Sweet Stuff – Page 13 – The Celiathlete

March 23, 2015

Product Review: Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes

Dr. Praeger's Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes — Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes

Product: Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes – $4.99+

You might be able to tell that I’m on a bit of a sweet potato kick. And who can blame me? Sweet potatoes are nutritional powerhouses. I mean, this one food is an excellent source of B6 vitamins and potassium, but in addition to that, you will be provided with over 400% of your daily needs for Vitamin A and 37% Vitamin C. Sweet potatoes are a great source of beta-carotene, which has been shown to reduce risk of developing certain types of cancer, offers protection against asthma and heart disease as well. Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite plant powerhouses when it comes to foods I consume often.

While I love to incorporate baked sweet potatoes into recipes or stuff them with healthy avocado and some onion and eat them fresh out of the oven…I recently found my stash of frozen sweet potato pancakes in my freezer. I knew they were there, I just made no effort to actually pull them out to eat. Go figure. But with a lack of fresh produce coming in from my bin these last couple of weeks, I have been doing some slimming down on what I have in my pantry and my fridge and freezer. Last week, I ate a different variety of sweet potato pancakes, more like the familiar pancakes I would settle in to at breakfast.

And that’s one of the first things I noticed about the Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes from Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods. They look more like hash browns than your breakfast pancakes. Which, is fine by me, for sure. While I liked the Julian’s Recipe version, I found that they tasted a bit…odd. But that wasn’t the case with the ones from Dr. Praeger’s.

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods began in 1994, when a New Jersey cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Peter Praeger, and his medical partner, Dr. Eric Somberg, helped keep a family business alive by purchasing Ungar’s Gefilte Fish, a popular kosher food company within the Jewish community. The two doctors set out on a mission – to introduce people to nutritious food that actually tasted great. They opted to keep the Ungar’s brand, but also developed Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods to include all natural and convenient (and wow…they are convenient!) frozen products that could appeal and draw in a wider consumer based. This family owned and operated company has grown into a leader in the all-natural, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher frozen food categories, with products ranging from veggie burgers to home-style veggie cakes, to breaded fish items, and veggie-packed goodies for children too in their “Kid’s Littles” line, and many more options. The Dr. Praeger’s items are found in the frozen or ethnic foods section of most retailers, but certainly in most natural food stores.

I’m quite familiar with the Dr. Praeger’s brand. In fact, I have enjoyed some of the Kid’s Littles (hey…I’m a kid at heart!) and have tried the veggie burgers as well…and have loved everything I have tried. But, I won’t lie…I was beyond intrigued by the Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes when I spotted them at Whole Foods awhile back. This morning, as I was packing like a wild woman to head out to New York City for some birthday shenanigans with my roommate (her birthday is tomorrow), as well as a possible race (depending on my hip), I needed something that would be filling, yet easy to prepare. I hit up my pantry, but all the mixes just seemed time consuming. My freezer was next, and the final bit of breakfast-like food (hey…pancakes are pancakes…even if they are savory!) caught my attention when I spotted the white box for Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes. SCORE!

I pulled out four of the individually wrapped pancakes (think of a large hash brown, and you get the basic size and thickness of these pancakes) and placed them on a baking sheet. I put them into an oven set at 450°F and baked them for about 5 minutes before turning them over and baking them for another 4 minutes, or until they began to brown. Simple and something that I honestly didn’t need to babysit. I just had to check in every few minutes to make sure I wasn’t burning them. That gave me some time to throw things into a suitcase…HA. Granted, I should have done that the night before…but I was busy watching Star Trek – The Original Series. Priorities.

So…first of all…these aren’t your typical pancakes that you might imagine drowning in maple syrup and devouring for breakfast. Nope. They aren’t thin and light and look like something you cooked up in a skillet that morning. Like I said…these will remind you of a hash brown. And they are hearty and thick just like hash browns too. Seriously. These are amazing. I loved these more than the previous round of sweet potato pancakes (savory and more of the breakfast pancake type) that I had last week. These are actually perfect for a healthy snack, a light meal, or a side dish. Honestly. But mine…mine were going to be breakfast for my roommate and I. And after I had them baked up, I served them up with some marshmallow fluff (which I toasted with my kitchen torch) and some roasted almonds on top. I served them up and settled in for breakfast before finishing up my packing that morning.

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes are AMAZING. Hearty and healthy is one thing, but these also tasted amazing. These are made from real food and real ingredients, so nothing tasted off or weird when I dove into these. I sort of wish I cooked them up with some scrambled eggs and topped them off with a bit of ketchup, but I still have two more pancakes in order to do that with. So it’s all good. These have great sweet potato flavor and tasted really good the way I dressed them up. But when I sampled a piece on its own, that amazing sweet potato flavor just came through. And that was what I wanted. Honest. Real. Healthy. Food. A sophisticated hash brown masquerading as a pancake. I LOVE IT! And I loved these. I sort of want to stock my freezer with them for future use. Seriously. If you want an easy and go-to option for your clean eating diet. THIS…would be my suggestion.

Let’s discuss ingredients. Real ingredients and real food is what you’ll find in Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes. These delightful disks of goodness are made from sweet potatoes, egg whites, potato flakes, expeller pressed canola oil, brown sugar, arrowroot, and salt. That’s it. Amazing. Clean eating in your freezer! These potato pancakes are gluten-free, kosher, dairy-free, cholesterol-free, non-GMO, and free from saturated fat and trans fats.

As far as nutrition goes…these are little pancakes of power. The nutrition stats on the Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes wowed me and they will wow you too. A serving is 1 pancake, but my roommate and I each had 2 this round as it was breakfast. One pancake will serve you up 80 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. One sweet potato pancake will also give you 120 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. One serving also provides you with 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein…so filling without being too filling. Double it to two pancakes, and you’ll be full until lunch time. Trust me. I know I am.

I was completely impressed with and blown away by Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pancakes. I’m not kidding when I saw these will find their way back into my freezer. Honestly, they were beyond what I anticipated and totally captured my attention and the attention of my taste buds. Delicious. Healthy. And amazing. You can’t beat that. If you haven’t tried them…do it now. Next time…ketchup!

March 10, 2015

Product Review: Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables

Qrunch Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables — Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables

Product: Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables – $3.99+

Ah…back to one of my favorite things to talk about.

No. Not food. Although I do like to talk about food.

Nope. What I’m about to introduce you to is yet another way that being Celiac/gluten-free doesn’t have to detract from what options are out there for breakfast. Aside from the natural gluten-free goodness of real foods, such as eggs, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits…there are a plethora of gluten-free breakfast mixes that can help you bake up pancakes, muffins, and scones. There are frozen waffles, pancakes, French toast sticks, bagels, muffins, cinnamon rolls…the list is endless.

But what really caught my eye a couple of months ago when I randomly dropped into my local Meijer was a new product from a company that I trusted. The company being Qrunch Foods. The product – something they call Toastables.

Qrunch Foods set out with a mission, and have since worked hard to carry it out – to create great-tasting, gluten free foods.

Those of us who have made our way through the gluten-free foods out on the market know that gluten-free foods have come a long way. No longer do you need to fear something tasting like cardboard or wood pulp (although…there are instances this still holds true). But finding something that stops you in your tracks and makes you go, “Damn…I’d never guess this was gluten free!” is a rare find at times.

Qrunch Foods came out with their line of Toastables back in 2013. Prior to this, you might have seen and tried (and loved, like me!) their gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian Qrunch Burgers. LOVE me those Qrunch Burgers. So, that’s why I didn’t hesitate to pick up one of the two varieties (of four!) of the Qrunch Foods Toastables from my grocery store. A trusted brand can speak volumes.

My choice: Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables.

Qrunch Foods Toastables are made from ancient whole grains (organic quinoa, organic amaranth, and organic millet) which provides a unique and filling breakfast. They are, as always, 100% natural and 100% gluten-free. The idea behind the Toastables is that they are lightly sweetened and go great with any sort of breakfast topping you might enjoy…from syrup to honey to nut butters to jellies to cream cheese. Whatever floats your breakfast boat. They look like a mix between a cereal-coated French Toast stick and a hash brown. I’m okay with this. And making them is easy too.

Simply pop these into your toaster for a couple of cycles and they are ready to eat. I was eating these after going to the gym and heading into the office. This meant that I didn’t have a gluten-free toaster to use. Other options include cooking over medium-high heat in a skillet for 3-4 minutes per side…except I didn’t have a stovetop. Luckily, my office does have a taster oven, so I baked these for about 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees until they were nice and warm throughout. I served these up with a little bit of maple syrup. Yummy.

I bet you’re wondering how they taste. Well, they were nothing like I anticipated. I loved the crunchy outer shell that I got from baking it (and you would too if you baked, used the skillet, or toasted it in the toaster). If you microwave it, you will lose that aspect of the Toastable itself. The Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastable had a grittiness to it, which comes from the various grains that are used to comprise it. I’m on the fence on whether I liked that aspect or not. It tasted a little dry…but the maple syrup I topped it off with helped with that. The flavor was subtle, but I could definitely catch hints of the cinnamon and vanilla that were incorporated into the Toastable. It was a quick bite, but quite filling. Sort of like a dry, crunchy French toast or waffle…which isn’t a bad thing. I just sort of expected a little more tenderness on the inside. Although, overall, not bad. Not bad at all. Thank goodness for maple syrup!

Let’s discuss ingredients. The Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables are made from water, organic millet, organic quinoa, organic amaranth, organic refined coconut oil, organic arrowroot starch, organic cane sugar, organic apple cider vinegar, organic vanilla extract, sea salt, organic cinnamon, and organic non-GMO canola oil. They are not only made with ancient whole grains, but also 100% gluten-free, soy-free, wheat-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and corn-free.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving is 1 of the Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables. There are four Toastables in each box. This one serving will give you 120 calories and 4 grams of fat. This will also give you 135 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. Loving that. These are cholesterol free and free of trans fat. You will also be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein. So don’t let the size of them make you think they won’t fill you up. These will hold you for the morning.

So, not an astounding find, but one that does make for a different and tasty breakfast for sure. It’s easy to prepare…just takes a little time if you are toasting it up in the toaster oven or toaster, but as long as you aren’t famished, that’s not a problem at all.

Qrunch Foods Toastables are available in four flavors: Cinnamon-Vanilla, Blueberry-Lemon, Rich Maple and Original. Look for them in your grocery store freezer.

Qrunch Foods Cinnamon-Vanilla Toastables (toasted)

March 8, 2015March 8, 2015

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Cococcino Latte Chilled Coconut Milk Coffee Beverage

So Delicious Dairy Free Cococcino Latte Chilled Coconut Milk Beverage — So Delicious Dairy Free Cococcino Latte Chilled Coconut Milk Coffee Beverage

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Cococcino Latte Chilled Coconut Milk Coffee Beverage – $9.99+ (4 pack)

Dairy-free (and gluten-free) coffee lovers…REJOICE!! So Delicious has done it again. No surprise…because they are awesome. Now…this is not new news to any of my fellow So Delicious and coffee lovers…but back in mid-2014, So Delicious Dairy Free put out a small line of shelf-stable coconut milk coffee beverages that are intended to be chilled and then enjoyed by the vegan and lactose intolerant (and even those dairy-lovers) alike.

And, my friends over at So Delicious were kind enough to send me a 4 pack of one of these new coffee beverages! I. LOVE. THEM.

Anyone who sends me a dairy-free coffee beverages (especially a latte) WINS in my book. So…even more love to So Delicious!

With every intention of devouring them around the time I got them…life happened. And when life happens, the best laid plans often don’t happen. So, this amazing pack of four sat in my pantry…and sat…and I’d think, “I’m traveling this weekend, I need to bring those…” And then I didn’t.

BUT NO MORE!

For the first time in forever, I took steps to remember to bring these little gems on the road with me, by setting them aside with other items I knew I needed to pack up for the journey from Indiana down to Birmingham, Alabama to visit my family. They made the trip with me (finally) and I put them in my parent’s fridge that evening so they could chill, and the four ladies who were venturing out that morning for some shopping could have a caffeine hit before facing that challenge.

The plan worked like a charm. That morning, after a good breakfast, my mom, my sister, my roommate and I each grabbed one of the So Delicious Dairy Free Cococcino Latte Chilled Coconut Milk Coffee Beverages from the fridge, gave them a shake to mix, and were on our way.

I was the first to crack mine open.

I was the first to down a bit of it.

I was the first to say, “Holy crap, that’s amazing! So good!”

I should have said, “So delicious!” HAHAHA! (Oh, the ways I amuse myself).

So, here is the lowdown. I have grown to love coffee ever since I was a Starbucks barista. When I started at Starbucks, I hated coffee. Everything about it. But suddenly…I it was my world. I smelled it. People asked my opinion on it. So…slowly…I grew more accustomed to it. First…the frou-frou blended drinks…then the mochas…then the lattes…then coffee. Now, I brew a cup for myself at home…no cream…no sugar. It took YEARS to get there…but that’s where I am. But when I’m away from home…café au laits and lattes are all that I want from the local and chain shops I find along the way.

The So Delicious Dairy Free Cococcino Latte Chilled Coconut Milk Coffee Beverage has that pure coffee goodness that people who drink lattes want. You drink mochas if you don’t like the taste of coffee…you drink lattes if you do. I was, actually, the first in the car to polish mine off (my mom was done first, but I really don’t think she drank hers…just sayin’) because it was just that good. This bit of coconut milk based coffee goodness is not too sweet and not too overwhelming on the coffee flavor. My sister loved hers as well. My roommate said that it was alright, but she’s not a fan of cold coffee (which she says…then orders cold coffee at times…so…yeah…). It was convenient to have, amazing to try, and delicious in the end. Totally would buy these and stock my pantry with them for those busy mornings where I just don’t have time to wait on my coffee to brew. Super tasty!

Now, let’s talk ingredients. The So Delicious Dairy Free Cococcino Latte Chilled Coconut Milk Coffee Beverage is made from organic fair trade coffee, organic coconut milk, organic dried cane syrup, organic vanilla extract, natural flavor, sea salt, potassium chloride, calcium phosphate, organic guar gum, xanthan gum, and monk fruit extract. True…there are some…not-so-natural sounding ingredients making these not-so-much a clean eating staple…but definitely a splurge every now and again. These coffee beverages of coconut milk awesomesauce are always certified dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO.

And now…nutrition. Hang onto your knickers, friends. Because these 11 ounces will fill you up with fewer calories than anything you could get at Starbucks that even remotely resembled this. A full serving is one single-serve (11 ounce) container. This serving will give you 130 calories and 4 grams of fat. This serving also provides 150 mg sodium and 22 grams of sugar. That…is high, I know. This drink is cholesterol free. And, finally, you’ll be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Like I said…coffee lovers rejoice. You don’t have to be gluten-free or dairy-free to love these little boxes of coffee goodness. You just have to be someone who loves coffee and a little variety. As for me…I’m definitely smitten.

March 4, 2015

Product Review: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Raspberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies

Product: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Raspberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies – $3.99+

At some point, last year, I won an online sweepstakes where the prize was a box of each flavor of Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Figgies & Jammies. They arrived in the mail and I dutifully placed them on the shelf of my pantry to enjoy at a later time. As I am currently working on getting a majority of processed foods out of my pantry, desserts for the rest of the month are pretty much covered…with Figgies & Jammies.

Now, I was already aware of these amazing little Fig Newton type cookies from when they first debuted back in 2014. I went searching high and low, but my area just didn’t have them in stock. Now, I can pretty much find them anywhere. But winning them…that’s just awesome.

Pamela’s Products Figgies & Jammies come in four different flavors: Blueberry & Fig, Raspberry & Fig, Strawberry & Fig, and Mission Fig.

On a previous occasion…I bought and devoured the Blueberry & Fig version of Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Figgies & Jammies. These are made of so much wow, awesome, and YUMMY! I fell in love with the Blueberry & Fig version at first bite. No lie. They were even better than the Fig Newtons I used to devour all the time. The cake was moister and spongier…and the fruit filling was more flavorful and brighter. Ah, I simply love it when more thought and care goes into a product. They were so good, even one of my coworkers who will find something wrong with everything gluten-free, had not one bad word to say about it. Not one.

So, this past week, my roommate and I went ahead and devoured the Blueberry & Fig package, to save a blog. But…that lasted for 5 days. This meant…a new flavor needed to be broken into for dessert tonight. And I decided it was going to be the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Raspberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies.

The best thing about these cookies is that they are HUGE. They are the extra large of good-for-you cookies out on the market. Now, I’m not promoting devouring cookies like I do, as an admitted cookie monster, but…when you compare them to other options on the market, they are definitely a better choice.

Aside from that…let’s talk about the Raspberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies in partiuclar. The pie-like cookie portion is soft and tender…and wraps the amazingly flavorful fruit portion in the perfect amount of sweet and savory. The cookie is chewy, but not at all crumbly. Just…wow. And the fruit. Oh…wow! I thought the Blueberry & Fig cookies were amazing, but these…these are even better. The Raspberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies just explode with bright, sweet fruit flavor. It brings the perfect balance to each nibble or bite. I was beyond impressed. I was hooked. These cookies are..perhaps just slightly bigger than the standard Fig Newton. But way more tasty and just so much better.

The cake part of the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Raspberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies is made from a gluten-free flour blend that includes brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour and xanthan gum, as well as evaporated can sugar, organic non-hydrogenated palm oil, organic invert sugar, grape juice and whole rice syrup, sweet whey powder, glycerin, baking soda, xanthan gum, sea salt, and lemon oil. The jam is a raspberry paste made from cane syrup, brown rice syrup, apple powder, rice starch, dried cane syrup, glycerin, water, raspberry juice concentrate, pectin, natural flavor, citric acid, red cabbage extract for color, fig paste, and citric acid. These cookies are gluten-free, egg free, low in sodium, and all natural. They have no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, no cholesterol, and no corn syrup.

As far as nutrition goes, a serving of Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Raspberry & Fig Figgies & Jammies is 1 cookie. This one cookie will give you 100 calories and 2 grams of fat. One cookie will serve up 25 mg sodium and 11 grams of sugar. These cookies are cholesterol free. This one cookie will also give you 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. Not bad!

I am proud to have won these cookies in an online sweepstakes and to have the opportunity to try every flavor. So far, I have enjoyed every bite of the two flavors I have tried. Stay tuned as the other two will be coming up in the very near future. I promise…these are so good, you don’t have to be gluten-free to enjoy them.

February 25, 2015

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts

Product: Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts – $6.99

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that I’ve been blogging a lot about chocolate things. Donuts, cookies, donut holes. And…honestly, you’d be absolutely correct. I won’t deny it. I have nothing to deny. Because, you see, I’m clearing things out. I’m making better decisions, but, for the sake of my budget and my pride, I’m going through the items I have…devouring them…then replacing them with better choices.

Hence…the massive blogging on all things…totally not good for me.

That being said, I am certainly enjoying each and every tasting thus far. Because, I won’t lie, I love donuts and cookies and all that stuff. It is no secret that I have a sweet tooth…and an addiction to all things delicious…like peanut butter.

And chocolate.

So, what better way to enjoy things like…chocolate…than tripling it?

And that’s what the amazing Katz Gluten Free does with these donuts. Katz Gluten Free, as many of you know, is one of my favorite gluten-free food providers. With a line-up of completely gluten free breads, pies, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, pastries, pizza crusts, and yes…donuts…it seems like that have a little bit of everything at a very high standard and quality. I have never not liked a Katz Gluten Free product. And, one thing I totally love about Katz Gluten Free is that they offer to send you a free sample pack of their products (you just pay shipping) so you can try out a little bit of what they have to offer. No, donuts and pies are not included, but other goodies are. Trust me…it’s worth checking out, if you haven’t already. And if you have, I believe you can order one sample pack a year…so…feel like revisiting some of Katz Gluten Free standards…reorder!

Now…where was I?

Ah yes…donuts.

Awhile back, I realized that Katz Gluten Free had put out some new donut flavors without me knowing about it. How I missed this announcement, I don’t know. So, naturally, I did what any Katz Gluten Free lover does. I ordered a box of each of them. And, since then, I have been slowly making my way through them. The new flavors are all fantastic…and the donuts, as always, are what I expect from Katz. But…you throw the words Triple Chocolate on there…and…you know you’re going to be WINNING!

The Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts are rich, soft, and gooey (if you warm them up for 20 seconds in the microwave like I do!). There is nothing a true chocolate lover wouldn’t like about this. The cake donut is so soft. I mean, my fork (yes…I eat donuts with a fork…I’m a princess!) sliced right through it. And it was moist and soft. Not heavy and dense…and with gluten-free baked goods, that density can be a killer. This was light and airy and just amazing. The cake had this rich chocolate decadence to it. Then, it’s topped off with a dark chocolate frosting…like a smooth ganache. And…WOW. Chocolate utopia. And then…just to add to the awesomeness of this already chocolate-y treat…chocolate chips are sprinkled over the top. Chocolate euphoria. It reminded me of the chocolate pudding cake I used to beg my mom to make for me every birthday I had. Just a chocolate lover’s dream. I mean…love in every bite. I’m sad I only have two more days before they are gone from my life. But…this one was worth saving until last.

Let’s talk about ingredients! The Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts are made from the Katz Gluten Free Flour Blend (tapioca starch, white rice flour, corn starch), water, palm oil, sugar, eggs, chocolate chips, confection sugar, cocoa, canola oil, baking powder, natural vanilla extract, salt, xanthan gum, agar, calcium carbonate, and calcium sulfate. These are gluten free, dairy free, and soy free.

Now…the hard part. Nutrition facts. Nutrition facts on goodies like donuts never look good when put out there. But…it does help to know what you are putting in your body. A serving of the Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts is 1 donut. You might be tempted to eat all 6. I know I was. But don’t. Trust me…don’t. You’ll regret it in the end. Stick with one, which…I did. One donut will provide you with 250 calories and 14 chocolate covered grams of fat. This one donut will also provide 20 mg cholesterol, 240 mg sodium, and 16 grams of sugar. It is a definite sugar-laden treat. Which is why I don’t eat these very often. And, finally, you will be devouring 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Trust me…this donut will not make you feel full. I was ready for my snack (an apple, mind you!) at 10 a.m.

Donuts are not evil. Nope. In moderation, they make for a fantastic treat. As I don’t get donuts very often with my dietary restrictions…but when I do, I always hope that it’s a delicious treat that is worth the indulgence. Let me tell you, Katz Gluten Free always makes it worth the indulgence. Especially with these. Triple threat of triple chocolate. If I revisit any of the new flavors, the Katz Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Donuts will be my choice for sure.

February 23, 2015

Product Review: Good Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies

Product: Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies – $4.99+

I feel cheated.

This past winter, my holiday Swiss Colony catalog came in…and with it, their Gluten Free and Sugar Free catalog as well. I usually never purchase anything for myself from Swiss Colony…but I was paging through and saw these new cookies they were offering…Gluten Free Mint Slims. The photograph looked all the world like what was, once, my favorite Girl Scout Cookie – the Thin Mints.

The description in the catalog read: Refreshing mint cookies with a chocolatey coating are sure to be a family favorite!

I said, “OHMYGODGLUTENFREETHINMINTS!” And I placed an order. 12 ounces of cookies…for $19.95+tax.

*sigh*

They weren’t going to ship until January 19…so I had a bit of a wait…but one day, my beloved Swiss Colony box arrived at my office and I tore into it…finding two bags (each 6 ounces) of Mint Slims from a company called Goodie Girl Cookies.

Hmmm…

Well, regardless, I ripped into the first bag and dug in. And then shared some with a select number of people in my office. And that was that. I think it wasn’t what I was expecting to arrive. And now that I am getting around to a review (as I opened up bag #2 yesterday), I find out that these bags are available on the Good Girl Cookies Website for $4.99/bag. So, yeah…I feel a bit cheated. Not by Goodie Girl…but by Swiss Colony.

However, what is done is done. And now you have the long and rather unfortunate tale of Swiss Colony’s betrayal and cheat tactics. So, let’s get down to the Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies, shall we?

Goodie Girl Cookies is based out of Tribeca, New York, specializing in creating gluten-free cookies with surprising flavors, as well as exciting twists on cookie classics to evoke memories of childhood. Founder, Shira Berk, also a mom and native New Yorker, began her journey to create an all-natural, super-delicious line of cookies that are all gluten-free back in 2010. Her intention was to create cookies that were intended for anyone to eat, but still be accessible to the 30%-and-growing number of population who had to avoid gluten. What began in a home kitchen soon grew to be made in a kitchen incubator in Queens, then to another one in Brooklyn, until now, where Goodie Girl Cookies now produces their gluten-free cookies at a contract bakery in Long Island, New York. An interesting aspect, I would like to point out, is that neither Berk, nor anyone in her family is Celiac, gluten-intolerant, or in need of a gluten-free diet. Berk And they not only loves to bake, but has created serious buzz around these cookies.

Specifically…the Mint Slims…or their take on the infamous Thin Mint Cookie from those little Girl Scouts.

Growing up, Thin Mint Cookies were my favorite treat. And as a Girl Scout, we ordered a bunch of boxes all the time for my family. It was the only flavor of Girl Scout Cookie you would find in my house. Ever. There were no others. So, for the past three years, since going gluten-free, having to bypass the Girl Scouts at the local grocery store has been heart-wrenching. I see that green box and it’s all I want. And thanks to Goodie Girl Gluten-Free Cookies…(and for Swiss Colony for now introducing me to Goodie Girl)…they’re back in my life.

So, these aren’t perfect. The main difference being that the Girl Scout variety is coated in a rich, amazing dark chocolate. And I LOVE dark chocolate. The Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies are…coated in milk chocolate. They aren’t quite as rich and sinfully good because of this…but…they are close enough. Even the people at the office thought so. And that being said…here’s a bit more on the flavor of these cookies…

The Goodie Girl Mint Slims are crunchy, just like the Girl Scout counterpart. They have this amazing mint flavor that may rival that of the Girl Scouts for sure. The coating, for me, however, just was wrong. It didn’t have the richness that the Girl Scout Thin Mints have. But, that’s also me, who prefers dark chocolate to mint chocolate any day, so…it’s more of a personal thing than anything. Other than that…these are spot on. I had one co-worker wrinkle up her nose when I offered for her to try one, and when she did, she admitted that they tasted just like the Girl Scout Cookies. Never count a gluten-free copycat out. EVER! Sometimes…they are just as good if not better as the original. I count these as just as good. Seriously…it hits all the right notes.

The Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies are made from chocolate coating (made of sugar, palm kernel, palm oil, cocoa processed with alkali, nonfat dry milk, soy lechithin), sugar, butter, the Goodie Girl Flour Blend (white rice flour, corn starch, tapioca flour, brown rice flour, powdered milk, potato starch, and xanthan gum), cocoa, whole milk, vanilla extract, pure peppermint flavor, baking soda, and salt. They are…just the right amount of wrong. In a good way. A very rock ‘n roll way.

As for nutriton, let’s keep in mind that these are cookies, shall we? The Goodie Girl Gluten Free Mint Slim Cookies come in a serving of 2 cookies (with 6 servings per bag). Each serving will give you 160 calories and 9 grams of fat. These two cookies will also provide you with 10 mg cholesterol, 35 mg sodium, and 12 grams of sugar. These cookies also provide 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein, meaning they make a perfect non-filling dessert or snack. Granted, with Girl Scout cookies you get to eat 4 cookies for almost a perfect match in the nutrition area…but beggars can’t be choosers, can we? I just think the Girl Scout cookies are a bit thinner, maybe less dense on the filling as, weight-wise, a serving of 2 Goodie Girl Mint Slims is 30 grams and 4 Thin Mints from the Girl Scouts is 32 grams. Light bulb!

If you are a gluten-free cookie monster…er…lover…like me, and if you have been missing those Girl Scout Cookies something fierce, I urge you to hop over to the Goody Girl Web site (not Swiss Colony!) and place an order for the Mint Slims…stat. Trust me…you won’t regret it. You’ll never regret cookies. Especially these.

February 23, 2015

Product Review: Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes

Product: Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes – $5.99+

It was a long journey home that day from an afternoon event in Dayton, Ohio. But, if there is one thing there is always time for, it is a stop into Foodie Heaven (aka: Jungle Jim’s) on the way through Cincinnati, Ohio. This is one of the most impressive stores you will ever enter. And you will leave a changed foodie, for sure.

One thing I will hand to Jungle Jim’s…they carry some gluten free products, on shelves and in the freezer, that I haven’t seen anywhere else. Reason for that – they are often from local Ohio companies. Love seeing a business help out the little local ones. For sure.

And, for some reason, that very afternoon, I really, really, really needed to have donut holes in my freezer at home. I didn’t know this, mind you, until I strolled past the gluten-free freezer area in Jungle Jim’s and saw the little plastic cup that was piled high with the little chocolate balls of cake donut goodness. Oh…I had to have them. So…I bought them. Even though I was doing everything in my power to not purchase items (such as snacks and donuts) on that trip…it happened regardless. And they made it home and into my freezer…where they remained.

Until this morning.

You see, I’m having a rough weekend. This is not me being a drama queen. I really am. I was supposed to be in Birmingham, Alabama, with good friends of mine, participating in the Mercedes Marathon Weekend. I knew a few running the half marathon and I was running the full with my training partner, Matthew. Except winter storms blew through, and while everyone else risked the roads and the weather, I stayed put. I missed seeing my nephew run in the Kid’s Marathon on Saturday (which meant more to me than anything else), and I’ve just been down and out all weekend. Seeing my friend’s Facebook feed flooded with pictures of the event hasn’t helped with my mood either.

So it was totally a donut kind of a morning. And lucky for me…I had a cup full of Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donut Holes.

The world might be safe from me yet today…

Sonny Marie’s was created by Christine Coleman, whose son, Danny, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease at the age of 11. This brought about drastic changes to the family’s lifestyle as they chose to join Danny in his fight against gluten. It was hard for Coleman to see her son missing out on pizza, cake, donuts and all the other goodies his friends were sharing, which is what inspired her to develop her own donut recipe, so delicious, that even Danny wouldn’t know the difference. And she crushed it. Since then, Coleman has worked on expanding on their line of gluten-free products to help others have that “I can’t believe it’s gluten free” moment and not be deprived of the joy of food.

For me…the joy of food this morning was inside this little plastic cup that held 10 little glazed chocolate donut holes. That, my friends, was bliss this morning.

The Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Glazed Chocolate Donut Holes are…exactly…as I remember the chocolate glazed Munchkins from Dunkin’ Donuts to taste. I used to eat the hell out of those, so when I pulled half of these out for me and half for my roommate, I was already feeling better. They were the perfect size (no skimping) and felt like the perfect density. After spilling coffee on myself…I returned to finally dig in…

Without even a warmup in the microwave (I let them thaw overnight to get to room temperature), I was hooked with one bite. Yes…one bite. First of all…the cake donut was the perfect consistency. Not heavy and dense. Not light either. But cakey through-and-through. So many gluten-free cake donuts are heavy and intimidating…not these. Not one bit. The chocolate flavor was rich and delicious and the glaze was melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Seriously. Perfection. I was sad I only had 5 of these to devour. I probably could have eaten the whole cup on a morning like today. Good thing I have friends who help keep me from over-indulging on treats. Oh, but these were so good. Mighty tasty. I didn’t even care that my breakfast was mostly sweetness and sugar…and then…I still didn’t care. Chocolate is a girl’s best friend on days like today…and this one just comforted me. For the moments of breakfast…I was content. I even licked the glaze off my fingers when I was done. Good to the very last bite.

Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donuts are produced in her Coleman’s home. It is even labeled as such. That being said, they are made in a facility that uses peanuts and pecans, so if you have a hyperactive nut allergy…these might not be for you. Nuts are one of the few things I happen to not be allergic to.

The Sonny Marie’s Gluten Free Chocolate Glazed Donuts are made from sugar, rice drink, molasses, white flour, mechanically pressed organic palm oil, egg, potato starch, cocoa, tapioca flour, sweet rice flour, baking powder, vanilla bean extractives in water, alcohol (35%) salt, apple cider vinegar, xanthan gum, and cinnamon.

As these are produced at home, I cannot give you nutritional information as none is provided on the packaging. But, I’d say close to what the Chocolate Glazed Munchkin’s run at Dunkin’ Donuts. Give or take a few calories and fat. Hey…they’re donuts. Indulge or don’t.

My theory in life is…every now and again, you have to treat yourself. I was having a bad morning…so, I treated myself. I don’t eat donuts or donut holes every day…but these were beyond worth the splurge. Sonny Marie’s products are available in many local shops in and around the Cincinnati area, including Jungle Jim’s. Make the journey…because these are totally worth eating. I wish I had purchased another cup of them.

WOW!

February 22, 2015

Product Review: CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie

CraveRight Gluten Free Sesame Crunch Cookie

Product: CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie – $3.99

I was so lucky this past Christmas, to be given one of my favorite gifts – a $50 Whole Foods Gift Card. I vowed to only purchase products I have been meaning to try and just haven’t been able to “justify” for my tight weekly budget. So, soon after the New Year passed, I decided to do a first round of product sweeping.

Now, naturally gluten free foods (fruits and veggies) I get delivered to my door. Unless I have cancelled my CSA bin that week, I am pretty set on those. And while I am doing much more clean eating these days, I decided to venture over to all those snack foods that are what all gluten-free people get stuck with. Cookies, chips, candy…

Whoever said eating gluten-free will make you lose weight has never walked through the gluten-free sections of their local grocery or natural food stores. Just sayin’.

And with that being said…we also know that the women in my family have quite the sweet tooth. Oh yes…we all do come by it honestly. And while for some people it’s cakes and cupcakes that they want…for me, it’s always been the simple, yet ultimately delicious…COOKIE. Call me cookie monster, because I love cookies. All types of cookies. I have my favorites, sure, but…cookies are my kryptonite.

Well, there I was, perusing the aisles I had been skipping whenever in Whole Foods, when the giant cookies near the bottom shelf sort of just…sang to me. It was a brand I was unfamiliar with – CraveRight. So, I leaned down and picked one up…noting that these were not just gluten free, but also dairy free, soy free, egg free, nut free, and corn free. They used no flours or starches, and actually was billing itself as a “natural meal replacement.” Really? A cookie? There were three flavors of the jumbo cookies – Sesame Crunch, Chocolate Chunk, and Brownie Chocolate Chunk. Next to them were cookie packs of the same cookies, smaller scale, more inside. My roommate said, “get one of the big ones…just in case we don’t like them.” Okay…good point. I was all set for that Brownie Chocolate Chunk and I somehow let her talk me into the Sesame Crunch. “You don’t often see sesame cookies!” That was her thoughts on that matter. And…I went along with it. And this CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie…made it home with me.

CraveRight was created in 2009, creating “crave-worthy cookies that don’t sabotage wellness goals but reinforce them.” Tired of seeing so-called “healthy snacks” that weren’t really that good for you being sold on the market – many of which could not be eaten by people with food allergies and intolerances, and the taste all wrong – Roya S. came up with the idea of creating delicious, healthy treats – specifically their specialty – their 100% vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free cookies. All of the cookies are baked and prepared in a dedicated gluten-free and nut-free facility so cross-contamination is not a problem. CraveRight cookies are baked up being packaed with antioxidants and essential amino acids. Not only that, they are proud that their cookies contain no empty-calorie ingredients – no flours, starches or fillers. The CraveRight cookies are rich in iron and calcium, and low in sodium as well. And, the company sources their ingredients from nearby, making sure that the ingredients are minimally processed (without chemicals) and made with only the finest of ingredients, free of contaminants.

Which, all sounds really good on paper, right? But how do they taste?

I can only vouch for the CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie…which I split with my roommate last night for dessert. You know, I was having a bad day…I just ate an amazing comfort food dinner and was all set for dessert. I grabbed the CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie off my counter and declared it to be dessert. If anything could make me feel better, it would be a cookie, right?

So, as is typical with huge cookies…I cut it in half and gave one side to my roommate while claiming the other for myself. I climbed back onto the couch, restarted the episode of Game of Thrones I was watching, and took my first bite.

And I think my nose wrinkled up a little bit. But it was only one bite. Maybe my palate just needed cleansing. So, I gave it another taste. Nope. This was not a cookie I was enjoying. The CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie was everything I didn’t like about a cookie. The texture was crumbly. I’m fine with a bit of crunch on my cookie, but I don’t want it to crumble when I try to eat it. I have no kitchen or dining room table in my apartment, and I don’t want to have to vacuum my couch after dessert, thank you very much. The flavor lacked sweetness. I mean, regardless of whether a cookie is billed as a “healthy meal replacement” or not, I want it to taste like a cookie. And this didn’t. It tasted like…a snack. Like those savory sesame sticks that were put into snack mixes and most people skipped eating. I think I was expecting something like a sunbutter cookie…a little more richness and depth of flavor, but that’s not what I got at all. They were bland and rather…tasteless. That bit of sesame came through in the end, but that’s about all I can say about that. It was not a winning cookie in my book, and we know I eat lots of cookies. The part near the middle was slightly chewy, but everything else was just…wrong. I wasn’t a fan at all.

Neither was my roomie.

As far as what goes into the CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookies…it seems rather basic. So…that is good. These cookies are made from sesame seeds, palm shortening, demerara sugar, tahini, sesame powder, water, chicory extract, flax meal, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt. Not actually a bad list of ingredients.

It’s just too bad they didn’t come together to form a cohesively delicious cookie.

Since the CraveRight Gluten Free Sesame Crunch Cookie is billed as a “natural meal replacement” and carries the sentiment “Crave One. Eat Two.” on each package, let’s really focus for a moment on these nutritional facts. A serving size of the CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie is 1/2 of the cookie. Yes…half. This half will deliver 170 calories and 13 grams of fat. These cookies are cholesterol free, have only 90 mg sodium per serving and only 5 grams of sugar. One serving will also give you 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. I still don’t think I’d eat a cookie instead of my dinner though. Just sayin’.

So, color me unimpressed and highly disappointed. I was not at all craving another bite of the CraveRight Gluten Free Sesame Crunch Cookie. In fact, it was a struggle just to get the half I had finished. It wasn’t what I wanted in a cookie at all, “healthy” or not. Beyond disappointed. I felt cheated out of my dessert last night.

You win some, you lose some.

CraveRight Gluten Free Jumbo Sesame Crunch Cookie

February 20, 2015

Product Review: Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes

Product: Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes – $1.99+

It came inside the New Year 2015 (aka: January Cube) Cuisine Cube. It is the height of New Year’s Resolutions and it seemed that that box, in particular, was aimed at new beginnings and healthier choices. God, I love that theme. Because I love making healthier decisions about things I do and what I eat. Granted, I do treat myself here and there, but that’s not only human…that’s normal. But with the theme of New Year Resolutions in January, a lot of what was inside was on the healthier side. Love it. Yes…even dessert.

But…I’m jumping ahead. Because first I need to tell you a thing of two about Cuisine Cube! Cuisine Cube is a subscription service that brings a surprise to your doorstep each month. This unassuming brown box arrives and is packed with an assortment of hand-picked gluten-free goodies, featuring imported and local goods, from smaller artisan companies…rather than the larger gluten-free corporations you find on every grocers shelves these days. You will receive treats for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, dessert…and sometimes…an added bonus. Each month you receive a themed cube of some sort, with only gluten-free items inside. Love it! Subscriptions start as low as $29.99. And, trust me, you’ll wonder what you did before it was in your life.

January = Healthy Life Healthy You…New Year…New Start…so…let’s get healthy, yes? YES!! I stand 100% behind this theme.

Well, what says healthy dessert like…rice cakes? Right? Yes? Excited? No? Why not? You should be. Because in the January Cuisine Cube, I found my dessert choice to be Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes. Yep. Dark chocolate covered rice cakes. Now…does that sound a little more like dessert? Yeah…I thought so.

If not…stay with me…

Element Snacks was created by Nadia and Fred, both of whom hail from Europe (Nadia from Italy and Fred from Sweden). They both grew up on real food, no Twinkies or Kool-aid. They believe in feeling great and nurturing our bodies and minds at the same time. They also believe that food should be simple…yet flavorful. It doesn’t mean we have to be 100% all the time. We’re human. But, we can control what we splurge on, and if something tastes like a treat, but carries some healthy benefits with it…well…added bonus.

Enter…Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes. These are just what they sound like, rice cakes, made from non-GMO Italian rice, that are coated with premium Italian Chocolate. Everything in this treat is naturally nutritious and good for you. These chocolate coated snack cakes are gluten-free, vegan, contain no hydrogenated oils, no trans fats, no high fructose corn syrup, no yeast, no preservatives and are non-GMO. Oh yeah…loving every word of that, how about you?

So, it all sounds good in theory, yes? But how is it really?

AMAZING!! Yes…I know, I am the girl who gets excited about rice cakes…but even Cathy (the roomie!) liked this one. The rice cake tastes savory, without any salt. But it is that layer of chocolate that just makes these explode with flavor. Cathy said, “drizzle dark chocolate on anything…” HAHA!! Truth. These are so amazing. Delicious. Nutritious. And YUM!! Dark chocolate only sweetenes the deal. SOLD! I only wish I had more.

Let’s talk ingredients. It doesn’t get more simple than this. The Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes are made from 60% dark chocolate, 40% rice cakes (wholegrain brown rice, rice). Yep. That’s it. That easy. Real ingredients. Real food.

How about nutrition? Well, a serving of Element Dark Chocolate Rice Cakes is 1 rice cake. This one chocolate coated delight will serve up 80 calories and 4 grams of fat. This one rice cake will provide you with 20 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. Love that. They are cholesterol free. And, finally, you will be taking in 1 gram of fiber and 1 gram of protein. So, these won’t fill you up, but you will have the sweet and savory taste to leave you feeling fulfilled.

I give huge kudos to Element Snacks and to Cuisine Cube for these delightful, and surprisingly delicious treats. As a known lover of rice cakes, this just took them to the next level. I think I’m in love. With a healthy dessert. We all win.

February 20, 2015February 20, 2015

Product Review: Danny Macaroons Plain & Chocolate Macaroons

Product: Danny Macaroons Plain & Chocolate Macaroons – $8.50+

Ah…the battle is real. Me…versus coconut. I sometimes love it. I sometimes hate it. It is all in the context of how it is utilized in whatever it is I am eating. Which means…I have this charming love/hate relationship with anything coconut. And that’s how it is. I will either love it…or hate it.

For me, a lot of where coconut goes wrong is the texture. Some people are okay with it…but if it isn’t baked into something enough, coconut can sort of taste like…your chewing dead bugs. Not that I’ve ever made a habit of chewing dead bugs…that’s just the mouthfeel I get from raw coconut. Or…at times…things with coconut on/in them.

So…enter my latest dessert challenge from Cuisine Cube!

Before I go any further…let me introduce, or for some of you, reacquaint you with Cuisine Cube. Cuisine Cube is a gluten-free subscription box that specializes in pantry and meal items. This is actually a very nice change of pace from other subscription boxes, as those tend to be more snack oriented. With Cuisine Cube, you get 5-6 items in each box…always a breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert item. And…at times…a bonus! And we all love bonuses, right? Subscriptions start at $29.99…so head over to their site and check them out. You’ll be glad you did.

I haven’t looked back yet! Loving my monthly box of surprise goodies.

This most recent Cuisine Cube, the Happy V-Day 2015 (aka: February) cube, had a lot to offer. But, naturally, I went straight for dessert. Because…sweet tooth. Hello! And this month, the dessert was brought to us by a local New York City bakery known for…macaroons!! I’m talking about Danny Macaroons, which has been featured in Food & Wine Magazine, ABC News, The Chicago Tribune, Serious Eats, the New York Post, and more! They are the premier coconut macaroon producer in New York City, proud of their “super delicious, gourmet, handmade coconut macaroons.” In fact, Danny Macaroons offers over 45 flavors, so there is bound to be something for someone…even coconut lovers/haters like me.

And they might be right.

This week, with all the snow and sub-zero, my original plan to make my own dairy free ice cream…or raid the two items of dairy free ice cream I have in my freezer…went out the door. Trust me…I can eat ice cream anytime…but…I was cold. Just cold. So I wanted something…not cold. That being said…I went to the pantry and went through items that I had that would make a good dessert. I had a few cookie options, so I went ahead and snagged the little container of four macaroons that came in my recent Cuisine Cube. I’m not the biggest lover of macaroons…but some have won me over. So, it was worth the try. I asked my roomie if she wanted to do the chocolate or the plain ones first. To my surprise, she said chocolate. I figured chocolate would be winning…and said I would have done it the other way around…but went with her decision.

Round 1: Danny Macaroons Chocolate Macaroon – Oh…this was good. This was damn good. While it had that weird coconut texture, I was able to overlook it because of the delicious chocolate. It was decadent and light and fluffy…and just…amazing. The right hit of sweetness from the chocolate and a bit from the toasted coconut. It was soft and made to perfection. I was in love.

Round 2: Danny Macaroons Plain Macaroons – Okay…so this one fell flat for me…and here’s why. It was too much coconut. Yep. Too much. Flavor. Texture. Nothing to really cut it. It was toasted to perfection and light and amazing…but the coconut just took over. And, while I get that macaroons are coconut…it was just too much for me.

So…you win one…you lose one. How’s that?

Danny Macaroons Plain & Chocolate Macaroons are made from sweetened coconut, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate, egg whites, pure bourbon vanilla extract, and salt.

This package did not have any of the nutritional information…but…they are a dessert treat. Treat it as such. Take one now…save the rest for later. BAH…who am I to tell you how to eat your treats?! Right?! What works for me doesn’t work for the macaroon lover who scarfed all four in one sitting. And that’s okay. It is, after all, a sweet treat!

Seriously, if coconut and macaroons are your thing, then you will absolutely fall in love with Danny Macaroons. Honestly, when it comes to the macaroons I have tried…these have been some of the best. Despite the handicap of my love/hate relationship with coconut, they still acted as a fantastic, light dessert after two meals this week. I think if you’re looking for a healthy, coconutty treat…these are for you. And with all the flavors on their site…what’s not to love. Next time…I hope I get Salted Caramel. That being said, this wasn’t a complete flop. Coconut lovers will flock to these…so Cuisine Cube totally has that down in this dessert option. For people like me…well…it wasn’t a throw away for sure. In fact, I actually really enjoyed the chocolate one. Just goes to show…everything is better with chocolate.