As a runner and a fruit lover, I have this thing for bananas. Seriously. I love them on their own. I love them slathered in peanut butter. I love them chocolate dipped. I even love them in banana splits. Bananas are awesome. I could eat one every day.
With that in mind, and a convention looming, I had three ripe bananas in my fruit bowl and a need for gluten-free goodies. Well, thanks to The Cake Mix Doctor…a delicious, inspired, fantastic gluten-free cupcake emerged. It doesn’t get any better than chocolate cake with bananas and a peanut butter frosting, right? That’s three of my favorite things all rolled into one fantastic treat.
So I got baking…and these were a hit with the gluten-free crowd and the non-gluten-free crowd at the convention. Seriously…yum.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Chip Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Chip Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
1 package (15 ounces) chocolate gluten-free cake mix (I used Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Devil’s Food)
1 cup mashed rip bananas (from 3 small very ripe bananas)
1/2 cup buttermilk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Ingredients for Peanut Butter Frosting:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature (I used Smart Balance)
2-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons milk, or more as needed (I used unsweetened almond milk)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Directions:
Make the cupcakes: Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375°F. Line 2 cupcake pans with 18 cupcake liners or lightly mist with vegetable oil to keep from sticking.
Place the cake mix, banana, milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are just incorporated, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and scrape down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the batter until smooth, 1 to 1-1/2 minutes longer, scraping down the side of the bowl again if needed. The batter should look well blended. Fold in 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips.
Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into the cupcake cups, filling them about two-thirds full. The recipe will make 18 cupcakes.
Bake the cupcakes at 375°F until done, about 18-22 minutes.
Allow to cool for 25 minutes.
Make the Peanut Butter Frosting: Place the peanut butter and butter in a medium-size mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until fluffy, 30 seconds.
Stop the machine and add 2 cups of the confectioners’ sugar and the milk and vanilla a bit at a time, beating with the mixer on low speed until the confectioners’ sugar is well incorporated, 1 minute.
Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat the frosting until light and fluffy, 1 minute longer, adding up to 1/2 cup more confectioners’ sugar if the frosting is too thin or up to 1 tablespoon more milk if the frosting is too stiff.
Use the frosting at once.
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Peanut butter, chocolate, bananas…yeah…that’s living the good life. I loved sharing these with people at the convention and showing them how good gluten-free baking can be. Gluten-free sometimes has a bad reputation for being bland, flavorless and dense. Well, these were amazingly moist, soft, light and had a bit of every prime flavor in there. Bananas were made for peanut butter and chocolate…so it just makes sense that they all work together so well in these cupcakes. So…if you love bananas, love peanut butter, and love chocolate (and let’s face it…who doesn’t?)…I encourage you to bake these up and give them a try. They were a hit this past weekend and I can’t wait to make more of them.
Glenny’s Peanut Caramel Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats
Product: Glenny’s Peanut Caramel Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats – $5.49+
I love to snack.
Who doesn’t? And in the afternoon, I crave something sweet. It never fails. It’s all I really want. And the key to that is to not break the calorie bank in an afternoon snack. I mean…let’s face it. Two hours later and it’s time to make dinner anyway, yes?
Color me excited then when I stumbled across some Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats by Glenny’s. Now, I have a deep admiration for Glenny’s gluten-free goodies. The two different varieties of cookies that I tried from this brand were phenomenal. And those came highly recommended. I had not even been aware that they delved into tasty little snack treats as well, so when I spotted these on the top shelf of the tiny gluten-free section of my grocery store, and realized they were also vegan, then I was S-O-L-D.
I took them home and tossed them into my pantry with my snacks I grab to take to work.
This past week…I ripped open that box and happily placed one in my lunchbox. At work, I kept thinking that when 3:00 hit, I was going to rip into the most fantastic “Rice Krispie” treat ever. I mean…my store only had Glenny’s Peanut Caramel variety. And we all know I could eat peanut butter by the jar (only a spoon required). So…yeah…there was much anticipation.
Glenny’s Peanut Caramel Brown Rice Marshmallow Treat (wrapped)
Snack time rolled around and I pulled it out of my desk and tore open the shiny silver wrapper. What I found was a dry looking block of crispy rice cereal. It smelled distinctly of peanut butter with a hint, and only a hint of caramel. I was disappointed with the size of it too. The wrapper was very misleading as the bar was only about 2/3 the size of it. But…if it tasted better than it looked then we were in business.
But…that was not the case. I ripped off a small bit of it to sample and found that it tasted as dry as it looked. The caramel flavor was really not even there. As for the peanut flavor…there was a hint of it…but you don’t really taste it. In fact, it is really difficult to get past the dryness of the bar itself.
What I liked about it…that it was organic, gluten-free, and vegan. Loved that. I loved that each bar only has 100 calories and is relatively low in sugar content as far as these things go. But the flavor was lacking. There was no luscious caramel and creamy peanut butter flavor in there. They are sweet, yes…but they aren’t knock-me-down delicious. In fact, I didn’t find them delicious at all. I am finally down to my last treat, which I will eat tomorrow at work, and then I will never buy these again. I love that it’s guilt-free, but I hate that it is taste-free.
Glenny’s is fantastic when it comes to gluten-free cookies. But these crispy rice treats are nowhere near that caliber. I was beyond disappointed. Until I get a glowing review of any other flavors of these bars, they won’t grace my pantry or snack shelf again anytime soon.
It’s too bad…because these treats had the potential to be epic.
Glenny’s Peanut Caramel Brown Rice Marshmallow Treats (unwrapped)
I’m not always a cookie/cake/brownie/ice cream kind of girl. While I love them all (because, hey…I’m a woman and sometimes…you gotta have your treat!), sometimes something light, fruity, and smooth is what you crave.
When such a craving hits…I know just what to make.
Frozen yogurt popsicles. But…as I am an avid Chobani lover, in my case they are Fro-Cho pops. Any yogurt will do…but I love Greek yogurt because it doesn’t upset my stomach like regular yogurt does (lactose intolerance), it has an added kick of protein (which my vegetarian self loves), and I just find it versatile.
Let me tell you, these frozen treats are so easy to make. Go ahead and mix and match whatever fruit you choose. I was just using what I had left over and frozen from when I made the Fruit Salad Ice Pops. Any combination of fruit and yogurt (I used vanilla, but plain or any flavor would work just as well) will make these frozen pops shine.
Recipe: Tropical Fruit Fro-Cho Ice Pops
Tropical Fruit Fro-Cho Ice Pops
Servings: 8 Time: Prep 10 minutes; Freeze 6 hours
Ingredients:
4 ounces strawberries, hulled and halved ( 3/4 cup) and frozen
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds and frozen
2 bananas, peeled and sliced and frozen
1 cup Vanilla Chobani Greek Yogurt
Directions:
Place the frozen fruit and the yogurt into the blender. Blend until well mixed
Pour mixture into the ice pop molds.
Insert ice-pop sticks and freeze until solid, 6 hours (or up to 2 weeks).
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I find that when it comes to making yogurt pops, frozen fruit works best. And then some of the freezing is already done ahead of time for you. This makes a very smooth mixture. If you aren’t a fan of the taste of Greek yogurt, add some honey to balance out the flavor, or use a 2% fat instead of fat free variety. Chobani makes both and other brands out there as well.
During these hot days of summer…cool off with something nutritious and homemade.
Now that I’m back to being in one place for an extended period of time, I’m back in the kitchen with a vengence. Oh yes…you better believe my brain is coming up with new ways to dress up a recipe, creating my own, and just testing things out to see how they work. This…is my element. This is what I love. So, I step away from the freezer for a moment and pull out my baking sheets and ingredients. The plan is to use ingredients I have so no grocery store trip is necessary.
One of my favorite snacks of all time is apple with peanut butter on it. So…I just happened to have Reeses Peanut Butter Baking Chips in my pantry, apple cider and applesauce in my fridge, and a moment to spare for my favorite room in the house – the kitchen!
Gluten-free baking is tricky, but satisfying. When you get it right, you get it right. I’ve been playing around with my scone recipe quite a lot lately, adding things and subtracting things to not just be gluten-free, but also vegan. Why? Because I love to experiment. And this, friends, was an experiment that went completely right.
Recipe: Gluten-Free Apple Cider Peanut Butter Chip Scones
Add the applesauce and apple cider. Mix together with a fork. Dough will be thick.
Drop large, tall dollops of dough (scones will spread when baking) onto lightly greased baking sheet.
Bake for 15-17 minutes.
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Do you love caramel apples? Well, surprisingly, that’s what these taste like…although with that peanut butter flavor there at the end. They are soft, delightful little breakfast goodies to bake up for anytime. And if you love apples with peanut better…yeah…you’ll like these. I promise. I mean…the flavor combination is a sure-fire win.
I hope to make these again soon. Baking up breakfast has never been more delicious and savory-sweet!
There are two certainties in life when I travel. One is that I will find a pub to dine at. The other is that I will split a banana split with my roommate. Why? Because that’s just how I roll, friends. And a trip should always be accompanied by good food and an ice cream treat. Worry about your figure another time. Ice cream is to be enjoyed.
So, after a long day of seeing the running in a Quarter Marathon, hiking down to the beach of Lake Michigan, dining at a great pub, shopping, seeing the sights…it was starting to get late…and my roommate and I wanted a sweet, cold treat to mark the end of a fantastic day and put some food in our now hungry bodies. Let’s face it…we earned it.
Before even leaving for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I was already searching for our place to treat ourselves to a banana split. When all was said and done, I settled with Babe’s Ice Cream on South Kinnickinnik Avenue in Milwaukee. We ended up at a fantastic place. Babe’s is family owned and operated, which is always a plus. And they offer a high, fine standard of ice cream, which you can get by the scoop…or in a sundae treat.
For us…it was all about the banana split ($6.95).
With Babe’s banana split, you get to choose your ice cream flavors to go over your split banana. We kept it to the standard…vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Then you get to choose three toppings. We once again kept it to the usual suspects: strawberry, pineapple, hot fudge. And the whipped cream (made in house) can either be vanilla or chocolate. We stayed with vanilla. All of that topped off with three cherries. It looked divine.
It was a hot day, so I quickly took pictures of the masterpiece and then, we raised our spoons and dug in. Wow. The ice cream was really good. The vanilla was your standard vanilla. Nothing special. The strawberry was pretty good too. But the star of the banana split was the dark chocolate scoop in the center. In fact, it was the scoop that lasted the longest because my roomie and I were trying to savor that one. Best chocolate ice cream I have had…anywhere. And trust me, friends…I eat a lot of chocolate ice cream. Especially when it is dark chocolate! I don’t eat much whipped cream, but my roommate encouraged me to have a taste of the vanilla whipped cream. That…was a soft, amazing bite. Very creamy and amazing with the flavor.
We were totally impressed with Babe’s Ice Cream. The staff was awesome. They loved talking to us about where we were from. Why we were in town. And our obsession with banana splits. A customer came over to take a picture of our sundae because she said her boyfriend claims pineapple doesn’t go on a banana split and she wanted to prove him wrong. DUH! The pineapple topping is a staple on a banana split. Everyone knows that!!
The atmosphere was really great. Very relaxed. We sat there, talked, and enjoyed our ice cream to the fullest. And when we left…we were full, content, and happy.
That’s what ice cream should do for you. That means you’ve had a good ice cream experience.
While Milwaukee is the home of frozen custard, which is delicious in and of it’s own right, I encourage you, if visiting, to seek out Babe’s Ice Cream and treat yourself to one of their amazing ice creams. Either just have a scoop or enjoy one of their signature sundaes. In the end…you’ll find yourself a happier person who just enjoyed some of the best ice cream there is in Milwaukee. Trust me. It’s worth it. Spoil that diet for one day. It’s okay.
Restaurant: Transfer Pizzeria & Café, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Eating out can be tricky. When food allergies come into play, well…there is a lot of guess work that goes on. So, when I go out of town and have to find places to eat, I’m pretty strict about where I choose. Coming up to Milwaukee, I had a great Italian restaurant picked out that had gluten-free pizza and pasta options. And then my roommate pointed out it was sort of a big, heap, fancy kind of a place that would require dressing up…and really, what runner wants to strap on a pair of heels the night before the race just to carb up? Not me.
So…dining the night before the Rock ‘n Sole Quarter Marathon was up in the air to the very evening before we left. And that’s when my roomie, using my favorite Web site/app available ever (Find Me Gluten Free), discovered the place we ended up dining. It was a great little pizzeria/café called Transfer Pizzeria & Café on W. Mitchell St. in Milwaukee. Let me tell you…this was one epic find.
On the outside, it doesn’t look like much. In fact, we almost missed it when we drove past. Thank goodness for the neon sign above the front door. We parked and made our way over to the restaurant, where we were greeted very warmly and shown to a table near the window. The inside was nothing like I imagined. Very bohemian. Very rustic. With a café/bar in the center, the kitchen behind it, and a dining area all around, with booths and tables. It isn’t a large space, but it was very nice.
We were handed menus and told our waiter, Mischa, would be with us shortly. And he was. Wearing an epic Dark Side of the Moon t-shirt, featuring the Death Star with the prism lights from the Pink Floyd cover art. Yeah…we had to comment on how much we loved his shirt. Anyway, we informed him that I am medically gluten-free and he said, “Ah, medically…you mean not one of these fad diets?” It made me laugh. And he was very helpful in telling me that all the toppings for their pizza are gluten-free. He went to fetch Cathy some Diet Coke while I stuck with water for hydration purposes.
Gluten-Free note on the menu at Transfer Pizzeria & Café in Milwaukee, Wisonsin. Vasyl is the chef who hand makes the rice flour crust.
Left with the menu, we quickly glanced over the veggie pizza options and settled on a few to pick from. When he returned he asked if we had any questions and then volunteered to share some of his favorites and suggestions. Oddly enough, he was a big fan of the ones we had been eyeing. And with that recommendation, we placed our order.
Now…something rare happened at Transfer that doesn’t happen very often when I go out to eat…specifically at a pizza/pasta joint. First of all…I was not limited to a salad. YES!! Second of all…I was not just left to pizza. No, my friends. This went beyond what any other restaurant has done for the gluten-free pizza. At Transfer, I could have appetizers…and…wait for it…dessert!
So, already I was doing a happy dance of foodie joy. And we went ahead and placed an order to split the Gluten-Free Bruschetta as an appetizer (which was only a $2.00 upcharge). Then, we would split a small Gluten-Free Da Vinci Pizza (small pizza only, with a $2.00 upcharge). He went to put the order in and we happily discussed our upcoming meal and how much we already loved the atmosphere of the place.
Transfer Pizzeria & Café’s Gluten-Free Bruschetta
The Gluten-Free Bruschetta ($8.00) arrived in short order. Mischa kindly explained to us that all gluten-free products were brought out on red plates…completely dedicated to gluten-free foods. Sweet! On the plate was 10 halves of gluten-free toast that had been rubbed with garlic cloves. In a bowl, large chunks of tomato, fresh basil, and olive oil were ready for us to dish it up onto our toast. And that’s what we did.
The tomatoes were incredibly ripe and full of flavor. The large chunks were not unwieldy, but rather very refreshing, without taking away from the flavor provided by the fresh basil and the taste of the amazing olive oil. Yeah…it was good. I think we might have hoovered the appetizer. But, honestly, it’s been ages since I’ve been able to eat the bread at a restaurant. The bread had a nice toast to it, without being too hard. It was still soft and chewy, but held up the tomato chunks without a problem. I was in love…with an appetizer. Who knew tomatoes, basil, olive oil and gluten-free bread could be the most amazing thing ever? Well, when you usually have to watch everyone eat the bread…it makes a hell of a difference.
The gluten-free pizza was up next. It was tough to decide between the different varieties of veggie pizzas being offered. But I think we made a fantastic choice. The Gluten-Free Da Vinci Pizza ($14.00) consists of a gluten-free crust topped with tomato sauce and pesto sauce. It is then topped off with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, feta cheese, and shaved asiago cheese. I was quite excited about the pizza toppings. Cathy was a little nervous about the pesto…but her trepidation was soon put to rest once the pizza arrived.
It looked amazing. Honestly. This pizza really looked amazing. I mean, you can’t go wrong with cheese and tomatoes, right? Heck, no!! And the thin gluten-free crust was browned to a crunchy perfection. It’s made at the restaurant too. Not something that is pre-packaged. The chef makes a homemade gluten-free crust from rice flour. There is a special oven specifically for gluten-free. And utensils to take it in and out of the oven that are dedicated as gluten-free.
And how did it taste?
Transfer Pizzeria & Café’s Gluten-Free Da Vinci Pizza
AMAZING! The blend of tomato sauce and basil pesto was fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. They married together so well. The chunks of tomato were, again, fresh. Not slices…chunks. Love that. They were so ripe and packed with flavor. I absolutely loved it. The blend of three different cheeses (mozzarella, feta, and asiago) was fantastic. I love cheese as much as the next person…and this was…so amazing. SO AMAZING! Creamy. Sweet. Just melt-in-your-mouth fantastic. This might just be the best gluten-free pizza…or pizza in general…I have ever eaten. EVER!!
Oh…I was so full on pizza and bruschetta…but gluten-free dessert was mentioned. Yes. Dessert. And we’re not talking about just a bowl of ice cream. Nope. I actually got to have dessert. For real. I was told their gluten-free options were a brownie or a cupcake. I am definitely a brownie girl. And, let me tell you, I was brought an amazing Gluten-Free Brownie ($5.00). Rich. Decadent. Drizzled with chocolate. Amazing. I took one bite and I was sold. It was so rich. It was like biting into dream. Seriously. This brownie was soft and just…so good! Good isn’t even the word that best describes it. It was sinfully decadently delicious. Yeah…I was one happy gluten-free girl.
Stuffed to the max, I walked out of Transfer Pizzeria & Café with a three-course meal under my belt. That never happens anywhere these days. Not only was I full, but I was impressed. The atmosphere, the food, the people…I felt right at home there. And I was taken very good care of. Everything was safely prepared and kept high standards. I felt good to go into a restaurant where the staff was so knowledgeable about gluten-free items, made sure safety precautions were taken with the food, and served up something amazing with each dish that came out.
Color me impressed. No…color me jealous that this place is located in Milwaukee and not where I live.
Gluten-free is no problem at Transfer Pizzeria & Café. They not only know how to safely prepare food, they even host a gluten-free night, every Monday, called “Defeat the Wheat” where they offer no upcharge on gluten-free items on the menu and give a 2 for 1 special on bottles of Lakefront Brewery New Grist gluten-free beer. Gotta love that.
And I do. I’m in love with this restaurant. Well, I guess I found yet another reason to return to the Milwaukee area. And the sooner…the better!
I totally blame my friend, Heather, for my newest fascination with frozen custard. It is just rich, smooth and amazing. Simply amazing. Why simply? Because it is a rich, decadent, but simple treat.
After a long day on the road and hitting up the race expo to pick up my packet for the Rock and Sole Half and Quarter Marathon tomorrow, my roommate and I hit the town for some shopping. And as we were headed to a Half Price Books, we suddenly realized we were hungry. And dinner was still hours away. And there…as if a indulgent oasis suddenly appeared before us, we saw a beacon known as Kopp’s Frozen Custard. Now, I had been browsing Travel Channel and other sites and when it comes to frozen custard, Milwaukee is the place to be. And Kopp’s Frozen Custard is truly a staple to the Milwaukee area.
Founded in 1950, Kopp’s Frozen Custard is a true landmark in the Metro-Milwaukee area. What has brought longevity to their business? The great, unmistakeable taste of their custard. No doubt about it. And, as a little bit of trivia here, Kopp’s was the first to offer something other than the standard vanilla and chocolate frozen custards. This became known as the “Flavor of the Day” and is still put in affect today.
And when we stopped in, there were two additional flavors today. Mint Chip and Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate. Um…no guess as to which one my roommate and I decided to get.
You guessed it. Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate. One scoop. ($2.29)
Yum.
And yum doesn’t even really begin to cover the smooth, rich, creaminess of this frozen custard. I raved about the one I had in Minnesota…but this was above and beyond. This was full of rich, deep chocolate flavor, loaded with peanuts, and dark chocolate chunks. It was…a salty-sweet party in my mouth. And we all know how much I love frozen treats anyway. Well, this was one of the richest, decadent frozen treats I’ve indulged in. SO good. I might have hoovered it. Just maybe.
The taste of this custard truly is unmistakable. I thought I had the absolute best before…but this blew it all away. Just really, really fantastic. And the setting was so space-agey…while still maintaining a bit of a drive-in/diner vibe. I loved standing at my table, people-watching, and spooning down my frozen treat. I was in heaven.
If you happen to be in the Milwaukee area, check out one of the three top frozen custard places. But…speaking from experience here…I really recommend trying Kopp’s Frozen Custard. This landmark is worth standing in line for one of the flavor’s of the day…or just the plain vanilla or chocolate. For a business to last this long…you know it’s more than good. It’s great. It’s amazing. It’s..sinful…in an amazing, rich, delicious way.
Grab a spoon…because you’ll want to dig in immediately.
Product: GoPicnic Hummus and Crackers All-Natural Meal – $4.99+
It never fails. You’re trying to save money on a road trip by not eating out every time you get hungry…and sure enough…hunger strikes. You don’t want to stop off somewhere and pay an arm and a leg for either a snack or a meal. And with my food allergies…that’s not exactly the best option anyway. So…this time…I came prepared.
On a trip up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a Quarter Marathon I was running in, my roommate and I were up before the sun and on the road at 6 a.m. That meant we downed our breakfast at 5:30 before finishing with preparations and last-minute packing before taking out the garbage and heading out with the luggage to hit the road. Regardless…by the time 10 a.m. rolled around…we were starving.
Thankfully, I came prepared with a couple of varieties of GoPicnic meals. I had a couple that I got for free from the Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham, Alabama. But they included hummus and I was unsure of whether or not my roommate would eat that as she has a love/hate relationship with hummus. So, when they ran a 1/2-off special on GoPicnic’s Web site, I ordered two of the Peanut Butter and Crackers for her, part of their All-Natural, Healthy Meals. For me, I was quite content with my Hummus and Crackers pack. Hers is not gluten-free. But the Hummus and Crackers one is.
And it is full of delicious, healthy treats.
Open the box and you are greeted with a tube of Wild Garden Hummus Dip, Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers, Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame, Sweet Perry Orchards Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix and an Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Square. Every component of this meal is all-natural, gluten-free, vegan and kosher. Gotta love that!!
The biggest decision now was where to start. I opted to hit up the Wild Garden Hummus Dip and the Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers first. I’ve enjoyed the delicious Cruchmaster Crackers before, but this was my first time trying Wild Garden Hummus Dip. Let me tell you…it was absolutely delicious. I even had my roommate try some of it and she actually liked it too. Go figure. It was creamy and full of flavor. It tasted like really good refried beans…but much healthier for you. In fact, this hummus packs a whopping 6 grams of protein. Most store-bough hummus has maybe 1 gram. This made me a very happy girl. Pairing it with the Original Flavor of Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers was brilliant. The hummus only has 60 calories and the Crunchmaster Cracker pack also has only 60 calories. NICE!
The next component that I tore into was the Sweet Perry Orchard Baja Blend Fruit & Nut Mix. This was a simple blend of all natural dried fruits and nuts, which includes habañera almonds, sweet and salty peanuts and mango cranberries. It was pretty good too. A nice mix of salty and sweet. The flavor from the dried fruits and the salty nuts was fantastic. The pack that comes in the GoPicnic box has 100 calories and packs 3 grams of protein.
My next indulgence in the GoPicnic box of goodies was the Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame. This is another snack I have eaten before…but I don’t think I ever blogged about it. I love this stuff and prefer it over chips any day. Honestly. These dry roasted beans are absolutely delicious. Not too salty. And packed with flavor. Like eating a peanut…but better. This pack has only 130 calories in it, but packs a protein punch of 14 grams. NICE!
And…for dessert…my GoPicnic box had an amazing square of Endangered Species Dark Chocolate. It was a very dark chocolate blend too, of 72% cocoa content. It was smooth, delicious, and sinful. But not too sinful. The square only sets you back 50 calories. Mmmm…that’s an indulgence worth taking.
What I loved about GoPicnic is how easy these are to travel with. My roommate and I were satisfied after eating our meals. And, on a whole, definitely worth every bite. My Hummus and Crackers meal was only 400 calories for the entire thing, had 12 grams of fiber, and a powerful 25 grams of protein. For a vegetarian who is also gluten-free…that protein is exactly what I needed. And it was just so good too. I absolutely appreciate the simplicity of these meals, but how filling they are without breaking a diet or the fat/carb/whatever bank.
GoPicnic offers up quite a variety of meals for the busy-body or traveler. But only two fall into my dietary needs. The Hummus and Crackers GoPicnic meal was fantastic and I recommend it to any vegan, regardless of gluten-free status. It’s a delicious on-the-go treat that held me over until early afternoon.
GoPicnic…I love you. For (deliciously) real!
Inside the GoPicnic Hummus and Crackers All-Natural Meal
Product: thinkThin Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts Crunch Bar – $1.99+
Pssst.
Let me let you in on a little secret. I am the worst person at properly fueling pre-race and during running. I just can’t seem to get a handle on what I need to eat before certain distances to get my body working without making me uncomfortable during my distance runs. And today…was no different.
I was prepping to run in a 5 mile race, away from the city I live in. Travel. Not far. It just meant an early morning. So I ate some cereal at my apartment before leaving and figured I’d eat something about an hour before the race. The question was…what. For 5K races, I’ve been using the snack-size LäraBars. But this was 5 miles…so I didn’t think that would keep me feeling full long enough if I ate it an hour out and then ran for at least 45 minutes. So…reaching into my drawer of gluten-free running goodies, I emerged with a thinkThin Crunch Bar that I got at the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K race in Birmingham, Alabama.
I figured this would be fine. Not a stupid amount of calories, and the front of the wrapper noted it would provide 10 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and not overload me on sugar. In fact, the bar only has 3 grams of sugar in it. And regular thinkThin bars usually have 0 grams of sugar and 20 grams of protein…so I was liking this already.
My only trepidation on the chocolate. I wasn’t too sure how well that would sit in my stomach pre-run. I haven’t done too much experimenting because I’m afraid of upsetting my stomach while out on runs, so this was a trial by fire moment. I figured it was light layer on the bottom of the bar of chocolate, and not entirely chocolate…so I might do okay with it. And the nuts would provide ample protein.
Most fruit and nut bars load you down with sugars…usually around 13 grams. Not these Crunch bars by thinkThin. Only 3 grams of sugar. That makes for one happy athlete here! This bar contained peanuts, almonds and cashews that were drizzled with honey and covered in chocolate. I admit, I hesitated for a moment before tearing into the wrapper, telling myself I should have brought other options. But it was all I had. It was gluten-free. It was protein. It was fuel. So, I tore into it…and took my first bite.
Wow. I wasn’t expecting this sort of awesomeness. This isn’t the first time I’ve had thinkThin bars (my first experience was due to my good friend, Tawn, who brought me gluten-free goodies when I visited California!), but this was the first experience with one of their Crunch bars. I loved it. The nutty texture was amazing. The chocolate was light and didn’t overpower the rest of the bar. The honey lent a bit of sweetness. It was actually pretty filling too. Usually I get hungry within 2 miles of a race. Not this time. I was full throughout and I didn’t start getting hungry until about 4 hours post-race. So, it was really satisfying and filling and gave me the energy necessary for the race. Powered me into a new personal record for a 5 mile race. How about that?!
This bar only sets you back 190 calories, which isn’t bad considering what some protein/energy bars can. I loved the crunch, the texture, the flavors…they all worked. I loved how satisfying it was and how it made me feel full, even while running 5 miles at a 7.5 mph pace. YES! It worked. Why I ever doubted, I don’t know. But I think these are going on the grocery list from now on when I have distance races to attend. It was perfectly filling, perfectly tasty, perfectly powering.
Protein perfection in a simple nut bar. thinkThin does gluten-free protein bars right. And this is just further proof of their sheer awesomeness. So, thank you, Tawn for giving me my first thinkThin bar, and thank you Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham for allowing me the opportunity to sample one of the thinkThin Crunch bars. I’d be lost without you.
And thinkThin…keep on impressing me. Because I can’t say a single bad word about your products thus far. I’m satisfied and a super-happy consumer.
thinkThin Chocolate Dipped Mixed Nuts Bar (unwrapped)
So…what’s with the title, right? What’s the whole ‘phone home’ line about? Hmmm?
I’ll tell you, my dear readers. I love Steven Spielberg and one of my favorite movies of his is E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. And what does Elliott use in that movie to lure E.T. out of hiding? Reese’s Pieces.
And what does this have to do with a gluten-free cookie mix?
I’m getting there.
First of all, as far as products from Hodgson Mill go…I’ve had good luck with their gluten-free line. The brownies have been some of my favorites. And the baking mix worked really well with my homemade scones. So, when I bought the Gluten-Free Cookie Mix from Hodgson Mill, I went into it with high hopes.
Keep in mind that what you are getting in this box is a base for cookies. Flavor it as you see fit. Use the suggestions on the box…or come up with your own. Me…I came up with my own.
Now, the ingredients to make up the mix calls for vegetable shortening. I do not believe in using shortening in my food. Ew. So, I just added the same amount of soft margarine to replace it. The margarine went into the Kitchen-Aid mixer to be creamed to fluffy goodness. In went the mix. It was blended. And then an egg and two teaspoons of vanilla went in. There you have it…the base for cookies. From here you could add chocolate chips, or almonds, or peanut butter, or cocoa powder…or whatever you can dream up.
Hodgon Mill Gluten-Free Cookie Mix prepared with Reese’s Pieces and Reese’s Peanut Butter Baking Chips
Me? I decided to use a box of Reese’s Pieces and some Reese’s peanut butter baking chips and created E.T.’s. Gluten-free cookies that are packed with Reese’s goodness. Mmmmm.
I easily stirred in the peanut butter chips and candy until they were perfectly scattered throughout the dough. Then, using my ice cream scooper, I dished out the dough onto a baking sheet, pressed each cookie down with the bottom of a glass, then stuck it in the oven for 15 minutes. When they were done baking, they were still a light color, but had a bit of brown on the edges. I placed them on a cooling rack for a few minutes before finally giving in to the urge to try my cookie creation.
Mmmmmm…
I definitely think E.T. would phone home over these. Seriously. They taste like peanut butter cookies without adding the actual peanut butter to them. Honestly…they were nothing like what I expected. Even after cooling on the rack, they were soft, but sturdy. Sort of like shortbread…but a little softer. And the fact that they weren’t flavored with anything but the peanut butter chips and Reese’s Pieces…that’s what shines in the cookie. Honestly…so yummy!
My “E.T.’s” – gluten-free cookies prepared from Hodgon Mill Gluten-Free Cookie Mix, with Reese’s Pieces and Reese’s Peanut Butter Baking Chips (baked)
The box says that you get 2 dozen cookies out of the mix. But I managed to bake up 27 in the end. The serving size is 2 cookies, but one is usually enough for me when it comes to dessert. As for the nutrition facts, before any additions are put into the mix, 2 cookies will set you back only 101 calories. Not bad at all. My additions of the box of Reese’s Pieces and the Reese’s Peanut Butter baking chips takes it to 130 calories. Not too shabby.
Baking from scratch is always best, but sometimes a helping hand is a necessary evil. Hodgson Mill once again goes above and beyond amazing with a gluten-free product. I can’t wait to purchase another box and try another variety of cookie. Either one of my own making or one recommended on the box. Whichever I decide to do, however, I know it will be delicious. This gluten-free cookie mix is out of this world. And so are the cookies that emerge when all is said and done.
Want to try one of my E.T.’s?
*passes tray*
“E.T.’s” – my cookies made from Hodgson Mill Gluten-Free Cookie Mix, Reese’s Pieces, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Baking Chips. E.T. approved!!
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The Celiathlete 