Category: Sweet Stuff

Product: Katz Gluten-Free Marble Cake – $5.19; Sample Pack – cost of shipping (varies per state)

Nothing quite like a little slice of cake to start off your day, right?  Right.

That’s what happened this morning because I’m attempting to clear some space in the freezer so I can make some vegan ice cream this hot summer season.  One thing that remained in my freezer from the Katz Gluten-Free Sampler Pack were my four slices of bread and the slice of Marble Cake.  So, my breakfast included bread and cake.  Mmmm…carbo-heaven.

So…what was it like to have my gluten-free cake and eat it too?

Well…it was…okay.

Yes…just okay.

I thought this cake was a little lacking in flavor.  Most marble cakes are a punch to the teeth of a rich, buttery flavor and a deep chocolate mix.  But this…was just bland.  It definitely had a bit of chocolate flavor going for it, but the yellow part was just not cutting it.  It didn’t balance.  It didn’t spark my taste buds and make me just want to rave over it.

Was it bad?  Not at all.  It just wasn’t cake perfection for me.  I think had I maybe warmed this up, or topped it off with something like caramel, Cool Whip, chocolate sauce, ice cream…something…it would have been a little more impressive.  As it was, however, it was moist.  It didn’t crumble when I sliced it in half (because my roommate got to have half of everything in the sampler pack).  It was a bit heavy in texture though.  And I know that’s the case with some cakes that aren’t gluten-free…but I like a light cake.  I want fluffy, bounce back after you press your fork to it cakes.  This…was moist enough…but definitely heavier than I like.

I’m very picky when it comes to baked goods.  I admit it.  I bake a lot.  So, I expect nothing but the best when I get a baked good.  This wasn’t Katz’s best, but it wasn’t horrible either.  I didn’t dislike it…but I wouldn’t set out to order it if given the option.  It just didn’t have that wow factor I want in a dessert.  Had the flavor been a little more…there…I think this would have knocked my socks off.

If you like cake, I say try it.  Top it off with something.  Warm it up.  But I wouldn’t just take it from the freezer, let it thaw, and dive in like I did.  Overall…it was good…just not amazing.  And Katz has a lot of amazing products.  This one…was just shy of the mark.

On to the next…

Product: Erewhon Gluten-Free Organic Crispy Brown Rice Cereal with Mixed Berries – $4.89+

Fruit makes me happy.  So…so happy!

I mean, you hand me a pint or two of berries and you would think you just handed me the entire world.  This is how much I adore fruit.  All fruit.  Any fruit.  Juicy, ripe, and amazing.

So, how does freeze dried fruit translate in a crispy rice cereal?  Well…not to bad to be honest!

My breakfast this morning – Erewhon Gluten-Free Organic Brown Rice Cereal with Mixed Berries.

I was actually a little skeptical, despite the amazing flavor that I experienced with Erewhon’s Strawberry Crisp cereal back when I was visiting Denver, Colorado.  You would think I wouldn’t have my doubts, but when little Rice Krispies are being poured out of a box and little dried-up berries are tumbling out amongst them, I started to second-guess my choice.  I mean, the only reason I bought this cereal was that it was on clearance at the grocery store (hoping that’s not an omen that they are shrinking their gluten-free selection…).

But, this morning, it was my breakfast before I went to the gym and got my sweat on.  So I was hoping that it would be delicious and satisfying…and hold me through the workout.  You know what…an hour and fifteen minutes later and it had.  Of course, once I stopped I was so ready to eat, but the cereal did it’s job.

So…let’s talk some more about this cereal.

Erewhon Gluten-Free Organic Crispy Brown Rice Cereal with Mixed Berries is a fruity burst of flavor in your mouth.  Like Rice Krispies?  Good.  You’ll like these then.  They don’t snap, crackle, or pop when you pour milk (or unsweetened almond milk, in my case) over them, but they are packed with amazing, delicious flavor and the freeze dried berries just come to life when they are swimming in a sea of milk.

Erewhon basically takes whole grains of US grown organic brown rice and toast them up to get them nice and crunchy.  They are glazed with honey and brown rice syrup and then combined with freeze dried strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.  Mmmm…berries…mixed berries at that, means that the flavor potential is out of this world.  And here…it really is.

If you are a berry fanatic like myself, then this cereal is going to excite your taste buds and make you one happy breakfast eater all at the same time.  It’s a gluten-free deliciously fruity treat, spoonful-for-spoonful, first thing in the morning.  After all…when strawberries are involved…it wins.

Product: So Delicious Diary Free Soy Milk Neapolitan Ice Cream – $6.49+

So Delicious.

The brand name says it all.  Honestly.  If you are going to call yourself So Delicious, than your products best live up to the branding.

This one…certainly does.

In fact, this one had a lot to live up to.  Neapolitan ice cream just happens to be one of my favorite flavors…ever.  Why?  Because you get three-for-one.  And three of the most traditional, best ice cream flavors at that: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

Here’s the kicker, though.  So Delicious specializes in ice creams that are dairy-free.  Yep.  No milk product here.  In fact, this particular variety has a soy milk base, although So Delicious also has coconut milk based and almond milk based treats as well.

Flavor, flavor, flavor.  Flavor is the key when it comes to a sweet treat.  After all, you are treating yourself.  And that’s allowed.  But make sure the treat, the splurge, the taste is worth it.  In a nutshell, the Neapolitan ice cream from So Delicious is worth it…and then some.

The rich chocolate, creamy vanilla, and sweet strawberry flavors all mesh together for the perfect blend in this non-dairy frozen dessert.  Honestly.  I wouldn’t joke about ice cream.  In fact, my only regret on this brand is how expensive it is compared to regular ice cream.  But when you are a gluten-free, lactose intolerant person…well…treats do not come cheap.  They are manufactured in different ways and therefore the cost of them goes up.  But this…is totally worth the price.  In fact, I’m hard pressed to say which flavor I like to save for last.  They all taste amazing.

And the carton is swirled with each flavor, not just a line of one of each of them like most brands on the market.  Each scoop leads to a different flavor hiding below.  It’s a fun little non-dairy dessert puzzle.

Looking for a sweet treat to help you beat the summer heat?  So Delicious Neapolitan Ice Cream is just that treat you’ve been searching for.  Trust me.  I love ice cream…I wouldn’t steer you wrong!

Product: Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Extreme Fruit and Nut Granola – $6.49+

Granola is either good or it’s not.

It’s that simple.

Thankfully, all of the varieties I’ve been able to try from Bakery on Main have delighted my taste buds and made me consider actually going out to the store to buy the bigger bag versions (I had sample packs from a Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham, AL).  Which is weird, because when given the chance to buy granola, I usually opt for something else.  The reason being that they are loaded with sugars and, usually, fat along with it.

While Bakery on Main’s granola selection is varied and delicious, all of the varieties offered do have a lot of sugar in them.  It’s not something I like seeing in my food, but…I’ve actually seen worse.  For granola, however, Bakery on Main makes fantastic, low-fat, granola options for the gluten-free community.

This was the last sample pack in my cabinet.  Bakery on Main’s Gluten-Free Extreme Fruit and Nut Granola.  I was actually a little sad to reach the end of the sample packs.  I was quite enjoying my little journey through gluten-free granola (that is good!).

Here’s another one that excited my palate upon the first bite.  Ever present are the Bakery on Main granola staples – the crunchy corn, rice and seed clusters that have been present in each version of the granola.  I like it.  It’s a nice touch and definitely lightens up the granola a lot.  But also included in this one are a variety of nuts including almonds, Brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts and filberts.  On the fruit category, add a sprinkling of dried cranberries, raisins, apricots and coconut.  What you have here is an amazing salty/sweet combination that really works.

I loved it.  I would dig through my pack and find the different dried fruits and pair them with nuts and the corn clusters.  It was a delicious, fun, and filling lunch for me.  I loved the variety of flavors in this one.  It was fun to toss a bit back and just chew, tasting the fruity sweetness against the sweetness of the corn and seed clusters, mixed with the salty nature of the nuts.  It was really, really good.

A serving size of this granola is 3/4 of a cup.  That’s about 1/2 a cup more than most granola.  This will set you back 26o calories and 13 grams of fat, however.  I know!  13 grams of fat isn’t exactly low in fat, but much of that is derived from the nuts, which are a healthy fat.  Still, it does make this one a little harder to swallow, yes?  But…the one thing I hate seeing on these nutrition facts is the 11 grams of sugar.  I don’t think granola has to be loaded with sugar to taste good.

That being said, Bakery on Main does provide a delicious line-up of granola.  The important thing to watch is your serving size.  So, if gluten-free granola is your thing…I highly recommend Bakery on Main.  Their line-up is amazing, tasty, and better for you than most other options out there.

Product: Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Apple Raisin Walnut Granola – $6.49+

I know.

It sounds like there is a lot going on with this granola.  Not just apple walnut or apple raisin, but Apple Raisin Walnut…because why should you settle for less when sometimes more is better?

A part of me is glad I ate this one after I had the Rainforest Granola.  While I still love every bite of that one, there was just something so flavorful and delicious about the Apple Raisin Walnut variety.  Honestly.  It had the perfect level of sweetness and enough components to keep the texture interesting.  Let me tell you, my palate was anything but bored.

While the dehydrated apple bites, the raisins, and the chopped walnuts are the headliners, there is so much more to this granola to meet the eye.  Adding a nice crunch are gluten-free corn flakes.   In the mix, you’ll likely discover flax seeds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.  So, it is definitely a nice mix of textures.  And if that wasn’t enough, it is sweetened with honey, cinnamon, and raisin juice.  Yes…raisin juice.

Like I said about the previous one, the only thing that troubles me is the amount of sugar listed on the nutrition information.  While this granola is packed with the healthy fats your body needs, that sugar level, standing at a rather high 8 grams, is a bit shocking to see.  But…I suppose with it being granola I shouldn’t be too picky.  But, it just doesn’t seem like the best choice when stacked up against other options out there.

That being said, Bakery On Main certainly does granola well.  I was blown away by the fantastic flavors and crunch that came with this one.  The intermittent dried apple and raisin lent a nice chewiness to an otherwise crunchy granola.  And those walnuts were a needed salty (but not too salty) addition to the entire combination.  It just worked and it worked well.

If you are a fan of granola…then I highly recommend checking out the gluten-free options that Bakery on Main has to offer.  You can normally find them in your local grocery stores or natural food stores.  They haven’t disappointed me yet.  I hope to enjoy more of these…one handful at a time.

So good!

Product: Envirokidz Peanut Choco Drizzle Crispy Rice Bars – $2.99+

If you aren’t a fan of peanut butter and chocolate…this rice bar is not for you.

However, if you are a chocolate and peanut butter fan…then keep on reading.  Because these little gluten-free crispy rice bars made my afternoon snack time beyond amazing.  Funny how just one bite of something can just make or break that afternoon.  Well, this was just what I needed on a very stressful Tuesday.

Snack time rolled around and I had just opened up a new box of afternoon goodies.  This time it was the last in the line of Envirokidz Crispy Rice Bars.  I’ve had all the others…only the Peanut Choco Drizzle remained.  And I loved the ones previous to this.  How could a peanut butter based crispy rice bar drizzled with chocolate go wrong?

The answer…it can’t.

I normally share a piece of a new gluten-free treat with my roommate, but not today.  This entire bar was mine.  All mine.  And the reason for that was how freakin’ fantastic it was.  Envirokidz really knows how to pack the flavor into a simple snack.  This is nothing more than a gluten-free Rice Krispy Treat.  But…it’s gourmet.  It’s a step beyond.  It’s the pinnacle of gluten-free Rice Krispy Treats.  Seriously.

The salty base of peanut butter coated crispy rice cereal is the building block of these amazing little bars.  But the sweetness of the organic chocolate that is drizzled over it really makes this a star snack.  Every ingredient in this little bar is organic, even the peanut butter.  And you can really taste the difference.  Aside from that, I recognize every ingredient listed on the packaging.  And, as with other Envirokidz products, a small portion of your purchase goes towards species and habitat conservation or education programs for kids in regards to endangered species.  You gotta love that.

I hope Envirokidz (by Nature’s Path) continues to bring the delicious, crispy, chewy flavor of childhood to these perfectly portioned snacks.  This one has only 120 calories per bar, which is awesome.  And thanks to the addition of peanut butter, 2 grams of protein, tons of flavor, and one very satisfied consumer.

These will be in my pantry a lot more often.  You can count on that.

Love chocolate and peanut butter?  Gluten-free goodness awaits.  Go find Envirokidz Peanut Choco Drizzle Crispy Rice Bars and chew your way through a satisfying treat that hits that savory and sweet balance in one simple snack.  So good.  And now I’m craving another one…

Bakery On Main Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Fiber Power Granola – $5.99+

Fiber is an important part of any healthy diet.  It’s important to get enough of it daily through the foods you eat.  Sometimes on a gluten-free diet, this isn’t an easy accomplishment.  While I never have an issue getting enough fiber in my diet (protein is the tricky one being that I’m also vegetarian), I never turn down the opportunity to try a gluten-free product.

I picked up this little pouch of Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Fiber Power Granola while at the Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham, Alabama.  I loved that the table had a wide variety of the different granola out for those who wanted to try them out.  I had seen lots of the different kinds of Bakery on Main granola in natural food stores, but never had the guts to just buy one to try it.  This was the perfect opportunity to do just that.  Thank goodness for participants in these expos.

Fiber Power boasts a whopping 9 grams of fiber per serving.  What I loved about this granola was that it was made with gluten-free oats and the biggest, plumpest raisins I had ever seen in my life.  I’m not kidding.  They were the King Kong of raisins.  And I was okay with that.  The oats were sweetened with honey, brown rice syrup, and cinnamon (of course).

Not only did a serving of this granola bring plenty of fiber to my lunch, but also a great serving of 7 grams of protein.  And at only 230 calories for the serving size and 6 grams of fat, it’s a nutritious choice to boot.  And, like most granola’s…quite filling.  Especially with the added fiber in this variety.

The cinnamon was a great accent to the sweetness of the mutant-sized raisins.  The raisins were awesome.  Big, juicy and soft.  It paired well with the toasted oat clusters.  While I much prefer the other varieties over this one (nothing to do with flavor, just I love those corn flake granola varieties so much), Bakery on Main hit a flavor, texture, and sweetness of granola in a healthy, appetizing little package.

Who says granola has to be dry and flavorless?  And this one even brings plenty of added benefits to your daily diet.  If you can find this brand, I recommend it.  Especially if you struggle to get the perfect balance of fiber in your diet.  Even if gluten-free isn’t a dietary requirement like it is for me…you can’t go wrong with these.  I promise!

I devoured mine right at my desk at the office.  Sweet.  Crunchy.  Nutritious.  Bakery on Main…you did gluten-free right once again!