of the highly off-limits Gardetto’s snack mix…the rye chips that people usually love the most) that are lightly dusted with cinnamon and sugar. I normally have my roommate try my snacks…but she just had her last wisdom tooth out, so this time…the opinion rested all on my shoulders.

Based on feel alone, I noticed that these weren’t heavy like Gardetto’s rye chips were. These were very light and airy. I loved that. I hate when gluten-free snacks are dense and hard and…bland. I haven’t gotten to that yet. These are very light and it makes you feel good about the snack as you dole out a serving.

Snack time arrived at work and I popped open the lid of my container holding a serving of this product. The moment of truth had arrived. One bite. A crunchy, crispy, delicious bite. The texture was awesome. You get this great snap with each bite. And the cinnamon and sugar that is lightly dusted over these doesn’t overpower the rest of the crisp itself. In fact, the taste and crunch is identical to the bagel chips I used to be able to eat. Not to mention, these are baked, which help keep them light, airy, and savory. It’s hard to not devour the entire serving in one quick flick of the wrist. These are honestly that good.

So…let’s talk ingredients and nutrition. As far as what these snaps are made from…its a gluten-free flour base, water, non-GMO canola oil, flax seed, cane sugar, and cinnamon. It’s that simple. Not a whole lot going into this, which I appreciate as I’m trying to cut back on processed foods…and when I do eat them, I try to limit the number of ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, not only are these products gluten-free, but they are also free of eggs, milk, soy, peanuts, and nuts. Love the allergy-friendly snacks!! This means I could share them with my nephews if I so choose. I think they’d like them.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is 1 ounce (28 grams). From this serving, you will be receiving 100 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. These crisps are low in sodium, with a serving only providing 240 mg. There are 9 grams of sugar in one serving of the Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps, so it’s not too bad. That’s better than most cereals on the market. And you will also be given 2 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

If you are a fan of chips, but don’t want to snack and feel guilty…I highly recommend replacing those chips with these Cinnamon & Sugar Snaps from El’s Gluten Free. Trust me…they go above and beyond as a replacement. I was already looking forward to snack today when I helped myself to another serving of them. Honestly…one of the best gluten-free snacks out on the market. Why? Because at El’s…they believe that good taste matters.

I believe they have created the ultimate gluten-free snack foods…and with their focus on taste, texture, and flavor…it’s no wonder I fell in love with them.

July 26, 2013

Katz Gluten Free once again sets the standard with moist, fluffy Sponge Cake

Product: Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake – $5.79

A long while back, I purchased a Gluten-Free Saver deal (sort of like Groupon for the gluten-free) that gave me more than half off a certain dollar amount of products ordered from Katz Gluten Free. If you have never tried Katz Gluten Free…get thee to their Web site now and order their sampler pack. It’s a great way to get introduced to their products. And if you don’t think that’s for you…trust me…order the doughnuts. Especially the powdered sugar and cinnamon ones. You can’t go wrong.

The thing is…I have yet to eat something that Katz shipped to me that I haven’t liked. There are some products I have liked better than others, but when it all comes down to it, Katz is honestly the top-of-the-line when it comes to baked goods. And, thanks to the magic of Internet ordering…you can have their amazing products shipped right to your door.

Well, as I said, awhile back I latched on to this deal. And as I was pressed for time, I gave my roomie carte blanche to log onto Katz Gluten Free and to go ahead and pick out some items for us. So…she went for a few of our favorites (hello doughnuts, doughnut holes, English muffins, and pizza crusts) and then put in a few surprises. One of these surprises was none other than…their newly introduced Gluten Free Sponge Cake.

I was elated when I received the box via UPS. But…as it goes in this apartment…there is always something else that needs to move out ahead of the item I’m dying to try. So, for months now, the Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake has sat in my freezer…just begging me to make something with it. To eat it. To just try it. It was silently vowing not to let me down.

Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (unwrapped)

After a very busy winter and spring, the perfect opportunity to dig it out finally came around when our good friend, Greg, had space in his calendar to head this way and visit for the weekend. I had a plan…I’d make gluten-free baked ravioli with my gluten-free cheesy onion pull-apart bread…and then for dessert…I’d whip up some Vegan whipped topping, use some fresh blueberries provided to me by a good friend of mine, and put all of that over some of the Sponge Cake from Katz Gluten Free.

It sounded like a plan to me. Now…time to put it into action.

Dinner went well. The ravioli was a huge hit, but the bread still needs to be paired with the perfect cheese as it tends to get a little lost. But now I’m digressing. The fact was…dessert time was nigh.

While I do love cooking and baking and even just bringing out gluten-free goodies for guests, I always get nervous that they won’t like it. And this was a new product. I had no idea what it would be like. All I knew was that it was made by Katz Gluten Free. And, that was actually a relief. Because, if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a trillion times…I TRUST KATZ GLUTEN FREE!!

But…there are just some people you don’t know how they will take to something that they know is gluten-free. There are so many preconceived (and often correct) notions about gluten-free food. And when people are unfamiliar with it, they automatically assume that it will be heavy, dense, and probably taste like cardboard.

Let Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake prove all of that wrong. It was love at first slice. I mean, despite the fact that this loaf had been chilling in the freezer for months now…after I set it out to thaw, it didn’t dry up, nor did it become hard, brittle, or just fall apart. It was beautifully moist. My knife slid through the cake easily, and I could tell how soft it was with texture. Just like any moist sponge cake, I pressed my fingers against the center and it bounced back. Beautiful.

So…it was passing on texture and looks alone. I mean, beautiful golden crust with a gorgeous creamy white center that was moist, fluffy, soft…and just perfect to gaze upon. But…it was time for dessert. So, I sliced the three of us up a serving and topped it off with some of the vegan whipped topping. Then, fresh blueberries were scattered over the top and voila…dessert was served.

And…oh…it lived up to expectations. One bite and it was like eating a lightened up version of a shortcake. Airy, fresh, and just beautiful. It had this great flavor on top of it all…vanilla with a hit of citrus. It was a fluffy, filling dessert and one that I returned to in the nights following until the entire cake was used up. I even experimented with it slightly on a couple of nights, tossing the slice into the microwave for about 20 seconds and then topping it off with the vegan whip and berries. And, it was like taking a bite out of a freshly baked sponge cake. If you didn’t tell someone this was gluten-free, they would never know. Honestly.

Let’s talk nutrition on this baby, shall we? The Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake serves 8 people. One sizable slice will serve you up only 90 calories and 4 grams of fat! Loving those numbers so far, aren’t you? In addition, this fluffy cake will provide you with 40 mg of sodium, 7 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. It’s a lightened up version of a regular sponge cake. And I’m loving these nutritional facts. You almost don’t feel guilty about indulging a little.

As for the ingredients used to make this amazing dessert…it’s a combination of Katz Gluten Free Four (a mix of white rice flour, corn flour, and tapioca flour), sugar, eggs, canola oil, orange juice, water, baking powder, xanthan gum, and vanilla. That’s it. And the end result is one of the finest, softest, lightest sponge cakes you will find out there. I’d stack it against any regular sponge cake and still believe this one would come out on top.

Katz Gluten Free puts quality at the head of their business and it honestly shows with their products. I’m proud to say that I would be more than happy to order this from Katz again. And I intend to. In the very, very near future.

Katz Gluten Free Sponge Cake (topped with vegan whipped topping and fresh blueberries)