Vegetarian – Page 102 – The Celiathlete

June 15, 2012

Beating the unseasonable heat and getting a treat at Adele’s Frozen Custard in Excelsior, Minnesota

Restaurant: Adele’s Frozen Custard, Excelsior, Minnesota

I have a lot of things I love in life…and despite a lactose intolerance…ice cream is one of them. Thankfully, these little Lactase supplements exist which allow me to indulge in my love of all things ice cream…with some restraint.

After filling up on pub grub and taking a stroll around Excelsior, Minnesota…checking out Lake Minnetonka…and letting things settle…Heather said we couldn’t leave without getting some frozen custard from what she hailed to be the best frozen custard place around. Perhaps in the world. I was intrigued. For one thing…I’d never had frozen custard before. I know…shocking. Frozen yogurt…yes. Sorbet…yes. Gelato…yes. Ice cream…always. But frozen custard was new to me.

She took us up the ways to this great little stand called Adele’s Frozen Custard. I was ready to be wowed.

I already liked the look of the place. A small little structure built just off the road. People were sitting outside and enjoying their bowls of delicious frozen goodness as we arrived. They have a limited number of available flavors. On the day we were there, they had the standard chocolate and vanilla…in addition to bubble gum, grasshopper, and chocolate raspberry truffle.

Cathy's order of Grasshopper Frozen Custard from Adele's Frozen Custard — Cathy’s order of Grasshopper Frozen Custard from Adele’s Frozen Custard

Since I also have to concern myself with a gluten allergy and not sure what all went into special flavors, I stuck with the standard vanilla custard with a topping of strawberries. YUMMY! Remember…if it has strawberries…it wins. Heather got the chocolate raspberry truffle custard and Cathy opted for the grasshopper flavor (which I almost got and was glad I didn’t when it was served with crumbled cookie crumbs on top!). We placed our orders, payed and waited on the frozen goodness. Mine was the last to arrive, but in the time we waited, I was busy studying the frozen custard making machine. It was fascinating to see the cascade of frozen custard come pouring out of it in blocks. Mmmm.

When our orders were up, we all headed outside to sit and enjoy our flavor of choice. Heather and Cathy were both very content with their choices. And I was too.

Adele's Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Frozen Custard — Adele’s Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Frozen Custard

So, what’s the difference between ice cream and frozen custard? Well…it’s like this…

Ice cream is composed of a base of cream, milk and sugar. Then air is whipped into it. To make it into frozen custard, egg yolk is added to the ice cream base, and the air is then whipped out of it, making the texture very smooth and velvety rich. Simply put…it’s sophisticated ice cream that creamy good.

If Adele’s is any indication of how fantastic frozen custard is…well, call me a believer. I was blown away by the rich, soft texture of it. My vanilla one wasn’t bland at all. I would have been content to down it without the strawberries on top. It was creamy good and had that full vanilla flavor that I want in a vanilla ice cream (or in this case…custard).

As this is my only consumption of frozen custard to date, I can’t really say how it compares to anything. But I will say this…it is a rich, delicious flavor that melts on your tongue and excites every taste bud it comes in contact with.

Adele’s is also run by a local family and is open seasonally…which means this is not a year-round treat. So get it while the place is open and the getting is good. The parking lot was packed when we arrived and when we left. This is no secret to the locals…and visitors should make their way there and see what all the fuss about Adele’s Frozen Custard is all about. It’s worth the journey.

And me…I’m now a believer if frozen custard.

On a side note…it was ironic to get back into the car to head back to my grandpa’s house and have Adele on the radio at that moment. It made the perfect ending to a perfect day with good friends and amazing food.

Adele's Vanilla Frozen Custard with Strawberries — Adele’s Vanilla Frozen Custard with Strawberries

June 15, 2012

Excelsior, Minneosta getting a dose of Irish hospitality and really good pub grub at Jake O’Connor’s Public House

Restaurant: Jake O’Connor’s Public House, Excelsior, Minnesota

Remember how I said I love Irish pubs? Well…if not…let me remind you…

I LOVE IRISH PUBS!

Take to heart that as a gluten-free vegetarian, this often means no more than a salad and a ‘safe’ side of mashed potatoes (or champ), but I am okay with that…as long as it is good. And I have reviewed so many salads at restaurants that they really need to wow me in order for me to really rave about them anymore. Once you’ve had one salad, you’ve had them all, yes?

WRONG!

And Jake O’Connor’s Public House in Excelsior, Minnesota proved that to me once and for all.

My friend Heather, formerly of Chicago, now back in Minnesota, came out to my half-marathon. Following which we all went out to celebrate my first ever sub-2 hour half with some good food and atmosphere. She had sent me a link for this pub weeks prior and we decided it would be the ideal place to go after my race. After all, they even had items on the menu marked that could be made gluten-free. My heart was so happy that day! So, after a shower and some chat time, we headed out to get some food for our hungry bellies.

First of all, this pub is beautiful. It really is. Stained glass. A wooden bar. Dimly lit. Perfect pub atmosphere. We were seated in a little corner booth and brought our drink orders. For me…water. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! We were given ample time to look over the menu, and after discussing the fact that the fish and chips showed up beneath the sandwich category (leading to confusion of whether it was traditional fish and chips or a fish sandwich), and it was confirmed that both Heather and Cathy (the roomie) would be getting the traditional fish and chips, we were ready to place our order. I went last because I was the confusing one…

My order was simple. I got the Berry and Chicken Salad (without the chicken!!) done up gluten-free ($8.75). With a side of fries ($5.95), made gluten-free. Easy peasy, yes? And we all decided to celebrate with a pint of Magners from the tap ($3.50). It was necessary. The three of us LOVE our Magners.

Orders in, we sat and talked and just had a blast waiting on our food. And when it arrived…let me tell you…portions are HUGE!!

My salad was bigger than my head, I swear. But it was delicious looking. At first I didn’t receive my fries with the order, but they arrived soon after, lacking the malt they are usually cooked in and done in a separate frier. So much love for that.

Jake O'Connor's side of fries done gluten-free — Jake O’Connor’s side of fries done gluten-free

I gave my salad a small dash of the poppyseed vinaigrette and took my first bite. Here is what I loved about this salad and why I would totally order it again. It had a myriad of flavors. Every bite was different. Textures were different. This salad was fully loaded with spinach and romaine as the greens. Then was topped with fresh strawberries and blackberries. It doesn’t stop there. Cubes of soft Cambozola cheese (a combination of a French soft-ripened triple cream cheese and Italian Gorgonzola) were at each “corner” of the salad. Also included were caramelized figs and candied walnuts.

Sounds like an epic salad, yes?

Well…it was. And quite filling. I have actually never been full from eating a salad…but I was this time. In fact, I hardly touched my plate of fries. I was intrigued by the layers in my salad…how the flavors all worked together. How there were sweet parts and salty parts. And how it just worked over the greens. There wasn’t too much of anything. An equal balance was found and that was what made this salad work. Being a vegetarian meant I ordered mine sans-chicken, but I didn’t miss it in the slightest. I was filled with green, fruity goodness.

What fries I did munch on were really well done. They had that crisp outside and were soft inside. Fried to perfection. And, thankfully, not over-seasoned. Nothing kills good fries like too much salt. These hardly tasted of salt. And perhaps the seasoning was left off. I loved it that way and enjoyed what I managed to eat before calling myself at capacity and setting my fork down.

Pub grub can swing either way…good or bad. The same is said for the atmosphere. Jake O’Connor’s got it right. The food is fantastic. The Magners pours were delicious. And the atmosphere was what I expect from a good pub. No touristy Irish music playing here. Just the buzz of happy customers and some regular tunes over the sound system. That, my friends, is how it is done in Ireland. And that is how Jake O’Connor’s Public House does it in Excelsior, Minnesota. A taste of Ireland…right in the heart of Lake Country.

Yeah…I fell in love with the place. Head over heels.

Oh…and my friends really enjoyed their plates of fish and chips. They found the fish cooked to perfection and not overly greasy or overly breaded. And the salt ‘n malt chips were to their liking as well. For those of you who have a thing for fish and chips…well…there you go. Two very happy customers.

But this gluten-free vegetarian is going to be raving about that salad for life. Who would have thought something as basic and simple as that could fill me up after running 13.1 miles…and leave such an impression. Jake O’Connor’s Public House…you are doing Ireland justice. And I salute you for that…and your gluten-free menu options.

As if I needed another reason to go back to Minnesota…

Jake O'Connor's Berry and Chicken Salad (NO CHICKEN!) done gluten-free (and vegetarian) — Jake O’Connor’s Berry and Chicken Salad (NO CHICKEN!) done gluten-free (and vegetarian)

June 13, 2012

Gluten-free cookies that WOW you…especially at the airport

Product: WOW Baking Company Peanut Butter Cookie – $1.50+

It was bound to happen at some time.

I thought I was well prepared for the inevitable, but then…the longer delays began to happen and my gluten-free snacks I packed disappeared sooner than I anticipated.

Airports are difficult enough to navigate when it comes to food choices. Add being a gluten-free vegetarian on top of it and it can be nigh on impossible to find something to eat at times.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case (completely) at Chicago O’Hare. I was stuck there for five hours. Prior to that, I was delayed getting out of Louisville. And as I had intended to eat lunch at O’Hare, the delay meant I was hungry. I had packed a breakfast bar and some raisins in case, and they were consumed along with an expensive fruit cup prior to boarding the delayed flight. Hey…you can’t change the weather.

After delays, a cancelled flight, and then a new flight, five hours later, I knew lunch at O’Hare was now going to become dinner at O’Hare. And so…it had to be. Originally, my roommate and I thought to splurge a little and sit down to eat at either Wolfgang Puck or Macaroni Grill. But upon inquiring about gluten-free vegetarian options and being told I could have a salad (overpriced, of course), we decided instead to just grab something else and sit in the food court to eat. Save some money.

Thankfully, O’Hare has these little shops called CIBO Gourmet Market, which carry foods that are appropriate for vegans, vegetarians, the gluten-free, and meat options as well in the form of deli sandwiches and salads. I stopped in to take a look around and opted to grab one of their Strawberry Fields Salads (a mix of greens, strawberries, walnuts, and feta cheese). My roommate was convinced that wouldn’t be enough to hold me, so I ended up reaching for a WOW Baking Company Peanut Butter Cookie to enjoy post-salad. I admit, I still paid an arm and a leg for my meal, but it wound up being cheaper than the sit-down places in the end.

So…with the salad eaten, my roommate and I split the cookie for dessert. Let me tell you…WOW Baking Company makes one terrific and delicious gluten-free peanut butter cookie. It was like biting into a fresh peanut butter cookie. Honestly. It had that crisp outside for the initial bite, but each chew was soft and delicious.

Even better…the ingredient list had nothing funky or strange listed on it. The WOW Baking Company Web site even indicates that their cookies are made from all natural ingredients without the use of any preservatives. This means you can’t just hang onto the cookies or they will lose their freshness. I bought this at the airport and it was really, really fresh tasting. Their peanut butter cookie is made with natural, crunchy peanut butter, lending it a bit of crunch throughout. Epically delicious. I was WOW-ed. No really. I remember finishing a bite, looking at my roommate and saying, “Damn…these are good.” Peanut butter cookies bring a bit of salty-sweet to the taste buds and mine totally appreciated the taste and texture of these!

These cookies are available in some retail locations including Fresh Market and Whole Foods. You can check their Web site for stores in your area that may carry these delicious cookies. Remember…one cookie is two servings, so eat half and save the rest for later…or share with a friend. It’s tempting not to, but it’s all about portions, friends.

Want a delicious cookie that is free of gluten and wheat? I highly recommend trying the cookie options that WOW Baking Company bakes up. It’s magic in cookie form. And now…I’m hooked.

May 31, 2012

Recipe: Fruit Salad Ice Pops

We’re heading into summer and if this spring is any indication of how warm it’s going to be, frozen treats are going to be the thing this year. And it doesn’t have to be fattening or all about ice cream either.

I actually blame Pinterest for this recipe. That’s how I came across it. The page I linked to on there credits Martha Stewart with the original recipe. so I guess we’ll give credit there.

The fun thing about these popsicles is that you can mix and match juice, fruits, etc. to make it to your taste and what you like. The recipe I am sharing is the combination I used. Feel free to throw in watermelon or mango or papaya or blueberry or raspberry or whatever your fruit-loving heart desires. I also used Trop50 Red Orange Juice as opposed to the original recipe’s white grape juice. The white grape juice makes a very clear mold whereas the Trop50 gave everything a red tint. But it all worked out.

Freeze up some and give these a try!

Recipe: Fruit Salad Ice Pops

Servings: 8
Time: Prep 15 minutes; Freeze 6 hours

Ingredients:

4 ounces strawberries, hulled and halved ( 3/4 cup)
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
1-1/2 to 2 cups Trop50 Red Orange Juice

Directions:

Arrange some of each fruit in eight 3-ounce ice-pop molds, making sure pieces fit very snugly.

Pour enough juice into each mold to just cover fruit.

Insert ice-pop sticks and freeze until solid, 6 hours (or up to 2 weeks).

~*~*~

These tasted like a Fuzzy Navel (minus the alcohol) to be honest. They were really, really good. I want to try them again with some different fruits and see what comes of them. I might even try it with lemonade as the juice for the pop itself. The possibilities are endless. So get creative…get some fruit…and get freezing!

May 31, 2012

Recipe: Sweet Vegan Strawberry Risotto

The motto that I live by is that if it has strawberries…it wins. I mean, strawberries are the perfect fruit and they aren’t in season too long. So, while they are in season…it’s best to utilize them as best you can. Always remember, though, strawberries are one of the dirty dozen and should always be bought organic.

I ran across this recipe for strawberry risotto (yes…you read that right…strawberry risotto) at Whole Foods. I knew immediately that I needed to make it. But first…strawberries had to come in season. They finally are and I am so glad I tested this recipe out. It’s sweet, berry and citrus goodness. And the way I make it (yes…I altered the recipe)…low calorie too!

With that in mind, give this sweet risotto a try. I loved it.

Recipe: Sweet Vegan Strawberry Risotto

Servings: 8
Time: Prep 10 minutes; Cook 40 minutes

Ingredients:

4-1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup zero calorie baking sweetener (I used Truvia)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter (I used Earth Balance)
1 cup Arborio Rice
Zest and juice of 1 orange
1 cup canned light coconut milk (I used Native Forest Organic Light Coconut Milk)
1 quart strawberries (3 sliced, remaining chopped)

Directions:

Heat milk, sugar and vanilla until just simmering in a medium pot over medium heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and keep hot.

Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat.

Add rice and cook, stirring often, until fragrant and toasted, about 2 minutes.

Add orange zest and juice and cook, stirring constantly, until absorbed, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add about 1 cup of the milk mixture and continue to simmer, vigorously stirring often, until almost absorbed, about 3 to 5 minutes more.

Repeat process until all of the milk mixture has been incorporated and rice is thick and creamy, about 30 minutes.

Remove pot from the heat and stir in coconut milk; set aside for 5 minutes.

Spoon chopped strawberries into the bottom of small bowls, top with risotto, garnish with sliced strawberries and serve.

~*~*~

I wasn’t sure what I was going to think of this recipe, but it should have been no surprise that I loved it. One sweet bite after the next. The original recipe calls for 2% milk and regular coconut milk, plus regular sugar and butter. But I wanted to keep it dairy-free so I made my own substitutions. This also cut the calorie count down by half without compromising the flavor. Go ahead…you know you want to give this a shot. It’s fantastic hot, but it can be served cold too.

May 30, 2012

A little sample of Katz Gluten-Free goodies: Marble Cake

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

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

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

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

Well…it was…okay.

Yes…just okay.

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

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

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

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

On to the next…

May 30, 2012

A little sample of Katz Gluten-Free goodies: bombarded by a mixed bag of gluten-free breads

Product: Katz Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bread – $6.19; Katz Gluten-Free Wholesome Bread – $7.99; Katz Gluten-Free Sliced Challah Bread – $5.79; Katz Gluten-Free White Bread – $6.19; Sample Pack – cost of shipping (varies per state)

So, it finally happened today. I got tired of fumbling around in the freezer and working around the sample pack of gluten-free goodness that I got from Katz Gluten-Free awhile back…so I decided my roommate and I would feast on the five remaining items for breakfast today.

What remained was a slice of the Gluten-Free Marble Cake (I’ll get to that next blog…) and a variety of breads, all thinly sliced and ready for sampling. So, before heading out for my long run this morning, I placed them all on the counter to thaw. When I returned home, they were perfection.

Once my roommate dragged herself out of bed, I switched on the oven and began to unwrap the four varieties of bread to lightly toast and see what we thought of them. In the Katz Gluten-Free Sampler Pack, the four varieties of bread included were: Whole Grain Bread, Wholesome Bread, Sliced Challah Bread, and White Bread. I placed all of them on a cookie sheet and lightly toasted them in the oven before dressing them up with either strawberry cream cheese (à la Laughing Cow) or a little vegan buttery spread and some cinnamon and sugar.

So…let’s start at the top:

Katz Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bread, Wholesome Bread, Sliced Challah Bread, and White Bread

Whole Grain Bread: Katz bills their Gluten-Free Whole Grain Bread as a great source of protein that is not only wholesome, but delicious. They do recommend toasting the bread to bring out the maximum level of taste and crispiness. I can understand that. This slice of bread is made up of fiber, sorghum flour, whole grains and brown rice. I think this variety would have been less impressive if it weren’t toasted. However, when I did toast it up, it lightly crisped, enough to become sturdy enough to support a schmear of strawberry cream cheese (and a couple strawberries). I think, had I not toasted (though the little plastic wrap it was in instructed me to) the texture would have been off completely. So, if you like to toast your bread up before making a sandwich, this one might be for you. Truthfully, it was one of the ones I wasn’t as impressed with.

Wholesome Bread: What exactly is in Katz Gluten-Free Wholesome Bread? According to the ingredients – fava bean, garbanzo bean, teff, chia seed, flax seed, and honey. Again, this one came with instructions to lightly toast it to bring out the best flavor possible. I think toasting it also lightened this up. This was the heavier of the four slices of bread and the one I was least impressed with. Maybe I just don’t think beans belong as a bread ingredient. Call me crazy. Even the strawberry cream cheese and berries on top failed to impress me. It wasn’t bad…it just wasn’t as good as the others. I couldn’t imagine eating this one untoasted. Way too heavy and dense.

Sliced Challah Bread: Katz Gluten-Free Sliced Challah Bread was one of my favorite in the sampler. It is soft and fluffy right out of the freezer. No need to toast it (although I did for cinnamon-sugar dusting purposes). Very light. Not dense. And even better…fantastically delicious. This bread is made up of a gluten-free flour mix, water, eggs, palm oil, brown sugar, honey, xanthan gum, dry yeast, salt, flax seed, and apple cider vinegar. What emerges is one of the most amazing slices of gluten-free bread in the world. Honestly. I brushed this one with some vegan margarine and a dash of cinnamon-sugar and it was perfection. It was slightly sweet, which worked well with the cinnamon-sugar topping. While mine was toasted, this would have been just as amazing without it. Two gluten-free thumbs way up.

White Bread: Believe it or not, I, someone who prefers any other gluten-free bread to a gluten-free white bread, loved the slice of Katz Gluten-Free White Bread that I got in the sampler. It had a slightly sweeter taste than the Sliced Challah Bread. Again, this one didn’t need to be toasted up to correct any strangeness with the texture or feel of it. I lightly toasted it however, because I was making cinnamon toast with it. And it was freakin’ fantastic. Very soft and light, delicious. This variety of bread is made with a gluten-free flour mix, water, canola oil, eggs, honey, salt, xanthan gum, and dry yeast. The result is a sweet, light, delicious bread that would be perfect for sandwiches, French toast, or whatever your gluten-free bread-loving heart desires. This was so yummy, especially with the light toasting with a vegan margarine and a sprinkle of cinnamon-sugar. Yum yum!

So, it really was a mixed bag when it came to the bread samples that I was sent. I know one of the biggest things people will notice is how small the bread slices are. I find this to be a common thing with gluten-free breads, so it rarely makes me bat an eyelash these days. But, it is sad to put it up against a regular sandwich and you feel like you are only getting half.

But…the long and the short of it is…I liked two of the four breads I was sent. None of them were horrible, but two were just off on texture, taste, and density for me. I just didn’t fall in love with the Whole Grain Bread and the Wholesome Bread. However, the Sliced Challah Bread and the White Bread won me over hands down. These were both soft and light, and didn’t need to be toasted to enhance their flavor or texture. I like that. When you can simply pull something out of the freezer and take it for what it is…that means the product is perfect. And those two breads were perfect.

I am quite fond of other breads, so ordering these from Katz is probably not in the cards, but the samples were awesome to have to see what other options were out there. Then again…that Sliced Challah Bread might have to come my way sometime soon.

Some good…some not so good…but nothing bad. Katz Gluten-Free still has it.

May 30, 2012May 30, 2012

Breakfast can be “berry” delicious thanks to Erewhon’s Organic Crispy Brown Rice Cereal with Mixed Berries

Erewhon Organic Crispy Brown Rice Cereal with Mixed Berries — Erewhon Gluten-Free Organic Crispy Brown Rice Cereal with Mixed Berries

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

Fruit makes me happy. So…so happy!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May 30, 2012

Cheese crackers back in my gluten-free life thanks to Cheese Smarts Parmesan Crackers

Product: Cheese Smarts Gluten-Free Parmesan Crackers – $2.30+

Remember Cheez-It’s and Cheese Nips?

Cheese crackers used to be the go-to snack for every cheese lover. I mean, who hasn’t opened up a box of Cheez-It’s and just grabbed a handful to snack on? Everyone has done it.

Unfortunately, for the gluten-free…the cheese cracker craving isn’t so easily quelled. Granted, the market out there is littered with a variety of gluten-free crackers to try. I just haven’t had any that have come close to reminding me of the glory days of those ‘I don’t know why they are this shade of orange or why I’m addicted to them but I can’t stop eating them” cheese cracker by the handful snacking kind of days.

Then…I hit up Big Lots one day during one of their 20% off everything sales. And on a shelf with a lot of snacks and food items that are from Europe, my roommate spotted a box labeled Cheese Smarts. Right there on the front it clearly stated GLUTEN FREE. Could it really be?

Oh…it was true…so a couple of flavors made their way into my shopping basket.

The first one up was the Cheese Smarts Parmesan Cracker. These little baked snack crackers hail from Greece. A serving is 12 crackers, which will only set you back 90 calories for the day. Compared to Cheez-It’s (150 calories) and Cheese Nips (150 calories), that’s not such a bad deal at all. So, for a snack cracker, nutritionally standing, not too bad. But…how do they taste?

Well, they are quite crunchy…but I think much of that has to do with the fact that they are baked. I’ll take that over the alternative any day. As for the actual flavor of them…well…if you ever have had Cheez-It’s or Cheese Nips…that is exactly what they taste like. No joke. They have that cheesy flavor that is just sort of…mysteriously there. Cheese Smarts, however, bake real cheese into the cracker. So, while they look like the poor man’s Cheez-It…they are actually nutritionally superior…and probably manufactured better overall. Rules in Europe regarding food are far stricter, sadly, than here in the United States.

Are they blow-me-over delicious? Nope. Are they a suitable snack for the afternoon munchies? Of course. They satisfy the need for that salty, crunchy snack without setting you back too much in the nutrition factor. And…with them tasting so much like the brands I grew up with but can no longer eat due to food intolerance, well, a handful of these will certainly do in a pinch.

Are they the best gluten-free cracker out there? No. Hardly. Far from it. But they are surprisingly good. Would I buy them again? Eh…maybe. But I have certainly tasted better gluten-free cheese crackers. But these definitely fit a bit better into the budget.

All-in-all…enjoyable, smart, cheese snacking…for a budget. If you’re looking for snack greatness…these crackers aren’t for you.

May 30, 2012

Daiya Foods takes vegan “cheese” to a new level with Jack Style Wedge

Product: Daiya Foods Jack Style Wedge – $5.99+

In the area I live, normally new products on the market take at least 6 months, if not a year, to hit the shelves at the local grocery stores. Even the specialty food stores take awhile to get products in.

When I heard that Daiya Foods was coming out with vegan cheese wedges, I was ecstatic. They were producing three different flavor varieties – Cheddar, Jack, and Jalapeño Garlic Havarti. I figured it would be awhile before I ever saw them, however, so I just sort of put it in the corner of my mind.

And then, I was walking through Whole Foods the other day and there it was. A package of the Jack Style Wedge from Daiya by the other vegan cheese options. I’ve had a lot of luck with Daiya’s vegan cheese options. It really is top of the line. So, without any hesitation, despite not really needing it, this was added to my shopping basket.

The other morning, after baking up a loaf of gluten-free bread in my bread maker, I was creating a breakfast entree with a toasted slice of bread, a schmear of cream cheese, spinach and a poached egg. Well, that’s what my roommate got. However, I got out the Daiya Jack Style Wedge for mine and pulled back the wrapping. Beneath it was a lump of cheese. Seriously. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting…but I kept an opening mind. I guess when I saw the term “wedge” used, I figured it would resemble those little triangles like Laughing Cow offers. Not one large lump.

But, I was not deterred. I pulled out a knife and sliced off a bit of the wedge to spread across my bread. It spread beautifully. Honestly. It didn’t even need to be warmed or melted. It just spread so easily across the toasted bread. I topped it off with the spinach, the poached egg, and some hot sauce and went to settle in for my breakfast.

One bite and I was in vegan cheese heaven. I loved the flavor and texture of the cheese in the wedge even more than the shreds. Honestly. There was a nice hint of spice from the Jack flavor wedge. It was a nice texture and great flavor. It was the perfect compliment to the bread, the vegetables and…even the egg. The Jack Style Wedge had just enough kick as to not overpower the dish but give each bite a nice hint of heat. I absolute loved it, bite-for-bite.

Believe me when I say that a lot of vegan cheeses tend to fall flat, but not Daiya. They are the top-of-the-line. And the Jack Style Wedge is just more proof of their superior grasp on the vegan cheese market. I’m hooked. And now I want to get the other varieties and find new ways to serve them up.

Daiya Foods Jack Style Wedge spread across some homemade gluten-free bread