Sweet Stuff – Page 7 – The Celiathlete

November 6, 2015

Product Review: Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks

Product: Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks – $2.99+

I will be the first person to admit that in the past couple of months, I fell off of the cereal train. I did. Don’t get me wrong…I absolutely love cereal…but I was just in a rut and really just needed something different in the morning. I went to fruit and yogurt and enjoyed it well enough and was content with it.

Until I went to the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana back on October 24, 2015. My mom, also a Celiac, came up from Birmingham, Alabama, with my dad and we all went together to scope out the expo. Trust me, I do this event every year that it has been in Indianapolis…and I love it. Freebies, samples, and local products/businesses all come out and reel me in. I won’t lie…I walk out of there broke…but it’s worth it in the end. I have never regretted a moment.

Now, one of the booths I have started to look for each year belongs to Freedom Foods. Why? Well…I’m getting to that.

Freedom Foods makes a variety of products, although only a few items are available in the United States at the moment…and most of these include cereals, which, for the record, are made in a dedicated and specially built allergen-free facility in the Riverina region of New South Wales, in Australia. As Freedom Foods was specifically developed to make allergen-free foods, they test every batch made in their facilities, to the most stringent levels possible, leaving no doubt that the Freedom Foods products you pick up will be free of the allergens that are necessary to avoid.

LOVE THAT!

Because we live in a world where it’s not enough to just be health conscious. Now we have to be allergen conscious too. With the growing number of food allergies and intolerances, it is nice to find a company that really proves that it is dedicated to creating products that are safe to consume. Freedom Foods has been around for over 20 years, making great-tasting and nutritious allergen-free food. I can attest to this, as I am a huge fan of the products I have had from them thus far. All of their products adhere to the strict guidelines laid out by Australia’s food industry, meaning all their products are non-GMO. They even test for GMOs just to make sure.

One of my favorite products, mind you, is the Tropico’s cereal, which is a gluten-free version of Froot Loops, but made without artificial colors, ingredients, partially hydrogenated crap…you know…all that bad stuff that Kellogg’s puts into their cereals and people consume freely. I am a cereal girl. I start most of my mornings with a small bowl. A serving. And yes…I do measure. You knew that already though, right?

So, imagine how my mind was blown when I found the booth at the GFFAF and saw that they had a new fruity cereal out. Like…brand new this year. It’s the Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks (think Fruity Pebbles). They gave me a little cup to sample and it won me over wholeheartedly. It was like…little flakes of everything I love about Tropico’s. Well, I might even prefer them to the Tropico’s…which, naturally would happen, since I haven’t seen the Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks anywhere outside of the GFFAF that day. I purchased two boxes. I should have bought them out, HA!

I almost didn’t want to pop open a box so soon, but with the cereal that brought me back into cereal now completely consumed (that would be the Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin O’s, for the record), I needed something else this morning. Yes…this very morning. Before heading to the gym for my 5:30 a.m. spin class…I needed some fuel. And with two boxes staring at me from the pantry…I grabbed one and tore it open, measuring out a serving (1 cup), topping it with some unsweetened cashew milk, and then devouring it while standing right there at the counter in my kitchen.

It really is that amazing and that good. This cereal is everything all rolled up into one healthier package than average regular and gluten-free cereals out on the market. And, because of the fruity flavors, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on my cut fruit and yogurt. Honestly, this cereal amazed me. The little flakes of fruity goodness get a little soft in the milk, but it only helps to emphasize the flavor. And, when your cereal is made with real ingredients, not fillers and artificial bad stuff, well, I give it a pass on how long it swims around in a pool of cashew milk before getting soft. It didn’t bother me, as I was standing in my cycling clothes, hunched over my Eeyore cereal bowl, just shoveling this stuff into my face. Food is fuel. Real food is the best kind of fuel.

If you like fruity cereals…low in sugar…big in flavor, then Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks is the cereal for you. Who knows, you might even find yourself hunched over a bowl in your kitchen.

Let’s talk about what goes into Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks, shall we? This cereal is made from a gluten free flour mix (rice flour, yellow corn flour), sugar, resistant dextrin, psyllium husk, paprika oleoresin color, carrot oil color, sweet potato color, turmeric oleoresin color, tricalcium phosphate, salt, sunflower lecithin, and natural flavor. It is free from gluten, nuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, soy and sesame. Freedom Foods believes that the less salt you eat, the healthier you are, so they only put in a pinch of salt in this cereal. This cereal also contains a natural, grain-based prebiotic that help to nourish the good bacteria in our digestive tracts which…helps with good digestion and overall health. This is a simple cereal that is doing really amazing and big things for your body and your health. And that’s why I love this brand so much!

As for nutritional information, hold onto your gluten-free knickers, my friends. Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks is a healthier take on cereal, and that’s evident in the nutritional facts. A serving of Freedom Foods Fruity Rainbow Rocks is 1 cup. This serving will give you 180 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 75 mg sodium, 36 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 3 grams protein. For being little flakes of fruit flavor, these can actually feel and be quite filling thanks to that fiber and protein. Fruity Pebbles has 0 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein, if that tells you anything. What a difference real ingredients and no artificial…anything makes!

There is a lot to love about Freedom Foods. They set a high standard for themselves and aim to create delicious food that is free from the “stuff” that your body doesn’t need— gluten, nuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, fructose, soy, yeast, GMO’s, and artificial flavors. Here you have a truly allergy friendly cereal. YAY! Not only this, but all the products from Freedom Foods focus not only on allergen-free safety, but, better nutrition and taste. They use clean and recognizable ingredients so you won’t feel guilty noshing on a serving.

Come on, what’s not to love. So, whether you are a kid at heart or just love fun cereals in the morning, I encourage you to seek out, or even order, Freedom Foods. Your body will thank you for it!

November 6, 2015

Recipe: Gluten Free Magners Hard Cider Brown Butter Waffles

So…it’s a thing that we do whenever there is a weekend at my friend Jenn’s house (aka: Weekend at Jenn’s)…where we bake up or cook up something different, fun, unsual, and (hopefully) delicious every Sunday morning. It’s nice because it’s a great way to spend the morning, and, it means that Cathy and I depart with full bellies to get us home to Louisville. It’s a fun little tradition. And, both Jenn and I make it a point to find interesting recipes to attempt each time.

Except, as this past weekend approached, we realized we hadn’t done our usual scouring of Pinterest for something new, exciting and fun. So, aside from the Pink Salad (a must!) that she makes and that we managed to eat in 2 days, we thought of revisiting the the Gluten Free Strawberry Breakfast Cake, which we made the last time we were there. And, while this was definitely a tasty option, I was in the mood to try something new.

And, for some reason, I was thinking waffles!

So, after a bit of google-fu, I stumbled across the website Buttercream Blondie: Flirt With Desserts. And the google search that brought me there involved Magners Irish Cider (the best hard cider!) and the word…WAFFLES. Hence, her recipe for the Magners Hard Cider Brown Butter Waffles. Jenn and I simply had to swap out the flour with some of the gluten-free ones she keeps on hand (because she is awesome like that!) and we had breakfast in the making. We also adjusted some of the measurements because we were not going to open up a bottle of Magners and only use part of it at 8 am in the morning. Not happening. So, below is the adjusted recipe to fit my diet and what we had on hand! Guess what…theses were phenomenal.

Mickey shape not required…but with a Disney trip in the planning stages, I figured it was appropriate!

Recipe: Gluten Free Magners Hard Cider Brown Butter Waffles

Gluten Free Magners Hard Cider Brown Butter (Mickey) Waffles

Servings: 7-8 (depending on waffle iron)
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 10 min per waffle

Ingredients for Waffles:

2 cups Gluten Free All Purpose Flour (we used King Arthur Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Mix)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
4 ounces unsalted butter, browned (or Earth Balance Vegan Butter)
1 bottle Magners Irish Cider
1/4 cup whole milk (or non-dairy milk)
2 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients for Magners Syrup:

1 bottle Magners Irish Cider
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (or Earth Balance vegan butter)

Directions:

Make the syrup.

Bring Magners and light brown sugar to a boil in a medium-size sauce pan.

Reduce heat to medium and allow mixture to buble away for about 10-20 minutes. It should reduce down to about 5 ounces or so. Stir in 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter.

Meanwhile…make the waffles.

Brown the butter. To do this, simply start melting butter over medium heat in a pan with a light-colored bottom so that you can keep track of the color. Swirl the pan occasionally to be sure that the butter is cooking evening. As it melts, the butter will begin to foam and the color will progress from lemony-yellow to golden-tan, and finally, a toasty-brown. Once you smell that nutty aroma, take the pan off the heat and transfer the browned butter to a heat-proof bowl to cool.

Heat the waffle iron.

In a bowl or measuring cup, mix together the milk (dairy or non-dairy), vanilla extract, and 2 egg yolks.

In a larger bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, brown sugar).

Add the cider, milk-yolk-vanilla mixture, and browned butter to the dry ingredients and whisk together until smooth.

Whip up 2 egg whites in a clean bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the batter.

Spoon into waffle iron and cook until golden brown.

ENJOY!

~*~*~

Let me start by saying that I think that this syrup is the best syrup I have ever had the pleasure of drinking…er…pouring over my waffles. It is sweet and delicious and amazing. And yes…tastes like Magners (aka: BEST HARD CIDER EVER!). And when paired with a waffle, that has a batter that is prepared with the fizzy goodness of Magners, well, you have a winning combination. The waffles were crispy, golden, amazing on the outside, and boozy, soft, and warm on the inside. It was Disney Boozy Breakfast perfection. And I was one happy waffle-eating gluten-free girl.

This recipe is phenomenal. Especially the syrup. Just don’t over reduce the syrup or you’ll end up with Magners caramel…which happened to us on our first attempt to make the syrup. We ended up with boozy Magners caramels though, so it all worked out okay. And the second batch of syrup cooked up perfectly while I made Mickey waffles with the boozy-good batter. Best. Breakfast. Ever.

November 6, 2015

Restaurant Review: Bake Me Happy, Columbus, Ohio

Restaurant: Bake Me Happy, Columbus, Ohio

Okay…technically this is not a restaurant. There is no open seating, no tables, no hostess…none of that. This is a bakery. Not just any bakery though. This bakery has huge kitchen space to work out of, and in turn, offers up quite a lot of gluten-free goodies in their store.

Bake Me Happy was started by the lovely Wendy and Letha, committing themselves to making each and every bite that you have from their products the most decadent thing you’ve had since sliced bread. Sliced bread, however, is not on their menu. After being self-diagnosed with gluten intolerance in 2006, Wendy immediately felt relieve from a life of digestive issues. The only problem was…the gluten-free food choices available lacked flavor and texture, seriously limiting what she would be willing to consume (and who can blame her!?). After many years of self-study, she decided to take the plunge and signed up for an immersion course at the Culinary Institute of America, experimenting with recipes and trying them out on unsuspecting friends. Soon, both friends and family began requesting her treats for parties, and none of them were gluten intolerant. From there, Wendy expanded and began offering her products to the public. And from the huge response she got from her goodies…Bake Me Happy, the bakery, was born. And because Wendy understands what it is like to have a food intolerance , you can guarantee that she takes great care and pride in the products that she puts out for the public. Not only does she understand the importance of what she does, she also knows that a perfect recipe cannot be rushed and that the best things in life are worth waiting for.

Just over a month ago, I wrote up a review on Bake Me Happy’s Cream-Filled Spongies (think Twinkies), which I found in the freezer at Raisin Rack in Columbus, Ohio. While they were…okay…they didn’t wow me. And in response to my post about their product, the owners very kindly invited me to check out the bakery the next time I was in the Columbus area. As one of my best friends lives in that area, I make the trip there numerous times a year. And…this past Halloween weekend…that was where you found me. And, I recalled their invite to check out what fresh goodness they had at their bakery, instead of a freezer at a natural foods store…so…that morning after breakfast, my friends and I journeyed over to their Merion Village retail location to check out what fresh goodies awaited.

First of all, I was completely blown away by the amount of space they had in there. HUGE location. I am so accustomed to my gluten free bakeries being little, tight spots that have a few seats and a small kitchen. Not to say they don’t turn out quite a lot of products (Annie May’s Sweet Cafe and Cherbourg Bakery, I’m looking at you!), but this kitchen space was unbelievable. You step inside and it’s just open and not congested, even if there is a line. It was nice. Their storefront contains a counter that was jammed full of fresh baked goodness, and a smaller fridge that kept items like their cheesecake bars and other dairy-based goodies chilled and fresh. It was organized. It was adorable. And I already knew I wanted one of their soft t-shirts before I left. HA!

Bake Me Happy's Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin — Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin

So, after going back and forth on a few items (I really wanted one of the huge Apple Dumplings, but the roomie, who I was splitting everything with, was less enthusiastic), we finally got our turn at the counter and we made our selections, keeping it reasonable and promising to return to try more. So, four items. It was hard to narrow it down. In the end, we ended up going with a Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart, a Pumpkin Spice Donut Muffin, a Lemon Blueberry Bundt, and (not pictured above because I devoured it on the car ride home) a Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone. In addition to that (and for a later blog) I purchased a box of their Take-And-Bake scones in the Blueberry, Goat Cheese & Basil flavor (roomie’s choice!).

So, let’s start with what I ended up eating first. The (not pictured) Gluten Free Almond, Coconut & Chocolate Chip Scone ($3.50) sounded like a dream to me. Like…a baked treat version of an Almond Joy. Delicious, right? Absolutely right!! This is the first time I have had a gluten-free scone that lived up to the scone name. I make scones, but none of them get the layers of pastry, and that flaky and crumbly texture to them. This one had exactly that. It was the most perfect scone I have had since going gluten free. It had that hard outer layer and inside was a dry, crumbly, but not dense. More biscuit-like. I was in love. And the blend of the sweet coconut and chocolate with the nuttiness of the almond made for more love and praise than I can even convey in words here. Needless to say, the scone was devoured in record time. And I loved every single bite. I might have licked my fingers clean too. You can get Bake Me Happy’s Gluten Free Scones in the following flavors: Almond, Coconut and Chocolate Chip; Ham, Cheese and Chives; Maple Cream, Bacon and White Cheddar; Blueberry, Goat Cheese and Basil; Jalapeño, Pepper Bacon and Pepper Jack Cheese; Apricot, White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut; and Dill, White Cheddar and Stone Ground Mustard.

As I visited the bakery on Halloween, they had quite a few Halloween themed treats. One of these was the adorable Gluten Free Pumpkin Cream Cheese Mummy Tart ($3.50 (I think…)). I mean, come on…they are tarts that look like mummies. Eyes and everything. Bonus…pumpkin flavored. YUM YUM!! This was the first thing I ate the next day when I set out to devour half of each pastry (with my roommate, who is not gluten-free) consuming the other half and giving me her thoughts. I loved, loved, LOVED the light and flaky pastry that these tarts are made from. It reminded me of puff pastry…flaky, buttery, amazing, delicious, heavenly. And the pumpkin cream cheese filler was the perfect amount. Not too much. Not heavy handed. But just enough to make it feel like you were taking a bite out of an amazing pumpkin pie. I was in pumpkin-everything heaven, let me tell you!! So happy. The first thing I said to Cathy when I took a bite was, “OH MY GOD THIS PASTRY!” Blown away. This was the first pastry crust that has actually impressed me since I’ve been gluten free. Total win. Totally want another one…or ten.

The Gluten Free Lemon Blueberry Bundt ($4.50) was Cathy’s (the roomie) choice when it came to items that we selected. She is a sucker (see what I did there?) for anything lemon. So, I had a feeling when we were making our selections that she would go that route. Next time I want a flippin’ apple dumpling. Because I have never seen a gluten free apple dumpling before. But…no matter. The bundt cake was dense, but not heavy. I loved how moist and sticky good this little cake was. The blueberries brought a nice pop of sweetness. Cathy didn’t think there was enough lemon flavor in it, but I thought it struck a nice balance. The lemon was complimentary to the blueberry, not overpowering or underwhelming. Just right. I might have saved this for my last bite because, while dense, I found the texture quite light, airy, and amazing. And I thought the flavor was above and beyond what I expected. Crazy good.

And, last but not least, falling under the category that if it’s pumpkin I want to eat it…is the Gluten Free Pumpkin Donut Muffin ($3.00). Strangely enough, this turned out to be Cathy’s favorite thing that we bought at Bake Me Happy. I was shocked when she told me that. But, quite honestly, this was one of the most perfect gluten-free donut anythings that I’ve had in a long time. The texture was perfect. Not too dense, but not too light either. Perfect balance. The flavor was AMAZING. Seriously. It was pumpkin, and it was rolled in this fantastic cinnamon sugar topping that made each bite both savory and sweet and I loved it. I devoured each and every forkful. And I wish I had bought more of them. Pumpkin flavored or their standard donut muffin, it wouldn’t matter. This is the consistency of donuts that I’ve been searching for…for years now. Nailed it. And I loved it enough to lick the plate. No joke.

I have to say…fresh beats a freezer any day and Bake Me Happy sure did impress me with their fresh, made right there in the bakery, treats. There was so much to choose from and not enough room in my budget or stomach for all of it. That being said, I happily am ready to bake up some scones this weekend. And I can’t wait to add this place to my list of stops for every single time I visit Columbus, Ohio. I was beyond impressed. And the staff was so friendly and helpful. I didn’t get to meet the owners, as they were at the Celiac Conference that was going on (and that I didn’t know about until Friday as I was traveling), so hopefully next time I will be able to talk them up some.

If you are in or around Columbus, make it a point to drop by Bake Me Happy. Buy a shirt (they are SO SOFT!) and buy up their goodies. You won’t be disappointed. Not one bit. They certainly changed my tune. Fresh is best. And why not get some great gluten-free treats fresh out of the kitchen of a place that loves to bake up happiness?

November 4, 2015

Product Review: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams

Product: Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams – $4.99+

It’s fall. And while, to most people (me included), that means pumpkin everything…it also holds another significance. Bon fires. And with bon fires…S’mores!

In fact, this had been the plan for my friend Jen’s wedding party on the night of the rehearsal dinner. The dinner was hosted at her parents house, and the fire pit was to be lit later that evening and the wedding party was going to eat a round of S’mores while just hanging out.

We were all too full from dinner to actually make this happen, so the vegan marshmallows and the gluten-free graham crackers I had my roommate bring up from Louisville…remained untouched.

Until this past week.

Because dessert is awesome and one of the groom’s sisters (a bridesmaid) mentioned how she ate her S’mores with a peanut butter cup instead of a Hershey’s bar. And this peeked my interest. So, while out, we picked up some peanut butter cups and brought them home.

Now, I have tried out a few gluten-free graham crackers…from Kinnikinnick’s S’morables to Schär’s Honeygrams (I’ve sampled, never actually purchased them myself) to Pamela’s Gluten Free Mini Grahams (I have reviewed the Cinnamon and the Chocolate). But, when I spotted the full-size Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams, I knew they had to be what came to Upstate New York with me. After all, I wanted S’mores too. So, that’s how I ended up with a box…and that’s why they lasted longer than usual. That being said, this past week, with cooler weather and a some vegan marshmallows taking up residence in my pantry…S’mores became dessert.

As I have found with all gluten-free graham crackers, the Pamela’s Products Honey Graham variety is definitely a thicker cracker than it’s glutenous counterpart. That being said, these particular crackers had a good feel to them, and weren’t all busted apart. In fact, when you snapped them in half…they actually broke along the perforation, instead of in random spots making them nonuniform and more difficult to build a perfect S’more.

And so, with peanut butter cup and two (2) vegan marshmallows, I created, in the comfort of my own kitchen, the ultimate gluten-free S’more. With a promise that Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams would “bring back a taste from your childhood,” I was holding them to this, expecting to bite into something amazing and life-changing (when it comes to gluten-free versions of anything).

I’m not going to lie…these were fan-damn-tastic!! Just…WOW!! With the exception of being thicker than an average graham cracker, these were the closest I have found to the treats that I enjoyed as a kid (and not always in S’mores, mind you!). The flavor was perfect. A little sweet with the kiss of honey and still had that graham cracker crumble that everyone knows too well. The texture was a bit sturdier than standard graham crackers, but that isn’t such a bad thing. I thought that these had the right amount of sweetness, the right amount of crispy, and the perfect amount of YUMMY-DELICIOUS-MMMMM…for even the casual graham cracker consumer. And, with a sturdier chocolate portion on the S’mores I built at home (ie: peanut butter cup), having the thicker and sturdier cracker was a blessing in disguise. My kitchen torch toasted up the marshmallows to perfection and…when put together…it was fall in one perfect, sweet, peanut butter, gooey treat! I was beyond impressed, beyond elated, and beyond satisfied. If heaven was made of chocolate, peanut butter, and marshmallow, Pamela’s Gluten Free Honey Grahams would be the sandwich to their filling.

So, let’s talk about the ingredients that go into Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams. These crackers are made from a gluten-free flour blend that includes brown rice flour, white rice flour, tapioca starch, sweet rice flour, and xanthan gum, as well as organic non-GMO butter (salted), brown cane sugar, sorghum flour, gluten-free oat bran, molasses, organic non-GMO honey, gluten-free flavors, grainless and aluminum free baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, potato starch, sodium bicarbonate), baking soda, cinnamon, and sea salt. This product is gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, corn-free, nut-free and egg-free. There are no artificial flavors or additives, no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, and no corn syrup. These grahams are certified gluten-free by GFCO and made in a gluten-free facility.

As far as nutritional information goes, a serving of the Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams is two (2) crackers or 36 grams. There are six (6) servings per box. One serving will provide you with 180 calories, 8 grams fat, 4 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 26 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 9 grams sugars, and 1 gram of protein. A nutritional powerhouse they are not…but DAMN…they are totally worth indulging in every now and again!

If you want to bring back childhood memories of sitting around a campfire, then the best and most gluten-free friendly way is by choosing Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams for your S’mores-eating needs. And for any other needs you might have that involve graham cracker goodness. Pulse them up for a pie crust…eat them on their own or topped with nut butter…or build some S’mores. Whatever your heart desires, make sure you build it with the best ingredients out there. For me…that means Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Honey Grahams, peanut butter cups, and some vegan marshmallows. YUMMY!

November 3, 2015

Product Review: Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix

Product: Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Free Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix – $5.99+

I am going to be the first to admit that I get really, really, REALLY excited when I spot a product that sounds like something I would eat, or would have eaten before Celiac struck, and usually, despite trying to clean up the diet a little more, purchase it and stuff it into my pantry and fridge for use at a future date. I mean, you just never know when some sort of celebration is needed. Always be prepared.

Well, I was happily prepared a few weeks ago when my parents, after not visiting me for 5 years, came up to the area for the weekend. We had big plans, to drive up to Indianapolis and check out the Gluten Free Food Allergy Expo and then tour Indy before stopping by Cheeseburger in Paradise (Gluten Free Veggie Burger & FRIES). The expo was in-freakin-credible. Seriously. So many good vendors, freebies, and samples. It was totally amazing. In fact, my parents vowed to come back next year and make it an annual event. SO glad.

The following morning, I had every intention of introducing them to my favorite Louisville food truck, Sweet ‘N’ Savory, as it was the truck’s last outing at the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Cancer event. After that event and one final one that evening (which we almost went to, but were too late), they were packing up for the winter and heading back to Louisiana until next April. However, my parents needed to hit the road before the event actually started, so no gluten-free crepes for them. Bummer. I was really looking forward to introducing them to Ashley and Richard, the food truck owners, and people I consider good friends!

With the plans I had come up with for breakfast now scratched, it was time for a backup. That would be…I would cook something for them and Cathy and I would hit up Sweet ‘N’ Savory for gluten free crepes when the event started. So, as my dad is not a big breakfast eater (and I am!), I asked him what sounded good. I had the gluten free harvest muffins that I baked previously in my freezer that I could thaw and warm up. I have SO MANY gluten-free pancake mixes, it’s ridiculous (but, I LOVE pancakes and waffles!). I had cold cereal, hot cereal, I could cook up eggs, make my famous breakfast hash, or…I had a muffin mix.

He said, “Muffins are fine.” And was not prepared for the, “Harvest Muffins or Lemon Poppyseed Muffins?” He decided that if he was driving home and was pulled over, he might as well fail the drug test…Lemon Poppyseed it was.

That morning, after my mom and I took a long, brisk walk together, I returned to the apartment and set out to bake them breakfast. I had found at my local Meijer store, a new brand I had never seen before when it came to some items.

Tucked into their gluten free section were these yellow and blue boxes with the name Choice Batter on them. Que the moment when I see a new product, get super excited, buy it regardless of it not being on my grocery list, and then bring it home and shove it into the pantry. I do this every freakin’ time. My pantry has a shelf dedicated to cake, muffin, brownie, cookie, all the sweets mixes! I know I’m big on dessert, but I do get carried away at times.

Regardless, this was the box I pulled out that Sunday morning and set out to bake up some muffins so my parents could hit the road with some breakfast in their tummies. Usually gluten free mixes require a lot of stuff to be added to them, but Choice Batter prides itself on being not just gluten-free, but allergen-friendly. This means that they are completely free of the Top 8 food allergies (egg, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy). LOVE that. But, with that in mind, you also have to live up to the flavor and texture test…and that, with gluten-free and allergen-free, is the ultimate test. I hate baking up something only to have it be heavy, dense, and tasting of cardboard or some other unappetizing packing material (not that I’ve had packing material, but sometimes, I think that some products must taste like it).

So, I pulled out my large muffin tin and mixed up the Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix, per my dad’s request. This was SO easy!! All I needed was a mixing bowl. Into this bowl went the baking mix from the box, 1 cup of water, and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. That’s it. Preheat the oven to 400°F, stir together the mix, then divide among muffin cups. Bake for 16 minutes until done. Let cool for 1 minute. Then I turned them on their side in the muffin tin (a trick I learned from Annie May (of Annie May’s Sweet Cafe in Louisville), and let them cool slightly more. By this time, my dad had emerged from the bedroom and I poured him some decaf coffee and invited him to the big plate of muffins (I baked 10 muffins total). He took one to start with and settled in to eat. My mom did the same. As Cathy and I had breakfast plans, I cut one muffin in half and we shared it…because I had to taste these fresh from the oven, of course.

Let’s start here by saying, I loved that these muffins didn’t require milk, butter or eggs. Let’s hear it for vegan baking! WOOHOO!! Second of all, I loved how well these baked up. So often, especially in gluten-free baking, baking times have to be adjusted. Not these muffins. The Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix baked up perfectly the first time. Not surprising, with all the science that goes into all of Choice Batter’s mixes. These mixes are created with a special blend of rice flours developed by the USDA – Agricultural Research Service scientists to minimize the amount of oil that is absorbed into the batter while still creating a delicious and perfect result. SCIENCE. I love it. And, it actually works. The muffins were soft, moist, and delicious. One bite and I got a small tinge of lemon flavor, but all the spongy and with that thin golden crust and that slight rise at the dome. Ah…that’s muffin perfection! And that is, quite honestly, what emerged from the oven. Happiness is a gluten free mix that delivers what I expect from a product.

The heft and texture of these muffins were great. Not too dense and heavy, but not airy and light either. The perfect muffin. I loved when I sliced it in half, the little pockets that were visible in the cake, but without being too big or too much. They weren’t sticky or heavy or dense. In fact, it was everything I expect from a muffin. These went above and beyond most muffins that I have cooked up from a mix. I was impressed. In fact, if I had only one complaint, it would simply be that there wasn’t enough of a lemon flavor to these. The lemon was there…but not enough for my liking. But, then again, I like my lemon eats to be…LEMON. Give me bold or don’t bother, right? Regardless, I thought this was a phenomenal mix and was impressed with the way these turned out. My parents took some of the leftovers home with them. I count that as a win.

So, let’s talk about ingredients in the Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix! This mix is made of a combination of rice flour, sugar, potato starch, baking powder (sodium pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch, monocalcium phosphate), contains less than 2% of the following: poppyseeds, citric acid, cellulose, xantan gum, lemon oil, lemon juice, salt. This muffin mix, as well as all of Choice Batter’s products are free from the top 8 allergens, including egg, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy. These muffins are gluten-free and vegan, free of MSG, cholesterol and artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.

As for nutritional information, the Choice Batter Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix does really well for all you calorie and fat watchers. Truly. A serving is 1/14 of the mix, and the mix makes…14 servings. One serving, when prepared per box directions, will give you 140 calories 2.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grans trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium, 30 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 13 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein.

Now that I know about Choice Batter and the good results I had from the preparation of the Gluten-Free Allergen-Friendly Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix, I can’t wait to try more offerings from their product lineup. And with a company founded on a desire to develop healthy, great tasting, gluten-free and allergen-friendly so everyone can enjoy food together…their promise to deliver a taste you can love in a brand you can trust is right on the mark!

Choice Batter was founded with a desire to develop healthy, great tasting, gluten-free and allergen-friendly products the entire family can enjoy. Our promises is to deliver “A Taste You Will Love, a Brand You can Trust.”

October 20, 2015

Product Review: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s

Product: Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s – $2.49

You know, there is something that is so comforting about cereal. I grew up eating cereal as a child…and not just the frosted sugary type either. I was a huge fan of Cheerios and Corn Flakes and even Wheat, Corn, and Rice Chex. I loved it all.

As I’ve gotten older, cereal has remained a staple in my morning routine. It’s easy for me to eat a bowl and then get ready for a run…and have the energy to get through it. Some people run on empty stomachs in the morning, but my sports nutritionist and my own foray into the nutrition field, both have shown me why this is not such a good idea. As my sports nutritionist said…even if it’s just a handful of cereal or nuts or toast…eat something before you head out.

Not a problem with me, because I LOVE breakfast. And one of my greatest breakfast loves is…as I mentioned above…cereal. I had recently stopped eating cereal, subbing in some fruit and yogurt instead. But…when something so unique comes along that you simply must have it…cereal is back in the bowl in the morning. And now part of me wonders why I stopped eating it in the first place.

The cereal that changed my entire morning routine back to the way it was happens to be a product of Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s. Yes…Pumpkin O’s. As in a Cheerio-like cereal flavored with mega pumpkin flavor. Oh, and they are about the size of Froot Loops (or the size Froot Loops used to be when they made them right…like…when I was a kid and all).

So, like most great food stories, this one all started at the grocery store. I had only a small list of items to buy at Trader Joe’s. But the moment I walked in the door, I saw the big display of all the seasonal pumpkin everything everywhere stuff. I noted the cereal and let out a small sigh. Pumpkin cereal. Pumpkin O’s to be exact. Oh, to not be Celiac.

But then, Cathy (the roomie) spotted the print in the corner. Low Fat. Vegn. Gluten Free.

It was as though the pumpkin gods were smiling down upon me that day. Whatever I did right that day, thank you great cereal gods for watching out for my particular cereal wants/needs. Happy dance. Happy dance all the way up and down the aisles. Seriously…there was no stopping me.

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s are “round like pumpkins rounder, actually) and fun like jack o’lantenrs (maybe more fun, since you can eat them)” and are the sibling cereal to the Original Joe’s O’s. The box claims that the pumpkin wizards created this cereal with a stroke of their pumpkin-shaped wands, which are difficult and challenging to control) so this particular flavor of cereal will only be around for pumpkin season. So, if you’re a pumpkin nut-case like me…you best get to Trader Joe’s.

This morning, with my Dole pineapple (also purchased at Trader Joe’s) gone…this was my breakfast of choice before hitting the gym. I measured out a serving, loving the size of the little round o’s. I snagged a few to taste dry from my bowl and crunched on them while I went to retrieve the unsweetened cashew milk. Into the bowl it went, giving the cereal a little lift.

In went the spoon. Spoon went to mouth. Down the hatch.

And holy Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! This cereal is amazing. If you’re a pumpkin lover like me, you’ll love this. Here’s why. This cereal is LOADED with pumpkin flavor. No skimping on that. No way. It’s crunchy, even in the cashew milk. And it tastes amazing. I was tempted to pour myself another bowl, but I opted to behave and stick to the serving recommendation. I had coffee and the gym to tackle. That being said, I sort of want to buy Trader Joe’s out of this cereal and just have it in my kitchen for all those mornings, not in pumpkin season, when I just want to have it be pumpkin season again.

I am beyond impressed.

Let’s discuss the ingredients in Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s. This cereal is made from whole grain brown rice, cane sugar, whole grain oats, brown sugar, pumpkin, sea salt, natural flavor, calcium carbonate, sodium phosphate, cinnamon, annatto (color), mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E as an antioxidant for freshness). It is gluten-free, vegan, low in fat, and contains 20 grams of whole grains per serving. LOVE that.

As for nutritional facts, the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin O’s actually stack up to be a healthier breakfast cereal choice than most commercial cereals. A serving is 1 cup (30 grams). This serving will provide 110 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 140 mg sodium, 25 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 9 grams sugar, and 2 grams of protein. It’s not going to fill you up, but it will get you through the morning.

Trader Joe’s did one better than most gluten-free cereals already out on the market. Trader Joe’s latched onto the pumpkin flavor craze…and it paid off in spades. If you have a Trader Joe’s in your area, go there…and get a box as soon as you can. The Pumpkin O’s will only be around for a limited time.

Time for me to restock…

October 19, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels – $7.25+

As much as I want for the weather to stay warm and mild…it’s already cold outside. The nip of fall is in the air, and while I do love this time of year, there is one thing even more important that I can count on around this time:

PUMPKIN SPICE…EVERYTHING!

And while this is a lot easier to come by when you don’t live in a bubble (aka: food allergies), it’s little things like non-dairy pumpkin spice flavoring in coffee…and my homemade (because no one else has made it yet) vegan pumpkin ice cream. And it’s Sweet Note Bagel Girls getting me all kinds of “OH HELL YES” with the return of their Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels.

Seriously, these ladies are my new BFFs. OR…as they say on their Twitter account, GFFs (Gluten Free Friends). If they ever want to sponsor an athlete to endorse their stuff, I am their girl. Because when it comes to things that runners (and New Yorkers, mind you) love…it’s BAGELS! Especially this native New Yorker who just happens to be…a runner. And while the gluten-free market has a good number of companies that have gluten-free bagels out…none have tasted like the actual real thing…until Sweet Note Bakery found me and enticed me to give them a try.

They totally peaked my curiosity. So, without any further knowledge about their products, without looking up any reviews as to what other consumers thought of their products, I was on their online store, purchasing half of their bagel selections. Yep, I didn’t start with just one variety. I went into this believing that these would blow me away…and thus…I ordered four (4) of their eight (8) varieties that they offered at that time. To be clear, they normally have five (5) standards: Plain, Everything, Sesame, Poppy, and Cinnamon Raisin…and they add limited time goodies like Snickerdoodle (didn’t get to try that one, so I hope it makes a return appearance this holiday season), Chocolate Swirl, and yes…Pumpkin Spice.

Sweet Note began in 2012, when founder and president, Michelle MacDonald, stepped up to a challenge. She had been baking ever since she was a child and was very passionate about it. When her grandfather and sister were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, she took the first steps on her entrepreneurial journey. Her family really missed a good New York Style bagel. (Hey…I can’t blame them…I know this feeling all too well). So with a lot of experimentation and trial and error, MacDonald perfected the recipe, getting huge approval from her family (also bagel lovers). Gluten-free bagels that taste good?! It was a reality. Sweet Note Bakery’s vision is to make gluten-free options more readily accessible. Those of us who live with Celiac understand how isolating this disease can be, when you can’t have a meal while out with friends and family, be it at a restaurant or a ballpark, or wherever your adventures take you. MacDonald wanted to change that…one gluten-free bagel at a time.

This is truly a love story between me and these bagels. Every single flavor has been outstanding. No joke. You know, I’m very blunt about things I eat and if I don’t like them, you know it. There is nothing NOT to like about the bagels that Sweet Note Bakery puts out there. Fantastic quality…fantastic flavor. Never once have they let me down. And that’s why all other bagels stay in the freezer section now…and Sweet Note is the only one that actually makes the journey home to my own freezer.

Now, let me be the first to admit…I am a pumpkin spice junkie…fanatic…enthusiast. I love all things pumpkin. So, when I discovered that they were bringing back Pumpkin Spice for a limited time to their bagel line-up…I treated myself to a birthday present and purchased a package of them. I was out of town a lot, so I’m just now getting to devour…I mean…taste them. But with things finally settling into a rhythm…I pulled these bad-boy bagels out of my freezer this morning to have for breakfast.

I grabbed two of them (one for me and the other for my non-gluten-free roomie!) and got onto thawing them in the microwave. You don’t bring these to room temperature like most gluten-free foods. Just 1 minute or so in the microwave, until they are squishy soft, and you’re golden. Cool them for a moment, slice in half, and toast. I will note, the Pumpkin Spice are special because you actually see flecks of orange pumpkin in the halved bagel itself. Love that. Because I don’t own a toaster, these bad boys went into the oven. They smelled amazing as they toasted away, getting to that perfect level of golden on top. Out they came, cooling for a moment…then I topped off one half with vegan cream cheese and the other half with organic pumpkin butter. I passed one plate off to my roommate and, after pouring myself a cup of coffee, I settled in to my own.

Forget pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin spice waffles and pumpkin spice oatmeal…or whatever might be out on the non-gluten-free market…that we don’t have. We have one better. We have The Great Pumpkin of all things pumpkin spice: Sweet Note Bakery’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels. OH YEAH! Real…REAL New York-style bagels here…made from real ingredients and not all that processed…stuff. These bagels have to be filled with hocus-pocus, because they are, perhaps, one of the best things I have ever had for breakfast. The bagel itself is full of pumpkin flavor. No skimping there. And that’s important, when you bill yourself as a “pumpkin spice”…whatever. So often, that flavor goes missing…but not here. It is spooky how much flavor is packed into these dense, little bagels. The crust of the bagel was toasted and crisp…the inside…chewy and just…filled with pumpkin goodness. I was blown away. And, even as I told myself to savor each bite, I think I hoovered the bagel like it was candy. I’m thinking another order is happening in the very, very near future.

So, let’s get down and talk about some of what goes into making the Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagels. These bagels are made from Love (yes…an actual ingredient!), Water, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Flour, Sweet White Rice Flour, Sorghum Flour, Sugar, Cane Syrup, Pumpkin, Carrots, Molasses, Yeast, Xanthan Gum, Psyllium Husk, Salt, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extract, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger. Note…all recognizable and real ingredients. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

As far as nutrition goes, you’ll love these stats like I love pumpkin! A serving size is 1 bagel (128 grams). This serving will give you 260 calories, 1 gram fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 300 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 10 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, it’s amazing how much more filling a food is when it’s made with real ingredients. These bagels will definitely get you through your morning!

What are gluten-free bagels made of? Pumpkin Spice and everything nice…if you’re talking about the return of Sweet Note’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagel. And if you’re not, then you should be…so head over to their Web site and place an order. Don’t delay…these are only around for a limited time!

And…if you haven’t already, you might as well order some of their standards while you’re on their page. I promise you…you’ll fall in love with these bagels too.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Pumpkin Spice Bagel with a schmear of vegan cream cheese and organic pumpkin butter

October 15, 2015

Product Review: Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons

Product: Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons – $2.99+

Welcome to the final round of “Cookies I Bought At Jungle Jim’s International Market.” Hey…cookies are awesome and when I find cookies that I have never spotted in my area of the country…I take every opportunity to try them. I mean, come on, cookies are the perfect treat after a long day. A little savory…but also sweet. You can’t go wrong.

While shopping in the gluten-free section of Jungle Jim’s International Market on my birthday, Cathy spotted a small line-up of little macaroon-type cookies. I used to despise coconut. I thought it tasted like having bugs in your mouth. Texture-wise…a fail. That being said, as I’ve gotten older, the more times I try coconut, the more I have come to enjoy it…in certain forms.

One of such forms is in…macaroons…those sweet lumps of toasted coconut with that golden crust at the bottom. Yep…I devour those now. Go figure. They are just a nice, healthier cookie to indulge in every now and again. So, imagine my excitement when Cathy spotted a shelf with little pouches of macaroon cookies called Coco-Roons. I knew I wanted to try one of the different varieties…but I had to narrow it down to the one that interested me most.

Coco-Roons are made by the company Wonderfully Raw. Wonderfully Raw was started by Sequoia Cheney, who had a passion for good food that wasn’t exactly good for her. When she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she knew something had to change in order for her to heal herself. She decided to change her path and began a journey into good health. Her son, Eric Hara, a renowned chef in New York City, gave her a lot of inspiration and encouragement. So Sequoia decided to create delicious food that was also good for her. She began to train at Living Light Culinary Institute in Mendocino, California, where she trained with the best raw food chefs in the business. And with what she learned there, she could now prepare food that could support and heal the body. This dynamic mother and son duo have come together to create Coco-Roons, which are produced using only the finest organic ingredients.

Perfect segue here to tell you what is actually in these miniature cookies of wonderful lemony goodness, yes? The Wonderfully Rw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are made from organic dried unsweetened coconut, organic almond flour, organic unfiltered maple syrup, organic cold-pressed coconut oil, organic lemon zest, organic vanilla extract, and Himalayan crystal salt. That’s it, my dear readers. That’s it. These miniature macroons are vegan, gluten-free, and paleo (if cavemen ate desserts…and I’m still not convinced that’s true). These are also raw and certified non-GMO.

As far as nutrition goes, the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons are a fantastic treat at the end of the day. A serving size is 3 of the miniature cookies. There are 2-4 servings per bag, as I think they actually go off weight. One serving will provide you with 80 calories, 6 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat (from coconut oil), 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 30 mg sodium, 6 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams sugars, and 1 gram protein. Not filling, but not horrible by any standard when it comes to a treat.

And since this is kind of out of my usual order, how about I tell you how much I LOVE these cookies, yes? First of all, they don’t taste coconutty at all. Nope. You get a bit of the texture, but that fresh lemon flavor is what tempts your taste buds into popping the next one. These cookies are tiny, little bite-size mounds of goodness. I was sad to only eat three of them tonight. I mean, totally amazing flavor…and you can’t beat how good these are for you…as fr as cookies go. I love that these are sweetened with maple syrup instead of granulated white sugar. And I love that I don’t feel bad just digging into these. If you’re a lemon lover…these will definitely make you happy. My roommate got to her serving first and all I heard was, “These are amazing.” And…she was absolutely right. I have a new soft spot in my heart for the Wonderfully Raw Lemon Pie Mini Coco-Roons. I hope a store around here carries them, otherwise I’ll be scooping up more of these and the other flavors on my next trip to Jungle Jim’s. And, if nothing else, they are available to order online on the Wonderfully Raw Web site.

Beyond enthusiastic and happy with these cookies for sure. I loved these from first bite and simply can’t wait to dig in tomorrow for more. Here’s a no-guilt, fantastic, healthy dessert or snack you’ll love. Trust me.

October 13, 2015October 13, 2015

Recipe: Gluten-Free & Dairy Free Snickerdoodle Blondies

All you naysayers beware!! Just because something is gluten free and dairy free does not immediately mean it will be flavorless or taste like cardboard. I don’t know what cardboard tastes like since I’ve never had the urge to lick it or anything, but I promise you…this recipe will surpass all your expectations.

I was looking for a different sort of snickerdoodle treat to bake up for my amazing friends and neighbors downstairs. They had a rough couple of weeks, but with things starting to turn around, I wanted to make something to celebrate. That being said, I set out to bake up something snickerdoodle, that wasn’t necessarily the cookies themselves. I still have to play around with my mom’s snickerdoodle cookie recipe and attempt to convert it to gluten and dairy free.

So…I found a recipe on The Cool York and changed it up to fit the diet they are starting out following, which just so happens to coincide with mine. BONUS!!

Snickerdoodle Blondies…are life changing.

Recipe: Gluten Free & Dairy Free Snickerdoodle Blondies

Servings: 16
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Bake 45 minutes

Ingredients:

2-2/3 cups gluten-free baking flour (I used Mina’s Purely Divine Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour)
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks (2 sticks) softened
2 eggs, room temperature
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Place the butter & brown sugar in the mixing bowl and cream together.

Add in the 2 eggs until combined.

Add the baking powder to the mixture. Now, add in the flour.

Line a 9 x 13 baking sheet (or 8 x 8 if you prefer them thicker, like me) with parchment paper. Spread the batter over the pan.

Combine the white sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle generously over the batter.

Bake in the oven for 28-32 minutes (up to 40-45 min if using the 8 x 8 pan like I did).

Take out of the oven and let cool before serving!

Slice & enjoy

~*~*~

These blondies baked up light and soft and chewy and amazing. Seriously. I took half of the recipe and gave the rest to them. I am beyond words with how well this worked out, honestly. Totally delicious. I especially loved the gooey and rich texture that these had. I warmed mine up for about 20 seconds in the microwave and WOW!! Just WOW!! The original recipe called for 3 tablespoons of both sugar and cinnamon to top…but that was really heavy on the cinnamon. So I reduced it to 1/3 of the amount and it was that perfect sweet/spicy level. If you like snickerdoodles…you’re absolutely going to love these. And…if you don’t have to eat gluten-free or dairy free…regular flour and butter can be used, of course.

I can’t wait to make these again.

October 7, 2015October 7, 2015

Product Review: The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots

Product: The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots – $4.50+

I know what you’re thinking…

“MORE COOKIES??”

And yes…it does seem like I’m eating my weight in cookies these days. But…I’m not. I portion everything out perfectly…and each container is split with another person. So, yeah…change that way of thinking to…

“MORE COOKIES!!”

Truth be told…I’m a cookie monster regardless. There is nothing quite as perfect as a delicious cookie. Whether you like them chewy and moist or crispy and crumbly…there is no right or wrong way to make, eat, or devour a cookie. And while homemade cookies are, by far, the best…I don’t have much time to mess with recipes and convert them…and then bake them.

So, sometimes, getting a small sack of cookies from the grocery store is a nice enough treat. And trust me, despite what you think, this doesn’t happen often. It was my birthday a couple of weeks back and I was treated to a shopping spree at Jungle Jim’s International Market. And while I was determined to get foods that weren’t all snacks and junk (and I actually did manage)…I did pick up a few treats and have been working my way through them.

I love perusing the various countries and their foods while I’m at Jungle Jim’s. But…I normally don’t get much in there due to my food allergies. I do visit Ireland to pick up the tea I got hooked on while visiting there back in 2010. It just so happened, that while I was just browsing the shelves…I spotted little pouches of cookie-like goodness. There were like…four different varieties and they were all vegan friendly and gluten free.

HELLO!!

The hard part was narrowing it down.

The company is The Foods of Athenry from The Lawless Family Bakery. I love the brand name. It’s clever. And I love clever things. The Foods of Athenry was born in 2004 when, an uncertain future in agriculture and childhood health problems, which influenced a lifelong interest in the relationship of food vs health, brought the Lawless family to set up a bakery business in which no artificial food additives were used. They sold their cows and moved the bakery into the empty milking parlor. With a tradition in baking (the Lawless grandparents owned one of the largest bakeries in the West of Ireland almost a hundred years ago), and a passion and love of good food, the Lawless’ set out to promote one of their primary beliefs: “Good food promotes good health.” With that in mind, they took great care in preparing their own breakfasts, lunchbox snacks and treats. And when this way of life turned into a business, the same simple rule applied to all of the products they produced, be they vegan, gluten free, dairy free…or not. And it’s worked. They have won numerous food awards that sing high accolades for the products that The Foods of Athenry produces and sells.

When I was inside the Ireland section of Jungle Jim’s International Market, I had quite the decision to make. In the Gluten Free Pouch Packs…four different varieties are available…and all four were there for me to choose from. I thought about grabbing them all, but there was way more to explore and a shrinking budget. The Gluten Free Pouch Packs come in: Just Oats Flapjacks Mini Bites, The Works Flapjacks Mini Bites, Blondie Cookie Shots, and Brownie Cookie Shots. As it is hard for me to make decisions regarding sweet treats, I asked my roommate for her opinion. And she decided the Blondie Cookie Shots were the way to go. And so…they came home with me.

Tonight, after dinner, I pulled them out to enjoy for our dessert. The pouch was cut open and I actually dumped out a handful. These are definitely small bite-size cookie treats that looked a lot like shortbread cookies. They are about the size between a dime and nickle. So, tiny little morsels of cookie joy. Easy to pop and snack on and indulge a little. I just served up a handful to Cathy and then I did the same for me. I popped the first one as I was storing the pouch back in the pantry.

Crunchy, delicious, popping-fresh cookies. That’s what these are. They have this fantastic vanilla flavor to them. I was in love with the flavor. The texture was definitely reminiscent of a shortbread cookie. It was buttery and sweet and crunchy and amazing. I was in love. In fact, I popped the rest of the cookies I had dished up for myself in no time. Not mindlessly…but savoring while enjoying. These cookies were totally made for that. Love does come in bite-size pieces.

Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we? The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots are made from gluten free and wheat free flour (maize, rice, potato, tapioca, and buckwheat), 100% vegetable non-hydrogenated margarine, sugar, concentrated fruit juice (grape, apple, pear), natural vanilla, raising agents, (mono calcium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate), and xanthan gum. The cookies do not contain any gluten, wheat, dairy, GMOs, eggs, yeast, hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, flavors of preservatives.

And you are going to love the nutritional facts for The Foods of Athenry Blondie Cookie Shots! Each cookie is 4 grams and each cookie contains only 18 calories. Yes…18 calories. One cookie. 18 calories. So…in the sense that you are popping one single cookie…you would be taking in: 18 calories, less than 1 gram of fat, less than 1 gram saturated fat, 2.46 grams carbohydrates, and under 1 gram of the following: sugar, fiber, protein and sodium.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

These cookies are pretty much guilt-free and are a great companion for tea, coffee, chocolate milk, or whatever. They made a great choice for a dessert tonight. Amazing food brought all the way from Ireland. I’m hooked. I need to get back to Jungle Jim’s and soon!