Product: General Mills Corn Chex Gluten-Free Cereal – $3.19+
I love that General Mills has so many options for the gluten-free crowd when it comes to their Chex cereal. And let me tell you, I enjoy the chocolate and cinnamon and other flavors just as much as the other person. Being able to eat a cereal that actually has different flavors to entice and excite the palate is a very nice change of pace. I have my favorites…oh…I really do.
But the other day while out at Target, there was a bit of a sale on a few of the flavors of Chex cereal. The first one I spotted was the Honey Nut Chex. But upon going back to the cereal section, I managed to snag a big box of the Corn Chex as well.
Corn Chex. I remember the days when only three flavors existed. Corn, Rice, and Wheat. I was always a huge fan of my mom’s homemade Chex Mix…and the corn and rice varieties were always my favorite to pick out. One in particular over the other – Corn Chex.
I imagine that more people get excited about eating the newer flavors in the gluten-free selection over the old standbys, but this morning proved that sometimes you just can’t top the classics. I measured out a cup of Corn Chex into my cereal bowl this morning and snagged a piece to just eat on its own, before I topped off my bowl with a splash of unsweetened almond milk. Immediately I was transported back to my childhood. Breakfast. Snacks. My mom’s Chex Mix. It all came flooding and rushing back. All in one simple, easy taste.
I noticed that in the past, this cereal was marked as gluten-free, but contained Barley Malt Extract (not gluten-free). It looks like the Corn Chex recipe has been revised because the boxes no longer contain that ingredient…so it appears to be safe for the gluten-intolerant and the Celiacs among us. I ate it this morning for breakfast and then went to the gym and have had it all settling for over 4 hours now…without any sort of reaction. I think General Mills put this one in the clear. And I appreciate them taking that sort of initiative.
Corn Chex is back to basics when it comes to cereal. A serving (1 cup) is only 110 calories. It is virtually fat free. And with only 3 grams of sugar, it makes it one of the more healthy choices for a breakfast cereal. The best part…it tastes great. Simple flavors…but they make an impression. Obviously…because these brought back so many memories that now…they’re all I want.
Thank you, General Mills, for making classics like Corn Chex so that those of us who have to eat gluten-free have an inexpensive, classic cereal we can turn to…not just for breakfast, but for snacks and parties too.
For awhile, I never thought I’d ever enjoy a donut hole again…unless I made them myself, and trust me…donut making is a lot of tedious work. In fact, I bake my donuts in a donut pan. So, there never really is a donut hole. So, therefore, I never thought I’d enjoy another donut hole again. It was one of those things you don’t realize how much you enjoyed eating them…until you no longer can just run to the store or bakery and just buy some.
And then, Katz Gluten Free introduced their line of donut holes. Two flavors – powdered and cinnamon.
I already devoured my container of cinnamon donuts…leaving me with the package of powdered donut holes, which came free with a special offer order that I placed. Katz Gluten Free was kind enough to make sure I had the powdered donut holes in my order as I had previously ordered the cinnamon ones…and I really wanted to try the other kind. What great customer service from a great company! I was impressed.
Well, I haven’t really had a moment to do my scone baking for gym day this week, so I was looking for something that would work. Lo and behold, my freezer held the key to my problem – Katz Gluten Free Powdered Donut Holes. I’d just pair them with a fruit (in this case, naval oranges) and my roomie and I were set after a hard, long cardio workout for a treat for breakfast.
Yesterday was the moment of truth when it came to the Powdered Donut Holes. I got out of the gym and trudged to the office. I simply placed four donut holes onto a plate and gave them a 10 second heat up in the microwave. Serving it with naval orange slices just sort of made it so that I was eating more than just 4 little donut holes.
I brought my roommate hers first. She doesn’t have to eat gluten-free, but she does because I am the cook in the apartment. So I always love to get her take on products. Her favorite gluten-free donuts are Katz Powdered Donuts, so it came as no surprise that she literally devoured the donut holes.
And who doesn’t love donut holes? I do. Let me tell you…the Powdered Sugar Donut Holes from Katz Gluten Free are the best I have had. I know some reviewers have said that they didn’t have enough sugar on them, but I totally disagree. They taste like bite-size versions of the Katz Powdered Sugar Donuts…and is a good and delicious thing. The texture is awesome. It has the right amount of cakey feel to it, without getting too sweet with the dusting of sugar. I loved it. From the first one I popped to the last. I have another round for my roomie and I in the freezer for tomorrow’s after the gym breakfast and I can’t be happier about that. They are fantastic. It would honestly be difficult not to just sit and devour the entire container. This is why I keep them frozen, thaw out the serving as needed, and then give a little warm up to them to give the illusion that they are fresh baked. It works.
It works deliciously well.
I don’t know the particulars of the nutrition information on these. It looks like the label is that of the powdered donuts…so my best guess is that 4 donuts holes (or about 1 ounce) would provide you with 150 calories. That’s awesome. And they really are some of the best donuts I have ever tasted. Yes…EVER. Back before I even had to eat gluten-free.
If that’s not enough of an endorsement for you, I encourage you to hop over to the Katz Gluten Free site and order yourself some of their delectable, delicious donuts. You won’t be sorry.
Now that my stash is almost gone…looks like it’s time for me to place yet another order.
I didn’t know they existed until I was wandering down the frozen food aisle of my local Earth Fare grocery store. I was just glancing in and out of the freezers, looking for something…anything…that might catch my eye. Something that might be gluten-free. Maybe. If I prayed really hard and closed my eyes…maybe it would be so.
Or something to that affect…just less dramatic.
The fact of the matter was, I was at the grocery store and as I was searching the aisles, I stumbled across two new flavors of gluten-free ice cream sandwiches from Julie’s. Thrilled? Yes. Ecstatic? Very much. Did I buy them? OF COURSE!
And then…the reality of my overflowing gluten-free pantry hit…and I didn’t get to eat them. Not right away. Not until two nights ago, in fact. Thank goodness there was no freezer burn on them. I would have cried had it been so.
The Cherry Cheesecake Sandwich Cookies are amazing. No…they really are. Picture with me, if you will…two chocolate sandwich cookies (manufactured by Glutenfreeda…so they are gluten-free) that are packed…literally packed full of cherry cheesecake ice cream. If that sounds amazing to you, then let me tell you…this is not a figment of my overactive foodie imagination. No, my friends. This reality was brought to life by Julie’s Organic Ice Cream.
Cherry and chocolate is a fantastic combination as it is, but this ice cream sandwich brings out the best of everything sweet that I love. Cherries…check. Cheesecake…check. Chocolate…check. Ice cream…check. Totally gluten-free too. Which means…I get ice cream sandwiches!!
I had been previously blown away by the taste, texture, and awesomeness of the original (chocolate gluten-free cookies with vanilla ice cream) ice cream sandwiches and the Lemon Yogurt Ice Cream Sandwiches (lemon yogurt between vanilla gluten-free cookies). So, I figured this one had a lot to live up to. But…I have a lot of faith in these products as they have not only impressed me, but impressed my friends who can eat regular ice cream sandwiches. So much that they prefer these instead!
The Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream Sandwich Cookie is a mouthful to say…but it’s a delight to eat. Honestly. I love the way the soft chocolate cookie melts away with the delicious and smooth cherry cheesecake ice cream. Totally wowed by this flavor. The lemon is still my favorite thus far…but this one is a very close second. It was like biting into a cheesecake with a chocolate crust. It brought back so many delicious and amazing memories. I can’t wait to devour the other one waiting for me in the freezer.
As far as sweet, ice-creamy snacks go, the nutrition information on this one isn’t too bad. One ice cream sandwich will set you back 200 calories and 9 grams of fat. That’s not bad for an ice cream sandwich. And, let me tell you, it is worth every creamy, dreamy calorie. For real.
Search high and low for these at your local grocery store…and if you don’t see them, see if the store can order them in. Trust me…you’ll want to take a bite out of these…and then polish it off. It’s hard to eat just one.
All the taste of an apple turnover without the guilt-laden pastry shell. I kid you not.
Welcome to the wonderful new line from Lärabar. In early 2012, Lärabar launched their new line of protein bars – the Über. In four flavors, this product combined sweet and salty flavors of classic desserts and brought them into bar form. No joke.
And after a 10 mile run the other day, I was hungry and needing something to satisfy my stomach while I went to an eye appointment before getting a late lunch. I happened to pick up one of each flavor of the Lärabar Über bars on Manager’s Special at my local grocery store. Super sale on a product that is gluten-free…yeah, I’ll buy that. And since they had an abundance of each flavor on the market, I grabbed one of each. The Über bars are available in Apple Turnover, Bananas Foster, Cherry Cobbler, and Fruit and Nut Roll.
First up, by the scientific method of grabbing the box in front…was the Lärabar Über Apple Turnover Bar.
Lärabar is known for making their products strictly from fruit, nuts, and spices/seasoning. That holds true with the Über bars. In fact, the Apple Turnover variety has 9 ingredients in them. That’s it. And they are all things you could find in your pantry. It’s true. They are composed of walnuts, dried apples, brown rice syrup, raisins, dates, pecans, honey, sea salt, and cinnamon. That’s it. Nothing unrecognizable. Defintiely not made up of chemicals that you’d have to Google to figure out what they were (if you dared!) or something completely unpronounceable and unknown to anyone but a chemist. I love that about Lärabar. What you see is what you get.
The Lärabar Über Apple Turnover bar contains only 190 calories for the entire bar. It contains 11 grams of fat, but is very low in sodium (125 mg) and serves up 3 grams of protein. Not too bad, overall.
The best part…the Apple Turnover bar tastes just like an apple turnover would. Seriously! It’s fantastic. The combination of dried fruits, nuts, and seasonings really lend that illusion that you are eating a sinful pastry. But you’re doing it at a fraction of the calories and fat. Honestly, you won’t even miss the flaky, fattening pastry crust. I fell in love with it at first bite. And so did my roommate. We both agreed that the apple flavor is there, without dominating. All of the ingredients get their time to shine, and when they are together…you really feel like you’re sitting down to a fantastic pastry. Just…without the guilt. Love that.
These bars are soft, chewy, and provide a hint of sweet/salty flavor to each bite. Not to mention, the Apple Turnover Über bar is gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, made from all-natural ingredients, vegan, kosher, non-GMO, has no added sulfites and no preservatives, fillers or colorings. It’s wholesome and all natural and for that, I feel confident continuing to purchase products from Lärabar. Not only do they fit my dietary needs, but they are delicious as well.
If you love to indulge in a dessert but want to do so without the guilt, I recommend the Lärabar Über Apple Turnover bar. And if you are gluten-free…I also recommend this variety. Honestly, you won’t even miss the pastry crust. Just indulge in the moment and savor every bite.
It seems apple pie is everywhere these days. I guess it just comes with the time of year. Apples are always in season, but so many people associate them with the fall/winter. It is, after all, the height of apple cider time. And I do love apple cider. Heck, I just love apples. One of my favorite desserts is apple crisp, after all.
That being said, yesterday was another race morning. Nothing big. No reason to cream an entire protein bar down my throat before the run. Thankfully, I have a bunch of Lärabar mini bars still in my run-snack drawer. And the next one up just happened to be…Apple Pie.
I packed this away in my bag to take with me to eat an hour before the short 4K run. After all, the race wasn’t long…but I knew the cereal I ate when I woke up wouldn’t last through to the 9:00 a.m. start time. I always come prepared with a bar on race days now. There is nothing worse than standing at that starting line and hearing your stomach rumble. Or worse…being halfway through and realizing your cereal has burned off and now…you’re running on fumes. Best to just properly fuel.
So, the Lärabar Apple Pie Mini Bar accompanied on my drive over the river to Louisville, Kentucky and the park that was hosting the run. I actually pulled into the park exactly an hour before the race started. So it was perfect timing. Out came the Lärabar. I unwrapped it and took a small bite.
Okay…it actually does taste like apple pie. I can safely say that because my dessert last week was gluten-free apple pie. Honestly…this was just like having a slice. Really good. Although, even though it tastes like apple pie…it isn’t one of my favorite ones. Maybe it is the underlying hint of cinnamon that just kept creeping into my palate. But, while it was good, some of the others have been far better. But, it can be hit or miss with protein bars. That’s not to say this one wasn’t good. I would eat it again if it were offered to me. I wouldn’t turn my nose up at it. It’s just really not up to par with the other ones that have come before it. (Cashew Cookie is still my absolute favorite!)
So, a little information about this little protein bar. The Lärabar Apple Pie Mini Bar is comprised of of six ingredients. That’s it. These are dates, almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts, raisins, and cinnamon. I knew there was cinnamon in there. All together, you sort of get this illusion that you are biting into a slice of apple pie…crust and all. The apples really shine. And the cinnamon gives it that warm flavor to it, though I found it a bit overpowering at times. As for the nuts and the raisins and dates…it just lends to that illusion of crust and filling. The texture was soft and yes…this one was delicious, despite not being one of my favorites.
The mini bar offers you 90 calories and 5 grams of fat. It only has 2 grams of protein to it. Not much on that protein, now that I look at it. The full-size bar, however is a bit more. It would set you back 190 calories and 10 grams of fat. With it, you would get 4 grams of protein. But…it is definitely filling and the fiber count (3 grams in the mini; 5 grams in the full-size) is the reason for that.
Again, this was a really good bar, it just wasn’t as amazing as some of the other ones I have eaten. That being said, if you love apple pie…then you will truly love taking a bite into this bar.
You know what that means? For me, it means I get to do all my holiday baking. And I absolutely love to bake goodies for the holidays. Even better, I love to surprise people with homemade goodies for the holidays.
You see, the other day while my roomie and I were in the gas station getting our daily dose of caffeine, the cashier behind the counter (who literally sees us every work day) said that she was leaving. On Monday she was starting a new job…in an office. So she would definitely miss us.
And we all know that I love any occasion to bake. I happened to be in the gas station one morning when she was talking to a co-worker about chocolate. She hates chocolate…except for white chocolate. So…I knew her going away gift needed to be something white chocolate. And keeping with the spirit of the holidays…I was guided by the wonder of Pinterest to this recipe, featured on the Crazy For Crust blog. I took it, and gave it a gluten-free spin.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Triple White Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms
1/2 cup butter, softened (I used I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter All-Purpose Sticks)
3/4 cup sugar
3 ounces white chocolate, melted and cooled slightly (I used Ghirardelli White Chocolate)
1 box white chocolate instant pudding (3.5 ounces)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour (I used 2 cups Arrowhead Mills Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour and ran out, so the last 1/2 cup was Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Multi-Purpose Flour)
1 package Candy Cane Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped
Additional sugar for rolling, if desired
Directions:
Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Add pudding mix and blend until combined.
Add white chocolate and mix until mixture is smooth.
Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
Mix in baking soda and flour.
Chill dough for at least 30 minutes.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place about 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl for rolling, if desired. (Cookies will be a little crunchy on the outside with the sugar, if you use it.)
Scoop one tablespoon balls of dough and roll in sugar, or just place on cookie sheet. Bake 7-9 minutes until bottoms just begin to get golden. Remove from oven and immediately press an unwrapped Peppermint Hershey’s Kiss on top. Do not move pan until Kiss is cooled, or it will collapse.
Cookies can be frozen for later consumption, if desired. Place in a Ziploc bag between layers of paper towel for best results when freezing.
~*~*~
Here’s the best part…they truly are amazing. Honestly. I had my doubts. Me and sugar cookie bases don’t get a long…at all. Seriously…I’ve tried for about 5 years now to make sugar cookies at Christmas time and it just never works. This time…it did. And to think…it was with a blend of flours too.
Of course my roommate and I each had to sample one. I even took one in for my teammate to try. She loves to bake and I love to have her sample things, especially since I’ve had to go gluten-free. She doesn’t hold back. We all loved how the cookies were soft in texture and that after you swallow, the white chocolate really hits. But the magic happens when you take a bite with that Peppermint Hershey’s Kiss in it. Oh…yeah.
I am going to do a few different variations on these cookies now and I’m really looking forward to the end results.
Anyway, I gave the cashier at the gas station her gift and told her that I overheard that she loved white chocolate so I made these for her. She looked so happy and said that she wasn’t going to share. She thanked me and we left. I hope she enjoyed them as much as three three of us who also got to eat one did.
When you name your company So Delicious, you are definitely setting a high standard for not only your branding, but also the products that you put out. So far, I have yet to have a flop with the So Delicious items that I have tried. I know…most of said products have been in a non-dairy ice cream form.
That trend continues here…
My local grocery store had a great sale going on for the So Delicious quarts of ice cream awhile back. After sending my roommate out for an item I needed for something I was cooking, she returned with a huge surprise for me. Three quarts of So Delicious non-dairy ice creams to try. And since then, I have dug into the Chocolate Velvet and the Neapolitan flavors and fallen in love with each of them.
All that remained in my freezer was the Creamy Vanilla one. I really wanted to dress this ice cream up. I mean, we all love vanilla ice cream…but it is so versatile. I was thinking of melting chocolate over it…or getting some chocolate syrup from the store…or topping it with fruit and nuts…or sandwiching it between two gluten-free cookies. The possibilities were endless. I mean, vanilla ice cream is like being handed a blank piece of paper and a pencil. You can get as creative with it as you want.
Little did I know that in the end…I’d basically be enjoying it as it was made. Undressed. But…perfectly matched.
So Delicious Creamy Vanilla is a soy milk based ice cream that is vegan, kosher, and gluten-free. It is also non-GMO certified. YAY! That being said, this ice cream had been hanging in my freezer since the summer…so there was no way of telling what state I might find it in when I cracked it open last night. I almost expected freezer burn and ice crystals.
But…I was wrong. When I pulled the lid off the quart, a beautiful white surface looked back at me. Perfect vanilla. And it smelled of vanilla too. So amazing.
When I said perfectly paired just above I wasn’t kidding. You see, I have been watching Hotel Hell (Gordon Ramsay’s new show) and one of the hotels he went to help turn around was one that invented Apple Pie À La Mode. No joke. And I just happened to have a gluten-free apple pie in my freezer as well. Hmmm…what to do…
LIGHT BULB!
So, last night after hurrying through dinner in an attempt to make it out to a concert (The Dave Matthews Band was in town) on time, my roommate and I actually allowed ourselves a moment for a palate cleansing dessert. Never miss dessert. It is very important. I had thawed out the pie earlier that day so all I needed to do was toss it in the microwave (Gordon Ramsay would FLIP OUT!). While a tiny slice of pie was heating, I opened up the So Delicious Creamy Vanilla ice cream and got out a spoon.
Apple pie à la mode is a slice of apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream. The warm pie melts the ice cream that is layered on top and what emerges is this amazing dessert that is both hot and cold and melty and yummy and…*DROOL*. Ahem. Sorry. Bit of a food nerd here. At least I’m a foodie who loves to eat (within my dietary restrictions that is!).
So, when the microwave tolled it’s completion of the heating process, I removed the plate with the slice of pie resting on it and eased my spoon into the ice cream.
Smooth. I expected something rock-hard, or flaky (some non-dairy ice creams can be crystallized and a bit hard to get a good, creamy scoop out of). But So Delicious really delivered here. The ice cream folded up in the spoon to create a perfect scoop. I set it alongside the pie (trust me, for calorie purposes, the serving size was halved and setting any ice cream on top of this itty-bitty slice was not an option). I repeated it with the other half of the slice and served one to my roommate and myself.
Oh. My. Foodie. God.
First of all, having a delicious gluten-free pie is one thing. But the ice cream. Oh, the ice cream just totally made this dessert. I loved how it mixed perfectly with the buttery, flaky goodness of the pie crust, and the hot apples in the center just aided in creating this hot/cold, flaky/melty mess of a dessert. And it was everything I dreamed it would be.
The So Delicious Creamy Vanilla won’t slap you in the face with its vanilla flavor. It is very subtle. That being said it is also very delicious. Trust me. I was highly impressed. I loved how it had just the right hit of vanilla flavor so that it wasn’t underwhelming or overwhelming. It was just perfect. I would buy this again in a heartbeat…and eat it straight. I might even still turn it into a sundae, or just put it in a gluten-free ice cream cone (I still have some of those in my pantry!).
Being lactose intolerant and gluten free doesn’t have to mean ice cream is off limits. It just means you find an ice cream that suits you. Preferably one that is So Delicious.
A scoop of So Delicious Dairy Free Creamy Vanilla Soy Milk Ice Cream over a small slice of Katz Gluten Free Apple Pie
Product: Katz Gluten-Free Apple Pie (Personal Size – 6 inches) – $7.49
Do you know how long it has been since I’ve had apple pie? Seriously?!
Actually, up until this past summer when I was visiting my family in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it had been…years since I last had an actual slice of pie. I’ve never been big on pie. It’s like my cake…I prefer it sans frosting. Weird, I know. But that’s just me. So, pie had sort of slipped off my radar up until…my cousin’s husband did a gluten-free version of his family’s famous strawberry pie. I never ate so much pie in my life. It was amazing. And he was kind enough to share the recipe with me, so I made it once as well. And so…my long absent admiration of pie finally returned.
But, after I made the strawberry pie for an office luncheon (made it vegan in addition to gluten-free), I just didn’t have the drive to attempt another pie. A different pie. A classic pie, perhaps. Like cherry or apple or something. A lot of it is…making pie crust can be tricky. Especially that top layer. And using a gluten-free flour can be…well…it can be an absolute mess if you don’t use it appropriately. Even the pre-mixed gluten-free all-purpose blends work well in some things better than others. And a pie is a huge time commitment…so I never could quite commit to trying to bake one up for myself.
But, one day my roomie went ahead and placed an order with Katz Gluten-Free. I wasn’t allowed to look at the receipt that came through my e-mail. I was to wait and see what turned up in the box. Let me tell you, it was like Christmas when the order arrived at the office that day. One of the products inside:
Katz Gluten-Free Apple Pie.
Katz Gluten-Free Apple Pie (thawed)
A PIE!!
Well, as usual, I have more than enough desserts/sweets in my pantry and freezer to go around, and other items had to be used up first. So, it wasn’t until yesterday that I finally got around to pulling the pie out of the freezer. I allowed it to thaw on the counter for a bit, before putting it into the refrigerator while I was at work.
That evening was a busy, busy, busy one. Not only, after working all day, did I have leftovers to reheat, gluten-free bread to toast, and a salad to throw together, but we were trying to hustle out the door to drive into Louisville to see the Dave Matthews Band in concert as well. At least the main part of the dinner (Scalloped Russet Potato and Yam Gratin with Fresh Herbs, in case you were wondering) was just a simple reheat and salads don’t take too long to throw together when all is said and done. With the bread toasted in the oven, I got dinner together and we chowed down.
And I knew…despite being in a hurry, that dessert was necessary.
After we polished off our plates, I got up and gave my usual question: “Dessert?”
“Yes ma’am!” came her response.
And so, into the fridge I went and pulled out the Katz Gluten-Free Apple Pie that was just sort of chilling in there. I turned it over before tearing it open to check serving size and nutrition information. And with that in mind, and some So Delicious Creamy Vanilla Soy Milk Ice Cream lingering in my freezer door, I made a decision to make up some Gluten-Free Apple Pie À La Mode. And the star of the show was going to be a slice of Katz Gluten-Free Apple Pie.
Since normally 1/4 of the 6 inch pie is the serving size, totaling up to 230 calories and 12 grams of fat, I decided to make each already tiny slice into two even tinier slices of pie. That way I would half the calories and fat…and the pie would last longer. But…I am not kidding when I say these slices are teeny-tiny. They were already small when cut into fourths, imagine in eighths. The things we do accommodate the addition of ice cream.
Three-bite slice of pie…why not?
A slice of Katz Gluten-Free Apple Pie (1/4 of pie serving size)
Aside from the tiny serving size…this pie is actually quite good. As I stated before, I’ve never been someone who would actively order pie. But if my mom made it for the holidays, you bet I was having a slice (except if it was pumpkin pie…never been a fan!). So, after slicing the pie into quarters, I halved each one and removed the tiny sliver of pie, placing it on a plate and giving it a quick zap in the microwave to warm it. Then, once it was removed, I scooped up a small bit of ice cream (small pie = small ice cream scoop) to have with it. Viola. Gluten-free (and dairy free) Apple Pie À La Mode.
So, how did it taste?
Well…it warmed up to perfection. The inside was soft and hot, the apples sizzling with the heat as though it was fresh from the oven. And the crust was flaky and toasty and just amazing. And, take my word for it…this pie pairs very well with ice cream (or dairy-free ice cream like what I used). Honestly. While the dessert was a simple couple of bites and then gone, it is still very satisfying. The pie honestly reheats without falling into a mushy mess. The crust is the true star of the show. Sure, it’s not crispy like it would be fresh out of the oven, but it has that buttery, flaky texture to it that I remember from my mom’s homemade pies.
I have attempted to get some local grocery stores to carry some of Katz Gluten-Free Products. One said that they carry a couple of things by the company, but can’t carry the pies because they contain high fructose corn syrup. Now, I have been over the label and ingredients countless times and I haven’t found mention of high fructose corn syrup anywhere. I refuse to buy anything with high fructose corn syrup in it and do my best not to consume anything that might contain it. Whether this is old information or I’m missing a code word on the label, I don’t know. Perhaps it is something I should talk to the company about to make sure.
In the end, however, my seemingly high fructose corn syrup -free gluten-free apple pie from Katz was a total win with both myself and my roommate. Even though the slices are itty-bitty (if you are working within certain calories for the day), they really end up being just enough to satisfy the need for something sweet at the end of a meal. If calories and fat aren’t something you care to watch…dig on in and have a quarter slice or even half the pie. Trust me…these are small pieces.
If you feel like you’ve been missing out on pie…go ahead and place an order with Katz Gluten-Free. I am absolutely in love with this apple pie and a friend of mine has raved about the blueberry pie…so I think I might have to look into trying that one in the near future.
Oh…and trust me…dish out some ice cream with this. It’s a divine treat all around.
Nailed it again, Katz. Nailed it again!
A slice of Katz Gluten-Free Apple Pie (1/8 of pie served with a scoop of So Delicious Creamy Vanilla Non-Dairy Ice Cream)
Product: Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch Granola – $5.99+
Say it with me…
Chocolate. For. Breakfast.
Sounds sweet, yes? Sounds, perhaps, a little decadent? Perhaps more than a little sinful?
In most cases, you would be right to think so. But there is nothing sinful about Enjoy Life’s Double Chocolate Crunch Granola. It’s sweet. It’s chocolate. And yes…it can be even made into something decadent. But you will be amazed at how good this actually is as far as, not just gluten-free granola (and granola in general) goes, but chocolate granola at that.
My problem with most granola is that it is laden with sugar. I try to eat healthy…and at times I am as guilty about splurging on some sweet treat than every other human being out there. We like to treat ourselves to something at times. This chocolate granola from Enjoy Life foods is all treat without the guilt. I promise…even I was shocked by the nutritional information on this.
But I’ll get to that momentarily.
I actually picked up a bag of Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch granola at Big Lots one afternoon while out shopping. It was a random stop, but I couldn’t turn down the price. Most of the time it is far more expensive than what I found it for at Big Lots. Score. I’d been wanting to try chocolate granola for ages and had seen this at other stores, but had been more than a little reluctant to pay the price for it. Now…I had reason to welcome it into my pantry.
This morning, I had some Chobani vanilla chocolate chunk Greek yogurt to finish off, some pomegranate seeds to use, and a pantry that held the key crunch component of my infamous breakfast parfaits. I reached into my pantry and eagerly pulled out the bag of Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch and eagerly began assembling my gluten-free and mighty tasty breakfast parfaits.
A serving of Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch Granola
In the bowl, a small layer of granola. Over that, some Greek yogurt. Then the pomegranate seeds. Then more granola, more yogurt, more pomegranate seeds, then one last dusting of granola. It’s super simple and super delicious. And it makes for a delicious breakfast treat to start off the morning with. I just knew that the chocolate and pomegranate would be a match made in heaven. In fact, I couldn’t wait to try it so I dug right in.
Super chocolate YUM! No joke. I loved how crisp this granola is. And scattered throughout it are chunks of allergen-free chocolate. Love that. In fact, this granola is free of the top eight food allergens (wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, fish and shellfish). I love that. It is composed of brown rice flakes, evaporated cane juice, chocolate chips, brown rice syrup, rice crisps, cocoa powder, ground flaxseed, vegetable oil, vanilla, salt, and rosemary extract. When combined, what develops is this amazing chocolate granola that is a delight to nibble on, plain, with a splash of milk (I use unsweetened almond milk), or in some sort of a breakfast parfait, dessert topping, etc.
Nutritionally speaking, for a chocolate granola (or just as granola) this is one of the better options. A serving size is 1/2 cup and that will only set you back 180 calories and 4 grams of fat. That’s not bad at all comparatively speaking. But what surprised me and pleased me even more was that the sugar content in a serving was only…only…11 grams. A lot of regular granola pack twice that. Color me impressed.
What also impressed me was the taste and texture of this granola. It was sweet without being overly sweet. The chocolate was a delicious sweet touch and it really popped when I mixed it into my breakfast parfait. On its own, however, it was just as tasty. I love the chocolate chips that are scattered throughout, making a nice pop of chocolate with every bite. I was in love with this granola upon first bite. And I’m already coming up with other ideas of how to use it and use it well.
If you are in the market for a granola and are craving a hit of chocolate…you can’t go wrong with Enjoy Life’s Double Chocolate Crunch Granola. I’m so happy I finally got to try this. And now…I don’t think I can survive without it.
Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch Granola layered with Chobani Vanilla Chocolate Greek Yogurt and Pomegranate Seeds
Product: Pamela’s Products Lemon Shortbread Cookies – $4.39+
Ah, Pamela’s Products.
One of my go-to brands when it comes to gluten-free…anything. They do baking mixes and flours and snacks and…yes…cookies. And I have loved and raved and just gone on about them in the past. I mean…the peanut butter cookies, the pancake and baking mix, all the other cookies that have made it into my pantry because I just can’t get out of Cookie Monster mode…yeah…they’ve all been over-the-top WOW and YUM!
And when it comes to gluten-free products, that really, really is important.
Trust me, when I was out grocery shopping and decided that my pantry needed even more cookies, the decision was kind of sealed. I saw two key words: Lemon Shortbread.
Yeah…I have this weakness for lemony things. I. LOVE. LEMON.
I also have this amazing love of shortbread. It reminds me of when I was in Scotland with my friend, Donna, and we each bought these huge tins of Scottish shortbread cookies. They were so crumbly and buttery and just crisp and…
…sorry, I was starting to drool.
Of course, all of that was before I was told I needed to go gluten-free. So, when I spotted a box of Pamela’s Products Lemon Shortbread Cookies…they won me over right away. Into my shopping basket they went and I was one happy lemon-loving cookie-nomming girl. And then, I had to get through other delicious gluten-free treats before I could open up this box.
But that changed tonight, my friends.
After eating another round of leftovers for dinner, I was ready for my treat. No meal is complete without dessert to cleanse the palate. So, off the top shelf of the pantry came Pamela’s Products Lemon Shortbread Cookies. My roomie and I had been anticipating these because she’s as much of a lemon freak as I am. So, after we did up our dinner dishes, I opened up the box and pulled out two cookies. They definitely smelled lemony. I carried one out to my roommate and I settled in with the other one.
She took a bite first and explained, “Wow…those are really lemony.”
She wasn’t kidding. I took a bite and…the lemon flavor just hits your taste buds and stays there. It is really a lot of lemon. That is not necessarily a bad thing. So often, packaged lemon cookies leave you wanting for the lemon flavor. Well, not these. Not these in the slightest. The lemon flavor is throughout and little crystals of it seem to melt away on your tongue with each bite.
I’m okay with the strong lemon flavor. However, I don’t feel that these should be called a shortbread cookie. While these are made with butter, they lack that crumbly, buttery texture that I associate with shortbread. These are very soft cookies. I think shortbread should always have that crunch when you first bite and then melt away as you chew. That’s what shortbread is to me. Calling these Soft Lemon Cookies might be a better way to describe them. They are luscious, chewy, and really packed with flavor.
Pamela’s Products Lemon Shortbread Cookies are gluten-free and wheat-free. The company was founded in 1988. The founder herself, Pamela, develops every product recipe and personally chooses, tests and approves every ingredient. The company only uses high quality sugar, minimally processed grains, non-rBGH butter, and so on. The company does not use any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. There is no high fructose corn syrup in any of their products (YAY!). Basically, Pamela’s Products prides itself on good ingredients because they want to make a high quality and good product.
And that practice worked back when the company was founded…and still works today.
Now, the Lemon Shortbread Cookies are 120 calories for 1 cookie and 6 grams of fat. That’s not too bad for a cookie, to be honest. Even more impressive is that these cookies only have 5g of sugar. Yep. How’s that for cookie goodness? Lots of flavor…an entire cookie…and only 5 grams of sugar. It’s not a dream, friends…this is the reality of Pamela’s Products.
I would have to say…if you are big on lemon flavor, then these cookies are for you. If you are more of a shortbread lover…I recommend one of her other shortbread varieties. The texture and taste is not right for the shortbread label…but lemon…yeah…it has lemon. Lots and lots of lemon. So, if soft lemon cookies are your bag, then go to the store now and grab these cookies. They are a fantastic fresh treat.
The Celiathlete 