Spreads – Page 4 – The Celiathlete

June 26, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels – $7.29+

Some leaps of faith are just worth taking. Seriously. And nothing has surprised me more than how deeply I have fallen in love with the bagel creations by Sweet Note Bagels. It was fate that introduced me to these gluten-free goodies. Actually, it was a fantastic PR person at Sweet Note Bagels who was quick on the draw after seeing my blog on Canyon Bakehouse’s Gluten Free Bagels (both plain and everything). And I have to say…persistence always pays off with me. Always. The recommendation that if I liked Canyon Bakehouse’s Bagels then I would LOVE theirs, had me clicking on a provided link and heading over to their Web site to check them out.

And then my curiosity got the best of me. Without any further knowledge about their products, without looking up any reviews as to what other consumers thought of their products, I was on their online store, purchasing half of their bagel selections. Yep, I didn’t start with just one variety. I went into this believing that these would blow me away…and thus…I ordered four (4) of their eight (8) varieties that they currently offer.

Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

No buyer’s remorse happened either after I checked out of their online store. A couple of days later, a box arrived bearing my bagels. I made room for them in my packed freezer until it was time to crack into them. So far, they have wowed me with both the Plain and Everything varieties.

So, now we went for a personal favorite…

Cinnamon Raisin.

I love everything about cinnamon raisin baked goods. I was a huge cinnamon roll lover growing up. Anything with a little hit of spice and that bit of sweetness is winning in my book. Raisins…well, they are one sweet treat I love indulging in, without the guilt. Put them together in some sort of bread-like form and you have a happy girl on your hands.

So, it was this morning after my 5:30 a.m. spin class that I dodged some rain home and immediately removed the Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels from my freezer. I grabbed two of them (one for me and the other for my non-gluten-free roomie!) and got onto thawing them in the microwave. You don’t bring these to room temperature like most gluten-free foods. Just 1 minute or so in the microwave, until they are squishy soft, and you’re golden. Cool them for a moment, slice in half, and toast. Because I don’t own a toaster, these bad boys went into the oven. And I left my roommate in charge of not letting the apartment burn down while they toasted and I went to shower.

No tragedies. My oven didn’t burn anything while I was getting cleaned and dressed for my physical therapy appointment before finally making my way into work. I came out to an apartment that was carrying the warm, comforting aroma of cinnamon sweetness. I peaked into the oven, just to make sure I was hitting that perfect golden color, and not having it begin to char. It was right on point. And as I closed the oven to let the bagels finish up, I commented to the roomie, “Those smell SO good…like cinnamon rolls.” I got out the Kite Hill Plain Vegan Cream Cheese Spread and some local Whipped Vanilla Honey that we had picked up at the recent Buy Local Fair in Louisville, Kentucky.

And so…out came the baking sheet with the perfectly toasted Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels. And I contained myself by not drooling on them or devouring all four halves. I took one half of each bagel and gave it the classic schmear of the vegan cream cheese spread. The other half of each bagel got a touch of the local Whipped Vanilla Honey. We were in business now. I served my roommate her bagel then went to pour my coffee and settle in to do my PT stretches and eat some breakfast.

I was no longer apprehensive and wondering if I had thrown away my money when it came to Sweet Note Bagels. Nope…I knew they were amazing. But how amazing were the New York Style Cinnamon Raisin offerings? AMAZING! There is no way anyone could eat these and immediately say that these are gluten-free. They taste just like a good, classic New York Bagel. The resemble them too! A perfect three inches in diameter, dense, and just thick. Honestly…I am so impressed with the appearance right off, resembling traditional bagels…just without the gluten! This style of bagel means that you get this crispy, golden outer crust and a soft, chewy, dense center where all the good stuff hides. And it’s perfection. A swirl of cinnamon and dabbling of sweet raisins complete this bagel from the first bite to the last. There wasn’t too much spice or too few raisins. It was an ideal and perfect balance. And I took my time this time, to savor, each half…one bite of one, then another, pairing it with the selected topping and finding how each one worked uniquely with this flavor of bagel.

Cinnamon Raisin + Gluten Free + Bagel = HAPPY GIRL!

Let’s talk about what Sweet Note Bagels puts into their Gluten Free New York Style Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, shall we? Well…as with their other products, the first ingredient is LOVE! So, you have LOVE, water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, raisins, olive oil, molasses, vanilla extract, cinnamon, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

And now…the nitty-gritty. Let’s discuss the nutritional information of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels, shall we? A serving size is one (1) bagel (135 grams) and four (4) bagels come in the package. One serving will dish up 310 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans-fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 290 mg sodium, 69 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 17 grams sugar, and 4 grams protein.

One of the best things about these bagels is that they are really filling because they use real ingredients, No fillers, chemicals, and weird preservatives. This is real food…and will give you plenty of energy to get through the morning. I love eating a breakfast and knowing that my body is getting something good from it.

When it comes to Cinnamon Raisin anything…Sweet Note Bagels has won me over. My favorite flavor of bread-item…done in a perfect New York style bagel…yeah…you’ve won me over and won my gluten-free food loving heart. The bagels made by the fantastic team at Sweet Note Bagels has done their job and done it to perfection because, so far, their bagels have not let me down. If anything, they have shown me that there is so much more to the bagel market than the Udi’s and Canyon Bakehouse standards that are readily available in stores.

And thanks to their intrepid social media perseverance…I am forever a fan! If, like me, you love Cinnamon Raisin…then these will blow you away. Sweet and oh, so amazing!

Sweet Note Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels (one half with Kite Hill Vegan Cream Cheese Spread and one half with local Whipped Vanilla Honey)

June 26, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels – $7.25+

I think it has been well established that as a former New Yorker, I am a bagel lover. When I got my Celiac diagnosis, I became a one-time lover of bagels. Sure, there were a few different gluten free bagels out on the market…and I tried them all. Most of them were all wrong. I was enticed, because they had different flavors than the others…but in the end…just wrong. The closest I could get to a true bagel in my gluten-free world were the offerings by Udi’s and, more recently, Canyon Bakehouse.

But here is where the power of social media plays an important roll. I had recently reviewed the Canyon Bakehouse Plain and Everything Bagels that I ordered off their Web site, since they weren’t in stores yet (and still might be working their way there). After posting the review, I was pinged on Twitter by a company that literally does only gluten free bagels. Not just gluten-free, but also vegan, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and non-GMO. I was intrigued enough to Google search them and take a look at their Web site. Their name: Sweet Note Bagels.

New York style bagels…gluten-free? It sounded too good to be true. Usually very hesitant and cautious about ordering from a company I know little about or have heard little about, I decided to take a risk and a chance. And I went all-in, ordering half of their New York style gluten-free bagel flavors. Yep. They have eight (8) different flavors…I started with four of them – opting for the Plain (previously blogged), Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, and Chocolate Swirl. In addition to these four, Sweet Note Bagels offers Poppy, Sesame, Snickerdoodle and Pumpkin. And,according to their Web site, they are working on a Spinach Garlic offering as well (which sounds SO delicious).

She and her team are doing a fantastic job. And I hope it continues and more and more people try and discover these amazing bagels. Sweet Note Bagels are top-of-the-line. And I can now attest to that given that I have tried my second flavor that I purchased off their Web site…

EVERYTHING!

Yes, the Everything Bagel. Nothing gets as New York as this flavor of bagel. Unfamiliar with the Everything Bagel? Well, the basic information is these bagels appeared in New York back in the 1970s-1980s. They are basically a bagel that is topped with all the different topping varieties that are normally found on bagels. It is basically traditional to see a combination of seeds and dried herbs, with the most commonly used being poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion, garlic, salt, and even caraway seeds. Everything but the kitchen sink. They are incredible.

As the Everything Bagel is a New York tradition, and one that I am most fond of, I had high hopes when I pulled these out of the freezer to thaw them in the microwave for a minute, slice them, and toast them in my oven (you can toast them in a toaster, I just don’t own a toaster). They smelled amazing. Like…garlic and onion and awesomesauce. I don’t know what awesomesauce smells like, but I have a feeling it would be these bagels. And my mouth began to water more in anticipation as they toasted and the aroma filled my kitchen. Oh yeah…New York heaven.

The best part is…Sweet Note Bagels gets EVERYTHING right with their Gluten Free Everything Bagel. Trust this New Yorker. This bagel is a perfect 3-inch diameter…just like bagels used to be made, not the monstrosities that exist on the market and in bakeries today. Old school, traditional bagels…minus the gluten. LOVE. What this also means is that the outside of the bagel gets this great golden crust that is crisp when you bite into it after toasting it. The center…soft, chewy, and perfection. With the Sweet Note Bagels Gluten Free Everything Bagel, I topped it with a schmear of Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread and went to town. I couldn’t help it. If anything brought back my memories of New York…it was this bagel…in perfect technicolor! The flavors were amazing. Nothing was overpowering, not even the garlic! Seriously. The outside was this perfect crisp, which gave the bagel texture. The top half was topped off with a healthy spread of salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic. Yes…these are messy bagels. But messy bagels when you’re talking about an Everything Bagel…is just what you’re supposed to get. I thought there was the perfect amount of toppings on each bagel (4 come in each package). And they cooked up to perfection. I ate them faster than I intended…and I wanted another one! I mean, I literally wanted to go and prepare another one right then and there. I resisted…somehow. Even my roommate, who had a regular Everything Bagel back in New York City in November when I was running the marathon fell in love with this version. She doesn’t have to eat gluten-free…but she does about 90% at home…because of me, and these bagels have really, really impressed her. She didn’t grow up a bagel lover…so these have won her heart. They have won me over too. If I were asked to choose my final meal, I think a Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagel would be on the menu. Yes…they are that exceptional!

So…let’s talk about what goes into Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels, shall we? I can tell you this…these won’t leave you feeling hungry an hour after you eat them. These bagels are made with REAL ingredients, not just fillers and rubish. That’s another great thing about Sweet Note Bagels…they make real food made with real ingredients. The Gluten Free Everything Bagels from Sweet Note are made with LOVE (Yes…really on the ingredient list!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic. These bagels, as mentioned above, are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

How about taking a look at the nutritional facts of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels? A serving size is one (1) bagel (135 grams). This serving will provide you with yumminess. Aside from that, you will be taking in 300 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans-fat, 0 grams cholesterol, 540 mg sodium, 63 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. See why you’ll feel so full and stay full? LOVE IT!

Let me tell you, there are few things that win me over as quickly as these bagels did. I am so grateful that Twitter drew Sweet Note Bagels to my blog on Canyon Bakehouse, and had them reach out to me about their product. Never before have I been so blown away by a product. Bagels…they are simple pleasures, but the bagels that Sweet Note Bagels makes are a gluten free treasure. Nothing else will stack up to these. I’m sure of it.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels with a schmear of Kite Hill Plain Vegan Cream Cheese Spread

June 19, 2015

Product review: Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread

Product: Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread – $5.99+

I’m always looking for good and healthy alternatives to the not-quite-so-healthy alternatives that I have to east since my body can’t really process the lactose in dairy. Dairy and I have all but broken up for the most part. It wasn’t an easy break-up either…but something had to give.

For awhile now, I’ve been purchasing vegan versions of cream cheese from Tofutti and Daiya. And these worked. They double as a cream cheese alternative, minus the actual dairy. Texture works. Tofutti tastes just like cream cheese. Daiya tastes like…Daiya…as pretty much all Daiya products do…but still amazing. These have been staples in my fridge since I found amazing gluten-free bagels (Udi’s, Canyon Bakehouse, and now Sweet Note) and have made a few attempts at making my own gluten free bagels.

But then…one day while in Whole Foods, I saw something new. Something…different.

Kite Hill was started due to a vision for a plant-based food that would have all the qualities we love in the best artisan dairy cheeses. Using simple ingredients and using traditional methods, Kite Hill has created artisan cheeses, yogurts, and cream cheeses that can all be incorporated into entrées and desserts. Created by a dedicated team with deep culinary, cheese-making, and scientific expertise, including Tal Ronnen, Monte Casino, Jean Prevot, Pat Brown, and Matthew Sade, Kite Hill has stepped up to the challenge to create a non-dairy cheese that met their high standards for quality. So often, vegan cheese tastes fake or plastic-like. After years of recipe testing and countless trials and errors to develop the perfect nut milk, cultures, and enzymes needed to create a worthy product, Kite Hill emerged on the market place.

And then…my weekly stop in at Whole Foods. I went early, because my allergen-free bakery wasn’t open yet. This allowed me time to sip on coffee from my local coffee shop and just roam, see what I normally would blow past because I was trying to miss the crowd or just in a hurry. There, over with the cheeses…I saw it. Kite Hill products galore. Something new!! Something vegan! Something I knew I wanted to try. I had places to be that day, though, so I couldn’t stock up. A few trips later, I still hadn’t tried it. So, one day, my roommate just surprised me with a container of the Kite Hill Cream Cheese Style Spread. I was SO excited. While there are two varieties (Plain and Chive), she had started with the plain…because…it’s the original. The classic.

I had to polish off the container of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese that was in the fridge before tackling this…but this morning, the packaging was ripped off. It was time to try Kite Hill for myself.

I had toasted up the amazing Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels (go to their Web site…order them…STAT!) this morning. And, in true New York Bagel style…I needed my hefty schmear of cream cheese on top of each half. I lifted the lid and pulled back the plastic, revealing this soft and creamy spread. I thought it looked a little more like ricotta cheese than cream cheese. I scooped up a serving size and placed some on my roommate’s bagel and then some on mine.

Moment of truth.

First of all…I loved how it was all light and fluffy. Straight out of the refrigerator, it was the perfect texture to immediately spread on the bagel. No need to battle it out with a knife. This was smooth as (dairy-free) butter. The texture was very ricotta cheese like. It had this faint bit of sweetness…almost like a cottage cheese, without all the gross lumpy bits. The flavor was very light…not quite like you expect cream cheese to taste…(Tofutti has honestly been the closest on the flavor that I have tried)…but it worked. It worked brilliantly. I fell in love with it at first bite. The smooth, light, airy texture was the perfect complement to a dense, New York style bagel. It was harmony on my breakfast plate. I don’t want to ever have another brand again. This was it for me. Pure love in every bagel-y bite. Not sweet, but not savory…a perfect balance.

One of the biggest draws to Kite Hill is their ingredient list. While Tofutti and Daiya both have a lot of added fillers like ground nut pastes, stabilizers and artificial ingredients to make their cheese-like products, Kite Hill’s cream cheese spread is made from a short list of real ingredients. We’re talking clean cheating…er…eating at it’s very best. Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread is made from almond milk (water, almonds), salt, enzyme, vinegar, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, and cultures. That’s it. It is soy-free, vegan, dairy-free, contains no saturated fat, trans-fat free, cholesterol free, and gluten-free. Is this love or is this love?

Yeah…love.

And I am also loving the nutrition facts as well. A serving size of Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread is 1 ounce (28 grams)…or about 2 tablespoons. There are 8 servings per container. One serving will provide you with 78 calories, 7 grams of fat (keep in mind this is made from almonds, so this is actually a healthy fat), 170 mg sodium, 2 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams dietary fiber, 0 grams of sugars, and 3 (yes…3!) grams of protein! When compared to the other, more commonly found, vegan cream cheeses out there…hands down, this one wins the nutrition and ingredient prize!

So, if you’re ready to turn your gluten-free bagel up to eleven…then you need to get to your local Whole Foods (yes…Kite Hill is only available at Whole Foods) and find this brand ASAP! Now that I’ve tried it, I can’t wait to taste the other cream cheese and artisan cheese offerings that Kite Hill has to offer. Beyond impressed. I’m completely converted. Forget the rest…Kite Hill is best.

Really…it is. But you should try it for yourself. So…go on…Whole Foods awaits.

Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread on Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels

June 18, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels

Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels – $7.25

Yep. This New Yorker has been introduced to a new gluten-free bagel. I had never, ever heard of Sweet Note Bagels before, until I got a response to a tweet on my blog on Canyon Bakehouse’s new bagels. It came from Sweet Note itself, telling me that if I liked Canyon Bakehouse, then I would love their bagels.

Being the investigative reporter that I am…(HEY! I have a B.A. in Journalism, thank you very much), I immediately Googled their Web site and began to poke around. Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

So…here I was…sitting at my desk, looking at these amazing photos online of these gluten-free bagels. I decided to throw caution (and my budget) to the wind and place an order, choosing four of the eight gluten-free bagel varieties that Sweet Note Bakery currently offers. I didn’t even hesitate to order, which is very unlike me, as I’ve been burned by gluten-free products before. But…this involved bagels…

It was important.

The bagels arrived two days later, and via the instructions in and on the box, I immediately froze them. I had some homemade bagels to use up before diving into these, but that occurred over the weekend. So, on Tuesday morning, after a morning at the gym, I returned home and pulled the Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels out (because you always start with the plain/original). The instructions that come in the box and on the packaging says not to thaw these to room temperature. This was certainly a different approach than how I normally do gluten-free bagels…but I obeyed. I plucked two bagels out of the package and tucked the remaining two back into the freezer. Then, each bagel got a 60 second meet-and-greet with the microwave. When they were removed, I did my best to slice them in half evenly. I admit, my bagel slicing skills will definitely need some work. I tossed these onto a baking sheet and into the oven to toast (I don’t own a toaster…that went away with my initial diagnosis, as my roommate was still eating regular bread and cross contamination was an issue…but since then, my kitchen went completely gluten-free) and went to get cleaned up for work. I returned and pulled these out of the oven, seeing the beautiful gold middles from the oven. I got the vegan cream cheese out of the refrigerator and applied a liberal schmear to each half. I served one bagel to my roommate and prepped my own, pouring a nice cup of coffee to enjoy with it.

Moment of truth.

For the first time…ever…someone finally got it right. Inside of each Sweet Note Bagel is the taste of a true New York Style bagel. From the size to the way it eats, you would be hard pressed to find someone who could immediately identify these bagels as gluten-free. First of all, forget the gigantor, plus-sized bagels on the market today. Sweet Note makes bagels the size they were intended to be, smaller, and more dense. That’s a true New York bagel. The average bagel 20 years ago was only 3 inches wide. Today, you’re looking at a 6 inch circumference. Is it any wonder we deal with an obesity epidemic in this country? So, returning to the authenticity of the true New York bagel, Sweet Note Bagels also achieve a perfectly crunchy crust and a chewy center.

My first bite brought back a wash of memories. These bagels are dense, chewy, crunchy and perfection. I loved sinking my teeth into each half, savoring the flavor, the way the crust would crumble and the middle would be soft, with a bit of melty vegan cream cheese. Heaven. Bagel heaven. I didn’t want breakfast to end. They say that it’s okay to have two…but I reigned myself in. There is nothing plain and simple about the Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels. They have extraordinary flavor for being the most basic bagel available. This leaves me looking forward to the other three flavors that are residing in my freezer.

For the record, my roommate has never really experienced the joy of a true New York Style bagel. She said she wasn’t used to the chewiness. Not a slam at all, because she devoured her bagel just as quickly as I did mine. She did get a bagel in New York City back in November, but she can’t remember much about it apparently. HA!

So…let’s talk about what goes into the Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels, shall we? These bagels are made from LOVE (yes…that is in the ingredient list!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan and gluten-free…yes, please. More of these!

Now, let’s look at the nutritional information. A serving size is one (1) of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels. This bagel will provide you with 300 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 340 mg sodium, 64 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugars, and 4 grams of protein. Yes…these bagels are filling, and that’s what I love about them. With other gluten-free bagels on the market, I am full for an hour, then hungry again. And I ate a six inch gluten-free bagel. It was made with filler more than real ingredients. And that makes a huge difference.

I will shout this from the highest mountain top, and throughout the realms of cyberspace. If you are like me, looking for an amazing bagel, but are confined to the gluten-free lifestyle…go over to Sweet Note Bakery‘s Web site and place an order for any (or all) of their eight varieties of bagels (Plain, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, Poppy, Sesame, Snickerdoodle, Pumpkin Spice, and Chocolate Swirl). For the record, I went with plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, and chocolate swirl to start…and that was without ever trying them before ordering). Trust me, there is only sheer awesomeness in each bite of these bagels. You will not be disappointed at all.

Sweet Note…thank you for introducing yourself to me via Twitter. Without your reaching out to me, I never would have known about your bagels…and now…I don’t think I can live without them.

Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels (toasted with a schmear of vegan cream cheese)

June 1, 2015

Product Review: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels

Product: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels – $5.00

A week ago, I wrote up a review about the newest product from Canyon Bakehouse. A product that made my native New Yorker heart skip a beat and, maybe, just maybe, made me shed a few tears…of foodie joy. We’re talking bagels. And while last week it was the new Plain Bagels from Canyon Bakehouse, this week we hit on a new high and a new favorite. And, yes, more tears of joy were shed. Not just because these gluten-free bagels are the best I’ve had so far, but because they hit on the essence of a New York bagel.

The Everything Bagel.

If you go to any bagel shop in New York City, you’re going to find the Everything Bagel on the menu. And for good reason. It was invented in New York City. And, even better, it’s the perfect bagel flavor. It has, as the name says, a little of everything.

And it has always been my favorite.

Most gluten-free bagels out on the market have never met my high bagel standards. Come on, I’m from New York…and going gluten free was hard enough, but don’t insult me with a poorly made gluten-free bagel. Udi’s was the closest I ever got, and they recently released an “Everything Inside” version of the Everything Bagel. It was close…but it wasn’t a true Everything Bagel. I want that crumbly topping on the bagel itself. Make it more real. Make it more…like the original.

Unfamiliar with the Everything Bagel? Well, the basic information is these bagels appeared in New York back in the 1970s-1980s. They are basically a bagel that is topped with all the different topping varieties that are normally found on bagels. It is basically traditional to see a combination of seeds and dried herbs, with the most commonly used being poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion, garlic, salt, and even caraway seeds. They are incredible.

So, yeah, when I received my box of gluten-free bagels from Canyon Bakehouse, which I ordered, and I could smell the garlic, I knew this was going to be a treat. And, I was not let down. I used the Plain bagels first, which from a previous blog, you realize were amazing to me and my bagel-loving self. Oh. My. GOD!

I think people would be hard-pressed to identify these as being gluten-free, they are that close to the real thing. The right amount of chewy on the inside, crunchy on the outside. Dense without being overly dense (texture and feel…not mentally…just clarifying that!). They smelled amazing as they toasted up in my oven on both Monday and Friday this week. And I was sad that today marked the end of the ones I ordered, though I feel the need to hop over to the Canyon Bakehouse Web site and order MORE!! ALL THE BAGELS!

So, let me explain. Everything Bagels are THE BOMB! And these are the GLUTEN FREE BOMB!! I love, love, love, love these. I love how the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Bagels are sliced ALL the way through for ease in halving them for toasting. I love how the inner part of the breading is soft and chewy. I love how the outside is golden and gets crunchy with the toasting. I love the variety of seasonings that they managed to put on the outside of the bagel, making to seem more like the original thing. I love how well this paired with my Daiya Chives and Onion Cream Cheese Style Spread. I loved the flavor. WOW…the seasoning was amazing. The right hit of everything. Toasting each half only brings out those flavors more. They are soft, yet dense, yet satisfying. I don’t know if I’ll ever meet a bagel that surpasses the way this one tastes. I felt like I was back in New York, just having a typical breakfast morning. Sipping coffee. Reading. Enjoying my bagel. And, it is the perfect size and shape. NO one would know it was gluten-free. But it is. And I am in love. Madly, deeply in love.

Oh, Canyon Bakehouse…thank you!

Okay, so, we’ve established my undying appreciation and love for these bagels. Now let’s discuss what goes into making them so amazing. The Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels are made from water, tapioca flour, brown rice flour, potato starch, cultured brown rice flour, extra virgin olive oil, organic agave syrup, dehydrated onion, dehydrated garlic, whole grain sorghum flour, xanthan gum, egg whites, baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, potato flour, mono calcium phosphate), poppy seeds, sunflower seeds, yeast, sea salt, sesame seeds, and natural enzymes. These bagels are made with 100% whole grains, are gluten-free, and kosher. OH…and DELICIOUS!

As far as nutrition goes, the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels impressed me with their nutrition facts. A serving is 1 bagel (99 grams). In this 1 bagel, you will be taking in 250 calories, 5 grams fat, 420 mg sodium, 46 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber, and 4 grams of protein. These bagels are cholesterol free. The Everything Bagels will fill you up without filling you up. That’s the best part. The nice balance of fiber and protein makes for a filling breakfast. And, if you are lactose intolerant like me, I highly recommend the Daiya Chives & Onion cream cheese style spread. YUMMY!

If you are like me, a bagel fanatic, and you’ve felt like a good, amazing gluten-free bagel has been missing from your life. Go over to the Canyon Bakehouse Web site…or check your local food stores that carry Canyon Bakehouse products and find these amazing breakfast morsels and ENJOY!! Honestly, I’ll never go back to Udi’s again!

Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Everything Bagels with a schmear of Daiya Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Style Spread

May 15, 2015

Product Review: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Plain Bagels

Product: Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Plain Bagels – $5.00

Twas the day of a new product release and I was just sort of…scrolling through Facebook…completely unaware that such a thing was happening. And then, one of my latest obsessions in the gluten-free bread world hit me up with the one thing that I, as a New Yorker, cannot ignore.

BAGELS!

GLUTEN-FREE BAGELS!!

Do you know how hard it is to find GOOD gluten-free bagels? Immensely. Seriously. They are either too small and dense, or too light and fluffy. Or they just taste all wrong. As far as commercially available gluten-free bagels go, after trial and error on so many brands, Udi’s is the only one ever to keep me coming back. The rest were just so many kinds of wrong in texture, flavor, or just feel. Not saying that Udi’s is spot on either. They are a little light in the middle, because, bagels are supposed to be dense and awesome. I took to making my own…and that’s fine…but it’s a lot of work and sometimes it doesn’t always work out as planned.

So, yeah, I sort of released a few cries of joy and immediately went over tot the Canyon Bakehouse Web site to order the latest products they were introducing to the gluten-free market. I skipped the Brownie Bites (for now) and ordered one pack each of the new Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Plain Bagels and Everything Bagels.

HELLO. GOOD MORNING.

They arrived via Fed Ex yesterday afternoon, so I have wasted no time in getting these tasted, tried and reviewed.

This morning, after my spin class, I came home to load up two of the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Plain Bagels into my oven (I do not own a toaster…so this is how we roll in my apartment), went to shower while they toasted, and came out to find them just about ready for the vegan cream cheese!

Life…was good. Almost perfect. Coffee was poured. Bagels were toasted. And the (Better Than) Cream Cheese (non-dairy for my delicate tummy) was spread on each half. I passed the first bagel off to my roommate and then went to retrieve mine, after taking a few moments to simply wash out a few containers and the coffee pot. Time to settle in. Breakfast.

And good morning indeed! Canyon Bakehouse just won my little bagel loving heart. FINALLY…something so close!! SO darn close that I fanned my hand in front of my face as I slowly chewed my first bite. Now, I’ve had gluten-free bagels from NYC specialty bakeries. And these…are nothing like those. But these…these stand out in the gluten-free world for items you can buy in grocery stores and the like. TOTALLY WOWED!!

Before toasting, Canyon Bakehouse have a nice, hefty feel to them. They are pre-cut…all the way through so I’m not tearing at to edges (such is the case with Udi’s). The insides have this amazing looking center, small hole, and a big, crusty, outside to it. It felt like a real bagel. It even looked like a real bagel.

I took my first bite…and it tasted like a real bagel. Yes. I was beyond elated. I loved how the outside was crispy, without being hard. It had some give to it still, and gave way to the perfect, tasted, but still tender bread in the middle. Oh…my…freakin’…gluten…free…bagel. These have an actual bagel taste to them too…not just tasting like…well…gluten free bread. I love the texture and the flavor (yeah…this was the Plain, but still!). Nothing plain about the taste of these. Really phenomenal taste and totally filling. Just as a bagel should be. I felt content. I felt loved. I felt…full…but in a good way. The best way. The “I just consumed something mighty and gluten free and I loved every bite of it so much I might have devoured it faster than I should have but that’s okay!” kind of way. I can’t wait to try the Everything Bagel version as Everything Bagels have always been my most favorite bagels. Remember…I’m a New Yorker.

So, let’s talk ingredients that go into the Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Plain Bagels. These amazing breakfast rounds of starchy, carby goodness are made from water, tapioca flour, brown rice flour, potato starch, cultivated brown rice flour, extra virgin olive oil, organic agave syrup, whole grain sorghum flour, xanthan gum, egg whites, baking powder, yeast, sea salt, and natural enzymes. These bagels are gluten-free (of course), kosher, and non-GMO. They are also cholesterol free and free of trans-fats. YAY! Even better, they are made with 100% whole grains. LOVE IT.

Now, let’s delve into the nutritional facts for these bagels. A serving size is 1 bagel (99 grams), and there are 4 bagels per package. One serving will provide you with 250 calories and 6 grams of fat. You will also be consuming 450 mg sodium, 45 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber, and 3 grams of protein. Trust me, for a bagel this is phenomenal. And, these nutrition facts beat out those of Udi’s Gluten Free Plain and (for those who do eat gluten) a Panera Bread Plain Bagel in everything but protein. Healthier. Canyon Bakehouse has definitely built a better bagel.

And yeah…I’m totally purchasing more of these. My freezer will not be complete without a package of these tucked inside for those mornings when only a bagel will do. These bagels make me feel right at home. And that, my friends, says a lot.

Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Plain Bagels with a schmear of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese

April 14, 2015

Product Review: Nuttzo Original Crunchy Seven Nut & Seed Butter

Product: Nuttzo Original Crunchy Seven Nut & Seed Butter – $12.99+

When it comes to food, nothing completes me more than any sort of nut butter. Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter (technically, not a nut butter…but close enough!), etc. I love them. Give me any flavor (add in honey, chocolate, coconut) too. I love it. It is, perhaps, my ultimate comfort and snack food. When I’m stressed out, I just want a spoon and the nearest container of peanut butter. No joke.

For awhile now, I’ve noticed and heard of a brand of nut butter that contains seven different nuts and seeds. Needless to say, I knew a few people who swore by this stuff. Loved this stuff. And…as chance would have it…I found this stuff at my local Whole Foods Market.

Problem…it was between $12.99 – $17.99 a jar. And, as much as I love nut butters…even I couldn’t justify spending that much on a simple (seven variety) peanut butter. As much as it intrigued me.

Until…it went on sale. Granted, the original crunchy is in the lower end ($12.99) regular price, but it was on sale for $9.99 one day I was in Whole Foods. I still have money on a gift card I received for Christmas (best gift ever!), so I figured…why not? I wouldn’t find it any cheaper. I made my purchase and never felt one iota of remorse. YAY! Expensive peanut butter. Now I’m living large.

So what is it about Nuttzo? Nuttzo is a gourmet nut and seed butter that, each variety, contains seven different nuts and seeds. It is billed as the healthiest and most unique super-butter on the planet. They have three different flavors…available in the crunchy and smooth varieties: original, power fuel with chia, and Peruvian dark chocolate. Said to be, perhaps, the next big next big thing in nut butter. They are easy to spot too…standing upside down on the shelf. Why upside down? Because they are a little “nuttzo.” Heh. Actually, it’s because all the oils that naturally separate in natural peanut butters will now be at the bottom of the jar and not the top. Open it without the mess. YAY! All of the Nuttzo flavors and products are 100% organic, contain no added sugars or oils, are high in healthy fats and protein, contain flax in every flavor for your daily Omega 3 ALA’s, are gluten-free certified, non-GMO certified, and kosher certified.

I love it already. Good to know there are ways for a gluten-free. dairy-free, vegetarian to get those important Omega 3’s.

So, while the price had me doubting my purchase…on Sunday, I needed a light lunch (as I had made an epic breakfast and would be making an epic dinner!), so my roommate suggested open face peanut butter sandwiches. I said, “Should we try the expensive peanut butter?” She said that it had to happen sometime. So…down from the top shelf of the pantry my jar of Nuttzo Original Crunchy Seven Nut & Seed Butter came. I flipped the jar over, opened it up, looked inside and the chunky, nutty and seedy goodness, and gave it a swirl. I doled up spoonfuls for my roomie and I to “sample” while I put a schmear of it on two pieces of gluten-free toast.

My roomie thought the honey I was going to drizzle on top would make it better. Me…I was quite happy with all the different things going on in the Nuttzo. I love smooth peanut butter, but chunky peanut butter…that’s another level. And this…this is the supreme being…the god of all crunchy and chunky nut butters. You actually have, swimming in this smooth sea of nutty goodness, chunks of cashews and peanuts and the other nuts (which I will get to), not to mention flax seeds and sunflower seeds, just adding to the texture. Happy day. I loved it straight off the spoon. I loved it spread across a toasted slice of gluten-free bread. I loved it driizzled with honey. The only thing I don’t love about it is the steep price tag. But with all those expensive nuts and seeds inside…I can see why that’s the case. It just means that if I decide to splurge on nut butter…it will happen only once or twice a year. This stuff is fantastic…but it is pricey. Like…I could buy 13 individual cups of Greek yogurt for the price of one jar of this nut butter. Is it worth it…yeah. I think it is. I mean, what’s not to love about something that excites your palate and is smooth and chunky and gritty and rich and tasty and just everything you want from a nut butter all in one? Absolute nothing. Except Nuttzo.

Granted…I have a great Vitamix now. I can probably make this myself for a lot less…but sometimes…convenience wins out.

Let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? With nut butters you usually have 1 to 2 ingredients. Well, if you buy organic and natural, like I do. This is that…but loaded with nuts and seeds. In fact, the Nuttzo Original Crunchy Seven Nut & Seed Butter is made up of organic peanuts, organic cashews, organic almonds, organic flax seeds, organic brazil nuts, organic hazelnuts, organic sunflower seeds, sea salt. LOTS of flavorful nuts and seeds…all that give it this fantastic flavor, sweetness, and texture. All without adding unnecessary things like sugar. LOVE!!

As far as nutrition information goes, this is one very super-nutritious, high protein, amazing nut butter. One serving, of the Nuttzo Original Crunchy Seven Nut & Seed Butter is 2 tablespoons. This serving will provide you with 180 calories, 16 grams (healthy) fat, 70 mg sodium, 7 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram sugar, 3 grams fiber, and 7 grams of protein. Like I said…powerhouse. This nut butter, for someone with my dietary restrictions, is definitely worth the cost. Heck, it’s worth it’s weight in gold!!

Love comes in so many different forms. When you’re an athlete with food allergies, sometimes love is as simple as a jar of expensive nut butter called Nuttzo. I might be “Nuttzo” for being willing to pay for said nut and seed butter, but this gives me so many nutrients in just a serving that I think it’s worth it. Bought it on a whim, scoffed a little at the price, loved it when I tried it…now…completely obsessed. It’s hidden so I just don’t take a spoon and eat the entire jar. Because, trust me, it would happen.

January 31, 2015

Product Review: SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter

Product: SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter – $5.00+

I am an athlete. I’m also a vegetarian. And this means that I often search for foods that are nutrient dense and provide a good hit of protein, healthy fats, and energy. One of my favorite go-to foods has always been peanut butter. I have absolutely no willpower when it comes to peanut butter. And, thankfully, I do not have a food allergy to nuts. Whew. I grew up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or fluffernutters. I put peanut butter on celery sticks with raisins. I eat peanut butter pancakes. I love, love, love peanut butter. In fact, I have my own jar which, when I am feeling down, I often raid with a spoon and try to not eat the whole thing in one sitting. It’s happened. It is my favorite comfort food. In texture, taste (sweet and salty)…I have never met a peanut butter that I don’t like.

And, a couple years ago, I went to the good stuff. Yes…peanut butter that is made strictly from nuts. No added sugars, oils, or anything. Yes, this does mean I have to stir the jar when I open it…but then I just flip it upside down and store it in the refrigerator. It’s a great arm workout to say the least and worth it when I churn out gorgeous, creamy peanut butter at the end of it. And, it stays creamy in the fridge without getting too solid to spread. If I am going to have a go-to comfort food like peanut butter, by God, it’s going to have as few ingredients in it as humanly possible.

It just so happened that when Cuisine Cube sent out their September Cube (aka: Back To School), there was a jar of SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter included. I was elated. No…really. This is how much I love nut butters. And, while technically, this is not a nut butter…it’s the same concept. And I was just all awash with happiness because…when it comes to favorite things…nut/seed butters rank right up there in my life. When a little jar of delicious nut/seed butter arrives at my doorstep…you best believe a happy dance ensued.

For those of you new to my blog…let me briefly tell you about the amazing service that Cuisine Cube offers. Cuisine Cube is a service that was developed by foodies, bringing small and local artisan gluten free products to your house. The items we can find in the grocery store are all fine and good, but often so processed and laden with food additives and subpar ingredients. This small group of food enthusiasts set out to find better products for those of us in the gluten-free world. Based out of New York City, a food haven for sure, the ‘little guy’ products can be hard to find and might even require a trip to a specialty store. But not anymore, because these awesome and amazing brands are now being sent to you on a monthly basis, with plans starting as low as $29.99. That’s a great deal, considering you get at least 5 products (a breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert) in each cube, and occasionally, you get an extra product thrown in. Seriously…if it wasn’t worth it, I wouldn’t still be doing it. I have experienced so much more from the gluten-free world due to Cuisine Cube…discovering and being introduced to brands and businesses I never would have known about otherwise.

So, when I dug into my Back To School (aka: September) Cube, I was greeted with a plethora of amazing products, that are also very good for people with kids going back to school. I have no children, but that didn’t deter me any. Nope. And, finally this week, when I opened up the Alce Nero Gallette di Riso Integrale (Rice Cakes), I had a perfect vehicle for the SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter. Everything falls into place so nicely, doesn’t it? So, the other day, I dished out 2 tablespoons of the seed butter to take to work with me to spread onto my rice cakes…

…I knew I loved nut and seed butters…but SuperButter just took it to a whole new level. FANTASTIC!! SUPERB!! I fell in love at first taste, which might have been straight out of the jar. And it might have been followed by a few more tastings before I had to give into my willpower and put it away. This is the best seed butter I have ever tasted. And as someone with a nephew who has a nut allergy, I have tried many of the seed butter options out there. They have all been decent enough, but never this fantastic. SuperButter is packed with the best flavor and texture. I credit this to the roasted seeds that go into the making of this butter, and the creaminess that emerges. Silky and smooth. Even with the added sesame and flax seeds for the crunch factor in this variety, it was just smooth. No grittiness. Just…SuperYum! I may sneak tastes out of the jar when I duck into the kitchen. That might not be a maybe…I actually do that. SO amazing and delicious. It has been awhile since a simple product has knocked me for a loop like this, but WOW. I have heard that GNC sells this in their stores. I’m going to have to stop in and find out.

SuperButter is available in a variety of flavors, including: Crunchy Original (the one I received), Creamy Original, Creamy Vanilla Bean, and Creamy Chocolate. SuperButter is made from real, whole ingredients, as nothing artificial is permitted. Everything starts with the roasted seeds for the base, then they sweeten the deal with cane sugar, smooth it out with palm oil, and season it up with some sea salt. It doesn’t get much better than that, right? Oh…it might…

Let’s talk about ingredients, shall we? The SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter is made from roasted sunflower, sesame and flax Seeds, cane sugar, palm oil, and sea salt. SuperButter is high in protein, fiber and antioxidants (omega 3’s and vitamin E). They are gluten-free, trans-fat free, and cholesterol free. And, they contain less fat than regular peanut or nut butters. How do you love that? I love that…just from the aspect that I overindulge in nut butters ALL the time. If I can do it without packing on the fat that comes with it…even better.

Made from real, whole ingredients – no artificial anything is permitted. Roasted sunflower, flax and sesame seeds comprise the flavorful base, with a little cane sugar, palm oil and sea salt added for maximum deliciousness!

As for nutrition, a serving of SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter is 2 tablespoons. In this serving, you will be devouring a delicious 200 calories and 16 grams of fat. Don’t worry…this is actually the good kind of fat. Everything in moderation…right? YES! One serving will also provide 65 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. In addition, you’ll be filled up with goodness with the hearty 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein that are provided. And I absolutely love the sesame and flax seeds that are mixed in to bring that crunch factor in. SO good.

I don’t think I ever would have known that something like SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter existed if not for Cuisine Cube. Yet another reason that this is such a worthwhile and amazing subscription service. I am on the hunt for more SuperButter now locally…and if I can’t find it, I am totally hitting up their Web site to order it myself. Because, honestly, no lie…the jar is already almost empty. So much for self-control and willpower!

SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter (on a gluten-free rice cake) — SuperButter Original Crunchy Seed Butter (on Alce Nero Gallette di Riso Integrale (rice cake)

January 22, 2015

Product Review: Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Agave Grain Flatbread

Product: Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Agave Grain Flatbread – $3.99+

Sometimes…the world is made for more than just gluten-free sandwich bread. The problem is…not only is a good and delicious gluten free sandwich bread sometimes hard to come by…so is an alternative. For some, gluten-free isn’t just a dietary choice, it is a necessity. No cheating allowed or bad things happen. Very, very bad things.

Back before my initial diagnosis, however, I had found a new love for making wraps. Yes…wraps. And one of the best options out on the market were these low-calorie wraps called…Sandwich Thins. Ah, the days of making sandwiches and pizzas and other things using Flat-Out Sandwich Wraps. I loved them. I used them a lot. But, when I was diagnosed as a Celiac, at first I refused to spend an ungodly amount of money on sandwich bread…and when I finally decided I couldn’t live my life without sandwiches…I had to find a good one to use. When I narrowed that down to a few different brands to choose from (since one would usually be on sale at some point at one of the 9 stores I would visit)…I resigned myself that if I wanted anything apart from regular sandwiches…I’d have to use gluten-free corn tortillas. And that…just seemed wrong.

Since then, however, a few companies, including Rudi’s Gluten-Free and Udi’s Gluten-Free have released tortillas and wraps that make great substitutes. But, they just weren’t the same as my Flat-Out Sandwich Wraps from my past. It was sad for this gluten-free foodie, for sure.

But then, I took a journey to Boulder, Colorado and just happened to be killing time on a Sunday morning, waiting for some stores to open, perusing the aisles of a local natural food store. I wasn’t planning on shopping for food items. After all, these had to make the journey back to Indiana with me. But, alas…when I’m not looking is when I find something. And this time, this something was – SANDWICH PETALS! In three flavors, even. These reminded me so much (in shape and feel) of the Flat-Out Sandwich Wraps I had given up…that I had to have them. So, all three flavors were purchased and made the journey home. The Spinach Garlic flavor was the first to disappear.

This time…as I was making a simple vegetable wrap for dinner, I opted for the “original” version…the Agave Grain flavor of Sandwich Petals.

Sandwich Petals are aptly named because, well, they are shaped like a flower petal. Or a football. Or, perhaps, a combination of the two. Regardless, they are oblong, narrower at the top and slightly wider around the middle. They are easy enough to prepare too. Just prep your filling, and then wrap a single Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petal in damp paper towels. Microwave for 30 seconds. And you’re good to go. When you first take the petals out of the resealable package, they are rather stiff and stale feeling. But when you warm them up in the damp paper towel, they do get slightly more pliable and flexible. Enough that you can roll them up and make them functional to say the least. So…it would do. I warmed mine up, gave each petal a schmear of sun-dried tomato hummus, then packed it with kale, spinach, greens, yellow peppers, sliced onion, carrots, and a bit of avocado. Do not attempt to actually be able to roll these up into a wrap if you do fill it like an actual wrap should be filled. That doesn’t work with these wraps. But, you can go “taco-style” with them. It will be messy…but it works. And that’s exactly how it was for the past two nights.

The Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petals were actually sweet. Which…was weird when paired with the vegetables. At least I thought so. A little bit of sweetness is fine, but this was an odd sweetness that just didn’t work in tandem with the rest of the insides. This one, as I found out this morning when I paired this wrap instead with a banana, some melted peanut butter, and a bit of gluten-free chocolate chip granola, worked best as a dessert base, or wrap for something with a bit more sweetness. While not off-putting, it was just…different. But, ah well. If you warm up the Agave Grain Sandwich Petal and don’t build and consume your wrap immediately, leave it within the damp paper towel…or your wrap does stiffen up and harden back up a little. While it still is good, it’s just not as nice as a soft and pliable wrap that sandwich wraps are associated with. These were good…but not “knock-my-socks-off” fantastic. I don’t know if I would seek out this particular flavor again…unless wanting to make a sweet wrap or something that included cinnamon and sugar and chocolate and all that stuff. The sweetness just seems to work better with that sort of a filling. Not bad. But…not my favorite either. I reserve the right to be a bit picky when it comes to the short supply of gluten-free options out there. Wow me! That’s how you win me.

Hummus and Veggie Wrap made with Sandwich Petals Gluten Free Agave Grain Flatbread

The Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petals are gluten free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, egg free, non-GMO, and diabetic smart. These flatbreads are made with 10 gluten free ancient grains, contain omega 3’s, prebiotics (which aid in a healthy digestive system – very important for Celiacs, indeed!), are versatile, don’t have to be frozen, are virtually allergen free, and are heart healthy! The Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petals are made from GluTenFree Gluten-Free Proprietary blend of milled and whole grains (including: corn, flax, sesame, buckwheat, brown rice, sorghum, millet, quinoa, teff, and amaranth), water, organic agave nectar, tapioca starch, raisin juice, molasses, short chain fructooligosaccharides, xanthan gum, dicalcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, fumaric acid, sodium propionate, and sorbic acid. I know…those last few sound rather…processed, yes? Yeah…I agree. But…gluten-free flatbreads/wraps are important to at least try! Even if you’re trying to do more clean eating.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving of the Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Petals is 1 wrap. This 1 petal will provide you with 100 calories and only 1 gram of fat. Theses petals do not have any trans fat or cholesterol. One of these wraps will give you 120 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. Considering these are sweeter than the other version I tried, I think that’s not a bad number on the sugar. One of these wraps will also serve up 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. So, yes…they are filling, but they won’t leave you feeling like a glutton or as though you have eaten too much. Even when stuffed full of whatever fillings you want, be it sweet, savory, a protein, or just vegetables.

I have yet to find Sandwich Petals anywhere in the stores I live near or in this area of the country. However, if you are curious about them, you can order them on the Sandwich Petals page…here! I was certainly a bigger fan of the Spinach Garlic version of these gluten-free tortillas, but the Agave Grain version wasn’t too bad itself. If these were readily available in my area, I would definitely consider using them in other ways. If you like a kick of sweetness in each bite…or are looking for a dessert wrap of some sort, this would be the wrap for you. These wraps, I will say, do not distract from whatever filling you do put inside, though. Even if it has a sweetness in the aftertaste. I love having different options when I’m preparing a sandwich without making a standard sandwich with gluten-free bread. While the Gluten Free Agave Grain Sandwich Wraps were not my favorite of the two versions (of three) that I have tried…they weren’t horrible either. Just choose your use wisely with these. To me…until this morning’s breakfast creation…these ones just fell a bit…flat.

Breakfast Banana, Peanut Butter, and Granola Wrap using Sandwich Petals Agave Grain Flatbread

September 8, 2014

Product Review: Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins

Product: Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins – $5.29+

Some mornings, it’s easy to decide what to make for breakfast. Other mornings, I have way too much going on to make something great and elaborate. These are the mornings that the gluten-free toast and gluten-free bagels usually rear their heads. And yes, I am certainly aware of the “good carbs vs. bad carbs” argument when it comes to breakfast foods and how you start your day. But…with a strict budget and, honestly, the need for something quick that doesn’t take a lot of time some mornings…I have to do what fits into my mornings.

I don’t feel guilty about it. An egg scramble isn’t hard, but to not overcook the eggs, it can take awhile. Where as something like a gluten-free bagel or a couple slices of gluten-free toast can toast up while I take a quick shower, having just returned home from my early morning spin class or from doing laps in the pool. Regardless…some mornings, it’s what has to be done.

So, this morning, despite having some gluten-free bagels in my freezer, I reached for something that I had been wanting to try for a very long time.

And if you read the subject of this post, you already know that I’m talking about Glutino’s Gluten Free Original English Muffins.

After my local Whole Foods stopped carrying the LivWell brand of English Muffins that I fell in love with…and since Katz Gluten Free requires an online order…it was nice to be able to duck into one of my local grocery stores/natural food stores and pick these up out of the freezer section. I did a bit of a double-take, I admit, when I first purchased them, as they are a bit of a yellow-orange color in the packaging. Odd. But, it didn’t deter me from buying them. Nope. So, purchase made, they found their way to my freezer, I found myself out of town and using up other products that needed using…until this morning.

After that morning spin class I previously mentioned, I drove home, turned on the oven and put the two Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins onto a baking sheet. I had left them in a Ziploc bag to thaw while I was gone. I handed my roommate her bowl of cereal, put the English Muffins into the oven and went to take a quick shower. They could cook without me needing to babysit them. I was all about that for sure! Makes for an easy breakfast that can be done while I am doing something else. I love to be able to multitask.

So, after I was dressed and ready for work, I made my way back out to the kitchen, where the Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins were still happily toasting away. I pulled down some plates and got out the Earth Balance spread and some blueberry jam (made from real fruit only!). I checked on the English muffins and they were almost to that perfect golden toasty color. So, I got out the butter knife and then grabbed the hot pad holder to remove them from the oven. They looked perfect. I slathered each half of the Glutino Original English Muffins with Earth Balance spread and then…topped that with the most perfect schmear of blueberry jam. It looked heavenly and I was already anticipating my very first bite.

I picked up my plate and settled in for breakfast. I lifted the English muffin and took my very first bite.

I was anticipating something that was heavy and dense and just…not what an English muffin should be. But I was wrong. I was definitely wrong. The Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins actually were quite light. The toasted areas had this nice crispiness to them, but the inner layer was soft and light. I loved that it wasn’t dense. I loved that it felt like I was eating a normal English muffin. In fact, the powdery cornmeal dusted on top helped add to that illusion too. I was loving every bite. And it paired so well with the classic toppings of butter and jam. It was pure breakfast perfection. And now that they were toasted, that strange color didn’t look so scary anymore. I happily noshed away on my entire English muffin, wanting to savor, but not wanting it to get cold either. I found the perfect balance, enjoying every bite and commenting on just how surprised I was by the taste and texture. These were, for sure, a winner!

The Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins are made from water, corn starch, tapioca starch, skim milk powder, corn flour, egg whites, can sugar, canola oil, salt, cellulose gum, yeast, baking powder, gluconon-delta-lactone, pectin, sodium bicarbonate, sodium alginate, modified cellulose, corn meal, iron, nacin, tracalcium phosphate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, and riboflavin. Yes…I am aware of how chemically some of those ingredients sound. And that word modified is a bit of a bother. It’s sad…because, if you’re like me and actually care about that sort of thing…it sort of lessens my excitement for these breakfast treats.

A serving of the Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins is one English muffin. This one English muffin will provide your body with 170 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. I think that’s freakin’ fantastic. A serving also provides 440 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. Not bad for a bready breakfast item. These English muffins are also cholesterol free. And, finally, this serving will give you less than 1 gram of filling fiber and only 4 grams of protein. So, this is why I paired it with a bowl of cereal…because otherwise, I’d be starving within an hour. It will not leave you feeling full for very long, that’s for sure.

Regardless, I am a huge fan of the Glutino Gluten Free Original English Muffins. Great flavor, great taste, great texture…which means I’ll treat myself to them every now and again. Because, on some mornings, sometimes the only thing you want is an English muffin. And when, normally, due to Celiac or gluten intolerance, this isn’t something that can happen on a regular basis…this is a nice treat indeed. I highly recommend these English muffins. In fact, I even think people who can eat Thomas’ English Muffins would appreciate these as well. There…I said it.

Put it to the test. For me…no need. I’m in love. I’m in love all over again with breakfast. Thank you, once more, for another fantastic product, Glutino. Thank you.