Vegan – Page 13 – The Celiathlete

June 26, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels – $7.25+

I think it has been well established that as a former New Yorker, I am a bagel lover. When I got my Celiac diagnosis, I became a one-time lover of bagels. Sure, there were a few different gluten free bagels out on the market…and I tried them all. Most of them were all wrong. I was enticed, because they had different flavors than the others…but in the end…just wrong. The closest I could get to a true bagel in my gluten-free world were the offerings by Udi’s and, more recently, Canyon Bakehouse.

But here is where the power of social media plays an important roll. I had recently reviewed the Canyon Bakehouse Plain and Everything Bagels that I ordered off their Web site, since they weren’t in stores yet (and still might be working their way there). After posting the review, I was pinged on Twitter by a company that literally does only gluten free bagels. Not just gluten-free, but also vegan, soy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and non-GMO. I was intrigued enough to Google search them and take a look at their Web site. Their name: Sweet Note Bagels.

New York style bagels…gluten-free? It sounded too good to be true. Usually very hesitant and cautious about ordering from a company I know little about or have heard little about, I decided to take a risk and a chance. And I went all-in, ordering half of their New York style gluten-free bagel flavors. Yep. They have eight (8) different flavors…I started with four of them – opting for the Plain (previously blogged), Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, and Chocolate Swirl. In addition to these four, Sweet Note Bagels offers Poppy, Sesame, Snickerdoodle and Pumpkin. And,according to their Web site, they are working on a Spinach Garlic offering as well (which sounds SO delicious).

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.

She and her team are doing a fantastic job. And I hope it continues and more and more people try and discover these amazing bagels. Sweet Note Bagels are top-of-the-line. And I can now attest to that given that I have tried my second flavor that I purchased off their Web site…

EVERYTHING!

Yes, the Everything Bagel. Nothing gets as New York as this flavor of bagel. Unfamiliar with the Everything Bagel? Well, the basic information is these bagels appeared in New York back in the 1970s-1980s. They are basically a bagel that is topped with all the different topping varieties that are normally found on bagels. It is basically traditional to see a combination of seeds and dried herbs, with the most commonly used being poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion, garlic, salt, and even caraway seeds. Everything but the kitchen sink. They are incredible.

As the Everything Bagel is a New York tradition, and one that I am most fond of, I had high hopes when I pulled these out of the freezer to thaw them in the microwave for a minute, slice them, and toast them in my oven (you can toast them in a toaster, I just don’t own a toaster). They smelled amazing. Like…garlic and onion and awesomesauce. I don’t know what awesomesauce smells like, but I have a feeling it would be these bagels. And my mouth began to water more in anticipation as they toasted and the aroma filled my kitchen. Oh yeah…New York heaven.

The best part is…Sweet Note Bagels gets EVERYTHING right with their Gluten Free Everything Bagel. Trust this New Yorker. This bagel is a perfect 3-inch diameter…just like bagels used to be made, not the monstrosities that exist on the market and in bakeries today. Old school, traditional bagels…minus the gluten. LOVE. What this also means is that the outside of the bagel gets this great golden crust that is crisp when you bite into it after toasting it. The center…soft, chewy, and perfection. With the Sweet Note Bagels Gluten Free Everything Bagel, I topped it with a schmear of Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread and went to town. I couldn’t help it. If anything brought back my memories of New York…it was this bagel…in perfect technicolor! The flavors were amazing. Nothing was overpowering, not even the garlic! Seriously. The outside was this perfect crisp, which gave the bagel texture. The top half was topped off with a healthy spread of salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic. Yes…these are messy bagels. But messy bagels when you’re talking about an Everything Bagel…is just what you’re supposed to get. I thought there was the perfect amount of toppings on each bagel (4 come in each package). And they cooked up to perfection. I ate them faster than I intended…and I wanted another one! I mean, I literally wanted to go and prepare another one right then and there. I resisted…somehow. Even my roommate, who had a regular Everything Bagel back in New York City in November when I was running the marathon fell in love with this version. She doesn’t have to eat gluten-free…but she does about 90% at home…because of me, and these bagels have really, really impressed her. She didn’t grow up a bagel lover…so these have won her heart. They have won me over too. If I were asked to choose my final meal, I think a Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagel would be on the menu. Yes…they are that exceptional!

So…let’s talk about what goes into Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels, shall we? I can tell you this…these won’t leave you feeling hungry an hour after you eat them. These bagels are made with REAL ingredients, not just fillers and rubish. That’s another great thing about Sweet Note Bagels…they make real food made with real ingredients. The Gluten Free Everything Bagels from Sweet Note are made with LOVE (Yes…really on the ingredient list!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, salt, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, and dried garlic. These bagels, as mentioned above, are gluten-free, soy-free, egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

How about taking a look at the nutritional facts of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels? A serving size is one (1) bagel (135 grams). This serving will provide you with yumminess. Aside from that, you will be taking in 300 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans-fat, 0 grams cholesterol, 540 mg sodium, 63 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. See why you’ll feel so full and stay full? LOVE IT!

Let me tell you, there are few things that win me over as quickly as these bagels did. I am so grateful that Twitter drew Sweet Note Bagels to my blog on Canyon Bakehouse, and had them reach out to me about their product. Never before have I been so blown away by a product. Bagels…they are simple pleasures, but the bagels that Sweet Note Bagels makes are a gluten free treasure. Nothing else will stack up to these. I’m sure of it.

Sweet Note Gluten Free Everything Bagels with a schmear of Kite Hill Plain Vegan Cream Cheese Spread

June 26, 2015

Product Review: Field Roast Original Grain Meat Co. Chao Tomato Cayenne Vegan Cheese Slices

Field Roast The Original Grain Meat Co Chao Tomato Cayenne Vegan Cheese Slices — Field Roast Original Grain Meat Co Chao Tomato Cayenne Vegan Cheese Slices

Product: Field Roast Original Grain Meat Co. Chao Tomato Cayenne Vegan Cheese Slices – $4.99+

I had another “ah-ha!” moment in Whole Foods a few weeks ago. While perusing the vegan cheeses and trying to convince myself not to just settle on another inadequate sliced vegan cheese that just stays a hard lump of…whatever vegan stuff it is made out of…I decided that the next time I needed cheese for my infamous grilled cheese sammies, I was going to get something new. Try something different. Maybe get better results instead of toasted bread with a warm slice of cheese that didn’t melt stuck in the middle.

One could hope.

Here is where not being able to tolerate much dairy is a downfall. Vegan cheese…it just doesn’t melt like the real stuff. But if I eat the real stuff, my stomach hates me for hours and hours. So, I do what is best for me. I get the cheese that doesn’t get creamy and gooey and stretchy when I pull my cheese slices apart. You know, for the sake of my health…it’s the sacrifice I have made.

But it doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed.

So, while I had spotted some new vegan cheese slices at Whole Foods one weekend while grocery shopping, these made by the Field Roast Original Grain meat Co., I was hesitant to take the leap and to actually purchase them. So…I stared longingly at them for the next few weeks until…my roommate surprised me by buying them for me. With them now in my clutches…and safely in my fridge, it was time to bust out some soup and sandwiches for sure! And this past Sunday was the perfect day to do just that.

After a long day on Saturday of hitting up the Farmer’s Market and getting absolutely soaked…before seeing Jurassic World for the second time (we wanted to see Inside Out, but it was sold out) and then hitting up our local professional soccer team match (we are season ticket holders), Sunday was a pretty easy day. Hit the gym in the morning, saw Inside Out, finished grocery shopping, did some meal prep for the week, remembered I was heading out of town in the middle of the week, then cooked up a quick soup and made my infamous grilled cheese sandwich (or…as I call it…toasted cheese!) to go with it.

My roomie had picked up the Field Roast Original Grain Meat Co. Chao Tomato Cayenne Vegan Cheese Slices at Whole Foods as my surprise. She knows I love a bit of spice in everything I eat. So, she chose wisely, for sure! These slices of cheese are a rich and deep orange with speckles of green and red throughout it. They looked amazing and actually felt like the real cheese slices that go atop her grilled cheese sandwich. I used my Earth Balance spread and buttered up each slice of bread before placing it on the griddle and topping each slice with a piece of cheese, real for her, and one of the Chao Tomato Cayenne Vegan Cheese Slices for me. The other slice of bread topped off the sandwich and I was toasting away to a perfect golden brown.

At the start of the grilling process, I noticed that, like with every vegan cheese I have put on a sandwich, the edges weren’t melting. “Here we go, another warmed through slice of cheese that doesn’t really melt.” I was actually feeling let down…betrayed once again by the non-dairy options that are left to people like me. I flipped the sandwiches over, watching the real cheese melt to a perfect stretchy-gooeyness in my roommate’s sandwich. I placed the soup in bowls and got out plates for the sandwiches. I got my roommate’s done first, slicing it in half and carrying her dinner over to her to start feasting on while we polished off another episode of Friends. I went to retrieve mine, slicing it into little triangles and realizing, that despite those corners, the inside was melted. It was warm and melty-gooey. Almost stretchy gooey, but not there. But melty-gooey was a definite improvement.

But the true test would come with the taste. So many vegan cheeses taste like…plastic. Or in the case of Daiya…it tastes like Daiya, which isn’t a bad thing, it just is very distinctive. I have to say, I was surprised when I took my first bite of my toasted cheese that was stuffed with a slice of the Field Roast Original Gran Meat Co. Chao Tomato Cayenne Vegan Cheese. I mean, honestly surprised. No plastic flavor. No fake taste at all. Just a creamy, rich, smooth melted bit of cheese. Forget the unmelted corners of the cheese, the inside of the sandwich is really what counts, and what I found was a delicious, melted center. Something I hadn’t experienced since giving up dairy. The cheese itself was rich in flavor. I could taste the subtle tomato flavor with the hit of spicy cayenne. The green flecks…those are dried bell peppers…and they add a nice touch of sweetness to this cheese as well. I was completely, 100% in love with this cheese. I forgot what melted cheese in a sandwich was like. Now…I was in complete melted cheese heaven…with a flavor kick to boot. One that I could actually taste (Go Veggie Slices, I’m looking at you!)…one that actually tasted real. You don’t know true bliss until you get a vegan grilled cheese that has melted cheese inside. Truly.

Field Roast’s Chao cheese slices are the newest memeber of their vegan food lineup. This cheese is made from a coconut cheese alternative and seasned with a traditionally fermented soybean cured called Chao by the Vietnamese. Hence…the name. As Field Roast loves blending Asian and European heritages, the cheese is a perfect fit.

So what is the Field Roast Original Grain Meat Co. Chao Tomato Cayenne Vegan Cheese Slices made from? Good question. I’m going to tell you. These slices of cheesy goodness are produced with filtered water, coconut oil, modified corn and potato starch, tomato juice, potato starch, fermented chao tofu (soybeans, water, salt, sesame oil, calcium sulfate), sea salt, green and red dried bell peppers, cayenne pepper, natural flavor, olive extract (antioxidant used as a preservative), paprika extract and beta carotene. These slices are free vegan, non-GMO, dairy-free, gluten free, cholesterol free, and free of trans-fats.

As for nutrition, I loved these stats. A serving size is one slice and there are 10 slices per package. One slice will serve up 60 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 4 grams saturated fat (remember…coconut based), 180 mg sodium, 4 carbohydrates, no fiber, no sugars, and no protein. So, not filling…but tasty!!

Definitely going to have to try more of the Field Roast Grain Meat Co Chao Vegan Cheese Slices in the future. These cheese alternatives come in three flavors: Tomato Cayenne, Creamy Original, and Coconut Herb. Yes…I really want to try them all! What a great find!

Gluten Free & Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich using Field Roast Original Grain Meat Co. Chao Tomato Cayenne Vegan Cheese Slices

June 20, 2015

Product Review: OLOMOMO Maple Garam Masala Kettle-Roasted Pecans

Product: OLOMOMO Maple Garam Masala Kettle-Roasted Pecans – $4.99+

One of my fondest memories of my roommate’s late father was taking him to the ballpark on Thunder Over Louisville day here in Louisville, Kentucky. He had just been re-diagnosed and started treatment for his second round of prostate cancer. And he was having a good day. He ordered a foot-long brat and enjoyed that, then bought some German roasted nuts to share with us.

Little did I know that Cuisine Cube was going to bring those memories back to me with the simple inclusion of one product in their March 2015 cube.

Before I explain, let me begin by telling you a little bit about Cuisine Cube. Cuisine Cube has gone through some changes as of May. No longer do they strictly only offer gluten-free cubes. In addition to their gluten-free option, they now also offer Artisan and Vegan cubes as well. The Artisan cube means that you have no food allergies and foods that contain common food allergens will be included. The Vegan cubes contain products that are dairy and animal free. And, they still have the Gluten Free cubes, which will have products that contain no gluten or wheat. These box subscriptions start at $34.99/month. And, part of the charm is that you will receive 5-6 full-size (not sample size) products. WOOT! These usually fall into every meal category for the day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and dessert…with an added bonus from time-to-time. So, if you’re really interested in being introduced to the smaller, lesser-known, artisan companies, give Cuisine Cube a try! I can’t wait to get back to receiving these in the mail.

Tucked into my March Cube was the product that surprised me when I tried it last night as my dessert. Sometimes it takes me a little while to get around to products, but I always do it. They all serve a purpose. And, even though Cuisine Cube presented this product as the Snack portion of their cube, it can be so much more.

I’m talking about OLOMOMO Masala Maple Pecans.

OLOMOMO Nut Company launched in one of my favorite places on Earth – Boulder, Colorado, in 2008 with one simple mission plan: be The Good Nuts and create one of the first socially and environmentally conscious nut companies. Their beginnings were humble, selling samples at the Colorado farmers markets, and then, eventually hitting the big time with a national debut on the Cooking Channel. OLOMOMO is quickly becoming a national brand. Currently, the product is available through natural grocery stores like Whole Foods and in coffee shops and smoothie shops (like Smoothie King) across the country. OLOMOMO is committed to developing fun, healthy products that infuse exotic flavors with familiar flavors, enticing your taste buds more than you thought possible. They use simple, real, natural ingredients, including fair trade, organic and sustainable packaging when possible. OLOMOMO is also the first US nut snack company to become certified as a B Corp for their socially and environmentally sustainable business practices. What’s not to love? Even more, what’s not to love about a company that strives to inspire people to be more nutty, good and adventurous. Now you’re speaking my language!

But, how do they taste? Well, the OLOMOMO Masala Maple Pecans look like the German roasted nuts you see around ballparks and in the malls during the holidays. My biggest concern was going to be how well the garam masala played with the flavor. Garam masala is an amazing Indian spice blend that contains cinnamon and cardamon tones. I love Indian food…I just wasn’t sure how well this flavor would play with the coating on the nuts. The answer…was brilliantly. The nuts, even with the hint of garam masala, have more of a sweet than savory flavor…and it isn’t a spicy tone either. A lot of people hear the word “Indiana food” and immediately imagine everything to be at volcanic levels of spice. This is like adding cinnamon to your nuts. Seriously, the combination of cinnamon, cardamom, clove, and maple sweeten up the nuts while the dash of salt gives it that perfect balance salty/sweet combination. And, yeah, they taste dead up like those German roasted nuts. Except…better. Yep…better!! I’m addicted to them and sad that they are only available in 3.25 ounce bags at the moment. Don’t let the strange combination of maple and Indian spices throw you off. These are truly a delightful treat that will entice your taste buds and leave you reaching for more. It’s a good thing I weigh out all portions of foods I consume…

These are great by the handful, but would really spice up a salad or some fresh yogurt as well. Go nutty! Be adventurous. That’s the entire point.

Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we? OLOMOMO Masala Maple Pecans are made with pecans, organic evaporated cane juice, fair trade organic maple syrup, garam masala, and love. YES…my second product in a week that includes LOVE as an ingredient. It has to be good!! Food made with love is honestly really amazing food.

Even more enticing is the nutrition information of OLOMOMO Masala Maple Pecans. This snack is a nutrition powerhouse. A serving size is 1/4 cup (30 grams) and there are about 3 servings per package. This one serving will provide you with 190 calories and 18 grams of (healthy) fat. You will be devouring 120 mg sodium, 9 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams dietary fiber, 6 grams sugars, and 2 grams of protein. These nuts are all natural, gluten free, and cholesterol free.

Trust me…this little snack is so addicting. If you aren’t like me and dish out a serving, you could easily eat the entire package.

I probably have seen OLOMOMO nuts at my Whole Foods and just never given them a second glance. Or, perhaps my area doesn’t carry them. But now that I know they exist, I’ll be searching for them for sure. Without this introduction by Cuisine Cube, I’d be a little less nutty today. Spice up your nut habit…try OLOMOMO!

June 19, 2015

Product review: Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread

Product: Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread – $5.99+

I’m always looking for good and healthy alternatives to the not-quite-so-healthy alternatives that I have to east since my body can’t really process the lactose in dairy. Dairy and I have all but broken up for the most part. It wasn’t an easy break-up either…but something had to give.

For awhile now, I’ve been purchasing vegan versions of cream cheese from Tofutti and Daiya. And these worked. They double as a cream cheese alternative, minus the actual dairy. Texture works. Tofutti tastes just like cream cheese. Daiya tastes like…Daiya…as pretty much all Daiya products do…but still amazing. These have been staples in my fridge since I found amazing gluten-free bagels (Udi’s, Canyon Bakehouse, and now Sweet Note) and have made a few attempts at making my own gluten free bagels.

But then…one day while in Whole Foods, I saw something new. Something…different.

Kite Hill was started due to a vision for a plant-based food that would have all the qualities we love in the best artisan dairy cheeses. Using simple ingredients and using traditional methods, Kite Hill has created artisan cheeses, yogurts, and cream cheeses that can all be incorporated into entrées and desserts. Created by a dedicated team with deep culinary, cheese-making, and scientific expertise, including Tal Ronnen, Monte Casino, Jean Prevot, Pat Brown, and Matthew Sade, Kite Hill has stepped up to the challenge to create a non-dairy cheese that met their high standards for quality. So often, vegan cheese tastes fake or plastic-like. After years of recipe testing and countless trials and errors to develop the perfect nut milk, cultures, and enzymes needed to create a worthy product, Kite Hill emerged on the market place.

And then…my weekly stop in at Whole Foods. I went early, because my allergen-free bakery wasn’t open yet. This allowed me time to sip on coffee from my local coffee shop and just roam, see what I normally would blow past because I was trying to miss the crowd or just in a hurry. There, over with the cheeses…I saw it. Kite Hill products galore. Something new!! Something vegan! Something I knew I wanted to try. I had places to be that day, though, so I couldn’t stock up. A few trips later, I still hadn’t tried it. So, one day, my roommate just surprised me with a container of the Kite Hill Cream Cheese Style Spread. I was SO excited. While there are two varieties (Plain and Chive), she had started with the plain…because…it’s the original. The classic.

I had to polish off the container of Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese that was in the fridge before tackling this…but this morning, the packaging was ripped off. It was time to try Kite Hill for myself.

I had toasted up the amazing Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels (go to their Web site…order them…STAT!) this morning. And, in true New York Bagel style…I needed my hefty schmear of cream cheese on top of each half. I lifted the lid and pulled back the plastic, revealing this soft and creamy spread. I thought it looked a little more like ricotta cheese than cream cheese. I scooped up a serving size and placed some on my roommate’s bagel and then some on mine.

Moment of truth.

First of all…I loved how it was all light and fluffy. Straight out of the refrigerator, it was the perfect texture to immediately spread on the bagel. No need to battle it out with a knife. This was smooth as (dairy-free) butter. The texture was very ricotta cheese like. It had this faint bit of sweetness…almost like a cottage cheese, without all the gross lumpy bits. The flavor was very light…not quite like you expect cream cheese to taste…(Tofutti has honestly been the closest on the flavor that I have tried)…but it worked. It worked brilliantly. I fell in love with it at first bite. The smooth, light, airy texture was the perfect complement to a dense, New York style bagel. It was harmony on my breakfast plate. I don’t want to ever have another brand again. This was it for me. Pure love in every bagel-y bite. Not sweet, but not savory…a perfect balance.

One of the biggest draws to Kite Hill is their ingredient list. While Tofutti and Daiya both have a lot of added fillers like ground nut pastes, stabilizers and artificial ingredients to make their cheese-like products, Kite Hill’s cream cheese spread is made from a short list of real ingredients. We’re talking clean cheating…er…eating at it’s very best. Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread is made from almond milk (water, almonds), salt, enzyme, vinegar, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, and cultures. That’s it. It is soy-free, vegan, dairy-free, contains no saturated fat, trans-fat free, cholesterol free, and gluten-free. Is this love or is this love?

Yeah…love.

And I am also loving the nutrition facts as well. A serving size of Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread is 1 ounce (28 grams)…or about 2 tablespoons. There are 8 servings per container. One serving will provide you with 78 calories, 7 grams of fat (keep in mind this is made from almonds, so this is actually a healthy fat), 170 mg sodium, 2 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams dietary fiber, 0 grams of sugars, and 3 (yes…3!) grams of protein! When compared to the other, more commonly found, vegan cream cheeses out there…hands down, this one wins the nutrition and ingredient prize!

So, if you’re ready to turn your gluten-free bagel up to eleven…then you need to get to your local Whole Foods (yes…Kite Hill is only available at Whole Foods) and find this brand ASAP! Now that I’ve tried it, I can’t wait to taste the other cream cheese and artisan cheese offerings that Kite Hill has to offer. Beyond impressed. I’m completely converted. Forget the rest…Kite Hill is best.

Really…it is. But you should try it for yourself. So…go on…Whole Foods awaits.

Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread on Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels

June 18, 2015

Product Review: Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels

Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels

Product: Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels – $7.25

Yep. This New Yorker has been introduced to a new gluten-free bagel. I had never, ever heard of Sweet Note Bagels before, until I got a response to a tweet on my blog on Canyon Bakehouse’s new bagels. It came from Sweet Note itself, telling me that if I liked Canyon Bakehouse, then I would love their bagels.

Being the investigative reporter that I am…(HEY! I have a B.A. in Journalism, thank you very much), I immediately Googled their Web site and began to poke around. 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.

So…here I was…sitting at my desk, looking at these amazing photos online of these gluten-free bagels. I decided to throw caution (and my budget) to the wind and place an order, choosing four of the eight gluten-free bagel varieties that Sweet Note Bakery currently offers. I didn’t even hesitate to order, which is very unlike me, as I’ve been burned by gluten-free products before. But…this involved bagels…

It was important.

The bagels arrived two days later, and via the instructions in and on the box, I immediately froze them. I had some homemade bagels to use up before diving into these, but that occurred over the weekend. So, on Tuesday morning, after a morning at the gym, I returned home and pulled the Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels out (because you always start with the plain/original). The instructions that come in the box and on the packaging says not to thaw these to room temperature. This was certainly a different approach than how I normally do gluten-free bagels…but I obeyed. I plucked two bagels out of the package and tucked the remaining two back into the freezer. Then, each bagel got a 60 second meet-and-greet with the microwave. When they were removed, I did my best to slice them in half evenly. I admit, my bagel slicing skills will definitely need some work. I tossed these onto a baking sheet and into the oven to toast (I don’t own a toaster…that went away with my initial diagnosis, as my roommate was still eating regular bread and cross contamination was an issue…but since then, my kitchen went completely gluten-free) and went to get cleaned up for work. I returned and pulled these out of the oven, seeing the beautiful gold middles from the oven. I got the vegan cream cheese out of the refrigerator and applied a liberal schmear to each half. I served one bagel to my roommate and prepped my own, pouring a nice cup of coffee to enjoy with it.

Moment of truth.

For the first time…ever…someone finally got it right. Inside of each Sweet Note Bagel is the taste of a true New York Style bagel. From the size to the way it eats, you would be hard pressed to find someone who could immediately identify these bagels as gluten-free. First of all, forget the gigantor, plus-sized bagels on the market today. Sweet Note makes bagels the size they were intended to be, smaller, and more dense. That’s a true New York bagel. The average bagel 20 years ago was only 3 inches wide. Today, you’re looking at a 6 inch circumference. Is it any wonder we deal with an obesity epidemic in this country? So, returning to the authenticity of the true New York bagel, Sweet Note Bagels also achieve a perfectly crunchy crust and a chewy center.

My first bite brought back a wash of memories. These bagels are dense, chewy, crunchy and perfection. I loved sinking my teeth into each half, savoring the flavor, the way the crust would crumble and the middle would be soft, with a bit of melty vegan cream cheese. Heaven. Bagel heaven. I didn’t want breakfast to end. They say that it’s okay to have two…but I reigned myself in. There is nothing plain and simple about the Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels. They have extraordinary flavor for being the most basic bagel available. This leaves me looking forward to the other three flavors that are residing in my freezer.

For the record, my roommate has never really experienced the joy of a true New York Style bagel. She said she wasn’t used to the chewiness. Not a slam at all, because she devoured her bagel just as quickly as I did mine. She did get a bagel in New York City back in November, but she can’t remember much about it apparently. HA!

So…let’s talk about what goes into the Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels, shall we? These bagels are made from LOVE (yes…that is in the ingredient list!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, and salt. These bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan and gluten-free…yes, please. More of these!

Now, let’s look at the nutritional information. A serving size is one (1) of the Sweet Note Gluten Free Plain Bagels. This bagel will provide you with 300 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 340 mg sodium, 64 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugars, and 4 grams of protein. Yes…these bagels are filling, and that’s what I love about them. With other gluten-free bagels on the market, I am full for an hour, then hungry again. And I ate a six inch gluten-free bagel. It was made with filler more than real ingredients. And that makes a huge difference.

I will shout this from the highest mountain top, and throughout the realms of cyberspace. If you are like me, looking for an amazing bagel, but are confined to the gluten-free lifestyle…go over to Sweet Note Bakery‘s Web site and place an order for any (or all) of their eight varieties of bagels (Plain, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, Poppy, Sesame, Snickerdoodle, Pumpkin Spice, and Chocolate Swirl). For the record, I went with plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, and chocolate swirl to start…and that was without ever trying them before ordering). Trust me, there is only sheer awesomeness in each bite of these bagels. You will not be disappointed at all.

Sweet Note…thank you for introducing yourself to me via Twitter. Without your reaching out to me, I never would have known about your bagels…and now…I don’t think I can live without them.

Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Plain Bagels (toasted with a schmear of vegan cream cheese)

June 15, 2015

Recipe: Lemony Quinoa Breakfast Bowl with Earl Grey Strawberry Compote

If there is one thing that my roommate loves…it is anything citrus. Especially lemon. But, then again, I know very few people who don’t appreciate the zippy flavor of something infused with lemon. I am a huge fan myself.

Imagine, then, receiving an e-mail from Vegetarian Times with the spotlighted meal for the week. It was from their June 2015 issue, which I had just finished eating, and had made mention of this recipe to my roommate. The only thing I lacked in order to make this dish was Earl Gray Tea. I love Earl Gray Tea, I was just out of it at this point. So, we went grocery shopping and made a point of picking up some good Earl Gray Tea.

Today was a big day. This morning, Cathy (that’s the roomie for those of you just joining my blog) was heading out to Atlanta for her Jeopardy audition. I wanted to make sure her drive got started on the right foot…and that was with a healthy, nutritious and filling breakfast. Per her request, this recipe was breakfast.

Recipe: Lemony Quinoa Breakfast Bowl with Earl Grey Strawberry Compote

Servings: 4
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 27 minutes

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice, divided
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large coins fresh ginger
1/4 cup low-fat milk (I used rice milk)
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup strongly brewed Earl Grey tea
1 cup halved fresh or frozen strawberries
4 tablespoons sliced almonds

Directions:

Add 3 tablespoons lemon juice and enough water to make 1-2/3 cups liquid in 2-cup measuring cup; pour into medium saucepan, and bring to a boil.

Stir in quinoa, salt, and ginger, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, and stir in milk and lemon zest. Cover, and let stand 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring maple syrup and tea to a boil in small saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil 6 minutes, or until liquid thickens and bubbles turn frothy. Pour over strawberries in bowl, and stir gently to coat. Stir in remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

Spoon 3/4 cup quinoa into each serving bowl, top each with 1/4 cup berry compote, and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon almonds.

ENJOY!

~*~*~

I don’t think it was love at first bite. Cathy said that there was a lot going on and she wasn’t immediately sure what she thought of it. That being said, she ate it all, so that says something about the recipe. Me…I enjoyed the new play on quinoa. It paired really well with the strawberries and, when hit up with that lemon zest, was a bright and flavorful base for this dish. I had an issue with the syrup and tea sauce going solid the minute it was drizzled in with the strawberries. I did my best to improvise, but that was the only problem I encountered.

All of that aside, an amazingly light, but filling way to start your day. Give it a try!

June 15, 2015

Recipe: Gluten Free Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs

Okay, yes…your eyes do not deceive you. That does say carrot hot dogs. As in…carrots…that are made to taste and have the texture of hot dogs.

I know what you’re thinking, because I thought it too. You’re telling yourself that there is no way that this is humanly possible. But…I beg to differ. Only because I have since made this meal myself.

My roommate loves a good hot dog. When we go to our professional soccer team matches, that’s her dinner at the ballpark. A hot dog. She can’t get enough of them. And, back when I still ate meat, it was a simple and inexpensive meal (although we shelled out for the Hebrew National brand) to make for the two of us. I moved on to Tofu Pups when I went vegetarian…but had a serious lack in hot dog-like foods since I went gluten free.

Until now!

This recipe was originally posted by the Clean Eating Veggie Girl, which I then adjusted to fit my dietary restrictions. I am still in shock that this actually worked.

Recipe: Gluten Free Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs

Servings: 2
Time: Prep 24 hours; Cook 20 minutes

Ingredients:

2 large carrots, peeled, with the ends cut off (I cut mine to the size of the hot dog bun)
1/4 cup Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (I used San-J Reduced Sodium Tamari)
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
dash liquid smoke
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon dried ginger
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon granulated onion powder
olive oil cooking spray (I used coconut oil cooking spray)
2 gluten free hot dog buns (I used Udi’s Gluten Free)
desired hot dog toppings

Directions:

Boil carrots for approximately 6 to 8 minutes, or until fork tender but not mushy. After removing the carrots from the boiling water, run them under cold water to stop the cooking process.

While the carrots are cooking, whisk together the Tamari (or Liquid Aminos if that is what you are using), water, vinegars, sesame oil, liquid smoke, garlic, and seasonings.

Combine the carrots and the marinade in a zipper gallon-size bag, or in an air-tight container. Shake gently until the carrots are coated with the marinade. Place the carrots in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.

To cook the carrots, spray a medium skillet with olive oil cooking spray. Turn the heat to medium and place the carrots and about 1/2 cup of the marinade into the skillet. Heat the carrots for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until warm. The carrots get a nice crispy and seasoned coating on them from the marinade. This also helps give the “hot dogs” a more brown/tan color than their original orange color.

Serve your carrot “hot dogs” in a bun and top them with your favorite hot dog toppings.

~*~*~

Really surprised that this worked. The taste is fantastic, thanks to that liquid smoke and the time the carrots spend marinading. The texture is perfect. It isn’t crunchy it all, but it’s not mushy. Trust me…it’s perfect. I served mine up with red onion, ketchup and mustard, but you can top these amazing carrot hot dogs off with any of your favorite things. Or, make them into chili dogs.

It may sound weird…but it works. And, they are fantastic!

June 14, 2015

Product Review: Good Boy Organics Organicasaurus Tangy Tomato Baked Organic Corn Snacks

Good Boy Organics Organicasaurus Tangy Tomato Baked Corn Puffs — Good Boy Organics Organicasaurus Tangy Tomato Baked Corn Snacks

Product: Good Boy Organics Organicasaurus Tangy Tomato Baked Organic Corn Snacks – $3.59+

It’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed a product from Cuisine Cube. Farmer’s Market season is in full swing and I, sadly, had to drop the subscription for the time being. With my hip injury, my medical bills have to take precedence. So, the last Cuisine Cube box that I received was the May 2015 (For Mom) box.

Cuisine Cube has gone through some changes as of May as well. No longer do they strictly only offer gluten-free cubes. In addition to their gluten-free option, they now also offer Artisan and Vegan cubes as well. The Artisan cube means that you have no food allergies and foods that contain common food allergens will be included. The Vegan cubes contain products that are dairy and animal free. And, they still have the Gluten Free cubes, which will have products that contain no gluten or wheat. These box subscriptions start at $34.99/month. And, part of the charm is that you will receive 5-6 full-size (not sample size) products. WOOT! These usually fall into every meal category for the day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and dessert…with an added bonus from time-to-time. So, if you’re really interested in being introduced to the smaller, lesser-known, artisan companies, give Cuisine Cube a try! I can’t wait to get back to receiving these in the mail.

For the snack option in the May 2015 Cuisine Cube, I received a 2.3 ounce bag of the Good Boy Organics Organicasaurus Tangy Tomato Baked Organic Corn Snacks. This, naturally, couldn’t be more timely. Well, at least my devouring of them couldn’t be. And here’s why…I ate these, for the first time, on Wednesday night, along side a new recipe I was trying for vegan carrot “hot dogs.” No joke…I made carrots into hot dogs. And they were rather fantastic…but I digress…

Good Boy Organics was founded in 2012 and is dedicated to providing delicious, healthy products that are USDA Certified Organic and Verified by the Non-GMO Project. The company sources ingredients from fair trade certified producers and develop gluten-free products whenever possible. YAY. Founded by David and Victoria Byrnes, a husband and wife team, Good Boy Organics was born through their dedication through a decade of success launching progressive and successful organic food brands with the sales and marketing company they founded in 2001 – Integrated Organics Company (IOCO). In 2009, Integrated Global Organics (IGLO) joined IOCO and from there…Good Boy Organics was born. The two of them, along with their dedicated team, are working to help families everywhere make better, delicious, nutritious decisions when it comes to foods, encouraging purchasing certified organic foods and helping to make such products readily accessible and affordable.

So…they just seemed like the perfect side, on the cusp of an early screening the following night of Jurassic World, to accompany dinner that evening. First of all, the vegan carrot hot dogs were fantastic. But that’s not the point of this blog…

Truly, I was a bit underwhelmed by the Good Boy Organics Organicasuarus Tangy Tomato Puffs. They were crispy and slightly crunchy, sure. They made a great snack if you were looking for a little salty, a little sweet, a little tangy, and a little crispy. But I just felt that they came across more like…stale cheesy puffs. That being said…the flavor was amazing. It definitely had a bit of a zip to it. The tomato flavor was there, but it didn’t overpower the rest of the snack. The puffed corn made it a healthier choice than, say, potato chips, and the dinosaur shape…ingenious. I just felt like it was lacking…something. Maybe I expected a little bit more, but at least they tasted good enough to devour the rest of the bag in the days that followed. So…good…not great.

Let’s discuss ingredients, shall we? The Good Boy Organics Organicasaurus Tangy Tomato Puffs are made from organic corn (flour and/or grits), organic sunflower oil, and organic sun dried tomato seasoning (tomato, salt sugar, corn flour, yeast extract, paprika, tomato concentrate, black pepper, sunflower oil, garlic, silicone dioxide, paprika extract). These snacks are baked, not fried, contain 40% less fat than their fried counterparts, are non-GMO verified, certified organic, and certified gluten-free.

As for nutrition, the facts for Good Boy Organics Organicasaurus Tangy Tomato Puffs will astound you! A serving is 14 little brontosaurus shaped puffs, or around 28 grams if you weigh your food like I do. There are 2.5 servings per package. This serving will provide you with 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 19 grams carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 0 grams of sugars, and 2 grams of protein. I may not have fallen head-over-heels for these, but the real ingredients and the fantastic dietary standards are appealing.

I love a healthy snack that doesn’t seem like it should be good for you. That’s what Good Boy Organics has done with their Organicasaurus Tangy Tomato Baked Organic Corn Snacks. I wasn’t raving about them, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at the chance to try them or other Good Boy Organics products again. Never heard of this company before Cuisine Cube and now am more than intrigued to see what else they have to offer. Total win.

June 14, 2015

Product Review: Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread

Product: Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread – $5.99+

A little while ago, I was introduced to a couple of new breads on the market. While the brand name has been producing gluten-free breads for awhile now, it wasn’t a brand that I actively sought out. Yes, I saw it all the time in the freezer section of Whole Foods and other natural food stores, but I had grown accustomed to snagging Rudi’s or Udi’s or (now) the Aldi liveGfree brand or Canyon Bakehouse. Food For Life was there…I just always overlooked it.

And why?

Who knows? As an active (even now, with an injury) athlete, it’s important to properly fuel my body and eat wholesome foods. Most products on the market for the gluten-free diet happen to be junk food. It drives me nuts. I hit that gluten-free section of a store and I can find a vast array of cookies, crackers, chips, pretzels, and the like. It is one of the biggest pet peeves of the grocery store. Yes, a lot of people with Celiac and gluten intolerance do miss out on some of the finer treats like Oreos and the like, but the shelves are literally overrun with products that aren’t going to feed your body right and healthy.

But Food For Life set out to change that. Through a lot of research and development, Food For Life released the first ever gluten free breads made from sprouted grains, such as quinoa, millet and chia. A majority of gluten-free breads, while satisfying the “gluten free” bread requirement, don’t address the overall health needs of consumers. Without the gluten to give bread the soft, elasticity of regular breads, most manufacturers choose alternative ingredients that mimic the feel of gluten, using egg, milk, and refined starches in order to achieve a softer and chewier texture. But these breads are created from ingredients that you wouldn’t expect to find in natural breads, many of which are devoid of nutrients.

Food For Life stepped up and decided to start a line with four varieties of completely gluten-free breads that were specifically created with the health of consumers in mind. Not only are they gluten free, but they are also vegan and made from nutrition packed ingredients that have been sprouted to maximize nutrition and digestibility.

I was fortunate enough to be sent one loaf of each of the Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Breads from Food For Life. These loaves come in Original 3 Seed, Almond, Cinnamon Raisin, and Flax.

The hardest part, for me, was choosing where to begin. It had been a long and tiring week and I was looking for a nutritious, but filling dinner. And, as breakfast is one of my favorite meals of the day, I decided to hit up one of my favorite recipes and have breakfast for dinner. Hence, it was time to bust out a very British, and all-time favorite in my book, breakfast recipe – Mushrooms On Toast.

And I had the perfect vehicle for the toast portion in my kitchen freezer. I consulted with my roommate and we decided to start with the Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread.

I thawed out four slices of the bread and then prepped them to toast in the oven while I prepared the rest of the meal. This involved sauteing up mushrooms, red onion, garlic, seasoning, and some of my homegrown fresh thyme. I made it creamier with rice milk. And then poached some eggs to top off the entire dish.

Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread turned out to be the perfect vehicle for Mushrooms On Toast. The bread is firmer, and stands up a bit more to toppings and the like. I was a bit worried when I thawed it out, as it seemed really dense and heavy, but that was ideal. That was, actually, a good thing in this case. The Flax variety of the Sprouted For Life line of gluten-free breads is amazing. It is dense and has this rich nutty flavor to it. The texture, if made into a sandwich might be a bit dry and heafty, but in a dish like this, where a sturdy bread is needed, it is ideal. In fact, this bread was almost like a sourdough, and that was where the magic was with this bread.

I loved the crunchy, sturdy nature of the bread when topped off with the creamy garlic and mushroom sauce. It held up to the runny middle of the poached egg and even a smattering of hot sauce. It was crispy, and delightful with each spoonful. Seriously, any other bread would have gotten damp and soggy, but this…this held up and stayed a piece of toast throughout the entire eating process.

Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread is rich in essential fatty acids and was developed specifically to help you perform at your best. With a great balance in the nutritional aspect, this bread is quite appealing. Made with sprouted chia, sprouted quinoa, and sprouted millet, this bread is a trio of health. And the flax is an added bonus for sure.

Let’s talk about ingredients. Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread is made from organic sprouted quinoa (red and/or white), filtered water, organic arrowroot, organic potato starch, organic sprouted millet, organic tapioca, organic sprouted flax, organic applesauce, fresh yeast, organic safflower oil, organic cactus, organic sprouted chia seeds, organic agave, organic vanilla, sea salt, vegetable gum (xanthan and cellulose), and organic psyllium. It is gluten-free, vegan, high in fiber, cholesterol free, and free of added sugars.

So, let’s talk nutrition. Since starting my nutrition course (oh…did I not mention that yet?), I have learned that there is more to counting calories. Sure, it is important, but it shouldn’t be the focus. It’s all about the nutritional aspects of the food. Avocados are high in fat and calories…but SO much better for you than that chocolate bar with the same amount of fat and calories. See what I mean? So, a serving of Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread is one slice of bread. This slice of bread will give you 110 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. This bread is free of saturated fat and trans fat (YAY!). The Flax Bread also will provide 115 mg sodium per slice, 0 mg cholesterol, 21 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. I was freaked out at first with the high calories per slice, but, again, not all calories are created equal and there is nothing fake going into this bread. It’s all healthy, all good, all nutritious. Making this a fantastic choice.

I was so excited to receive the loaves of the Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Breads. And if they are all as amazing and delicious as the Flax variety, then I am in for a treat for sure. My hat is off to the nutritional value, the top-notch ingredients, and the amazing taste of the new Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread from Food For Life. My only complaint, as with most gluten-free breads out there, is the small size of the loaf. Aside from that…amazed. Happy to have been given the opportunity to really try it out. I am beyond impressed.

Garlic Mushrooms on Toast made with Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Bread — Garlic Mushrooms on Toast made with Food For Life Sprouted For Life Gluten Free Flax Brea

June 1, 2015

Product Review: Eden Foods Caribbean Rice and Black Beans

Eden Foods Organic Caribbean Rice and Black Beans

Product: Eden Foods Caribbean Rice and Black Beans – $2.50+

Sometimes life gets a little crazy. Sometimes life gets a lot crazy. And sometimes, life just gets too busy to really plan ahead efficiently. That has been my life as of late. With the tedious and long hours spent doing my physical therapy stretches, and being in enough pain that it hurts to stand for long periods of time (sitting down isn’t always better), sometimes simple and hands off is what you need.

Thank goodness while out at Earth Fare one day, I snagged a can of Eden Foods cans of rice and beans. It was on sale, as I recall, and I figured it was never a bad thing to have some sort of canned meal or side on hand…just in case.

Last week, it sure was a lifesaver when it came to lunch one day. My weeks have been stressful and I’ve been battling my own little injured runner demons. Sometimes, motivation to really do anything is lacking. Sometimes, when I get home from work, all I want to do is collapse and not move for awhile. But, usually, I have lunches and snacks to prepare for the following day, and then dinner for that evening to get going on top of it all.

I reached a breaking point last week and I was so happy to find this can of rice and beans in my pantry. Like…seriously happy. Who knew a canned good could bring so much relief and joy?

Eden Foods Caribbean Rice and Black Beans is a really simple food to prepare. Simply, open the can, and heat. I used the stove top method, which involved putting it into a saucepan and warming it through. I stirred it throughout the cooking period, and then dished it up into two (one for me and one for my roommate) Pyrex containers for the following day. While it was warming, I was working on dinner. It was the best feeling ever to accomplish two things at once without any additional stress or steps.

The next day, I small reheat in the microwave was all that was needed. Lunch…was served.

The Eden Foods Caribbean Rice and Black Beans was decent enough. While I appreciate the BPA-free can and the low sodium, this dish was actually under-seasoned. I had my roommate take a taste before I packed it up for lunch and she said it needed a hit of salt. She’s a sodium-scardy-cat, so this was quite the surprise to hear. I took a pinch of salt from my dish and added it, giving it another stir. And she was happy enough with that. It still was bland on it’s own, however, we both concluded that this would be the ultimate vegetarian burrito/taco filler. In fact, I sort of want to buy another can and have taco night. There wasn’t much heat in the spices, despite including cayenne pepper in the seasonings that go into this particular blend of rice and beans. But, this meant that we could season and add as much spice/heat as we wanted individually. I left it as it was, as I didn’t have my bottle of Cholula with me that day, nor any bereber or red pepper flakes. So, yeah, on its own it was more than a little disappointing. If it had been part of Taco Tuesday or something…it would be amazing. While I was expecting a little more heat, it was very mild on the palate. Not great, but not bad either. I’d purchase it again for tacos…but not to have on its own.

Let’s talk about what goes into the Eden Foods Caribbean Rice and Black Beans, shall we? This product is made up of water, organic Lundberg short grain brown rice, organic black turtle beans, organic onion flakes, organic paprika, organic garlic powder, sea salt, organic cumin powder, organic cayenne powder, and organic cinnamon powder. This product is gluten free, kosher, and cholesterol free.

Nutritionally speaking, however, you’ll love the facts on the Eden Foods Caribbean Rice and Black Beans. One serving is 1/2 cup and there are 3.5 servings in a can. A serving will provide you with 120 calories, 1 gram fat, 100 mg sodium, 230 mg potassium, 23 grams carbohydrates, less than 1 gram sugars, 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. It is filling and healthy for you. It will definitely do your body good. I just wish it had a bit more…flavor to it.

JUST THINK TACOS!

Anyway, while not wowed by the product, as stated, I would probably purchase another can of the Eden Foods Caribbean Rice and Black Beans for other purposes, aside from being eaten straight as my roommate and I did. Decent food, that will keep for awhile, at a good price…sometimes that’s good enough.

If you do try these out…check the seasoning and spice levels. You might want to add to it.