Sweet Stuff – Page 63 – The Celiathlete

October 5, 2011May 9, 2013

French Meadow Bakery cupcake falls just short of délicieux

French Market Bakery Gluten-Free Yellow Cupcakes — French Meadow Bakery Gluten-Free Yellow Cupcakes

I’ll admit something straight off…I am not a big cake eater. I never have been. Add frosting to the mix and you’re setting yourself up for more of a challenge with me, because I’m the girl who scrapes off the frosting and gives it too a friend. So, when my roommate and I picked up a box of French Meadow Bakery’s Gluten-Free Yellow Cupcakes to celebrate an occasion, this product was already handicapped.

But…I always approach food with an open mind, because sometimes something will surprise me.

The box these four cupcakes come in states that inside are “delicious gluten-free yellow cupcakes topped with vanilla frosting.” I decided to give the entire thing a chance. Forget that I’m not a big cake eater and that I don’t like frosting and just…enjoy a simple treat.

French Meadow Bakery did cook up a good cupcake. But it didn’t wow me.

Thinking back on it, however, I think this product was handicapped in two ways:

I picked it up from my grocery store freezer section. Meaning…this had to thaw in the fridge before I could consume it.
After one bite with frosting, I scraped it off and gave it to my roommate.

When I took my first bite of the cupcake, I found it to be soft, but a little spongy. It wasn’t dense or too heavy. It was very light, packed with flavor, but the texture was a bit off for me. When I do eat cake, I like it to be moist, rich, soft. This was a little dry for my liking. Again, though, I have to remember this had previously been frozen.

I did give the vanilla frosting a fair shake. I ate a bite with it on there. But frosting just is too sweet for me in the end, so my roommate threw herself on it. She loved it and said it really added to the taste of the yellow cupcake. Perhaps that’s why she liked it more than I did. Her frosting added a touch of flavor. Maybe even improved on the dryness and spongy texture. I don’t know…and won’t know because the following night, I didn’t even eat the frosting. Just scraped it off and gave it to my roommate straight away.

This wasn’t a bad product by any means. As I said, the cupcake did have a lot of flavor. But it was just slightly off of delicious for me. It was good. But it wasn’t great. I was a bit let down by this, as it was my first gluten-free cupcake since parting ways with glutenous goodies.

Would I try their products again? Sure. I might even find a better way of ensuring the product is at its best when I sample it, instead of thawed in a refrigerator. And maybe next time…the wow factor will be there.

It just wasn’t this time.

As for the French Meadow Bakery…my grocery store does carry other items of theirs and I look forward to giving them a fair taste.

But for you connoisseurs of le petit four (that’s French for cupcake), give this product a fair shake. Perhaps it is more to your taste than mine.

Bon appétit!

French Market Bakery Gluten-Free Yellow Cupcake with Vanilla Frosting — French Meadow Bakery Gluten-Free Yellow Cupcake with Vanilla Frosting

October 4, 2011

Maple Grove Farms Butter Flavor Syrup – How Sweet It Is

Maple Grove Farms Syrup — Maple Grove Farms Sugar-Free (and Gluten Free) Butter Flavor Syrup

Honestly, French toast, waffles and pancakes (of the freshly made variety) are never as good when they aren’t drizzled with that sticky, sweet topping of syrup. They just seem unfinished. Plain. Not ready for consumption. Yet, the moment a garnish of syrup is applied to said breakfast food of choice…it’s like the finishing touch. And the finale is how delicious it tastes when you take bite after bite of it.

Growing up, I never liked maple syrup. Never. I’m still not overly fond of it, finding many varieties to be too sweet by nature. And, many store-bought varieties have added sweeteners and sugar. Even the sugar-free brands don’t always taste right.

Such was not the case with Maple Grove Farms syrup. The first thing that, naturally, got my attention was that it was labeled gluten-free. Bonus. It was sugar-free. Good. And it came in not only a maple flavor, but a butter flavor too, thus eliminating any need to smother extra butter on a delicious gluten-free waffle or pancake prior to submerging said breakfast in syrup. Since I was in need of a gluten-free syrup for breakfast, I decided to give Maple Grove Farms a try.

I wasn’t disappointed either. The butter flavor is just right. The fact that it is sugar-free means that it isn’t too sweet. And, naturally it is low in calories. When some breakfast foods already wrack up that calorie count, it’s nice to add flavor without totally destroying your allotment for the day.

Now…flavor. Buttery and rich, this easily coats the breakfast of choice and fills your mouth with flavor. It is smooth and not overpowering. The syrup isn’t meant to be the highlight of the dish, merely a compliment of it. And that’s what Maple Grove Farms managed with their sugar-free butter flavor syrup. It’s delicious. And I’ve run out to the store specifically for this syrup when I run out or run low unexpectedly. It’s the perfect addition to a carb-filled breakfast, without being too much. And that’s what makes this my favorite syrup…ever.

I promise, even if you aren’t big on syrup like me, you’ll enjoy this one!

October 4, 2011

Pamela’s Products Produces Perfect Pancakes and Other Delicious Products

Pamela's Products Baking and Pancake Mix — Pamela's Products Baking & Pancake Mix

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Especially to a breakfast-fiend like me. I’m not talking just cereal with a splash of almond milk. I mean a real, hearty breakfast. What’s the point of breakfast if it isn’t filling?

When I had to go gluten-free, most of my homemade breakfasts consisted of eggs. Now, I like eggs as much as the next person, but after awhile, you need variety. Since pancakes and waffles are not always an option for the gluten-free breakfast lover, unless you want to pay an arm and a leg for a mix, I was regulated to frozen waffles, which didn’t wow me. Or toast…which is kind of…boring. Not meant for a breakfast diva, like myself.

Then, one day, my roommate surprised me with a pack of Pamela’s Products Baking & Pancake Mix. Now, I love Pamela’s Products’ cookies. I’ve had three different varieties of them (and sadly have only blogged on one, but will remedy that soon enough). This line of gluten-free goodies has wowed me from the moment I put a double dark chocolate cookie into my mouth instead of a slice of cake at a party. So…here was a chance not only to enjoy another product from this reliable brand, but also to have one of my most favorite breakfasts ever…PANCAKES!! Gluten-free pancakes. My breakfast suddenly gave me a lot more to look forward to.

Making Pamela’s pancakes is not a difficult task. One cup of mix, 3/4 cup of water, 1 egg…mix. Make sure the mix isn’t runny or your pancakes won’t be fluffy. Place on skillet. Cook.

I grew up in the age of my mom’s “Best Ever Pancakes,” which are made from scratch. When I moved out and on my own, it was mixes in a box from Fiber One or Bisquik. What could possibly live up to that, right?

Pamela’s Products Baking & Pancake Mix. That’s what! No joke. They cook up really fluffy. And, despite not having a bit of milk in them, taste like a buttermilk pancake. No joke. They are fantastic. Light, fluffy, and packed with flavor. The recipe on the back cooks up six amazing pancakes, and the good news is…they reheat and taste just as good the next morning. Most of the time, reheated pancakes seem a bit stiff. Not these. Soft and delicious right out of the microwave, almost as if they were just flipped off the skillet and drizzled with some (gluten-free) maple syrup.

Pamela's Products Pancakes w/ syrup — Pamela's Products Pancakes with drizzle of gluten-free maple syrup...breakfast is served!

But why limit yourself to just pancakes when you clearly have a mix that can go beyond that?

My birthday was coming up and, since I had to go gluten-free, I know a birthday dessert can be a bit of a bear for others to deal with. I took it upon myself to make my own birthday treat (although I didn’t get a candle or the ‘Happy Birthday’ song to go with it, but alas…) for my after-dinner with friends and family event. Cake was an option, but cake has never really been my favorite dessert in the world. Mostly because I am not a frosting person and without frosting, most cakes tend to be lacking something. So…I went for something I had been craving since going gluten-free…and one of my favorite desserts in the world:

Strawberry shortcake.

The shortcake part was the difficult part. But what I decided to do was use a bit of Pamela’s Products Baking & Pancake Mix and make some drop biscuits that could be sliced and piled high with fresh (organic) strawberries and dollops of Cool Whip. What could be more amazing than that? So I set myself to the task the night before, baking up drop biscuits and having my roommate, Cathy, and our friend Greg (who ventured down for my birthday weekend) act as guinea pigs for the finished product. They aren’t gluten-free so if it won them over…we were golden.

What I got was high praise for the melt-in-your-mouth, buttery, delicious taste of these biscuits. So, naturally, I had to have one too. And then I had requests for seconds. So, I baked up another batch to have for the birthday celebration and tucked them away for the time being. The following morning, I had a request for the biscuits, so I made another round of them for breakfast.

After dinner out, everyone reconvened back at my apartment for dessert. The idea was a ‘build your own’ strawberry (or blueberry, or raspberry) shortcake, but I just did everyone’s for them. And everyone loved it with the biscuits. I sliced them in half, put on layers of fruit and Cool Whip, and topped them off with the top of the biscuit, more Cool Whip, and fruit. They were a hit, that’s for sure.

So, whether making gluten-free pancakes, biscuits, or other products (like scones, muffins, etc…) I highly recommend trying out Pamela’s Products Baking & Pancake Mix. It’s delicious and everything I have made has been light, fluffy and delicious. Baking mixes sometimes need a lot to be added to them to make them palatable. But not Pamela’s. This mix is packed with powerful flavors and bakes up to perfection, no matter what you set out to bake.

Pamela’s Products = Perfection. Every time.

Strawberry Shortcakes made from Pamela's Products Drop Biscuits (from mix)

August 7, 2011August 7, 2011

Coffee Perkfection!

Perkfections — Perfections Cafe & Bar, Jeffersonville, Indiana

Just when I think I have had the best coffee anywhere…I find somewhere that does it better.

I’m growing quite fond of the myriad of different local coffee shops in our area here. I have known about Perkfection for awhile. After all, a lot of journalism majors at my university hung out there or held meetings there. But, I never quite ventured out that way. However, a Groupon came over my e-mail for half off drinks and food from this coffee shop and diner, and I was quite eager to purchase it and give it a try.

So that’s what I did.

The actual Groupon sat for months because of my busy schedule. Things had finally settled down and the expiration date was approaching…so my roommate and I headed down to Jeffersonville, Indiana to see about some morning caffeine.

The actual shop is quite open and very welcoming. Lots of natural light. We were greeted immediately by the barista behind the counter, who took a moment to explain a little bit about the drink menu. I guess we looked like newbies to this place. Then again, as a former barista, you do get to know your customers. New faces…new chance to impress.

So, orders in. My roommate got a tall (which is a medium here) mint mocha with skim milk and I ordered a tall sugar-free chocolate latte with soy milk. Simple enough decision. So, our lovely barista went to execute the orders. She did the mocha first, double-checking to make sure that whipped cream was wanted. When it comes to my roommate, whipped cream is not an option – it’s a necessity. That made, she went to pour my soy milk to steam it…and then realized that she didn’t have any soy milk in stock. It had been used up the night prior and no one told her. She asked if I could have milk at all. So, I took a lactase enzyme and said it would be fine with skim milk this time.

With both drinks made she rang us up…and we were just under the total on the coupon. But this is also a diner…and there were cookies. I couldn’t have one, but my roommate saw the chocolate chip goodness in the case and said she’d love a cookie. We were now over by $0.13, but the barista told us not to worry about it, handed over the cookie and the drinks and we were on our way.

Now, while I do love my coffee…my roommate is a little harder to please. She actually got in a sip of her drink before I managed with mine, and immediately declared this to be “The Best Coffee Ever.” Strange words coming from her, but not ones to be taken lightly. I took a sip of my own and what I noticed was the blend of flavors. It played on my palate. The roast of espresso had a nutty tang to it, which meshed perfectly with my sugar-free chocolate syrup. The entire drink was smooth, and heated to perfection: not too hot so immediate gratification could be met.

I dislike that Perkfection entails a drive to Jeffersonville, but with coffee this amazing…I do want to go back. I do want to try other things there. And I do want to support a local business. Speaking of supporting a local business…their coffee is local as well.

And as for that cookie…my roommate saved it for later as a snack. But it was gone as quickly as she had unwrapped it from the wax paper. She actually said, “Damn…their cookies are amazing too.” I will only have to take her word on that, unless they start getting (or baking) gluten-free treats.

Jeffersonville has a gem of a coffee shop downtown in Perfections. Great service. Great coffee. Great experience. Great prices! Enough to win me over and declare that we would have to go back as soon as possible for more. And I intend to hold to that.

Local business. Local roast. Local coffee. Nothing short of Perkfection, indeed!

Perkfection's Sugar-Free Chocolate Latte — Perkfection's Non-fat Sugar-Free Chocolate Latte

August 6, 2011

Betty Crocker serves up soft and gooey chocolate chip cookies

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

Betty Crocker. It’s becoming a name I know I can trust. Especially since having to step into a gluten-free lifestyle, finding products that actual “WOW” my palate has been a trick. Even more…finding affordable products that fit my budget has been one challenge after another. So, when a sale hits on gluten-free goodies, I usually snatch them up quickly.

Betty Crocker’s gluten-free bake mixes were a part of an “on-sale budget splurge” one day while grocery shopping. I filled up a basket just on these things because…I finally could. I already reviewed her brownies, which I loved…so now…it was time to get my Cookie Monster on.

I love sweet things as much as the next person, but cake isn’t one of my favorite things in the world. So, growing up, I was all about my mom’s homemade cookies, brownies, dessert bars and fudge. And she was one hell of a baker, let me tell you. The best part was when you got to taste one fresh out of the oven. I still love to sneak a treat as it comes out of the oven, still soft and hot and melting as you attempt to cool it off by blowing across it, juggling from hand to hand so as not to burn yourself, and still get that “fresh from the oven” taste.

That was what I was hoping for with Betty Crocker’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. The preparation is easy. One stick of softened butter. One egg. Mix with the boxed mix until a crumbly dough forms. Like I said…easy! One thing I did notice was there was an ample amount of chocolate chips. A lot of mixes skimp on their chocolate chip to dough ratio when it comes to these pre-packaged delights. But not Betty Crocker. I’d have plenty of chocolate chips in each cookie. And this made me stupidly happy.

I preheated the oven and got to spooning out the dough onto cookie sheets. Nothing could be simpler. And I even got the proper amount of servings from the dough. All 40 cookies present and accounted for…for now.

As they baked in the oven, they smelled amazing. The entire aroma of cookies flooded my apartment. It was like what it was like growing up, when my mom would randomly bake up a batch of cookies for my friends and I while we played and call us up as they were finishing up in the oven. That’s what these reminded me of. And when something can bring me back to my childhood with a simple whiff, then something is definitely right.

They baked for the allotted time and I pulled them out of the oven, letting them sit for only a moment on the sheet before moving them over to a cooling rack. Only a couple crumbled on the way, but those would be the fresh testers anyway. So, once they were baked moved, my roommate and I gathered up the crumbled cookies and took a taste.

They were fantastic. Just like homemade cookies from scratch. Not only that, you couldn’t even tell that they are gluten-free. No one would be the wiser unless you told them. They melted in your mouth as any fresh cookie should. Bursting with chocolate chip flavor and that buttery taste of cookie dough…so delicious! I had to grab another one and I didn’t feel bad doing it either.

If you are looking for the most amazing pre-packaged, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies…give these a whirl. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. And it saves you time mixing together different flours to get the texture and taste just right. Betty Crocker does all that for you, packaging it with gluten-free love, and serving it to those of us who definitely need a delicious hit of chocolate chip deliciousness.

Go crazy…dip it in almond milk or put some Cool Whip between two cookies for a cookie sandwich. Or eat them as they are. Because…any way you serve them up, they are incredible. Hot from the oven or straight from the cookie jar, Betty Crocker serves up so-close-to-homemade chocolate chip cookies that you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference.

So get baking…and enjoy!

Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

August 6, 2011

Betty Crocker serves up decadent gluten-free brownies

Betty Crocker Brownies — Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Brownie Mix

I’d like to thank my local grocery store for running a huge sale on Betty Crocker gluten-free cake, cookie, and brownie mixes a couple weeks ago. It was because of that sale that my pantry got stocked with dessert goodness that I have been slowly making my way through.

I know Betty Crocker is a name I can trust when it comes to dessert mixes. Before I was gluten-free it was one of the ones I would go-to for a quick dessert to bake up without doing it all from scratch. When I had to make the switch to a gluten-free diet…I was elated to see these on the shelves. One of my best friend’s from childhood had to go gluten-free as well and she really recommended the Betty Crocker mixes. When something comes with that much of a recommendation from someone I trust…well…then I don’t need to think twice about making the purchase.

I was in the mood for chocolate, so the other night I grabbed a box of Betty Crocker’s Gluten-Free Brownie Mix out of the pantry. It was so easy to mix together. Just the mix, half a stick of butter, and two eggs. How easy is that? Mix it together and pour it in the pan. Then bake according to the instructions on the box.

Then comes the excruciating part. Waiting. Because your entire house will smell like chocolate! They smell amazing as they bake up. So, when the timer went off and I pulled them out to cool, I couldn’t wait to give them a try. I allowed them to cool and then cut them up into sixteen squares per the serving size recommendation on the box.

Here’s what I loved about the appearance. They looked like regular brownies. They felt like regular brownies. They had chocolate chips in the batter, only adding to the chocolate flavor. First bite…and Betty Crocker scored. These were rich without being too heavy. Every bite was moist and filled with the taste of dark chocolate. And I love, love, LOVE dark chocolate.

I played around with these each night after dinner. I’d drizzle or dollop different toppings on them and try out different combinations. The winner, however, was the night I placed a dollop of Chocolate Cool Whip on top, drizzled it with melted Ghirardelli Intense Dark Chocolate (72% Cacao), and sprinkled it with brownie crumbs from the pan. Talk about going into a dark chocolate coma. It was one of the most amazing dessert experiences.

For easy brownies that are rich in flavor, full of chocolate, and gluten-free…turn to Betty Crocker. Amazing flavor, texture, and dress them up however you like or just eat them as they are. Either way you prefer them, however you want them…they are a treat worth making. So make them often. And share.

Betty Crocker Brownie Yum — Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Brownie topped with Chocolate Cool Whip, melted Ghiradelli Intense Dark Chocolate and topped with brownie crumbs

August 3, 2011August 3, 2011

Not going nuts over products from Nuts On Clark

There’s popcorn in Chicago and then there is popcorn. There is something special about the popcorn in the Windy City. After a disappointing meal at Chicago Midway Airport, I was looking for something else to carry me through until supper time. Since I love popcorn like it’s going out of style…I thought it might be a good snack before boarding the plane.

Chicago O’Hare has a couple of Garrett Gourmet Popcorn in their terminals. Not so much at Midway. What they do have is a little popcorn and nuts place called Nuts On Clark.

Well…it was better than nothing.

Since no one should have to choose between caramel and cheese popcorn, I got the standard mix of both…something Chicago is known for according to Garrett shops. Just a small bag would do. And along with it, since it was on sale, I snagged a bag of dark chocolate covered cashews. Because a little salty and sweet never hurt anyone. In fact…it only makes life better!

With popcorn and dark chocolate cashews in hand, I hurried down to my gate and settled in for a little snack. I started with the chocolate because I’m female and chocolate helps to calm the inner beast. Since I was still fuming over my lackluster lunch, I figured a little chocolate might do me some good.

I popped a cashew into my mouth…and all I got was chocolate. I thought I had the weird anomaly of the bag. Just a hunk of dark chocolate. So, I grabbed a bigger one, which was shaped like a cashew and tried again. Same reaction. There was no salty with sweet. There was just sweet. Now, I love dark chocolate more than anything else in the world…but I wanted to taste the cashew too. And with ever one I tried…I just wasn’t getting the hit of salty nut flavor that I was craving. Disappointed, I folded up the remaining in the bag, tucked it away into my carry-on and turned my attention to the bag of popcorn.

This was my first time sampling the Chicago blend of caramel and cheese popcorn mixed together. So, I was intrigued to give it a try. The popcorn was…okay. The caramel really stood out as opposed to the rather blah cheese flavor. But…I’ve had Garrett Gourmet Popcorn prior to this and this didn’t equal up to the delicious bite and flavor they offer. Garrett popcorn is bursting with caramel flavor. It mixes in nuts of your choice if you want, or you can have it plain. It keeps fresh in the bags long after you open it. Nuts On Clark tries. And I guess if you really need some popcorn, they are the place to hit up. But, a word of warning to those who do venture that way. Unlike Garrett popcorn…if you start eating this stuff, finish it. It doesn’t keep well. I brought it to the U2 General Admission line the following morning and ate it as a mid-day snack…to find it stale and the cheese quite rancid. I wasn’t a fan.

If you really want to get gourmet popcorn, go to Garrett if possible while in Chicago. Skip Nuts On Clark. Just…trust me on this. Neither of their products I purchased blew me away. Disappointing for the high airport snack price I paid for them. If you need a crunchy popcorn hit…find a shop at Midway and buy the pre-packaged stuff. I’d skip this and hold out for Garrett’s next time I find myself in Chicago.

Cheesy Caramel — Nuts On Clark's Cheese and Caramel Popcorn Blend

August 1, 2011

Pamela’s Products hits peanut-buttery high with delicious cookies

Pamela's Peanut Butter Cookies — Pamela's Products Peanut Butter Cookies

It may be evident that I have a great love for sweet treats. And one of my favorite things to nosh on when I need something sweet is cookies. They are fast. They are convenient. They are portable. Oh…and they won’t melt if you leave half of one for later.

Having to enter the gluten-free world…sweet treats were a little more of a complication for me. Thank God for Pamela’s Products. Everything I have tried out of this product line has been amazing. I only wish I had this blog before so I could rave about this stuff. Don’t worry…I’ll revisit those products.

For now, however, let me introduce you to one of the most palate-pleasing things I have ever had the honor of tasting: Pamela’s Peanut Butter Cookies.

First of all…I was expecting a hard cookie. Surprise…these are chewy, just like peanut butter cookies should be. Not only that, the texture is as though they were just taken out of the oven. Seriously, I was so impressed with these that I couldn’t stop at just one. And really…who can anyway? Not only were these soft and chewy…they were so good!

What I love about peanut butter cookies is not only the sweetness but also the salty kick. Sweet and salty is a deadly combination for me and these cookies hit the mark and hit it hard. It’s like homemade nutty goodness in a package. Skip turning on the oven on a hot day and find these in your grocery store. Trust me…you can’t tell the difference. They really are THAT good.

Pamela’s Products prides itself on delicious gluten-free foods. And they have delivered each and every time. I wish more of their products were available in the area I live in. But if my selection is limited, I’m sure glad these are on the shelves here. I can’t wait to tear into another box and take another bite of a moist, chewy, delicious peanut butter cookie.

Cookie win. Nutty goodness. Chewy. Addictive. Perfect.

Pamela’s Perfection. You can’t go wrong.

Splurge. Take a bite of chewy, nutty goodness and savor each one. Because you’ll find these cookies will disappear…fast!

August 1, 2011

Chocolate take on classic cereal Chex in and wins

One of the most inexpensive (and delicious) gluten-free breakfast cereals in the grocery store these days is, believe it or not, Chex. Yes…that cereal you grew up using in a party mix or even as breakfast. But here’s the best part. You are no longer limited to the three classic flavors. And if you can’t have gluten…it’s not just the rice and corn flavors.

Since the wheat and multi-bran are not options for me, I was pretty certain I was stuck with the usual Rice Chex and Corn Chex. And then I hit up the grocery store and discovered that General Mills had created a whole new line of flavors for Chex cereal. And among them…something no woman can resist…

Chocolate Chex.

I am a chocolate fiend. Honestly. If it’s around, I cannot resist it’s power. This is probably why this box of cereal immediately grabbed my attention in the grocery aisle. My chocolate radar kicked in and I could not resist snagging this off the shelf.

I bought one box and took it home, eager to give it a try. Upon first pour, it’s like a checkerboard of Chocolate and Rice Chex. Actually, the product is just Rice Chex with a chunk of the squares dusted in real cocoa powder. I popped one of the chocolate squares on its own into my mouth and knew right then and there that I had found the most amazing treat for breakfast.

It was sweet, and the cocoa powder melted away as I chewed it. It was like popping a chocolate wafer into my mouth and having it melt away. So delicious. So, I poured a little unsweetened almond milk into my bowl and took an entire spoonful. Bursting with chocolate flavor, this cereal is like a treat. You don’t feel like you’re eating kiddie cereals when you eat these. This isn’t Cocoa Pebbles (which are also gluten-free, mind you!)…this is chocolate cereal for adults (and kids, too!). You aren’t buying a box with a cartoon character on it. You’re getting full-out flavor in a cereal you’d buy for yourself even if you didn’t have to eat gluten-free.

And here’s the best part…this cereal is amazing with milk or just dry. It can be breakfast or a snack or even a dessert. It works either way because of the hit of sweet cocoa. I’ve eaten it as a snack while on the road or dry just before running in a race. It tastes good either way. But one little treat you get with adding milk is that it flavors the milk chocolate, so you are certain to scoop all of that up too. It’s an added bonus to an already tantalizing breakfast experience.

Chocolate cereal that is not only good for you…it tastes good too. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy a sweet treat in the morning (or afternoon, or evening). And thanks to Chex cereal…you don’t have to be! So have chocolate for breakfast (and second-breakfast, lunch, noonsies, snack, dinner, dessert)…and go back for an extra handful once you’re done. It’s okay…I won’t tell anyone. I do it too.

July 29, 2011

Going crazy over Enjoy Life’s Cocoa Loco bars

You may have noticed…but I live my life on the go. I am never in one place too long. And I love to travel and take in new experiences. Whether it’s halfway across the world or in my own backyard, I never linger too long in one place. It’s a big world out there and it has plenty to offer me.

As someone who is constantly away from home, I like to save money where I can and pack grab-and-go snacks that I can tuck into my purse or pocket for when my stomach starts rumbling. I admit…I am a snacker. I eat constantly and my stomach lets me know when it needs a little something to get to the next meal.

For the past month, I’ve lived a good chunk of my days standing in the General Admission line for various U2 shows across the country. Snacks are what you live off of in these lines. You want easy to transport, small, and nothing that will melt…because we are in the heat of the summer, after all. And that was when I discovered yet another Enjoy Life product at my grocery store: Cocoa Loco Snack Bars.

Not only are these bars gluten-free and dairy-free…they are also vegan and free of all of the ingredients in the top 8 food allergies. Bonus! So, I took a chance and bought a box of them for the line. At half the calories gluten-free protein bars come with, I was feeling really happy with my decision. My only concern was…what if they didn’t taste good?

It was on a sweltering hot day in St. Louis while I was sitting in the line of U2 fans that I broke out my first Enjoy Life Cocoa Loco Snack Bar. I opened up the package…not impressed by the presentation. It did look like sweet chocolate-y goodness though. So, breaking off a piece, I popped it in my mouth and took a taste.

SO good. The texture was a little denser than most snack bars, but it was sweet and filled any craving I might have had for chocolate. It was delicious. Like eating a brownie. Dessert without the guilt…that’s how I’d describe it. The flavor was fantastic. I gave a piece to my roommate and she also loved it (and she doesn’t have food allergies!). So, this was the perfect snack for living life on the go. Sweet, savory, and just the right hit of chocolate. I can’t wait to try their other flavors now.

Enjoy Life once again put out an amazing product that not only tastes delicious…but makes you feel like you are getting more than a snack…only without the guilt.

Go crazy…go loco…get Cocoa Loco!