Vegetarian – Page 105 – The Celiathlete

May 22, 2012

La Vita Strawberry Crunchy Cookies big on flavor but lacking wow factor

Product: La Vita Health Foods, LTD Strawberry All Natural Crunchy Cookies – $5.00+

I have been delighted to work my way through an array of gluten-free cookies out on the market over the past year since having to go gluten-free. Because, being gluten-free shouldn’t mean no cookies…ever. And as we know…when the cookie monster in me strikes, well, there best be a delicious cookie on the receiving end.

I was out with my roommate one day at a HomeGoods store, shopping for some throw pillows for our new couch. As we meandered through the aisles, however, we spotted some of their food items. Let me tell you, there was no hesitation when we grabbed a basket and started loading up some products into it. It varied from gluten-free sauces to gluten-free snacks to gluten-free mixes…and yes…gluten-free cookies.

The La Vita Health Foods, LTD brand of Strawberry Crunchy Cookies caught our attention immediately. Why? Because it’s strawberry and when strawberry is involved and I am around…it wins. So, into the basket and over to the checkout, spending way more than we intended and never getting throw pillows either. Such is my gluten-free life. Food takes precedence over decorating apparently.

Well, these have just sort of been sitting in the pantry waiting on me to bust them open. But I had made my own gluten-free shortbread cookies which needed to be eaten first, and then some gluten-free ice cream sandwiches beckoned to me. But last night, for dessert, I opened up the box and decided to make it a strawberry cookie night.

First things first…these smell awesome! It reminds me of when I was growing up and I would go to our little town garden market and go pick fresh strawberries. Yeah. They smell amazing. So, I was already feeling confident about my purchase. I handed one to my roommate, then settled in for my first taste.

While these are crunchy cookies, they also have a soft, chewy texture to them. While I much prefer soft cookies to crunchy, if it’s billed as crunchy, I want it to be crunchy. I don’t just want an initial crunch with the first bite and then have it sort of disintegrate the more I chew it. And that’s about what happened with these. But, as I prefer a softer cookie, I was okay with that. These also weren’t overly sweet…which is awesome. In fact, these cookies are sugar free. Yes! Sugar free! In addition, these cookies also gluten-free, lactose free, and dairy free. Woohoo!

And while that strawberry flavor is there, these cookies just didn’t stand up and wow me. I wasn’t smacked with the flavor or just dying to jump up and raid the pantry for another one (serving size is ONE cookie at 90 calories). They were…just okay. Strawberry flavor was bursting from them, but I didn’t like how the cookie would end up sticking to my teeth as I chewed it. Let’s face it…I’m a gluten-free cookie connoisseur. You have to really wow me to impress me with a gluten-free cookie. And this, while I’m more than happy to polish off the expensive box of 10 cookies…I probably won’t get again. I’d be willing to give other flavors a go, but right now, I’ll stick with the delicious gluten-free cookies I know are out there and constantly scarf down.

So…not bad. Just not cookie monster scarfalicious.

May 22, 2012

Bakery on Main warms up a taste of apple pie with gluten-free oatmeal

Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Apple Pie Flavor Instant Oatmeal

Product: Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Apple Pie Flavor Oatmeal – $5.99+

I know.

I was a little harsh in my review of Bakery on Main’s Maple Multigrain Muffin Flavor Oatmeal. But I have to be honest. It just didn’t win me over like their Strawberry Shortcake Flavor Oatmeal did previously.

But…they definitely did improve (yet still haven’t bested the strawberry) with the Apple Pie Flavor Oatmeal. Honestly.

This oatmeal, while still not the most appealing looking, the flavor actually is reminiscent of apple pie (or what I can remember of apple pie because, since going gluten-free, I haven’t had even a bite).

The actual oatmeal itself consists of a variety of ingredients, of which the most important is certified gluten-free oats. In addition to that, and probably adding to the weird consistency of the oatmeal is chia seeds. And then other things get added to boost some nutritional value, like flax meal and quinoa. So, yes…you are getting a rather protein-rich oatmeal here. And for someone like me…that is a plus. Flavoring it, and giving it that apple pie feel is dried apples and cinnamon.

A packet of Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Apple Pie Flavor Instant Oatmeal

I’ll admit…the first bite was just okay. But the more I ate of it, the more of the flavor I got. It was like a building block for lunch that day. One spoonful wasn’t enough…so I had to continue to take them and that’s when the flavor hit. Is it really like having pie for breakfast? Nope. But, it does have a lot of flavor in each protein-rich bite.

And after being let down by the Maple Multigrain Muffin flavor, I really needed this one to win me over. It did…sort of. It didn’t hit it out of the ballpark for me, but it was good enough that I don’t mind packing up this little baggie for my lunch at the office and scurrying to the kitchen on break to warm it up with some water for 90 seconds.

I’d love to see other flavors come out of Bakery on Main for their gluten-free oatmeal. I do respect a company that listened to its Celiac customers, who developed gluten-free items because of that, and then took them to the mainstream so that everyone could enjoy. That’s Bakery on Main’s story. And they continue to put out gluten-free products that are not only nutritious, but simple…and simply good.

If you are an oatmeal lover, like I am, then find Bakery on Main at your grocery store or natural food store and warm up a bowl for yourself. It’s not exactly pie for breakfast (or lunch), but it’s close. It’s oh…so close.

A bowl of Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Apple Pie Flavor Instant Oatmeal

May 22, 2012

Jovial twists up gluten-free brown rice pasta with satisfying, sturdy, Fusilli

Jovial Gluten-Free Brown Rice Fusilli – $4.99+

I have to hand it to Jovial. They create something amazingly simple, yet so delicious with their brown rice pastas. I have always been a Tinkyáda pasta girl, but I find at times the rice pasta, when refrigerated for leftovers, will absorb water and become very, very mushy.

Well, once again I didn’t make something that made leftovers when I made dinner up the other night, but I did crack open another amazing brown rice pasta from Jovial.

The first thing I want to point out, because I can, is that Jovial’s brown rice pastas contain two ingredients. Yes. Two.

Organic Brown Rice Flour. Water.

No chemicals, no unnecessary additions. Just gluten-free (and organic) flour and water. Nothing complicated. Nothing that could potentially harm you years down the road. Nothing unrecognizable or unpronounceable. Just organic, gluten-free, simplicity in a package.

For the organic, natural foodie that I am…this makes me beyond happy.

For the foodie in me…the fact that this pasta cooked up al dente within nine minutes, didn’t require a cold water rinse upon draining, and stood up to the addition of steamed asparagus and a red heirloom tomato sauce, a toss, and a sprinkling of freshly shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano, speaks volumes of the quality.

Nine minutes is all it took to cook in a bath of boiling water. Just like every other pasta out there. I stirred it a couple of times to keep it from sticking together or to the bottom of the pan. But it didn’t need to be fussed with that much. Which was good because I had asparagus to steam, sauce to warm, cheese to shred, and a gluten-free biscuit to reheat. Whew.

Even without having to babysit the pasta, when I drained it, nothing flaked or fell apart. It was at that perfect al dente you need to have pasta at. Still firm, but not hard…and definitely not turning into mush. I tossed the drained, steaming hot pasta into a large bowl, added the asparagus, poured over the sauce and gave it a good toss to incorporate it all together. Then…I served it up in bowls to my roommate and myself with one gluten-free (and homemade) biscuit on the side.

One bite and I could see why Jovial was besting the gluten-free pasta category time after time in gluten-free food awards. (Yes…I do pay attention to those because I am a gluten-free foodie and I like to know what is tops!). The pasta cooked perfectly. It held up to all additions. And it has that perfect pasta texture and taste. No joke. If you just served this to someone who didn’t have to eat gluten-free…they wouldn’t even know the difference. This was something my roommate’s aunt pointed out when I cooked up a pasta dinner for the three of us. She’s absolutely correct.

I recommend Jovial even if you don’t have to eat gluten-free. Cutting out chemicals and preservatives didn’t do any sort of damage to the texture and flavor of this brown rice pasta. It’s delicious organic pasta that has now made my ‘must buy’ list. You could just take my word for it…or you could rush out to your grocery store and try it yourself.

Come on. Make tonight a gluten-free pasta night. You deserve it.

Jovial Gluten-Free Brown Rice Fusilli with an organic red heirloom tomato sauce and steamed asparagus

May 22, 2012

Bakery on Main strikes balance of sweet and crunchy with Rainforest Granola

Product: Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Rainforest Granola – $6.49+

Granola is an amazing thing. It’s filling. It’s portable. And it can be delicious if it is made right. I’ve had my share of delicious granola and I’ve had my fair share of disgusting mixes of granola.

It got to the point where I was just writing it off my go-to snack list. I was tired of just getting stuff laden with sugar and fat…capped off with the fact that it just didn’t taste good. I was tired of wasting my money.

And then…Bakery on Main entered into my life.

It all happened at the big Gluten-Free Expo that went on in Birmingham, Alabama. There was a Bakery on Main table represented there and what did they have? Sample packs of their granola varieties. I snapped up one of each, because this was definitely the way to try them instead of shelling out the cash and then not liking it in the end.

Well, with my non-gym days needing some some granola goodness in it…I reached into my cupboard and retrieved the Rainforest Granola.

What is Rainforest Granola? Well, it’s a delightful blend of dried bananas, roasted Brazil nuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and sesame seeds. It’s like a little taste of the tropics with each little bit you pop in your mouth.

The package that I had contained 220 calories for the serving. And while this was still a bit higher on the sugar than I would have liked, the sodium was really low and it did have 4 grams of protein in it. Can’t complain over that. I found myself saving the delicious Brazil nuts for last and seeking out the bits of banana for that sweet and salty combination. It was a fantastic flavor play.

I have to hand it to Bakery on Main. This gluten-free granola was inspired. And I found it rather delightful to much on at my desk at the office. Where your oatmeal has been hit or miss, you certainly hit this granola blend out of the ballpark. Nicely done.

Gluten-free granola that is delicious. Yeah…this one is a keeper.

May 21, 2012

Not much hazelnut flavor in Blue Diamond’s Hazelnut Nut Thins

Product: Blue Diamond’s Hazelnut Nut Thins – $3.49+

With Blue Diamond’s Nut Thins…it’s hit or miss. Some are so amazing and full of flavor. Some…all you taste is the rice cracker. I’ve been wowed and I’ve been let down by different variations of this cracker.

Well, after some searching, I finally ran across the Hazelnut variety that had eluded me for so long. It was actually at Big Lots that I stumbled across them for far less money than I could find them anywhere else. So, yes…I snatched up a box and excitedly took them home to try.

I had heard good things about this variety. Some called it their favorite. And what’s not to love? Hazelnut is one of my favorite flavors and nuts out there. Honestly. And the hazelnuts used in these rice flour crackers are brought in from Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

The good news is that these crackers only contain 130 calories. They have 2g of protein, no saturated fat, and are completely gluten-free. You gotta love that. They make for a nice, light snack in the afternoon that’s easy to grab and fun to bite into. Yes…these definitely have crunch power.

The bad news is, at least the box that I have, taste very bland. You can taste the rice cracker, but if there is supposed to be a hazelnut flavor…it is completely lost to me. Which is too bad because these just screamed awesome from their purple box on the shelf in the store. For real.

I can see how these could be a great cracker to use for dips or spreads, but on their own they are very weak in the flavor department. When I bite into a cracker, I want it to be full of flavor. I want to remember it. These…I’ll forget about once the box is gone.

Maybe I just got a bad batch…because I have heard such amazing things about this flavor of Nut Thins. But…I was a bit let down in the flavor department.

Too bad…because they could have beenso good.

May 20, 2012

Crown Candy Kitchen brings homemade, delectable ice cream to St. Louis

Restaurant: Crown Candy Kitchen, St. Louis, Missouri

We are all entitled to our little indulgences in life. No one wants to go through life denying themselves all of life’s little goodies because of the chance they might *gasp* gain a pound. That’s why God invented exercise. If you deny yourself the little sweet things in life…then you might miss one gem of a treat. Thankfully, I never turn down a good treat. And despite being lactose intolerant, I usually treat myself to ice cream. Go figure. As long as it is gluten-free…then we are in business.

Well, it was a little while ago that I was watching Man v. Food (I know…that’s some nutritious dining going on there!) on The Travel Channel. One of the restaurants featured in the St. Louis area was Crown Candy Kitchen, which offers up the Crown Candy Challenge…in 30 minutes, polish off five 24 ounce malts. Even this challenge couldn’t be won by Adam Richman, who managed to down four of the malts.

That being said, this place is located in the older part of the city. And they are known for their homemade ice cream, candy selection, but mostly their malts/milkshakes. I, however, was not there for a milkshake or malt or even candy.

Nope. I was getting ready to head into a concert that night. I was after their Banana Split ($6.00)…to split with my roommate of course. So, after waiting for about 10 minutes (you know a place rocks when 30 minutes before closing time there is a line out the door!), my roommate and I snagged a little booth and waited to place our order. We came prepared, so we were ready when our waitress arrived. Now, with the Banana Split, we got to choose our ice cream flavors. We decided on chocolate and strawberry, with the strawberry and pineapple over it, whipped cream, crushed toasted cashews, and of course…a cherry.

It didn’t take too long for the enormous sundae to be placed between us with two spoons attached. And we dug right in. I started with the strawberry ice cream, and Cathy dug into the chocolate side. Then we switched. Let me tell you…that chocolate ice cream had something amazing in it. It just tasted like no other chocolate ice cream I had before. As for the strawberry…that was my favorite part. Forget the whipped cream (I’ve never been a big fan of that stuff anyway) and the toppings. I’d gladly lap up an entire bowl of that strawberry ice cream. And yes…chunks of strawberry resided in the pink scoop that dominated a split open banana on a dish.

We hoovered that sundae, I think. It was just so good. And our flavors paired brilliantly with the banana. We left there quite full, but quite happy. And now we had our sugar rush for the upcoming show. What more could we want in life?

If you love visiting historical sights around town that also offer up amazing foods and goodies, if you happen to be in St. Louis, take the trip over to Crown Candy Kitchen. Forget whatever diet you’re on for a couple hours and just savor each bite of one of their signature sundaes. You’ll be hooked.

It’s a good thing I don’t live in town or I might be over there more than I’d care to admit.

Crown Candy Kitchen's Banana Split — Crown Candy Kitchen’s Banana Split

May 18, 2012

St. Louis pub The Dubliner orders up decent pub food but takes great care with food allergies

Restaurant: The Dubliner, St. Louis, Missouri

Few things in this world make me as happy as settling into a booth or table at a pub and just letting my cares and worries go. Of course, this is sometimes easier said than done when plagued with food allergies, especially to gluten. And one of the least likely places to find a menu that is easy to navigate when you are gluten-free (and also a vegetarian, in my case) is a pub.

But, thanks to knowledgeable staff, despite no gluten-free men, special care was certainly taken with me. And for that, this pub won over my heart.

This pub, by the way, is The Dubliner, located in St. Louis, Missouri.

When my roommate and I were seated with menus, our waiter went ahead and took our drink order. But, before he hurried off, we threw a few questions at him. Do the fries share a frier with anything blended. He said that they had only one frier. Fries were now out. I asked what the soup of the day was. He said potato. I asked if it was gluten-free and he vowed to go and check. When he returned, he said it wasn’t safe for me to eat either. So…I was back to a salad. That’s fine…but wow me with a salad!! There is the challenge.

When we were talking to our server while trying to figure out something I could eat, he said he understood how difficult it must be for me to eat out. One of his friends has Celiac disease and she hardly can eat out. Her condition is so bad that if she has anything with even a spec of gluten in it…things get really bad.

So, with an understanding as to my condition and what I needed done with my food…we placed our orders.

Naturally, my roommate went for the fish and chips ($12.00). As for me…I went right to the salads, figuring they would be the safest and only vegetarian option on the menu at this point. My decision was to get the Chopped Salad ($10.00), which consists of lettuce, tomato, red onion, celery, scallions, red peppers, carrots, shredded Kasseri (that’s a cheese, btw!), and kidney beans. Of course I asked that mine not come with the croutons that are listed on the menu. And I ordered that the balsamic vinaigrette.

Food actually came out quite fast, but we weren’t exactly there at a busy time. It was around 2 p.m. So, the lunch crowd had already pushed through on that Sunday morning and we were just simply following it up. My roommate dug into her fish and chips, and absolutely raved about the fries and the taste of the fish.

Now, I was ready to dig into my salad. This was just a normal salad you would probably throw together at home. Nothing too special about it. Basic vegetable ingredients and a light dressing to coat it. But it was very heavy on the celery and definitely not as heavy on the kidney beans as I would have liked. When you order a salad, you want it to be big enough and full of something with some protein that will fill you up. While this salad was initially quite filling, after awhile, my body burned through it and I was ready to eat again. This is usually the story of my life when it comes to eating out at pubs with no gluten-free/vegetarian options.

But, I will hand it to this pub…when the server brought out our meals, he even held his arms apart, not wanting any food to come in contact with anything because of my sensitivity to gluten. I liked that. It really made me feel more secure about our choice to eat there. Considering this wasn’t our first choice of a pub that day (our originally one actually has a gluten-free menu, but it was only serving brunch and I wasn’t feeling another egg that day and my roommate really wanted her fish and chips!), it really made me feel good that, despite not having a dedicated gluten-free menu, they took enough care with my food to keep it uncontaminated. I’ll take that any day.

So, while the salad was nothing to really rave about, the care and consideration I got from the kitchen and staff was leaps and bounds above what I ever expected.

Gluten-free or not, I think should you find yourself in St. Louis, you should venture out to The Dubliner and enjoy some delicious pub fare at a place that really does care.

The Dubliner's Chopped Salad (no croutons) — The Dubliner’s Chopped Salad (no croutons)

May 16, 2012September 9, 2012

Northwest Coffee Roasting Company brews up one strong espresso in St. Louis

Restaurant: Northwest Coffee Roasting Company, St. Louis, Missouri

Late to bed. Early to rise.

That’s my usual mojo, right?

Kind of. The late to bed thing doesn’t really work well for me anymore. In fact, if I go to bed late, I still end up waking up early. So, now my sleep pattern is off and I’m probably a little more cranky than usual.

Know what makes that better?

Caffeine. Usually in latte form.

This was what was needed when my roommate and I set out to St. Louis on Sunday morning after having breakfast with her aunt. Along the way, I noted that coffee might not be a bad idea, so I whipped out my iPhone and punched in where I might find some delicious coffee that Sunday morning.

I was directed to Northwest Coffee Roasting Company. We stopped at one in Clatyon, MO on our way to a few destination stops in St. Louis before hitting up a pub for lunch. We found it…a nice, quint little shop. We parked on the street and dashed inside. I knew my roommate was going for her usual…white chocolate mocha (or here, a Mocha Bianca) ($2.80). I was a little bit more difficult when it came on settling on a drink.

No almond milk here (bummer), which is too bad. I wish more cafes would offer almond milk because soy milk sometimes doesn’t agree with me. But…with the whole lactose intolerance thing, I went with soy as opposed to cow’s milk in the end. What I ended up ordering was an Almond Caffe Latte with soy milk ($3.40).

With our drink order in, we awaited the completion of the drinks. And soon…our order was up. Then we had to wait around a moment to pay. Our barista took our order, but didn’t ring us up. We probably could have walked out of there without paying, but we are honest people and got someone to ring up our order.

After having that amazing latte in Denver, Colorado, and having my delicious latte drinks at my go-to place in the area, I found my first sip to be really, really strong. I mean…bowl-you-over strong on the espresso. My roommate said her drink was much the same way. In fact, she couldn’t even taste the white chocolate. Which…is a cardinal sin for her as she hates the flavor of esspresso/coffee on its own. However, we both discovered that the more we drank, the more flavor we found. To me, that means the barista might have not mixed the flavor shots together as well as it should have been.

I did enjoy my strong latte, though. The almond flavor was one I hadn’t tried yet, and I found it to be a nice mix with the espresso. My drink was steamed to perfection, reaching the perfect drinking temperature. My roommate says hers was too hot to drink right away, but while she won’t drink iced coffee, I think she lets her coffee cool to room temperature before she finds it just right. I can’t base anything off of her coffee temperature gauge.

I found the people at Northwest Coffee Roasting Company to be very friendly. And our drinks were done as we ordered them, with any additions and substitutions per our usual mojo. I just wasn’t blown away by the drink itself. But, it did it’s job…woke me up…and got me ready to take on St. Louis.

So…win on atmosphere…and a so-so on the drink.

I love my caffeinated beverages as much as the next one, but I want a perfect pour. And this…just didn’t cut it for me.

Northwest Coffee Roasting Company's Almond Caffe Latte with soy milk — Northwest Coffee Roasting Company’s Almond Caffe Latte with soy milk

May 16, 2012

Arrowhead Mills just misses the target with gluten-free Pancake & Baking Mix

Product: Arrowhead Mills Gluten-Free Pancake and Baking Mix – $4.99+

Nothing screams delicious, carb-a-licious breakfast like pancakes and waffles, right?

Right.

And they are two of my favorite breakfast foods to this very day. Seriously. There is just something so comforting about tucking into a small stack of pancakes or a fluffy, toasty waffle. Especially when you can make them yourself instead of buying them frozen and simply reheating.

This past weekend and then yesterday morning, I got to try out another gluten-free pancake and baking mix, which I had tucked away in my pantry. As I had just used up the last of my previous one, it looked like Arrowhead Mills was next up in the queue. I packed this up to travel to St. Louis with my roommate and I. I was going to do up a batch of Nutella Waffles on Sunday morning for the two of us and her aunt. Because in the morning…I naturally make waffles.

Then, yesterday, I had just enough left in the bag to put together a blueberry pancake breakfast for my roommate and I.

So, how did Arrowhead Mills stack up to the competition?

Well, it was…okay.

Just okay. I found that both the waffles and the pancakes had a bit of a grainy texture to them when all was said and done. And, trust me, I mixed the hell out of both of them. The waffles did cook up crispy in the waffle maker, so that was good. But they just seemed really grainy as compared to times I have made them in the past with either a gluten-free all-purpose flour or another baking and pancake mix. But, I figured it might have just been something wrong in my pre-measured additions (salt, sugar, baking powder), which I packed together and pre-measured for simplicity in travel.

So, yesterday I got out my skillet and decided that, as we had poached eggs with dinner the night previous, I would bypass the eggs that morning and run with some pancakes. I even had some frozen blueberries in my fridge so I decided to dress them up with some fruity goodness as well. I measured out exactly one cup of Arrowhead Mills Gluten-Free Pancake and Baking Mix and then added, according to the package, honey, oil, an egg, and then a very scant amount of unsweetened almond milk. It was really, really doughy when I got that all mixed together, so I added some more almond milk until I got it to a good consistency. In went the blueberries and then…onto the griddle.

One thing I will say about this mix is that it browned up beautifully on the skillet. Sometimes the pancakes just don’t brown up uniformly or cook way too fast. But not these. Not yesterday. That’s a good thing. I did find that these did make very fluffy, bulky pancakes by comparison. So, that was interesting to note. I gave them a flip, let them cook on the other side, plated them, drizzled with some warm, gluten-free maple syrup and…breakfast was served.

Again, I found that these pancakes, as compared to the other times I have made gluten-free pancakes (with various mixes and flours again) had a grainy consistency. In fact, my pancakes sort of crumbled as I cut into them. The flavor was good, but the texture just was off for me. I don’t know if I should have added more almond milk (even though I had already added more than the package said) or what.

While I do appreciate the fact that Arrowhead Mills makes their gluten-free baking and pancake mix with organic ingredients, for me, in the end, it just didn’t come together, leaving both of my favorite breakfast products tasting as though they had grainy bits of sugar lurking in them.

I might give this brand another try…maybe do up muffins and see how that works. But as of the moment…it just hasn’t won me over. And that’s too bad, because I had gone into baking with this brand with such high hopes.

Gluten-Free Blueberry Pancakes made with Arrowhead Mills Gluten-Free Pancake and Baking Mix

May 15, 2012

Lucini Italia packages perfect portions in amazing Rustic Tomato Basil Sauce

Product: Lucini Italia Rustic Tomato Basil Sauce – $4.50+

This was a new one for me.

Sauce…in a pouch. Yes…a pouch.

Lucini Italia Rustic Tomato Basil Sauce…packaged for three servings…in a microwavable pouch.

I’ve warmed up pouches of Indian food in the microwave, but never a pasta sauce. But, it had worked well for previous products, who was I to judge. Besides, this little pouch of gluten-free, vegan pasta sauce came as a part of a “Don’t Be A Gluten” gift basket that was full of gluten-free products for me to try. My roommate gifted it to me awhile back and I was working my way through other sauces at the time.

Then, the perfect opportunity to try this one out arose when I had to travel to St. Louis, Missouri, for a concert. I was going to be cooking dinner for myself, my roommate, and her aunt, who we were staying with while in town. Her aunt is hard at work on another degree, so she was in study and final project mode. I figured we could make her life easier if I brought some gluten-free foods that we all could eat and I could cook them up and she could just keep plugging along on her studies.

Lucini Italia Rustic Tomato Basil Sauce with brown rice penne

With the travel, this pouch was perfectly portioned. It had three servings of sauce in it and that meant…the three of us would all benefit from it. Now, I have never had Lucini Italia brand, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from it. But, let me tell you, I’m digging the whole pouch concept. For real.

It was so easy. As the pasta was being drained, I vented the pouch, tossed it in the microwave for 90 seconds, and viola!! The sauce was ready. I only had to pour it over the pasta, give it a toss, and it was ready to serve!

Lucini Italia’s Rustic Tomato and Basil Sauce was a fantastic treat for the palate. Seriously. The sauce is simply made with fresh plum tomatoes and summer basil. It seems simple enough, and it was. But the flavors were the star of the show here. The tomatoes lent a delicious, fresh taste to the sauce and the basil wasn’t overpowering, but rather complimentary to the rest of the sauce. Nothing overpowered. And in the end, the sauce was a delicious, pre-packaged for your microwave treat. I felt it paired very well with the brown rice pasta and asparagus that we cooked up for the meal.

And, despite being microwaved, this sauce wasn’t watery at all. It was thick and seasoned to perfection. Nothing felt watered down. Nor did we need bread to sop up the runny bits of the sauce. There wasn’t any of that.

I was impressed.

So, if you need an easy sauce to travel with, or just want to save some time and pans, I highly recommend Lucini’s Italia Rustic Tomato and Basil Sauce. It comes in a jar…but the smaller-portioned, microwavable pouch is even more convenient. Go ahead…try it. You’ll be surprised too.

Pasta dinner served with Lucini Italia Rustic Tomato Basil Sauce