Sweet Stuff – Page 24 – The Celiathlete

May 22, 2014

Restaurant Review: Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck, Louisville, Kentucky

Restaurant: Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck, Louisville, Kentucky

They are BACK!

YES!! Finally!!

After a long, harsh winter without much action of the food truck scene…especially for me…because of my food allergies and all…I was so happy when Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck returned from their hiatus (the owners spend the winters in New Orleans, Louisiana). Unfortunately, I didn’t get out to them for a few weeks. I was either out of town or the weather was bad.

But that was not the case this past Sunday afternoon. Louisville was having their Buy Local Fair and the food trucks were out and serving. I went to this event last year and walked away with tons of local products from local businesses and farms. So, I was excited that I would be in town for this year’s event as well. It was a near thing though. I was in Indianapolis the day before for a half marathon…so thank goodness this was a Sunday event.

After an easy time getting to the site of the Buy Local Fair and with no problems parking…I was more than primed to find the food trucks and get my crepe on. Because that…my dear readers…is what Sweet ‘N’ Savory is all about. They do amazing gluten-free crepes, gelato, smoothies, coffee, tea…ahhhh…life’s simple but best pleasures, if you ask me. And you’re reading this…so technically…you are.

Sweet ‘N’ Savory was right on the end of the row of food trucks as we turned the corner. I think I bounced up and down when I saw them…already with a line. YAY! I was so ready for this. My crepe craving has been out of control lately. And despite having a gluten-free crepe place in Columbus, Ohio…and now one in Denver, Colorado…nothing…NOTHING compares to those that are served up by my local food truck, owned by Richard and Ashley Giannini. He mans the crepe stones and she takes the orders and dishes up everything else…including their rich, creamy gelato. But I’ll get to that momentarily.

Richard and Ashley are the two who got me hooked on savory crepes. I never cared for them much before…until they came along. And…still…I hardly order them from anywhere else…because they don’t compare to the flavor combinations that I can get from Sweet ‘N’ Savory. I looked over the menu…and contemplated going sweet. But it was lunch…so…the savory sort of had my attention. I was going back and forth between two of them…and finally settled on…

The Sweet Onion Crepe.

Sweet 'N' Savory's Sweet Onion Crepe — Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Sweet Onion Crepe

This savory crepe contained caramelized onions, figs, honey, and goat cheese, folded up in the gluten-free crepe and served toasty and warm and…mouth watering. Holy cow. I put in my order and Cathy placed hers (opting for the one with ‘all the meats’ as she never gets to eat meat at home since I am the cook). While we waited, we chatted with both Richard and Ashley about how we’ve been and what’s been keeping us busy. They apologized for missing me the weekend before at The Flea Off Market (severe weather shut it down early and they packed up 10 minutes before I finally arrived…SO not their fault. Just really bad timing!). We laughed about the strange weather and soon…both Cathy and I were receiving our delicious gluten-free crepes.

The seating area was on the other end of the food truck area, so we took a small stroll over to a picnic table and settled in. I quickly took the mandatory food shot for the blog and then picked up my plastic utensils and readied myself for my first bite of one of Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s crepes in a L-O-N-G time.

It was just as good as I always remembered. The savory Sweet Onion Crepe was the perfect blend of everything. You get sweetness from the caramelized onions…plus some great flavor and texture from the chopped up figs that are inside. The honey binds everything together. But the real magic in this crepe falls to the goat cheese. You get this nice balance of saltiness and creamy texture to counter the onion and fig mixture. Heaven. I cut off a piece for Cathy to try and she agreed…it rocked! And her crepe was apparently good too, because we polished them off in record time. For real! The crepe itself was toasted to a perfect golden brown and tucked neatly around the filling. It was heaven on a paper plate. And I was all smiles…in between chewing, of course. I have yet to have something from Sweet ‘N’ Savory that I didn’t like.

As we had been waiting in line, Ashely had mentioned their gelato flavors. She had done up a Brownie Batter Gelato that morning that she said was amazing. Lick-the-bowl good, I believe. She also said that it would pair perfectly with, my personal favorite, Salted Caramel. And they did have the salted caramel flavor. But she enticed me with something else…

A Dairy-Free Raspberry Gelato. So, Cathy and I abandoned our plans to celebrate my fastest half marathon time with our traditional Sundae Sunday at The Comfy Cow…and instead…went for Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s gelato. Cathy got the Brownie Batter. I was enticed to the Raspberry. Ashley served it up…and we happily paid and walked away with our refreshing sweet treat in hand.

Cathy fell in love with the rich, sweet, very-brownie flavor of the Brownie Batter Gelato. I took a spoonful and…WOW! Yeah…it was like eating rich, delicious, dark chocolate brownie batter. REALLY good. But, I was over-the-moon for my choice. Light, airy, and tangy…the zippy flavor of Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Dairy-Free Raspberry Gelato won me over at first bite. Cathy, who doesn’t even like raspberry, took a taste and said, “WOW…that’s GOOD!” So, we perused the Buy Local Fair, buying products from local farms and businesses, while eating our little bowls of homemade, rich, creamy, light…gelato. I was in a good place. A very, very happy place.

So, I want to take a moment to welcome back my favorite Louisville, Kentucky food truck, Sweet ‘N’ Savory. I have missed you so much. And you totally have brought the flavor-factor back once again this year. I can’t wait to turn up at other events and try other crepes that you create and put together. Honestly…you’ve been missed. And next time…it might be a two-scoop gelato kind of day. Your food is love…and I love your food!

Sweet 'N' Savory's Dairy-Free Raspberry Gelato — Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Dairy-Free Raspberry Gelato

May 22, 2014

Product Review: Bella Lucia Lemon Love Gluten-Free Pizzelle

Product: Bella Lucia Lemon Love Gluten-Free Pizzelle – $6.95+

It was one of the best moments ever. I am in a natural food store my friend, Jenn, had been wanting to take me to for years, while in Columbus, Ohio (Raisin Rack is the store). The aisles and aisles of gluten-free products are calling to me. Like…literally. I’m getting all whiney and needy and really, really wanting to try some items that I hadn’t found anywhere else.

And my roomie comes over with a medium-size basket and tells me to fill it up.

Of course…she helped.

One of the products that she insisted that we try was Bella Lucia Lemon Love Gluten-Free Pizzelle.

Why? Because it had the word “lemon” on it. And we had seen these before at our Whole Foods and never picked them up. Second chance. We’re taking it.

What are pizzelle? A pizzella is a traditional Italian waffle cookie that is made from flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and flavoring (like…in this case…lemon!). Depending on how they are prepared, pizzelle can be hard and crisp or soft and chewy. These are known to be one of the oldest forms of cookies. The cookie dough batter is put into a pizzelle iron (sort of like a waffle iron). They are typically stamped in a snowflake pattern on both sides. These cookies are thin, golden, and usually crisp in texture once it’s cooled.

I had never had pizzelle before, so I was already intrigued. After we polished off some dinner (leftovers from the Corn & Black Bean Salad I posted about in my “Cooking With Amy Farrah Fowler” blog), I cleaned up the dishes and pulled the plastic container out of the pantry so we could enjoy some dessert. I opened up the container and removed the sealed cookies. I carefully cut into the seal and eased out two thin cookies, handing one over to Cathy while I kept the other one for myself.

These cookies are so light and thin. Loved that. I wouldn’t feel guilty when the dessert I’m “indulging” in doesn’t feel heavy and fattening. HAHA! I took a bite.

The Bella Lucia Lemon Love Gluten-Free Pizzelle is of the soft and chewy type. I was really, really expecting them to be crunchy. Everything about them screamed crunchy. I think I was slightly disappointed that they lacked crunch. But…even more…the lack of lemon flavor was a bigger disappointment. And what I could taste was almost…fake in flavor. They also seemed a bit…dry.

As I have never had pizzelle before, I don’t know if this is normal or not, but it was a bit of a letdown in the end. The cookies look beautiful. But they really lack in the texture and flavor. At least this version of them. I’d be willing to try the other flavors of gluten-free pizzelle offered by Bella Lucia…but the Lemon Love were slightly disappointing. At least for me.

Ingredients in the Bella Lucia Lemon Love Gluten-Free Pizzelle include white rice flour, brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, potato flour, xanthan gum, pectin, sugar, canola oil, eggs, and lemon extract. They are gluten-free…the founders wanting to make traditional baked goods that would meet new dietary needs without giving up flavor and taste.

As for nutrition information, a serving size of the Bella Lucia Lemon Love Gluten-Free Pizzelle is one cookie. Just one. This serving will give you 100 calories and 4.2 grams of fat. In addition, you will be consuming 28.8 mg cholesterol, 6.3 grams of sugar, and 9.5 mg sodium. Finally, you will be taking in less than 1 gram of fiber and only 1.3 grams of protein. So…don’t expect these cookies to fill you up. They won’t.

I expected something completely different in a pizzelle. And while I’m not totally disappointed, I’m not entirely impressed either. I love what Bella Lucia is doing. And I think I might have enjoyed it more with more lemon flavor infused…but these were just a little bland. And not crispy. When I get a thin cookie…I want some crunch to it. So, slightly lacking. But not bad. Not amazing. But not bad.

May 21, 2014

Product Review: Lucky Clover Farm Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin

Product: Lucky Clover Farm Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin – $3.00

Yeah…after the mention of the Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin from Lucky Clover Farm in my previous post, I wasn’t going to leave you hanging. Seriously. I think I’m in love with the gluten-free baked goods this local business is putting out. I am so glad that I went to the Buy Local Fair in Louisville on Sunday because I don’t think I would have found them otherwise.

Happiness…is being able to eat baked goodies!

Because unless I go to a specialty bakery or buy them in the store or make them myself…I go without.

That’s how it works when you are a Celiac.

That being said…when I literally turned around and walked back to the booth at the Buy Local Fair that was advertising gluten-free breads, muffins, cakes, etc…I didn’t know what I was in for. I ended up purchasing more than what I initially intended. I wanted the gluten-free carrot cake…but it’s hard to sell that on my roomie. She was intrigued by the herb bread…and I just blogged on that. We also picked out three of the jam varieties they had for sale as well. We are jelly and jam lovers here. Seriously. I kept eying that carrot cake…but ended up leaving it and going for the Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin instead.

First of all, I have never seen such beautiful muffins. It was shaped like a giant flour. Seriously. I picked up one of the individually wrapped muffins and found it soft, light, and smelling of fresh blueberries. It smelled sweet. And fresh. And…yeah…I supposed I could leave the carrot cake behind this time if this was what I got to have instead.

On Monday morning, after my spin class, I returned home and got to work on a quick and easy breakfast. This was going to consist of some of the aforementioned gluten-free herb bread from Lucky Clover Farm…and Cathy and I were splitting the Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin. I decided to toast the slice of bread, tossing it on a pan and then into the oven while I went and showered. When I was dressed and back in the kitchen, the bread was finishing up…so I unwrapped the blooming Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin from Lucky Clover Farm, placed it on a plate, and then placed it in the microwave for about 20 seconds.

It smelled so amazing as it emerged out of the microwave, warm all the way through. I sliced it in half…then into quarters. Cathy loves her muffin buttered, so I added a light schmear of real butter to her muffin slices and then plated it with the toasted gluten-free herb bread.

I never have buttered much of anything I ate…including bread and muffins, so mine was simply plated. I settled in with my coffee and my tasty (and easy and quick) breakfast that morning. I already knew the bread was good, so I immediately turned my attention and appetite to the Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin.

It was so soft and light. It was not dense at all. Just fresh and baked to a golden perfection on the outside. The blueberries added a great amount of fresh sweetness. And it wasn’t laden with sugar, making it seem more like cake. This was a muffin through-and-through. It was soft and chewy and perfect. I think angels might have baked it…because I love a muffin that isn’t heavy. And this was just what I needed that morning. They seem to make different varieties of their gluten-free muffins throughout the year and where they end up at different fairs and festivals and markets.

I can’t say enough good things about Lucky Clover Farms. In fact, these gluten-free baked goods were such a hit with me and Cathy that we can’t wait to try the jams out.

This might have been my favorite Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin to date. I mean…it looked like a flower and tasted like a dream.

Doesn’t get much better than that!

Lucky Clover Farm Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffin

May 21, 2014

Product Review: Wild Friends Foods Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter

Product: Wild Friends Foods Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter – $1.99+

You know…I didn’t think it was going to be possible.

A little while back, I blogged about an almond butter from Wild Friends Foods, known for their different flavors in nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter), that I thought was the best thing I ever tasted…nut butter-wise and so forth. Little did I know…that the Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter I had raved and raved about was about to get unseated as the best nut butter in my nut butter addicted world.

No…honestly…I have this crazy addition to nut butters. I eat the hell out of them. There is no stopping me. Even when I try to leave notes to NOT snack on the nut butter…I ignore them…and…another jar gone.

Love, for me, is a jar of peanut butter (or almond butter, or cashew butter, or…you get the picture) and a spoon.

For real.

So…the other day I went to the office after my cardio session at the gym and brought breakfast with me. I had some gluten-free bagels calling for me and my roomie to devour them. So, I thawed them out the night before and packed the sample packet of Wild Friends Foods Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter to top them with. I also brought a serving for each of us from the jar of the Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter I splurged on (a jar runs $11.99…YIKES!) to top the other half of each bagel with. So…I was pretty much giving some protein back after a good workout.

Anyway…I toasted up the bagels in the toaster oven (on a dedicated plate). While they toasted, I gave the packet of Wild Friends Food Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter a good kneading, so that it would be good to squeeze and spread when the bagels were adequately toasted. That was about five minutes later. I removed the bagels and tore the corner of the sample packet of the Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter and began to squeeze it out over two halves of the bagels. I gave it a quick spread with the knife, noting the full raisins that were actually incorporated into the peanut butter itself. Awesome. I used my mana from heaven (the Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter) on the other halves and served them up.

As I settled in at my desk, I lifted the bagel half with the Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter on it and took a bite. I figured it was going to taste good. I mean…I love peanut butter. I love cinnamon. I love raisins. So…this seemed like a given. What I wasn’t expecting was just how much I was going to like this peanut butter. In fact, after taking a bite, I set that half down, took in some water, then picked up the Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter half and took a bite.

It was a given…the Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter just moved ahead in rank to the top of my favorite nut butter in my life. Seriously! That being said, I turned my attention to the half with the almond butter on it to eat first. When I returned to the half with Wild Friends Foods Cinnamon Raisin Almond Butter…I savored each bite. The peanut butter is naturally sweet, but the raisins add a bit of texture and sweetness as well. In addition, I live the hint of heat you get from the cinnamon that is incorporated. Whole raisins are actually in this spread…that’s amazing! Yes…even in the little sample pack. You will love, love, love this flavor combination. Next time I splurge on nut butter…it’s going to be for the less expensive (only $6.99 for a 16 ounce jar) Cinnamon Raisin Almond Butter.

DELISH!

Ingredients couldn’t be simpler. Honestly. The Wild Friends Foods Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter is made from peanuts, raisins, cinnamon, roasted peanut oil, organic agave, and sea salt. That’s it. It is made with all-natural ingredients. This peanut butter is non-GMO, non-dairy, cholesterol-free, and kosher. It contains no gluten ingredients either. YES!

Nutritionally speaking, it is comparable to all the other peanut butters out there. A serving is 2 tablespoons. This serving will provide you with 180 calories and 14 grams of fat. Much of that fat comes from the peanuts as there are no hydrogenated oils is this peanut butter at all. Color me happy. The 2 tablespoon serving will also provide you with 45 mg sodium and 4 grams of sugar. That’s really good. While agave is added to sweeten this, I always find peanut butter naturally sweet anyway. And, a serving will give you 2 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein. Awesome!

Yep…just when I thought the nothing could top Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter…they do it themselves. If you are a cinnamon raisin lover like me, you will fall head-over-heels in love with Wild Friends Foods Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter. I’m ready to go to the natural foods store and buy a jar right now, honestly. Then…all I’d need is a spoon…

Best. Peanut. Butter. EVER!

Wild Friends Foods Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter (on a gluten-free bagel)

May 20, 2014

Restaurant Review: Crepes ‘N Crepes, Denver, Colorado

Restaurant: Crepes ‘N Crepes, Denver, Colorado

Crepes.

Thin little French pancakes of awesomesauce.

Yep. That about sums it up. They come sweet. They come savory. But the fact of the matter is…I love them. There is something just so…foodie…about a crepe. They, for one thing, are a bitch to make. And, sadly, they are very hard to come by in the gluten-free variety.

There is a great food truck here who catered my birthday party last year…Sweet ‘N Savory, who does gluten-free crepes…and I love them so much. We’re BFFs really. If they have an event…you better believe I am there. When I go to Columbus, Ohio…I hit up Cest Si Bon…where I can get gluten-free crepes while out of town. But, the place I would get gluten-free crepes when I was visiting Denver…closed. It’s been closed for about two years now. It was where I first had a Crepe Suzette (my absolute favorite crepe in life!) and fell in love with it.

So what is a girl to do when she constantly craves crepes and her usual spot in Denver is gone?

You find a new one! And thanks to my Find Me Gluten Free app, I found one.

The place is Crepes ‘N Crepes…and they do have amazing gluten-free options. Any crepe can be made gluten-free…you just have to tell your server. I actually had a decent breakfast up in Boulder, Colorado that morning (The Buff, FTW!)…but I knew I’d be hungry sooner or later. And when we had limited parking at the hotel, our minds were made up…Cathy and I were grabbing an early dinner…and it was going to be crepes.

We drove out to East Third Avenue in Denver and parked the car. A short stroll from the parking garage to the restaurant. I was quite excited! We strolled in and we were seated out on the front porch under a nice umbrella, the afternoon breeze a nice change of pace. We were given menus and ordered water. I already knew what I was going to get for my crepe. They had a Crepe Suzette. Cathy…she needed some time to ponder. She is more of a savory crepe person than a sweet crepe person, so when she finally decided…it was all about cheese. Seriously.

Cathy ordered the Fromage de Chevre (Goat Cheese Crepe) that came with a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and a Pesto ($8.00). I got the Gluten-Free Crepe Suzette ($10.50 includes the $1.00 up-charge for gluten-free). The waitress asked if they needed to clean the stone off for me. I did explain that I was a Celiac and that it was necessary. She said it wasn’t a problem and went to put our orders in.

We only had a little bit of a wait before our crepes arrived. My folded pocket of goodness was a thin folded pancake that was made up of lemon juice, caramel, butter, sugar and grand marnier. Mmmm…boozy crepes!! It looked amazing, all flambeed to a beautiful sugary crust on the top. I was ready to dive right in and see if it compared to my first…and the one my food truck made specifically for me on my birthday. I took up my fork and knife and sliced right in. One bite…

And it was good. It was. It wasn’t quite up to what I had at La Creperie Cafe the other times I was in Denver (such a shame they closed!) or from Sweet ‘N Savory. But it was very good. It had that gritty sugary feel on the inside with the butter making it soft and delectable. The caramel gave it that nice crust on the top. And the lemon juice tied everything together. The booze was nicely burned off, giving it just that hint of flavor. Yep…still my favorite crepe. Just delicious. I was one happy girl, eating my gluten-free crepe out in the Denver sunshine that afternoon.

Cathy’s crepe, by the way, looked fantastic. It was stuffed with soft goat cheese and she was provided with two dipping sauces. While she is a huge fan of roasted red peppers, her favorite sauce was the pesto. She was in heaven when she combined that flavor of the crepe with the savory cheese and that kick of the pesto. She devoured it. And left no pesto in the container.

I was very happy that I at least got to have one of my favorite treats while in Denver. It was Denver where I first got served up a gluten-free crepe, so it has become somewhat of a tradition to seek out. Thanks to Crepes ‘N Crepes…I had an amazing Gluten-Free Crepe Suzette while enjoying a relaxing afternoon on the patio, chatting with my roommate and just taking it all in. Was it the best Crepe Suzette I ever had? Nope. But it was still delicious…and that is good enough for me! I can’t wait to go back!

Crepes 'N Crepes Gluten-Free Crepe Suzette — Crepes ‘N Crepes Gluten-Free Crepe Suzette

May 19, 2014

Product Review: Earth Balance P.B. Popps

Product: Earth Balance P.B. Popps – $5.99+

Well played, Earth Balance.

Well played.

Because, somehow, without even knowing me…you created the ultimate snack. You invented my new snack crack. Because this combines two of my most favorite things in life…and then some. You take peanut butter…and popcorn…and you make it snackable. You make it…so easy to dive into this little pouch and keep on going. It’s so hard to stop. It’s just…you made my snack kryptonite.

Congratulations.

Now, you, my fellow readers…if you are unfamiliar with Earth Balance and, more specifically, P.B. Popps…read carefully. Earth Balance is a company that is committed to producing 100% plant-based, vegan, non-GMO, lactose-free, egg-free, casein-free, trans-fat-free products. I use their vegan butters, buttery spreads, and nut butters in numerous things. I keep Earth Balance products in my fridge and pantry…constantly. When a company specializes in vegan products that are created only using all-natural ingredients that are organic, and often benefit those who not only are vegan or vegetarian, but also have food allergies…well…you better believe I’m going to support them.

A little while ago, Earth Balance began putting out some vegan and gluten-free snack options. First it was some popcorn (in various flavors) and such. But…one day they put up on Facebook that they created this amazing product called P.B. Popps. I immediately knew that if I spotted them in the grocery store…I’d buy them. It took some looking, but almost a year later, they turned up on the shelf of my local Whole Foods store. There was much rejoicing and budget breaking that day. I snagged a pouch of them and took them home.

These…have been my snack at the office this past week. And oh my GOD…they are SO good.

P.B. Popps are described on the packaging as popcorn cuddled in peanut butter and a bustle of oats. I love popcorn. I definitely love peanut butter. And oats are one of my favorite things in life. I mean…I eat oatmeal in some form for lunch every day. Yes. EVERY day! So, popcorn coated in peanut butter and oats…that sounds right up my alley.

Trust me. It was. And you’ll love them too! Each popcorn pieces is coated liberally in peanut butter, and dipped in oats. This makes the most interesting texture combination when you bite into it. The popcorn has that crunch from the peanut butter that coats it…and then the oats add a hint of softness to each bite. The peanut butter flavor is awesome on these. I mean…awesome. It doesn’t overpower…but you know it’s peanut butter. And, trust me, it’s best to put out only a serving because you could keep popping these little peanut-buttery-oaty popcorn pieces and down the entire bag. These…are beyond fantastic. These are a treat worth repeating!!

Ingredients for Earth Balance P.B. Popps are peanuts, whole grain oats, dried cane syrup, tapioca syrup, popcorn, expeller pressed natural oil blend, flaxseed, agave syrup, salt, baking soda, water, natural flavor, pea protein, and sunflower lecithin. I know what every single one of those ingredients are! That’s a bonus. The Earth Balance P.B. Popps are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, cholesterol-free, non-GMO, made with 100% natural ingredients, and contain 0 grams of trans-fat. LOVE.

Let’s look at nutrition for this snack…because…vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free…and all of that still comes with a nutrition label, yes? You better believe it. A serving size of the Earth Balance P.B. Popps is 28 grams (or about 1/3 cup). This serving will provide you with 130 calories and 6 grams of fat. This serving will also be giving you 80 mg sodium and 6 grams of sugar. And finally, you’ll be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

Not bad for a peanut-buttery popcorn snack, right? RIGHT! I was very impressed with this snack. Earth Balance has never let me down. Not once. And this has made me an even bigger fan. I can’t wait to try more of their snack items in the very near future. The most difficult part now will be not purchasing a pouch of these every time I go into Whole Foods.

For real! They are that amazing. Try them yourself. Trust me…you’ll want to pop more than one!

May 18, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert – $6.99+

Mmm…ice cream.

I love ice cream. It’s the one treat I never like to say no to eating. However, being lactose intolerant, ice cream doesn’t always love me back. Even when I take a supplement to help with digestion…it doesn’t always work. As you can imagine, for someone who grew up eating ice cream no matter what time of year it was…this can be quite challenging.

But…thanks to products from So Delicious Dairy Free…I can still have my ice cream and at it too.

Well, technically, being dairy free it can’t be called “ice cream”…but more of a frozen dessert. And from So Delicious, the primary base of their products is…coconut milk.

YUMMY!

Back in April, I was running around my grocery store and my roommate said…”Did you see the no sugar added So Delicious ice cream over there?” I was all, “Um…NO!” And went tearing over to the freezer with the So Delicious and other dairy-free frozen desserts tucked inside. Over near the organic and natural foods, of course.

And there it was…a beacon of grocery store light shining down upon it. A little white container with a blue label wrapped around it declaring…”NO SUGAR ADDED!” This is my kind of dessert. Being the sweet tooth that I am, I’ve been desperately trying to cut back on sugar where I can. It’s not easy…but this…this was made for me. I didn’t even ask…I opened up that freezer door, pulled out a pint…and it came home with me that night.

And the other night…I was feeling ice cream. So, this finally had it’s moment to prove itself.

The grocery store had a few varieties in flavor to choose from, but my eye was drawn to the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert.

Whew…that’s a mouthful.

A delicious mouthful!

But…I’m getting ahead of myself. After a light dinner, I went to the freezer and retrieved the little pint of dairy-free dessert goodness. I dished up a serving for Cathy and one for me. Since this is dairy-free with no sugar added, the ice cream was a bit…flaky. It isn’t as creamy as regular ice cream, so scooping it out was sometimes a challenge…but I measured out the serving and dished the goodness out to each of us.

All it took was one bite for me to know that this was going to be a match made in heaven. A delicious dairy-free, gluten-free, less-sugar-in-your-life kind of heaven. So, it wasn’t creamy…but it wasn’t an unpleasant sort of flaky. In fact, each spoonful would melt into creamy goodness in your mouth, and the bits of almond and flakes of chocolate would be the last things to dance across your tongue. Magic. Just pure spoonfuls of magic. I was loving it. And sad that I only had two more servings. Gone to soon, for sure. But…a delicious treat that I wasn’t expecting. I am a huge fan of coconut milk and things made with coconut milk. And the fact that this is lower in sugar makes me one happy girl. You wouldn’t really even know that it was low-sugar if you weren’t told. It really is that good!

I am out…and need more.

Soon.

Ingredient-wise…So Delicious Dairy Free uses organic coconut milk, gum arabic, chocolate flake, almonds, vegetable glycerin, chicory root extract, erythritol, natural flavors, sea salt, locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan (UGH!), and monk fruit extract in the No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Frozen Dessert. So…not completely a clean eat…but, not the worst (by far) on ingredients. It is cholesterol-free soy-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free. It is certified kosher, vegan, and organic!

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Frozen Dessert is 1/2 cup. In this serving, you will be consuming 140 calories and 12 grams of fat (some of that is the healthy fats you get from coconut and almonds…so don’t panic!). You will also be consuming 80 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. Yes…you read that right…1 GRAM OF SUGAR!! LOVE!! In addition, you will be taking in 10 grams of filling fiber and 2 grams of protein. So much love for these nutrition facts. For real.

Love. That’s what this dessert is all about. Lots of dairy-free, tasty, ice-creamy love. The No Sugar Added variety of the Toasted Almond Chip Frozen Dessert from So Delicious Dairy Free may not be the creamiest of ice cream treats…but it brings the flavor. And the love. Especially to those of us who have problems with dairy. This is one of life’s greatest gifts to the ice cream lover in me. I need more.

Stat.

A serving of So Delicious Dairy Free No Sugar Added Toasted Almond Chip Coconut Milk Frozen Dessert

May 18, 2014

Product Review: WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies

Product: WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies – $4.99+

Lemon. Lemon.

Luscious lemon.

There is something go refreshing and amazing about foods that have that lemon tang to it. Citrus has always been one of my first loves…especially lemon. Lemonade, lemon chiffon, lemon meringue, lemon zest, lemon…lemon…lemon! Give me all the lemon.

Luckily, my friends know of this lemon love…and often share it.

That goes double for my friend Jenn, who kindly stocked me up with a package of WOW Baking Company’s Lemon Burst Cookies.

I mean…what is not to love about that? LEMON. BURST. COOKIES.

I was thrilled to have these in my pantry…and after working through some other items…pulled these out one evening for a delicious palate cleanser after dinner. Dessert doesn’t have to be big…but it should always be enjoyed. I love a small touch of sweetness after a meal. My desserts at home are often just a couple bites of something, but I never deny myself that little treat.

That being said…I pulled open this little sack of cookie goodness and discovered a bag full of amazing soft, two to three bite cookies. I checked the label for the serving size…which says…2 ounces. That turned out to be around 4-5 of the little mini cookies. So…I dished up a measured serving (yes…I weighed them each time!) for my roommate and one for me. I delivered the cookies to her and she dug in. She might love lemon even more than I do…so she was happily nomming away at her batch of cookies when I finally settled in with my dessert.

One bite confirmed what her appreciative chewing noises were telling me. These…WERE AWESOME!! The texture was somewhere in between a butter cookie and a cake. Seriously. They were so soft and light…I loved it. No annoying crunching. Flavor-wise, it was like eating a bit of sugar cookie dough that was kicked up with a hint of lemon flavor. Just enough to sweeten and not overpower. It was so refreshing. Each bite was a treat, most definitely.

WOW Baking Company is very dedicated to producing soft, chewy, delicious tatsting baked goods that are wheat-free and gluten-free. According to their Website, all products are produced in small batches with premium, all-natural ingredients. You won’t ever find hydrogenated oils, refined sugars, artificial flavors or wheat and gluten in any of the products they produce. Their products are non-GMO, which is always nice. WOW Baking Company produces all their products in a dedicated and certified gluten-free facility.

So, let’s discuss the ingredients in WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies, shall we? These cookies are made from a gluten-free flour blend (brown rice, sweet rice, tapioca), cane sugar, butter, eggs, corn starch, potato starch, vanilla, cream of tartar, pure lemon oil, xanthan gum, baking soda, salt and citric acid. That’s it. And what you get is a product you’d be hard pressed to guess was gluten-free if you didn’t know. Trust me.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies is, as I mentioned before, 2 ounces, or around 4-5 cookies. This serving will dish you up 260 calories and 12 grams of fat. These cookies also have 50 mg cholesterol, 220 mg sodium, and 14 grams of sugar. The Lemon Burst Cookies also have 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein in each serving. So…they are a treat for sure. Don’t over indulge…but do enjoy.

I fell in love with the WOW Baking Company Lemon Burst Cookies at first bite. Chewy, soft, light, and delicious. The right amount of lemon flavor. The right balance of everything else. Real ingredients means really delicious treats. This…is a favorite for sure!

Just…WOW!

May 16, 2014

Product Review: Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter

Product: Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter – $1.99+

As many of you, my dear readers, know by now…one of my most favorite things in life…and truly my drug of choice…is peanut butter.

Yes.

Peanut butter.

I can’t get enough of the stuff. I eat it by the jarful. When I’m stressed out…it’s what I turn to for comfort. After I workout, it’s what I grab to get some protein. I eat it on sandwiches, in cookies, and…best of all…right off a spoon straight from the jar. Yes…if we all have that one food that is our kryptonite…for me…it’s peanut butter.

I do try to keep it as natural as possible. I don’t mind having to stir my peanut butter or store it upside down. Nope. It doesn’t matter to me at all. Because peanut butter is one of those perfect foods that balances my love of sweet and salty…all at once.

Well, while in Birmingham, Alabama, I discovered little sample packets (and the jars) of nut butters from Wild Friends Foods. The cute, winking squirrel on the label was what caught my eye first. Then…the unique and different flavors. I originally snagged my (still) favorite so far…the Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter. But the next chance I had at Organic Harvest in Birmingham, I snatched up a few more…and one of them was the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter. Let me say that again…

Chocolate. Coconut. Peanut Butter.

Is that not heaven in nut butter form? Of course it is. These packets only sat in my pantry for a very short time. Very short. Because I was without vegan cream cheese the other day and wanted to finish off the gluten-free bagels that were sitting in my freezer. So, I chose both of the chocolate varieties I had in the pantry (the previous reviewed Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter was the other) and kneaded the packets so that when the bagels were done toasting in the oven, I could split each flavor between the four halves for my roommate and I to try.

Out of the oven came the bagels and two halves got the Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter schmeared on them. The other two halves…got the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter treatment. I served up one half of each for each of us and settled in for breakfast. I tried the Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter first…and loved it. But when I took a bite of the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter…I knew which one I preferred. Seriously. I had recently fallen in love with a brand of almond butter that mixed in coconut pulp. I mean…it’s crack. But this…this went beyond crack. This was amazing. The sweetness of the chocolate blended well with the texture of peanut butter…but that little tang of coconut is what made this. Amazing. I said it before…I’ll say it again…who needs Nutella when this exists? I’d eat an entire jar of this without stopping if I could. Probably best I had this in the sample packet only!! It’s really good. In fact, I was waiting on my roommate to comment that she didn’t like it as much as the Sesame Seed version…but she surprised me, saying she preferred the Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter variety. WOW! That’s definitely saying something as she adamantly declares her dislike of coconut often. WINNING!

Ingredients in the Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter are simple and clean. This particular nut butter of chocolate and coconut goodness contains peanuts, coconut, organic agave, chocolate liquor, and sea salt. Yes. That’s it. No unnecessary oils or preservatives. No strange additives or white sugar. Simple ingredients that offer big flavor. Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter is all-natural, non-GMO, non-dairy, kosher, and this particular flavor contains no gluten ingredients. It is also cholesterol free!

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter is 2 tablespoons. In this serving, you will be consuming 190 calories and 15 grams of fat. Don’t panic over the fat content. That comes from the nuts and the coconut. A serving also has 35 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. Only 5 grams of sugar in something that is chocolate. Yes. You read that right. This serving will also dish you up 2 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. You will feel full…and that is only a good thing. You don’t want to overindulge…which I tend to do when it comes to nut butters.

Three distinctly different flavors of Wild Friends Foods nut butters have been sampled. All of them have been enjoyed for various reasons. It is so nice to have a brand that puts so much pride in the flavors they create and the product itself. You can tell from the first bite how much love goes into the production of these nut butters. And…if you like something a little sweet and nutty…the Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter is a fantastic choice. Keep this in your pantry for always!

Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter (on a gluten-free bagel)

May 15, 2014

Product Review: Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter

Product: Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter – $1.99+

Remember that Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter that I raved about not too long ago?

No? If not…refresh your memory here. If you do…welcome to me sampling some more flavors from Wild Friends Foods. Because the delicious awesomesauciness of the Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter was enough to drive me to try some more options. And while I was in Birmingham, Alabama a couple weeks ago, I picked up some more sample packets of the Wild Friends Foods line of peanut and almond butters. I only hoped they would live up to the one that really blew me away.

So…I came home with three flavors…and had some gluten-free bagels in the freezer.

See where I am going with this?

So, one morning, I toasted up these bagels…and realized I used up all my vegan cream cheese.

Never fear. Never. Because where cream cheese fails…nut butter comes through.

My roommate and I sampled two different flavors that morning, as these are the small sample packs. But…in this blog I am focusing on the Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter.

Yes…

Chocolate. Sunflower Seed. Almond Butter.

Three epically delicious things in life all combined in one plastic jar with a cute winking squirrel on it. How could this be bad?

In truth…it can’t!! And…it wasn’t.

The Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter is crazy good. It isn’t too sweet, so they’ve managed to strike a nice balance between the amount of chocolate and the salty-savory flavor of the nuts. It was creamy and amazing. And who doesn’t like something chocolate for breakfast, right? This was really good on my gluten-free bagel. I was noshing it happily and enjoying the blend of flavors. Almond butter is the most prevalent, but it leads off with that sweetness of the chocolate. And the sunflower seeds…nice touch that adds great texture. It is like nothing you have ever had before…but you will totally want it again.

Delicious!

Let’s talk basic and simple ingredients, okay? That’s easy to do…because Wild Friends Foods only uses real ingredients in their nut butters. The Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter contains almonds, organic agave, unsweetened dark chocolate, sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, and sea salt. That’s it. Basic. Simple. CLEAN! Wild Friends Foods uses only all-natural ingredients, no white sugar, it’s non-GMO, non-dairy, vegan, and kosher. Also, this product has no gluten ingredients. YAY!

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sesame Seed Almond Butter is 2 tablespoons. This serving will provide you with 180 calories and 15 grams of fat…all of which are is the healthy fats you get from nuts. YAY! This product is cholesterol free and contains only 40 mg of sodium. Nice. Additionally, you will be consuming 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. Trust me…it’s filling. Especially on a bagel.

LOVE…is nut butters from Wild Friends Foods…and why choose between a sweet or a salty spread when you can have the best of both worlds? Yeah…now you don’t have to. Forget Nutella. Eat something so much better for you!

Wild Friends Foods Chocolate Sunflower Seed Almond Butter (on a gluten-free bagel)