Vegan – Page 29 – The Celiathlete

March 31, 2014

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari

Product: Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari – $5.99+

This is it!

The final product from Sophie’s Kitchen for me to review. Well, there are a couple other products out there, just none that I have found in this area yet. All the ones that are available in the various natural food stores around here…have now been eaten, consumed, and reviewed. It all ends here…with Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari.

Yes…my freezer has now been cleared of my delicious vegan seafood. And the Vegan Breaded Calamari is another fine example of how Sophie’s Kitchen is doing vegan seafood well! I mean…I was blown away.

Back before I became a vegetarian, I began eating calamari after moving to Indiana. My roommate and her family were huge fans of splitting the appetizer calamari at any restaurant it was offered in…especially Red Lobster. That being said, I grew to have a taste for the little rubbery rings of…squid. But after making a conscious decision to go vegetarian…I gave up seafood and all other meats. And when going gluten-free was necessary, anything breaded went the way of the dodo in my diet.

Until…Sophie’s Kitchen brought breaded “seafood” back into my life.

The other night, the Breaded Vegan Calamari remained in my freezer. And as I had been out of town and had no fresh produce bin delivered…I was living out of my pantry, fridge, and freezer. This seemed like an easy enough thing to prepare for dinner. All I hoped for was that it would live up to the standards and quality of the other Sophie’s Kitchen products I had in the past.

I should have known it wouldn’t disappoint.

Sophie's Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari (frozen) — Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari (frozen)

Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari is so simple to prepare. You can do it in either the oven or a skillet, but I opted for the oven this time. I placed the Breaded Vegan Calamari rings on a pan and put them in the oven for about 15 minutes. When I retrieved them, they smelled amazing and were now a beautiful golden brown. I plated the rings and served it up with some marinara for dipping (because calamari should always be eaten with marinara…always!). My roommate and I tucked into our basic, simple dinner…and we were both once again WOWED! I mean…totally in awe at how accurate the texture and taste of these vegan seafood products are to the real thing. I loved how the Breaded Vegan Calamari rings had that bit of rubbery texture…just like actual calamari. I thought it had amazing flavor, and the breading was more than seasoned correctly and packed with amazing flavor. I might have devoured mine in record time. I told my roommate that this one was ranking up there in popularity as far as my favorites to eat. So delicious. Beyond impressed. And now I want to restock my freezer with all of the products again…and work my way through them once more. This just clinches the fact that Sophie’s Kitchen makes high quality products that gluten-free vegans can enjoy!

So…what exactly is vegan seafood made from? Well, the Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari is made from water, konjac powder, beta glucan, potato starch, organic agave nectar, sea salt, canola oil, rice flakes (from brown rice), potato starch, turmeric, white pepper, carrageenan, alginate, and calcium hydroxide. Is it clean eating…nope. Not even close. But…it’s not too bad as processed, frozen products go. Not at all. These are soy-free, vegan (100% plant based), non-GMO, gluten-free, contain no artificial preservatives, no artificial colors, no MSG, they are free of trans fats, and they are cholesterol free. These also contain no added sugar. Nothing about them is artificial. Nothing.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving size of Sophie’s Breaded Vegan Calamari is 4 pieces (or about 3 ounces). This serving size will dish you up 210 calories and 9 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 250 mg sodium and only 2 grams of sugar. Love that! In addition, you will be consuming 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Trust me…you will feel full after eating these. But deliciously full!

I have become a huge fan of Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Seafood items. The Breaded Vegan Calamari ranks right up there as one of the best products in the lineup. Try it. Even if you aren’t a vegan, you might appreciate a healthier, and environmentally-friendly seafood. You won’t be disappointed. Trust me!

Sophie's Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari (served with marinara sauce) — Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Calamari (baked) (served with marinara sauce)

March 31, 2014

Product Review: Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter

Product: Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter – $1.99+

I am not very good about blogging about various spreads and nut butters that I try. I don’t know why…but mostly because it’s hard to wax rhapsodic about different varieties of nut butters…because…while they don’t all taste the same…it’s the same thing. Besides, I’m a Trader Joe’s Creamy Peanut Butter girl. That doesn’t change.

Except…when something leaps out at me and catches my eye.

That was the case this past visit to Birmingham, Alabama. I went to my mom’s favorite natural food store, Organic Harvest, and was shopping around for some products to try that I had never seen in my area. I was walking the aisles, doing my initial scouting when I spotted little sample packs of almond butters at the bottom of one of the shelves.

The brand: Wild Friends Foods.

The flavor: Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter.

HELLO!! How could I not buy this?! I had to. So, it was one of the items that I chose to bring home with me to try. And…that’s what happened. All I needed was the perfect opportunity to use it and to allow it to shine. I mean…vanilla…espresso…almond butter. That’s three of my favorite things all rolled into one product. I was elated. I was in heaven. I…needed to find something to use it with.

And so…it all came together one morning when I was toasting up some gluten-free cinnamon raising English muffins. I had pulled out some butter and honey to top the English muffins with, but then I recalled this spread. So I decided to do half of the English muffins with the butter and honey, and the other half with this amazing sounding almond butter.

I made a fantastic choice.

The Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter is just as amazing as it sounds. It has all the texture and flavor of almond butter, but elevated with the bits of ground up espresso beans and the amazing aroma and flavor of vanilla. It’s almond butter taken to the nth degree. And there is nothing wrong with that at all. This packet, once kneaded as instructed, provided a creamy, flavorful topper for the cinnamon raising English muffin. The espresso bits don’t get in the way or overpower the natural flavor of the almond butter. In fact, they serve as a bit of a flavor enhancer. And it was AWESOME!! Trust me, even my roommate was raving about it. Seriously…I wish I could find this stuff here.

So, let’s talk about the ingredients. One very important thing about Wild Friends Foods is that the creators wanted to make fun flavors of nut butters without the white sugars, preservatives, additives, or oil. So, instead of using slick oils and processed sweeteners, they use natural ingredients that are awesome…and…yes…healthy! The Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter contains almonds, organic agave, natural vanilla flavor, espresso, and sea salt. That’s it. It is non-GMO, dairy-free, gluten-free, and kosher.

Nutritionally speaking, you can’t beat these statistics when it comes to almond butter. The Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter has a serving size of 2 tablespoons. This serving will provide you with 190 calories and 17 grams of fat (but it’s the healthy fat you get from nuts…so don’t freak out, okay?). You will also be getting 95 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. And finally, you will be taking in 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

And it really does taste amazing. Possibly my favorite almond butter I have had to date. I wish I had more than just the sample pack. From a quick check on the Wild Friends Foods Web site, it looks like a regular jar of this flavor is a whopping $11.99. One jar. But…I would say it was worth it. For now, I guess I’ll just supplement with the amazing little sample packs whenever I go to Birmingham.

If you can order it online to try it…or if you can find it locally…don’t hesitate…just do it!

Wild Friends Foods Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter (on a gluten-free cinnamon raisin English muffin)

March 29, 2014

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins

Product: Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins – $4.99

When it comes to gluten-free goodies…it doesn’t get much better than Katz Gluten Free. Honestly. I have never, ever, ever, ever, ever…etc. been disappointed by anything that I have ordered from Katz Gluten Free on their Web site. In fact, I strongly encourage others to take the plunge and try some of Katz Gluten Free products. If you are lucky, you won’t have to always order online. Perhaps one of your local natural food stores carries some of their products. Which is great…if that is the case.

For me…I can find the pies and the breads…but for the most part…my luck stops there. So when something else catches my eye…that’s when I hit the Web site to place an order.

Trust me…you won’t ever regret hitting that check out button.

This time, after ordering the Gluten-Free Large Braided Challah Loaf, I figured I’d order a few extra items in order to round out the amount I was spending to get free shipping. I was over halfway there with just the challah…so I felt it was worth it. After perusing the items available, I made a decision to try the Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins.

Now, I’ve tried their Gluten Free Original English Muffins before and absolutely loved them. They taste like real English muffins. Perhaps even better. So, since I love cinnamon raisin things, I figured this would be right up my alley to try. Since I was out of town and don’t have a CSA bin to prepare meals from this week, my gym mornings were spent noshing down on things in my freezer. One such item…the Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins.

I pulled two of the English muffins (one for me and one for my roomie) out the night before to thaw in a plastic bag. I sliced them in half before packing them up while I went to the gym. I got into office after my sweat session and put these on a dedicated plate, put them in the toaster oven, and let them get all toasty and golden and warm. It took about 8 minutes from the time I put them in the toaster oven.

When they came out, they were golden and gorgeous…and smelling like cinnamon rolls. No…seriously. And we all know I love my cinnamon rolls. I put a little butter and honey on one half…and on the other half I tried out a new kind of almond butter (Wild Friends Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter). I served up a plate to my roommate and went to tuck into my hard-earned brekkies.

First bite and I was hooked. I started with the side with the butter and honey, knowing the flavor would shine through more. I was totally right about that. I loved the hint of spice from the cinnamon and the sweetness from the raisins. The texture was light…airy…perfect. These are in no way dense at all. They have the right amount of heft to them. And…that cinnamon raisin flavor is outstanding. When I tried it with the super-special almond butter, I might have fallen deeper in love. These English muffins are fantastic. Katz did amazing things with the original flavor. They are doing even better things with the Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins. I am hooked. And now I wish I had ordered more. Dang it.

Let’s talk ingredients. Katz Gluten Free puts the following into their Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins: gluten free flour (mix of potato flour and rice flour), water, potato starch, quinoa, tapioca starch, canola oil, sugar, dry yeast, baking powder, guar gum, salt, corn flour, cinnamon, and raisins. They are completely cholesterol free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and egg-free.

Nutrition-wise, these are actually really good on the dietary scale. For English muffins that is. One serving of Katz Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin English Muffins is one English muffin. This will provide you with 170 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. You will also be taking in 260 mg sodium and 7 grams of sugar. Not bad for a gluten-free baked item. Honestly. In addition, you will be consuming 2 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein.

Seriously…if you love English muffins…you will definitely fall in love with these. Katz Gluten Free really knows how to put a quality item out on the market. And if you can’t find these in your local natural foods store…go to their Web site and place an order. I promise, you won’t ever regret doing that! I never do. And all I get out of it is tasty gluten-free goodies.

Nothing wrong with that.

March 27, 2014

Restaurant Review: Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia

Restaurant: Alma Cocina, Atlanta, Georgia

So, here I was in Atlanta, Georgia…having completed a marathon earlier that morning. I spent the afternoon doing the tourist thing…scoping out the CNN Studios and just walking around and enjoying the city. Trust me…after a marathon, it’s best to keep moving. That being said…another important thing to do after running is to begin proper recovery. And part of that is nutrition.

A big part of that is nutrition, actually.

Prior to the race, my roomie and I had thought that we’d simply return to Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria for dinner. Then we ate there…and were not impressed. At all. So, this meant new plans had to be made. And, after watching some Food Network and seeing guacamole…I was craving. Mexican. Mmmm…guacamole. Yum yum! So, I got onto my Find Me Gluten Free app and discovered that not far from the hotel was a nice Mexican joint called Alma Cocina. I pulled up the Web site, glanced at the gluten-free menu and thought…this might be a great place to try. I passed the laptop to my roommate so she could take a gander, and she agreed that Mexican sounded good. So, we made 6 p.m. reservations…and called it a night.

I marathoned. I did the tourist thing. I walked…a lot. I discovered that I was hungry…and still had an hour to go before dinner reservations. Cathy decided that we should start ambling that way because she wouldn’t feel bad walking in at 5:30 p.m. I liked her logic, so that’s what we did…killing off a bit of spare time by wandering around the block and checking out the Dragon*Con hotels. Because…why not? Around 5:30 p.m., we strolled into Alma Cocina for dinner.

We were greeted immediately upon entering. I told them that we had reservations at 6, but we were here early. They said it wasn’t a problem, and took us right to the table. We were seated and they went to check off our reservation, returning a moment later with some menus, including the gluten-free menu for me. AH! They read the reservation. YAY! I was feeling good about this already.

Alma Cocina's Gluten-Free Menu — Alma Cocina’s Gluten-Free Menu

As we looked over the menu, our server came over to get our drink orders. I was recovering…so water for me. Cathy did the same…because she’s a copy-cat. Just kidding. But…she did also get water. When he returned, I inquired as to how big the sides were. He said they were relatively big…so I pondered for a moment, but we went ahead and ordered the Gluten-Free Guacamole ($6.00) as a starter.

After leaving to put in the order, our server returned and asked me if the gluten-free was a food allergy or just a dietary choice. I told him I was a Celiac and he nodded and said, “Okay…so cross-contamination is not okay.” He hurried off. I might have arched an eyebrow at Cathy. They really do pay attention.

Alma Cocina's Gluten-Free Guacamole (served with chayote...not chips) — Alma Cocina’s Gluten-Free Guacamole (served with chayote…not chips)

Our appetizer of gluten-free guacamole came out a few minutes later. It was this little bowl of gorgeous, creamy…yet chunky, mashed avocado with all the right seasonings and additions. But…no chips. The server said that to prevent cross-contamination, the tortilla chips were replaced with chayote. I was intrigued! He then asked if we were ready to order…and at this point we were.

Cathy went ahead and ordered the Fried Avocado Tacos ($14.00), which consisted of crispy queso cotija, poblano pesto (which she says I need to make!), roasted tomato…and yes…fried avocado.

I went for the sides…because the only other option on the gluten-free menu for me would have been the Vegetarian Platter and that just sounded like too much. So, I opted for ordering the Mexican Chopped Salad ($4.00), which was a mix of jicama, chayote, red onion, ancho chile powder, and cilantro. I also ordered the Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice ($4.00) which came with pico de gallo. Orders in…we were left to our appetizer.

The guacamole was amazing!! Seriously. It had red onion, serrano pepper, red onion, lime, cilantro…everything that I make mine with at home. And it tasted fantastic. Cathy told the waiter when he came back to see how it was that was amazing…almost as good as mine. Hee! But…what really made this a standout, believe it or not, was the chayote. No lie! The sweetness of the chayote (which, in case you haven’t googled it yet…is an edible plant that is pear shaped with a thin, green, wrinkly skin and white flesh. It is sort of like a squash…but sweet. And it can be eaten raw, cooked, mashed, baked, boiled, fried, etc.) was just what the guacamole was needing. Now, at home I eat my guacamole with tortilla chips. If I can find chayote in one of the numerous stores I shop in…that won’t happen ever again. This is above and beyond tortilla chips. This plant was made for guacamole! Between the two of us, Cathy and I made short work of the guacamole. In fact, we were just polishing it off when our entrees arrived.

Now, the chef got a little creative with my Mexican Chopped Salad. Seemed they were out of it, so he went ahead and pretty much sliced up all the components and made a version of the salad for me. It looked delicious and fresh as it was settled down in front of me. And I was beyond intrigued by my green rice and super-delicious looking black beans. Oh yeah…I was one happy marathoner.

We were left to enjoy our dinner and Cathy dove into her tacos…declaring them one of the best things she has ever eaten. And praised that poblano pesto to the roof.

I started with the Mexican Chopped Salad. It was an amazing array of textures and flavors. I loved the jicama and how it tasted when mixed with the chayote. The red onion brought a bit of bite to what, otherwise, would have been way too sweet. As it was…I got about 3/4 of the way through before calling it quits. It was delicious…but with the chayote with the guacamole…I needed some spice and some heat.

I turned my attention to the Black Beans and Pobalno Chili Rice. Oh my gluten-free gods…this was delicious. It is so simple. So basic. And yet…the flavors were awesome. I loved to scoop up some of the beans and rice together. I loved the little bit of heat that the beans had with them. I loved the sweet, with a hint of heat, rice…and how it was green. Pablano chili rice…for the total win. I was enamored with this side. I sort of wished I had ordered two of them. But, I was getting full fast. Rice and beans will definitely get that tummy full. Carbs, fiber, and protein, baby! But it was what I needed. And I polished that plate clean.

And I was full. The waiter came to take away the dishes and asked if we were interested in dessert. We passed because both of us were now quite full.

Wow…what an amazing restaurant. The atmosphere. The service. The overall experience…I would go back in a heartbeat to Alma Cocina. I felt like they were very mindful of my food allergies and took great care when it came to preparing and serving my food. LOVED every moment of our time there.

Alma Cocina's Side Orders of Mexican Chopped Salad (left) and Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice (right) — Alma Cocina’s Side Orders of Mexican Chopped Salad (left) and Black Beans and Poblano Chili Rice (right)

March 14, 2014

Recipe: Gluten-Free Pasta with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes

I have a bin problem. I’m going out of town (yes…again!)…and I have fresh CSA bin ingredients to use. I wanted something amazing. Something flavorful. Something that would use more than one item. Because…I don’t want to waste any of my fresh veggies and fruit that I get each week when I’m home.

So…the other night, I modified one of Giada De Laurentiis’ recipes. Her recipe was originally a penne recipe that incorporated asparagus and cherry tomatoes and other vegetables. I had the tomatoes and the asparagus…and I played with the vegetables I had instead of what she recommended…but no gluten-free penne on hand. But…I did have gluten-free pasta on hand, which I picked up on the eve of the Chicago Marathon from Da Luciano Pasta, Pizza & Catering.

This recipe is full of spring flavors, which is just what this winter-hating girl needed. And, yeah…FULL of amazing flavor. Light. Fresh. Delicious. The recipe is below!

Gluten-Free Pasta with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes

Servings: 4-6
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients:

8 ounces gluten-free pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1-1/2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups (about 9 ounces) cherry tomatoes
3 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable stock
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 6 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft.

Add the cherry tomatoes and spinach.

Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the vegetable stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.

Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.

~*~*~This pasta dish is awesome. You won’t feel filled to the brim and about to burst. In fact, the light flavors and delicious vegetables are a nice way to dress up the pasta noodles. And my gluten-free pasta noodles were amazing. My roomie and I loved this dish so much, we made it again the following night.Great way to use some spring vegetables and get in the mood for that warmer weather. Thanks for the inspiration, Giada!

March 14, 2014

Product Review: Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger

Product: Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger – $3.99+

When you have a product that is actually called the “World’s Best Veggie Burger”…then, by God, you better have the best damn veggie burger in the world.

Prior to having to go gluten-free…I went vegetarian, so I have had pretty much every veggie burger out there. By having to go gluten-free has only helped me to step beyond the very chemical-laden Morningstar veggie burgers and discovered healthier and much tastier options. Made with…REAL ingredients. Loving that.

After reading crazy-good and amazing reviews on the veggie burgers that are done by Hilary’s Eat Well…I knew…absolutely knew I had to try them out. And, on a recent journey over to my local Whole Foods store, my roommate told me to go grab one of the Hillary’s Eat Well veggie burgers from the freezer section. They had quite a few varieties…but I thought it best to start with the original. The burger that started it all.

Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger.

Quite a reputation to live up to, yes? Yeah…

A little history on this burger. Hilary created this recipe back in 2005 for her restaurant, Local Burger, wanting to have it be free of all the common food allergies and artificial ingredients…yet still be packed with great flavor. It was a hit at the restaurant…and now…it’s available to the general public in your natural food stores.

Ready to dive into a delicious new veggie burger and test out my brand new vegetable spiralizer to make sweet potato curly fries…the other night I got down and dirty cooking this frozen patty up. Nothing was easier. I preheated my electric skillet and put a little coconut oil in there. Once it was heated up, I threw both of the patties in, hearing it immediately begin to sizzle. With my spiraled sweet potato going down, I was able to focus on cooking these patties perfectly. These easily took about 3 minutes on each side. Not too long at all. And when I flipped the burgers, they didn’t fall apart at all. Most of the time, my gluten-free veggie burgers crumble. Not these. They held together amazingly well.

Hilary's Eat Well World's Best Veggie Burger (cooked) — Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger (cooked)

I plated the burgers on a gluten-free bun from my local gluten-free bakery, topped it with a bit of red leaf lettuce and some tomatoes. A squirt of Dijon mustard and…there it was. Dinner was served.

Even better…dinner was awesome. One bite and I knew exactly why these is called the World’s Best Veggie Burger. This burger is awesome. Packed with flavor. Not flat at all. And, as I mentioned above, they don’t fall apart as you bite into it, or hold it in the bun. It’s sturdy, yet soft and delicious. And I am now hooked, very eager to try out the other offerings from Hilary’s Eat Well.

The Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger is made up from water, organic millet, organic quinoa, expeller-pressed non-GMO coconut oil, organic sweet potato, organic spinach, organic onion, organic psylliam husk powder, organic arrowroot, organic apple cider vinegar, salt, organic garlic. Real ingredients! Real, recognizable ingredients. I LOVE this! It is corn-free, yeast-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, and nut-free. It’s perfection!

As for nutrition, the serving is 1 of the 2 patties that are in the package. This one veggie burger will serve you up 210 calories and 9 grams of fat. It might seem high, but much of that comes from the coconut oil. The Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger also serves up 340 mg sodium. This burger is cholesterol free and sugar free. In addition, you will be getting 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Trust me…you will be FULL!

I love polishing off a meal and feeling full for hours afterwards. And that’s what happened here. I didn’t even have popcorn that night for a snack. It’s not every day a meal fills me up. Very impressed.

So far, the two products I have tried from Hilary’s Eat Well have blown me away. I am SO in love with the World’s Best Veggie Burger. And, as of right now, it really does live up to its name. Brilliant. And delicious. I’m hooked!

A gluten-free and vegan burger made with Hilary's Eat Well World's Best Veggie Burger — A gluten-free and vegan burger made with Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger

March 11, 2014

Product Review: Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips

Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips – $5.29+

I have a great love for all things Glutino.

Seriously.

ALL THE THINGS!

They haven’t let me down yet, and I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up quite a variety of their product offerings over the past couple of years since I had to go gluten-free.

However, while I have enjoyed everything I have tried thus far…I do have to say…they make the best damn freakin’ gluten-free pretzels on the market.

Ever.

End. Of. Story.

From the first time I tasted one of their gluten-free pretzel twists…what seems like ages ago…I was hooked. Addicted. Ready to enjoy way more. I might have a sweet tooth, but that craving for something salty is also a constant thing in my life. I enjoy both…for different reasons. (And lucky me, Glutino makes amazing chocolate covered pretzels…which brings me the best of both worlds). But recently…it’s been the salty side that has been winning.

Lucky for me, a little while back, my roomie made a dash to the grocery store for me while I was making dinner or something and was lacking an ingredient. While there, she surprised me with a gift. She picked up a bag of Glutino’s Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips.

Mmmmm!!

I had other items in my pantry to work through first, but these got their moment to shine today…at my scheduled snack time. And, boy…was I not the least bit disappointed.

Glutino bills the Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips as something you can pile high with cheese, veggies, spread with paté, load up with savories, or use to scoop up dip. So…a chip but in pretzel form. Hence…pretzel chips. HA! Anyway, I chose to eat mine plain this morning…not having any amazing hummus or dip of some sort to use these with…but…it didn’t matter. Even on their own, the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips do not disappoint. Not one bit.

Just like the Glutino Pretzel Twists and Sticks that came before…these also carry that unique and so completely drool-worthy buttery flavor in each bite. That is my favorite part of crunching into a Glutino pretzel product. Nothing tastes better than that little hint of buttery flavor. Sort of like eating a crunchy and gluten-free version of an Auntie Anne’s pretzel. They are fantastic. Not too much salt – just enough to give each chip that pretzel seasoning that you desire. You gotta love that rich flavor with each bite. And the crunchiness is so good. No soft bites here. These are fantastic!! I’m addicted. No…seriously…I might need an intervention.

I’d like to see someone try…*wink*

As far as ingredients go, Glutino Pretzel Chips are made up from corn starch, potato starch, rice flour, soluble corn fiber, palm oil, salt, cellulose gum, sugar, cellulose powder, soy lecithin, yeast extract, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, sodium acid pyrophosphate, onion powder, and garlic powder. They are, as always, completely gluten-free and cholesterol free.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips is 30 grams (or about 11 of the chips). This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 3 grams of fat. In addition, this serving has 400 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. These provide 3 grams of fiber, but no protein.

But…they are a snack. And a delicious one at that. So, keep that in mind. Hit the store, seek these out and indulge. Enjoy. And try not to eat the entire bag in one sitting. It will be tough, I know. BELIEVE me, I know. Super good. Super crispy. Super WOW!! Glutino…you win again!

March 4, 2014

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns

Product Review: Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns – $5.99+

Vegan seafood.

Sounds impossible, right? I would have doubted its existence myself, until a trip to Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati, Ohio last year. My eyes were opened to so much potential and awesomeness. It’s…seafood…made from plant-based ingredients.

Seriously!

And while my journey into the vegan seafood began with Sophie’s Kitchen Breaded Vegan Fish Filets…which were…eh…okay…I have found other products by this company to be amazing. Like…you wouldn’t even know it wasn’t seafood. I’m not kidding. Taste is sometimes even better. Texture is spot on. Yep…I’m in love with this company. So much, in fact, that the Breaded Vegan Shrimp are always in my freezer.

Between the numerous natural food stores that I shop at each weekend, there is a variety of Sophie’s Kitchen options available. My most trusted spot, however, is Whole Foods, as they seem to have more of the products than anywhere else. And on a recent journey, these amazing products were…ON SALE! So, my roommate and I grabbed one of each.

And…with Fat Tuesday’s arrival…I was in the mood for some Cajun food. This meant I took the Vegan Prawns and rubbed them with a Cajun seasoning (a la Emeril Lagasse) and cooked them in the oven at 375°F for 6 minutes. This really is that simple, I swear.

Why Cajun shrimp? Well, when I was at Disney World this past January and was meeting Tiana (from The Princess and the Frog), I asked how her restaurant was going and explained that it was a dream of mine to open my own. She said to make my signature dish an amazing Cajun Shrimp Alfredo. So…here I took her advice…except I kept mine vegan and gluten-free. Because…I want to be able to eat it, yes? Yes!

Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Prawns (frozen) — Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns (frozen)

Well, being that this was the first time I was eating the Vegan Prawns from Sophie’s Kitchen, I didn’t stir them into the pasta, but rather laid them on tip. And it worked. The dish looked beautiful and the pasta came out perfect. I made up a sauce using So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk, almond milk, nutritional yeast, vegan butter, garlic, fire roasted tomatoes, and a bit more Cajun seasoning.

And I’ll get to the taste in a moment…

Because Fat Tuesday is tonight and I had another idea going in my head.

This time…a Cajun Shrimp Po’boy. With my vegan slaw on a gluten-free sandwich roll. This HAD to happen. I mean…for real. I once again rubbed the Vegan Prawns down with my Cajun seasoning, but this time I decided to cook them up in a pan. I toasted the rolls in the oven, added some local lettuce, slathered them with some slaw and topped them off with the Vegan prawns. My own, personal twist on a Po’boy. Getting in the Mardi Gras spirit here! I cooked the prawns in coconut oil and…OH MY GOODNESS…that was magic. The Cajun seasoning blackened up perfectly. And these were…winning!

So, now I can talk about what I thought about the Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns…

Oven baked or cooked in the skillet, I was beyond impressed with the flavor, texture, and overall taste of the Vegan Prawns. They were fantastic cooked in the coconut oil in the pan though. Reminded me of when I used to help my mom make her garlic lover’s shrimp (with real shrimp, mind you!). And, I think next time I purchase these (and, yes, there will be a next time), that’s what I’m going to do with them. YUMMY!! I thought these meshed well with the other flavors I paired with it, in both dishes. And while baking them in the oven was good…the pan cooking was beyond amazing. I think I found my new favorite way to prepare them. In fact, next time I get the Vegan Scallops…that’s how I’m cooking those as well. Honestly, these are fantastic.

As far as ingredients go, the Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns are made from water, konjac powder, beta glucan, potato starch, paprika, organic agave nectar, sea salt, carageenan (seaweed based gelatin), alginate (from seaweed), and calcium hydroxide. The Vegan Prawns are soy-free, gluten-free, 100% vegan and plant-based, non-GMO, contain no artificial colors, preservatives or MSG. These have no added sugars or artificial…anything. Honestly!

Nutritionally speaking, each box contains 3.1 servings…or 10 of the Vegan Prawns. A serving is 3 prawns, but being as I’m splitting this with two people over two days, we each had 2.5 Vegan Prawns. That being said, a normal serving of the 3 prawns would give you 50 calories. This product is fat free and cholesterol free. A serving will also provide you with only 150 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. Loving that. And finally, three of the Vegan Prawns provide you with 3 grams of fiber and less than 1 gram of protein.

Discovering Sophie’s Kitchen products has been amazing for me. I often keep one product stocked in my freezer at all times. You never know when you might need it. If you haven’t tried these yet…go to your local natural foods store and check their freezer section. Serious yummy vegan seafood eats here!

Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Prawns (cooked 2 ways) - Left: Vegan Cajun Shrimp Alfredo (baked); Right: Vegan Shrimp Po'Boys (pan fried) — Sophie’s Kitchen Vegan Prawns (cooked 2 ways) – Left: Vegan Cajun Shrimp Alfredo (baked); Right: Vegan Shrimp Po’Boys (pan fried)

March 1, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars – $4.99+

Coconut milk and I are seriously becoming best mates.

Really.

I am using it more and more…and not just to splash into my coffee or over my cereal. I mean…I am now making ice cream with it, making soups with it, you name it…I’m probably doing it. And my main source of coconut milk (my only source, actually!) is So Delicious. Why? Because they live up to their name. I have never had a product that I didn’t like from their line-up. That’s saying something, for sure.

Happily, they make more than just half gallon cartons of coconut milk. Yep. They do yogurts and even…desserts. YES! Desserts. Otherwise known as my favorite meal of the day.

I was recently provided with a box of the new So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars. I just recently reviewed the Fudge Bars and Super Strawberry Bars. This was the last in the line of products and the one I was anticipating the most. I mean…java…hello! I won’t lie…coffee and I are also best mates. So, combine coconut milk with coffee and make it a dessert…you are totally speaking my language.

I wonder if So Delicious knew that?

Anyway…after a long day that started with spin class at the gym and ended at physical therapy for my ankle sprain, I was looking forward to treating myself to something sweet and refreshing after a quick dinner. So, after I finished up my meal, I did up the dishes and reached into the freezer for the So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars. I removed two…one for me and one for my roommate.

One taste and I have declared this one my favorite of the bunch. It’s like…eating a delicious frappuccino. Seriously. The best part is, the coffee flavor doesn’t overwhelm this dessert. Too often, coffee-flavored desserts or treats are overwhelmed by that java flavor. But not these. The balance is perfect. And the coconut milk just makes it. Honestly. It just makes this dessert. It’s so smooth and dreamy-creamy. I was happy to savor it slowly, until it started to melt more. Then I had to pick up the pace. The fact of the matter is…SUPER DUPER JAVA-INDUCED YUMMINESS!

You can quote me on that one. OMG…so delicious indeed. These will forever have a spot in my freezer…because they aren’t just good…they are a treat you won’t feel guilty about eating either.

While on that topic…let’s go ahead and peek at the ingredients, yes? The So Delicious Dairy Free Minis Organic Just Java Bars are made from organic coconut milk, organic dried cane syrup, organic inulin, organic guar gum, organic fair trade coffee, natural flavor, organic locust bean gum, and sea salt. Not too bad on the ingredients. Nothing that I don’t recognize. That’s always a good sign.

Nutritionally, these are awesome! A serving is one of the dessert bars. This mini treat will serve you up only 80 calories and 4 grams of fat. One dessert bar also contains 25 mg sodium and 8 grams of sugar. That’s really good for a dessert! You will also be taking in 5 grams of fiber and only 1 gram of protein.

If you are a coffee-junkie like me…you will love this dessert bar. It is truly amazing. You won’t even guess that it’s made with coconut milk. And, trust me, you won’t miss the dairy either. These are beyond fantastic. These…are what dreams are made of. And I, for one, am a happy dairy-free ice cream loving girl.

Thank you so much, So Delicious!! I love you for life.

February 28, 2014

Product Review: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk

Product: So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk – $5.99+

Love is finding a product that you can literally do just about anything with…and getting creative with it. I love to come up with new ways to make things when I’m in my kitchen. I love to see just what I can accomplish with what I have on hand.

Currently, in my refrigerator, I have two 16 ounce cartons of So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk.

What is cultured coconut milk? Glad you asked.

It’s the dairy-free, coconut milk based version of a creamy, dreamy yogurt. Yes…all you dairy-free people who have lamented the loss of yogurt in your diet…welcome to the world of So Delicious and their fantastic coconut milk based yogurts. Also known as…cultured coconut milk.

I love that So Delicious has released two new varieties of their cultured coconut milk products. I already reviewed the Unsweetened Vanilla Cultured Coconut Milk…but now it is simply the Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk. First of all, as someone trying to keep their sugar intake in check, the unsweetened offering makes me so happy. Even better…it has great texture and good flavor. It actually has a bit of a tang to it, reminding me of a sour cream. And, certainly, this could easily be used in place of sour cream. But…not in my case.

I got into my kitchen last night and decided to use some of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk…to make bread. Yep. Bread. Delicious…dairy free and gluten-free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Bread.

Here’s what I found out…my bread cooked up amazing. The Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk made this a very light, very moist bread when all was said and done. The best part was how it tasted. Because this also adds flavor without adding more sugar. And that…that is an amazing thing. I love how versatile this product is. It can be used in dressings, breakfast parfaits, smoothies, as a garnish for meals…you name it. And it does it all with style and without upping the sugars you’re consuming. LOVE!

A serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk is 1/2 cup or 4 ounces. This serving will provide you with 50 calories and 4 grams of fat. You will be provided with 95 mg sodium and 1 gram of sugar. The Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk doesn’t provide any protein, but you do get 4 grams of fiber. This product is cholesterol free, gluten-free, vegan, kosher, non-GMO, and made with organic ingredients.

I have truly fallen in love with this product. I am so glad I have two containers of it chilling in my fridge. There are tons of other things I want to try this with. But…below, take a look at how amazing my bread baked up using the So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk. I am beyond impressed. You will be too!

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Yogurt Quick Bread made with So Delicious Dairy Free Unsweetened Cultured Coconut Milk