Sweet Stuff – Page 27 – The Celiathlete

February 28, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars – $4.99+

I have one person to blame for my obsession with anything So Delicious! Honestly. Because I was turned onto these fantastic products simply by having some of the vanilla coconut milk at my friend Heather’s apartment one morning when I was visiting. She asked if I had tried it and then went on and on about how wonderful it was. I took a sample.

I was hooked.

So…I’m not pointing the finger at you, Heather…I am thanking you. Because of you, I have this love affair with products from So Delicious Dairy Free.

Recently they launched a couple of new products…one of which is some mini coconut milk dessert bars. Yes…coconut milk based dessert bars. They do it brilliantly. I reviewed the Minis Organic Fudge Bars the other night…but a new flavor steps into the spotlight tonight. And right there with chocolate, this happens to be one of my favorite flavors in life.

Strawberry.

I love strawberries. I love strawberry flavored things. I apparently love strawberries and coconut milk in a frozen form. Because from my first taste of this bar, I was hooked. So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars are…well…super. I’m not kidding. If you want to taste something that tastes like real strawberries…look no further than this dessert. And it isn’t fake strawberry flavor either. That amazing strawberry taste…that’s real strawberries. Organic strawberries at that. It’s amazing what real ingredients to do the flavor of food. I was instantly a fan of this frozen treat. Instantly. It was all I could do to saver each taste until it was all gone. I wanted it to last forever. But these little bars are mini…and they melt. So…it can’t go on forever. But, there are four to a pack, so you can indulge three more times after that first initial one.

And you’ll want to. Rich, smooth, creamy…it’s hard to believe that these don’t have any dairy in them. Who says you can’t make a fantastic frozen dessert without real milk and cream. These bars are proof. Not only are they creamy and dreamy, but they taste amazing. And I love that they are the perfect size too. So often, desserts can outweigh the dinner entree. Not here. You get a great portion and great flavor. This company is named So Delicious for a reason!

Let’s talk ingredients. According to the package, the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars are made from organic coconut milk, organic dried cane syrup, organic strawberries, organic inulin, natural flavor, organic guar gum, ascorbicacid, organic locust bean gum, and organic beet juice concentrate. Not bad. I know what all the ingredients are.

Nutritionally speaking…you’ll love these! One serving is one of the mini bars. This will provide you with 80 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 5 mg sodium (love that!) and 9 grams of sugar. Considering much of that sugar is coming from real fruit…that’s not bad. Not bad at all. A serving will also give you 5 grams of fiber. These bars, however, contain no protein. These are cholesterol free, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, non-GMO and certified organic. YAY!

If you love strawberries…you’ll dive right into these bars. Taste-for-taste they just get better as you go along. I absolutely loved everything about the SO Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars. Everything. Down to the plant-based and compostable stick. Saving the environment the So Delicious way.

So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Super Strawberry Bars (unwrapped)

February 25, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Fudge Bars

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Fudge Bars – $4.99+

Many of you already know that I am a huge fan of So Delicious. Their coconut milk and almond milk (as well as products made from said non-dairy milk) are amazing. I have yet to try something that I don’t like. That’s the thing about a company named So Delicious…it has to live up to it.

Recently, So Delicious Dairy Free released a couple of new coconut milk products. And I was fortunate enough to receive some of these products in the mail. I was out of town this past weekend, so I didn’t get to dive right in…but now that I’m back…I’m was beyond eager to give these products a try.

I started…with one of the most basic ones.

My choice: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Fudge Bars. These little fudgsicle like treats are a coconut milk dairy-free frozen dessert. And they are chocolate. And you know…one of the ways to my heart is through chocolate. I’m a choc-o-holic. I owe that to my grandma because she ate the heck out of chocolate. It was her favorite thing in life. And I can’t blame her. So, not only are these frozen bars made with delicious chocolate, but also that sweet hit of coconut milk. Sounds like the perfect snack, yes?

You better believe it. The Mini Organic Fudge Bar was my dessert tonight. I was so eager to rip into the wrapper and devour. But…I paced myself. Because dessert is meant to be savored. And this frozen treat is worth every moment of savoring. It won’t last too long though, because it does melt. So…do keep that in mind, okay?

First of all, this is the perfect and ideal size treat. Not too much and not too little. As Goldilocks would say…it’s just right. And it is. Honestly. The actual bar itself is around 3.5 inches in length, so in the grand scheme of things…not as mini as the product name might lead you to think. That’s a nice bonus. The consistency is so ice cream like you won’t believe that you’re not eating a full-blown-to-the-max-with-dairy ice cream bar. No cows were used in the making of this chocolate treat. Seriously. Velvet smooth. And the flavor is incredible. I fell in love with the rich flavor of the chocolate combined with that smooth coconut milk flavor. It is a winning combination in my book. I think my roommate got tired of hearing me comment on how delicious dessert was. Best of all, I didn’t have to bake it or make it. It was in my freezer just waiting for me…begging me…to just try it.

There is no going back. I want this in my freezer for life. For afterlife too, if that’s possible. This sweet tooth was beyond satisfied.

As far as ingredients go, the Mini Organic Fudge Bars contain coconut milk, organic agave syrup, organic inulin, organic cocoa, organic dried cane syrup, water, carob bean gum, guar gum, natural flavor, salt, and carrageenan. These bars are vegan, cholesterol free, and gluten-free. All ingredients are also non-GMO! I totally approve.

As far as nutrition goes, you will absolute do a flip for these. A serving is 1 bar. The box comes with 4 inside. One of the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Fudge Bars will serve you up only 80 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. You will be consuming 10mg sodium and 8 grams of sugar. Not bad for a treat! And you will be provided with 3 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein.

Super yum!! Thank you, So Delicious, for introducing me to this new product!

I’m doing my best right now not to go raid my freezer for another one.

Because…I want another one.

Do search out this new product from So Delicious Dairy Free. Nothing is better after a long day than a sweet treat without the guilt. Enjoy!

So Delicious Diary Free Minis Organic Fudge Bar (unwrapped)

February 24, 2014

Product Review: Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies

The Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies

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

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

Three words.

Gluten Free Cookies.

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

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

Cookie monster, remember?

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

Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consider this cookie monster hooked!

Immaculate Baking Company Gluten Free Chocolate Chunk Cookies

February 23, 2014

Restaurant Review: C’est Si Bon Café, Columbus, Ohio

Restaurant: C’est Si Bon Café, Columbus, Ohio

It was about a month ago that my good friend Jenn tweeted at me after eating at a local restaurant not far from where she works. The main thing…crepes. The bigger deal was…gluten-free options.

I told her that when I came to visit in a couple of weeks, that was a requirement. She agreed. And we held each other to our word.

On Saturday morning, after snagging coffee, we headed out to Bexley…and there…not far from my favorite Columbus gluten-free bakery (Cherbourg Bakery), was C’est Si Bon Café. It is a small, quaint, unassuming place. Not very many tables, and a little bar that runs along the side wall for customers to sit and eat. It was bustling that morning and we were grateful to find a place to settle in…stealing a chair from the table in the window so three of us could sit at the table. I held our spot while Jenn and Cathy went to order.

They went for traditional breakfast crepes, each of them getting a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Crepe ($5.95). As for me, I wanted something sweet. I opted for the Gluten-Free Cinnamon and Sugar Crepe ($6.00). Gluten-free crepes are a $1.25 upcharge there, so that’s why mine seems so pricey for such a simple crepe. A regular version of the same crepe runs $4.75. Just an FYI.

It took about 10 minutes for our orders to be filled. No problem on the wait…since they make everything to order. And, mine was a specialty one…being gluten-free and all, so that was important too. They do have a separate crepe stone for the gluten-free crepe orders and the crepes are made from buckwheat flour.

When the order was up…I was so happy. My local gluten-free crepe truck is out of the state for the winter and won’t be back until April. Therefore, I have been crepe-less since the end of fall. This felt like such a treat because I hadn’t had a crepe in so long. My crepe was stunning and huge. It looked really good.

As stated above, the Gluten-Free Cinnamon and Sugar Crepe is made from buckwheat flour. Folded into it is butter, sugar and cinnamon. Simple. Easy. And I was betting tasted a lot like French Toast. And I love French Toast. So this was bound to be the best of both worlds.

I wasn’t disappointed. One bite of the folded, light, crepe and I was in heaven. The sugar and butter gave it this toasty feel…and the cinnamon brought a bit of spice. It was just what I wanted. It was what I really, really wanted. The crepe itself might seem so basic, but the flavors were fantastic. I gave a piece to both Jenn and Cathy and both agreed it was like eating French toast. Count me as one very happy girl.

I’ve already said that C’est Si Bon Café is a must now every time we’re in town. I mean…the menu is extensive and there are both sweet and savory ones that are just begging for me to try them. I already know what flavor I’m going to get next time. Just going to work my way through the ones that interest me greatly.

C’est Si Bon Café definitely is a place that everyone needs to try out. Honestly, I was so impressed, not just with the care and service, but the crepes themselves were OUTSTANDING!! I am one happy crepe-loving gluten-free girl. And I’m already trying to plot a return to the Columbus, Ohio area to visit Jenn and come try out another fantastic crepe creation.

Go…dine…enjoy…repeat.

You’ll want to. Trust me.

C'est Si Bon Café's Gluten-Free Cinnamon and Sugar Crepe — C’est Si Bon Café’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon and Sugar Crepe

February 20, 2014

Product Review: Udi’s Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola

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

Granola.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I am wowed!

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

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

A serving of Udi's Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola — A serving of Udi’s Gluten Free Crunchy Original Granola

February 18, 2014

Product Review: Nana’s No Gluten Lemon Cookie

Product Review: Nana’s No Gluten Lemon Cookie – $2.99+

The cookie monster has struck again.

I need to stop finding all these different brands of gluten-free cookies. Wait…no. No, I don’t. Because I forever will love cookies. Especially a good cookie.

I have actually spotted Nana’s No Gluten cookies at a local natural food store. However, I never really thought to stop and purchase one and give it a try. Why? I don’t know. I must not have been thinking clearly. Or, perhaps I was actually obeying my budget. Or…was overwhelmed by the amount of sheer awesome gluten-free goodies at that store. Whatever the case may be…that changed. But while I was visiting my family in Birmingham, Alabama.

My roomie and I stopped by the organic store my mom took us to the last time we were in town. It’s called Organic Harvest and their gluten-free selection is mesmerizing. For real. On the very bottom shelf, my roommate spotted the Nana’s No Gluten Lemon Cookie. Because if lemon is involved, she’s going to find it. Trust me. So, it didn’t take much pleading to make that one of the purchases we made while there. Good thing too, because when we drove home, we had nothing really left for dessert. So…guess what was dessert last night?

Now, I love a soft, chewy cookie. I really do. And Nana’s No Gluten Lemon Cookie looked very soft and very chewy. I opened up the package and was greeted with the best smell of lemon citrus flavor. YUMMY! I only hoped that the lemon flavor wouldn’t overpower. I split the cookie in half and gave half to my roomie and kept the other half for me. She dug in immediately, as lemon is her favorite flavor, and I asked her how it was. She liked it. I asked if it was too lemony and she said that it was right on the edge. It was perfect. I hoped she was right. I settled in to my own half, took a bite and…WOW!! Super soft, for one thing. Love that. Moist. You’d never believe that these were vegan (no dairy, no eggs, and an added bonus of no refined sugar). The lemon flavor was at the right level for sure. Any more and it would have been too tart. But the sweetness of the cookie actually perfectly balanced out the tartness of the lemon. I was beyond impressed. I devoured the half of a cookie in record time. The texture was a hybrid of a shortbread cookie and a moist, dense molasses cookie. Right in between. No joke. It was melt-in-your-mouth nom-a-licous. Honestly. And I love that the cookie is sweetened by fruit juice. Amazing.

So, let’s talk ingredients, shall we? Nana’s No Gluten Lemon Cookie is made from brown rice flour, white rice flour, fruit juice (a combo of pear, apple and grape), rice dextrins (a natural and unmodified starch), non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil, white rice crisp, tapioca flour, lemon, baking soda, non-aluminum baking powder, natural flavoring, natural vanilla extract, xanthan gum, salt. As far as ingredients go, not too bad. Not great…but not too bad either. Better than some I have eaten (and loved).

Nutritionally speaking, a serving is half the cookie. Yes…half. Not the whole cookie. Just half. In this half of a cookie, you will be consuming 180 calories and 7 grams of fat. This half of a cookie also contains 85 mg sodium and 10 grams of sugar. For a cookie, 10 grams of sugar isn’t bad, specially when it all comes from fruit juice. You also get 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein. So, don’t expect this cookie to fill you up.

The light, fresh, moist, delicious taste of this cookie is so amazing and enticing. I was sad that we only bought one. Honestly, one of the best gluten-free cookies on the market. I’m already hoping to try more of Nana’s No Gluten Cookies…even if I have to order them online. Delicious! If you love cookies and you are a fan of lemon…you won’t want to miss out on this treat. Trust me.

I’m already craving another one.

Nana's No Gluten Lemon Cookie (unwrapped) — Nana’s No Gluten Lemon Cookie (unwrapped)

February 17, 2014

Product Review: Amy’s Organic Kitchen Andy’s Dandy Candy Chewy Candy Bar

Product Review: Amy’s Organic Kitchen Andy’s Dandy Candy Chewy Candy Bar – $2.49+

Yep.

Amy’s Kitchen does more than just organic cakes now for dessert options. In fact, as I am typing this from a hotel in Birmingham, Alabama, I have since discovered that Amy’s Organic Kitchen also does ice cream now…dairy free ice cream. No joke. I saw it at the a little natural foods store and the Earth Fare and Whole Foods down here. No joke. Where have I been living?

What I did know is that Amy’s Kitchen put out candy bars not too long ago. Yep. Organic candy bars.

Trust me, I know…slapping the word organic on the label of something that is chocolate coated, packed with gooey caramel and nuts and…honestly…candy…does not make it healthy or any better than a Snickers. Save that it is made from organic ingredients and not…well…hydrogenated soybean oil (Snickers, I’m looking at you!), it’s still candy. I understand this. I get this. It doesn’t mean I didn’t pick it up off the shelf at the grocery store when I spotted it and keep it for dessert.

Because…I did.

HA!

Let’s first talk about why Amy’s Kitchen began producing candy in the first place. According to the Web site, Amy’s father, Andy, loves candy. He was the son of a candy maker and spent his childhood sampling chocolate morsels and chewy caramels from his father’s kitchen. To honor Amy’s Organic Kitchen’s commitment to provide great flavor and pure organic ingredients, Andy’s Dandy Candy was created. Andy was the tester for the flavors and when he was satisfied with the outcome…the candy bars were put on the market.

Currently, there are four different varieties: Crispy, Crunchy, Chewy, and Creamy.

I picked up Chewy.

Why Amy’s Organic Kitchen Chewy Candy Bar? Well, it was described, on the package, as soft, chewy caramel with pecans that were coated in chocolate. That sounds like heaven to me. Pecans are one of my favorite nuts. WIN!

Amy's Organic Kitchen Andy's Dandy Candy Chewy Candy Bar (unwrapped) — Amy’s Organic Kitchen Andy’s Dandy Candy Chewy Candy Bar (unwrapped)

As I was out of dessert options this past week before heading out of town, the roomie and I each had one of the two mini bars that are inside the package of the Amy’s Organic Kitchen Chewy Candy Bar. Yes…one for you and one to either keep for later or share. I highly encourage sharing. Because the more you share, the more these will sell…and they are SO worth it.

One bite…and it was like eating a hybrid of a Snickers (with less nuts) and a Rolo. There it is. It was amazing. The caramel was soft and chewy. The chocolate was a nice sweetness. And nothing pairs better with caramel than chocolate. Yum. The pecans were actually quite sizable and prevalent throughout the candy bar itself. It added a nice salty element…so each bite was perfection. I was one happy girl. And this girl doesn’t eat candy, let alone candy bars, all that often. Even Cathy was a fan.

So, let’s talk ingredients. Amy’s Organic Kitchen Andy’s Dandy Candy Chewy Candy Bar is made from organic milk chocolate, organic tapioca syrup, organic cane sugar, organic pecans, organic nonfat dry milk, organic grade AA butter, filtered water, organic palm oil, organic vanilla extract, sea salt, organic soy lecithin. It is deliciously organic, made from Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa, gluten-free, and contains no high fructose corn syrup, preservatives or GMOs.

Nothing too off-putting, right? Right.

As for the nutrition facts…a serving size is 1 of the 2 mini bars that are included in the pack. One bar will provide you with 100 calories and 6 grams of fat, which is actually good for a candy bar, I think. This little bar has 5 mg of cholesterol, 45 mg sodium, and 9 grams of sugar. 9 grams of sugar for a candy bar is actually not bad at all. A snickers of comparable size has 24 grams of sugar, twice the calories and way more fat and sodium. One serving of the Chewy bar also gives you no filling fiber and only 1 gram of protein. But…it’s candy.

Yes…candy. Indulgent treats that I actually do treat myself to every now and again. But, when choosing a candy…choose something a little bit better for you. Less sugar. Less fat. Organic ingredients. No high fructose corn syrup of hydrogenated oils. For me…Amy’s Organic Kitchen Andy’s Dandy Candy Chewy Candy Bar is a fantastic option for when the sweet tooth hits.

Try it for yourself. And as soon as I can find the other varieties…I’ll give those a try too.

Happy indulging.

Amy's Organic Kitchen Andy's Dandy Candy Chewy Candy Bar (halved) — Amy’s Organic Kitchen Andy’s Dandy Candy Chewy Candy Bar (halved)

January 28, 2014

Recipe: White Chocolate Peppermint Coconut Milk Ice Cream

I love ice cream.

Seriously.

Obviously. I mean…who else in their right mind would make ice cream when it is -100°F outside. That might be a slight exaggeration on the temperature…but it has felt like that the past couple of weeks. And it’s driving me insane. And when I go insane…I make ice cream.

A local ice cream store does some seasonal flavors every year, and one of the ones that is introduced at Christmas time is called Candy Cane Lane. It’s a white chocolate base with peppermint candies broken up and incorporated into the ice cream. It is phenomenal.

With the holidays now behind us…that ice cream flavor has gone back to the vault until next December. With that being said…I set out to recreate it, but instead of using a base made with whole milk and heavy cream, I used culinary coconut milk. Once again, So Delicious Culinary Coconut milk proves that it is just as good of a base as the heavy dairy, which tears my stomach up.

What was even better…it tasted just like the flavor at the ice cream shoppe. You’d never even guess coconut milk was used to make it. So, dig out that ice cream maker and give this one a whirl!

Recipe: White Chocolate Peppermint Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Servings: 8
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Freeze 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cans full fat coconut milk (I used So Delicious Culinary Coconut Milk)
1 cup coconut sugar (or your preferred sweetener)
8 ounces white chocolate, melted
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies or Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips

Directions:

In a saucepan, add a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer. Place a large bowl over the saucepan, making sure the base of the bowl does not touch the water. Break up the white chocolate into pieces, add them to the bowl, keeping the heat at its lowest, and allow the chocolate to melt slowly. The chocolate will take about 5-10 minutes to melt and will become smooth and glossy. Remove it from the heat and give it a good stir.

In a large bowl, mix the coconut milk, sugar, and melted white chocolate together until completely incorporated. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Add the ice cream base to the ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions.

In the last two minutes of processing, add in the peppermint candies/baking chips and continue to process until well incorporated.

Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container, cover the ice cream with plastic wrap, cover with the lid, then freeze until firm.

~*~*~

Yep…it’s super simple…and REALLY good. And, no worries, you can’t even taste the coconut milk. You get the smoothness of the white chocolate and that hit of peppermint from the addition of the candies or baking chips. And in the end…it makes a delicious treat that everyone will enjoy. Even when it’s colder than Christmas out there.

But…ice cream is good anytime, right?

Right!

January 28, 2014

Product Review: The Pfunky Griddle Gluten-Free Pancake Mix

Product: The Pfunky Griddle Gluten-Free Pancake Mix – $7.99

Awhile back, on a return trip from visiting my family in Birmingham, Alabama, my roommate and I were hungry. Very hungry. And I got onto my Find Me Gluten-Free app to find somewhere in Nashville, TN, where we might be able to safely grab a bite to eat. My app never steers me wrong…and it threw a few options at me. But…we were very intrigued by The Pfunky Griddle. And after a quick read of the reviews, I felt confident I could eat there and not get sick.

Breakfast food! YES!! They serve salads and sandwiches as well, but if you’re going to The Pfunky Griddle…you’re probably seeking out something to put on the griddle. And that was what we did, splitting an order of the gluten-free pancake mix and topping them off with our toppings of choice.

While we were waiting on a table, however, I spotted my danger zone. They sell their pancake mixes. Seriously. And one of the options they offered was their gluten-free pancake mix. After eating the pancakes at the store, I wanted some to take home. And after working through the plethora of gluten-free pancake mixes (I seriously LOVE pancakes)…I finally got to this one today.

And…you know I can’t do anything simple. The actual making of the batter is easy. Add to mix 2 eggs and 8 ounces of milk. I used my unsweetened almond milk. That was actually the easy part. I made 4 pancakes (1/4 cup of batter each) just plain…just the batter…so I could get an unadulterated taste of it. Then, I made 4 pancakes with blueberries added to them. And then, finally, I made 4 pancakes with white chocolate chips added to them. One batter…3 servings of different pancakes. I was excited, because from what I recall, I loved this batter when I ate at the restaurant.

However…today…I was way less enthusiastic about it. Not that it was bad; it wasn’t. It just…it isn’t able to compare to some of the other mixes I have used in between eating at the restaurant and making them myself at home. The pancakes actually cook up beautifully. Thin little cakes, toasted evenly on each side to a gorgeous golden brown color. The issue, I found, was that they actually tasted…gritty. Now, sometimes gritty is good, but not with pancakes. I was feasting on the plain pancakes this morning…my roommate said hers were pretty good. Which, sometimes means she likes them…and sometimes means that she is just being polite. I should learn not to ask her sometimes…

But, yeah…gritty. Gritty is not a good thing when it comes to pancakes. The batter was well mixed together…so it wasn’t an error on my behalf. And it didn’t have a horrible flavor either. Don’t get me wrong there. They taste like delicious pancakes, but that gritty texture is a little…off putting. In fact, I was happy to down these quickly and then finish off breakfast with my coffee instead of my usual vice-versa finish. My biggest hope is that the pancakes with the added fruit or sweet white chocolate chips offset a bit of that odd, gritty texture. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t notice it at the restaurant…because I was adding blueberries and bananas to my batter on the separate griddle pan.

The Pfunky Griddle Gluten-Free Pancake Mix is a blend of brown rice flour, corn starch, potato starch, salt, sugar and baking powder. Not bad on the ingredients. I managed to get 12 pancakes out of the mix. And they were all of a very decent size too.

So, they weren’t bad…but I just wasn’t as impressed with them at home. The gritty texture was a little…off for me. But, the flavor was good. I’ll give them that. However, I probably wouldn’t buy this again, even if I do stop in at the restaurant for breakfast/brunch again.

Pancakes made from The Pfunky Griddle Gluten-Free Pancake Mix

January 25, 2014May 11, 2015

Product Review: Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies

Product: Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies – $4.59+

I was in Birmingham, Alabama just before Christmas…visiting my family. My mom had found a new organic and natural food store in the area…and often goes there to shop…because the owner of the store is a Celiac. So much of their offerings are gluten-free…and now also paleo. It was actually a very cool store…and I picked up quite a few items while visiting there…which I hadn’t seen yet around here.

One of these items was the Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies.

It had been forever since I last had anything gingerbread…minus the amazing gluten-free gingerbread French toast and allergen-free gingerbread donuts my local allergen-free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Café) makes during the holiday season. But cookies? I haven’t enjoyed a gluten-free gingerbread cookie…ever.

So, when I spotted these…nevermind the fact that I don’t really care for gingerbread…during the holidays…I don’t mind it. I guess it’s part of that holiday feeling…those familiar flavors and tastes.

Well, it’s now almost February…and these cookies have been waiting patiently in my pantry for a little while now (and since my return to the Louisville area, I have found them at Target…go figure!). I was completely out of dessert options for after dinner tonight. Until I remembered I had these lurking in the pantry. Time to pull them out and give them a try.

The cookies actually look exactly like they do on the box. I was impressed. They are this great tan color, with this sugary coating. They looked fantastic and I was actually looking forward into biting into them. I doled out two servings…for myself and my roommate…and we sat down for our little treats.

OH…these are really good. First of all, that gingerbread flavor doesn’t overwhelm or overpower the palate. In fact, they are sweet with just a hint of that ginger spice. Perfect, really. These cookies are crunchy and amazing. In fact, we had to turn the volume up a bit on the cooking show we were watching while we noshed. Every bite was a treat. Sweet…crunchy…it was the perfect way to cap off a meal. Mi-Del does a fantastic job with their gluten-free gingerbread cookies. I was SO happy eating these. With it being so bitterly cold outside…it was like the warmth of the holidays all over again. One bite…and you’ll be hooked too.

Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies are made from a gluten-free flour mix of corn flour, soy flour, potato flour, rice flour, corn starch, potato starch, and xantahn gum. They also are made up of sugar, modified tapioca starch, canola oil, unsulphured molasses, ginger, baking soda, organic caramel color, sea salt, soybean lecithin, xanthan gum. Every ingredient recognizable. Every ingredient real.

As for nutrition…you’ll love this! Mi-Del Gluten-Free Gingerbread Men Cookies are rather guilt-free. A serving is 4 cookies, which will provide you with 100 calories and 2.5 grans of fat. These are cholesterol free, contain 100 mg of sodium, and only 7 grams of sugar (awesome for a cookie!). You also get 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

So…these are relatively healthy as far as cookies go. I didn’t feel guilty at all as I crunched my way through my serving. They are the perfect blend of ginger and sweetness. The crispness of each bite makes you feel like you’re biting into a real treat. And the flavor…amazing. These all natural cookies are fantastic. And if you missed out on them this holiday season…seek them out next year. They are SO good!